Video..............Chairs
Slide#1
Welcome
Prayer
How many of you here are familiar with the movie called the Avenger’s?
The main characters in this movie are all super heroes…there’s Captain America…The Incredible Hulk…Iron Man…and Thor...
Even though they all star in their own films…In the Avenger movie… all 4 of these Super Heroes are called together at once ...to battle against an Evil Force that is attacking America.
What I loved about this movie is watching how well these Super Heroes work together as a team.
Thinking back to our childhood years...Almost every one of us followed some kind of super hero at one time or another.
Even for those of you here who are not familiar with these 4 Avenger Super Heroes …
I’m sure most of you played either Cops and Robbers…or Cowboys and Indians at one time or another growing up.
You see...our society loves both…the Good…and the Evil.
A person doesn’t have to look very far to notice that… there are both Good and Evil forces in the world today all around us
Because of this fact...life today...resembles a battlefield.
This is a battle that mankind has been fighting since the beginning of time…
And it’s also a battle mankind will be fighting until the end of time.
As each person grows out of their childhood years... they find themselves facing a decision to make.
The decision they make lands them in one of these two lifestyles.
Slide #2 Good or Evil
Let me explain a little more in detail what I’m talking about…
First let’s look at the people who make the lifestyle decision… “To be Good”…
Since were in Church this morning…Let’s just categorize these people as Christians.
Christians are the ones who are prepared for the return of Christ.
Christian’s are much better prepared to handle the challenges that life... throws at all people.
Christians have made the decision... to look at life’s as glass half full instead of half empty.
Christians are also known by their peers as servants...always putting others before themselves.
But what about the people who have made the lifestyle choice… “To be Evil”...
These Evil people are not prepared to handle the challenges that life throws at them.
Evil people are more likely to look at life’s glass half empty instead of half full.
Their daily goal is to help only themselves...
Not caring who gets hurt along the way...because all they care about is # 1.
Evil people are known by Jesus as the (the unsaved in this world)…
And these unsaved will find out at death... that they have lived a life full of regrets.
And I promise you this…they will be ashamed of what they have accomplished with their lives when Christ returns.
You might be here today and saying…Pastor…I’m neither of these two?
I consider myself a neutral character in this battle called...Good vs. Evil.
But this is where I will disagree with you….there is no-neutral role the battle of life.
The bible is very clear that one day…we all will be judged by God and be given a sentence for the decisions we make during our lifetimes.
Slide #3
II Corinthians 5:10 says...
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”
You see…weather or not you want to admit it or not…each one of us... is either fighting for the Good ...or the Evil in this life…
Because of this...Your lifestyle is being watched…
And not just by those who are closely involved in your circle of influence...referring to your family...friends... co-workers.
And honestly...these aren’t the people you should be concerned with.
You need to be more concerned that …you’re being watched and will be sentenced by the One who created you.
Slide #4
Genesis 2:7 “Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.”
Slide #5
The title of my message today is Called Contagious Christianity.
And what I want each of you to take home from today is this...
Every person who walks on this earth came from God and one day every person will return to Him and give an account for their time spent on earth.
On Judgment day...I believe many un-saved people and Christians alike will find themselves shocked by what God has to say about their lives.
This is why I feel it’s important that we take a few minutes…to focus on the Good and the Evil in this world…and the consequences that arise by following one or the other.
Slide#6
Lets’ First begin by looking at the Good….
I must say that when I mention the word good…
I am referring to those who have taken a stand…
The Good are the Christians who have chosen to live a lifestyle that is separated from what the world says is acceptable.
I mentioned on Judgment day that even Christians will be surprised at what God has to say about their lives.
Matthew 7:21-23 tells us... “21 “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.
22 On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! ...We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’
23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’
God expects Christians to be faithful to Him in everything...not just what they chose to do.
How many of us here today want to end up in heaven when we die?
Can I be totally honest with you?
If you are here today and claim that you are a Christian and are not doing the basics...
You are more than likely going to be the one that God tells... “Go away from Me...I never knew you”
Too many people claim to be Christians...but in reality all they are doing is playing Church.
God expects all Christians to...“Live a life above reproach”.
This life above reproach is only possible by living your life as if it were consistently being watched.
For every person here today…whether you are a Christian or not…
I remind you that...God is the High Judge and He will be the final authority… pronouncing sentence on your life’s actions.
Do not forget what... II Corinthians 5:10 says…“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due”.
To end up in heaven… (The Basics of Christianity must be visible in your daily life)
Slide# 7 “Basics of Christianity”
The First Christian Basic... is the most important…
1)........................................... Admit the need
- At the very moment of our birth (sin)
Romans 5:12... “Just as sin came into this world through one man...and death through sin...and so death spread to all men because all sinned”
Because of sin...No man/ No woman/ or child will avoid death.
As a result of sin...-Every person must individually ask Christ for forgiveness.
Romans 10:9 “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead...you will be saved.
I believe...Having a personal relationship with Christ...is the most important Basic that must be addressed.
Slide #8
The next basic of Christianity is......
2).......................................................... Prayer
Prayer is a very important attribute for the Christian...its how they communicate with God.
Prayer is a very powerful tool in the fight against evil.
This direct line with God... gives you control over the evil forces in this world...
– Matthew 26:41"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
Because our bodies ARE weak...I cannot over em-pha-size the importance of prayer in your life.
-set aside time each day (morning...evening)
-interruption free
(Avoid distractions……………………………. Phones… computers…T.V…Work…)
Prayer also holds the power to keep us Humble before an omniscient God.
Prayer reminds us that we are not in control, but God is, thus keeping us from falling into Satan’s evil traps.
Slide #9
The next basic of Christianity is our quiet times......
3)....................................................... Devotions
To be continually growing in your life...you must be seeking…and applying God’s wisdom to your life.
-personal Devotion time
-family Devotion time
-couples Devotion time
To be growing in your relationship with Christ you must be applying it to your daily life.
Slide #10
The next basic of Christianity is seen in....
4)............................................. Faithfulness
(This is a big hurdle that many Christians fail to cross over as they serve Christ)
A Christian’s first step of faithfulness is seen in there.
Slide # 11 Attendance
You might think that your presence goes un-noticed...but let me share with you...
People want to be part of a Church that’s growing...
When your seat is left open...the people around you notice.
Church growth is seen by people faithfully plugging into a ministry... that they were specifically created to do...and this cannot be done when you choose not to attend a Sunday service.
Every member of the body of Christ is important and offer different gifts and talents.
Slide #12
Along with attendance...next the Christians faithfulness is seen in their...
Support of the Leadership God has placed in each church.
You approval of them is seen by the love you show them...as well as your tithe which supports the work of the ministry.
To be known as a faithful Christian you cannot just pick & chose which of these Basics you want to do.
When you do this...the message that you send to God is you disagree about the leadership He has placed into the church..
To fight for the Good in life... you must remember to do the 4 Basics of Christianity...
-Admitting your need of Christ -Praying to God -Doing Daily Devotions... -And remaining Faithful...
But remember when I shared that along with Good in life... there is also Evil...
Let’s quickly look at the Characteristics found in the lives of the Evil in this life?
There are None.....Nothing good comes from Evil...
Slide #13
God is found nowhere in this lifestyle...
The evil in this world doesn’t care about the word sin...matter of fact evil’s main goal is to see how many sins it can commit in a single day.
And speaking of Evils prayer life... its non-existent…it doesn’t worship the Creator...just the creature.
All of Evils time is completely saturated by the distractions in this life.
Satan has complete control over the evil persons mind...filling it with worldly needs and desires.
Satan makes you think.
-Your Automobiles come before Christ -your families come before Christ -your jobs come before Christ.
I’ve said it many times before God first, family second and Church third
The only devotions found in the Evils person’s life are the…
-R-rated movies they watch...............................
-The inappropriate Internet Sites........................
The Evil person faithfulness is only seen in how they serve Satan.
They are publically identified by their Cheating… …Lying….and Unfaithfulness…to God/Employer/and their Families.
Gossip fuels Evils fire….
There is no structure found in Evils home…because it doesn’t look to the Bible as Instruction and Correction.
As a Representative of Evil…Both Husbands and Wives alike...disrespect their spouses’ positions in their marriage.
In Evils home...Words are commonly shared like …Divorce... Adultery...and once mentioned....can never be removed from the mind of the accused or the accuser.
Satan wants People to be miserable...because he is miserable himself.
He knows if he’s able to control People during their life...God cannot.
Nobody deserves this type of life...but many chose it.
As I mentioned in the beginning of my message...
You might be the one here today that considers yourself a neutral character in this battle called life... You claim to fight for neither...Good or Evil.
But I remind you once again that God’s word is very clear that one day…we all will be judged by Him and be given a sentence for the decisions we made during our lifetimes.
I pray today that you make the right choice that you are going to fight for.
The winner...not the loser.
Slide # 14
