No greater shame can be paid to a professing Christian than to refer to them as him/her as an ungodly person.
Godliness is not reserved for a….
• Few Christians of a bygone era
• Or for some super Christian of today.
Illus: I like what Chuck Colson wrote: “When we think of holiness, great saints of the past spring to mind…holiness is the everyday business of every Christian.”
The Bible tells us in Hebrew 12:14 WITHOUT HOLINESS NO MAN SHALL SEE THE LORD. (And there is not going to be any blind people in heaven.)
This verse of scripture sounds to me that Godliness is something that we should take serious.
I wholeheartedly believe that the lack of godliness is the reason that Christianity has come to a standstill, especially in America!
Today many Christians shrug off godliness as not that important.
As proof of this, I offer the churches all across America.
• Where are the Christians men and women taking time in prayer and the Word of God each day
• Where are the men who are the spiritual leaders of their home?
• WHY IS THERE A SUCH A LACK OF GODLINESS AMONG CHRISTIANS TODAY?
Where are these Christians?
The reason today there is a shortage of godliness is because it takes love and discipline for these things.
Have you ever heard someone say something about something, IF IT WAS EASY EVERYONE WOULD BE DOING IT!!!
Living a godly life is the hardest thing in the world to do. IF IT WAS EASY EVERYONE WOULD BE DOING IT!!!
Do you think I am wrong? If you do, just try doing it!
• Try reading the word of God and then following it.
• Strive to love people who hate you.
• Strive to put God’s plans for our life over our plans for our life.
• Attempt to live a pure life daily!
• Make an effort to give your life to God and learning to hate sin and not just the consequences.
If you do, you will discover just how difficult it is to be a Christian today…
(1) Living in a fleshly body that craves sin.
(2) Living in a wicked society like ours that we live in each day.
However, living a godly life is not only hard, it is necessary.
Being godly is a lifestyle for every child of God.
Illus: You might be saying, “Preacher I know a lot of people who profess to be saved and you cannot tell any difference in their life than a person who does not claim to be saved.”
Yes, I know some like this also.
This could be the reason God’s Word tell us in Matthew 7:22-23 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Notice, the words, many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not…done many wonderful works?” and God is going to say, “I NEVER KNEW YOU: DEPART FROM ME, YE THAT WORK INIQUITY.”
No doubt some will say…
• But I went to church every Sunday…BUT GOING TO CHURCH WILL NOT SAVE YOU THAN GOING TO A RESTARUANT WILL MAKE YOU A COOK.
• But I tithe every Sunday but tithing is something you should do as a Christian…BUT TITHING WILL NOT SAVE YOU. YOU CAN NOT BUY YOUR WAY INTO HEAVEN.
• But I use my talents for the Lord…Using your talents should be something that you should do.
You need to repent of your sins and turn from them for the Lord to save you!!!
Luke 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Many who profess to be saved today are not taking God’s Word serious when God’s Word tells us WITHOUT HOLINES NO MAN SHALL SEE THE LORD.
God’s word is not teaching salvation by works but God’s Word is teaching if you are saved you should have the works to live a godly life for the Lord.
This sinful world in which we live need GODLY MEN AND WOMEN like never before.
The last thing this ungodly world need is for a person to profess to be saved and live an ungodly life like those who are not saved.
We need men who are bold and unashamed of Christ in every walk of life. We need to let our light shine in darkness.
What does it mean to be godly?
• Do we have to live in a monastery to be godly?
• Does it mean we can't watch television?
• Does it mean we cannot have fun in life?
• Can a person be godly and yet competitive in business and achieve financial success?
The answer is yes.
And at the same time a person may be talented and involved in God's work.
I. WHAT IS GODLINESS?
Godliness is taking God seriously.
The heartbeat of the godly person is the desire to respect and reverence the things of God.
This does not mean they are serious minded at all times.
They enjoy life because they enjoy the Creator of life.
Illus: There is an account in the Old Testament of a people who failed to take God seriously.
These ancient Hebrews had escaped the slavery and punishment of Egyptian rule.
On their journey home to Israel they witnessed the miracle of God parting the water at the Red Sea that brought doom to their Egyptian pursuers.
These people had everything.
• God guided them with a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.
• God delivered them through the Red Sea.
• God's leader, Moses was out in front of them.
• God provided nourishment with manna from heaven and water from the rock.
They were surrounded by unparalleled privileges and miracles.
In fact, one would think that these people would be the epitome of godliness.
But they were not!!!
The apostle Paul wrote about these people in I Cor. 10:5, "But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown (Struck down) in the wilderness.”
As they journeyed from Egypt they played games with their lives and with God.
Illus: But many Christians today are no different in that instead of living a godly life they are playing games with God “Let’s make a deal!”
That is dangerous business.
• What happened to these potential saints?
• What caused their demise?
Paul, again, surmises their tragedy and demise?
Look at I Cor. 10:7 we read, “Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.”
It sounded like a fraternity party. The supernatural became commonplace.
They lacked a reverence and awe for God.
They did not mean business with God. The relationship with him became a farce.
Sound familiar?
Never in the history of the world has one country been so blessed.
We are inundated with:
• Churches,
• Christian radio
• Television,
• Christian magazines and books,
• Christian schools,
• Christian conferences and seminars, and on and on and on.
Never has the potential for religious instruction been so paramount.
Our churches should be overflowing with godly men and women.
Are they?
All too often, we walk down the same paths of carnality as these ancient Hebrews.
• We make light of what we should honor.
• We wink at what we should weep about.
• We play with what we should take quite seriously.
We have looked at WHAT GODLINESS MEAN but now we need to consider…
II. HOW CAN YOU BECOME GODLY?
People who live a godly life take God seriously.
You can see it in their…
A. Thirst for God
If we want to be godly we must have a craving for God.
In the scriptures we see that David was such a man.
Look at Psalm 42:1-2 we read, He vividly expressed his longing, "Psalms 42:1-2 “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?”
What could be more intense than a hunted deer's thirsting for water?
Intensity for God is the heartbeat of a godly person.
Illus: Columnist Herb Caen writes in the San Francisco Chronicle, "Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death."
Caen surmises, "It doesn't matter whether you are a lion or a gazelle; when the sun comes up, you'd better be running."
Every day we wake up we should have a CRAVING FOR GOD.
In a manner of speaking when it comes to godliness, "You have to run for it with everything you got."
Illus: Charles Spurgeon, writes likewise, "If you are not seeking the Lord, the Devil is seeking you. If you are not seeking the Lord, judgment is at your heels."
The godly person is content in their relationship with God, but never satisfied with the present experience. They always yearn for more.
Godly person have a THIRST FOR GOD!
But also a godly person has a…
B. Focus on God
The pursuer of godliness focuses attention on God in all things.
The trouble and tragedy of modern man is that we tend to divert our focus on other things than God.
In Paul's day his letter to Timothy was the subject of godliness. He deals with it in reference to two distractions.
Both have a focus on self.
(1)The first was bodily exercise.
Look at I Timothy 4:7-8 we read, "But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. "
Illus: All across this nation we have gyms that are filled with people who feel the need to exercise. They spend hours and hours exercising.
• We drive down the road and we see people trotting on the sidewalks.
• We drive down the road and we see people riding bicycles.
Listen, there is not anything wrong with people exercising.
But what Paul is alluding to is if these people were to spend as much time developing spiritually to live a godly life it would be much more profitable for them.
Listen to what Paul says, “…and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things…”
If you have time to take care of THE PHYSCIAL but do not have time to take care of the SPIRITUAL than exercise has become a distraction from living a godly life.
Illus: That is like if you have time to watch television for several hours each day but do not have time for prayer and Bible study than television has become a distraction.
But Paul mentions a second distraction…
(2)The second was money.
Look at I Tim.6:10-11 we read, “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.”
• There is not anything sinful about LIKING MONEY but it becomes our god when we start LOVING MONEY.
• There is not anything wrong with HAVING MONEY but it becomes a sin when MONEY HAS US!
The Word of God tells us THE LOVE OF MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL.
Notice, Paul tells us it becomes a distraction to some causing them to “ERRED FROM THE FAITH.”
Paul correctly addresses the problem of most twentieth century Americans. The age of physical fitness and monetary gain has become the top priority in their life.
True, nothing is sinful in these pursuits. Until they come between God and us.
Illus: A man who had spent all of his time making and hoarding money found him in a most disturbed and unhappy state, and went to a minister for counsel.
The minister, who knew the man rather well, picked up the Bible, pointed to the word "God" and asked, "Can you see that?"
"Certainly," replied the man with annoyance.
"All right," said the minister as he picked up a coin and placed it over the word "God." "Can you see the word now?"
The man did not reply immediately, but eventually said, "Yes, I understand now."
What are you doing to focus on God?
Next we need to consider that we need to…
C. Worship God
Listen to me carefully I am fixing to say something that is important.
That is, worship enables us to properly acknowledge God.
The godly person removes himself from the center of his world and puts God in his proper place.
Far too often, we take God too lightly.
We approach him in a trite and casual fashion.
We think of God as our buddy or our pal.
But this is the eternal God of the universe who has a claim on our lives because he has placed eternity within our hearts.
We are to approach him with respect and reverence.
Reverence of God will also regulate our conduct.
Illus: John Murray says, "What or whom we worship determines our behavior."
• If a person worships basketball their conduct and behavior is consumed with the sport.
• If a person worships money they are driven to accumulate as much as possible.
• If a person worships God they seek to know him and live obediently to the Word of God.
Who are you worshipping?
D. Serve other people
The quickest way to not dwell on personal misfortune is to get involved with those who are less fortunate than you are.
In doing so, you will discover that you are better off than most people are.
The godly individual not only gives God his due; he also serves his fellow man and gives him his due.
Someone said, "Some people are so heavenly minded they are no earthly good."
I believe that is only when people are heavenly minded that they can be of any earthly good.
As we invest time with God he will guide us to serve others.
Godly people know that service is an outgrowth of worship.
Illus: The best evidence of godliness is not the monk who lives in the monastery secluded from people. It is the person who lives a godly life in the midst of crying children, busy schedules, foul-mouthed workers, and rain soaked days by serving other people.
Who are you serving?
Conclusion:
• Do you mean business with God or will you be content to just play the game.
• Is your religion of the heart or is it superficial, skin deep?
• Do you speak the Christian lingo, but fail to live the life of godliness?
Illus: A man returned to his hometown after being away for many years. As he looked around at familiar faces and places, he noticed that the old church where he had once worshiped no longer existed.
He asked the man who operated the service station since he was a child, "Whatever happened to that old church and the glory it once had?"
The attendant asked him, "Are you going to be driving around town some more today?"
The visitor replied, "Yes."
Then the attendant said, "If you will drive up the hill where the church used to stand, you will see a sign. Read it carefully for it will tell you what happened to that old church and the glory it once had."
Later in the evening the man started up the hill. It was getting dark, so he slowed down to catch the message written on the sign. As his headlights glared on it, the motorist read these words: "Drive Carefully: Children at Play."
That sign could be placed in front of many churches today…CHILDREN AT PLAY!!!
The life of godliness will not come easy. All the courage, discipline, and persistence you can muster will be needed for taking God seriously.
Godliness may not be an easy life, but it is a distinguishable life.
Other people will take notice. People will take notice that a church is known for their GODLINESS.
The biggest compliment can be made to any Christian is that they are a godly person.
Likewise the biggest compliment can be paid to a church is that it is a church filled with godly people.
When it comes to living a godly life we have looked at…
I. WHAT IS GODLINESS?
II. HOW CAN YOU BECOME GODLY?
A. HAVE A THIRST FOR GOD
B. FOCUS ON GOD
C. WORSHIP GOD
D. SERVE OTHER
In closing I remind you what God's Word tells us about Godliness once again…WITHOUT HOLINESS (Godliness) NO MAN SHALL SEE THE LORD.
