Matthew 7:21-23 (KJV-BRG) Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 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? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Did you ever wonder why statistically that Christians are not much different than the world?
The divorce rates are about equal
George Barna, “for those who were active in their church, the divorce rate was 27 to 50 percent lower than for non-churchgoers. But for those who simply call themselves “Christians” but do not actively engage with the faith—are actually 20 percent more likely than the general population to get divorced.”
Adultery and sexual exploits are about the same
At a website, beliefnet.com an article “When Christians Cheat” stated this:
“For many married Christian couples, it is nearly unimaginable that a spouse might cheat. In reality, though, infidelity amongst religious couples remains nearly as high as the national average, which hovers around 60 percent, according to Dr. Willard F. Farley Jr., licensed psychologist …A survey from Ashley Madison, a website made to set married people up with affairs, shows over 70 percent of its users label themselves as Christian.”
I don’t want to get into the weeds on that subject, but we all know somethings wrong with many people who classify themselves as Christians When:
Christians dress like the world
Christians talk like the world
Christians listen to music like the world
Christian spend more time looking at the world through TV and social media and very little time focusing on God and his kingdom.
It all becomes very challenging to preach holiness from the word of God when many have their attention on the things of this life.
Many people who say they believe in Christ treat God more like a token.
They give a nod to God in prayer, and reading the Word and church attendance and activities but don’t practice it.
Why is that?
They not only fail in life, with sexual sins and sexual immorality
But, They fail in their understanding of God. Who God truly is.
They can’t see God because they are blinded by their own desires
and sin that won’t let them see that they are wrong.
They’ve been taught not to fall into that trap of believing that there is something wrong with them.
They have been taught that they don’t need to see themselves as sinful,
but to see that they are a righteous being that God loves.
Let me say this, If God had truly changed you,
there will be no need to broadcast that change.
We would see the life changed.
We will see you drawing closer to God,
and attempt to bej more and more like Jesus.
They’ll be no convincing and reading books and other peoples surmises of a positive Christian walk.
You won’t need any of that because your light will shine in you.
You will be salt and light.
People will be drawn to you.
They will see and know that the Holy Ghost is in you.
Christian’s fail today because they can’t see who they really are.
Why is that?
Let’s look again at marriage and relationships
1. First of all Being a committed, faithful believer makes a measurable difference in marriage.
Saying you believe something or merely belonging to a church,
does little for marriage and relationships.
But the more you are involved in the actual practice of Christianity in real ways – through submitting yourself to a serious body of believers,
learning regularly from scripture,
being in communion with God though prayer individually and with your spouse and children, friends, and family
Having loved ones around us who challenge us to take our marriage’s seriously
All that makes a big difference both in the quality and longevity of our marriages.
Living the Christian way does matter!
2. Also, being a committed, faithful believer makes a measurable difference in how we see God and how God sees us!
Christians fail because they don’t understand their position in truth of God’s word.
Behind many pulpits today in America,
Christians are told they are doing just fine.
All they need to do is think better and push out all the negative in thier life
I remember years ago reading a book, “I’m OK, you’re OK”.
That sounds so wonderful and it’s good to be able to think positive rather than negative, I definitely get that.
But we can’t spend our time thinking, or wishing ourselves into a position of acceptance with God when God demands acceptance in a different way.
Many teach, “If we think we’re OK, then everything will be OK.
This is akin to living in “La La Land.”
God teaches us that none are righteous,
and that our righteousness is all but filthy rags.
God teaches how we need Jesus to show us the way
and teach us what it is to live in truth and righteousness.
If you accept the premise that God will forgive you because he knows your heart,
then you are living a lie
because the bible say’s that , yes God know your heart and it’s wicked!
Jeremiah 17:9 (KJV-BRG) The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
If you accept the premise that because you got saved when you were 5,
And now you don’t have to worry about that,
that salvation stuff is all behind you because you got your ticket punched into heaven.
You’re going to have a rude awakening when you stand before God someday.
It is true that God will not go back on His Word.
When you get saved, you are definitely saved.
But please understand this, you must maintain your salvation.
James 2:18 (KJV-BRG) Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
However, There were so many scriptures that talk about how God will not allow sin to enter into heaven.
It’s just this simple, You can’t live a sinful life and go to heaven.
God will never wink at your sin no matter how much you believe you deserve Heaven.
In the book of revelations, chapter 2 and 3, God speaks to the seven churches.
You can read the whole two chapters, but let me point out the reoccurring phrase God said to all the churches:
To the church in Ephesus: chapter 2, verse 2, “I know thy works”.
To the church in Smyrna: chapter 2 verse 9, “I know thy works”.
To the church in Pergamum: chapter 2, verse 13, “I know thy works”.
To the church in Thyatira: chapter 2, verse 19, “I know thy works”.
To the church in Sardis: chapter 3 verse 1, “I know that works”.
To the church in Philadelphia: chapter 3, verse 8, “I know thy works”.
To the church in Laodicea: chapter 3, verse 15, “I know thy works”.
God knows your works and understands why you do or do not follow him.
And the very next verse, James says this:
James 2:19 (KJV-BRG) Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Believing in God will put you only in the category of the devils.
Following God, following Jesus, however, will put you in league with the Saints.
Luke 9:23 (KJV-BRG) And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
John 10:27 (KJV-BRG) My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
James, in the next verse, sums it up this way:
James 2:20 (KJV-BRG) But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
So, God sees us following Him.
And God sees our works accompanied by our faith
God also reads our spiritual temperature
God said that you cannot be Lukewarm, middle of the road in this Christian walk
God would rather have you to be hot or cold or he will spew you out of his mouth.
Revelation 3:16 (KJV-BRG) So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
I know that this sounds awful negative.
But we’ve got to face reality if we’re going to make it to heaven.
There’s no second or third chance here.
We got to live the life God has set before us and live according to his word.
We can’t surmise or even entertain the thought that just because one day we bowed our knee to Christ that we have our ticket punched and we will forever be in heaven no matter how we act here.
I would not want to take that chance. Why would you?
2 Corinthians 4:7-12 (KJV-BRG) But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
In this world we don’t live “the best life”, or “be the best me I could be”.
I’m not living for this old world, I’m living for the world to come
Just like Abraham, Hebrews 11:10 (KJV-BRG) For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
We live a crucified life.
A life that is “Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.”
2 Corinthians 4:10
“So then death worketh in us” 2 Corinthians 4:12
That is a hard saying that death works in us.
The death he is speaking about Here is the death on the cross,
The crucified life that we live all should live as Christians.
Just as a dead seed that is planted in the ground,
When it is watered and nurtured in the soil, it comes alive and grows.
Death works in us in the same way,
after the seed of salvation is planted in us, we repent, we accept Christ, we are Born Again, and as we continue to repent of our sins while walking the walk of a crucified Christian,
dead to the world, but alive to Christ,
we begin to be nurtured by God’s holy word.
And guided by the Holy Spirit
We begin to grow into a mighty weapon for a Holy use in God’s kingdom.
As a mighty weapon for God,
We begin to cast out devils,
heal the sick and preach the good news of the gospel to anyone that will hear it.
We have the boldness of Steven,
the endurance of Paul,
the tenacity of Peter
and the loving heart of John.
No weapon formed against us can prosper,
because we are dead to this world, and it can’t hurt us.
We are alive in Christ,
and the Holy Spirit is in me and He is greater than anything in this world,
1 John 4:4 (KJV-BRG) Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Galatians 2:20 (KJV-BRG) I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
So, as to the title of this message “Why Christian fail...or do they?”
As I just demonstrated in the word,
we see that Christians do not fail as long as they are in Christ
It’s the Christians that are “Christians in name only” that are the ones who fail
Deep down inside, you know, there is something wrong.
You know you have offended God.
You know you should follow Christ.
And yet many follow people behind pulpits and read books published by them that teach the absolute opposite of what I just preached to you.
When you hear a message like this, they say that what you’re feeling is bad and anything bad cannot come from God.
They say that you need to get those bad feelings out of you and think more positively.
That you need to walk away from negative people preaching the Bible and start listening to them because they will soothe your heart.
They say that everything’s going to be OK and that all you have to do is just join in the chorus and sing happy tunes and shout to God a few times and have a wonderful fellowship.
But when it’s all said and done, and you get in the car and you go home,
you’re the same old person.
There was no repentance and there was no turnaround or change your life.
No acceptance to God.
No challenges to make you a better Christian.
Just a bunch of platitudes on how to feel
and to just think more positively about yourself.
You get in your car and go home
You just pick up where you left off before you went to church.
Attempt to do the best you can and wait for the next service so that you can be lifted up again and feel better about your sin and life.
This is not the Christian walk.
This is religion at its worse because it is exploiting you,
So called Preachers, taking your money and your soul,
and building big edifices to their egos.
And living lavish lifestyles
God is calling you.
He said my sheep hear my voice.
He’s calling from the death of your soul.
You must see who you truly are.
You’re a sinner, this much is true.
Yes, God will, and wants to save you so badly
but you must see who you are.
You are a sinner in need of grace. God’s grace.
You must come to Jesus with a heart full of repentance and remorse for your sins. You must turn to Jesus asking him to change your life.
You must realize that you must be Born Again.
Born Again!
What beautiful words it is to be able to start again in this world,
To be able to be born again! Fresh and new.
Will you come to Jesus now?
Come to the alter
