Scripture: Luke 14:16 -
Title: “Confronting Casual Christianity”
Introduction: Jesus used the story of an imagery feast to represent the kingdom of God which was common among the Jews in Jesus’ day. His fellow guests, being influential Jews, would easily catch His meaning. Jesus was, in effect, saying to the guest who had remarked on the blessedness of eating bread in the kingdom of God, “Yes, it is blessed to take part in the heavenly feast; but you and other Jews might be entirely too confident of your own inevitable part in that feast.”
The invitation was first to the Jews and later on to the Gentiles because of the refusal of the Jews to accept God’s plan for redemption.
The refusal of the Jews came in the excuses they used to neglect the invitation of the King. (The PLAN of Salvation)
Some questions are in order at this point of the message.
Has Christianity, as we know it, lost its CUTTING EDGE?
This question can be answered by giving a definition of the word “Christianity.” - consists of people believing in Jesus as the Messiah and the teachings of Jesus; belonging to the religion based on these teachings; having and displaying the qualities that Christ had and displayed during His ministry while He lived on earth. (In other words, “Living like Jesus.”)
Have Christians not become busier than they have ever been before! (But what are they busy doing?)
Aren’t people are OVERWHELMED - Isn’t there too much to do and too little time to do it?
Isn’t it very evident there has been a SHIFTING of priorities? (The VALUE SYSTEM of America has CHANGED!) Abortion, acceptance of homosexual behavior, and the rise in crime and the overwhelming increase in the divorce rate are very VIVID reminders there has been a change.
Has Christianity BOUGHT into the World System?
Have our LEADERS in Christianity FAILED us? (Ministers are quitting the ministry right and left!)
What Is The Problem?
I. OUR TRAINING AS CHRISTIANS.
a. From childhood up we have been taught to be afraid of the devil. But the Bible tells us the opposite, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7) “Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4)
b. We have been told because we are small in number in comparison to the rest of the world we are weak. But the Bible teaches us, “How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, . . . ” (Deut. 32:30)
c. We’ve been TRAINED to be PASSIVE. (Mt. 11:12) “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.”
d. We have been taught that we have to sin every day, but the Bible says, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” (Mt. 5:48)
e. One of the GREAT PROBLEMS with Christians being trained is there has been very little training or the wrong kind of training!
What Is The Problem?
II. KNOWING WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST.
a. We are “King’s Kids” because we are the children of the great God of heaven. “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” (Rom. 8:16-17)
b. “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” (1 Cor 12:13)
c. “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” (1 Pet. 2:9)
d. “For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;” (Eph. 2:18-19)
e. We have the right to call upon God as “Abba” Father (Daddy). “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” (Rom. 8:15)
f. We have POWER - “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: . . . ” (Acts 1:8)
g. We are not alone - “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;” (John 14:16) “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” (Heb. 13:5)
What Is The Problem? (With “Casual Christianity”)
III. THE WEAPONS OF OUR WARFARE. (2 Cor. 10:4)
a. Paul said the weapons of Christians were - “MIGHTY through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”
b. PRAYER - “If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” (John 14:14)
c. FAITH - “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” (Mt. 17:20)
d. The WORD of God (The Sword of the Spirit) - “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” (Mt. 24:35) * Faith is generated by the Word. (Rom. 10:17) * “All things were made by him (the Word); and without him was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1:3)
e. The BLOOD of the Lamb - “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” (Rev. 12:11)
f. The CROSS - “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” (1 Cor. 1:18)
What Is The Problem? (With “Casual Christianity”)
IV. THE ONLY HOPE.
a. Christians are the ONLY HOPE for the EVANGELIZING of the LOST!
b. Christians are the ONLY VOICE for the Lord!
c. Christians are the ONLY HOPE of SUPPORT financially for the Church!
d. Christians are the ONLY EXAMPLES of Christ in the whole WORLD for others to see!
CONCLUSION - CONFRONTATION!
Has the CHURCH allowed its Gospel to be WATERED - DOWN to the point that we appear to have Spiritual Amnesia?
What is the FUNCTION of the Church anyway?
If we really believe there is a HEAVEN and a HELL why are we so quiet about the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
More sins are committed by Christians by what they FAIL to do rather than what THEY DO!
The SEVEREST SIN of Christians is a NUMBING lack of CONCERN, the ATTITUDE of “I don’t care.”
The UNORGANIZED INDIFFERENCE within the RANKS of the Church members is far more DESTRUCTIVE to the WORK of the Lord than all the organized forces of INIQUITY assailing from the outside.
Buying LAND, CATTLE, and MARRYING a WIFE is not wrong as long as the things of God get taken care of FIRST!
www.jhcarver@excite.com
