WESTSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH
PASTOR: TERRY VAUGHAN
SERMON TITLE: CLEAN CHRISTIAN LIVING
10-28-01 A.M.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:16-18
TEXT VERSE: TITUS 2:11 “FOR THE GRACE OF GOD THAT BRINGETH SALVATION HATH APPEARED TO ALL MEN. TEACHING US THAT, DENYING UNGODLINESS AND WORLDLY LUSTS, WE SHOULD LIVE SOBERLY, RIGHTEOUSLY, AND GODLY, IN THIS PRESENT WORLD;
SALVATION IS FOR ALL PEOPLE. IN VERSE 12 THAT ISN’T TALKING ABOUT WHEN WE GET TO HEAVEN. THAT’S TALKING ABOUT NOW. IF WE’RE SAVED BY THE GRACE OF GOD WE OUGHT TO ACT LIKE IT AND LOOK LIKE IT AND TALK LIKE IT NOW. WHEN WE GET HOME THE DEVIL ISN’T GOING TO BE THERE. THERE WILL BE NO SIN THERE. THERE WILL BE NO ENEMIES OF GOD THERE. IT WILL ONLY BE GOD THE FATHER, GOD THE SON, GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT AND US AND WE’RE GOING TO HAVE A GOOD TIME IN THE LORD. BUT WHILE WE’RE HERE WE’RE SUPPOSED TO DENY UNGODLINESS AND WORLDLY LUST AND LIVE SOBERLY, RIGHTEOUSLY AND GODLY WHILE WE ARE HERE. I WANT TO PREACH TO YOU THIS MORNING ON CLEAN CHRISTIAN LIVING. THERE’S A LOT OF CHURCHES TODAY THAT SAY YOU CAN’T LIVE RIGHT. THAT YOU CAN’T LIVE FOR GOD BECAUSE IT’S TOO HARD. I BEG TO DIFFER. PAUL SAID IN TITUS 2 IF WE’LL DENY UNGODLINESS THAT AFFECTS US AND WORLDLY LUSTS THEN WE CAN LIVE SOBERLY, RIGHTEOUSLY AND GODLY. IT’S POSSIBLE FOR US TO LIVE CHRIST LIKE. PEOPLE SAY WE CAN’T BUT THE BIBLE SAYS WE CAN. WE NEED TO LOOK LIKE JESUS. WE NEED TO WALK LIKE HIM AND TALK LIKE HIM AND BE LIKE HIM. YOU NEED TO LIVE A CLEAN CHRISTIAN LIFE IN THIS WORLD.
HERE’S A DESCRIPTION OF HOW YOU CAN LIVE A GOOD CLEAN LIFE. PAUL SAID IN PHILIPPIANS 1:21 “FOR ME TO LIVE IS CHRIST.” THAT’S ALL IT TAKES RIGHT THERE. WE’RE NOT LIVING FOR OURSELVES ANYMORE. WE’RE LIVING FOR CHRIST IF WE’RE SAVED. IF I WERE LIVING FOR MYSELF I’D BE OUT IN THE WORLD DOING THE THINGS I USED TO LIKE DOING, SAYING THE THINGS I USED TO SAY AND HANGING AROUND PEOPLE I USED TO HANG AROUND WITH. BUT THANKS BE TO GOD I HANG AROUND A NEW CROWD, GOD’S TOUCHED OUR LIFE AND FILLED US WITH THE SPIRIT AND I WANT TO LIVE A CLEAN CHRISTIAN LIFE FOR GOD TODAY.
IN JOHN 17 JESUS WAS PRAYING TO THE FATHER. HE WAS PRAYING FOR YOU AND ME. AND IN VERSES 15 AND 16 JESUS SAID I PRAY NOT THAT THOU WOULDEST TAKE THEM OUT OF THE WORLD BUT I PRAY THAT THOU WOULDEST KEEP THEM FROM THE EVIL. HE SAID THEY ARE NOT OF THE WORLD EVEN AS I AM NOT OF THE WORLD.
JESUS WAS SAYING TO HIS FATHER THAT HIS CHILDREN WHO HAD BEEN SAVED WERE NOT OF THE WORLD JUST AS HE WAS NOT OF THE WORLD. THAT’S A NICE PRAYER ISN’T IT? FATHER DON’T TAKE THEM OUT OF THE WORLD BUT KEEP THEM FROM THE EVIL.
IN JAMES 4:4 THE BIBLE SAYS IF ANY MAN BE A FRIEND OF THE WORLD, HE IS THE ENEMY OF GOD. I BELIEVE THERE IS A LOT OF CHRISTIANS LIKE THAT. SOMETIMES I GET A LITTLE STRICT AND THAT’S BECAUSE GOD IS STRICT WITH ME TO HELP ME KEEP MYSELF IN LINE. THERE HAS TO BE SOME DISCIPLESHIP IN THE WORLD OF GOD AND THROUGH THE SPIRIT AND I’M TRYING TO TELL YOU TODAY THAT CHRISTIANS AREN’T LIVING AS CLEAN AS THEY SHOULD.
IN 1 JOHN 2:15-17 “LOVE NOT THE WORLD, NEITHER THE THINGS THAT ARE IN THE WORLD. IF ANY MAN LOVE THE WORLD, THE LOVE OF THE FATHER IS NOT IN HIM. FOR ALL THAT IS IN THE WORLD, THE LUST OF THE FLESH, AND THE LUST OF THE EYES, AND THE PRIDE OF LIFE IS NOT OF THE FATHER, BUT IS OF THE WORLD . AND THE WORLD PASSETH AWAY, AND THE LUST THEREOF; BUT HE THAT DOETH THE WILL OF GOD ABIDETH FOR EVER.”
WE DON’T NEED TO LOVE THE WORLD, WE NEED TO LOVE GOD TODAY.! THERE’S CHRISTIANS ACROSS THE LAND TODAY THAT ARE LEAVING GOD OUT. HE DIDN’T LEAVE US OUT WHEN HE WENT TO THE CROSS OF CALVARY AND WE SHOULDN’T LEAVE HIM OUT. WE NEED GOOD CLEAN CHRISTIAN LIVING IN THE DAY AND TIME WE’RE LIVING.
YOU SAY, WELL PREACHER, I DON’T GO OUT TO THE BARS AND I DON’T GO OUT DRINKING OR DOING DRUGS. I DON’T HANG AROUND THE WRONG CROWD AND I DON’T STAY OUT OF CHURCH ON SUNDAYS. THAT STILL DOES NOT MEAN YOU ARE LIVING A GODLY LIFE. I KNOW A LOT OF BAPTIST FOLKS IN THE HOUSE OF GOD THAT’S LIVING JUST LIKE THE DEVIL. MAN LOOKS ON THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE BUT GOD LOOKS ON YOUR HEART. HE KNOWS WHAT KIND OF LIFE YOU’RE LIVING TODAY. IT HAS A WHOLE LOT TO DO WITH OUR ATTITUDES.
I’M A FIRM BELIEVER THAT A CHRISTIANS ATTITUDE SHOULD BE ONE THAT’S GENERATED BY THE INWARD HOLY SPIRIT. WHAT YOU HAVE ON THE INSIDE SHOULD BE WHAT SHOWS ON THE OUTSIDE. IF YOU HAVE JESUS IN YOUR SOUL, THAT SHOULD BE WHAT YOU SHOW ON THE OUTSIDE. SOME PEOPLE’S ATTITUDES DO NOT MATCH THAT OF A CHRISTIAN. YOU’RE GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND SOMEBODY PULL OUT IN FRONT OF YOU AND YOU GO SOURING DOWN ON THAT HORN, GETTING OUT OF YOUR CAR WANTING TO FIGHT THEM. YOU THINK THAT’S ACTING LIKE A CHRISTIAN? I KNOW IT’S NOT. JESUS GOT READY TO GO TO THE CROSS AND PETER PULLED OUT HIS SWORD AND CUT OFF THE EAR OF AN EAR. GOD SAID I’M NOT FIGHTING THIS BATTLE WITH SWORDS, I’M FIGHTING IT BY THE GRACE OF GOD. WE NEED TO CHANGE OUR ATTITUDES AND TO WHERE IT MATCHES THAT OF A CHRISTIAN SERVING GOD.
1 JOHN 3:1 “BEHOLD, WHAT MANNER OF LOVE THE FATHER HATH BESTOWED UPON US, THAT WE SHOULD BE CALLED THE SONS OF GOD: THEREFORE THE WORLD KNOWETH US NOT, BECAUSE IT KNEW HIM NOT.”
SOME CHRISTIANS HAVE THE ATTITUDE JUST LIKE THE WORLD. THEY WASTE THEIR MONEY. THEY WASTE THEIR TIME. THEY WASTE EVERYTHING THEY HAVE ON EVERYTHING BUT GOD. THEY HAVE THE SAME ATTITUDE AS THE PRODIGAL SON HAD. HE SAID FATHER JUST GIVE THE PORTION OF GOODS THAT FALLETH TO ME. CHRISTIANS TODAY SAY THEY HAVE SALVATION AND THAT’S ALL THEY NEED. THAT’S ALL YOU NEED TO GET YOU TO HEAVEN BUT THAT’S NOT ALL YOU NEED TO LIVE A GOOD CLEAN CHRISTIAN LIFE. THE PRODIGAL SON GOT WHAT WAS HIS AND WENT OUT TO A FAR COUNTRY AND WASTED ALL THAT HE HAD. HE WANTED TO TAKE WHAT GOD GIVE HIM AND USE IT HIS OWN WAY. IF YOU LEAVE THE FATHER AND YOU’RE SAVED, HE’LL BRING YOU BACK. YOU WON’T COME BACK IF YOU’RE LOST. A LOT OF PEOPLE LEAVE BECAUSE THEY GET MAD AT PEOPLE AT THE HOUSE OF GOD. IF YOU’RE MAD AT ME YOU MIGHT AS WELL BE MAD AT GOD. IF YOU’RE WALKING WITH JESUS LIKE YOU SHOULD THEN YOU WON’T LET WHAT OTHER PEOPLE DO GET YOU MAD. YOU’LL REALIZE THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE IN CHURCH WHO ARE LOST. THERE ARE PEOPLE IN CHURCH WHO ARE BABES IN CHRIST AND THERE ARE PEOPLE IN CHURCH WHO JUST SIT THERE AND NEVER GET ANYTHING BECAUSE THEY DON’T APPLY IT TO THEIR HEARTS. THEY DON’T READ THEIR BIBLE AT HOME DURING THE WEEK. THEY DON’T PRAY DURING THE WEEK. THEY DON’T CALL PEOPLE AND CHECK ON THEM AND THEY DON’T WITNESS. ALL THEY DO IS GO TO CHURCH ON SUNDAYS. IF THEIR IN THAT CONDITION THEY CAN’T BE CHRIST LIKE.
IT’S LIKE THEY LIVE TWO DIFFERENT LIVES. THEY WANT TO LIVE FOR GOD ON SUNDAYS BUT ON THE WEEK DAYS YOU DON’T HEAR FROM THEM. YOU’VE GOT THE WRONG ATTITUDE IF YOU THINK YOU JUST WORK FOR GOD ON SUNDAYS. TODAY IS A DAY OF WORSHIP. IT’S NOT A DAY OF WORK. IF YOUR WORK FOR GOD ONLY ON SUNDAYS THEN YOU’RE IN BAD SHAPE.
IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A GOOD ATTITUDE THEN TELL PEOPLE YOU’RE A CHILD OF GOD AND THAT YOU CAN’T HANG AROUND THE WRONG CROWD AND DO THE THINGS OF THE WORLD. BUT PEOPLE HAVE THIS KIND OF ATTITUDE: I’LL GO TO CHURCH WHEN I WANT TO GO. I’LL WORSHIP GOD WHEN I WANT TO AND I’LL GIVE TO GOD WHEN I FEEL LIKE IT. YOU’RE SO FAR OFF YOU AIN’T FEELING NOTHING FROM GOD. IF GOD CAN’T GIVE YOU THE RIGHT ATTITUDE DON’T EXPECT TO GET IT HERE AT CHURCH. I GOT IT WHEN I WAS ELEVEN YEARS OLD WHEN THE LORD SAVED ME. THAT’S WHEN MY ATTITUDE CHANGED. SOME CHRISTIANS HAVE THE ATTITUDE OF: WELL SO AND SO IS MAD AT ME, SO I’LL BE MAD AT HIM. SO AND SO HURT MY FEELINGS, SO I’M GOING TO HURT THEIR FEELINGS. THE BIBLE SAYS RENDER NOT EVIL UNTO EVIL TO ANY MAN. NOT JUST CHRISTIANS BUT ANY MAN. IF A MAN SMITES YOU ON THE CHEEK, TURN TO HIM THE OTHER ONE ALSO. CHRISTIANS ATTITUDES SHOULD BE DIFFERENT THAN THAT OF THE LOST.
NUMBER TWO: WE CAN LIVE A CLEAN CHRISTIAN LIFE WITH OUR ACTIONS.
YOUR ACTIONS PLAYS A BIG PART. IN 2 CORINTHIANS 6:17 PAUL SAYS THIS “COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM AND BE YE SEPARATE, SAITH THE LORD.” GOD WANTS US TO SEPARATE OURSELVES FROM THE WORLD AND FROM SINNERS. GOD WANTS US TO BE GOOD CLEAN CHRISTIANS. A LOT OF CHRISTIANS ACTIONS ARE NOT THAT OF A CHRISTIAN. I’VE SEEN CHRISTIANS BACKSLID OUT IN THE WORLD, GOING OUT TO BARS DRINKING AND THEN COME IN THE HOUSE OF GOD AND STAND UP AND SAY “I LOVE THE LORD”. I HAVE A BIG PROBLEM WITH THAT. PEOPLE WHO SAY BLESS THEM LORD AND AMEN MEN ALONG WITH THEM HAVE JUST AS BIG A PROBLEM AS THEY DO. WE NEED TO SHOW WITH OUR ACTIONS WHAT KIND OF CHRISTIAN WE ARE. YOU GET THAT I DON’T CARE ACTION AND YOU’VE GOT THE WRONG ACTIONS. CHRISTIANS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE FRUITFUL. JESUS SAID IN JOHN 15 THAT EVERY BRANCH IN ME THAT BEARETH NOT FRUIT IS TAKEN AWAY. IF YOU DON’T BEAR FRUIT FOR GOD, HE DON’T NEED YOU. HE’S NOT GOING TO CAST YOU INTO HELL IF YOU’RE SAVED. HOW DO I KNOW? I’VE BEEN THERE. CHRISTIANITY IS NOT A PLAY THING. GOD IS VERY SERIOUS AND WE NEED TO ACT LIKE WE’RE CHRISTIANS AND QUIT PLAYING AROUND!!!
NUMBER THREE: WE CAN LIVE A CLEAN CHRISTIAN LIFE BY OUR AFFECTIONS.
PAUL SAID THIS IN COLOSSIANS 3:1-2 “IF YE THEN BE RISEN WITH CHRIST, SEEK THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE ABOVE, WHERE CHRIST SITTETH ON THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD. SET YOUR AFFECTIONS ON THINGS ABOVE, NOT ON THINGS ON THE EARTH.”
IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN RISEN WITH CHRIST THEN THIS DOESN’T APPLY TO YOU. YOU NEED TO BE SAVED BY THE GRACE OF GOD. IF YOU ARE SAVED THEN YOU NEED TO SET YOUR AFFECTIONS ON THINGS OF ABOVE. OUR AFFECTIONS REPRESENT THE LOVE WE HAVE FOR GOD AND OF HEAVEN. I LIKE LITTLE DAVID. THE BIBLE SAID HE WAS A MAN AFTER GODS OWN HEART. HIS AFFECTION WAS IN THE RIGHT PLACE. THERE’S CHRISTIANS TODAY WHOSE MINDS AND HEARTS ARE ON EVERYTHING BUT GOD. PAUL SAID THIS IN TIMOTHY: IN THE LAST DAYS THEY’D BECOME LOVERS OF PLEASURE MORE THAN LOVERS OF GOD. HE SAID THAT WOULD BE A SIGN TO US THAT WE WERE IN THE LAST DAYS. WE’RE SO WRAPPED UP IN THE TRADITION OF MEN. SUNDAY ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE IS THE ONLY DAY REGARDED AS THE SABBATH DAY. A HOLY DAY. PEOPLE USE THAT AS AN EXCUSE NOT TO WORK FOR GOD THE REST OF THE WEEK. GOD MADE ALL SEVEN DAYS. GOD SAID THAT EVERYTHING THAT WE DO WE SHOULD DO HEARTIDLY AS TO THE LORD AND NOT TO MAN. YOU KNOW WHEN I’VE GOTTEN MY BIGGEST BLESSINGS? DURING THE WEEK WHILE WORKING FOR THE LORD. I’LL NEVER FORGET THAT DAY IN THE NURSING HOME WHEN I WAS ALL ALONE AND I HAD GONE TO A ROOM AND INVITED PEOPLE TO COME HEAR THE PREACHED WORD. I CAME ACROSS A MAN OF 71. HE WAS LOST AND I ASKED HIM TO COME TO THE SERVICE. HE DIDN’T SHOW UP. I WENT ON AND I WAS THERE PREACHING AND THE WORKERS WERE MAKING NOISE IN THE KITCHEN AND THE AIR JUST SEEMED SO COLD. I REMEMBER SAYING TO MYSELF, “LORD JUST LET ME GET OUT OF HERE AND I WON’T NEVER COME BACK.” THAT’S THE THOUGHT I HAD AND JUST AS SOON AS I THOUGHT IT, THAT 71 YEAR OLD MAN CAME IN. DURING THE ALTAR CALL THAT 71 YEAR OLD MAN RAISED HIS HAND I WENT TO HIM. HE HAD TEARS RUNNING DOWN HIS CHEEKS AND SAID, “I’VE NEVER BEEN SAVED AND I WANT TO BE SAVED NOW.” THAT’S WHAT LIFE IS ALL ABOUT.
YOUR BLESSINGS DON’T COME FROM SITTING ON THE STOOL OF DO NOTHING IN THE HOUSE OF GOD ON SUNDAYS. YOUR BLESSING COME FROM OUT IN THE FIELD.
IF YOU LOVE GOD, DON’T LOVE HIM ONE MINUTE AND NOT THE NEXT.
NUMBER FOUR: CLEAN CHRISTIAN LIVING CAN BE FOUND IN OUR ABILITIES.
THIS GETS A LOT OF CHRISTIANS. WELL, PREACHER I DON’T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT JESUS TO TELL PEOPLE ABOUT HIM. THAT’S WHAT SUNDAY SCHOOL IS ALL ABOUT!!!!
SOME SAY THEY DON’T COME TO CHURCH ENOUGH TO GET OUT AND WORK FOR GOD. YOU DON’T NEED A WHOLE LOT OF ABILITY TO KNOW HOW TO WORK FOR GOD BUT YOU DO NEED TO KNOW THAT GOD IS ON YOUR SIDE.
IN 1 JOHN 5:4-5 IT SAYS THIS “FOR WHATSOEVER IS BORN OF GOD OVERCOMETH THE WORLD: AND THIS IS THE VICTORY THAT OVER COMETH THE WORLD, EVEN OUT FAITH. WHO IS HE THAT OVERCOMETH THE WORLD, BUT HE THAT BELIEVETH THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD.” THAT’S ALL THE ABILITY WE NEED. WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE GOOD CLEAN CHRISTIANS. BUT SOME PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS TRYING TO FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO FORWARD THEIR ABILITY. YOU KNOW WHY SO MANY PEOPLE GO OUT AND GET HUNG UP ON FALSE DOCTRINES? THEY THINK THAT GOD ISN’T GOOD ENOUGH. THEY HEAR THE PREACHED WORD AND THEY SAY IT ISN’T GOOD ENOUGH AND THEY GO OFF AND START TO BELIEVE IN LIES. THE BIBLE SAYS THAT MANY SHALL GO WITH THEIR FLOCKS AND THEIR HERDS TO SEEK THE LORD AND THEY SHALL NOT FIND HIM BECAUSE HE HATH WITHDRAWN HIMSELF FROM THEM. GOD ISN’T CUTTING US NO SLACK. WE CAN’T LIVE JUST ANY LIFE WE WANT TO. PREACHER, WHAT KIND OF ABILITY DO I NEED TO BE A SOUL WINNER? YOU NEED TO BE A CHILD OF GOD AND THAT’S ALL YOU NEED. TO BE A GOOD MINISTER YOU MUST BE SAVED AND CALLED BY GOD. THAT’S ALL YOU NEED. WE STAY IN THE WORD OF GOD, STAY ON OUR KNEES AND PREACH THE GOSPEL. WE NEED TO REALIZE THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON’T GROW BECAUSE THEY FEEL LIKE THEY DON’T HAVE WHAT THEY NEED. IF YOU’RE SAVED, YOU HAVE EVERYTHING. STAY CLOSE TO GOD, STAY CLEAN AND GOD WILL GROW YOU SPIRITUALLY. I’VE SEEN A LOT OF SICK HEARTED CHRISTIANS. I GET SO FED UP WITH THEM. THEY NEVER GROW SPIRITUALLY. THEY THINK BECAUSE OF THAT, THAT THEY DON’T HAVE THE ABILITY THEY NEED.
NUMBER FIVE: TO LIVE A CLEAN CHRISTIAN LIFE YOU NEED ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
LOOK AT JAMES 1:27 IT SAYS “PURE RELIGION AND UNDEFILED BEFORE GOD THE FATHER IS THIS, TO VISIT THE FATHERLESS AND WIDOWS IN THEIR AFFLICTIONS, AND TO KEEP HIMSELF UNSPOTTED FROM THE WORLD.”
THE DEVIL IS GOING TO COME AFTER US EVERY DAY. THIS IS THE DEVILS WORLD WE’RE LIVING IN. BUT WHILE HE’S TRYING TO BRING US DOWN WE NEED TO VISIT THE FATHERLESS AND THE WIDOWS IN THEIR AFFLICTIONS AND KEEP OUR SELVES UNSPOTTED FROM THE WORLD. GOD DID NOT PUT US HERE TO NOTHING. I’M TRYING TO TELL YOU HOW YOU CAN HAVE A MORE CLOSER WALK WITH GOD. WE NEED A GODLY SPIRITUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND THEN WE NEED TO LIVE IT. THE BIBLE SAYS THAT THE KINGDOM IS WITHIN YOU. IT’S NOT AROUND YOU. SOME PEOPLE WALK AROUND SAYING OOOOOH, THERE’S GOD OVER THERE, I BETTER WATCH OUT. THEY THINK LIKE THAT. THEIR LIVING THEIR LIFE AND GODS LIVING HIS LIFE AND THEIR TRYING TO BE A PART OF IT. LISTEN....HE IS OUR LIFE! PAUL SAID FOR ME TO LIVE IS CHRIST. WE NEED TO HAVE SOME ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT WE’VE DONE FOR THE LORD. HE’S DONE A WHOLE LOT FOR US AND WE OUGHT TO DO A WHOLE LOT FOR THEM. SURE OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS IS AS FILTHY RAGS BUT WE CAN STILL HAVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR OUR LORD. LOOK BACK OVER YOUR LIFE AND SEE WHAT YOU’VE ACCOMPLISHED FOR GOD. SOME PEOPLE COULD SAY NOTHING. THERE’S ELDERLY PEOPLE NOT WORKING FOR GOD RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THEY THINK THEIR TOO OLD. IF YOU’RE STILL HERE, YOU CAN STILL WORK.
I DON’T THINK SHIRLEY WILL MIND ME SHARING THIS. I WENT TO VISIT MY MOTHER THE OTHER DAY. JOYCE ASKED PRAYER FOR HER BECAUSE SHE HAS ONE KIDNEY AND NOW THEY’D FOUND A MASS ON IT. I TOLD HER SHE SHOULD BE IN THE HOUSE OF GOD. SHE’S A WOMAN WHO WENT TO CHURCH HER WHOLE LIFE AND AS SOON AS DADDY DIED, SHE QUIT GOING. I TOLD HER I’D COME BY AND GET HER EVERY SUNDAY AND BRING HER TO CHURCH. I TOLD HER IF DADDY WAS STILL ALIVE, SHE’D BE IN CHURCH BECAUSE DADDY WOULDN’T MISS CHURCH. SHE SAID WELL YOU KNOW I HAVE A ROUGH TIME SON. I ONLY HAVE ONE KIDNEY AND IT’S IN BAD SHAPE. SO I TOLD HER ABOUT SISTER SHIRLEY WHO IS A MEMBER AT THIS CHURCH AND HOW SHE DOESN’T HAVE ANY KIDNEYS BUT SHE COMES TO THE HOUSE OF GOD AND DOESN’T EVER MISS A SERVICE. PEOPLE NEED TO QUIT USING THEIR MEDICAL LIFE AS AN EXCUSE NOT TO WORK FOR GOD. WE CAN BE MISERABLE AND STILL WORK FOR GOD. THEN MAMA SAID, HOW ON EARTH IS SHIRLEY LIVING? I TOLD HER BY THE GRACE OF GOD. SEE I NOTICE THINGS LIKE THAT. I PRAISE GOD FOR PEOPLE LIKE SHIRLEY WHO WILL PUT FORTH AN EFFORT AND WORK FOR GOD.
I THOUGHT ABOUT THIS THIS MORNING. I’M GOING ON MY THIRD YEAR HERE AT WESTSIDE AND I CAN NEVER REMEMBER ONE TIME THAT ME OR MY WIFE HAVE EVER HAD TO PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL AND SAY WE WERE TOO SICK TO COME TO CHURCH. THAT’S WHAT WALKING CLOSE TO GOD WILL DO FOR YOU. I HAVE BACK PROBLEMS, SINUS PROBLEMS, NECK PROBLEMS, MY VOCAL CHORDS GET STRETCHED AND I GET HOARSE AFTER PREACHING, MY WIFE HAS HAD HER WHOLE SPINE FUSED, SHE GETS SICK, THE KIDS GET SICK BUT THANKS BE TO GOD WE’VE NEVER GOTTEN SO SICK THAT WE HAD TO MISS CHURCH. THIS IS THE PLACE WHERE WE GET OUR SPIRITUAL FOOD. MY WIFE AND I ARE ALWAYS HUNGRY FOR MORE FOOD! IF YOU STAY WITH GOD, HE’LL STAY WITH YOU. BUT IF YOU FORSAKE HIM, HE WILL FORSAKE YOU.
NUMBER SIX: TO LIVE A CLEAN CHRISTIAN LIFE WE NEED TO HAVE THE APPEARANCE.
OUR APPEARANCE OUGHT TO BE THAT OF A CHILD OF GOD NO MATTER WHO WE’RE AROUND. OUR LIGHTS OUGHT TO SHINE TO A LOST AND DYING WORLD. WHEN MOSES COME DOWN FROM THE MOUNTAIN FROM SEEING JESUS, HIS FACE SHONE SO BRIGHT THEY HAD TO PUT A VEIL OVER IT. IF YOU GET CLOSE TO GOD, YOU’LL SHINE.
NUMBER SEVEN: WE CAN LIVE A CLEAN CHRISTIAN LIFE BY LOOKING AT OUR AUTHORITY.
YA’LL KNOW BEFORE I BEGIN WHO OUR AUTHORITY IS. WHAT AUTHORITY DO WE NEED TO GET OUT AND WORK FOR GOD? HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED RIGHT HERE IN 1 CORINTHIANS 2:12 “NOW WE HAVE RECEIVED, NOT THE SPIRIT OF THE WORLD, BUT THE SPIRIT WHICH IS OF GOD; THAT WE MIGHT KNOW THE THINGS THAT ARE FREELY GIVEN TO US OF GOD.”
BLESSED IS THE MAN WHO IS LED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD FOR THEY ARE THE SONS OF GOD. JESUS SAID IF I GO AWAY I’LL SEND YOU ANOTHER COMFORTER. HE’LL LEAD YOU, GUIDE YOU, DIRECT YOU AND COMFORT YOU. HE’LL BE WITH YOU EVEN UNTO THE END OF THE WORLD. THE SPIRIT OF GOD IS ALL THE AUTHORITY WE NEED TO LIVE A GOOD CLEAN CHRISTIAN LIFE. IF THAT ISN’T ENOUGH, YOU’LL NEVER HAVE ENOUGH. WE NEED TO BE LED BY THE SPIRIT. I WROTE A SONG ONE TIME ABOUT THE HOLY GHOST. HE’S JUST A SHADOW. HE’S GOES WHERE WE GO. WHAT KIND OF LIFE ARE YOU LIVING AROUND THE HOLY SPIRIT?
I WANT TO SHARE THIS SCRIPTURE WITH YOU IN GALATIANS 2:20 “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 FAITH OF THE SON OF GOD, WHO LOVED ME, AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR ME.”
LET US PRAY: FATHER, AFTER HEARING THIS MESSAGE I REALIZE THAT I AM NOT LIVING A GOOD CLEAN CHRISTIAN LIFE. I ASK FORGIVENESS OF MY SINS AND ASK YOU LORD TO GIVE ME THE WISDOM AND THE KNOWLEDGE THAT I NEED TO LIVE A MORE CHRIST FILLED LIFE. ONE THAT INCLUDES TELLING OTHERS THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT YOU. I WANT THOSE SEVEN AREAS THAT WERE TOLD TO ME IN THE PREACHING OF YOUR WORD. HELP ME LORD TO ATTAIN THIS. IN JESUS NAME I PRAY. AMEN
