Title: Developing A Biblical World View (Part 2)
Text: Col 2:6-8
Pray!!!
Read Text!!!
Introduction:
- The whole purpose in doing this sermon series on Having A Biblical World View is because, without it there’s no purpose.
- Mel Gibson has been quoted as saying, “America is Bible illiterate,” I tend to agree.
- Meaning people don’t have a clue what the Bible says concerning today’s issues, nor are they living what the Bible says.
- It’s simply out of ignorance. It has not been taught nor communicated to people that Jesus is the answer for our lives, and the crisis the world finds itself in.
- When I dug a little deeper and looked up some statistics concerning Pastors and certain Faith groups I was shocked to see that half the Christian leadership in America doesn’t have a Biblical World View.
- A Biblical world view meaning that we make our decisions, and live our lives according to the Word of God and not the world’s philosophies.
- Therefore if half doesn’t have a Biblical World View, what do our congregations think and what are they believing?
- A church will never take a stand on issues if they don’t believe something to be true.
- As Christians we need to understand the core values of the Bible and be able to explain them to unsaved people.
- You can’t explain something or tell someone about something if you don’t know what you are talking about.
- According to God’s Word we need to give an answer in season and out of season. We need to no why certain issues are wrong, so that we can be a witness and give an answer to our community.
- I read on a wall, somewhere and it said, “Jesus is the answer”, and underneath it, it said, “What’s the question”.
- People today don’t know what Jesus did, nor of how to get to Heaven.
- But we do, or do we? That’s what I want to communicate to you this morning. Could we explain to someone how to get to Heaven, could we teach a cell group, disciple someone?
- Do you know how to witness and lead someone in the sinner’s prayer?
- This message is a starting point to help us understand the core values of the church.
- God is asking us to witness, pray for people, disciple etc.
- Our text in Col 2:6-8 says that we need too. (Read Text)
- It’s my prayer that I drop a seed into your heart that will want to know more about God’s Word and the answers that are in it for today.
- So this morning I want to give you 6 core belief’s that we need to live by, and teach to our children and families, our friends and community.
- This is what shaped our nation before and it needs to be taught again and lived by.
- Lets look at the 6 core values that we need to understand from God’s Word and live by as Christians:
Core Value 1: Understanding Salvation
- Our world says there are many ways to God.
- Many people have views about getting to Heaven.
- Have you ever noticed at a funeral service that everyone gets to Heaven?
- You could have the worse immoral person that has passed on, yet in most cases people believe that there loved one went to Heaven.
- And it’s hard to imagine anybody going to hell for all eternity, but it’s a reality and happens everyday, or every minute.
This is what the Bible says concerning salvation:
1. Available to all - Isa 45:22 says, “Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.”
2. Based On Faith - Rom 4:3 says, “What does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
Rom 10:9-10 says, “That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”
3. Salvation is conditional - Ezekiel 18:24 says, “But if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits sin and does the same detestable things the wicked man does, will he live? None of the righteous things he has done will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness he is guilty of and because of the sins he has committed, he will die.”
4. Involves freedom from sin - John 8:36 says, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
I John 3:10 says, “This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.”
5. Salvation by grace - Eph 2:8-9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.”
- Thousands of people die every minute, where do they go?
- The Bible gives the answer, either Heaven or Hell.
- But we must make a choice, we either chose to serve God or go our separate ways.
Meaning of Salvation:
Deut 5:29 says, “Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!”
- The Biblical history of salvation is nothing other than God’s tireless attempts to draw people away from their sin and it’s destructive consequences, and to bring them unto Himself.
- This is how one goes to Heaven and not Hell, by accepting Jesus into there hearts and living for them, turning away from there sin.
John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes on Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”
- To believe does not mean existence, for the devil believes and he is not saved.
- To believe means to put your life into God’s hands and let Him rule your heart, mind and body. (Deut 5:29)
- To trust, put your ambitions, hopes and dreams. That’s what it means. To go in God’s direction and allowing Him to call the shots concerning our lives, not ourselves.
- One must ask God for forgiveness of sins, because all were born into sin. Rom 5:12 says, “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.”
- This needed to be dealt with, that’s why Jesus came and took our place and died for our sins, we need to repent of our sin and give our lives to God.
- When that takes place and we say a prayer that has this thinking, then we are saved.
Rom 1:16 says, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.”
- But saying a prayer and living it out are two different things.
Core Value 2: To Live In Holiness (Obedience)
- Anyone can say a prayer, but the truth of that prayer needs to be lived out.
- When a sincere heart confesses with there mouth that Jesus is Lord and gives there life to Him, a change takes place.
- People view holiness as a threat, loss of fun. People think living a Holy life can be boring.
- But as Christians we no that is not the case. It’s a trick of the enemy so that we will not live holy lives unto the Lord.
- We are forgiven, and God takes residence in our lives.
- Now we must live for Him, but how?
A. Seeking the Baptism in the Holy Spirit - It’s for power to be a witness and to live out the Christian life. Acts 1:8
B. Following God’s Word and living by it. (Gal 5)
C. By living out the 10 Commandments. There are not recommendations but commands from the Lord. They are not there to ruin our fun, but to bless us.
- Again Deut 5:29 says, ““Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!”
D. Through daily prayer, Bible reading and Church attendance. These are some things that we can do in order to start on our journey with the Lord.
- The important thing is that we seek Him and commit ourselves to learning.
I Peter 1:2 says, “Who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by His Blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.”
- Sanctifying is the key word and it means to make holy, to consecrate, to separate from the world, and to be set apart from sin so that we may have intimate fellowship with God and serve Him gladly.
- So a person must willing strive to live a holy life before the Lord, but understanding Jesus is the one who makes us clean before God.
- The reason we live our lives in Holiness is to please God, because all the good things we do is not enough for God, we need a Savior and His name is Jesus. We live for Him and having Him in our lives first, makes God happy.
Core Value 3: The Second Coming Of Jesus
The Bible says in I Thes 4:16-17 says, “For the Lord Himself will come down from Heaven with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”
- Many people, and Christians don’t believe in the rapture, for whatever reason, but I believe we need to and God is looking for those who are longing for his return.
II Tim 4:8 says, “Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”
- We must be a people who are longing for His return. Do you long for Christ return?
- We need to encourage people with these words, because our world is in a terrible mess.
- Many people think that God is slow in His promise and will not return.
- That God has forgotten us and abandoned us.
But I Peter 3:3 says, “First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of His coming? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”
- What are some things that must happen before the Lord returns?
1. A Knowledge Explosion - Dan 12:4 says, “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”
- From the Garden of Eden until the 1900 people rode horses or walked, now there is everything from cars to airplanes.
2. The Rebirth of Israel - Isa 66:8 says, “Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion travailed, she gave birth to her children.”
- In 1948 Israel became a nation in one day, just like the prophets said it would happen. This is the hand of God controlling the affairs of man.
3. The Jews Will Return Home - Jer 23:7-8 says, “Therefore, behold, the days are coming says the Lord, that they shall no longer say, as the Lord lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of Egypt, but as the Lord lives who brought up and led the descendants of the house of Israel from the north country and from all the countries where I had driven them. And they shall dwell in their own land.”
- Tens of thousands of Jewish people have returned home from Russia and various places and are continuing to come back to the promise land.
4. Days of Deception - Matt 24:4-5 says, “And Jesus answered and said to them: Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name claiming I am Christ, and will deceive many.”
- Jesus warned that the number one problem in the world would be deception.
5. As in the Day of Noah - Matt 24:36-37 says, “But of that day and hour no one knows, no, not even the angels of Heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.”
- What were the days of Noah like? Wickedness, every intent of the thoughts of people’s hearts was only evil continually (Gen 6:5)
- This is all we see in our world today? Abortion, same sex marriage, greed etc.
- There are many more that we could go through, but time does not permit.
- Understand that we are living in the last days that Jesus spoke about.
- That when we see these signs the generation will not pass away but will see the coming of Jesus.
Matt 24:34 says, “Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things are fulfilled.”
- No body know’s the day or the hour when Christ will return, but we certainly can see the signs, we need to be ready and comfort each other with these words.
- People have tried to predict the coming of Jesus, listen to this true story:
After 14 years of studying the Bible, William Miller became convinced that Christ would return in 1843. When Miller announced April 3 as the day, some disciples went to mountaintops, hoping for a head start to heaven. Others were in graveyards, planning to ascend in reunion with their departed loved ones. Philadelphia society ladies clustered together outside town to avoid entering God’s kingdom amid the common herd. When April 4 dawned as usual the Millerites were disillusioned, but they took heart. Their leader had predicted a range of dates for Christ’s return. They still had until March 21, 1844. The devout continued to make ready, but again they were disappointed. A third date--October 22, 1844--was set, but it also passed.
- Many people try to make a date but the Bible says, that no one knows the date or the hour of Christ’s return, we are called to believe it and be ready. (Matt 24-25)
- Make no mistake Jesus is coming.
Core Value 4: The Existence Of The devil
(Isa 14:12-15)
- Some people believe that these verses not only refer to the King of Babylon (vs 16) but also refer to satan. Because of what Jesus says in Luke 10:18, “He replied, I saw satan fall like lighting from heaven.”
- Satan exists and his whole objective is to destroy Christian and non Christians. To be deceptive and to deceive. John 10:10 says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
- One of the greatest tricks of the devil is to convince people that he doesn’t exist.
- His goal is to deceive the Christian in walking away from God.
The Bible says in II Cor 11:13-15, “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.”
- Playing around with occult games like oiuja board, dungeon and dragons etc are harmless and fun.
- Astrology, fortune telling, and physic readings are portrayed as harmless. And anyone who says there wrong is a religious fanatic.
- And now for our children, the invention of Harry Potter who goes to a school to learn wizardry. To cast spells, to invite demonic spirits etc.
- The devil is trying to prove that He doesn’t exist and trying to work his way into your life to destroy it.
- God’s plan is to give you full life, not to trick you.
Core Value 5: Prayer
- Jesus didn’t teach His disciples to preach, but He did teach them to pray.
- In Matt 6 we see the Lord’s prayer that He taught His disciples it says: (Read the Lord’s Prayer found in Matt 6)
- Prayer is communication with God.
- Failing to pray one for another is sin. I Sam 12:23 says, “As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you.”
- We need to pray to develop our relationship with God.
- When we fail to pray our relationship with God, weakens.
- The presence of the Lord is not as strong, and we fail to hear the voice of the Lord.
- There are many things we need to pray for, some are:
1. Against evil - Psalm 35:1-38
2. Against anxiety - Psalm 142:1-7
3. For Forgiveness - Psalm 38:1-22
4. For God’s Will to be done.
- Not many people know how to pray or what to pray for, my suggestion to you is talk to God the way you talk to a loved one. God hears all prayers, and the sincerity of the Heart.
- Prayer is pouring yourself out to God
I found this story to be amusing about prayer, listen to what is said:
Two men were talking together. The first challenged the other, "If you are so religious, let’s hear you quote the Lord’s Prayer. I bet you $10.00 you can’t." The second responded, "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. And If I die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take." The first pulled out his wallet and fished out a ten dollar bill, muttering, "I didn’t think you could do it!”
- They both didn’t know the prayer. Church there is power in prayer, and if we could convince ourselves at times that God answer’s prayer, it would change our lives.
Core Value 6: Tithing and Giving
(Read Mal 3:6-12)
- The people were robbing God by failing to bring Him their tithes.
- Tithing was required of the people in the Law of Moses (Lev 27:30)
- When we don’t tithe, the potential of a curse is placed on the individual.
- But for those that do, a blessing is promised.
- Read Mal 3:10
- If the people would repent, return to God, and as a sign of their repentance, begin to support God’s work and ministers with their tithes and offerings, God would abundantly bless them.
- We express our love and devotion to God when we tithe and give offerings to support God’s work and extend the Kingdom.
If you give what you do not need, it isn’t giving.
Mother Teresa.
A mother wanted to teach her daughter a moral lesson. She gave the little girl a quarter and a dollar for church "Put whichever one you want in the collection plate and keep the other for yourself," she told the girl. When they were coming out of church, the mother asked her daughter which amount she had given. "Well," said the little girl, "I was going to give the dollar, but just before the collection the man in the pulpit said that we should all be cheerful givers. I knew I’d be a lot more cheerful if I gave the quarter, so I did.”
Matin Luther is quoted as saying
I have tried to keep things in my hands and lost them all, but what I have given into God’s hands I still possess.
- You can never out give God.
Conclusion:
- This was a brief over view which I believe to be the core values of the Christian today.
- I believe each church needs to have this information provided for there church members to help them live by and apply to there lives.
- The world needs to see the church has the answer to life’s problems.
- These six core values, will bring hope, peace and security from God to a world. If they will humble themselves and take it.
Lets Pray!!!
