The Games Some Christians Play -Part #2

Sermons from the Book of 1 John: January 24, 2010

THE GAMES SOME CHRISTIANS PLAY: Part 2:

Sermon #02: TRUST & OBEY – Part 1

Scripture Ref: 1 John 2: 3-6

Introduction:

JOHN is STILL TALKING to us about KNOWING the JOY of the LORD in our OWN PERSONAL WALK with GOD.

I John 1:4 ‘These things write we unto you, that your JOY may be full.’

• THE JOY OF THE LORD:

A FULLNESS of JOY to be had in the LORD JESUS CHRIST:

A FULLNESS of JOY in FAITHFULLY SERVING GOD:

I’m CONVINCED that as CHRISTIANS we DON”T CLAIM ENOUGH the JOY of the LORD in our lives. As a matter of fact WHEN MOST PEOPLE THINK of JOY – EXCITEMENT – they very SELDOM THINK of GOD.

They THINK of PARTIES – VACATIONS – MONEY – MATERIAL POSSESSIONS – the NEWEST ELECTRONIC GADGETS --- POISONOUS HIGHS that DAMAGE their BRAINS

But JOHN wants us to KNOW that as ONE who has been BORN AGAIN by the BLOOD of JESUS CHRIST ----- as ONE who has HAD a SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION within their HEART & MIND --- THEN there is a JOY that BY FAR SUPERSEDES ALL OTHER JOYS.

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This same JOHN tells the ACCOUNT of JESUS MEETING a WOMAN of SAMARIA at JACOB’S WELL.

Found in the GOSPEL of JOHN chapter 4:

This was a WOMAN who had SEARCHED for JOY in so many things:

She was a WORLDLY WOMAN that was LOOKED DOWN UPON by her SOCIETY. She had been MARRIED 5 TIMES & was SHACKING UP with a MAN then that she WAS NOT MARRIED TO.

MOST PEOPLE would have AVOIDED HER. But NOT JESUS!

To JESUS she was EXACTLY the TYPE of PERSON HE CAME to EARTH for.

She was SEARCHING for JOY. & JESUS had JOY she could HAVE ABUNDANT & FREE!

John 4: 13- 15 ‘Jesus answered & said unto her, ‘Whosoever drinks of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall be in him, a well of water springing up into everlasting life.’ The woman said unto HIM, ‘SIR, give me this water that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.’

JOY IS NOT A LUXURY BUT A NECESSITY:

JESUS didn’t just GIVE this WOMAN FORGIVENESS of her SINS, HE GAVE HER the JOY she had been SEARCHING for.

This JOY isn’t a LUXURY that we CAN DO WITHOUT.

It COMES with the PACKAGE! It is a NECESSITY:

Nehemiah 8:10 ‘The JOY of the LORD is our STRENGTH.’

The JOY of the LORD is a NECESSITY in TWO WAYS:

1} WHEN we BURDENED DOWN with the TRIALS of THIS LIFE:

JOY in KNOWING that GOD will put NO MORE UPON US than what HE & US WORKING TOGETHER in PRAYER & SUPPLICATION in the HOLY SPIRIT cannot bear. That PROMISE GIVES us JOY: THIS BATTLE WILL NOT DEFEAT ME:

I Corinthians 10: 13: There has no temptation taken you but such is common to man; but GOD is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it.’

2} WHEN THE DEVIL OFFERS US JOY IN OTHER THINGS:

LIVING for GOD is ABOUT CHOOSING the RIGHT CHOICES:

The DEVIL does the SAME THING he did to ADAM & EVE in the GARDEN:

We have to have in OUR POSSESSION SOMETHING that MEANS MORE to us than WHAT the DEVIL OFFERS:

That’s where the JOY of the LORD is WONDERFUL:

1 John 4: 4 ‘…… Greater is HE that is in you, than he that is in the world.’

Because of that JOY in the LORD we can tell the DEVIL:

‘I wouldn’t TAKE NOTHING for MY JOURNEY NOW.’

 JOY HAS A PRICE TO BE PAID:

WHY don’t we SEE MORE JOY in those who SAY they are a CHRISTIAN?

JOY has a PRICE to be PAID and MANY are NOT WILLING to PAY that PRICE.

It is NOT a MONETARY PRICE – NO MONEY CAN BUY JOY in the LORD

It is a PRICE of FAITHFULNESS to GOD.

So the DEVIL PERSUADES MANY to PLAY the GAME of BEING a CHRISTIAN rather than BEING FAITHFUL to GOD.

& this is WHAT JOHN is REFERRING to here in 1st JOHN.

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GAME #1: WALKING in DARKNESS:

1 John 1: 6-7 ‘If we say that we have fellowship with HIM & we walk in darkness we lie, & do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as HE is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, & the blood of JESUS CHRIST HIS SON cleanses us from all sin.’

GOD is LIGHT & in HIM there is NO DARKNESS: