The Godly Life Series

INTRO.- The Godly life is NOT what many people want. I think many people would rather have the world and all of its goodies.

ILL.- How would you like to own a 5000 square foot home with 5 bedrooms, 3 baths, three car garage, etc.? We’re talking $500,000 to $600,000 home. And let’s say you have two brand new vehicles: a car and truck of your choice. And you work a 40-hour work week but make over $200,000 a year.

How would like to have all of this and heaven too? I think you realize that most of the time it doesn’t work this way. God doesn’t work this way and life doesn’t turn out this way!

You have perhaps the old saying, “You can’t have your cake and eat it too.” What’s the meaning or idea? It’s the idea of “you can’t have it both ways” or “you can’t have the best of both worlds."

I believe, however, that many people would like to believe they can have their cake and eat it too. By this, I mean I think many people would like to enjoy everything this life offers and heaven too! But I’m not convinced this can happen. We have it pretty good anyway.

Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”

If a person’s heart is on this world or devoted to the things of this world, how can their heart be devoted to Jesus at the same time?

It sounds to me like you can’t have both at the same time. I’m sure there are some rich people who love the Lord Jesus, but having great riches are generally a deterrent to a godly life in Christ.

Matthew 16:26 “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?”

And some people have traded their souls for riches in this world.

ILL.- My mother, rest her soul, dated an older man in Webb City, MO, some years before he died. He was at least 10 years older than mom but they enjoyed one another’s company and he would buy her lunch. His name was Ralph Lee and had worked hard all his life to make money. It seemed that “making money” was his passion in life. He was worth over a million dollars when he died and all of his money went to his grandchildren. His wife and two daughters died before he did. Ralph at the age of 91, I believe.

One time while visiting with mom I went out for my daily run. Ralph happened to drive by, saw me running, stopped his car and said, “If I had your energy I could make some more money.” Sadly, Ralph died not knowing the Lord.

At all cost, we must be committed to something in this life and I say, let it be Christ. Let it be the godly life. This should be our greatest desire in life. Only one life. Twill soon be past. Only what is done for Christ will last. Eternity is just around the corner and the only thing that really pays or lasts is living a godly life in Christ.

PROP.- Living the godly life. What is it? What will it take?

1- The godly life will center on Christ

2- The godly life will bring on persecution

3- The godly life will rely on scripture

I. THE GODLY LIFE WILL CENTER ON CHRIST

12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus....

There is only one way to become godly and that’s in Christ. A person must first know Christ and then begin to grow in Him in order to become godly.

Jesus reveals the Father to us. He shows us who God is and what He is like. He is God in the flesh. Like father, like son. We must have the Son in order to have the Father. We must be in Christ in order to become Godly or God-like.

John 14:6 "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Acts 4:12 “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."