a life worth living. our god wants us to have life! physical life is a gift to all, but it by no...

A Life Worth Living

Our God wants us to have life!

• Physical life is a gift to all, but it by no means is the life God offers us.

• There is a much greater “life” that Jesus came to give. (Jn 5:26, 39-40)


• John 5:26 - "For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself,


• John 5:39-40 - "You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 "But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.


• How many really know why they are here and what life is about?

• We are surrounded by sad, fearful, lonely people who try to escape seeking answers to their lives. Many wear a mask.

• Jesus is pictured as one who gives light and purpose but one whom the world hates and rejects. (Jn 10:10; 1:10-12)


• John 10:10 - "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.


• John 1:10-12 - He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:


• Jesus showed how we can live by dying! How we receive by giving!

• The Christian life is full of meaning but to the world it is filled with frightful paradoxes. (2 Cor 6:9-10)


• 2 Corinthians 6:9-10 - as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.


• I want to exhort those who are looking to the future to start here.

Life must be given and sustained in Christ

• Life in Christ we start with death. (Rom 6:3-4)


• Romans 6:3-4 - Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.


• This is a death of the will and complete submission to Jesus.

• It reflects a lifetime of “eating ……His flesh and blood.” (Jn 6:53-58)


• John 6:53-58 - Then Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. 54 "Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 "For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed.


• 56 "He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. 57 "As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. 58 "This is the bread which came down from heaven -- not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever."


• This is the bottleneck of conversion! How many really repent and give their will to the Lord?

• True life comes at a high cost! (1 Cor 3:11-13)


• 1 Corinthians 3:11-13 - For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is.


• A living faith will put the best into service to God. No junk is allowed!

• Those of you who receive a degree, did it come easy? Did you pick and choose when you felt like going to class or if you wanted to take a test?

• We despise that which is cheap and easy. (1 Chron 21:24; Mal 1:13-14)


• 1 Chronicles 21:24 - Then King David said to Ornan, "No, but I will surely buy it for the full price, for I will not take what is yours for the LORD, nor offer burnt offerings with that which costs me nothing."


• Malachi 1:13-14 - You also say, 'Oh, what a weariness!' And you sneer at it," Says the LORD of hosts. "And you bring the stolen, the lame, and the sick; Thus you bring an offering! Should I accept this from your hand?" Says the LORD.


• 14 "But cursed be the deceiver Who has in his flock a male, And takes a vow, But sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished -- For I am a great King," Says the LORD of hosts, "And My name is to be feared among the nations.


• Churches can be filled with members who have stopped fighting the good fight and have stopped putting God first. They have no abundant life.

• Do not join with or be led by those like the “Laodiceans.” (Rev 3:15-17)


• Revelation 3:15-17 - "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 "So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 "Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing' -- and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked --


• Give great attention to the teaching you receive! (1 Tim 4:13-16)


• 1 Timothy 4:13-16 - Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. 15 Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.


• 16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.


• We must demand the truth especially when it hurts. Have you had a friend complain about negative preaching? What do they mean?

• Many churches are appearing to decide that less preaching and teaching is better. What did Laodicea need? (Rev 3:18-19)


• Revelation 3:18-19 - "I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.


• Your generation may have to start over in many places in this country!

Life continues or perishes as the heart is maintained

• The heart is like soil where the word of God may grow or perish! (Lk 8:15)


• Luke 8:15 - "But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.


• This is not just true in conversion. We must discern! (Heb 3:12-13)


• Hebrews 3:12-13 - Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; 13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.


• There is a real test in how we respond when rebuked. Do you respond in integrity or in anger and scoffing? (Psa 1:1)


• Psalm 1:1 - Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;


• Satan plants bitterness and pride so that you might lose control of your mind. Please do not “give place to the devil.” (Eph 4:25-26)


• Ephesians 4:25-27 - Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another. 26 "Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil.


• You have been warned concerning many things that the world promotes.

• Make honesty an absolute priority. (James 3:17)


• James 3:17 - But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.


• God will test us to see if we really want truth. The easy way out is there.


• Give Me The Truth by Bill Crews


• If you are my friend, if you are concerned about my soul, give me the truth. Do not flatter me. Do not praise my virtues while remaining silent about my vices. Do not fear that the truth will offend me. Do not treasure our friendship, our friendly relations, above my salvation. Do not think that by ignoring my sins you can help.


• Do not think that being blind to my sins will prove yourself charitable. However I may react to it whatever may be my attitude toward you after you have done it, give me the truth! For the truth, and only the truth, can make men free from the shackles of sin, strengthen me in the pathway of righteousness and lead me to the joys of heaven.


• If I am wavering, weak, lukewarm, indifferent, neglectful; if I have been overtaken in a trespass, if I have been drawn into the pleasures of the world; if I have left first love; if I have been led astray by error; or if I have done none of these, but simply need to grow in knowledge and be edified, give me the truth!


• “Do these verses describe me?” (Mt 5:6; Amos 5:14-15; Prov 11:27)


• Matthew 5:6 - Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.


• Amos 5:14-15 - Seek good and not evil, That you may live; So the LORD God of hosts will be with you, As you have spoken. 15 Hate evil, love good; Establish justice in the gate. It may be that the LORD God of hosts Will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.


• Proverbs 11:27 - He who earnestly seeks good finds favor, But trouble will come to him who seeks evil.


• Hungering and seeking the truth is an “acquired” taste.

• We must maintain this desire. (Rom 12:9; 16:19)


• Romans 12:9 - Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.


• Romans 16:19 - For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil.


• An evil heart also comes from a lifetime of choices. (Jer 4:22)


• Jeremiah 4:22 - "For My people are foolish, They have not known Me. They are silly children, And they have no understanding. They are wise to do evil, But to do good they have no knowledge."


• I have known Christians who later adapted a lifestyle that they would have never dreamed of. This did not happen overnight.

• Your choices will become your character. (Jer 13:23 NIV)


• Jeremiah 13:23 - Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil.


• The lazy, unchallenged person will in time be found in Satan’s camp.


• Maintain a heart of thanksgiving. (Col 2:6-7; 4:2)


• Colossians 2:6-7 - As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.


• Colossians 4:2 - Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;


• I have not known of a thankful, discerning person to fall away.

• When we really see God, we see how small we are and how small our problems are!

Life never quits

• Our God will allow us to go through the fires of tests. (1 Pt 1:6-7)

Life never quits

• 1 Peter 1:6-7 - In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

Life never quits

• My dad’s greatest example to me was his fight to provide for the family.

• God often has his people face their worst fears so that they can see themselves as God does.

• Wise parenting learns how to use tests rather than run from them.

• Peter needed to learn some very difficult lessons. (Lk 22:31-32)

Life never quits

• Luke 22:31-32 - And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 "But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren."

Life never quits

• What was Peter like when he returned to God?

• What tests might you face in your future? You will face them!

• Peter knew who Jesus was and where eternal life is found. (Jn 6:66-68)

Life never quits

• John 6:66-68 - From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. 67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you also want to go away?" 68 But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.

Life never quits

• It is my prayer that your time here has prepared you for the life ahead!

a life worth living. our god wants us to have life! physical life is a gift to all, but it by no...

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