Do not be indifferent !

Heb 10 :26-31

When we talk of indifference, we mean people who care less. Here we are talking of people who care less about their spiritual life hence are given to sin. They repeatedly commit sin and it has become their way of life. Not because they do it ignorantly. Not because they do it out of weakness but because they have decided to continuously live in it; doing nothing to stop the flesh from this lust. We know the work of the flesh struggles against the work of the spirit.

·         In the flesh is no good thing (Ro 7:18)

·         The flesh produces dead works (Heb 9:14)

·         We should therefore not put our trust in the flesh (Phil 3:3) because you cannot please God when living in the flesh (Ro 8:8)

[My intention is that at the end of this message you will be able to know that you are not supposed to feed the flesh with that which it desires] Ro 13:14

    a)      What are the things that feed the flesh? Gal 5:19-21

·         Adultery which is illicit sexual intercourse outside the bond of marriage violating the conditions of that covenant

·         Fornication which range from prostitution, unchastity including homosexuality and lesbianism.

·         Uncleanness which includes impure life, a filthiness of heart and mind including all that which is ceremonially unclean before God (Lev 7:19-21)

·         Lewdness which includes sensuality, lewd dancing, lasciviousness, debauchery, immoral dress and indecent conduct (2 cor 12:21; Eph 4:19; 1 Pet 4:3)

Today many people have entered into homosexuality as a response to sensuality. They say, they are civilized, and that they are responding to their sensibility. This is sin and we cannot respect their desires as far as they are immoral. God does not respect homosexuality that is why He punished Sodom and Gomorrah. We are His disciples and will not respect that at all. God is about to thunder again against this generation.

                To the men and women of God who are indifferent; who do not say anything about these bad practices, God will also ask you what you have done as His disciple. Today our youths copy just anything up to immoral dressing. Girls dressed with all the contours of their body exposed. Others dress with exposed breast or buttocks. Young boys today dress with their inner wears exposed and trousers hanging at the base of the buttocks, and indecent conduct is normal for the youths today.

                Parents who allow these will also answer before God because the blood of these lost children shall be asked of the parents and the Christians around them. What are you doing about what you see today? In Cameroon, since last month Nov 2013 the ministry of youth affairs has launched a campaign against indecent dressings and conduct in public. It is high time the church takes its responsibility to bring the transformation that is needed in the lives of men and women in our society today. It is true that force cannot bring the transformation that our Lord wants to bring to the heart of men. Today I was told in Bamenda that some young boys have been beaten by the BIR and that the city council has taken it a responsibility to bring decent dressing in the town of Bamenda. Many youths are now afraid to dress poorly exposing their buttocks. This is good but we as Christians need to do more to bring real change to these youths of our nation. They need to dress well because of love for their neighbor and God, not because of fear.

                The Bible tells us that the man who is indifferent is a brother to the wicked (Proverb 18:9). So, do not be slothful, God does not want people who are slack

·         The flesh does not produce any good thing. Idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envying, drunkenness, reveling, and others are the works of the flesh.

·         But we need to please God with the fruit of the spirit which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Knowing that indifference is also sin; will you continue in sin?

   b)      Willful sin

Willful sin is deliberate life-style of turning away from the grace of God. This is a person who has rejected the truth of the gospel. And the gospel is the word of God. And the word that was with God and that was God is Jesus Christ. If we continue in sin after hearing this word of truth, then there is no sacrifice for sin again but the judgment of the Lord.

·         The truth is the grace in the work of God that was revealed through the cross (Gal 1:6). That is the truth of the gospel.

·         When you continue in sin, you no longer have sufficient sacrifice (Heb 6:4-6) for your sins. The cleansing blood of Christ is no longer effective in your life

Why?

Moving away from grace, you are going for the law hence you are severed from Christ. You are truly cut off from Christ (Gal 5:1-6). So the cleansing blood is no longer for you.

·         Flee from sin and do not be indifferent about sin my brothers and sisters

   c)       The result of rejection is punishment from God

·         The soul and the body will be destroyed in hell (Mtt 10:28)

·         The punishment will be server because they have rejected God who is more than the law of Moses

·         Jesus is more than Moses (Heb 3:1-6)

·         The new covenant is greater than the Old Testament (Heb 8:6)

·         Jesus is a better priest than the levitical priesthood (Heb 7:11-20)

·         The sacrifice of Jesus is better than the sacrifice of animals (Heb 9:11-22)

·         The punishment will be greater if you reject the greater things listed above. These things are embedded in Christ alone.

                                                               i.      If you turn back to the Old Testament system, then you mean that the sacrifice of Jesus was not sufficient

                                                             ii.      You are in that case insulting the grace of God that was revealed on the cross (Ti 2:11)

                                                            iii.      Today many Christians are abandoning the truth not to turn to the levitical system but to turn to the world. They will receive the same punishment and Peter says they are like “ a dog that returns to his own vomit,” (2Pet 2:22)

                                                           iv.      God says vengeance is mine. God will not overlook your rejection. He will judge you and pay you for your deeds. They are the enemies of righteousness (Ro 12:19)

                                                             v.      It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Do not be deceived that you can turn away from the cross, and yet escape God’s vengeance (Lk 12:5). REPENT NOW and LIVE!

 Amen!

Do not be afraid: Have courage

Heb 13:5-6

Many Christians are frightened these days because of the trials and difficulties they face. Many have carried fear right into the church and have created division in the house of God just like the people of the world. A Christian asked me that “why do we allow just any person to speak and sing in the church? We do not know from where the person is coming and the motive.”

All this was because of fear. She was afraid that the lady who visited us and was moved to sing to the Lord could have been an agent of darkness. But there was no proof. She forgot that He that is in us is more than the work of Satan in the world.

[My intention is  to bring you to the point that you’ll develop courage even in your fears and know that God will never forsake His children]

a)      What causes fear in some is because they are not contented with what they have.

·         Many people are materialistic and they want all for themselves. When they cannot get that much they are frightened by their desires.

·         Some are not happy with their little and they feel that they are in lack

o   That they are poor

o   That they must do something for their poverty

·         But Heb 13:5 says we must be contented with what we have

o   Your children

o   Your wife

o   Your husband

o   Your job,

o   your money

o   your health; all that you have!

·         Do not be a lover of money!

o   For no covetous man has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God (Eph 5:5)

o   The love of money is the root to all evil (1 Tim 6:10)

o   But those who have been blessed with riches by God should not trust in their riches but in the living God who richly gives us all things to enjoy (1Tim 6:17)

·         A good Christian is always satisfied with the things they have.

Why?

ü  Because God will never forsake His children

b)      Christians must be courageous, knowing that God is always with them.

                                 i.            If you know that what you have, comes from God, you’ll be contented.

                               ii.            But if you think it is out of your labour, you’ll always be afraid of losing it; afraid when things are not moving as you would love.

                              iii.            But what does God say?

“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Vs 5

                             iv.            So your blessings are what God feels is sufficient for your earthly dwelling. You have to be happy with it and use the blessings you have in its measure.

c)       You must be bold to say that I will not fear!

Why? Because:

ü  God is your helper

ü  God is in your life

ü  God helps His children (Psalm 27:1)

ü  God is our strength

ü  No one can be against us when God is for us (Romans 8:32)

ü  He who works in us is greater than Satan who works in the world.

ü  Christians have already received the victory

o   Victory over poverty

o   Victory over death

o   Victory over sickness

o   Victory over evil

o   Victory over Satan because Jesus won it and handed it to those who believe in Him.

What will man do to me? Nothing!

What should I then do with this victory?

ü  Continue in Christian walk faithfully

ü  Spread the good news with boldness

ü  Continue in brotherly love (Heb 13:1) because it is pleasing to God.

ü  To dwell with God in eternity you must love your brethren.

ü  How can you dwell with God in eternity when you cannot love? God is love and in eternity all the Christians will be there.

ü  Can you dwell in such a place when you cannot love on earth? No! The qualification to dwell in heaven is to have the nature that can dwell in heaven with brethrens.

Ø  When you understand the principle of love, you’ll show hospitality even to strangers.

o   Extend your love beyond the people you personally know.

o   Extend your love by helping others and especially other Christians who are suffering for the gospel.

o   It does not matter whether they are from your denomination or not; they are part of the universal church of Christ.

o   They are working with us for the same purpose: win souls for Christ! The Bible tells us to think of them who are in chains for the gospel of Jesus Christ vs3

o   Do not be that kind who’ll be afraid of every one especially strangers in our churches.

o   How can you show Christian love to a visiting Christian when you have in mind that he or she maybe an agent of darkness?

o   God is with you and no one can do you harm. “What will a man do to me when God is my helper?”

Ø  Arise and take the Christian walk with boldness;

§  Confessing Jesus Christ with boldness

§  Telling people what he has done in your life

§  Reminding yourself that he is still working in you

§  Ask those who do not know Him to come and hear. To believe in him and they will have rest. He is the Christ who came and died for our sins to save us from wrath!

Amen!

Christian love : The more excellent way

1 Cor 13:1-8

Love is a word that many people use everyday but many do not take into account what it involves. Many people say “I love you”, but many do not take into account what they mean. No one will ever want to be hated. Many people want to be loved but many people do not want to give love. I have heard a statement like this in school: “You are more loving than being loved!”

[My intention is to show the qualities of true love, which every Christian has to exercise]

1. Love is a source of progress in a Christian life

·         Where there is love, there is unity.

·         Where there is love, there is success in every project.

·         Where there is love, there is peace.

·         Where there is love, there is happiness.

·         Unity in good works is based on love (Jn 13:34,35).

·         Where there is love, it shows the image of Christ and makes the world know that we are His disciples.

·         Love manifests, the commandment of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2. Without love Christians are empty and worthless

Love as used in this text is agape in Greek. This means unconditional love. Paul makes us know here that you can be the best Christian as far as work or faith is concerned, but without love you are nothing. Paul makes it known that he knows what he is saying. They are things he has experienced in his Christian walk and he says he could glory in these things he has experience but he would not do it because God intended him not to. He has surely spoken with angels in his visionary experience of being caught up to the third heaven and hearing the unspeakable words (2Cor 12:4).

• The language of angels cannot be expressed through the physical mouth of man as the language of man; but Paul had the grace to speak. But he says it does not benefit if he has no love (agape).
• You may have faith that can move mountains, gift of prophecy, understand all mysteries and all knowledge; but you are nothing if you do not have love (agape).
• Without love that moves us to respond to the needs of our brothers or sisters, all the other gifts of the spirit will be useless in us.
• You can give yourself to be persecuted even to death for your faith in Christ (vs 3); you can give sacrificially to help the poor or for evangelism. But if the giving of your life or money is not motivated by love in response to the grace of God, then it is useless. That is what Paul means when he says it profits not.
• All these things that we do because we merit them are good. We may be doing them because we merit that, because we are gifted. Yes! But if we do these and lack in love, it does not profit us. It will not take you to heaven if you are doing those things meritoriously.
• But you cannot love without doing the work. It is the heart of love that is essential for one to be able to dwell in heaven. Not merits, but love! (James (2:14-19)
• How can you give to the needy with faith when you do not love? Without love your faith is dead.

How then can we show love? Vs 4

3. Qualities that show true love

Paul presents 15 qualities that show true love in this text.

True love:

        I.            Suffers long: Love patiently endures the weaknesses of others. It is not quick to throw away relationship because of a disagreement (Proverbs 17:9). 1 Thess 5:14 says we should be patient towards all men.

      II.            Is Kind: Love has no harsh attitude to a brother or sister or spouse (Eph 4:32) It works for the benefit of the people we love.

    III.            Does not envy:  It does not jealous or seek the possessions of others (Gal 5:26)  It will build up and not tear down

    IV.            Does not exalt itself: love does not push to be seen but to work humbly in the background for others to be seen; for others to be exalted. Love does not draw attention to itself.

      V.            Is not puffed up: love is not arrogant or prideful. So it does not insist on having its own way or consider itself better than others. It does not lift itself up by knocking others down.

    VI.            Does not behave unbecomingly vs 5: It does not ignore others for the sake of exalting itself. It shows more considerations for others.

  VII.            It does not seek its own: love does not love to be first. (1 Cor 10:24, Ph 2:4, 3Jn 9,10)

VIII.            Is not easily provoked: love does not easily lose its temper. In situations that are rough and harsh, love would not react in rage and anger, but in calmness and gentleness.

    IX.            Thinks no evil: love does not search for evil in order to destroy the enemies by slanderous character assassination. But it assumes the sincerity of others without questioning the motives of others.

      X.            Does not rejoice in iniquity vs6: Love does not take pleasure in finding sin or failures in the lives of others (Ps 10:3, Ro 1:32)

    XI.            Rejoices in the truth: It seeks truth and not evil in the lives of others. It goes for the truth; Look at the things that it can do to bring truth in the life of others.

  XII.            Bears all things vs 7: Whether things are difficult or not, love does not cease to work. When one is sinned against love, love forbears without retaliation.

XIII.            Believes all things: love believes that all things work together for the good of Christians (Ro 8:28). The best is yet to come!

XIV.            Endures all things: Because all things work together for good of Christians, love looks on the positive side of things when things seem to go wrong. Things may go wrong but true love never quits.

All the other miraculous gifts will pass away but love never fails. Prophecies and languages will vanish away but that which spring forth out of a heart of love would never pass away. Love is the most excellent way!

Shalom!