FINISHING POINT

Man is God’s most beautiful creation. He has molded him in the most beautiful manner but man has rejected his potter and molded themselves according to their own desire which has in some built foolishness of its own. God has great plans and purpose for us humans, but we make our own that suit ourselves and according our own standards. These are not only small but also limited in scope. So they act as a barrier to the endless love of God. Great promises are made for those who love him, trust him and walk and do according to His desires. To love him we do not need any reason. Only turning back and acknowledging the rendered blessings is enough.

God says even if your mother forgets you I will not forsake you. This is a promise which we can trust boldly and blindly. Bible dispenses many examples for His children to learn from them.

Moses was a chosen son of God. He did what God asked him to do. But because of the acute situation he turned his face from God. And his progress ceased.

When people were close enough to Canaan to prepare for attack, they became fearful of the Canaanites and rebellious against God. Except Joshua and Caleb, the people stubbornly refused to trust God and advance into Canaan. Isaiah 49:1 says that you choose me when I was in my mother’s womb. He has called us to be leaders. But verse 6 tells us how to carry on the leadership. Joshua is the prime of one who was benefited by a worthy mentor. For years he remained close to Moses. He watched Moses as he followed God in an almost flawless manner.

He learned to pray in a personal way from Moses. Joshua apparently also learned from negative examples that cost Moses the joy of actually entering the Promised Land. As long as you are alive you have the role of a mentor. Somewhere, someone is watching you. Some younger person or someone is watching how you live and how you react.  Someone is learning from you. Someone will follow your examples. Mentoring is far more than the words that are spoken by the word that are spoken by the mentor. His or life is on display. All have the zealously. But many faint before reaching the finishing point. Only those win the race who ultimately touch the point with their chest. Moses could not be a winner. Rebecca started well but her end was a big disgrace. She was called as a foul player. She deceived her blind husband as well as God. She had to pay a great price for that. Bible does not record her death and nothing else after her deception. The only consolation we have is that He will not break off a battered reed, and He will not put off a smoldering wick.

God doesn’t need any illegitimate ways to accomplish his promise.

We are here to learn from the mistakes of the great men and women of the Bible. We receive the blessings God through the spiritual gifts. He doesn’t measure us from our perspectives. He measures how much we love him by His scale. But trying to attain His blessing through worldly means will not have good effect. God has given name to all of us. Watch over it; cherish it so that we can prove it before it before we die.

Jesus can turn a mess into a message

A test into a triumph

And a testimony into a victory

Always trust Jesus

And have a victorious life

See whether your wick is smoldering

If yes then you are on the right track

Moreover no one can put it off.

AMEN 

Addiction

     ADDICTED TO THE WAYS OF THE WORLD, OR THE WAYS OF THE LORD?    

1. To be addicted to something can be either good or bad depending on what it is.

 Webster's New World Dictionary defines Addicted as: "one addicted to some habit, as to the use of a drug."

2. There are many things in this world that individuals can become addicted to.

The sinner needs to recognize those things in which he is addicted to in the world as Satan's devices trying to lure him away from being obedient to Christ.

The Christian must realize that Satan continues to get you and I hooked on something that will either pull us away from the Lord or will cause us to set a bad example before others.

3. The Christian must determine within himself to WANT to only be addicted to his service to God, not anything of the world.

4. This morning, were going to look at some things in this life that people become addicted to and then look at areas of godliness that every Christian should strive to want to be addicted to.

ADDICTED: TO THE WAYS OF THE WORLD?

Jesus clearly taught that any disciple of His MUST NOT be an excuse maker, but rather be ready to come to Him. Luke 14:16-24 16 Then He said to him, "A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, 17 "and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, 'Come, for all things are now ready.' 18 "But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.' 19 "And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.' 20 "Still another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.' 21 "So that servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.' 22 "And the servant said, 'Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.' 23 "Then the master said to the servant, 'Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 'For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.'" A. Isn't it true that there are things that one might be addicted to that keeps him from being ready to serve the Master as He intended for us to serve Him.

Jesus follows this up by saying: Luke 14:26-33 26 "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 27 "And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 28 "For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it-- 29 "lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 "saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.' 31 "Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 "Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. 33 "So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has

CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE.

 What are some of the things of this World that we can become addicted to?

A. Tobacco Products

1. 
   Tobacco Products have PROVEN to cause one to go to an early grave.


2. 
   Tobacco Products have PROVEN to cause innocent people to suffer some of the same diseases because of "second hand smoke."


3. 
   Tobacco Products hurts the individual and it also hurts others. When a Christian uses these things they also hurt their influence on others. Matt 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. 1 Tim 4:12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

A Christian that is brought under bondage of Tobacco products does not have control over his body.

1 Cor 6:12 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

 Rom 6:12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.

Rom 8:13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

1 Cor 6:19-20 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.

4. 
   Can you honestly say that when you are using tobacco products that you are glorifying God in your body? Come on-let's think on these things and get motivated to stop our worldly addiction!

B. Alcohol

1. 
   You can use all those same scriptures when it comes to alcohol use. But I want to share with you some more and give you something to think about.


2. 
   In Leviticus 10:9f, it teaches about the conduct that is prescribed for the priests in that day. I realize that we are not under the Old law today, but the principle set forth here is something that we should take note of. Lev 10:9-10 9 "Do not drink wine or intoxicating drink, you, nor your sons with you, when you go into the tabernacle of meeting, lest you die. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, 10 "that you may distinguish between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean, a) They were not to drink intoxicating drink because it is something that was not holy unto the Lord

Christians are priests today and we are to be holy unto the Lord. Notice:

1 Pet 1:15-16 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy." 1 Pet 2:5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

1 Pet 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

 2 Pet 3:11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,

 Rev 22:11 "He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still."

C. The things we choose to view

1. 
   In this day and time the television and the theater screen has caused many a Christian to lower their standards of godliness.


2. 
   We MUST be very careful what we choose to watch because not only will we be defiled, but others who watch us, may never see how important God is in our life, based on what we let come into our holy temple.


3. 
   Jesus wrote: Luke 11:34-36 34 "The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is bad, your body also is full of darkness. 35 "Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness. 36 "If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, the whole body will be full of light, as when the bright shining of a lamp gives you light."

I sincerely hope that we can understand what Jesus was trying to teach us. Our holy temple, our inner being will only be filled with God's light if we choose for it to. The Devil wants this lamp of ours to grow dull and fade away.

D. Any other Worldly device that we can become addicted to such as Gluttony, foul language, pleasures of life.

1. 
   These are things that we can become addicted to and lead us away, not closer to the eternal kingdom of God. 4. At this point in the lesson, I urge you to THINK. Think, are there things in my life right now that I MUST change so I can honestly say before God, that I am doing EVERYTHING in my body, God's Temple, for the glory of God!!

ADDICTED: TO THE WAYS OF THE LORD?

1. 
   The Alien Sinner must be determined to leave the ways of the World and be addicted to serving God.


2. 
   The Christian MUST only be satisfied when he realizes that he is truly striving to do those things which God has asked of him.


3. 
   The apostle Paul encouraged the Christians at Corinth to be addicted to the Lord in that he urged them to be: 1 Cor 15:58...steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Only those that set their sights on running the race in such a way as to receive the crown of glory will get to heaven. This should be an addiction of every Christian.

1 Cor 9:24-27 24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should

Heb 12:1-3 1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

2 Tim 4:7-8 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. 4. The Christian that is truly addicted to the Lord will understand that their body is to be lived in such a way as if a living sacrifice to God.

 Rom 12:1-2 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

CONCLUSION:

Are you having trouble finding the Lord because of Worldliness?

When we become determined to take away our worldly addictions, then we can clearly SEE the LORD in our life!

But it won't happen until we take worldliness away! 2. Won't you be determined this morning to take away any form of worldliness that you have and become addicted to serving the Lord?

Remember: Matt 7:21 Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

Backsliding

BACKSLIDING

HOSEA 4:16

What’s a Backslider?

"Dad, what’s a backslider?" the boy asked.

"Well, Son, that’s a man who leaves our church and goes to another."

"But Dad, then what do you call a man who leaves his church and joins ours?"

"He’s a convert, Son, a convert!"

The idea of backsliding is mentioned quite a few times throughout the Bible. Sometimes it is called sliding, turning aside, turning back, falling, etc… The word actually means exactly what it sounds like it means. To backslide is to go backwards in your spiritual life!

Hosea 4:16 likens a backslider to a heifer. The backslider is like an ox that is in a double yoke. Both of the oxen are supposed to pull together to drag the cart, plow, etc… forward. The backsliding heifer decides to turn to the side or to stop in its tracks or even to go backward! Of course, this hinders not only the heifer’s progress, but also the progress of the other ox and the cart or plow itself! Can you see the application?

Jesus said for us to take His yoke upon us and learn of Him. We are supposed to be laboring together for the cause of Christ while getting to know Him more! When one of us backslides—stops doing our part in praying, devotions, giving, witnessing—the church suffers and ultimately the cause of Christ suffers!

Let us note a few things about backsliding:

The Causes of Backsliding

A. Spending Time with the Wrong People

1. "Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners" (I Corinthians 15:33).

2. "For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father" (I Kings 11:4).

3. "Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul" (Proverbs 22:24-25).

4. "He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed" (Proverbs 13:20).

5. Don’t tell me that the people you hang around do not affect you!

6. The Bible teaches that we become more like the people we spend time with.

7. A wise man once said, "A year from now you will be the same person you are today, except for the books you read and the people you meet!

8. Solomon, the wisest man in history, who had direct revelations from God himself, let people turn his heart away from God!

9. O! How many times have I seen Christians who were truly devoted to the Lord let someone close to them distract them and cause them to backslide!

10. I know—you value them as friends and do not want to offend them by turning down their invitation to go to places that you would not normally go!

11. Maybe they invite you to do something on Sunday, which will keep you out of church!

12. Whatever it is—do not let someone else determine your spiritual altitude!

B. Spending Time in the Wrong Places

1. Because it does matter what you see!

a. "Mine eye affecteth mine heart…" (Lamentations 3:51).

b. "I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes…" (Psalm 101:3).

c. Many people think they can go watch a movie or go to a beach full of ¾ naked people and not be affected by it!

d. I am here to tell you today that it is at the least, spiritually unhealthy!

e. At worst, it will cause you to lust.

2. Because it does matter what you hear!

a. "Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17).

b. Well, the devil knows the Scriptures, too.

c. He knows that he can affect people, not only through the eye gate, but also through the ears as well!

d. Why do you think he bombards us with his music everywhere we go?

e. Have you ever heard the song little children sing?--"O be careful, little feet…"

f. We adults would do well to remember those principles that even children understand.

g. The places we go, the people we meet, the things we see and hear, all affect our inward man—which is directly linked to backsliding!

C. Developing the Wrong Passions

1. "I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love" (Revelation 2:4).

2. Jesus spoke these words to a church that had all the outward signs of spirituality.

3. They were correct in their doctrine and practice!

4. But they had left their honeymoon for Christ!

5. That is really the main cause for backsliding —misplaced priorities concerning people and places that lead to declining passion for the Saviour that bought you with His life and saved you from sin!

6. Would you rather watch television than spend a moment with God in Bible Reading and Prayer?

7. Would you rather go play some sport than be in your place at Church?

8. Would you rather for people at work not to know you are a Christian?

9. All these things are signs of cooling love for God.

10. These are signs that you are already in the process of backsliding!

11. Get your passion back for God—return to that first love you felt as a young Christian—ready to charge hell with a wet rag!

The Course of Backsliding (Proverbs 14:14)

A. It begins in the heart—"backslider in heart."

1. Long before you ever get completely out of church or do something we would call really sinful, you get backslidden in your heart!

2. Psalm 78 is a condensed version of Exodus through Deuteronomy.

3. In Psalm 78 we see a nation who backslid time and time again.

4. Verse 37 gives us a clue as to why they backslid so many times: "For their heart was not right with him."

5. Keep your heart right with God, for out of it are all the issues of life!

6. Everything that you do on the outward is influenced by what is inside!

7. You can do the right things without the right heart; the Bible is clear on this subject!

B. It fills every part of your life—"will be filled."

1. Either you are going forward for God, or you are going backward!

2. If you continue going backward, you will get into more and more things that you said you would never do.

3. If you stay backslidden long enough, there may come a time when people would laugh at you if you tried to tell them you were a Christian.

4. Lot did that and received the same reaction!

5. The Bible teaches that the path of backsliding is progressively worse.

6. Psalm 1:1 tells us a lot for such a short verse. Turn there with me and let us discuss it a minute!

The Consequences of Backsliding (Proverbs 14:12, 14—"his own ways)

A. A backslider hurts himself.

1. "Be not deceived…" (Galatians 6:7).

2. Everything we do will return to us!

3. Have you ever heard the saying, "What goes around comes around"?

4. Well, it is true.

5. If you backslide, you hurt yourself spiritually.

6. You hurt your testimony with others.

7. Backsliddenness results in spiritual deadness (Proverbs 14:12).

B. A backslider hurts others!

· Jonah’s story is a perfect example of this idea.

· He ran from God and got on a ship going the opposite way from where God told him.

· He figured it would affect no one but himself!

· Well, he was wrong!

· God sent a storm that affected everyone and everything on that ship.

· Even the unbelieving sailors suffered because of a backslidden preacher!

Children

a. Your children, both physically and spiritually, will be affected if you backslide!

b. I am working on a message on influence.

c. We do not realize sometimes the amazing influence we have over many lives!

d. But people are watching us.

e. The people who are looking to us to set the example will be hurt when they see us backslide.

f. Some will be disappointed in us.

g. Some will be discouraged by us!

h. Some, unfortunately, will follow our lead.

i. If they do not see us at church on Sunday night or Wednesday night, they may not see the importance of faithfulness to church!

j. If they see us in the wrong places, they may think it is okay to go there for them, too.

The Church

a. Our church suffers when any member suffers, according to the Bible.

b. If anyone is sick spiritually, it is like a part of our body being sick.

c. I have an earache this morning—do you know that my brain has been telling the rest of my body for hours that my ear hurts?

d. Well, a backslidden member hurts his or her church!

e. We are to be salt and light to a dying world.

f. Even one backslidden member hinders our mission as salt and light bearers!

g. It hurts our unity.

h. It hurts our effectiveness.

i. It hurts our meetings.

j. It hurts in every way.

k. I would like to say, it pains me, as your pastor, when I realize some of you are backslidden.

l. Not because I care about how many we have in church or what our offerings are like or how effective we are—but because I hate what you are doing to yourself and to the little lambs in our church!

CONCLUSION

1. Today I want every one of us to evaluate our life!

2. Are we indeed backslidden in our heart?

3. Has it progressed to the point that we do not care who it affects and what people think about our actions?

4. If you are saved but backslidden this morning, please come to Jesus today, confessing your sins, and restore fellowship with Him once again!

5. Make some commitments to be faithful to do as you should concerning your walk with Him and faithfulness to His church!

6. If you are not saved, confess Christ as your Saviour, before it is eternally too late!

Psalms 23- is for our comfort

                  Psalms 23- is for our comfort You may have heard this commentary on Psalm 23:

"The Lord is my shepherd": that's relationship.

"I shall not want": that's supply.

"He makes me to lie down in green pastures": that's rest.

"He leads me beside still waters": that's refreshment.

"He restores my soul": that's healing.

"He guides me in the paths of righteousness": that's guidance.

"For his name's sake": that's purpose.

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death": that's testing.

"I will fear no evil": that's protection.

"For you are with me": that's faithfulness.

"Your rod and your staff, they comfort me": that's discipline.

"You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies": that's hope.

"You anoint my head with oil": that's consecration.

"My cup overflows": that's abundance.

"Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life": that's blessing.

"And I will dwell in the house of the Lord": that's security.

"Forever": that's eternity.

go back