Practical Christianity 3 Obedience | 11.1.23 | Wednesday | On Fire Christian Church
Practical Christianity 3 Obedience
“He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” John 14:21 NKJV
“Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” I John 2:3-4 NKJV
Obedience is proof of knowing God
“Show me Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day.” Psalms 25:4-5 NKJV
Learn God’s ways and paths
Life or death is up to us
Blessing or curse
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. Do not be like the horse or like the mule, Which have no understanding, Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, Else they will not come near you. Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; But he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him.” Psalms 32:8-10 NKJV
God’s ways first of all are death to self
“Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.” Luke 9:23-24 NKJV
“that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:22-24 NKJV
Our desire last are contrary to God’s ways.
Everyday living must be submitted to God
Believers obey in daily living
Working
“For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread. But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.” II Thessalonians 3:10-15
“But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” I Timothy 5:8 NKJV
Gambling
Love one another
Gambling disregards responsible stewardship and the work ethic and involves gain at someone else’s expense. Gambling tends to distract us from actually taking the steps to improve our situation through education, new job, harder work, or new opportunities. Deep down there is a side to us that thinks that all of the wrongs in our lives could be corrected with a big win in the lottery.“If only I won the lottery, I wouldn’t have any more problems.”
Even casual gambling is poor stewardship, because that money could go toward something good, like feeding the poor. Instead it’s going toward nothing.There should be no place for even casual, “recreational” gambling in the life of a Christian. Any money, however small, spent on gambling, brings along with it the greed, illusions, and sinful desires that accompany those who gamble large amounts.
You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or hismanservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. (Exodus 20:17)
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1 Timothy 6:10)
Giving
Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others. (1 Corinthians 10:24)
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.(Philippians 2:3-4)
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:6-7)
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. (Luke 6:38)
