Determined Living in a Careless World
Determined Living in a Careless World
I. All of us are familiar with the old adage “You don’t get something for nothing.”
At some time or other most of us have probably found what we thought to be a real bargain. The description was glowing and the price was low. However, after making our purchase we discovered that the item had some flaw or imperfection, and was actually not even worth what we had paid for it. With a shrug of our shoulders we said, “Well, you don’t get something for nothing.”
Application – The same is true with our Christian Walk, What we get out is determined by what we put into our walk. We don’t get something for nothing.
II. American culture has over the past several decades become quite careless. To be living "carelessly" equals a reckless disposition of apathy.
Sometimes people do not even care about caring.
III. Our scripture is from Paul to Titus who was in Crete.
His message was have faith in God, and back up that faith with Gods Truth, which enables us to have a godly life.
The words of Paul to Titus are as true today as they were then, people claim they know God, but they deny him by the way they live.
IV. Careless Living
Titus 1:14-16 NIV
14 …. pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of those who reject the truth. 15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. 16 They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.
V. Paul was insisting that all who trust in God must devote themselves to being Godly.
Why” Because there indifference toward spiritual things in peoples lives?
“I was once told to my face by a mother, “I don’t care if my kids go to church or not. I’m not going to make any effort to see them go, it’s not important to me”
This remark is shocking. Yet, this same attitude is true of many who profess faith in Jesus, even though they do not verbalize this outlook. The Church is secondary in the lives of scores of Christians who confess Jesus as Lord.
They are lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God (2 Timothy 3:4). They want to hold on to God with one hand and, at the same time, embrace the things of the world. God is placed on the back burner of one’s life; lack of concern for spiritual matters is paramount.
Some pleasures are not sin, but, at the same time, one should not love the pleasures of life more that God. Jesus, in His Sermon on the Mount, addresses the divided heart this way: “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.
Again, Jesus says, “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness”.
VI. Many claim to know Jesus, but they only seeking a religion instead of seeking God. We need to examine our relationship with God closely.
The world is plagued with religion. Religion is a bigger tool to prevent people from going to Heaven than it is for getting them there. Man is basically a religious creature. He is going to worship something or somebody.
The Persian has his Zend-Avesta. The Hebrew has his Talmud. The Chinese has his Confucius. The Japanese has his Shinto shrine or Buddha god-shelf. The Mohammedan has his Koran. And the Muslim bows toward Mecca. The Hindu has his Shasta. He worships cows, rivers and creatures.
Cults:
The Mormons are everywhere. Jehovah’s Witnesses always beat us to the mission fields of the world. The Christian Scientists and all the others mingle like leaven through bread in our society.
Denominations:
Religion is broken down into hundreds of different denominations. There are Jews, Catholics, Greek Orthodox, Lutheran, Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, Church of Christ, Church of God IN Christ, Nazarene, Unity, Apostolic, Reform, Anglican, the Gay Church, Church of Satan …there are some very good non denominational churches, and dozens of different kinds of Baptists. There are the American Baptists, German Baptists, Swedish Baptists, Southern Baptists, Conservative Baptists, General Baptists, General Association of Regular Baptists, Old Regular Baptists, Hard-shell Baptists, Primitive Baptists, Missionary Baptists, Independent Baptists and even some called Lily Baptists.
Now, which is the right religion? None of the above!
1. It’s a relationship with Jesus – There is only one true Church, and that is Gods Church
2. We are not talking about style of worship
3. We are talking about finding a doctrine that we want instead of changing our lives to fit Gods gospel.
VII. Religion is not a “heart” thing! Ezekiel said, …for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after covetousness…they hear thy words, but they do not do them” (33:31,32).
Again in II Timothy 3:5 he says, “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” Jesus told of those who “love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corner of the streets, that they may be seen of men” (Matt. 6:5).
The world seems to want a religion that will accept them as they are, permanently and without challenge; a religion that goes along with what they already believe; a religion that will not object to what they now do; or a religion that will let all men be brothers and still believe whatever they want to believe.
The most popular religion in the world today transcends many denominations…it circles the globe, it’s in hearts of many who don’t go to church at all, many lost people, but also many who would be considered to be “saved”…and it’s likely located in the hearts of every congregation every where!
VIII. Determined Living through Jesus
Titus 2:11-14 NIV
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope — the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
IX. The Power of Godliness Through Jesus
Power drives people (possessions, lusts, position); All these motives are of the world
Power of godliness should drive us.
Power of Spiritual Growth
Power to Endure
Power for Moral Living
Power to become
X. Conclusion
It has always cost something to be God’s child. Abraham had to leave Ur of Chaldees and go into a strange new land.
Moses had to leave the Egyptians and stand with the lowly Israelites.
Daniel had to forego the dainties of Nebuchadnezzar’s table.
Paul had to give up his personal ambition as a brilliant young Jewish lawyer.
It cost something for these and all the others to be faithful children of God.
Becoming a Christian costs us our love, devotion and allegiance. The central place in our heart must be given to God, and as a result we gladly obey his commandments. But, the price that we pay is so little in comparison to the price the Lord paid for our salvation, and so little in comparison to the value of the blessings that we receive, that it is almost insignificant. What we do is insignificant to what Jesus has done for us, yet we must still give our best.
