Make your life count
One Life, One truth, Part 4 Dr. Tom Mullins Christ Fellowship
“Only one life, ‘twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last” ~C.J. Studd
I. Evaluating my one life
1. Is my life Pleasing to GOD? (Gal 1:10)
Galatians 1:10 (King James Version)
10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
10 Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. (NIV)
2. Is my will fully Surrendered to GOD? (Rom 12:1)
Romans 12:1 (King James Version)
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
A Living Sacrifice
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. (NIV)
3. Is my heart Divided in it’s loyalties? (Matt 6:24)
Matthew 6:24 (King James Version)
24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. (NIV)
4. Is my life living out the Truth of GOD? (Rom 12:2)
Romans 12:2 (King James Version)
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (NIV)
5. Is my life making a Difference in others? (John 15:8)
John 15:8 (King James Version)
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. (NIV)
II. Living out our faith requires A… (Phil 2:12-16) Philippians 2:12-16 (King James Version)
12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
Do Everything Without Grumbling
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,
13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing,
15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”[a] Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky
16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. (NIV)
a. Character that shines (2 peter 1:3) 2 Peter 1:3 (King James Version)
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
Confirming One’s Calling and Election
3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. (NIV)
Character is living out our faith with everyone, everyday, everywhere!
1 Peter 3:15 (King James Version)
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, (NIV)
LORDSHIP = Making Christ the Center of our lives!
b. Convictions that shine
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (King James Version)
13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
14 Let all your things be done with charity.
13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 14 Do everything in love. (NIV)
i. Our Convictions establish our Value System
ii. Our Value System influences the Choices we make
iii. We cannot Customize our Convictions based on our Circumstances
~ “Every Christian should be both conservative and radical; conservative in preserving faith and Radical in applying it.” ~ John Stott
c. Commitments that shine James 3:13 (King James Version)
13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
Two Kinds of Wisdom
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom (NIV)
Psalm 37:5-6 (King James Version)
5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
Psalm 37:5-6 (New International Version, ©2010)
5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.
6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.
Our Commitments define our Character and express our Convictions
“…but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in LOVE, in faith and in purity.” 1 Tim 4:12 NIV
1 Timothy 4:12 (King James Version)
12Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
“No retreat, no reserve, no regrets” ~ William Borden
“The Christian life is not about adding Jesus to your life; it’s about letting Christ radically change your life.” ~ Tom Mullins
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