1. God deals with people differently.
a. As children.
1Pe 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
b. As learned Christians
Phi 4:9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
c. As a Pastor
1Pe 5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
d. We are dealing tonight with the learned, those that God has placed under a pastor. We must understand and believe that what he has (and is) teaching to us has (and will) help us live a better life.
2. What would we die for?
a. A friend?
Jo 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
b. Our example. Jesus Himself
Jo 10:15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
c. There are many things that we see as Christians that we concider as absolutes, things we would die for.
- Our faith in Christ
- King James Bible
- Our Church (made up of members)
- Our Family
- Our Country
d. These are all noble and proper things worth dying and sacrificing for.
3. A better question is, what do we live for?
a. We are not dealing tonight with the “babes in Christ” we are dealing with the learned, taught of our pastor.
Phi 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
b. Our pastor has taught and showed us through his continuing testimony how the scriptures matter; and that what we do now for Christ is what manners in eternity.
2Ti 3:10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
c. We are to follow our Pastor.
1Pe 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
c. God desires of us to have a good life, one that is spent in honorable service to Him.
Jo 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
d. Oftimes the Christian service means work.
Ec 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
e. What we do for Christ has its eternal reward.
1Co 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
f. Vain means empty. What we do for Christ will not be Empty.
- So often we let life’s circumstances get in the way of actually living life. We need to see that these things that we would die for is what we should be living for.
- We should share and show our faith in Christ
- We should study, preach and teach the perfection of the King James Bible.
- We should activily be involved with the ministry and lives of the members of this body, praying and lifting up each other before God.
- We should seek to be better parents, husbands and wives and children, to strengthen the family unit to be stronger for Christ and set an example that there is a difference in Christian home.
- We should support the freedoms that this country gives us to worship The One True God in the way That the scripture states.
- The result of living these absolutes is a more fulfilled life served for Christ, so that one day we will hear…
Mt 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.