1
Jn. 5:3 This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are
not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is
the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it
that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
(NIV)
1- Have you ever started something only to find out that it was much harder than had thought? (A Job; Illus. On time I started a fire, easy, putting it out wasn’t!)
2- We live in a time of the immediate and “convenience”.
3- I don’t mind “easy” as long as I don’t have to sacrifice reality for it.
4-
God reminded me this week that many have bought into the
oldest lie in mankind’s history. “serving God is too HARD.”
(“ It’s a hard ole! way”)
(Contrast
Eve in Gen. 3 , Jesus in Mt. 4)
This
is nothing new.
Ps. 73:1
A psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in
heart. 2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my
foothold. 3 For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the
wicked. 4 They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. 5
They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human
ills. 6 Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with
violence. 7 From their callous hearts comes iniquity; the evil conceits
of their minds know no limits. 8 They scoff, and speak with malice; in
their arrogance they threaten oppression. 9 Their mouths lay claim to
heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth. 10 Therefore
their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance. 11 They say,
“Does the Most High have knowledge?” 12 This is what the
wicked are like--always carefree, they increase in wealth. 13 Surely in
vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence. 14
All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning.
15 ¶
If I had said, “I will speak thus,” I would have betrayed your
children. 16 When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to
me 17 till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final
destiny. 18 Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down
to ruin. 19 How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by
terrors! 20 As a dream when one awakes, so when you arise, O Lord, you
will despise them as fantasies.
21 ¶
When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, 22 I was senseless
and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you. 23 Yet I am always with
you; you hold me by my right hand. 24 You guide me with your counsel,
and afterwards you will take me into glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but
you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. 26 My flesh and my
heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever. 27
Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to
you. 28 But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the
Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds. (NIV)
1. The Way Of The WICKED Is DIFFICULT and is Getting Worse All the
Time.
Rom.
6:17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you
wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. 18
You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. 19
I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as
you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to
ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness
leading to holiness. 20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from
the control of righteousness. 21 What benefit did you reap at that time
from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! 22
But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the
benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. 23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ
Jesus our Lord. (NIV)
Ps
146:9 The LORD watches over the alien and sustains the fatherless and the
widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked. (NIV)
Pr
4:19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what
makes them stumble. (NIV)
Jer 2:19 Your wickedness
will punish you; your backsliding will rebuke you. Consider then and realise
how evil and bitter it is for you when you forsake the LORD your God and have
no awe of me,” declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty. (NIV)
“You cannot be
burdened by the duty which your own love has imposed. The old proverb explains
the meaning of the apostle's words, Love feels no loads. Love to God brings
strength from God; through his love and his strength, all his commandments are
not only easy and light, but pleasant and delightful.” (Clarke)
Ps
19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the
LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the LORD
are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes. 9 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring for
ever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. 10
They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than
honey, than honey from the comb. 11 By them is your servant warned; in
keeping them there is great reward. (NIV)
Mt 11:28 “Come to
me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my
burden is light.” (NIV)
2-
He is all any of us really need.
(Time will also prove this to be true.)
3-
You are here today, so I cautiously
presume that you believe in God.
4-
But, are you a God-lover? Are you
saved? Do you live for God?
5-
How do you know you are saved?
(Answer; By your fruit, conduct, keeping the requirements of God.)
6-
Ultimately, all must stand before
God. (Ps. 73:21-28; Mal. 3:17-18; Rom. 6:21, 23)
7-
Don’t envy the way of the
“wicked” it is and will pass away!
1 Jn. 2:17 The world and its desires pass away,
but the man who does the will of God lives for ever. (NIV)
Copyright © 1977-2002 by Dr. C. David White
Email openarms@openarmsbaptist.com Web Site openarmsbaptist.com