Sermon Central
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Living A Life That Counts
Contributed by Ivan Casteel on Jun 20, 2006 (message contributor)
Summary: Showing believers that living for Christ really matters.
PP0720 DATE
LIVING A LIFE THAT COUNTS
INTRODUCTION: The Gospel of John was written to introduce the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God.
Chapter 1 – The Beginning Chapter.
Chapter 2 – The Wedding At Cana Chapter.
Chapter 3 – The Born Again Chapter.
Chapter 4 – The Woman At The Well.
Chapter 5 – The Impotent Man In The Pool Of Bethesda.
Etc, Etc.
This Chapter is the Fruit Chapter – or The Abiding Chapter. There are five basic subjects in this chapter.
Minus Fruit or No Fruit. Vs. 2.
Mere Fruit or Little Fruit. Vs. 2.
More Fruit or Added Fruit. Vs. 2.
Much Fruit. Vs. 5 & 8.
Maintained Fruit. Vs. 16 – Fruit that remains.
Every once in a while you will see a person or a family who gets saved, and they really come on for God and 10 – 20 years down the road they are still in there driving a bus, teaching a class, going every week and visiting the sick and the lost. They are three times a week person. They never cool off.
I have also noticed that many reach an age that begins to produce little fruit. The have slowed down from where they once were. Many become more concerned about their daily life than about living for Christ. That should not be.
I want to talk to you today about “Living A Life That Will Count Forever”! Our theme for the year is “Life At The Highest Plane.” I haven’t made mention of this for several weeks, so I want to refocus on it today. I know of no other promise in the Bible that is any more powerful than this one. Vs. 7
I. KEEP YOUR LIFE CENTERED AROUND CHRIST Vs. 7.
Joh 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. (KJV)
In Vs. 1-7 there are 14 references of “I”. The first person of Christ.
A. Centering Your Life Around Christ Will Cause You To Feature Christ In All You Do.
We must realize that we are just the suit that God wears. We are just the car He drives. The horse He rides on. We are the tool He uses to complete His will.
We are talking about being centered in Christ. He is the Vine. We are the branches. He is the source of our strength and energy. He is the sap in the vine. We are fastened onto Him.
B. The Moon An Planets Revolve Around The Sun – So We Around Christ.
The entire universe constantly revolves around the Sun. So are we to revolve totally around the Son.
C. Job Centered Lives.
Most people are centered around their occupations.
Their job dictates what they do for Christ. Don’t let your job declare whether you serve God or not.
How many do you know that when vacation time comes they pack up and leave God, the church and everyone? They don’t leave their tithe at church. They probably travel on that. They don’t make any arrangement for their responsibilities to be taken care of, they just go. No one really knows where they are. They don’t go to church while they are gone.
I’ve known of people who every summer loads up and goes on vacation for 8 or 10 may even 12 weeks. The leave their church and go worship nature for two or three months. That’s one fourth of their time. Their life isn’t centered around Christ, but nature.
Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (KJV)
I’m not against vacations, but don’t leave God behind when you go – and don’t forget Him while you are gone. Be sure your responsibilities at church are covered.
D. Sports Centered Lives.
With some a certain sporting event comes up and they are gone at the drop of a hat. Where is the loyalty to Christ? Don’t let some sporting event determine whether you will go on Church Visitation on Saturday, or attend church on Sunday.
I am not going to leave church and go to a Dallas Cowboy football game this fall. Church and God means more to me than that. I don’t care if someone does give me a free ticket and pay the way there and back. I won’t go. I heard a person say once that it was God’s will because their company gave them a free ticket and all expenses paid – that’s not the way to determine God’s will. You may go off and do that but you aren’t pleasing God in doing so.
