Sermon Central
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The Reason Most Christians Don't Become Great Christians
Contributed by Ivan Casteel on Apr 4, 2006 (message contributor)
Summary: To see the need of growing daily in the Lord.
PP0602 DATE
THE REASON MOST CHRISTIANS DON’T
BECOME GREAT CHRISTIANS!
Jos 14:6 Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadeshbarnea.
7 Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart.
8 Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God.
9 And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children’s for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God.
10 And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old.
11 As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.
Jos 14:12 Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said. (KJV)
There is a reward for wholly following the Lord. Caleb was faithful in following the Lord all the days of his life and he received a great reward for doing so. In this experience of Caleb we can see why so many Christians only make it to a mediocre position in Christianity.
We live in a haphazard society. Most people take no pride in their work. They have no standard or conviction about being on time – about doing the work right. I have a real hang up about being on time. If you tell me you will meet me at 7:00 and you arrive at 7:15 you have stolen one-fourth of an hour from me. Fifteen minutes that I will never get back again. Caleb wasn’t that kind of Christian.
There are some requirements for being a great Christian. The N.T. Epistles are written for the growth to greatness.
Lu 9:48 And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great. (KJV)
I want to give you four reasons why most Christians will not become great Christians.
I. TO BE A GREAT CHRISTIAN REQUIRES AN EVERYDAY COMMITMENT. Most Christians will not make that commitment.
A. Commitment In Holiness. Vs. 8 Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God.
One will never be holy without wholly following the Lord. You can’t follow God part time and be full time happy.
“Wholly” - Accomplish, confirm, fullness, gather presume, replenish, satisfy. Another definition would be: “Commit with your heart.”
Holiness is part of following God. Without holiness God will be unknown to any individual. Holy living attracts God’s attention. “Be ye holy for I am holy”. That’s why the movements that feature the contemporary culture are not separated. They don’t understand the holiness of God. Holiness means to be Godlike.
God expects every Christian to live holy. When Israel allowed worldliness to come into their life God punished them severely.
Your walk talks,
And your talk talks,
But your walk talks,
Louder than you talk talks.
B. Commitment In Honesty. Vs. 10-12.
Jos 14:10 And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old.
11 As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.
12 Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said. (KJV)
