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Back To the Basics
INTRODUCTION
1. A disturbing trend seen too often in many churches
is the apparent apathy of many Christians
a. They may
attend services, but it appears that they are only "going through the
motions"
b. Their
singing, their praying, their Bible Study, their zeal, seems listless
c. To rephrase
Thoreau: "The mass of
[Christians] lead lives of quiet desperation."
2. I suspect the problem is one akin to an athlete or a
sport team which is "in a slump"
a. Such person
or team "goes through the motions", but they are not performing
up to their true potential
b. The
solution in sports: Work on
"the fundamentals"
3. The same is true with Christians; when we find
ourselves "in a
slump"...
a. We need to
stress the fundamentals - cf. Re 2:4-5
I. ENERGIZE YOUR "FAITH"
A. DEFINING
"FAITH"...
1. A
Scriptural definition of faith is found in He 11:1
2. NIV is
helpful: "Now faith is being
sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."
3. VINE'S
describes faith as "a firm conviction"
4. I like
to think of faith as "confident trust"
B. IMPORTANCE
OF "FAITH"...
1. Faith in
God is essential to pleasing Him - He 11:6
2. Faith in
Jesus is essential to finding forgiveness and eternal life - Jn 8:24; 20:30-31
3. Without
faith, the only alternative is doubt accompanied with fear - cf. Mt
14:30-31
C. ENERGIZING
YOUR "FAITH"...
1. The Word
of God is designed to produce faith - cf. Ro 10:17; Jn
20:30-31
2. Through
diligent reading of the Bible, we can "energize" our faith!
II. FORTIFY YOUR "HOPE"
A. DEFINING
"HOPE"...
1. VINE'S
says that it involves "the happy anticipation of good"
2. It is
NOT wishful thinking, or an insecure "I hope so"
3. But as
VINE'S describes it further, it is "a confident expectation"
4. A common
definition of hope is "desire plus expectation"
B.
IMPORTANCE OF "HOPE"...
1. Hope
necessary to persevere - Ro 8:25 “But if we hope for what
we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance”; 1 Th 1:3
2. Hope is
necessary for our motivation to become pure - 1 Jn
3: 2-3
3. Hope is
necessary to increase opportunities to evangelize - 1 Pe 3:15
4. Without
hope, we not only lose our souls, we won't be any good for saving others!
C.
FORTIFYING YOUR "HOPE"...
1. The Word
of God was written to produce hope - Ro 15:4
a.
Through its revelation of God's dealings with man in the past, we know God
keeps His promises
b. This
encourages us to expect Him to deliver on His promises for the future
2. Peter
encourages to "rest
your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the
revelation of Jesus Christ" - 1 Pet 1:13
a. Where
do read of the "grace" that is to come when Christ is revealed?
b. In the Scriptures, of course!
c.
Nothing "fortifies" our hope better than those wonderful passages
that reveal the eternal destiny of the saints!
III. ACTIVATE YOUR "LOVE"
A. DEFINING
"LOVE"...
1. Paul
gives the best definition of love - 1 Co 13:4-8a
2. A simple
definition that is easy to remember: "active goodwill"
B.
IMPORTANCE OF "LOVE"...
1.
Expressing love gives us "assurance" of our salvation - cf. 1 Jn 3:14,18-19
2.
Expressing love assures us that God will answer our prayers - I Jn 3:22-23
3.
Expressing love reassures us that we abide in God, and He in us - 1 Jn 4:7-8,12,16
C.
ACTIVATING YOUR "LOVE"...
1. Like the
Thessalonians, we can be taught by God how to love - cf. 1 Th 4:9
a. Jesus
taught us how to love by His sacrificial life - 1 Jn
3:16
b. God
taught us how to love by giving His Son as a propitiation for sins - 1 Jn 4:9-11
2. Through
careful meditation upon what the Bible reveals about God's love for us, we
can "activate" our love for others!
IV. ENHANCE YOUR "JOY"
A. DEFINING
"JOY"...
1. The
Greek word is CHARA, and is closely related to the word CHARIS
a. CHARIS (grace) is
"undeserved favor" which in turn gives joy, pleasure, delight
b. CHARA
(joy), then, is the response we have to undeserved favor
2. I like
to think of joy as the "delightful response" to the grace
we receive from God
B.
IMPORTANCE OF "JOY"...
1. Joy is
an essential element of what constitutes the Kingdom of God
- Ro 14:17
2. Joy
lightens the burden of trials in this life - 1 Pe
1:6-9; He 10:32-34
3. It is
often the loss of this virtue that is most evident in the lives of many
Christians!
C.
ENHANCING YOUR "JOY"...
1. Both
Jesus and His apostles gave us words whereby our joy might be full - Jn 15:11; 1 Jn 1:4
a. Once
again we see the value of daily Bible study
b. Just
as the Bible can...
1)
Energize your faith
2)
Fortify your hope
3)
Activate your love
...so
it can "enhance" your joy!
2. Jesus
also stressed the importance of PRAYER in regards to joy - Jn 16:24
a.
Answered prayer certainly excites the Christian, and increases joy!
b. So to
the practice of daily Bible study, key to getting "Back To
Basics!" is habit of regular prayer
V. ENJOY YOUR "PEACE"
A. DEFINING
"PEACE"...
1. VINE'S
describes peace as "harmonious relations"
2. It is
used to describe such harmony between...
a. Men
b.
Nations
c. God
and man
d. One's
own self
3. A lack
of peace often contributes to the "spiritual doldrums" that
afflict many Christians
B.
IMPORTANCE OF "PEACE"...
1. Another
crucial element constituting the Kingdom
of God – Ro
14:17-19
2. Peace
with brethren contributes to receiving peace from peace from God - 2 Co
13:11
3. And
having peace with God has a positive effect in our peace with our enemies -
Pr 16:7
C. ENJOYING
YOUR "PEACE"...
1. Peace
with God begins with justification found only in Christ - Ro 5:1
2. It
continues in response to fervent prayer - cf. Ph 4:6-7
a. Just
as prayer can "enhance" our joy
b. So
can prayer help us to "enjoy" our peace that surpasses all
understanding!
CONCLUSION
1. Faith, hope, love, joy, peace: simple words, yet so essential to the
"abundant life" Jesus has
to offer those who come to Him
2. Why are they often in short supply in the lives of many Christians?
a. Because
they neglect two fundamental tools God provides for them
b. These
tools? The Word of God and prayer!
3. Restoring the basic elements of the abundant life
found only in Christ is not a mystery:
a. Receive the
implanted Word of God! - Ja 1:21
b. Continue
earnestly in prayer! - Co 4:2
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