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TEXT: Eph 4:1 I therefore . . . beseech you that ye walk worthy of the calling wherewith ye are called, INTRO: TRANSITION:
1. Playing Off Tune: Of course the problem with that concert was not Beethoven - it was how that band performed what he wrote. Jesus has that same problem with those who try to "perform His music" - that is, try to live what He taught. People have been burned by religion ... hurt or disillusioned by religious people. Or even by religious leaders. From a fallen tele-evangelist to an adulterous pastor to an abusing priest, most of us have known or know of some "spiritual leader" who has fallen. For believers, it is like a kick in the stomach. For those who already are skeptical about Christianity, it is just another reason not to believe. As you examine yourself this communion answer this: Hows your witness? Have you cleared or muddied the water? Have you walked worthy? If people follow me, do they go towards Jesus? I want to to look at 4 ways we can play off tune: 1. Compromised Tune: Eph 5:10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove [them]. 12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. 13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. 14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. 15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Maybe people can't tell where you are? Double minded compromise is very confusing. Muddying the water more than clearing! 2. Selfish Tune: Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. Some of us get tired out or let comfort keep us in a self absorbed/ sinful cycle. Both are selfish, tired or not, that neighbor doesn't need to go to hell! 3. Shameful Tune: 1Co 15:34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak [this] to your shame. Some of us simply don't let people know, in our words or actions! Some of us hog it in our happy holy huddles, sticking around only christians! Not making other gfriends, not inviting them to church.. 4: Mistaken Tune: Ge 12:17 And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram's wife. THis is God fixing Abraham's mistake. God is bigger than our mistakes! So don't hide in your house afraid of causing someone to stumble. Gods will work through our imperfections. But He doesn't want excuses. 2Pe 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that [pertain] unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: His Spirit in us is growing into Him! Now, the Composer is still a genius - but people judge Him by us performers who play His music imperfectly! Now that won't cut it with God, yet you have a serious calling and duty! Eph 4:1 I therefore . . . beseech you that ye walk worthy of the calling wherewith ye are called, Is your song off tune? Or does it clearly sing what Jesus wants it to? 2. Following: Eph 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour. Everywhere Jesus went, He extended a two-word invitation - "Follow Me." (Mark 1:16) People don't go to hell because they reject you, a christian. Christians aren't the issue. It's all about Jesus. Rejecting Him will end a person doomed! Yet He has made us ambassadors regardless of our imperfections. 1Co 10:32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: 33 Even as I please all [men] in all [things], not seeking mine own profit, but the [profit] of many, that they may be saved. 1 Cor11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also [am] of Christ. We can't settle on excuses, we must walk worthy! Now - and on Judgment Day. Because all God is going to want to know is, "What did you do with My Son;s song?" The performers have sometimes wounded people and let people down. But Jesus, the composer never has. And He is the issue. For now - and forever. We need to simplify our focus and we need to sweetly and simply and singlemindedly follow Jesus again! Eph 4:1 I therefore . . . beseech you that ye walk worthy of the calling wherewith ye are called, If people play the tune I'm playing what will they be playing? Will it be Jesus? Or my distorted version of what He composed? Are you following Jesus only and completely or just partly and mixing other ideas alongside? 3. Simplified Examination: But in spite of these flawed performances, Jesus is still the genius who has brought peace and meaning to millions of lives over the years. Jesus is the bottom line, the central issue on which yours and my eternity depends. Jesus' great ambassador, Paul, says, I Corinthians 2:2 "I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified." That's it - nothing except Jesus and His cross. The great tragedy of seeing the failures of those who play Jesus' "music" imperfectly is that you can miss Jesus. And He's too good to miss. And the cost of missing Him is much too expensive to pay. The cross where the Son of God died to bear the death penalty for every wrong thing we've ever done. 1Co 11:28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of [that] bread, and drink of [that] cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. Communion is our Soul Mirror that God places before us to work out all blemish. We need to repnt from sin, redetermine our strength, purify our motives and check our melody to this world we've been called to sing to. It's all about Jesus and what He did for you because He loves this world so much. Sometimes theres a difference between The Composer and the Performers. But thats not what we want. Eph 4:1 I therefore . . . beseech you that ye walk worthy of the calling wherewith ye are called, Jesus is the one safe place for your searching heart. He died for you. He will never do you wrong. And He will help you walk worthy of your calling. He will help you sing in the right key to a lost world. Examine yourself! Hows your witness? Have you cleared or muddied the water? Have you walked worthy? If people follow me, do they go towards Jesus? If people follow me, where will they go? Are you walking worthy? Do you need the composer's help? |