How do you rate your Christian life?
From 1 to 9 with 1 being the lowest you can go in the way and 9 being
the highest how do you rate? We
all have to rate ourselves.
Rom. 14:12 (KJS) So then every
one of us shall give account of himself to God.13 Let us not therefore judge
one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling
block or an occasion to fall in [his] brother's way.
So let’s all look at ourselves today and determine
what is the rating that we have achieved.
How do we rate? Which road
are you on? Are you on Route 1 or
Route 9?
Will you go for the gold in your Christian Life? Are you
being the best you can be with the Lord?
Scripture
Text: Phil 3:8 Yea
doubtless, and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency of the
knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all
things, and do count them [but] dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found
in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that
which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by
faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the
fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If
by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 12 Not as
though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow
after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of
Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but
[this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and
reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the
mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us
therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be
otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. 16 Nevertheless,
whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind
the same thing. 17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them
which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
1.
Are you on Route 1?
If you would give
yourself a low number then you have taken the low side of the Christian life.
This is the path of least resistance.
The is the way that many Christians have decided to take in their life.
It is the drift along with the wind path that doesn’t make waves or
cause any problems or trouble. These
are those who have lost their first love like the Ephesians in Revelations.
Satan can’t have your soul, so he desires the next best thing.
He wants your Christian life, testimony, and effectiveness.
He wants you to neglect the way of God for you life.
He wants you to do nothing in the way of the Lord.
So if you have decided as many do just to fill the status quo of
Christianity, then you are on Route 1. Many
Christians and churches have decided to keep on the same old road that they
have always been on.
2.
Are you on Route 9?
Paul
was one of those on the high road or route 9.
He was striving to be the best he could be with the Lord.
He was pressing toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of
God. He was forgetting those
things that were behind and reach for those things that are before.
He was going for the gold. Route
9 Christians know the power of the Lord’s resurrection and the fellowship of
his sufferings. They have called
on the Lord and His strength for their lives.
They need Him. Do you? Are we as a church being all that we can be with the Lord?
Will we begin?
What does a Christian
on Route 9 look like?
1.
When they struggle with problems, they continue to seek the God’s
help.
2.
When they fail they seek God’s forgiveness
3.
When things look helpless, they trust God’s timing.
4.
When they triumph, they praise God’s goodness.
5.
When they are tired, they rely on God’s power.
6.
When they are criticized, they continue to serve God.
7.
They serve the Lord in truth and sincerity.
8.
They have an every day relationship with the Lord.
9.
They serve the Lord wherever the Lord leads.
10.
They need and want god in their life.
11.
They continue on even through they know that they aren’t perfect.
12.
They choose God because God has chosen them.
13.
They are willing to let go and let God.
14.
They are willing to take risks and make sacrifices for the Lord’s
call.
3.
Caution there are potholes on Route 9.
a.
Pothole of Perfection. This is seeking to make unrealistic expectations.
We can only be who God can make us.
We can’t be like someone else or we can’t be like another church.
We have to be who God wants us to be.
b.
Pothole of Phariseeism.
The Pharisees majored on the minors and they tended to be judgemental
of others. Everyone is not going
to be like you.
c.
Pothole of Performance.
Will you ever be good enough?
4.
Why Should You Take Rt. 9?
a.
Remember the High Calling of
God. He calls you to go with Him
all the way.
b.
The crown goes to the victor.
c.
Because you love the Lord and
you want to give your best to the master.
d.
True peace and satisfaction
can only be found on Route 9.
e.
Remember God allows U-turns.
Turn tonight to go on to Route 9.
f.
Because you can.
g.
Because you want to Go with
the Lord in your and experience the power and peace of the presence of the
Lord.