series: THE REAL DEAL
1 Timothy 1:1-5
June 14, 2009
message by Pastor Jake J. Thornhill, Jr.
“comments” contain sermon notes
series: THE REAL DEAL
1 Timothy 1:1-5
June 14, 2009
message by Pastor Jake J. Thornhill, Jr.
“comments” contain sermon notes
June 22nd, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Alarming Statistics:
North America is the only continent where Christianity is not growing.
The people who claim “no religion” has doubled since 1990.
In December 2001 24% of Americans said “religion is losing its influence on American life.” Today 67% say “religion is losing its influence on American life.”
The Real Deal (I Timothy 1:1-5)
“For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.” I Peter 2:21
Three things Christians often do instead of following Christ:
They critique the world.
They expose error in the church.
They attend but they are not active.
THE HEART OF THE MATTER –
5 “Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience and from sincere faith.”
“you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, all you soul and with all your mind…and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Mt. 22:37, 39
“A new commandment I give to you that you love one another… by this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Jn. 13:34, 35
“Beloved let us love one another, for love is of God and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” I Jn. 4:7, 8
To be the real deal we must…
Love From A Pure Heart – 5 “love from a pure heart”
Proverbs 4:23 “Guard your heart w/ all diligence for out of it spring the issues of life.”
Mt. 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.”
Titus 1:15 “To the pure all things are pure but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure but even their mind and conscience are defiled.”
When you see as God sees, you’ll do as God says!
Love From A Clear Conscience – 5 “from a good conscience”
Love From A Sincere Faith – 5 “…and from sincere faith.”
6 “from which some having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk”
THE HIGHWAY THAT MATTERS
3 “As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine” 4 “nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies…”
The Road of Commitment – 3 “remain in Ephesus”
Ephesians 6:13 “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand. 14 Stand therefore…”
I Cor. 15:58 “Therefore my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”
The Road of Consistency – 3 “charge some”
A consistent life is a crucified life.
Shirley McLaine… “The most pleasurable journey you’ll take in life is with yourself. The only sustaining love involvement is with yourself. When you look back on your life and you try to figure out where you’ve been and where you’re going & when you look at your work & your love affairs & your marriages your children, your pain, your happiness, when you examine all of that closely what you really find out is the only person you really go to bed with is yourself…”
“If anyone desires to come after me let him deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23
The Bible talks about 3 kinds of death…
Death to Sin
Death to Self
Death to Safety
The Road of Conviction – 4 “nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies”
Summary:
The problem is not the abundance of darkness but the absence of light. “I am the light of the world.” Jn. 8:12 “You are the light of the world.” Mt. 5:14
The truth is when you see as God sees you will do as God says!
The bottom line, the important issue is our heart determines how we see and do life.
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” Jn. 15:5