New year old resolution!
A. If the world wants to go to hell, they have to go without me! Romans12:1-2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
B. Since the day I got baptized these are what I say to the world:
1. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve,
whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living.
But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:15
2. I imitate Apostle Paul as he imitates Christ. 1 Cor.11:1C. How does one become like this? 2 Tim.2:20-24
1. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. 2:20
2. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. 2:21
3. Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 2:22
4. Have nothing to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.
5. And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 2:24
6. Unless it is about how to be saved in the Lord!
a. Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation,
it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. Jude 1:3
b. Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers:
"Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved." Acts 15:1
This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them.
So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. Acts 15:2
Attention: Sharp dispute and debate for the way of salvation, only people in the churches of Christ can do it!
Because we will not let sharp dispute and debate develop into fights or war!
People in the world cannot do! Because their sharp dispute and debate often develop into fights and wars and end in destructions!
I also know, people in the world will sharp dispute and debate for one or two dollars but are not willing to debate about salvation in the Lord!
Because we know salvation for the soul in the Lord is forever!
Money is only for about 150 years. 150 years compare to forever is close to zero!
7. Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 1 Peter 2:11
8. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong,
they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. 1 Peter 2:12
D. This is one instruction I can’t ignore! 2 Tim.4:1-5
1. In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 4:1
2. Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage— with great patience and careful instruction. 4:2
3. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires,
they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
4. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 4:4
5. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. 4:5
E. Specific instruction for the wives in the church! 1 Peter 3:1-4
1. Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 1:1
2. when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 2:2
3. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 2:3
4. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. 2:4
May the Lord bless you and keep you always! Preach this on January 5, 2014.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGuBjUZjJSQ