The Kind of Christians Our World Needs TODAY!
Philippians 2:15
August 7th
2011 AM
Pastor Craig Ledbetter
I.
Introduction (Acts
17:6)
A.
Some Questions…
1.
How could a group of
uneducated, unorganised, poor Jewish people turn their world upside down in the
first century? No internet. No media. No Television advertising. No money at all
2.
How could that same group grow
and multiply to the point that in just 100 years, half of the entire
3.
Is it possible that
Christianity could do it again? Could turn THIS world upside down for God? Could
actually effectively make a difference?
4.
Not only CAN it, but we must!
B.
But it won’t happen like we
think
1.
Not through religious wars,
but only through spiritual weapons (2Cor 10:3-5)
2.
Not through rebellious riots,
but through personal repentance and humbling ourselves back to the level that we
belong under the mighty hand of God!
3.
The entire middle east is in
turmoil, seeking a change – seeking to overturn dictatorships, and tyrannies
through riots and revolts
4.
History is full of wars, both
religious and secular
5.
Yet Biblical Christianity
stands as the one harmless way to effectively change the world!
C.
Our world needs help
1.
It does not need more money,
or more entitlements, or more political programmes
2.
It does not need more wars, or
weapons
D.
Our world needs Christians –
Bible believing Christians (Philp 2:15)
1.
It may sound trite, or corny
2.
But it is the truth
3.
There is a power that Biblical
Christianity brings to this world
a.
The power of the resurrected
life
b.
The power of the Son of God
c.
The power of answered prayer
d.
The power of knowing how
everything is going to turn out!
e.
The power of light in
darkness!
4.
Did you know that Jesus was
HARMLESS but the most effective power this world has ever known (Heb 7:26)?
5.
Did you know that the Holy
Spirit is HARMLESS, yet is the most effective power today (John 16:7-11)
working, and drawing, and convincing men of sin, and of righteousness?
6.
Did you know that simple
minded, stammering, stuttering, harmless looking Christians are a powerfully
effective force in this world today?
7.
Simply because we are light!
8.
Christians are Light in this
dark world
a.
We know where we are going
b.
And we know how to get there
9.
But Christians must choose to
walk as light – not like the world we live in – not take on the characteristics
of the world around us
a.
Its attitudes
b.
Its morals
c.
Its direction
d.
And yet THAT is exactly what
is happening – compromises, toning down, no longer being so bright like we are
supposed to be
e.
What good is a lighthouse if
it is too dim to see?
f.
What good is a light in a room
if it is not bright and clear?
g.
What good is a Christian if he
or she is not living as brightly and clearly as possible?
E.
To effectively change our
world like Christ called us to do, we will need to live as Jesus Christ told us
how to live – as LIGHT in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation
F.
I want to learn how to do that
this month!
II.
Message
A.
Our World is a Mess
(1John 5:19) – I don’t even have to tell you that!
1.
There are serious problems
a.
I can’t begin to describe just
how messed up our world is!
1)
Most people live in a bubble –
thinking the world is not so bad
2)
They read the newspaper
thinking it has always been so bad
3)
But believe me, it is getting
worse and worse – just like the Bible said
b.
Not economic problems, or a
political problems
c.
But a sin problem – a problem
in the hearts of every man, woman and child
d.
And our world keeps trying to
lie its way out of the problems it is facing – and only goes deeper into trouble
2.
Where did the problem begin?
a.
When it rejects God’s laws
(Zech 7:11-13)
b.
When it rejects God’s ways
(Heb 3:10)
c.
When it rejects God’s Son
(Isaiah 53:3)
3.
Yep! The world is in big
trouble! Look at our headlines, EVERY DAY!
a.
The violence that we are used
to – used to be only in the third world
b.
The corruption – used to be
only in the third world
c.
The abortions – never heard
of, and yet it was the FIRST WORLD NATIONS that developed modern abortion
procedures for profit!
d.
The darkness that rules the
minds and hearts of this generation
4.
It’s JUST like when it was in
the days of Noah and
a.
Great wickedness
b.
Every imagination was only
evil continually
c.
The earth was filled with
violence
d.
The world is NOT a nice place!
B.
Our World Needs Christians
(Philp 2:15; Mt 10:16)
1.
They don’t need more of the
same
a.
They don’t need more religions
- They have had religious people!
b.
They have had education
c.
They have had money
d.
They have had everything
except Life
2.
They need a true Saviour –
someone who can step in and actually fix things
a.
They are waiting for God’s
laws – for God’s word – for God’s Son!
b.
Oh! Another “man” is coming
who will claim to be able to fix all these developing problems – the beast, the
anti-christ – the idol shepherd – that man of sin!
c.
But ONLY Jesus is the Light of
the World (John 8:12; 12:46)
3.
The only way people are going
to hear about Jesus is if CHRISTIANS show Him (Rom 10:13,14)
a.
We Christians reflect His
light (Mt 5:14-16) – at least we are SUPPOSED to
b.
We live differently than those
who walk in darkness – renounced our old lives (2Cor 4:1,2)
c.
We are living Bibles!
d.
Christians are supposed to be
little Jesus’s in this world
1)
What Jesus did in
2)
You are not yourself
anymore!!!
3)
You live as Christ lived
4)
You speak as Christ spoke
5)
You love as Christ loved
6)
You rebuke as Christ rebuked
7)
You serve as Christ served
8)
You take persecution as Christ
did
e.
There is no neutrality as a
Christian (Mt 12:30; 6:24)
4.
Our world desperately needs to
be turned upside down again by Christians
III.
Challenge
A.
We need to stop thinking this
world is normal – that darkness is good – that our world is doing just fine!
1.
People are deceived into
thinking wealthy people are “so” happy
2.
That being a movie or music
star is a great life – see Amy Winehouse, Michael Jackson
3.
That getting is better than
giving
4.
That discos and pubs and rock
concerts is where the fun is
B.
Only righteousness exalts a
nation (Psalm 9:17)
1.
We need to live like light –
we need to shine in our dark world – not hide what Christ put in us
2.
We need to influence our
generation for God, before it is lost!
3.
We need to be that harmless
but effective influence that Jesus saved us to be!
C.
How Can WE Influence Our
Generation?
1.
By our changed lives (Titus
2:12-14)
a.
Quit living half-heartedly –
just barely “in”
b.
Don’t be ashamed of the change
that Jesus brought to your life
c.
He not only saved your soul
from an eternal devil’s hell
d.
He fixed your mind, and your
heart
e.
He put a new song in your
mouth
f.
He set your feet upon the
Rock, and established your goings
g.
He gave you His Holy Spirit
h.
You should NOT be the same man
or woman you were before!
2.
By our sincerity – realness
(1Peter 2:12)
a.
People know how to act – the
world is filed with actors and acting – frauds
b.
Christians are supposed to be
real
c.
THAT realness melts hard
hearts, and convinces people that God can still do miracles
3.
By our praise (1Peter 2:9,10)
a.
Instead of complaining,
murmuring
b.
Oh that we were a praising
people – a rejoicing people
c.
Not because of the goodness of
prosperity…
d.
But because of the Goodness of
God
e.
Oh that we praised God, and
thanked God for everything!
f.
Oh that our homes were places
of praise, and rest, and singing instead of fighting, and arguing, and quitting!
g.
It has a great effect on the
world around us!
h.
It can change our world!
4.
By our preaching and testimony
(1Cor 14:21-25; 1:21, 18) – this BOOK changes lives! Its truths make sense, and
plow through confusion and defeat
a.
Never forget how powerful
Biblical preaching is on the hearts and minds of hearers
b.
Bring people to hear preaching
c.
Preach at the office – on your
breaks
d.
Preach at school
e.
Preach at the coffee shop
f.
Preach everywhere (Acts 8:4)!
5.
By our praying (Mt 21:21)
a.
We need to get back to moving
our world through prayer
b.
Praying for Enda Kenny
c.
And for the future presidency
of
d.
Praying for
e.
For
f.
For our parents to get saved,
and our enemies
g.
Praying still works!
6.
By our good works (Matthew
5:16)
a.
Doing good to those who hurt
us
b.
Doing good with no thought of
repayment
c.
Doing right, when it is
unpopular and unprofitable!
d.
THAT changes our world!
7.
By our love and assembly (John
13:34,35)
8.
By our hope and confidence
(Romans 1:8)
9.
By our families (Psalm
127:3-5) – living for God, living by the Bible
IV.
Conclusion
A.
How could a group of
uneducated, unorganised, poor Jewish people turn their world upside down in the
first century? No internet. No media. No Television advertising. No money at all
B.
Is it possible that
Christianity could do it again? Could turn THIS world upside down for God? Could
actually effectively make a difference?
C.
Not only CAN it, but we must!
D.
Our World is a Mess
(1John 5:19) – I don’t even have to tell you that!
E.
Our world needs Christians –
Bible believing Christians (Philp 2:15)
1.
There is a power that Biblical
Christianity brings to this world
a.
The power of the resurrected
life
b.
The power of the Son of God
c.
The power of answered prayer
d.
The power of knowing how
everything is going to turn out!
e.
The power of light in
darkness!
2.
Our world desperately needs to
be turned upside down again by Christians
F.
We need to influence our
generation for God, before it is lost!
1.
Christians are Light in this
dark world
2.
We need to live like light –
we need to shine in our dark world – not hide what Christ put in us
3.
But Christians must choose to
walk as light - live as Jesus Christ told us how to live – as LIGHT in the midst
of a crooked and perverse generation
4.
We need to be that harmless
but effective influence that Jesus saved us to be!
G.
How?
1.
By our changed lives (Titus
2:12-14)
2.
By our sincerity – realness
(1Peter 2:12)
3.
By our praise (1Peter 2:9,10)
4.
By our preaching and testimony
(1Cor 14:21-25; 1:21, 18) – this BOOK changes lives! Its truths make sense, and
plow through confusion and defeat
5.
By our praying (Mt 21:21)
6.
By our good works (Matthew
5:16)
7.
By our love and assembly (John
13:34,35)
8.
By our hope and confidence
(Romans 1:8)
9.
By our families (Psalm
127:3-5) – living for God, living by the Bible
H.
We have a lot of work to do
1.
Being not JUST Christians…
2.
But the kind of Christians our
world needs!
3.
According to the Bible, they
are still waiting!