Pastor Dave Martin ~ Cross Creek Community Church ~ Oct 29, 2006
Text: 1Co 3:10-19 & Selected
Living Right Side Up ~ In an Upside Down World
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I trust the Lord has been speaking to you concerning Living right side up in an upside down world. |
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Everywhere we look we see violence, corruption, materialism, humanistic anti-God philosophy… |
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School shootings, escalating drug use, more & more immorality, rise in occultic activities… |
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We’re living in an upside down world - shot full of sin. Marriage is being assaulted… no longer is it Adam & Eve BUT Adam & Steve… (this week the NJ Supreme Court’s decision backing Same-Sex Unions) |
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The government sanctions abortion, outlaws public prayer in schools, banned Bible reading, attempts to remove 10 commandments removed from public places, assaults traditional marriage – foundational. |
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We allow garbage to feed our young sensitive minds, pedophiles to run free, illegal’s to break our laws |
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Freedom MUST be nurtured, defended, and protected - Tuesday, Nov 7th is election day… read the insert in your bulletin, and be sure to vote your values… vote for candidates that has your core values! |
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This morning we wrap up our short series on Living Right Side Up… |
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I believe today’s message is critical for every believer to grasp… a great incentive to live Godly in an ungodly environment… we’re going to look at the truth of future judgment when everything in your life & mine will be laid bare… the good – the bad – the ugly! |
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Let’s read the entire text to get the flow of what God is trying to teach us here in 1Co 3:10-19 |
Build Your Life…
I. On the Foundation of Jesus Christ – Be Saved!
1 Corinthians 3:10-11 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
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Without a foundation or a weak foundation your house will crack & fall apart – doors won’t work right, cracks in walls & ceilings, floors will sag, roofs will leak (example) many problems… If your life is not built upon Jesus Christ you too will undergo stress fractures… one difficulty to another, fear – especially fear of facing God someday, sin that you never seem to “get a handle on”, going from one failed relationship to another – trust shattered, anxiety, depression, loneliness, anger, bitterness… The Lord tells us we must build our lives on the foundation of Jesus Christ! He alone is our ROCK! He’s our Anchor! How do we build our lives on Jesus? |
Be Saved by Faith
Acts 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name (Jesus) under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
· Saving faith is not found in a denomination, a creed or in tradition… Salvation is found in Jesus Christ…
· Jesus, God’s Son came to earth, lived a perfect sinless life and went to the cross to be the sacrificial payment for your sins… Jesus died, was buried and rose back to life again… you must be born again! You must repent & believe!
· If there’s a dark stain on a page of your life, don’t live in perpetual despair. Romans 8:28 says that all things work for the good of those who love Him, it includes all those mistakes, mis-steps, and sins that have been humbly confessed and placed under His blood.
· There is no one beyond the reach of God's mercy, and nothing beyond the arm of His grace. Give that terrible memory to Him and let Him transform your life for His glory in His own timing and way.
Ephesians 2:8-9 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
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Notice carefully we are saved by: Faith in Jesus (gift) + Nothing (works, yourself, boasting) = Genuine Salvation |
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The Corinthian people living in an upside down world heard the Word of God from Paul… He was the means (expert builder) not the cause of salvation… saved each person is building their lives upon Jesus Christ! |
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How great is our God! He brings victory out of defeat; and even from the swamp of our sins, He mines for gold. |
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Once saved there is no magic spiritual pill or autopilot – we must be CAREFUL how we build our lives… |
Build Your Life…
II. Using the Right Materials – Be Wise!
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Proper depth, width, materials… concrete, rebar, drainage pipes, tar, correct backfill material – be wise/life |
1 Corinthians 3:12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw,
You are Building Your Life
Ø Gold, Silver, Costly Stones…
Uncommon, Lasting, Spiritual, Great Value
Ø Wood, Hay, Straw…
Common, Temporary, Fleshly, Little Value
· Everything you do – EVERYTHING – you are either building toward the eternal or the temporal…
· The “things” you do are either going to last forever or they will be destroyed
· YOU choose the way you do life… YOU choose your priorities… YOU choose where God fits in your plans…
· YOU are either building with good works or bad works… Spiritual or fleshly deeds… great or little value
· That’s why we must weed out bad habits regularly, just as we weed our yards. An untended garden soon deteriorates into a weed patch, and an untended life does the same… It requires the discipline of the hoe to produce vegetables in our fields and discipline to produce holiness in our lives.
Build Your Life…
III. Conscious of Your Final Exam – Be Ready!
1 Corinthians 3:13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work.
· Please listen carefully, this is very important… we are saved by faith PLUS NOTHING (not by works)… BUT ONCE we are saved… our works whether good or bad will be manifest / revealed by Christ at our Final Exam.
· Fire burns up the bad works… disobedience, lies, unfaithfulness, spotty church attendance, unforgiveness, etc
· Fire will reveal the often hidden gold nuggets of your life… nights in prayer, faithful obedient walk, witnessing, tithing, serving, genuine love for God & others, caring for those in need, participation in your spiritual growth, etc
· As Christians we are building our lives every moment of time… be conscious in how you build your life…
· Genuine Christians will be bearing fruit (quality of your work) – Fruit produced by the Spirit (9 qualities)
Galatians 5:22-23a But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.
James 2:26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
· Christian, we must be ready for the Rapture then we appear before Jesus Christ (during the tribulation period)
2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
· “Bema” seat – a raised platform, where rewards were given out to the victors (1Jn 5:4-5)…
· There we will receive rewards for their faithfulness to the Lord or for all that has been contrary in their lives to His will they will suffer loss.
· To all those saved, those who are in Jesus Christ there is no condemnation (Rom 8:1)… (Blood of Jesus/sin)
· In Christ we have liberty/freedom BUT NOT a license to sin… you will give an account of your life someday!
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An evaluation of all thoughts, words, and deeds awaits every believer in the future – the judgment seat of Christ. |
God’s Standards…
· Pure Motives – what’s the motivation behind EVERTHING that you do? It all comes out in the wash!
Some Go To Church... Some go to church just for a walk, Some go to church to laugh and talk, Some go there the time to spend, Some go there to meet a friend. Some go there for speculation— Some go there for observation, Some go there to doze and nod, Some, how few, to worship God. —The Lamplighter
1 Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
· Holy Conduct – What goes on behind closed doors? How’s your speech, habits, love?
Believing God's Word will lead to obeying God's Word. We only obey that what we really believe!
Philippians 1:27a Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ…
“Conduct” is a political term meaning “Live as citizens of heaven”
· Selfless Service – What area of ministry are you involved with here at Cross Creek? Are you serving?
Serving God as we serve one another. Knowing we stand before an audience of One!
Ephesians 4:16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Romans 14:12 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
A story is told about a preacher and a New York City cab driver who died on the same day and both were greeted in Heaven by St. Peter. The cab driver received a large magnificent mansion setting on a hilltop. The preacher started to think… wow, If a cabby got this beautiful mansion, surely I’ll receive something so much better… St. Peter then came to the preacher & pointed out a small cottage down in the valley. The preacher was a little bit disturbed by this turn of events and decided to ask St. Peter why he received this small cottage and the cab driver received the beautiful mansion on the hilltop. St. Peter said, “It really is quite simple. When you preached many slept but the way he drove everyone prayed.”
Build Your Life…
IV. In View of Eternity – Be Blessed!
1 Corinthians 3:14-15 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.
Those who are…
· Unfaithful – Suffer Loss – Works Burned
o Suffer loss may mean losing rewards/crowns, the right to rule & reign with Jesus
o I believe there will be various levels of authority in heaven (as seen in the angelic world)
o God is not going to grant every Christian the very same… unfaithful/bad fruit = suffer loss
o Suffer loss YET saved as one escaping from the flames… liken it to a building that’s all ablaze and a person jumps… he’s saved but looses everything in the process!
· Faithful – Greatly Rewarded – Eternal Fruit
o All the good things done since you were born again (gold/silver/precious stones) will stand the test of fire and you will be rewarded for what the fire could not destroy… Greatly rewarded for all eternity!
o Let me give you a glimpse of how great your reward will be… next slide (also on our website)…