NEVER STUMBLE

NEVER STUMBLE

RF, 9/22/2019

CONNECT:  Recently, I have been concerned with the “deconversion” of some prominent Christian leaders.

One was Joshua Harris. He wrote a book several years ago entitled “I Kissed Dating Goodbye”. He is credited with starting what became known as the ‘purity culture’ in the church. He became the pastor of a megachurch and then resigned after a few years to attend seminary. This last summer he announced that he was leaving his marriage and leaving his faith. He has renounced evangelical Christianity and is exploring other lifestyles.

Not long after that Marty Sampson, one of Hillsong’s most prolific song writers and worship leaders announced he was losing his faith and was very comfortable with that. We have sung many of his powerful songs here at RF, most notably “Praise the Name of the Lord Our God”.

TENSION:  How does this happen?  How does someone who is a leader in the Church suddenly decide they don’t want to be a Christian anymore. Not only that, they reject and apologize for everything that have taught before.

This has led to many rejecting Christianity and leaving the church, especially younger people.

I don’t want to be one of those who fall away from the faith. I know you don’t either.  I don’t think those who have fallen away set out to do it, but it happened.  It has happened before and is happening and will continue to happen.  

Jesus said it would happen.

Matthew 24:12 (NKJV) And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.

Paul saw it.

1 Timothy 1:19-20 (NKJV) having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.

2 Timothy 4:10 (NKJV) for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia.

This will happen more frequently as the second coming of Jesus approaches.

2 Thessalonians 2:3 (NKJV) Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,

1 Timothy 4:1 (NKJV) Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith…

SOLUTION:  There is some good news!  God tells us in His Word that there is a way to never fall back or fall away.

PRAYER

INSTRUCTION :  One key is in the verses immediately following our studies this summer.

TEXT:  2 Peter 1:10 (NKJV) Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;

What things? Go back to v. 5. We are commanded to be diligent about making sure we have the eight attributes we have been studying.  But here in v. 10 we are also commanded to be even more diligent to make sure we are saved!

The word ‘stumble’ means to fall or fall away. So, when we read ‘stumble’ think fall away.

Let me read this in the NLT…

2 Peter 1:10 (NLT) So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away.

This is a promise that we can be assured of making it to the end!

What are some reasons why people fall away?

Envying others:  Psalms 73:2–3 (NKJV) But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the boastful, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

Indulging desires:  Isaiah 28:7 (NKJV) But they also have erred through wine, and through intoxicating drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through intoxicating drink, they are swallowed up by wine, they are out of the way through intoxicating drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.

Forgetting God:  Jeremiah 18:15 (NKJV) Because My people have forgotten Me, they have burned incense to worthless idols. And they have caused themselves to stumble in their ways, from the ancient paths, to walk in pathways and not on a highway,

Pride:  Jeremiah 50:32 (NKJV) The most proud shall stumble and fall, and no one will raise him up; I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it will devour all around him.

Idols in our hearts:  Ezekiel 14:3 (NKJV) Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts and put before them that which causes them to stumble into iniquity. Should I let Myself be inquired of at all by them?

No depth in our lives:  Matthew 13:21 (NKJV) yet he has no root in himself but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.

Disobedience:  1 Peter 2:8 (NKJV) and “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.

APPLICATION :  What can we do to not stumble and fall away?

Love the Word of God:  Psalms 119:165 (NKJV) Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble.

Lean into Wisdom:  Proverbs 4:10–13 (NKJV) Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of your life will be many. ¹¹ I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths. ¹² When you walk, your steps will not be hindered, and when you run, you will not stumble. ¹³ Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go; Keep her, for she is your life.

Learn to Pray:  Jeremiah 31:9 (NKJV) They shall come with weeping, and with supplications I will lead them. I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters, in a straight way in which they shall not stumble; for I am a Father to Israel, and Ephraim is My firstborn.

Listen to the Voice of God:  John 16:1 (NKJV) These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble.

Leap into Faith:  Jude 1:24 (NKJV) Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,

INSPIRATION:  Brad climbing towers without fear by believing Jude 1:24...

Hebrews 10:35-39 (NKJV) Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: “For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT: Part 8 LOVE

LOVE IS THE GOAL

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT Part 8: LOVE

“Rhythm of Life” Series

ME All of us can remember a memorable multi-course meal. It could have been a dinner party or a progressive dinner or a holiday meal at Grandma’s house. Oftentimes those dinners saved the best for last.

Illustration Alba and I celebrating our anniversary at P. F. Chang’s…

We have reached the end of Peter’s 8 course feast and he has truly saved the best for last. Let’s look at our text again…

2 Peter 1:5–7 (NKJV) But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.

Today, I want to talk about the last course: love.

WE How do you define love? Just think about all the songs you’ve heard about love.  If we are to add love to our life, what kind of love was Peter talking about?

GOD The Greek Word used here is agape. This is the ’God’ type of love that is described as self-sacrificing, giving, accepting, serving. It is one of the essential expressions of God’s nature.

1 John 4:16 (NKJV) And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

It is such a part of God’s nature that it is the first fruit that God’s Spirit produces in our lives.

Galatians 5:22 (NKJV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love…

The most used description of this love was written by Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians. Paul speaks about the superior excellence of ’agape’ love.

1 Corinthians 13:1–3 (NKJV) Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Then Paul lists several adjectives describing ’agape’ love.

1 Corinthians 13:4–7 (NKJV) Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Paul’s conclusion is in verse 13.

1 Corinthians 13:13 (NKJV) And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

If we look at Peter’s list, it begins with faith and ends with love. The middle is filled with hope: hope that does not disappoint, hope to have fellowship with God, hope to make a difference. Love is where we are headed!

1 Timothy 1:5 (NASB) But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

YOU How can you operate in ’agape’ love?

Allow me to make several observations…

First: love is not an emotion; it is an act of the will.

Let’s look first at how this love operated in the OT. The closest word to describe ’agape’ love in the OT is the word ’hesed’. It is the word most used to describe God in the OT.

Hesed means faithfulness and covenant loyalty. It is often translated as mercy, grace, loving kindness, kindness, and love. It is a commitment to a promise we have made.

God always keeps His promises.

Deuteronomy 7:9 (NKJV) Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments;

2 Corinthians 1:20 (NKJV) For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.

Illustration Dr. Dobson’s dad’s promise to his bride…

When we live in ’agape’ love, we keep our promises!

Second: we will do things because of love that we would never do because of law!

I have watched people do things for loved ones that most people would not do for anyone.

Illustration ESPN story about USC’s right tackle, Austin Jackson, possibly sacrificing his football career to give a bone marrow donation to his sister suffering from Diamond Blackfan Anemia (DBA), an exceedingly rare genetic disorder that keeps her bone marrow from producing red blood cells.

Third: we can’t love God without loving people…

1 John 4:20 (NKJV) If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?

But we can love people without loving God!

Jesus said this…

Luke 6:46 (NKJV) But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?

John 14:15 (NKJV) If you love Me, keep My commandments.

John says it this way…

*1 John 5:3 (NKJV) For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome (they are in our best interests)!

WE Are we walking in love by walking in His commandments?

There is such a great emphasis today on love. That all we need to do is just love everybody. But we cannot let our love for people override our love for God!

I really hesitate to talk about this for fear of being misunderstood. But in order to be faithful to God’s Word I need to.

Illustration Tract in college: Mourn: God Hates You!

The Bible clearly teaches that God hates a few things.

Proverbs 6:16–19 (NKJV) These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.

These are tough verses but can be instructive to us if we apply them in the context of ’agape’ love. The entire idea rests on covenant. When I am in covenant with someone, we share everything. Your battles are my battles; your blessings are my blessings. When I am in covenant with God, I love who He loves, and I hate what He hates.

Illustration David, Jonathan, and Mephibosheth…