Upholding Biblical Truth In A Broken World Part 7 – The Broken Life

Gtcotr/ss091425 

1 John 3:12  We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother …  

Cain had a broken life. Some of us may need a little backstory on Cain and why he murdered his brother. Before we turn to Genesis for the original account, let’s listen to the Apostle John just a little more on the subject for today. Back up to verse 7. I’m reading from the NLT.  

(John was the last living Apostle and he had seen it all: The arrest, trial, and crucifixion of Jesus; and His resurrection; the murder of his own brother James; the stoning of Steven; plus the Christian martyrs under the evil Emperor Nero, including Peter and Paul … John is the foremost authority on this subject, as well, John is writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God!) 

1 John 3 NLT 

7  Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous. 

8  But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. 

9  Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God. 

10  So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God. 

John wrote more about brotherly love and broken lives than any other writer in the Bible. But did you know that there is still twice as much evil in the Bible as there is love? What do I mean?  

A survey of the Authorized Version of the Bible (KJV) reveals that the word love is found 281 times while the word evil is found 569 times – more than twice as much. We can see evil beginning to take root in lives from the very beginning of the book of Genesis. Hurting people often hurt people …  

Genesis 4  

1 ¶  Now Adam knew his wife, Eve, and she became pregnant. When she gave birth to Cain, she said, “With the LORD’s help, I have produced a man!” 

2  Later she gave birth to his brother and named him Abel. When they grew up, Abel became a shepherd, while Cain cultivated the ground. 

3 ¶  When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the LORD. 

4  Abel also brought a gift — the best of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The LORD accepted Abel and his gift, 

5  but He did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected. 

6 ¶  “Why are you so angry?” the LORD asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? 

7  You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.” 

8 ¶  One day Cain suggested to his brother, “Let’s go out into the fields.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother, Abel, and killed him. 

We are all sons and daughters of Eve and are subject to the same evil intentions of the devil. When we are doing right and pleasing God, we cannot expect to be treated any better than Jesus was. He was falsely accused, horribly misunderstood, spit upon, cursed, beaten, judged, arrested, condemned and killed by those He was trying to help see the light. All of this from broken lives. Jesus only ever spoke the truth, and all He ever did, He did from a heart of love and compassion. When you can’t love others, you’re broken.

God told Cain (v.7) “If you refuse to do what is right, then watch out!” Evil is lurking at your door, and the devil wants to take control of your life. In other words … if you refuse to do what is right, the devil will master you. 

1 John 3 NLT 

11  This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 

12  We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because Cain had been doing what was evil, and his brother had been doing what was righteous. 

13  So don’t be surprised, dear brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.

When we continue doing what is wrong despite the offerings and opportunities God gives us, we can be mastered by evil and begin to hate those who are doing right. Misdirected anger can cause us to hurt or even murder a brother or sister, or a minister God has sent our way.  

People who don’t like the message often hate, accuse, curse, or even kill the messenger. Jesus said we should not be surprised if the world hates us … it hated Him first.  

Let me encourage you this morning to not fear the world or those who punish or abuse you for loving them enough to be honest with them. Speak the truth in love anyway. Jesus didn’t say speak the truth in anger, hate, frustration, condemnation, or with a haughty or vengeful spirit … but speak the truth in love. God heals broken lives every day … give Him a chance to do it through you.  

If you refuse to do right, watch out! The devil is walking about, seeking those whom he may devour, resist him and don’t allow him to master you. 

Is there anything you need to repent for this morning?  

• · Someone you hate? 
  
• · Someone you want to see get hurt or lose something valuable to them? 
  
• · Do you love others? Even those you consider your enemies? If not, why not? 
  
• · Are you a broken life?  
  
• · Where is safe for you? 
  
• · Remember John said: Anyone who does not love others, does not belong to God.  
  
• · Turn your life over to Jesus right now, and let Him take it from here. 

Pray with me now …

Upholding Biblical Truth in a Broken World Part 6 – The Broken Church

Gtcotr/ss090725 

There is no sea from which we harvest the souls of men other than the waters of this broken world. (P2P) 

God never intended for the 10 Commandments to be a whipping post for mortal man. The 10 Commandments were meant to be a blessing and given to help God’s family live a powerful, prosperous and productive life.  

However over the years religious leaders began to use the 10 Commandments to identify violators so they could be taxed or otherwise punished for their sins. The prophet Isaiah paints a picture in the first chapter of his prophecy of God being frustrated with sacrifices. What had been meant to foster and strengthen relationship had become little more than forced religion. People ended up worshipping a God they didn’t even know. Something was broken …  

1500 years later the Apostle Paul, an expert in Jewish law wrote: 

Romans 7:6  But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter. 

2 Corinthians 3:6  who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 

It’s terrible to find yourself in a situation you don’t want to be in. Perhaps trapped in a problem you didn’t cause and feel you don’t deserve … a place you never imagined you would be … It’s terrible to be in the grips of: 

• · Alcoholism 
  
• · Drug Addiction 
  
• · Pornography 
  
• · The Love of Money 
  
• · Mental Deterioration  
  
• · Emotional Instability

• · Paranoid Delusions 
  
• · Gender Identity Crises  
  
• · Same Sex Attractions 
  
• · Post Traumatic Stress 
  
• · Unexpected Pregnancy 
  
• · Divorce 
  
• · Bankruptcy 
  
• · Prison 

… and feel alienated from God and family.  

God knew these experiences would become all too common in a broken world and He had compassion on mankind. This is why He gave us His Word, never intending it to be a whipping post like had happened with the 10 Commandments … but rather God hoped the Living Word would become our salvation. He further gave us His Spirit to comfort, lead and guide us while we live in this broken world. 

Then, after the Word and the Spirit, untimately God gave us a family. Just like He chose Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. From them came the 12 Tribes of Israel … a family … the family of God. Genesis 2:18 says that it is not good that man should dwell alone. And Psalm 68:6 tells us that God sets the individual in families.  

A family is meant to secure you; make you safe; feed and nurture you; protect, provide, and promote you. A family is God’s design into which He places every child – first in the natural and then in the spiritual.  

You have a natural family, and God has divinely given you a spiritual family. The Church is God’s family in the earth today, just as Israel was His family and the Israelites His children in Old Testament times. 1 Corinthians 12:18 says that God sets every member in the Church as it pleases Him.  

The Church has been given the role of being and acting like God’s family in the earth. Mark 1:21plainly describes the first thing Jesus did after inviting His initial 4 disciples to follow Him was to immediately take them to Church. Jesus knows the Church is not filled with perfect people but nonetheless Church is His perfect will.  

Sad to say that much like the 10 Commandments were misused to serve and support a religion instead of a relationship, so also has been the message of the Gospel in days gone by. We live in a broken world, and the Church is filled with broken people. As earlier said - There is no sea from which we harvest the souls of men other than the waters of this broken world.  

The Church you attend is filled with imperfect people making bad decisions in need of mercy, grace, and forgiveness, calling on the name of Jesus to save and secure them and make them a greater witness. 

In Old Testament days, often those facing judgment from the priest or punishment from the people after having broken one of the 10 Commandments were condemned to death. Religion offers no compassion and no reprieve. People imagined God did not like a person who sinned and therefore no one else should like them either. That is not the truth …  

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” 

And let’s not forget the next verse: 

John 3:17  “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” 

This is why we see Jesus acting with compassion towards a young woman who was caught breaking one of the 10 Commandments in Jerusalem as recorded in John 8: 

John 8 

2  Now early in the morning Jesus came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. 

3  Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, 

4  they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. 

5  “Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” 

6  This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. 

7  So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” 

8  And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 

9  Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 

10  When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” 

11  She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” 

The world is broken, and people are broken … we don’t need a broken Church with a broken doctrine as well. The Church and the Word is all some people have to depend on for safety, their sanity and their salvation.  

God did not commission the Church to point out, criticize or condemn sinners. The Church should be filled with answers and opportunities. The Church is designed to be a family filled with salvation for the lost and compassion for the saints. The 10 Commandments along with every word written on the pages of the Holy Bible are divine instructions aimed at helping broken people heal and live a healthy, happy, and godly life.  

Scriptures are not designed to condemn sinners but to save them … save them from sin and save them from the grip of this broken world.  

Pointing out something that is terrible without offering a compassionate remedy is less than loving, less than family. As terrible as it is to be held captive by situations and circumstances of life it is of no help when others point to the problem without offering a remedy that will work. Help is not help when it does not help. Jesus can help … 

This morning I want to offer you salvation which comes from a relationship, not from a religion. Today, Jesus Christ will come into your life in a dynamic way and lead you through this broken world if you will sincerely call on His name.  

He will not require you to judge anyone else, but He will heal your broken life, heal your broken relationships and heal your broken dreams. There is still time. Call on Him today in prayer.  

If you want to find Jesus, you will always find Him in two places. You will find Jesus in prayer, and you will find Him in Church … even in a broken Church filled with broken people. Make your commitment to be a part of the family of God in the earth … Jesus did! 

Upholding Biblical Truth In A Broken World Part 5 – Central Truths

Gtcotr/ss083125 

How many of you would like a new car or maybe a new pickup? 

Does anyone here want a new house? How about new furniture; new clothes; new shoes; or a new job?  

None of these desires are wrong. In fact, God created man with wants and desires for food, houses, clothes, friendships, and fun. Seeing something you want and pursuing it is a big part of living a godly life. The Psalmist David said, If a person delights themselves in the Lord, God will give them the desires of their heart. (Psalms 37:4) 

We are born to want the things we need to make life happy and healthy. Even a baby has the good sense to cry when their hungry, cold, uncomfortable, or afraid. The fact that we want is not the problem … and many times the problem is not even what we want. The problem most often lies in what a person is willing to do to get what they want. For example: Some people will do anything for money. The love of money … 

Wanting a new house, car or promotion is certainly not sin. However using slanderous insults or defamation of character, committing fraud, criminal trespass, lying under oath, assault, robbery, or murder as leverage to get what you want is sin. And, in the eyes of God and others, what you compromise to get will never truly satisfy. 

In this series on Upholding Biblical Truth in a Broken World, we have been taking a modern-day look at the Ten Commandments. God gave His Law to the Children of Israel through the prophet Moses about 3500 years ago and it has endured as Truth to all generations since. Some things are wrong, just because they are wrong … always have been and always will be. If we are going to uphold Biblical truth in this broken world, we first need to acknowledge the Bible as the standard of truth for our lives today.  

Galatians 3:24  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 

When God wrote His law, He intended for it to be like a schoolteacher for the education of His children so they could be raised to live godly lives. He etched the curriculum on the flat surfaces of two stones. It was written by the finger of God. 

The first stone tablet contained the first 5 Commandments. The first 5 Commandments were aimed at teaching God’s Children how to treat God and how to treat their parents, who were positionally placed as  representatives of God. The second 5 Commandments gave instructions concerning how people are expected to treat one another. 

A modern-day overlay makes it easy to see God’s intent. The Law is the schoolteacher; the Bible is the curriculum; we are the students; life is the classroom; and every temptation is a test. This morning we are going to take a brief look at the second table of the law. Let’s turn to Exodus 20. 

Exodus 20 NLT 

13  “You must not murder. 

14  “You must not commit adultery. 

15  “You must not steal. 

16  “You must not testify falsely against your neighbor. 

17  “You must not covet your neighbor’s house. You must not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.” 

The devil does not need to, and may not even want to control your whole life … he is just looking for one small area. If the devil can just get a small part of your mind, even just one area of your life, distort just one of God’s central truths, deception will grow, and you will become an agent of his will. The devil is looking for just one little corner of your mind … 

• · “I believe what the Apostle Paul has to say about everything except one thing he says about …” (women; marriage; money; sex; gifts)  
  
• · “Well I’ve never murdered anybody …” 
  
• · “At least I’m not committing adultery.” 
  
• · “You don’t know my parents (Husband/Wife/Boss/Teacher/Kids).” 

What about: 

• · Loving you neighbor? 
  
• · Unforgiveness; Bitterness; Hatred; Slander; Gossip; Vengeance? 
  
• · Financial Integrity; Moral and Ethical Standards of Life? 
  

James 2 NLT 

10  For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws. 

11  For the same God who said, “You must not commit adultery,” also said, “You must not murder.” So if you murder someone but do not commit adultery, you have still broken the law. 

12  So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free. 

13  There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you.

We cannot make life decisions for others, and we are strongly cautioned by Jesus to not judge others. We are called to pray for those we believe are in error and if necessary, withdraw fellowship from them until they repent before God, not before us, and discontinue their ungodly behavior. 

What are some practical ways we can uphold the Central Truths of the Bible without judging others, breaking fellowship with friends and family or compromising our beliefs? 

• 1. Be merciful. 
  
• a. Not everyone is where you are in life and in your walk with Christ. Don’t expect others to be perfect – you weren’t! 
  
• b. Be merciful … don’t be mad and mean … you may not know everything. 
  
• 2. Be prayerful. 
  
• a. No doubt someone prayed or is praying right now for you. 
  
• b. Give God time to answer and room to work. 
  
• 3. Pass your test. 
  
• a. You may be affected by something that is simply not your test. 
  
• b. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you which part of the situation is your test, and which part belongs to someone else.  
  
• c. You can be merciful, encouraging, and pray for others … but you can’t take their test and pass it for them.

The Goodness of God

God is good…all the time; 

And all the time…God is good. 

We have all heard this phrase before in some way, form, or fashion. But I would say that this phrase is more than just a “saying.” Instead, it is the very foundation of our faith. God’s goodness is the reason we woke up this morning, it is the reason we made it to church today, it is the reason we have hope for tomorrow, and it is the reason we can face every season of life with confidence. 

The Bible tells us to “taste and see that the Lord is good.” That means God’s goodness isn’t just an idea—it’s something we can experience, enjoy, and rely on every single day. 

Today, I want to remind you that God’s goodness is constant. It doesn’t rise and fall with the stock market, it doesn’t shift with the seasons of our life, and it doesn’t depend on how we feel. God is good because it’s who He is. And when we build our lives on His goodness, we find peace, strength, and joy that nothing else can give. 

We are going to take a look at 1 Peter 2:1-3 

“So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.” 

Peter was saying to: 

• - Put away the old way of life 
  
• - Like a new child, hunger for the things of God 
  
• - There is a caveat, “IF you have tasted that the Lord is good.” 

• 1. God is completely good 
  
• • He is not 1/2 good 
  
• • He is not mostly good 
  
• • He is not sometimes going 

• • God is always good because he is COMPLETELY GOOD 
  
• • That means that whatever happens in life, God is still good 
  
  James 1:17 - “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
  
  
• • This text tells us a little about God 
  
  God is Infinite - He has no bounds or limits = You cannot measure or limit God’s goodness in your life 
  
  God is Immutable - He does not change = God’s goodness does not change or diminish 
  
  
• • God is infinite, unchangingly, and always good. That is who He is! 
  
• • God is good all by Himself 
  
• • He is so good that He cannot be bad 
  
• • He cannot be any more good 
  
• • Everything God does is good! 
  
  
• 2. God Demonstrated His Goodness 
  
• • Not only is God good, but He showed His goodness on the cross 
  
  Romans 5:8 - “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 
  
  
• • He demonstrated His goodness when He sent His own son to die on the cross for us 
  
• • Salvation is a picture of God’s goodness: 
  
• - Justice - Giving what is deserved 
  
• - Mercy - Not giving what is deserved 
  
• - Grace - Giving what is not deserved 
  
  
• 3. Respond to God’s Goodness 
  
• • Any and everything good in your life is because God has given it to you 
  
• • But God’s goodness is not meant to just be admired—it’s meant to be experienced and responded to. When we realize that every good thing in our lives comes from Him, it calls for action on our part. 

• 
  
• i) Gratitude 
  
• • Our first response should be thanksgiving. 
  
• • Psalm 107:1 - “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” 
  
• • Gratitude shifts our focus from what we lack to what God has already done. 
  
• • When you stop and look around, the breath in your lungs, the family you love, the church you’re part of—it’s all evidence of God’s goodness. 
  
  
• ii) Trust 
  
  
• iii) Obedience 

Takeaways 

• I. God has been good to you 
  
  
• II. His goodness will never cease in your life 
  
  
• III. You have a chance to respond

 

Upholding Biblical Truth In A Broken World Part 4 – Disorder In The Court

 Gtcotr/ss082425 

This morning we are continuing our series on Upholding Biblical Truth in a Broken World. Truth is objective but telling the truth is subjective … and listening to the truth is even more so. It seems no matter which news outlet I turn to; I’m offered their political slant or opinion biased commentary in conjunction with bits and pieces of the truth. It’s difficult to find the raw, unabridged truth these days.  

We live in a broken world fulfilling the prophecy that in the last days people would call sweet bitter, and call bitter sweet. The whole world system is upside down. If it wasn’t so dangerous and ungodly, it would be amusing. Watching the daily world affairs from various outlets is like watching a three-ring circus … you don’t really know where to look or when the clown car is going to explode. And it doesn’t just happen on TV or the inter-tube. 

When someone tries to explain the truth as they see it, they are limited by a few barriers. The first barrier is their actual knowledge and what they understand about the matter, a second is their perspective or opinion of that situation, and a third is simply what they are willing to share in either a conscious or an unconscious effort to color, support or protect the outcome.  

Perhaps this is the reason the Law of God which God gave through Moses required truth to be established only after it was heard by two witnesses and subsequently examined by an impartial judge. Leaving out any single element of this equation opens the process to abuse. 

Such was the case in the accusations against Jesus which led to His crucifixion. There were more than two witnesses, false witnesses of course, but the judges however were not impartial. When the outcome is predetermined, truth is pushed to the side.  

One of the ways we in America have tried to keep people honest is by introducing the Bible and/or adding a phrase to the end of the oath which is taken for witnesses and judges alike. I’m certain you’re familiar with this in some way. Allow me to show you what I mean. 

Note to Production: Disorder In The Court - 1936

https://youtu.be/LDiuHVH_1to?si=PDZ7hdmGzZPR-3eF

(Play from 3:16 to 4:45) 

Hand on the Bible swearing to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. This is how we in America have been invoking a sense of responsibility to tell the truth not only in the eyes of man but the truth in the eyes of God.  

Even George Washington used the Bible during his inauguration and then he kissed it after taking the oath of office as the first President of the United States. Presidents since the beginning of our nation have used the Bible and often an added phrase, “So help me God”, to seal their oaths.  

People often use the name of God or a verse from the Holy Scriptures in their attempt to prove what they are saying is the truth. Truth, as I said, is objective but telling the truth is subjective. When people want others to believe what they are saying is the truth, they often back it up with the notion that God supports their perspective as well.  

The Bible is like math in that a person can take numbers and prove almost anything. Outcomes are dependent on how and why a person is calculating the numbers. Mark Twain said, “There are three types of lies: lies, damn lies, and (then there are) statistics.” When I hear someone using numbers to support or prove something I get suspicious.  

For example: A drop in the crime rate of a certain area may be proven mathematically. However, if that city has also experienced a decrease in population, using other numbers may prove an increase in the crime rate. So which is it? An increase or a decrease? It depends on who is telling the story and what they are hoping to prove. Mathematics are often used to support a predetermined outcome. This is one reason we need all the data before we make up our minds as to the truth.  

Numbers can be argued to prove anything we want. Why not Simply give all the data and let the numbers speak for themselves. Much like we should do with the Bible. Cherry-picking scriptures to prove a point is pointless. It won’t change the truth … no matter how many people believe it. 

The real danger does not come from someone trying to prove their point on a personal level. The real danger is when a person tries to make others believe God agrees with them. At times, people just aren’t aware of conflicting scriptures that shine a different light on the matter. At other times opposing verses are either left out or discounted and pushed aside. Claiming God agrees with you when He doesn’t is a clear violation of the principles of God’s word … specifically the 3rd Commandment. 

And so we pick up where we left off in Part 3 of our series last week with: 

Exodus 20:7  “You must not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name.” 

Misusing the name of the LORD your God … in other words … using God for your own gain.  

How many times have you heard, “God told me …” and you can think of 10 scriptures in the Bible that have just been violated, and 3 principles of God that are being ignored, and the Holy Spirit is grieving you with a sound of tin in your ears, but you can’t challenge them because they said, “God said!” 

Or someone shares a scripture on social media and uses it, or misuses it, as a basis for justifying thought or behavior which you know is so off track with God. Well meaning, ignorant people often think it is ok for them to fashion a God who agrees with them and their sense of justice. In fact, I have heard many say they would not want to serve a God that felt differently than what they think is right. We were fashioned in God’s image, not the other way around … Commandment #2. 

There is a truth and the both the Bible, and the Holy Spirit support the truth. Biblical truth can be known and understood. The truth of God’s Word, God’s Will, and God’s Way does not need to hide from examination or make excuses why violations and compromises are ok.  

God will never ask a person to go outside of His word to accomplish His will. Not every voice in your head, in your heart, or in your history is the voice of God. And it doesn’t make things true when you put your hand on the Bible or swear by His name.  

Leviticus 19:12  “Do not bring shame on the name of your God by using it to swear falsely. I am the LORD.” 

So … what’s the conclusion to today’s message? 

• 1. The Bible is true. 
  
• a. Accept no other version of truth. 
  
• b. Place your trust and your eternity in the Bible. 
  
• 2. This world is broken. 
  
• 3. We can help by speaking the Truth in love. 
  

The Law of Moses condemned people who failed. 

By Grace, the Gospel of Jesus Christ saves sinners and separates them from their sin. 

The Power of the Holy Spirit delivers and enables each Believer to live a life pleasing to God. 

God expects us to uphold Biblical Truth in this broken world. 

Speak the Truth in love.

A Work in Progress

Today we are going to be in the book of Philippians.  

Have you ever driven by a building that is under construction? When you first see it starting off it just looks like a big mess. You got scaffolding every where, unfinished walls, piles of dirt, and things just scattered everywhere! Not only that, but sometimes we say to ourselves, “when is this ever going to be finished?? On the outside it looks a bit crazy, but to the master builder, everything is going according to plan. He is not bothered by the mess. Why? Because the builder has the blueprint. The builder knows exactly what it is supposed to look like when it’s finished. What looks like a mess now will one day become a masterpiece.  

That is exactly how it feels in our life at times. We look at ourselves and see all the unfinished parts: our mistakes, our past, our struggles, our fears, we look at these things and think to ourselves, “I should be further along by now.”

However, while we see all of the mess, God sees the masterpiece; He sees the end result. Things may look crazy, but God is not bothered by the incomplete construction zones of our life. Why? Because God has the blueprint! He knows exactly what it is supposed to look like when it is finished. To God, everything is going according to plan. While we see the construction zone, God sees the completion.

Here is the cool part: no matter the situation, God does not leave any of His projects half-done. If He started something in you, He’s not walking away from it. 

Everyone here is in a process; every person here is a work in progress. We are all clay in the hands of the potter who is molding and changing our lives for the His glory. We are not who we used to be, and we are not yet who God is shaping us to be. 

This is the reason why Paul was able to write to the Philippians and say: 

Philippians 1:6 - “Being confident of this… He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” 

Let’s zero in on the people of the Philippian church. Paul says that He was praying for them, and he said that we was thankful for them. Why? Because they had partnered with him in the gospel, while he was in prison. There were many people who turned their backs on Paul once he was placed in chains for Christ, but not the Philippians. They stood with him all the way through. Wow, those are some stand up people! However, they were far from perfect: 

• - Lydia a business woman 
  
• - Jailer who tried to take his life 
  
• - Slave girl who was demon possessed 
  
• - A mix of believers who were divided 
  
• - Those rich and of status looked down on others 
  

So they were far from perfect. But that didn’t phase Paul, nor did it phase God.  

Similarly, God is not phased at us when we are not perfect. It doesn’t bother him when you are still trying to figure it out and it seems to be taking you longer than others. Thank God! But why? The answer is found in the text. 

• 1. God Began the Work in You
  “He who began a good work in you…”
  
• • You are not the reason why you are a born again Christian- there is nothing you did to make salvation possible. 
  
• • God began the work of salvation for your life! 
  
• • The Atonement of Christ 
  
  
• 2. God is Still Working
  “…will carry it on…”
  
• • God is continually shaping us into Christ’s likeness, He is making us more like Him! 
  
• • The Philippians were growing—Paul prayed their love would abound more (Phil. 1:9). 
  
• • They faced internal conflict (Euodia & Syntyche in Phil. 4:2). 
  
• • They faced external pressure and persecution (Phil. 1:29–30). 

• • We too are not perfect, we make mistakes, but God knows what He is doing.  
  
• • We are all clay in the potter’s hand.  
  
• • You are not finished yet! God is using all of the situations and circumstances around you and is molding and shaping them for your good. 
  
  
• 3. God Will Finish the Work
  “…will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” 
  
• • What He began, He will finish 
  
• • We may see a mess in our life, but God sees a masterpiece 
  
• • He is going to complete that masterpiece in our life as well. 
  
• • We will complete on the day of Jesus Christ 
  
• • The final result will be even better than the beginning. 
  

So realize that the construction zone areas of your life are not just a mess, they are a masterpiece in process. You have to allow God to have control in your life and trust Him by following His plan for your life, found in the Bible. 

Takeaways 

• 1. You are a work in progress 
  
  
• 2. God is right there with you 
  
  
• 3. God will finish what He started

Upholding Biblical Truth in a Broken World Part 3 – Framework for Living a Godly Life

Gtcotr/ss081725 

Life affords each one of us with instances which are simply Outside the envelope of our expectations. In my early 20’s I drove a police car each day and wrote traffic tickets. Today I tend to hold law enforcement officers to a higher standard than other drivers on the road. It makes me a little sad when I see a police car disobeying the traffic laws in a non-emergency situation. It can be as simple as failure to signal a turn or a lane change, speeding, or paying more attention to texting than to driving. I suppose I expect more from a professional than I do from others on the road. 

I get the same sad, almost bewildered feeling when I see a school coach smoking in front of their athletes, or a pilot in uniform drinking at a bar in the airport. I suppose if I went to nightclubs, I would be sad to see husbands or wives partying there without their spouses. As I said, there are some things which are simply outside the envelope of our expectations. 

Article 133 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, the manual of laws governing our US Armed Forces, is entitled: “Conduct Unbecoming an Officer and a Gentleman”. This article addresses the high standards of moral and ethical behavior expected from a commissioned officer in the United States Military. A violation of the provisions of this article will result in a court martial which can carry heavy fines, a reduction in rank and/or forfeiture of pay, plus prison time, and even a dishonorable discharge.  

The article has been found to be constitutional based on the need America has to maintain military leaders who uphold the highest standards of moral and ethical integrity. In many instances, we all expect those in coveted positions to behave themselves in a wholesome and well-ordered manner. We tend to judge our leaders with more scrutiny. 

One of the most disappointing and sad instances we face in life is to see a Christian engaged in conduct that is unbecoming of Christ. (The way they feel about money, respect marriage, respond to politics, or even the way they drive, talk, or treat their children.) It’s not only us who feel sad when we see a Christian misbehaving, God feels sad too.  

I think this is one reason God gave His Children a framework for godly living. He also gave us a new nature and His own Spirit to help guide and enable us to make godly choices in life.  

This morning we are going to take a brief look at a passage of scripture that intimidates a lot of Christians, especially those who were raised in the Western Gentile Church world. This passage comes from the Old Testament and was written in the times of Moses. It is found in the Book of Exodus, chapter 20. Many of you will recognize it as The 10 Commandments. This morning we will refer to them as the: 

Framework for Living a Godly Life 

Exodus 20 NLT 

1 ¶  Then God gave the people all these instructions: 

2  “I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. 

3  “You must not have any other god but me. 

4  “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. 

5  You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected — even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. 

6  But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands. 

The framework for living a godly life includes: 

• 1. A recognition of God. 
  
• a. Creator 
  
• b. Deliverer 
  
• c. Sustainer 
  
• d. Lord 
  
• e. Judge 
  
• 2. “You must not have any other God but Me.” 

• a. No other gods will be tolerated. 
  
• i. Not the Greek gods. 
  
• ii. Not the gods of Hinduism. 
  
• iii. Not the gods of the ancient eastern religions. 
  
• iv. Not aliens or prophets, not demons or satan himself. 
  
• v. Not the gods of mother nature or mother earth or scientific research or re-written history. 
  
• b. Allow nothing and no one to take God’s place. 
  
• i. He is the Creator – Not evolution 
  
• 1. We didn’t come from monkeys 
  
• 2. We were created by the hands of God. 
  
• 3. Upholding Biblical Truth in a Broken World … 
  
• a. It’s been about 6,000 years since Adam. 
  
• b. What happened before Adam, no human knows. 
  
• ii. He is the Deliverer – He is the One and only One who saves. 
  
• 1. Only He can separate the sin from the sinner. 
  
• 2. Only He can rescue us from slavery to this world. 
  
• iii. He is the Sustainer of the universe – All things were made by Him and by Him all things continue. 
  
• iv. He is Lord – Master, Commander, King. 
  
• 1. We should never expect to be treated better than Jesus. 
  
• 2. We should follow His example. 
  
• v. He is the Eternal Judge – Omnipotent and Everlasting 
  
• 1. Not all roads lead to heaven. 
  
• 2. Not all religions are true. 
  
• 3. Not all gods are God. 
  
• 4. Upholding Biblical Truth in a Broken World. 
  
• 3. God is a jealous God. 
  
• a. What we do impacts our families for generations to come. 
  
• b. God lavishes unfailing love on a thousand generations of those who love and live within His framework. 
  

It should not surprise us that as Christians we are held to a higher standard of ethical and moral behavior by both God and society. Our families have a reason to expect more from us. I don’t imagine any one of us is perfect and when we recognize conduct unbecoming a follower of Christ in our lives, it is up to us to repent and ask God to help us recover ourselves from that snare of the devil. 

God loves us. He loves every person. His Word was not given to condemn us but to save us.  

As Believers in Jesus, we should search the word and embrace strong personal convictions based on a Biblical worldview. Also, our faith should guide our lives and help us make godly decisions along life’s way.  

It is also responsibility of each Believer to gently and humbly encourage other Believers to uphold Biblical truth in this broken world. You can do this … Paul admonished Timothy to: 

2 Timothy 2 NLT 

25  Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. 

26  Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants.