Sunday, 12/11/16 pm
WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A CHRISTIAN
(5-2)
Hindrances to Growing and Staying Faithful as a Christian (2)
Tonight, we want to continue our study by noting a few more hindrances.
Other than a few thoughts that we will carry over to this
morning’s lesson, tonight’s we will be dealing with some things I have
wanted to address here for a while anyways.
There is a whole other set of hindrances involving attitudes
associated with hardships we will face as Christians.
This is what I want to address tonight.
a.
It is
NOT easy to be a faithful Christian!
We might face persecutions (2 Tim. 3:12).
We might face rejection, or worse.
Sometimes we face discouragement and frustrations as we strive to
serve Him daily.
b.
Such
attitudes will stunt our growth. If
not addressed, it can digress to depression, indifference and
complacency. It can even
cause some to just quit.
It is like running a race part of
the way and just stopping there.
c.
That’s not
what being a Christian is about –
2 Corinthians 4:16 - tells us we do not lose heart.
1 Corinthians 15:58 – be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the
work of the Lord
Again note Galatians 5:7,
You ran well, who hindered you
from obeying the truth?
d.
Dealing
with discouragement
i.
Realize
you are not alone – The Bible is full of examples of godly men who
became discouraged. Moses,
David, Elijah. Even Jesus
became discouraged – John 6:66-71.
So discouragement is not wrong – IF you deal with it properly!
ii.
You just
cannot give up! Gal.6:9 –
let us not grow weary.
2 Thess. 3:13
iii.
Step back
and get a wider view of what is going on.
John 4:35, “Lift up your eyes…”
James 1:2-4 – count it joy when you fall into various trials.
iv.
Press
forward - Philippians 3:12-14
v.
Realize
that what we are enduring now is temporal – 2 Corinthians 4:17
vi.
Don’t
forget prayer – Philippians 4:6-7 – Be anxious for nothing…
a.
Often the
product of concerns we addressed this morning, as well as prolonged
discouragement. Indifference
means you don’t care or are apathetic toward something.
In some sense, you have surrendered to the enemy.
b.
When you
don’t care, you are not going to grow.
i.
It can
lead to spiritual neglect – you don’t take the time to study or pray.
ii.
You may
forsake the assembling of the saints.
iii.
You may
not control behaviors and become carried away with sin.
iv.
It can
affect the tender heart we are to have – necessary for true repentance
and service. Cf. John
12:37-40.
v.
AND, if
you don’t address it, it will get worse.
c.
The Bible
condemns apathy both positively and negatively
i.
Romans
12:11 – we are to be not lagging in diligence, Titus 2:14 – we are to be
zealous for good works, etc.
ii.
Revelation
3:15-16 – consider Laodicea.
d.
Dealing
with indifference:
i.
Examine
yourself to see where you are
ii.
Repent!
Cf. Revelation 2:4-5 – like Ephesus
iii.
Renew your
mind – Ephesians 4:23 calls for us to be renewed in the spirit of your
mind.
a.
One of the
causes of complacency is sometimes we become so familiar with routine
and start acting without thinking.
We let down our guard and relax a little too much.
We get into a rut.
The idea of a rut is a worn path that when something gets in it, it just
goes without any outside influence.
b.
Familiarity can be good when it allows you to respond with confidence to
something that is said or a particular situation.
But it can be a hindrance to your growth:
i.
It can
cause your worship to become nothing more than a ritual.
No thought into preparation or implementation.
ii.
It can
cause you to not take God or your faith as serious as you should.
iii.
It can
cause you let your guard which makes you more susceptible to error and
sin. Often with the rut
comes overconfidence.
iv.
It can
cause you to not think and forget your purpose in life.
v.
It can
cause us to become forgetful.
See Revelation 2:4-5 – Ephesus had left their first love.
Called upon to remember where they had fallen from and repent.
2 Peter 1:9 – if growth is not abounding, you will forget that you were
cleansed… IF you forget what
this is all about, you are in danger. We need to avoid getting into this
circumstance.
Jeremiah 13:25, the apostasy of Judah was described in terms of
forgetfulness.
c.
Dealing
with the rut:
i.
Refocus
and stir up that which needs it.
Again, you need to renew your mind if necessary.
2 Peter 1:13 – Peter is writing to stir them up by reminding them of
where they are.
2 Peter 3:1, I write to stir up your pure minds.
ii.
Gird
up the loins of your mind and be alert – 1 Peter 1:13,
Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope
fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of
Jesus Christ;
iii.
Remind
yourself of what is going on.
a.
The church
is the pillar and ground of truth (1 Timothy 3:15).
It is supposed to be something that builds us up (cf. Ephesians
4:16). Coming together ought
to be a refuge from the world.
But not all churches are strong!
Some are weak in many different ways.
b.
Being part
of a weak church can hinder your growth – a church that doesn’t take a
stand or hold you accountable, that doesn’t teach the whole counsel of
God, will not help you grow.
Instead it will facilitate a life that is not right with God.
That is a real danger.
c.
And the
truth is, sometimes your weakness CONTRIBUTES to the weakness of the
body. Your weakness can
affect the potential of our worship (not being there, not participating,
not preparing, etc.), the work of the church, and her potential to grow
as she ought to.
d.
This is
NOT an excuse as we have continually seen – you are responsible for
yourself.
(More on this next week)
a.
Sometimes
others can hinder one from reaching maturity.
For one reason or another, the ungodly conduct and attitudes of
others can cause one to become discouraged.
b.
The bad
behavior of others can:
i.
Keep you
from turning to the supposedly mature for strength.
ii.
Can cause
you to be carried away in their sinful behavior (cf. Galatians 2:11-13)
iii.
Cause some
to quit trying because they feel it is no use
iv.
Or even to
quit as they totally give up.
c.
The Bible
is clear that we should NOT let this happen.
i.
Matt.
18:6-7 – Jesus taught this giving the example of little children.
ii.
Paul in
Romans 14:15 rebuked these brethren for not walking in love as they
mistreated those with whom they disagreed with over matters of liberty.
iii.
1
Corinthians 8:9-13 – we are warned to beware lest our liberty become a
stumbling block to a weaker brother.
iv.
Clearly
God will hold us accountable if our bad behavior affects others for the
worse.
d.
HOWEVER,
we cannot let others dictate our salvation.
i.
WE must
remain faithful ourselves – resolve you are going to do the right thing
no matter what. When
we stand before God, that is what we will answer for – Romans 14:10-12.
ii.
Associate
with the humble – Romans 12:16. Find godly examples and let them build
you up.
And thus we can see
some of the hindrances we face as we are striving to grow.
I’m sure many more could be added to these.
But the point is, we must be aware of them and take steps to
avoid them. If we find we
are guilty, repent and do the first works (Revelation 2:5).
May we resolve to be
growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.
How are you doing?