What's Your Relationship Status? - Casual / Convenient / Committed
Speaker: Michael Wallace
Date: August 17, 2012
James 2:14-20
V.19 -- We want to believe in something that will remain true. Time and time again we cry out to God but time and time again we fall into the pattern of disbelief.
Causal - a person who does something irregularly, lack of consistency.- You are more like a practical atheist; meaning you believe in God but you live to a practical stand point. You don't allow the teachings to affect you
Convenient - fitting in well with the persons needs, involving little trouble or effort.
- Jesus came to serve, not to be served. It didn't say He came to serve to receive something in return.
- You are the kind of people that care more about their personal gain, rather than the gain for the Kingdom of God.
- You do things to please people, what good is it for?
- You might say you're part of a church.. But you don't give a single dollar, any time or anything..
- Don't abuse God's grace.
Committed - to be bonded or obligated to a particular cause, action or attitude.
- Jesus asked "Would you like to BE my disciple?" Then he said "Alright, you argeed to it. Take up your cross, died to yourself, and follow me." This is a lifestyle.
6.5 billion people in the world, 2 billion have heard The Word... 4.5 billion haven't heard the truth yet, they have no hope, no destiny, no knowledge of the only way that will lead to God.
What holds causal and convenient believers back is doubt.
Jesus came to Thomas, asked for Thomas to follow Him... Thomas willing went - dropped everything and went with Him - he was the bottom of the barrel, he had nothing.
Then after Jesus dies Thomas turned away... Read John 20:25.. It was hard for him to believe in a Messiah who died.. "How is it possible?"
There are some of you who are doubting... I believe that sometimes God allows those doubt to happen in our life so that we can see Him and then go after Him. God will never stop running after you, nothing that can separate from His love.
John 20:26-27 - Stop doubting and believe.
If you're willing to seek, your doubts will be followed by discovery.
