THE WISDOM OF THE SCRIPTURES
April 18, 1999 PM
Sermon Outline
KEEP DOING GOOD
Gal 6:9
INTRO: It is easy to become weary! A life without rest, a life without discipline, a life without purpose, a life without satisfaction ... anyone, or any combination, of these can bring us to a physical or mental state of weariness. In weariness we may find it difficult to keep going, to keep doing. The course of life is strewn with derelict lives which have simply run out of steam and quit. It may be that among them are Christians who have grown weary in well doing. To them, to us the wisdom of scripture says, Keep doing good.
I. THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS
A. Acts 10:38 ... Who went about doing good ...
1. here is a wonderful way to be known, remembered
2. everywhere He went He touched lives
3. He was exceedingly active, busy
B. Did He ever grow weary?
1. Jno 4:6 ... being wearied ...
2. but His physical weariness did not stop Him from taking an opportunity to talk about living water
3. he kept doing good! there is the example
II. WE MIGHT ASK, WHAT SORT OF GOOD?
A. Good as it relates to spiritual matters
1. Col 1:21-23 if ye continue in the faith
2. in Jesus case - He observed the Mosaic covenant: sabbath, feast days, etc.
3. charitable works do not replace spiritual fidelity
B. Good as it related to moral uprightness
1. 1 Tim 4:12 purity - moral cleanness
2. Jesus teaching about morality was noble and uplifting - Mt 5:29,30
3. when the world seems to have no moral compass, when anything goes, we must keep doing good!
C. Good as it relates to love and charity
1. Titus 2:14 and 3:8 zealous of good works
2. surely, we can see this in Jesus life, ministry
3. good works are more often than not the small deeds, acts of kindness - no demand for elaborate!
III. SOME CAUSES OF WEARINESS?
A. Loss of the vision of Christ
1. this begins the turn if attention to self
2. somehow, keep our eyes on Him - His example, His word, His challenge, His going the extra mile - inspires us beyond weariness
B. Ingratitude
1. remember Lk 17:17,18? or 2 Thes 1:3 - does his thanking God for them excite his charity toward them? certainly
2. we must overcome ingratitude with this: Col 3:24!
C. Fatigue
1. most of us are so busy we have reason to be weary
2. but if doing good is really on our minds, in our hearts, we will go on with goodness
D. Problems in our own lives
1. maintenance - Im just given out - yes, we can neglect our selves, our families, our needs to extent that we may feel we can go no further
2. remember that a garden must be tended - you, too, must be tended if your life is to be fruitful
IV. TWO PASSAGES OF ENCOURAGEMENT
A. Rom 2:6,7
B. Gal 6:9
C. There can be no doubt of the return to one who patiently continues to do good!
CLOSE: Rev 14:13 ... and their works do follow them. O Land of Rest, for thee I sigh ...
Cecil A. Hutson
April 18, 1999