EXPECT PEOPLE TO RESPOND TO YOU IN DIFFERENT WAYS
February 20, 2005 AM
Sermon Outline
PS 119:77-80
INTRO: It was not until I was in high school that I discovered that I was different. Oh, I was not particularly different in physical attributes (yes, I was bigger than most of my classmates) or mental attributes (although I did well with my academic studies). The difference I discovered involved spiritual attributes. My first realization of this came from a simple thing ... the fact that our family attended worship, classes and such Sunday morning, Sunday evening and Wednesday evening. At most, my peers attended a Sunday morning church service (if they attended at all). Although there were not many negative comments (at least to my face), I do know that most of my friends thought we were strange for driving al the way to Columbus ... just to go to church. Commitment to honor Gods word will make you different. And people will react to your being different in various ways. Our text speaks of this.
I. IF GODS LAW IS YOUR DELIGHT...
A. You will spend time in it
1. obviously, that in which we delight occupies our interest, time, concern
2. so, this wonderful word will receive devoted attention from us
3. notice Ps 119:97 - ...it is my meditation all the day
B. You will be shaped by it
1. you cannot delight in it without being ultimately influenced by it
2. mental process of assimilation takes place as you spend time in the word
3. so, Col 3:16 and 1 Thes 2:13 - ...which...worketh...in you
C. Your life (with its affections) will be changed by it
1. the shaping of your thought processes will be manifested in real change
2. Rom 12:2 - transformation is what occurs if the word is our delight
3. so, 1 Pet 4:3 - For the time past of our life...
D. Your life will become a reproach to evil - a challenge to wrong
1. this may not begin as any sort of campaign by you
2. it will occur naturally as people who make wrong moral/spiritual choices become uncomfortable in the presence of one whose convictions are strong
3. Jno 3:19 - this little verse sets out the reality which people of deep Christian conviction must confront ... and by which theyll be confronted
II. SO, SOME PEOPLE MAY DEAL PERVERSELY WITH YOU
A. The experience of others certainly proves this so
1. David learned this - Ps 64:1-5
2. Jesus experienced this - 1 Pet 2:22-24
3. the apostles discovered this - Col 4:3
4. and faithful disciples of Christ experienced this - Heb 10:33-36
B. Furthermore, we are warned of this!
1. Mt 10:21,22 - why would we be hated? the reproach of righteous lives
2. Jno 15:18-21 - ...but because ye are not of the world...
3. 1 Pet 4:12-14 - If ye be reproached for the name of Christ...
4. and as an adult, I have experienced this ... the denominational preachers of Canberra, Australia spoke disparagingly of me ... personally and publically
C. It will not happen, however, if you are a compromiser
1. this happens in the lives of people who delight in the word of God
2. this happens in the lives of people whose conviction will not be moved
3. this may even happen to Christians among Christians! the committed versus the uncommitted - conviction versus convenience
III. BUT SOME WILL BE DRAWN TO YOU
A. Your conviction, consistency will be noted
1. remember 2 Cor 3:2,3 - ...known and read of all men...
2. you do not have to wear a sign - your attitudes, your words, your choices will set you apart in very obvious, practical ways
3. Acts 4:13 - people will know you are influenced by Jesus
B. There will be people drawn to you because of your strength
1. their conviction may not be as mature as yours
2. they know what they ought to be and do ... but, alone, they are not able
3. but these people are able when they stand with another whose conviction is deep and strong - they will be glad for your strength
C. There will be people drawn to you because they want to be good
1. these are not Christians - these are people who see in you what they would like to see in themselves
2. they will be drawn to you because basically they are people sincerely wanting to be good, but they dont really know how
3. these people may well become opportunities to speak of Christ
D. Notice Jno 3:21 and 1 Pet 2:12
CLOSE: No matter how people respond to us, react to us, we must keep our hearts sound! And the only way to keep our hearts sound is to delight in the word of God! People who delight in His word will not be confused!
Cecil A. Hutson
February 20, 2005