Ephesians 6:13
Getting Up
This morning we looked at the prophecies which are being fulfilled
right now, right before our eyes. To be honest, most of them are not
very encouraging. When we realize we live in a country that has
already departed from the faith, adopted lies and hypocrisy as the
way of life, and become way too easily offended, it is discouraging.
But when we see that things are going to get worse, it becomes plain
old frightening.
But Christians are not to be either discouraged or fearful for we are
the only human beings on this planet that have the ability to be
victors even when we are being victimized. The question is, "How?"
How do we stay faithful and stand in such a world as this?
Paul is actually answering that question in this classic text, but I
am not going to preach from this text. This test is dealing with
some important topics and our need to be spiritual prepared. Topics
like salvation, prayer, faith, righteousness, and so forth. But I
believe that before we can stand, we must first get up. No one is
born able to stand. No one. Tonight I want to preach about what we
need to do before can stand.
I. Do not abandon Jesus.
John 6:64 But there are some of you that believe
not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they
were that believed not, and who should betray
him.
65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that
no man can come unto me, except it were given
unto him of my Father.
66 From that time many of his disciples went
back, and walked no more with him.
67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also
go away?
68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom
shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
69 And we believe and are sure that thou art
that Christ, the Son of the living God.
A. Let’s make no pretense or be left open to any
misunderstanding.
B. For most, to abandon Jesus is to walk away from the Savior
and His salvation.
1. Notice \\#64\\. Jesus knew who were NOT believers.
2. In most every crowd of believers, there are some who have
not settled their faith in Jesus.
3. In this church tonight, there are likely some who still
in the valley of decision.
a. Maybe thus far, you have been in church because of
your parents or a friend or even for you mate’s sake.
b. You are content to be here as it does not cost you
anything; but when it does, you will no longer be
content.
c. The further into the end-times we go the more it is
going to cost to hang with the believers.
d. When you have to sacrifice something or face a
disappointment or discouragement for Christ, some
will quit.
4. When you are being tempted to walk away from Jesus, just
before you walk away in confusion or fear or
disappointment, remember that you are most likely lost
and are about to walk away from the only One who can save
you.
1John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were
not of us; for if they had been of us, they would
no doubt have continued with us: but they went
out, that they might be made manifest that they
were not all of us.
a. What you are wanting is an easy life but what you need
is salvation.
b. You say, "I believe the Bible." Wonderful. That is
your faith but what you are still lacking is your
surrender.
c. Salvation is surrendering yourself to the Lord.
C. Let’s suppose for a moment that you are saved, but life has
gotten hard or the pleasures have gotten tempting and you are
about to walk away from Jesus.
1. Jesus is your joy and your strength.
2. Whatever you are leaving Jesus for is only fleeting.
3. Even if the price you must pay to stay with Jesus is
great, it is worth it.
II. Do not hold your life too dear.
Acts 20:22 And now, behold, I go bound in the
spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things
that shall befall me there:
23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every
city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.
24 But none of these things move me, neither
count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might
finish my course with joy, and the ministry,
which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to
testify the gospel of the grace of God.
25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among
whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God,
shall see my face no more.
A. No one likes to think about death.
1. Most stay away from graves, funeral homes, and hospitals—
in that order.
2. We do not like to think of our mortality.
3. But let me tell you, the only ones getting off this planet
alive are a few astronauts—and they are still going to
have to face death.
4. A part of a pastor’s ministry is to teach you how to live
for Jesus so that you will know how to die for Jesus.
5. To that end, let me tell you that there are things more
important than your life.
B. More important than living is:
1. \\#24\\ To finish my course with joy.
a. My course is my whole existence. It is more than my
family, my ministry, even my life.
b. Let’s divide it into parts.
(1) My course is my relationship with God.
(a) This is more than my life for my
relationship with God will run past my
life.
(b) This is the most important aspect of my
entire existence.
Matthew 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he
shall gain the whole world, and lose his own
soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for
his soul?
(c) If I must give my life to complete my course
with God, it will be well worth it.
(2) My course is my relationship with my family.
(a) Family is our most important earthly
treasure—bar none.
(b) I hope I finished as a good son.
(c) I want to finish as a good husband.
(d) I want to finish as a good father.
(e) I want to finish as a good friend.
(f) In essence, all of these should be more dear
to me than my own life; that is, I should
be willing to lay down my life for the sake
of my parents, for the sake of my wife, for
the sake of my children, for the sake of my
friend.
(g) We should not value our lives more than the
people in our lives.
(3) My course is my ministry as assigned by Jesus.
(a) Our course is much more than our ministry,
but our ministry is assigned "received of"
the Lord.
(b) For that reason, we want to do well with it.
(c) Paul’s whole point here is that his ministry
was more important than his life.
2. Now all of us might question whether we would actually
surrender our lives for someone else or for our ministry,
but we should at the least think we are willing to do so.
a. If we are not at least thinking we are willing to do
so, perhaps we love our life too much.
b. If we love our lives too much, we are not going to be
faithful to God in the times that are ahead.
III. Do not forsake Jesus’ church
Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another to
provoke unto love and to good works:
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves
together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting
one another: and so much the more, as ye see the
day approaching.
A. I say Jesus’ church. Some buildings have the word "church" in
their name but they are not a church.
1. A church that never had the truth is not a church.
2. A church that has departed from the truth is not a church.
B. But you have a church, don’t forsake it—even if it costs you
to be a part of it.
1. Because the church is primarily a place for encouragement
\\#24\\ and building up \\#25\\.
a. The writer did not associate the church primarily as a
place of worship. Why? The best worship can be done
alone.
b. The writer did not associate the church primarily as a
place of evangelism. Why? Evangelism can be done
best one on one.
c. The writer associated the church as a place to
encourage and build up.
2. The pulpit can supply some of that but most of it will
come from the pew.
3. Without that encouragement and building up, you are likely
to shrivel up on the vine. (You want die but you can
get awfully puny.)
4. In that puny state, you are likely to succumb to
discouragement, disappointment, and depression—
especially the difficult years continue to come.
IV. Do not cast away your certainty.
Hebrews 10:35 Cast not away therefore your
confidence, which hath great recompense of
reward.
36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye
have done the will of God, ye might receive the
promise.
37 For yet a little while, and he that shall
come will come, and will not tarry.
38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any
man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in
him.
39 But we are not of them who draw back unto
perdition; but of them that believe to the saving
of the soul.
A. Don’t cast away your certainty in God’s love and care for you.
B. Don’t cast away your certainty in your salvation.
C. Don’t cast away your certainty in the Word of God.
D. Don’t cast away your certainty in the rewards of heaven.
V. Do not quit your service.
Gal 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing:
for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do
good unto all men, especially unto them who are
of the household of faith.
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