STUDIES FROM BRETHREN IN CHRIST

SERMON MENU SELECTIONS

11/6/2008 ~ Humanity: Curse or Blessing?


Many cling to the material missing that of the eternal.
What are the priorities of your life?
More people live singly today.
~ There are more unmarried households now than married couples.
Are you a seeker on the road to truth?

Two single men gave advice:
JESUS / PAUL

● Marriage is of God and good for men and women.

... God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; ...
~ Genesis 1:26-28

"It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper
comparable to him." ~ Genesis 2:18

Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor.
For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. ... ~ Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

... because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife,
and let each woman have her own husband. ~ 1st Corinthians 7:2

Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled;
but fornicators and adulterers God will judge. ~ Hebrews 13:4

... children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward.
... ~ Psalm 127:3-5

Jesus
↓
"... For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage,
but are like angels of God in heaven." ~ Matthew 22:28-30

You only get to be married in this life to prepare you for the next life.

Paul
↓
... to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them
if they remain even as I am; ... ~ 1st Corinthians 7:8

● Being single is of God and good for men and women.

... it is good for a man to remain as he is: ... ~ 1st Corinthians 7:25-26

... Nevertheless such will have trouble in the flesh, ... ~ 1st Corinthians 7:28

And this I say for your own profit, ... for what is proper, and that
you may serve the Lord without distraction. ~ 1st Corinthians 7:35

Marriage is the “normal” way but if single, being for God is good.

Higher Priority = Devotion to the Lord

... Spirit expressly says that in the latter times some will depart
from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits ... ~ 1st Timothy 4:1

It is not scriptural to forbid to marry and this was never taught.

... forbididding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which
God created to be recieved with thanksgiving ... ~ 1st Timothy 4:3

Extremes lay outside of God and are unbalanced.
Enjoy the fullness of life devoted to God above all.
Christ is the balancing force in our lives.

The Single Life:
PROBLEMS: NEEDS:
1. Feelings of Failure   Value and Acceptance  
2. Aloneness & Loneliness     Companionship
3. Celibacy   Intimacy

Marriage is not meant to fulfill our self-esteem.
└─> To cure loneliness.                                         
~ Some married people are the loneliest without companionship.
~
Can one be happy alone?
You can be alone and not be lonely.
~ Can you open to be vulnerable?
Most people yearn for intimacy.
We are spiritually minded creatures.
It is deeper than just sexuality, a deepest of joining.
Fearlessly standing united upon principles of God.
● To care for another.

... Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, ... ~ Matthew 11:28-30

The Promise = Rest for the Weary & Burdened
   The Means = The Yoke

1. Authority → Submission
It is Christ we need to put on to receive the blessing.
2. Work → Service

The Reason:                                                    
1. His Nature → Gentle & Humble
                                             └─> Under His control.
2. His Yoke → Easy, pleasant, it fits
If we don’t find Christ easy, then we are unbalanced
~ and lack faith or have trouble believing.
3. His Load → Light

Balance = All parts working together

... And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit,
which is the word of God; ... ~ Ephesians 6:17

Put on the Full Armor:
● Truth
● Righteousness
● Gospel of Peace    		● Faith
● Salvation
● Word of God

Remember, the Yoke of Christ Means:
Authority and Work = Submission and Service

When Balanced = Yoke is Easy & Burden is Light

... If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, ... yes,
and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. ... ~ Luke 14:25-27
↑
Jesus

Devotion to Christ is over all others including yourself.
In this you will find value and acceptance.

A Balanced Individual Life:
PROBLEMS: NEEDS: PRIORITIES: BLESSINGS:
1. Feelings
    of Failure 		Value and
Acceptance 		Devotion
to the Lord 		Identity:
Child of God
2. Aloneness and
    Loneliness 		Companionship Service to Others Family of God
3. Celibacy Intimacy Spiritual Intimacy
with God 		Freedom in Christ
to be Yourself

"... All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given: ..."
~ Matthew 19:9-12
↑
Jesus

Christ is the priority in our life.

Paul
↓
... for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.
~ 1st Corinthians 7:35

Jesus
↓
"... I am among you as the One who serves." ~ Luke 22:24-27

Paul
↓
... take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, ...
~ 1st Corinthians 9:5

... I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all,
that I might win the more; ... ~ 1st Corinthians 9:19

... I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
Now this I do for the gospel's sake, ... ~ 1st Corinthians 9:22-23

Give your life to other people.

Jesus
↓
"And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God,
and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." ~ John 17:3

Paul
↓
But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. ...
~ 1st Corinthians 6:17-20

~ Spiritual intimacy.

... you are the temple of the living God. ... ~ 2nd Corinthians 6:16-18

                           Peter (A married man)
↓
... His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and
godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us ... ~ 2nd Peter 1:2-4

No higher place can any of this earth enjoy
than the status of being called a child of God.

... "See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?"
~ Matthew 19:27

Jesus
↓
"... for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life."
~ Matthew 19:29

With God, the mask of despair comes off.
Freedom to be who you are = intimacy with all.

Real Freedom = Slave of Christ

Spiritual Intimacy Is When We Are:
● Transparent   
● Vulnerable
● Humble
● Gentle
● Courageous
● Honest
● Merciful 		● Confident
● Understanding
● Accepting
● Caring
● Hopeful
● Trusting
● Trustworthy

If two disagree concerning God, it is not for lack of unity in God,
it is for lack of understanding and submission in the heart of man.

The “Extreme” but Balanced Life of Jesus
● Single = never married
● Celibate = never had sex = eunuch for the kingdom
● Childless
● Poor
● Homeless in the world that He created
● Popular but immensely hated
● Believed but misunderstood
● Followed by multitudes but in a crisis, alone
● Short life - 33 ˝ years
● Died by torture
● The Son of God but treated as the scum of the earth
~ To Serve Us.

Get out of your self.
Give your life away in the service of Christ and your life will endless be.

Christian = Most Demanding = Most Rewarding

Life can only hold blessing if united in God.
Who have you given your life to?
LIVE FOR HIM.
~ It is the Most Human One Can Be.
DEVOTED.



 

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