Though for the moment

Are you living or struggling

Monday 8/29/2016

At Sunday worship, I heard a pastor make a statement that disturbed me. He asked a question, how many struggled with living a Christian life? When people did not raise their hand he called them a liar.

This was disturbing on two levels.

We should never call people a liar from the pulpit! All this will do is drive people away from the church, away from God, and cause pain. We are here to help people come to Christ, learn of Christ, and grow in Christ.

This is wrong, if a person is struggling with living a Christian life, he has not yet given him/her self over to Christ fully.

John 8:34 (KJV)

Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

Romans 6:14 (KJV)

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

1 John 3:4-6 (KJV)

Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.

1 John 5:4 (KJV)

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

Proper terminology is essential when delivering a sermon to a church. Lack of knowledge has hurt more individuals in church over the years. This is why a Paul instructed us no to have pastor who were not trained and matured to be pastors, they will cause more harm than good.

1 Timothy 3:1-6 (KJV)

1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; 4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) 6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

Telling people, they all had to be struggling in their Christian walk was another sign of being a novice.

The word struggle means:

Struggle = to try very hard to do, achieve, or deal with something that is difficult or that causes problems
: to move with difficulty or with great effort
: to try to move yourself, an object, etc., by making a lot of effort

One who is struggling in their Christian walk has never matured as a Christian. In Ephesians chapter 6 versus 11 we are told to put on the whole armor of God.Once we have suited up, we have grown in maturity so we can stand up, the struggling with living a Christian life is over. Let me explain, at this point we have committed to be Christ like, we are not fighting with living a Christian life. Our mind is made up, we made choice, and we are living in Christ.

This does not mean we will not have problem, (attacks from Satan), because we will. It means we have made the choice already to follow Christ and we have determined in our mind we love Christ and we are going to live for Christ.

Romans 6:16 (KJV)

Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

When we mature, we show forth certain characters in our life that shows the world we are different, we have changed how we live and our life points to Christ. One that is struggling, is as Paul put it, a bade in Christ, (he has not grown up), he has not fully committed to being Christ like, he need to be trained and educated in God’s word.

2 Peter 1:5-9 (KJV)

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

There is a vase difference in being attacked by Satan and struggling with living a Christian life.

You can see why I pointed out, we as pastor have to be careful what we say from the pulpit. We have an enormous responsibility that we as pastor have chosen to take on. We literally have people’s lives in our hand. What we say can either draw people in or drive them away. Rest assured that one day we will give account for the job we have done in our churches, wither we sent a call that draws people to Christ or not. I ,for one desire to help the kingdom of God, and desire to lift Christ up. We are told if Christ be lifted up he would draw all men unto him.

In closing we have a promise that Paul left us from Gods word.

Romans 8:37 (KJV)

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us

We can have victory in our life, when we have victory we are no longer struggling with living a Christina life. We have a keeper of our life who is able to sustain us and keep us safe,

Jude 24-5:25 (KJV)

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

But, we must grow up and get ready to stand by putting on the right garments.

Ephesians 6:10-18 (KJV)

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

If you are still struggling living for Christ, take time to put on the whole armor of God, and he will keep you safe. Problem will come, but you will have the tools you need to stand. The Bible instructs us when you have done all to stand, to just stand. Stand still and listen to what God has to say. Deliverance is coming, you may just have to wait until God ready to give it to you. You ask why, because he is doing a work in you preparing you for what is to come.

Love in Christ

Pasto Dr. Terry Murphey Sr.