The first century Christians and church knew what it was like to experience the power of God working through them to push back the darkness and increase the Kingdom. Yet, Christians and churches in America know little of that power. Is it sheer coincidence that those early believers prayed often and our prayer meetings are so poorly attended?
So you are a serious follower of Christ and engage in a lot of good deeds and Christian ministries? That's commendable. But, did you know that Jesus is more concerned with why we do what we do than He is with what we're doing?
As Christians, we are called by Jesus to say what we mean and mean what we say. In short, Matthew 5:33-37 calls us to be honest.
Everyone is generally in agreement that adultery is wrong. But what about wondering eyes? What about lustful thoughts? As long as we keep it to ourselves and aren't hurting anyone else, it's not wrong, is it?
In a recent Lifeway Research study(http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38659), it was discovered that only about 19 percent of church attenders read their Bibles every day. Only 26 percent read it a few times a week.
Do you ever feel like there's more to the Christian life than what you're experiencing? Do you sense that there is something in your life that may be holding you back from God's best for you? It could be that you aren't living as a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven.
You've read through Matthew 4 before. You're familiar with the story of Jesus' baptism. But unless you really dug deep in your study, you may have missed some absolutely incredible principles ... especially the fact that Jesus' baptism was a powerful illustration of God's love for you.
In Acts 17:6, it says that the first century church "turned the world upside down." Things have definitely changed, haven't they?
If you're satisfied with the fact that you're saved and want no more of God than you already experience, then this sermon was preached with you in mind. In fact, if you don't consciously enjoy God, I imagine that this sermon may completely change the way you look at your standing with Him.
The Old Testament hero, David, would one day be king ... but, not yet. In Psalm 63, he has been chased into a wilderness by Saul, the reigning king, who felt threatened by this young man and would rather kill him than yield his throne to him. It is remarkable that in this Psalm and given this undesirable context, David shared with us some very practical ways to enjoy our great God.
