Blessings & Responsibilities
Good evening. Tonight we are going to continue our series that takes a look at developing and maintaining A Closer Walk With God. Last week we began by asking the question, “Are you a disciple of Jesus’?” After asking that question, and then taking a look at scripture, we found that as Christians, yes, we should be Christ’ disciples. Tonight, we are going to take a look at the Blessings and the Responsibilities that go along with being disciple.
Before we do that though, allow me to open our time with a word of prayer.
Let’s Pray!
What are some of the blessings that we have as Christians?
What are some of the responsibilities that we have as Christians?
Well, we all have big events that occur in our lives. What are some of the big events that have occurred in your life?
Well, most people experience birth, graduation, marriage, getting our first job, having children, and then death. But the most important event for anyone, is when they become a Christian. Why? Because when you become a Christian, it affects both you and others for all of eternity.
Many people who become Christians never fully appreciate what they have become. They don’t understand the blessings, or the responsibilities that they have. Our lives as followers of Christ would be more productive and many times more enjoyable if we understood the true significance and meaning of what it means to be a child of God.
Now, there are countless blessings and responsibilities that are associated with being a Christian. But, this evening, we are going to examine 4 blessings that we have as Children of God, and then we are going to look at the responsibilities that go along with each of these blessings.
1. We Have God As Our Heavenly Father.
What does it mean to you to have God as your Father?
Well, consider some of the blessings of having God as our Father. One, He is the source of every good and perfect gift. What are some good gifts that God has given to you?
Well, all the good things in our lives comes from God, weather we realize it or not. Because in James 1:17 we read that, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father…”
Number two, in II Corinthians 1:3 we find that God gives us comfort. How does God give us comfort? Or how has He comforted you?
Now, in that passage, II Corinthians 1:3 it says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort.” So He has compassion on us, and gives us comfort in our times of need.
He also rebukes us in love. Now, being rebuked may not seem like a blessing, but because He loves us, it really is a blessing in disguise. In Hebrews 12:5-6 it says, “And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes everyone He accepts as a son.”
Another aspect about having God as our Heavenly Father, is that He has promised us that He will never leave us nor forsake us. In Hebrews 13:5-6 it says, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”” So God is always there to help us, to comfort us, and to just be there with us in all situations of life.
Now, having God as our Heavenly Father has its blessings, but it also means that we have a few responsibilities as well. One, we must submit and draw near to God. In James 4:7-8 it says, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you.” So, we have to submit to His will, and we must draw near to Him.
And secondly, we must also resolve to serve Him with all our strength. And that involves repentance, confession of sins, and prayer. We read in I John 1:9 that, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness”
So, we have some blessing involved with God being our Heavenly Father, and we have a couple of responsibilities as well.
2. We Have Jesus Christ As Our Lord And High Priest.
Does anyone know the significance of those titles Lord and High Priest?
Think with me for a moment about this blessing. Jesus is Lord who rules over all kings of the earth. Revelation 17:14 tells us that, “They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and with Him will be His called, chosen, and faithful followers.” So, Jesus is a very powerful person to have on our side.
We also read that all authority in Heaven and on earth has been given to Him. Matthew 28:18 says, “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in Heaven and on earth has been given to me.””
Now let’s look at how Christ, as our High Priest, intercedes on our behalf. Romans 8:34 says, “Who is He that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died, more than that, who was raised to life, is at the right hand of God, and is also interceding for us.” So, we have the blessing that Jesus is interceding for us. Does anyone know what that means?
And then the best blessing of all, He is a High Priest who understands our feelings. Hebrews 2:18 tells us that, “He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.” In other words, God has gone through the things that we go through, and He can understand our feeling and our thoughts.
So, there are the blessings, now think for a moment about the responsibilities that this brings. First, if Jesus is our Lord, then we must do what He says. In Luke 6:46 Jesus says, “Why do you call me, “Lord, Lord,” and do not do what I say?”
With that being said, we must learn to keep His commandments. In John 15:10 tells us, “If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in His love.”
And we must also utilize His role as our High Priest. Hebrews 4:14-16 says, “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the Heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet was without sin.
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Since we have Jesus as our High Priest, we need to go to Him, and allow Him to intervene on our behalf.
3. We Have The Holy Spirit Who Dwells In Us.
Some of the most wonderful blessings in life can be attributed to the Spirit’s indwelling. When we are alive spiritually, He gives us the strength to put to death the deeds of the body. In Romans 8:26 it says, “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.” So, the Spirit helps us in our weaknesses when it comes to prayer. The Holy Spirit can help us in other areas of life as well, such as knowing the difference between right and wrong.
Now, do you think that we have any responsibilities when it comes to the Holy Spirit?
Well, we must keep ourselves holy. In I Corinthians 3:16-17 it says, “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.”
We are to develop and produce the Fruits Of The Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” In other words, we are to be like Jesus.
4. We Have The Church As Our Family.
The blessings of having the church as our family begin with the fact that church members are like our fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters. I Timothy 5:1-2 says, “Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters…”
Which means that we have people there to help us, to share in our needs, and to comfort us when needed. How have people here at church been like family at times to you?
Now, on to the responsibilities of having the church as our family. First, we are to work together and do our share. Ephesians 4:15-16 says, “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up1as each part does its work.” In other words, if the church family is going to grow and be strong, then everyone needs to do his or her part. And we need to work together in doing so.
And finally, we are to help one another. In Galatians 6:1-2 it tells us that, “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” So, we need to be there to help one another.
Now, before we close this evening, does anyone have anything else that they would like to add?
Well, if there is nothing else, we must realize how important it is to fulfill our responsibilities or we may lose out on the blessings that God has in store for us.
Let’s Pray!
|
