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“SURVIVING SPIRITUALLY IN A SHALLOW SOCIETY”

GALATIANS 5:7

INTRO: Friends, we live in a very shallow society. The word shallow means

“lacking depth, not wise, superficial.” (Funk & Wagnalls Standard Desk Dictionary.

Volume 2, N-Z. p. 615). We see many shallow Christians in our churches today.

They are more out than in. They lack commitment, compassion, and

concern. Look at almost any church and you will see a constant

turnover of membership.

The words Paul wrote in Galatians 5:7 could describe many who call

themselves Christians today—“Ye did run well; who did hinder you

that ye should not obey the truth?” The Galatians started out well in

the Christian life, but something happened to them. They faltered.

They failed. Friends, there are many starters, but the church today has

few finishers. Few today are persevering, producing, and promoting in

the work of the Lord. The Galatians had been running the Christian

race well but someone or something had hindered them in their

progress.

Today I want to speak on SURVIVING SPIRITUALLY IN A SHALLOW

SOCIETY. We need some Christians today who only not start well but

also finish well. We need some today who will “run with patience the

race that is set before us.” The race that we run is not our own. We

did not select the course; it is God who marks it out before us. We

should be running for Christ, not ourselves, and we must always keep

him in sight. (Life Application Bible Commentary. Bible Explorer 4.0. Copyright 2006. All Rights

Reserved). If we are going to survive spiritually in a shallow society there

are four principles we must follow. Let us note first...

(1) WE MUST KEEP OUR FOCUS ON THE LORD

HEBREWS 12:1-2—“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about

with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and

the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience

the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and

finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured

the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of

the throne of God.”

A. OUR VISION MUST BE FOCUSED ON THE LORD. We must keep our eyes

on Jesus because it is when we get our eyes off HIM that our circumstances

begin to overwhelm us. We should have single focus on him. We cannot look

in two different directions at the same time. (Life Application Bible Commentary. Bible Explorer

4.0. Copyright 2006. All Rights Reserved). If we are going to survive spiritually we must

have a single focus. A focus on the Lord! Consider Moses. How did he

survive? Moses endured a lot. They tried to kill him. He could have

compromised and gained much of what this world had to offer but he chose to

suffer and stand for the Lord. How did he do that? Hebrews 11:24-27 tells

us—“By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son

of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of

God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach

of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto

the recompence of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the

wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.”

Think about Isaiah. When King Uzziah died Isaiah was overcome with grief.

He was close to giving up. But when he saw the Lord things changed.

Isaiah 6:1-8 tells us—“In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord

sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above

it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his

face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one

cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole

earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him

that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! for I

am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a

people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.

Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which

had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my mouth,

and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and

thy sin purged. Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send,

and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.”

Consider Stephen of whom the Bible describes as “full of faith and power”

(Acts 6:8). He remained faithful to the very end. He died at the hands of his

enemies, but as he was dying he prayed for those wicked men. How could he

do such a thing? The answer is: HE SAW JESUS! Acts 7:55-56 tells us—“But

he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the

glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I

see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of

God.”

B. OUR VISION MUST BE FIXED ON THE LORD. When we lose our focus on

the Lord we begin to struggle. The Bible tells us in Proverbs 29:18—“Where

there is no vision, the people perish.” Hebrew 12:2 encourages us to be

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that

set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the

right hand of the throne of God.” Jesus, our example, perfectly finished his

race. Because he stands at the finish line, Christians should fix [their] eyes on

Jesus, looking away from other distractions or options. (Life Application Bible

Commentary. Bible Explorer 4.0. Copyright 2006. All Rights Reserved). The Bible tells us here to “lay

aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us...”. There are

many weights which drag us down and keep us from moving forward for the

Lord:

• PEOPLE.

• PLEASURE.

• POSSESSIONS.

• PROBLEMS.

• PAIN.

Friends, if are going to survive spiritually in this shallow society in which we

live we have to forget about what others say to us or about us. We have to

get our minds off of the allurements of this world and get our vision fixed

upon the Lord.

SURVIVING SPIRITUALLY IN A SHALLOW SOCIETY demands that WE MUST KEEP OUR FOCUS ON THE LORD but also...

(2) WE MUST KEEP OUR FAITH IN THE LORD

1 JOHN 5:4-5—“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world:

and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that

Jesus is the Son of God?”

A. FEAR CRIPPLES OUR FAITH. When we become fearful we won't remain

faithful because fearful means “filled with dread or terror. Filled with

uneasiness; moved by fear.” (Funk &Wagnalls Standard Desk Dictionary. Volume 1, A-M. p. 232).

Friends, the Lord has not given us the spirit of fear. Fear comes from Satan.

Fear causes us to sink spiritually. Remember Peter. As long as he has faith

he was doing well but when he began to fear, he started to sink. His

circumstances caused him to become fearful. Matthew 14:30—“But when he

saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried,

saying, Lord, save me.” Peter's problems arose when his focus upon Jesus

was replaced with a fear of the driving wind. Fear crippled his faith! When we

allow fear to take over we cannot accomplish anything of value for the

kingdom of God.

ILLUS: One day in July, a farmer sat in front of his shack, smoking his corncob

pipe. Along came a stranger who asked, “How’s your cotton coming?”

“Ain’t got none,” was the answer. “Didn’t plant none. ’Fraid of the boll

weevil.” “Well, how’s your corn?” “Didn’t plant none. ’Fraid o’ drouth.”

“How about your potatoes?” “Ain’t got none. Scairt o’ tater bugs.” The

stranger finally asked, “Well, what did you plant?” “Nothin’,” answered

the farmer. “I just played it safe.” (Illustrations Unlimited. Copyright © 1988 by James S.

Hewett. All Rights Reserved.).

Friends, that old farmer describes many Christians today. They are afraid of

What might happen so they end up doing nothing. They let fear cripple their

faith.

B. FAITH CONQUERS OUR FEAR. Someone said, “Fear knocked at the door.

Faith answered. No one was there.”-Unknown (1001 Quotes, Illustrations, and Humorous Stories. Bible

Explorer 4.0. Copyright 2006. All Rights Reserved). 1 John 5:4 tells us—“For whatsoever is

born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the

catastrophes whereas a strong faith is strengthened by them. -Victor Frankl (1001

Quotes, Illustrations, and Humorous Stories. Bible Explorer 4.0. Copyright 2006. All Rights Reserved). Faith is the

source of our power and the means to our victory. We must keep a strong

faith in the Lord or else we will sink just like Peter did. Friends, the devil will

make sure that you and I face many storms in our lives, but we must never

let our faith in the Lord falter.

SURVIVING SPIRITUALLY IN A SHALLOW SOCIETY demands that WE MUST KEEP OUR FOCUS ON THE LORD and that WE MUST KEEP OUR FAITH IN THE LORD but also that...

(3) WE MUST KEEP OUR FELLOWSHIP WITH THE LORD

JOHN 15:4-6—“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear

fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye

abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in

me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me

ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a

branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the

fire, and they are burned.”

A. A VITAL CONNECTION. The Lord here compares believers to branches and

Himself as the vine. Our Lord says in John 15:5—“I am the vine, ye are the

branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much

fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” Friends, there is no substitute for

abiding in the Lord. We cannot do anything without HIM!

ILLUS: Many people try to be good, honest people who do what is right. But

Jesus says that the only way to live a truly good life is to stay close to

him, like a branch attached to a vine. Apart from Christ our efforts are

unfruitful. Are you receiving the nourishment and life offered by Christ,

the Vine? If not, you are missing the key to living the Christian life. (Life

Application Bible Commentary. Bible Explorer 4.0. Copyright 2006. All Rights Reserved).

Abiding means to make a constant, moment-by-moment decision to follow

Christ. Friends, are we doing that? It means “to have no unconfessed sin

that we are aware of and to have nothing in our lives that He cannot be a part

of. Abiding in Him means we take our burdens to Him and draw our wisdom

from Him.

B. A VALUABLE CONNECTION. When we fail to abide in Christ we lose our

power, purpose, and the presence of the Lord in our lives. The moment our

fellowship with the Lord is broken we lose our joy, our peace, and our

usefulness. Abiding in the Lord means:

• BELIEVING THAT JESUS IS GOD'S SON (1 JOHN 4:15).

• RECEIVING JESUS AS OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR (JOHN 1:12).

• OBEYING WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES (1 JOHN 3:24).

• LOVING OTHERS THAT BELONG TO JESUS (JOHN 15:12).

Unless we abide in Christ we are unable live for the Lord, love other believers,

and lead the lost to the Lord. In fact in v5 the Lord said—“without me ye can

do nothing.”

SURVIVING SPIRITUALLY IN A SHALLOW SOCIETY demands that WE MUST KEEP OUR FOCUS ON THE LORD, that WE MUST KEEP OUR FAITH IN THE LORD, and that WE MUST KEEP OUR FELLOWSHIP WITH THE LORD, and finally that...

(4) WE MUST KEEP OUR FERVENCY FOR THE LORD

TITUS 2:11-14—“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath

appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and

worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this

present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious

appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave

himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify

unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

A. FIRE GLOWS. The word fervency means “hot, burning, glowing.” It speaks

of intensity, enthusiasm, and zeal. It means to be on fire for the Lord!

Friends, God's desire is that we be fervent for HIM! Titus 2:14 tells us that

Christ “gave himself for us, that he might redeemed us from all iniquity, and

purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

In Acts 18:25 we read of a man named Apollos. It tells us of him—“This man

was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he

spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism

of John.” Even though this man had at this time an imperfect knowledge of

the way of the Lord he still had a fire for the Lord that would put us all to

shame. Apollos' spirit was set aflame, filled with all fervency and zeal for God.

He was burning with a holy fire to proclaim the glorious promise that Jesus is

the promised Messiah, the Lamb of God. (Practical Word Studies in the New Testament. Bible

Explorer 4.0. Copyright 2006. All Rights Reserved).

Friends, are we glowing for the Lord today or have we lost our fire? Jeremiah

lost his fire but he got his fire back. In Jeremiah 20:9 Jeremiah said—“Then

I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But

his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was

weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.” David got his fire back. In

Psalm 39:3 David confessed—“My heart was hot within me, while I was

musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue.” Friends, when we

have the fire of the Lord we will be willing to speak.

B. FIRE GROWS. The song writer wrote:

It only takes a spark to get a fire going,

And soon all those around can warm up in its glowing;

That's how it is with God's Love,

Once you've experienced it,

Your spread the love to everyone

You want to pass it on.



The two Emmaus disciples had their hearts set on fire. We read in Luke

24:32—“And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while

he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?”

When their hearts were set on fire what did they do? They shared. As late as

it was they hurried back over the miles with wonderful news—“The Lord is

risen indeed...” (Luke 24:34). Friends, when we have the fire of the Lord we

will speak and we will share.

CLOSING: How do we survive in a shallow society? WE MUST KEEP OUR FOCUS

ON THE LORD, WE MUST KEEP OUR FAITH IN THE LORD, WE MUST

KEEP OUR FELLOWSHIP WITH THE LORD, and WE MUST KEEP OUR

FERVENCY FOR THE LORD.

Friend, let me ask you, are surviving spiritually? If our faith is

something that really does not make a very big difference, if it is

actually not crucial that we or others believe, no wonder it seems

boring to some of our young. Anything we don’t care much about

can’t be very interesting. The things we do care about, however, we

inevitably talk about …. If faith is real, it seeks expression. It will

communicate and profess. It will have the energy of passion. —John

F. Kavanaugh in The Word Encountered. Christianity Today, Vol. 40,

no. 12. (Today’s Best Illustrations, Volumes 1-4. Copyright (c) 1997 by Christianity Today, Inc.

Electronic Edition STEP Files Copyright © 2005, QuickVerse. All rights reserved.).

Friend, How is your faith this morning? Does it really make a

difference?

PREPARED BY BROTHER BRYAN L. BROWNING, PASTOR OF UNIONTOWN BAPTIST CHURCH, UNIONTOWN, KY FOR SUNDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 3, 2010.

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