"Can I Be A Christian And Still Do...?

A common question that many new/young Christians have is… “Can I be a Christian and still do…?” some questions of “Christian liberty” can be answered easily, because the bible directly addresses these questions. For instance, if someone asks, “Is it OK, as a Christian be drunk?” The answer is clearly no. The bible says, “Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). However, questions like, “Can I be a Christian and still drink alcoholic beverages?” or “Can I listen to any kind of music?” or “Can I go to any movie?” are not answered easily. They are among many gray areas of the Christian life that are/have a chapter and verse answer.

When we are in a situation that the bible does not directly address, you must consider whether or not your actions will please God.

1. Does This Activity Build Me Up Spiritually?

1 Corinthians 10:23 (NIV)

"Everything is permissible"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"--but not everything is constructive.

1 Corinthians 10:23 (NLT)

You say, "I am allowed to do anything"-but not everything is good for you. You say, "I am allowed to do anything"-but not everything is beneficial. 

This verse tackles the issue of whether certain activities will be spiritually constructive in your life – even if it falls into a so called “gray” area. A more literal translation of that verse is “ALL THINGS ARE PERMISSIBLE, BUT NOT ALL THINGS PROMOTE GROWTH IN CHRISTIAN CHARACTER.” The next time you question whether you should be seeing a certain movie, participating in a specific activity or engaging in a certain habit, ask yourself the following questions:

a. Will this activity make the things of this world more appealing than the things of God?

b. Will it keep from prayer?

c. Will it diminish my hunger for God’ Word?

d. Will it spiritually tear me down by pulling me away from other Christian believers?

You do not have time for anything that would make this world more attractive, (they might give you…>>>) dull your desire for prayer, take away your appetite for bible study, or keep you from Christian fellowship. Instead, look for things that will benefit and build your Christian character.

2. Does This Activity Bring Me Under Its Power?

1 Corinthians 10:23 (MSG)

Just because something is technically legal doesn't mean that it's spiritually appropriate. If I went around doing whatever I thought I could get by with, I'd be a slave to my whims.

Some have mistakenly assumed that following Christ means laboriously obeying a list of “DO’S” and “DON’TS.” In reality, the Christian life, if lived according to Scripture, is one of joy and satisfaction. This verse serves as a case in point. To follow the principle laid out here is not overly restricting but truly liberating!

Some people are controlled by pleasure. For example, they may live for a certain sports and become so fanatical about it that it turns into an obsession. Others may be hooked on soap operas, food or some particular habit that has them under its power. Yet, as a Christian, you should only want to be controlled by and under the power of Jesus Christ

We need to treasure our relationship with God – and the ensuing freedom from sin it has brought – that we jealously guard that relationship, wanting no thing or person to gets in its way. As the Psalmist prayed, we, too, should pray, [Psalm 139:23-24 (NLT) | Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.]

3. Do I Have An Uneasy Conscience About His Activity?

Romans 14:23 (NLT)

But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning.

When it comes to participating in questionable activities, it is easy to rationalize joining in because others are doing it. Yet this verse places the responsibility of your choice squarely on your shoulders. You may protest and say, “Well, so-and-so is doing it!” But you are not that person. You must be obedient to what God tells you to do.

How do you know when you should not participate in a certain activity? God’s Holy Spirit will often give you an uneasy conscience about something you should not be doing. For example, you may have sense that you are in the wrong place, with the wrong people, about to do the wrong thing. Or, you may have a lack of peace in your heart about an activity in which you are participating. When this happens, it is up to you to pay attention to your conscience and follow through by being obedient to God.

4. Could This Activity Cause Other Christians To Stumble In Their Faith?

Romans 14:13 (NLT)

So let's stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.

Don’t do anything that will bring criticism against yourself, even if you know that a certain activity is all right. What we do and become has a direct effect on others – not only for our life here in this earth, but also for eternity. We not only need to live our lives conscious of God’s opinion, but we also need to live our lives with consideration for others. We do not want to do anything that has the potential of causing any Christian brother or sister to stumble or fall. Be sensitive to those around you. Don’t let your Christian witness be hindered by what you say or do.

//danlopez11

Courage In Trials

John 10:10

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (NIV)

Many Christians have the mistaken idea that once they make a commitment to Jesus Christ, life will be smooth sailing from that day forward. This certainly not the case. While it is true that walking with Christ will help us avoid many of the problems we used to face, we are still going to experience what the bible calls “trials.”

Trials may come in the form of a crisis, a sudden illness, the loss of loved one, or some drastic change in your life. You may go through a difficult time when you don’t feel God’s presence, WHEN CHURCH MAY NOT EXCITING AS IT ONCE WAS FOR YOU, or your prayers seem to go no higher than the ceiling. This make cause you to wonder if you have angered God or if He has left you. But God allows these difficulties into our lives to help us grow spiritually – to learn to live by faith not by feelings.

1. Trials Sharpen Our Faith. Hardships develop our character and purify our faith.

1 Peter 1:3-7

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. (NIV)

God has selected you for a choice work. But before he can use you, he must toughen the grain of your life. He does this by allowing you to go through difficulties so that your faith can be tested and purified. 

We need to remember…

a. Remember Who You Are. You are God’s child

1 Peter 1:3

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (NIV)

b. Remember What God has Promised You. God promise the priceless gift of eternal life.

1 Peter 1:4

And into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, (NIV)

c. Remember Who Will See You Through. God will protect you until you reach your final destination.

1 Peter 1:5-6

Who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. (NIV)

d. Remember Why God Lets You Go Through Trials. God Wants to test the genuineness of your faith so that your life will result in praise and glory when Jesus returns.

1 Peter 1:7

These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. (NIV)

2. Trials Help Us Comfort Others. Experiencing suffering deepens our compassion for others who suffer. 

2 Corinthians 1:3-7

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God(una-una lang yan, best foot forward sabi nga ng iba, our experience hopefully will be a great blessing and learning to others). For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. (NIV)

3. Trials are Survivable. We must keep our eternal perspective through the tough times. Its proven, our daily existence is a living proof that trials can be a thing in the past as long as we have the drive to wake, to rise and to continue. Parang laro lang yan, kapag nag GAMEOVER you still have the option to continue. So, ikaw yun… TRABAHO MO AT RESPONSIBLIDAD NATIN.

4. Trials Test Our Foundation. When we ground our lives in Christ, we can survive any storm.

Luke 6:47-49

I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."(NIV)

5. Jesus is With Us in Life’s Storm. We are never outside of God’s watchful eye and his abiding presence

a. Jesus is aware of your situation.

b. Jesus will answer your call for help.

c. You can make it through.

6. God Gives Hope to Our Troubled Hearts. We can have peace of mind in the middle of our greatest trials.

John 14:1-7

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."(NIV)

a. We can take God at his word.

b. Jesus is coming back to us (hope)

more verses:

Isaiah 64:8

Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.(NIV)

James 1:2-4

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.(NIV)

Romans 8:28

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.(NIV)

A higher calling

1 Peter 2:9

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.(NIV)

Malachi 3:3

He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness,(NIV)

//danlopez11

Jesus LEADS

John 1:1-9

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.(NIV)

1. Light Destroys Darkness

Darkness is like a sin. Just like darkness makes us unable to see, sin causes us to be unable to understands the things in God’s kingdom and it hides the truth from us. When we are born again, we begin to realize just how blind we have been to the truth of God’s love and the wonderful things God wants to bring into our lives. Jesus died so that sin could no longer keep us in the dark. Because of Jesus we can see the truth!

2. Light is Life-giving

Jesus brings life. He brings new life to those who accept Him. Without Him everyone would be disconnected from God and would pay the ultimate price for sin – spiritual death. But because of Jesus, we have new, eternal life.

3. Light Brings Health

Jesus brings into our lives the ability to live strong, healthy Christian lives. He helps us remain spiritually healthy by being connected to God and living lives according to God’s plan for us. Before we are born again, we are weak and sickened by the effects of sin and death.

Jesus came as man so he could teach us about God’s kingdom. He died so we can be reconnected to God and don’t have to pay the penalty of sin.

Because Jesus is the light of the world, he helps us understand what God wants us to learn. Bit by bit as we live our life with Jesus and seek to please God, we will find ourselves becoming new, better and better. God wants only the best for us. He will keep changing us and perfecting us until as we are able to be the person we dreamed for. Because Jesus is light of the world, we are to be like him, we are supposed to be light for those around us; especially the ones who don’t know Jesus. We can be light to them by helping them to see more clearly all that Jesus is and all he has done for them.

@danlopez11
 

Importance of Integrity

In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you.

Titus 2:7-8

General Eiwson Hower demonstrates the art of leadership with a peace of string. He put it on a table and say: “pull it and it will follow wherever you wish. Push it and it will go nowhere at all.” It’s just that way when it comes to leading people. They need to follow a person who is leading by example.

John Maxwell: “The most important ingredient of leadership is integrity.”

Importance of Integrity:

• It builds trust.
• It has high influence value.
• It facilitates high standards
• It results in a solid reputation, not just image.
• It means living it myself before leading others.
• It helps a leader be credible, not just clever.
• It is a hard-won achievement.

Application:

God has put people in our lives, because He trusts us to lead this people in the way that pleases Him. Are we doing the task that God entrusted to us?