Goodmorning and welcome in everyone. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture from 1 Thessalonians.
When somebody is on active duty in the military, it means that they perform military duties on a full-time basis, as opposed to being on reserve, where one only occasionally performs military duties.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
A Christians faith must be on active duty. Not on reserve, not part time, but ready to go into action and obediently serve. Like serving in the military, we are called to serve and obey Christ, accepting His divine guidance and authority taught in scripture. Just as they train you in the military to become an obedient soldier, we are being trained in the church to become obedient servants of the Lord. Just as they follow training manuals in the military, we have a training manual we follow too, God’s Word. In order to become completely transformed into spiritual soldiers for Christ, we have to believe and have faith in the manual that God has given us. When we believe it completely with all of our heart, we can become the person that He wants us to be. God’s Word can only have an effect in your life when you believe it. Genuine faith in what it says will result in action, and action is the proof that your faith is on active duty.
1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
When something is effectual, it affects your life and the things that you do. It affects your decision making and your actions. To become a Christian you must believe in your heart. If you truly believe, changes in your lifestyle will result because of it. Scripture teaches that we are saved by grace, but it is through faith. Faith is so important, that without it, people will come up short of paradise. We have the promise of eternal life, but in order to obtain it, certain things are required; conversion being one. To truly convert, you must possess faith because It is faith that causes you to become a doer of God’s will. It is faith that results in becoming obedient to His purpose. Results happen because of faith in what the Bible teaches. No matter how much knowledge you may have, the thing that matters most is acting on that knowledge, and applying it to your life. You must become an active doer of the will of God. If you don’t desire to do what it says, you’re only lying to yourself. You become your own worst enemy.
James 1:21-22 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Eternal life is a prize that is obtained by doing the will of God, rather than your own.
1 John 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
In order to change from a sinner into a saint, God’s Word must be mingled with faith. When you believe something it causes a reaction. If I believe it’s going to rain I will go up and shut my windows on my truck. Genuine faith results in action as the Apostle James teaches.
James 2:15-26 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Christianity is more than just saying what you believe, its living what you believe. In order to walk in the perfect will of God, we must believe in scriptural truth.
Hebrews 4:1-2 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
To be sanctified and freed from our sins, we have to stop sinning! When we accept the truth of scripture, believing what it says and applying it to our life, we truly can go and sin no more. Praise God for the riches of His grace to be able to change and walk in His will.
John 8:30-36 As he spake these words, many believed on him. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
When we receive scripture into our hearts and our minds, we can be purified by doing God’s will rather than living in sin.
John 17:17 – Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Being born again is not symbolic, but a reality for those who faithfully intend to follow and obey God is Word.
1 Peter 1:23 – Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
Do you trust the manual the God has given us? Are you becoming obedient to it and allowing it to convert your soul? Its more than hearing it, its more than reading it, its about believing what it says and doing it.
You can only actively do God’s will when you decide to enlist full-tme and put your faith on….
…….Active Duty
Let’s think about these things for right now, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️
tlkjbc.wordpress.com
Please take note that we have absolutely no affiliation with any advertisement you might find on our posts. Thanks!
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 