In The Year 2000, How Did We Measure up?
2 Tim. 4:6-8



2 Tim. 4: 6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
 

INTRO: I want to look for a moment at two individuals that are very well known. King Saul and King David. These were men that were human and failed in their service in the sight of the Lord.

First Saul was give a job to do by the Lord via Samuel in 1 Sam. 15:3.

1 Sam 15:3  Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.

However Saul failed to do what God wanted. How did he face his failure? He blamed everyone but himself. 1 Sam. 15:9, 15.

1 Sam 15:15 And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.

So it cost Saul dearly. His kingdom, his family, his life.

King David also failed God. He had relations with a married woman (Bathsheba) and had her husband Uriah killed. When God confronted him through Nathan, David repented and accepted his part in the sin.

2 Sam. 12: 13 And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

Keeping these two in mind, I want to look today at our lives and how we did this year. How does God see our lives and how will we answer His judgment.
 
 

As you examine this past year, may you…
Acknowledge your imperfection and failures

Rom. 3: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Causes hard feelings
Counterproductive God knows exactly what has happened
Excuses do not help We need to do more than just know we have sinned
We need to directly tell God, not man, we have sinned
  One of the more important things you can do with your life is …
Accept His help He died for you
  Ro. 5: 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
  He is there to help
  Rom. 5: 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. He wants to protect you from harm
He wants to help you achieve good things
He wants your family saved too
  Acts 16: 30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. (Paul & Silas) Through His Son
With the Holy Spirit
By other's efforts We see more than just a need to call upon the Lord, you also must…
Adjust your life His Word should be special to us
His ways should be supreme to us
Holiness should be a standard for us (so God can use us)
  Heb. 12: 14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Holiness: set apart and consecrated unto the Lord; spiritually pure; dedicated for religious use
 

 Worshipping Him is important
Being in His will is our intent
Knowing Him makes us improved Serving Him together is our purpose
Setting an example of love together is paramount
Succeeding together to win souls should be your passion
  Gary Marcum - East 38th Street Free Will Baptist Church - 12-31-00 am