How To Be A Stronger Christian

How To Be A Stronger Christian

INTRO: Last week I talked about "How to be a Better Christian." My main points were: Longing for God's Word in our lives; Letting Go of Pride; Worshipping the Lord; and the Last one which I feel is the key…Love the Brethren. So when all is said and done the key to being a better Christian is to be a "Sweeter" Christian.

Although this is not the term I used in last weeks message - Sweeter makes us better - I am pretty sure at least one of us got the idea, because I heard him say last night he was sweet. Seriously, IF we love each other, we truly will become sweeter and if we become sweeter, we will be better! AMEN?

Today I want to compare steps people take to be stronger in life and how they compare to being stronger Christians.

First, almost everyone knows the secret in being strong physically…

Follow three simple steps:

The first thing everyone knows , is they must …

Eat well - how can we be strong if we do not eat.

World class athletes consume great meals made up of meat, more meat and more meat
"Got milk" becomes "Need meat!"
We need to feed from God's Word and learn the strong things that will help us

1 Peter 2:1-2 ¹Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, ²As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: ³If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

Heb. 5:2-14 ²For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. ¹³For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. ¹⁴But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

The next thing people know, they must …

Take good care of themselves - avoid things that harm their bodies and prevent good strong growth in life

They sleep well, live clean lives, watch crowds they follow, etc. (Babe Ruth could have been even greater, IF he had done this)

We need to do much of the same

Live without sinful practices - they weaken us, sin destroys us

Live without tumultuous attitudes - they stifle us and distract us

Live without excesses - they spoil us and warp our thinking

We read from Job 17: 1-9

Job 17:1-9 ¹My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me. ²Are there not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation? ³Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me? ⁴For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt them. ⁵He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail. ⁶He hath made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime I was as a tabret. ⁷Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow. ⁸Upright men shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite. ⁹The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.

We can see in verse nine, it is those who will live godly lives that will become stronger for the Lord. Yes, just like people do physically, we must take good care of ourselves.
Another thing people know they must do is…

Work out - look for developing your strength

Exercise - stress causes our bodies to respond with strength - God will help us handle our strength causing incidents in our lives

Train - find ways improve their performances - we need to seek out different ways to serve the Lord with strength

Many compete - they use their strength - we must use what God helps us have

1 Tim. 4:6-16 ⁶If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. ⁷But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. ⁸For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. ⁹This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. ¹⁰For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. ¹¹These things command and teach. ¹²Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. ¹³Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. ¹⁴Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. ¹⁵Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. ¹⁶Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

So we have looked at three simple steps that almost everyone knows to do when they want to be stronger. But, many have trouble doing this on their own, so…

They join a club - and we can see that parallels to church

First let me look at reasons people have for not using a "club" to grow strong

I don't have enough time

It doesn't work anyway

I can do it on my own

All those people are there just for their benefit

It costs too much

I tried it once - it did not work

Everyone there are hypocrites they're just showing off

No one there cares about me

Etc.
To be part of the club the way we should be, we need…

Regular attendance - they cannot just use the club once a year, month, etc. and grow strong

Stay with it - don't give up

Gary Marcum - New Beginnings Church - 120504am