SSS Sermon: How far will you go for Christ?

How far will you go for Christ?

How far will you go for Christ in obedience?
2nd Kings 10
Backstory 2nd Kings 9

All of chapter ten up until verse 29 Jehu is the hero, the avenger of the faith, the man serving God, the one cleaning up the mess.

Here again we see a good thing followed by the word "howbeit".

Verse 29- "Howbeit from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after them, to wit, the golden calves that were in Bethel, and that were in Dan."

Notice though verse 30-    "And the LORD said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, thy children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel."

Notice God does not even mention that Jehu fell short, Gods command was obeyed by Jehu but His Law was ignored.

Verse 31-32    "But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin. In those days the LORD began to cut Israel short: and Hazael smote them in all the coasts of Israel;"

Do not expect God to strike you with lightning for disobedience, He simply began to take away the blessings He had given the nation.

It is very important not to simply obey God in one way as Jehu did, (he removed baal worship) but to continue on towards perfection.

Gods word says in
Hebrews 6:1    "Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,"

Don't dwell on those thing that your already good at, move on and work at those things that still harm you.




Hebrews 12:1-2 says "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."


How far will you go for Christ in effort?
2nd Kings 13:14-19 Joash and the arrows
The king did everything right, he had concern for Gods man, he obeyed Gods man, but when Gods mans instructions were not precise he failed to put forth the effort God wanted to see.     Who does Israel still struggle with? Syria.

How far will you go for Christ in faith?
Matthew 14:22-31 Peter walking on water

How far will you go for Christ in public?
Luke 22:31-34, Luke 22:54-62 Peter denies Christ

How far will you go for Christ in praise?
Luke 17:13-19    "And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. 14    And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. 15    And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16    And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. 17    And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? 18    There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. 19    And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole."

It is interesting to note that in this story 90% of those who were healed of leprosy (which is a symbol of sin throughout Gods word) never returned to Christ, to the place they met God, to praise Him for what He did for them.

90% of Baptist kids who grow up in church leave church never to return before age 25, and more than 90% of professing Christians (a high percent in our church as well) never do more than sit in a pew and receive blessings, receive prayer, receive, teaching, receive, get, get, get, but how far will we go to give back.. To Christ.