What Christians Ought to Be
Peter 2 3:11 General Omas Bradly said, “The most completely committed person I have ever met was a convinced communist.”
I: Christians Ought to Be A Praying People.
1. George Adam Clark while climbing a dangerous airplane peak, “On your knees air, on your knees, it is not safe here except on your knees.”
2. Prayer changes people & Prayer changes things.
3. Prayer brings power and peace to the one who prays (Glen James & Dr. Fisher).
II: Christians Ought to Have Convictions.
1. A man without a conviction is like a door swinging on its bottom hinge.
2. We do not make our beliefs; our convictions make us.
3. We need to believe in the love of God and the wrath of God.
4. We need to believe in an eternal Hell and Heaven.
5. We need to believe that without Christ there is no hope for a lost world.
III: Christians ought to be soul winners in the Home.
1. Peter speaks to Christian women of how to win their husbands. They were trying but in the wrong way.
2. “Even if,” obstinate, stiff-necked husbands.
3. “They may be won to God without any word.” Quit talking, start living!
a. Let them see by your life and reverence for God.
b. Win them by the way you live, not by nag.
c. They now know the word but they must see.
d. The wives Christian example would be used by God.
IV: A Christian ought to depend on spiritual living to produce spiritual results.
1. These women were using wrong methods to win their husbands. Outward adornment of worldly apparel. They wanted to please their husbands by appealed to the depraved nature. “What you appear to be speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you are saying.”
2. “Adornment” order and beauty. Dress to match the heart, don’t let the two clash!
3. The Christian woman’s apparel and testimony.
a. Elaborate hair-do Clement of Alexander said “Sleep comes to them terror.” The elaborate care of the hair only appeared to natural men. She is confronting her husband with the world, not the Savior. (We may be fundamental in doctrine, but wordily in dress).
b. “Wearing” putting around. Covering themselves with a lavish display of jewelry (pretty is as pretty does).
4. The Christina true beauty.
a. True beauty from within. (The hidden man of the heart).
b. The inner man will be shown in all that we do or say. “I am.” This is God’s plan for what a Christian ought to be.
What Christians Ought to Be
Almost everyone can tell you what a Christian ought to be. The world sets some high standards for others that claim to be Christians. Peter 2 3:11
I: The Christian is A Soldier.
1. He is a war! The devil will give you battle. (Boss, you are the dead duck. I am just crippled).
2. In this army there is no discharge, no leaves, many AWOL’s.
3. He will have conflict within himself, his family, at work, his world, and his church.
4. Life is a struggle, but you are on the winning side. Abraham Lincoln “I’m concerned that we are on His side.”
II: Christians Ought to Have Convictions.
1. A Christian without convictions is like a door swinging on its bottom hinge, just never shuts right.
2. Convictions based on the Word!
3. Opinions we hold, convictions hold us!
4. Convictions grow out of meditation and prayer undersigned by faith. (Heb. 11:1)
III: Christians Ought to be A Giving People.
1. We are bought with a price, “Ye are not your own.”
2. A Christians recognized God with his money.
3. A Christian finds time to serve.
4. A Christian used his tå¬ent for the cause of Christ.
5. Christian character grows under giving.
IV: Christians Ought to be Happy.
1. Shame on the Christian that has lost the joy of salvation (Calvary Youth at Idylwild).
2. Peace that passes understanding produces joy under adverse conditions.
3. George Adam Clark, while climbing a dangerous Alpine Peak, “On your knees, Sin, it is not safe here except on your knees.”