There are several "ONE" things in the Bible, which if we make a priority in life, these will help give us focus in our pursuits and clarity in
decisions. These ONE things are simple to understand, but challenging to live out. In this message we are reminded, challenged and stirred to pursue ONE HOUR, ONE DAY, ONE TENTH, ONE THING and ONE MIND. Order your life by the ONE!
May this sermon minister to you and enrich your walk of faith in Jesus Christ. We welcome you to make use of the free sermons, Christian books, and daily devotionals available on this website.
May this sermon minister to you and enrich your walk of faith in Jesus Christ. We welcome you to make use of the free sermons, Christian books, and daily devotionals available on this website.
Today we have a simple message – simple in terms of understanding truth, but challenging in terms of living it out. So we desire to challenge and stir ourselves up in these areas.
There are several “one” things in the Bible, which if we make a priority in life, these will help give us focus in our pursuits and clarity in decisions. We will look at some of these “one” things in the Bible.
One Hour (Honoring God with our time)
The Bible does not specifically state how much time we need to spend in prayer or in seeking God each day. Essentially, we are encouraged to do it daily and without ceasing
Psalm 145:2 Every day I will bless You, And I will praise Your name forever and ever.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 pray without ceasing,
The Lord Jesus is our ultimate example and model in how to live the Christian life. We see Him taking time away to be alone with the Father often. Sometimes He spent the entire night in prayer with the Father.
We see Jesus model for us something very significant. In the most challenging moment of His earthly life, in the Garden of Gethsemane, He invites His disciples to stand with Him in prayer for just one hour –one hour at a time:
Matthew 26:30-46
Vs 38 Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me."
Vs 40 Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "What! Could you not watch with Me one hour?
Mat 26:41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
While we do not present this as a “rule” or “law” – we wish to encourage all of us to set aside at least ONE HOUR a day to seek the Lord, be in His presence, read His Word and pray. Do more as often as you can. There may be days when you cannot do at least ONE HOUR – and there is no need to feel guilty about it. But as a guideline – lets all work on at least ONE HOUR a day with the Father.
One Day (Honoring God with our work week)
Setting aside ONE DAY in a week, where the primary focus is to rest and be renewed/refreshed spiritually.
We see the Lord God doing this in the very beginning. He rested on the seventh day. Genesis 2:2,3
He taught His people to do the same under the Old Covenant by ordaining the Sabbath. Now in the New Testament, we do not observe the Sabbath, per se, in the same manner the Jewish people did (or still do).
Colossians 2:16,17
16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths,
17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.
In the New Testament, we find that believers set aside the first day of the week to gather together. The first day of the week became significant – The Lord Jesus resurrected on the first day of the week (Mark 16:9) and showed Himself to His disciples (John 20:1-19). The day of Pentecost was on the first day of the week (Acts 2:1 –the feast of Pentecost happened on the first day of the week). John the apostle refers to this as “The Lord’s day” (Revelation 1:10).
Acts 20:7
Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the
next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.1 Corinthians 16:1,2
1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also:
2 On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.
The Holy Spirit instructs us through Scripture to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together – but instead encourage one another to come together, so that we can stir each other up in love, in good works, and to keep each other from falling into sin.
Hebrews 10:24-27
24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,
25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.
The significance is not in the day itself – but in what we are doing by coming together as a people to worship, pray, hear, fellowship. What day of the week can vary, but the important thing is to keep that ONE DAY for rest, spiritual renewal, and corporate worship, prayer, Word and fellowship. In some countries believers meet on a Friday. Some believers in other countries may choose to meet on another day of the week. Most parts of the world, believers meet on Sunday.
Romans 14:5,6
5 One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.
6 He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it.....
Mark 2:27 The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.
Addressing Our local context – us here in Bangalore : Given today’s workplace demands – it is possible that you may be required to work on Sundays, etc. We encourage you to purpose in your heart that as much as possible, you will choose to keep your Sunday to be a day for spiritual worship. We are not saying that if you miss being in church on Sunday, you have sinned, backslidden and gone astray from God – rather we are inviting each of us to maintain this as focus and as a choice we make.
The story of Chick-fil-A
S. Truett Cathy, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
It all started in 1946, when Truett Cathy opened his first restaurant, The Dwarf Grill, in Hapeville, Georgia. Credited with inventing Chick-fil-A's boneless breast of chicken sandwich, Mr. Cathy founded Chick-fil-A, Inc. in the early 1960s and pioneered the establishment of restaurants in shopping malls with the opening of the first Chick-fil-A Restaurant at a mall in suburban Atlanta in 1967.
Truett Cathy, made the decision to close on Sundays in 1946 when he opened his first restaurant in Hapeville, Georgia. He has often shared that his decision was as much practical as spiritual. He believes that all franchised Chick-fil-A Operators and their Restaurant employees should have an opportunity to rest, spend time with family and friends, and worship if they choose to do so. That's why all Chick-fil-A Restaurants are closed on Sundays. It's part of our recipe for success. [http://www.chick-fil-a.com/Company/Highlights-Sunday]
Over the years, Chick-fil-A has steadily grown to become the second largest quick-service chicken restaurant chain in the United States, with over 1,615 locations in 39 states and Washington, D.C. In 2011, annual sales were over $4.1 billion. Chick-fil-A is still privately held and family owned. With 44 consecutive years of positive sales growth, Chick-fil-A has set itself apart by pioneering innovations and delicious products—including the ever-popular Chick-fil-A® Chicken Sandwich.
The story of Eric Liddell
Eric Henry Liddell (16 January 1902 – 21 February 1945) was a Scottish athlete, rugby union international player, and missionary.
Liddell was the winner of the men's 400 metres at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris. Liddell's Olympic training and racing, and the religious convictions that influenced him, are depicted in the Oscar-winning 1981 film Chariots of Fire.
The Olympics were hosted by the city of Paris. A devout Christian, Liddell refused to run in a heat held on Sunday and was forced to withdraw from the 100-metres race, his best event.
When the day of the Olympic 400 meters race came, Liddell went to the starting blocks, where an American Olympic Team masseur slipped a piece of paper into his hand with a quotation from 1 Samuel 2:30: "Those who honor me I will honor." He broke the existing Olympic and world records with a time of 47.6 seconds. His performance in the 400 meters in Paris stood as a European record for 12 years.
A few days earlier Liddell had competed in the 200 meter finals, for which he received the bronze medal.
A year later, in 1925, at the Scottish Amateur Athletics Association (SAAA) meeting in Hampden Park in Glasgow, he equaled his Scottish championship record of 10.0 seconds in the 100, won the 220 yard contest in 22.2 seconds, won the 440 yard contest in 47.7, and participated in a winning relay team.
Liddell returned to Northern China to serve as a missionary, like his parents, from 1925 to 1943 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Liddell
One Tenth (Honoring God with our money)
God has taught us in His Word the importance of honoring Him with our money. Of course, God does not need our money. Giving to God is not for His benefit – but for our benefit, so that we demonstrate in real and practical ways that the Lord our God reigns in us even in this area of our lives.
One of the ways God has taught us to give is by giving to the work of His house our tithes and offerings.
Malachi 3:8-12
8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings.
9 You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation.
10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.
11 "And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field," Says the LORD of hosts;
12 And all nations will call you blessed, For you will be a delightful land," Says the LORD of hosts.
Q: is giving the tithe a New Testament practice? Was it not something to be done in the Old Covenant only?
Abraham tithed (Genesis 14:20) and Jacob tithed (Genesis 28:22), well before the Old Covenant came in force. Centuries later tithing was established as part of the Mosaic law (Leviticus 27:30-32) and detailed instructions given on how the tithe was to be used under the Mosaic law. However, the point to be understood – is that tithing is an act of faith and dependence on God, rather than a work of the Law.
Jesus acknowledged and encouraged tithing (Matthew 23:23).
The writer of Hebrews indicates that Abraham gave tithes to one who was 'eternal', i.e. Melchizedek (Hebrews 7:4-10). Melchizedek is a type of the true eternal Priest, who continues forever with an unchangeable priesthood - Jesus Christ (Hebrews 7:21,24). Today, we are Abraham’s spiritual seed. When we give tithes we are giving it to the true eternal High Priest, Jesus Christ.
Q: must I give my tithe to the local church?
The Bible does not state an answer to this question in definite terms.
The giving of the tithe is an expression of our dependence and thankfulness to the Lord, to support the ministry that took place in the Lord’s House, to help those who do not have what we have. Malachi 3, indicates that all the tithe is to be brought to the Lord’s house. So we can only suggest that you give your tithe to your local church where you receive your spiritual nourishment and support and whose vision you are part of. I don’t think God will get angry with you if you do otherwise – but this is what we suggest. Do as the Lord speaks to you.
Q: can I divide my tithe and give part in one place and other parts in other places?
From what we understand the whole tithe was to be brought to the house of the Lord, from where it was distributed. Abraham gave all the tithe to Melchizedek. Here again, we can only suggest that you give all your tithe to the Lord’s house. Again, we do not think that God would be angry if you chose to do otherwise. Do as the Lord speaks to you.
Q: what if I cannot afford to give my tithe – due to expenses, debts, etc.?
Work towards coming to a place where you can do this. You can adjust your expenses so that you can afford to give. You can work out a plan on paying off your debts and avoid making any new purchases until such time. Make it a habit to set aside your tithe first, along with some offerings, and then plan out the rest of your expenses, etc. Remember, the tithe is just the minimum. Give offerings over and above your tithe and honor God in all other areas as well.
One Thing (Honoring God with our heart)
Psalm 27:4
One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple.
We must have one consuming passion on our hearts – the Lord Himself.
He must be uppermost in our lives.
Mark 12:29-31
29 Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments is: 'HEAR, O ISRAEL, THE LORD OUR GOD, THE LORD IS ONE.
30 AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.' This is the first commandment.
31 And the second, like it, is this: 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' There is no other commandment greater than these."
Is your love and passion for the Lord more important to you than anything else – ministry, job, career, family, success, achievements, fame, etc?
One Mind (Honoring God with our attitude)
Lastly, it is so important for us as a Body of believers to be on ONE MIND.
1 Corinthians 1:10
Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
This does not mean that we will all be absolutely the same in every way – Xerox copies of each other.
This will not happen.
Instead we are a people who appreciate each others differences and are able to flow together in the same spirit of faith and passion for God, for purity, for power, for seeing His Kingdom released here on earth.
Don’t criticize a fellow believer who is different from you.
Don’t fight what you don’t understand.
When we are a people of ONE MIND, there is no limit to what we can accomplish in and through our God.
1 Corinthians 12:4-27 (if time permits can read and expound on this passage).
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