Bad Sermons (continued)

"Fine dress, learned degrees, high titles, and grand offices do not give ability. We have heard of doctors of divinity who were duller preachers than the generality of the clergy" (Spurgeon, Salt Cellars).

The Sinfulness of Sin and How it Steals our Happiness

In seminary I once commented in a class discussion that sin is at its worst when we as Christians do wrong knowing all along that we are doing wrong in the very sight of God. I was rebutted by a student that said that if he knows something is wrong he does not do it. I guess you could say that he only sins indirectly in a sense.
Call me not saved if you will, but I not only have to deal with sin "indirectly" but directly! Here I am ashamed to say with Augustine that "I had no motive for my wickedness except wickedness itself" (Confessions). I realize that God provides us a way of escape when we are tempted but I do not always do the right thing in this regard. I am weak.! And sanctification has a lot of work yet to do on me.
If we could only apply the principle of mortification of sin in our lives we would be much happier and at peace with ourselves. God would be more pleased with us as well. Easier said than done though isn't it.
If you are like me in your struggle with sin let us find wisdom in the truth that true happiness can only be found in the pursuit of righteousness. To entertain sin only causes us to be unhappy. No matter how appealing sin is to our flesh it cannot bring happiness, but only a deceptive form of it, which itself soon turns into pain.
"For you were always with me, mercifully punishing me, touching with a bitter taste all my illicit pleasures" (Augustine, Confessions).
"Why do you stand looking in at the shop window, When you can't go inside? The world and its gratifications pass away. Always the lure of the senses will be tempting us to stroll abroad, but what is left after a brief hour of enjoyment? All you carry home with you is a troubled conscience, and a distracted mind. Glad journey out, sad journey home" (a Kempis, Imitation)

Being Productive

We are not all equal in terms of greatness of productivity. One may excel in his vocation only on the level of manual labor, never climbing through the ranks to the top of his field. One may be ignorant of things pertaining to the various areas of academics, while another reaches the status of being called master or doctor.
We are all given a different amount of talents. God only requires that we do not fall short of our potential but rather use our talents wisely--to invest them and bring a return.
Do not be discouraged if your talent is lowly for it is the gift of God and can be invested and turned into something much greater. One's talents ultimately belong to God and he receives all of the glory. But it also pleases him to turn the common into the uncommon and make wise the ignorant. I am not alluding to sinful pride in self, but to the dignity that comes from being children of God.
A small amount of work, though it be done in small amounts, constantly, eventually adds up to a lot of accomplishment! One may cover a certain amount of ground in two easy steps, but another can cover the same ground and even exceed further though it takes three strenuous steps. "Go to the ant thou sluggard, consider her ways and be wise" (Proverbs). (Matthew 25)

Spurgeon Quote

"One said that he had a conscience which was as good as new, for he had never used it; and he is the representative of many" (Spurgeon)

a Kempis Quote

"If you really want to be happy, my son, you must make me your supreme and final end" (Thomas a Kempis).

Complaining

Complaining is an easy sin. It is also contagious. All it takes is for one person to start complaining and then it spreads to others like a virus. It is easy for the atmosphere to become contaminated with complaints. But nasty weather easily dissipates with a little sunshine.
One time I found myself disgusted at the grumbling of a fellow worker. It seemed as if this was his sole reason for getting out of bed in the morning. His complaining, however, soon became my complaining. Every negative thing at work was thoroughly scrutinized. We had become fellow complainers. My conscience then kicked in and I tried to curve the complaining. It was not long until I realized that I was complaining about his complaining to others. And then I was complaining about my complaining!
Coming to my senses I remembered that we ought to be content in whatever state we are in. The task that we must take on at work may be a hard one and sometimes we find ourselves passing the day in a spirit of grumbling rather than a spirit of contentment and happiness. When this happens let us remember that whatever we do we do not for men but for the Lord. It is the "God man" that we are working for not "the man."
To apply this principle is a big step towards everyday happiness. And you might be surprised to find that this attitude is more appealing to complainers than you think. It gives them a sense of purpose in what may be a dead end job to them. Glorifying God becomes more important than the "injustices" of our lives.

Indwelling Sin in the Believer

Repent and keep repenting. As a new Christian I quickly realized that the road ahead was going to be a little harder, rather, a lot harder, than what people made it out to be. In a legalistic setting our sins carry a statute of limitations. But I have found that in actuality I am still struggling with sins that just don't want to go away.
Those sins are gone forever and we are new creation in a sense. In the sense that we are justified in Christ. Also in the since of true mortification of sins. It is true we do have a new nature and God has removed our culpability from sin.
How then do we account for sins (even familiar sin) in our Christian lives? We are not schizophrenic are we? The old nature is gone and we are created new. However, there still remains the flesh that awaits redemption. We still do things we know to be wrong ,and here in we see the unvarnished vileness of sin. There is indeed a Christian in Romans 7.
We may never be able to over come that besetting sin(s) in this life. We will never stop sinning in the here and now.
That is the goal, nevertheless i.e. mortification of sin/sanctification. Sanctification begins at conversion and continues through out our Christian life. Some times we make visible advancements in holiness while sometimes we make visible our backslidings. Let us not forget though that we are perfect already in Christ and one day our flesh will be glorified as well. "It is true this is that which is aimed at ; but this is not in this life to be accomplished" (John Owen).