Subtopic: " We Must Continue In The Faith."

Text: Rev. 3:1-2 "And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and are dead.(vs2) Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God."

Acts 2: 40,42,44-47 " And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.(vs42)And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.(vs44) and all that believed were together, and had all things common;(vs45)And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.(vs46)And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, (vs47) Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."

Jude verse 3 "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints."

Premise

The Pulpit Commentary, Vol.18 , page 73, a comment on Acts2:43-47 "THE STRENGTH OF THE UNITING BOND in the new society of this early church was spiritual; not mere companionship, or social instinct, or common necessity, or political aim, but brotherly love springing out of faith---- a faith showing itself in self-sacrifice and steadfastness.

"THE SPECIALITY AND DISTINCTNESS of the early church manifested a new Christian life that was characterized by unselfishness, mutual consideration, compassion for the needy, gladness and singleness of heart, devoutness, purity of home life, steadfast continuing in well-doing."

"THE MIGHTY EFFECT OF THIS NEW CHRISTIAN CHURCH upon an impure world was demonstrated by the fact that the true method of spreading religion is not by breaking down the distinctions between Church life and worldly life, but by revealing the spiritual power of Christ's kingdom."They had favour with all the people." The people know how to distinguish between reality and pretense. They will always be moved by sincerity. The Lord will add to his own work. The method which we see in nature is a type of that which is ordained in grace. The vigorous life is selected to carry on the increase. Half-hearted Christianity cannot convert the world. Multitudinism (the principle according to which the interests of multitudes are placed before those of individuals.) is a great mistake, as well as a mockery of Christ. Let the Lord add to the church; let not our desires, or even our observances of Christian institutions, multiply numbers without increasing strength."

Subtopic: "Even Our Faith: The Love Component"

Text: Deut: 10:12 "And now Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,"

Gal.5: 6 "For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

1 John 5:4-6 "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.(vs5)Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

Premise

The Pulpit Commentary, Vol.10, page 290  a comment on Gal.5:6 "Faith inspires love, as love also in truth inspires faith. We believe in and trust the goodness of Christ, and so we are moved to love him. If we did not believe in his love we should never return it. Faith having once roused love exercises itself in promoting the object of love. We trust in the unseen God, we also love him; then we try to please him, to enjoy his favour, and to live in his presence---- object of love; but objects we should never seek if we were not supported and urged on by our belief in and trust to what is beyond our sight and experience."

Subtopic:   The New Ambition Of My Rededication

Text: Ezek. 36:26-27 " A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.(vs. 27)And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments and do them".

Phi. 3:7-15 "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.(vs8) Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord; for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.(vs9) And be found in him, not having my own righteousness which is of God by faith: (vs10) That I might know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; (vs11) If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.(vs12) Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.(vs13) Brethren I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,(vs14) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.(vs15) Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything  ye be otherwise  minded, God shall reveal even this unto you".

Premise

The Pulpit Commentary page 119 on Phi.3:12-14 "The most advanced Christian is always the humblest. The nearer we draw to Christ, the more we feel our own unworthiness. The light of Christ's holiness, manifested in the heart of his saints, brings into clearer light the exceeding sinfulness of sin. But he is striving after perfection. The Christian knows his own weakness and sin, but he knows also that he is really following Christ. If we are doing so, we must know it; we must be conscious of real effort in the spiritual life. This very sense of imperfection urges the Christian to sustained effort. He is never satisfied with himself,  therefore he presses onwards. He does not dwell with complacency on his own attainments, but forgets the progress he has made; in view of the far greater height which remains to scale, he throws himself into the work with ever-increasing energy".