Please Lord Help Me Not Mess Up

Please Lord Help Me Not Mess Up

June 29, 2008

Introduction

You’ve probably seen the bumper sticker, “Christians aren’t perfect, they’re just forgiven.” How does that statement strike you? The statement is true, but can it be taken the wrong way. Can it be taken as an excuse to continue in sin as Paul asks in Romans 6:1? While the statement is true, there is also a flip side to that idea, if you will.

There are really some bad sides to the idea that Christians aren’t perfect.

1. Sometimes we use it as an excuse for not trying to do better.

2. Sometimes we forget that there are scars that last a lifetime.

Body

I. The scars that are always there.

A. The case of David and Bathsheba.

(Psa 51:1-3 NKJV) Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. {2} Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. {3} For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me.

B. The case of the apostle Paul.

(1 Cor 15:9 NKJV) For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

1. Think of all the great good done by Paul.

· The numerous churches the established.

· Half the books of the New Testatment.

· By his own admission, he had done more than any other apostle.

(1 Cor 15:10 NKJV) But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

· Yet he has to say -- For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God (1 Cor 15:9 NKJV)

· His memory of persecuting the church never left him.

All of us have our own mistakes, and our own memories of things we wish we had not done.

We are thankful for God’s forgiveness, but this morning we look at another side.

II. God’s will for us is that we not sin. That we strive to live above sin.

A. Christ prayer was a simple prayer, but it was a prayer that we live above sin.

(Mat 6:13 NKJV) And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

1. “Lead us not into temptation”

· Avoid places of temptation

· Ask God’s help with living as we should.

· Ask someone to help us with our problems.

(James 5:16 KJV) Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

John expressed the same sentiments that we strive to live above sin.

(1 John 2:1 NKJV) My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

(1 John 3:6 NKJV) Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.

(1 John 3:6 NIV) No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.

We are to take purifying ourselves seriously.

(1 John 3:3 NKJV) And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

1. Those who know us, appreciate it when we work at overcoming our faults.

III. What happens when Christians aren’t perfect is overemphasized?

A. We become too accepting of sin.

1. Sometimes our lives become too much like a pair of worn out shoes—We’ve grown comfortable with our sins and weaknesses.

B. The church becomes too much like the world.

1. The serious problems of the world become our problems.

a. Divorce and broken homes.

b. Unwed mothers and/or abortion because of promiscuous sex.

c. Christians whose behavior is little changed from those who live around them.

2. The salt has lost its savor. -- It is no different.

Conclusion

· Lord give me balance!

· I cannot be perfect.

(1 John 1:8 NKJV) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

· On the other hand, our thought that “Christians aren’t perfect.” should not lead us to an indulgent life style.

(Gal 5:13 NKJV) For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

· We don’t have to make the mistakes of David with Bathsheba, or Paul in persecuting the church, to suffer the memories of sins that may have been forgiven, but the scars are still there in other ways.

· Are you in Christ? Do you have a reason to hope for the forgiveness of sins?

If you’re out of Christ, you can be in Christ, and have your sins washed away.

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