OceanSide church of Christ




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WE WILL GO…I WILL GO!

 

The Results of Going (2)

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    Each month we have been presenting a lesson involving our theme for the year at OceanSide.

1.        Theme:  We Will Go…I Will Go!

2.       In our last lesson, we examined the subject:  “The Results of Going.”

a.       God is obeyed.                                                                                               

b.      Christ is magnified.

c.       Seed is sown.

d.      Hearts are won.

e.       Souls are saved.

f.        Lives are changed.

 

B.      We want to finish the lesson that we started last month. 

1.        The title remains the same:  “The Results of Going.”

2.       Let’s examine six (6) more results.

 

I.             CHRISTIANS BECOME FRUITFUL

 

A.    One of the things that God wants of His people is fruitfulness (John 15:8).

 

Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

 

B.      One of the ways to bear fruit is by converting individuals to Jesus Christ (Rom. 1:13).

 

Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.

 

C.     All of us should want to have bushels and bushels of fruit when we finally stand before God.

 

II.           THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS EXPANDED

 

A.    The kingdom of God is not established at a single location.  

1.        It exists all over the world in the hearts of those who are saved (Luke 17:21).

2.       People from all physical nations are members of it (Isa. 2:2-3).

 

B.      Every time an individual is converted, that individual becomes a member of the kingdom (Col. 1:13).

 

Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.

 

C.     With every conversion, the kingdom becomes bigger and bigger.

1.        If every member would convert just one person, the kingdom’s size could be doubled every year.

2.       If we would do this, we could grow the kingdom in exponential proportions in four or five years. 

3.       We would fulfill the Parable of the Mustard Seed that Jesus spoke in Matthew 13:31-32.

 

Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, the kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:  which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.

 

III.         SIN IS REDUCED IN THE WORLD

 

A.    When a person becomes a Christian, he dies to his sinful way of living.  The Bible teaches that the man of sin is put to death (Rom. 6:6).

 

Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

 

B.      The person who used to be involved in a life of sin is now engaged in a life of holiness.  This means that there is less sin in the world each time a person becomes a child of God.

 

C.     Less sin in the life of just one person can radically alter the lives of many, many people:  wives, children, parents, in-laws, employers, friends, etc.

 

D.    Just look at the life of Paul. 

1.        Prior to his conversion, he said he was before “a blasphemer, a persecutor, and injurious…” (I Tim. 1:13).

2.       After His conversion, He “preached the faith which once he destroyed” (Gal. 1:23).

a.       Sin in his personal life was diminished.

b.      Too, because he was such a soul-winner for Christ, he reduced sin even further through each convert.

 

E.      Titus summed up this point well in Titus 2:11-12.

 

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared unto all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.

 

IV.        A LEGACY IS LEFT TO THE NEXT GENERATION

 

A.    There is an old adage that says:  “We are only one generation away from apostasy.”

1.        If parents fail to teach their children, their children will be lost.  Their children are the next generation.

2.       If the church fails to teach others, eventually the church will die.

 

B.      If we sow the seed of the kingdom, a harvest will be reaped and it will benefit the next generation.

 

C.     One of Paul’s methods was to convert young men and train them to be preachers of the gospel of Christ

1.        He left inspired letters to two of them.

2.       In Paul’s second letter to Timothy, he wrote some very familiar words to gospel preachers in II Timothy 4:1-2.

 

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

 

3.       The reason for this charge is found in II Timothy 4:6.

 

For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

 

a.       Paul was about to be executed for his faith by the Roman government.

b.      However, he knew that he had provided a legacy in men like Timothy who would continue to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.

4.       Paul encouraged Timothy to do the same things (II Tim. 2:2).

 

And the things which thou has heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

 

D.    The more converts we make, the more we can rest assured that the church in this locale will continue to thrive even after we are gone.

 

V.      SATAN’S CONTROL IS REDUCED

 

A.    The Bible teaches us that Satan is the god of this world (II Cor. 4:4).

 

B.      Those who are in sin are under the servitude of the evil one.

1.        Rom. 6:16

 

Know ye not that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

 

2.       I John 3:8

 

He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning.

 

C.     When the gospel is obeyed by the lost, they are removed from the clutches of Satan.

1.        Acts 26:18

 

To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive the forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

 

2.       Romans 6:17-18

 

But God be thanked that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.  Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

 

3.       Colossians 1:13

 

Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.

 

D.    Satan is evil.  He longs for the destruction of every soul.  Just the loss of one upsets him greatly.  It is one of the reasons why he is such a formidable enemy to the Christian.  Satan loves power and control.  He longs for as much as he can get.  Those who become servants of righteousness are wanted back by the devil.

 

VI.     REJOICING

 

A.    The lost will rejoice.

1.        The Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:39)

 

And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more:  and he went on his way rejoicing.

 

2.       The Philippian jailor (Acts 16:33-34)

 

And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his straightway.  And when he had brought them into his house, he sat meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.

 

B.      We will rejoice.

1.        Psalm 126:5-6

 

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.  He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

 

2.       Paul noted the joy he would have in the day of Christ because he held forth the Word of life (Phil. 2:16).

 

Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

 

3.       How much joy would we have to walk with someone we converted though the gates into the holy city of God?  What if we walked in with 10 people?  50 people?  100 people?

4.       I Thessalonians 2:19-20

 

For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing?  Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?  For ye are our glory and joy.

 

C.     The heavens will rejoice (Luke 15:7)

 

I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    The results of taking the gospel to the world are many.

 

B.      If we serious contemplate the results we should be as eager as Paul to take the gospel to the lost (Rom. 1:15)

 

So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.