By: Pastor Caleb Andrews
abundantgracesparta.org
Are you a person that compromises a relationship with God for the world?
There are generally 4 reasons Christians compromise
1. Fear of rejection – the fear of being alone or pointed out from the crowd
2. Tolerance – sympathy or indulgence for beliefs or practices differing from God’s
3. Pleasure – the willingness to give in to be “happy”
4. Laziness – too lazy to fight for what God believes and you give in
4 Stages of Compromise
1. Attraction – something gets your attention
2. Justification – we make reasons for the wrongs to be okay, because of the desire
3. Indulgence – restraints are removed, and the conscience is hardened
4. Re-definition – we redefine what wrong is, according to the Bible or present in our lives, to remove guilt
Compromise is simply changing the question to fit the answer.
Revelation 3:15-16 (AMP) “I know your [record of] works and what you are doing; you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth!”
- We, as Christians, should not be afraid to be bold and uncompromising for God. If a person is compromising their life to have a balanced appearance of God and the world, they are lukewarm. There can be no balance. Choose GOD!
Romans 12:1-2 (AMP) “I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].”
- We, as Christians, should live for God and be transforming our minds to what He desires every day. We cannot be conformed to this world, but rather showing the attitude and character God desires within us. No one should compromise a walk with God to imitate the world for anyone or anything. Reflect God and the image He desires for each of us to display.
John 4:23-24 (AMP) “A time will come, however, indeed it is already here, when the true (genuine) worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth (reality); for the Father is seeking just such people as these as His worshipers. God is a Spirit (a spiritual Being) and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth (reality).”
- We, as Christians, must worship Him in spirit and truth. We should desire to serve Him with all our heart and mind, not because we feel we must do it, but from a love and obedience to God. Christians do not receive eternal salvation from works but through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior and as Lord. No Christian can afford to get lazy or compromise true worship.
John 3:30 (AMP) “He must increase, but I must decrease. [He must grow more prominent; I must grow less so.]
- We, as Christians, must choose to let go of the desires of our flesh and give God more room to grow within us. No one should compromise by giving God less room or by staying stagnant within their relationship with God.
Philippians 3:7-9 (AMP) “But whatever former things I had that might have been gains to me, I have come to consider as [one combined] loss for Christ’s sake. Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One), And that I may [actually] be found and known as in Him, not having any [self-achieved] righteousness that can be called my own, based on my obedience to the Law’s demands (ritualistic uprightness and supposed right standing with God thus acquired), but possessing that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ (the Anointed One), the [truly] right standing with God, which comes from God by [saving] faith.”
- Anything that a person gains for the flesh (the sinful nature) has wasted time, wasted energy, and given in to a detour away from what God desires to give that person that would benefit their life. God desires a deep relationship with you (if you are not a Christian already or to have a deeper relationship if you are a Christian). We cannot afford to compromise in today's time. Our lives, the lives of sinners, and the lives of other Christians may depend on the Word of God that should be coming forth out of our mouth and witnessed through our actions.
LIVE AN UNCOMPROMISING BOLD LIFE FOR JESUS CHRIST!!!
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