DATE: 19th July, 2020
THEME: STRIVE FOR GOD’S GLORY
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Genesis 28:10-19
Romans 8: 12-25
Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
Psalter: Psalm 86:11-17
INTRODUCTION
Christian leaders know that there is a serious decline in the church attendance this days. The popular solution is to become “progressive” – to “update” our way of doing things to stay relevant. This is happening because they think that “modern” man in the twenty-first century has changed, and we must be “progressive” to attract him and make a Christian out of him.
Now, of course, that kind of reasoning is absurd because, Man has not changed at all. All the changes about which men boast so much are external. They are not changes in man himself, but merely in his mode of activity, his environment… Man as man does not change at all. He still remains the same contradictory person he has been ever since the Fall.
So I take it, since human nature has never changed, and the Gospel has never changed, and Christ Himself has never changed – that these words are directed to those of us who have heard the Gospel preached again and again without being saved. Make no mistake about that. Through this verse of Scripture, Christ is speaking to you!
That text leads me to ask you a very important question – are you still striving, or have you given up?
The Greek word translated “strive” is “agonizesthe.” It means “earnest struggle,” even “fight.” We could put it, “Earnestly struggle, even fight, to enter in” to Christ, who is Himself “the strait gate.” It means to make every effort to Strive for God’s Glory.
BODY
I. THERE IS A WORD ABOUT BATTLES
In Romans 8:12ff, Paul uses the word “sufferings.” This is an expressive word that refers to “that which one suffers; suffering, misfortune, calamity, evil, affliction; the afflictions believers must go through because of their association with Christ and His kingdom work.”
As we all know, everyone endures suffering to some degree. We all know about the sufferings of Job, Paul and the Lord Jesus, and we also know that we will experience our share of these things as well.
The Bible makes it crystal clear that suffering is a part of earthly existence, Job 14:1; John 16:33.
As long as we live in this world, there will be battles.
II. THERE IS A WORD ABOUT BLESSINGS
Paul mentions next “the glory that shall be revealed in us.” This looks forward to the day when we are home, with the Lord in Heaven. It looks forward to the time when this earthly life with all its problems, pain and suffering will end and the child of God will go to be with the Lord in Heaven.
The phrase “revealed in us,” anticipates a time when we will be made like Jesus Christ. For the child of God, the best is yet to come! Jesus Himself promised to prepare a place in Heaven for each of His children, John 14:1-3.
III. THERE IS A WORD ABOUT BALANCE
Paul tells us that the glory to be revealed in us then will eclipse the sufferings we are called on to face here. When Paul says, “I reckon,” he is saying a mouthful.
The word, “RECKON ” means “to account.” It has the idea of “seriously studying a matter and coming to a firm conclusion.” In other words, Paul is saying that he has considered the matter well, and he knows that the problems we have in this life can’t hold a candle to the glory we will experience when we get to Heaven.
IV THERE WILL BE A SEPARATION
The parable of the wheat and the tares recorded in Matthew 13 shared the common experience of having been planted. The difference in the experience is revealed in these very important ways.
a. Both Progressed Together
▪Now this is interesting, both the wheat and the tares grew. As the wheat grew, so the tares grew alongside them. They did everything the wheat did and they looked good doing it!
▪Not only do the tares grow alongside the wheat, but they also look just like the wheat. Until they have matured completely, they are impossible to tell one from the other.
So, the tares act like wheat and they look like wheat, but this is where the similarities end. One thing the tare cannot produce was lasting fruit.
b. Both Were Processed Together
Eventually the day of harvest arrived. The reapers were sent into the field to gather the tares first, and then the wheat. How could they tell the difference now? It is easy at this stage, because as the wheat matures, the head becomes filled with kernels and the weight of the kernels causes the stalk of the wheat plant to bend toward the ground. The seeds in the head of the tare are light. This allows the tare to stand tall.
▪These plants were bound together, allowed to dry and were used much like kindling. They were fit for nothing but to be BURNED. If the tares were accidentally eaten, they caused nausea and dizziness.
▪The wheat was gathered and taken into the barn. Here it would be processed for human consumption and maybe even sold for a tidy profit by the farmer. He kept the wheat, but had no use for the tares!
APPLICATION
I. First, what you must strive against.
There is a negative aspect to this struggle. Obviously there would be no need to “strive” if there were nothing to strive against!
This is no ordinary struggle. It is an unseen fight, a striving which occurs in the very depths of your mind and heart. This is an inward struggle. It is a struggle with Sin.
II. Second, how striving prepares you for God’s Glory.
To paraphrase the Puritan Thomas Hooker, “If you continue to strive you will be saved.” Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force” (Matthew 11:12). “Only the violently resolute would press into it” (The Scofield Study Bible; note on Matthew 11:12).
As Thomas Hooker put it, “If you continue to strive you will be saved.” On the other hand, if you do not continue to strive, you will not be saved!
CONCLUSION
When your soul faints under the heavy labor of striving you may find that Jesus was right all the time, when He said those wonderful words that we have ignored so long, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Enjoy the service. Stay BLESSED.
PREPARED BY
VERY REV DR. SAMUEL YAW DUA DODD
CALVARY METHODIST CHURCH
ADABRAKA-ACCRA
