Sunday Sermon
HOW DO YOU WANT TO SPEND THE REST OF YOUR LIFE?
Date: January 5, 2008
Speaker: Pastor Gerry Gregoire
Scriptural Reference: James 4:14
Listen to Audio Sermon

JAMES 4:14
14Yet you do not know [the least thing] about what may happen tomorrow. What is the nature of your life? You are [really] but a wisp of vapor (a puff of smoke, a mist) that is visible for a little while and then disappears [into thin air].

WHAT THIS SCRIPTURE IS SAYING IS THAT OUR TIME ON EARTH IS SHORT, IT’S AS A VAPOR. MANY HAVE KNOWN PEOPLE IN YOUR LIVES, WHO HAVE BEEN A GREAT INFLUENCE ON YOU, AND NOW THEY ARE GONE. SOME TO THEIR ETERNAL REWARDS. WHERE DOES TIME GO, IT SEEMS TO TRAVEL SO FAST. IT CAN SEEM THAT YOU CHILDREN WERE JUST BORN AND NOW LOOK AT THEM. GROWING UP SO FAST.

THE YEAR 2008 IS UPON US AND WE MAY BE ASKING WHERE HAS 2007 GONE? IT’S NOW HISTORY AND HOW MUCH DID YOU CHANGE OR IMPROVE IN THAT YEAR? WHAT TYPE OF PROGRESS DID YOU MAKE IN BECOMING HOLY

SEE 1 PETER 1:15-16 —
15But as the One Who called you is holy, you yourselves also be holy in all your conduct and manner of living.
16For it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy.

NO ONE KNOWS HOW MUCH TIME THEY HAVE LEFT ON EARTH. YET, AS CHRISTIANS WE MUST MAKE THE MOST OF THE TIME WE HAVE LEFT.

SEE EPHESIANS 5:16 –
.15Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the 16Making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil.

WE NEED TO RESCUE THE TIME WE HAVE LOST DOWN THROUGH THE YEARS. ALL OF US HAVE WASTED TIME IN THE PAST DOING THINGS THAT DON’T EVEN AMOUNT TO A HILL OF BEANS, THAT IS DOING WORTHLESS THINGS THAT DID NOT PROSPER THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

OUR MAJOR FOCUS NEEDS TO BE ON OUR VISION IN MATTHEW 29:19-20 —
19Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them1. into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days ([c]perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age. Amen (so let it be).
unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people),
AND EPHESIANS 4:11-13
11And His gifts were [varied; He Himself appointed and gave men to us] some to be apostles (special messengers), some prophets (inspired preachers and expounders), some evangelists (preachers of the Gospel, traveling missionaries), some pastors (shepherds of His flock) and teachers.
12His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ's body (the church), 13[That it might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the [full and accurate] knowledge of the Son of God, that [we might arrive] at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ's own perfection), the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness found in Him.

THESE TWO SCRIPTURES SPEAK TO THE CHURCH AS A MAJOR CORPORATION BECAUSE IT SAYS WE ARE TO GO INTO ALL NATIONS. IT ALSO SAYS THAT WE MUST TEACH THEM ALL THE COMMANDS OF JESUS AND THAT THEY
OBSERVE THEM.

THE EARLY DISCIPLES HAVE ALL DIED AND THAT LEAVES JUST YOU AND I. THAT WAS A MAJOR COMMAND THAT REQUIRES EXTREME DEDICATION AND DILIGENCE TO FULFILL. HOW CAN YOU KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE OBSERVING THE COMMANDS OF JESUS UNLESS YOU MONITOR THEM. TO INSURE THAT THEY ARE OBSERVING, YOU MUST CORRECT WHEN THEY FALL SHORT. THAT SOUNDS LIKE A FULL TIME JOB THAT COULD TAKE UP MOST OF YOUR DAYS.

HOW CAN WE DO THESE MAJOR TASK? SEVERAL VERSES TELL US WHY AND HOW. GO TO MATTHEW 28:18 —
18Jesus approached and, breaking the silence, said to them, All authority (all power of rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.
THE LORD HAS BEEN GIVEN ALL THE AUTHORITY! AND MATTHEW 28:20 SAYS —
20Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion, to the [very] close and consummation of the age.Amen (so let it be).
HOW CAN YOU FAIL WHEN HE SAID HE WOULD BE WITH YOU ALWAYS EVEN UNTO THE END OF THE AGE.

VERSE 19 TELLS US TO GO! IN OUR DAILY LIVES WE NEED TO BE GOING AND BEING ABOUT THE LORD’S BUSINESS.

LOOK AT WHAT MARK 16: 15-18 ADDS –
15And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach and publish openly the good news (the Gospel) to every creature [of the whole human race].
16He who believes [who adheres to and trusts in and relies on the Gospel and Him Whom it sets forth] and is baptized will be saved [from the penalty of eternal death]; but he who does not believe [who does not adhere to and trust in and rely on the Gospel and Him Whom it sets forth] will be condemned.
17And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe: in My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages;
18They will pick up serpents; and [even] if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will get well.

HOW SHOULD WE BE SPENDING THE REST OF YOUR LIFE? LOOKS LIKE GOD HAS SOMETHING PLANED FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES. YET MANY CHRISTIANS CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY WE ASK THE QUESTION, “HOW DO YOU WANT TO SPEND THE REST OF YOUR LIFE?”

FOLKS, IT’S A MAJOR ASSIGNMENT AND MOST CHURCHES ARE JUST MINORING IN IT. WE WILL NOT MINOR IN IT! WE WILL GO FULL BLAST ON THIS ASSIGNMENT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE GET CAUGHT UP IN LIFE AND JUST SEEM TO GO WITH THE FLOW, NOT WANTING TO ROCK THE BOAT, SO TO SPEAK. I MENTIONED LAST WEEK THAT PERSECUTION WILL COME IN WAYS YOU DON’T EXPECT IT. SUCH AS WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU THAT BY THE YEAR 2022 50 PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE BORN ON EARTH WILL BE MUSLIMS. IS THAT SHOCKING? HOW MUCH PULL WILL THEY HAVE THEN? THERE ARE MANY THINGS WE ARE NOT AWARE OF UNLESS GOD MAKES US AWARE OF THEM AND YOU TAKE AN INTEREST IN THEM.

THE DEGRADATION OF OUR SOCIETY HAS ALREADY BEGUN. IF YOU DON’T BELIEVE IT, JUST CHECK THE NEWSPAPERS OR THE TV NEWS. IF YOU ARE INTIMATELY INVOLVED WITH GOD NOW, YOU CAN SENSE THESE THINGS AND YOU ARE BEGINNING TO REALIZE THAT YOU CANNOT TAKE A BACK SEAT I THESE SITUATIONS AND THAT THE REST OF YOUR LIFE NEEDS TO BE SPENT GOING ABOUT DOING THE LORD’S BUSINESS.

2008 IS HOLDING SOME VERY IMPORTANT SURPRISES. EVERY CHRISTIAN CLAIMS TO TRUST THE LORD. YET, IN REALITY MANY OF GOD’S CHILDREN ARE NOT READY TO FACE THE BLACK STORM COMING UPON THE WORLD IN THESE NEXT FEW YEARS. UNLESS THEY LAY HOLD OF A SPECIAL UNSHAKABLE TRUST IN THE LORD, THEY WON’T BE READY FOR HARD TIMES NOW OR IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

I REALLY BELIEVE THAT THE EVENTS OF 911 WERE A WAKE UP CALL FROM GOD TELLING US THAT THINGS HAPPEN WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT THEM AND SOMETIMES ON A CATASTROPHIC LEVEL. PEOPLE NEVER EXPECTED THAT WHEN IT HAPPENED AND HOW DID SOME PEOPLE BECOME RELIGIOUS FOR A WHILE. BUT, OUR MEMORIES ARE VERY SHORT.

WHO ARE THESE BELIEVERS THAT WILL NOT BE PREPARED TO ENDURE THE STORM? I BELIEVE IT WILL BE THOSE WHO NEVER GAVE MUCH THOUGHT AS TO HOW THEY WANTED TO SPEND THE REST OF THEIR LIVES. PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT CULTIVATED A LIFE OF PRAYER AND TIME WITH THE LORD. MAYBE BECAUSE IT TAKES TOO MUCH OF THEIR TIME.

IT WILL ALSO BE THOSE WHO ARE NOT INTERESTED IN BIBLE STUDY ON THEIR OWN OR IN THE CHURCH. THEY DON’T KNOW WHAT GOD SAYS ABOUT THE END TIMES.

WHAT DOES GOD WANT YOU TO DO IN THE NEW YEAR AND IN THE YEARS TO COME? HOW ABOUT MORE PRAYER, FAITHFUL ATTENDANCE TO CHURCH SERVICES. A LIFE THAT IS PURE AND HOLY FILLED WITH GOD’S LOVE. SOME WANT TO SPEND THE REST OF THEIR LIVES CATERING TO THEMSELVES. THAT IS WHAT MAKES THEM FEEL GOOD AND GIVES THEM MORE SATISFACTION. PRAYER AND BIBLE STUDY CAN BE BORING AND I ALREADY KNOW A LOT. SURELY THERE IS NOT MORE TO LEARN. WHAT CAN I LEARN FROM THE PASTOR? HE’S JUST AN OLD GUY THAT DOESN’T GET AROUND MUCH. THESE MAY BE SOME EXCUSES YOU USE OR HEAR PEOPLE SAY. MANY LIKE TO FEEL SORRY FOR THEMSELVES.

DAVID DIDN’T ALWAYS FEEL SORRY FOR HIMSELF. GO TO 2 SAMUEL 22:7,17-20 –
7In my distress I called upon the Lord; I cried to my God, and He heard my voice from His temple; my cry came into His ears.

NOW V. 17-20
17He sent from above, He took me; He drew me out of great waters.
18He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me.
19They came upon me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my stay.
20He brought me forth into a large place; He delivered me because He delighted in me.

DON’T FEEL SORRY FOR YOURSELF, DO AS DAVID DID CRY OUT TO GOD. HIS GOD DREW HIM OUT BECAUSE THE ENEMY WAS TOO STRONG FOR HIM. GOD DELIVERED HIM BECAUSE HE TOOK DELIGHT IN HIM. HOW ABOUT YOU? ARE YOU DELIGHTING GOD OR JUST PASSING THE DAYS AWAY?

YOU MAY BE TELLING GOD, “DON’T ASK ME TO DO ANYTHING LORD BECAUSE MY LIFE IS FULL OF WORK, MAKING LOTS OF MONEY AND PLEASING MYSELF.
HOPEFULLY NO ONE HERE DOES THAT. MAYBE YOU NEVER SAY IT, BUT YOU MAY HAVE THE SAME ATTITUDE.

YOUR LIFE MEANS SO MUCH TO GOD THAT HE WAS WILLING TO DIE FOR YOU. WHAT YOU SPEND YOUR LIFE DOING MEANS PLENTY TO HIM BECAUSE HE BOUGHT THAT LIFE.

IN AMERICA, SATAN’S WAR AGAINST THE CHURCH IS THE CONTINUAL FLOOD OF SENSUALITY AND MATERIALISM. HIS WEAPONS IN THIS WAR ARE LOVE OF MONEY AND ADDITION TO PLEASURE. PARENTS, WATCH OUT FOR YOUR CHILDREN, TO MONITOR THEIR USE OF VIDEO GAMES. IF THAT’S ALL THEY DO, THERE COULD BE A SEVERE PROBLEM. SOMETIMES NARROW MINDEDNESS RESULTS AND ALSO LAZINESS CAN SET IN. YEA, THEY’RE QUIET BUT SOMETHING IS GOING ON THAT IS NOT GOOD. YOU COULD BE TEACHING THEM TO OVER INDULGE IN PLEASURE! I AM NOT SAYING VIDEO GAMES ARE BAD BUT TOO MUCH TIME ON THEM DESTROYS THE MIND.

BUT WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO KNOW IS THAT THERE IS ANOTHER BATTLEFIELD IN THIS WAR. THE PRIVATE WARS OF THE INDIVIDUAL SAINTS OF GOD. IT WILL INVOLVE BATTLES AND STRUGGLES KNOWN ONLY TO YOU. SOMETIMES OTHERS CANNOT HELP YOU GET THE VICTORY. IT INVOLVES A HEAVINESS SPOKEN OF IN 1 PETER 1:5-6 –
5Who are being guarded (garrisoned) by God's power through [your] faith [till you fully inherit that final] salvation that is ready to be revealed [for you] in the last time.
6[You should] be exceedingly glad on this account, though now for a little while you may be distressed by trials and suffer temptations,
7So that [the genuineness] of your faith may be tested, [your faith] which is infinitely more precious than the perishable gold which is tested and purified by fire. [This proving of your faith is intended] to redound to [your] praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) is revealed.

ITS TESTING YOUR FAITH! SOME PEOPLE BATTLE DISEASE, SOME LUST, SOME ANGER, SOME GUILT. AT TIMES IT MAY SEEM THAT EVEN GOD IS NOT HELPING. KNOWING WHAT VERSE 7 SAYS MAY HELP YOU A BIT. HOWEVER, THERE ARE TIMES WHEN YOU MAY CRY OUT FOR INSTANT RELIEF AND IT DOES NOT COME ON YOUR SCHEDULE.

I MENTION THIS BECAUSE THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THESE PERSONAL WARS MAY MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE QUITTING AND NOT EVEN TRYING. IT COULD MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE IT DOESN’T MATTER HOW I SPEND THE REST OF MY DAYS, I HAVE TOO MUCH ON MY PLATE.

HOW CAN WE GET VICTORY HERE? HOW CAN WE WIN THESE WARS?

LET’S LOOK AT WHAT DAVID DID:
1. HE CRIED OUT TO THE LORD (PSALM 70:1-5)
1MAKE HASTE, O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O Lord!
2Let them be put to shame and confounded that seek and demand my life; let them be turned backward and brought to confusion and dishonor who desire and delight in my hurt.
3Let them be turned back and appalled because of their shame and disgrace who say, Aha, aha!
4May all those who seek, inquire of and for You, and require You [as their vital need] rejoice and be glad in You; and may those who love Your salvation say continually, Let God be magnified!
5But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my Help and my Deliverer; O Lord, do not tarry!
IT WAS NOT GOING TO DESTROY WHAT GOD HAD FOR HIS LIFE.

2. DAVID MADE A DECISION. LIVE OR DIE, I WILL MAGNIFY THE LORD IN THIS BATTLE. WHAT HE WAS SAYING WAS THAT HE HAD PRAYED FOR A QUICK ESCAPE FROM HIS BATTLE, BUT UNTIL GOD DELIVERS ME, I’M GOING TO GLORIFY HIM IN SPITE OF WHAT I’M GOING THROUGH.
CONSIDER WHAT DAVID WROTE IN THE FOLLOWING SCRIPTURES.

— PSALMS 34:3; 40:16; AND 70:4
Psalm 34:3 (Amplified Bible)3O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.
Psalm 40:16 (Amplified Bible)16Let all those that seek and require You rejoice and be glad in You; let such as love Your salvation say continually, The Lord be magnified!
Psalm 70:4 (Amplified Bible)4May all those who seek, inquire of and for You, and require You [as their vital need] rejoice and be glad in You; and may those who love Your salvation say continually, Let God be magnified!

NO MATTER WHAT HE WAS GOING TO MAGNIFY THE LORD.
MAGNIFY MEANING TO BOAST HONOR AND LIFT UP ON HIGH .THIS HAS TO BE OUR CRY THIS YEAR, LIKE DAVID , WE ARE TO SET OUR HEARTS TO MAGNIFY THE LORD IN THE MIDST OF OUR PERSONAL WARS.

3. DAVID CAST HIMSELF FULLY ON THE MERCY OF GOD.

PSALM 94:18-24
18When I said, My foot is slipping, Your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, held me up.
19In the multitude of my [anxious] thoughts within me, Your comforts cheer and delight my soul!
20Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with You--they who frame and hide their unrighteous doings under [the sacred name of] law?
21They band themselves together against the life of the [consistently] righteous and condemn the innocent to death.
22But the Lord has become my High Tower and Defense, and my God the Rock of my refuge.
23And He will turn back upon them their own iniquity and will wipe them out by means of their own wickedness; the Lord our God will wipe them out.

HERE WAS A MAN THAT KNEW HIS GOD AND HAD SET HIS LIFE ON DOING WHAT GOD CALLED HIM TO DO.
I BELIEVE THAT THESE PERSONAL WARS WE GO THROUGH AND AT TIMES IT SEEMS LIKE EVEN GOD HAS LEFT US IS WHAT CHARACTERIZES GREAT MEN AND WOMEN OF GOD. IT DEFINES THE TENACITY WITH WHICH WE WILL SERVE THE LORD.

WE CLOSE TODAY WITH THESE WORDS PENNED BY DAVID IN PSALM 103:8-14 –
Psalm 103:8-14 (Amplified Bible)
8The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and plenteous in mercy and loving-kindness.(A)
9He will not always chide or be contending, neither will He keep His anger forever or hold a grudge.
10He has not dealt with us after our sins nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great are His mercy and loving-kindness toward those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him.
12As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.
13As a father loves and pities his children, so the Lord loves and pities those who fear Him [with reverence, worship, and awe].
14For He knows our frame, He [earnestly] remembers and imprints [on His heart] that we are dust.

BROTHERS AND SISTERS CAN YOU LOOK AT ALL YOUR DISTRESSES, ADVERSITIES, ANXIETIES AND TEMPTATIONS AND SAY IN FAITH, “ BY GOD’S GRACE, I’M NOT GOING DOWN. I WILL NOT BE OVERCOME BY THESE THINGS. CAN WE SAY AS PAUL SAID AFTER HEARING THE FAMOUS WORDS OF GOD

IN 2 Cor 12:9-10 —
9But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me!
10So for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities and distresses; for when I am weak in human strength], then am I [truly] strong (able, powerful in divine strength).

DAVID PENNED THE FINAL WORD ON WARS IN PSALM 46:9 –
9He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow into pieces and snaps the spear in two; He burns the chariots in the fire.

THAT APPLIES NOT ONLY TO WARS EVERYWHERE BUT ALSO TO OUR PERSONAL WARS.
SO LET US PREPARE TO SPEND THE REST OF OUR LIVES GOING ABOUT DOING THE FATHER’S BUSINESS REGARDLESS OF WHAT IS HAPPENING AROUND US.