Doing Good - Why Doing Good Matters So Much, Part 2

I don't know about you but when I look at the circumstances of people's families, the church, the community politics. I find myself asking the question what can I do I want to tell you that God has something very simple for us to do that can actually bring change of a ripple effect in every relationship. Want to find out what the simple and powerful thing is that today thanks for joining us for this Edition of Living on the Edge truth survival teacher for this international discipleship ministry focused on helping Christians.

Christians close program ship continues a series doing good felt like you don't have what it takes to do good. They will learn the book of Titus chapter 2 will impact the specific goal left for his prot�g� Titus.

We can apply the truth to our lives without blood stewardship for the second half of his message as he continues explaining why are good deeds matter so much give you little illustration here. Imagine that this little lamp represents our life and when a person places their faith in Christ Jesus, that he is the light of the world. And then he turned and said to his disciples then and now the light of the world and when I turned from my sin and receive the free gift of God. I receive the light and it lives inside of me cannot forgive my sins, God is preparing a place for me. I'm loved I'm adopted I been given spiritual gifts. The spirit lives inside of me. He's going to then begin to change me from the inside out. This is grace inside my life now. Unfortunately then and now.

Sometimes we don't cooperate with that grace we don't take advantage of the means of grace like God's word are God's people, or we get busy and sidetracked and we don't really talk to God and were not honest with God.

And so what happens is our lifestyles are covered doesn't mean that the light doesn't live inside you, but you cannot just go to work, church couple times a month read the Bible when you can. When your kids is in ICU, you pray really deeply you know Jesus is a part of. Sort of what you do in your glide and you believe in, but your character and your relationships and how you live out your faith and how you drive your car in how you spend your money doesn't reveal that and the reason I'm so passionate about this and probably God's infinitely more passionate. I grew up around people who said they love Jesus and told me I should love Jesus and I heard all their little Bible stories, but this is all I saw when I grew up. And if that is Christianity.

If that's Jesus if that's Hope I want nothing to do with it.

Someone said something that really jolted me and it's true. That said, do you ever consider the fact that you are the greatest Christian.

At least someone will ever meet someone at work. Someone you know three layers away that you don't even know them but they know you're a Christian there watching your life in the watching my so doing good is it like optional doing good is like foundational because our doing good reveals Christ that's offered the second reason that doing good, matter so much isn't simply because we allow others to see the grace of God for their salvation but doing good reveals Christ presence in our lives. In fact, you might write presence and might even about that right supernatural reveals God's supernatural presence. People don't need to see just good little moral goody two shoes, trying hard to be a little bit better in moral. He says that when you are in Christ something supernatural and dynamic happens to your values and your priorities in your life and your relationships.

Look at verse 12. He says it he speaking of the grace of God's grace save us yes, but the same grace inside of us begins to create both the want to and the will to transform us back the key concept here is very simple is grace provides life change literally. Grace produces life change. It's a look what it says for it. The grace of God teaches us to say no to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age when the grace of God deposits the spirit of the living God inside of you and inside of me. It gives us power and a new set of desires to say no to what's ungodly. The Cretan lifestyle lying, cheating and morality lack of concern for other people may use some hedonism. I'm the only one that matters. And you say no to worldly passions, and the lures and you say yes and you say yes to three different things. He gives and one talks about your relationship with yourself. One is about your relationship with other people in the third word is your relationship with God says it produces self-discipline. It's the word God is not given us a spirit of fear but a spirit of self-discipline. The spirit of God begins to allow you to arrange your life in ways that produce the life of Christ you not just push here and there by the passions and desires and the feedback in the media of the world.

And then he says you have justly or uprightly means you tell the truth.

The people you shoot it straight with people you can be trusted in your relationships at home and at work and in business and in sales calls your upright and then finally godly as your relationship. It your live with this reference of God, and rather than fearing what everybody else thinks you fear and a healthy referent way, what he thinks. And so what he says is this grace literally when it's operating in your life. The evidence is it produces good works. Let me ask you if you will want to read this passage in turn, if you would, to Matthew chapter 7 because, according to Jesus. This is really really big and really important and what I noticed about Jesus is he seems to talk about the biggest issues in our lives and the problems they had. Then the problems we have now are all the same. Matthew chapter 7 I pick it up at verse 15. It's a toward the end of the sermon on the Mount. He's describing what it means to be a follower of his and we have a warning it says watch out for false prophets.

They come in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves? How would you watch out for by their fruit you will recognize them spending is this rhetorical question that you know in the day, people would go but of course he's do people pick grapes from thornbushes know, or figs from thistles, of course not. Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. And here's an axiomatic statement.

A good tree cannot bear bad fruit and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown to the fire. Thus by their fruit you recognize by their outward behavior by their attitudes by their time by how they spend their money by how they treat people recognize them. Not everyone it says to me Lord Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my father who is in heaven. Many will come to me on that day Jesus said at the end of time will say, Lord, Lord, did we prophesy in your name and then we drive out demons and perform miracles. I mean we were religious men. We were then I will tell them plainly. I never knew you.

Away from the evildoers.

I have a huge concern. One of the biggest privileges I would call it maybe the last 10 years is I've been out of thousands would be an exaggeration but least several hundred churches all over the world and whether it's a denominational church or evangelical church or a Bible church or community church whether the Catholic Church or a Baptist Church or Methodist Church or Pentecostal church we have a rush of people and a throng of people who at least when you look at the visible evidence of their life of their time and their energy to morality and the relationships they live.

I mean sero-difference than those that are outside of Christ, but on a certain date a certain time. They raise their hand or or they walked down in front of an aisle somewhere. Were they had maybe a little religious experience and they intellectually agreed that Jesus was God in the intellectually agreed that he rose from the dead and someone said you know believe that in every things can be great and and they believed intellectually, but salvation involves an intellectual and emotional in a volitional content where you turn from your sin. The word is repentance and you receive Christ to follow him and what the apostle Paul. This is not new. When he began to look at the lives of the people in Corinth and in other churches when there was no fruit.

He said basically only God knows that in second Corinthians 13 five look at this follow along. He says to these people examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you, unless of course you fail the test meaning he's talking to a group of people whose morality and lifestyles are one way away.

He doesn't assume they're not in the faith. He's not assuming there's not a light in here, but he saying this is all I can see and if this is all I can see I'm looking at the fruit. Some of you need to really ask, does this light live in me because according to Jesus, if it does, it produces fruit so I don't know where you're at, but I just have this feeling that just scares me. But I think the most dangerous place to be in the entire world would be to intellectually believe. I believe in Jesus by believing God literally rose from the dead. I get a ticket to heaven. I think everything's fine I live my life. My completely own way. I don't think about God much. I don't have much desire for his word.

I don't really want to be around Christians that much. But you know I believe and I think I checked the bottom okay right what rock, what if it's not, what if you're one of those people that you say hey Lord, Lord, and I went to that Bible church and you know when the games were in honor when it did have some for the weekends and I what if he would say I never knew you. It's all I don't want anyone to do anything other than have an honest talk with God you say if I'm not in, would you show me examine yourself when little kids are growing and they love their grandparents. All of my four kids from little time up through their 30s have shared Christ with their grandfather and if you ask him. Do you believe Bob leaving the old man upstairs chipper. I think everything's going to be fine. Anyway, there's no fruit.

I mean there's no concern for his grandkids.

There's no concern for his kids. He's mean for all the years that have ever known my wife. He's narcissistic. He has absolutely alienated almost everyone on the planet we been in counseling because of all the my Wiseman through but I can say this reverently, or in reverently.

He's a jerk and an evil man, but he tell me, oh yeah, I'm fine. I believe the man upstairs. Would you believe in Jesus. I believe in Jesus you think you got all yeah everything zero evidence for reasons I cannot understand and I don't have time to talk about. He made a genuine commitment and receive the grace of God is life and to my shame. It was like I'm going to see this one is honestly even messing with my wife and I built with a lot of pain. She has just wanted to take him out. I don't have much faith and then for the first time in 35 years that I've known him. He starts to call my wife never called and then he begin to care about people and then he began to ask about my kids and I sent a little something for my wife and now he saying thank you and I mean all I can tell you at 87 to 89 dramatic significant life change because good trees produce good fruit and bad trees produce bad fruit. Why is doing good. Why does it matter it matters because those outside of Christ. They need to see the light to know salvation is real and it matters because if you have the light, it will show up soon examine yourself this. Doing good is big stuff in Scripture.

The third reason we do good is because reveals the priority of our lives. Verse 13 notice after he says and we say no to these things we say yes and by the way, that word, it teaches us. I love that word before the long it teaches us.

It's how a parent teaches a child. So if you're hearing my life's not perfect.

I wonder what I'm a Christian it's not saying you're perfect is that you're making progress believes are coming out, there's little fruit here little fruit there. The grace of God teaches us. It's three steps forward into backwards you have issues I had that you were all good habits you still Jesus comes back or you go get the same but it brings about transformation and change that's visible. That's real that's internal that's from the heart. And then notice it's while something is happening. There's a focus. He says while we wait for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our notice how Jesus is described. Our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. Now up above I think I had to circle the word appearing circle it down here. It's the same word and what's interesting what he saying is, there was all this darkness and then Christ Kirsten light came into the world. He says there's a appearing or an epiphany of grace what he saying that is when you are in Christ you're looking for, not just the grace here, but there's a second epiphany and that's when he returns the blessed hope, the glorious appearing is when Christ comes back. And if you believe that's true. So here's the key concept everyone either has a eternal perspective or a temporal perspective.now I could ask you know, like a little test okay multiple-choice. Are you ready do you believe in heaven and you believe that you will live forever and you have an eternal perspective.

A yes the no I would guess that about 90 some percent of all the people in this room was a I believe I have an eternal perspective, and that's what our minds say that's what our words say, but here's how you know if in fact there is a heaven and there is a Savior and is coming back and he cares about your family and your neighborhood, and he cares about the people all around the world and he cares about who shows up at work and what kind of dad or mom or roommate that you are and you have an eternal perspective. Here's what I will tell you your time, your energy, your thoughts and your money will flow to things at last forever not just things that happen for the right now. Notice the key concept here is temporal versus eternal perspective in the apostle Paul in Philippians chapter 3, after he talked to them. He said join together in following my example talk about lifestyle how you live brothers and sisters just do you have us of the model. Keep your notice eyes on those who live as we live. What will Paul, how do you live for. As I tell you, and often told you before now and tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. He speaking to the church people in the church. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach and their glories in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven.

We eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body and so all I'm saying is by way of application. Be ready be ready. God is coming back in my doing good doesn't just review my priorities.

They reveal my real priorities that encourage you to read the passage I put in your notes on again Jesus teaching out of Matthew 25 where he talks about two sets of virgins and he's giving a picture of the return of a bridegroom in these wedding party virgins and half of them were prepared and half of the work.

Half of them just brought a lamp and half of them brought a lamp with a jar of oil and they fell asleep and then he came the bridegroom when they weren't ready in 1/2 were out oil.

They asked for the others will can we have some of years and they said no. We won't have enough, and I love I just read this fresh last night when they went to buy more oil. They were off doing other things.

He came, and then they came and knocked on the door and said hey we we we wanted. Now it says the part for me. I never knew you see are doing good reflects my real priorities were my time and my energy, my money, my dreams go reveal my priorities is doing good is profound. Doing good announces the grace of God for others doing good reveals the grace of God working in me and doing good talks about disappearing this epiphany of the Lord's return for other people. Finally doing good. The fourth reason reveals Jesus purpose for our lives. The key concept is your ear his workmanship. It's interesting the most classic verse that we quote about for by grace you are saved through faith. That's not of yourselves.

It's the gift of God not a result of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 28 and nine. Now here's the purpose clause. Verse 10 for we are his workmanship, literally his poem's work of art. We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for what, unto a good work. This isn't just about doing nice little things, the creator of the universe has a good unique work, but the gifts you have the family you came from the circumstances and the point in history that you are right now he has something for you to do and something for me to do your doing good reveals the purpose he has for your life. Jesus last night. He got his disciples together and said fellows. This is what glorifies God. This is what matters he talked about the vine, the branch the relationship and he says you producing much fruit, not some fruit much fruit. The grace of God in planning the spirit of God. The changes a character. The changes relationships.

The changes priorities. The changes concern you become an agent where the conduit of God's love and grace. Flow in you and then through you changes people doing good matters as John Wesley said do all the good that you can to all the people you can as often as you can and as long as you can. But here's the assignment Rover simple each day this week. Just good in your home this coming just 20 you don't bring someone coffee, say a compliment, do good in your home, do something good, just do good at work and then do good at your third place, and whether that's the gym or whether that's were you coach or whether that's with a group of people you just hang out with. Whether it's a coffee shop just do something good, and here's what happened.

You can start watching.

This is just a little experiment a little ripple of change and people will shock you got will be right back with his application for this message. Good matters so much good. What happens when Christians live like Christian Bible teachers that were saved by God's grace and our faith in him. So where does that leave doing good works and why does it matter how we treat one another through chips teaching in the book of Titus will learn how her decision to do good for another person is more than just a simple gesture. It's an opportunity to impact their life. Don't list the easy ways you can practice doing good every day and how we can dramatically change our world for the better. So if you missed any part of this series. The chipping roadmap is a great way to catch up anytime chips jointly here in studio now in chip today you gave us some really practical ways we can do good toward others. But the problem is people are still secluded and there's not a lot of fellowship or connection happening once Living on the Edge doing to encourage people to get reengaged with one another. What day that is a great question and there's a reason that we put this series on at this time in our nations history.

Peter would write to a group of Christians that were undergoing intense persecution very, very difficult time for believers. They were maligned. Life was very, very difficult, and he writes to them and says live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day that he visits. You know, the fact of the matter is, is our words or arguments are positions are posting on Facebook or Instagram are not necessarily gonna change the world very much but acts of kindness, acts of love, especially to those who would think that you don't care. We are calling the church in the season to do good to love our neighbor as ourselves and were reminding everyone that when Jesus said who is your neighbor. It's the person who's in proximity to you regardless of what they look like, what color they are, what their view is in political issues when we as God's children love our neighbor when we do good. We make a difference.

I'm imagining in my minds eye.

Thousands of groups of Christians gathering together in small groups studying what it looks like to do good and then coming up with plans where you do good in neighborhoods in your community and in workplaces in ways where critics are silenced God's name is glorified in change really begins to happen.

Let me encourage you be a part of one of those groups do good. Make a difference. God promises he will use it. Thanks to let me encourage you to get plugged into the small group resources for this series. Join Chip as he unpacks white being others centered is important to God and has the power to turn our world upside down. Learn more about the small group resources for doing good by going to LivingontheEdge.org or by calling AAA 333-6003 that's AAA 333-6003, or LivingontheEdge.org hapless nurse Special offers will Chip. Let's get to that application.

You promised. As we close today's program and you have heard basically an overview of the book of Titus. I mean you seen the entire framework about the importance the centrality of doing good and it is the very grace of God that saves us. It's that same grace that teaches us to say no to worldliness and all ungodliness and then talks about very specific acts of doing good that when we do.

It's just like lights come on in people's eyes. It's the kindness of God that leads people to repentance and they they need to see that kindness in us that they need to see Christians behind the wheel today that wave and let someone in that they need to meet a Christian today that you know you just buy the coffee for the person behind you and they need to meet a Christian today that you necessitate a something you need a ride home all take care that they need to see a Christian today that you know we all set out our garbage cans and you know the trucks come by and then you know there's some trash that they need to see who's that neighbor that keeps putting my cans back where they need to be an even brings him back and put some next my house. I remember being next door to a lady who many many many years ago that didn't seem to be very receptive to the Lord or the gospel and I just found. I know she was a single mom and been through some hard stuff and and so every time I cut my lawn. I cut her lawn and she always would look at me like, you know, why do you do that about 10, 12, 15 years later and I never saw any results as she visited the church and was like whoa I was at another church and like like what you doing here and is just, like ding, it was the grace of God demonstrated in the simple act that God used.

To change her life and her heart and I got to be one small part of that today.

Think about what small steps you can take to do a good work in the name of Jesus and then see God work Greek word shipped. Thanks. As we wrap up I want to thank those of you who make this program possible through your generous financial support. Your gifts help us create programs. Purchaser time and develop additional resources to help Christians live like Christians. If you've been blessed by the ministry of Living on the Edge. Would you consider sending a gift today. Call us at AAA 333-6003 or go to LivingontheEdge.org hapless nurse Donate. Your support is greatly appreciated little next time. This is Dave Drewry saying thanks for listening to this Edition of Living on the Edge