Nothing More Known but Less Practiced Than Christianity.
Isaiah 29:13 The Lord says, “These people worship me with their mouths and honor me with their lips. But their hearts are far from me, and their worship of me is ⸤based on⸥ rules made by humans. James 1:23–25 If someone listens to God’s word but doesn’t do what it says, he is like a person who looks at his face in a mirror, studies his features, goes away, and immediately forgets what he looks like. However, the person who continues to study God’s perfect laws that make people free and who remains committed to them will be blessed. People like that don’t merely listen and forget; they actually do what God’s laws say. 1 Peter 2:1–3 So get rid of every kind of evil, every kind of deception, hypocrisy, jealousy, and every kind of slander. Desire God’s pure word as newborn babies desire milk. Then you will grow in your salvation. Certainly you have tasted that the Lord is good! Nothing is more generally known than our duties which belong to Christianity; and yet, how amazing is it, nothing is less practiced? There is much of it in name and show, but little of it in the heart and conversation; indeed, if going to church, and to the sacrament, or, if our being called after the name of Christ, and being baptized into that name; if that will make us Christians, I believe all of us would have a claim thereto.
DON’T JUST TALK ABOUT BEING A CHRISTIAN, BE ABOUT IT.
Proverbs 3:5–6 Trust the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths smooth. Psalm 37:5 “Entrust your ways to the LORD. Trust him, and he will act on your behalf.” Jeremiah 17:7 “Blessed is the person who trusts the LORD. The LORD will be his confidence.” Psalm 28:7 “The LORD is my strength and my shield. My heart trusted him, so I received help.”
THESE VERSES MAKE IT VERY CLEAR WHY WE SHOULD TRUST GOD. IT’S IN OUR BEST INTEREST TO TRUST GOD, PLUS IF YOU LOVE HIM YOU WILL TRUST HIM, IF YOU KNOW HIM YOU WILL TRUST HIM. TRUST GOD.
Psalm 78:41 “They turned back and limited the Holy One of Israel.” The meaning of this verse is: Israel’s unbelief, complaining, and refusal to trust God in the wilderness restricted what God would have done for them. Not because God lacked power—but because their unbelief shut the door. Matthew 13:58 He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.” Jesus’ power wasn’t the issue. Their unbelief was. Mark 6:5–6 “He could do no mighty work there… and He marveled because of their unbelief.” This is one of the strongest statements in the New Testament. Unbelief limits what God does in a person’s life. Hebrews 3:19 “They could not enter in because of unbelief.” Unbelief kept Israel out of the Promised Land—not God’s lack of power. James 1:6–7 “Let him ask in faith… the doubter… should not expect to receive anything.” Doubt blocks what God wants to give. Verses Showing God Responds to Faith (the opposite of limiting Him). Matthew 9:29 “According to your faith be it unto you.” Faith determines the measure of what God releases. Mark 9:23 “All things are possible to him who believes.” Faith removes limits. Hebrews 11:6 “Without faith it is impossible to please Him.” Faith is the channel through which God works. Don’t limit God by: small expectations, unbelief, fear, or disobedience. Do magnify God by: believing His Word, expecting big things, obeying quickly, praying boldly, and trusting His character.
Martha said to Jesus, “Lord … I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day”—John 11:21–24. Beware, in your prayer, above everything, of limiting God, not only by unbelief, but by fancying that you know what He can do. Expect unexpected things, above all that we ask or think. Each time you intercede, be quiet first and worship God in his glory. Think of what He can do, of how He delights to hear Christ, of your place in Christ; and expect great things.
ALLOW THIS WORD FROM GOD TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE.
Following Jesus requires a decision and then action. Matthew 4:19-20, NIV. “Come, follow me, Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’ At once they left their nets and followed him.” Following Jesus means we will keep His commandments. I John 2:4, NKJV. “He who says, ‘I know Him, and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in Him.” If we do not follow Jesus, we follow Satan. Matthew 12:30, NIV. “He who is not with Me is against Me, and He who does not gather with Me scatters.” John 10:27 — “My sheep hear my voice… and follow me.” John 8:12 — Whoever follows Jesus will not walk in darkness. 1 John 2:6 — Whoever abides in Him must walk as He walked.
ALLOW THIS WORD FROM GOD TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE.
When you do make commitments, you must not break your word but do everything you said you would do. It’s better not to make a promise than to make one and not keep it. The righteous person honors commitments even when doing so costs them. Breaking your word damages your integrity and trustworthiness—keeping your word reflects your personal integrity, establishes trust and credibility in relationships, and once broken, trust isn’t easily rebuilt. Numbers 30:2 If a man makes a vow to the LORD that he will do something or swears an oath that he won’t do something, he must not break his word. He must do everything he said he would do. Ecclesiastes 5:4–5 When you make a promise to God, don’t be slow to keep it because God doesn’t like fools. Keep your promise. It is better not to make a promise than to make one and not keep it. More broadly, lying lips are disgusting to the Lord, but honest people are his delight. The tongue has power of life and death, and whoever guards their mouth and tongue keeps themselves out of trouble. Proverbs 12:22 Lips that lie are disgusting to the LORD, but honest people are his delight. Proverbs 18:21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love to talk will have to eat their own words. Proverbs 21:23 Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.
James 4:6 — “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Romans 12:16 — “Live in harmony… Do not be haughty… Never be wise in your own sight.” 1 Peter 4:11 — Serve “by the strength God supplies… that in everything God may be glorified.” Proverbs 26:12 — “Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” Micah 6:8 — “…what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS QUICK REFRESHER. PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
