Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday evening, June 30, 2002, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.
HOW TO KEEP DOING RIGHT ALL OF YOUR LIFE
By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia
Scripture Reading: Titus 3:1-11
Text: Titus 3:8
Titus 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
Introduction: Why is it that some of you have been saved for years but you have never read your Bible through from cover to cover?
Why is it that some of you do not go soul-winning each week?
Why is it that some of you do not pray regularly?
Why is it that some of you are not faithful in tithing and giving to missions?
Why is it that some of you have not learned to be faithful to each and every church service?
Answer: You don’t have a good SPIRITUAL MAINTENANCE PROGRAM. Our text commands us to be careful to maintain good works! Too many Christians are haphazard about doing good works. They do them for a while, and they quit for a while. They START, but they don’t MAINTAIN their good works. They QUIT too easily.
To be CAREFUL is to be DILIGENT, ATTENTIVE, ALERT, and FAITHFUL in maintaining good works.
Let me give you some simple guidelines to help you keep doing right every day for the rest of your life:
I. PLAN TO DO GOOD WORKS
2 Timothy 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.
A. Pick out your goals
B. Prioritize them
C. Plan your day
II. PRAY FOR GUIDANCE AND STRENGTH
Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
A. You need help to see your path
B. You need help to stay on track
C. You need help to steer around obstacles
D. You need help to sustain you in weariness
- “Second wind” – help of the Holy Ghost
III. PUT ASIDE WEIGHTS
Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
A. A weight distracts you
B. A weight delays you
C. A weight diminishes your capacity
IV. PERFORM THE GOOD WORKS
2 Corinthians 8:11 Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.
DO IT!
A. DO IT WITH PROMPTNESS!
B. DO IT WITH PLEASURE!
C. DO IT WITH PERSISTENCE!
Conclusion: Two kinds of maintenance:
- Preventive maintenance – taking care of problems before they occur
- Corrective maintenance – taking care of problems after they occur.
Remember them this way:
- Preventive maintenance – REPEAT YOUR GOOD ACTIONS
- Corrective maintenance – REPAIR YOUR BAD ACTIONS
Do you need to do one or both of these tonight?