PUTTING THINGS IN ORDER
II Timothy 4:1-8

    Lin and I want to wish each and everyone of you a happy new year. We are praying that 2005 will be the best year ever, for you and your family. But in order for that to happen, we must do two things. Number one, put our lives in order, Jesus would have all His children to have a "well ordered life." Number two, remember ”We are fighting a  battle Paul in these verses admonishes young Timothy to stay in the battle. We all need to stay in the fight and not surrender one inch of our life to the devil, the world or the flesh, which are, by the way, are our three real enemies.
    But if we are going to be victorious in the fight we must put things in order.  Jesus taught us this in (Matthew 6:33): "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you." Now Notice with me, we need to:

I. LAY HOLD OF THE RIGHT LIFE. (John 3:14-16)

    1. Do you have the right life, eternal life?

    2. You can have eternal life in heaven with Jesus Christ.

         A. Simply surrneder, accept, and confess. (Rom. 10:9,10,&13)

I. LAY UP TREASURES IN THE RIGHT PLACE (Matt 6:19-21) 

    1. God wants a life that is constantly, daily, hourly storing up treasures in  

        the right place, heaven. Not on earth

   2. Things of this earth are temporal, things in heaven are eternal. 

    3. How do we lay up treasures in heaven?

        A. Living to please Christ  (Romans 8:8)

III. LAY ASIDE THE RIGHT WEIGHT: (Hebrews 12:1-2)

    1. Anything that hinders our spiritual progress, some examples

       A. Mary and Martha.. (Luke 10:38-42)

           1. Even good things can hinder our service to Jesus. he must be first in

               our lives, in everything. (Col. 1:18)

    2. Athlete.. never put weights on his legs tdo run a race

    3. Jesus asked Peter, three times, "Do you love me?" (John 21:15-25)

        A. In essence Jesus  was saying, "Peter, do you love me more than these

            old fishing boats. More than your fishing buddies. More than these

           fishing nets?" More than your family? More than your friends?

    3. Do we love him with all our heart, soul and might that we might lay aside

        those things which would slow us or hinder us from serving Him?

III. LAY DOWN OUR LIVES FOR THE RIGHT REASON:

      (I John 3:16-17)

    1. For the brethern, "brothers and sisters in Christ"

       A. There seems to be little sacrifice in Christianity today.

            1. We have forgotten we are to be a servant to the household of God.

            2. We who are called to preach, must remember we are called to

                serve as well.
     2. Jesus made it clear, we are to lay down, if need be, our lives for the

          brethren. That is to be willing to serve.

CONCLUSION

A missionary in Africa had been witnessing faithfully to a certain individual. Following their conversation one day, the unconverted man placed a small statue and a silver coin on the table before him. Then he took two slips of paper and wrote something on each. Putting one beside the image and the other with the money, he turned to the Christian worker and said, "Please read this." On the note by the idol were written the words, "Heathen god." The sheet next to the coin bore the inscription, "Christian god." From what that needy soul had observed in the lives of the merchants from so-called "Christian" nations, he concluded that money was the object of their devotion!

The point I want to make is this. Your actions speak much louder than your words. Do you know who is watching you? Who is listening to your deeds? Who would your fellow workers or family members say that your God is. Suppose that there was a lost person from a far country working with you. Could he gain from you who the God of Christianty is?