Randall Caselman
Bella Vista Church of Christ
March 18, 2001 a.m.
The Measure Of A Christian
Scripture Reading - 1 Samuel 16.1-7 & 10-13
Measurements are an essential part of our daily walk. We’re made to wonder what our homes would look like if the builder had no tools of measurement. What would our food taste like if the ladies didn’t measure in their recipes. Scientists and mathematicians use precise measurements in their formulas. Businessmen use profit and loss statements, debt and cash flow ratios to determine where they stand financially.
This morning I want us to measure ourselves spiritually.
Notice... I said... Measure OURSELVES... Not our neighbor... a brother... but SELF. I believe the key to successful spiritual measurements is found within our text this morning... Note with me again verse 7... The LORD said to Samuel... Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.
Because of his disobedience, God had rejected Saul as the King of Israel. Samuel was sent to anoint a new King. He was sent to Bethlehem to the house of Jessie. Now Jessie had eight sons. As each of the strong young men passed before Samuel, he thought surely this is the one. But God instructed with these words... The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart.
The same is true today... God's measure of a Christian is often much different than ours.
In our lesson this morning...
· I want us to review the measurements that we frequently use, in the church today, to
evaluate one another.
· Then I want us to consider how God measures... Noting that His measure ought to
be ours as well... RIGHT?
First... We note the measurements that we often use in the church today.
Perhaps the most frequent measurement is by our attendance to the services. How many times are we here for worship services... Once?... Twice?... Three times? If an individual attends ALL the services, then we calculate that they must be A STRONG & FAITHFUL CHRISTIAN.
But... If they only attend SOME of the services, they must be numbered among the weak .
A good number of our sermons, bulletin articles and class teaching is on Hebrews 10.25 about not forsaking the assemblies... Because it’s our way of measuring spiritual faithfulness.
Secondly... We measure an individual’s PARTICIPATION in church related activities. Again... if they participate in ALL of the activities... Things like...
Bible classes...
Gospel Meetings...
Evangelistic campaigns...
Visitation programs....
Fellowship outreach opportunities... etc..
Then, we reason that they truly must be strong Christian brethren. But, if for ANY reason they do not participate in all the church offers, their spiritual commitment is certainly suspect.
Another measurement is based upon how we use our LEADERSHIP abilities. MEN are considered strong Christians if they sign up to... Lead singing... Lead prayers... Serve at the Lord's Table... Teach classes... Do fill-in preaching... etc. WOMEN are considered to be strong and faithful if they... Teach classes... Work in the nursery.... Prepare communion... Visit the sick and shut-ins... Help clean the building... etc.
Now, church,... There are some good things that can be said about these measurements... But the big glaring fault... In view of our text this morning... Is that
They all tend to look on the outside...
They measure the outward appearance of people... not the inner man.
You see... people can do all these things... and still be spiritually destitute... RIGHT?
We can do all these things and still exist very comfortably as a Hypocrite.
We can do all these things and remain Spiritually immature.
So... the bottom line is this... If we are a faithful child of God we will be doing the things we just spoke about... But... We can do these outward things and not be Christian at all.
Now... Let’s examine some proper measurements for determining our spiritual strength. We’ll do this by noting some INNER MAN SCRIPTURES.
First... A faithful Christian is one who is spirit led. Listen to some selected scriptures from Romans chapter eight...
Those who live according to the sinful flesh nature have their minds set on what that nature desires... But those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of a sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace... The sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law... (Listen now church)... The mind controlled by the sinful flesh nature cannot please God. You, however, are controlled not by the flesh... but by the Spirit... If the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ... Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.
So... The first GENUINE MEASUREMENT question this morning is who is leading us? Who is determining our thoughts... Attitudes... and behavior? Is it the Spirit of God or the spirit of Satan? Are we aligning our lives to... and regulating our lives by the Word of God or the word of Satan?
Secondly... Spirit led individuals exhibit some special traits. If we are spiritually led in the INNER MAN... That leading becomes evident in some very special ways... By how we behave... By what we know as the fruit of the Spirit. Listen to Galatians 5.22-23...
But the fruit of the Spirit is Love... Joy... Peace... Patience... Kindness... Goodness... Faithfulness... Gentleness... And self-control.
Now folk... What we have just read are the qualities of a man who is truly SPIRITUAL.
Sure... One who is truly spiritual will certainly...
Attend the services of the church...
And be involved in various activities of the church...
Use their leadership abilities in the Kingdom...
But this measure requires that the inner man be changed first!
Solomon said... As a man thinks in his heart... So is he.
Audience... We must change the INNER MAN to produce fruit of the spirit. You see... the Fruit of the Spirit cannot be hypocritical... They cannot be counterfeited.
Another measurement is how we conform to the image of Jesus.
Paul tells in Romans 8.29... For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son.
Then in Colossians chapter three He tells us how this is done...
Take off the old self with its practices and put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator... As God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
You see... Our becoming more and more and more like Jesus must have its beginning with a change of heart... of mind ... of disposition... Let the mind, the heart, the disposition that was in Christ be in you. I believe having the disposition OF CHRIST should become our spiritual goal.
What starts in the inner man eventually regulates all that we do in word and deed... RIGHT?
Paul tells us how we think is also an inner man measurement. Listen to these familiar verses from Philippians chapter four...
Finally, brothers, whatever is true... whatever is noble... whatever is right... whatever is pure... whatever is lovely... whatever is admirable... If anything is excellent... or praiseworthy... Think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Genuine Spirituality is not just measured by JUST...what we do... But by... what we think about.
Indeed... genuine Spirituality is an inner man measurement. Man looks upon what we do... God looks upon what we think... AWESOME...
What an AWESOME God we serve... RIGHT?
Notice with me one more... Spiritual greatness is measured by growth.
Christianity is a religion of perseverance... Of keeping-on-keeping on.
Christianity is a religion of addition.
Christianity is a religion of constant upward movement.
We cannot give up... become apathetic or lukewarm. In fact, Peter admonishes us to keep adding and abounding in those INNER MAN things that will make us more spiritually effective...
Make every effort to add to your faith... goodness... and to goodness... knowledge... and to knowledge... self-control... and to self-control... perseverance... and to perseverance... Godliness... and to Godliness... brotherly kindness... and to brotherly kindness... love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ... Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savoir Jesus Christ.
Working out our salvation...
Making our calling and election sure...
Is not found in form and outward ritual only... but in genuine godliness... in the INNER MAN.
Well, I think the challenges for us of in such a measurement standard is true conversion... Total transformation of the mind.... The inner self first... While trusting that the outside will naturally follow.
This is Paul’s challenge in Romans chapter twelve...
I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices... Holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world... But be transformed by the renewing of your mind... Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Do we understand that… mind... heart... disposition... inner man... transformation takes...
Determination...
Time...
Energy...
And Effort.
But that spiritual Transformation... Will always result in our becoming a living sacrifice.
When this happens the INNER MAN and the OUTER MAN will look the same. Both will resemble Jesus. Then we will know that we are strong Christians... As measured by God’s standard.
The purpose of the lesson this morning is threefold...
1. It has NOT been to equip ourselves to judge others...
2. But rather to suggest caution in how we measure others!
3. And... most of all to promote a proper measuring of our own spiritual progress.
The statement of the Lord to Samuel still applies to us here this morning...
Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature... For the Lord does not see as man sees... For man looks at the outward appearance... But the LORD looks at the heart... At the INNER MAN.
Question this morning... If God looked at your heart right now... What would he see?
An individual who is a child of His?
If not... You can become His child by faith... repentance... confession... genuine New Testament baptism... immersion in water for the forgiveness of your sins.
Perhaps He would see someone who appears right on the outside... But needs some heart changes... Some INNER MAN changes... Some spiritual transformation. This invitation is our opportunity to rededicate our lives and make any needed changes.
Maybe we need the prayers and encouragement of others to make these needed changes.
The Elders are here... They and the church are ready to pray with us and for us.
Come now as we stand and sing this invitation song together...
Will you come??
