Coronary Christianity

The Golden Testimony
Sunday Evening, June 10, 2007
Bellflower, CA

Col 1:21-23
And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight — 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast , and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

_______________________________________________

It is important that God work in us, to keep us and make us fruitful witnesses.

God must do a refining work in our character.

This is most essential if we want to be effective, and be used by God in greatness.

I want to talk to you about a golden testimony.
It is important that we are steadfast in God if we are to be an influence to others around us.

[Text]

-A Reed Swayed in the Wind-

The Character of a Reed

We read of Peter in
John 1:42
Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, "You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas"

If we know anything about Peter, we recognize that his character was far from being a rock.

It was hard for him to have his yes be yes, and his no be no.

We’ve been there before.

It is likened to a reed swayed in the wind.

A reed has little root.

Mark 4:16-18
These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word's sake, immediately they stumble.

Ineffective in our Witness

It is difficult to be effective if we are one way today and another the next.

It is very difficult to be taken seriously.

We read the story of Lot in the bible

Gen 19:14
So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters, and said,"Get up, get out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city!" But to his sons-in-law he seemed to be joking.

I heard a story a letter from a man who went to prison sent to a pastor.
The letter went on to state his poor decision making and yet he wanted to thank the people that had brought him to church. He stated in the letter, how their testimony is what gave him the ability to finally find Christ. He was sad that it was a little too late, but he wanted the pastor to pass the word on to this couple that took him in and gave him the knowledge of salvation.

There was a sad ending to this story, because as the pastor looked at the couple he was referring to, he realized they had fallen away, were no longer coming to church.

What a terrible ending. To find yourself achieving in the things of God, only to turn back and not receive the joy of all that is involved in a golden testimony.

People are looking at your testimony to see if this Jesus is real.

Ineffective in our Decisions

Gen 19:17-20
Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed."
Then Lot said to them, "Please, no, my lords! 19 Indeed now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have increased your mercy which you have shown me by saving my life; but I cannot escape to the mountains, lest some evil overtake me and I die. 20 See now, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one; please let me escape there (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live."

Vs.30
Then Lot went up out of Zoar and dwelt in the mountains, and his two daughters were with him; for he was afraid to dwell in Zoar. And he and his two daughters dwelt in a cave.

It is difficult if we are indecisive in our actions. It will lead us into caves. Imagine what God could have done, but Lot’s decisions were mixed.

This was the reason for the long stay in a wicked place.

This was also passed down to his daughters, as they perform the most heiniest of sin with their father.

A reed is not able to make the right choice in difficult situations, and as we see it can be passed down as an inherit trait to those after us.

Just imagine what God's call was for Lot's life. He has spared it, only to have this reed make poor decision after poor decision.

In the kingdom of God, there is no time to be comprised, simply because of lack of decision.

Rev 3:15-16
"I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.

This is bred in the characteristics of a reed.

James 1:6-8
6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways

Peter needed a change of character in order to be effective for the gospel.

-A Solid Rock-

For most of us, we need to be refined as a solid rock.
This is how we become fruitful, or effective.

Mark 4:20
But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred."

This leads us to our portion of scripture.

23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast , and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Paul understood that this would help us in becoming effective in our lives.

Endurance

James 5:11
11 Indeed we count them blessed who endure . You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord — that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.

This calls for endurance.

Heb 10:36
36 For you have need of endurance , so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:

Imagine running the race and missing out on the promise.
This is what that poor couple suffered. A young man giving thanks for their example, and yet not able to receive the honor.

Heb 12:1-2
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.


Coronary Christianity

I am glad for adrenaline; I suspect it gets me through lots of Sundays. But it doesn't do much for Mondays. I am more thankful for my heart. It just keeps on serving – during good days and bad days, happy and sad, high and low, appreciated and unappreciated. It never lets me down. It never says, "I don't like your attitude, Piper, I'm taking a day off." It just keeps humbly lubb-dubbing along.

Coronary Christians are like the heart in the causes they serve. Adrenal Christians are like adrenaline – a spurt of energy and then fatigue. What we need in the cause of racial justice and justice for the unborn is coronary Christians. Marathoners, not just sprinters. People who find the pace to finish the (life-long) race.
(John Piper-desiringgod.com)

-The Blessedness of a Coronary Christian-
Rewarder of Those

This morning we are talking about the joys of this salvation.
Coronary Christians are those who are able to experience the portion of scripture, He is a
…rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
And the wonders of His promises.

The beatitudes are people who are considered coronary Christians.
Not those who are shaken by the wind, but are stable in their faith.
He says blessed are those.

A Chosen Character

David was a man chosen by God.
We read the account of Samuel going to choose the king, God’s says I test the heart.

Peter was chosen.

Luke 22:31-32
And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren."

He became a refined character, and because of this, his witness and ministry is affecting lives even today. This could not have been possible with his original character.
Great men are those who would endure.
These are solid rocks with golden testimonies.

It is important for us to maintain this golden testimony.
It will help us in our decision, it will cause us to be an effective influence, and it will also bring blessing into our lives.

For you have need of endurance.

Heb 10:36
36 For you have need of endurance , so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:
"For yet a little while,
And He who is coming will come and will not tarry.
38 Now the just shall live by faith;
But if anyone draws back,
My soul has no pleasure in him."
But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.

The writer is talking about a golden testimony.

Col 1:21-23
And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight — 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast , and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

This morning, may we be able to stand on the solid rock of Jesus, and have the testimony as our scripture talks about-indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast , and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard...

Paul is talking about a golden testimony, and he leaves us these words, "of which I, Paul, became a minister."

We can learn this type of character in the apostle Paul.

In the midst of adversity, yet he kept on going on.

In the end, he would state the words, (2 Tim 4)...and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight , I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

May we be able to speak these words, as we walk as coronary Christians, and be a part of those who have loved His great appearing.

Col 1:21-23

And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight — 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast , and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.