"Living Life Uncompromised"

Q. What do you think compromised means?

The definition of compromised means :To expose or make liable to danger, suspicion, or dispute

Q. From that definition do guys think that devil wants to compromise our beliefs?

Let's take a look at what the Bible says about compromise.

Mathew 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men."

As we can see from verse 13 we are the salt of the earth. I want you to think about salt for a second. Salt is the most effective and most widely used of all food preservatives. In ancient societies they used salt as a preservative because they didn't have any means of refrigeration. Basically salt enhances flavor. As Christians we are the preserving influence on the world today.


Q.What would happen to our American Government if every true christian dissapeared of the face of the earth?

Basically the Constitution of the United States of America was formed and written by Christians for moral and religous people. Just think what would happen in the abortion debate? It's just something to think about because we as christians are supposed to preserve what is Righteous and what is morally good. Some people think that Salt can never lose it's flavor. However if salt came in contact with the ground or exposed to rain or sun it would lose it's effectiveness. It would become useless. The same thing can happen to us as Christians. We can lose our effectiveness by being contaminated with the impurities of this world. The last part of verse 13 hits home because Jesus is saying that if we do become compromised then we are no longer good for anything. We are only good for being thrown out and trampled on by men. If you accidently bought a batch of contaminated salt what would you do with it? You wouldn't throw it into a garden or a field because it would contaminate whatever is planted there. Instead you would throw it into the street or dirt where it would gradually dissapear. If you think about the word gradually it isn't a word that means an immediate reaction. If we start compromising our beliefs then sin will gradually start to come inside and contaminate our spirit. The more our spirits become filled with sin then the easier it is for more to come pouring in. It's a cycle that is very dangerous because it could ultimately cause our righteous spirits to become weak.

Q. So what is the answer to all of this unrighteousness?

Lets take a look back at Mathew 5.

Mathew 5: 14-16 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

Jesus is saying that we are the light of the entire world. A city on a hill cannot be hiddent. Basically when we have the love and hope of Jesus Christ in our lives it will be evident. People will see a light in our lives that they didn't see before. So when you experience this light then don't hide. If we hide then how are others supposed to the light of Jesus? Rather let that light shine bright. Let yourself be a mirror that reflects Jesus Christ onto everything we do.

I am going to read you one last verse before I close and I want it to hit home.

Philippians 2:12-16 "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed–not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence–continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out* the word of life–in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. "

Is there anything in your life that makes you ineffective for God?

Have you been running the race of life for nothing?

If there is I encourage you to take it in prayer to God right now.

Lets Run that Race for Christ with everything we have not leaving anything behind!

"The Gospel is God given"

Q. What kind of religions are prominent in todays society?

Q. Out of those religions which ones do we as college age face the most?

Q. Do these relions have some sort of gospel? Is it similar to the gospel of the Bible?

Galatians 1:1-5 " Paul, an apostle–sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead– and all the brothers with me,To the churches in Galatia: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

Paul is writing a letter to the churches in Galatia. I like how Paul starts off in verse 1 by stating that he is not sent from men but by Jesus Christ himself. He then goes right into a prayer for the church of Galatia. I love this example from Paul because it's always a great idea to start everything we off with prayer. *Paul starts off all of his books in the Bible with "grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."

Galatians 1:6-9 "I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel– which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!"

Paul is astonished by how quickly they are deserting the one who called them by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel. Have you ever known anybody that was a very strong christian and ended up turning away from God? They ended up backsliding and getting caught up in the world. Doesn't it almost astonish you if you see them later on living in the world as if they were never saved before. I think this is kind of the same astonishment that Paul was feeling. You experienced this amazing grave of Christ and now your turning to a different gospel.

In verse 7 we see it is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. I can think of a few religions where they still use the gospel but take verses out of context or they add or take away parts of it. These parts they either don't like or it doesn't fit in their religion.

Verse 8-9 is very important because it really stresses how important the gospel of Jesus Christ is. The Bible is God's word and the gospel is the evidence of Jesus Christ's life, death, and ressurection.If we alter the gospel at all then were trying to change history. Then were trying to change what actually happened. Were trying to change God's word.

"Living in Spirit, Not in Flesh"

"Living in Spirit, Not in Flesh".




Romans 8:5 " Those who live according to the sinful 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."

If you live in the flesh your mind will also. If your constantly living concerned with the flesh, your life and your actions will reflect worldly things. As christians we should mimick Christ's actions. In verse 4 it says Christ walked not according to His flesh, but according to the spirit. We are called to live according to the spirit of God, and in order to do this we must set our minds on things of spirit.

Q. What do you dwell on throughout the day?

Is it money? Is it what clothes your going to wear? It is a certain boy or girl?

Q. Can you put those things in a category of spiritual or worldly?

Romans 8:6 "The mind of sinful man* is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;"

As verse 6 says things of the flesh bring death. This of course is not talking about a physical death but rather a spiritual death. I personally don't want to dwell on things throughout the day that will bring death to my spirit. I'm trying to build my spirit up no bring it down. I don't want to dwell on things that will make me backtrack spiritually. I want to strive forward not backwards.

Romans 8:7-8 "the sinful mind* is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God."

As we see from those scriptures living in the flesh doesn't please God. I want to strive to please God with my thoughts and my actions.

Deuteronomy 10:12 "And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul,"

From this verse we see that God expected Israel to live in His presence. Follow the road He set out for you, love Him, and serve God with everything you have. When he is saying we should serve Him with everything don't you think that includes your mind and your thoughts.

You see a person who is focusing on himself is the opposite of focusing on God. If your completely absorbed in your self then your ignoring who God is and what He is doing. God isn't pleased at being ignored.

Q. How do we live in the spirit in such a material world?

Romans 8:9-11 "You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature 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. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you."

So it says we will experience the limitations of sin here on earth but we will also experience life on God's terms. A good example of this is Daniel. Even though Daniel faced death he still remained strong. Daniel was able to do this because he had God purposed in his heart. He had stored it in his heart like a vault. When we hear God's word we should store in our hearts. For you see whatever we put into our spirits will pour out when times get tough. The example is used like a sponge. Our spirit is like a sponge and whatever we put in our minds and put in our lives is stored inside that sponge. So my question for you is this, when times get hard and your spirit is squeezed is it clean water that pours out? Or is dirty water?

Psalm 119:9-11 "How can a young man keep his way pure?
By living according to your word.I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you."