Every Act Counts

By Gary Henry on brasstacks.org

2002012

Subject: deeds; faithful service

Introduction:

A. When it comes to right/wrong; issues of morality – just how clear is Scripture?

1. Americans seem to want to blur the distinctions and place everything in a “gray area.”

2. Many refuse to admit that there is a standard men must adhere to in order to be pleasing to God!

B. Just how important are our actions? Eccl. 12:13-14

C. In this world: there are good people and bad people. There are people who lovingly obey their God & those who stubbornly reject Him.

1. Rom. 2:5-10; 6:16 – man serves one of two: God or Satan.

2. We’re either slaves of righteousness/sin.

D. It is worth asking how people get to be the way they are:

I. Our characters are the accumulation of the decisions we have made.

A. Have we ever wondered how life would be had we been “dealt a better hand?” Had circumstances beyond our control been different?

1. This most often comes around when we are dissatisfied with our present state in life.

2. Tempting to do these things.

B. Yet…we are each the product of decisions that we have made in the freedom of our wills.

1. We have voluntarily thought, spoken, and done things that have made us what we are.

2. Our characters are not built up from external circumstances – but from what we have chosen to do with those circumstances!

a) contrast Saul with David: 1 Sam. 13:14; 15:28

b) David was not better than Saul – because he had made better choices, not because he had better circumstances.

C. We must accept responsibility for what we have made for ourselves.

1. We are what we have chosen to be.

3. We are self-made persons.

a) The self-made person is often the product of unskilled labor.

b) Gal. 6:7 – we reap what we sow!

E. Decisions & choices have a cumulative effect. They tend to “snowball.”

1. Even “little” choices are more significant than we might think.

2. Every decision and every act change a person for better/worse. One is never exactly the same after making any choice.

3. Future choices have to be made by a person who has been shaped by the choices already made.

a) think of Daniel – Dan. 6:1-10

b) with every one of even the slightest deeds we are building up a character and a self that will find it progressively more easy to act in certain ways and more difficult to act in others.

4. None of us is standing still!

a) With every choice we are becoming more like God or more like Satan! See John 8:44, 47.

b) Contrast Eph. 4:17-19 with Heb. 5:14.

II. It is sobering to think that every act counts.

A. God will take every act into account in His judging our lives.

1. No decision is too small or insignificant.

2. Mt. 12:36

B. When God judges our lives – no excuses will count.

1. No “That didn’t count”; “Let’s start over”

C. We may think we’re being careless or haphazard – but the consequences of our choices are eternal and we are responsible for them!

D. Hell will not be the arbitrary punishment of people who engaged in certain acts.

1. It will be the end (goal, outcome) of those acts – the inevitable consequence of actions we chose.

2. Rom. 6:21

E. God will not “inadvertently” or “mistakenly” consign anyone to eternal punishment.

1. Only those will be there who demanded to be there by the choices they made.

2. And few of those will be people who set out to be wicked.

3. “Sooner or later, we must all sit down to a banquet of consequences.” (Robert Louis Stevenson)

F. It is dangerous and detrimental ever to say no to God Heb. 12:25

III. It is also encouraging to think that every act counts.

A. We can never say our lives are helpless/hopeless – we can do something that will alter our situation for the better.

1. In spiritual matters – there is really no such thing as a stalemate.

2. We need the youthful confidence of David – 1 Sam. 17:26

3. We can made choices that will truly alter the present situation.

B. We can act in faith that steps in the direction of goodness/truth however small or insignificant do make a difference! Mk. 12:41-44

1. God does not require larger steps of righteousness than we can manage, only small steps taken in faith.

2. God is not looking for people who can do everything – but for those who are willing to do what they can!

C. Heaven will be the outcome if we learn to choose actions that tend in God’s direction! See again Rom. 6:21-23

Conclusion:

A. Life is serious business – it pays to live carefully – Eph. 5:15

1. Let us be sobered by the fact that each action reaches into eternity, and take responsibility for the bad choices we have made.

2. On the other hand, let us be encouraged knowing that we can make a difference for good even in “small” acts of faith.

B. In all things, let us be grateful for the opportunity to make better choices today. 1 Cor. 15:9-10

C. Have you obeyed the gospel? If not, why not?

D. Made the decision today!

E. I N V I T A T I O N



Every Act Counts By Gary Henry on brasstacks.org 2002012 Subject: deeds; faithful service Introduction: A. When it comes to right/wrong; issues of morality – just how clear is Scripture? 1. Americans seem to want to blur the distinctions and place everything in a “gray area.” 2. Many refuse to admit that there is a standard men must adhere to in order to be pleasing to God! B. Just how important are our actions? Eccl. 12:13-14 C. In this world: there are good people and bad people. There are people who lovingly obey their God & those who stubbornly reject Him. 1. Rom. 2:5-10; 6:16 – man serves one of two: God or Satan. 2. We’re either slaves of righteousness/sin. D. It is worth asking how people get to be the way they are: I. Our characters are the accumulation of the decisions we have made. A. Have we ever wondered how life would be had we been “dealt a better hand?” Had circumstances beyond our control been different? 1. This most often comes around when we are dissatisfied with our present state in life. 2. Tempting to do these things. B. Yet…we are each the product of decisions that we have made in the freedom of our wills. 1. We have voluntarily thought, spoken, and done things that have made us what we are. 2. Our characters are not built up from external circumstances – but from what we have chosen to do with those circumstances! a) contrast Saul with David: 1 Sam. 13:14; 15:28 b) David was not better than Saul – because he had made better choices, not because he had better circumstances. C. We must accept responsibility for what we have made for ourselves. 1. We are what we have chosen to be. 3. We are self-made persons. a) The self-made person is often the product of unskilled labor. b) Gal. 6:7 – we reap what we sow! E. Decisions & choices have a cumulative effect. They tend to “snowball.” 1. Even “little” choices are more significant than we might think. 2. Every decision and every act change a person for better/worse. One is never exactly the same after making any choice. 3. Future choices have to be made by a person who has been shaped by the choices already made. a) think of Daniel – Dan. 6:1-10 b) with every one of even the slightest deeds we are building up a character and a self that will find it progressively more easy to act in certain ways and more difficult to act in others. 4. None of us is standing still! a) With every choice we are becoming more like God or more like Satan! See John 8:44, 47. b) Contrast Eph. 4:17-19 with Heb. 5:14. II. It is sobering to think that every act counts. A. God will take every act into account in His judging our lives. 1. No decision is too small or insignificant. 2. Mt. 12:36 B. When God judges our lives – no excuses will count. 1. No “That didn’t count”; “Let’s start over” C. We may think we’re being careless or haphazard – but the consequences of our choices are eternal and we are responsible for them! D. Hell will not be the arbitrary punishment of people who engaged in certain acts. 1. It will be the end (goal, outcome) of those acts – the inevitable consequence of actions we chose. 2. Rom. 6:21 E. God will not “inadvertently” or “mistakenly” consign anyone to eternal punishment. 1. Only those will be there who demanded to be there by the choices they made. 2. And few of those will be people who set out to be wicked. 3. “Sooner or later, we must all sit down to a banquet of consequences.” (Robert Louis Stevenson) F. It is dangerous and detrimental ever to say no to God Heb. 12:25 III. It is also encouraging to think that every act counts. A. We can never say our lives are helpless/hopeless – we can do something that will alter our situation for the better. 1. In spiritual matters – there is really no such thing as a stalemate. 2. We need the youthful confidence of David – 1 Sam. 17:26 3. We can made choices that will truly alter the present situation. B. We can act in faith that steps in the direction of goodness/truth however small or insignificant do make a difference! Mk. 12:41-44 1. God does not require larger steps of righteousness than we can manage, only small steps taken in faith. 2. God is not looking for people who can do everything – but for those who are willing to do what they can! C. Heaven will be the outcome if we learn to choose actions that tend in God’s direction! See again Rom. 6:21-23 Conclusion: A. Life is serious business – it pays to live carefully – Eph. 5:15 1. Let us be sobered by the fact that each action reaches into eternity, and take responsibility for the bad choices we have made. 2. On the other hand, let us be encouraged knowing that we can make a difference for good even in “small” acts of faith. B. In all things, let us be grateful for the opportunity to make better choices today. 1 Cor. 15:9-10 C. Have you obeyed the gospel? If not, why not? D. Made the decision today! E. I N V I T A T I O N