CONVICTION + CONSISTENCY = CONTENTMENT

TEXT:  John 13:12-17

INTRODUCTION:

A.      NO TRUE HAPPINESS WITHOUT HARMONY OF FAITH AND DEEDS (vs. 17)

          1.       Faith without works is dead (James 2:17).

          2.       Works without faith is death (James 1:5-8).

B.      CONTENTMENT IS ACHIEVED WHEN CONVICTION IS JOINED TO CONSISTENCY.

CONVICTION + CONSISTENCY = CONTENTMENT

          1.       Freedom from sin involves walking in the truth (John 8:31-32).

          2.       Peace and Joy derive from consistency (Phil. 4:4-9).

I.     PLEASURE MUST BE CONSISTENT WITH PRINCIPLE.

A.      ONE MIGHT BECOME A SERVANT OF PLEASURE RATHER THAN OF GOD

          (Titus 3:3;  2 Tim. 3:4).

B.      WHEN ONE SERVES WHAT SATISFIES THE FLESH, SIN RULES (Rom. 6:12).

C.      THERE IS A CONSEQUENCE (vs. 16).

D.      YOUNG PEOPLE! (Ecc. 11:9 – 12:1, 13-14).

II.    OUR COMPANIONS WITH OUR CONVICTIONS.

A.      Prov. 13:20.  HE WHO LAYS DOWN WITH THE DOGS … (1 Cor. 15:33)

B.      WHAT DO WE HAVE IN COMMON (2 Cor. 6:14 – 7:1).

C.      HAPPINESS WELLS UP FROM GODLY ASSOCIATION (Phile. 4-7;  3 John 3-4).

III.   WORSHIP MUST BE CONSISTENT WITH LIFESTYLE.

A.      A PRACTICAL LESSON FROM THE PROPHET (Isa. 1:10-15).

B.      IF OUR WORSHIP IS HYPOCRITICAL, THE ANSWER IS NOT TO QUIT, BUT

REPENT (Isa. 1:16-18).

C.      NOTHING BRINGS MORE JOY THAN SINCERE WORSHIP (Psa. 122:1;  84:10).

IV.   CONDUCT MUST BE CONSISTENT WITH CONSCIENCE.

A.      GREAT MISERY RESULTS FROM DISOBEYING OUR CONSCIENCE (ie. King Saul).

B.      TO VIOLATE THE CONSCIENCE IS DEATH (Rom. 14:23)

C.      HOW DO WE ACQUIRE FAITH (Rom. 10:17).

D.      EVIL MEN DESTROY THEIR OWN CONSCIENCE (1 Tim. 4:1-2)

E.      A GOOD CONSCIENCE IS A BLESSING (1 Tim. 1:5).

CONCLUSION:

A.      SALVATION IS IN KNOWLEDGE AND BELIEF OF THE TRUTH

          (John 8:32;  2 Thess. 2:13).

B.      BUT WE MUST OBEY THE TRUTH (2 John 4;  1 Pet. 1:22).