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In The Middle Introduction: Three out of every 4 years has 365 days. Today is July 1 which means it is 183rd day of the year. We have already spent 182 days and we have 182 days left. We are exactly in the middle of 2007. Being in the middle can be good or bad; you can be in the middle of an argument or in the middle of dinner. We want to look at some things we may be in the middle of. I) Many Of Us Are In The Middle Of Our Marriage A) God designed the marriage with responsibilities and blessings 1. It does not matter how long or short of a time you have been married 2. Many marriages fall apart because of neglect, the reason we neglect something is because it stops being important to us. Hebrews 13.4 B) Your are being blessed 1. Need to appreciate your spouse, Proverbs 12.4; 18.22; 19.14 2. Proverbs 5.18 rejoice with the wife of your youth. 3. Value each other, this person decided to spend the rest of their life with YOU.. 4. Don’t worry about life too much but instead enjoy your time together. C) If you are married you must be in the middle (Being in the flow) 1. Working with and for each other, a house divided will not stand, Matthew 12.25 2. In the middle of rearing your children, Psalm 127.5 a. They are not a hindrance to your freedom or having a "good time." I know of grandparents rearing their grandchildren because the (parents) do not want to be "burden" with their children. b. One day they will realize they will have missed out on some of the best experiences of life. 2. Keep others out of the middle of your marriage, Matthew 19.5-6. II) In The Middle of The World A) In the world but not of the world, John 17.16 1. To be unspotted from the world, James 1.27b 2. Matthew 5.14 "the light of the world" 3. We are to be a good influence on the world, this can present a problem B) 2 Timothy 4.10 a deserter of Paul and the gospel 1. Some "forsake" Christ for the world, become "worldly Christians" 2. Have worldly friends, worldly recreation, worldly dress, etc. 3. Spend their time, money, and effort on the things of this world 4. The Bible warns us and yet we often rationalize our way into the world. a. Romans 12.1-2; 1 John 2.15-17; James 4.4 b. A good example of this is Anna Nicole Smith. This woman was a worldly person, she had fame and fortune. At the same time she was a drug user and immoral. Was she truly happy? She is now gone and soon all memory of her will be gone as well. III) IN The Middle of Sin A) Bible terms Ephesians 4.17 (walking); Colossians 3.5-7 (living in sin) 1. Many believe sin brings about freedom, Romans 6.16, 20-23 2. Immediate results of sin are shame, fear, guilt, and death 3. Think of cases where young people have been killed: lady in Kansas City, professional wrestler killed his wife, child, and then himself. The common connection is sin. B) Sin is progressive, in the middle gets deeper, 2 Timothy 3.13 1. Must stop now, don’t wait to get out of sin, Acts 22.16; 1 John 1.9 IV) In The Middle of the Lord’s Work A) 1 Corinthians 16.15 being devoted to the work 1. Timothy was a proven worker, Phil. 2.19-22 B) So much to do, so many to reach, so little time, yet so few are working 1. Some don’t want to be in the middle of, be on the fringe of the work, only to criticize what others are doing. 2. No effort and not support 3. The 80/20 rule applies to more then clothes C) Need more who will take a stand for the truth 1. More teachers taking the gospel to their friends 2. More students adding to the discussion 3. More young people not ashamed of the truth 4. More servants instead of by standers V) We Are In The Middle of Our Lives A) In what direction are you headed? 1. Are you looking to do more or less? B) Does the love of Christ control you? 2 Corinthians 5.14-15 Conclusion: Some people are always looking on the outside. Never really involved in things, never in the middle of what is going on. Others get into the flow. Which do you think are happier? Jesus invites us to come and follow Him, to take up our cross and live for Him. Whether you like it or not you are in the middle of something the difference is whether you are taking advantage of it or not. D.T. @ Westside Church of Christ 07.01.07 |