DO IT ANYWAY
Text: Various.
Delivered on: November 11, 2007. Streetsboro.
Introduction.
Every now and then, we hear a song on the radio that makes us stop and think.
Martina McBride has a song that I just love.
It is called, Do It Anyway.
The idea is that sometimes we do things and they don’t have the outcome that we desire.
But she says, “Do it anyway.”
Lets think about this today.
Body.
SOMETIMES WE GET DISCOURAGED BY AN APPARENT LACK OF RESULTS.
LOVING YOUR NEIGHBOR.
We all know that as Christians, we should love our brethren. John 13:34-35. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
We all know that as Christians, we should love all men. Matthew 22:39. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'
As human beings, we expect that if we show love to someone, they will in some way reciprocate that love or at the very least be appreciative for that demonstration of love.
Whether we are talking about the love that we have for one another as Christians or the love we have for our neighbors, this is true.
However, probably all of us have had times in our lives when the love we have shown to others has not been appreciated.
Maybe in return for our love and kindness, we have been stabbed in the back.
PRAYING.
God wants us to pray to Him. 1 Thessalonians 5:17. Pray without ceasing.
However, all of us have probably felt at times like God is not answering our prayers.
We may become discouraged because we want to believe that God loves us and will give us what we ask for and when that doesn’t seem to be happening, it hurts.
As a result, some may lose faith in God.
Some may become angry at God.
Some quit praying.
TEACHING.
Jesus commands us to teach others. Matthew 28:19-20. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
We are told to plant the seed and God will give the increase. 1 Corinthians 3:7. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.
Yet as much as we want to obey this command, we usually can’t find anyone who wants to listen.
Then, many times, when we do get someone to sit down with us, even after we teach them, they don’t obey.
Believe me, I know, that can be discouraging.
Many give up trying to teach because of a lack of results.
THE CHRISTIAN’S RESPONSE TO THIS APPARENT LACK OF RESULTS.
We must realize that just because we may not see any tangible results, that does not mean that good is not being done.
LOVE THEM ANYWAY.
Our responsibility is to love regardless of whether or not that love is appreciated or returned to us. Luke 6:31-36. And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. 32 But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. 35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. 36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.
Matthew 5:43-44. "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
God is not asking you to do anything that He has not done.
Romans 5:6-8. For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Luke 23:34. Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." And they divided His garments and cast lots.
Even though we may not see any tangible results… that does not mean that no good is being done.
God is being glorified. Matthew 5:16. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
We are setting a good example for our children.
We grow closer to God. 1 John 4:11-12. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.
That display of love may be remembered at a later time.
PRAY ANYWAY.
Jesus wants us to persevere in prayer.
Luke 18:1-8. Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, 2 saying: "There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. 3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, 'Get justice for me from my adversary.' 4 And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, 'Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 5 yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.' " 6 Then the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge said. 7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? 8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"
Jesus is not teaching that God is like an unjust judge.
He is saying that if an unjust judge would grant this widow’s request, then how much more will God, who is not unjust, give us the things we request.
However, we must realize that sometimes God may not give us what we ask for if it is against His will.
As any good parents must sometime tell their children, “No,” God will also have to say, “No,” from time to time.
Matthew 7:7-11. "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
TEACH ANYWAY.
Jesus wants us to teach regardless of the results.
Ezekiel 3:18-20. When I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die,' and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. 19 Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul. 20 Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die; because you did not give him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand.
When the gospel is taught, God is glorified. Whether it is received or not.
Even Jesus was rejected by the majority.
Only 8 souls were saved as a result of Noah’s preaching. 2 Peter 2:5. And did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly;
And even if we never win one convert, we have delivered our souls. So there are results! Acts 20:26-27. Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.
Conclusion.
Just because we may not see tangible, physical results, that does not mean that good is not being done.
Some things we do, just because they are the right thing to do.
Obedience to the gospel falls into this category.
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