Why Do You Live?

Introduction:

1. Man has a very powerful instinct and desire to live, yet he rarely identifies proper things to live for.
2. David and Paul knew what they lived for, as in the verses above, which made them special men.
3. The desire merely to live is quite animalistic, when there is a much higher calling for men to use life.
4. Living for Christ is (a) to know Him more perfectly and (2) to please Him more perfectly; by the first we are closer in fellowship and by the second we honor and serve Him and His kingdom better.
5. I fear the level of carnal Christianity has blinded and hardened us to miss the emphasis (Mat 24:12).
6. It is very wrong – mental contentment with doctrine, assemblies a form, and 6 and ½ days for self.
7. We must be Christ-centric, where Jesus Christ is always and only the center of all we think, say, do.
8. Whether exercise or medicine, why prolong life unless there will devotion to godliness (I Tim 4:8)?
9. Let us use Psalm 27:4 and David as a springboard for considering the scriptural purpose for life.
10. The Psalm (61) and sermon (Rom 11:1-6) today set the stage for living a life of praise and service.
11. David and Paul loved God and were loved by God like very few other believers we can read about.
12. For “how to” of drawing nigh to God and living for Christ … www.letgodbetrue.com/pdf/to-live-is-christ.pdf

One Thing

1. A godly man is single minded with one primary passion/purpose for living each day.
2. God will not accept a double minded passion or purpose (Matt 6:24; James 1:8; 4:8).
3. Are you known for one thing – serving Jesus Christ is your overriding ambition – so that your time, money, effort, speech, excitement, and legacy is His kingdom only!
4. No wonder David prayed for God to unite His heart to fear God’s name (Ps 86:11).
5. As you have been told often, to befriend this world is to be God’s enemy (James 4:4).
6. If you truly understand this, you will always seek God’s kingdom first (Matt 6:33).
7. Are you distracted in word or deed, which others see, and thought, which God sees?

Have I Desired

1. Godly men have desires – passionate ambitions and cravings – but they are on Christ.
2. Can you relate to the longings of David for the house of the Lord (Psalm 42, 43, 84)?
3. Where is your heart? Wherever your treasure is, there is your heart (Matt 6:19-24).
4. Affections should only be of God and Christ (Mark 12:30). Set them there (Col 3:2).
5. If you mind earthly things, you are a belly worshipping enemy of Jesus (Phil 3:18-19).
6. How often do you pray for God to use you more and more for His praise and service?
7. What do you think about, pray for, prepare for, prioritize your life around, and so on?

Of the Lord

1. The prayers of most men are so selfish they are nearly blasphemy and get no answer.
2. If your prayers are directed toward Him and His church, your life will surely be so.
3. The prayer with such a priority toward God will get all blessings liberally – Solomon!
4. You depend on God for life and breath, but you also need Him for any spiritual sight.
5. He is the Vine, and you are a branch; without Him you can do nothing (John 15:4-5).
6. Recall the prayer request for asking, seeking, and knocking (Lu 11:9-13; Ep 3:14-19).

That will I seek after

1. A godly man prays, and then he does everything he can in his power to seek God.
2. David prayed to know scripture (Ps 119:18); Timothy studied to that end (II Ti 2:15).
3. The sincerity of your prayers is in direct proportion to your efforts applied to that end.
4. David fervently prayed and diligently worked for His house (Ps 122:6-9; I Chr 29:2).
5. David fought zealously for God’s kingdom and then retired to build Him a house!
6. It is never vain to seek the Lord (II Chron 15:2; Isaiah 45:19; Jer 29:13; John 6:37).
7. Truly seeking the Lord requires sacrifice like running a race (Phil 3:13-14; Heb 12:1).

That I may dwell in the house of the Lord

1. This is the godly goal of God’s true people – the house of the Lord – His church.
2. David had tabernacles at Gibeon and Jerusalem; Solomon built a temple in Jerusalem.
3. The local church is God’s house and temple (I Tim 3:15; I Cor 3:16-17; II Cor 6:16).
4. The local church is the habitation of God through the Spirit (Ep 2:20-22; I Cor 12:13).
5. David wanted to dwell – never leave – for one day there was better than anywhere.
6. We speak spiritually more than locationally, but the spiritual includes the locational.
7. In a week’s 168 hours, what do you do to build up God’s house (Eph 4:1-3,16; 6:18)?

All the days of my life

1. Why do you live? Here is the answer to the question. David’s days were for Christ!
2. Is the church of God your permanent choice to seek out God and His people always?
3. What else is there in life? Really now, help the rest of us understand your distractions!
4. As baptized believers, our lives and passions are hid with Christ in God (Col 3:1-4).
5. Other things are distractions or enemies of God and Christ, so do you despise them?
6. David would not lose interest or zeal – no other thought attracted his life ambition.
7. It is said, “Only one life, it will soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.”

To behold the beauty of the Lord

1. Reason #1 for God’s house being your ambition: to behold the beauty of the Lord.
2. God meets with His people in His church, where you hear and see Him by faith.
3. If you cannot see God, it is because you are carnal or dead. We see Him by faith.
4. Moses and Job saw God … but they only heard Him and of Him … and we as well.
5. A holy, reverent, solemn setting is key; the correct doctrine of Jesus Christ is also key.
6. Are you a Mary, a Martha, or worse (Luke 10:38-42)? Martha at least served Jesus!

And to enquire in his temple.

1. Are you a lover and seeker of God’s truth, after loving and seeking the God of truth?
2. When you love and fear someone, you want to know their will to please them well.
3. When you know God seeks true worshippers, then you want to know true worship.
4. The church is the pillar and ground of the truth; we should reject all else (I Tim 3:15).
5. The elect remnant church has the testimony of Jesus and God’s commands (Re 12:17).
6. Truth is not on the Internet; truth is in the church of Jesus, His teachers, and His word.

Conclusion:

1. Man has a very powerful instinct and desire to live, yet he rarely identifies proper things to live for.
2. David and Paul knew what they lived for, as in the verses above, which made them special men.
3. The desire merely to live is quite animalistic, when there is a much higher calling for men to use life.
4. Whether exercise or medicine, why prolong life unless there will devotion to godliness (I Tim 4:8)?
5. Hezekiah begged God for life and got 15 years. How did he reason with the Lord (Is 38:18-20)?
6. What is your one thing? Or three things? Or five things? Where does God’s house fall among them?
7. Paul said, “For to me to live is Christ.” I ask, “For to you to live is what?” Live for Jesus Christ.
8. Can you say that He is your portion forever and superior to any in earth or heaven (Ps 73:25-26)?

For Further study:

1. Sermon Outline: To Live Is Christ.
2. Sermon Outline: Where Is Your Tent? 
3. Sermon Outline: What Is a Church?  (also see here).
4. Sermon Outline: What Is Your Life? 
5. Sermon Outline: Managing Your Life.
6. Sermon Outline: He Deserves Better.
7. Sermon Outline: Heart of David.
8. Sermon Outline: Perilous Times.
9. Sermon Outline: Belly Worshippers.
10. Sermon Outline: Hot, Cold, or Lukewarm.