ALWAYS – The Church Of Christ, 15 Grey Street, Warri

Bro. Joel Uto

To have in-depth understanding of the command and words of the Lord and thereto comply requires taking time to examine such words used. One such word for today’s exhortation is ALWAYS.

DEFINITION AND MEANING

Two Greek words aei and diapantos are translated either always or alway, sometimes in the king James Version.

The word means the following according to Vine expository dictionary: perpetually, incessantly… invariably, at any and every time, of successive recurrence; when something is to be repeated…literally through all time -continually. The idea of continuous practice carried on without being abandon.

The purpose of this sermon is to enable us know or understand something Christians should do always.

There are somethings which should be done always either individually or a church as a body.

Always Pray

Constant prayer or continuous prayer is key to the church and to the individual. God wants us to always pray.

What do you pray for? Why pray always? If God has instructed, we can’t overlook. Luke 18:1 – Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not faint.

In preparing the Jews of the destruction of Jerusalem, Jesus asked His disciples to always pray. Luke 21:36 – Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.

Ephesians 5:20 – giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Christian is required to always thank God in every situation and circumstance.

Are you taking a hard or difficult decision? What challenge is there that the church cannot thank and pray unto God?

No matter the issue, always thank God and Constant prayer or continuous prayer is key to the church and to the individual. God wants us to always pray.

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints (Ephesians 6:18).

We should pray always in accordance to the Word’s direction for all men, whether your enemy or not.

Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Do you pray always? Prayer changes situations and things, the course of action etc. So, pray before and after decisions are taken. One would be well guided.

2. Always Obey

Philippians 2:12 – Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

To obey is better than sacrifice. God’s word should always be obeyed.

As we hear from God through teachings, sermons, self-study, His fear should always guide us no matter what it takes.

The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom and the conclusion of all matters. So always obey Him. He knows the thought of our hearts. He watches over us.

In obeying God, eye-services, murmuring should be avoided. Always obey Christ and His church.

On earth even Christ always obeyed God’s will.

And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” John 8:29.

Christ died on the cross, a shameful death to save mankind by obeying God; not My will but Your will be done.

Hard point of decisions should always prove our obedience to God.

Drinking and many immoralities should be given up to God as a mark of obedience.

Let us put off defensive syndrome of wrong actions no matter what, we must always obey God.

If Christ obeyed even to the death on the cross, we know we must obey God – Hebrews 5:8-9 – though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.

III. It is also true that some always resist God.

Acts 7:51 – You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.

Christians always resist God when we fail to abide by His word, live by the word; when the church worship is drifting in pattern, where leaders, members dance, gesticulate, raise needless questions, we tend to resist God.

Pharoah resisted God, he got the result.

Let God have His way with our attitude and characters.

We should always have a good conscience – Acts 24:16 – This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.

Our good conscience can only be right if it abides with God. The Word as it comes to us, we should accept it for a positive change very quickly in us.

An accusing conscience can be unsettling – 1 Peter 3:15 – There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Another thing we should know is that Christians always abound in the Lord’s work – 1 Corinthians 15:58 – Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

We are being prepared for the hope of eternal life as we carry out every minute work of God on earth.

Let us abound in all works of the church: preach the word, teach the church, care for one another from season to season. We are obligated by God’s will.

The Scripture assured us that God’s children always triumph in Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 2:14 – Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.

There is always victory for the Christian over any battle, challenge as long as we remain faithful and committed to Christ’s word.

The person in between Christ and the world is miserable, unsuccessful and unhappy.

God always supply sufficiently our needs.

2 Corinthians 9:8 – And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

Matthew 6:33 – But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Don’t look back at what you give to His treasury. The more you give, the more favours He allows to come to your business and your ways.

When the church spends for His work liberally in accordance to His will, more avenue and favour to be able to do would be opened.

Let us be open handed to the work of the Lord. Givers never lack!

We must be ready always to give an answer and always remember the truth

I Peter 3:15 – But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.

2 Peter 1:12 – For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth.

This requires the Christian to admit to our errors and change for the better.

Finally Jesus is always with us.

Matthew 28:20 – 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.

He promised us, He is not a liar, He is here in the worship. So, let us be careful and cautious how we worship.

CONCLUSION

Always in the word gives us a sense of continuous obedience without a stop. It is with a sense of great commitment, no matter the situation.