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THE KEY ELEMENTSOF CHRISTIAN
LIVING
God Company Sri Lanka
'I have been dealing with certain Sinful ways in my life, and sometimes they still get the better of me. But with my ever expanding communion with Jesus, I have been able to rid or greatly reduce these Negative actions such as Anger, Vengeance, Jealousy, Un-forgiveness, Hatred, through convictions I have received by reading and attempting to live as thought by Jesus’ teachings. I have also been able to increasingly find solace in Jesus because I know that He is with me, and therefore I am an entity and one with the Master of the Ocean, the Earth and the entire Universe.
Am I perfect? Of course not, but with greater understanding of Jesus’ word I strive to live in the light and be a light onto others - with whom I come in to contact on a day to day basis - so that when they praise me I will direct their praises to Glorify my God in Heaven.
Ajith G. Perera God Company Sri Lanka.
MY LIFE…
When I accepted Jesus as my personal savior - after 48 years of my life - I began a journey seeking Jesus as a new born Christian… The depth of His teachings initially created awe
in me which in turn became the very basis of my relationship with Jesus. I like to share a
few key teachings that I believe are the main elements in Christianity, in the hope that my experience would provide helpful insights to
any others who are on the same path of discovery .
HOW DID I COME TO THIS CONVICTION
FAITH
KEY ELEMENTS NEEDED TOLEAD A CHRISTIAN LIFE
I CAME TO THE REALIZATION THROUGH THE WORD THAT ABSOLUTE FAITH IS AN ABSOLUTE REQUIREMENT.
Jesus healed many who came to Him in Faith…
Matthew 9: 2 Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their FAITH, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”
Mark 5: 34
He said to her, “Daughter, your FAITH has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”
Luke 18:42
Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your FAITH has healed you.”
THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF FAITH
Jesus rebuked those who did not have Faith…
Matthew 6:30
If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much
more clothe you -YOU OF LITTLE FAITH?
Matthew 8 : 26
He replied, “YOU OF LITTLE FAITH, WHY ARE YOU SO AFRAID?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
Matthew 14 :31
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “YOU OF LITTLE FAITH,” HE SAID, “WHY DID YOU DOUBT?”
THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF FAITH CONT…
Absolute Faith is an absolute requirement…
Mark 1122 “HAVE FAITH IN GOD,” JESUS ANSWERED. 23 “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.
Matthew 13:58
And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF FAITH CONT…
FAITH LOVE
KEY ELEMENTS NEEDED TOLEAD A CHRISTIAN LIFE
I also came to understand that Love is also an absolutely important element in a Christian life. Without Love we are nothing and fall far
short of what is expected from us as Christians.
Luke 6 : 2727 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
Matthew 22 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[c] 38 This is the first and greatest
commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[d] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two
commandments.”
John 13 :34
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, SO YOU MUST LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
THE IMPORTANCE OF LOVE
Love that Jesus expects from His followers is quite complex. I asked my self how could one Love someone else as much as one loved his
family…
As our creator He has to know that we will fail in this regard. We are emotionally connected to our
families and family extensions.
By telling us to love our fellow man AS MUCH AS OUR SELVES Jesus is Emphasizing
the importance of Love.
IMPORTANCE OF LOVE CONT…
.
As expected by Jesus if an abundance of love was present in the world today then all what has gone
wrong WILL NOT EXIST. Because with an abundance of Love a host of other connected
inputs such as Care, Peace, Humility, Selflessness, Compassion, Helpfulness, Honesty,
Trust, Integrity are released in to the world.
I strongly believe that as Christians we have to Live with Love for those around as so that
through our good deeds we are singled out as being different to others.
WE HAVE TO BE A LIGHT IN THIS DARK WORLD.
Imagine a world filled with Love…
IMPORTANCE OF LOVE CONT…
1 Corinthians 13
1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am
nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,
[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
IMPORTANCE OF LOVE CONT…
FAITH
FORGIVENESS
LOVE
KEY ELEMENTS NEEDED TOLEAD A CHRISTIAN LIFE
I also came to understand that Forgiveness is also an absolutely important state of mind in Christian living. Jesus emphasized many times on the very
importance of Forgiveness.Matthew 6
9 “This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our
debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil
one.
Matthew 1821 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to
seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
THE IMPORTANCE OF FORGIVENESS
Mark 11
24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it
will be yours. 25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so
that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
THE IMPORTANCE OF FORGIVENESS Cont…
MARK 11 : 22
This is an important scripture that I claimed on my life. My perception of this scripture is that: When I pray I have to have the FAITH TO BELIEVE
THAT I WILL RECEIVE To receive I SHOULD LIVE RIGHTEOUSLY and as
such my request should be a righteous one. –
14 “Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a
lamp shines its light on you.” -Matthew 5:14
In order to receive blessings from God, our lives should be filled with LOVE THAT TRANSCENDS FORGIVENESS TO OTHERS so that OUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN BY OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN - enabling us to stand before Him as cleansed persons.
I strongly believe the pinnacle of Christian living is to live a life with Love and Forgiveness
After being whipped, assaulted, spat upon, ridiculed, humiliated , Crucified - one of the most long and painful methods of human execution…and while hanging on the cross…34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. - Luke 23: 34
THE IMPORTANCE OF FORGIVENESS Cont…
MATTHEW 5 : 14
I have to live in the Light to receive blessings from God.
When I live in the Light shunning darkness and negativity from my life(not easy but I keep working at it each day addressing all the failures of the previous day…) my whole body is full of light. You feel the difference…the freedom. It is then you can receive Gods full blessing… because God is light and has no capacity for darkness.
FAITH
FORGIVENESS
LIVING EXAMPL
E
LOVE
KEY ELEMENTS NEEDED TOLEAD A CHRISTIAN LIFE
I also came to understand that being a witness and an example to others is an
important requirement in Christian living. Matthew 5
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its
stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father
in heaven.
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEINGA LIVING EXAMPLE – A LIGHT
ON TO OTHERS
By being an example to others we can be instrumental in brining many people to Jesus. To believe in Jesus Christ and be saved. This is the whole point of Jesus’ coming. To save the world. Therefore we are expected to spread the Good
news to as many as we can by LIVING EXAMPLE and produce a crop(…not simply offer lip service).
Mark 4 20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the
word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”
IMPORTANCE OF BEING A LIGHT
ON TO OTHERS CONT…
To do this we don’t all have to be Pastors and TV Evangelists. The way we live and the
collective impression that Christians generate in society will be the drawing factor
towards our Lord.
IMPORTANCE OF BEING A LIGHT
ON TO OTHERS CONT…
IMPORTANCE OF BEING A LIGHT
ON TO OTHERS CONT…
The early Christians rapidly grew because their good deeds were seen and people were drawn to them because of their vivid example of Christian living.
Acts 4:32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.
IMPORTANCE OF BEING A LIGHT
ON TO OTHERS CONT…
Yes...a hard act to follow. But in todays context we are not expected to be Philanthropists… Marriage being one of God’s covenants, we have to marry have Kids and families. We have been given responsibilities that we have to perform within God’s plan for us. We are required to perform these tasks that God has given us.
While performing these duties Christians are expected to live a life that is pleasing to God filled with LOVE and FORGIVENESS … So that our good deeds will be seen by others and (they) would be drawn to our God and Father in Heaven.
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. – Matthew 5
FAITH
FORGIVENESS
LIVING EXAMPLE
LOVE
KEY ELEMENTS NEEDED TOLIVE A CHRISTIAN LIFE
THANK YOU
God Company Sri LankaEmail: [email protected]
Website: slideshare.net/thornmd /presentations
