HOW TO ENJOY PARADISE AND STAY THERE
Sunday, Sept 14, 1997 am



1Corinthians 8:1-3
Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. But if any man love God, the same is known of him.

1 John 3:14-15 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

Jude 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.


Odd references for a subject entitled as it is.

Why do we sense that things can be better?

But the fact is that we can dream. The only explanation for the fact that we WONDER about a world much better, we sing about it, and write about it, is because somewhere in the recesses of our very make-up, a fragment of a memory passed on through generations exists, and we once were in a paradise but did not stay there.

I am preaching about ENJOYING PARADISE AND STAYING THERE.

John said:

1 John 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

Hate is no eternal life, so LOVE must be part of eternal life.

And also in our text two things are mentioned here by Paul: KNOWLEDGE and CHARITY

Paul addressed a common situation that existed in those early days of the church, and sadly still exists in the church of our time.

ORIGINAL SCENE

Genesis 2:9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Genesis 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

LET US SEE HOW WE CAN ENJOY PARADISE AND STAY THERE

What is the tree of life?

Genesis 3:12-13 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

They became so filled with themselves. - puffed up.

We say Paradise is a coconut tree in our yard, sandy beach nearby with blue waters and a cloudless blue sky above, with a misty waterfalls nearby. But we might as well be in the Sahara Desert if we are not cared for by someone!

1 Corinthians 8:1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

Knowledge puffs up.

Jesus said He is the LIFE, and we know Jesus is LOVE .

Genesis 3:24
So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life .

THE WAY OF LIFE

We lost WAY to the tree of LIFE - it was KEPT from us.

The Bible speaks about the WAY TO LIFE. Like in Eden there stands two trees and two ways...

Not many find this way to life that was protected and barred from Adam after sin.

From our Text in Corinthians, Paul said LOVE and KNOWLEDGE are the choices today. Knowledge is knowing what is good and what is evil.

Paul said we may know that certain things are harmless,

1 Corinthians 8:7 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.

He spoke about meats.

1 Corinthians 8:8-9 But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse. But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.

But although we KNOW it is okay, we must TAKE HEED that we can hurt another who does not know.

1 Corinthians 8:11-13 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

We can have the disease Adam had and and because we KNOW this is good and not evil, we can argue and maintain our liberties regardless of another's feelings. 

Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Peace is getting along with others by tolerating what we do not agree with.

We can slip into making little things the issue in the Kingdom of God.

We need LOVE in action more than we need to let everyone know how much KNOWLEDGE we have

LOVE IN ACTION

Romans 15:1-3 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

God had patience with us.

Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

God seen how wee hesitated when we first heard the Gospel.

Romans 15:5-6 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus did not please himself, but suffered instead BECAUSE OF LOVE.

If everyone looked out for the better of the other, and went without so the other could go with, then everyone would be cared for.

If every one of us love each other, then someone is going to love me!!! Proverbs 10:12 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.

You overlook that weakness.

Do not look at what is your idea of a good trait in a person and avoid those who do not have it.

If you were self-centred, it would drive you crazy that I am like a certain way. Be concerned for me. James 1:9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:

James said we ought not judge one another as though we eat of the knowledge of good and evil.