Isaiah 32:15
The sermon emphasizes the need for righteousness and the results of living a righteous life, which include peace, quietness, and assurance.
Chuck Smith emphasizes the profound impact of righteousness on our lives, particularly in a restless and uncertain age. He highlights the need for quietness and assurance, pointing out that many people cope with anxiety through unhealthy means. Smith argues that true righteousness, which can only be attained through the power of the Holy Spirit, leads to peace and a sense of security. He encourages listeners to start their journey towards righteousness with Jesus Christ, as this transformation brings about lasting change. Ultimately, the sermon conveys that the by-product of living righteously is a life filled with peace and assurance.
Text
"THE EFFECT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS"
Intro: There are many idealistic goals people are striving to attain, Peace,
happiness, calmness. These qualities Seldom realized by direct pursuit, by-product.
I. THE NEED FOR QUIETNESS AND ASSURANCE.
A. We are living in a restless age.
1. Life has taken on a frenzied pace.
2. Look at people around you.
a. In restaurants, shopping malls, freeways.
b. Study their faces.
1. See the tension and strain.
3. So geared up they need pills to slow them down.
B. We are living in an uncertain age.
1. You really don't know who you can trust.
a. You read of corrupted police dept.
b. You read of judges receiving bribes.
2. You don't know where your money can be safe.
a. Banks fail and the cost of living is rising faster than
the interest rates.
b. The stock market is uncertain.
3. Beside this we have dwindling fuel supplies, or do we?
4. Our governments giant give-away program of wheat to Russia has
created shortages here, causing food prices to spiral upwards.
a. You say "we sold them the wheat."
b. Oh yes, on credit, and they have never been known for paying
their bills.
C. We have Learned to accept this restless anxiety as a way of life.
1. And with the help of cigarette, booze and drugs we have learned to cope.
2. But is this the way God Intended man to live?
Listen as God tells us how He wants us to live.
Vs. 18 How do you get there?
II. THE NEED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS. BEING RIGHT WITH ONE ANOTHER.
A. Certainly we can consent to it as an ideal.
1. What if everyone as completely honest.
2. What if no one was greedy.
3. What if we in love considered the needs of one another and
sought to help.
B. Many seeing it as ideal seek to attain it.
1. They make their resolutions and take their vows.
a. If they attain any degree of success they become
self-righteous, intolerant and impossible to live with.
b. Fortunately most of us just fail.
c. Unfortunately man despair, stilt consenting yet maintaining
the impossibility of attainment.
C. The gospel declares you can be righteous.
1. God will do for you what you can't do for yourself.
2. Through the power of the Holy Spirit He will change you, and remold
you after Christ.
3. To be right you must start right.
a. If you started with yourself and are still trying, forget it.
b. Start again with Jesus Christ as you yield more and more
you will find yourself saying, "that's all right."
III. THE RESULTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. 17.
A. The work in your life will be peace.
B. The effect.
1. Quietness.
2. Assurance (For Ever).
Sermon Outline
- The Need for Quietness and Assurance points: - We are living in a restless age - We are living in an uncertain age - We have learned to accept this restless anxiety as a way of life
- The Need for Righteousness. Being Right with One Another points: - The ideal of complete honesty and love - The futility of seeking righteousness through human effort - The gospel declares you can be righteous through the power of the Holy Spirit
- The Results of Righteousness points: - The work in your life will be peace - 'The effect of righteousness: quietness and assurance'
Key Quotes
“Is this the way God Intended man to live?” — Chuck Smith
“What if everyone was completely honest?” — Chuck Smith
“To be right you must start right.” — Chuck Smith
Application Points
- You can find peace through the power of the Holy Spirit, which can change and remold you after Christ.
- To be right with God, you must start with Jesus Christ and yield to the Holy Spirit.
- Living a righteous life leads to peace, quietness, and assurance.