Four C's of Christianity
It would be a correct statement that every single soul who receives Christ as their Saviour, would want their Christian experience, right from the very first day, to be a success, but whether our Christian experience is a success or not, really comes down to the choices we make from that first day and to continue on a daily basis.
Can we overcome all the deficiencies of our perverted humanity at all? Does Christianity offer such a change? Well, God's word is a good place to start to claim power for such a journey. “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” — Revelation 12:11
To come back to a more basic starting point, we come to the first C in our Christian journey.
This is surely the first ingredient to be able to change any inclination of our lives, let alone inherited and established habits and tendencies. We must make a connection with God to make any difference. Here is the proof. “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” — John 15:4-8
To abide is to obey, follow, keep to, hold to, stick to, stand by, act in accordance with, continue, persist. The only way to bear much fruit is to connect to the vine!
From that initial connection, the only way to overcome is to, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” — James 4:7
Well, if we want success, we must make that daily connection by submitting to God. The first part of the day we must begin on our knees. Prayer is the number one ingredient to connect. Then after that connection every morning, we need to form a habit of reading and studying the Word of God in some way. It may be quiet personal reading, or family worship time together, or a couple reading together, but the mind must be nourished with the bread of life.
Never feel that time in prayer for reading/studying will fall on deaf ears. Our God is never too busy to hear our pleas. “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” — Hebrews 13:5
To add to that thought, “Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.” — Psalm 50:15
“Communion with God encourages good thoughts, noble aspirations, clear perceptions of truth, and lofty purposes of action. Those who thus connect their souls with God are acknowledged by Him as His sons and daughters. They are constantly reaching higher and still higher, obtaining clearer views of God and of eternity, until the Lord makes them channels of light and wisdom to the world.” — Messages to Young People, p. 431
So here are the answers to start that successful Christian life. Connection to God must be our priority before we can ever move on to the next C.
The next step to advance in a well-balanced Christian experience is to make a commitment. That word commit means to make a pledge, to set yourself aside, to bind to, to dedicate to. “Commit thy way unto the Lord, trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.” — Psalm 37:5
“The government of God is not, as Satan would make it appear, founded upon a blind submission, an unreasoning control. It appeals to the intellect and the conscience. 'Come now, and let us reason together,' is the Creator's invitation to the beings He has made. It remains for us to choose whether we will be set free from the bondage of sin, to share the glorious liberty of the sons of God.” — Steps to Christ, p. 43
To bring this all to a practical application, many young men have the opportunity to meet a young woman. There is an instant attraction, but not an immediate marriage. A connection is essential to begin a relationship off. Then a re-connection, then more connection. If these two individuals continue to re-connect, then preparations are made to make a commitment in marriage. That is a natural process, but also a progression.
“Having faith, and confidence, and trust in God, we have everything, and God will never betray our confidence. He is ever loving, and patiently bears with our weaknesses and infirmities, and is ever willing to forgive our perversities. Then let us walk meekly, trustingly, and humbly before him. Commit your way to him. Cast all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” — Review & Herald, March 21, 1893
If two lovers spend time together, they will eventually fall in love 100 percent, not 90 or 99 percent. It will be a full commitment – 100 percent. There are plenty of examples in the Bible of Israel, the chosen woman of Christ, not giving her 100 percent, but going awhoring after other lovers. Seven books deal with that tragic situation and none of those examples end well.
It is futile to say we love someone sincerely and only connect, but never commit.
Our God will never let us down, He will never leave us to go awhoring after others. “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” — 1 Peter 2:9
How sad the thought, 'I love God so much I'll give Him 90%?' God knows we are a sinner, back slidden, compromised, even have other lovers and have deep dark secrets that maybe even our mother, spouse, pastor may not know.
But consider the other side, the side of God. “We love him, because he first loved us.” — I John 4:19. It is amazing! God still chooses us, with all our wretchedness! He'll pick us up from the 90%, even from 1% if He can make good of us!
When that young man and that young woman get to know each other more and more, they like what they see, then that ‘friend’, then becomes each other’s, now part of a family. They make a commitment to each other. So it is with our relationship with our God. “They shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.” — Zechariah 13:9
“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; ...but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” — Joshua 24:15. God has chosen you, but have you chosen God?
When that commitment is made in a physical relationship, we then separate from any other person in the world. It is the same with God, when that connection is strengthened, then the commitment becomes very real. “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord” — 2 Corinthians 6:17
“O let us think of the goodness of God! Let us tell of his power, sing of his love. Let us commit our souls unto God as unto a faithful Creator, and stop worrying and fretting. God will help us to live above the things of this life, and give us an abundance of good things to think about and to talk about. Let us come into the presence of Christ. He is cleansing the heavenly sanctuary. Let us enter there by faith. Provision has been made for our cleansing. A fountain has been opened for sin and uncleanness. Ask in faith for the grace of God, and you will not ask in vain.” — Review & Herald, May 28, 188
Our God will give unlimited access to unlimited power. Connect and commit yourself to that source of life-giving power.
Now we take another step forward in our Christian journey. To commence is to begin, to start, to move forward, get off the ground, embark, get the ball rolling - it involves action. A couple on their marriage day commit and commence their marriage with the words, “I DO!”
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” — Matthew 28:19
When it comes to commencing a field of ministry, it is so easy to pull back, “I don't know what to say! I don’t know how speak, preach, do a Bible study, what to say selling books!”
“I am afraid of how people will treat me. Its dangerous these days to visit people! What if they say no!”
When that connection is strong and you have made a commitment, the problems that loom in front of us should be looked upon as something that can be overcome. We must commence on a mission and not be daunted by the unknown.
Now in all fairness, your ministry may not be selling books or door to door, but whatever, everyone of us need to make a commencement to some form of ministry. Just don't fear. “Now therefore go and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say” “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him” — Exodus 4:12 / Proverbs 30:5
What if I fail?
What if I disappoint you Lord?
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” — Jeremiah 29:11. “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” — Hebrews 6:10
“As an ambassador of Christ, I implore you to commence your work intelligently. Pick up the ravelling ends, and bind them off for time and for eternity. It is not too late yet for wrongs to be righted; and while Jesus, our Mediator, is pleading in our behalf, let us do our part of the work. Love God with all thy heart and thy neighbour as thyself.” — Review & Herald, December 16, 1884
With our commitment to our new spouse, we could say, “What if I say the wrong things, what if I don't do things right, what if she says no to me, what if I disappoint you? There would be no forward progression, no commencement to continue to grow. Yes, there could well be doubts and reservations, but go forward! If you don't commence and progress in your marriage, you won't receive the rewards of a wonderful marriage!
Christ in the Word is called the husbandman and we, the church, are called the bride! This is symbolic of the close connection that we can have with each other and with Christ. We can become one!
When the connection is made and repeatedly reconnected, the commitment comes more easily to the One you have come to know and love. Any true and dedicated Christian will after that commitment, willingly commence into a ministry to the best of their abilities. Always push at the doors when opportunity knocks at the door of you heart. One never knows which doors will open. Yes, you may strike some doors that are locked shut, but push at all of them. If God sees you have some hidden talents that He wants to proper, He will bless those pushes with rewards eternal. Many in ministry can testify to this.
Then we progress to the fourth C in our Christian journey.
A spiritual natural progression for achievement after commencing is to Conquer. To conquer is to successfully overcome, to triumph, and in the light of our subject, to overcome over the devil and all his agents of sophistry and to overcome ourselves!
This brings us right back to our opening text, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” — Revelation 12:11. Yes, and truly we can add to that, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” — Philippians 4:13
We have many more quotes of encouragement when it comes to conquering in Jesus Christ. “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” — Ephesians 6:10-13
Furthermore, “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” — Psalm 27:14
“Genuine faith is life, and where there is life there is growth. The life which Jesus imparts cannot but grow more and more abundantly. A living faith means an increase of vigor, a confiding trust, by which the soul becomes a conquering power. He who drinks of the water of life which Jesus gives, possesses within himself a well of water springing up into everlasting life. Though it shall be cut off from all created springs, it is fed from the hidden fountain. It is a perpetual spring, in immediate communication with the inexhaustible fountain of life.” — That I Might Know Him 227
In conclusion, a successful physical relationship with your husband or wife will be a fresh connection every day, you will be committed in that connection. Every morning, you will re-commence your love and dedication to each other and the rewards will be to conquer all the elements that will rise against your union together. It will happen, the devil does not leave a happy marriage alone. Every day you will need to work on that relationship, and it will be the same again the next day - and the next!
The same is in our spiritual journey. A successful relationship with our God needs to be a fresh connection every day, be committed in that connection, commence into your mission and conquer all the elements against you. It will happen, the devil does not leave a happy soul in Christ alone. Every day you will need to work on that relationship, and it will be the same again the next day - and the next!
It is a battle every day to overcome the natural tendencies and fancies, but keep the battle strong every day. Our Saviour who has walked before us achieved it, Paul did, and so can we. “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” — II Timothy 4:7
Friends, the rewards will be well worth it. There are many promises of what the rewards will be for those who do connect, commit, commence and conquer. Here is just one of those promises.
“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” — Revelation 12:11
“All who will can be overcomers. Let us strive earnestly to reach the standard set before us. Christ knows our weakness, and to Him we can go daily for help. It is not necessary for us to gain strength a month ahead. We are to conquer from day to day.” — Bible Commentary, vol.7, p 974
“We become overcomers by helping others to overcome, by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. The keeping of the commandments of God will yield in us an obedient spirit, and the service that is the offspring of such a spirit, God can accept.” — Bible Commentary, vol.7, p 974
Stay faithful friends, every one of us can achieve a very successful Christian experience. Choose every day to Connect, Commit, Commence, and Conquer. “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” — Philippians 1:6
Based on Christian Berdahl's opening message, North Island camp, Tuesday, January 17, 2023
