Thank you so much for tuning in and Welcome everyone – Hope you’re well!  I’m your host, Ben Lively, and you’re listening to “Shaken Awake” – Episode #45!  

 

I just want to thank you for tuning in, wherever you are and whatever you’re doing right this very moment.  

 

If you haven’t listened to episode 1 of this show, please take a moment and listen when you’re able – it explains how God led me to create this show and gives God all the glory for turning my life around by my testimonial of His power.

 

And on another, special note, it’d mean the world to me and my mission for Him, if you would help spread the word of this show.  Tell someone you know (or don’t know) – doesn’t matter, to give this show a listen – it’s played everywhere podcasts are hosted online or through apps and of course, YouTube.  

 

Today’s episode topic is entitled: “10 Right Ways to Live, According to God and Scripture – Especially in These Last Days” 

 

Right from the start, I’m going to give you a quick hint:  These are the right ways to live no matter the day or time we’re in.  The sense of urgency to get there may be heightened, but there’s no difference in how we are to live today vs. during the end times, which I fully believe we are already in, according to the signs Jesus spoke of in Matthew chapter 24, which would be the heads-up to believers that the end was near.

Today, I’m going to provide you 10 ways to live right according to God’s Word and challenge you to take on all 10 – every day.  Why?  First, because God asks us to and it’s important to Him.  Second, we are to love the things He loves and hate the things He hates.  Why would we then not, right?

Christians are called to live for Jesus and follow Him in EVERYTHING we do. But what exactly does it mean to live for Jesus, and how do we do it? The best way is to look directly into the Bible for examples of how Christ lived and try to be as much like Him as possible; He lived a life that set the perfect example of how we are to live ours.  

 

How many of you would easily agree that living for the Savior is more meaningful than living for ourselves?  I hope all of you!  

 

How many know that much of the time, we can be living more for ourselves than for Him?

 

So, here are 10 real-world steps you can take TODAY to start living your life for God, and should be used as a daily resolution to Him and to yourself:

1.  Spend time in the Word and read your Bible Daily

You must understand God's word to live for Him, right? If you want to live for, and live like Jesus, you must know what He was like.   The first four books of the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) tell us about Jesus' life and the lessons He taught His disciples and followers. This can be a great place to start studying God's word, but we don’t just stop there. Jesus instructed us to "keep the commandments" in Matthew 19:17, making it clear that it's important to understand all of God's law to really live like him.

 

Set aside a little time each day or evening to read your Bible. Even 5-10 minutes can help you understand the love of Jesus. It can help to do this at the same time every day, like as soon as you wake up, on your lunch break, or before you go to bed.

 

I recommend a read the Bible in a year plan.  Not to be legalistic, but to place God on your schedule daily and set that spiritual and divine appointment between you and Him.  Part of that time should be spent reading His Word He had written for all. 

 

Search on Google, “Read the Bible in a year plan in chronological order”.   Before I started reading my Bible daily in April of 2019, I had NO idea the Bible wasn’t written in order!  That’s because I never tried to read more than a few verses out of it my entire life.  If you don’t know, there are many resources that you can download that will list which Book/Chapter/Verses to read each day of the 365-day calendar, and in what order.  It takes the guesswork and frustration off the table.

 

I highly recommend reading the New Testament through first, as that has the law that we are now under and will show the entire life before, during, and after Jesus came.

Everything in the Bible is your roadmap for life – there’s nothing omitted or added that you need or don’t need – it supplies us with everything we need for daily living – both on this side of heaven and on the other.

 

You want endless proof of the power of the Bible and the importance of dwelling in it daily?  Google, “What does the Bible say about the importance of reading the Bible?”  I’ll have a clickable link in the show notes to take you directly to those search results.  Hold onto your hats – it’ll blow you away.  Nothing else is needed.  What does the Bible say about the importance of reading the Bible? 

 

Here is but one:  James 1:22 “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

 

Set aside a quiet time for prayer. Prayer is how we build a personal relationship with God.  In fact, there are several times when the Bible describes Jesus going to a quiet place to pray. If the Son of God needed prayer as part of His spiritual life, imagine how important it is for you and me? 

 

Follow Jesus' example and make it a priority to spend some time each day talking to God and listening for His guidance.

 

Pray about everything, from your troubles and sins to things you're excited about. Pray that God will help you make the right decisions in your own life and pray for other people who are hurting or who haven't found God yet. 

 

You want endless proof of why we should spend time in prayer each day?  Google, “What does the Bible say about the importance spending time in prayer each day?”  I’ll have a clickable link in the show notes to take you directly to those search results.   What does the Bible say about the importance of spending time in prayer each day?

 

Here is but one:  Matthew 6:6 -  But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

 

Honor Jesus by giving your time and energy to other people. 

 

Even though he was God's Son, Jesus didn't come here and demand that others bow down and wait on His every need. He fed people who were hungry, healed people who were sick, and even humbled Himself enough to wash someone's feet. 

 

If you want to live your life for Him, treat others the way He did—by helping them when they're in need, forgiving them when they do things wrong, and loving them no matter what. 

 

Try volunteering your time helping people in need in your community, like working at a soup kitchen or organizing a clothing drive.

 

You can also serve people in a less formal way, like buying a sandwich for someone who's hungry or listening to a friend who's having a hard time.

 

Share the gifts God has given you as a way to serve others—whether it's wisdom, wealth, or a talent and ability you may have.

 

Serving God is one of the most important principles of the Christian faith, as believers are expected to help the church with a joyful spirit. “Love one another.” “Care for one another.” “Pray for one another.” “Encourage one another.” “Help one another.” “Counsel one another.” “Support one another.” On and one Scripture tells us of our relationship to God and others through service.

 

We must remember that serving others may not always be easy, but we will be rewarded in eternity. Secondly, we must remember that nothing is too small that God will not use it. Nothing we do for God is in vain!

 

You want endless proof of why we should serve others?  Google, “What does the Bible say about serving others?”  I’ll have a clickable link in the show notes to take you directly to those search results.  What does the Bible say about serving others?

 

Here is but one:  Matthew 25:31-46 - When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me food, I was thirsty, and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked, and you clothed me, I was sick, and you visited me, I was in prison, and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

 

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.  For I was hungry, and you gave me no food, I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger, and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

 

Could He have made it any clearer to you and I?  Guess who I was for the first 41 years of my life?  One of the heard of goats that would’ve been banished to hell for exactly what He says He will say to them!!!!  

 

 

Tell them about God's love and Jesus' sacrifice. You're usually excited to tell your friends when you see a cool movie or eat at an awesome new restaurant, right? Well, in the same way, the best way to honor the amazing gift of Jesus is to share it with others. 

When you're spreading that love, you're truly living for Jesus and making Him the biggest priority in your life.

 

In Matthew 5:14, the Bible says, "You are the light of the world." That means it's your job to share the light and hope of God's word with the people around you who are living in sin and hopelessness. 

 

Try joining an outreach ministry in your church to spread the message of Jesus while helping people in need.

 

You could also share the story of what God has done in your life with the people you meet.  Your testimony is one of the most impactful things you can share with anyone – first, it honors God for what He’s done for you and your life and second, it shows a powerful and real-world example of how one can go from ‘unsaved’ to ‘saved’ in a matter of a second and even the lowest of the low are able to be saved by calling out to Jesus.

 

You want endless proof of why we should share God’s Word with other people?  Google, “What does the Bible say about sharing God’s Word with others?”  I’ll have a clickable link in the show notes to take you directly to those search results.   What does the Bible say about sharing God's Word with others?

 

Here is but one:  6. Psalm 96:2-4 - Sing to the LORD; praise his name. Each day proclaim the good news that he saves. Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does. Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise! He is to be feared above all gods.

 

 

Make God the most important thing in your life. 

 

God's very first commandment is not to put any other gods higher than Him. However, it's more than just not following another religion—it means not having anything in your life that's more important to you than God. Ask yourself—where do you turn when you're upset? What makes you the most excited in your life? Do those things glorify God?

In Ezekiel 14:3, the Bible describes idols as "things that will make [you] fall into sin." Idols can include harmful habits and substances, but they can also be things that are normally considered positive, like your career, friends, school, video games, or sports, if they interfere with your relationship with God.

 

If you're willing to lie or steal or cheat to accomplish or obtain something, it's almost certainly an idol in your life. However, the sin might be more subtle, like getting angry or being jealous of someone else if you can't have it. 

God is all-powerful and all-knowing, but He's also loving and forgiving, and He wants us to live for Him.

 

You want endless proof of why we should always put God first, always?  Google, “What does the Bible say about putting God first?”  I’ll have a clickable link in the show notes to take you directly to those search result.  What does the Bible say about putting God first?

 

Here is but one:  Matthew 22:34-38 -  But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together.  And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him.  “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”  And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all yourheart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. 

 

 

 

Pray that God will help you be strong against sin. Being a Christian doesn't mean that you'll never be tempted to sin. Jesus was the only person who never sinned, and even he was tempted by Satan, and several times at that! 

When you get saved, though, you're given the gift of the Holy Spirit, which will guide you to know what's right and wrong. And your faith in Jesus will give you the strength to make choices that will please God.

 

In Matthew 6:13, Jesus prayed, "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." You can use this same prayer when you're asking God to help you avoid sin. 

 

In 1 Corinthians 10:13, the Bible promises that you have the strength to overcome the urge to sin: "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability."

 

You want endless proof of why we should resist temptation?  Google, “What does the Bible say about resisting temptation?”  I’ll have a clickable link in the show notes to take you directly to those search result.  What does the Bible say about resisting temptation?

Here is but one:  Ephesians 6:10-18 - Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 

What's waiting in heaven is more important than on earth. When you're living for Jesus, remember that your goal is ultimately to join God in heaven, and to do as much as you can to serve Him in the meantime. 

 

You shouldn't put too much stock in obtaining money or possessions like clothes, electronics, or jewelry—they won't do you any good in your eternal life. 

You can have nice things, and you can even enjoy them—they're blessings from God, after all. Just don't let the pursuit of them distract you from serving God.

 

In Matthew 19:21, Jesus tells a rich man, "If you would be perfect, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven." Unfortunately, he does not and walks away ashamed.  I bet to this very day, he wished he had.  He’s not in heaven wishing that either, by the way.

 

You want endless proof of why we shouldn’t put much value in material things or possessions?  Google, “What does the Bible say about placing value on material possessions?”  I’ll have a clickable link in the show notes to take you directly to those search result.  What does the Bible say about placing value on material possessions?

Here is but one:  James 4:2-4 - You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure. You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.

 

 

Look to Him for guidance even when times are hard. In Romans 8:28, the Bible promises that everything you go through is part of God's plan for you: "And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good." This is true even when you're faced with incredible struggles, like sickness, poverty, or the loss of loved ones. Just keep praying that God will show you His will, and that He will be glorified through whatever you go through.

 

That doesn't mean you have to always be happy about difficult circumstances. Jesus showed us this when He wept as He mourned the death of his friend Lazarus, even though He was about to bring him back to life!

 

In Matthew 22:39, Jesus even prayed that God would help Him avoid being crucified. And yet, He still acknowledged the perfectness of God's plan when He said, "Not as I will, but as you will."

You want endless proof of why we should trust God’s plan for our lives?  Google, “What does the Bible say about trusting God’s plans for my life?”  I’ll have a clickable link in the show notes to take you directly to those search result.  What does the Bible say about trusting God's plan for my life?

Here is but one:  Romans 8:28 - And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Rely on each other for support when you need it. 

 

Jesus was the perfect Son of God, but He surrounded Himself with companions—not just to teach them about God, but to help support Him when He needed it, too. 

 

In Matthew 26:38, as Jesus was facing death, He asked His friends Peter, James, and John to join Him as He prayed. That's a powerful illustration of why Christians should spend time building strong, loving relationships with other followers.

 

When you meet with them, spend time praying, reading the Bible, and listening to each other. That fellowship will help you all grow as you follow Jesus.

 

You want endless proof of why we should spend time with other believers?  Google, “What does the Bible say about fellowship with other believers?”  I’ll have a clickable link in the show notes to take you directly to those search result.  What does the Bible say about fellowship with other believers?

Here is but one: Matthew 18:20 - For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.

 

 

 

Jesus spent time with both sinners and believers. 

 

Being a Christian doesn't mean shutting yourself off from anyone who doesn't believe the way you do. 

 

God calls us to love our neighbors—not just other Christians. You don't even have to spend all your time trying to convert unbelievers. 

 

Spend time with them, listen to their problems, and be there when they need you. As they see Jesus working in your life, it may make them more curious to learn more about Him when they're ready.

 

For instance, if you have a friend who doesn't go to church, you can invite them to yours, but don't pressure them too much. 

 

If you're not tempted to sin when you're with them, it's fine to hang out how you normally would, like going to a ball game or having dinner together.

Show Jesus' love by encouraging and motivating others instead of criticizing them or putting them down.

You want endless proof of why we should spend time with unbelievers?  Google, “What does the Bible say about fellowship with unbelievers?”  I’ll have a clickable link in the show notes to take you directly to those search result.  What does the Bible say about fellowship with unbelievers?

Here is but one:  2 Corinthians 6:14 might be used as justification: “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers.  For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common?  Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?”

 

Therefore, many believe to be Christian means we lose all association with unbelievers.  But this is a wrong interpretation.  Paul is not telling us not to have unbelieving friends, but not to join together with unbelievers in the practices and worldview.  In other words, the yoking together means to join with them in their lifestyle and belief system, and, therefore, becoming like them.  This does not mean that we are not to have unbelieving friends.  Christians should have unbelieving friends.  

 

They keep you real.   Many of us have been in Christian circles so long that we don’t know what it is like in the world outside of Christianity. 

 

They are not shy about their struggles and ask great questions. Believers sometimes feel that it is “unchristian” to ask tough questions. This should not be. Believers should always be the first to ask the tough questions. 

 

Because Christ had unbelieving friends. Christ was on a mission to reconcile the world to Himself. He had both unbelieving friends and believing friend. He sought to win the lost and to disciple the won. There was a great balance in his ministry. If you want to follow Christ’s example, associate with all those in need. The Kingdom will be here soon. Let us keep our focus straight. The one thing we will not be able to do in heaven is to bring an unbeliever to Christ. Let us have unbelieving friends

So, before we end today’s show, I just want to thank you all again for tuning in and I HOPE you were touched by today’s message and scripture.  

 

Check out the show at shaken-awake.com, email me at ben@shaken-awake.com or call or text me directly for any reason at (407)-493-3208 (repeat).  

 

Remember to Click on the following links in today’s show notes to show Google results with scriptural passages:

 

 

 

Next week!!!!  Tune in Next Sunday – or WHENEVER YOU’RE ABLE, as we dive into another important topic of today, which is, “God Will Not Forgive You If You Do Not Forgive All!”

 

Next week’s episode is another powerful and DO-NOT-MISS episode – thanks for joining!  

 

Until next week, take great care of yourself and each other, and God Bless You all.