Historical Posts
1 Peter 01:06-09 Joy Inexpressible and Full of Glory – audio
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Text: 1 Peter 1:6-9
Introduction
1. One of the many blessings available to us as the elect of God is a very special kind of joy
a. For reasons we shall notice in our lesson, Christians are able to greatly rejoice – 1 Peter 1:6
b. We have access to joy that is inexpressible and full of glory – 1 Peter 1:8
c. A joy so great, so glorious, that it is impossible to truly express with words!
2. In this lesson, we shall focus our attention on Peter’s remarks in 1 Peter 1:6-9 concerning this inexpressible joy that we as Christians are blessed to have
Body
I. THE BASIS FOR INEXPRESSIBLE JOY
A. THERE ARE PAST GROUNDS FOR REJOICING
1. We have been set apart by the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit – 1 Peter 1:2
2. We have been sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ – 1 Peter 1:2
3. We have been born again to a living hope – 1 Peter 1:3
B. THERE ARE PRESENT GROUNDS FOR REJOICING AS WELL
1. We are God’s elect – 1 Peter 1:2
2. We are kept by the power of God through faith – 1 Peter 1:5
C. AND THERE ARE FUTURE GROUNDS FOR REJOICING
1. We have an inheritance reserved for us in heaven – 1 Peter 1:4
2. We look forward to the salvation which will be revealed in the last time – 1 Peter 1:5
D. All these blessings (Past, present, future) serve as the basis for inexpressible joy.
II. THE EXCEEDING GREATNESS OF THIS JOY
A. IT ENABLES ONE TO REJOICE EVEN IN TRIAL – 1 Peter 1:6
1. No matter what degree of suffering one may experience, in Christ there is joy to match
a. As Peter explains in 1 Peter 4:12-13
b. As he and the rest of the apostles exemplified in Acts 5:40-41
2. How can Christians find joy in such trials?
a. Informed Christians understand the purifying nature of such trials – 1 Peter 1:7
b. Knowing what trials can produce, it is possible to be joyful in trials – James 1:2-4, 12
B. WHAT KIND OF TRIALS?
1. The word various includes all kinds
2. Primarily, it includes those which come as a result of living for Christ – Matthew 5:10-12
3. But we can also rejoice in the everyday afflictions of life
a. For example, sickness, heartbreak, frustration, approaching death
b. For these things also provide an opportunity to test our faith, hope, love, longsuffering and patience
4. If one is able to rejoice even in the midst of such trials, surely they have a joy inexpressible and full of glory!
C. But how can Christians be sure to possess this joy?
1. For it must be admitted that all do not
2. There are times when even the best of us do not
III. POSSESSING THIS INEXPRESSIBLE JOY
A. WE MUST LOVE JESUS – 1 Peter 1:8
1. Whom having not seen you love
2. Jesus is the ultimate source for being able to rejoice in all things – Philippians 4:4
a. He has promised that if we truly love Him, He and His Father will be with us – John 14:23
b. If Jesus is with us, we can receive that joy which is inexpressible! – John 15:11
3. But can we who have never seen Jesus, love Him? Yes! – 1 Peter 1:8
4. How can we come to love Him we have not seen? Through a devotional study of:
a. The Old Testament, with its prophecies of the Messiah
b. The Gospels, with their description of His life, teachings, compassion, suffering, death, and glorious resurrection
c. The Acts, with its action-packed portrayal of the Lord working together with His church
d. The Epistles, where we learn of many blessings found in Christ, and of His ministry as High Priest interceding in our behalf
e. The Revelation, in which we learn of the glorious victory to be won by the Lamb and His followers
B. WE MUST ALSO BELIEVE IN JESUS – 1 Peter 1:8
1. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing
2. Through believing in Jesus we can rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory
3. But such faith is more than a mental assent, or academic knowledge of Jesus
4. It involves the key element of faith itself, which is trust
a. Trusting in His commands to be for our ultimate good
b. Trusting in His promises to be fulfilled
c. The kind of trust that prompts us to obey Jesus wholeheartedly
d. This kind of faith comes from the Word of God – Romans 10:17
Conclusion
1. When we have this kind of faith in Jesus, and when we truly love Him with our whole being
a. A blessing we receive is that joy inexpressible and full of glory!
b. A blessing that can sustain us till we reach the end (Goal) of our faith: salvation! – 1 Peter 1:9
2. And that is because this inexpressible joy
a. Is based upon many other blessings: past, present, and future
b. Enables us to joyfully persevere through all kinds of trials in this life
3. But again, this blessing is only for those who truly love Jesus and believe in Him
a. Do you love Jesus? If you do, you will keep His commandments – John 14:15, 23
b. Do you believe in Jesus? If you do, you will do what He says – Luke 6:46
4. Are there commandments of Jesus you have not yet obeyed? If so, why not obey them today so that this inexpressible joy can be yours as well!
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Peace of God – audio
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I don’t know what your prayer life is like, but there’s a connection between how you talk to God and how much peace you have.
Have you been praying lately?
Is there restlessness, anxiety, in your heart?
If your answer to the first question is “no,” your answer to the second is probably “yes.”
Notice Paul’s connection between prayer and peace
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7).
All of us want peace, but many of us don’t have as much of it as we’d like.
Paul makes three important points about it here:
I. Peace comes from God.
It’s the peace “of God,” not the peace “of us.” I think sometimes we miss that point. I find myself believing that if I could just get everything on the outside fixed (less stress, fewer problems, etc.), then I’d feel better on the inside. If I could do it. But it actually works the other way around . . . when I accept God’s peace on the inside—his gift—it helps fix the stuff on the outside.
II. Peace is inexplicable.
It “surpasses all understanding,” which implies that sometimes we won’t understand why things happen the way they do. Because it’s from God, though, it can overcome inadequate explanations.
III. Peace protects our hearts.
“Guard” is a military term, suggesting that peace “stands on duty to keep out anything that brings care and anxiety” (R.R. Melick, p. 150).
And most of us need that. We live in an anxiety-ridden world that’s overwhelmed by the search for something to get rid of the uneasiness we’ve got in our hearts.
The answer is right in front of us.
Paul urges us to turn everything over to God, accept the peace of Christ, and let him stand guard at the door of our hearts to ward off all anxiety and worry.
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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2 Kings 06:08-23 Open Our Eyes that We May See – audio
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Text: 2 Kings 6:8-23
Introduction
A. Elisha surrounded by Syrian forces; delivered by God’s power – 2 Kings 6:8-23
B. Christians must live by faith; means making choices in life to flee sin and to pursue righteousness in faith – 2 Corinthians 5:7
C. Our enemy is powerful and crafty – 1 Peter 5:8-9
D. Our God is all-powerful and all wise – 1 John 4:4
Body – Open Our Eyes that We May See:
A. The Power of God
1. To create all things – Romans 1:18-21
a. Produces faith:
1) to know Him
2) honor Him
3) thank Him
2. To save and protect His people – Exodus 14:13, 30
a. The battle against sin, Satan and the world is God’s – 2 Chronicles 20:15-18
b. God delivers and vindicates His people – Romans 8:30-39
1) Savior – v. 32
2) Intercessor – v. 34
3) Defender – v. 38-39
c. To keep our souls safe in the face of trials of faith – 2 Timothy 1:12
B. The Power of Truth – Hebrews 4:12
1. Power to convict the heart and save from sin – John 16:8
2. Power to protect us – Ephesians 6:10-17
C. The Power of Love – 1 Peter 4:8
1. Power to forbear with one another, to forgive and to bind us together – Colossians 3:12-14
2. Power to overcome evil – Romans 12:19-21
D. The Power of Unity in Christ – Colossians 3:12-17
1. Cords of love, peace, truth and divine authority bind us together with a common heart, mind, purpose and goals – 1 Corinthians 1:10
2. Contrast the weakness of division – 1 Corinthians 3:3-4
E. The Power of Forgiveness – Matthew 18:21-27
1. Forgiving one another of our sins against each other is to be reflective of God’s forgiveness of us – Ephesians 4:31-32
2. Forgiveness has the power to heal offenses, strengthen relations, secure bonds of love in the home and the church
Conclusion
A. The power of God is at our disposal: To save us, to defend us, to secure us in faith
B. We must obey God in faith to have His strength in our lives – Philippians 2:12-13
C. Will you walk by faith and be powerful in God; or will you walk in the world and be Powerless and lost?
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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1 Peter 1:3-5 Living Hope – audio
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Text: 1 Peter 1:3-5
Introduction
1. In our study of Peter’s epistle so far, we have noticed
a. That as far as the world is concerned, Christians are but pilgrims
b. But as far as God is concerned, we are His elect
2. As the elect (Chosen) of God, we are the recipients of many blessings that God offers to all who will obey and follow Christ
a. One of these blessings is described in 1 Peter 1:3-5
b. There we learn that God has caused us to be born again unto a living hope
3. An understanding of this living hope can help Christians who are pilgrims be more joyful during their sojourn in this life
4. Therefore, in this lesson we shall examine what Peter says about the Christian hope that makes it a living hope
Body
I. BECAUSE GOD IS MERCIFUL!
A. THE BASIS FOR OUR HOPE LIES NOT IN OUR OWN PERFECTION OR RIGHTEOUSNESS
1. It is a good thing that it does not, for all are sinners in God’s sight – Romans 3:23
2. Even as Christians we find ourselves guilty before God – 1 John 1:8, 10
B. THE BASIS FOR OUR HOPE LIES IN THE ABUNDANCE OF GOD’S MERCY
1. Mercy bestowed while we were yet sinners – Romans 5:6, 8
2. Mercy bestowed upon the conditions of faith, repentance, and baptism – Acts 2:36-38
3. Mercy bestowed continually upon Christians as they repent of and confess their sins – 1 John 1:9
II. BECAUSE JESUS IS ALIVE!
A. THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS IS CRUCIAL TO OUR HOPE
1. If Christ is not risen, then the apostles were liars, and our faith is vain! – 1 Corinthians 15:14-15
2. If Christ is not risen, we are still held guilty for our sins, no forgiveness has occurred – 1 Corinthians 15:17
3. If Christ is not risen, those who have died as Christians have perished, they are lost – 1 Corinthians 15:18
4. If Christ has not risen, then we do not have a living hope, instead we are to be pitied by others! – 1 Corinthians 15:19
B. BUT THROUGH JESUS’ RESURRECTION, WE HAVE BEEN BORN AGAIN TO A LIVING HOPE
1. Peter may have reference not just to the process of conversion, but to the renewed hope produced by the resurrection of Jesus
a. After Jesus’ death and prior to His resurrection, the disciples were despondent
b. But after the resurrection of Jesus, His disciples were born again in regards to their hope
2. Surely the fact that Jesus did rise gives us reason for a living hope
a. God would not raise a liar, so anything Jesus said about our hope is true – John 11:25
b. Since Jesus rose from the dead, we have a firm hope that we too will one day rise from the dead – 1 Corinthians 15:20-23
c. By the abundant mercy of God, and upon the basis of Jesus’ own resurrection, then, we have been born again to a living hope!
III. BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF OUR INHERITANCE!
A. THE DEGREE OF HOPE WE HAVE IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE INHERITANCE WE HAVE
1. If our inheritance is a good one, our hope is strong, or living
2. If our inheritance is a poor one, then our hope is weak, or dead
B. AS DESCRIBED BY PETER, OUR INHERITANCE
1. IS INCORRUPTIBLE
a. The Greek word means not liable to corruption or decay, imperishable
b. Unlike this present heavens and earth in which now live, and which will one day be destroyed – 2 Peter 3:10-13
2. IS UNDEFILED
a. The Greek word means not defiled, unsoiled
b. It is unlike the earthly Canaan, which could be and was defiled by its inhabitants
c. Our hope pertains to that where the defiled are not allowed to enter – Revelation 21:27
3. DOES NOT FADE AWAY
a. The Greek word means unfading, perennial
b. Such is our heavenly reward: it will not rust, fade, or wither like so many things do here on earth
4. IT IS RESERVED IN HEAVEN
a. The word means to watch, to observe, to guard, protect, to reserve, set aside
b. Therefore, our inheritance is safely guarded in heaven itself!
c. No one, not even Satan himself, can steal it from you!
C. Since this is the nature of our inheritance upon which our hope rests, we can see why our hope is described as a living hope.
IV. BECAUSE WE ARE SAFELY GUARDED!
A. CHRISTIANS ARE KEPT FOR THE SALVATION READY TO BE REVEALED IN THE LAST TIME
1. The word kept is a military term
2. It means to guard, protect by a military guard, either to prevent hostile invasion, or to keep the inhabitants of a besieged city from flight
3. While our inheritance is being kept guarded in heaven under the watchful eye of God, we are being garrisoned about by God’s protecting care for it.
B. NOTE THAT BEING KEPT INVOLVES TWO THINGS
1. First, THE POWER OF GOD!
a. We have the help of God Himself, who knows how to help those in temptation
b. He knows how to deliver them out of temptation – 2 Peter 2:9
c. He knows how to enable them to bear with the temptation – 1 Corinthians 10:13
d. He supplies the armor necessary to withstand in the evil day – Ephesians 6:10-13
2. Also, OUR FAITH!
a. To be safely guarded by God’s protective care requires faith on our part
b. The only way we can ever lose our inheritance reserved in heaven is to become unfaithful to the Lord! – Revelation 2:10
c. While the Bible teaches the security of the believer
1) It also teaches that a believer can become an unbeliever – Hebrews 3:12-13
2) And it teaches that unbelievers have no hope – Hebrews 3:14-4:3
d. As long as we remain faithful, then, we have the assurance of God’s protective care to guide us until we receive that inheritance reserved in heaven for us!
Conclusion
1. In this passage (1 Peter 1:3-5), then, are four reasons why the hope of the Christian is called a living hope:
a. Because God is merciful!
b. Because Jesus is alive!
c. Because of the nature of our inheritance!
d. Because we are safely guarded!
2. A living hope can be a source of great joy in the lives of Christians; it certainly was to the original recipients of Peter’s epistle: In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials. – 1 Peter 1:6
3. Do you have this living hope?
a. You do if you have received God’s mercy offered in Christ, and are remaining faithful to the Lord
b. If you have not received this mercy, or have neglected it through unfaithfulness, why not come to the Lord according to His conditions found in His Holy Word? – Acts 2:38; 1 John 1:9
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Exodus 32 Ten Lessons from a Golden Calf – audio
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Text: Exodus 32:1-35
Introduction
1. Last week we noticed that we need to learn from the past.
2. We can learn from other people’s mistakes and thereby do not have to make them ourselves to learn the relevant lessons.
3. The children Israel made many mistakes that we can learn from today.
a. 1 Corinthians 10:6 – Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.
b. 1 Corinthians 10:11 – Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
4. Of course, one of the events mentioned in 1 Corinthians 10, is the episode with the golden calf – 1 Corinthians 10:7
5. Here are ten important lessons that WE can learn from a golden calf.
Body
LESSON 1 – REMEMBER, IT WAS NOT MOSES WHO BROUGHT YOU UP OUT OF EGYPT
Exodus 32:1 – Now when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, “Come, make us gods that shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.”
A. The children Israel forgot that it wasn’t Moses who brought them out of Egypt. God had delivered them.
1. Forgetting this fact was one of the direct causes of the sinful actions that would follow.
2. If we are followers of mere men, then one man is as good as another.
3. They replaced Moses with Aaron.
B. Man has always had a propensity to follow other men rather than God.
1. We see that many years later, they still had this mentality – 2 Samuel 8:4-5
2. They forgot that they already had a King. His name was GOD – 1 Samuel 8:7
C. We have the same problem today.
1. Countless people today follow preachers rather than God!
2. This problem started early in the church – 1 Corinthians 1:11-13
a) “I am of Luther.”
b) “I am of Wesley.”
c) “I am of the Pope.”
d) “I am of Calvin.”
e) No! I am of Christ!
3. Many sacrifice their souls because they prefer the praise of men over the praise of God – John 12:42-43
LESSON 2 – REMEMBER IT WAS NOT A GOLDEN CALF THAT BROUGHT YOU UP OUT OF EGYPT.
Exodus 32:2-6 – And Aaron said to them, “Break off the golden earrings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.” So all the people broke off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron. And he received the gold from their hand, and he fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made a molded calf. Then they said, “This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!” So when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow is a feast to the Lord.” Then they rose early on the next day, offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
A. Aaron boldly proclaimed, “This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!”
1. What utter nonsense!
2. What blasphemy!
3. It is easy to see how foolish this statement was.
4. It is also easy to see how foolish it was to believe that statement.
B. Yet, most people in the world today choose to worship the creation rather than the Creator.
1. God’s creation is not God – Romans 1:22-25
2. Colossians 3:5 – Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
a) Covetousness is idolatry.
b) Neither silver nor gold can save us – 1 Peter 1:18-19
c) Man must stop acting as if gold is God.
LESSON 3 – GOD IS A JEALOUS GOD
Exodus 32:9-10 – And the Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and indeed it is a stiff-necked people! 10 Now therefore, let Me alone, that My wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them. And I will make of you a great nation.”
A. Think about how close the Israelites were to true worship…
1. They desired to worship the God who had brought them out of Egypt – Exodus 32:4
2. They desired to worship Him so badly that they were willing to give of their gold – Exodus 32:3
3. They desired to worship Him at an altar – Exodus 32:5
4. They desired to hold a feast to the LORD (Jehovah) – Exodus 32:5
5. They desired to make burnt offerings and peace offerings – Exodus 32:6
B. Yet concerning their worship, God said… – Exodus 32:7-8
1. They had corrupted themselves.
2. They had turned aside quickly out of the way.
3. They have worshiped the CALF (not God).
C. As a result…
1. God was ready to destroy them and start over with Moses.
2. He had warned them about idolatry – Exodus 20:4-5
3. They had willingly entered a covenant with Him – Exodus 24:3
LESSON 4 – IT IS GOOD TO HAVE AN INTERCESSOR
Exodus 32:11-14 – Then Moses pleaded with the Lord his God, and said: “Lord, why does Your wrath burn hot against Your people whom You have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians speak, and say, ‘He brought them out to harm them, to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from Your fierce wrath, and relent from this harm to Your people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants, to whom You swore by Your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven; and all this land that I have spoken of I give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.’” So the Lord relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people.
A. Moses pleaded with God on behalf of the people.
1. He used three arguments to change God’s mind.
a) He reminded God of all that He had already done for them – Exodus 32:11
b) The Egyptians would think that God brought them out simply to destroy them – Exodus 32:12
c) He reminded God of his promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – Exodus 32:13
2. As a result of his intercession, God relented from His wrath.
a) Not because the people didn’t deserve His wrath.
b) But because Moses begged Him to spare them.
B. We too have an intercessor.
1. Like the children of Israel…
a) We are deserving of death – Romans 6:23
b) We are unable to save ourselves.
2. Jesus has interceded for us.
a) Luke 23:33-34 – And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”
b) Ephesians 4:32 – And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
c) 1 John 2:1 – My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
3. It is GOOD to have an Intercessor. Without Him, we would all be lost!
LESSON 5 – DON’T TRY TO BLAME YOUR SIN ON SOMEONE ELSE
Exodus 32:22 – So Aaron said, “Do not let the anger of my lord become hot. You know the people, that they are set on evil.
A. Aaron tries to appease Moses’ wrath by blaming his actions on the people.
1. He should have been more worried about God’s anger.
2. People often worry about how their actions affect other people…
a) And even feel guilt for their actions.
b) Without realizing that, even more important than that, is the fact that their sin has hurt God Almighty.
B. Man has always tried to deflect responsibility to others.
1. Genesis 3:12 – Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.”
2. They blame their parents.
3. They blame their friends. (Peer pressure)
4. They blame God.
5. The one thing they will not do is say, “My fault.”
C. Exodus 23:2 – You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice.
D. Your sin is YOUR fault. Own up to it – Psalm 51:3
LESSON 6 – DON’T LIE TO TRY TO COVER UP YOUR SIN
Exodus 32:24 – And I said to them, ‘Whoever has any gold, let them break it off.’ So they gave it to me, and I cast it into the fire, and this calf came out.”
A. Aaron said, “I just threw the gold in the fire and ‘poof’ this calf came out.”
1. This was a bold faced lie.
2. Exodus 32:4 – And he received the gold from their hand, and he fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made a molded calf.
B. When we lie to cover a sin what we are showing by our actions is that we care more about what men think about us than what God thinks about us.
1. We can often fool man.
2. We cannot lie to God – Hebrews 4:13
LESSON 7 – PROPER WORSHIP INVOLVES RESTRAINT
Exodus 32:25 – Now when Moses saw that the people were unrestrained (for Aaron had not restrained them, to their shame among their enemies),
A. As we discussed earlier, they were involved in a worship service. However…
1. They were holding an unauthorized feast.
2. They were offering unauthorized sacrifices.
3. They were bowing down to an unauthorized idol.
4. They were even committing sexual immorality as a part of their worship.
5. They must have truly believed that “anything goes” when it came to worship.
B. Proper worship involves:
1. Realizing that God is the audience – John 4:23-34
2. Realizing that in order to please Him, I must worship Him according to truth.
a) 1 Samuel 13:22-23 – So Samuel said: “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king.”
b) God is not obligated to receive our worship – Amos 5:21-23
3. Restraint – a measure or condition that keeps someone or something under control or within limits.
a) God has set the limits on worship.
b) It is up to me to stay within those limits – 1 Corinthians 14:32-33
C. Not exercising restraint in worship results in our own shame.
LESSON 8 – YOU ARE EITHER ON THE LORD’S SIDE OR ON THE DEVIL’S SIDE
Exodus 32:26 – Then Moses stood in the entrance of the camp, and said, “Whoever is on the Lord’s side—come to me!” And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together to him.
A. Moses made it clear: You are either on the Lord’s side or you are not.
1. There is no middle ground.
2. There are no shades of gray.
3. They had to decide whose side they were on.
B. We too have a choice to make.
1. Jesus made it clear that there is no middle ground.
a) Matthew 12:30 – He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.
b) Matthew 6:24 – “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
c) John 8:44 – You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.
2. Paul made it clear that there is no middle ground – Romans 6:16-18
LESSON 9 – IT PAYS TO BE ON THE LORD’S SIDE
Exodus 32:25-28 – Now when Moses saw that the people were unrestrained (for Aaron had not restrained them, to their shame among their enemies), then Moses stood in the entrance of the camp, and said, “Whoever is on the Lord’s side—come to me!” And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together to him. And he said to them, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘Let every man put his sword on his side, and go in and out from entrance to entrance throughout the camp, and let every man kill his brother, every man his companion, and every man his neighbor.’” So the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And about three thousand men of the people fell that day.
A. Many of those who had rebelled against God lost their lives as a result.
B. Those who choose not to be on the Lord’s side face an even worse fate today.
1. Matthew 10:28 – And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
2. Matthew 25:31-33
C. Those who choose to be on the Lord’s side:
1. Enjoy a happier life now – 1 Timothy 4:8
2. Enjoy the hope of eternal life – 1 Peter 1:3-4
LESSON 10 – WE EACH BEAR RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR OWN ACTIONS
Exodus 32:32-33 – Yet now, if You will forgive their sin—but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written.” And the Lord said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book.
A. If God would not forgive the people, Moses desired his fate to be the same as theirs.
1. Paul said something similar in Romans 9:1-3
2. Fortunately, it doesn’t work that way.
B. Each of us is responsible for our own destiny.
1. Hebrews 4:13 – And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
2. Romans 2:5-9 – But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek;
Delivered on: November 18, 2012. Streetsboro.
Content by Ralph Price
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Colossians 01:15-20 The Many Roles of Christ – audio
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Text: Colossians 1:15-20
Introduction
1. The book of Colossians was written by the apostle Paul to confront a series of errors that were being taught in the churches of Colossae.
2. Among other things, false teachers were evidently teaching that salvation was not through Christ alone but that it was also the work of angels and other spiritual beings.
3. In other words, they believed that the sacrifice of Christ on the cross was not sufficient in and of itself.
4. Paul sets out to prove this teaching false.
5. He points out that it is through Christ that we all can receive forgiveness – Colossians 1:13-14
6. He then goes on to firmly establish the superiority of Christ.
7. Today, let us note some of the phrases he uses to describe Jesus.
Body
I. THE IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD – Colossians 1:15
A. On the one hand, we know that no man has seen God at any time.
1. Exodus 13:18-23
2. 1 Timothy 6:16 – Who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.
3. John 1:18 – No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.
B. Yet, Jesus is described as the image (Icon) of the invisible God.
1. An interesting play on words.
2. God, the Father, has appeared to us in the Person of His Son, Jesus.
3. Hence, He is called, “The Word.” – John 1:1-2
4. John 14:8-11
5. Hebrews 1:1-3
6. The Devil does all that he can to blind the world to this fact – 2 Corinthians 4:4-5
7. If we desire to know about the Father, we simply must look to Christ – John 1:18
II. THE FIRSTBORN OVER ALL CREATION – Colossians 1:15-16
A. Many false doctrines have arisen from the phrase “Firstborn over all creation…”
1. This has led some to (Incorrectly) believe that Jesus was the first thing that God created.
2. Colossians 1:16 shows us that Jesus is the Creator of all things.
3. Everything that was created, was created by Him.
4. John 1:3 – All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
5. He could not have created Himself!
6. Therefore, Jesus is not a created Being.
7. John 8:58 – Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
B. The difficulty is resolved when we realize that the word “firstborn” is not always talking about chronological order of birth.
1. A more common uses was to emphasize someone’s supremacy.
2. We see this usage in regard to David in Psalm 89:27
3. So, calling Jesus the firstborn over all creation is referring to His supremacy over all creation.
4. Additionally, this is also the meaning of the word…
a) “Beginning” in Colossians 1:18. Arche – chief.
b) “Preeminence” in Colossians 1:18. Proteuo – first in rank.
5. His supremacy over all creation is established by the fact that He is the Creator – Colossians 1: 16
6. Hebrews 3:3-4 – For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house. For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God.
C. His authority and supremacy extends to both heaven and earth.
1. Matthew 28:18 – And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
2. Hebrews 1:3-4 – Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
III. THE SUSTAINER – Colossians 1:17
A. Not only is Jesus the Creator of all things, He is also the Sustainer of all things.
1. Literally, Colossians 1:17 says that “all things stand together.”
2. Creation continues to exist because Jesus upholds it.
B. Hebrews 1:3 – Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high
C. He will continue to uphold all things until He returns – 2 Peter 3:7
IV. THE HEAD OF THE BODY – Colossians 1:18
A. The body is the church – Colossians 1:24
B. Not only is He supreme over all physical creation; Hebrews also is head over His spiritual kingdom.
1. John 18:36 – Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”
2. Daniel 7:13-14 – “I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.
C. There is only one…
1. Body – Ephesians 4:4 – There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;
2. Head – Ephesians 4:5 – One Lord, one faith, one baptism;
3. Standard by which we are judged – Ephesians 4:5 – One Lord, one faith, one baptism;
V. THE FIRSTBORN FROM THE DEAD – Colossians 1:18
A. Here, the term “firstborn” is used in both of the ways discussed earlier.
1. He was chronologically the first to be raised never to die again.
2. His resurrection was also the first in order of importance as well.
B. Why is Jesus’ resurrection so important?
1. By it He was declared to be the Son of God – Romans 1:4 – And declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.
2. 1 Corinthians 15:17-19 – And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.
a) If Jesus is not raised, then we are still in our sins.
b) If Jesus is not raised, then all those who have already died, are lost for all eternity.
c) We are indeed in a pitiable state.
3. His resurrection foreshadows our own – 1 Corinthians 15:51-54
Conclusion
1. He is the Image of the invisible God.
2. He is the Firstborn over all creation.
3. He is the Sustainer of all creation.
4. He is the Head of the Body.
5. He is the Firstborn from the dead.
6. He is our Savior!
7. Obey Him!
Delivered on: November 25, 2012. Streetsboro.
Content by Ralph Price
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Philippians 03:12-14 Looking Back – audio
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Text: Philippians 3:12-14
Introduction
1. Earlier this year, the college football season opened with the University of Michigan playing Alabama.
2. Michigan was beaten badly. 41-14.
3. After the game, coach Brady Hoke said, “The important thing is that we can’t let Alabama beat us twice. This is a week where we will learn about our team’s leadership and our motivation. There are only 11 more guaranteed opportunities for University of Michigan football games, so we have to learn from what happened in Dallas and start focusing on Air Force this weekend.”
4. Wide receiver, Devin Gardner said, “”I haven’t looked at every defense we play, but they have got to be the best. I learned more in that game than I’ve learned in all the practices I’ve had since starting to play wide receiver. That’s the important thing. We don’t just want to forget this happened — we need to learn from this and apply the lessons to Air Force. We can’t let one team beat us twice.”
5. In these comments we see two important facts.
a. Michigan wanted to learn from their mistakes and get better.
b. Then they wanted to move on and not allow Alabama to “beat them twice.”
6. In other words, once they had analyzed the game and learned all they could, they wanted to forget about it and move on.
7. As Christians, we must do the same thing.
Body
I. IT IS BENEFICIAL TO LEARN FROM THE PAST.
A. We can learn from other’s mistakes – 1 Corinthians 10:1-13
1. Notice that in 1 Corinthians 10:6, we are told that what happened to Israel was an example to us.
2. Notice that in 1 Corinthians 10:11, we are told that these things were written for OUR admonition.
3. Their failures, and their subsequent punishment, should teach us…
a) Not to lust after evil things – 1 Corinthians 10:6
b) Not to become idolaters – 1 Corinthians 10:7
c) Not to commit sexual immorality – 1 Corinthians 10:8
d) Not to tempt Christ – 1 Corinthians 10:9
e) Not to complain – 1 Corinthians 10:10
f) Not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought – 1 Corinthians 10:12
4. The Old Testament and history in general are full of lessons to be learned.
B. We can learn from other’s successes – Hebrews 11:1-12:2
1. Hebrews 11:1-40 is often referred to as the Hall of Fame of Faith.
2. It gives us a list of people who trusted God and were rewarded for it – Hebrews 11:6
3. We read of such people as:
a) Able.
b) Enoch.
c) Noah.
d) Abraham and Sarah.
e) Moses.
f) And many others.
4. Then in chapter 12, we are told… Hebrews 12:1-2
a) That “great cloud of witnesses” is comprised of all of those who we discussed in the previous chapter.
b) Their faithfulness to God and God’s faithfulness in them ought to teach us to trust in God as well!
C. We can learn from our own mistakes.
1. David’s example.
a) With Bathsheba.
(1) 2 Samuel 12:7 – Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man!…
(2) 2 Samuel 12:13 – So David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”
(3) It is important to note that, even though he undoubtedly would have had other opportunities, David never did something like this again.
b) With the movement of the ark.
(1) 2 Samuel 6:3 – So they set the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart.
(2) 2 Samuel 6:6-7 – And when they came to Nachon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. Then the anger of the Lord was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by the ark of God.
(3) David learned from his mistake – 1 Chronicles 15:11-15
2. What about us?
a) Are we wise enough to learn from our past mistakes?
b) Proverbs 26:11 – As a dog returns to his own vomit, So a fool repeats his folly.
c) We have a duty, an obligation, to learn from our past mistakes.
d) If we do not learn, we are doomed to repeat the mistakes again and again.
e) Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. – Einstein.
f) Learn from your mistake so that at least one good thing will come from it.
D. We can learn from our own successes.
1. David’s example – 1 Samuel 17:34-37
a) David knew that God had delivered him from the lion and bear in the past.
b) As a result, he knew that God would deliver him from Goliath.
c) It is important to note that David gave God the credit. He did not claim to have done these things by his own power or strength.
2. What about us?
a) Do we remember all of the answered prayers?
b) Do we remember all of the times that God helped us get through a difficult patch?
c) Remembering those things ought to give us courage for the future.
II. ONCE WE HAVE LEARNED WHAT CAN BE LEARNED FROM THE PAST, WE MUST PRESS ON.
A. Dwelling on past mistakes can be torture.
1. If ever anyone who had a past that they would like to forget, it had to be the apostle Paul.
2. Yet, he said that he had to forget the past and press on – Philippians 3:12-14
3. There comes a time, when you just have to move on and press onward and upward.
4. Even if our heart condemns us (We can’t forgive ourselves), God is greater than our heart – 1 John 3:20
B. Dwelling on past successes has the potential to be equally dangerous.
1. Past successes will not get me to heaven.
2. I have to stay faithful till death.
3. Ezekiel 18:24
4. Even Paul pointed out that he had not yet attained to perfection – Philippians 3:12
5. I must not be overconfident – 1 Corinthians 10:12
III. THERE IS ONE SENSE IN WHICH WE MUST NEVER LOOK BACK – LUKE 9:61-62
A. No one has ever turned back who has not first looked back.
B. We dare not look back on our previous lifestyle with longing.
1. Proverbs 3:31
2. Proverbs 23:17
3. Proverbs 24:1
4. Proverbs 24:19-20
C. Hebrews 6:4-6
D. 2 Peter 2:20-21
Conclusion
1. As Christians, we must learn from both our past mistakes and our past successes.
2. Once we learn what we can, we must move on…
a. And not continually beat ourselves up over our mistakes.
b. And not continually pat ourselves on our back for our successes.
3. We must never look back to that old life of sin with a desire to return.
Delivered on: November 11, 2012. Streetsboro.
Content by Ralph Price
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1 Peter 01:01-02 The Elect of God – audio
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Text: 1 Peter 1:1-2
Introduction
1. In our previous study, we noticed that Peter referred to Christians as pilgrims of the Dispersion
a. This description implies that Christians are but strangers, foreigners, sojourning in a land that was not their own, and scattered about like seed
b. With their citizenship in heaven, they may be in this world, but they are not to be of this world
c. Therefore, one of their important duties is to be separate – 1 Peter 2:11
2. One might think that since Christians are scattered strangers in this world, they are to be pitied
3. Not so, for though they are strangers in the world, they are the ELECT of God – 1 Peter 1:2
a. The word elect simply means chosen and is thus translated – 1 Peter 2:9-10
b. There we learn that Christians are a chosen generation; they are truly God’s chosen people!
4. In this lesson, we shall consider what it means for Christians to be The ELECT Of God
Body
I. WE ARE A PART OF GOD’S PREDETERMINED PLAN
A. PETER SAYS ELECT ACCORDING TO THE FOREKNOWLEDGE OF GOD
1. The word foreknowledge comes from prognosis
2. It means forethought, pre-arrangement
3. Being the elect of God is in keeping with God’s plan which He designed beforehand
B. PAUL EXPOUNDS UPON THIS PRE-ARRANGEMENT IN EPHESIANS
1. God planned it before the world began – Ephesians 1:4
2. It anticipated the chosen being holy and without blame – Ephesians 1:4
3. It looked forward to the elect being adopted as sons – Ephesians 1:5
4. This plan is according to God’s good pleasure – Ephesians 1:5
5. This plan has a goal that the elect walk in good works – Ephesians 2:10
C. WAS THIS ELECTION INDIVIDUAL OR CORPORATE?
1. I understand election by God to have been general, not particular; corporate, not individual
2. That it would be the body of Christ, the church as a whole
a. Which God chose to be the recipients of His divine and gracious purposes
b. And which He planned beforehand (Foreknowledge) to carry out in Christ Jesus
3. While in the corporate sense this choice is unconditional and final, as individuals we must be diligent to make your calling and election sure – 2 Peter 1:10
a. Just as Israel (As a nation) had been chosen by God to receive His blessings during the Old Testament period
b. But individually, the Israelites also had to make their calling and election sure
II. WE BECOME GOD’S ELECT THROUGH THE SANCTIFYING WORK OF THE SPIRIT
A. SANCTIFICATION AND THE HOLY SPIRIT
1. Sanctification, the process by which we are set apart for God’s purpose, is accomplished by the Holy Spirit
2. There are several passages that describe the connection between the Holy Spirit and our sanctification – 1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13
B. HOW THE HOLY SPIRIT ACCOMPLISHES THIS SANCTIFICATION
1. It is through the Word of God
a. It was God’s will that the Holy Spirit would reveal the Word to the apostles – John 16:12-13
b. Through this revealed Word, we are sanctified (Set apart) – John 17:17
2. Therefore, when people obey the Word of God which has been revealed by the Holy Spirit, they become chosen…to salvation through: – 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14
a. sanctification of the Spirit (The Divine side of conversion, as the Spirit has revealed the Word and convicts men of sin through it)
b. and belief of the truth (The human side of conversion, as they believe it)
III. WE HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF OBEDIENCE!
A. GOD’S CHOSEN ARE EXPECTED TO BE OBEDIENT
1. We saw earlier in Ephesians 2:10 that it was part of God’s plan before time began that the people of God would walk in good works
2. This is all part of God’s wonderful grace as defined by Paul – Titus 2:11-14
3. We do not earn salvation by such good works (Titus 3:5), but nonetheless we are to be diligent in doing them – Titus 3:1, 8, 14
B. PETER WILL LATER EXPOUND UPON THE NEED FOR OBEDIENCE
1. As obedient children of God, we are to be holy – 1 Peter 1:14-16
2. We are even to submit to civil authorities, that we might silence the ignorance of foolish men – 1 Peter 2:13-15
3. Peter implies grave consequences to those who obey not the gospel of God – 1 Peter 4:17
IV. WE HAVE THE BLESSING OF FORGIVENESS!
A. WE ENJOY THE SPRINKLING OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST
1. A clear reference to the blessing of forgiveness of sins made possible by the death of Christ
2. The blessing of forgiveness is one enjoyed
a. When we first become Christians upon our baptism into Christ – Acts 2:38; 22:16
b. As we confess sins throughout our daily walk with God – 1 John 1:7-9
B. THIS BLESSING IS ONLY ONE OF SEVERAL MENTIONED IN PETER’S EPISTLE
1. He later speaks of an inheritance – 1 Peter 1:4
2. And the salvation of souls – 1 Peter 1:9
3. He describes Jesus as the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls – 1 Peter 2:25
4. He also refers to the care of God – 1 Peter 5:7
Conclusion
1. We hope to examine some of these blessings for God’s elect in greater detail in future lessons
2. But what we have seen from 1 Peter 1:2 is that while Christians may indeed be pilgrims, strangers living in a world not their own, they are not to be pitied!
3. For by the grace of God and their obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ, they are God’s elect, His chosen ones, and as such they are:
a. Part of God’s predetermined plan
b. Chosen through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit
c. Given responsibilities in keeping with the fact they are the children of God
d. Recipients of the richest blessings God has to offer (Such as forgiveness of sins)
4. Is it surprising, then, that Peter would address such people with: Grace to you and peace be multiplied?
5. Certainly those who are God’s elect receive in multiple measure the saving grace of God and the peace which accompanies such unmerited favor!
6. How about you? Are you one of the elect of God? You are if you have answered the call of the gospel through the obedience of faith – Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38-41
7. If you have not yet rendered obedience to the gospel, then please do so today, especially in view of the following statements by Peter and Paul:
For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? – 1 Peter 4:17
And to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed. – 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Rejoice – audio
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- If you look at the world a certain way, it’s easy not to rejoice.
- Life is stressful.
- I keep waiting for that time when everything slows down. Then, I tell myself, I’ll be less stressed and more content.
Do you ever fall into this trap? There’s negative stuff all around us, which, if we’re so inclined, can damper our spirits.
- An uncertain economy. A rising deficit. Strife in the Middle East (isn’t there always?).
- Personally, perhaps there’s uncertainty about health (why these weird symptoms?).
- And concern for the kids and grandkids (Lord, help them to turn out okay . . .).
- And a million more besides.
But our world isn’t any different from the one the Bible spoke to.
- Parents worried about their children.
- They stressed over the new emperor.
- In ways we can’t even imagine, their physical health was always a concern (no antibiotics???).
To that world, and to ours, Paul wrote: “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” – Philippians 4:4
Notice that he didn’t say, “Rejoice always.”
The little prepositional phrase in the middle makes all the difference.
- If our joy depends on perfect health or a booming economy, it’ll be short-lived.
- If our contentment hinges on a stress-free life or perfect relationships, we’ll always be disappointed.
- It just won’t work.
Which is why Paul said to rejoice “in the Lord.”
- Rejoice because of our relationship to Jesus Christ.
- Because he saved us.
- Because even though this world is messed up, one day he’ll fix it.
- Because our names are written in the book of life, and we’ve got a certain hope for tomorrow.
- No matter what kind of stresses we face today.
Rejoice, Paul says, In the Lord.
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Matthew 07:13-23 Do We All Get to the Same Place? powerpoint – audio
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Text: Matthew 7:13-14, 21-23
I. Introduction
A. The worldview states, “It doesn’t matter what you believe; we’re all trying to get to the same place”
B. The Biblical view shows otherwise.
II. There are ways that are wrong
A. Some ways are foolish – Proverbs 12:15
B. Wrong ways lead unto death – Proverbs 14:12; 16:25
C. Thieves and robbers enter other ways than the right way – John 10:1, 8-10
III. Only one way is right
A. Jesus Christ is THE way – John 14:1-6
B. The right way is not always easy – Matthew 7:13-14
C. In order to get in the right way, we must do what Christ says
1. Matthew 7:21-23
2. Luke 13:24-28;
3. Matthew 25:1-13
4. James 1:21-25
IV. Things really do matter! It matters…
A. …Where we “go to church”
1. Matthew 16:18
2. Acts 20:28
3. Ephesians 4:4; 1:22-23
4. Colossians 1:18
5. Romans 16:16
B. …How we worship – Matthew 15:8-9
1. God did not accept Cain’s offering – Genesis 4:3-5; Hebrews 11:4
2. God did not accept Nadab and Abihu’s sacrifice – Leviticus 10:1; Numbers 3:4; 26:61
3. Jesus gives us instructions on worship today – John 4:23-24; 14:6; 17:3, 17
C. …How we live – Revelation 2:10
V. Conclusion
A. If you’re going the wrong way, make a U-turn!
B. If you’re going the right way, do not stray!
Salvation: Hear - Believe - Repent - Confess - Be Baptized - Live Faithfully
Content by Richard Dillon
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Thanks Giving – audio
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Sometimes my prayers of thanksgiving are motivated more by habit than by heart.
“Father, I thank you so much for this food and for this day and for my family and for every blessing. Thank you for our house and our clothes and our friends. And, of course, thank you for Jesus.”
I can say all that—and quite a bit more—without thinking at all about what I’ve said.
Do you ever do this?
We fall so easily into the rut of ritualism, going through the motions because it’s what we’ve always done.
It can infect our worship. Have you ever sung an entire song without thinking about any of its words?
It can hurt our relationships. Our conversations with our spouse might never get deeper than the superficial.
“How are you?”
“Good—you?”
“Fine. How are the kids?”
“Oh, they’re good. How was your day?”
“Fine.”
We say a lot of stuff without really thinking about it.
One of the things I like about Thanksgiving is that it hasn’t yet become completely commercialized. At least not as much as most holidays. It’s still mostly about an important attitude, that of gratitude.
Let me urge you this week to take some time to do some focused thanks-giving.
Not the ritualistic, thank-you-for-this-day kind of gratitude, but genuine from-the-heart thanks giving.
Take a few minutes in a prayer that’s exclusively focused on thanking. During this prayer, don’t ask for anything. You can do that in another prayer today, but for now, just thank God.
Thank Him for who he is and what he’s done.
Thank Him for his creation, for his Son, for his church, for his salvation.
Thank Him for your family, your food, your friends.
Just thank Him.
George Herbert wrote:
“Thou hast given so much to me, Give one thing more—a grateful heart; Not thankful when it pleaseth me, As if Thy blessings had spare days, But such a heart whose pulse may be Thy praise.”
And Paul wrote:
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6-7
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Psalm 100 Truly Thankful – audio
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Text: Psalm 100:1-5
Introduction
Perhaps we have become too accustomed to our blessings.
Perhaps we need to be reminded as we approach Thanksgiving Day that there are some things for which we need to be truly thankful.
Psalm 100 is a Psalm of praise and Thanksgiving.
(Read Psalm 100:1-5)
Body
I find seven things in Psalm 100:3 and Psalm 100:5 for which we as Christians should truly be thankful.
I. THE LORD IS GOD – Psalm 100:3
Why should we be thankful that the Lord is God?
It is He that answers prayer.
It is He that protects.
It is He that forgives and gives eternal life through His Son.
It is He that says “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.”
No matter what goes wrong in your life today, the Lord is God!
No matter who is in the White House, the Kremlin, or Buckingham Palace, the Lord is God!
No matter how you feel the Lord is God!
He is always in control.
He is sovereign.
Nothing gets by Him.
Nothing takes Him by surprise!
II. THE LORD IS CREATOR – Psalm 100:3
It is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves;
My life is full of obligations, but my biggest obligation is to God.
One of the reasons that I am obligated to give thanks to God is because He is the one who has given me life.
He is my creator.
I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for my wonderful God who created me.
And the human body is a marvelous creation – Psalm 139:14
III. GOD IS OUR FATHER – Psalm 100:3
We are his people…
When this Psalm was written it was the children of Israel who could say We are his people…
Today God’s people are those who are His children:
Christian, your Heavenly Father loves you.
Christian, your Heavenly Father hears your prayers.
Christian, your Heavenly Father corrects you.
Christian, your Heavenly Father protects you.
Christian, your Heavenly Father is looking out for you.
Of course, this is another reason to be truly thankful!
IV. JESUS IS OUR SHEPHERD – Psalm 100:3
We are his people and the sheep of His pasture.
What is the job of a shepherd?
The job of the shepherd is to take care of the sheep.
That is exactly what Jesus, the Good Shepherd does – John 10:27-28
The best description of Jesus’ activity as the Good Shepherd is found in Psalm 23:1-5.
V. THE LORD IS GOOD – Psalm 100:5
The Lord is good.
· You have a home in Heaven. The Lord is good.
· You receive an answer to prayer. The Lord is good.
· You get a raise in pay. The Lord is good.
· A friend finds Christ as Savior. The Lord is good.
· You have a faithful and loving husband or wife. The Lord is good.
· You have great parents and/or kids and grandchildren. The Lord is good.
· You lose your job. The Lord is good.
· You are sick. The Lord is good.
· You lose a loved one. The Lord is good.
· Your spouse divorces you, your parents and children despise you. The Lord is good.
The Lord is good no matter what happens to you.
He does not stop being good.
He continues working all things together for good in our lives, even the bad things! – Romans 8:28
VI. THE LORD’S MERCY IS EVERLASTING – Psalm 100:5
When it comes to God’s mercy, His loving kindness, there is no limit.
God’s mercy or loving-kindness is at work in my life:
· When potential problems are solved God shows his loving-kindness.
· When He provides guidance God shows his loving-kindness.
· When He provides His peace God shows his loving-kindness.
It excites me to think that this loving-kindness to me is everlasting.
VII. THE LORD’S TRUTH ENDURES TO EVERY GENERATION
Sometimes we get concerned for our children and our grandchildren because of the increase in wickedness and danger in our society.
But God has given us His promise:
He will be faithful to the next generation of believers
As he has been to this generation
And to all the generations in the past
Conclusion
Psalm 100 has given us 7 reasons to be truly thankful:
1. THE LORD IS GOD – Psalm 100:3
2. THE LORD IS CREATOR – Psalm 100:3
3. GOD IS OUR FATHER – Psalm 100:3
4. JESUS IS OUR SHEPHERD – Psalm 100:3
5. THE LORD IS GOOD – Psalm 100:5
6. THE LORD’S MERCY IS EVERLASTING – Psalm 100:5
7. THE LORD’S TRUTH ENDURES TO EVERY GENERATION – Psalm 100:5
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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1 Peter 1:1 Pilgrims of the Dispersion – audio
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Text: 1 Peter 1:1
Introduction
1. Throughout the New Testament, various phrases are used to describe those people of God who make up the Lord’s church
a. Individually, they are referred to as disciples, saints, believers, priests, Christians, etc.
b. Collectively, they are called the church, the church of God, churches of Christ, the body of Christ, the temple of God, the family of God, etc.
c. Each of these terms describe various relationships maintained by those who are Christians
2. An interesting phrase not commonly used in reference to the people of God is found in 1 Peter 1:1, where Peter addresses the pilgrims of the Dispersion
3. A proper understanding of this phrase can be very beneficial, and give us insight into:
a. What the Christian life is
b. An important responsibility expected of Christians
c. Our true home, and goal in this life
Body
I. DEFINING PILGRIMS OF THE DISPERSION
A. THE WORD TRANSLATED PILGRIM IS INTERESTING
1. Transliterated from Grk., it is parepidemos which is a combination of three words:
a. para – alongside of
b. epi – upon
c. demos – used in Biblical Greek of the people of a heathen city
2. Here, then, is how Thayer defines the word parepidemos:
a. one who comes from a foreign country into a city or land to reside there by the side of the natives
b. a stranger
c. a foreigner
3. Another definition: One who stays in a place as a stranger or visitor
B. THE MEANING OF THE WORD DISPERSION
1. The Greek word means to sow, to scatter seed
2. The term is found in John 7:35, and there it refers to the Jews who were scattered among the Greeks
a. Some as a result of the Assyrian and Babylonian captivities
b. This has caused some to conclude that Peter was writing to Jewish Christians
c. Who were living in the regions of Asia Minor – 1 Peter 1:1
3. But there is good reason to believe that Peter was writing to ALL the Christians, both Jewish and Gentile, who were scattered throughout Asia Minor
a. Comments are made in this epistle that cannot be understood in reference to the original recipients being Jews – 1 Peter 1:14,18, 20-21
b. More likely, Peter employs terms once limited to the Jews, but now applicable to all who are in Christ
1) For example, terms like elect (1 Peter 1:2), holy nation (1 Peter 2:9), people of God (1 Peter 2:10)
2) Just as Paul did: circumcision (Philippians 3:3), Israel of God (Galatians 6:16)
4. If this be so, then Peter implies by using the term pilgrims of the dispersion that all Christians are:
a. Pilgrims living in a world not their own
b. Like scattered seed, spread out among those in the world
II. INSIGHTS FROM BEING CALLED PILGRIMS OF THE DISPERSION
A. THIS PHRASE REVEALS WHAT THE CHRISTIAN LIFE REALLY IS:
1. It is but a JOURNEY, begun when we first became Christians, ending only when we reach our true destination
a. This ought to affect our entire perspective on life
1) It is not an end in itself
2) Only a temporary trip toward our final destination
3) Our homes, our jobs, take on a different meaning when viewed in this light
b. This even ought to affect our perspective on death
1) Not the end of life, but the end of our journey!
2) Not the end of life, but the beginning of eternity in our true home!
2. Embarked on this JOURNEY, we become like our spiritual father, Abraham
a. Notice Hebrews 11:8-10, 13-16
b. If this be our attitude towards this life:
1) Then God is not ashamed to be called our God
2) And we can honestly sing songs like This World Is Not My Home
B. THIS PHRASE REMINDS US OF AN IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITY
1. Our responsibility as pilgrims is to be SEPARATE – 1 Peter 2:11-12
a. We may be in the world, but we are not to be of the world – John 17:15-16; 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1
b. Remaining separate may cause some in the world to think we are strange – 1 Peter 4:3-4
c. But Jesus said this would happen, even as it did to Him – John 15:18-19
2. Figuratively speaking, we should be like those foreign refugees now in our country:
a. Who resist giving up their heritage, their language
b. Who resist attempts to Americanize them and destroy their cultural traditions
3. Can it be said of us who are Christians, that we are keeping ourselves SEPARATE from the world?
a. Are we allowing the world to influence our:
1) Speech?
2) Dress?
3) Conduct?
b. If we so, then we are no longer pilgrims, but naturalized citizens of this world!
c. Remember John’s warning in 1 John 2:15-17
C. THIS PHRASE OUGHT TO REMIND US OF OUR TRUE HOME
1. Our citizenship is in heaven, from which we eagerly await our Savior – Philippians 3:20-21
2. We are to be looking for a new heavens and a new earth – 2 Peter 3:13-14
3. That is where we will find our true home, the CITY
a. which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God – Hebrews 11:10, 16
b. That is the one to come – Hebrews 13:14
c. That comes down out of heaven from God – Revelation 21:1 – 22:5
d. That is where we, who are now simply strangers and foreigners scattered like seed in this world, will one day be gathered together!
4. Those who are truly pilgrims will think often of their true home
a. When I lived in Vietnam, I thought often of my home in the states
b. And so we will think often of our heavenly home, if we are truly pilgrims of the Dispersion!
Conclusion
1. Are we pilgrims of the Dispersion? We are, if as Christians we:
a. View our life here on earth as a journey in a foreign land!
b. Keep ourselves separate from things in the world that would lead us away from God!
c. View as our true home, the heavenly city God has prepared from those who confess they are strangers and pilgrims on the earth!
2. But you are NOT a pilgrim of the Dispersion if:
a. You have not yet begun your spiritual sojourn by obeying the gospel of Christ!
b. Having done so, you allow the attractions of the world to entice you to settle down into things which would separate you from God!
3. Are YOU a pilgrim of the Dispersion?
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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A Partially Forgiven Christian? – audio
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Living in the past may make you feel only partially forgiven.
It’s a cliché, I know, but it became a cliché because it’s true: Don’t live in the past. When we do, we might feel like we are only partially forgiven.
Is that you? Are you beating yourself up over something you did years ago? Feeling partially forgiven because you can’t forgive yourself?
I think the apostle Paul struggled with his past.
In some of his letters he referred to his abuse of Christians years earlier in his life, before he became a Christian, calling himself the “worst” of sinners and the “least of the apostles” (1 Timothy 1:15; 1 Corinthians 15:9).
It bothered him. I’m guessing that every day of his life he saw in his mind the faces of some of the Christians he’d hurt.
Look forward instead of backward.
But he also recognized that those things no longer defined him.
Listen to what he says here:
Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 3:12-14).
He wasn’t a boastful Christian. He knew he wasn’t where he wanted to be or even where he ought to be, and that led him to look in the right direction.
Ahead.
He strained forward and kept his eyes focused on the finish line.
Humanly speaking, of course, he couldn’t completely forget the past, but he disciplined himself to press on toward that “upward call.”
Maybe that’s what you need to hear today.
Thank God for fully forgiving you.
If you’re living every day with the guilt of the past, it’s holding you back. You think more about what you’ve done to hurt God than what he’s done to heal you.
Think about Paul’s words today.
Thank God for forgiving you and redeeming you and saving you.
Remember… when God does something, he does it right – and that includes forgiveness.
There’s no such thing as a partially forgiven Christian. Jesus paid the full price.
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Isaiah 53:04-06 Jesus Bore it all that You Might Live – audio
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Text: Isaiah 53:4-6
Introduction
You and I have a great burden, load, or weight, something in which is very heavy, we can not bear alone.
This burden that needs lifted from our shoulders is the deadly weight of sin – 1 John 3:4
All of us have this weight on our shoulders – Romans 3:10, 23
Jesus bore all the weight of our sin on the cross that we might live. We stood condemned to die, but Jesus freely took our place that we might live – 1 Peter 2:24
Body
- Before Jesus went to the cross, He bore mockings of the solders whom stripped Him of His clothes and platted a crown of thorns on His head, saying “Hail King of the Jews – Matthew 27:27-31. Jesus, bore the physical pain and shame of crucifixion, He bore the cruel mockings of the Jews – Matthew 27:39-43. He also bore ridicule of one of the malefactors crucified with Him – Luke 23:39.
- Why did Jesus have to bear it all for the sins of the world? Because, almost all things, by the law, are purged by shedding blood – Hebrews 9:22. And that the animal sacrifices of the Law of Moses were not sufficient to take away sins – Hebrews 10:1-4. This is why Jesus offered himself once for the sins of the world because, He is the perfect sacrifice for sin – Hebrews 9:28.
- Jesus bore it all to break the chains/bonds of sin and to set the captives free. Jesus bore it all to conquer sin and death, so those that would believe and obey Jesus Christ would be saved – John 3:16.
- The Holy Spirit along with Jesus is pleading with you to come that you might live – Revelation 22:17.
Salvation: Hear - Believe - Repent - Confess - Be Baptized - Live Faithfully
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Hebrews 05:12-14 Essentials to Spiritual Maturity – audio
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Text: Hebrews 5:12-14
Introduction
- In II Peter 3:18, we are admonished by the Spirit of God to grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord. In 2 Thessalonians 1:3, we have an example of a congregation of the Lord whose faith grew exceedingly
- Regardless of your age, gender, or education, you can become an imitator, follower, and disciple of Jesus Christ – 1 Corinthians 11:1. But you must be willing & determined to let self (I) and the world come to death that Christ might live in you – Galatians 2:20
- Many people claim to be Christians, but how many of them have been truly converted to Jesus Christ? How many of them are imitating Jesus Christ in their lives, how many are following the footstep of Jesus – Luke 14:27, 33; John 8:31-32
It is essential you make a clean break with the world to grow in Christ.
- You cannot expect to live a “half-hearted” worldly lifestyle and grow into spiritual maturity. Have you ever known a new babe in Christ try to serve God while holding on to their former sinful lifestyle? It just cannot work, you need to decide to give up your old sinful lifestyle and live for Christ, it’s either the world or Christ, why not decide on Christ – Matthew 6:24; Revelation 3:14-16; Luke 9:62
- It’s essential to know the world’s value systems that many cling and cleave onto today are only temporal, they can only satisfy the flesh for a short time, but that longing in each & every soul to be satisfied & having fellowship with their Creator can only be found in Jesus Christ – Hebrews 11:24-25; Matthew 16:26; James 4:4
- It is essential to know that there are lines & boundaries from the Word of God that Christians are not to cross. Christians are not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers – 2 Corinthians 6:14-18. Christians are not to go places and be in communication with those that can compromise their influence in the world as salt – Matthew 5:13; I Thessalonians 5:22; 1 Corinthians 15:33
It is essential to be committed to the conversion process for salvation
- A commitment involving a conscious decision to put aside everything else in life and put God first at the top in everything that you do is required – Matthew 6:33
- It is important to realize in the conversion process that you will make mistakes along the way, but you will need the courage and commitment to ask God to forgive you of your sins and be determined to grow from your mistakes – James 5:16
- In the conversion process it is important that God talks to you, and this will require you to daily read and mediate on the Word of God because God speaks to us through Jesus, the Word of God – 2 Timothy 2:15; Hebrews 1:1-2
Salvation: Hear - Believe - Repent - Confess - Be Baptized - Live Faithfully
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Christ-Like Citizens – audio
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- Pray for elected officials – 1 Timothy 2:1-4
- Submit to elected officials – 1 Peter 2:13-17
- Recognize they are God’s ministers for good – Romans 13:1-7
As Good Stewards of the freedom we have been given,
Christians have a duty to exercise their responsibility as citizens.
The book of Acts shows that it was the Christians who were the best citizens in the empire.
What kind of story will history tell of us?
You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. – Matthew 5:13-16
But, I wonder how God’s people can be so moved by politics, but not
by their love of Jesus Christ. I find myself wishing that more Christians would:
- be as vocal about their Christianity as they are their politics.
- be as willing to promote Jesus Christ to the lost as they are their presidential candidate to their neighbors.
- be as willing to defend the doctrine of Christ as they are the platform of their political party.
- feel the need to be involved in the local church as they feel the need to go out and vote.
Do you not find it strange that God’s children can be moved to be so vocal and involved when it comes to politics, but so timid and uninvolved when it comes to Christianity?
Brethren, our actions betray us!
Passion is driven by love, and a lack of passion for the cause of Christ betrays our lack love for Him.
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Hebrews 11:6 Diligence – audio
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Text: Hebrews 11:6
I. WHAT IS DILIGENCE?
A. English definition: diligence – careful and persistent work or effort.
B. Two Greek words:
1. Spoude – “speed”, that is, (By implication) despatch, eagerness, earnestness: – business, (Earnest) care (-fulness), diligence forwardness, haste.
2. Ekzeteo – to search out, that is, (Figuratively) investigate, crave, demand, (By Hebraism) worship: – en- (Re-) quire, seek after (Carefully, diligently).
C. One Hebrew word: mishmar – a guard (The man, the post, or the prison); figuratively a deposit; also (As observed) a usage (Abstractly), or an example (Concretely): – diligence, guard, office, prison, ward, watch.
D. We demand diligence from…
1. Our doctors.
a) We expect them to have been diligent in their studies.
b) We expect them to be diligent in their treatment of us and our loved ones.
c) I recently heard someone saying that they were changing doctors because their doctor had prescribed a medicine to them and had not even bothered to see what other medicines they were taking. When this person read up on the new medicine he saw that it was never to be used with one of the medicines he was already taking. His doctor had not been careful (Or diligent).
2. Our bankers.
a) Would any of us ever dream of putting up with a sloppy banker?
b) We expect them to be thorough and persistent when they are dealing with our money.
3. Our children’s teachers.
a) We expect our children’s teachers to be careful and persistent.
b) We expect them to give time and attention to making sure that our children are learning what they are supposed to learn.
4. Our mechanics.
a) We pay them to fix problems.
b) We expect them to know how to fix the problems we are having.
5. Basically, we expect (Or at least desire) diligence from everyone with whom we deal on a daily basis.
E. We demonstrate diligence…
1. With our finances.
a) Savings.
b) Taxes.
c) Retirement.
d) Credit, Loans, Mortgages.
2. With our jobs (Hopefully).
a) We train.
b) We go to work daily.
c) We work hard.
3. With our homes and automobiles. (Maintenance and upkeep)
4. With our health. (Hopefully)
5. A lack of diligence in any of these areas can cause severe problems in our lives!
II. DILIGENCE IN OUR SALVATION.
A. Are we diligent in the one area that matters more than any other?
B. Your salvation ought to be the most important thing in your life.
1. Matthew 16:26. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
2. Colossians 3:1-4. If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
C. We are told to be diligent with our salvation.
1. 2 Timothy 2:15. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
a) Part of presenting ourselves approved to God requires us to rightly divide the word.
b) To know it, interpret it correctly.
c) This takes time and effort.
2. 2 Peter 3:14. Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless
a) Listen up!
b) Jesus is coming back some day! He is!!!
c) You be careful. You be persistent in His service.
d) Trust me. You want to be found without spot and blameless when He comes.
3. Romans 12:10-11. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord
a) Where there is no fervency, diligence lags.
b) Fervency – heat, boiling.
c) Are you hot or cold?
4. Hebrews 11:6. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
a) God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
b) Does “diligent” describe how you seek God?
c) If you were on trial for being a seeker of God, would there be sufficient evidence to convict you?
III. DILIGENCE IN GUARDING OUR HEART.
A. Proverbs 4:23. Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.
1. This passage says to guard your heart with the diligence of a prison guard.
2. Prison guards we responsible for their prisoners.
3. If one escaped, they had to take their place.
4. They were very diligent in their duties.
5. The Philippian Jailer was about to kill himself when he thought his prisoners had escaped. Acts 16:27. And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself.
B. But what does it mean to guard our heart?
1. The “heart” is not talking about our blood pump.
2. It is referring to our mind.
3. Guarding our heart is talking about controlling our passions and desires.
a) 1 Corinthians 9:27. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
b) Proverbs 25:28. Whoever has no rule over his own spirit Is like a city broken down, without walls.
c) If we never allow sin to reign in our minds, it will not show itself in our actions.
4. Matthew 5:27-28. “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
IV. DILIGENCE IN SPIRITUAL GROWTH.
A. 2 Peter 1:10. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;
1. Do what things?
2. 2 Peter 1:5-7. But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.
3. We are to add these qualities to our character.
4. This is talking about spiritual growth.
B. We must be diligent in seeking spiritual growth.
1. All of us ought to be advancing to the place where we can teach others. Hebrews 5:12. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
a) Think about the diligence it requires to be a teacher in a secular school.
b) Those who want to be teachers must go through several years of instruction.
c) They are held accountable for learning the material. TESTS.
d) Do we put forth the same effort to become spiritual teachers?
(1) What if I gave you a test today?
(2) Tell what the Bible teaches in regard to the following: Give Bible references:
(a) The deity of Christ.
(b) The oneness of the church.
(c) Scriptural organization of the church.
(d) Christian worship.
(i) Acts of worship.
(ii) Time of worship.
(e) Sinfulness of denominationalism.
(3) These are not unreasonable questions.
(4) If you don’t have all of the information off the top of your head, do you know where to find it?
2. All of us must sanctify the Lord in our hearts and be ready to give an answer. 1 Peter 3:15. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear
V. DILIGENCE IN PASSING ON KNOWLEDGE TO THOSE WHO FOLLOW.
A. 2 Peter 1:15. Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease.
1. Peter was writing because he knew that his life was near it’s end.
2. He wanted to make sure that those who succeeded him would be adequately prepared face whatever life threw at them.
B. I think we all understand that we have an obligation to the next generation to pass on those things that we have learned.
1. Deuteronomy 6:4-9. “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
2. Ephesians 6:4. And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
3. Are we diligent in this?
a) Do we take an active part in the spiritual education of our children or do we leave that to the Bible class teachers?
b) It is not the church’s responsibility to bring your child up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. It is your responsibility.
(1) One of the tools you can use is Bible Class.
(2) Are you using it?
c) You ought to be involved with the spiritual education of your children.
d) Home devotionals in the evening.
VI. WHAT PRODUCES DILIGENCE?
A. Godly sorrow. 2 Corinthians 7:10-11. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
1. Have you ever messed up and let someone down and then used that to motivate you to do better from that point on?
2. Godly sorrow produced diligence in the Corinthians.
3. Their sorrow over their sin and shortcomings led them to strive to do better.
B. All of us have sinned. Romans 3:23. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
1. Those who are truly sorry (Godly sorrow) use their past failures as a way of motivating their selves for the future.
2. That does not mean that we “beat ourselves up” over these past failures. Philippians 3:13-14. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
VII. DILIGENCE TO THE END.
A. Our diligence must endure to the end.
Hebrews 6:10-12. For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
B. Those who inherit the promises are the ones who have been found diligent at the time of their death.
Ezekiel 18:21-24. “But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; because of the righteousness which he has done, he shall live. Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?” says the Lord GOD, “and not that he should turn from his ways and live? “But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All the righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; because of the unfaithfulness of which he is guilty and the sin which he has committed, because of them he shall die.
Delivered on: October 9, 2011. Streetsboro.
Content by Ralph Price
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1 Peter 03:10 Lies and Deceit – audio
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Text: 1 Peter 3:10
Introduction
1. In honor of the upcoming elections, today we are going to discuss LIES AND DECEIT.
2. James 3:6-8. And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
3. The world is full of liars.
4. From a very young age, we learn that it is wrong to lie and yet of all the sins of the tongue, lying is the most common.
5. In our society, it has gotten to the point that almost never take a person at their word.
6. How does God view lying?
7. What is a lie?
8. Is telling a half-truth a lie?
9. What is the difference between lying and deceiving?
10. Let’s explore these and other questions in regard to LIES AND DECEPTION.
Body
I. DEFINITIONS
A. Lie – An intentionally false statement.
1. This is what we usually think of when we think of a lie.
2. Intentionally making a false statement.
3. Oftentimes, we say things that are not true because we know no better. This is not, by definition, a lie.
a) We need to realize that, especially in things pertaining to God, we are going to be held responsible for knowing the truth so that we don’t say things that are untrue.
b) James 3:1. My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.
c) Ephesians 5:6. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
d) 1 John 4:1. Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
4. 1 Kings 13:18. He said to him, “I too am a prophet as you are, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the Lord, saying, ‘Bring him back with you to your house, that he may eat bread and drink water.’” (He was lying to him.)
B. Deceive – to cause someone to believe something that is not true.
1. Deceit – The action or practice of deceiving someone by concealing or misrepresenting the truth.
2. Deception is a broader term than lying.
a) All lies are deceit but you can deceive without telling a lie.
b) The end result is the same – namely, someone believes something to be true which is not true.
c) It is how you get there that is different.
d) For example:
(1) Cookie thief.
(2) “Is your dad home? …”
3. This is where many (But not all) politicians make their living.
a) They do not tell (Usually) outright lies. If so, they could get into serious trouble.
b) What they often do is misrepresent the truth.
(1) By taking quotes out of context.
(2) By twisting and distorting the truth.
(3) By only telling part of the truth and leaving out inconvenient truths.
4. This is also where many false religious teachers make their living.
a) These people handle the word of God deceitfully. 2 Corinthians 4:2. But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
b) They quote scripture out of context.
(1) Exodus 21:23-25. But if any harm follows, then you shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.
(2) Matthew 5:38-42. “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.
c) They twist and distort the truth. 2 Peter 3:16. As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.
(1) The truth about the second coming of Jesus is distorted to teach the false doctrine of the rapture. 1 Thessalonians 4:17. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
(2) The truth about the foundation of the church is corrupted by the Catholic church. Matthew 16:18. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
d) They leave out inconvenient truths.
(1) They affirm the need for faith to be saved. Acts 16:30-31. And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
(2) They don’t mention the need for baptism. Mark 16:16. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
(3) Psalm 119:160. The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.
II. GOD’S VIEW OF LYING AND DECEIT
A. Note these passages:
1. Exodus 20:16. “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”
2. Proverbs 6:16-17. These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood
3. Proverbs 12:22. Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, But those who deal truthfully are His delight.
4. Proverbs 13:5. A righteous man hates lying, But a wicked man is loathsome and comes to shame.
5. Proverbs 19:5. A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who speaks lies will not escape.
6. Proverbs 20:17. Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.
7. 1 Peter 2:1. Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking
8. Revelation 21:8. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
9. Revelation 21:27. But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
B. Lies and deceit are wrong because:
1. God said they are wrong. (See above)
2. They violate Matthew 7:12. Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
3. They ruin lives.
a) Proverbs 11:9. The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor, But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.
b) Proverbs 26:18-19. Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death, Is the man who deceives his neighbor, And says, “I was only joking!”
4. They destroy relationships.
5. They hurt the church.
III. THE REMEDY FOR LYING
A. The remedy for lying is the same as the remedy for every other sin: REPENT.
B. Ephesians 4:17-25. This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.
Conclusion
1. “It’s just a little white lie…”
2. There is no such thing.
3. Lies and deceit will cause us to be lost if we don’t repent.
4. 1 Peter 3:10. For “He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit.”
Delivered on: November 4, 2012. Streetsboro.
Content by Ralph Price
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James 05:19-20 Restoring Straying Saints – audio
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Text: James 5:19-20
Introduction
1. As James comes to the close of his epistle, he stresses the importance of restoring those who wander from the truth:
2. Restoring straying saints is a responsibility given to ALL who are truly the children of God – Galatians 6:1-2; 1 Thessalonians 5:14
3. Yet, it is a responsibility that is so easy to neglect, and in most cases IS neglected!
4. The purpose of this lesson is two-fold:
a. To impress upon our minds the importance of engaging in this work of restoring straying saints
b. To tell us how we should carry out this important work
Body
I. THE CONDITION OF SAINTS WHO HAVE STRAYED FROM THE TRUTH
A. AS DEFINED BY JAMES IN OUR TEXT
1. They are in danger of DEATH! – James 5:20
2. One who has wandered from the truth has also wandered from the from the source of forgiveness – 1 John 1:6-7
3. Separated from the blood of Christ to cleanse him of his sins, he is in danger of suffering the consequences of sin: DEATH! – Romans 6:23
B. AS DEPICTED BY PETER
1. “The latter end is worse for them than the beginning” – 2 Peter 2:20-22
2. That such a person is in danger of more serious punishment is stressed by Jesus – Luke 12:47-48
C. AS DESCRIBED IN THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS – Hebrews 10:26-31
1. “There no longer remains a sacrifice for sins” — the blood of Christ is no longer available for him in this state!
2. “but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation” — all that remains is to be eternally lost in hell!
3. “much worse punishment…will he be thought worthy” — because such a person is trampling underfoot the Son of God, counting the blood of Jesus which had sanctified him a common thing, and is insulting the Spirit of grace!
4. “the LORD will judge His people” — for those who despise His mercy, they will face His righteous indignation!
D. AS DECLARED BY JESUS HIMSELF
1. Such will be removed from His presence! – Revelation 2:4-5
2. He will expel such from His presence! – Revelation 3:15-16
E. When we truly understand the spiritual condition of our friends and loved ones who have strayed from the truth, it should move us to do something!
II. RESTORING STRAYING SAINTS
A. IT REQUIRES SPECIAL ATTRIBUTES
1. PEOPLE WHO ARE SPIRITUAL – Galatians 6:1
a. Those who are producing the fruit of the Spirit in their own lives – Galatians 5:22-23
b. Unqualified personnel need not apply for this work
1) They might best work on themselves first – Matthew 7:3-4
2) Then they can help others – Matthew 7:5
2. A SPIRIT OF GENTLENESS – Galatians 6:1
a. We are engaged in delicate “soul surgery”
b. This is not the time to misuse the “sword of the Spirit”!
3. A CONSTANT SENSE OF SELF-EXAMINATION – Galatians 6:1
a. If we are not careful, we can easily fall into the same fault!
b. As many do when they counsel those with marital problems without proper supervision
4. A WILLINGNESS TO BEAR ONE ANOTHER’S BURDENS – Galatians 6:2
a. Which involves an expense of time and energy to help the weak to overcome their faults
b. Our responsibility is not fulfilled by simply pointing out our brother’s faults!
5. HUMILITY
a. This is implied in Galatians 6:3
b. It is stated outright – 2 Timothy 2:24-26
c. People will not accept correction or advice coming from an arrogant person!
d. In many cases, we may need to confess our own sin of negligence first! (For not coming sooner)
6. AMPLE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD’S WORD – 2 Timothy 2:24
a. We must be able to teach and apply God’s Word to the situation
b. For it is important that they respond to GOD’S word, and not just to OUR views or opinions!
7. PATIENCE (Longsuffering) – 2 Timothy 2:24
a. The same kind that we receive from God for our faults
b. The same kind that Paul showed towards the church at <a target=”_blank” href=”http://www.biblemap.org/#Corinth”>Corinth</a> – 2 Corinthians 1:23-2:3
c. Of course, if repentance is not forthcoming, we can wait for only so long – 2 Corinthians 13:1-2
8. A SINCERE DEMONSTRATION OF LOVE
a. Both at the time of rebuke – 2 Corinthians 2:4
b. And at the time of repentance – 2 Corinthians 2:6-8
B. IT REQUIRES THE PROPER PROCEDURE
1. The wrong procedures:
a. Running around and talking to everyone but the person who needs to be corrected and restored!
b. Preaching about these people from the pulpit at the very outset!
c. Bringing it up at congregational business meetings at the very first!
2. The proper procedure is outlined by Jesus – Matthew 18:15-17
a. Even though the sin may not be against you personally
1) This is still a good way to avoid misunderstanding
2) This is still more likely to succeed
b. Therefore:
1) Go to the person first
2) Then take others, if necessary
3) Then tell it to the church, if necessary
4) If he won’t hear the church, withdraw any association that might appear to give approval to their behavior – 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15; Romans 16:17
Conclusion
1. The work of restoring or correcting saints may be unpleasant at times, but it has the potential for great joy!
a. Both in heaven: “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.” – Luke 15:7
b. And in our hearts: “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” – 3 John 1:4
2. It comes down to this:
a. Do we really love God?
b. Do we really love our straying brethren?
c. Read 1 John 3:16-19, and substitute “spiritual goods” for “world’s goods” to answer our question
3. Brethren, let us love one another!
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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