This is the first sermon in a seried The Promise. I preached this sermon November 1, 2009
Text: Genesis 3:14-21
Introduction: Wanda was preparing to vacuum her van Thursday evening and asked me to come empty the shop vac. When I lifted the lid I looked inside and saw one of Ethan’s small toys in the dirt and dust that must have been picked up the last time the van was vacuumed. I pulled it out and noticed something shiny. I thought it was a coin so I reached in the dirt and pulled it out and was shocked to discover it was a ring. Since about all we ever use the shop vac is for vacuuming the cars I thought it must be the wedding band of the last person that owned our van. But Wanda took it from me and said it was my wedding band. It couldn’t be! I lost my first wedding band about 8 years ago. I was living in Honaker and I remember searching frantically for it in the house, in the yard, in the car, at the church, everywhere I could possibly think. Then I waited months thinking it would turn up but it never did. I was so sad that I had lost it. Wanda bought me another one which I have now worn longer than the first one I had.
After all these years it turns up in the shop vac. Now don’t think I haven’t emptied the shop vac in 8 years, because I have many times. So all I can figure out is that I must have lost it in the car all those years ago and somehow the last time I vacuumed my car it picked it up. And here it was in the trash, and to think I almost threw it out with the rest of the trash.
That wedding band is a symbol a symbol of love, a symbol of commitment. But it is also a symbol of a promise I made to my wife in 1995. A promise to remain faithful, to love and to cherish…. When I retrieved the ring from the dirt and dust, it was tarnished, filthy, and dirty, it was beaten and battered. But this ring is still precious. Underneath that dirt and grime is still the precious gold metal. But more importantly the symbol has not changed. A promise was made a promise that I have kept and I still have every intention to honor and keep.
Mankind became tarnished, and filthy in sin when Adam and Eve rebelled against God in the garden of Eden. But God reached down into the trash heap of dirt and filth to retrieve something precious to him. He could have disposed of the trash and God being a holy and righteous God would have been just to do so. But Beneath the filth of sin was something that He still loved and cherished. And God made a promise to Adam, Eve and all humanity a promise that he has kept and a promise that he intends to keep.
Lets take a look at how mankind sinned, the result and the promise.
Curse
1. The consequence of their action
-curse over creation the serpant cursed above every beast (indicates all animal life cursed). The ground cursed, thorns and thistles….
Romans 8:21-22 21: Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22: For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
-Some may say, that is not fair, but you see creation is cursed because mankind was given dominion over it and we failed creation. And we still do fail it.
-curse of pain and sorrow – sorrow in childbirth, problems in the family, (the devil doesn’t have to work hard to attack the family because sin is at the heart of family problems), hard work and sweat and many times hard work that will produce unsatisfactory results.
-curse of death – not able to eat of the tree life – return to dust.
Crush
In the midst of the curse caused by sin, God makes a promise to crush sin’s power.
Enimity – enemy – Satan is the great enemy of the Christian, of the Church, and of the Lord. Satan is described as an enemy, a liar and the father of lies, a murderer, a thief, a tempter, he lays traps and snares, he hinders the work of the Christian, he is crafty and full of guile, a roaring lion, a sinner, a destroyer, a dragon are just a few of the descriptions. And he is your enemy.
-2 Cor 2:11 11: Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
God promises a seed of Eve(her seed, not Adam’s, an indication of the virgin birth) and that Satan will bruise his heel. This promise is not talking about a snake coming to bite you on the heel, it talking about Satan striking out at the seed of woman, who is the seed? It is none other than Christ. Satan struck a blow at Jesus, the scripture tells us that Satan himself entered into the heart of Judas Iscariot and he betrayed Jesus. Satan struck what he thought would be a fatal blow when Jesus died on the cross.
But God also made another promise that this seed will bruise (crush) his head. The head of satan was crushed when Jesus rose on the third day. -The wonderful promise we have in Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
And Jesus will strike the final blow when he returns.
Romans 16:20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Cure
Eve – mother of living - 20: And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. – Indicates that hope remains
Nakedness covered – 21: Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them. - Has your sin been covered by the blood of the lamb.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
In the Midst of the Years
I preached this sermon October 25, 2009
Text: Habakkuk 3:1-2
Introduction: What we need is genuine revival. A service full of energy and excitement is not revival. A large crowd doesn’t mean revival is taking place. Genuine revival iswhere people are surrendering to God.
He Saw A World Out of Control
1. Habakkuk lived in the southern kingdom of Judah during the time of Assyrian oppression. The Assyrian empire conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel and threatened to destroy the Southern Kingdom as well. Judah lived under the oppression of the Assyrians, in fact, it got to the point one time that Assyria surrounded Jerusalem and would have destroyed it had not God intervened.
2. Habakkuk looked around at his culture and society and did not like what he saw: Hab1:1-4 1: The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see. 2: O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! 3: Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance(wickedness)? for spoiling (destruction) and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention. 4: Therefore the law is slacked (abused), and judgment doth never go forth (justice abused): for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.
-Habakkuk begins this little book with a question. We could say it this way “God, I look around and see wickedness and I don’t understand why you do not pour out wrath and judgment against sin.”
-Habakkuk knew that in history God judged the wickedness of people precipitated God’s wrath (Noah, Sodom). If God did not act he would have to apologize to these people.
3. God answers Habakkuk vs 5 - 5: Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you. 6: For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs. 7: They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves. 8: Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat. 9: They shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup up as the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand. 10: And they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn unto them: they shall deride every strong hold; for they shall heap dust, and take it. 11: Then shall his mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, imputing this his power unto his god.
-In other words, God is going to judge the Israelites for their sins and use the Babylonians to accomplish his judgment (they weren’t even a threat at the time of Habakkuk).
-the people had become smug and indifferent over the fact that the Assyrians could not overcome them. They thought as long as the temple is in Jerusalem they will be safe. Their sin doesn’t matter because God will not let the temple be destroyed.
He Heard of God's Great Acts in the Past
1. Habakkuk began his book with a question wondering why God doesn’t act. God answers and shows him the judgment and utter destruction to come to Jerusalem. And now he ends the book with a prayer that is meant to be sung, an act of worship.
2. I have heard thy speech and was afraid – literally he has heard of God’s great acts in history and he is awestruck.What are the things in the past he has heard? God’s promises fulfilled to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, He heard of God’s deliverance of the Israelites to the promised land of Canaan. He heard of God bringing the Israelites into the land of promise under the leadership of Joshua. He heard of God’s times of deliverance under the judges. He heard of God man David defeated Goliath and his enemies. He heard how that God’s glory filled the temple when dedicated by Solomon.
He Pleads for Revival
1. Revive thy work – do again what you once did. He wants to see God work with his own eyes.
2. In the midst of the years – in the midst of this wicked culture and society send a revival.
3. He appeals to God’s mercy that endures forever
Text: Habakkuk 3:1-2
Introduction: What we need is genuine revival. A service full of energy and excitement is not revival. A large crowd doesn’t mean revival is taking place. Genuine revival iswhere people are surrendering to God.
He Saw A World Out of Control
1. Habakkuk lived in the southern kingdom of Judah during the time of Assyrian oppression. The Assyrian empire conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel and threatened to destroy the Southern Kingdom as well. Judah lived under the oppression of the Assyrians, in fact, it got to the point one time that Assyria surrounded Jerusalem and would have destroyed it had not God intervened.
2. Habakkuk looked around at his culture and society and did not like what he saw: Hab1:1-4 1: The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see. 2: O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! 3: Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance(wickedness)? for spoiling (destruction) and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention. 4: Therefore the law is slacked (abused), and judgment doth never go forth (justice abused): for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.
-Habakkuk begins this little book with a question. We could say it this way “God, I look around and see wickedness and I don’t understand why you do not pour out wrath and judgment against sin.”
-Habakkuk knew that in history God judged the wickedness of people precipitated God’s wrath (Noah, Sodom). If God did not act he would have to apologize to these people.
3. God answers Habakkuk vs 5 - 5: Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you. 6: For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs. 7: They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves. 8: Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat. 9: They shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup up as the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand. 10: And they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn unto them: they shall deride every strong hold; for they shall heap dust, and take it. 11: Then shall his mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, imputing this his power unto his god.
-In other words, God is going to judge the Israelites for their sins and use the Babylonians to accomplish his judgment (they weren’t even a threat at the time of Habakkuk).
-the people had become smug and indifferent over the fact that the Assyrians could not overcome them. They thought as long as the temple is in Jerusalem they will be safe. Their sin doesn’t matter because God will not let the temple be destroyed.
He Heard of God's Great Acts in the Past
1. Habakkuk began his book with a question wondering why God doesn’t act. God answers and shows him the judgment and utter destruction to come to Jerusalem. And now he ends the book with a prayer that is meant to be sung, an act of worship.
2. I have heard thy speech and was afraid – literally he has heard of God’s great acts in history and he is awestruck.What are the things in the past he has heard? God’s promises fulfilled to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, He heard of God’s deliverance of the Israelites to the promised land of Canaan. He heard of God bringing the Israelites into the land of promise under the leadership of Joshua. He heard of God’s times of deliverance under the judges. He heard of God man David defeated Goliath and his enemies. He heard how that God’s glory filled the temple when dedicated by Solomon.
He Pleads for Revival
1. Revive thy work – do again what you once did. He wants to see God work with his own eyes.
2. In the midst of the years – in the midst of this wicked culture and society send a revival.
3. He appeals to God’s mercy that endures forever
Monday, October 12, 2009
An Anchor for the Soul
I preached this sermon October 11, 2009
Text: Hebrews 6:19
Introduction: Every ship needs an anchor on its voyage over across the sea and every person needs an anchor on this journey through day to day life. What is your anchor? The writer of Hebrews reminds us that we have a great anchor for the soul in our hope in Jesus Christ. In the stormy seas of the world, dear Christian, we have God’s anchor to see us through. If you don’t know Jesus as your Savior, you need God’s anchor for the soul. Let’s discover the benefits of God’s anchor for the soul.
The Anchor is Strong
The writer of Hebrews is encouraging his readers to remain faithful to the Lord and persevere in the midst of difficulty and trial. The writer is dealing with the fact there are many who make a profession of faith in Christ but whether it be persecution, tribulation, care of this world or the business of life no fruit is produced. They no longer continue to abide in Christ and are unfruitful. Here the writer of Hebrews is encouraging us that there is a strong anchor for the soul. God’s anchor for the soul. Why do we need a strong anchor?
An anchor for the troubled soul
An anchor for the lonely soul
An anchor for the warring soul
The Anchor is Sure
The anchor is sure and stedfast – sure in respect to us. In other words, our hope in Christ is sure in that God keeps his promises that he made to us!
The Anchor is Steadfast
The anchor is sure and steadfast – sure relates to us, but steadfast speaks of the anchor itself. It is firm in itself
Text: Hebrews 6:19
Introduction: Every ship needs an anchor on its voyage over across the sea and every person needs an anchor on this journey through day to day life. What is your anchor? The writer of Hebrews reminds us that we have a great anchor for the soul in our hope in Jesus Christ. In the stormy seas of the world, dear Christian, we have God’s anchor to see us through. If you don’t know Jesus as your Savior, you need God’s anchor for the soul. Let’s discover the benefits of God’s anchor for the soul.
The Anchor is Strong
The writer of Hebrews is encouraging his readers to remain faithful to the Lord and persevere in the midst of difficulty and trial. The writer is dealing with the fact there are many who make a profession of faith in Christ but whether it be persecution, tribulation, care of this world or the business of life no fruit is produced. They no longer continue to abide in Christ and are unfruitful. Here the writer of Hebrews is encouraging us that there is a strong anchor for the soul. God’s anchor for the soul. Why do we need a strong anchor?
An anchor for the troubled soul
An anchor for the lonely soul
An anchor for the warring soul
The Anchor is Sure
The anchor is sure and stedfast – sure in respect to us. In other words, our hope in Christ is sure in that God keeps his promises that he made to us!
The Anchor is Steadfast
The anchor is sure and steadfast – sure relates to us, but steadfast speaks of the anchor itself. It is firm in itself
Monday, September 28, 2009
The Marriage Supper
This is the last sermon in the Coming for the Bride series. I preached this sermon September 27, 2009.
Text: Revelation 19:6-9
Introduction: Soon after our last child left home for college, my husband was resting next to me on the couch with his head in my lap. I carefully removed his glasses. "You know, honey," I said sweetly, "without your glasses you look like the same handsome young man I married." "Honey," he replied with a grin, "without my glasses, you still look pretty good too!"
Last week’s message was for the lost, but this week’s message is for those who are Christians. The question is, “How do we look to Jesus?” When Christ comes back how will the bride be prepared?
Finally Ready
-the bride has made herself ready
Jesus went to prepare a place for you, but remember he is also preparing you for that place.
1 John 2:28 28: And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming
Finely Arrayed
the white linen – the righteousness of the saints
Are you working on your wedding dress?
Text: Revelation 19:6-9
Introduction: Soon after our last child left home for college, my husband was resting next to me on the couch with his head in my lap. I carefully removed his glasses. "You know, honey," I said sweetly, "without your glasses you look like the same handsome young man I married." "Honey," he replied with a grin, "without my glasses, you still look pretty good too!"
Last week’s message was for the lost, but this week’s message is for those who are Christians. The question is, “How do we look to Jesus?” When Christ comes back how will the bride be prepared?
Finally Ready
-the bride has made herself ready
Jesus went to prepare a place for you, but remember he is also preparing you for that place.
1 John 2:28 28: And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming
Finely Arrayed
the white linen – the righteousness of the saints
Are you working on your wedding dress?
Monday, September 21, 2009
Midnight Cry
This is the first of a two part sermon series Coming for the Bride. I preached this sermon on September 20, 2009.
Text: Matthew 25:1-13
Introduction: Back in 1998 when I fractured my skull and had to have reconstruction surgery I recall being prepped for surgery. I was laying on the gurney and a nurse administered an IV to me and said I am going to give you something to relax you and we will take you into surgery in just a few minutes. Sure enough, the medicine she gave me made me very relaxed and groggy and it took off the nervous edge I had about the surgery. I waited expecting any moment to be taken to surgery. I watched a large clock on the wall as the minutes passed. And a few minutes turned into an hour. By that time the medicine wore off. I was no longer relaxed. In fact I was more nervous, I was also very aggravated because I was wondering what in the world was going on. What was taking so long? About that time the doctor’s nurse came in the door and I overheard her saying to another nurse that she was sorry she was late but that she didn’t know there was a surgery today, that the doctor had not told her. At that time I panicked. The nurse was unprepared for surgery and if the doctor hadn’t told her was he then even prepared? It appeared that I was the only one prepared for surgery and at that point I did not want to go into surgery with out the doctor and his nurse well prepared to do the surgery. When the nurse came to my bed I suggested we put the surgery off to another day. But she insisted we needed to go ahead and do it. I probably needed a double dose of that IV medicine to relax me at that point.
One of the distinct teachings of the Bible and core beliefs of the Christian is the imminent return of Jesus Christ to rapture his church. The early church so anticipated the return of Christ that they would great one another with the words “Maranatha” meaning “the Lord is coming.” Instead of hello or goodbye they would say to one another “The Lord is coming.” As the centuries have passed we still watch and anticipate the coming of Christ.
Jesus is coming back for his church, of that there is no question. But the question is who will be prepared for his return? The rapture is only for those who have been born again. Those who are not Christians will be left behind to endure the years of tribulation to follow the rapture. Now is the time to prepare for the Lord’s return. One day there will be a midnight cry that the bridegroom has come and if you are not ready at the midnight cry it will be too late. This parable of the 10 virgins is a parable about being prepared for the coming of the bridegroom. There are 2 observations to make about the rapture of the church from this parable.
The Lengthy Delay of the Bridegroom
The hour was growing late. Now the 10 virgins all believed the bridegroom would come, that was not the problem. The problem was not whether or not he would come, the problem was being prepared for his coming. In other words, I have plenty of time to make preparation. They were all sleeping. But that was not the problem either. The five wise virgins could sleep in confidence knowing they had made preparation for the coming of the bridegroom. The foolish virgins should have used that time to make preparation.
The Late Arrival of the Bridegroom
When the bridegroom comes the bride and bridal party (the virgins) would go in procession to the home of the bridegroom for the wedding celebration. The virgins were caught by surprise and five of them were unprepared. 2 Peter 3: 10: But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11: Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12: Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
Text: Matthew 25:1-13
Introduction: Back in 1998 when I fractured my skull and had to have reconstruction surgery I recall being prepped for surgery. I was laying on the gurney and a nurse administered an IV to me and said I am going to give you something to relax you and we will take you into surgery in just a few minutes. Sure enough, the medicine she gave me made me very relaxed and groggy and it took off the nervous edge I had about the surgery. I waited expecting any moment to be taken to surgery. I watched a large clock on the wall as the minutes passed. And a few minutes turned into an hour. By that time the medicine wore off. I was no longer relaxed. In fact I was more nervous, I was also very aggravated because I was wondering what in the world was going on. What was taking so long? About that time the doctor’s nurse came in the door and I overheard her saying to another nurse that she was sorry she was late but that she didn’t know there was a surgery today, that the doctor had not told her. At that time I panicked. The nurse was unprepared for surgery and if the doctor hadn’t told her was he then even prepared? It appeared that I was the only one prepared for surgery and at that point I did not want to go into surgery with out the doctor and his nurse well prepared to do the surgery. When the nurse came to my bed I suggested we put the surgery off to another day. But she insisted we needed to go ahead and do it. I probably needed a double dose of that IV medicine to relax me at that point.
One of the distinct teachings of the Bible and core beliefs of the Christian is the imminent return of Jesus Christ to rapture his church. The early church so anticipated the return of Christ that they would great one another with the words “Maranatha” meaning “the Lord is coming.” Instead of hello or goodbye they would say to one another “The Lord is coming.” As the centuries have passed we still watch and anticipate the coming of Christ.
Jesus is coming back for his church, of that there is no question. But the question is who will be prepared for his return? The rapture is only for those who have been born again. Those who are not Christians will be left behind to endure the years of tribulation to follow the rapture. Now is the time to prepare for the Lord’s return. One day there will be a midnight cry that the bridegroom has come and if you are not ready at the midnight cry it will be too late. This parable of the 10 virgins is a parable about being prepared for the coming of the bridegroom. There are 2 observations to make about the rapture of the church from this parable.
The Lengthy Delay of the Bridegroom
The hour was growing late. Now the 10 virgins all believed the bridegroom would come, that was not the problem. The problem was not whether or not he would come, the problem was being prepared for his coming. In other words, I have plenty of time to make preparation. They were all sleeping. But that was not the problem either. The five wise virgins could sleep in confidence knowing they had made preparation for the coming of the bridegroom. The foolish virgins should have used that time to make preparation.
The Late Arrival of the Bridegroom
When the bridegroom comes the bride and bridal party (the virgins) would go in procession to the home of the bridegroom for the wedding celebration. The virgins were caught by surprise and five of them were unprepared. 2 Peter 3: 10: But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11: Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12: Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Missions, The Energy of the Church
This is the final sermon in the Back to Church series. I preached this message September 13, 2009.
Text: Revelation 7:9-10
Introduction: When most people first get saved, they are eager to serve the Lord and eager to reach out to lost people. There is just something about having Jesus in your heart that makes you want everybody to experience the same peace and joy that you do. Usually baby Christians are bursting with energy (and it doesn’t seem to matter the physical age.) But something happens as the years pass. For whatever reason that same energy we had begins to wane. We see young Christians full of energy serving the Lord and we wonder how we lost that energy and we long to have it back. Unlike me being able to have the physical energy of my children that has waned because of age, I can have a renewed energy to serve the Lord. How can that energy return? It is when I engage in the mission that God has given us.
Jesus left us with what we often call the great commission , immediately before Christ’s ascension he said these words recorded in Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Missions is the energy of the church. When you are on mission it energizes you (example of a mission team).
A commitment to missions will renew your energy for serving the Lord and missions will energize our church. How can we renew our commitment to missions? The energy for missions springs from 2 things:
Energy Springs from the Vision
John sees multitudes of people gathered around the throne. These are people of all the nations of the earth (what missionaries call people groups). The number of which is so great that no man could count the number. They are wearing robes symbolizing purity, their sins washed in the blood of the lamb, and the palms (Branches of the palm-tree were carried by the victors in the athletic contests of Greece and Rome, and in triumphal processions.) symbolizing victory, the victory over death won by Christ. What an awesome vision, a snapshot of a heavenly future. This vision is confirmed by Christ’s word Matthew 24:14 14: And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
-If Acts 1:8 is the mission, then Rev 7:9 is the vision. The vision to energize us to complete the mission. (problem of people misunderstanding the need for foreign missions excusing their lack of foreign missions as the need for local missions, but we are to do all of these and not neglect any, the key word in Acts 1:8 is “and,” ).-So while this vision of the future is what we are anticipating, there is another type of vision we need to energize us for the mission. We need the vision of Jesus in our everyday lives. In other words, we need to look at the world around us as Jesus would look. -Matthew 9:36-38 gives us a look through the eyes of Christ himself. 36: But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. 37: Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38: Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
First, as Jesus saw the multitudes he was moved with compassion, why because he saw them as sheep without a shepherd (a sheep without a shepherd is vulnerable to predators and other dangers.) They need to great shepherd John 10:11-15 11: I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12: But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13: The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14: I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15: As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
Second he saw a harvest that is ready but laborers that are few. Here is the problem, God’s people often see the harvest as the problem, but the problem is there are too few laborers It is easier to blame the harvest than to accept that fact that God’s people re not working the fields. My challenge to you this week is to see the world around you through the eyes of Jesus. The coworker who gets on your nerves doesn’t need a critic but needs a shepherd, that neighbor having problems doesn’t need a gossip, but needs Christ. That family member living in sin doesn’t need judgment but needs Jesus.
Energy Springs from the Voice
That is how they cried out in praise to God, but notice what the content of their expression of praise says. Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. This is an expression stating that God alone is the author of salvation. And Jesus Christ is the one who purchase our salvation by his death and shed blood on the cross.
Acts 4:12 12: Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
John 14 6: Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
These saints from every nation on the earth proclaim salvation in Christ alone. In other words, these people from all around the world came to the throne of God one way, through Jesus. No other name, no other religion, no other God. Nor could they save themselves by their own works.
-That is the voice of missions. That salvation is through Christ alone. That is the voice of the church, what we proclaim. We proclaim salvation loudly, we don’t apologize for it, we don’t try to hide it, we don’t try to water it down or sugar coat the message. Jesus is the truth and he said you will know the truth and truth will make you free.
– 1 Peter 3:15 15: But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Text: Revelation 7:9-10
Introduction: When most people first get saved, they are eager to serve the Lord and eager to reach out to lost people. There is just something about having Jesus in your heart that makes you want everybody to experience the same peace and joy that you do. Usually baby Christians are bursting with energy (and it doesn’t seem to matter the physical age.) But something happens as the years pass. For whatever reason that same energy we had begins to wane. We see young Christians full of energy serving the Lord and we wonder how we lost that energy and we long to have it back. Unlike me being able to have the physical energy of my children that has waned because of age, I can have a renewed energy to serve the Lord. How can that energy return? It is when I engage in the mission that God has given us.
Jesus left us with what we often call the great commission , immediately before Christ’s ascension he said these words recorded in Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Missions is the energy of the church. When you are on mission it energizes you (example of a mission team).
A commitment to missions will renew your energy for serving the Lord and missions will energize our church. How can we renew our commitment to missions? The energy for missions springs from 2 things:
Energy Springs from the Vision
John sees multitudes of people gathered around the throne. These are people of all the nations of the earth (what missionaries call people groups). The number of which is so great that no man could count the number. They are wearing robes symbolizing purity, their sins washed in the blood of the lamb, and the palms (Branches of the palm-tree were carried by the victors in the athletic contests of Greece and Rome, and in triumphal processions.) symbolizing victory, the victory over death won by Christ. What an awesome vision, a snapshot of a heavenly future. This vision is confirmed by Christ’s word Matthew 24:14 14: And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
-If Acts 1:8 is the mission, then Rev 7:9 is the vision. The vision to energize us to complete the mission. (problem of people misunderstanding the need for foreign missions excusing their lack of foreign missions as the need for local missions, but we are to do all of these and not neglect any, the key word in Acts 1:8 is “and,” ).-So while this vision of the future is what we are anticipating, there is another type of vision we need to energize us for the mission. We need the vision of Jesus in our everyday lives. In other words, we need to look at the world around us as Jesus would look. -Matthew 9:36-38 gives us a look through the eyes of Christ himself. 36: But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. 37: Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38: Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
First, as Jesus saw the multitudes he was moved with compassion, why because he saw them as sheep without a shepherd (a sheep without a shepherd is vulnerable to predators and other dangers.) They need to great shepherd John 10:11-15 11: I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12: But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13: The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14: I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15: As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
Second he saw a harvest that is ready but laborers that are few. Here is the problem, God’s people often see the harvest as the problem, but the problem is there are too few laborers It is easier to blame the harvest than to accept that fact that God’s people re not working the fields. My challenge to you this week is to see the world around you through the eyes of Jesus. The coworker who gets on your nerves doesn’t need a critic but needs a shepherd, that neighbor having problems doesn’t need a gossip, but needs Christ. That family member living in sin doesn’t need judgment but needs Jesus.
Energy Springs from the Voice
That is how they cried out in praise to God, but notice what the content of their expression of praise says. Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. This is an expression stating that God alone is the author of salvation. And Jesus Christ is the one who purchase our salvation by his death and shed blood on the cross.
Acts 4:12 12: Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
John 14 6: Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
These saints from every nation on the earth proclaim salvation in Christ alone. In other words, these people from all around the world came to the throne of God one way, through Jesus. No other name, no other religion, no other God. Nor could they save themselves by their own works.
-That is the voice of missions. That salvation is through Christ alone. That is the voice of the church, what we proclaim. We proclaim salvation loudly, we don’t apologize for it, we don’t try to hide it, we don’t try to water it down or sugar coat the message. Jesus is the truth and he said you will know the truth and truth will make you free.
– 1 Peter 3:15 15: But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Monday, September 7, 2009
Sunday School, the Strength of the Church
This is the third sermon in the Back to Church series. I preached this sermon September 6, 2009.
Text: Proveberbs 24-3-5
Introduction: My earliest memory of church is going to Sunday School at Bond Memorial Church in Crab Orchard as a small child. I was probably in Kindergarten or First Grade. My uncle and aunt took me. And was probably the only time I went until a teen ager. And I don’t remember much but I do remember going to Sunday School. In fact, I don’t remember if I even went to a worship service. But I remember being excited about giving some change to the offering. I also remember sitting in Sunday School class coloring a picture of Jesus on the cross. Very likely my first exposure to the gospel.
Now I can’t tell you much more than that, but most of my memory is feeling. The excitement about putting money in the offering plate, the curiosity of walking to the class room wondering what was going on. The bright colors I used to color the picture. My teacher smiled and laughed. I felt happy, I liked being there.
But here is the important thing. Sunday School was what was used to reach a kid in the community for Jesus. Sunday School was where I first heard of Jesus. Sunday school planted a seed in my heart.
Many experts today say that Sunday School is outdated, it is a thing of the past and no longer relevant to the 21st century. The trend now is small groups, or cell groups. A group of church members meet together for a bible study and fellowship in the small group method. Sounds like Sunday School to me.
I contend that Sunday School is the strength of the church. A strong church has a strong Sunday School (or cell groups ministry). In other words, it is vital to the church to have groups of members meeting for fellowship, Bible study and ministry. It is important that each member here make Sunday School attendance a priority not only for the strength and health of the church, but also for your own spiritual strength and health. Sunday School is not a thing of the past, but a thing to ensure the future of the church.
Now there is no mention of Sunday School in scripture, but there are scriptural principles we can learn from this text today to help us see why Sunday School is the strength of the church.
Build vs 3
-outreach beyond the 4 walls of the church building.
- Proverbs 11:30 30: The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
-being a soul winner! Are you interested in souls? We need to pray for a renewed interest in lost souls and do what it takes to win souls. We need to tell others about Christ. We need to invite them to Sunday School.
– Experts say that about 90% of the unchurched would come to church if simply invited. (I must only know the 10%). Whether or not that statistic is accurate or not, I don’t know, but I do know this, 100% will not come if not asked.
-Evangelism is one of the purposes of Sunday School.
Filled vs 4
-The key word here is filled – this is evident of God’s blessings. By wisdom (fear of the Lord), we build the house (reach out). God will fill it the house. The apostle Paul puts it in another way: 1 Cor 3 6: I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7: So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
-God said “Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.”
-The precious treasure is God’s people 1 Peter 2:3-5 3: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 4: To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5: Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
-Fellowship is important to the Christian life – a lone ranger Christian just isn’t what God intended 1 John 1 7: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Increase vs 5
-The key word in this verse is increase. We come to Sunday School to study the bible and we increase in wisdom and knowledge of God’s word. Sunday School is one of the best ways to help you and I to grow spiritually.
-Spiritual growth is a command 2 Peter 3:18 18: But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
-1 Peter 2:2 2: As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
Text: Proveberbs 24-3-5
Introduction: My earliest memory of church is going to Sunday School at Bond Memorial Church in Crab Orchard as a small child. I was probably in Kindergarten or First Grade. My uncle and aunt took me. And was probably the only time I went until a teen ager. And I don’t remember much but I do remember going to Sunday School. In fact, I don’t remember if I even went to a worship service. But I remember being excited about giving some change to the offering. I also remember sitting in Sunday School class coloring a picture of Jesus on the cross. Very likely my first exposure to the gospel.
Now I can’t tell you much more than that, but most of my memory is feeling. The excitement about putting money in the offering plate, the curiosity of walking to the class room wondering what was going on. The bright colors I used to color the picture. My teacher smiled and laughed. I felt happy, I liked being there.
But here is the important thing. Sunday School was what was used to reach a kid in the community for Jesus. Sunday School was where I first heard of Jesus. Sunday school planted a seed in my heart.
Many experts today say that Sunday School is outdated, it is a thing of the past and no longer relevant to the 21st century. The trend now is small groups, or cell groups. A group of church members meet together for a bible study and fellowship in the small group method. Sounds like Sunday School to me.
I contend that Sunday School is the strength of the church. A strong church has a strong Sunday School (or cell groups ministry). In other words, it is vital to the church to have groups of members meeting for fellowship, Bible study and ministry. It is important that each member here make Sunday School attendance a priority not only for the strength and health of the church, but also for your own spiritual strength and health. Sunday School is not a thing of the past, but a thing to ensure the future of the church.
Now there is no mention of Sunday School in scripture, but there are scriptural principles we can learn from this text today to help us see why Sunday School is the strength of the church.
Build vs 3
-outreach beyond the 4 walls of the church building.
- Proverbs 11:30 30: The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
-being a soul winner! Are you interested in souls? We need to pray for a renewed interest in lost souls and do what it takes to win souls. We need to tell others about Christ. We need to invite them to Sunday School.
– Experts say that about 90% of the unchurched would come to church if simply invited. (I must only know the 10%). Whether or not that statistic is accurate or not, I don’t know, but I do know this, 100% will not come if not asked.
-Evangelism is one of the purposes of Sunday School.
Filled vs 4
-The key word here is filled – this is evident of God’s blessings. By wisdom (fear of the Lord), we build the house (reach out). God will fill it the house. The apostle Paul puts it in another way: 1 Cor 3 6: I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7: So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
-God said “Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.”
-The precious treasure is God’s people 1 Peter 2:3-5 3: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 4: To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5: Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
-Fellowship is important to the Christian life – a lone ranger Christian just isn’t what God intended 1 John 1 7: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Increase vs 5
-The key word in this verse is increase. We come to Sunday School to study the bible and we increase in wisdom and knowledge of God’s word. Sunday School is one of the best ways to help you and I to grow spiritually.
-Spiritual growth is a command 2 Peter 3:18 18: But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
-1 Peter 2:2 2: As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
Worship, the Life of the Church
This is the second sermon in the Back to Church series. I preached this sermon August 30, 2009.
Text: Psalm 96
Introduction
Once I took a group of teenagers on a wild tour of Appalachian Caverns in Blountville….I sent in my deposit, had our date for the event ready and took off with a group of teenagers. I figured it would be a good idea to bring flashlights and so I told the kids to bring them. It was in the middle of summer we wore our shorts and t-shirts and some teens dressed in pretty nice clothing. When we arrived our guide took one look at us and became angry. She wanted to know why we were wearing shorts. She wanted to know where our gloves were. She wanted to know why we were so unprepared to go exploring the cave. My problem was I had no idea what she was talking about. She asked if I even bothered to read the information they sent to us concerning the tour. I told her ”No” because I had not received any information. She stormed into the office to talk to the manager and returned a little more sheepish. Apparently the letter was still sitting in the office. They were still unsure weather or not to take us in the cave because we were unprepared. But they were able to get us some hard hats with lights and off we went. We came back covered in mud, beat and banged up. We didn’t bring a change of clothes because we were unprepared. If only we had been properly prepared we would have been much more happy and our guide would have been much more happy.
I have a question “Did you come prepared to worship today?” Worship on Sunday takes preparation. Unlike me in my story we can’t plead ignorance. God has given us his word and it is up to us to read it, to study it, to learn it and to prepare ourselves to worship him.
You not only dishonor God, but you rob yourself of a blessing when you do not attend corporate worship on Sundays. And if you come to worship unprepared you will not please the Lord and you will not be blessed. We come many Sundays and wonder why we get nothing out of it, it is because we weren’t prepared to receive the blessing. But if you come prepared God will be honored and you will leave a blessed person today.
Do you want to come prepared on Sunday? Then here are some things you need to bring with you to worship.
Bring a Joyful Heart vs 1-2a, 11 - 13
Bring a Testimony on Your Lips vs 2b - 6, 10
Bring a Mind Focused on the Lord vs 7-8a
Bring an Offering in Hand vs 8b
Bring a Godly Attitude vs 9
Text: Psalm 96
Introduction
Once I took a group of teenagers on a wild tour of Appalachian Caverns in Blountville….I sent in my deposit, had our date for the event ready and took off with a group of teenagers. I figured it would be a good idea to bring flashlights and so I told the kids to bring them. It was in the middle of summer we wore our shorts and t-shirts and some teens dressed in pretty nice clothing. When we arrived our guide took one look at us and became angry. She wanted to know why we were wearing shorts. She wanted to know where our gloves were. She wanted to know why we were so unprepared to go exploring the cave. My problem was I had no idea what she was talking about. She asked if I even bothered to read the information they sent to us concerning the tour. I told her ”No” because I had not received any information. She stormed into the office to talk to the manager and returned a little more sheepish. Apparently the letter was still sitting in the office. They were still unsure weather or not to take us in the cave because we were unprepared. But they were able to get us some hard hats with lights and off we went. We came back covered in mud, beat and banged up. We didn’t bring a change of clothes because we were unprepared. If only we had been properly prepared we would have been much more happy and our guide would have been much more happy.
I have a question “Did you come prepared to worship today?” Worship on Sunday takes preparation. Unlike me in my story we can’t plead ignorance. God has given us his word and it is up to us to read it, to study it, to learn it and to prepare ourselves to worship him.
You not only dishonor God, but you rob yourself of a blessing when you do not attend corporate worship on Sundays. And if you come to worship unprepared you will not please the Lord and you will not be blessed. We come many Sundays and wonder why we get nothing out of it, it is because we weren’t prepared to receive the blessing. But if you come prepared God will be honored and you will leave a blessed person today.
Do you want to come prepared on Sunday? Then here are some things you need to bring with you to worship.
Bring a Joyful Heart vs 1-2a, 11 - 13
Bring a Testimony on Your Lips vs 2b - 6, 10
Bring a Mind Focused on the Lord vs 7-8a
Bring an Offering in Hand vs 8b
Bring a Godly Attitude vs 9
Monday, August 24, 2009
Prayer is the Breath of the Church
This is the first sermon in the Back to Church series. This series is building toward Back to Church Sunday on September 13. I preached this sermon August 23, 2009.
Text: Luke 11:1-13
Introduction: When I was a kid, I and other kids would play this “holding our breath” game. Probably wasn’t a good idea and I’m sure we killed a few brain cells in the process. We would see who could hold our breath the longest. We would hold our breath, maybe a minute or so into it you would see eyes starting to bulge, faces changing colors, I would see spots flashing in my vision until finally it was either breathe or pass out.
Prayer is the breath of a church, and I’m afraid just like children holding their breath, the collective church is holding its breath. We are turning blue on the edge of fainting in the way. Some experts say the average Christian prays less than 3 minutes a day, if he or she even prays. Now don’t get me wrong, I dare say most of us are praying for ourselves, for our friends and family. But how long has it been since you have prayed for your church? How long has it been since you have prayed for your pastor, deacons, Sunday school teachers and leaders? How long has it been since you have prayed for genuine revival to take place in the church? How long has it been since you have prayed for the health and growth of the church and the ministries of the church? Prayer is the breath of the church
Jesus said “we should always pray,” the Apostle Paul said in 1 Thess 5:17 to pray without ceasing. There are very few things that you do without ceasing, and breathing is one of them. You must keep on breathing to live, we must keep on praying just like breathing. But there are some that devote little or no time to prayer. Some of you live as if you have better things to do than pray (like saying I have better things to do than breath). So of you are so busy that you don’t take time to pray. If you are too busy to pray, then that is a sin. When you fail to pray your Christian walk suffers, your faith suffers, your relationship with the Lord suffers, your church suffers.
Prayer is the breath of the church and I am calling on each of you today to renew your prayer life. To renew your prayer for the church, its ministries, its pastor and leaders, its future and needs, its members, friends and family. Lets look into the scripture to help us make a commitment to a renewed prayer life, that we as a church may breath again.
Prayer Must Be Learned vs 1-4
1. It is interesting to consider how we talk of prayer as being a simple as a conversation between two people, between you and the Lord. However, we realize that prayer, in reality, is not always that simple. The disciples, who enjoyed a greater communion with the Lord than most, still needed to learn to pray. Jesus, a man of prayer, set an example before his disciples, and they, seeing the power of God at work through Jesus, simply asked “Teach us to pray…” Now they were aware that John the Baptist taught his disciples to pray, and they wanted to learn not John the Baptist’s teachings, but how to pray from Jesus himself. It is also important to realize that they were asking Jesus to teach them how they should pray. They didn’t ask “Teach us to do miracles, to preach, or to perform great signs and wonders.” What we call the Lord’s prayer might be better called the disciples prayer, or the believer’s prayer because it is a model for prayer for all followers of Jesus.
Prayer Must Be with Persistence vs 5-10
Jesus is not saying that the Father is like this aggravated neighbor, but what Jesus is communicating is that God is much greater. The aggravated neighbor's door is closed, but God's door is always open. Knock and it shall be opened. You don’t have to persuade God, but you have to trust Him as a loving Father. And if this aggravated neighbor will rise to keep from shaming himself, how much more will God answer prayer to bring glory and honor to himself?
Prayer Must Be with Expectation vs 11-13
Pray with expectant faith – Do you want to renew your prayer life? Then you must pray in faith with expectation. I am afraid many of us, when we pray, really don’t believe God will answer prayer. It is most evident in our conversation and behavior. Mark 11: 23: For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 24: Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
If you pray without expectation it says more about what you believe about God, either you believe God is impotent or you believe God is disinterested or you don’t even believe in God.
Text: Luke 11:1-13
Introduction: When I was a kid, I and other kids would play this “holding our breath” game. Probably wasn’t a good idea and I’m sure we killed a few brain cells in the process. We would see who could hold our breath the longest. We would hold our breath, maybe a minute or so into it you would see eyes starting to bulge, faces changing colors, I would see spots flashing in my vision until finally it was either breathe or pass out.
Prayer is the breath of a church, and I’m afraid just like children holding their breath, the collective church is holding its breath. We are turning blue on the edge of fainting in the way. Some experts say the average Christian prays less than 3 minutes a day, if he or she even prays. Now don’t get me wrong, I dare say most of us are praying for ourselves, for our friends and family. But how long has it been since you have prayed for your church? How long has it been since you have prayed for your pastor, deacons, Sunday school teachers and leaders? How long has it been since you have prayed for genuine revival to take place in the church? How long has it been since you have prayed for the health and growth of the church and the ministries of the church? Prayer is the breath of the church
Jesus said “we should always pray,” the Apostle Paul said in 1 Thess 5:17 to pray without ceasing. There are very few things that you do without ceasing, and breathing is one of them. You must keep on breathing to live, we must keep on praying just like breathing. But there are some that devote little or no time to prayer. Some of you live as if you have better things to do than pray (like saying I have better things to do than breath). So of you are so busy that you don’t take time to pray. If you are too busy to pray, then that is a sin. When you fail to pray your Christian walk suffers, your faith suffers, your relationship with the Lord suffers, your church suffers.
Prayer is the breath of the church and I am calling on each of you today to renew your prayer life. To renew your prayer for the church, its ministries, its pastor and leaders, its future and needs, its members, friends and family. Lets look into the scripture to help us make a commitment to a renewed prayer life, that we as a church may breath again.
Prayer Must Be Learned vs 1-4
1. It is interesting to consider how we talk of prayer as being a simple as a conversation between two people, between you and the Lord. However, we realize that prayer, in reality, is not always that simple. The disciples, who enjoyed a greater communion with the Lord than most, still needed to learn to pray. Jesus, a man of prayer, set an example before his disciples, and they, seeing the power of God at work through Jesus, simply asked “Teach us to pray…” Now they were aware that John the Baptist taught his disciples to pray, and they wanted to learn not John the Baptist’s teachings, but how to pray from Jesus himself. It is also important to realize that they were asking Jesus to teach them how they should pray. They didn’t ask “Teach us to do miracles, to preach, or to perform great signs and wonders.” What we call the Lord’s prayer might be better called the disciples prayer, or the believer’s prayer because it is a model for prayer for all followers of Jesus.
Prayer Must Be with Persistence vs 5-10
Jesus is not saying that the Father is like this aggravated neighbor, but what Jesus is communicating is that God is much greater. The aggravated neighbor's door is closed, but God's door is always open. Knock and it shall be opened. You don’t have to persuade God, but you have to trust Him as a loving Father. And if this aggravated neighbor will rise to keep from shaming himself, how much more will God answer prayer to bring glory and honor to himself?
Prayer Must Be with Expectation vs 11-13
Pray with expectant faith – Do you want to renew your prayer life? Then you must pray in faith with expectation. I am afraid many of us, when we pray, really don’t believe God will answer prayer. It is most evident in our conversation and behavior. Mark 11: 23: For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 24: Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
If you pray without expectation it says more about what you believe about God, either you believe God is impotent or you believe God is disinterested or you don’t even believe in God.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Living for Jesus
This is the final sermon in the 3 L's series. I preached this sermon August 16, 2009.
Introduction: Last week Wanda was sharing with me about teaching the pre-school class. She said that it was a funny thing that whenever Flo’s grandchildren to visit and attend Sunday School that the lesson plan had time for the children to play with toy food. She said that those children are going to think all we ever do is eat. I told her that they are just learning to be good Baptists. Baptists and food go hand and hand as we learned at the good homecoming dinner last week. You have heard it said that some eat to live, but Baptists live to eat.
Everybody is living for something, some live to eat, some live to work, some live to play, some live to die, some live for the moment, some live for the next drink, some live for tomorrow, some live for someone else. We are all living for something. To live for something means to give yourself totally to something, holding nothing back. But the scripture calls for the Christian to live for Jesus.
Paul said in Philippians “to live is Christ..”Phil 1:21, 2 Cor 5:15 states 15: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. Peter makes the same emphasis in verses 1-2 1: Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 2: That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
One of the basics of being a Christian means living for Jesus. Nobody else does this and in fact the world will think you are strange to do so, notice what Peter said in vs 3 – 4 3: For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
We have all walked in sin, some things we have done are pretty bad, but our past should not prevent us from living for Jesus now! (some will say, but you don’t know what I have done…no I don’t, but there is nothing so terrible in your past that God cannot forgive.)4: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:
When a person is saved the scripture says that person is a new creation, old things are passed away and all things are become new. Peter says back in chapter 2 that we are a peculiar people. You see, when Christ comes into your heart the world takes notice, and they think it is strange, they don’t like it! Old friends, or people who love the world will try to entice you back to your old ways, to your old sins, to fit in with the world and be like the world. But we don’t want to be conformed to this world but be transformed by a renewed mind. And some will be very critical of your new life in Christ. But no matter what other people may do or others may say those things should not stop us from living for Jesus now!
So Peter gives us 10 things in this chapter to encourage us to live for Jesus.
1. Be Sober vs 7
2. Be Prayerful vs 7
3. Be Loving (with intensity) vs 8
4. Be Hospitable (without complaining) vs 9
5. Be Good Stewards of your spiritual gifts vs 10-11
6. Be Courageous in the face of suffering vs 12
7. Be Joyful always vs 13
8. Be Unashamed vs 15-16a
9. Be a Blessing vs 16b
10. Be Committed to God vs 19
Introduction: Last week Wanda was sharing with me about teaching the pre-school class. She said that it was a funny thing that whenever Flo’s grandchildren to visit and attend Sunday School that the lesson plan had time for the children to play with toy food. She said that those children are going to think all we ever do is eat. I told her that they are just learning to be good Baptists. Baptists and food go hand and hand as we learned at the good homecoming dinner last week. You have heard it said that some eat to live, but Baptists live to eat.
Everybody is living for something, some live to eat, some live to work, some live to play, some live to die, some live for the moment, some live for the next drink, some live for tomorrow, some live for someone else. We are all living for something. To live for something means to give yourself totally to something, holding nothing back. But the scripture calls for the Christian to live for Jesus.
Paul said in Philippians “to live is Christ..”Phil 1:21, 2 Cor 5:15 states 15: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. Peter makes the same emphasis in verses 1-2 1: Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 2: That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
One of the basics of being a Christian means living for Jesus. Nobody else does this and in fact the world will think you are strange to do so, notice what Peter said in vs 3 – 4 3: For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
We have all walked in sin, some things we have done are pretty bad, but our past should not prevent us from living for Jesus now! (some will say, but you don’t know what I have done…no I don’t, but there is nothing so terrible in your past that God cannot forgive.)4: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:
When a person is saved the scripture says that person is a new creation, old things are passed away and all things are become new. Peter says back in chapter 2 that we are a peculiar people. You see, when Christ comes into your heart the world takes notice, and they think it is strange, they don’t like it! Old friends, or people who love the world will try to entice you back to your old ways, to your old sins, to fit in with the world and be like the world. But we don’t want to be conformed to this world but be transformed by a renewed mind. And some will be very critical of your new life in Christ. But no matter what other people may do or others may say those things should not stop us from living for Jesus now!
So Peter gives us 10 things in this chapter to encourage us to live for Jesus.
1. Be Sober vs 7
2. Be Prayerful vs 7
3. Be Loving (with intensity) vs 8
4. Be Hospitable (without complaining) vs 9
5. Be Good Stewards of your spiritual gifts vs 10-11
6. Be Courageous in the face of suffering vs 12
7. Be Joyful always vs 13
8. Be Unashamed vs 15-16a
9. Be a Blessing vs 16b
10. Be Committed to God vs 19
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