- - December 27, 2009 - -
The Perfect Gift to Re-gift
Text: John 3:16a & John 1:14
Introduction: “…That He GAVE…” (1:14) “And the Word became flesh…” God gave us the perfect gift in His Son and this gift is to be re-gifted!
- Jesus is God’s disclosure of Himself.
- “No one has seen God at any time.” God is Spirit & invisible to the human eye.
- Abraham didn’t see Him even though he was “the friend of God.” Moses, “Whom the Lord knew face to face”, only saw His afterglow.
- Concerning God, one asked, “Who has seen Him and can describe Him?” - JESUS!
- (18b) “The only begotten Son (unique, not origin), who is in the bosom of the Father, (closeness, intimacy) He has declared (exegete) Him.”
- See John 14:7-9. (One essence – 3 persons.)
- He’s more than just the “chip off the old block.”
- Do we by living God’s truth disclose the reality of God?
- Jesus is God’s dispersion of darkness.
- (4-5) Just as it was at the creation - when “darkness was over the face of the deep” UNTIL God created light.
- Mankind had been in darkness until Christ came! (Is.9:2) “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined.”
- It was at the feast of Tabernacles (court of women, & the lighting ceremony, 4 lamps would be lit) Jesus said, “I am the light of the world, He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
- 911 survivor buried under the rubble saw a ray of light!
- Do we by living God’s truth dispel the darkness of this world?
- Jesus is God’s dispensation of grace.
- (14b) “Full of grace and truth.”
- (16) SO FULL… “grace for grace.” Layer upon layer!
- Paul pleaded 3 times! “My grace is sufficient for thee.”
- In Brazil at the She-hos-ka-ria (food kept coming & got better…)
- Are we His ambassadors of grace?
- Re-gifting Christ will happen when He is the Lord of our lives.
- - October 11, 2009 - -
The Meeting that makes a Difference
Text: Isaiah 6
Introduction: In the book, Harvest of Humility, author, John Seamands tells of a wounded German soldier, ordered to go to a military hospital for treatment – A large building with 2 doors: For the slightly wounded & the seriously wounded – entering through the 1st door, he went down a long hallway – 2 more doors: for officers & for non officers, taking the latter door, another long hallway & 2 more doors – for party members & non party members. Taking the 2nd door he found himself out on the street – his mother asked him, “How did you get along at the hospital?” “Well mother, to tell you the truth, the people didn’t do a thing for me, but you ought to see the tremendous organization they have!”
Church is to be more than a song and a sermon. It should be a time we encounter God! Isaiah experienced a life-changing event in his place of worship – he encountered the living God!
A true encounter with God includes:
- A revelation of His holiness.
- Today most everyone has his or her own idea or version of who God is.
- We’re too “buddy – buddy” with God. “Humanized.”
- (1) Though Uzziah lay dead, Isaiah saw the “Lord high & lifted up”
- “The train of His robe” (the hem of His garment) = filled the temple!
- (2) “Seraphim” = “burning ones”. “Living flames of pure, nuclear powered praise.”
- Notice, even though they are sinless, they cover their face & cry out, “holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Host.”
- “We must not think of God as highest in an ascending order of beings, starting with the single cell and going on up from the fish to the bird to the animal to man to angel to cherub to God. God is as high above an archangel as above a caterpillar, for the gulf that separates the archangel form the caterpillar is but finite, while the gulf between God and the archangel is infinite.” (Tozier)
- (4) The place began to shake! The Shekinah glory filled the place!
- Some get lost if they lose their bulletin in today’s typical church service.
- A realization of our sinfulness.
- Isaiah did NOT say, “hey that’s pretty good, I like that.”
- (5) “Woe is me.” “…for I am undone.” = Doomed!
- “I am a man of unclean lips.” (We speak from the heart), but could it be that Isaiah is saying that he’s just been going through the motions.”
- Just mouthing words – an orthodox but empty faith. A heart knowing little of the grandeur of God!
- The grandpa whose grandson smeared his upper lip with Limburger cheese, “This room stinks! He went to the kitchen, then outside and became convinced “the whole world stinks!””
- A reconciliation of our relationship with God.
- At Isaiah’s lowest point, yet greatest discovery (to that point), a seraph brings a hot coal.
- (6) He didn’t need tongs because of it being hot, but because it was holy!
- (7) God initiated & God fulfilled – Isaiah’s sin was purged!
- (1:18) “Come now & lets us reason together,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.””
- It wasn’t God who needed to be reconciled to me, but rather I to Him. Since He initiated and fulfilled the terms for my reconciliation I am, by God’s grace, able to accept it.
- A resignation of our will.
- Note: NOT “Here I am.” But, “here am I.” = A 100% presentation of himself, a total surrender!
- Isaiah did not say, “Here am I, send him.” No, send me!
- Do we sign the note and ask God to fill in the blanks? Or do we ask God to sign as we fill in the pages of our life?
- The meeting that makes a difference is the meeting where one encounters God. When that one has a revelation of God’s holiness and a realization of one’s own sinfulness while experiencing reconciliation in his relationship with God that leads him to resign his life to God and His will that one will not only know the difference, but make a difference in life.
- - October 4, 2009 - -
A Good Man who did Great Things
Text: Acts (Various texts)
Introduction: “For he was a good man full of the Holy Spirit, and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.” (Acts 11:24).
Barnabas was a man of courage.
“Success is never final & failure never fatal. It’s courage that counts.”
How was he such an encourager?
- He was generous giver.
- (4:36) Many were in need because of their recent conversion.
- “Where your heart is, there your treasure will be also.”
- A church gave more for the dumpster service than to missions!
- He was a risk taker.
- (9:26-27) Saul had disappeared for nearly 3 yrs. (Arabia) Why?
- Was Saul, now known as Paul for real?
- He was a bridge builder.
- (11:20-23) God had done a miracle!
- Antioch – 3rd largest city (Rome, Alexandria) evil, immoral!
- Their worship style – not like Jerusalem? Yet, Christ was exalted!
- Contemporary verses traditional – does it glorify and honor God?
- He was a soul winner.
- (11:24b) “And a great many people were added to the Lord.”
- Can we put our name in the verse?
- If our bank account equaled our evangelism – would we have a dollar?
- He was a disciple maker.
- (11:25-26) He went and “looked up and down” for Saul!
- They stayed a whole year discipling the converts!
- D L Moody – believed in new Christians working from day one.
- “Its better to put 10 men to work than to do the work of 10 men.”
- He was an anointed missionary.
- (13:1-4a) “So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit…” (4a)
- (2b) “…Separate to Me…for the work…”
- What a shame when we as believers look no different than the world!
- He was a determined disciple.
- (13:49-53) The Jews had friends in high places (50).
- They didn’t quit! He was a keepin’ on keepin’ oner!
- Rejected? Shake the dust off & move on where he leads next!
- He was a problem solver.
- (15:36-41) Back in (13:13) John Mark had left the work.
- Now a “sharp contention” (39) occurred splitting the team up.
- Barnabas took Mark – Paul took Silas. (Later Paul notes mark was useful to him.)
- “For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit, and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.” (11:24)
- Generous giver…Risk taker…Bridge Builder…Soul Winner…Disciple Maker…Anointed Missionary…Determined Disciple…Problem Solver.
- Abe Lincoln and an aide attended a church service (sitting off to the side)…War-torn, he’d lost a son… The aide asked ‘What did you think of the sermon? He replied: ‘Carefully thought through, eloquently delivered.’ ‘Great sermon?’ ‘NO. I thought he failed. Because he did not ask something great of us.’
- - September 27, 2009 - -
What to Do as The Day Approaches
Text: Hebrews 10:22-25 (key verse 25)
Introduction: As I walked in KBC this morning – the quietness was broken by the shrill sound of the alarm – the keypad was hanging by a thread – the siren blared!
Here are some things that lead me to believe Christ’s second coming is approaching.
I SEE THE DAY APPROACHING WHEN:
- I see the days of Noah revisited. (Mt. 24:37) “But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
- No one looking for Him, but just everyday, mundane issues. “For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” (Mt.24:38-39)
- Worldwide terror escalating. (Gen.6:11) “The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.”
- The blatant sexual immorality committed with no shame. (Polanski defended…Letterman appluaded…corrupt govt. officials…clergy ordained)
- I see the clamor for a new world order.
- The US dollar falling and the call for a one world currency & bank.
- The willing to forgo our sovereignty as nation.
- The political talk of governing the world.
- I see the groaning of the earth awaiting its redemption. (Romans 8:21-22) “Because the creation itself will also be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs until now.”
- I see the 2,500 year old prophecy of Ezekiel materializing. See Ezek.38:1-6. (Russia, Persia, Sudan, Libya, Turkey alliance?)
- (Rev.9:16) Speaks of a 200 million-man army on the march! China?
- Through a dried Euphrates riverbed. (Its drying up.)
- I see the apostasy of the church. (2 Thess.2:3) “Let no one deceive you by any means; for that day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition.”
- No cross theology. Open sin. No appeal for salvation. WEAK, no power!
What do we do? (In verses 22-24: Three 1st person, present tense exhortations)
- BE HUNGRY.
- (22) “Let us draw near…” (v.21 We can because Jesus has made it possible!)
- “true heart” – “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”
- “Full assurance of faith” = knowing “our hearts have been…”
- “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”
- When I’m hungry nobody forces me to the table!
- BE HOPEFUL.
- (23) “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope.”
- Not a “maybe so” hope – but a hope that rests in Jesus!
- “Blessed assurance Jesus is mine, oh what a foretaste of…”
- (I 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.”
- I hope my sports teams win each week – but my hope is often disappointed because it relies on the team’s ability. Jesus always keeps His promise – He always comes through!
- BE HELPFUL.
- (24) “Let us consider one another…”
- #1. Church attendance is where it starts! (25)
- Stir it up! Provoke! Love and good works!
- Like Richard Halverson (former chaplain of Senate) who looked for 4th Presbyterian as he flew into D.C. …. He realized the church is the people out in the community!
- As we see the day approaching. BE: hungry…hopeful…helpful.
- - September 20, 2009 - -
5 Smooth Stones of the Battle
Text: I Samuel 17
Introduction: We all have our battles – sometimes GIANT ones. Fear…worry…frustration...sickness…death. David “chose for himself five smooth stones.” (I Samuel 17:40b)
A point will be made for each of the 5 smooth stones.
IN ANY BATTLE:
- There is the concern.
- (1) “The Philistines…gathered at Sochoh, which belongs to Judah.”
- (2-3) The armies faced one another. Thus, an impasse.
- (9) This battle could lead to enslavement!
- (16) For 40 days the event is drawn out. (It will not just go away, as a matter of fact, it only worsens!)
- Verses 8 & 25 – reveal Goliath having crossed over the brook and coming closer!
- (I Peter 5:8) “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”
- Ignorance is not always bliss; it can be lethal!
- There is the cause.
- (29) “Is there not a cause?” (Eliab had seen David be anointed king…)
- (26b) “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine?” He’s not entered into a covenant with our God.
- “That he should defy the armies of the LIVING GOD.”
- He’s blaspheming Israel’s God! 2 times a day for 40 days.
- “Hey you bunch of sissy’s, come on out here and fight me!”
- (11,24) And all the men would just run in fear.
- A man who won’t take a stand will fall for anything.
- There is the confidence (or lack of it).
- Note: It wasn’t Saul (head and shoulders above), Abner (a man of valor)… (32) But little David. “Let no man’s heart fail…I’ll go fight.”
- (33) Eliab had already tried to discourage David, now Saul…
- (37) “The LORD will…” In the solitude of a sheep pasture, God had been preparing David! (34-36).
- Any man could’ve done it – but only David was in communion with God enough to know it!
- They saw Goliath too big to hit, David saw him too big to miss!
- (Is.26:3-5) “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trust in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in Yah (Rock of Ages), the Lord is everlasting strength. For He brings down those who dwell on high, the lofty city; He lays it low, He lays it low to the ground, He brings it down to the dust.”
- In the past, how many times did we see Michael Jordan hit the game winning shot. He wanted the ball!
- There is the confrontation.
- (40) He picked up 5 smooth stones and drew near Goliath.
- (42-44) Goliath was insulted! He cursed David in the name of his gods.
- (45) “Hey you know the name of my God that you been blaspheming? Well, I’m coming against you in His name!”
- (48-51) A collision course! Can you see the hand of God steady David’s hand and guide that rock right to the spot God intended it to go?
- With God, we never have to run from our problems. Face them.
- There is the conclusion.
- (46) “That all the earth may know there is a God in Israel.”
- (47) The battle belongs to the Lord! (You are His and when someone or something messes with you – He will act!)
- It would’ve meant nothing had Israel trotted out their giant, but when little David won – the God of Israel was glorified!
- (51) The impasse ends, they flee!
- When I think about past problems – the ones I stumbled through and lost were the ones I told God I could fight on my own.
- In any battle there is the: Concern…cause…confidence…confrontation…conclusion
- - September 13, 2009 - -
The King is Coming
Text: I Thessalonians 4:13-18
Introduction: Theocritus wrote, “There is hope for those who are alive, but those who have died are without hope.” A grim tombstone epitaph captures this sentiment: “I was not; I became; I am not; I care not.” Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians refutes this belief of hopelessness!
Children of God, take courage! There is hope because one day there will be:
- The return of Christ the King.
- #1. Jesus will keep His promise. See John 14:1-3.
- #2. Three distinct aspects of Christ are appearing. He’ll come with:
- A shout. 3x Jesus shouts and someone is raised: “Cried with a loud voice, Lazarus come forth.” (John 11:43) “Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised…”(Mt.27:50-53) Here in
I Thessalonians. 4:16b.
- The voice of an archangel. (Michael, Gabriel?)
- The trumpet of God. Dr. Pentecost shares that a trumpet was used for two main reasons in the O.T.: To summon for worship and battle. (He suggests both are valid here.)
- #3. A mystery (to the unbelieving world.) Only the believer will see Him!
- Just like Gen. MacArthur making good on his promise to return to the Philippines – Jesus will return for His bride, the church!
- The resurrection of the saints.
- #1. Will be profound! Sown & Raised: a Natural body – Spiritual body. Corruptible – Incorruptible! Weakness – Power. Dishonor – Glorious!
- #2. Will be Powerful! The grave will NOT be able to hold them!
- #3. Will be permanent. “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”
- (I Cor.15:56) “The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
- Jesus raised Lazarus from the grave but he died again – the next time will be forever!
- The rapture of the church.
- (17) “Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up…”
- A sudden evacuation! (Acts 8:39) “The Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away so that the eunuch saw him no more.”
- The same word is used when Jesus, after feeding the 5,000, knew the people were about to come and “take him by force” to make Him king. (John 6:15)
- I Cor.15:51 “we shall all be changed – in a moment.”
- (Phil.3:20-21) “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body…”
- My uncle Charlie used to, after working, take a magnet on a string and “snatch up” all the metal from his work scraps.
- The reunion in the sky.
- (17b) “Caught up together with them.”
- Them = Our loved ones! In (Luke 7:15) when Jesus raised the widow’s son – “He presented Him to his mother.”
- “To meet the Lord in the air.” (It will be worth it all when we see Jesus.)
- I have missed some family reunions – but not this one!
- The responsibility of the hearer.
- #1. Encourage each other. (18). #2. Exhort. (Hebrew 10:25)
- #3. Endure. (I Jn.2:28) “And now, little children, abide in Him, that when he appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.” #4. Expect. (hope purifies) 5. Evangelize the lost!
- Dec. 26, 2004 – The Indonesian tsunami was a single event that separated people! 230,000 people perished separating families, some perhaps for all eternity. Win the lost! Plead for souls!
- We have hope! The King is Coming! He will return, He’ll raise the saints, He’ll rapture the church, and there will be the reunion in the air.
- - September 6, 2009 - -
The Honorable Vessel
Text: II Timothy 2:19 – 22.
Introduction: Today we honor our teachers. (James 3:1) “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.”
False teachers surround us, like Paul and his day.
Our text points out 2 men (v.17b) who were & the dangers associated with it.
Jesus Himself warned us, (Mt.7:15) “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.”
In Matthew 13 it tells us of the wheat & the tares and how the uprooting will not be until… The sum of false teaching:
- Counterproductive. (v.14b) “Words to no profit.” (16b) “Increase to more ungodliness.”
- Cancerous. (17) “Their message will spread like cancer.”
- Catastrophic. (14b) “To the ruin of the hearers.” (18b) “Overthrow…”
Praise God! (19) “The solid foundation of God stands!” “The Lord knows…”
A reminder of the gravity our teaching! (v.v. 11-13) Life and death!
In 20-21 Paul uses the metaphor of vessels. Vessels of honor & dishonor.
A VESSEL OF HONOR:
- Is equipped for the work of God.
- (21c) “Prepared for every good work.” When a man comes to Christ, the Word of God has indeed played a great role. “Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.” (Titus 3:4-5) “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.”
- Is effective in the work for God.
- (21b) “Useful for the Master.”
- (15) This worker is “diligent.” = A zealous persistence!
- This diligence leads to “Rightly dividing the word”
- “Cutting it straight.” = An exactness, precision. (G C Morgan…)
- Unlike, the false teacher who “strays from the truth” (18) = an arrow wide of the target.
- Is explicit in the work of God.
- (21a) “Sanctified …for the Master.”
- (II Tim. 2:4) “No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may Him who enlisted him as a soldier.”
- #1. What he flees from. 1a) Empty words (16a) “Shun.”
- (14b) “Not to strive about words…” (Splitting theological hairs!)
- 1b) (22) “Flee youthful lust.” = Sexual lust, pride, wealth, power..
- #2. What he follows after. (22b) “But pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace…”
- A vessel of honor is: equipped for the work…effective…explicit.
- At the Smithsonian was the Hope diamond people stood in line for it, not the quartz crystal.
- John Bechtel in China and the woman who had been sentenced to clean the sewer with a rake for following Jesus. The Bible she held, so precious. She told John to tell his friends, ‘This book has all the answers.’
- - August 30, 2009 - -
Taller Buildings and Shorter Tempers
We have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways but more narrow viewpoints, we spend more but have less, we buy more but enjoy it less, we have bigger houses but smaller families, more convenience but less time, we have more degrees but less common sense, more knowledge but less judgment, more experts but more problems, more medicine but less wellness, we spend too recklessly and laugh too little, drive too fast, get angry to quickly, stay up too late, get too tired, read too seldom, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.
We have multiplied our possessions but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and lie too often.
We have learned how to make a living but not a life. We’ve added years to life but not life to years. We build more computers to hold more information to produce more copies than ever but have less communication. We have become long on quantity but short on quality.
We seek world peace but have domestic warfare, more leisure but less fun, more kinds of food but less nutrition. These are days of two incomes but more divorce, of fancier houses but broken homes. It’s a time when there is much in the show window and nothing in the stock room.
(From the World Wide Web as quoted by Dr. Adrian Rogers.)
Have you ever realized how, if we’re not careful, we can be so busy with “life” that we trade the important for the trivial; the temporary for the eternal? Jesus put forth some questions a long time ago, “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36-37.) The answer is obvious, there is no profit whatsoever for a man to die rich while losing his soul to spend eternity in a devil’s hell! The time for spiritual inventory to be made is now! Make sure you are not exchanging your soul for the world and its ways. In Matthew’s gospel (6:33), Jesus tells us to “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” In doing so, our soul is secured and a faithful God meets our earthly needs. Don’t be caught up in the “show window” mindset. Make sure you have the salvation Jesus offers in the “stock room.”
In Him,
Pastor John
- - August 23, 2009 - -
The Offering that Pleases God
Text: Micah 6:6-8
Introduction: Months ago Pres. Obama was criticized for his gifts to Queen Elizabeth (an IPOD with his speeches.) What does one give to royalty? What does one give to God?
Two generalities concerning an “offering” given to God:
- It requires sacrifice. See Malachi 1: 6-10. (II Samuel 24:24) “Then the king said to Aranuah, ‘No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; not will I offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that which cost me nothing.’”
- It is to be born out of obedience. See I Samuel 15:22-23.
It is NOT religious ceremony or ritual! (Micah 6:6-7)
The offering God that pleases God is:
- A submissive will.
- (8c) “And to walk humbly with your God?” NO pride!
- a) Is accepted by God. (Ps.51:16-17) “For you do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart – these, O God, You will not despise!”
- b) Is at God’s disposal. Paul when he met Jesus, “What would you have me to do Lord?” Isaiah, ‘Here am I send me.’ Jesus said, ‘Apart from you can do nothing.’ Romans 12:1-2.
- c) Is an assurance/hallmark of salvation. (Mt.7:21) “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.”
- Do we fill out the pages of our lives asking God to sign it? Or do we sign a blank one allowing Him to fill it in?
- A heart of compassion.
- (8b) “To love mercy.” Too often we’re judgmental/critical!
- a) Discerns spiritual needs. (Mt.9:36) “But when he saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.”
- b) Cares for the physical needs. (Mt.14:14) “And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.” (He fed the 5,000, he comforted the bereaved, he visited the jail.)
- c) Seeks to forgive. (Mt.18:27) “Then the master of that servant was moved w/compassion, released him, forgave him the debt.”
- Our knowledge (doctrine), doesn’t build up one in need, the love of God does!
- A righteous life.
- a) Is a God fearing life. (Prov.14:2) “He who walks in uprightness fears the Lord, but he who is perverse in his ways despises Him.”
- b) Is a good influence on a city/society. (Prov.11:11) “By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.”
- c) Prays for the people. (James 5:16b) “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”
- d) Is a life of joy. (Prov.21:15) “It is a joy for the just to do justice, but destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.”
- I could talk a great game of golf – but my score would betray my boasting! Does the reality of your life match the doctrine you adhere to?
- In closing, ask yourself this question. Does my lifestyle substantiate the claim that nothing is more valuable in my life that Jesus Christ and His will?
- “With what shall I come before the Lord?” With a submissive will, a heart of compassion, and a righteous life. These, by God’s grace, please Him.
In Him,
Pastor John
- - August 16, 2009 - -
The Battle for the Beginning
Text: Genesis 1:1
Introduction: Last week while on vacation in Washington D.C. my family and I visited a museum of natural history. The place was filled with references to evolution! Everything there (in their opinion) began by chance, random selection, and billions of years to work out the kinks. The place grieved my spirit and as I left I shared with an attendant, that the museum had left God out of the equation and had given Him no credit at all for creation! Evolution versus creation is not so much about created matter and its origin as it is about God! Genesis 1:1 may be the most important verse in all the Bible because the validity of all the other doctrine rests upon its truthfulness!
Satan’s no dummy. If he can deceive and distort Genesis 1:1 – the rest will matter little!
The psalmist said, “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3)
In our modern day battle for truth, the righteous should know and defend the following from Genesis 1:1:
- There is the eternal presence of God.
- (1) “In the beginning God.” NO mistake God is the subject of the first verse.
- “Elohim” – speaks of His majesty & power! The Supreme One!
- (Ps.8:1) “O Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens!”
- (Psalm 90:2) “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.”
- (Ex.3:13b-14) “…and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say unto them? And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.’ And He said, ‘Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
- “Elohim” is the plural of majesty in connection to a singular verb (created.) = The triune Godhead! See John 1:1-3. (Intimacy & communion denoted in the grammatical structure.)
- Unlike the museum exhibits that were created, God has always been and He created all else!
- There is the infinite power of God.
- “God created.” Elohim bara…
- Creation is something only God can do. (Man can form something.)
- The Hebrew word connotes an effortlessness, He did not have to work at it, God spoke and it became so!
- (Hebrews 11:3a) “By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God.”
- (Romans 4:17b) “…God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did.”
- Think of how powerful His word of creation was and the same God has a powerful word for us today – the Holy Scriptures!
- There is the express purpose of God.
- Today, we’re to believe everything is by random chance.
- God has a purpose in/for everything He does!
- “God created” = Design or plan.
- He created man in His image…He gave us dominion of His creation to enjoy and sustain us…He gave us a moral code by which to live by…He gave us His Son to redeem us (even before the foundation of the world)…He established the church…He gives us eternal life & the hope of heaven…
- That we might know & worship Him and glorify Him! = This is the chief end of man!
- (Numbers 14:21) “But truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord.”
- As a child of God, He has preordained a plan for us to carry out (Ephesians 2:10), a plan filled with purpose and significance!
- Genesis 1:1 reveals the eternal presence of God; the infinite power of God and the express purpose of God.
- Truth is on the side of the born again Christian and the battle for the beginning is an ongoing battle within a war already won because “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” (John 1:3)
In Him,
Pastor John
- - August 2, 2009 - -
A Precious Word for a Perilous Time
Text: II Timothy 3 &4
Introduction: It would not be hard for all to agree we’re in a “perilous” time (3:1).
The same word is used to describe (exceedingly fierce) the 2 demon possessed men of (Matthew 8:28). We’re living in a demon saturated era/season! Paul lists 19 characteristics of the time. The last one (#19) is: “having a form of godliness but denying its power.”
Paul gives us 3 things to do: #1. (5b) STAY CLEAR of them. #2. (10) STAY CLOSE to those who live godly lives. #3. STANDFAST COMMITTED to the Word of GOD. BY:
1. The administration of the word in our homes.
* (3:14) Because of greater deception (13) “…Continue in the things”
* “you have learned…” (15) “Knowing from childhood you have…”
* (1:5) “When I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which
Dwelt first in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice…”
* (Eph.6:4) “Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them
Up in the training and admonition of the Lord.”
* (Deut.6:6-7) “And these words (the Shema) 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.”
* If our children were in a “spiritual” ICU, (intensity of care related to the
knowledge of the Word in our giving it) would they make it!?
2. The application of the word in our hearts.
* (16) Just as God initially breathed into man the “breath of life” -
His Word is “God breathed” - TAKE IT DOWN INTO YOUR HEART
* It will profit you! In: doctrine…reproof (exposes sin!)…correction
(restoration to health, gets us back on our feet)…instruction in righteousness (positive training in godly behavior).
* (17) Complete = capable, proficient. Equipped = furnished, enabled!
3. The proclamation of the word to our world.
* (4:1) Paul could not be more forceful in his argument!
* (2) Preach the Word! Proclaim…herald…Tell it! (All of us, not just the pastor!)
* “Be ready.” Urgent! The hour is late! Perilous!
* In season and out of season! Whether it is convenient or not! Popular or not!
* Convince (oppose/expose false doctrine)…rebuke…exhort!
* (3) Itchy ear preaching. (Made to feel good in their sin!)
* Look at Matthew 7:24-27. Are you building on sand or the Rock?
* We indeed have a precious word for a perilous time!
- - July 19, 2009 - -
Used, Used Up but not Useless
Have you ever seen a person that was "good for nothing." Sadly, a believer in Christ can be good for nothing or useless to God. II Peter 1:9 tells us of one, who, in the context has precious faith (v.1), yet lives with spiritual amnesia and blindness! Such a person is barren and unfruitful in his knowledge of Jesus Christ (v.8). In other words, a person like that is useless to God, because God cannot and will not use a dirty vessel.
In verses 1 -10, Peter uses the word, "knowledge" multiple times. God wants us to know Him well enough to have the assurance of our salvation and in turn make ourselves available to God's purposes and work here on earth. God wants us to be useful for Him!
A useful Christian:
1. Knows the source of their faith.
In verses 1-2, Peter refers to Jesus Christ our Lord numerous times.
In (v.3), we see that we alreadt have everything we need to live live godly through
"the knowledge OF HIM who called us." God called us, God keeps us. We live
by His "exceedingly great and precious promises." Promises of: life abundant, life
eternal, resurrection life, grace and mercy, strength, joy, guidance, deliverance, help
heaven, eternal rewards and more! Do you know the source of your faith?
2. Shows the force of their faith.
The believer in Christ has "divine power" (v.3) within and lives by great promises of
God via His holy Word. This power allows us to display a "divine nature" (v.4).
This nature has indeed "escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."
Just as Paul told the church at Corinth, "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation;
old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (II Cor.5:17)
At the moment of our new birth, a transformation begins taking place. By the Holy
Spirit we are (being) changed into the same image of Christ.
3. Grows in the course of their faith.
In v. 5, Peter tells us to "add" to our faith. This word "add" (NKJV) is a derivative
of a term that meant "choirmaster." In ancient times, the choirmaster was
responsible for supplying, or adding anything his group might need for a performance.
There was to be no scraping by, the choirmaster spared no expense for supplies!
As followers of Christ, we're to be growing in grace through our faith. Don't be a
miser, graciously supply and resupply these to your daily walk: To you faith add
virtue (moral excellence), to your virtue add knowledge (limitless learning), to your
knowledge add self control (self restraint. self discipline), to your self control add
perseverance (endurance through hardship with a hopeful anticipation), to
perseverance add godliness (reverence for, genuine worship of God), to godliness
add brotherly kindness (real affection for others), to brotherly kindness add love
(agape love, a love that chooses the highest expression of love regardless of the
circumstance.)
Verse 8 tells us that when these abound, God can use you! By His grace I hope,
we hope to be "Used, Used Up but Never Useless!"
In Him,
Pastor John
- - July 12, 2009 - -
God's Way for a Better America
In II Chronicles King Solomon dedicates a house built for the purpose of providing a dwelling place on earth for the God of Israel in which to dwell. This temple was to be a house of prayer for all nations. Today there is no such building, at least one made with human hands, for the human body of the believer in Jesus Christ is the temple of the Holy Spirit. In II Chronicles 7:14, God responds to Solomon's dedicatory prayer with these words, "If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."
Today so many people are looking for a better America via the policy of a government politician or official. Yet, if America is to be a "healthy land", it will not come from Washington D.C., but straight out of heaven as God answers the prayers of His people!
For a better America:
1. God's people need to live a life of piety.
a) A life of humility. "If My people will humble themselves." Stubborn, self-centered, pride NEVER serves the purposes of God!
b) A life of holiness. "If My people will...turn from their wicked ways." Unconfessed sin hinders our prayers, it separates, it separates, it separates us from a holy God! God has spoken and He tells us, "Be ye holy, for I am holy." Holiness is an adherance to God's values and principles and not the world's.
2. God's people need to live a life of pursuit.
a) With priority. "If MY people will...seek My face." Jesus tells us, "Seek ye first (not second, not later) the kingdom of God and His righteousness." Jesus never comes next.
b) With passion. (Jeremiah 29:13) "And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with ALL your heart."
What are you pursuing? To what thing or person are we diligent about?
3. God's people need to live a life of prayer.
"If My people will...pray."
Prayer - we're to be earnest and vigilant in it, we're to offer it for those in authority that we might live a peaceable life! We're to pray that God might heal our land!
Feb. 11, 1861 - President elect Abraham Lincoln in Springfield, while standing on the rear platform of his rail car closed his remarks with these words, "Today I leave you. I go to assume a more difficult task than which devolved upon Gen. Washington. The great God which guided him must help me. Without that assistance I shall surely fail; with it, I cannot fail."
God's way for a better America will happen when Christians live a life of piety, pursuit, and prayer.
In Him,
Pastor John
- - June 14, 2009 - -
The Lesson of the Cave
Psalm 142 records a prayer of David as he fled from Saul. The location is the cave of Adullam (I Samuel 22:1). It is here, this cave, that David bares his soul to God. The emotion and reality of recent events catch up to David. (David had lost his job, wife, home, best friend, self respect, and security). For David, the cave was a low, low time in his life, for God, it was a teachable moment.
1. It was a cave of misery.
(Verse 3) David is about to give up. His "spirit is overwhelmed."
(4) No one is there for him, he has no refuge, no one cares!
(7) David compares his experience to prison. He is indeed miserable!
2. It was a cave of mercy.
(Verses 1,5) David cries aloud to God. (2) In fact, he pours himself out to God.
(3) "You knew my path." David knows God knows what he's going through.
(5) Earlier, David knew no refuge, now he declares to God, "You are my refuge."
(7) David believes God will bless him again beyond measure.
Praise for God replaced his cry for help.
3. It was a cave of ministry.
After a period of time (I Samuel 22:1-2) tells us David's family came to him.
Not only did David's family come to him, but about 400 other men too.
These men were in distress, debt, and discontented with life.
David became their captain and turned them into mighty men of valor!
The Apostle Paul told the church at Corinth that God expects us to minister
to others going through similar problems using the comfort we received
of God in our time of need. David obviously did this and learned the
lesson of the cave; that by God's love and mercy, we can go from misery
to ministry.
In Him,
Pastor John
- - June 7, 2009 - -
The Lesson of the Thorn
The following poem is about God's grace. His grace is a gift realized via the thorn. The poem was found in the pocket of an unknown confederate soldier after his death. (I came across this story in a Charles Swindoll book.)
I asked God for strength that I might achieve.
I was made weak that I might humbly learn to obey.
I asked God for health that I might do greater things.
I was given infirmity that I might do better things.
I asked for riches that I might be happy.
I was given poverty that I might be wise.
I asked for power that I might have the praise of men.
I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life.
I was given life that I might endure all things.
I got nothing I asked for
But everything I had hoped for...
Almost despite myself my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am among all men most richly blessed.
In Him,
Pastor John
- - May 24, 2009 - -
Running for Our Life
The writer of Hebrews, in chapter 12, likens the Christian's life of faith to a long grueling race. In auto racing, the racers know they're on the last lap of their race by the waving of the white flag. It's pretty obvious the drivers try all the harder to better their position. For the Christian, however, we're to run everyday as if it were the "last lap." In order to do so, we need to run with:
1. Liberation.
(1.) "Let us lay aside." Literally to throw off: every weight that hinders (something not sinful in and of itself but slows us down nonetheless.) And the "the sin that so easily ensnares us." Is there a particular sin you struggle with habitually? Get rid of it!
2. Determination.
(1b) "Run with endurance." We're to run with perseverance. The Christian walk of faith is filled with obstacles that are to be overcome. Spiritual disciplines are key in order to endure. Are you disciplined in: prayer, intake of the Word, church attendance, fasting, quiet times with God?
3. Concentration.
(2) "Looking unto Jesus." This is not a casual glimpse but a gaze. Set your eyes on Him! Afterall, He authored or originated your faith, and He will finish or perfect it! The only one who can live the Christian life is Christ in you. Yield to Him and, by His grace, you will finish strong!
In Him,
Pastor John
- - May 10, 2009 - -
The Value of a Godly Woman
In 1905 the Cullinan diamond (the largest ever) was found in a South African mine. It weighed 1.3 pounds and was over 3,106 carats. Wow! It was cut down to nine large stones (added to the crown jewels of England) and ninety-four smaller ones. The price tag of such a large stone is literally priceless, and yet the Bible teaches us that a virtuous wife is worth more.
In Mark 12, verses 41-44, a poor widow woman catches the eye of Jesus as He watched "how" the people gave their money to the temple treasury. Jesus not only recognized her but eulogized her. This poorest of the poor, this widow was a woman of:
1. Flawless Devotion.
(Verse 41) "Out of her poverty put in all that she had."
She literally gave everything of which she had to live on. Of the two coins - she gave
both.
She indeed loved the Lord her God, with all her heart, soul, mind and strength.
2. Faithful Discipline.
In the court of the women of the temple, 13 "trumpets" (receptacles) were used for the treasury collection.
Some of the offering was used for the priest and some for the poor.
This woman gave both coins - one as her tithe, the other as an offering for the poor.
She gave to God and her fellow man.
3. Favorable Delight.
This woman's fancy was not sruck by material things. Her delight was found in God!
(Matthew 5:8) "Blessed (happy and content) are the pure in heart for they shall see God." This verse in the Greek is in the future indicative tense, middle voice and a more literal translation would be: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall be continuously seeing God for themselves."
The pure in heart can see God! Not just in the future when we get to heaven, but right now by faith.
This widow may not have known Jesus was watching her, but she knew she saw God as she gave and that's why she did as she did, and a woman like that is beyond priceless!
In Him,
Pastor John
- - May 3, 2009 - -
"Don't Look Back, Look up"
A while back, I cleaned out the garage and began a stack of "stuff" destined for the trash pile. But you know what? Before I threw it all away, I took some of the "stuff' back and kept it. Sometimes our Christian walk is like that too; carelessly, we can be enticed by worldly things we used to do.
In Luke 17:32, Jesus said, "Remember Lot's wife." What should we remember about her?
1. She lived in a wicked, evil city.
So evil was the residents of Sodom, that God's angelic messengers of imminent judgment were targets of sexual perversion by the city's men. (Genesis19:4)
2. She was warned of God's coming judgment.
The angels urgently pled with Lot and his family to leave! (Genesis 19:15)
3. She was shown the way out.
The angels took hold of her hand while instructing Lot and his family the way of escape. (Genesis 19:16)
4. She loved her things and way of life more than God.
She looked back! (Genesis 19:26) In Luke 9:62, "Jesus says, 'No one, having put his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.'"
5. She was destroyed.
She became a pillar of salt! (Genesis 19:26) (Sadly, many people miss the point of God's warning by debating how this happened.)
Remember Lot's wife and don't look back! Why would we want to go back to the way of the world once we have met the Savior of the world? Hey, don't look back, look up.
In Him,
Pastor John
- - April 26, 2009 - -
"Do You Know the Way"
The author of Psalm 1 writes of two men; one is blessed, the other will perish.
Every person on earth lives their life in either one of two ways. One way is the life lived for Jesus Christ. The other follows the way of the world and lives their life apart from God's direction and influence.
From the text, how can you know if you're on the right way?
1. By the wrong you reject.
Verse 1, "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful."
2. By the word you recieve.
Verse 2, "But his delight is in the law of the lord, and in His law he meditates day and night."
3. By the witness you reflect.
Verse3, "He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper."
As we reflect the witness of Christ, saying no to sin and yes to His Word, we will know the way of God.
In Him,
Pastor John
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