Category Archives: Sermons Preached

Sermons I Have Preached at Riverview Baptist

Do Not Modify God’s Word

“Is your life miserable because misery is baked into the structure of the world, or is your life miserable because you do stupid things and refuse to learn and bring endless misery on yourself in your presumption?” Jordan Peterson

The Edomites did stupid things, but blamed God. The Edomites believed that the God of the Jews was unrighteous, mean spirited. Yet this is not true. God gave Edom a land of their own, and blessed that nation richly though they would not acknowledge Him, but only idols. God determined that the line of the Messiah would go through Jacob, or Israel – not Esau. God knows best. And God is GOOD!

Why did God choose Jacob over Esau?
Joseph over his other brothers?
David over his other brothers?
Israel over the other nations?
Peter to lead the Apostles?
Paul to be Judas Iscariot’s replacement?

Romans 9:15 For {God} saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. (a quote from Exodus 33:19) Continue reading

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The Heart Must Be Restrained

One man I like to listen to on the Internet is Dr. Jordan Peterson. Though not a Christian (I don’t believe), he is open to Christian teaching, and a practicing clinical Psychologist. Peterson made this telling statement:

“When people read the history of Nazi Germany, they always think they’re Schindler, they always think they’re the person who would have saved Anne Frank … They never read history as a perpetrator. They think, ‘I wouldn’t have done that’. Did you watch people during the Pandemic? In Canada, 30% of my neighbors were thrilled that they had the opportunity to inform on the people around them. Thrilled! They would have worn those … masks for the rest of their life if the payoff would have been they could feel morally superior and inform. … People have a very dark side.”

The human heart, unrestrained by the God Who made us, is a horrible thing. Jesus knows this. When He preached His Sermon on the Mount Jesus said:

Matthew 5:27-28 (KJV) Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart…. Continue reading

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God Keeps His Promises

Last week we spoke of the Sovereignty of God. Our God is omniscient, that is, He knows all things – even those things which have not yet happened. God is omnipresent, that is, He is everywhere and fully cognizant of every event, whether in the Heavens or on the earth. God is omnipotent, which means He has all power. When the young maiden Mary questioned Gabriel when he declared that she, though a virgin, was with child, that good Angel replied:

Luke 1:37 (NKJV) … with God nothing will be impossible.

Our Lord Jesus said the same thing in Matthew 19:26, “with GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE”. And again in Luke 18:27, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God”. The God Who made us and all that you see is omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent.

God Always Keeps His Promises

We are saved because God promised to offer us salvation. God made several promises to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3. God promised Abram (Hebrew aḇrām, meaning “exalted father”. This was what his father Terah named him) that a nation of children would be born through him and his wife Sarai (Hebrew śāray, meaning “princess”). God promised Abram that the nation that would come from him would bless all the Gentile nations. Now pay attention to this, dear one. When God made this promise, Continue reading

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Honor Your House By Honoring God’s House

Proverbs 15:20-21 A wise son maketh a GLAD (śāmaḥ, pro. saw-makh’) father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.

21 Folly is JOY (śimḥâ, pro. sim-khaw’) to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.

Good Leadership Is Important To
The Future Of The House

In the Bible, the word “house” is often used not for a brick and stick building, but for a family, a community, a Church, or a country. God told Noah, “Come THOU AND ALL THY HOUSE into the Ark” (Genesis 7:1). God told Abraham, “Get thee out of thy country, and FROM THY FATHER’S HOUSE” (Genesis 12:1). When Pharaoh took Sarai to be his wife, the Bible says “the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house”.

For one generation to the next to have a healthy “house”, the father must teach his children the ways of Christ. The child must heed the instruction of the father if he would be a blessing to his mother. The John Schultz Commentary notes:… Continue reading

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God Is Still In Control

Romans 9:1-5 (KJV) I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, 2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. 3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: 4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; 5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

This Will Be A Long Introduction,
But I Must Address The “Isms”

There have been a lot of misconceptions that have come out of a misinterpretation of Romans chapter 9. Some of these misconceptions have to do with what is called the “will of man and the sovereignty of God”. … Continue reading

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Give Your Heart To Jesus

The Proverbs found in verses 13-17 explore the relationship between inner happiness and outer circumstances. You can either allow your heart to be led by your outward circumstances, or allow your heart to be led by Jesus Christ.

What is the condition of YOUR heart?

The Bible mentions the “heart” over 1000 times, and in no instance can I find the Bible talking about the muscle in our chest that pumps blood. The “heart” as the Bible addresses it is the center of our souls, the part of us that reasons and drives us. We previously studied: Continue reading

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A Really Good Question

If you allow the flesh to lead you, you can separate yourself from the blessing of God. But if you are saved by faith in Christ, the love of God “which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” cannot be extinguished. God loves you. Love Him back! Continue reading

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God Hates Religion

Proverbs 15:8-9 The sacrifice of the WICKED is an abomination to the Lord: but the prayer of the upright is his delight. 9 The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord: but he loveth Him that followeth after righteousness.

God Despises Man-Made “Religion”

Word Study: What does the Bible mean when it speaks of the “WICKED”? This is the Hebrew rāšāʿ, which means “to be wicked or criminal, to violate the Law, to be guilty of sin or hostile to the command of God”. The word is not used of casual sin, but of those who do wrong regardless as to what God has said. The FIRST use of the word is in:

Genesis 13:13 … the men of Sodom were WICKED (rāšāʿ) and SINNERS before the LORD exceedingly.

They were “WICKED” because their outward actions violated the Will of God. They were “SINNERS” because their hearts were far from God. God determined that He was going to destroy Sodom because of its wickedness. Telling Abraham of His plans, Abraham pled for the life of his nephew Lot. He humbly asks God:… Continue reading

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Defeating The Enemy

When I was a little boy I was taught to pray before a meal. Mama taught us to say:
God is great, God is good;
Let us thank Him for our food.
By His hands we are fed,
Bless the Lord for daily bread.
Amen.

I grew up in a “religious” household. Not overly religious. Daddy didn’t go to Church. Mama made us go a Church on Sunday, a local Presbyterian Church. If you notice the prayer I said at meals (saying “Grace”) was not addressed to God.

“Religious” people talk about God. Those “saved by Grace” talk to God. Religious people want God to belong to them. Saved people belong to God. There is a difference between “religious” and “saved, born again”!

As a “religious” person I learned the “Shorter Catechism” of the Presbyterian Church, was baptized by sprinkling, and was given a Bible. I thought I was fine with God. The “Shorter Catechism” is 107 questions about God along with the answers. It taught us as young people about God. The first three questions (and answers) were:

Q. 1. What is the chief end of man?
A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.

Q. 2. What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him?
A. The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him.

Q. 3. What do the Scriptures principally teach?
A. The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.

Religion teaches a lot about God. I knew a lot about God – but I didn’t know God. I had no personal relationship with God. Many in Christianity are the same way. They know about God. They talk about God. But there is no relationship with God.

The Enemy loves you to be “religious”.

Our enemy is the Devil, also called Satan, Lucifer, that Old Serpent or the Red Dragon.

It was the Devil who tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3). It was the Devil who tempted Jesus Christ when He was in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-4). The Devil was created perfect by God, called “Lucifer” which means “Light Bearer”, but he revolted from Heaven and led 1/3 of the angels in Heaven to rebel against God (Revelation 12:4)…. Continue reading

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The Best Yet To Come

I have told people about salvation by faith and surrender to Christ for many years, and the one question I’ve heard is:

“But what will I have to GIVE UP to give myself to Jesus?”

The answer is – EVERYTHING. If you want to be saved and cared for as God wants to care for you, you must give Jesus everything. Salvation is to give your life to Jesus – and He gives His life to you. The beginning of salvation, the very first step, is found in the word REPENT. Jesus preached:

REPENT (metanoeō), for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand (Matthew 4:17)

Jesus often preached “unless you REPENT (metanoeō), you will all perish” (Luke 13:3, 5).

When Jesus sent the disciples out to preach, it was the message that “every person should REPENT (metanoeō)” (Mark 6:12).

Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost, “REPENT (metanoeō) and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.” (Acts 2:38).

And again later, “REPENT (metanoeō) and be converted… Continue reading

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