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Our Purpose And Goal

Posted on January 6, 2020 by bibleteacherorg

Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Not too far from our Church on the Nashville Highway is a Church called “A Church With A Purpose”. I’ve seen churches pop up with many different names. We have a Church in town called “Connections”, one that meets in a High School called “The Bridge”. As I was headed to Nashville last week I noticed “The Bridge” has built a large, new facility off of highway 396. Good for them.

I thought about the name “Church With A Purpose”. Isn’t that what every Church should be? We should and do have a purpose. It is not to entertain, but to lead others to Christ. Once led to Christ, we teach one another how to live in the Kingdom of Christ, following His example in all that we do.

I listened to a rather harsh sermon preached by Evangelist Paul Washer the other day where he castigated American Christianity. He has preached in many different lands, and seen Christians all over the world come to Christ, then begin to live for Christ. In his sermon – which I could not disagree with – he remarked that American Christianity for the most part is no different than the lost world. The Church that is supposed to be “the light of the world” looks just the same as the darkness. Sadly, this is true.

Christianity is not just about going to Heaven. It is about bringing Heaven to earth. It is about living under the leadership of Christ. We are supposed to be living like Jesus, loving like Jesus, helping others to walk like Jesus. This is our calling. This is why God left us on the earth. Whether your Church is called “The Bridge”, “Connections”, “A Church With A Purpose” or “Riverview”, every member of the Church is supposed to be born again Children of God. We are to imitate our Savior and Lord. Our lives should clearly reflect Christ to all around us.

“For To Me”: What Is True For MY Life?

Let’s take our verse today and as God leads, open it up. The verse reads:

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

Now let’s take out the word “Christ” and put a blank there. And let’s take out the word “gain” and put a blank there. Now our verse reads:

“For to me to live is ________, and to die is ________.”

What would you put in these blanks for yourself? Every religion attempts to answer the questions “What is life?” and “What is death?”. The secular religion of HUMANISM, so prevalent in our world today, says:

“For to me to live is for myself, and to die is loss.”

Modern evangelism has catered to this notion. We have filled Churches with people who think that life is all about themselves. Religion teaches that God is our Servant, that He exists to wait on us, to do for us, to bless us. In reality Humanism and Secularism just teach that “I am God” and that God must placate me if He wishes to live. That’s what sin is, Beloved.

Sin is the making of an idol called “Myself”, making myself the God of the universe.

The problem with making ourselves gods is that – eventually – we all die. If I make MYSELF the center of the universe, if I make MYSELF big and God small, then death is NOT gain but LOSS. Death is a TERRIBLE LOSS to those who worship themselves. An idol is when you give anything or anyone more glory and more respect and obedience than you give the God of Scripture. An idol cannot save me. I cannot say “for to me to live is ME and to die is GAIN” because that wouldn’t be true. Death is the bringing of less of me.

Let’s consider the Apostle Paul, the one who wrote these divinely inspired words. Paul did not start out as Paul – he started as Saul. Saul was a very religious man. He tells us in

Galatians 1:13-14 … ye have heard of my {way of life} in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: 14 And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.

Saul (Paul) was a very religious man. When he gives his biography he puts us all to shame on how religious he was. He said:

Philippians 3:4-6 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

Saul lived his life perfectly as a Pharisee. He served on the Jewish Board of Elders called the Sanhedrin. As the Pharisees hated Christ, they also hated the Church. The Pharisees commissioned Saul to hunt down and bring Christians to destruction.

The first time we see Saul revealed was in the life of the Christian named Stephen. Stephen loved the Lord.

Stephen also believed that to live is Christ, to die is gain.

When his life was threatened he refused to denounce Jesus. The Bible says that the Pharisees …

Acts 7:58-59 {cast Stephen} out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen, {as Stephen called} upon God, … saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

As Stephen bloodily died Saul was one of the witnesses and perpetrators of his death. At this point in his life for Saul to live is religion, not Christ. Saul left that place that day to bring great persecution against the Church. The Bible says that:

Acts 8:3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and {dragging out} men and women committed them to prison.

For Saul, “Christ” was not in the blank. For Saul to live was the Sanhedrin. To live was religion. To live was for self. Saul sought to please not God, but a corrupt religious system that had denigrated into a works salvation. Saul thought he was living for God as he killed others. He was much like the confused of the Muslim faith today who, preaching Jihad, believe that they are doing God’s Work by murdering others. The Bible tells us that:

Acts 9:1-2 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

Saul went looking for those who were “in the Way”. Early Christians were not called “Christians” at the beginning. They were called “Followers of the Way”. This is because Jesus told His people:

John 14:6 I am the Way, the truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but BY ME!

Saul was hunting for those in the Way. He himself thought that He was in the Way. But he was not. Our Lord Jesus Christ knocked Saul down on the Damascus Road. The Bible says that Saul:

Acts 9:4-5 {Saul} fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest …

On that day Saul changed. He moved from Saul to Paul. Jesus Christ changed him. Prior to meeting Jesus, Saul made an idol out of religion, out of Phariseeism, out of pleasing a misguided High Priest and a council of ruling elders. What is it that God hath said? What is the very first commandment? Jesus told us:

Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

When you make yourself big and make God small then you have violated the very first commandment. If you violate the first, you will violate all the others as well. If you make yourself bigger than God then others will be smaller than you as well. That is sin. To those for whom God is small and they are big, their final destination is not Heaven but Hell, a place of eternal torment.

I believe hell is a place of eternal torment because of it’s content. When you trap a bunch of selfish idolaters – people who lived to elevate themselves above God – in a single location,
you have hell!

Hell is where the selfish go. Hell is where those go who say “For to me, to live is ME, and to die is LOSS”. Because death for those without Christ is an absolute and total loss.

For Saul Death Is Loss,
But For Paul Death Is Gain

When Jesus knocked Saul down on the Damascus Road, He did something with Paul that He does with every Christian.

God gave Saul a new heart.

I have heard preachers say “Give your heart to Jesus”. That’s not a bad statement. But the truth is, if you belong to Jesus then God gave you a new heart. That is the very essence of the New Covenant that Christ offers to us. A new heart. God told His people in the Old Testament:

Ezekiel 11:19-20 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: 20 That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

God broke Saul on the Damascus Road, and gave Saul a new heart. God takes the person who is broken, who has tried to live life as if they were the center of all things, the selfish, the “me first” group. He takes these surrendered souls and, upon their unconditional surrender to Him through Jesus Christ, God puts in those children a new heart. God said:

Jeremiah 31:33 I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

This is what God has done for us in Christ. When Saul was converted by God our Savior he became Paul. God put a new heart in him. God puts a new heart in all of His children.

When Paul got up from the Damascus Road, his life was changed. He began to follow Christ. He began to live not to please the Sanhedrin, or to please his neighbor, but to please Jesus. Whereas before his conversion Saul sought to destroy the Church, Paul sought to build it up. Before he was saved Saul sought to please himself. Now as Paul, he wants to please Jesus Christ his Lord.

Paul is now writing this letter in chains. He is headed toward a horrible death in Rome. Nero was the Emperor of Rome at this time. The Roman historian Tacitus wrote:

“Besides being put to death, the Christians were made to serve as objects of amusement. They were clothed in the hides of beasts and torn to death by dogs. Others were crucified. Others were set on fire to serve to illuminate the night when daylight failed.”

Paul was facing a horrible death. How did he approach it? He told the Philippian Church:

Philippians 1:12-14 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; 13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; 14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

Paul did not consider his approaching death to be a waste. No! He said “God has allowed this for the furtherance of the Gospel”. As a prisoner brought before Nero, Paul would be in a perfect position to share the Gospel with that lost soul. Those who were in the inner palace who would never hear the Gospel otherwise would now hear it from the lips of a condemned man. Paul knew that others, seeing his courage in the face of impending death, would not only come to know Jesus Christ as Savior, but would also be emboldened to share their faith.

Paul lived his faith as if GOD WERE BIG and he were small. He cherished Jesus. Not only this, Paul looked forward to his death. He said:

Philippians 1:23-24 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: 24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.

Paul was not concerned about keeping his life for himself. He looked forward to leaving this earth, for he fully believed the promises of our Lord Jesus Christ. He was willing to stay on this earth to bless and serve other believers, but Paul earnestly desired to be with Christ, which is far better. The Apostle encouraged us, his Church family, to be as he is. He said:

Philippians 1:27-30 Only let your {way of life} be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. 29 For UNTO YOU IT IS GIVEN IN THE BEHALF OF CHRIST, NOT ONLY TO BELIEVE ON HIM, BUT ALSO TO SUFFER FOR HIS SAKE; 30 Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

The German Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer echoes the words of Christ when he said:

“The cross is laid on every Christian. The first Christ-suffering which every man must experience is the call to abandon the attachments of this world. It is that dying of the old man which is the result of his encounter with Christ. As we embark upon discipleship we surrender ourselves to Christ in union with his death—we give over our lives to death. Thus it begins; the cross is not the terrible end to an otherwise god-fearing and happy life, but it meets us at the beginning of our communion with Christ. When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die. It may be a death like that of the first disciples who had to leave home and work to follow him, or it may be a death like Luther’s, who had to leave the monastery and go out into the world. But it is the same death every time—death in Jesus Christ, the death of the old man at his call. (The Cost of Discipleship, 99)”

Saul died the day he met Jesus as Lord and Savior,
and Paul was born.

Saul lived for himself. Paul lived for Christ. The same is true for every Christian. If you are born again into God’s Kingdom by faith in Jesus, then to live is Christ, to die is gain.

What Is True For Me?

The first three words in our text today are:

Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

This is where the rubber meets the road. What is true in your life? Do you see death as gain, or a terrible loss? Then you need to surrender to the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We are told in:

Romans 10:9-13 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

You have tried living life with yourselves as god. Now let’s try something new. Let us bring our broken lives to Jesus. Jesus healed the lepers, the crippled, the blind, the deaf. Jesus cast out the demons that afflicted the people. The Great Physician our Jesus is able to diagnose and cure you – but you must come to and submit to Him. If you go to your doctor for a problem, you listen to your doctor. You do what your doctor says. You submit to that doctor if you want to be healed.

Even so, you must submit to Jesus. To live is Christ. Here is the Source of life, and that Source is Jesus. Jesus came for we who are broken. He said:

Mark 2:17 .. They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

I say along with the Apostle Paul:

1 Corinthians 2:2-5 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

There is a man powered faith that modern evangelism preaches, and there is a God powered faith that the Bible preaches. This is the faith you need to have – a God powered faith. A faith that submits to Christ. A faith that says, “For to me, to live is Christ.”

Once saved dear Christian, you are to follow the Lord Who saved you. You are to imitate Christ in everything.

1 Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

In order to follow Christ, we must know Him from the Scripture. We must know Him, and the POWER of His RESURRECTION, and the fellowship of His sufferings (Philippians 3:10-11). We must do as Jesus said:

Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

This is why we come together as a Church – to learn more about Jesus from God’s Word. To learn of Him. To live like Him in all things. For to me, to live is Christ. We who are His give up all in order to follow Him:

Mark 10:29-30 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, 30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

I conclude with this quote from Matt Chandler:

“To live is Christ” means that Christ is our focus, our goal, and our chief desire. Christ is the center point of our mind, heart, body and soul. Everything that we do, we do for Christ’s glory. As we run the “race marked out for us,” we lay aside the entangling sin and worldly distractions, “fixing our eyes on Jesus” (Hebrews 12:1-2). He is our life.”

May God touch your hearts with His Word and His Spirit.

Posted in Philippians, Sermons Preached | Tagged follow Christ, Following Christ, imitating Christ, obey God | Leave a comment

Happy New Year!

Posted on January 2, 2020 by bibleteacherorg

Happy New Year CVR

Psalm 146:5-6 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God: 6 Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever.

Many people stayed up late last night to “Ring in the New Year”. Bro. Jim Linam told us at Church Sunday that he usually stays up pretty late on New Year’s Eve – sometimes as late as 8 or 8:30 pm! I agree with him. Some people stay up until the New Year begins, and then fire off fireworks, hug one another, hoot and holler. Many will sing during a “New Year’s Eve Party” an old Scottish poem penned by Robert Burns and set to music in 1788 called “Auld Lang Syne”. Loosely translated the title means “for the sake of old times”:

Should old acquaintance be forgot,

and never brought to mind?

Should old acquaintance be forgot,

and old lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear,

for auld lang syne,

we’ll take a cup of kindness yet,

for auld lang syne!

Of course, then everyone will “lift a cup”, usually of some sort of alcoholic beverage, then toast the New Year. “Happy New Year!”. Do you want to have a “Happy New Year”?

Alcohol isn’t going to do it.
A party isn’t going to do it.
A new year isn’t going to do it.
Do you know what will give you happiness in this New Year?

Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help,
whose hope is in the LORD his God

What brings us great happiness? It is to be a Christian. Not a “Cultural Christian” nor a “Nominal Christian”, but a Christ who loves Jesus and is loved of Him. I saw something the other day that said – and I quote it:

It doesn’t matter if you have given your heart to Jesus.
What matters is that Jesus has given you a new heart.

If you enter the New Year with the same old godless hear, you will not have a Happy New Year. It’ll just be more of the same – over and over again – until you make “Jesus is Lord” a reality in your life. Christians should be among the happiest people on the face of this earth.

For your New Year I want to present to you seven reasons Christians will have a Happy New Year
(and none involve alcohol)

The Sacrificial Cross Of Jesus Christ
Sufficiently Paid For All Our Sins

The Christian – saved by faith in Christ – is the only person who stands in the glory of God’s righteousness and is not damned by it’s light. God’s pronouncement on the world is without a doubt that:

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

When God says “all” He means “all”. Every baby born. Every child reared. Every man. Every woman. Some have asked me “But Brother David, what about little babies who die without Christ?” My response is that I believe God is just, and God does not condemn those who have not reached the age of accountability. But from the age of accountability and upward – to die without Christ is to meet damnation (John 3:16-18). We all fall short.

When our Lord Jesus died on the Cross His last words were:

“It is finished” (John 19:30)

He did not say “I am finished” but “It is finished”. Before Jesus was crucified He prayed to the Father, saying “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” (John 17:4). Our Jesus did everything the Father set before Him to do. He showed us the love of God. He showed us how much God loves each person. Then there was one work left. Jesus had to die for our sins.

“It is finished” is the Greek Τετέλεσται, which means “paid in full”. Among the Romans certificates of debt were stamped with this word to signify that the debt was paid in full. Jesus Christ paid for ALL of our sins. The writer of Hebrews said:

Hebrews 10:4, 9-14 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. 9 Then said {Jesus}, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 But {Jesus}, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; … 14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

Jesus’ offering for sin is a once and for all offering. Dr. Tim Keller writes:

“When Christianity first arose in the world it was not called a religion. It was the non-religion. Imagine the neighbors of early Christians asking them about their faith. “Where’s your temple?” they’d ask. The Christians would reply that they didn’t have a temple. “But how could that be? Where do your priests labor?” The Christians would have replied that they didn’t have priests. “But . . . but,” the neighbors would have sputtered, “where are the sacrifices made to please your gods?” The Christians would have responded that they did not make sacrifices anymore. Jesus himself was the temple to end all temples, the priest to end all priests, and the sacrifice to end all sacrifices.”

We come together in this place to learn more of Jesus, to learn to be better disciples. But Jesus Christ is the all sufficient sacrifice for sin – praise God forever!

God Is Always Willing To Forgive Us
When We Confess Our Sins

Psalm 146:5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help,

Every word of Scripture is carefully crafted by God to convey the message He wants us to hear. Notice that God is here called “The God of JACOB”. Now who was Jacob? Jacob was the man who would one day be called “Israel” or “the one who wrestled God”. His birth name was “Jacob” which means “the one who seizes the heel”. Jacob was a conniving man who robbed his brother of his birthright. The day that God changed his name to “Israel” Jacob wrestled God in Peniel, and demanded a blessing for God. You can read all about this in Genesis 32:22-32.

Israel was the “saved” or blessed name of Jacob – but when he allowed his flesh to show through he was called “Jacob”, the name he had before surrendering his life to God. Jacob often failed God. So do we. And yet God is still the “God of Jacob”. God is not just the God of Israel, the righteous living believer. He loves the child of His that wanders, and stirs the child to return to His embrace. The Bible says:

1 John 1:6-9 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 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. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Every believer I have ever met has had an Israel side and a Jacob side. Even me. Yes, it’s true! But God saves us as we are, imperfect as we can be, and promises to stay with us. When we sin, we are to confess that sin as quickly as possible, trusting in the sufficiency of Christ. I have heard confused people say, “But you must repent and promise never to do it again”. No Beloved, that is not in the Scripture. Our blessing is in the efficacy of Christ’s blood, that He cleanses us from all sin. And yes, we will grow, and cease to follow certain sin patterns. But the strength of our faith is in Jesus, and in the Holy Spirit Who indwells us. Which brings me to:

God Promises To Stay With
His Children Forever

The love that God has for us, dear believer, is immeasurable. The Apostle Paul prayed that the Church would …

Ephesians 3:18-21 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Did you read that prayer of the Apostle rightly? He prayed that we might be able to comprehend the magnitude of God’s love – even as he said “which PASSETH KNOWLEDGE”. The love – the breadth of the love that God has for we who are his Children is INCOMPREHENSIBLE. God’s love is not cheap. His love required the death of His Son on a terrible Cross. Jesus did not die for His friends. He did not die for His family. Jesus died for His enemies. He died for slaves of sin. The Apostle writes:

Romans 5:6-9 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

Dying for our sins, the Lord has promised “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). Jesus did not say “I will never leave thee except for ____”. Some people view the love of God conditionally. It is unconditional. He has promised to stay with us to the the end of the world.

Matthew 28:20 … lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

My imperfections condemn me daily, but not so my Heavenly Father, my blessed Elder Brother, and my ever Present Holy Spirit. The Lord your God is with you no matter where you go (Joshua 1:9).

Psalm 146:5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help,

God is my Help, my Love, my Heart, my Sustenance. As the great commentator Matthew Henry said:

“Happy are those who have the Lord for their God, for they have a God that they cannot be robbed of. Enemies may steal our goods, but not our God.”

We who are Christ’s by faith have a wonderful, Almighty God Who has promised:

Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Our God is able!

The God Who Is Our Savior And Lord
Is Sovereign Over All

Psalm 146:5-6 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God: 6 Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is …

Life has it’s ups and downs, it frightening moments and happinesses. The Christian should be the happiest person on earth because nothing happens by chance that happens to us. Our God is in control of all things. King David said:

1 Chronicles 29:10-13 … David said, Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever. 11 Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all. 12 Both riches and honor come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. 13 Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.

It is the same God Who made all things that has saved us. God is in control. God is the power that moves our planet, controls our sun, makes our heart beat. There is nothing that escapes God’s intention. I myself do not know how many hairs are on my head – nor do I really care. To me, hair is inconsequential. But the God Who saved us said:

Matthew 10:28-31 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

God did the most for you at the Cross of Calvary. Shall He now abandon His work that He purchased with His own Blood (Acts 20:28)? The Apostle Paul was imprisoned for preaching the Gospel. He was also condemned by others who were preachers themselves. You would think that being condemned for doing good would discourage the Apostle, but he wrote:

Philippians 1:12-18 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; 13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; 14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. 15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: 16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: 17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel. 18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretense, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

God left us on this earth to represent Him, and to share the glorious Gospel of Christ. We are not imprisoned because God is impotent. We are imprisoned so that God can give us an opportunity to preach to the prisoners. We are hospitalized so that God can use us to bring the light of the glorious Gospel into the hospitals and nursing homes. We are living lights, Christ’s “light of the world, a city that cannot be hid” (John 8:12; Matthew 5:14-16). We are to reflect Christ’s light where ever we go. Our God is in control. He is in control. Let us trust Him and glorify Him no matter what may come.

One Day We Who Are Christ’s
Shall Be In The Happiest Place Of All

I have heard it said that “Disneyland is the Happiest Place on earth”. That may be true … but only if you have a lot of money. A one day ticket to Disneyland costs between $97 to $135, depending on the time of the year. That’s a one day ticket. For one person. Motels at Disney cost between $191 to $4705 per day.

I don’t think that’s a very happy place!

But there is a place that costs an infinite price, a place reserved for God’s Children. This place is called “Heaven”. Heaven is God’s Promise to us who love Him.

Though “Heaven” doesn’t have the rides that Disneyland has, it has something better. Much better. The Christian has a wonderful testimony, as King David praised God:

Psalm 21:4-6 He asked life of thee, and Thou {O Lord} gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever. 5 His glory is great in Thy salvation: honor and majesty hast Thou laid upon him. 6 For Thou hast made him most blessed for ever: Thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance.

One day each Christian shall be received into glory. “The redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.” (Isaiah 51:11). We who love Jesus are not living beings headed toward death. We are eternally living beings headed toward eternal life. The great Puritan preacher Jonathan Edwards wrote of the believer in his sermon The Pure In Heart Blessed:

“After they have had the pleasure of beholding the face of God millions of ages, it will not grow a dull story; the relish of this delight will be as exquisite as ever.”

We are headed toward the greatest happiness of all! Oh, what a joy it will be to see my Jesus face to face! Oh, what a joy to be eternal bliss, ever in His presence, my sin all gone! Oh what joy that will be. If you are in Christ then I bid you:

“”Happy New Year”

But if not, I beg you to come to Him Who gave Himself for you. This is all that will bring you a Happy New Year. May God touch your hearts with his Word!

Posted in Psalms, Sermons Preached | Tagged happiness, serving christ, serving God | Leave a comment

Their Works Do Follow Them (Part 2)

Posted on December 30, 2019 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by Steve Knutson on Unsplash

Revelation 14:12-13 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. 13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.

Our Works Follow Us – But Not Our Sins

In our first lesson we learned that you can work for God and still be lost (like a Pharisee). We also learned that those who love Jesus will work for Jesus. It is the nature of the Christian to shine for Christ.

The faith that never shines for Jesus is not a saving faith. The faith that does not produce someone who loves God and loves their neighbor is not a saving faith. Christian Singer Lauren Daigle (I love her music) was invited to and asked a direct question by Ellen Degeneres on “The Ellen Show”. The question was, “Do you feel that homosexuality is a sin?”.

“I can’t honestly answer on that,” Daigle responded. “In a sense, I have too many people that I love that they are homosexual. I don’t know. I actually had a conversation with someone last night about it. I can’t say one way or the other. I’m not God.

So when people ask questions like that…that’s what my go to is. I just say read the Bible and find out for yourself. And when you find out let me know, because I’m learning too,” she continued.

You and I know what the Bible says, but to be honest, I like her answer. Read the Bible. Seek Christ. If God is in you – if you are saved and sanctified by the Lord – then sin will be swept out of your life. We are not to be judges – and Lauren was going to be tested on the “Ellen Show” because of the nature of the host. But we are not called to judge others. A sinner is a sinner because that sinner has not met Jesus. We need to show others Jesus. If Lauren had answered otherwise, she would have been booed and ridiculed off of the show. The darkness does not like the light. So the best answer she could give was “read your Bible. Seek Christ. Let God lead you. I am not your judge, but God is.” When God comes to you, you will be both saved as well as sanctified.

Revelation 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and THEIR WORKS DO FOLLOW THEM.

When we leave this earth “in the Lord” we then “rest from our labors”. The Christian works for Christ on this earth.

As Saints of God we live for Him. We need to know that “Our works do follow us”. I do not believe our sins follow us, for Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.

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.

If the Blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from ALL sin then I do not believe that sin will ever follow us to Heaven. I believe the Bible supports this truth.

Christian, your sins will never be an issue between you and God. The Prophet said:

Micah 7:18-19 Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. 19 He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou WILT CAST ALL THEIR SINS INTO THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA.

Dwight L. Moody said:

“God has cast our confessed sins into the depths of the sea, and He’s even put a “No Fishing” sign over the spot!”

When God forgives us for Christ’s sake He casts our sins into the depths of the sea. I believe that, upon salvation, my sins were cast into the Sea of Grace. Grace like a flood covered my imperfections and inconsistencies with God. Because of Jesus I am accepted of God the Father.

Our sin is under that precious Blood of Christ.

Psalm 103:11-13 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. 12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. 13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

God casts our sin as far as the east is from the west. If you were to travel north, you would get so far before you would be going south. North turns to south. But east to west is an infinite line that never meets. If you travel west, you will always head west – forever! Our sins are covered – forgiven by God. What has God said?

Isaiah 43:25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and WILL NOT REMEMBER THY SINS.

If God does not remember our sins, then how can He ever hold them against us? He cannot, lest God be a liar. And God, dear friend, is NEVER a liar! Why does God not remember our sins? Because when we receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior His sacrifice completely covers our sins. The writer of Hebrews puts it this way:

Hebrews 10:14-18 For by one offering HE HATH PERFECTED FOR EVER THEM THAT ARE SANCTIFIED. 15 [Whereof] the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, 16 This [is] the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. 18 Now where remission of these [is, there is] no more offering for sin.

We are perfect – positionally perfect in God’s eyes – because of what Jesus did for us. We are PERFECTED FOREVER. Sin is not an issue for the Christ Child, but obedience is. We are freed from the enslavement of goodness in order to serve and glorify our Savior. Our God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Because of what Jesus did we are sanctified – Sons of God who are now becoming the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). God has:

Isaiah 38:17 … cast all my sins behind thy back.

Our sins are no longer remembered.

Sins Will Not Follow Us, But Our Works Will –
And They Will Be Judged

The Apostle chastised the Church at Rome for judging one another’s works. We as Christians are unfit to judge others. We do not judge. God is the Judge. His Word is the Judge. Here’s what was happening in Rome.

Rome was the seat of much of the pagan and idolatrous worship in the ancient world. The Jews made animal sacrifices to the Biblical God, but the idol worshipers did the same thing with their gods and goddesses. A lot of sacrifices were made in Rome to Apollo, Zeus, Venus, to Caesar … the list goes on. When an animal was sacrificed to the false gods the dead animal, after that sacrifice, was sold as meat. Many of the Christians in the Church at Rome went to the markets and bought this “meat offered to idols” because, frankly, it was cheap! This started a fight in the Church – a fight that the Apostle addressed. The Apostle said:

Romans 14:4 … Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

The Apostle told the Roman Church to stop judging one another’s service to God. He wrote:

Romans 14:7-11 .. For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. 8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. 10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for WE SHALL ALL STAND BEFORE THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST. 11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

God has already judged sin through His Bible and on the Cross of Christ. That which is “sin” is what God has said is “sin” in the Bible. And those of us who have received Christ as Savior are saved to serve Him. Our sins are covered. But our works will follow us. There is coming a day when every believer will give an account of His WORK to God. Hear me, Christian. God saved you at a great cost. He purchased your salvation with His Son’s Blood. He gave His best for you. He sent His Spirit to indwell you. We were saved from sin sop that we can SERVE the Living God. And we will indeed give an account of our works to the Lord.

The Apostle continues the teaching of the Judgment Seat of Christ in ..

2 Corinthians 5:6-10 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

In verse 9 the Apostle explains why we labor. He writes, we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be ACCEPTED of him. The word translated “accepted” is the Greek (εὐάρεστος euárestos, pronounced yoo-ar’-es-tos) which means “to be well pleasing to”. If we have been saved by Jesus, we want to be “well pleasing” to Jesus. The Judgment Seat of Christ is a time when we as believers “give an account” to Jesus. We will “receive the things done in the body, whether good or bad”. There are good works, and there are bad works. At the Judgment Seat of Christ our works – not our sins, but our works – will be judged.

The Christian labors for the Lord because we love the Lord. One day the works we do for Him will one day be judged by the One we love, Jesus Christ. Sin is not judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Sin is judged at the Great White Throne Judgment – a terrifying ordeal spoken of in Revelation 20:11-15. But sin for the Christian was judged on the Cross. Our sins are not in view at the Judgment Seat, but our works. I say again, our sins are not judged by Jesus, but our works, the works we do on this earth.

God saved us and left us on this earth so that we could live for Him.

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 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.

The Christian who is constantly trying to do good works in order to be saved is, in fact, working for himself. If my every moment of every day is filled with dread lest I “lose my salvation”, then I am constantly
living for myself.
This is not salvation but slavery, SELF slavery.

By receiving Christ as Lord and Savior and believing that His death and resurrection are sufficient to cover my sins, I am now freed so that I might serve – lovingly serve – my Jesus. I no longer yield myself to sin – but to my Savior. This is why the Apostle said:

Romans 6:12-18 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18 BEING THEN MADE FREE FROM SIN, YE BECAME THE SERVANTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.

The person who receives Justification from God but never participates in Sanctification with God is “receiving the Grace of God in vain”.

2 Corinthians 6:1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

To “receive the Grace of God in vain” is to be possessed of Christ, but never allowing Him to work through your life.

You were saved so that POSITIONALLY you could become a son of God.
You are saved also so that you PRACTICALLY can be a son of God.

There is joy found by all those who work for the Savior. God has chosen us to be world changers, light, and salt. We are to be …

1 Corinthians 15:58 … always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Christ will examine the works that we as Christians did, and we shall give an account unto Him (1 Peter 4:5). We who are saved are not to judge our brother or sister in the Lord, for Christ shall judge us all. The Pastor at Moody Bible Church, Erwin Lutzer writes:

“We should not look at the judgment seat of Christ as God judging our sins, but rather as God rewarding us for our lives. Yes, as the Bible says, we will have to give an account of ourselves.”

At the Judgment Seat of Christ the believer is rewarded based on how faithfully we served Jesus. The works we do for Jesus are judged. We read:

1 Corinthians 3:11-15 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

The Christian is saved by faith in Christ. Upon this foundation of faith the believer does good works, glorifying God and imitating Christ. We love as God tells us to love. We live lifestyles compatible with that which the Scripture reveals as righteous. As we who are saved and sanctified live for the Lord Who saved and sanctified us, we do works which God takes note of. Every work that the believer does will be classified in one of six ways:

gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble

The Lord knows them that are His (2 Timothy 2:19). It is fitting that we who are the sons of God by adoption will have our works judged by Him Who is the Only Begotten Son of God. How closely did we imitate our Savior and Lord? How obedient were we to His directives? How much light did our lives impart to this dark old world? Our works – not our sins, but our works – will be judged.

When the lost stand before the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15) fire shall bind them, and keep them separated from Heaven and God’s people forever. However for the Christian whose work is judged, fire is not a curse, nor a binder, but a blessing. The Apostle said:

If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire

Again, sin is not that which is in view at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Works are. If our works endure the Fire of Christ’s love then the Scripture says we shall receive a reward.

God Will Reward The Faithful Son With Crowns

While we who are believers are on this earth, we are to work for our Jesus. When we get to Heaven our works will follow us – and be rewarded. The Bible speaks of “crowns” for the believer. Some of the Scriptures are:

2 Timothy 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

1 Peter 5:3-4 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

If we as Christians are “Kings and Priests unto God” (Revelation 1:5) then it is expected that we will have marks of our heritage. I pray that we all as Christians pursue righteous works for the glory of God. You cannot out give God. Dear believers, my heart’s desire is to lay whatever reward He may bestow upon me down at the feet of my Messiah – blessed be the Name of Jesus forever! Let us all live for Him!

Posted in Glory To God, Revelation, Sermons Preached | Tagged Judgment, Loving God, loving Jesus, works | Leave a comment

Little Foxes That Spoil The Vines

Posted on December 29, 2019 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by Zdeněk Macháček on Unsplash

Song of Solomon 2:15 Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.

John 15:5-8 {Jesus said to us} I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

What does God our Father want of us? The Bible is very clear on this point. He wants every child of His, every Christian, to bear fruit. He says to His Child:

John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

Jesus wants me and you – if you have been saved by loving faith in Him (blessed be the Name of the Lord!) – bear fruit that remains. We who are Christians have no ability of ourselves to bear fruit. Let me say again:

We who are Christians – Children of God –
have no ability of ourselves to bear fruit!

Our ability to bear fruit – which is what Our Father wants us to do – is tied to our being in Christ, abiding in Him.

We are to draw near to Jesus.
To trust Him.
To rest in His embrace.

As we do so, the power that is in Christ flows from the vine to the vines. Jesus’ power flows through our lives. As His power flows God imparts fruit through us. The Bible calls this fruit:

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Ephesians 5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

Little Foxes Spoil The Fruit

What binds us to Christ? It is His Grace and love! But there are little foxes that come into the vineyard of the Christian to hinder our fruitfulness. One of my mentors in Christ, C.H. Spurgeon, said:

“The sea is made of drops; the rocks are made of grains: and the sea which divides thee from Christ may be filled with the drops of thy little sins; … If thou wouldst live with Christ, and walk with Christ, and see Christ, and have fellowship with Christ, take heed of the little foxes that spoil the vines, for our vines have tender grapes.”

The foxes that spoil the vines – disrupting our relationship and joy in Christ – are very sneaky. Think about the fox for a moment:

Foxes are fast. They dart into the vineyard and eat the fruit, then run away. They are hard to catch.
Foxes are little. Their size makes us think that they are nothing. We tend to underestimate the small things. Not too long ago one of our members was bitten by a brown recluse spider – one of the tiniest of creatures. He had to go through several months of medical treatment to get over it. Oh Beloved, do not consider small to be insignificant. A nuclear weapon destroys millions by splitting the unseen atom. One tiny fox can lead many other tiny foxes to us, bring a BIG problem.
Foxes are cute. They are among the prettiest of animals. I have often thought how neat it would be to have a fox to raise (and I also like the look of a skunk). Truth be told, no one has ever tamed the wild out of a fox. They cannot be domesticated.
Foxes are cunning. They sometimes work in pairs, and as you watch one, another will sneak up and steal the fruit of your vineyard.

What are the “little foxes” than can rob us of our joy in Christ?

Beware The Little Foxes Of False Spirituality
& Spiritual Laziness

We have all, at times, been lazy. I tend to put off things that I don’t like to do. I don’t like crawling under the car to change the oil, or taking the time to tune up the engine by changing the plugs. Many times in my laziness (compounded with the fact that I am a little arthritic) I just opt to pay someone else to do that. As far as that goes, I supposed there’s nothing wrong with paying someone to do something that you hate to do in the secular world.

In the Spiritual world if you want to grow in power as a Child of God you must do the work. You can’t phone it in. You can’t put it off. And you can’t hire it done. It is YOUR walk with Christ.

The Bible tells us that we as believers must study the Word of God, this Bible. We read:

2 Timothy 2:15-17 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 17 And their word will eat as doth a canker …

You must put in the time. The Bible tells us to study to show thyself approved unto God. “Study” you ask? “Study what?” We are to study the Word of God, and shun the babbling words of the secular world. When we “study” (the Greek σπουδάζω spoudazō in the Imperative Mood – it is IMPERATIVE that you study God’s Word) the Word of God we are “approved unto God”. The word “approved” is the Greek δόκιμος dókimos, (pronounced dok’-ee-mos) which means “to be pleasing to God”.

The Spiritually Lazy Christian has no fence around his vineyard. The little foxes of the world easily run into the unguarded life, consuming our fruit, eating our joy!

God is not pleased with the spiritually lazy Christian. He loves you – yes, He does. But God has given you His Word just as a loving mother feeds her child. God provides, but WE must feed yourselves daily on His Word. Daily. When we do not, we drift from God. It does not amaze me that the Church in America has drifted from God’s Word. Years ago believers thought differently than they believe now.

If you have never been offended by a sermon, you have never heard the Word of God!

The Word of God offends the world. When we drift from God, we will be offended by the Word. But that’s good, not bad. God said …

Jeremiah 23:28-29 The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD. 29 Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?

When we are offended by God’s Word, let us adjust course. God’s Word is true, and often what we think is not. I heard the story one time of a ship that saw another ship’s lights. The captain called across the airwaves, “Light on my north, I am a freighter. Veer off, or we will collide.” The light replied: “Light on my south, you veer off. I cannot. I am a lighthouse!”

God’s Word is always true – whether you agree with it or not! Jesus was emphatic when He decreed:

Matthew 7:24-27 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

You must READ and HEED Christ’s Word. Today.

“Tomorrow. Tomorrow.
Tomorrow I will open God’s Word.
Tomorrow I will attend Church and heed the Word spoken.
Tomorrow I will go to Discipleship Training.
Tomorrow I will attend Sunday School.”

The Christian way of life was not meant to be a comfy recliner or a snuggy in a warm bed. The Christian way of life is a Cross. Jesus said:

Matthew 16:24-25 … If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

He meant what He said!

The Little Fox Called The Little Look

Every action, whether right or wrong, begins with a thought. When we become lazy in our study of God’s Word it is not long before Satan will tempt us with a little fox.

Jesus made a statement one time that puzzled me – and has puzzled many over the years. He said:

Matthew 5:27-32 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. 29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: 32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

In our world today the sexual revolution of the 60s has become the sexual madness of the Century. How did the degradation of America and the American family begin? With a little look. Jesus told us that the little look – that little improper look at a woman – can turn into something ugly. Now people say, “But what does a little look matter? I’ve not done anything if I look and think about it. After all, sin is an activity, not a thought.” That is very true. Sin is an activity, not a thought. But sin always begins with a thought. Let me say this again:

Sin always begins with a thought.

I know of a Deacon who, good man that he is, donated one his kidneys to another Church member in need. Several years later this same generous and sweet man was caught in bed with the youth Pastor’s wife. How did this happen? It starts with a look.

Jesus tells us that Matthew 5:29-32 … if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

“What?!” you cry out to Jesus. “Why should I pluck my eye out? Why should I cut my right hand – in most of us, the dominant hand – off?” Because that little fox called Folly has you look where you should not look. Do you not remember the Apostle’s warning:

1 Corinthians 5:6 … Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

A little folly, a little sin.
A little crack, the devil’s in.

Consider the life of King David, a “man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22). What brought great misery to David? A little laziness and a little look. We read:

2 Samuel 11:1-2 And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time WHEN KINGS GO FORTH TO BATTLE, THAT DAVID sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. BUT DAVID TARRIED STILL AT JERUSALEM. 2 And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof HE SAW A WOMAN WASHING HERSELF; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.

David as King was supposed to be at war with his people. The leader should always lead. But instead, David decided to delegate his responsibility to others. David decided to take a sabbatical, a rest, a little vacation from what God told him to do. The devil watches. He watches David. He watches David NOT doing what God told him to do.

A little look.
A little call.
A little touch.
A little kiss.
A little baby.
A little murder.
A little curse.

None of it is little to God. God is watching, and God told David:

2 Samuel 12:9-12 Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. 10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. 11 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house…

The world calls this “Karma”. The Bible says it is “sin”. There is no little sin with God. I saw this horror played out before my eyes at a Church I once pastored. There was a faithful family of believers who came to Church regularly. One day I saw a little fox walk into the assembly. She wore short skirts, fish net stockings, provocatively placed tattoos. One day I was at the local Walmart when she came out of the store hand in hand with one of the male family members. Though they quickly made excuses to me to make their actions seem innocent, there is no reason for a married man to be walking hand in hand with another woman. Less than a year later the husband abandoned his wife and children. Most of the family left the Church, broken and in pieces. Oh Beloved, avoid the little sins. Confess sin before God, and draw near to Jesus!

The Little Fox Of Worry

Jesus said in Matthew 6:25-27 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

One of the little Foxes that rob our us of joy is that little Fox called “Worry”. Worry is actually a form of faithlessness. This is what our Jesus said:

Matthew 6:30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

The one ravaged by the Fox of Worry is a person of “little faith”. God is able. God is able. God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham (Matthew 3:9). God gave His Son Jesus Christ to die for your sins. When you received Christ as Savior God was able to graft us into the Covenant Promises of Grace (Romans 11:23). As a Child of God our God is able to make you stand (Romans 14:4). And when we sin, our God is able to make all grace abound unto us (2 Corinthians 9:8).

My God is able.
It is God Who worketh in you both to Will
and to Do of His good pleasure.
Philippians 2:13

If God can save a sinner and fit that sinner for Heaven, there is nothing that God cannot do. Our Lord Jesus said …

Matthew 19:26 … with God all things are possible.

Mark 9:23 … If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

Beloved, our God is able. When we worry about the things that we have no ability to change we rob ourselves of our today. This Jesus we follow is able to do anything. I remember once when the disciples were crossing the sea with Jesus a storm rose, and began to wash waves over the boat. The disciples saw Jesus in the rear of the boat sleeping. Rousing the Lord up, the disciples – with fear in their voices – cried out:

Master, carest thou not that we perish?

Jesus woke up, stood up, and said simply “Peace. Be still.” The wind and the waves immediately stopped. Jesus then turned to His disciples and said:

Mark 4:40 … Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

Why indeed? Why do we allow the little Fox of Worry and its companions Fear and Doubt to run into our vines? God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). He gave the most He could give to us at the Cross. Why would He now abandon us.

My God is able.
My God is able.

But perhaps, just perhaps, you have never met my God. Perhaps you have heard of Him from others, but have never called on Him for yourselves. Perhaps you are relying on your own self righteousness to get you to Heaven. Oh Beloved, self righteousness has damned so many to hell. We need Jesus.

The Little Fox Of Self Righteousness

There are many other “little foxes” that I could preach on today, but I want to end with one of the worst. It is the little fox of self righteousness. As I preached this sermon some sat in the audience thinking, “What’s wrong with these people? None of these things afflict me. Boy, the preacher really told them, didn’t he?” If you thought these thoughts or thought yourself superior to others while God spoke, then you are afflicted by the worst of the little foxes – that of self righteousness.

The greatest enemies of Christ while He walked this earth was not the secular world, but the self righteous religious world. The Pharisees aqnd Scribes often attacked the Master. I will end with this text:

Luke 18:9-14 {Jesus} spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

If you believe that you are above the little foxes that afflict us all, then you are the grips of the most wily of the foxes – self righteousness. Even after Jesus spoke this word to His disciples the disciples – before His words had even just left the air – began to self righteously run people away from Jesus. “The Master cannot be disturbed by these babies. Away with you!” Jesus rebuked them, then said:

Luke 18:17 … Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

If you want to be blessed of God you have to be like a little child. Humble yourselves. Kneel at His feet. If He bids it, sell all you have, give it to the poor, and follow Him (Luke 18:22). All to Jesus. All to Jesus.

All to Jesus, I surrender;
All to Thee I freely give,
I will ever love and trust Him;
In His Presence daily live!
I surrender all. I surrender all.
All to Thee, my Blessed Savior,
I surrender all.

Evangelist Billy Graham often had this song sung at the invitation he gave at the end of his crusade messages. Billy wrote:

“One of the evangelists who influenced my early preaching was also a hymnist who wrote “I Surrender All” — the Reverend J. W. Van de Venter. He was a regular visitor at the Florida Bible Institute (now Trinity Bible College) in the late 1930’s. We students love this kind, deeply spiritual gentleman and often gathered in his winter home at Tampa, Florida, for an evening of fellowship and singing.”

If you sing this song in it’s entirety you would sing the word “surrender” thirty times. The way to power with God and in this life is “surrender” – living in the shadow and will of Christ. Will you surrender to Him this New Year? Perfect vision is 20/20. In 2020 let us have perfect vision – surrender to Christ!

Posted in Sermons Preached, topical | Tagged follow Christ, Following Christ, sin, temptations | Leave a comment

Their Works Do Follow Them (Part 1)

Posted on December 23, 2019 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by Ismael Paramo on Unsplash

Understanding The Difference
Between “Justification” And “Sanctification”

What is a “saint”? The Roman Catholic Church defines a “saint” as “someone who has led a life of heroic virtue”. In Catholicism it is the Pope who proclaims someone to be a “Saint”. Once someone is named a “Saint” by the Pope “public devotion to the saint, called a ‘cultus’, is authorized for Catholics throughout the world”. But is this what the Bible teaches?

The Bible defines a “Saint” as a person who has received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. This is clear in Scripture.

Romans 1:6-7 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: 7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, CALLED TO BE SAINTS: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Every person called into salvation by Jesus
is “called to be a Saint”.

The noun form of the word “Saint” is the Greek hagios (ἅγιος hágios, pronounced hag’-ee-os) or in the Hebrew (קֹדֶשׁ qôdesh, pronounced ko’-desh), both of which means “one who has been set apart, consecrated, or dedicated by God”. The verb form of this word is, in the Hebrew, (קָדַשׁ qâdash, kaw-dash’), such as is found in creation:

Genesis 2:3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

Or when God told Israel

Exodus 29:43 And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by my glory.

In the Old Testament God “sanctified” the seventh day, “sanctified” the firstborn, “sanctified” the children of Abraham by circumcision, “sanctified” the Tabernacle and the Temple, and “sanctified” the priests.

In the New Testament the verb form of “sanctified” is (ἁγιάζω hagiázō, hag-ee-ad’-zo). God is the Saint Maker – not the Pope.

1 Corinthians 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are SANCTIFIED in Christ Jesus, called to be SAINTS, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

Sanctification is a part of being in Christ Jesus. When you are saved by faith in Him then God comes to you and changes you. The Christian is no longer like the lost of the world – the Christian is found of God. The Apostle told the Church at Corinth:

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

“Justification” is when God makes you righteous because of Christ. “Sanctification” is when the Holy Spirit moves on the justified believer. The Blood of Christ makes our justification possible, and it is the Blood of Christ that causes the Spirit to come into the framework of our lives. Sanctification always accompanies justification or what we call “salvation”.

Justification Versus Sanctification
Justification is Free (John 4:1)	Sanctification is Costly (Luke 14:25-33)
Justification is Immediate, at New Birth (John 3:8)	Sanctification is a Life Work (John 8:31)
Justification is by Faith alone (Ephesians 2:8)	Sanctification is by Faithfulness (1 Corinthians 4:2)
God alone Justifies (Ephesians 2:9)	We partner with God in Sanctification (Ephesians 2:10)
Justification is Christ’s love for me (John 3:16)	Sanctification is my love for Christ (1 John 4:19)
Because of Christ I am justified – I possess His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21)	If I am justified I will want to be sanctified (Luke 14:25-33)
Justification involves my position in Christ (Colossians 2:11-14)	Sanctification involves my practice in Christ (Colossians 3:1-11)
Justification considers what God has done (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)	Sanctification considers what I am doing for God (Luke 14:25-33)
Justification is God’s commitment to me (1 John 5:9-13)	Sanctification is my commitment to God (John 14:15)
Justification requires obedience to believe the Gospel (Acts 6:7)	Sanctification requires obedience to Christ’s commands (Matthew 28:19-20)
Justification focuses on the Cross that Jesus took up for me (1 Corinthians 1:18)	Sanctification focuses on the cross I am to take up for Jesus (Luke 9:53)
Justification stands finished at the moment of faith (John 5:24)	Sanctification is not finished until I meet my Lord in Heaven (1 Corinthians 9:24-27)

The believer is a “Saint” because Jesus and the Holy Spirit “sanctify” us.

Hebrews 2:9-17 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. 10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. 13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me. 14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. 17 Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

A lost person cannot be sanctified. Only a person saved by faith in Christ can be sanctified. On the day that you – dear believer – received the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior then God who sees the heart (1 Samuel 16:7) applies the Blood of Jesus Christ to your lives. Jesus then baptizes you with the Holy Spirit – sending the Spirit of God to you to change you (Luke 3:16). The Holy Spirit enters the life of the genuine Christian, saved by faith. Once the Spirit enters your life you are set apart – sanctified – made a saint or, if you prefer, a Child of God.

We are “justified” or made right before God
by the authority of Christ.
We are “sanctified” or made “saints”
by the action of the Holy Spirit.
“ye are sanctified, but ye are justified
in the name of the Lord Jesus,
and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11).

If you understand the two works of salvation – “Justification” and “Sanctification” – then you will understand this: No Christian Is Saved By Works, But If You Are Saved You Will Work – For You Are A Work Of God!

Sins Do Not Follow Us To Heaven – But Works Do

What does God say of His “Saints”?

Here is the patience of the saints

A “saint” is NOT someone saved by works, but by faith in THE work of Christ. The Scripture says:

Titus 3:4-7 But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior; 7 That being justified by his grace, WE SHOULD BE MADE HEIRS according to the hope of eternal life.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved THROUGH FAITH; AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES: [IT IS] THE GIFT OF GOD: 9 NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast.

We who are believers are the product of God’s Grace. Jesus Christ paid for our salvation. The Holy Spirit causes us to be born again and adopted into the Family of God. We are changed by God.

But once changed, we work.

We are set apart, sanctified, called to be saints by God. And we patiently work. The Christian continues to serve God in some capacity throughout his or her life. The Christian is not overcome of the world or worldliness, but is an overcomer because our God is in us.

1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

God is in the Christian.
God is at work in the Christian.
God uses the Christian.
The Christian is set apart to be used of God.
The Christian is a Child of God.
The Christian belongs to God.

There are many who profess Christ but are not possessed of Christ. They outwardly look good,
but inwardly are not good.

My wife Sherry and I went to Longhorn Steak House the other day to treat ourselves. I love steak. When our meals came (Sherry ate chicken strips) my steak looked really nice. I cut into it, and it was cooked just right. It was a beautiful steak. I took a bite and … something was not right. It didn’t taste right. It was slightly rancid tasting. The waitress came by and asked how our meal was, and I said “Something’s not right with this meat. It’s off.” Without complaint she took it back, and about 10 minutes later the manager came out with another steak. It looked just as good as the first steak looked. Outwardly it was fine. So I took a bite and PERFECTION. Well, maybe not perfection, but it was a good steak. Outwardly it looked good, but inwardly it was rancid.

Those Saved By Jesus Love Jesus –
And Work From A Place Of Love

There are many who profess Christ who look right and righteous but are wrong. There was a group of people who antagonized Jesus while He ministered, the group called Pharisees. Jesus said of these Pharisees:

Matthew 23:3-5 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. 4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5 But ALL THEIR WORKS THEY DO FOR TO BE SEEN OF MEN: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,

The Pharisees did not love others. They loved themselves. They did what they did because they loved the praise of their neighbors. Jesus told the Pharisees:

John 8:42-44 … Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. 43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. 44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. …

The Pharisees of Jesus’ day and the Pharisees of our day look outwardly good – but God looks at the heart. Jesus described them as …

Matthew 23:27-28 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. 28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

The outside of the Pharisees looked good, and right, and holy. But inwardly they were lost and undone, without Christ and without the Holy Spirit. YET THE PHARISEES WORKED.

We are not saved by our works, but if saved we are indwelt by God, in partnership with God, and servants as well as sons of God. If Saved you are Sanctified, set apart for God’s use. The Christian was once a broken, bad tree. But God changes the heart – the interior – of the Christian. He does this so that we can be fruit bearing to the glory of God.

Matthew 7:17-20 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

The Pharisee obeys the commandments, but does not do so out of love for Jesus. The Christian both keeps the commandments all the while maintaining loving faith in Jesus.

Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

The Saints are those who overcome the world and worldliness. The Saint keeps the commandments of God AND keeps their faith in Jesus. We follow Jesus. The faith the Christian has in Jesus is a shield that we ever keep before us.

When we fail, we turn our failure over to Jesus.
When we sin, we put our sin into the hands of our Savior.

1 John 2:1-6 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation (covering/ atonement) for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And HEREBY WE DO KNOW THAT WE KNOW HIM, IF WE KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS. 4 HE THAT SAITH, I KNOW HIM, AND KEEPETH NOT HIS COMMANDMENTS, IS A LIAR, AND THE TRUTH IS NOT IN HIM. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

We who are saved follow Jesus because we love Jesus.

Works Do Not Save Us, But They Are
The Witnesses That We Are Saved

Several times in His ministry Jesus was questioned as to whether He was the Messiah or not. They asked “How do we know you are the Messiah?” Jesus never said “Because I say so”. How did Jesus prove He was Messiah?

By His Works!

The Pharisees told Jesus “How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.” (John 10:24). Jesus told them “I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.” Was Jesus the Messiah because of the works? No. He was the Messiah because He was the Messiah. But the works that Jesus did testified or proved that He was indeed the Messiah. When the Pharisees continued to question Jesus, He said:

John 10:37-38 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. 38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, BELIEVE THE WORKS: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.

Jesus was not Messiah because of the works – but BECAUSE He was Messiah He DID THE WORKS.

When Jesus’ disciples began to question Him Jesus said:

John 14:11-12 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else BELIEVE ME FOR THE VERY WORKS’ SAKE. 12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, HE THAT BELIEVETH ON ME, THE WORKS THAT I DO SHALL HE DO ALSO; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

Jesus said that the works we do for God are PROOF that we are God’s Saints. The works that Jesus did PROVED that He is the Son of God. The works that WE do prove that WE ARE SONS OF GOD. If we are saved, we are sanctified or set apart for God’s use. Our works will reflect our sanctification.

The person who is saved also shows evidence of that salvation. James – the half brother of Christ – states:

James 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

The faith that saves is always accompanied by the witness of works. What you do is what you are. A duck quacks because it is a duck. A dog barks because it is a dog. A Christian lives to please the Lord because the Christian is a Saint and a Son of God. We are what we do.

James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD also.

Let us live for Jesus while we can – for one day we will give an account of our stewardship. More on this tonight! May God touch your hearts with His Word!

Posted in Revelation, salvation, Sermons Preached | Tagged justification, salvation, sanctification, working for God | Leave a comment

Unto Us

Posted on December 22, 2019 by bibleteacherorg

ryoji-iwata-IBaVuZsJJTo-unsplash

Photo by Ryoji Iwata on Unsplash

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Some 700 years before Messiah came Israel was in a terrible place. God’s people that He loved, and had saved with a mighty hand, had forgotten their God. God told His people when He saved them from Egypt and led them into Canaan:

Exodus 34:11-14 Observe thou that which I command thee this day: behold, I drive out before thee the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite. 12 Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee: 13 But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves: 14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:

God loves His people. He loved His Israel. He warned His people, His Church, not to turn away and follow other gods. But Israel did not listen. This is why, 700 years before Messiah came, that Israel found herself as a nation torn in two. Israel was no longer a free nation, but her temple was destroyed. Jerusalem laid in ruins. The glory of God seemed to have departed from the land.

But God reached out still. He would not leave His people hopeless.

The prophecy that we read this morning, I have read it many times, but read it one more time the other day. I had never noticed this word. The word “is”. Do you see the word “is”? Read it again:

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child IS born, unto us a son IS given:

Why is this “IS” so significant? As I have already said, this prophecy was given 700 years before the birth of Christ in the Manger. 700 years! Now I’m no scholar or whiz kid, but the proper grammar for what we are reading today should have been “shall be” or “will be”. The verb should have been future tense. But the verb is present tense. Why is this? Because our God is the Great I AM. Time means nothing to God. He sees and …

declares the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure … (Isaiah 46:10)

Though Christ had not yet been born, God spoke as if it was occurring at this time. He wanted His people to have hope in the midst of their darkness. God had not abandoned them. Everything that had happened, as horrible as it seemed, was still under God’s control. God still loved His people.

God was going to become Man! He would write Himself into our story. He would lower Himself to become one of us so that He could give Himself to us. Though I enjoy the Grace of God, I do not understand the Grace of God. It is beyond my grasp – and it’s beyond your grasp as well. In this modern world (which is as fallen as the ancient world was) we fall into love and out of love. Love is like fluff to us. But to God, love is a much sturdier proposition. God would become incarnate, taking on Himself humanity, entering time from eternity in an unprecedented act of love. Why would He do this?

By Grace we have been saved.
Grace sent God to be born of a virgin in a manger.
Grace sent God to grow up in Nazareth.
Grace sent God to minister to the sick and sinful.
Grace sent God to a Hill called Calvary, bearing our sins.
Grace sent God to die in the midst of mocking and jeers.

Oh how our God loves us! Oh, how He loves us!

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: (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.

Here is the take away from the text this day. Please, please grasp this. No matter how dark your day may be. No matter how far you may have strayed from God. No matter how cold and aloof your love may be. God loves you still. And God reaches out to you even in the midst of your present darkness. If you will receive Him, He will change your life forever!

The Child Is BORN But The Son Is GIVEN

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given:

On that blessed day so long ago when Jesus was born in a manger His birth was unlike any birth that has ever been. Oh, I am sure that Mary suffered birth pains, just as every woman in history has had apart from medication. The pain of birth is part of the curse that sin brought to women. On the day that Eve fell into sin God told her:

Genesis 3:16 … I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

I believe that Mary brought forth the Christ in as much pain as all women have borne when delivering their children. I believe that when Jesus came into the world, Joseph cleaned Him up, and lovingly measured his little hands and feet, looking into His eyes. Jesus came into the world. A child is born. But Jesus is not just a Child. He is the Son of God. The Son of God has always existed with God. The Son of God is forever with Father and Spirit. The Apostle clarified this when He said:

John 1:1-3, 14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Jesus Christ is the Word made flesh. God spoke all things into being with the Word. Jesus Christ is that Word. All things were made by HIM, and without Him was not anything made that was made. Jesus Christ – that Baby in the Manger – is the same God Who is:

Colossians 1:15-17 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

It is of Jesus that God the Father speaks to us:

Hebrews 1:1-2 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Of this Jesus, God said:

Hebrews 1:8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom.

That Child born in the manger on Christmas morn was human as we are – and yet without sin. That baby was weak as we are. God came among us clothed as we are. He was …

Hebrews 4:15 … in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

That Baby was without sin so that He could bear our sins.

Hebrews 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Dr. Henry Morris said¹: To die for our sins, He must Himself be free from any sin of His own. To be sinless in practice, He must first be sinless in nature. He could not have inherited a human nature, bound under the curse and the bondage of sin as it must have been, as do all the sons of men. His birth, therefore, must have been a miraculous birth. The seed of the woman was implanted in the virgin’s womb …”

Jesus Christ was born as all children are born, yet His conception was quite different from all other conceptions. When the Angel Gabriel told Mary about the impending conception he told her:

Luke 1:35 … The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

The humanity of Christ was born when God overshadowed Mary, miraculously causing her to be with Child. This Child would have no earthly Father – His Father is and will always be God. Jesus Christ did not come into existence when the Holy Ghost came on Mary – His humanity came into existence. His Being was and will always be Mighty God. One of the names that Jesus has is …

As God He was never born, but as Perfect Man He was born of the virgin. His birth of the virgin is one of the prophecies that prove that Jesus is the One and Only Christ:

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Matthew 1:22-23 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, (23) Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

The Baby Jesus Born Is Lord! Jesus is Lord!

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder:

Jesus Christ was born in the Manger, God become man – but He did not come just as Savior, but as Savior and Lord. Too many preach a half Jesus to the masses. Jesus Christ came to save us from our sins, but the government shall be upon His shoulder. He is Lord of His people. This is stated in His birth announcement. The Angel of God told Joseph:

Matthew 1:21 … And {Mary} shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for He shall save his people from their sins.

“He shall save HIS PEOPLE from their sins”. The Child born was Infinite God given, the Son of God, eternal and unchanging. He is Lord! One hundred and fifteen times (115) in Scripture Jesus is called “Lord Jesus”. When the Apostle Paul preached, (Acts 9:29) “he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus”. The result of preaching in the Name of Jesus?

Acts 9:31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

To speak in the “Name of the Lord Jesus” is to bring rest to the Church and disturbance to the darkness. The Church is edified or built up when Christ is Lord. Christians walk in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit when Christ as Lord is magnified. Churches GROW. Why are Churches not growing now? Because, dear friends, to many Jesus is NOT Lord. He is seen as Savior but not Lord. But Beloved, unless you surrender to Him as Lord you shall not enjoy Him as Savior. What brings salvation?

Romans 10:9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

He is Lord!

Romans 5:1 … being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

He is Lord!

Romans 16:17-18 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

He is Lord! The Magi who came to visit the Baby Jesus “came to worship Him” (Matthew 2:2). You do not “worship” people, but God is to be worshiped. When they found the Bay Jesus the wise men “worshiped Him” (Matthew 2:11). When you are saved by faith in Him what occurs?

Colossians 1:12-13 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

We who are redeemed by His Blood are “bought with a price”, an incomparable price (1 Corinthians 6:20; 7:23). We belong to Jesus, and acknowledge Him as Lord.

Philippians 2:9-11 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

He is no mere Rabbi, no mere great Teacher. Jesus Christ is Lord of those He has saved. He is Lord!

The Christian Is Called To Follow Christ

The King James text is a text I love, but it is not without it’s flaws. In this case the Scripture puts a comma where no comma is warranted. It does not terribly destroy the text, for our Savior is Wonderful. But what the Spirit intends us to understand is that Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor. Why is He given this title? Because Jesus knows what you are going through. He took upon Himself humanity so that He could suffer as we suffer.

Jesus suffered as we suffer.
Jesus hungered as we hunger.
Jesus was betrayed as we are betrayed.

When Jesus comes to you as Counselor and guides you, He has walked in your shoes. Listen Beloved, you have a great Friend in Jesus. He knows your heart, knows your desires, knows your aches and sufferings, your despondency, your all. I have talked to pastors and preachers, and have found them to be the worst listeners I have ever met. When my heart bursts to share a pain or a joy with many they will not hear, for they are so focused on their own lives they have no time for mine. Yet Jesus is a Wonderful Counselor – He always takes time to listen to me … and He will listen to you, too, if you call upon Him.

If we would listen to our Wonderful Counselor and do as He says, our lives would be blessed.

So many hear the words of Christ then, hearing, walk away to never DO. One day at the end of a message Jesus gave this happened:

Luke 11:27-28 And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. 28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

Our Jesus – our Lord – is a Wonderful Counselor – but you will only see the glorious beauty of life in Him if you BOTH HEAR AND DO AS HE SAYS. So many want to argue with Jesus. So many want to critique Jesus. Yet to all Jesus says:

Luke 6:47-48 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built a house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.

When you hear His Word and DO as He says you will find that, unlike the various Counselors and Psychiatrists and sooth sayers of the world …. What Jesus says to do will always bless you.

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

I touched on this earlier so I will not spend long here. But I do want to say this:

To have a Wonderful Counselor is great, but what can listening do for me if the Counselor is without power.

Not so the Lord Jesus! He is not only Wonderful Counselor, but also Mighty² God. He hears me, hears our cries, gives us wonderful advice – but is also able to change our estate. The words Mighty God are very intense, very powerful. He is not just God – though this title in itself implies limitless ability. But He is Mighty God, Giant God, all Overwhelming God. There is nothing that our Jesus cannot do. Though He came to us through a virgin, born as a Baby in a manger, looks are deceiving! This Child born and this Son given is Very God of Very God.

Yet we are not through with this text, for Jesus is The Everlasting Father. The Oneness Pentecostals confuse God the Son with God the Father, saying that Jesus is all in the same. But this is not what the Scripture means. When Jesus came, He came to do His Father’s business:

Luke 2:49 {Jesus} said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?

Jesus came to earth and was born of a virgin because the Father sent Him to do so. Jesus so perfectly did as the Father commanded that He told His disciples:

John 14:9-11 … he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? (10) Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. (11) Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.

Jesus is the manifest Member of the Godhead. He did as the Father commanded. If you belong to God by faith in Christ then your life should reflect this. You should be imitators of God:

Ephesians 5:1-2 1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor.

The Son of God followed God. If you are sons of God by faith in Him, then you, too, should – no – MUST follow God.

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Finally, if Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior, then He is to you The Prince of Peace. Os Hillman said³:

“Many of God’s greatest servants experienced deep disappointment in their journeys of faithfulness to God. Joseph, after spending years as a slave and in jail for crimes that he did not commit, revealed deep disappointment when he was forgotten another two years in prison. John the Baptist, when awaiting execution, doubted whether Jesus was, in fact, the Christ because he was sitting there awaiting his death. Elijah, losing all hope and despondent to the point of death, asked God to take his life in the desert; and Peter, who left his fishing business and invested three years of his life only to watch his Savior crucified, wondered whether the purpose of those three years could be justified. When life doesn’t add up, it leaves the heart sick. When we have done all we know to do and the formula has not worked, it leaves us questioning. These are times that try the very souls of men. There is no human sense to be made of it. We are left with a choice: to cling or not to cling. There are times when holding on to our Master’s robe is all that we can do. It is all that He wants us to do.”

Let Jesus have all that you are. Kneel to Him as the Magi did. Wonder at Him as the Shepherds did. Surrender your lives to Him – for only in Jesus Christ is there peace.

May God touch your hearts with His Word.

2 H1368, גּבּר גּבּור, gibbôr gibbôr, ghib-bore’, ghib-bore’, Intensive from the same as H1397; powerful; by implication warrior, tyrant: – champion, chief, X excel, giant, man, mighty (man, one), strong (man), valiant man.

3 Today God Is First December 6, 2006

Posted in Christmas Sermons, Isaiah, Sermons Preached | Tagged Baby Jesus, Christmas, prophecy | Leave a comment

Questions Of Christmas

Posted on December 21, 2019 by bibleteacherorg

QuestionsCVR

Luke 1:34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

I thought since we have few who attend our mid-week prayer service that we would go a little deeper tonight than I go on Sunday mornings. Those who take the time to come to Wednesday night services perhaps have a stronger relationship with the Lord than the occasional Sunday morning visitor. I’m not saying this to puff you up, nor to denigrate our Sunday morning crowd. I am grateful for every person who comes, and makes up the assembly of Christ’s Church. But Wednesday nights are important. As we are told in Hebrews 5:13-14:

“For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

I was amused – somewhat amused – lately when a local Church who has no mid-week prayer meeting advertised with excitement on an upcoming prayer study and emphasis. Hopefully this means that this Church will go deeper into prayer, and all of Christ’s Churches will go deeper into prayer and study of God’s Word. If we are to survive in this pagan and secular world we ALL need God’s Word and God’s Presence.

The message tonight is called “Christmas Questions”. As I pondered Mary and Joseph a question came to my heart. It was:

Why did God choose Mary and Joseph – of all the billions of people who lived – to be the guardian and parents of the Messiah?

What Set Joseph Apart From Other Believers?

When I think about Joseph, I think he is probably the most under appreciated man in our faith. Do you know how many words Joseph spoke that were recorded in the Bible? None. Absolutely N-O-N-E. Zilch. Nada. We know what Joseph thought, for the Bible says things like:

Joseph was minded to put her away privately.
Joseph thought on these things.

Joseph encountered God in a dream (see Matthew 1). The Lord spoke to him through an Angel, but Joseph never questioned what he was told to do. Joseph was a man of few words. He proved his faith in God by not what he said, but by what he did. And I thank God for it, and you should, too.

Herod, who wanted to kill the baby Jesus, had his words written in Scripture (Matthew 2:8).
Pilate, who had Jesus executed, had his words recorded in Scripture (Matthew 27:2, 13, etc).
Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus, had his hypocritical words “Will I betray You, Master?” (Matthew 26:25) recorded.
Lucifer, that old devil who wanted to kill Jesus, had his conversation recorded (Matthew 4: 1-10) as he sought to tempt our Lord to sin.
Demons are recorded as speaking to Jesus along with Pharisees, Scribes, rich people, lepers, crippled … and on and on. . It seems as if everyone has had their words recorded. Everyone.

Except for Joseph.

Joseph never questioned, never complained, never commented. Joseph just did as God said. And I believe this is why God used Joseph as He did. You see, God loves those who have faith in Him. Not just a “Sunday go to meeting” faith, but a genuine faith that gets outside of the comfort zone and does what God says. Joseph had that quiet but an active faith. Joseph’s heart was focused on honoring God. Right after the Magi visited Jesus in Bethlehem the Bible says:

Matthew 2:13-15 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. 14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: 15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

A good carpenter has to have a good mind and a willingness to work. Joseph was a good carpenter. A good Christian has to have a good mind and a willingness to work.
Joseph was a good Christian.

Joseph kept his mind on God. He was open to God. Throughout his life there was no door of doubt to hinder him from serving the Lord he loved. When God spoke to Joseph in a dream Joseph didn’t wake up and sit there wondering what it was all about. What does the Bible tell us Joseph did?

“When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night,
and departed into Egypt (verse 14)”

Joseph did the same thing that Father Abraham did when God called him. He didn’t question. He didn’t argue. He just got up and moved. Joseph had the treasure that the Magi had brought Jesus to finance that move, but Joseph did not take his time. He moved! Do you know how far it is from Jerusalem to the Egyptian border? It is around 106 miles! Joseph had no car, but probably a donkey, a wife, and a young son. Joseph kept his little family safe until Herod died. After Herod died:

Matthew 2:19-23 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life. 21 And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: 23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

Again, God speaks to Joseph in a dream. “Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life.” Does Joseph debate God? Does he argue? No. He moves. He gets up, packs up, and moves, all without hesitation. Joseph moves in faith. God defines “faith” in:

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Joseph “diligently sought” God. He lived his faith. If he had not been faithful then Jesus would have never been born. Jesus could have been killed in Bethlehem. He could have been killed when Mary first became with Child. Joseph’s faithfulness is a great blessing to us. He was chosen of God because the Lord “Who searches the hearts” (Jeremiah 17:10) knew Joseph, and knew that he was faithful.

God Uses Faithful Servants For His Glory

When the Angel of God came to Mary, he came because God had seen Mary’s heart. When the Angel told Mary that she would be the means by which Messiah would come into world, Mary asked:

Luke 1:34 … How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

Her question was not doubting God. When Zacharias – the father of John the Baptist – questioned God, the Lord took away his ability to speak (see Luke 1:20). Why? Because it came from a heart of unbelief:

Hebrews 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

God despises unbelief. The Master has said,

James 1:6-8 … he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

When Zacharias spoke, he spoke from a place of unbelief. For this reason God took his ability to speak away. When our hearts are filled with unbelief, God will not bless us.

Faithlessness takes away our voice.

But Mary did not speak from a place of unbelief. She merely asked – believing – how God was going to accomplish this wonderful work. The Angel of God tells her:

Luke 1:35-37 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. 36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.

Mary’s faith is seen in both her voice as well as her actions. She replied simply:

Luke 1:38-39 … Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me ACCORDING TO THY WORD. And the angel departed from her. 39 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; 40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.

This is what comes from a heart of faith. Mary said, “I belong to You – dear Lord. Be it unto me ACCORDING TO THY WORD!” The phrase “according to thy Word” is found frequently in Psalm 119:

Psalms 119:9 … BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto ACCORDING TO THY WORD.

Psalms 119:25 DALETH. My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me ACCORDING TO THY WORD.

Psalms 119:41 VAU. Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, ACCORDING TO THY WORD.

Psalms 119:58 I entreated thy favor with my whole heart: be merciful unto me ACCORDING TO THY WORD..

Psalms 119:154 Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me ACCORDING TO THY WORD..

Psalms 119:169 TAU. Let my cry come near before thee, O LORD: give me understanding ACCORDING TO THY WORD..

Psalms 119:170 Let my supplication come before thee: deliver me ACCORDING TO THY WORD..

Mary relied on the Word of God to live her life. God said that her cousin Elisabeth was with child. Since He said that, what should Mary do if she believed? She would get up and go be with Elisabeth. Faith goes. Faith does. Faith does not hear and talk about doing, but faith does. Faith works!

The Mature Believer Is Used Of God:
Your Maturity Is Proven By Your Tongue!

When I was a little boy and felt sick, mama put a thermometer IN my mouth to see what my temperature was. If it wasn’t 98.6 then I was sick. God puts something in your mouth – but it’s not temporary like a thermometer. It’s your TONGUE. If you are in GOOD SPIRITUAL HEALTH your TONGUE will prove it. As Mary was blessed of God she never bragged on herself. She magnified God with her tongue.

Luke 1:46-48 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, 47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. 48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

Mary was not prideful in her faith. She realized that what she was about to receive was entirely of the Grace of God. Mary said “my soul doth magnify (or declare Him great) the Lord”. The source of Mary’s relationship to God was not that she was perfect or sinless – for she was not.

Mary prayed to “God my Savior”. If she were perfect and holy apart from God then God would not have had to save her.

Mary spoke of the “low estate of God’s handmaiden”. The word translated “low estate” is actually used several other places in Scripture. The same word is translated VILE in:

Philippians 3:20-21 For our {citizenship} is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: {21} Who shall change our VILE body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

Our bodies are indeed VILE, the products of corruption. Mary said “God has regarded the vileness – the imperfections of His handmaiden”. She recognized that God because of His great love saved her, and now would use her to be an instrument through whom God would save others.

How can God bring a Sinless Savior out of a sinful receptacle?
With God, all things are possible.

If God can bring Messiah out of Mary, He can take a wrecked life and make it whole. If God can take a child of satan and, converting him, lead him into the Family of God, God can do anything. God regarded the low estate of His Mary – and blessed her with Messiah anyway. God regarded me a sinner and, regardless of my great sins, paid for my salvation in Christ.

God is able! God can do it!

Mary may have been a good woman who loved the Lord, but her strength was in recognizing her own weakness. When pride tells us “you can do it”, then pride comes before a fall (Proverbs 16:18). The power of the Christian life is to live surrendered to God, to rest in His loving embrace. As the Apostle Paul said in another place:

2 Corinthians 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

God can do great things in the yielded life. When we are prideful and self actualizing, we are in a good position to fail. But when we realize that we are at best “sheep” and God our Shepherd, then we are in a place to be used of God and blessed.

Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

God saves us, and God blesses us … but we must remember that we are at best “Sheep”. Our strength is in obeying the Lord. Our strength is in being open to serve and glorify God our Father.

Who was Mary before God called her into His plan? She was nothing, no one to any one. She was unknown to Herod, to Pilate, to Caesar, to anyone of power and wealth. Even today we know little of Mary the mother of

the humanity of Christ. She was nondescript, and yet her name is known by billions. Why is her name so well known today?

Because she was willing to be used of God.
Because she was possessed of God.

Her focus in life was to honor and serve God her Savior. God saw this on her heart, and so used her to bring His Son into this world. Oh that we, like Mary, would say “Yes, Lord” to Him. We are to be like John the Baptist in our faith. Christ must increase, and I must decrease (John 3:30). Let us not drown in the river called “Pride”. Let us, like Mary did, put our pride away and serve the Living God.

Mary continued with her praise of God:

Luke 1:49-55 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. 51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. 53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. 54 He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; 55 As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

God blesses those surrendered to Him, but He breaks down those who rely upon themselves. Mary relied on God. Thus Mary and Joseph were blessed.

This holiday season may we all learn to rely on the Lord. This is where the power for living comes. May God touch your hearts with His Word.

Posted in Luke, Matthew, Sermons Preached | Tagged Christian responsibility, Christmas, Christmas Sermons | Leave a comment

Worship The King

Posted on December 15, 2019 by bibleteacherorg

Its_All_Ive_Got

Matthew 2:1-2 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

I love Christmas time. I love it because we are reminded that God became man in order to save us from ourselves. Christmas is a joyous time when we celebrate the Baby in the Manger. Christmas fascinates us. Marshall Segal of Desiring God Ministries put it beautifully when he wrote:

“In Bethlehem a child was born, as millions of babies had been before him, and yet utterly and gloriously different. The Son of God, who held the universe in his hands (Hebrews 1:3; Colossians 1:17), laid in the arms of another — now fragile, vulnerable, needy. He never stopped ruling every molecule in every galaxy, yet he had to learn his letters, colors, and animals.”

This Jesus – brought forth and placed in a Manger – is magnificently different from other Rabbi’s and Holy Men. This God in human flesh – “Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us” (Matthew 1:23) reached out to a people who had forgotten Him. Though the “multitude of the heavenly host would praise God, saying” …

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
(Luke 2:13-14)

Few would seek that Baby, that glorious Child of God in the Manger. A few shepherds visited by the angels would go and see Jesus. After seeing Jesus, these same men – the first missionaries – would

“ make known abroad the saying what was told them
concerning this child.”
(Luke 2:17)

You would think that there would have been a stampede from Jerusalem and Bethlehem and the cities round about, a literal black Friday mob heading toward that manger. It didn’t happen. People were too busy. It was, after all, the holiday season. We’ve got to get to Walmart for the last made in China plastic toy. We’ve got to gather around the table and have one more mouthful of pecan pie.

Outside of the shepherds who were watching their flock by night, no one else came to see the Baby Jesus.

Not that night. But there were others who came to see Jesus. We sing about them every Christmas. Well, sort of. We sing:

We three kings of Orient are
Bearing gifts, we traverse far
Field and fountain
Moor and mountain
Following yonder star
Oh, star of wonder, star of might
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading
Still proceeding
Guide us to thy perfect light

Missionaries From A Foreign Land
Come To Jerusalem

Because of that song we believe there were three kings who came to see Jesus in Bethlehem. The problem with what the world tells us is that the world often gets it wrong. Now I love the song – I like peppy songs. And the song does celebrate Christ, which I love. But when you read and study your Bible instead of Google or Wikipedia you find out something interesting. You find out the truth.

Three kings did not come to see Jesus,
Though a king tried to kill Him.
Jesus was not in a manger when these men came,
but in a house (see Matthew 2:11).
And the focus of these early missionaries was not three gifts.
They came to “worship” Jesus (see Matthew 2:2).

How Did These Missionaries Come To Be?

Matthew 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem

The Bible tells is that those who came to see Jesus were “wise men”. No number is given, but they are all called in the Greek μάγος mágos, (pronounced mag’-os). Thayers Greek Lexicon of the Bible notes that “the word is now regarded by many as of Babylonian origin”. That is very interesting. Thayers goes on to quote the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament:

“the Septuagint Daniel 2:2 … for אַשָׁף; a magus; the name given by the Babylonians (Chaldaeans), Medes, Persians, and others, to the wise men, teachers, priests, physicians, astrologers, seers, interpreters of dreams, augurs, soothsayers, sorcerers etc.”

The Babylonians are famous and important to us because of two great truths. When God called the father of our faith Abraham to follow Him, and promised that the Messiah would come through Abraham’s line (see Genesis 11:28, 31; Genesis 12:1-2), it was in Ur of the Chaldees or ancient Babylon that Abraham lived prior to his following God. When Israel refused to obey the Lord it was in Babylon that Israel was conquered and exiled. One of the innocents that was caught up in the exile of Israel was a man named Daniel. Daniel was a believer in the Lord. When Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came unto Jerusalem, and besieged it (Daniel 1:1), Daniel was captured and carried away into Babylon to serve the king. The Bible says that:

Daniel 1:17 … Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

If you love God, God will love you. Daniel kept his eyes on God. When “King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream and his spirit was troubled, so much so that he could not sleep, the king called for the magus. The King told them “tell me what my dream means. I’m not going to tell you the dream. If you are Magus – wise men – then you will know what I dreamed!” (my paraphrase). The Magus said “There is no one who can do what you ask! (Daniel 2:10-11) (again, my paraphrase. Get over it!). The King became angry, and was going to kill all the Magus!

Then Daniel intervened. Daniel knew God, and God knew King Nebuchadnezzar. God told Daniel what the dream meant – and Daniel went and told King Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel told the King:

Daniel 2:27-28 … The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men (the Magus), the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king; 28 But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are …

If you want to know what God told Daniel and the King GO READ YOUR BIBLES. It’s in Daniel chapter 2. But I told you all this to explain why the Magus were coming to Jerusalem looking for a Messiah. It was because Daniel followed God no matter what. After Daniel told the King what his dream was, the Bible says:

Daniel 2:48 Then the king made Daniel a great man… and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon.

Daniel was made chief of the Magus. Do you know what Daniel did after this. Well, when he wasn’t watching television, cheering on his favorite teams, he held a Bible class. Yeah, I’m joking – but not about the Bible class thing. Daniel lived his life for the Lord. Daniel had foreseen the Coming of the Messiah, and taught the Magus all about the coming of the Messiah, our Lord Jesus. After Daniel passed away the life he lived for the Lord lived on. Do you know that ..

After you pass on – the life that you
live now will it live on?

If you only live for Jesus when it’s convenient, you’ll pass this attitude on to your friends, your spouse, your children and grandchildren. If you only live for Jesus about an hour on Sunday morning your kids will do the same – or less. If you never read your Bible your half faith will be inherited by those who remain after you depart.

Daniel lived for the Lord.
Daniel lived for the Lord when it was difficult.
When prayer was outlawed, Daniel openly prayed.
When Daniel was cast into a lion’s den, he taught them how to pray.
He fluffed up the nearest lion and used him as a pillow.
When his best friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo were tested,
They went into a fiery furnace and held hands with Jesus.
Daniel and his friends loved the Lord.
They taught the Magus to love the Lord.

That’s why these men are in Jerusalem. These men are not “Kings” but are “King Makers”. When Babylon was overtaken by the Parthenon Empire the tradition of the Magus went on. For over 600 years the life Daniel and his friends lived was passed on from generation to generation. Shari Abbot of Reasons For Hope Ministries wrote:

“When the Medes and Persians conquered Babylon, they established a hereditary priesthood of wise men, which was known as magicians or magi … When Medo Persia’s King Darius the Great reigned, he appointed Daniel to be master of the Magicians (Daniel 4:9) … the Magi held a dual priestly and governmental authority. Some have called them “King Makers” because they had power to give rule and authority.”

This is the reason that – when this unknown number of wise men entered Jerusalem, that:

Matthew 2:3 … Herod the king … was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

Three well dressed men riding camels would not have drawn any attention riding into Jerusalem. Jerusalem was the seat of King Herod’s throne. Travelers came through Jerusalem regularly, travelers from all over the world. What was more likely was that this was a cavalry of well armed men who rode into Jerusalem looking for “The King of the Jews”. I suspect when they first entered the populace told them:

“Well, Herod is in his palace. Is that who you’re looking for?”

When they said “No, He has just been born. We are following His star. We have come to worship Him.” When King Herod heard this he was threatened. These “King Makers” are looking to recognize someone else as “King of the Jews”. When the King heard that the Prophet said:

Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. (compare to Matthew 2:6)

Herod invited the Magus to the palace. “When you find the King come and tell me all about it so we can go together to worship Him” (Matthew 2:8, my paraphrase).

Herod didn’t want to worship Jesus.
Herod wanted to kill Jesus.

There was a song many years ago by a group called Tears for Fears. The song was “Everybody Wants To Rule The World”. That is so very true. When you threaten someone’s ability to “rule their world” things get ugly fast. Herod plotted the death of Jesus, even while the King of Kings was embraced in His mother’s arms.

You Cannot Rule The World:
Jesus Is The King of Kings

The Wise Men – the Magus – left King Herod’s palace and continued to follow the Star of Bethlehem. The King had been born – the King that Daniel had told them of hundreds of years before. The Bible says:

Matthew 2:9-10 {The Magus} departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

The King that these wise men had been waiting for all these years was here. God placed a bright shining star over His Son. Here is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And they rejoiced with exceeding GREAT JOY!

Beloved, you will not have joy in your lives while YOU are in charge of your lives. You were made to walk with God. You were made in God’s image – not to BE God – but to BE WITH God. While you try to be God of your own life, or, as that poem Invictus (by William Ernest Henley):

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul.

How many people have tried to be “master of my fate” and “captain of my soul” – only to die miserably.

Michael Jackson dead of drug abuse at 50 years.
Elvis Presley dead of opiate addiction at 42 years.
Whitney Houston dead of cocaine use at the age of 48 years.
Robin Williams dead by suicide at the age of 63 years.
Marilyn Monroe dead of barbiturate overdose at 36 years.
John F. Kennedy dead of an assassin’s bullet at 46 years.
And his son, John F. Kennedy Jr dead of a plane crash at 39 years old.
Rapper Tupac Shakur murdered at the age of 25 years.
Sir John Lennon murdered at the age of 40 years.

So many stars lived, burned brightly, and died. Their lives snuffed out. They all thought that they were “masters of their fate, captain of their souls”. They lived, burned up, and burned out. Oh Beloved, we cannot be kings of ourselves. But if we come to Christ and worship Him as wise people have always done then God will richly bless your lives. The world may never remember you – but your life will change others for the glory of God.

What The Wise Men Brought Jesus

Matthew 2:11 And when {The Magus} were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshiped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

The wise men brought Jesus three gifts that you can see, and one gift that you can see but do not often recognize. What are the three gifts you can see?

They brought gold. Gold is a gift that was fit for a King. Isaiah prophesied that when the Messiah came to Israel:

Isaiah 60:2-3; 60:6 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. 3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. … 6 … they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the LORD.

Our Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 17:14; 19:16). Gold was a fitting gift for the King of Creation.

They brought frankincense. Frankincense was used by the Levitical Priests while serving God (see Exodus 30:34). This was a special incense that burned only to God.

Our Jesus is the High Priest of our faith:

Hebrews 4:14-16 … Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

And the Magus brought myrrh. It was myrrh that was used to embalm our Lord Jesus some 33 years later when He died for our sins on Calvary’s tree.

John 19:39-40 … And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. 40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.

Jesus died for my sins, and for your sins. He died but rose again on the third day. He came from Heaven to this earth. He was born once in Bethlehem, so that you and I can be born twice. Jesus Christ died once on the Cross of Calvary so that we who love Him can live forever.

What Was The Fourth Gift
The Magi Brought To Jesus?
It Was Their Hearts!

Oh, that you would, with the Magi, give your hearts to Jesus. My Jesus has promised:

John 11:26 … whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

Give yourselves to Him. Trust Him. Let Him rule your lives. Let His Word be your guiding light. Trust Him.

Romans 10:9-11 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

“Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed”. You only begin to live when you live following Jesus. Be like Daniel. Be like the Hebrew Children. Be like the Magi. If you seek Him, you will find Him, when you seek Him with all your hearts (Deuteronomy 4:29; 1 Chronicles 28:9; Jeremiah 29:13). Give Jesus your hearts. That’s what He wants. He will bless you, beloved ones.

May God touch your hearts with his Word.

Posted in Christmas, Christmas Sermons, Matthew, Sermons Preached | Tagged Christmas Sermons, Magi, Wise Men | Leave a comment

God The Builder Of His House

Posted on December 12, 2019 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by Cassie Boca on Unsplash

Psalm 127:1-2 (A Song of degrees for Solomon.) Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. 2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

Before we start, the Scripture has nothing to do with building a Church building. The word “house” used by Solomon – the wisest King Israel ever had – is not a reference to a stick and mortar building. It is a reference to a family, or by extension a kingdom. You see the word used in:

Genesis 20:17-18 17 So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare [children]. 18 For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham’s wife.

Genesis 28:16-17 And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. 17 And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.

Exodus 2:1 And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi.

It is God Who builds the “houses” or families. It is God Who sets up kings and presidents to rule. If someone has established a “house” on this earth it is because our God has allowed it, and blessed it. The Apostle wrote:

Romans 13:1-3 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

God is the Builder of His House. The Christian is a member of the House of Christ. We are told in:

Hebrews 3:4-6 For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. 5 And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; 6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

We who are saved by faith in Christ are of the house of Christ. Our God builds that House, placing people into the Family of God. Our God is building this little family we call “Riverview Baptist”. If you are a member of this family, you are here because God has called you here. Each one of you has value in God’s House. You are His people. You are the Church that God shed His Blood for:

“the Church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood”. (Acts 20:28)

God brought us together for His glory – not for ours. We are ..

1 Corinthians 12:27 … the body of Christ, and members in particular.

1 Corinthians 12:14-18 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

The Blood of Christ purchased our salvation. We are of Christ’s House. We are members of His Church. And we each need each other, and need to glorify Him Who saved us at such a high price. What did the Apostle say in another place?

1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

We belong to the House of Christ. We belong to the Body of Christ. We live to glorify our Lord, the One Who gave so much for us. The Bible declares:

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

John 15:5 … He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

When we come together as Christ’s Church and as Christ’s House we unify in seeking to do as He leads us to do. We can do nothing. On my best day, I can do nothing. Christ must do it. God’s people can cross the Red Sea if Jesus is leading them. God’s people can cross the Jordan and defeat the Canaanites if God is leading them. God can take a few, like Gideon, and destroy thousands with clay pots and candles. God can shut the lion’s mouths for Daniel, or protect Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo from a fiery furnace. When we stand with God, the Lord can bring fire from Heaven to destroy the worshipers of Baal on Mount Carmel. There is nothing our Jesus cannot do.

The question we often face in life is not whether I can do it or not, but whether God wants us to do it or not. If God leads us there, God will lead us through. But we have no power within ourselves. Solomon said:

Psalm 127:1 (A Song of degrees for Solomon.) Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

Several years ago we put a camera system in place around this building because of all the craziness that has infested America. The cameras are supposed to be monitored by Ron in our sound booth. But no matter how careful Ron is to watch the monitor, it is Jesus that has kept us safe. God must keep us. We can prepare in every way possible – but if God is not in it then we labor in vain. Folks, that literally means we are working for nothing. Solomon said:

Psalm 127:2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

Too often we say “Well, if I get up earlier, and work longer days, things will get better”. Beloved, it is God Who builds the house. It is God Who blesses our families. It is God Who is in control. You can try your hardest. You can eat the bread of sorrows, believing that, if I suffer a little harder then God will look down and bless it. No, these things are vain, empty. I hear people say “well, when you pray, you need to put feet on your prayers”. That sounds good, and holy, and right. But if God does not lead you there, you can put all the feet on your prayers that you want – and still you will fail. Consider Israel. God told them to enter the Promised Land. They disobeyed, and refused to go. After God told them that they would wander for 40 years and die in the wilderness, then they decided to go. What happened?

Numbers 14:40-42 And {Israel} rose up early in the morning, and gat them up into the top of the mountain, saying, Lo, we be here, and will go up unto the place which the LORD hath promised: for we have sinned. 41 And Moses said, Wherefore now do ye transgress the commandment of the LORD? but it shall not prosper. 42 Go not up, for the LORD is not among you; that ye be not smitten before your enemies.

Israel went anyway, and was thoroughly beaten. Why? Because God was not in it. If God is not leading, we need to wait. But if God is leading, we need to go. The Book of Hebrews tells us:

Hebrews 3:17-19 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

It is God that builds the house. It is God the Son Who bled and died for His Church. We are therefore under obligation to seek His Presence. Let us be like Moses, that grand old Saint of God, to whom God said:

Exodus 33:14 … My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.

And to Whom Moses said:

Exodus 33:15 … If Thy presence {O Lord} go not with me, carry us not up hence.

God needs to be in it. It is He that should guide us into all that we do, and we must do all that we do for His glory, not for ours. Only in this will we be blessed, and will Christ be lifted up. The last line of our Psalm can be rendered as:

For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.

God protects us who love Him even when we are asleep. May God give us the heart to live for Him and do as He says – ALWAYS. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.

Posted in Psalms, Sermons Preached | Tagged Business Mtg, God builder of Church, God Is Faithful, God's Love | Leave a comment

Do You Understand Christmas?

Posted on December 8, 2019 by bibleteacherorg

The Book of Matthew starts with a genealogy of Jesus Christ:

Matthew 1:1 … The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham …

… and as you read through the genealogy you come across names of people you can hardly pronounce, people you may have never heard of, and some that you have. This genealogy stems from the father of our faith Abraham, and continues – one by one – showing a lineage between Abraham and the stepfather of Jesus, a man named Joseph:

Matthew 1:16 … and Jacob begat Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

Let me read to you these familiar words:

Matthew 1:18-21 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. 20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Now I want you to focus on the words that the angel of the Lord (I believe, Gideon) spoke to Joseph:

Matthew 1:20-21 Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Having read this to you, I now ask you ALL to read this with me:

Philippians 2:12-13 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

What does Philippians 2 have to do with the beloved Christmas story?

Joseph Was Afraid

Do you realize that the wonderful story of Christmas begins not with joy, but with fear? The Angel of God told Joseph:

Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife..

Joseph was fearful. Why was he afraid?

Joseph of Bethlehem, of the tribe of David, was engaged to be married to Mary of Bethlehem, of the tribe of David. Joseph and Mary loved one another. It was not uncommon among the ancient Jews to arrange marriages between families to strengthen bonds, and grow the tribe. It is very possible that Mary had been promised to Joseph from an early age. He may have been betrothed or engaged, promised to Mary since he was a baby. Joseph and Mary probably grew up together. He had known her his whole life. Mary was supposed to be a virgin. The Bible tells us that just before they formalized their marriage by coming together as one …

Matthew 1:18-21 … {before Joseph and Mary} came together {to formalize their marriage as man and wife} , she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.

Joseph was confronted with a dilemma. Mary – a girl he has loved his entire life – Mary was “found” (the Greek εὑρίσκω heurískō, pronounced hyoo-ris’-ko) which means “to discover by examination”. I suspect this happened on their very wedding day. The honeymoon was beginning. And Joseph discovers that Mary is with Child.

You can summarize what is wrong with America today with our attitude as we read this ancient text. “Mary was with child. So what? There’s abortion, or adoption, or single parenthood. It’s no big deal!” Yes, it is a big deal. You see, Joseph was a just man, a believer in God, and God in His Word said that sexual sin was wrong. If Joseph revealed that Mary was pregnant outside of marriage at the least she would be shunned. God said of sexual sin:

Leviticus 18:29-30 For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, even the souls that commit them shall be cut off from among their people. 30 Therefore shall ye keep mine ordinance, that ye commit not any one of these abominable customs, which were committed before you, and that ye defile not yourselves therein: I am the LORD your God.

At the most the Law decreed:

Deuteronomy 22:23-24 If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her; 24 Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbor’s wife: so thou shalt put away evil from among you.

Joseph was a just man. He was a believing man, a follower of God, a keeper of God’s Word. But Joseph loved Mary, and the Scripture says that he was …

not willing to make her a public example,
was minded to put her away privily

Rather than reveal what looked to be a terrible breach against God and himself Joseph decided to put her away – to divorce her privately. He would not bring charges against her.

What a wonderful love Joseph had!
He loved God and loved Mary.
This is why God chose to use Joseph to bless the world.

The Angel of God comes to Joseph with a wonderful message!

Matthew 1:20 Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.

The angel of God said “FEAR NOT”, phobeō mē, “stop fearing”. Put your fears to rest, Joseph. You will not have to expose Mary to death or dis-fellowship. You will not have to hide her pregnancy from your and her family. Do not fear to take Mary as your lawfully wedded wife. The Child she carries is not illegitimate. The child Mary is carrying is conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Who is the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit is God working among us.

The Holy Spirit was present at the creation of the earth:Genesis 1:2 … and the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
The Holy Spirit moved the Prophets to write our Bible:2 Peter 1:21 … the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy {Spirit}
It is the Holy Spirit that leads people to faith in God, and makes the believer a Child of God by spiritual birth:John 3:5 {Jesus said} … Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

The Holy Spirit who makes the Christian and indwells the Christian (see 1 Corinthians 6:19) is indeed a member of the Godhead (see Acts 5:3-4). It is the Holy Spirit that empowers the Church and gives gifts unto the believer in order to glorify Jesus (see John 14:25-26; 15:26-27; 16:7-15). The Holy Spirit is a Person not a power Who can be can be grieved (Ephesians 4:30); has a will (1 Corinthians 12:4-7); and uses His mind to search the deep things of God (1 Corinthians 2:10). It is the Spirit that has fellowship with believers (2 Corinthians 13:14).

It is the Holy Spirit that caused the virgin we call Mary to be with Child of God. God bypassed man when He made the humanity of Christ. Joseph as a fallen man could have no hand in making the Savior.

Joseph – This Is Good News

God would choose to enter humanity through a little virgin called Mary. If Joseph had not listened to God but instead kept the Law of God without compromise then Mary would have been killed – and the Messiah would never come.

Joseph looked beyond himself.
Joseph lived his life by faith.
Joseph feared the Lord. Oh, that more of us feared the Lord!
and Joseph loved the Lord. Oh, that more of us loved the Lord!

The Angel gave Joseph the best news of all. Not only had Mary been faithful to him, but she was faithful to God.

Matthew 1:21 {Mary} shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

What Joseph started out hearing as bad news was actually the best news of all. What is this good news? God would send His Son into this fallen world to save us from our sins. Why would God choose this method to save humanity? We read:

Matthew 1:22-23 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Matthew tells us that this plan that God has for Mary and Joseph has been in motion since the days of Isaiah, some 700 years before. Isaiah said:

Isaiah 7:14 … the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. {which means “God with us”. See also Matthew 1:22-23}

Isaiah 9:6 … For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

God will enter humanity through Mary. He will be born to and nursed by a virgin. Why did God have to do this? Because we are born sinners. Our first parent Adam sinned against God. God placed Adam in the perfect Garden then told him:

Genesis 2:16-17 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Adam did as he was NOT to do, and death entered creation. From the time of Adam every person born into this life was born physically alive, but spiritually dead. We are born into this life separated from God by a sin nature that plagues us from birth. The Scripture tells us:

Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

We compare ourselves to others around us to determine if we are ok or not ok. We look at ourselves in the mirror. “Man, I’m fat!” Then we go out and look at someone else. “But I’m not as fat as HE is!” Somehow we feel that by doing better than those around us we are ok.

I speak in tongues, so I’m ok.
I tithe, so I’m ok.
I go to Church, so I’m ok.
I don’t cheat on my wife, so I’m ok.
I pay my taxes, so I’m ok.

We determine our – shall I call it – ok-ness – by those around us. But whether we are ok or not is not based on others. Our ok-ness is based on God. How do we stack up to God?
How do we measure up in HIS eyes?

Romans 5:17-19 tells us … by one man’s offense death reigned by one; … 18 … by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; 19 … by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners…

God – the God Who made Heaven and earth and all that is in it – looks at us and says “death reigns among mankind. They are all condemned. They are all sinners. They are an offense to Me.” You may measure up as ok on a human scale, but on a God scale you and I are absolute zero. We are sinners in need of a Savior.

So God decided to save us. That’s what Christmas is about. Christmas is about we who are sinners – enemies of God – being reached out to BY GOD. The Lord reaches out. The Baby in the manger, the Child born of the Virgin, is Eternal God in human flesh. That Baby is the Lamb of God, sent by the Father to pay for the sins of the world. The Angel said:

Matthew 5:21 Mary … shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

The Son of God enters humanity. He does not enter to parades and the cheers of the public. He enters humanity on a rescue mission. What did the Angel say?

Jesus SHALL SAVE His people from their sins

We are told in:

Romans 5:8-11 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

The Baby born in the manger was born to die for us. Why did He have to die? Because sin is an eternal affront to God. It is not a lark, a fantasy, a jaunt. Sin is deadly, for it separates from God.

It was sin that cast Adam and Eve from Paradise.
It was sin that brought a flood that killed all but eight souls.
It was sin that destroyed Tyre and Sidon.
It was sin that demolished Sodom and Gomorrah.
It is sin that brings death and mayhem to humanity.
It is sin that keeps people from God, and ultimately from Heaven.
Sin is the third party that destroys marriages.
Sin robs children of their parents.
Sin kills babies in the womb.

Oh Beloved, would that we would all understand that sin is no joy, but a robber of joy. It pays a deadly wage. But Christ came to separate us from sin’s slavery. Christ was born once, so that we could be born again. Jesus came to make payment for our sins, to be the Savior of HIS people. To those who receive Him as Lord and Savior, you receive with Him life, love, adoption, and power to become the sons of God. With Jesus you receive Heaven in eternity and peace with God on earth.

We Need To Examine Our Salvation
With Fear And Trembling

Which brings us to the Scripture you read earlier:

The Bible doesn’t tell us to work FOR our salvation, but to work it OUT. Jesus worked worked for our salvation. None of us can earn nor deserve our salvation. This is why God became Man. He took our place on Calvary, dying for our sins. Once more:

Romans 5:19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were MADE sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be MADE righteous.

2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath MADE him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be MADE the righteousness of God in him.

Are you one of Christ’s people? I am not your judge. God is your Judge. Examine your salvation, dear ones. I want us all in Heaven. But more than this, I want us all as Christ’s people right now, here on this earth. If you are saved then you are not save by your works – but once saved you will live for Jesus. You will live to honor the Lord Who saved you.

I wish every Christian a Merry Christmas. But if you are not one of Christ’s redeemed, I wish you a scary Christmas. I pray the conviction of God afflict you until you can say with confident peace,
“I am Christ’s and Christ is mine!”

May God touch your hearts with His Word!