Chardon church of Christ

Fading As The Leaf

Isaiah 64:6

INTRO:

Good evening. As we have been studying in I Thessalonians we noticed that Paul goes to great lengths to articulate about sexual purity in a Christian congregation; We found that the Thessalonians had only newly come into the Christian faith and they had come from a society in which chastity was an unknown virtue; they were still in the midst of that society and the infection of it was playing upon them all the time. It would be difficult for them to unlearn what they had, for all their lives, accepted as natural. It was a place where marriage vows were disregarded and divorce extremely easy.

In contrast to this when Peter preached the first sermon on Pentecost he preached to an entirely different sort of audience. For the Jews of Peter’s audience marriage was theoretically held in the highest esteem. It was said that a Jew must die rather than commit murder, idolatry or adultery. In addition the Jews already believed in one God, not the many gods of Paul’s audience. They understood God as the Creator, they knew what sin was, knew how death came into this world, and understood the principal of sacrifice because of sin. Paul’s audience did not have those concepts so the message that Paul preached must of necessity be far different from Peter’s and no doubt took longer.

Paul tells of this necessity of adjusting ones approach in I Corinthians 9 where he says: “... I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
Now this I do for the gospel's sake...” Paul preached to his audience.

Thinking on this and having heard David’s lessons in our Gospel meeting, made me wonder just how the language we use to deliver God’s word has changed even for us. Some of you know this and some may not, but “Tom” is my nickname. My first and middle name are “DeWitt Talmadge”. I know from family anecdotes that I was named after a gospel preacher, DeWitt Talmadge, in much the same way as many people are named after others who for some reason have been admired by the parents. In the past this was a common practice. Some who have been named this way have their own prominence for example George Washington Carver. Most of course do not.

I wondered, how do sermons differ today from those taught by the person who inspired the name I now carry, DeWitt Talmage, just over 100 or so years back? Certainly there will be some differences. The DeWitt Talmage I was named for was a preacher in the Reformed Church in America and the Presbyterian Church. He was a prominent religious leader, the Billy Graham of his day, during the mid- to late -19th century and was often involved in crusades against vice and crime. Wikipedia tells me that “Attending Talmage's sermons became one of the most popular religious experiences of the era. In 1870, the congregation built a tabernacle solely to accommodate the large crowds who attended his church services. The building was built over an old church structure then being used as a Sunday School. The demand for his sermons helped with the raising of funds, and construction was completed in only three months. Although the tabernacle had been built to seat large crowds, seating was free of charge and hundreds were turned away every Sunday. Now even in his day there were other people with that same name so of the name’s origin I can not say.

For our lesson tonight I thought it might be interesting for me to take one of the sermons he delivered and with as few alterations as possible bring it to you this evening. The sermon I selected is one titled “Fading as a Leaf”.

Our text for tonight is from the book of Isaiah 64:6. In this chapter Isaiah is appealing to God for the deliverance of His people from Babylon. Isaiah is praying to God in verses 1-4 for a great salvation such as accompanied the Exodus from Egypt.

I have heard from time to time that it seems like the Old Testament is full of repeats. It is as if people never learn. Perhaps that is true. It is so hard for us to understand religious truth that God constantly reiterates. As the teacher takes a blackboard, and puts upon it figures and diagrams, so that the students may not only get their lesson through the ear, but also through the eye. In like manner God takes all the truths of his Bible, and draws them out in diagram on the natural world.

In the 1800s, Jean-Francois Champollion went into Egypt to study the hieroglyphics on monuments and temples. After much labor he deciphered them, and announced to the learned world the result of his investigations.

I have heard it expressed that the wisdom, goodness, and power of God are written in hieroglyphics all over the earth and all over the heavens. God grant that we may have understanding enough to decipher them! There are scriptural passages, like our text, which need to be studied in the presence of the natural world. An example is found in Habakkuk 3:19 – “19 The LORD God [is] my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' [feet], and he will make me to walk upon mine high places... ”

Habakkuk says," Thou makest my feet like hind’s feet;" a passage which means nothing save to the man that knows that the feet of the red deer, or hind, are peculiarly constructed, so that they can walk among slippery rocks without falling. Knowing that fact, we understand, when Habakkuk says "Thou makest my feet like hind’s feet," he is saying that the child of God can walk amid the most dangerous and slippery places without falling.

In Lamentations 4:3 we read “Even the sea monsters draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones: the daughter of my people is become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.” That part, "The daughter of my people is become cruel, like the ostriches of the wilderness;" seems a passage that has no meaning save to the person who knows that the ostrich often leaves its egg in the sand to be hatched out by the sun, and that the young ostrich goes forth unattended by any maternal care. Knowing this, the passage is significant— "The daughter of my people is cruel, like the ostriches of the wilderness."

There are those who know but little of the meaning of the natural world, who have looked at it through the eyes of others, and from book or canvas they have received their impression. The face of Nature has such a flush, and sparkle, and life, that no human description can gather them and present them to be known. No one knows the pathos of a bird’s voice unless he has sat in the summer evening at the edge of a wood, and listened to the cry of the whippoorwill. Perhaps you have experienced this yourself. When seeing some wonder of nature, a roaring waterfall perhaps, or mountain covered with flowers and seeing this taken a snapshot to share with family and friends. Then when showing them, in your mind you can relive the experience yet those viewing the snapshot really only have a two-dimensional experience.

When walking in the fall of the year I find there is more glory in one branch of sumac than a painter could put on a whole forest of maples. God has struck into the autumnal leaf a glance that none see but those who come face to face—the mountain looking upon the man, and the man looking upon the mountain.

I recall many years back visiting the parks of the eastern US, and one autumn, I saw scenes which I shall never forget. I have seen the autumnal sketches and photographs by many skillful people, but on that trip I saw a pageant that seemed a thousand miles long. Let artists stand back when God stretches his canvas! A grander spectacle was never kindled before mortal eyes. Along by the rivers, and up and down the sides of the great hills, and by the banks of the lakes, there was an indescribable mingling of gold, and orange, and crimson, and saffron, now sobering into drab and maroon, now flaming up into scarlet. Here and there the trees looked as if just their tips had blossomed into fire. In the morning light the forests seemed as if they had been transfigured, and in the evening they looked as if the sunset had burst and dropped upon the leaves. In more sequestered spots, where the frosts had been hindered in their work, we saw the first kindling of the flames of color in a lowly sprig; then they rushed up from branch to branch, until the glory of the Lord submerged the forest.

Here and there you would find a tree just making up its mind to change, and others were a mass of color. Along the banks of Lake Huron, there were hills over which there seemed pouring cataracts of fire, tossed up, and down. Through some of the ravines we saw occasionally a foaming stream, as though it were rushing to put out the flames. If at one end of the woods a commanding tree would set up its crimson banner, the whole forest prepared to follow. If God’s pallet of colors were not infinite, one swamp that I saw along the Maumee would have exhausted it forever. It seemed as if the sea of divine beauty had dashed its surf to the tiptop of the Alleghenies, and then it had flowed down to lowest leaf and deepest cavern.

The wonder of the natural world that God has provided us is something each one of us should take the opportunity at some point our life to experience, and explore. There are lessons and illuminations for lessons there for us.

Let us read the text then. Isaiah 64:6 - “6 But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” I would imagine that most people reading this text find only in it—a vein of sadness. I find that I have two things that sing out to me—one of sadness, and one of infinite joy. "We all do fade as a leaf."

I. First. Like the foliage, we too fade gradually. The leaves which, only recently, felt the frost, have, day by day, been changing in tint, and will for many days yet cling to the branch, waiting for the fist of the winds to strike them. Pluck one of these glorious leaves and hold it in your hand. Do you suppose that leaf you are holding took on its color in an hour, or in a day, or in a week? No. Deeper and deeper the flush, till all the veins of its life now seem opened and bleeding away. After a while, leaf after leaf, they fall. Now those on the outer branches, then those most hidden, until the last spark of the gleaming forge shall have been quenched.
A. So gradually we pass away. From day to day we hardly see the change. But the frosts have touched us. The work of decay is going on. Now a slight cold. Now a season of over-fatigue. Now a fever. Now a stitch in the side. Now a neuralgic thrust. Now a rheumatic twinge. Now a fall and little by little. Pain by pain. Less steady of limb. Sight not so clear. Ear not so alert. After a while we take a cane.
B. Then, after much resistance, we come to accept glasses. Instead of bounding into the vehicle, we are willing to be helped in. At last the octogenarian falls. Forty years of decaying. No sudden change. No fierce explosion; but a fading away—slowly—gradually. As the leaf!
II. Again: like the leaf we fade, to make room for others. Next year’s forests will be as grandly foliaged as this year’s. There are other generations of oak leaves to take the place of those which this autumn perish. Next May the cradle of the wind will rock the young buds. The woods will be all a-hum with the chorus of new rustling leafy voices.
A. If the tree in front of your house, like Elijah, takes a chariot of fire, its mantle will fall upon Elisha. If, in the blast of these autumnal cannons, so many ranks fall, there are reserved forces to take their place to defend the fortress of the hills.
B. The beaters of gold leaf will have more gold leaf to beat. The crown that drops today from the head of the oak will be picked up and handed down for other kings to wear. Let the blasts come. They only make room for other life.
C. So, when we go, others take our place. We do not grudge the future generations their places. We will have had our good time. Let them come on and have theirs. There is no sighing among these leaves at our feet because other leaves are to follow them. After a lifetime of what ever we do, preaching, doctoring, selling, sewing, building or digging, let us cheerfully give way for those who come on to do the preaching, doctoring, selling, sewing, building and digging.
1. God grant that their life may be brighter than ours. As we get older, do not let us be affronted if young men and women crowd us a little. We will have had our day, and we must let them have theirs. When our voices get cracked, let us not snarl at those who can warble. When our knees are stiffened, let us have patience with those who go fleet as the deer.
2. Because our leaf is fading, do not let us despise the unfrosted. Autumn must not envy the Spring. Old men must be patient with boys. Dr. Guthrie, a Scottish philanthropist once said, "You need not think I am old because my hair is white; I never was so young as I am now." I look back to my childhood days, and remember when, on winter nights, in the sitting-room, where I played or read, father and mother chatted. For some reason though they aged, in my sight they never got old.
3. Do not be disturbed as you see good and great men die. People worry when some important personage passes off the stage, and say, "His place will never be taken." But neither the church nor the State will suffer for it. There will be others to take the places. When God takes one man away, he has another right behind him. God is so rich in resources that he could spare thousands of great men and women. There will be other leaves as green, as exquisitely veined, as gracefully etched, as well-pointed. However prominent the place we fill, our death will not jar the world. One falling leaf does not shake the Adirondacks.
4. In the olden days a ship was not well manned unless there was an extra supply of hands—some working on deck; some sound asleep in their hammocks. God has manned this world very well. There will be other seamen on deck when you and I are down in the cabin, sound asleep in the hammocks.
III. Again: As with the leaves, we fade and fall amid myriads of others. One can not count the number of plumes which these frosts are plucking from the hills. They will strew all the streams; they will drift into the caverns; they will soften the wild beast’s lair, and fill the eagle’s aerie.
A. All the aisles of the forest will be covered with their carpet, and the steps of the hills glow with a wealth of color and shape that will defy the looms of the greatest cloth makers. What urn could hold the ashes of all these dead leaves? Who could count the hosts that burn on this funeral pyre of the mountains?
B. So we die in concert. The clock that strikes the hour of our going will sound the going of many thousands. Keeping step with the feet of those who carry us out will be the tramp of hundreds doing the same errand. In the US between 6600 and 7000 people every day lie down in their final resting on earth.
1. Lakeview Cemetery has one hundred and five thousand of the dead. I contemplated this and thought; Then if there are a hundred and five thousand here, it must be the largest cemetery in Ohio. It isn’t of course; Green Lawn in Columbus has a hundred and fifty thousand headstones. Spring Grove in Cincinnati two hundred and thirty thousand.
2. We all are dying. London, New York and Peking are not the great cities of the world. The grave is the great city. It has mightier population, longer streets, and thicker darkness. Caesar is there, and all his subjects. Nero is there, and all his victims.
3. It is a city of kings and paupers! It has swallowed up in its immigrations Thebes, and Tyre, and Babylon, and will swallow all our cities. Yet, it is a City of Silence. No voice. No hoof. No wheel. No clash. No clang and clamor of the factory. No murmur and hum of commerce. No jar. No whisper. A Great City of Silence! Of all its billions of hands, not one of them is lifted. Of all its billions of eyes, not one of them sparkles. Of all its billions of hearts, not one pulsates. The living in this world are a small minority.
C. If, in the movement of time, some great question between the living and the dead should be put, and God called up all the dead and the living to decide it, as we lifted our hands, and from all the resting-places of the dead they lifted their hands, the dead would outvote us many times over. The multitude of the dying and the dead are as these autumnal leaves drifting under our feet this season. We march on toward eternity, not by companies of a hundred, or regiments of a thousand, or battalions of ten thousands, but thousands of millions abreast! Marching on! MARCHING ON!
IV. Again: As with variety of appearance—the leaves de-part, and so do we. You have noticed that some trees, at the first touch of the frost, lose all their beauty; they stand withered, and uncomely, and ragged, waiting for the northwest storm to drive them into the mire. The sun shining at noonday gilds them with no beauty. Ragged leaves! Dead leaves! No one stands to study them. They are gathered in no vase. They are hung on no wall.
A. It is so that death smites many. There is no beauty in their departure. One sharp frost of sickness, or one blast off the cold waters, and they are gone. No tinge of hope. No prophecy of heaven. Their spring was all abloom with bright prospects; their summer thick foliaged with opportunities; but October came, and their glory went. Frosted! In early autumn the frosts come, but do not seem to damage vegetation. They are light frosts. Yet some morning you look out of the window and say, "There was a killing frost last night," and you know that from that day every thing will wither.
B. So many seem to get along without religion, amid the annoyances and vexatious of life that nip them slightly here and nip them there. But after a while death comes. It is a killing frost, and all is ended.
C. Oh! What withering and scattering, death makes among those not prepared to meet it! They leave every thing pleasant behind them—their house, their families, their friends, their books, their pictures, and step out of the sunshine into the shadow. They hang their harps on the willow, and trudge away into everlasting captivity. They quit the presence of bird, and bloom, and wave, to go unbeckoned and unwelcomed. The bower—in which they stood, and sang, and wove garlands, and made themselves merry, has gone down under an awful equinox. No funeral bell can toll one half the dolefulness of their condition. Frosted!
D. But thank God that is not the way people always die. Tell me, on what day of all the year the leaves of the Virginia creeper are as bright as they are today? So Christian character is never so attractive as in the dying hour. Such ones go into the grave, not as a dog, with frown and harsh voice, driven into a kennel, but they pass away calmly, brightly, sweetly, grandly! As the leaf! As THE LEAF!
E. Why go to the death-bed of distinguished men, when we all know of a house from where a Christian has departed? The Christian has bought from Christ gold refined in the fire, and white garments. Their eyes have been anointed that they may see. Their treasure is in heaven and their reward is great. When we look at our precious relative, loved elder who has ceased to breath we think of our sorrow, the emptiness we feel. Yet should we, when it is all over, not think how grandly they slept! —a giant resting after a battle. Oh! There are many Christian death-beds. The servants of God are taken home as His children. From every corner they come, from the gate of the poorhouse; to the gate of princes. The shout of captives breaking their chains comes on the morning air. The heavens ring again and again with the coronation. One can imagine in the final day how the twelve gates of heaven are crowded with the ascending righteous. I see the accumulated glories of a thousand Christian death-beds—an autumnal forest illumined by an autumnal sunset. They died not in shame, but in triumph! As the leaf! As THE LEAF!
V. Lastly: As the leaves fade and fall only to rise, so do we. All this golden shower of the woods is making the ground richer, and in the juice, and sap, and life of the tree the leaves will come up again. Next May the south wind will blow the resurrection trumpet, and they will rise. So we fall in the dust only to rise again. "The hour is coming when all who are in their graves shall hear His voice and come forth." (John 5:28) It would be a horrible consideration to think that our bodies were always to lie in the ground. However beautiful the flowers you plant there, we do not want to make our everlasting residence in such a place.
A. I have with these eyes seen so many of the glories of the natural world, and the radiant faces of my friends, that I do not want to think that when I close them in death I shall never open them again. It is sad enough to have a hand or foot amputated. In a hospital, after a soldiers hand was taken off, he said, "Good-by dear old hand, you have done me a great deal of good service, and burst into tears." It is a more awful thing to think of having the whole body amputated from the soul forever. I would wish to have my body again, to see with, to hear with, to walk with. With this hand I to clasp the hand of my loved ones when I have passed clean over Jordan, and with it wave the triumphs of my King. Aha! we shall rise again—we shall rise again. As the leaf! As THE LEAF! (Philippians 3:20-21)
B. In crossing the waters the ship may founder and our bodies be eaten by the sharks; but God tameth Leviathan, and we shall come again. In an awful explosion our bodies may be shattered into a hundred fragments in the air; but God watches the disaster, and we shall come again. He will drag the deep, and ransack the tomb, and upturn the wilderness, and torture the mountain, but He will find us, and fetch us out and up to judgment and to victory. We shall come up with perfect eye, with perfect hand, with perfect foot, and with perfect body. A new body. All our weaknesses left behind.
C. We fall, but we rise! We die, but we live again! We molder away, but we come to higher unfolding! As the leaf! AS THE LEAF!

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We learn from the New Testament how to be saved. We need to hear the word; believe in Jesus; repent of our sins; we must confess our belief that Jesus is the Son of God; and be baptized for the remission of our sins... If we follow these steps, the Lord adds us to His church.
Perhaps there is someone in the assembly today with the need to be buried with Christ in baptism. If you have never done these things, we urge you to do so today. If anyone has this need or desires the prayers of faithful Christians on their behalf, we encourage them to come forward while we stand and sing.

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Reference Sermon
T. DeWitt Talmage

A Passionate Appeal

A Passionate Appeal
1st John 4:7-21

INTRO: Good morning! A few weeks ago, we said that it might be good for us to begin each day with the request that is found in Psalm 143:8, “Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You.”

Then in Mark’s lesson last week, we read in Psalm 19 about the wonder and glory of God’s handiwork that is declared in the heavens and all that we see around us. In Psalm 8:3-4 David wonders, in all this “… what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” Finally, in John 3:16 we read, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son… ” In thinking about God’s love my attention turned to other writings of the Apostle John, often called the apostle of love, and his telling us of the love of God, Christ, truth, and people.

I invite you now to turn with me to our text for today, 1st John 4:7-21. I will begin reading in verse 7. “7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.”[ESV]

John, in these verses made a passionate appeal summed up in the last verse. Let's read that verse again. “And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.”[NKJV]

What I would like to do this morning is examine that very special appeal that John made in these verses of our text, 1^st John 4:7-21. As we study this appeal, we want to remember that Jesus made this same appeal to His apostles. Let's turn to John 13:34-35, but before we read this let us remember what is going to happen later. Jesus was going to spend some time talking to His disciples. Then He was going to pray the very beautiful prayer found in chapter 17. He would be arrested, tried, condemned, and eventually crucified.

In the first part of this chapter, Jesus gives a lesson in humility. (John 13:3-17). We read there that Jesus arose from supper and removed His outer garment. He placed a towel around Himself, took a basin and some water, and washed the disciples’ feet. Can you imagine the expressions on the faces of the apostles?

Peter wanted to refuse. He said, Lord, you'll never wash my feet. Jesus said, if I don't wash your feet, you have no part with Me. Then Peter said, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Just wash me all over is basically what Peter was saying. Jesus was teaching His apostles a very important lesson, and He summed it up when He gave this command. Listen to what our Lord told all the apostles. Now John 13:34-35 – “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” Remember John was present when Jesus gave that command to His apostles.

In the verses we're studying in 1^st John, chapter four, isn't that basically what Jesus taught the apostles, to love one another as He had loved them?

We also need to keep in mind that Jesus commanded the apostles to teach all things that He had commanded them. When He gave the great commission in Matthew 28:19-20, our Lord said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” Listen to this, “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Jesus commanded them to teach people who were converted to Christianity to observe all things that Jesus had taught them. What did He teach them in John 13?—to love one another. Remember John was present when Jesus gave this command to the apostles, and that they, the apostles, were responsible for teaching the things that Jesus had taught them. Therefore, when we're studying this appeal that was made by John in his letter, we're studying a command of the Lord.

I. The first point we need to make is that God's love is the foundation of this appeal.

A. John indicated that God is the source of love. There is a beautiful song in our Hymnal, number 256, God is love. The scripture reference under the title is 1^st John 4:16. It's based on what John wrote in this section of his letter that God is the source of love.

1. In our text in verse 7 he says love is of God.
2. Then in verses 8 and 16 John said God is love. As we look at what John wrote in these verses, keep in mind that God's love is the very foundation of this appeal. How do we know that God is the source of love?

B. John goes on to show how God has demonstrated His love in verses 9 and 10. “In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”[ESV]

1. God demonstrated His love by sending His son into the world to be the atonement for our sins. That's not the first time that John mentioned this in his letter. Go back to 1^st John 2:1-2 for a moment… it says, “My little children, these things I write to you, that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” How do we know that God is the source of love? Because He demonstrated it. He demonstrated His love by sending Jesus into the world to serve as the atonement for our sins. Jesus paid the price so that we could receive the forgiveness of our sins.
2. In 1st John 4:14, John and his fellow apostles saw and testified that the Father sent Jesus to be our savior. That's how we know that God is the source of love. John said, along with his fellow apostles; “we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world”.

a. Notice how John began this very special letter, laying the foundation for his appeal. 1^st John 1:1-2. “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life — the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—”. [ESV]
b. The apostles saw the Lord, heard His voice, touched Him and they saw the Lord prove His divinity. Many, many times they observed the miracles that Jesus performed. They observed all the proof that God provided through Jesus, indicating that He truly is the Son of God. John said that he and his fellow apostles saw the Lord and can tell us that He came, and the reason He came is to be our savior.

C. John in laying the foundation for this appeal… wrote of God's love. There are so many ways that God shows His love for us. Mark talked about many of them last week. John focused on the most important one for us—God provided a way we can come back to Him, overcoming Satan and his power. Such love needs a response and that leads us to the next point. We've seen that God's love is the foundation of the appeal that John is making in these verses and that wonderful love deserves a response.

II. John went on to show in these verses that God's children respond to God's love in two ways.

A. First, God's children respond to God's love by loving Him. That just makes common sense, doesn't it? John makes a very strong point about that in these verses.

1. He explained in verse 19 why God's children love him. “We love Him because He first loved us.”
2. He went on to show that those who love God enjoy some very special blessings.

a. In verse 16, he said “… he who abides in love, abides in God, and God in him.” We certainly want God to dwell in us and we want to dwell in God. We must love Him and our love for Him is a response to the love that He's shown to us.
b. In verse 17 John writes, “Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.” One blessing received from a love-oriented and love-motivated life is a dramatic reduction of fear, both earthly fears and those regarding the ultimate summons of all people to the judgment of God. Those who love God will have boldness at the judgment.

i. The key - is being prepared. His children will have confidence in the hour of the final judgment when people are pleading for the rocks and the mountains to fall upon them.
ii. That's why Jesus when He was talking about His return said; watch and be ready. He talked about that in the latter part of Matthew 24 and on through chapter 25.
iii. If we're watching for the Lord's return and if we're prepared, we don't have to worry about it. Part of our being prepared - is loving God.
iv. In 1st John 5:1f he explained that loving God involves submitting to His will. I’ll just read a few verses, “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.”[ESV] We demonstrate our love for God by obeying His will.

c. Another blessing is mentioned in 1st John 4:18. “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”

i. Those who love God overcome fear. John, like the Lord Jesus, did not speak of many judgments, but only one. A lot of people are afraid of the final judgment and if they are not right with God they should be.
ii. Perfect love casts out that fear and notice that last phrase; he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

3. These are three special blessings that John mentioned in connection with loving God. He first talked about how God has demonstrated His love for us.
That wonderful love deserves a response.
One way in which we respond to God's love is by loving him.

B. There's another way in which God's children respond to His love. That is for God's people to love each other.

1. Look at verse 7 again, “Beloved, let us love one another”. One reason why I enjoy reading the writings of John is the affectionate terms that he often uses. He refers to his readers as beloved. John loved the people to whom he was writing. By the way, he was writing to us, as Christians, wasn't he? John had special feelings for God's people, and he let that be known in his writing. Also, look at verse 11 again. “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” Christians’ loving each other is motivated by the overwhelming majesty of the love of God.
2. The foundation for John's appeal is the love of God. We know that God loves us because He proved it. He demonstrated His great love for us. We said that love deserves a response, and John talked about two responses. One response is to love God, and the other response is for God's people to love one another.
3. Once again, there are special blessings associated with loving God's children. Go back to the second part of verse 7, “everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.” Then in verse 12, “If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.” Our love toward God is perfected and brought to maturity by the exercise of love towards our brethren in Christ.
4. What about a person who makes the conscious decision not to love God's children? John touched on the spiritual condition of those people. Look at verse 8. “He who does not love, does not know God” That's pretty strong, isn't it? Well… look at verse 20 again. “If someone says, "I love God,'' and hates his brother, he is a liar;”

a. It is understandable to us that if what a person is contradicts what that person says, they are a liar. John, in his writings, says a person who claims to know God and walks in darkness is a liar… a person who "knows God" but denies the Son of God is a liar… a person who pretends to love God and hates his brother is a liar. Very straightforward.
b. John makes it very clear that one response to God's love is for His people to love each other.

C. John concluded his appeal in verse 21 which we've already read a couple of times. “And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.” John was present when Jesus gave that command in John 13. John is repeating that, of course. Yes, many years have passed by this time. John says, “this commandment have we from him.” In other words, this came from the Lord, that he who loves God must love his brother also. John made a very passionate appeal in these verses for God's people to love one another.

III. Of course, John wasn't the only apostle to write about these things. Let's look at a few verses written by the Apostle Paul and by the Apostle Peter.

A. Let's turn to Ephesians 5:1-2. Of course, Paul was not one of the original twelve. He was added as an apostle. Later, he described himself as one born out of due time, but he was just as much an apostle as the rest of them. He wrote in detail about love. “Therefore be followers of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” The term, sweet-smelling is a compound word euōdia, (yoo-o-dee'-ah), which means a fragrance, a sweet odor, or a satisfaction, and metaphorically a thing well pleasing to God. When God's people walk in love, that presents a very pleasing aroma unto God.
B. Let's turn to Colossians 3:5-8. “5. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7. in which you also once walked when you lived in them. 8. But now you must also put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,” Here Paul has shown us that there are certain things that are to be put off, to be mortified.

1. Then having dealt with those things, he presents some things that are to be put on. Skip down to verse 12. Colossians 3:12-14, “12. Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13. bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.”
2. Paul tells us to put on all these wonderful activities and attitudes mentioned in verses 12 and 13 and then he says above all these things put on love which Paul calls the bond of perfection. Love is viewed as the bond of perfectness, or girdle that bonds together the "clothing" that has just been put on. Both the graces and the Christian persons are bound together by love.
3. In 1st Corinthians 13 Paul has a lot to say about love.

a. In verse 1 he says no matter how elegantly he was to speak, without love he would be as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
b. In verse 2 Paul lists many virtues; prophecy, understanding, knowledge, and faith, yet he says without love “I am nothing”
c. Then in the last verse of 1st Corinthians 13 he admonishes “… now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

C. Let's turn next to 1^st Peter chapter 1 which we are currently studying in bible class. He's writing to people who have become God's children. He talked about how that's accomplished, how to become a child of God by being born again. In 1^st Peter 1:22-23 Peter says, “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,” Now look in chapter 4. 1^st Peter 4:8, says, “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins.''” That's a beautiful passage. The apostles dealt at length with the fact that God's people are to love one another.

CONCLUSION:
All these apostles emphasize the things that Jesus taught them.

We cannot help but observe today that quite often there's a lack of love in our society. --- People need to see something better.

Something better is available. When they see God's people loving one another, it should be appealing. That should give people something to examine and look at and say, you know, there's a better life. Maybe I need to check into this Christianity that the Bible talks about. Maybe there's something to it.

They need to see Christian love in action and that's where we're involved. The way that we conduct ourselves has an influence. Others are observing our behavior even when we may not realize it. When people see God's children loving one another, it should be appealing to them.

We know that God loves us because He demonstrated His love. God's children are to respond to His love in two ways, first, by loving God, and second, by loving one another.

According to what John wrote, our response to those requirements, (which he dealt with in great detail), shows whether we are God's true children.

These are some serious matters. If we put into practice what the Lord is teaching us through His disciple, whom He loved, we'll be able to enjoy some very special blessings.

Let's think about these matters very seriously as we go through our daily lives. I think people will see it and it will make a good impression on them.
___________________________________________________________________

We learn from the New Testament how to be saved. We need to hear the word; believe in Jesus; repent of our sins; confess our belief that Jesus is the Son of God; and be baptized for the remission of our sins… If we follow these steps, the Lord adds us to His church.

Perhaps there is someone in the assembly today with the need to be buried with Christ in baptism. If anyone has this need or desires the prayers of faithful Christians on their behalf, we encourage them to come forward while we stand and sing.

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Reference Sermon by: Raymond Sieg

Message From the Skies

Psalms 19:1-6

With all the hype and excitement concerning April 8th And the TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE I thought we would that a look at the skies this morning..
The Title of Our Sermon is A MESSAGE FROM THE SKIES.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator,
and I immediately wanted to paint another one.
When you thought I wasn't looking
I saw you feed a stray cat,
and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw you make my favorite cake for me
and I learned that the little things
can be the special things in life.
When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw you make a meal and
take it to a friend who was sick,
and I learned that we all have to help
take care of each other.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw you give of your time and money
to help people who had nothing
and I learned that those who have something
should give to those who don't.
When you thought I wasn't looking,
I felt you kiss me good night and I felt loved and safe.
When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it
and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw how you handled your responsibilities,
even when you didn't feel good
and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw tears come from your eyes
and I learned that sometimes things hurt,
but it's all right to cry.
When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw that you cared
and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know
to be a good and productive person when I grow up.
When you thought I wasn't looking,
I looked at you and wanted to say,
Thanks for all the things I saw
when you thought I wasn't looking.'

OPEN: According to “Ripley’s Believe It or Not” the longest love letter ever was written by Marcel de Leclure in 1875. Marcel was an artist in Paris France and his letter contained the 3 word French phrase “je vous aime” (pronounced “shavou same”)
which means “I Love You.” This wasn’t just written down once... it was written 1,875,000 times.

And he didn’t EVEN write the letter. He hired a scribe. He dictated that message – word for word (all 3 of them) – and then had the scribe read it back to him (remember, this was the same phrase written 1,875,000 times).
Reflecting on this love letter, Robert Ripley (the creator of “Ripley’s Believe It Or Not”) said “Never was love made manifest by as great an expenditure of time and effort.”

(PAUSE) One person observed “That’s ridiculous. How loving is it to just write the same thing a million times?” But that’s how some people think sometimes. By contrast – when God showed his love for David – David realized that God did far more than write down “I love you” a million times. In Psalm 19 David tells us HOW God showed His love. David looked up at the heavens and saw God’s love filling the night sky.

Please turn with me to Psalm 19:1-6
The opening verse declares,
• “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the sky above proclaims His handiwork.”
• This poetic language emphasizes that the vast expanse of the heavens— the moon, stars, sun, and the entire celestial canvas— serves as a testimony to God’s creative power.

• When we gaze at the night sky or marvel at the intricate design of the universe, we sense that someone greater than ourselves crafted it all.

• Verse 3 continues, “There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard.”
• Unlike human speech, the heavens communicate silently but powerfully. Their existence speaks of a divine Creator. Day after day, night after night, creation pours forth its silent message, inviting us to recognize God’s handiwork.

• In verse 4, we encounter the imagery of a tent set for the sun.
• The sun, like a radiant bridegroom, emerges from its chamber each morning and follows its course with joy. Its rising and circuit span the entire heavens, leaving nothing hidden from its warmth and light.

These verses teach us that creation itself testifies to God’s glory. The heavens and the sky proclaim His handiwork day and night, inviting us to recognize the Creator behind it all. As we marvel at the natural world, we catch glimpses of the divine Artist who shaped the cosmos.

Abraham Lincoln said: “I never behold (the stars) that I do not feel I am looking in the face of God.” In our culture, where we spend so much time inside, we rarely get to experience the majesty of a starry heaven like David did.  But, when we do – like all the hype of the TOTAL SOLAR eclipse set for April 8th … it can sometimes be a little overwhelming.

In one of his Psalms, Psalm 8:3-4 David wrote: “When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?”

The heavens are so imposing that David wondered why God even gave him a 2nd thought. (pause) But God DID give David a 2nd thought, and David knew it. That’s why he tried so hard to be a man after God’s own heart. But, if he’d only known how much God did for us in the heavens…
David would have written far more of his Psalms. Because - you see - the heavens might be pretty, but they’re more than just that.  Over the centuries, STARS have served as way to measure seasons (a fact taught us in the first chapter of Genesis). From the structures of the Aztecs to those of the Egyptians and perhaps even with Stonehenge – the ancients used the stars to chart the stars and determine the best times to plant and harvest their crops. Stars were also used by sailors to find their way across uncharted oceans.

And of course, there’s the closest star in our universe. The SUN. One scientist marveled “In many ways, the sun is just an ordinary star. But in other ways, sun was designed for life to be possible on Earth.” The sun’s temperature and distance from Earth is ideal for LIFE. If it were closer or hotter, LIFE would be burned away; and if it were farther away or colder than it is, last week’s cold snap would seem like summer day.

Earth would just be too cold to sustain life. In addition there are scientists out there who mock our Sun because it’s smaller and weaker than some of the more impressive stars in the universe. But those bigger and hotter stars produce huge amounts of harmful radiation. And they tend to fling devastating flares far out into their solar systems. These flares – would incinerate any life on our planet (not to mention what they’d do to our cell phone reception).

Yes, our star was DESIGNED by God to make life possible. Back in 1968 there was an Astronaut named Bill Anders who had the privilege of flying over the earth in space. He said: “(The earth) was the only color we could see in the universe...” So, the starry heavens are more than just another pretty face. They’re a declaration of God’s loves for us and that He has made a beautiful planet for us to live on.

As Romans 1:19-20 declares “What can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.”

You see - that’s what David saw. When David looked up into the heavens he saw a God Who was not only powerful, but a God Who also loved HIM enough to show Him the beauty of His creation. But David didn’t stop there. While the heavens may declare God’s majesty and power, God’s WRITTEN WORD reveals what God really thinks about us.

David wrote in Psalm 19:7-10: “The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.”

Now, bear in mind, David’s Bible was much smaller than yours and mine. There was no New Testament (this was centuries before Christ was born), and less than half the Old Testament had been written at that time. There were just a few books of Bible history at that time... but most of what David knew and studied were the Books Of The Law – Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.

And THAT was what David was praising here:
The LAW, the PRECEPTS, the COMMANDMENTS, and the RULES. He declared that they were more precious than fine gold, and sweeter than the sweetest honey.
(PAUSE) But now, wait a minute... that doesn’t make any sense. Those books are boring. They were filled with long tedious rules and regulations. And they spoke of an angry and vindictive God who doesn’t seem to love anyone.

OR... at least that’s what some scholars have said over the years.  For centuries many have said the God of the Old Testament was different than the God of the New Testament. The God of the Old Testament was mean and harsh and spiteful, but the God of the New Testament was loving and forgiving.

Now, that’s all pure hogwash (it’s the same God), but I can see where someone might get that impression.

I mean the Old Testament does talk a lot about RIGHT and WRONG, GOOD and EVIL, SIN and MORALITY. And, of course, it talks a lot about judgment and condemnation of wickedness. There are folks who read the Bible and struggle with God being... so JUDGMENTAL. But that’s not the way David saw it. David saw a God who defined what evil was. A God who hated wickedness, a God who punished evil doers and rewarded those who tried to do the right thing.

David wrote in Psalm 19:11 & 13: “By (God’s laws) is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.... Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.”

You see, there’s something about God’s written word that changes people. If we take the Bible seriously it makes us into better people. In other words – God loves us so much that He’s given us a tool to transform us – His BIBLE.

David knew the power of God’s written word to transform and to improve the lives of those who would listen to God. And in that truth, David realized that God believed in us. God had not given up on us. And God believed that we could be better than what we’ve been.

(PAUSE) And one more thing.
As much as David understood the love of God there was one thing that David did NOT know about God’s love. He didn’t know the truth of John 3:16. Repeat it with me: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

God did something in sending His Son that neither stars nor the Scriptures could begin to describe for us. The stars may be beautiful... but they’re wayyyy up there (way above us) and we don’t know very much about them.

And while the Bible is mighty and has the power to transform us, there are things about the Scriptures that are hard to understand. Stars and words on a page can seem cold and impersonal – but when God gave His Son... that’s something else again.

We all have sung this song for years:
“Jesus loves me this I know,
for the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong.
They are weak, but He is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
The Bible tells me so.”

MORAL OF THE STORY IS … Jesus loves you. He loves you in spite of what you may have done in the past or how badly you may have messed up your life.
He LOVES YOU.

A major question was asked to the disciples by many people who were in this same situation back in Acts 2:36 – 38
Men and Brethren what must we do to be saved?
"36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.  37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."
The answer to them is the some answer we hear God tells us today, Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of your sins.

It was in God stepping down out of heaven and becoming a man that we understand just how much Jesus did love us.

CLOSE: Someone once said this in a powerful way:
“When God chose to reveal Himself to mankind,
what medium did He use?
A book? No, that was secondary.

A church? No, that came afterward.

A moral code? No, to limit God's revelation to a cold list of do's and don'ts is as tragic as looking at a road map of Colorado and saying that you'd seen the Rockies.

When God chose to reveal Himself,
He did so through a human body.
The tongue that called forth the dead was a Human one.
The hand that touched the leper had dirt under its nails.
The feet upon which the woman wept were callused and dirty.
And His tears... oh, don't miss the tears...
they came from a heart as broken as
yours or mine has ever been.

So, people came to Him. My, how they came to Him!
They came at night;
they touched Him as He walked down the street,
they followed Him around the sea;
they invited Him into their homes,
and placed their children at His feet.

Why?
Because there was not one person who was reluctant to approach Him for fear of being rejected.”

INVITATION

Based on a sermon
By Jeff Strite

Walk In Newness of Life

Romans 6:1-4

INTRO: Good morning church! I once knew a person who attended assembly regularly. They were curious about the Christian faith, but they had not yet committed their life to Christ. When asked why they hesitated, they said, “I’m not ready to give up my life.” This person understood something some Christians do not – giving your life to Christ is life-changing and impacts every aspect of who you were and are becoming.

Turn with me to Romans 6:1-4, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”[NKJV]

Paul’s purpose in this paragraph was to stress that Christians who were dead to sin should not continue to live wickedly; but the manner of their being dead to sin must have brought the ordinance of baptism into his thoughts. Consequently many of the most positive teachings concerning baptism were included in this letter. In this verse, Paul explained HOW it is true that Christians are dead to sin, and WHEN they became so.

Baptism is the ordinance that brings people "into Christ," as stated here and in Galatians 3:26-27, and through this unity with Christ, the Christian enters the spiritual body of Christ, thus making it true that "in Christ" they are dead to sin since Christ died. That is the thought expressed here as "baptized into his death," meaning into the status of being dead to sin in Christ.

In these verses, the Bible explains how we experience a likeness of the Lord’s resurrection, are saved from our sins, are baptized into His death, and are raised with Him. It is at that point that we are able to walk in newness of life.

That reference to death, burial, and resurrection with Christ in Romans 6 points to almost every dimension of the Christian life. It points to the gospel and our faith because it indicates our identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

Then you have a hint of our future hope. “As Christ was raised from the dead to the glory of the Father, so are we too…” (Romans 6:4). The implication is we too are raised with Him. And because we will be raised with Him (and this is the point that Paul emphasizes), we too might walk in newness of life. What do those words mean?
Walk - The word “walk” is a reference to the Christian life here and now, and it suggests this life now is the beginning. It’s a kind of anticipation, a foreshadowing, and an initiation into the life of Heaven. We are walking in newness of life, a new life.

Newness - For Paul, the word “newness” is a word that implies resurrection. The new creation is out of the book of Isaiah 65:17-25 – and you find it in the gospels as well. This word “newness” is used to refer to the new age, the Kingdom of God that comes with the person of Jesus. So we are walking in newness.

Life - Then for Paul the word “life” is a word that invariably refers to everlasting life. As the Gospel of John says, it’s the life that comes from the living water, which is Christ, and the Bread that comes down out of Heaven. “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). It’s the life of the glorious age to come. When Paul refers to “newness of life,” at first blush he is speaking of the new life of the Kingdom of God, as the everlasting life, the resurrection life that we now have because we are participants in the death and resurrection of Jesus, which is marked out by our baptism.

The Christian Life - But when Paul uses the phrase, “walk in newness of life,” it is a reference to the Christian life. The Jews have a category of literature that they call Halakah. It’s the “walking literature.” It’s a way of looking at the scriptures that emphasizes walking, behavior, the way you live, ethics, and practice.

Paul refers to our walk, as he says in Colossians 2:6, “Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him…” and in Galatians 5:25, “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.” In both texts, the word “walk” refers to the living out of the Christian life.

As we begin our lesson refer to Romans 6:3-4 again. This is from the letter that the apostle Paul wrote to the congregation in the city of Rome. In these verses the Bible explains how we experience a likeness of the Lord’s resurrection. When we are saved from our sins, we are baptized into His death, and we are raised with Him. It is at that point that we are able to walk in newness of life.
The newness of life mentioned here seems to justify the opinions of those who hold this to be the first resurrection, a view certainly permissible in the light of Jesus’ teaching in John 5:25.

The newness of life is made possible by the reception of the Holy Spirit of promise (Ephesians 1:13), imparted after the believer’s repentance and baptism (Acts 2:38f). Does this newness of life mean that the person cannot sin? No. Our old self is dethroned through conversion to Christ, and the rightful sovereign of the soul, who is Christ, is enthroned instead. Yet the will of man, still free, can reverse the decision. As Wuest explained; “When the believer sins, the dethroned king, the evil nature, mounts the throne, with the consequent dethronement of the Lord Jesus.” The Christian remains a free moral agent capable of choosing between obeying the divine nature or the evil nature. To be alive spiritually in Christ Jesus is to "walk in newness of life"; and what a difference there is. Before their salvation, people are without hope or promise, alienated from God, children of wrath, walking in darkness, hateful, and hating one another; but in Christ, one is part of an utterly new creation. They are truly born again. Old things have passed away, and the future is bright!

In the lesson today I want to concentrate on the matter that is revealed in the latter part of verse four. When we are raised from baptism, we are to walk in newness of life. That’s a very important responsibility. Let’s look at a few points about this.

I. General Guidelines - From Romans 6 let's now turn to Titus 2. Here we are given some guidelines that will help us to walk in newness of life. Toward the end of the chapter, there are some general guidelines and we will consider them first. Then at the beginning of the chapter, there are some specific guidelines revealed. If we follow these instructions… and with the Lord's help, I’m convinced we will be walking in newness of life as the Lord desires.

A. I like the expression in 2^nd Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” It shows that when we get into Christ, when we're baptized into him, (that's the way that we get into Him), all the past is gone, we don't have to carry it anymore, and we're given a clean slate. That is, all things become new! What a blessing that is. However, I’m also convinced that with a clean slate, we also have new responsibilities. As new creatures in God's sight, we are to walk in newness of life.
B. To accomplish that we need to understand exactly what it involves. Although many passages deal with that particular matter, I want to concentrate now on some very helpful information given to us in Titus 2:11-14. In these verses are the general guidelines I spoke of. “11. For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12. teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13. looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14. who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”

1. To know how to walk in newness of life as the Lord desires, we have to go to the right source. Verse 11 tells us that “the grace of God… has appeared to all men”. This is a reference to the incarnation, the arrival of the Son of God, whose visitation upon our planet came directly and solely from the grace of God. With His birth at Bethlehem, it was appropriate to say that salvation had indeed been brought to all men. According to verse 12, it is the grace of God (Jesus in His word) which instructs us regarding the conditions which must be fulfilled for us to partake of that grace; and rejection of these instructions is equivalent to the rejection of God’s grace. Both positively and negatively the conditions are laid out.
2. Some people have the mistaken idea that God's grace will allow them to live as they please. Nothing could be further from the truth. We'll come right back to Titus 2 in a few minutes, but now let's look at a few verses in Romans 6.

a. It seems even in the first century, when the apostles were alive; some were saying that God's grace would permit us to live as we please. That was dealt with in the book of Romans. Look at Romans 6:1-2 again, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?”
b. Paul’s answer here was because of allegations based upon a perverted understanding of justification by faith.
c. Some of Paul’s hearers and readers had concluded that as long as Christians have faith, it makes no difference at all what kind of life they live. Such a position arising from a misunderstanding of justification by faith. This is understood to be "faith only," just as some still misunderstand it. Look also at Romans 6:14-15. “ For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!” So a misunderstanding of God's grace is cleared up in those verses.

3. Back to the point we want to establish from Titus 2, that God's grace teaches us how to live. We're talking about walking in newness of life. We need to understand what that involves, and we have to go to the right source for information. The Bible shows us that God's grace teaches us both how we are not to live, and how we are to live.

a. We learn from verses 11 and 12 that God's grace teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lust. Now, does that sound like we can live as we please? No, of course not. We've already cleared that up in Romans 6. God's grace teaches us to deny certain things. If we participate in ungodliness and worldly lust, that's not walking in newness of life. God's grace teaches us that.
b. But then on the positive side, God's grace teaches us to live soberly, righteously, and godly. Someone teaching from these verses made a point about what that means.

To live soberly means to live right with self.
To live righteously means to live right with others.
To live godly has to do with being right with God.

c. Well, that covers everyone, doesn't it? In this present world at this time, this world that we're living in right now, we are to live soberly, righteously, and godly, while denying ungodliness and worldly lust. That's a very important part of walking in our new life. There are certain types of behavior we need to understand that are just wrong, and we're to abstain from those things. Of course, some people don't like to hear that, but the Bible is very clear, and we want to follow God's word. The Bible also shows us how the Lord wants us to live; it covers both sides of the issue and points out things that we're to avoid, as well as things that the Lord wants us to do.

C. Now back to Titus 2:13-14 that we read a few moments ago. Here we are told to be looking for the Lord's return. That's one reason why it's so important for us to walk in newness of life because by doing so, we will be looking forward to that great day when Jesus will come back.

1. In the first part of verse 14, we're reminded of the Lord's suffering. This verse tells us that Jesus gave Himself for us. He made a great sacrifice on our behalf. Consequently, He made it possible for us to enjoy some very special blessings—to be "His own special people, zealous for good works". In other words, by His sacrifice, the Lord has made it possible for us to be able to walk in newness of life.
2. We looked at some general guidelines revealed at the end of Titus 2, that relate to walking in newness of life. God's grace teaches us that there are certain things to be avoided, and there are certain things that we are to do, with the Lord's help. By following those guidelines, we're able to look forward to that great day when Jesus will return.

II. Specific Guidelines - Let's turn our attention now to some specific guidelines that are given to us in Titus 2:1-6. “1. But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: 2. that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; 3. the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things 4. that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5. to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed. 6. Likewise exhort the young men to be sober-minded,”

A. Keep in mind that this letter was written by the apostle Paul to Titus, who was an evangelist serving on the island of Crete. The gospel had been taken to Crete, and there were people there who had become Christians. Titus was working with them, and he was given the responsibility of teaching sound doctrine. When we study chapter one, we see that the Cretans did not have a very good reputation. “One of them, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.'' This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,” (Titus 1:13-14). So the Cretans did not have a good reputation, but those who became Christians were responsible for walking in newness of life. Titus had the responsibility of teaching these things and he had his work cut out for him. I think this shows the power of the gospel. Even people like the Cretans could become Christians. However becoming Christians, they were responsible for walking in a new life.
B. Whenever we cover these first few verses in Titus 2 we find that there is something revealed for the benefit of everyone. Regardless of whether we're men or women, young or old, there's something for each of us.

1. Let's begin with the aged men in verse 2. These are not the elders in an official sense, but simply the older men. “… the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience;”

a. The aged men are to be sober. That means being free from excess in anything.
b. The aged men are to be reverent. That means honorable, worthy of respect, and dignified.
c. The aged men are to be temperate. Meaning curbing one’s impulses and demonstrating self-control.
d. The aged men are to be sound. That word sound means incorrupt and the aged men are to be sound or incorrupt in three areas, faith, love, and patience. "Faith here is objective," meaning that older men should cling to the fundamental doctrines of Christianity.
e. In these three, faith, love, and patience lay the sum of Christian perfection. A commentator wrote; It is with "faith" that we worship God; no prayer, no work of piety can be severed from faith. "Love" spreads its wings over all our duties to our neighbor; and "patience" must ever go hand in hand with "faith" and "love."

2. Let me digress for a moment. Many of us are older and we have found age brings about significant changes. A preacher wrote that an older man brought him a heavy question, “Why does the Lord allow us to get old and reach the point where we can't do things that we used to be able to do?” The preacher gave the following reply; he said, “I'm looking for the answer to that myself, because I'm getting older and find that I can't do everything I used to be able to do either. Those of us who are younger need to have a proper example set before us.” He continued; “When I see someone lacking in the physical vitality they had at one time, struggling to do things that please the Lord it is a tremendous source of encouragement.” He said, “Don't ever underestimate your power of influence. I know you can't do things that you used to be able to do, but when I see you continuing to do the Lord's will, that shows me that there's something to your faith.”

The preacher recalled a time when a man who was having some severe breathing problems talked to him and expressed the concern that his breathing was bothering others in worship services. The man said, “I think I'm going to stop attending worship service.” The preacher said, “Let me give you something else to think about. When I'm up front and I see you walk in the door, I know that you have put forth tremendous effort to be here. That gives me and others a lot of encouragement. If you stayed at home, you're missing out on that opportunity to influence someone.”

When we are experiencing our limitations, it is easy to lose sight of the influence that we have on others. I believe one reason why it's so important for older people to conduct themselves as is taught in these verses, is because others need to have the right influence set before them. All of us need to fulfill our responsibilities.

3. Continuing now in verse 3, are some instructions given to the aged women.

a. The aged women are to be reverent in behavior. As before this means befitting actions, honorable, worthy of respect, and dignified.
b. The aged women are not to be slanderers, given to slander. That means not false accusers.
c. The aged women are not given to much wine. That just simply means being free from addiction.
d. The aged women are to be teachers of good things. They're teachers of what is right.

4. In verses 4 and 5, the aged women are responsible for teaching certain things to the young women. Though I suspect the primary reference of this was to mothers teaching their daughters in the home, there are situations where other young women need to be taught these things.

a. Significantly, the older men were not entrusted with the training of young married women; this is a function that pertained to the godly older women in the congregation. There are seven qualities to be instilled in the younger women; two are mentioned in verse 4 which the older women are responsible for communicating to younger women.
b. Older women are to teach the young women to love their husbands. That is, to be suitable companions and helpers.

I’ll digress here again for a moment. In Genesis 2:18 God made this statement concerning creation about the one thing that wasn't good. God said, “It is not good that man should be alone;” There was no companion for Adam. God continued, “I will make him a helper comparable to him”. Recall at the end of the days of creation, the statement was made, “And God saw that it was good” Then at the end of the creation, “… God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good” Genesis 1:31. What did that include? God made a suitable companion for Adam. Then everything was very good. There was only one thing that God made that wasn't good. It wasn't good for the man to be alone. But the Lord took care of that.

c. Returning to verse 4, the aged women are to teach the young women to love their children, that is, to care for their children. Love in the family requires thoughtfulness, and that takes effort. Paul recognized this, and the older could inspire the younger. Now verse 5.
d. The aged women are to teach the young women to be discreet. That is temperate, controlling the desires and the impulses.
e. The aged women are to teach the young women to be chaste. That's an old word that means to be pure and modest.
f. The aged women are to teach the young women to be homemakers, that is, able to take care of household affairs.
g. The aged women are to teach the young women to be good. The word good means upright and virtuous.
h. The aged women are to teach the young women to be obedient to their own husbands, this is fully in keeping with the New Testament teaching that the husband is the head of the family.
i. Finally the aged women are to teach the young women to follow these guidelines for a very special purpose, so that the word of God will not be blasphemed. If the older women were not successful in instilling these noble virtues in the younger women, Paul was sure that the word of God would "be blasphemed." So much depends on the women, in great part on the young women. Even today the world still judges Christianity by the character of the young women produced by the church.

CONCLUSION: First, instructions were given to the older men. Next instructions were given to the older women, who in turn, were responsible or are responsible for teaching certain things to the young women. Then starting at verse 6, “6. Likewise exhort the young men to be sober-minded, 7. in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, 8. sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.” Paul instructs Titus to in like manner “exhort”, encourage, the young men to be “sober-minded”; meaning of sound mind… sensible, discreet, wise… having control over the sensual desires, self-controlled, moderate, chaste, sober.

This reiterates instructions already given to others above; but here is the additional thought that Titus is to exemplify in himself the conduct, demeanor, and virtues to which he encourages others. Paul is talking of Titus’ teaching, and his conduct as well. Titus is to be “a pattern of good works”. Whether we like it or not the world is watching and listening to us. We can be a godly influence if our walk in newness of life is parallel to our profession of faith. The bottom line is that young men have to decide whether or not they're going to be sober-minded. But Titus, as the preacher of the gospel, was responsible for encouraging them.

Walking in newness of life is a privilege and responsibility for those who have been baptized into the Lord's death and raised with him. Thankfully, we have these guidelines in Titus 2, as well as many others that are given to us in the Bible that show us how to walk in newness of life. I believe that a good request for us to make is found in the Book of Psalms. Let's turn to Psalm 143:8. It might be good for us to begin each day with this particular request. “Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You.” That is a request made by someone serious about walking in newness of life. He realizes that he can't do it on his own, but with the Lord's help, he can, and he will. I notice he begins in the morning, that's the time to begin. The rest of the day will be headed in the right direction if we start right in the morning.

The lesson is yours. Perhaps there is someone in the assembly today with the need to be buried with Christ in baptism. If anyone has this need or desires the prayers of faithful Christians on their behalf, we encourage them to come forward while we stand and sing.

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Reference Sermon by: Raymond Sieg

Prior Preparation Prevents Poor Performance

2 Peter 3:10-18

In December 2018, all of the approximately 400 St. Paul firefighters trained for ice rescues.
The department’s firefighters usually respond to a couple of ice rescues each winter and practicing for them is important because, if someone is in the icy water, time is of the essence.

Less than two hours after St. Paul firefighters completed ice rescue training that month, they responded to a call that would put their practice into action. A cross-country skier fell through the ice on McCarrons Lake in Roseville… and St. Paul firefighters successfully got him to safety.

It was reported that, “The new firefighter who actually went in the water to lead the rescue, said the training that day was the first time he had been in the water
with the ice rescue suit doing those maneuvers.”

We sing a song that says…
1) “There’s a great day coming, a great day coming.
There’s a great day coming by and by.
When the saints and the sinners
will be parted right and left,
are you ready for that day to come?”

CHORUS: Are you ready? Are you ready?
Are you ready for that Judgment Day?

2) "There’s a bright day coming, a bright day coming.
There’s a bright day coming by and by.
But the brightness will be only for the ones that love the Lord. Are you ready for that Day to come?”
That’s a repeated question throughout Scripture: Are You Ready? In fact, one of the major teachings of Jesus was - you need to BE READY!

PRIOR PREPARATION PREVENTS POOR PERFORMANCE
This was the motto of the Perry Middle School Science Olympiad Team. P5

For example: Jesus told the story of ten virgins in Matthew 25:1-13, who were part of a wedding ceremony. Back then marriages were more elaborate than the ones we have today. Part of the ceremony required the bridegroom to parade through city by night and fetch his bride from her father’s house and then escorted her to the wedding party at his parent’s home.

Part of that wedding procession included the virgins Jesus spoke of (they were kind of like bridesmaids).

Jesus explained that, as these virgins were waiting for the bridegroom to arrive, 5 of them were very foolish – they had no EXTRA oil for their lamps. But the other five were wise because they’d brought along extra oil – just in case.

It was a good thing too, because the bridegroom was delayed, and by the time people shouted that he was coming the 5 foolish virgins were nearly out of oil for their lamps. They begged the other 5 virgins to give them some of their oil, but the wise virgins answered that there wouldn’t be enough for all of them – and that the 5 foolish girls would have to go get some for themselves.

While they were gone the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him to the marriage feast,and the door was shut.

Afterward the foolish virgins came and asked the bridegroom to let them in. “But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’

Jesus closed the parable with these words: Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

Again and again,
Jesus warned us ... BE READY!

In our text today, Peter tells us that very same message. In II Peter 3:10-11 He says: "The day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed."

Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be.

There are three kinds of givers –
the flint,
the sponge
and the honeycomb.
To get anything out of a flint you must hammer it. And then you get only chips and sparks.

To get water out of a sponge you must squeeze it, and the more you use pressure, the more you will get.

But the honeycomb just overflows with its own sweetness.
Which kind of giver are you?

We need to BE READY!
The day of the Lord will come ... like a thief. And when that happens, there will be no more time to prepare. If you’re NOT ready, that ship will have sailed, and there won’t be another one, ever!

ILLUS: Let’s say a very wealthy person approaches you and says that he wants to send you on a 2 week trip to someplace you’ve always wanted to go to –
all expenses paid. (Would you like that?).

There’s only one catch –
because of the paperwork in lining up the trip he can’t tell you exactly when you’ll be leaving. It’s gonna be in the next few months. AND when he calls you only have a few hours to get down to the Airport and catch your flight.

It is inconvenient... but you really want to go. So how are you gonna prepare for this trip? Well – you might have to clear things down at the office or factory, or wherever you have commitments.

You’ll have to get your passport.
You’ll have to get shots.
You’ll have to ask someone to take care of your pets and get your mail.
And then you’re going to pack (SUITCASE).
When are you going to start preparing for this free trip?

NOW!!!!

Not later, because you don’t know when you’ll have to leave and if you want to get on that plane you better prepare now!!!!  You realize – if you ain’t ready, you ain’t going.

And that’s what Peter is telling us. Prepare NOW!!! Because if you ain’t prepared, you ain’t going.

But, how do you prepare for this trip – this trip to heaven?  Well, you don’t have to get a passport or shots, and you don’t have to have anyone take care of your pets or get your mail.  And the suitcase isn’t going to do you any good (you’re not going to be able to take anything with you anyhow).

But Peter does tells us HOW we should prepare.

1st – he says (to be ready to go) we need to be holy and godly. Now, what does that mean?

Well, it’s not that hard. Holy means “set apart” and godly means you live for God.

If you put those 2 together, Peter’s telling us to set ourselves apart (from world) and to live for God. It’s that simple. At least... in principle it is.

You see, a lot of people struggle with that idea because they love the things of this world more than they love God.

One of the saddest statements in the Gospels in John 12:42-43 tells us that: “... many even of the authorities believed in (Jesus), but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.”

I’m going to ask you a few questions about this – do NOT raise your hand... just think about how you’d answer:

Are there times you don’t talk about God because you’re afraid you’ll offend someone?
Or you’re afraid they’ll make fun of you?
Or you’re afraid they won’t want to have you around?
Do you depend upon the approval of others... or the approval of God?

WHAT you depend upon says a lot about whether or not you want to be holy and godly ... OR if you want to blend in with everyone else.

ILLUS: I came across an article about the S. Pacific island of Tonga. Something severed the internet cable to the island. And the title of the article read “Tonga sent back to 'dark ages' after underwater Internet cable severed.”

It affected their e-mails, airline bookings, university enrollment, wiring of money and prevented businesses from processing credit and debit cards.

It has literally thrown that small country into chaos ... all because they depended upon that cable for their daily lives.

Here’s the deal... what do you depend upon for your daily life? Do you depend on the approval or others OR God? If it came down to a choice of whether you lost the approval of others OR... if you lost your approval of God... which would you choose?

Now, that may sound kind of harsh, but listen to these words of Jesus: “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 10:32-33

The Apostle John writes in 1 John 2:15: “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

That’s what it means to live a life of holiness and godliness. To be so much in love with God that it doesn’t matter what others think. You are going to set yourself apart for him!!!

So, 1st – to prepare yourself for Heaven... you need to set yourself apart from world and follow God.
2ndly, Peter tells us in II Peter 3:13-14, “according to God’s promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.”

We should STRIVE (or be diligent) to be found without spot or blemish!! Holiness and godliness speaks about WHO we’re committed to. We set ourselves apart to follow God.

BUT striving to be without spot or blemish is all about HOW we should behave as someone who follows God.

The spots and blemishes are the sins we commit. The things we SAY, DO, and THINK. We’re all going to mess up once in a while but we should never accept our sins as normal.

ILLUS: It’s like going out to eat somewhere. You’re wearing your Sunday best. Your shirt or blouse is white and (horrors) you spill something on your best white shirt/blouse. Have you ever done that?

What’s your first reaction? You’re angry... you’re upset.This is your Sunday best white shirt/blouse and now it is stained. The rest of the garment may still be pure and white but the stain stands out and it makes you feel awkward. It embarrasses you!!  So what do you do? Well, when you get home, you spray that stain with a stain remover and you wash it!

The stain is not normal. You don’t like it.  You don’t want it, and so you strive to remove that spot or blemish.

That’s the difference between those who are committed to Jesus and those who aren’t. Those who AREN’T committed to Jesus tend to ignore the spots and blemish of their lives.

They’re kind of like the guy you’ve eaten with who is wearing a shirt that you can tell what he’s eaten over the past few weeks by the stains that are still on his shirt.

He doesn’t care! He doesn’t even try to hide his stains.  But those who love Jesus aren’t satisfied with just allowing the lives to permanently be part of their lives.

They refuse to make excuses; they refuse to try and hide the sin. When they sin they want the spot removed from their souls. But what do we use for a “stain remover.”

Well, if you don’t belong to Christ, the first step is become a Christian – believe in Christ, repent of your sins, confess Jesus as God’s Only Son, and be buried in the waters of baptism rising up to become a new creation.
But if you’re already a Christian and you’ve sinned?  Well, you turn to I John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

God calls on us to CONFESS our sins, and He will be faithful to remove them for us.

ILLUS: Confession is what God has always asked His people to do - but it has always seemed to be the hardest thing He’s asked.  Do you remember the story of Adam and Eve?

They ate of the fruit God commanded them not to eat... and then God comes for a visit. Do you remember what Adam and Eve did? They hid!

God asked “Adam where are you?” And do remember what Adam replied? “I was hiding because I was naked.” That didn’t turn out to well for Adam and Eve.

When Cain killed his brother Abel God comes along and asks him “Where is your brother Abel?”  But Cain hides behind his comment “Am I my brother’s keeper.” That didn’t turn out to well for him either.

All God asks is that we “fess up” and admit we’ve fallen short... then He removes the stain and we start all over again with a new “shirt.”

So 1st – (in order to prepare ourselves for our trip to Heaven) we need to set ourselves apart from this world to follow God.

And 2nd – we strive to remove the stains of sin from our lives.

Lastly, Peter warns us to be careful not to lose our “STABILITY.” “There are some things in (Paul’s writings) that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable TWIST TO THEIR OWN DESTRUCTION, as they do the other Scriptures." "You, therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of LAWLESS people and lose your own stability.” II Peter 3:16-17

You would think that if somebody quotes the Bible you could trust them. But that’s not always true. Peter WARNS us here that there are people out there who will warp and twist the Bible so it says what THEY want it to say.

Sometimes these folks have Ph.D.s and are respected scholars. You see, there are very religious people out there who are LAWLESS.
When the Bible disagrees with them, they warp and twist it. But notice what Peter says about them: They “twist (the Bible) to their own destruction.”

Now, that’s scary. These folks (and the people who listen to them) aren’t gonna BE READY when Jesus comes back. And if they ain’t ready – they ain’t going.
Why would God be so angry with these people?

Because it’s ONLY in the Bible that we learn about righteousness. And about God’s will for our lives. And about Jesus and WHO He is and WHAT He’s done for us. When these folks undermine God’s Word they work at weakening our faith and our confidence. Don’t let them do that! Because you don’t want to go where they’re gonna go.

CLOSE: The story is told of a man who rushed into a railroad train station one morning and, almost breathlessly, asked the ticket agent: "When does the 8:01 train leave?" "At 8:01," was the answer.

"Well," the man replied, "it is 7:59 by my watch, 7:57 by the town clock, and 8:04 by the station clock. Which am I to go by?"

"You can go by any clock you wish, but you cannot go by the 8:01 train – it’s already left.”

Be ready! Because if you’re not ready, you’re not going.

That’s why the Bible stresses the immediacy of making your decision to follow Christ. As it says in II Corinthians 6:2:
"Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation"

INVITATION

Based on a sermon given
by Jeff Strite

Spiritual Freedom

John 8:30-59

INTRO: Good morning church. To introduce our lesson this morning I want to read from the gospel of John chapter 8. We will begin reading at verse 30 and read through the end of the chapter.

30. As He spoke these words, many believed in Him. 31. Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.'' 33. They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, `You will be made free'?'' 34. Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35. "And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36. "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. 37. "I know that you are Abraham's descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. 38. "I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father.'' 39. They answered and said to Him, "Abraham is our father.'' Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham. 40. "But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. 41. "You do the deeds of your father.'' Then they said to Him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father God.'' 42. Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. 43. "Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. 44. "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. 45. "But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. 46. "Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? 47. "He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.'' 48. Then the Jews answered and said to Him, "Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?'' 49. Jesus answered, "I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. 50. "And I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks and judges. 51. "Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.'' 52. Then the Jews said to Him, "Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, `If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.' 53. "Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Whom do You make Yourself out to be?'' 54. Jesus answered, "If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God. 55. "Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, `I do not know Him,' I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word. 56. "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.'' 57. Then the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?'' 58. Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.'' 59. Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. [NKJV]

Scripture teaches us that we need to learn the Lord’s statutes and judgments. Indeed we have to learn them before we can obey them. The Bible also teaches us that to please the Lord we must comply with His will. We need to learn the Lord’s statutes and judgments and then we are to put them into practice.

Today we are going to look at the Lord’s statutes and judgments that relate to a specific subject, spiritual freedom.

We cherish our freedom as Americans. We hope that it’s never taken away from us.
I have some concerns along those lines and I’m sure that you do too. Nevertheless, we do appreciate the great freedoms that the Lord has blessed us with in this country. Many people in the world do not enjoy the freedoms that we have.

There is a type of freedom that is more special than even the kind of freedom that we enjoy in this country—that’s spiritual freedom. As special as civil freedom is, spiritual freedom is much more special. In our lesson, we want to make four observations about spiritual freedom from those verses we read just a moment ago.

In John chapter 8, Jesus had been teaching in the temple. He revealed some very important information concerning His identity. He called upon people to believe on Him. Many did believe on Him according to verse 30. Jesus went on to say some important things to people who believed on Him that related to their spiritual freedom.

As we examine what happened to Him on that occasion, we’re able to learn several statutes and judgments from the Bible that relate to spiritual freedom. I know that we’re aware of these things, but they are so important that we should remind ourselves of them from time to time. Also, we have the responsibility to share these things with others. These are very important principles.

I. First – THE CAUSE. Let’s first look at verse 34. In this verse, Jesus revealed the cause of spiritual bondage. If we’re going to talk about spiritual freedom, we need to be aware of spiritual bondage.

A. Jesus revealed the cause of spiritual bondage, it is sin. Let’s read it again. John 8:34 “Jesus answered them, Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.” When we talk about someone being a servant or slave we are talking about bondage. Jesus was talking about being in bondage to sin. Whoever is the servant of sin is the one who practices sin. Sin causes spiritual bondage.

1. What is sin? The Bible reveals to us exactly what sin is. In 1st John 3:4, we find, “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.” God has revealed His law to us. When we disobey or transgress God’s law that is sin.
2. You don’t go very far into the Bible until you see that being illustrated. God revealed His law to Adam and Eve. They were allowed to eat the fruit of any tree in the garden except for one. They were informed that when they ate that fruit they would die. (Genesis 2:17)
3. I’d like to make this observation. It certainly appears that God made Adam and Eve with the ability to live forever. He also gave them a law. They were required to keep that law. When they transgressed that law (that’s what sin is.) there would be a strong penalty for their disobedience.
4. You know the story. The serpent came to Eve and tempted her. She ate the fruit and gave some to Adam. He ate it as well. At that point, sin entered the world and so did death. Think about all the things that have to be suffered because of what happened way back then.

a. Thinking about the Garden of Eden, I can imagine the joy that Adam and Eve had as a result of living in that beautiful place.
b. Then they lost it. Sin caused them to be expelled from the garden, and they lost access to the Tree of Life. It’s sin that caused this loss.

B. Sin is serious business. Some people want to wink at it or act like it’s not very important or very serious. Sin is very serious. We know what it is. It is a transgression of God’s law, and it results in spiritual bondage.

1. We learn from the Bible that sin is a widespread problem. “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
2. We learn from Romans 6:23 that there’s a harsh penalty for sin. “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ.”
3. We know what sin is. We know that it causes bondage. It’s the transgression of God’s law. It’s a widespread problem and there’s a harsh penalty for sin.

II. Second – THE SOURCE. That brings us to verse 36. This is the second observation that we need to make. This one is a lot more pleasant. In verse 36 Jesus identified Himself as the source of spiritual freedom.

A. I think it’s interesting that when Adam and Eve transgressed the will of God, God punished everyone involved. This is in Genesis 3. He began by punishing the serpent, then He punished Eve, and then He punished Adam.

1. As He punished the serpent though, God made a promise concerning the seed of the woman that would come at a later time. There would be a great conflict between the serpent and the seed of the woman. In that conflict the seed of the woman would have his heel bruised—that is he would suffer a temporary wound—but he would crush the head of the serpent. That’s a clear reference to the conflict between Jesus and the devil.
2. Jesus suffered a temporary wound. He was killed. He died on the cross and shed His precious blood so we could have the forgiveness of sins. When Jesus arose from the grave He overcame the power of the devil—death. (Hebrews 2:14). Jesus identified Himself as the source of spiritual freedom. Way back in the Garden of Eden God made that promise that Jesus would come at a later time and make it possible for man to live forever.
3. Will that eternal life be here on the earth? No. It’s going to be in a much better place. Let’s notice something that Jesus said earlier though in John 8:12 as He was teaching. “Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.''” Jesus identified Himself as the light of the world. I want you to notice what He gives to His followers. He gives the light of life to His followers.

B. Jesus identified Himself as the source of spiritual freedom. There aren’t many sources. There’s only one. “No man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” John 14:6. Jesus identified Himself as the only way to the Father.

1. We observed first in John 8 that the cause of spiritual bondage is sin. Then on a more positive note, Jesus is the source of spiritual freedom.
2. Let’s make another observation as we look carefully at these verses from John 8. We see that Jesus revealed His conditions for receiving the freedom that He provides.

III. Third – THE CONDITIONS. Look at verses 31 and 32 again. “31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” To have the Lord make us free from the bondage of sin, we have some responsibilities to fulfill.

A. Jesus said we must continue or abide in His word. We can’t go to any other source and receive spiritual freedom. Jesus, as we read, identified Himself as the source of spiritual freedom.

1. How do we know about what that means? We have to go to His word.
2. Jesus said we must abide in His word to know the truth. Why is it so important to know the truth? Jesus said it is the truth that will make you free, free from the bondage of sin.
3. Jesus says, to receive the freedom that He provides, we must continue or abide in His word.

B. Let’s look at some additional passages that go along with complying with the conditions that relate to receiving spiritual freedom.

1. Let’s look at Romans 6:17-18. This was written to the church in Rome, people who had been in bondage to sin, but now had become Christians. Notice what was required of these people to continue or abide in the Lord’s words so that they could be made spiritually free. “But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.”

a. At one time they had been in bondage to sin, but something had occurred. They had been set free.
b. What were they required to do to receive the freedom that the Lord provides? They had obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine, that form of doctrine that was delivered to them.
c. What was the doctrine that had been delivered to these people in Rome?

2. Let’s look earlier in Romans 6:3-7 “3. Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4. Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6. knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7. For he who has died has been freed from sin.”
3. Verses 17 and 18 make the point that we are made free from sin when we obey from the heart the form of doctrine or teaching delivered unto us.
4. That doctrine is a reference to the gospel of Christ. What are the primary facts of the gospel?

a. According to 1st Corinthians 15:1-4 the primary facts of the gospel are that Jesus died for our sins according to the scriptures, He was buried and arose on the third day according to the scriptures. Those are the primary facts of the gospel—the death, the burial, and the resurrection of Christ.
b. That was the doctrine that was delivered to the people in Rome. How did they obey from the heart that form of doctrine that was delivered to them? They were baptized into the Lord’s death, and they were raised with the Lord to walk in the newness of life.

5. We read in the gospel accounts about the Lord’s resurrection. Matthew 28:1 tells us “Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.”

a. Remember, the Jewish people had completely different burial customs than we have today. They did not practice embalming. The body was usually buried on the day that death occurred. The Jews would then go through a period of mourning.
b. Jesus died on the cross. He was buried in a tomb nearby. Joseph of Arimathea was the one who asked Pilot to be able to care for the body of Christ. He was joined by a man named Nicodemus.
c. Jesus was crucified on Friday. The Sabbath was fast approaching and the Passover was about to be observed. That was a very special day for the Jewish people.
d. A tomb owned by Joseph was nearby and he buried the Lord’s body in his tomb.

6. Jesus died. All four gospel writers tell us Jesus gave up the ghost. That is He physically died. Then the Lord was buried. He rested in the tomb over the Sabbath day. Isn’t that appropriate? The Sabbath was a day of rest for the Jewish people. Jesus kept the law even while He was in the tomb.

a. Then on the first day of the week, He arose from the grave. Mary went to provide care for the Lord’s body. When she got there the tomb was empty.
b. She went to tell the disciples. Peter and John took off running to the tomb. Peter went in and saw that the tomb was empty, but the grave clothes were there. They went back and told the other disciples what they had found.
c. In the meantime, the Lord appeared to Mary. She did not recognize Him at first, but when He spoke to her and called her by name she said, “Master”. Then she went and told the others that the Lord had been raised from the grave.

C. The Lord gives us requirements for receiving the freedom that He provides. He said that we must continue in His word. We read about some people in Romans 6:17-18 who continued in His word. They complied with the form of doctrine that was delivered to them—the gospel. They were baptized into the Lord, and they were raised with Him. It was then they were able to walk in the newness of life. The Bible says (spiritually speaking), “he that is dead is free from sin”. We have to die from sin to be able to live for Christ.

IV. Fourth – THOSE WHO REJECT. Let’s make a fourth observation from these verses in John 8. Those who reject the Lord’s conditions will remain in bondage.

A. The Lord talked to these people, and John says that they believe on Him. Jesus told them they needed to comply with His will… and abide in His word.

1. Jesus said by doing so they would be made free. What did that imply? He said, “…will make you free.” That implied that in their present state, they were not free.
2. These were people who believed on the Lord but we see there are some additional requirements.

B. How did these people respond to what Jesus said? In John 8:33 “They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, `You will be made free'?''” They denied that they had ever been in bondage to any man! That’s interesting.

1. We know about the history of the Israelites, they had been slaves down in Egypt. They had been under the authority of the people known as the Assyrians. They had been taken captive by the Babylonians. As the Lord was fulfilling His ministry the Romans had control of Palestine.
2. Yet, what did these people say when Jesus gave His requirements for being made free? “We’ve never been in bondage to any man.” It’s hard to believe they would make a statement like that.
3. Though, we do find people who deny things all the time. That seems to be even more popular today. It’s a serious matter when it comes to spiritual matters. Denying bondage doesn’t accomplish anything.
4. We understand that if a person has a difficulty, the first step is admitting it. We say, put your cards out on the table. Admit it, own it, and then take responsibility for it. Then you are on the road to making improvements.

C. When Jesus said you’ve got to continue in my words to be made free, these people responded by saying, “We have never been in bondage to anyone.”

1. What were they doing? They were rejecting the Lord’s requirements for spiritual freedom. The One that could bless them with that very special freedom was right there in their midst.
2. I wonder about the many people who had seen the Lord’s miracles. Jesus wasn’t bashful about the miracles that He performed. They were witnessed by many people. By performing the miracles that He did, He proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that He truly is the Son of God. These people rejected His word. They just denied ever being in bondage.
3. Furthermore, I want you to notice something else they did. They trusted in their relationship with Abraham according to verse 39. “They answered and said to Him, "Abraham is our father.''”
4. Jesus had already said as He was speaking to them, “I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father.'” But he was not speaking of Abraham.
5. Their response was, “We’re Abraham’s descendants.” Did that make them free? No. They had to comply with the Lord’s word. They didn’t want to do that. Abraham complied with God’s word though.

a. I find it interesting that they mentioned their relationship with Abraham before they mention the fact that God was their father in verse 41.
b. There are some very special promises made to Abraham and his descendants, but they overlooked one… through Abraham all nations of the earth would be blessed.

D. As Jesus gave His requirements for receiving spiritual freedom, the people whom He was speaking to denied ever being in bondage. Then they indicated they trusted in their relationship with Abraham to make them free. When the Lord answered their statements, look at what they did.

1. They attacked the Lord. In verse 48: “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?” We may not get the full impact of that, but that was an insult, and they intended for it to be. Recall the animosity between the Jewish people and the Samaritans. Here they are referring to Jesus as a Samaritan, and even going so far as to say He had a demon.
2. If that weren’t so serious, it would be humorous. Jesus demonstrated His power over demons on many occasions. By the way, the demons recognize Jesus. They said, “I know who You are the Holy One of God!” as recorded in Mark and Luke. These Jewish people, who were made in the image of God, did not recognize Jesus.
3. Look at verse 51: Jesus says, “Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.” Next verse 52 “Then the Jews said to Him, "Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, `If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.'”
4. After Jesus answered them we find in verse 59 “Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.”

E. Why did these people react as they did to the Lord? Jesus revealed their problem in verse 37 where He said, “… My word has no place in you.”

1. Jesus told them that to be spiritually free they would have to continue or abide in His word, and they turned on Him. They argued with Him, and they went so far as to attack Him.
2. People do make mistakes, but they will account for what they did. We need to learn from their mistakes.

CONCLUSION: Jesus said in John 6:63, “…The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” We need to accept it for what it is, and not react as these people did. Rejecting the Lord and His word is a very serious offense. In John 12:48 Jesus said, “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.”

The good news is that Christ provides spiritual freedom to those who submit to His will.
Let’s turn to John 1:12-13 for just a moment and consider the good news that is revealed. In verse 11 it says: “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.” I still marvel that God’s people, the chosen people, who should have been the first to know and hail the Lord’s coming, did not welcome Him.

Now at verse 12, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” Here John, having recorded the unbelief of the chosen people (in major part, that is), next turned to a consideration of those who had received Him. The good news is that the Lord provides spiritual freedom to those who submit to His will.

We are so thankful for the freedom in our country today, and we pray that we will always have it, but let’s be more mindful of the fact that Jesus provides spiritual freedom. You can’t go to any other source to receive it. This freedom gives us liberty from sin.

When we obey the gospel we’re able to walk in newness of life. Old things are passed away and all things become new. We’re given a clean slate. We don’t have to worry about things from the past anymore. The Lord’s precious blood makes that possible.

The Lord calls upon us to live to a higher standard, to turn from the things of the past, and to leave them in the past, and not to go back to them.

Those who comply with the Lord’s word have something very special to look forward to—an eternal home in heaven.
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We learn from the New Testament how to be saved. We need to hear the word; believe in Jesus; repent of our sins; confess our belief that Jesus is the Son of God; and be baptized for the remission of our sins… If we follow these steps, the Lord adds us to His church.

Perhaps there is someone in the assembly today with the need to be buried with Christ in baptism. If anyone has this need or desires the prayers of faithful Christians on their behalf, we encourage them to come forward while we stand and sing.

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Reference Sermon by: Raymond Sieg

When the Cat is Away

Judges

INTRO:
Good morning. Rob in teaching Wednesday evening bible class was giving us a picture of some of the Judges from the Old Testament. I thought just for a partial break in the sermons linked to Romans today we would take a high level view of the book of Judges.

I'm pretty certain those who are familiar with Judges may not be so excited about this because it is a dark, dismal, depressing book but I will try my best to bring out something more about it as we go along. We’re not going to look at it verse by verse because that means we would be here for about the next 20 years at least. But what we're going to do is look a little at Judges one and two tonight and an overall pattern. Just to give you a theme of what happened in the book.

The Book of Judges is made up of poetry and riddles, but mainly narrative history. Its author is anonymous but it’s usually assumed that Samuel, the prophet wrote it around 1086-1004 B.C. The book’s purposes are to teach that God is faithful, that He will bless His people but if His people turn their backs on Him, then they're going to be punished for their sin of not remaining loyal and faithful.

Let me give a small outline of the book.
In Judges 1:1 - Judges 3:6, you find that Israel has failed to keep their part of the Covenant and they did not entirely conquer and take control of all of the land that was promised to them. They were warned what would happen in Numbers 33:55-56 – “55. 'But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall be that those whom you let remain shall be irritants in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall harass you in the land where you dwell. 56. 'Moreover it shall be that I will do to you as I thought to do to them.' ” This problem unfortunately grows way out of control at times.

In Judges 3:7 - Judges 16, you see God raising up judges to rescue Israel several times. This starts a vicious cycle, where the Israelites sin, then God rescues them, they worship God for a while and sin starts all over again and so forth. You will see that these rescues were temporary because we find that the nation’s obedience only lasted as long as the life of that particular judge.

In Judges 17-21, you see Israel sinking into a horrid state of moral demise and ruin. It’s mainly in the tribes of Dan and Benjamin that we see just how far man has really turned from the God of Abraham. The tribe of Dan had almost completely given in to the worship of idols, even to the point that they practically defend it.

We will see later, that the entire tribe of Benjamin is almost wiped out down to 600 men in a violent and vicious civil war. It’s during this time we find these sad words in Judges 21:25 “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.”
That’s a sad picture.

Q: How many politicians does it take to change a light bulb?
A: Two: one to change it and another one to change it back again.

It is getting more difficult to find a joke that will not offend someone or some group. As far as I know politicians are not yet a protected class. Humor is one place where we see concern about political correctness but it is also a concern in normal speech where we might be trying to teach. We live in times of political correctness where people are afraid to say anything against anyone else or what they are doing because they might be sued. We are afraid someone will think we are being judgmental. While there is good that comes from telling people not to use hurtful speech, unfortunately political correctness can also be used to hide or suppress the truth because people don't like to be told that what they're doing is wrong. I can think of no better way to hide evil then to tuck it in with something that can be seen as good.

Yet, God has spoken. His rules are clear. He didn't give Israel the “ten alternatives”, He gave Israel the Ten Commandments. It is important for us today that we know both the blessings of being obedient and the consequences of being disobedient in life.

As we look at this sad book we're going to see the consequences of a people who refused to be obedient to God. This really, truly is the most evil and darkest time in the history of Israel as a nation.

I. A Dark and Evil Time: Moses has died and God appointed Joshua to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. Although Joshua succeeded in entering the land, he failed to bring them rest. As we will see later when Joshua dies, everything quickly went downhill fast. The judges of the Old Testament arose during a period of internal anarchy and external conflict, covering the time between the death of Joshua and the anointing of King Saul.

A. Let’s look in Judges 2:16-17 it says; “16. Then the Lord raised up judges who delivered them out of the hand of those who plundered them. 17. Yet they would not listen to their judges, but they played the harlot with other gods, and bowed down to them. They turned quickly from the way in which their fathers walked, in obeying the commandments of the Lord; they did not do so.” What a sad verse that is, isn’t it?
B. This was a time of disaster on a colossal scale for Israel. We all know that God’s people were led to Canaan to conquer the land, but instead they became infected with the idolatry of Canaan. They were to make no treaties with the inhabitants, and they were not to marry any foreigners, but it got to the point where you didn't know who was an Israelites or who was a Canaanite. They were so much mixed together you couldn’t tell difference between the two.
C. They were happy to settle among the Canaanites, to the point where you didn’t know who the Israelites were and who the Canaanites were. Instead of them driving out the Canaanites, they became like them and practiced what they practiced.

II. Like them: Right from the very first few verses in the book of Judges we can see Israel departed from God and totally take on the practices of the Canaanites. Judges 1:6 – “Then Adoni-Bezek fled, and they pursued him and caught him and cut off his thumbs and big toes.” Adoni-Bezek was one of the Kings in the area. They chased him and caught him. What did they do? They cut off his thumbs and his big toes. That’s graphic, isn’t it? When you read Judges you will find a lot is graphic.

A. What was Israel supposed to do? They were supposed to kill off the Canaanites and supposed to get rid of them all. But what did they do? They mutilated a captured king, which was the very practice of the Canaanites. Right away we see that they have taken on and are practicing what the Canaanites are doing.

1. Look at Judges 1:28 – “And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites under tribute, but did not completely drive them out.”
2. What were they supposed to do? They were supposed to drive out all of the Canaanites from the land of Canaan. That’s what we read in Deuteronomy 7:1-5, if you remember but what did they do? The Israelites kept them and forced the Canaanites to work for them.

B. It is easy to allow the world around us to influence us. That’s why Paul says in Romans 12:1-2 – “1. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

1. The world is trying to conform us to its standards. The world tries to conform us to its ways. Paul says we need to be on guard against that.
2. God doesn't want us to think like the world thinks He doesn't want us to compromise with the world and go along with the world’s ways.
3. We sing the hymn, ‘This world is not my home’, but there are times when we actually get far too comfortable in the world we live in. We make it home. God has a higher calling for us and we will have to answer to a higher authority.

C. Israel was happy to compromise with the world around them during this time. That compromise with the Canaanites led them into idolatry, inter-marriage, and eventually to having no rules. As we Judges 17:6 – “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Anarchy. What a sad picture this is of God’s chosen people.

1. Of course we think, we don’t fall down and worship idols today. Think about that carefully. The old gods are still with us today, they’ve simply updated their appearance, and they’ve accommodated themselves to modern times. They still claim to provide meaning to life and they still promise to provide for our personal desires. They still demand wholehearted commitment from their worshippers.
2. If that is true who are these idols? What are they called? They are called, materialism, comfort, power, and immorality. The outcome of Israel’s compromise was the shocking reality that their real enemy became God Himself. He ensured that when they went out to battle, the outcome was defeat.

III. His grace: God who is rich in mercy, in His grace, raised up leaders to bring Israel back in line. The judges were deliverers, and they were charged with restoring the peace. They were spiritual as well as political leaders. There are twelve judges listed. We are given a lot of information about some of them, while other judges are simply just mentioned. As you go through this sad, almost depressing book, you will see that everything rises and falls on leadership.

A. We will also see that God uses weak, imperfect people to accomplish His work, and He uses the most unlikely of leaders, to demonstrate His grace and power. For Israel during the period of the Judges it was a time of war.
B. As we mentioned earlier, the Jewish nation was charged with driving out the Canaanites. I wonder though, why would God send them to a land that was already occupied? Why didn’t He send them to a place where no-one lived so they could settle there and not have any influence around them? After all they had spent forty years of hardship in the wilderness and now they were going to have to deal with internal and external conflict.

1. In answer to my wondering I find in Judges 3:1-4 – “1. Now these are the nations which the Lord left, that He might test Israel by them, that is, all who had not known any of the wars in Canaan 2. (this was only so that the generations of the children of Israel might be taught to know war, at least those who had not formerly known it), 3. namely, five lords of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who dwelt in Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal Hermon to the entrance of Hamath. 4. And they were left, that He might test Israel by them, to know whether they would obey the commandments of the Lord, which He had commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.”
2. God led them to Canaan to test them. He wanted to see if they would be obedient to Him. His people are to trust Him, to trust in His mighty power, to trust that He would help them take hold of the Promised Land. They needed to remember that they were holy, the chosen and His treasured possession.
3. In Deuteronomy 7:6 – “For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.” He wanted them to remember who they were as a people, and they needed to know just how holy they were to be.

C. Remember we are now dealing with a new generation of Israelites from those who wandered in the desert. Judges 2:10 says; “When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done for Israel.” There are times when we chat to our kids about music, and we might mention a group called the Rolling Stones, the Beach Boys or the Eagles. Chances are they will just look at you with blank expressions. If you talk to them about Winston Churchill or Abraham Lincoln again they may look at you as if to say, ‘who are they!’ That’s because they are of a different generation and they haven’t listened to any of what they now call ‘old music’. They know little about Churchill or Lincoln because they haven’t been taught about them.

1. If we don’t talk to our children about the past, then they can’t learn anything from it. If we don’t talk to our kids about the Bible, they won’t learn anything about God.
2. We know that parents are to bring up their children properly, and children are expected to respond wisely to parental training. This next generation of Israelites was held responsible for their own spiritual failings. The text says that they didn’t ‘know’ God, that doesn’t mean they weren’t aware of God, it means, they did not regard or acknowledge God as their Lord.
3. Things haven’t changed much today, have they? Most people of the world are aware of the God of the Bible but they refuse to have any regard for Him or acknowledge Him as their God.
4. An atheist said, ‘If there is a God, may he prove himself by striking me dead right now.’ Nothing happened. ‘You see, there is no God.’ A Christian replied and said, ‘You’ve only proved that He is a gracious God.’

D. As you go through this book you will see that Israel is almost acting like children in a classroom. You know, when the teachers leaves the room for a while, you can almost guarantee that the kids will get up to all sorts of mischief. When the cat’s away, the mice will play as the saying goes. In effect the Israelites were still immature in their thinking of God. Their view was incomplete about the power of God and all that had been and would be done for them.

1. That’s what it was like in the time of the judges, when they appeared, everyone went back to their best behavior but as soon as a judge dies, the children of Israel got involved in all kinds of sinful practices. Any whim that struck their fancy drew them off.
2. Judges 1:1-2 begins by telling us; “1. Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass that the children of Israel asked the Lord, saying, "Who shall be first to go up for us against the Canaanites to fight against them?'' 2. And the Lord said, "Judah shall go up. Indeed I have delivered the land into his hand.”
3. Judges 2:1-4 then goes on to tell us; “1. Then the Angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said: "I led you up from Egypt and brought you to the land of which I swore to your fathers; and I said, 'I will never break My covenant with you. 2. 'And you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall tear down their altars.' But you have not obeyed My voice. Why have you done this? 3. "Therefore I also said, 'I will not drive them out before you; but they shall be thorns in your side, and their gods shall be a snare to you.' '' 4. And so it was, when the Angel of the Lord spoke these words to all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice and wept.”
4. Next Judges 2:16 tells us; “Then the Lord raised up judges who delivered them out of the hand of those who plundered them.” It seems that whenever we are left to ourselves, you can almost guarantee that it won’t be long before we find ourselves in deep trouble. God had delivered them from their terrible slavery in Egypt and He had led them through the wilderness giving them blessing after blessing.
5. They were His favored people, they were the chosen ones. He led them, He fed them and He protected them and eventually, He led them into the land of Canaan, which was their Promised Land. It was a land flowing with milk and honey, and it was given to them not because they were so great but because God had promised this land to their ancestors.

E. Just before Moses dies, God said to him in Deuteronomy 34:4 – “This is the land of which I swore to give Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, 'I will give it to your descendants.' I have caused you to see it with your eyes, but you shall not cross over there.” All they had to do was enter the land, destroy the people who were living there and take up residence. He was their God, their redeemer, He gave them law but Israel failed to stay faithful to God and His laws.

1. It got the point where God had to judge the very people He loved so much. Make no mistake about it, God will judge. Think about it, when Israel entered Canaan, the sky was the limit. God had promised them the land and all they had to do was claim it by faith.
2. Notice how they started, they were blessed with God’s foresight, Judges 1:2 says; “Judah shall go up. Indeed I have delivered the land into his hand.” This is said in future tense. God says He has already given them the land even though the Israelites haven’t done a thing yet. In other words, God was going before them, preparing the way for certain victory. There was no way they could lose as long as God was behind them, ahead of them, above them and all around them.

IV. His Blessings: As Christian today, we have the same promise, that’s why the apostle Paul can confidently say in Romans 8:31 “If God is for us, who can be against us?” They were blessed with God’s protection.

A. Judges 1:19 tells us that; “So the Lord was with Judah. And they drove out the inhabitants of the mountains...” This shows us that God was actively involved in helping Israel conquer the land of Canaan. He not only prepared the way, He also protected them along the way. They also had the blessing of God’s power, Judges 1:4 – “Then Judah went up, and the Lord delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand; and they killed ten thousand men at Bezek.” This tells us who the real power on the battlefield was, it was God. He is the God of all power.
B. Again, we too as Christians have that same power available today and at work within us. Ephesians 3:20 – “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,”

1. What other blessing did they have? They had the blessing of God’s promises, beginning with Abraham in Genesis 12:1, God had been promising to give the nation of Israel a homeland. You might say they were blessed beyond their wildest dreams.
2. As we’ve already seen all those blessings were quickly going to be removed from them by God Himself. This new generation of Israelites forgot their heritage and denied the very God who made them what they were. Slowly but surely they went down the compromising route. The conformed.
3. God warned them before they entered the land back in Numbers 33:51-54, that they must destroy the people of Canaan but they also had another warning. Numbers 33:55-56 – “55. 'But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall be that those whom you let remain shall be irritants in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall harass you in the land where you dwell. 56. 'Moreover it shall be that I will do to you as I thought to do to them.” Sadly as you read the book of Judges you will find this was to become a harsh reality for Israel.

V. Their failure: Look at the second half of Judges 1:19 – “... but they could not drive out the inhabitants of the lowland, because they had chariots of iron.” After some success, Judah ended up facing Canaanites which they feared because of the Canaanites power and because of that fear they didn’t drive them out of the land.

A. Judges 1:27-31 – “27. However, Manasseh did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth Shean and its villages, or Taanach and its villages, or the inhabitants of Dor and its villages, or the inhabitants of Ibleam and its villages, or the inhabitants of Megiddo and its villages; for the Canaanites were determined to dwell in that land. 28. And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites under tribute, but did not completely drive them out. 29. Nor did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites who dwelt in Gezer; so the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them. 30. Nor did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron or the inhabitants of Nahalol; so the Canaanites dwelt among them, and were put under tribute. 31. Nor did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Acco or the inhabitants of Sidon, or of Ahlab, Achzib, Helbah, Aphik, or Rehob.”

1. Here the text tells us that there were some Canaanites they didn’t fear and Israel forced them to work for them but again they didn’t drive them out of the land.
2. Judges 1:32-33 – “32. So the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land; for they did not drive them out. 33. Nor did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh or the inhabitants of Beth Anath; but they dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land. Nevertheless the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh and Beth Anath were put under tribute to them.” These verses tell us that they didn’t fear these people, but they were quite happy to live alongside them, but again they didn’t drive them out of the land.

B. Folks, isn’t there a danger of history repeating itself with God’s children today? There are some people in the world that we fear and we don’t want to be around. There are other people we don’t mind being around and yet there are others we actually like spending a lot of time with. We spend so much time surrounded by sin that sometimes we become desensitized to it.

1. I enjoy watching action adventure films and SciFi films and I did not realize just how desensitized I had become to some of the content. The amount of inappropriate language and off-color situations in films is unbelievable. I mean I just sit down and watch it, but the full import of what I was seeing dawned on me slowly. I thought I was seeing just the story but when I looked at a second viewing, I started to notice all the other things going on, I was shocked.
2. Instead of maintaining our spiritual purity as Christians, we begin to be desensitized, get comfortable with, and then adopt the ways of the world. There are times when we talk like them, we walk like them, we do what they do, go where they go, watch what they watch, like what they like, drink what they drink. If we’re not careful we will become like Israel during the time of the judges.
3. We can very easily adopt the attitude that this sin or that sin isn’t all that bad anymore. We can very easily allow the walls of separation that existed between the church and the world to erode to the point where it’s hard to tell the difference between the two.

C. I am reminded of Proverbs 6:27 – “Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned?” In other words, do we really believe that we can play around with sin without getting burnt? Do we really believe that God is going to allow His people to sin without being punished?

1. Because of their sin, Israel faced the Lord’s judgment and as you will see as you read the Old Testament they were going to have to endure a divine sentence from God Himself.
2. I know this is a tough message to listen to but it’s not all doom and gloom.

CONCLUSION:
God’s Love: Turn your Bibles to Judges 2:16 I’m going to read from the KJV. “Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them.”
Isn’t that amazing? In spite of their failures, God still sent them men to lead them and to guide them. As you see, sometimes God’s people listened, and sometimes they didn’t. Despite all their sin and their hard heartedness God still loves them and God is patient with them, giving them every chance to set things right.

Oh how we need to hear more of that kind of message today, don’t we? If only we can be as loving and patient with each other as we expect God to be with us.

We say, ‘God I’ve let You and myself down so many times this week and I’m so sorry.’ God says, ‘I know you have, nevertheless, I still love you.’

We say, ‘God I’m really struggling with sin in my life, I’m so sorry, please forgive me’, help me, give me strength. God says, ‘I know you are, nevertheless, I’m being patient with you and if you repent, I will forgive you.’

Perhaps you’re not a Christian this evening and you’re thinking, ‘I’ve done way too many bad things in my life for God to have any interest in me’. God says, ‘I know you have, nevertheless, I love you so much, I sent my Son to die for you anyway.’

You might be thinking, ‘I believe in you God but I’m not certain I can handle being a Christian yet, I have too many things going on.’ God says, ‘I know you have and I understand, nevertheless, your time may be shorter then you think and while you tarry I’m being patient with you, but time will run out’

Folks, although the Book of Judges is a record of Israel’s very dark history, which can be very challenging to read and apply today there are things we can learn. We can see there are blessings for being obedient to God. We can see that there are consequences to be paid when we are disobedient to God, but if you take the time to read very carefully in-between the lines, you will see the love and grace of God like you’ve never seen it before.

There may be somebody here this morning who is not a member of the body of Christ.
You could believe in your heart Jesus Christ the Son of God and you are willing to openly confess your faith and repent of your sins - we will be glad to assist you and baptize you into the body of Christ. If you're a child of God and you've given into the pressure and as a consequence of giving into the pressure you’ve gotten into sin. Our God is gracious, God is merciful. He will forgive you and take the sin from you.
We will assist you. We will pray for you, will pray with you, will do the very best we can to try to encourage you. If you are subject to the Gospel call in any way let it be made known while we stand and sing.

Invitation song: ???

Reference sermon by: Mike Glover

Evil Communications Corrupt Good Morals

1st Corinthians 15:33

INTRO: Good morning church. I am going to start this morning with an off-color story. Please bear with me.

After years of his wife's pleading, this good ol’ boy who was very wealthy, finally goes with her to Church on Sunday morning. He was so moved by the preacher's sermon that on the way out he stopped to shake his hand. He said, "Preacher, that was the best <expletive deleted> sermon I ever did hear!" The preacher replied, "Oh!! Why, thank you sir, but please, I'd appreciate it if you didn't use profanity." The man said, "I'm sorry Preacher, but I can't help myself, it was such a <expletive deleted> good sermon!" The preacher said, "Sir, PLEASE, I cannot have you talking this way!" The man said, "Okay Preacher, but I just wanted you to know that I thought it was so <expletive deleted> good, that I put $5000 in that there collection plate." And the preacher said, "No <expletive deleted> way!"

Please turn with me to 1st Corinthians, chapter 15, and we want to read verse 33.

The apostle Paul wrote this letter to the church in the city of Corinth. The assembly in Corinth, which consisted of Jews and Greeks, was exposed to the influences of the surrounding world in two ways: the first was that many of the Christians originated from a heathen background (1st Corinthians 6:9-11) and second, they were continually exposed to their evil surrounding. We learn by the epistle that the sexual immorality of the city of Corinth had influenced some of the assembly (1st Corinthians 5:1). In his letter Paul dealt with some very important subjects. It's regretful that the congregation in Corinth made some mistakes. However, that presented an opportunity for the inspired apostle to address important matters that we need to know about even today.

In 1st Corinthians 15:33 he wrote, “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.”[KJV] Notice that this verse contains a very strong warning to Christians.

That warning is “be not deceived”. If my memory is correct, Paul wrote three passages that begin with the same words. He dealt with some very strong matters that have to do with this warning, and Christians should to pay very close attention to these.

There are a number of warnings that are very similar given throughout the Bible.
For example, in Luke 21:8, Jesus said, “Take heed that you not be deceived.”
Also, in 2nd Thessalonians 2:3, the Bible says, “Let no one deceive you by any means…” There are numerous warnings given in the Bible that have to do with being deceived. We don’t like to think it… but we are all subject to deception.

As we look at the passages that warn us against being deceived, we find there are at least two ways in which we can be deceived. First, the Bible teaches that we can deceive ourselves. In this regard, 1st Corinthians 3:18 says, “Let no man deceive himself…” . The Bible warns us in a general way against being deceived, and specifically the Bible teaches us not to deceive ourselves.

Second, we can be deceived by other people. Ephesians 5:6 says, “Let no man deceive you with vain words:…”. Not only does the Bible warn us against deceiving ourselves, the Bible warns us not to allow other people to deceive us.

To illustrate how easy it is for us to be deceived by other people just consider the scams we hear about every day. A few years ago, I was speaking to a friend, and she had received an email, and responded to it unfortunately with all kinds of personal information. After she thought about it for a while and realized what she had done, she had to close down her checking account and close out several credit cards.

She told me, “I guess I'm just too trusting”. I thought, well, it's good to trust people, but we also have to use careful judgment. We realize that there are people who are out to get information and they'll use just about any means of deception to accomplish that. This happens all around us, and it's sad. It is really upsetting to hear of an elderly person being taken advantage of financially. That happens all the time. It's sad that happens, but it's very easy to be deceived. The Bible warns us over and over again about deceiving ourselves, as well as allowing someone else to deceive us.

In our lesson this morning we want to examine the warning given in the verse we read just a few moments ago, 1st Corinthians 15:33. This verse teaches us not to be deceived by the influence of others. The Bible specifically tells us in this verse, evil communications or evil companionships corrupt good manners. The word ēthos (ay'-thos) in the Greek is variously translated as manners, morals, or character.

This is a very strong warning given to us and we need to reflect upon it on a regular basis.

I. The context - 1st Corinthians 15:33. Let's first look at this verse in its context. That's something we always need to do when we study scriptures. We always study them in their proper context.

A. In this chapter, 1st Corinthians 15, which is a long chapter of 58 verses, the Apostle Paul wrote at length about the resurrection. That's the main subject that's being dealt with. Why do we think it was necessary for Paul to write to this church about the resurrection? Remember, he had been there I believe, for about a year and a half. I feel certain that Paul taught these people the truth about the resurrection. That is a key part of the Gospel and it had to be one of Paul's main doctrines that he emphasized in his teaching, the fact that Jesus was resurrected and that the resurrection will occur when the Lord returns.
B. I'm positive these people had been taught about it. However, look at verse twelve. Here is a question that helps us understand why it was necessary for Paul to write to this assembly about the resurrection. 1st Corinthians 15:12, “Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?” [NKJV] That question shows that there were some people in the congregation saying that there is no such thing as the resurrection. That there is no resurrection of the dead.

1. These people, the ones teaching that ungodly doctrine, were the evil communications that are dealt with in verse 33. The warning was against the influence of evil communications because they corrupt good character.
2. The communications under consideration in chapter 15 have to do with those people teaching that there is no resurrection of the dead. Let's illustrate the influence that particular doctrine can create.

C. Next Paul presents his line of reasoning. As we consider this, we can't help but conclude that if there is no resurrection, then Christianity serves no good purpose. That's just how important this matter is.

1. Look with me, starting at verse 13. “13. But if there is no resurrection of the dead, (as some were teaching) then Christ is not risen. 14. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is vain and your faith is also vain. 15. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up if in fact the dead do not rise.” Now continuing in verse 16.
2. “16. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. 17. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! 18. Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.” That line of reasoning points out to us that, if there is no resurrection, then Christ is still in the grave, and we have absolutely no hope.
3. Look at verse 32. The end of this verse says, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” That in a nutshell is the philosophy being followed by those who say that there is no resurrection. If there's no resurrection, then Christ was not raised. We have no hope. Those who died in the Lord died in vain, because they were looking forward to something that would happen when Christ comes back. If there is no resurrection, then let's just live for today, eat and drink, because tomorrow we die.

D. Paul showed that the resurrection which will take place when the Lord returns, is real. Paul began this chapter by reminding them starting in verse 3, that he had delivered this information before, presenting proof that Jesus arose from the grave. He talked about the gospel message that he had preached in Corinth.

1. The facts that Jesus died according to the scriptures, He was buried, and he rose again the third day according to the scriptures, and he… was… seen. Jesus was seen by many credible witnesses after His resurrection, and Paul listed a number of them. He mentioned the apostles. He mentioned several individuals, and he even said, last of all, He was seen of me also.
2. Remember, when Paul was traveling to Damascus, he met the Lord. In Acts 22:14 Ananias tells Paul “The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth. `For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.”. Paul had seen the Lord and he presented all that evidence at the beginning of the chapter before he dealt with the problem of those who were saying that there is no resurrection.

E. As Christians we are looking forward to the resurrection and that should motivate us to serve the Lord faithfully. Look at the conclusion of this entire chapter in the very last verse, verse 58. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

1. We know that the Lord will return one day, and when He does, the resurrection of those who have fallen asleep will take place, then the judgment for all. That should be a great motivation to serve the Lord to the very best of our ability, to be steadfast, to be unmovable, and to always abound in the work of the Lord.

F. The point here is we need to examine our associates very carefully because they will influence us. They will either influence us in a positive direction or they will influence us in a negative direction.

1. Ephesians 5:11 tells us that we are to, “… have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.”
2. Is it possible to avoid contact completely with people who are not members of the Lord's body? No, and the Bible acknowledges that. However, we have to be careful about our associates because they will influence us one way or another. I don't know about you, but I need all the positive influence I can get. I suspect we all feel that way.
3. It's a whole lot easier to be good when you're around good people, and unfortunately it's also easy to not be so good when you're around people that are not so good.

G. As Christians we want to have a positive influence on other people, but we have to understand that we can also be influenced. In 1st Corinthians 15, to whom was Paul writing? He was writing to the Christians in Corinth. What was his warning? Do not be deceived.

1. It was possible for those people to be deceived by the influence of evil companionships. It's also possible for us to be deceived.
2. We need to pay close attention to this very serious warning. Let's turn our attention now to an illustration of what we've been talking about from the Old Testament.

II. Old Testament Illustration – you have probably heard as I have that we should pay close attention to the Old Testament scriptures because they often illustrate principles that are revealed in the New Testament. The Old Testament is a wealth of illustrations. What about this matter of avoiding evil influence? Let's look at Genesis chapter 13.

A. In Genesis 13, we read about the time when Abram and Lot parted company. Lot was Abram's nephew. Abram's brother, Lott's father, had passed away, and it seems that Abram took Lot under his wing and for all practical purposes, adopted him. They were very close. The Lord blessed both men and they both had large flocks and herds of animals. So much so that the land could not support all of the animals, and that resulted in the herdsmen of both men striving with each other.

1. Let's see how that was dealt with in Genesis 13:8-9. “8. So Abram said to Lot, "Please let there be no strife between you and me, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are brethren. 9. "Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left.''”

2. It was necessary for these two men to part company, Abram, being the grand old gentleman that he was, told Lot… It's necessary for us to separate. The land just simply cannot support all of our animals. You go the direction you want to go, and I'll go the other direction.

3. Continuing in Genesis 13:10-12. “10. And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar. 11. Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east. And they separated from each other. 12. Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent even as far as Sodom.”

a. Lot made a decision. He chose the plain of Jordan because it was well-watered, yet there was something he overlooked. Look at verse 13. “But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord.”
b. At this point in the narrative we don't know what sins were committed by the people of Sodom. At this point, we only know that they were exceedingly wicked and sinners before the Lord. That's the way the Bible describes the spiritual condition of the people living in Sodom.
c. Lot was attracted to that plain because was well-watered. There would be plenty of water there for his animals, and seemingly overlooked the condition of the people in Sodom.

4. We might wonder if Lot knew about Sodom or not. If he knew, could he have possibly thought that he and his family would not be influenced by their wickedness?

B. We read about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19. I'll not take the time to read the whole thing. I assume you're familiar with it. Verse 1 tells us two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and met Lot sitting in the gate. Lot asked these angels to come into his home. They said, “No, but we will spend the night in the open square. But he insisted strongly; so they turned in to him and entered his house”. By that time, I suspect Lot knew what was taking place among the people there.

1. The people gathered around Lot's home and said, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may know them carnally.”
2. Lot tried to reason with the people. He said, “Please, my brethren, do not do so wickedly!”
3. He knew that what they wanted to do was wicked. He offered to give them his two daughters, but the mob refused.

a. I suggest to you, as one commentator said, that “Lot was most reprehensible in this heartless offer to sacrifice his daughters to the lust of the mob gathered at his door. His pleading the obligations of hospitality as an excuse for so doing—was weak, and sinful”.
b. What he was doing was trying to avoid one sin by committing another one. His "righteousness" must be understood in a relative sense only.
c. The situation became so desperate that the angels struck the mob with blindness. The Bible says the mob wearied themselves to find the door.

4. Even after being stricken with blindness, they were still trying to get to the door and get inside. The angels learned what they needed to know—the wickedness of the people of Sodom. Earlier, God had agreed to Abram that if just five righteous souls could be found there, the city would be spared. Who escaped? Lot, his wife and two of his daughters. That comes to a total of four. There weren't five righteous souls in this entire city.

C. We read about the destruction of Sodom and the cities in the plain. God rained fire and brimstone upon those cities. Lot, his wife, and two of their daughters escaped. The angels gave them some instructions and said, don't look back. Get out of the city. Get away.
D. These four that we just mentioned, Lot, his wife and the daughters, apparently did not participate in those sins that were so prevalent in Sodom. However, it seems that they were influenced to some extent by the wickedness of the people there.

1. Now Genesis 19:15 is says, “When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying, "Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city.''”
2. But Lot lingered—so the angels “…took hold of his hand, his wife's hand, and the hands of his two daughters,… and they brought him out and set him outside the city.” The influence of that place was strong.
3. So strong that look what happens next. Lot was told, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains” Lot replied, “Please, no, my lords!”. He argued the mountains were too dangerous and begged to go to another city. “See now, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one; please let me escape there (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.”
4. Lot was given permission to go there and in verse 23, “The sun had risen upon the earth when Lot entered Zoar.” Then the Lord overthrew those cities and all the inhabitants of the plain save for Zoar.
5. Verse 26 says “But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.” Her turning back to the destruction led to her being lost. Jesus said in Luke 17:31-32 speaking of the day when the Son of Man is revealed, “…likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back. Remember Lot's wife.”

E. Then we find that Lot and his daughters left Zoar and escaped to the mountains where they participated in some shameful activity. Genesis 19:30-38. Lot's two daughters got their father drunk. They had relations with him, and they bore children conceived with their father.
F. Did Lot and his family actually participate in the wicked acts that were so prevalent in Sodom? No, but I think we can surely see that the evil influence from the wickedness in Sodom rubbed off on them to some extent.

1. This tragic, pitiful episode stands as proof that Lot and his family had been in Sodom too long. They had indeed been delivered OUT OF Sodom, but Sodom was still IN them to a certain degree.
2. By the way, the children that they bore had nations of people named after them, the Moabites and the children of Ammon, and they were enemies of the Israelites.

G. The things that happened to Lot and his family illustrate the truthfulness of the principle that's revealed in 1st Corinthians 15:33. Evil communications, corrupt good character. Let's never be deceived into thinking otherwise.

CONCLUSION:
I'm sure you are as aware of this as I am. There has been for some time, and is even now at this very hour, a great effort being made to try to get people to believe in all types of perverted behavior. We're surrounded by it.

God help us to make wise decisions, especially when other people are involved. May God help us to choose our associates carefully. We will be influenced by the choices that we make.

Choose caution and be very careful. God help us to think about these things very seriously.
______________________________________________________________________________

We learn from the New Testament how to be saved. We need to hear the word; believe in Jesus; repent of our sins; confess our belief that Jesus is the Son of God; and be baptized for the remission of our sins… If we follow these steps, the Lord adds us to His church.

Perhaps there is someone in the assembly today with the need to be buried with Christ in baptism. If anyone has this need or desires the prayers of faithful Christians on their behalf, we encourage them to come forward while we stand and sing.

# ???
Reference Sermon by: Raymond Sieg

Give Me The Bible

2 Timothy 3:14-17

A Christian writer recalls a time when he was scheduled to attend a lectureship on the campus of Ohio State University.
As he was being driven to the lecture,
he passed the new Wexner Art Center
and the driver told him,
“This is a new art building for the university.
It is a fascinating building
designed in the post-modernist view of reality.”

Post-Modernist view of reality?... what does that mean?
Well, apparently the building had no pattern.
There were staircases that didn’t go anywhere.
And there were pillars that didn’t support anything.
And the architect was praised (by somebody)
for designing a building to reflect how he saw life.

He saw life as going nowhere
and as being mindless and senseless.
The Christian writer turned to his driver and asked,
“Did they do the same thing with the foundation?”

To that the driver laughed and said “Oh no.
You can’t do that with a foundation.”
Then the writer commented “You can get away with the infrastructure of a building being mindless and senseless.
But once you start tampering with the foundations of a building, you begin experiencing serious side-effects.

I’ve talked with contractors who’ve refurbished old homes
and they tell me that they don’t care what the rest of the house looks like - as long as the roof and the foundation are sound, they’ll invest their time and money in it.
But otherwise, they won’t touch it.

That’s what our text this morning ^2nd Tim. 3:14-17 is talking about:
If you want to GROW HIGHER in your faith,
you’ve gotta have a good foundation.
If your foundation is NOT sound,
then the rest of your faith will crumble…
Beginning in verse 14 of 2 Tim. 3
14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whoma you learned it
15and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
16All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
17that the man of Godb may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Paul was writing to his young co-worker Timothy
and told Timothy NOT to neglect his foundation.
“… Continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed,
knowing how from childhood
you have been acquainted with the sacred writings,
which are able to make you wise for salvation
through faith in Christ Jesus.
ALL SCRIPTURE is breathed out by God.”

Now what Paul’s saying is this:
The Sacred writings (the Scripture) is your foundation.
And you know you can trust that foundation…
because it belongs to God.
The Bible is God’s book - it is “God Breathed!”

What does that mean?
It means that there is no other book
that’s equal to the Bible that you have in your hands.
God has breathed into the Bible and gave it a life of its own.

Do you remember when God created Adam?
What did God do to Adam before Adam became a living being?
Genesis 2:7 “The LORD God formed the man of dust
from the ground and breathed into his nostrils
the breath of life,
and the man became a living creature.”

When God BREATHED into Adam…
he became a living creature.
And God breathed the Bible
and it became a living Book!
It is alive with power!
And when we read it,
it touches and shapes us,
and gives us life.

Hebrews 4:12 “… the word of God is living and active,
sharper than any two-edged sword,
piercing to the division of soul and of spirit,
of joints and of marrow,
and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

And in Isaiah 55:10-11 we read
“… as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there
but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower
and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be
that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”

THE BIBLE IS A LIVING BOOK
In 1941, J.B. Phillips translated the New Testament
into the modern English language.

Today, English-speaking Christians
have dozens of Bible translations to choose from.
There is no one-to-one correspondence of words
between different languages,
so translation is an art as well as a science.

In Phillips’ day, there were very few translation options,
but today we would recommend a translation
done by a notable team of scholars,
like the King James Version,
American Standard Version,
or the English Standard Version,
as a reliable Bible for reading and study.

Following the work of translating the New Testament
JP Phillips wrote: “Although I did my utmost
to preserve an emotional detachment,
I found again and again
that the material under my hands was strangely alive:
it spoke to my condition in the most uncanny way.”

God’s written Word is a powerful force.
And frankly, all we need to do is speak its words,
and when we do speak the words of Scripture
people become convicted
and are faced with the need to change.

Even Satan (himself) couldn’t deal with the power of God’s word. Do you remember the story of Jesus
fasting in the Wilderness 40 days and 40 nights.
The devil found Jesus and tried to tempt Him.
And do you remember the words Jesus spoke
that stopped Satan in his tracks?

Every time Jesus was tempted… He said “It Is Written…”;
“It Is Written”; “it is written.”
Jesus didn’t say to Satan: “I TELL YOU”.
He said “IT IS WRITTEN.”
If that statement protected Jesus (the Son of God),
you know it can do the same for us.
It’s hard to comprehend the forcefulness of God’s words.
YOU may not understand
the power of words in the book you hold,
and I may not fully understand its power,
but… it’s there!!!
And we can trust it.

Now Paul takes this one step further:
he basically implies
that we need to know what the Bible says
in order to know what is right and wrong,
because the Bible is the foundation of your morality.

Repeating today’s text:
“All scripture is breathed out by God
and is profitable for teaching,
for reproof,
for correction,
and for training in righteousness,
that the man of God may be complete,
equipped for every good work.”

There was a man who told of visiting
his grandmother’s home as a boy.
She would buy a jigsaw puzzle…
and then throw away the box,
and he would try to put the puzzle together –
but he had no idea whether the puzzle was of a barn,
or an antique car.
Without the picture on the box
he had no idea how the puzzle fit together.

The Bible is the picture on the box
that helps us see how the picture should fit together.
The Bible sets the tone of what is moral –
and what is not moral.
And we should never read Scripture
and then ask ourselves whether or not we AGREE with it.

An old -time minister encouraged his congregation
to read the entire Bible.
The more they read…
the angrier they got,
because a lot of what they read
(particularly in the Old Testament)
didn’t sound like the God they wanted to worship.

But the more each person read,
the more they realized –
they had wanted God to be like them.
They wanted a God they could agree with.

It had never occurred to them
that God was calling them to be like Him.
A God who could change their thinking and their lives.

Once a man was being chased by a tiger.
He was running as fast as he could,
but the tiger was getting closer and closer.
Eventually, the man reached the edge of a cliff
with the tiger still behind him.

He looked down and saw a branch
growing out of the side of the cliff
just a few feet down.
He jumped off the cliff and grabbed the branch.

Just then, a mouse came out of a hole near the branch
and began to chew on it.
The man was scared to see
that the branch was getting loose
and he would surely fall to his death if he let go.
So, he looked up to the sky and yelled,
“Dear God, please help me. Please save me.
I will do anything you ask me to do.”
Suddenly, a voice came booming from the sky and questioned, “You will do anything I ask?”

The man was shocked to hear the reply
and replied back,
“I will do anything but please save me.”
The voice from the sky replied,
“There is only one way to save you,
but it will take courage and faith.
Can you do what I ask?
Do you have faith?”

The man was sooooo scared seeing
that the branch was getting loose
and the tiger was still growling at him
from the top of the cliff.
So, he replied, “Please God,
tell me what to do.
I will do whatever you say.
Your will is my will.”

The voice from heaven said,
“All right then, let go of that branch.”
After a long silence,
the man looked down again
at the thousand-foot drop and certain death,
and then he slowly looked up again and yelled,
“Is anyone else up there??”

Now, the Bible repeatedly tells us we have a choice.
We can choose to listen to the wisdom of men,
or we can choose to listen to GOD.

Psalm 1:1-2 tells us to be careful who we listen to:
“Blessed is the man who walks not
in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law
he meditates day and night.

And Jesus said that we should be careful to listen to HIM. Matthew 7:26-27 “Everyone who hears these words of mine
and does not do them
will be like a foolish man
who built his house on the sand.
And the rain fell,
and the floods came,
and the winds blew and beat against that house,
and it fell,
and great was the fall of it."

YOU HAVE A CHOICE OF WHO YOU LISTEN TO!
But even people who are smarter than you and I
have made the mistake of listening to someone other than God… and thus not listening to God.

From what I understand…
Harvard University has recently suffered a great deal of problems. There’s been campus unrest,
and charges of plagiarism
that have led the University’s president to resign.
And you have to wonder
what led to the troubles Harvard now has.

It’s as if this once great college has lost its bearings
and doesn’t seem to know what kind of decisions to make.
Well, part of the reason Harvard is in its present mess,
is because they’d gotten used to listening to someone
other than God.

You see, Harvard was once a divinity school,
established to train preachers for the pulpit.

When Harvard was founded,
its motto was Veritas Christo et Ecclesiae –
“Truth (God’s truth) for Christ and the Church.”
Its original crest showed three books –
and one of them was face down
to symbolize the limitation of human knowledge.

But over the years,
that 3rd book has been turned FACE UP
to represent the unlimited capacity of the human mind.
And the motto has been changed to one word
“Veritas” meaning (“Truth.”)
Not God’s truth… but man’s truth.

That’s part of the reason Harvard is in trouble.
Once they abandoned God’s Word as their foundation
morality is now based on man’s opinions–
rather than facts.

And that’s why our culture is in such a mess.
God’s truth has been so ignored
that we’ve gotten to the point
where educated people can’t tell you
what a woman is;
Can’t accept the fact that men can’t get pregnant;
Can’t understand why men (pretending to be women)
can’t compete in women’s sports.
IT’S INSANITY!

Without God’s moral compass (the Bible)
mankind… is lost.

Now, by contrast,

there was a study done a few years back
that found that people who study
or meditate on scripture 4 or more times a week
are stronger in their faith than those who don’t.
They called it the rule of four:
They found that people who read OR study
the Bible 4 or more times a week were

• 228% more likely to share their faith with others
• Over 400% more likely to memorize scripture
• 59% less likely to view pornography
• 30% less likely to struggle with loneliness

In other words,
the Bible shapes the morality and strength of believers.
All you have to do is read it JUST 4 TIMES A WEEK.
Lastly,
we need to build our lives on the foundation of Scripture
to assure ourselves of our salvation.

In our text Paul tells Timothy:
“… Continue in what you have learned
and have firmly believed,
knowing how from childhood
you have been acquainted with the sacred writings,
which are able to make you wise for salvation
through faith in Christ Jesus.”

The sacred writings (the Bible)
are the foundation of our salvation.
Scripture makes us WISE for salvation
through our faith in Christ Jesus.
So (Timothy) was to continue in what he’d learned
and had firmly believed.
Otherwise, he would NOT be wise for salvation in Jesus.

If he lost the foundation of his faith
(that he found in Scripture) –
if he abandoned the Bible as the foundation of his faith –
he wouldn’t know anything about Jesus
because everything he (& you and I) know about Jesus
was right here (in the Bible).
Timothy KNOW your Bible…
because if you don’t know your Bible,
you could lose out on knowing Jesus.
And that would be a great tragedy!!!

CLOSE: By contrast…
the message found in Scripture can lead people to salvation.
Almost everyone has heard the story of
the Mutiny on the Bounty.
The Bounty was a British ship
which set sail for the South Seas in 1787.
The crew had been sent to the Pacific
to plant fruit trees on some of the islands
so other ships could use them later.

After 6 months on one of these islands
the sailors mutinied.
They liked the climate,
and the native girls
and the ease of island life,
and so they set Captain Bligh adrift at sea
and set about living the island life.

Unfortunately for them
Bligh made it home
and an expedition was launched,
and 14 of the mutineers were captured and tried.
However, 9 mutineers,
along with 6 native men and 12 Tahitian women
settled on Pitcairn Island in 1790.

Eventually one of the sailors soon began distilling alcohol,
and the little colony went downhill from there.
Disease and murder took the lives
of all the sailors… EXCEPT one.
The ONE sailor who survived was Alexander Smith.

He became bored
and searched thru the belongings of the dead men of the ship,
and in an old chest from the Bounty,
he found… a Bible.
He began to read it and then to teach it
to all the others he came in contact with.

The result was that his own life
and the lives of all those in the colony were changed.
20 years later a British ship found the colony
and were amazed that
the little community of survivors
were happy and industrious.

They found there was no jail,
no whisky,
no crime,
and no laziness.
All they saw were people who had built their lives on
the foundation of God’s word!

May we strongly move forward together as a congregation… remembering the words given to Joshua
in Joshua 1: 7 – 8
7Only be strong and very courageous,
being careful to do according to all the law commanded you.
Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left,
that you may have good successa
wherever you go.
8This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth,
but you shall meditate on it day and night,
so that you may be careful
to do according to all that is written in it.
For then you will make your way prosperous,
and then you will have good success.

Sermon Contributor : Jeff Strite

We Can and Must Be Faithful

Revelation 2:10-11

INTRO: Good morning church. This morning turn to the book of Revelation chapter 1 and we will start by reading a few verses to set the groundwork for our lesson.
Revelation 1:9-11, “9. I, John, both your brother and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. 10. I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 11. saying, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,'' and, "What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.''”

The Apostle John was instructed by the Lord to write down the things that he saw in a book. He was to send that book to the seven congregations in the area known as Asia. In chapters two and three, the Lord sent a message to each of these churches, and the verses we will read next are from the message that the Lord had John send to the church in Smyrna.
Revelation 2:10-11, “Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.”
Our lesson for this morning is based on the Lord's instruction in that message… to be faithful. I thought since we are entering a new year it would be a good time for us to remember that we can, and we must, be faithful in 2024. That's the title of our lesson, and we want to emphasize the need for faithfulness. I hope as we go through the lesson, we'll see why faithfulness is such an important matter.

I. The first point we need to make is that faithfulness can be affected by difficult circumstances. The Bible makes this very clear.

A. To illustrate the point, let's consider the message to the church in Smyrna.

1. If we look at the information that was sent to that church, we see that this congregation was facing great tribulation. Although it would end in a relatively short time, it was going to continue for a while.
2. The Lord taught in the parable of the sower that tribulation can cause a believer to stumble and fall. Remember how the sower went forth to sow his seed? And as he did so, the seed fell upon four different types of soil.

a. Then the Lord explained what he meant in that parable. In Matthew 13: 20-21, He explained what happened when the seed was sown on stony ground. As Mark explained a few weeks ago this was where a thin layer of soil covered a rocky area. Matthew 13:20-21. “20. "But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21. "yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.”
b. The Lord is talking about someone who hears the gospel, receives it, and allows the gospel to produce fruit in their life. They become a believer. Then after a while, they face some type of tribulation because of the word of God. The end result is they are offended or they stumble and fall away.

3. The Lord made it very clear in this part of His parable that tribulation can cause a believer to stumble. Keeping in mind what we've already talked about. The church in Smyrna was facing tribulation. What could be the result of that tribulation? It could have caused some of the believers to fall away.
4. What was the Lord's counsel? You be faithful. If you want to receive a crown of life, it's necessary that you remain faithful. Regardless of the tribulation that the church in Smyrna was facing, the Lord called upon that congregation to be faithful unto death, and they would receive a crown of life.

B. We're illustrating the point that faithfulness can be affected by difficult circumstances. I believe the message to the church in Smyrna makes that point very clear. We have seen that same thing in Jesus’ explanation of His parable of the sower. What I would like to do now is look at two of God's greatest servants who were affected by difficult circumstances.

1. If we were to make a short list of great servants of God, I know two men who would be on that list. One would be Elijah, the other would be John the Baptist. There would be others, but I think on a short list of great servants of God, great men of faith, we would include Elijah and John.

a. Let's consider Elijah. Elijah was one of two men who left this earth without going through the dying process. The Bible teaches in 2^nd Kings 2:11 that Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. That would have been a sight to behold, and Elisha was there to see it. The other man who left the earth without going through the dying process of course was Enoch. The Bible teaches that he was transformed, that he should not see death.
b. Elijah went up into heaven by a whirlwind, and that ought to impress us with God’s attitude toward this man.

i. According to Matthew 17, there were two great Old Testament characters that appeared with the Lord when He was transfigured. One was Moses, and the other was Elijah.
ii. Moses represented the law. Elijah represented the prophets. Jesus was transfigured before three of His disciples, Peter, James and John. His countenance was changed, and those men were there to observe and hear God speak from heaven, identify Jesus as His beloved son, and saying, “hear ye, him”.
iii. At one time, God's people were to listen to Moses. At one time, God's people were to listen to the prophets. But now God's people are to listen to His beloved son.

c. When you study the life of Elijah in the book of 1^st Kings, you will see in chapter 18 that he challenged and defeated the prophets of Baal. Elijah challenged those false prophets, and he won a great victory on that day. He showed the children of Israel that Jehovah is the one true God and Baal is not. I think about Elijah out there all by himself against 450 false prophets. But God was with him, and God showed the people He is the one true God.
d. We have said that faithfulness can be affected by difficult circumstances. Let's look at 1^st Kings 19:1f. “1. And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword. 2. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.'' 3. And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.” “4. But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, "It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!”

i. Jezebel threatened to take Elijah's life. I suspect we can believe that Jezebel was quite serious when she made that threat. It was not much later when she had Naboth put to death so that her husband Ahab could have his vineyard. She used some underhanded means to have him killed.
ii. Jezebel was a wicked person and she threatened to take Elijah's life. This is the same man who stood up against 450 false prophets. What does he do now? After he learned of Jezebel's threat, he went out into the wilderness, sat down under a tree, and wanted his life to come to an end.

2. Years after Elijah, John the Baptist came, and according to Luke 1:17, it was “… in the spirit and the power of Elijah… ” Isaiah had prophesied about the coming of John and Malachi did as well. Malachi concluded his book by calling upon the children of Israel to look for the coming of Elijah. That prophecy was concerning John.

a. John was the Lord's forerunner, and he did his work well. Jesus commended John in Matthew 11:11, “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist;…” That's quite a high endorsement, wouldn't you say? That was the Lord's assessment of John.
b. I would like to make this interesting observation. John did not go to the cities where the people lived to preach. He preached out in the wilderness. The people left the comforts of the cities to go out to hear him. When they went to hear him in the wilderness, they were not disappointed. John told it like it is. Many people turned from their evil ways and were looking forward to the coming of Christ.
c. Let's back up to Matthew 11:2-3. John was in prison. He was facing difficult circumstances and he sent two of his disciples to ask Jesus a question. Matthew 11:2-3 “And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to Him, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?''”

i. Whenever I think of that question that John asked, it makes me sad. This is the same man that the Lord highly endorsed. This is the same man who preached his heart out, in the wilderness and led many people to God.  Now he was facing some difficult circumstances. He was in prison, not as a thief or a robber or a murderer. He had told Herod he had no right to his wife. Consequently, he was put in prison and eventually he was beheaded. Those difficult circumstances affected the faith of John.

ii. The Lord responded to those two disciples of John in Matthew 11:4-6, “… "Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: "The blind receive their sight and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. "And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.''” In other words, the Lord said, you go and tell him about what I'm doing. Those actions prove that Jesus is the son of God.

iii. Yes, He is the one who was to come and no, there's no need to be looking for someone else. John, you've just got to hold on… and he did.

C. Thinking about the church in Smyrna, about Elijah, and about John, these illustrate how faithfulness can be affected by difficult circumstances.
D. We hope that would not be the case for us, but I think we've already seen that 2024 is going to have its share of challenges. We must not allow these challenges to affect our faithfulness to the Lord. Yes, we all have concerns.

1. We are concerned about the effects that RSV, COVID and Flu are having on people and congregations.
We are concerned about social unrest, and the divisions we see developing.
We are concerned about the political climate, both here and abroad.
We are concerned about wars and strife in many places.
We are concerned about the breakdown of social order, focus on self over others, growth of hatred and discrimination in all its forms.
2. Difficult circumstances can affect the faithfulness of God's children, but, we can be faithful to God, and we must be faithful to God this year, regardless of the challenges that we might face.

II. We do need to ask the question, exactly what is faithfulness? Jesus said something in Matthew 24 that helps explain exactly what faithfulness is. Let's turn to Matthew 24:42 and read a few verses, Jesus said, “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.” Then at verse 44f “"Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him. "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? "Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.”

A. These words Jesus presented are to help us be prepared for His return. He said, be ready. He went on to say that in such an hour as you think not, the son of man will come. In other words, we do not know when the Lord is coming back. We know he's coming back, but we don't know when. The Lord calls upon His followers to be ready, to be prepared. He even said, “watch”.
B. A man put his servant in charge of taking care of his household. That would include taking care of his fellow servants. If that servant was faithful, he would fulfill his responsibilities to his master, and then his master would bless him abundantly. While the master was away the servant would be free to decide if he would fulfill his responsibilities or not. If he was faithful, a faithful servant, he would do what his master instructed him to do. As Rob reminded us our decisions have consequences.
C. From a practical perspective then, faithfulness is fulfilling our responsibilities to the Lord until He returns. I've heard many definitions of faithfulness over the years, but I think that's just about as practical a definition as we can possibly find. Faithfulness is fulfilling our responsibilities to the Lord until he returns.

III. Now, there are things revealed to us in the Bible that will help us to be faithful. Let's consider some of them.

A. First, we need to keep in mind that God is faithful. The other day in preparing the lesson, I took my concordance out and looked up the word faithful. It's found many times in the Bible. Many of those passages that mention faithfulness are describing or declaring the faithfulness of God.

1. 1^st Corinthians 1:9 says, “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” That's plain and to the point, isn't it? God is faithful.
2. Next 1^st Corinthians 10:13. “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” The middle part of this verse very clearly states that God is faithful.
3. Let's also look at Hebrews 10:23, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” By the way, this statement is made just before chapter eleven, the great faith chapter of the Bible. “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering.” That's an admonition given to Christians. We're being told to be faithful… and what should motivate us to be faithful? The verse says, “... for He who promised is faithful.” We see how God's faithfulness should affect our faithfulness.
4. We don't have to question whether God is faithful because the Bible declares repeatedly that He is faithful. When God says something, we can count on it. The Bible also says that God cannot lie. If He could lie, then He couldn't be faithful. Our God is faithful, and He cannot lie. Keeping God's faithfulness in mind will help us to be faithful.
5. The difficult circumstances people face can cause them to take their focus off God. When we lose that focus, we lose track of the fact that God is faithful. We always need to keep in mind that regardless of circumstances that we're facing, God is faithful.

B. Second, this is something else that we need to keep in mind that will help us to be faithful—Christ is faithful. Let's look at Hebrews chapter 3. Christ has already been compared to the angels, showing that He is superior. Jesus is God's spokesman today. There have been occasions when God delivered messages through the angels. The writer of Hebrews went to great lengths to show that Jesus is far superior to the angels. Moses at one time was God's spokesman, but Jesus is far superior to Moses.

1. Hebrews 3:1-2, “Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house.” To his credit, Moses was faithful, but was Moses perfect? No, he wasn't. You will all remember that on one occasion God told him to speak to the rock, and he struck the rock instead. Jesus never violated the will of His father. He came to do the will of the father, and He was faithful in all ways.
2. Much in the book of Hebrews has to do with the Lord's priesthood, showing that Jesus is the great priest. He's superior to the priests in the Old Testament. He's our merciful and faithful high priest.

C. Third, we need to keep in mind, as Christians we have the responsibility of being faithful. We've already touched on that several times, but let's be just a little bit more direct.

1. Look at 1^st Corinthians 4:2, “Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.” A steward is someone who's given the responsibility of taking care of someone else's possessions. The Lord has given us our blessings, and we are responsible for being faithful in using those blessings.
2. A steward has one main requirement and that is to be found faithful. There are many passages in the Bible that teach us to be faithful. This is one that I believe is very clear and to the point… “it is required”

D. The fourth thing that we need to keep in mind is that the Lord will bless His faithful followers.

1. Going back to Matthew and the parables. Looking at the Lord's parable of the talents in chapter 25, consider the way two of the servants used what they were given.
2. These were stewards of what their master had entrusted to their care. Remember how the master divided up his goods among his servants before he took a long trip?
3. They would be responsible for how they used his goods. When he came back, he reckoned with all of them. One man received five talents. Another man was given two talents. Another man was given one talent. In verse 15 we read, “to each according to his own ability”.

a. Each man was blessed according to his individual ability. Now a talent was a unit of measurement for weighing precious metals, usually gold and silver. It was a weight - not a monetary value. One can see that the master bestowed the weight of blessings and hence responsibility, based on his understanding of the ability of the servant to handle it.
b. We're talking about two of those servants and we should note that these were not like the virgins who WAITED for the Lord’s appearing… these servants were EMPLOYED until his return.

4. Matthew 25:20f, “20. "So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, `Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.' 21. "His lord said to him, `Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' 22. "He also who had received two talents came and said, `Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.' 23. "His lord said to him, `Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'” The Lord will bless His faithful followers when He returns.
5. Remember what Revelation 2:10 says, “… be faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life”…eternal life. In the opening verses of Revelation, Christians are described as kings and priests. When we think of a king, we think of someone wearing a crown, don’t we? What's the crown that will be given to the Lord's faithful followers? It's a crown of life.
6. In Revelation 14:13 we don't find the word faithful, but the concept is certainly there. “Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Write: `Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.' '' "Yes,'' says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.''” That's a description of faithfulness, dying in the Lord.

a. Heaven is described as a place of eternal rest. Now is the time to work. The time to rest will be later.
b. John helps us to understand the beauty of heaven in the book of Revelation. Much of what is written is figurative, but what's written ought to cause us to appreciate the beauty and the splendor of heaven. It's a place of rest.

CONCLUSION: Let us keep these things in mind and that will help us to be faithful. God is faithful. Christ is faithful. Christians must be faithful, and the Lord will bless His faithful followers.

We've already seen that this year is going to have its challenges. If what we are concerned about takes place that's going to affect us. Regardless of the challenges that we might face, we can be faithful in 2024. We can, because the Lord instructed us to be faithful, and He's not going to require us to do anything that we cannot do. When He tells us to be faithful, it's within our power to be faithful.

Not only can we be faithful, but we must be faithful. Oh, how we long to hear those words from our blessed Lord. Well done, good and faithful servant. Did you notice that the five- talent man and the two-talent man were not told that they were perfect? They were told that they were faithful.

We have likely all heard this in some form. People say; “I don't believe I can be good enough because I'm not perfect”—talking about being a Christian. The Bible does teach us to be perfect, but except in the sense of being complete in the sight of God,

We're to grow up and mature in His service. When it talks about perfection, it’s talking about a state of completion or maturity. We know of only one individual who was perfect, and He was nailed to a cross because of our imperfections. We don't have to be perfect to be faithful. While the Lord does not require us to be sinless, (we all err), He does require us to be faithful.

God requires faithfulness, He does not require perfection. We're required to do our level best to live above sin… but we give into temptation at times, and we do sin. Thankfully, the Lord has made it possible for us to seek forgiveness.

When Christians repent and ask for forgiveness, God will give it to us graciously. I'm thankful that God requires faithfulness and not perfection.

Regardless of the challenges that might come our way, we can and we must be faithful to God in 2024. We've made this observation several times this morning. It should go without saying that if we strive to be faithful in 2024, guess what we'll strive to do in 2025? Assuming we are indeed blessed to see that year, it'll become a way of life for us.

Remember, difficult circumstances can affect faithfulness. God has given us the information that will help us to overcome.
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We learn from the New Testament how to be saved. We need to hear the word; believe in Jesus; repent of our sins; confess our belief that Jesus is the Son of God; and be baptized for the remission of our sins… If we follow these steps, the Lord adds us to His church.

Perhaps there is someone in the assembly today with the need to be buried with Christ in baptism. If anyone has this need or desires the prayers of faithful Christians on their behalf, we encourage them to come forward while we stand and sing.

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Reference Sermon by: Raymond Sieg