- Published on
Faithful to the Finish
2 Timothy 4:6-8
Intro: I was sitting in a repair center waiting patiently (well, not Real patiently) for our van to be fixed so we could get Home! The shop was decorated with Finish Line Flags. Everywhere I looked I saw those Black and White finish line flags. It caused my mind to go to the Spiritual Race we are taught about in the Bible; the Race that every person is supposed to Run; the Race that every Christian IS Running.
I. The Start Which is Exciting
The start of this Race to Heaven is certainly exciting!
I thought of Paul, who was still known as Saul, as he journeyed to Damascus to persecute Christians. A bright Light from heaven shined down on him and he heard the voice of Jesus Christ. He was smitten with blindness, was convicted of his sin, and was convinced that Jesus was Alive and really was God the Son.
Saul/Paul was SAVED. He was changed from being Religious to having a Relationship with Jesus- A Child of God. The Start is Exciting! Remember? Do you remember when you first felt conviction? Do you remember when you first repented and surrendered to the Lord? Remember when your sin was forgiven and cleansed away? Remember when the guilt was removed? When your heart and spirit were Born Again by the Holy Spirit of God? When you became a new creation in Christ Jesus? Have you ever heard someone who has just been saved say:
“Everything is Brighter”
“ I Feel as Light as Feather”
“ I Love Everybody”
“ I’m so Happy, I just can’t describe it.”
Uncle Bud Robinson, a early Holiness preacher, said it like this: “It was like Heaven kissed the earth and I was right in the middle of the smack.”
One of our favorite songs says, “When I was drifting out in sin, I had no peace, no joy within, BUT Jesus came & made me Glad, He’s the dearest Friend I’ve ever had.”
Another song says, “What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought since Jesus came into my heart. I have joy in my soul for which long I had sought since Jesus came into my heart”.
There is no greater experience than Salvation! The Start of this race is exciting.
II. The Suffering Which Must be Endured.
Paul says in the text, I had a Course to Finish; I had a War to Fight.
More than most Paul knew from the very start that this Race had suffering.
When Ananias was sent by the Lord to pray for Paul he was told that God would show him “what great things he must suffer” for the cause of Jesus Christ. AND Suffer he did!
He suffered shipwrecks; beatings; stonings; poverty; weariness; afflictions; sorrow in relationships; grieving over the back sliding of dear friends and fellow laborers.
Not just Paul but Every Christian in this Race faces Suffering! We all have trials of life; sickness & disease; family troubles; financial difficulties; sorrow in relationships; lost loved ones; the back sliding of friends and associates... But, we must Endure!
No one has an Easy Life; not Saints; not Sinners. No one has a Trouble Free Life.
No one has a Life of Roses with no Thorns; a Life of Sunshine with no Storms; Life of Abundance with no Lack. We must CARRY ON!
You probably heard about the Olympic runner who broke his leg while running his quarter mile lap with the relay team. He ran for over half the lap with a broken leg!
There was one runner from South Africa who had had both legs amputated at the knee and was fitted with steel braces. It’s amazing to think about that: he was not just walking but running; not just running but running Races; not just running any race but running in the Olympics!
The Start which is Exciting; The Suffering which we must Endure, and:
III. The Salvation Which is at the End.
When the suffering gets bad; when you are so overwhelmed with trouble that you are about to give up; WAIT! Remember the salvation which is at the End!
We are not running a pointless race. We are not running just for the sake of running; or because we have nothing else to do. We are Running to Heaven!
Paul was excited when his race began and he committed himself to preach the gospel of Jesus for the rest of his life. He soon found out that this race brought suffering. Still, he endured and persevered. He wrote to the Philippians and told them that he did not consider himself to have already won his race. Also, he was not giving up either in frustration or in self satisfaction. He was Forgetting the things that were behind; He was Reaching Forth to those things which were before; and He was Pressing toward the Mark for the Prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Forgetting- Reaching- Pressing That’s a great recipe for Victory!
Keep Your Eyes on the Finish Line; There is Salvation at the End.
We know right now the joy of salvation and the joy of sins forgiven. Then we will know the Fulness of our salvation for not only our spirit and soul will be saved, but our body will be saved also. We hear Paul rejoice in the fact that there is a Crown of Righteousness at the Finish Line with his name on it. We rejoice with Paul that there is one waiting at the Finish Line with OUR Name on it. Jesus said, “He that endureth to the End, the same shall be SAVED.” A song said, “It’s not the one who runs the swiftest; or the one who shines for a day; but the one who endureth to the end, he shall be saved.” Finally, the words of yet one more song: “It will be worth it all when we see Jesus, Life’s trials will seem so small when we see Christ; one glimpse of his dear face all sorrows will erase; so Bravely Run the Race till we see Christ
Be Faithful to the Finish!
2 Timothy 4:6-8
Intro: I was sitting in a repair center waiting patiently (well, not Real patiently) for our van to be fixed so we could get Home! The shop was decorated with Finish Line Flags. Everywhere I looked I saw those Black and White finish line flags. It caused my mind to go to the Spiritual Race we are taught about in the Bible; the Race that every person is supposed to Run; the Race that every Christian IS Running.
I. The Start Which is Exciting
The start of this Race to Heaven is certainly exciting!
I thought of Paul, who was still known as Saul, as he journeyed to Damascus to persecute Christians. A bright Light from heaven shined down on him and he heard the voice of Jesus Christ. He was smitten with blindness, was convicted of his sin, and was convinced that Jesus was Alive and really was God the Son.
Saul/Paul was SAVED. He was changed from being Religious to having a Relationship with Jesus- A Child of God. The Start is Exciting! Remember? Do you remember when you first felt conviction? Do you remember when you first repented and surrendered to the Lord? Remember when your sin was forgiven and cleansed away? Remember when the guilt was removed? When your heart and spirit were Born Again by the Holy Spirit of God? When you became a new creation in Christ Jesus? Have you ever heard someone who has just been saved say:
“Everything is Brighter”
“ I Feel as Light as Feather”
“ I Love Everybody”
“ I’m so Happy, I just can’t describe it.”
Uncle Bud Robinson, a early Holiness preacher, said it like this: “It was like Heaven kissed the earth and I was right in the middle of the smack.”
One of our favorite songs says, “When I was drifting out in sin, I had no peace, no joy within, BUT Jesus came & made me Glad, He’s the dearest Friend I’ve ever had.”
Another song says, “What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought since Jesus came into my heart. I have joy in my soul for which long I had sought since Jesus came into my heart”.
There is no greater experience than Salvation! The Start of this race is exciting.
II. The Suffering Which Must be Endured.
Paul says in the text, I had a Course to Finish; I had a War to Fight.
More than most Paul knew from the very start that this Race had suffering.
When Ananias was sent by the Lord to pray for Paul he was told that God would show him “what great things he must suffer” for the cause of Jesus Christ. AND Suffer he did!
He suffered shipwrecks; beatings; stonings; poverty; weariness; afflictions; sorrow in relationships; grieving over the back sliding of dear friends and fellow laborers.
Not just Paul but Every Christian in this Race faces Suffering! We all have trials of life; sickness & disease; family troubles; financial difficulties; sorrow in relationships; lost loved ones; the back sliding of friends and associates... But, we must Endure!
No one has an Easy Life; not Saints; not Sinners. No one has a Trouble Free Life.
No one has a Life of Roses with no Thorns; a Life of Sunshine with no Storms; Life of Abundance with no Lack. We must CARRY ON!
You probably heard about the Olympic runner who broke his leg while running his quarter mile lap with the relay team. He ran for over half the lap with a broken leg!
There was one runner from South Africa who had had both legs amputated at the knee and was fitted with steel braces. It’s amazing to think about that: he was not just walking but running; not just running but running Races; not just running any race but running in the Olympics!
The Start which is Exciting; The Suffering which we must Endure, and:
III. The Salvation Which is at the End.
When the suffering gets bad; when you are so overwhelmed with trouble that you are about to give up; WAIT! Remember the salvation which is at the End!
We are not running a pointless race. We are not running just for the sake of running; or because we have nothing else to do. We are Running to Heaven!
Paul was excited when his race began and he committed himself to preach the gospel of Jesus for the rest of his life. He soon found out that this race brought suffering. Still, he endured and persevered. He wrote to the Philippians and told them that he did not consider himself to have already won his race. Also, he was not giving up either in frustration or in self satisfaction. He was Forgetting the things that were behind; He was Reaching Forth to those things which were before; and He was Pressing toward the Mark for the Prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Forgetting- Reaching- Pressing That’s a great recipe for Victory!
Keep Your Eyes on the Finish Line; There is Salvation at the End.
We know right now the joy of salvation and the joy of sins forgiven. Then we will know the Fulness of our salvation for not only our spirit and soul will be saved, but our body will be saved also. We hear Paul rejoice in the fact that there is a Crown of Righteousness at the Finish Line with his name on it. We rejoice with Paul that there is one waiting at the Finish Line with OUR Name on it. Jesus said, “He that endureth to the End, the same shall be SAVED.” A song said, “It’s not the one who runs the swiftest; or the one who shines for a day; but the one who endureth to the end, he shall be saved.” Finally, the words of yet one more song: “It will be worth it all when we see Jesus, Life’s trials will seem so small when we see Christ; one glimpse of his dear face all sorrows will erase; so Bravely Run the Race till we see Christ
Be Faithful to the Finish!
- Published on
How to Have A Successful Life
Joshua 1:1-9
Intro: We all want to have a successful life and to succeed means to accomplish a desired task. To be a success means that you achieved and accomplished your goals in life. A successful life is a life that Counts! It counts for God and his kingdom and it counts in earthly life.
As far as the world is concerned, success is defined in totally material terms It means that you have a good income; financial abundance; can afford comforts & conveniences; can afford quality & luxury; not just barely getting by; not living “hand to mouth,” You have prospered materially.
BUT- The Truly Successful Life is not really about financial status; not about social status; not about political status; not about position or possessions.
To understand the Truly Successful Life we must see it as God sees it- not as man sees it- define it as God defines it.
Looking at this first chapter of Joshua we find some ingredients of the truly Successful Life. Notice three times God told Joshua to “be strong and of good courage.” Also notice three times God spoke of “prospering,” being “prosperous” and having “success.” God cares about you having a successful life.
I. The Successful Life is a Life Lived for the Purpose of God.
To have purpose in your life is important.
A few years ago Rick Warren wrote a best selling Christian book titled the Purpose Driven Life. It has taken some criticism but it does make a great point: God has Purpose for Every life and a Life lived with NO Purpose is a Wasted Life; not a successful life. Also, A life lived only for one’s OWN purpose is a wasted life, not a successful one.
Notice the first two verses:
After the death of Moses, the Lord spake to Joshua saying, Moses my servant is dead, now therefore Arise- Go over this Jordan, thou and all this people...
Arise! Go! Joshua was given a Clear Command! Definite Direction!
For Joshua to have a successful life he would have to live in and for the Purpose of God; not his own plans, not his own desires; not his own purpose- God’s.
This was God’s Purpose. Israel was to Inherit the Land of Canaan and Joshua was to Lead them to that Inheritance. THE one accomplishment that would make Joshua’s life a Successful Life was to Lead the people into the Promised Land.
God’s Ultimate Purpose is the same for every Person- Heaven & Eternal Life.
God’s Practical Purpose differs from person to person as to the details. God does not lead us all into the same vocation; into the same career; into the same calling. We live in different places; work different jobs; have different circumstances; experience different situations financially, physically, family wise... Still, for us to live a truly successful life we must Find God’s Purpose for our life and Fulfill it.
Eph 5:17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
Understanding the Lord’s will is NOT just for the pastor, preacher, evangelist, missionary or full time Christian worker. It is for Every Believer!
You need to SEEK for God’s will; Surrender to God’s will.
Live your Life for God’s Purpose; not just your own.
II.The Successful Life is a Life Lived by the Promises of God.
God told Joshua that the land he would lead them into was a Land “which I Do Give them.”
Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon that have I given unto you.
You Tread- I Give. There’s Our Part and there’s God’s Part. It’s Not ALL Me- Not ALL God.
God gives promises- but they are always conditional. We have the responsibility to do our part then we trust God to do his part.
I have said it before, I’ll say it again. We Can not Do God’s Part- He Will Not do our Part.
One man said it like this: “There can be no real progress in spiritual life without a planting of the foot of faith upon the sure promises of God. The believer must be prepared to venture like Peter out on the deep waters at our Lord’s bidding.”
So true! We must plant our foot of faith upon the promises of God.
There will be Jordans to Cross.
There will be Jerichos to Conquer.
We will have to step out into the waters sometimes Before they part- but God will make them part.
We will have to walk around the walls and shout Before they fall down But God will bring them down.
A truly successful life is lived in the Purpose of God and by the Promises of God.
III. The Successful Life is a Life Lived In the Presence of God.
Vs 5- As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee- I will not fail thee nor forsake thee.
Nothing in this world can take the place of knowing you are living in the Presence of God.
Not money, not material things, not popularity, not pleasure, not health, not social standing or political power and position. Without God’s presence no life can truly be a success.
With God’s presence you will have:
Strength- (6,7) You will Be strong and Courageous-
Isaiah said that even Youths will become weary and faint- but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength and mount up with wings like eagles
Steadfastness-(8) You will observe the Word of the Lord without turning either to the right hand or the left. Those who live out of the presence of God find their lives wavering- their convictions change, their beliefs change, their behavior changes, they are unstable and uncommitted.
Those who live in the presence of God find Steadfastness- Commitment- Conviction- Enduring Courage.
Sustenance- (7,8) You will prosper whithersoever you go-
While God does not value material things like man does- God does know that we need material things for earthly life. Jesus said we are to seek First the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and that God will add these others things to our lives as we need them.
God will supply all your need according to his riches in Glory.
Jos. 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Purpose of God + Promises of God + Presence of God= Success!
How to Have A Successful Life
Joshua 1:1-9
Intro: We all want to have a successful life and to succeed means to accomplish a desired task. To be a success means that you achieved and accomplished your goals in life. A successful life is a life that Counts! It counts for God and his kingdom and it counts in earthly life.
As far as the world is concerned, success is defined in totally material terms It means that you have a good income; financial abundance; can afford comforts & conveniences; can afford quality & luxury; not just barely getting by; not living “hand to mouth,” You have prospered materially.
BUT- The Truly Successful Life is not really about financial status; not about social status; not about political status; not about position or possessions.
To understand the Truly Successful Life we must see it as God sees it- not as man sees it- define it as God defines it.
Looking at this first chapter of Joshua we find some ingredients of the truly Successful Life. Notice three times God told Joshua to “be strong and of good courage.” Also notice three times God spoke of “prospering,” being “prosperous” and having “success.” God cares about you having a successful life.
I. The Successful Life is a Life Lived for the Purpose of God.
To have purpose in your life is important.
A few years ago Rick Warren wrote a best selling Christian book titled the Purpose Driven Life. It has taken some criticism but it does make a great point: God has Purpose for Every life and a Life lived with NO Purpose is a Wasted Life; not a successful life. Also, A life lived only for one’s OWN purpose is a wasted life, not a successful one.
Notice the first two verses:
After the death of Moses, the Lord spake to Joshua saying, Moses my servant is dead, now therefore Arise- Go over this Jordan, thou and all this people...
Arise! Go! Joshua was given a Clear Command! Definite Direction!
For Joshua to have a successful life he would have to live in and for the Purpose of God; not his own plans, not his own desires; not his own purpose- God’s.
This was God’s Purpose. Israel was to Inherit the Land of Canaan and Joshua was to Lead them to that Inheritance. THE one accomplishment that would make Joshua’s life a Successful Life was to Lead the people into the Promised Land.
God’s Ultimate Purpose is the same for every Person- Heaven & Eternal Life.
God’s Practical Purpose differs from person to person as to the details. God does not lead us all into the same vocation; into the same career; into the same calling. We live in different places; work different jobs; have different circumstances; experience different situations financially, physically, family wise... Still, for us to live a truly successful life we must Find God’s Purpose for our life and Fulfill it.
Eph 5:17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
Understanding the Lord’s will is NOT just for the pastor, preacher, evangelist, missionary or full time Christian worker. It is for Every Believer!
You need to SEEK for God’s will; Surrender to God’s will.
Live your Life for God’s Purpose; not just your own.
II.The Successful Life is a Life Lived by the Promises of God.
God told Joshua that the land he would lead them into was a Land “which I Do Give them.”
Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon that have I given unto you.
You Tread- I Give. There’s Our Part and there’s God’s Part. It’s Not ALL Me- Not ALL God.
God gives promises- but they are always conditional. We have the responsibility to do our part then we trust God to do his part.
I have said it before, I’ll say it again. We Can not Do God’s Part- He Will Not do our Part.
One man said it like this: “There can be no real progress in spiritual life without a planting of the foot of faith upon the sure promises of God. The believer must be prepared to venture like Peter out on the deep waters at our Lord’s bidding.”
So true! We must plant our foot of faith upon the promises of God.
There will be Jordans to Cross.
There will be Jerichos to Conquer.
We will have to step out into the waters sometimes Before they part- but God will make them part.
We will have to walk around the walls and shout Before they fall down But God will bring them down.
A truly successful life is lived in the Purpose of God and by the Promises of God.
III. The Successful Life is a Life Lived In the Presence of God.
Vs 5- As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee- I will not fail thee nor forsake thee.
Nothing in this world can take the place of knowing you are living in the Presence of God.
Not money, not material things, not popularity, not pleasure, not health, not social standing or political power and position. Without God’s presence no life can truly be a success.
With God’s presence you will have:
Strength- (6,7) You will Be strong and Courageous-
Isaiah said that even Youths will become weary and faint- but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength and mount up with wings like eagles
Steadfastness-(8) You will observe the Word of the Lord without turning either to the right hand or the left. Those who live out of the presence of God find their lives wavering- their convictions change, their beliefs change, their behavior changes, they are unstable and uncommitted.
Those who live in the presence of God find Steadfastness- Commitment- Conviction- Enduring Courage.
Sustenance- (7,8) You will prosper whithersoever you go-
While God does not value material things like man does- God does know that we need material things for earthly life. Jesus said we are to seek First the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and that God will add these others things to our lives as we need them.
God will supply all your need according to his riches in Glory.
Jos. 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Purpose of God + Promises of God + Presence of God= Success!
- Published on
15 Inches from Heaven- Mark 12:28-34
The Pharisees & Herodians had come to Jesus to try to trip him up in his words and cause him embarrassment and grief. They asked him about paying tribute and his classic answer that we should render to Caesar what was Caesars and to God what was God’s shut their mouths. Then the Saducees took their turn with the subject of the Resurrection. They invented a hypothetical situation about 7 brothers who were eventually married to the same woman and asked whose wife she would be in heaven. Of course Jesus again silenced them by making the point that our earthly family relationships will not be exactly the same in heaven; family as we know it is not forever. Now there was a Scribe there who had been listening as Jesus answered the Pharisees & Saducees. He knew they had been deliberately trying to trip him up realized that Jesus had handled himself very well indeed, so he decided to get in on the discussion. He asked Jesus, “Which is the First commandment of all?” In other words, which one is most important and takes precedence over all others? Jesus gave his reply that the greatest commandment of all was to Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and soul, and mind and strength. The Scribe realized that once again Jesus had answered well and he said, “Well, Master thou hast said the truth for there is one God and none other and to love him supremely is more important than all the ceremonial rituals that one can go through”
Mark records that Jesus saw that he had answered “discreetly” ( carefully, judiciously, saying just enough, not too much)
He Admitted the truth of what Jesus said, but did not Commit himself to it.
Jesus said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” Think about that for a moment. Just how close was he? Just 15 inches. Just as far as it is from the head to the heart.
John Gill wrote this: Indeed there are some persons, who seem not far from the kingdom of God, who will never enter into it: there are some that seem very devout and religious; hear the word, join themselves with a church, live a moral life and yet are destitute of the grace of God: yea, there are some who make a profession of the Gospel and yet have no experience of the power of it upon their hearts; such are “almost Christians,” but not altogether; they are virgins like those in the parable, but they are foolish ones; they have lamps, but no oil; they come as far as the door, but find that the door is shut upon them.
Oh, the terrible danger of Having the Knowledge of Salvation in your head, but not having it in your heart.
Oh, the terrible danger of having the truth of God’s Word in head, but not in your heart.
Oh, the terrible danger of trying to serve the Lord with the head and not with the heart.
I. Reluctant Rejection.
There are those who know enough about Jesus Christ to be saved. They know about his Birth, Life, Ministry, Death, Resurrection, Ascension. They know enough about the Bible to be saved. They know about need to repent of sin & accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of their life. They know enough about the Christian life to live it. They know about the need to surrender their life to God and about the commitment of holy living. They know about the Godly lifestyle presented in the Bible. BUT its only in their HEAD, but not in their HEART.
Therefore, they do not Hate God or the church; do not hate the preacher & all Christians; do not curse or blaspheme God, they wouldn’t think of doing that. Still, they are not ready to really give their heart and life to the Lord. They practice Reluctant Rejection. “I know I should. I know I need to. I know I ought to. BUT.....
They are like king Agrippa who Knew that he should repent and be saved but he held back and said, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” A Reluctant Rejection.
They are only 15 inches from heaven. They need to get it from their head into their heart.
II. Self Righteous Religion.
Some feel they have it all figured out. There are certain things they should not do and certain things they should do and if they follow that plan then everything must be All Right. But, their life is not committed to God. They are not sold out to the Lord in complete surrender. They constantly try to Reason out their Salvation- Reason out their Devotion- Reason out their Commitment.
If I do this- I’ll still be all right.
If I do that- I’ll still be all right.
As long as I don’t do that- I’ll still be all right.
If no one knows I do that- well, I’ll still be all right.
Sadly, that’s the extent of their church attendance- the extent of their giving- the only purpose in some of their behavior- Rituals they are going through- at least to Appear Religious.
Surprised how many people really think they can make their own way to God and to heaven.
Cain thought he could.
Esau thought he could.
King Saul thought he could.
Pretty well entire Jewish nation thought they could.
Many devoted Catholic’s- Mormons- J W’s- Christian Scientists- Unitarians think they can.
So do some Lutherans- Methodists- Presbyterians- Baptists.
So do some who claim to be Pentecostals.
So do some right in our Holiness Pentecostal Churches.
They have Head Religion but not Heart religion. They think that all is well just because they Know it in their head, but it’s just Self Righteous religion. They are only 15 inches from heaven! They need to get it from their head to their heart.
III. Compromised Convictions.
If you have head religion and not heart religion, you will eventually compromise the convictions you one time claimed to believe. We all know what it is to get pressure about what we believe- why we believe it- how we live- why we live that way- why we do what we do and don’t do- what we wear and don’t wear- where we go and don’t go- what we participate in don’t participate in...
When the pressure comes if it’s only in your head and not in your heart you will cave in and surrender to the pressure. When the ridicule comes- when the arguments come- when those so called “christians” try to persuade you that your convictions are not necessary, If it’s only in your head you will compromise.
That’s why some Christian men have given in to viewing pornography and some to drinking alcohol.
That’s why some Christian women have given in to wearing immodest clothing and are decorating themselves with jewelry.
They are caving in to the pressure of the world around them: co-workers, fellow students, business associates, friends and even family members.
You need to have your Salvation experience in Your Heart!
You need to have your Christian life settled in your Heart!
You need to have your Convictions rooted in your heart!
Hear me today, there are No Shortcuts to Heaven!
We are all going to have to be Born Again to go to heaven.
We all must have our Hearts cleansed by the Blood of Jesus. Our heart, our spirit, must be Saved, Regenerated, Cleansed from Sin.
We must hide God’s Word in heart so that we do not sin against God.
We must love God with ALL our heart, soul, mind & strength.
We must have Holiness in our heart so that we are living a holy life to PLEASE the LORD and to be Ready for Rapture.
Paul spoke in Romans 1 of those who “KNEW GOD- but glorified him not as God- became vain in their imaginations and their foolish heart was darkened.”
James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
Mat. 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
Eph 6:6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.
Are you just 15 inches from Heaven to day? Does the experience you have exist only in your head and not in your heart?
The Pharisees & Herodians had come to Jesus to try to trip him up in his words and cause him embarrassment and grief. They asked him about paying tribute and his classic answer that we should render to Caesar what was Caesars and to God what was God’s shut their mouths. Then the Saducees took their turn with the subject of the Resurrection. They invented a hypothetical situation about 7 brothers who were eventually married to the same woman and asked whose wife she would be in heaven. Of course Jesus again silenced them by making the point that our earthly family relationships will not be exactly the same in heaven; family as we know it is not forever. Now there was a Scribe there who had been listening as Jesus answered the Pharisees & Saducees. He knew they had been deliberately trying to trip him up realized that Jesus had handled himself very well indeed, so he decided to get in on the discussion. He asked Jesus, “Which is the First commandment of all?” In other words, which one is most important and takes precedence over all others? Jesus gave his reply that the greatest commandment of all was to Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and soul, and mind and strength. The Scribe realized that once again Jesus had answered well and he said, “Well, Master thou hast said the truth for there is one God and none other and to love him supremely is more important than all the ceremonial rituals that one can go through”
Mark records that Jesus saw that he had answered “discreetly” ( carefully, judiciously, saying just enough, not too much)
He Admitted the truth of what Jesus said, but did not Commit himself to it.
Jesus said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” Think about that for a moment. Just how close was he? Just 15 inches. Just as far as it is from the head to the heart.
John Gill wrote this: Indeed there are some persons, who seem not far from the kingdom of God, who will never enter into it: there are some that seem very devout and religious; hear the word, join themselves with a church, live a moral life and yet are destitute of the grace of God: yea, there are some who make a profession of the Gospel and yet have no experience of the power of it upon their hearts; such are “almost Christians,” but not altogether; they are virgins like those in the parable, but they are foolish ones; they have lamps, but no oil; they come as far as the door, but find that the door is shut upon them.
Oh, the terrible danger of Having the Knowledge of Salvation in your head, but not having it in your heart.
Oh, the terrible danger of having the truth of God’s Word in head, but not in your heart.
Oh, the terrible danger of trying to serve the Lord with the head and not with the heart.
I. Reluctant Rejection.
There are those who know enough about Jesus Christ to be saved. They know about his Birth, Life, Ministry, Death, Resurrection, Ascension. They know enough about the Bible to be saved. They know about need to repent of sin & accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of their life. They know enough about the Christian life to live it. They know about the need to surrender their life to God and about the commitment of holy living. They know about the Godly lifestyle presented in the Bible. BUT its only in their HEAD, but not in their HEART.
Therefore, they do not Hate God or the church; do not hate the preacher & all Christians; do not curse or blaspheme God, they wouldn’t think of doing that. Still, they are not ready to really give their heart and life to the Lord. They practice Reluctant Rejection. “I know I should. I know I need to. I know I ought to. BUT.....
They are like king Agrippa who Knew that he should repent and be saved but he held back and said, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” A Reluctant Rejection.
They are only 15 inches from heaven. They need to get it from their head into their heart.
II. Self Righteous Religion.
Some feel they have it all figured out. There are certain things they should not do and certain things they should do and if they follow that plan then everything must be All Right. But, their life is not committed to God. They are not sold out to the Lord in complete surrender. They constantly try to Reason out their Salvation- Reason out their Devotion- Reason out their Commitment.
If I do this- I’ll still be all right.
If I do that- I’ll still be all right.
As long as I don’t do that- I’ll still be all right.
If no one knows I do that- well, I’ll still be all right.
Sadly, that’s the extent of their church attendance- the extent of their giving- the only purpose in some of their behavior- Rituals they are going through- at least to Appear Religious.
Surprised how many people really think they can make their own way to God and to heaven.
Cain thought he could.
Esau thought he could.
King Saul thought he could.
Pretty well entire Jewish nation thought they could.
Many devoted Catholic’s- Mormons- J W’s- Christian Scientists- Unitarians think they can.
So do some Lutherans- Methodists- Presbyterians- Baptists.
So do some who claim to be Pentecostals.
So do some right in our Holiness Pentecostal Churches.
They have Head Religion but not Heart religion. They think that all is well just because they Know it in their head, but it’s just Self Righteous religion. They are only 15 inches from heaven! They need to get it from their head to their heart.
III. Compromised Convictions.
If you have head religion and not heart religion, you will eventually compromise the convictions you one time claimed to believe. We all know what it is to get pressure about what we believe- why we believe it- how we live- why we live that way- why we do what we do and don’t do- what we wear and don’t wear- where we go and don’t go- what we participate in don’t participate in...
When the pressure comes if it’s only in your head and not in your heart you will cave in and surrender to the pressure. When the ridicule comes- when the arguments come- when those so called “christians” try to persuade you that your convictions are not necessary, If it’s only in your head you will compromise.
That’s why some Christian men have given in to viewing pornography and some to drinking alcohol.
That’s why some Christian women have given in to wearing immodest clothing and are decorating themselves with jewelry.
They are caving in to the pressure of the world around them: co-workers, fellow students, business associates, friends and even family members.
You need to have your Salvation experience in Your Heart!
You need to have your Christian life settled in your Heart!
You need to have your Convictions rooted in your heart!
Hear me today, there are No Shortcuts to Heaven!
We are all going to have to be Born Again to go to heaven.
We all must have our Hearts cleansed by the Blood of Jesus. Our heart, our spirit, must be Saved, Regenerated, Cleansed from Sin.
We must hide God’s Word in heart so that we do not sin against God.
We must love God with ALL our heart, soul, mind & strength.
We must have Holiness in our heart so that we are living a holy life to PLEASE the LORD and to be Ready for Rapture.
Paul spoke in Romans 1 of those who “KNEW GOD- but glorified him not as God- became vain in their imaginations and their foolish heart was darkened.”
James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
Mat. 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
Eph 6:6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.
Are you just 15 inches from Heaven to day? Does the experience you have exist only in your head and not in your heart?
- Published on
Let Us Love- 1 John 4:7
Intro: What a subject! Love!
We are in the month of that great Day of Celebrating Love- Valentine’s Day.
I’m not going into the history of the Day and St. Valentine except to say that Love is not just a worldly subject; not just a secular subject; not just an excuse for another money making holiday; LOVE is a Bible subject; a Major Bible subject.
Of course the Bible deals with the subject of Love from God’s Perfect Perspective and not from man’s limited view. According to the Bible, LOVE started with GOD.
It was God who FIRST loved. He Loved his Magnificent Creation; It was very good.
He loved Mankind as the Masterpiece of his creation.
He loved us So much that he designed the Plan of Salvation that would bring God’s own Son from eternity to time; from heaven to the world.
God’s love made Him who knew no sin to BE sin for us.
God’s love made Him who could not die willing to Die to pay the debt of our sins.
God’s love made it possible that we could enjoy earthly life and also inherit eternal life.
God’s love made it possible that we could become the sons of God and experience heavenly blessings while we lived on the earth; then when this earthly life came to an end we could experience heavenly blessings for all eternity.
That’s Incredible; Amazing; Astonishing; Wonderful!
Let me point out a couple of things about Love from God’s point of view.
I. Love is a Choice
We are sometimes led to believe that love is just an emotion or a feeling. We talk of “falling in love” and of “falling out of love.” We hear people talk about “being IN love;” then we hear them say “I just don’t love them anymore...”
I realize that love as we know it usually begins as an Attraction.
I know that God designed males to be attracted to females; and God designed females to be attracted to males. I know that there is something INSIDE Us that is sparked by attraction; we FEEL the attraction; we Feel love; it is an emotion and a feeling; BUT it is not JUST an emotion or feeling; love is much deeper than that.
This Attraction often grows to Infatuation which is defined by Webster as a fascination with something or someone.
Emotions are strong; feelings are real; BUT they alone are NOT Love. We can be fascinated by something or someone and it be a WRONG desire; an improper fascination; even an Ungodly passion.
Clearly, the Bible presents Love as a Choice we make. For LOVE as its presented in the Bible is not just an Attraction; or an Infatuation; or a Fascination; it is a DECISION a Choice; a Commitment.
The very meaning of the word LOVE in the Bible is one of decision and commitment. “Agape” indicates “unconditional, sacrificial, love or devotion;” love based not only on affection but on deliberate choice. Vine’s says that Christian Love is not Just an Impulse from the Feelings and it does not always run with what might be called the natural inclinations of human feelings; it is a Deep and Constant Devotion.
Love is a Choice.
- We must CHOOSE To love God in order to be saved.
- We must Choose to love one another.
- A Lady Chooses to Love a man so that he may become her husband.
- A Man Chooses to love a lady so that she may become his wife.
- Parents must choose to love their children
- Children must choose to love their parents
Love is a Choice.
II. Love is a Challenge.
Biblical love is not for the weak, wimpy or faint hearted. Did you notice that in my text verse the word love is used three times (twice love; once loveth)?
Notice now the difference in the way the word is used.
“Beloved, let us Love one another...”
“For love is of God...”
“Every one that Loveth is born of God and knoweth God”
First time- Action Verb
Second time- Noun
Third time- Action Verb
I went through the NT and found that the word Love and its forms, like loved and loveth, are used 246 times; 84 times love is used as a Noun; 162 times is it used as an Action Verb.
Love is not just a feeling; it is a motivation. Love is not just an emotion it is ACTION. That’s why love is a challenge. It’s one thing to Feel Love. It’s another thing to LOVE.
We are commanded to LOVE God with all our heart, soul mind and strength.That, my friend is a challenge! Do YOU love God with all of your Heart (spirit), Soul (will, mind and emotions) and Body?
We are commanded to Love our Neighbor as our self. That my friend is a challenge!
Do YOU love others like you love yourself? Are you concerned about Anyone Else as much as you are concerned about yourself?
Husbands are commanded to Love their wives and this is not just a Linking Verb but an Action Verb. Eph 5:28 “So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it.”That my friend is a challenge! Do You love your wife as much as you love yourself? Eph 5:25 “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.” That my friend is a REAL challenge! Do you love your wife like Christ loved the Church?
Wives are told to Love their Husbands in Titus 2:4; this love is to result in the following things:
Col 3:18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
Titus 2:5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
Eph 5:24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing
Love that Submits, that is Obedient; that is Subject to the husband in all things. That my friend, is a Challenge! Do you love your husband like that? Are you submitted to his leadership; are you obedient to his wishes; are you subject to his authority?
Parents are to love their Children and Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. That’s a challenge.
Children are to love their Parents and Obey them in the Lord for this is right and well pleasing unto the Lord. That’s a challenge; Do you children love your parents and obey them?
To love like God loved; to love like Jesus loved; to love like the Bible teaches us to love; is not Easy. It is not just a matter of emotions or feelings. This Godly love requires a Choice; a commitment; a decision and a determination. This Godly love is a Challenge that demands diligence and effort, but its Worth It! For God IS Love and every one that loveth is Born of God & Knows God.
Intro: What a subject! Love!
We are in the month of that great Day of Celebrating Love- Valentine’s Day.
I’m not going into the history of the Day and St. Valentine except to say that Love is not just a worldly subject; not just a secular subject; not just an excuse for another money making holiday; LOVE is a Bible subject; a Major Bible subject.
Of course the Bible deals with the subject of Love from God’s Perfect Perspective and not from man’s limited view. According to the Bible, LOVE started with GOD.
It was God who FIRST loved. He Loved his Magnificent Creation; It was very good.
He loved Mankind as the Masterpiece of his creation.
He loved us So much that he designed the Plan of Salvation that would bring God’s own Son from eternity to time; from heaven to the world.
God’s love made Him who knew no sin to BE sin for us.
God’s love made Him who could not die willing to Die to pay the debt of our sins.
God’s love made it possible that we could enjoy earthly life and also inherit eternal life.
God’s love made it possible that we could become the sons of God and experience heavenly blessings while we lived on the earth; then when this earthly life came to an end we could experience heavenly blessings for all eternity.
That’s Incredible; Amazing; Astonishing; Wonderful!
Let me point out a couple of things about Love from God’s point of view.
I. Love is a Choice
We are sometimes led to believe that love is just an emotion or a feeling. We talk of “falling in love” and of “falling out of love.” We hear people talk about “being IN love;” then we hear them say “I just don’t love them anymore...”
I realize that love as we know it usually begins as an Attraction.
I know that God designed males to be attracted to females; and God designed females to be attracted to males. I know that there is something INSIDE Us that is sparked by attraction; we FEEL the attraction; we Feel love; it is an emotion and a feeling; BUT it is not JUST an emotion or feeling; love is much deeper than that.
This Attraction often grows to Infatuation which is defined by Webster as a fascination with something or someone.
Emotions are strong; feelings are real; BUT they alone are NOT Love. We can be fascinated by something or someone and it be a WRONG desire; an improper fascination; even an Ungodly passion.
Clearly, the Bible presents Love as a Choice we make. For LOVE as its presented in the Bible is not just an Attraction; or an Infatuation; or a Fascination; it is a DECISION a Choice; a Commitment.
The very meaning of the word LOVE in the Bible is one of decision and commitment. “Agape” indicates “unconditional, sacrificial, love or devotion;” love based not only on affection but on deliberate choice. Vine’s says that Christian Love is not Just an Impulse from the Feelings and it does not always run with what might be called the natural inclinations of human feelings; it is a Deep and Constant Devotion.
Love is a Choice.
- We must CHOOSE To love God in order to be saved.
- We must Choose to love one another.
- A Lady Chooses to Love a man so that he may become her husband.
- A Man Chooses to love a lady so that she may become his wife.
- Parents must choose to love their children
- Children must choose to love their parents
Love is a Choice.
II. Love is a Challenge.
Biblical love is not for the weak, wimpy or faint hearted. Did you notice that in my text verse the word love is used three times (twice love; once loveth)?
Notice now the difference in the way the word is used.
“Beloved, let us Love one another...”
“For love is of God...”
“Every one that Loveth is born of God and knoweth God”
First time- Action Verb
Second time- Noun
Third time- Action Verb
I went through the NT and found that the word Love and its forms, like loved and loveth, are used 246 times; 84 times love is used as a Noun; 162 times is it used as an Action Verb.
Love is not just a feeling; it is a motivation. Love is not just an emotion it is ACTION. That’s why love is a challenge. It’s one thing to Feel Love. It’s another thing to LOVE.
We are commanded to LOVE God with all our heart, soul mind and strength.That, my friend is a challenge! Do YOU love God with all of your Heart (spirit), Soul (will, mind and emotions) and Body?
We are commanded to Love our Neighbor as our self. That my friend is a challenge!
Do YOU love others like you love yourself? Are you concerned about Anyone Else as much as you are concerned about yourself?
Husbands are commanded to Love their wives and this is not just a Linking Verb but an Action Verb. Eph 5:28 “So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it.”That my friend is a challenge! Do You love your wife as much as you love yourself? Eph 5:25 “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.” That my friend is a REAL challenge! Do you love your wife like Christ loved the Church?
Wives are told to Love their Husbands in Titus 2:4; this love is to result in the following things:
Col 3:18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
Titus 2:5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
Eph 5:24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing
Love that Submits, that is Obedient; that is Subject to the husband in all things. That my friend, is a Challenge! Do you love your husband like that? Are you submitted to his leadership; are you obedient to his wishes; are you subject to his authority?
Parents are to love their Children and Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. That’s a challenge.
Children are to love their Parents and Obey them in the Lord for this is right and well pleasing unto the Lord. That’s a challenge; Do you children love your parents and obey them?
To love like God loved; to love like Jesus loved; to love like the Bible teaches us to love; is not Easy. It is not just a matter of emotions or feelings. This Godly love requires a Choice; a commitment; a decision and a determination. This Godly love is a Challenge that demands diligence and effort, but its Worth It! For God IS Love and every one that loveth is Born of God & Knows God.
- Published on
Learning, Living, and Looking
Titus 2:11-14
Intro: This passage is full of tremendous doctrine:
vs. 11- Grace of God- Salvation, has appeared to all men [Incarnation & Free Will of man]
vs. 14- He (Jesus) gave himself for us [Atonement]
- that he might redeem us [Redemption]
- purify unto himself [Sanctification]
- a peculiar people [Separation]
- zealous of good works [Faith & Works]
I. Learning. (The Grace of God is “teaching us.”)
The Christian life begins with the grace of God that brings Salvation. First, get a BA degree- Born Again. You and I must be washed in the blood, forgiven, cleansed from sin and freed from its dominion. This is just the beginning! The Christian life is a Lifetime, Learning Experience.
Mat. 11:28- Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest; take my yoke upon you and LEARN of me.
Grace does not involve anything that we can EARN, but much that we are to LEARN.
Jesus said that the Comforter, the Holy Ghost would teach us all things and bring all things to our remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Jn 14:26
The Holy Ghost is not just to make a person speak in tongues and feel great excitement; he is our Wonderful Teacher. We are to be disciples or learners. We are told to learn to fear God- Deut 4:10; to Learn God’s statutes & commands- Ps 119:71; to Learn to do Good- Is 1:17; to Learn to maintain good works- Titus 3:14; to Learn doctrine- Rom. 16:17; to Learn to be content in whatever state we are in- Phil. 4:11
TEXT- The Grace of God Teaches Us that we are to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and that we are to Live Soberly, Righteously, and Godly in this present world. We are not just to Learn these things in our heads, but we are to put what we learn into practice.
II. Living (“we should Live”)
So, how are we to live? Well, Paul gives the Negative first and tells us to “deny ungodliness and worldly lusts.” Whether we like it or not, Do’s and Don’ts are a fact of life. They are a fact of life when it comes to parents and children; when it comes to the business world; when it comes to driving and traffic laws; when it comes to civil government.
These Do’s and Don’ts are NOT for Salvation, but for the Christian Life AFTER salvation.
The Grace of God brings salvation and we receive it through Faith. Then, this same Grace of God begins to Teach us How to Live.
1 John 2:15- “Love not the World, neither the things that in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of flesh and the lust of eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father but of the world.”
Jesus taught that if any man would come after him, he would have to deny himself, take up his cross and follow Jesus.
Jesus said if your eye offends you (causes you to sin), pluck it out; if your hand or foot offends you, cut it off. Making the point that being holy before the Lord is more important than our physical being.
Paul said that we are to come out from among the world and be separate, and touch not the unclean thing; that we are to cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (2 Cor. 7:1)
We are exhorted in Heb. 12:2- to lay aside every weights and sins that so easily beset or hinder us.
Then Paul in our Text speaks of the Positive aspect of Christian living: live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.
Soberly- with temperance, self control; not wild and out of control
Righteously- doing what is Right in sight of God; according to God’s Holy Word.
Godly- character like God’s; reverence for God; living in God’s presence; God’s will is your will; God’s love is your love; God’s purity is your purity
“In this present world”- not hiding out from world in a cave or monastery; not isolated from everything and everyone- but as LIGHT in the MIDST of Darkness, our Light shining before men that they see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven.
Let your Light shine at Home; School; Job; Office; Store; Doctor’s waiting room; Neighborhood; Bank; Church; Among Family; Around Friends
One man wrote:
I sought to hear the voice of God
And climbed the highest steeple,
But God declared, “Go down again, I live among the people.”
III. Looking. (Looking for that blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ)
Looking- waiting in expectation; looking to receive something or someone;
Mk 15:43 Joseph of Arimathaea, an honorable counselor, which also waited for the kingdom of God
The same word used in Luke 2 of both Simeon and Anna; of Simeon (waiting for consolation of Israel) of Anna (looked for redemption)
Lu 12:36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return
We must not only Claim to be Pilgrims and strangers in this world BUT LIVE as Pilgrims and Strangers in this world, whose citizenship is in heaven. We are to be LOOKING, waiting expectantly, watching with anticipation for Jesus Christ to come in the clouds.
He will descend from heaven with a shout.
We will hear the voice of the Arch angel and the trump of God.
We will be caught up together in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
We will be Changed from mortality to immortality; from earthly to heavenly; from solely physical beings to spiritual beings
The old song says, “Glorified with him forever, Death will be lost in Victory; I’ll have a new body and I’ll have a new life”
We will go Home! We will reach Heaven and receive our Eternal Reward.
What ever happens to you and I in this life, It’s worth it all to hold fast to Jesus Christ, to Learn From Him, To Live For Him, and to Look for Him.
For unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Heb. 9:28) Have a Happy and Holy New Year!
Titus 2:11-14
Intro: This passage is full of tremendous doctrine:
vs. 11- Grace of God- Salvation, has appeared to all men [Incarnation & Free Will of man]
vs. 14- He (Jesus) gave himself for us [Atonement]
- that he might redeem us [Redemption]
- purify unto himself [Sanctification]
- a peculiar people [Separation]
- zealous of good works [Faith & Works]
I. Learning. (The Grace of God is “teaching us.”)
The Christian life begins with the grace of God that brings Salvation. First, get a BA degree- Born Again. You and I must be washed in the blood, forgiven, cleansed from sin and freed from its dominion. This is just the beginning! The Christian life is a Lifetime, Learning Experience.
Mat. 11:28- Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest; take my yoke upon you and LEARN of me.
Grace does not involve anything that we can EARN, but much that we are to LEARN.
Jesus said that the Comforter, the Holy Ghost would teach us all things and bring all things to our remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Jn 14:26
The Holy Ghost is not just to make a person speak in tongues and feel great excitement; he is our Wonderful Teacher. We are to be disciples or learners. We are told to learn to fear God- Deut 4:10; to Learn God’s statutes & commands- Ps 119:71; to Learn to do Good- Is 1:17; to Learn to maintain good works- Titus 3:14; to Learn doctrine- Rom. 16:17; to Learn to be content in whatever state we are in- Phil. 4:11
TEXT- The Grace of God Teaches Us that we are to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and that we are to Live Soberly, Righteously, and Godly in this present world. We are not just to Learn these things in our heads, but we are to put what we learn into practice.
II. Living (“we should Live”)
So, how are we to live? Well, Paul gives the Negative first and tells us to “deny ungodliness and worldly lusts.” Whether we like it or not, Do’s and Don’ts are a fact of life. They are a fact of life when it comes to parents and children; when it comes to the business world; when it comes to driving and traffic laws; when it comes to civil government.
These Do’s and Don’ts are NOT for Salvation, but for the Christian Life AFTER salvation.
The Grace of God brings salvation and we receive it through Faith. Then, this same Grace of God begins to Teach us How to Live.
1 John 2:15- “Love not the World, neither the things that in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of flesh and the lust of eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father but of the world.”
Jesus taught that if any man would come after him, he would have to deny himself, take up his cross and follow Jesus.
Jesus said if your eye offends you (causes you to sin), pluck it out; if your hand or foot offends you, cut it off. Making the point that being holy before the Lord is more important than our physical being.
Paul said that we are to come out from among the world and be separate, and touch not the unclean thing; that we are to cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (2 Cor. 7:1)
We are exhorted in Heb. 12:2- to lay aside every weights and sins that so easily beset or hinder us.
Then Paul in our Text speaks of the Positive aspect of Christian living: live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.
Soberly- with temperance, self control; not wild and out of control
Righteously- doing what is Right in sight of God; according to God’s Holy Word.
Godly- character like God’s; reverence for God; living in God’s presence; God’s will is your will; God’s love is your love; God’s purity is your purity
“In this present world”- not hiding out from world in a cave or monastery; not isolated from everything and everyone- but as LIGHT in the MIDST of Darkness, our Light shining before men that they see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven.
Let your Light shine at Home; School; Job; Office; Store; Doctor’s waiting room; Neighborhood; Bank; Church; Among Family; Around Friends
One man wrote:
I sought to hear the voice of God
And climbed the highest steeple,
But God declared, “Go down again, I live among the people.”
III. Looking. (Looking for that blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ)
Looking- waiting in expectation; looking to receive something or someone;
Mk 15:43 Joseph of Arimathaea, an honorable counselor, which also waited for the kingdom of God
The same word used in Luke 2 of both Simeon and Anna; of Simeon (waiting for consolation of Israel) of Anna (looked for redemption)
Lu 12:36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return
We must not only Claim to be Pilgrims and strangers in this world BUT LIVE as Pilgrims and Strangers in this world, whose citizenship is in heaven. We are to be LOOKING, waiting expectantly, watching with anticipation for Jesus Christ to come in the clouds.
He will descend from heaven with a shout.
We will hear the voice of the Arch angel and the trump of God.
We will be caught up together in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
We will be Changed from mortality to immortality; from earthly to heavenly; from solely physical beings to spiritual beings
The old song says, “Glorified with him forever, Death will be lost in Victory; I’ll have a new body and I’ll have a new life”
We will go Home! We will reach Heaven and receive our Eternal Reward.
What ever happens to you and I in this life, It’s worth it all to hold fast to Jesus Christ, to Learn From Him, To Live For Him, and to Look for Him.
For unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Heb. 9:28) Have a Happy and Holy New Year!
- Published on
I’m Dreaming of a Right Christmas- Luke 2:10-14
Intro: I Know, we all sing about “Dreaming of A White Christmas.” Well, I don’t care a whole lot whether it snows at Christmas or not. I do enjoy making a snowman, having a snowball fight, and the beauty of snow as it covers the earth in blanket of white. Still, I’m Dreaming of a RIGHT Christmas! What would really make Christmas “Right” for all of us?
I. Joy In Jesus.
For a Christmas to be “Right” it must be centered in Jesus.
What has happened to us all? We have all gotten BUSY, BUSY, BUSY! We are busy with Parties at school, work, church, in the community, and with family. We are busy with Shopping. Now, I’m not a “scrooge” but why should we waste money when we are already in a financial bind, just because it’s “Christmas?” We are busy with Decorating, and numerous Activities and of course there are Toys, Toys, Toys. Most of us could sing about Christmas that “It’s the most Stressful time of the Year.”
Guess who gets left out the Most? JESUS
The world never has time for Jesus so Christmas is no exception. BUT Christians who usually take time for Jesus end up so busy with everything else that He is too often neglected. Prayer is neglected. The Bible is slighted. Church is omitted completely by some and others come but are so distracted by their busy- ness that they come and go like zombies.
A Right Christmas will be Full of Jesus and the Joy He brings.
Are you Sad because you don’t have enough money to spend on a bunch of gifts?
Are you Sad because can’t get what you really want?
Are you Sad because some one else is getting more than you are?
Are you Sad because you went ahead and spent money you don’t have, under the pressure of the season?
We all need to get our Priorities Straight! The Joy of Jesus is much more important than any physical, or material aspect of Christmas. It’s Jesus who was God’s Gift to Man. It’s Jesus who willingly came from heaven to earth, humbled himself to become a man, took upon himself the form of a servant, humbled himself to die, even to die the death of a cross in agony and shame and all so that he might bring SALVATION.
Is Christmas really the most Depressing time of the Year? Well, It’s certainly not depressing to celebrate the Joy of Jesus’ Birth and Life on earth. It’s only depressing when the Joy of Jesus is Left Out.
II. Grace in Giving.
I know. From what I’ve already said, I sound like a Scrooge or Grinch who doesn’t want to buy anyone a gift. However, that is not true. I really do enjoy the Gift Giving of Christmas. After all, we claim the Bible as the basis for gift giving at Christmas. We know about the Three Wise men who came bearing gifts for the Christ Child, and that was a definite sign of reverence and respect.
The Custom of giving gifts at Christmas developed slowly and gradually, for Christmas became a time to show love and appreciation to others by giving them a gift.
Look at progression:
The Wise men brought one gift each- TO Jesus.
The Custom grew and we Sang, “I’ll be home for Christmas, you can plan on me. Please have snow and mistletoe, and presents ON the tree...”
After awhile, presents ON the tree was not good enough because they had to be quite small to go ON the tree, so the words were changed to “presents UNDER the tree”
Actually, I’ve been working on a newer updated version that says, “please have snow and mistletoe, and presents like a SEA.”
Seriously, I think we need Grace in our Giving and our Giving needs some Guidelines.
1) Buy what they need.
2) Buy what you can afford.
3) Give to someone who is less fortunate than you.
4) Give to Christian causes in Christ’s honor.
5) Don’t Rob God of your tithes in December to pay for gifts.
Do God’s Principles of Financial Responsibility take a vacation in December? A Right Christmas will have Joy in Jesus and Grace in Giving.
III. Fellowship with Family & Friends.
One of the greatest joys of the Christmas season is the gathering of family and friends to spend some Time together. America has seen a tragic breakdown in the Family Unit. It has been broken by Unfaithfulness, Abuse, Adultery, Pornography, Divorce, Desertion and Neglect. Families have been divided by Bitterness & Unforgiveness, Greed, Jealousy, and even Hatred. We need to cultivate our Family Relationships: Husbands- Wives; Parents- Children; Grand Parents; Uncles, Aunts, & Cousins; Brothers & Sisters; Nephews & Nieces.
We need to cultivate our relationships with our friends.
Why do people grow apart? Usually we grow apart through petty disagreements and frictions; sometimes because of misunderstandings; and too often because of Jealousy. We need to cultivate our friendships and our relationships with our Brothers and Sisters in the Lord. Any life activities that steal important family, friend, and spiritual family time need to be declined. Events that steal important family, friend, spiritual family time need to be refused.
I’m sure you have read or heard the Dr. Seuss story of the Grinch Who Stole Christmas. The Grinch hated Christmas and he especially hated the way the Who’s down in Whoville celebrated it. He decided to “steal” Christmas. He went into the town at night. He stole all the decorations, all the presents, all the food from the houses and left only crumbs even too small for the who mouses. He loaded it all up on his sled and took it away. While he climbed the mountain to his house, he rejoiced in his evil deed and couldn’t wait to hear all the Who’s down in Who ville start to BOO HOO when they found out what had happened. He thought he heard a sound so he stopped to listen to hear them cry, but instead of crying they were singing. They were celebrating Christmas without trees and lights; without presents; without the big turkey or ham. Well, the Grinch was puzzled and as he pondered this amazing turn of events, his heart was touched by their joyful singing. They were celebrating in spite of the loss of all their Christmas trappings and as he listened to them sing, his heart grew three sizes and he returned all of their Christmas stuff and joined in the celebration.
NOW- Think about this: How would your Christmas celebration be if you had no TREE, no PRESENTS, no BIG HAM in the oven? Would you be complaining, having a Pity Party, Depressed, saying “this is not fair; I’ve been mistreated by God and everyone else?”
I trust that you and I will have a Right Christmas! A Christmas filled with Joy In Jesus. A Christmas with Grace in our Giving. A Christmas full of Fellowship with Family and Friends.
“I’m Dreaming of a Right Christmas.”
Intro: I Know, we all sing about “Dreaming of A White Christmas.” Well, I don’t care a whole lot whether it snows at Christmas or not. I do enjoy making a snowman, having a snowball fight, and the beauty of snow as it covers the earth in blanket of white. Still, I’m Dreaming of a RIGHT Christmas! What would really make Christmas “Right” for all of us?
I. Joy In Jesus.
For a Christmas to be “Right” it must be centered in Jesus.
What has happened to us all? We have all gotten BUSY, BUSY, BUSY! We are busy with Parties at school, work, church, in the community, and with family. We are busy with Shopping. Now, I’m not a “scrooge” but why should we waste money when we are already in a financial bind, just because it’s “Christmas?” We are busy with Decorating, and numerous Activities and of course there are Toys, Toys, Toys. Most of us could sing about Christmas that “It’s the most Stressful time of the Year.”
Guess who gets left out the Most? JESUS
The world never has time for Jesus so Christmas is no exception. BUT Christians who usually take time for Jesus end up so busy with everything else that He is too often neglected. Prayer is neglected. The Bible is slighted. Church is omitted completely by some and others come but are so distracted by their busy- ness that they come and go like zombies.
A Right Christmas will be Full of Jesus and the Joy He brings.
Are you Sad because you don’t have enough money to spend on a bunch of gifts?
Are you Sad because can’t get what you really want?
Are you Sad because some one else is getting more than you are?
Are you Sad because you went ahead and spent money you don’t have, under the pressure of the season?
We all need to get our Priorities Straight! The Joy of Jesus is much more important than any physical, or material aspect of Christmas. It’s Jesus who was God’s Gift to Man. It’s Jesus who willingly came from heaven to earth, humbled himself to become a man, took upon himself the form of a servant, humbled himself to die, even to die the death of a cross in agony and shame and all so that he might bring SALVATION.
Is Christmas really the most Depressing time of the Year? Well, It’s certainly not depressing to celebrate the Joy of Jesus’ Birth and Life on earth. It’s only depressing when the Joy of Jesus is Left Out.
II. Grace in Giving.
I know. From what I’ve already said, I sound like a Scrooge or Grinch who doesn’t want to buy anyone a gift. However, that is not true. I really do enjoy the Gift Giving of Christmas. After all, we claim the Bible as the basis for gift giving at Christmas. We know about the Three Wise men who came bearing gifts for the Christ Child, and that was a definite sign of reverence and respect.
The Custom of giving gifts at Christmas developed slowly and gradually, for Christmas became a time to show love and appreciation to others by giving them a gift.
Look at progression:
The Wise men brought one gift each- TO Jesus.
The Custom grew and we Sang, “I’ll be home for Christmas, you can plan on me. Please have snow and mistletoe, and presents ON the tree...”
After awhile, presents ON the tree was not good enough because they had to be quite small to go ON the tree, so the words were changed to “presents UNDER the tree”
Actually, I’ve been working on a newer updated version that says, “please have snow and mistletoe, and presents like a SEA.”
Seriously, I think we need Grace in our Giving and our Giving needs some Guidelines.
1) Buy what they need.
2) Buy what you can afford.
3) Give to someone who is less fortunate than you.
4) Give to Christian causes in Christ’s honor.
5) Don’t Rob God of your tithes in December to pay for gifts.
Do God’s Principles of Financial Responsibility take a vacation in December? A Right Christmas will have Joy in Jesus and Grace in Giving.
III. Fellowship with Family & Friends.
One of the greatest joys of the Christmas season is the gathering of family and friends to spend some Time together. America has seen a tragic breakdown in the Family Unit. It has been broken by Unfaithfulness, Abuse, Adultery, Pornography, Divorce, Desertion and Neglect. Families have been divided by Bitterness & Unforgiveness, Greed, Jealousy, and even Hatred. We need to cultivate our Family Relationships: Husbands- Wives; Parents- Children; Grand Parents; Uncles, Aunts, & Cousins; Brothers & Sisters; Nephews & Nieces.
We need to cultivate our relationships with our friends.
Why do people grow apart? Usually we grow apart through petty disagreements and frictions; sometimes because of misunderstandings; and too often because of Jealousy. We need to cultivate our friendships and our relationships with our Brothers and Sisters in the Lord. Any life activities that steal important family, friend, and spiritual family time need to be declined. Events that steal important family, friend, spiritual family time need to be refused.
I’m sure you have read or heard the Dr. Seuss story of the Grinch Who Stole Christmas. The Grinch hated Christmas and he especially hated the way the Who’s down in Whoville celebrated it. He decided to “steal” Christmas. He went into the town at night. He stole all the decorations, all the presents, all the food from the houses and left only crumbs even too small for the who mouses. He loaded it all up on his sled and took it away. While he climbed the mountain to his house, he rejoiced in his evil deed and couldn’t wait to hear all the Who’s down in Who ville start to BOO HOO when they found out what had happened. He thought he heard a sound so he stopped to listen to hear them cry, but instead of crying they were singing. They were celebrating Christmas without trees and lights; without presents; without the big turkey or ham. Well, the Grinch was puzzled and as he pondered this amazing turn of events, his heart was touched by their joyful singing. They were celebrating in spite of the loss of all their Christmas trappings and as he listened to them sing, his heart grew three sizes and he returned all of their Christmas stuff and joined in the celebration.
NOW- Think about this: How would your Christmas celebration be if you had no TREE, no PRESENTS, no BIG HAM in the oven? Would you be complaining, having a Pity Party, Depressed, saying “this is not fair; I’ve been mistreated by God and everyone else?”
I trust that you and I will have a Right Christmas! A Christmas filled with Joy In Jesus. A Christmas with Grace in our Giving. A Christmas full of Fellowship with Family and Friends.
“I’m Dreaming of a Right Christmas.”
- Published on
The POWER of the Holy Ghost- Rom. 15:13
Intro: We believe that the Holy Ghost is the third person of the Trinity. We believe the Holy Ghost works in the conviction of sinners and the salvation of the soul. We also believe in the Baptism of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. We believe in Holy Ghost power, that this Power from on High is for today, not just for the days of the Disciples and Apostles. We believe that this Power does more in the believer’s life than just cause him to speak in other tongues.
I. Promised Power.
Jesus began to teach the disciples about the coming of the Holy Ghost as another Comforter in John 14-16. He told them that it was expedient (necessary, very important) that he go away and then he would send them another Comforter, the Holy Ghost; that the H G would “abide with them forever” (Jn 14:16) He told them in our text that they were to tarry in Jerusalem until they were endued with power from on high.
On the Day of Pentecost- God poured out the Holy Ghost on the 120 gathered there praying.
There was a Sound of rushing mighty wind; Tongues of Fire on lit upon each of them; they were all
Baptized in Holy Ghost and began Speaking in other tongues as Spirit gave utterance. The Power of the Holy Ghost had come.
Thank God this Promised Power did not stop with just the 120 for Peter declared in Acts 2:39 “For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” Notice those mentioned? 1) Those present that day, 2) Their children, whether they had children on that day or not, and 3) Those who not present there that day but would later be “called” by God to receive this great Gift and blessing. This Promised Power is still available today!
II. Overcoming Power.
The fact that Holy Ghost power would be Overcoming Power was proved true on the very day it was poured out. Peter, the one who lingered at the enemy’s fire and denied Jesus three times, now stood up and preached boldly to the crowd gathered there that day. He declared, “These are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. 16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel.” The same man who had Denied the Lord was now Declaring the Gospel of Jesus Christ with boldness. He was not Afraid, He was Anointed. No longer was there a Fear of being associated with the followers of Jesus.
You and I need this Overcoming Power.
Rom. 8:1,2 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Rom 8:12-14 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
This Power is given so that we might Overcome: Sin- Satan- Demons- the World- the Flesh- the Old Sinful Nature.
Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
III. Witnessing Power.
Jesus told the disciples in Acts 1:8 that they would receive power after that the HG came upon them and they would be witnesses of the Lord in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the earth. Jerusalem- their Community; Judea- their Country; Samaria- their Continent; the Uttermost part of earth- their Complete Commission.
Acts 4:31... they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
In Acts 13 the Holy Ghost specifically called Paul and Barnabas to the work of Evangelism throughout the world.
Amy Carmichel was a missionary in India for 56 years and she wrote: “The reason we need Pentecost is that It creates a Passion for souls and a love for the lost that will not die; It puts power in our prayers and a fire that burns in our soul in reaching for the unsaved.
We Need Witnessing Power! TODAY!
IV. Enduring Power.
We know that Jesus said those who would “endure to the end” would be saved. We also know that the devil does everything in his power to cause Christians to give up- to quit- to backslide. If you and I are going to make it all the way to Heaven, we need this Enduring Power.
Jesus said that he would give us power “over all the power of the enemy.”
Paul in 2 Cor. 4:7-9 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.
2Tim 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, & of love, and of a sound mind.
1 Peter 1:5- we are “kept by the power of God.”
V. Rejoicing Power.
On the Day of Pentecost, they rejoiced in Holy Ghost power and the onlookers thought they were drunk. After they had been arrested & threatened, in Acts 4- then arrested, threatened and even beaten in Acts 5. Acts 5:41- And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
Acts 13:50-52- the Jews stirred up opposition and “ raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts... 52 And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.
Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Rom15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace..., through the power of the Holy Ghost.
This rejoicing is not just an emotional feeling. It is the result of the Power of the Holy Ghost that gets down inside and must have a release. There is Rejoicing in the Holy Ghost in spite of feelings, sickness, disappointment, trials, persecution, and even in the valley of the shadow of death.
P romised Power,
O vercoming Power,
W itnessing Power.,
E nduring Power,
R ejoicing Power.
Intro: We believe that the Holy Ghost is the third person of the Trinity. We believe the Holy Ghost works in the conviction of sinners and the salvation of the soul. We also believe in the Baptism of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. We believe in Holy Ghost power, that this Power from on High is for today, not just for the days of the Disciples and Apostles. We believe that this Power does more in the believer’s life than just cause him to speak in other tongues.
I. Promised Power.
Jesus began to teach the disciples about the coming of the Holy Ghost as another Comforter in John 14-16. He told them that it was expedient (necessary, very important) that he go away and then he would send them another Comforter, the Holy Ghost; that the H G would “abide with them forever” (Jn 14:16) He told them in our text that they were to tarry in Jerusalem until they were endued with power from on high.
On the Day of Pentecost- God poured out the Holy Ghost on the 120 gathered there praying.
There was a Sound of rushing mighty wind; Tongues of Fire on lit upon each of them; they were all
Baptized in Holy Ghost and began Speaking in other tongues as Spirit gave utterance. The Power of the Holy Ghost had come.
Thank God this Promised Power did not stop with just the 120 for Peter declared in Acts 2:39 “For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” Notice those mentioned? 1) Those present that day, 2) Their children, whether they had children on that day or not, and 3) Those who not present there that day but would later be “called” by God to receive this great Gift and blessing. This Promised Power is still available today!
II. Overcoming Power.
The fact that Holy Ghost power would be Overcoming Power was proved true on the very day it was poured out. Peter, the one who lingered at the enemy’s fire and denied Jesus three times, now stood up and preached boldly to the crowd gathered there that day. He declared, “These are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. 16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel.” The same man who had Denied the Lord was now Declaring the Gospel of Jesus Christ with boldness. He was not Afraid, He was Anointed. No longer was there a Fear of being associated with the followers of Jesus.
You and I need this Overcoming Power.
Rom. 8:1,2 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Rom 8:12-14 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
This Power is given so that we might Overcome: Sin- Satan- Demons- the World- the Flesh- the Old Sinful Nature.
Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
III. Witnessing Power.
Jesus told the disciples in Acts 1:8 that they would receive power after that the HG came upon them and they would be witnesses of the Lord in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the earth. Jerusalem- their Community; Judea- their Country; Samaria- their Continent; the Uttermost part of earth- their Complete Commission.
Acts 4:31... they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
In Acts 13 the Holy Ghost specifically called Paul and Barnabas to the work of Evangelism throughout the world.
Amy Carmichel was a missionary in India for 56 years and she wrote: “The reason we need Pentecost is that It creates a Passion for souls and a love for the lost that will not die; It puts power in our prayers and a fire that burns in our soul in reaching for the unsaved.
We Need Witnessing Power! TODAY!
IV. Enduring Power.
We know that Jesus said those who would “endure to the end” would be saved. We also know that the devil does everything in his power to cause Christians to give up- to quit- to backslide. If you and I are going to make it all the way to Heaven, we need this Enduring Power.
Jesus said that he would give us power “over all the power of the enemy.”
Paul in 2 Cor. 4:7-9 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.
2Tim 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, & of love, and of a sound mind.
1 Peter 1:5- we are “kept by the power of God.”
V. Rejoicing Power.
On the Day of Pentecost, they rejoiced in Holy Ghost power and the onlookers thought they were drunk. After they had been arrested & threatened, in Acts 4- then arrested, threatened and even beaten in Acts 5. Acts 5:41- And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
Acts 13:50-52- the Jews stirred up opposition and “ raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts... 52 And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.
Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Rom15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace..., through the power of the Holy Ghost.
This rejoicing is not just an emotional feeling. It is the result of the Power of the Holy Ghost that gets down inside and must have a release. There is Rejoicing in the Holy Ghost in spite of feelings, sickness, disappointment, trials, persecution, and even in the valley of the shadow of death.
P romised Power,
O vercoming Power,
W itnessing Power.,
E nduring Power,
R ejoicing Power.
- Published on
Stay in the Ship
Acts 27:29-32
I. The Severity of the Storm.
Paul was on his way to Rome to stand trial when this severe storm arose- “tempestuous winds” They called it Euroclydon which means “violent agitation.” The ship was damaged so they made a quick stop on an island to make some repairs then had to sail on. The storm persisted and the Bible says they were “exceedingly tossed with a tempest.”
They began to lighten the ship by casting overboard anything that they no longer considered vital. Then they began to throw out the Tackling; which had once been important but not now! Then they began to throw out the cash cargo- and you know that when a merchant ship tosses out the cash cargo things have to be Really Desperate!
For 14 days and nights they were tossed and driven by the sea and all hope that they would survive was Gone.
Now an interesting thing took place, the shipmen, the sailors, decided that the situation was hopeless and their lives were about to be lost. They made plans to abandon the ship and leave everyone else to their own fate. They acted like they were putting out anchors but Secretly, they began to lower a lifeboat to escape in. Somehow, Paul became aware of what they were doing; he called to the soldiers and told them what was happening. He told them that the sailors must be forced to remain in the ship or everyone might be lost.
Remember, God had already promised Paul that everyone on the ship would be saved. The sailors obviously did not believe the declaration of God’s Promise and went about trying to secure their own safety by escape.
The soldiers quickly cut the ropes that held the life boat and let it drop into the sea.
The message to these sailors was Stay in the Ship. Your only place of safety is the ship. Your only means of survival is to Stay in the ship.
II. The Safety of the Ship.
We must Stay In the Ship! We must stay in the Lord Jesus Christ! We must stay in the true Church universal and we need to stay in the Local Church as well.
I know that things look bad in our world today.
I know that storm clouds of sin hover over us.
I know that evil abounds and violence rages.
I know that tensions are high and people are reacting with un-reasonable behavior.
I know that a virus has been spreading across our nation and the whole world.
I know that the political scene is one of hostility and almost warfare.
I know that perversion is not only tolerated and allowed but LEGAL!
The Storm in this World looks Bad.
Besides that, I know that often the storms in our own personal lives are severe too.
I know that we have sickness and afflictions.
I know that we feel the tempest of family troubles.
I know that we are often tossed about by financial pressures and tested with trials and burdened with grief.
You may feel like there has been No sun, and No Moon, and No Stars and that your hope has been taken away. SADLY-
Some have reached the decision the Shipmen made and have made plans to abandon the ship.
Some have decided that the Old Ship of Zion, the Church of Jesus Christ, will never make it through these storms: “it looks like its about to break apart right now- I’d better get out!”
Some have abandoned ship; they have given up the hope of true salvation; they have given up on holiness of life; they have given up on the genuine experience of the Holy Ghost Baptism with the evidence of speaking in other tongues; they have given up on the Blessed hope of the Rapture and Gone overboard into the sea of this world.
Hear me Friend- in order to Survive the storms of this world, you Must Stay in the Ship.
No matter how long the voyage takes.
No matter how rough the sea becomes.
No matter how high the waves mount.
No matter how low your hope ebbs.
The only Safety is in the Ship; Stay in the Ship.
You’ll notice if you read this account that earlier the shipmen on Paul’s ship had taken a sounding to check their position. Their first sounding was 20 fathoms; the next was fifteen so they knew they were nearing some Shore.
We too are nearing the shore; we are closer to the coming of the Lord and closer to heaven than ever before. The soundings prove it to be so.
When Israel became a nation, it was one of the most important signs of the end times. Almost all the events leading up to and including the Tribulation have to do with Israel and they had to be a nation; well they are and have been for a little over 70 years.
Since then we have witnessed numbers of signs of the times that were mentioned by Jesus (like false religions, earthquakes, famines, pestilence, and wars) and signs that were mentioned by Paul and John (like the realignment of nations in Europe and Asia) and we have witnessed the unrest among the Muslim nations as well.
Wake up Friend! We are closer to the Rapture than most of us realize. Jesus is Coming!
Stay in the Ship.
James said in 5:7,8 Be Patient brethren unto the coming of the Lord...establish your hearts for the coming of the Lord draws nigh.
Peter said, “the end of all things is at hand, be ye sober and watch unto prayer.” (1 Pet. 4:7)
Paul said, “and knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand, let us therefore cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armor of light...let us walk not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering (immorality) or wantonness (shameful conduct), not in strife and envying, but put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make not provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof.” (Rom 13:11-14)
Jesus told his disciples in Mt. 24 that people in the last days would react in one of two ways:
- Because iniquity would abound, the love of many would become cold (abandon the ship)
- However, some would endure to the end and be saved (stay in the ship).
If you are reading this and you’re not sure you are saved by the blood of Jesus and you are not living faithfully for him, you need to GET In the Ship. This is a terrible time to be lost and backslidden.
If you are child of God, this is no time to slack off, let up, or fall out. Don’t become critical, don’t become worldly, don’t become offended or bitter and abandon the ship. Stay on fire for God and Stay in the Ship.
Acts 27:29-32
I. The Severity of the Storm.
Paul was on his way to Rome to stand trial when this severe storm arose- “tempestuous winds” They called it Euroclydon which means “violent agitation.” The ship was damaged so they made a quick stop on an island to make some repairs then had to sail on. The storm persisted and the Bible says they were “exceedingly tossed with a tempest.”
They began to lighten the ship by casting overboard anything that they no longer considered vital. Then they began to throw out the Tackling; which had once been important but not now! Then they began to throw out the cash cargo- and you know that when a merchant ship tosses out the cash cargo things have to be Really Desperate!
For 14 days and nights they were tossed and driven by the sea and all hope that they would survive was Gone.
Now an interesting thing took place, the shipmen, the sailors, decided that the situation was hopeless and their lives were about to be lost. They made plans to abandon the ship and leave everyone else to their own fate. They acted like they were putting out anchors but Secretly, they began to lower a lifeboat to escape in. Somehow, Paul became aware of what they were doing; he called to the soldiers and told them what was happening. He told them that the sailors must be forced to remain in the ship or everyone might be lost.
Remember, God had already promised Paul that everyone on the ship would be saved. The sailors obviously did not believe the declaration of God’s Promise and went about trying to secure their own safety by escape.
The soldiers quickly cut the ropes that held the life boat and let it drop into the sea.
The message to these sailors was Stay in the Ship. Your only place of safety is the ship. Your only means of survival is to Stay in the ship.
II. The Safety of the Ship.
We must Stay In the Ship! We must stay in the Lord Jesus Christ! We must stay in the true Church universal and we need to stay in the Local Church as well.
I know that things look bad in our world today.
I know that storm clouds of sin hover over us.
I know that evil abounds and violence rages.
I know that tensions are high and people are reacting with un-reasonable behavior.
I know that a virus has been spreading across our nation and the whole world.
I know that the political scene is one of hostility and almost warfare.
I know that perversion is not only tolerated and allowed but LEGAL!
The Storm in this World looks Bad.
Besides that, I know that often the storms in our own personal lives are severe too.
I know that we have sickness and afflictions.
I know that we feel the tempest of family troubles.
I know that we are often tossed about by financial pressures and tested with trials and burdened with grief.
You may feel like there has been No sun, and No Moon, and No Stars and that your hope has been taken away. SADLY-
Some have reached the decision the Shipmen made and have made plans to abandon the ship.
Some have decided that the Old Ship of Zion, the Church of Jesus Christ, will never make it through these storms: “it looks like its about to break apart right now- I’d better get out!”
Some have abandoned ship; they have given up the hope of true salvation; they have given up on holiness of life; they have given up on the genuine experience of the Holy Ghost Baptism with the evidence of speaking in other tongues; they have given up on the Blessed hope of the Rapture and Gone overboard into the sea of this world.
Hear me Friend- in order to Survive the storms of this world, you Must Stay in the Ship.
No matter how long the voyage takes.
No matter how rough the sea becomes.
No matter how high the waves mount.
No matter how low your hope ebbs.
The only Safety is in the Ship; Stay in the Ship.
You’ll notice if you read this account that earlier the shipmen on Paul’s ship had taken a sounding to check their position. Their first sounding was 20 fathoms; the next was fifteen so they knew they were nearing some Shore.
We too are nearing the shore; we are closer to the coming of the Lord and closer to heaven than ever before. The soundings prove it to be so.
When Israel became a nation, it was one of the most important signs of the end times. Almost all the events leading up to and including the Tribulation have to do with Israel and they had to be a nation; well they are and have been for a little over 70 years.
Since then we have witnessed numbers of signs of the times that were mentioned by Jesus (like false religions, earthquakes, famines, pestilence, and wars) and signs that were mentioned by Paul and John (like the realignment of nations in Europe and Asia) and we have witnessed the unrest among the Muslim nations as well.
Wake up Friend! We are closer to the Rapture than most of us realize. Jesus is Coming!
Stay in the Ship.
James said in 5:7,8 Be Patient brethren unto the coming of the Lord...establish your hearts for the coming of the Lord draws nigh.
Peter said, “the end of all things is at hand, be ye sober and watch unto prayer.” (1 Pet. 4:7)
Paul said, “and knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand, let us therefore cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armor of light...let us walk not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering (immorality) or wantonness (shameful conduct), not in strife and envying, but put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make not provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof.” (Rom 13:11-14)
Jesus told his disciples in Mt. 24 that people in the last days would react in one of two ways:
- Because iniquity would abound, the love of many would become cold (abandon the ship)
- However, some would endure to the end and be saved (stay in the ship).
If you are reading this and you’re not sure you are saved by the blood of Jesus and you are not living faithfully for him, you need to GET In the Ship. This is a terrible time to be lost and backslidden.
If you are child of God, this is no time to slack off, let up, or fall out. Don’t become critical, don’t become worldly, don’t become offended or bitter and abandon the ship. Stay on fire for God and Stay in the Ship.
- Published on
Intro: I have always been intrigued by the importance of names in the OT. I have pondered how so many names had meanings in the Hebrew that described the character of the person so named.
Just a few examples:
The first name of a man was given by God- Adam- meaning from the earth. I can understand how a name God gave was true to life but after that men gave their children names and many of them also were true to life.
Enoch- dedicated
Methusaleh- when he dies it will come
Abraham- father of a multitude
Jacob- deceiver
Ichabod- glory has departed
Hosea had 3 children whose names were given by God and the meanings of those names were prophecies concerning Israel’s future. These are only a few examples but it is an interesting study.
Some time ago as I read through this listing of names of the children of David, I noticed these three names in one verse and found that these 3 names have Marvelous Meanings, and they provide a great message for all of us as well.
I. Elishama- the God Who Hears
Isn’t it encouraging to be reminded that God really does Hear Us?! I know there are times that prayer seems powerless; seems that they are not effective; that God is not listening. The devil tells us that we are wasting our time and energy when we pray. But the Fact is, God does Hear us.
David spoke about how his enemies were mocking him for praying in Ps. 59- they were saying, “Who doth hear??!!” His enemies were laughing at him for praying and asking him who he thought was even hearing him when he prayed. Well, in another Psalm, 4:3 David declared this- “the Lord will Hear.”
Our God is a God who Hears. When Israel was in bondage their situation became desperate. In Ex. 2 it says “the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage. 24 And God heard their groaning...”
He heard their Sighs; He heard their Cries; He heard their Groaning. I assume the Sighs and the Groaning in particular had no actual spoken words, but God heard anyway.
“He that planted the ear, shall he not hear?” Ps. 94:9
“The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and his ears are open to their prayers.” 1 Peter 3:12.
God heard Israel’s sighs.
God heard Ishmael’s hungry cries under the shrub.
God heard Moses’ cries in the basket in the river.
God heard David’s prayers.
God heard Solomon, Hezekiah, Josiah, Jeremiah, Malachi and He even Heard Jonah when he was in the belly of a Whale!
Prayer is not an exercise in futility! 1 Jn. 5:14- This is the confidence we have in him that if we ask anything according to his will, He Hears Us.
II. Eliada- the God Who Knows
Our God not only hears us when we pray and bring our needs to him- HE KNOWS.
Ps 147 states that his “under standing is Infinite!” [limitless, boundless, inexhaustible]
Isaiah said that God knows the Number of the Stars. (That’s quite impressive) And he also Calls them by NAME! (That’s Really impressive)
1 Jn 3:20 says God knows all things.
Jesus said in Mt. 6:8 that our heavenly Father “knows what things we have need of before we ask him...”
God Knows! He knows the things we want him to know and he knows the things we wish he didn’t know. He knows the good and the bad. He knows the visible and invisible. He knows the outward and the inward. He knows the past and present and the future.
Even though we sometimes cringe to think that God knows everything about us because we are aware of how much negative stuff there is for God to know, we should really Rejoice to think that God knows everything about us for there is a lot of Positive in His Knowing.
He knows our heart when others don’t.
He knows our motives when others don’t.
He knows our fears when others don’t.
He knows our Faith when others don’t.
He knows our situation completely and he knows the solution to our predicaments.
He is a God who Knows!
III. Eliphalet- the God Who Delivers.
This is the icing on the cake so to speak. It’s great that God hears us and Knows us, but its even greater that God delivers Us. He is not only Mighty in his Awareness, He is Mighty in his Action.
Israel found out that he was not only the God who hears and knows, but he was the God who Delivers.
Joseph found out he was the God who delivers.
Gideon, Jephthah and Samson found out he was the God who Delivers.
David found that he was the God who Delivers.
Shadrach, Meshech, and Abednego found that he was the God who Delivers.
King Darius wrote this decree after Daniel was delivered from the Lion’s Den: “He is the Living God...He delivers and rescues, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth,...”
Ps. 34:15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. 17 The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
Peter found that God Delivers; Paul and Silas found that God delivers; Saints through the ages have found that God Delivers.
Paul said in 2 Cor. 1:10 that God “delivered us from so great a death (past deliverance) and doth deliver (present deliverance) in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us.” (Future deliverance)
Our God Hears.
Our God Knows.
Our God Delivers.
Just a few examples:
The first name of a man was given by God- Adam- meaning from the earth. I can understand how a name God gave was true to life but after that men gave their children names and many of them also were true to life.
Enoch- dedicated
Methusaleh- when he dies it will come
Abraham- father of a multitude
Jacob- deceiver
Ichabod- glory has departed
Hosea had 3 children whose names were given by God and the meanings of those names were prophecies concerning Israel’s future. These are only a few examples but it is an interesting study.
Some time ago as I read through this listing of names of the children of David, I noticed these three names in one verse and found that these 3 names have Marvelous Meanings, and they provide a great message for all of us as well.
I. Elishama- the God Who Hears
Isn’t it encouraging to be reminded that God really does Hear Us?! I know there are times that prayer seems powerless; seems that they are not effective; that God is not listening. The devil tells us that we are wasting our time and energy when we pray. But the Fact is, God does Hear us.
David spoke about how his enemies were mocking him for praying in Ps. 59- they were saying, “Who doth hear??!!” His enemies were laughing at him for praying and asking him who he thought was even hearing him when he prayed. Well, in another Psalm, 4:3 David declared this- “the Lord will Hear.”
Our God is a God who Hears. When Israel was in bondage their situation became desperate. In Ex. 2 it says “the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage. 24 And God heard their groaning...”
He heard their Sighs; He heard their Cries; He heard their Groaning. I assume the Sighs and the Groaning in particular had no actual spoken words, but God heard anyway.
“He that planted the ear, shall he not hear?” Ps. 94:9
“The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and his ears are open to their prayers.” 1 Peter 3:12.
God heard Israel’s sighs.
God heard Ishmael’s hungry cries under the shrub.
God heard Moses’ cries in the basket in the river.
God heard David’s prayers.
God heard Solomon, Hezekiah, Josiah, Jeremiah, Malachi and He even Heard Jonah when he was in the belly of a Whale!
Prayer is not an exercise in futility! 1 Jn. 5:14- This is the confidence we have in him that if we ask anything according to his will, He Hears Us.
II. Eliada- the God Who Knows
Our God not only hears us when we pray and bring our needs to him- HE KNOWS.
Ps 147 states that his “under standing is Infinite!” [limitless, boundless, inexhaustible]
Isaiah said that God knows the Number of the Stars. (That’s quite impressive) And he also Calls them by NAME! (That’s Really impressive)
1 Jn 3:20 says God knows all things.
Jesus said in Mt. 6:8 that our heavenly Father “knows what things we have need of before we ask him...”
God Knows! He knows the things we want him to know and he knows the things we wish he didn’t know. He knows the good and the bad. He knows the visible and invisible. He knows the outward and the inward. He knows the past and present and the future.
Even though we sometimes cringe to think that God knows everything about us because we are aware of how much negative stuff there is for God to know, we should really Rejoice to think that God knows everything about us for there is a lot of Positive in His Knowing.
He knows our heart when others don’t.
He knows our motives when others don’t.
He knows our fears when others don’t.
He knows our Faith when others don’t.
He knows our situation completely and he knows the solution to our predicaments.
He is a God who Knows!
III. Eliphalet- the God Who Delivers.
This is the icing on the cake so to speak. It’s great that God hears us and Knows us, but its even greater that God delivers Us. He is not only Mighty in his Awareness, He is Mighty in his Action.
Israel found out that he was not only the God who hears and knows, but he was the God who Delivers.
Joseph found out he was the God who delivers.
Gideon, Jephthah and Samson found out he was the God who Delivers.
David found that he was the God who Delivers.
Shadrach, Meshech, and Abednego found that he was the God who Delivers.
King Darius wrote this decree after Daniel was delivered from the Lion’s Den: “He is the Living God...He delivers and rescues, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth,...”
Ps. 34:15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. 17 The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
Peter found that God Delivers; Paul and Silas found that God delivers; Saints through the ages have found that God Delivers.
Paul said in 2 Cor. 1:10 that God “delivered us from so great a death (past deliverance) and doth deliver (present deliverance) in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us.” (Future deliverance)
Our God Hears.
Our God Knows.
Our God Delivers.
- Published on
L-I-F-T Jesus Up
John 12:32
Intro: In verse 23 of this same passage, Jesus told his disciples that the hour has come that the Son of man should be glorified. He talked of the grain of wheat that falls into the ground and dies, but then it brings forth much fruit. He told them that if man loves his life he will lose it, but if he “hates” his life in this world, he will keep it in eternal life. He reminds them that if they are truly going to Serve him they must follow him even unto death. God the Father then spoke from heaven glorifying Jesus Christ and Jesus then makes this statement: If I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men unto me.
John specifically states that Jesus was referring to the manner of his death- being lifted up on a cross; crucified in shame and disgrace in order to pay the price for the sins of the whole world.
Still, I believe there is a message for us today about the matter of Lifting Jesus Up in our own generation, in our own circle of life, in our own individual lives. How do we lift Jesus up?
Let’s use the word Lift as an acrostic for these 4 points:
I. LOVE Him.
If we are going to lift up Jesus to those around us we must Love Him supremely.
Jesus stated that the Great Commandment was this: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God will ALL thy heart, soul, mind, strength. We are to love Jesus with ALL of our being: Heart (spirit); Soul & Mind; Strength (physical body). Think of people you know in your family, on your job, in your neighborhood, what do they really Love? Do they love Possessions, Pleasures, Selfish Pursuits, Position, Pleasing them selves...? They present a certain image of themselves by what they Love and so do we! People can tell if we really LOVE JESUS. It shows up in everything we do and in every aspect of our lives.
It is a Matter of Surrender and Submission. It is a Matter of Priorities in life; Seeking First the kingdom of God and his righteousness... Love Him!
II. IMITATE Him.
Jesus said in John 13:15- I have given you an example that ye should do as I have done...
Peter said that Christ left us an example and that we should follow in his steps. [WWJD?]
We are not here to “MAKE a NAME for ourselves.” We are not here to make a fortune or achieve fame. We are called to Imitate Jesus in this world.
In Acts 11 we read where some unnamed believers went to Antioch and began preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. A number of people were saved and began a church. This group of believers had no official name or label and the people of the city began calling them “Christians.” (Little Christs) What a wonderful name to get tagged with by those who are watching our lives!
I read of a missionary who went to a remote village and began trying to communicate to them the story of Jesus Christ. After a couple of days he was able to make some progress in communicating with one young man in particular and as he continued to tell about Jesus, the young man suddenly became very excited and animated. “He was here! He was here!” The missionary tried to explain that Jesus lived many, many years ago, and far away from this place, and could not have been here. The young man talked rapidly with others of his village and they all became excited. They took the missionary’s hand and led him just beyond their huts to a small patch of ground where there was a grave. Years before a man had come to them and lived with them. He had helped them grow their crops, doctored them in times of sickness, spoke to them about God and stayed with them till he died. When they heard about Jesus, they thought for sure this man had been Jesus.
We will Lift him up by imitating him: his compassion, his concern for others more than for himself, his care for the outcast, his gentleness, his selfless sacrifice of his time and energy, his integrity and holiness, his full surrender to the will of God the Father. Imitate Him!
III. FOLLOW Him.
While imitating him and following him may seem very similar, imitating him deals more with Identification with Him, Being Like Him, while following him speaks of Obedience to Jesus and his Word. To follow him means to Obey Him in all things, in all places, in all matters.
Mt 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
Ro 14:19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
1Cor 14:1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts,
1 Tim 6:11 ...follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
2 Tim 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
Heb 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness,
To LIFT Jesus up in our lives and in the sight of those around us we must Love Him, Imitate Him, Follow Him and...
IV. TELL of Him.
We cannot be silent about Jesus if we are going to lift him up. In Rev. 12 we read of victorious saints who overcame the Devil. Notice the first 2 things mentioned: The Blood of the Lamb, The Word of their Testimony
No one can overcome without the Blood of the Lamb for it brings Salvation, Cleansing from Sin, and Freedom from Sin’s power and penalty. Then we are called to testify of and for the Lord. The word “Testimony” is Marturia in the Greek and used 37 times in New Testament. It is translated: Witness, Testimony, Record, Report
2 Tim 1:8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord,...
Acts 10:42 Peter said, “he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
I love the way Paul commended believers in 1Thess 1:8- For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God–ward is spread abroad. From you emanated, radiated, resounded the word of the Lord. May God help us to emanate and radiate the gospel of Jesus Christ.
LIFT Jesus Up!
Love Him
Imitate Him
Follow Him
Tell of Him
John 12:32
Intro: In verse 23 of this same passage, Jesus told his disciples that the hour has come that the Son of man should be glorified. He talked of the grain of wheat that falls into the ground and dies, but then it brings forth much fruit. He told them that if man loves his life he will lose it, but if he “hates” his life in this world, he will keep it in eternal life. He reminds them that if they are truly going to Serve him they must follow him even unto death. God the Father then spoke from heaven glorifying Jesus Christ and Jesus then makes this statement: If I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men unto me.
John specifically states that Jesus was referring to the manner of his death- being lifted up on a cross; crucified in shame and disgrace in order to pay the price for the sins of the whole world.
Still, I believe there is a message for us today about the matter of Lifting Jesus Up in our own generation, in our own circle of life, in our own individual lives. How do we lift Jesus up?
Let’s use the word Lift as an acrostic for these 4 points:
I. LOVE Him.
If we are going to lift up Jesus to those around us we must Love Him supremely.
Jesus stated that the Great Commandment was this: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God will ALL thy heart, soul, mind, strength. We are to love Jesus with ALL of our being: Heart (spirit); Soul & Mind; Strength (physical body). Think of people you know in your family, on your job, in your neighborhood, what do they really Love? Do they love Possessions, Pleasures, Selfish Pursuits, Position, Pleasing them selves...? They present a certain image of themselves by what they Love and so do we! People can tell if we really LOVE JESUS. It shows up in everything we do and in every aspect of our lives.
It is a Matter of Surrender and Submission. It is a Matter of Priorities in life; Seeking First the kingdom of God and his righteousness... Love Him!
II. IMITATE Him.
Jesus said in John 13:15- I have given you an example that ye should do as I have done...
Peter said that Christ left us an example and that we should follow in his steps. [WWJD?]
We are not here to “MAKE a NAME for ourselves.” We are not here to make a fortune or achieve fame. We are called to Imitate Jesus in this world.
In Acts 11 we read where some unnamed believers went to Antioch and began preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. A number of people were saved and began a church. This group of believers had no official name or label and the people of the city began calling them “Christians.” (Little Christs) What a wonderful name to get tagged with by those who are watching our lives!
I read of a missionary who went to a remote village and began trying to communicate to them the story of Jesus Christ. After a couple of days he was able to make some progress in communicating with one young man in particular and as he continued to tell about Jesus, the young man suddenly became very excited and animated. “He was here! He was here!” The missionary tried to explain that Jesus lived many, many years ago, and far away from this place, and could not have been here. The young man talked rapidly with others of his village and they all became excited. They took the missionary’s hand and led him just beyond their huts to a small patch of ground where there was a grave. Years before a man had come to them and lived with them. He had helped them grow their crops, doctored them in times of sickness, spoke to them about God and stayed with them till he died. When they heard about Jesus, they thought for sure this man had been Jesus.
We will Lift him up by imitating him: his compassion, his concern for others more than for himself, his care for the outcast, his gentleness, his selfless sacrifice of his time and energy, his integrity and holiness, his full surrender to the will of God the Father. Imitate Him!
III. FOLLOW Him.
While imitating him and following him may seem very similar, imitating him deals more with Identification with Him, Being Like Him, while following him speaks of Obedience to Jesus and his Word. To follow him means to Obey Him in all things, in all places, in all matters.
Mt 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
Ro 14:19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
1Cor 14:1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts,
1 Tim 6:11 ...follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
2 Tim 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
Heb 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness,
To LIFT Jesus up in our lives and in the sight of those around us we must Love Him, Imitate Him, Follow Him and...
IV. TELL of Him.
We cannot be silent about Jesus if we are going to lift him up. In Rev. 12 we read of victorious saints who overcame the Devil. Notice the first 2 things mentioned: The Blood of the Lamb, The Word of their Testimony
No one can overcome without the Blood of the Lamb for it brings Salvation, Cleansing from Sin, and Freedom from Sin’s power and penalty. Then we are called to testify of and for the Lord. The word “Testimony” is Marturia in the Greek and used 37 times in New Testament. It is translated: Witness, Testimony, Record, Report
2 Tim 1:8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord,...
Acts 10:42 Peter said, “he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
I love the way Paul commended believers in 1Thess 1:8- For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God–ward is spread abroad. From you emanated, radiated, resounded the word of the Lord. May God help us to emanate and radiate the gospel of Jesus Christ.
LIFT Jesus Up!
Love Him
Imitate Him
Follow Him
Tell of Him