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July - December 2003 Sermons
Mutual Encouragement Under Christ 030713 Christian fellowship is often strained, or even broken, over matters that are not central to the faith. We live in a world that does not concern itself with theological accuracy. That lack of concern may flow over into the church. That is not then kind of problem Paul points out to us. He is speaking of peripheral matters not core beliefs. Certainly we must encourage and challenge each other in matters central to the faith. I believe it was C. I. Schofield, who said, "In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity". This is the essence of Paul's teaching here. I. Accept not Judge. II. Whatever we do to the Lord. Having come to Christ we no longer have rights. We do however have privileges that support and strengthen us to fulfill our responsibilities. The unity of the faith is essential to the church locally and universally. We maintain the unity only with an attitude of loving correction and strong support in times of need. Don't Judge Enjoy! 030720 It is very easy to fall into the trap of judging other Christians. After all if they do not believe, or act, just as we do they must be wrong. We might then assume that their wrongness is good reason for us to avoid or even condemn them. We should not wonder that the world does not readily recognize that we are disciples of Jesus. It was Jesus Himself who said, "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. It is not wrong to disagree with a fellow believer. It is wrong to judge and condemn a believer. I. We stand or fall before our Lord. II. The kingdom of God is not in material things. Too many Christians miss the joy of being a believer. What a wonderful thing it is to know that our sins are forgiven. Just to know that the assurance of our salvation is in the word of God. We often get caught up in condemnation rather than counsel. Let's lay those things aside and admonish and counsel one another in love and allow the peace of God to rule in our hearts. Strength That Honors God 030727 The strong carry the weak. That is God's plan. At different times, different ones of us are strong as others are weak. Then the roles may be reversed. We are to carefully look for the ones who have needs and seek to help meet those needs. We must seek to live in such a way that Christ is honored in us and then share what we receive from Him with those around us. We are to be a community of faith and encouragement. I. Bear burdens. II. Look to the word for direction. Christ has not called His church to just be a place of worship or of study. Those are important, in fact essential, things. The outgrowth of worship and study should be a fellowship of support encouragement and hope built on the word of God. May God grant that we will be faithful to that vision. Glorifying God in Relationships 030803 The Apostle continues with the beginning idea: caring for one another. The way we relate to one another is too often regulated by the same standards the world uses. We judge others many times without thinking how God's word would guide our choices. Remember, God has accepted us in Christ by grace through faith. We need to apply God's standard to our relationships and we will abound in hope by the power Holy Spirit. I. Accept as Christ accepted. II. We are blessed with hope. We are the people of God. Our relationships should reflect the presence of Christ in our lives. We should accept and encourage one another in every way consistent with the word of God. The Spirit of life within us is the loving God expressing Himself through us. We need to let Him show His personality in our lives. The peace of God, passing all understanding, will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Able to Admonish One Another 030810 We live in a time when the Christian church has largely turned to the outside world for its counsel or advice. This is resulting in an increase of the influence of a secular mindset in the church in general. This is certainly not what God ordained. His provision is for the church to care for its own in disputes and in counsel. Since the beginning of psychotherapy there has been a reluctance to give counsel for fear of "getting it wrong" and hurting rather than helping. Biblical counsel, or advice based on the bible, has not been the norm for a long time now. The Apostle says we are able to admonish (counsel) one another. I. We are full of goodness. II. We are full of knowledge. IIl. We are able to counsel. Counseling is not the realm of the highly trained and long experienced. If it is to lead to right actions it is the realm of God. Of course we are not Gods. We are the children of God and are equipped to advise and counsel by the presence of God's Spirit in us and the possession of His word. We should apply ourselves to knowing the word and applying it in everyday situations with regard to one another. Paul's Ministry Gift 030817 The Apostle now shares with us his feelings with regard to his own calling into ministry and the role within the Christian Church that God has given him. He was chosen to minister the good news as a priest to the Gentiles. He was able to boast of that ministry and look forward to taking the good news to lands where no one had ever heard of Christ. We also have been given such a calling. We need to minister with the same heart and compassion and desires. I. Paul was called by God. II. He could boast of what God had done only! Paul desired to go to the regions beyond and preach to those who had never heard. Today any Christian who is so led of God can go practically anywhere in the world to share their faith. There are opportunities for us here at home, in nearby communities, across the region as well as into the far reaches of the earth. Paul's Planned Travels 030824 The Apostle tells the Romans of his repeated desire to go to Rome and there share the gospel. He had been prevented up till then but after his trip to Jerusalem he expected to come by Rome on his way to Spain. He knew that when he came he would come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ. I. His desire was to go where the gospel had not yet been. II. The fullness of the blessing of Christ. We must always remember that God does indeed turn all things to our good and His glory. None of the hard things we go through are meaningless. All, especially the hardest, are for our very best. We will not be carried to the skies on flowery beds of ease. No, we must fight if we would reign. Paul fought the fight and kept the faith. He finished the course in triumph. The struggle produces God's goodness in us and prepares us for our eternal home. Paul's Friends in Ministry 030831 Paul had never been to Rome. His acquaintances there should have been few. However, even without a Dayrunner or a Palm Pilot he was able to repeat from memory this long list of people. Many of them had worked with him in ministry. Some were his relatives who had come to Christ. What a joy to have like-minded people to minister alongside you. Seven of the 26 people he called by name were women. This calls us to attention considering the issues the church is dealing with today across the world and through many denominations. What does the Bible say about the role of women in ministry? I. Paul commended women in ministry. II. Paul also taught the churches about the role of women. The Bible seems to go out of the way to commend women, even to put them in places of high honor. In the genealogy of Jesus the women are prominent and, to some, surprising. Jesus released the woman taken in adultery. Society condemned her but not the man who was her necessary partner. Worldwide women have been treated as property and freed with the coming of Christianity. However, there is an order God ordained and clearly presented in scripture. We must have no other guide. Dealing With Dividers 030907 Paul's closing counsel for the Roman church deals with those people who have come into the fellowship and cause division. How should we deal with dividers? What do we do when a teacher purposely attempts to divide the church. The world we live in is filled with false teachers and they have access to anyone who will turn on their radio or TV set. I. Watch the false teachers. II. Slaves of their appetites. Paul promised the Romans that God would soon crush their enemy under their feet. This was a result of their obedience. We too need to be obedient to the word. We need to more carefully search the scriptures and know the truth. We need to guard ourselves against people who would come in a divide the fellowship with false teachings. To Him be Glory Forever 030914 The praise of God at the end of Romans is a powerful message for the church. Our God is able to establish us. He has a process, and a person, through which He does His work. Praise to His Holy Name. He establishes us not our good works or our great ability. I. According to Paul's gospel. II. This gospel was a mystery. Christ has come to dwell in His people on earth. The kingdom of God is here now. One at a time the light of the glorious gospel spreads across the earth. This is His glory in the world and that is still a mystery. The world did not recognize Him the first time He came and does not see Him now. We are His light in the world. The glory of His grace is ours. Elijah: a Man Like Us? 030921 As we read the words of James, the half-brother of Jesus, we can only be amazed. That he would compare Elijah to us seems beyond imagination. Elijah brought down the wrath of God on the people of Israel and their king, Ahab. Elijah prayed and the heavens closed and rain did not fall for 42 months. Elijah prayed and God provided for a widow and her son along with himself. Elijah prayed and the dead came to life. Elijah destroyed the cult of Baal in Israel. Elijah did not die but was taken up to heaven in God's chariot. Elijah met with Jesus on the mount along with Moses. How can we be compared with this man? What can we learn form Elijah's life? I. Elijah first appeared during the reign of Ahab. II. Elijah confronted the evil ruler. III. God always provides for the faithful. As we visit the life of Elijah we will see that God is always faithful even when we are not trusting Him. How much peace do we miss? How often do we struggle while God is faithfully providing? We set our eyes on the circumstances and on other people and fail to see God's faithful hand. Our lives will be much more content when we walk by faith and not by sight. Elijah in Exile 030928 Elijah, the man of God, after praying that it would not rain, first is fed by the ravens beside the brook Cherith now goes out of Israel to await God's direction. His purpose is to hide from Ahab and Jezebel and await God's direction to call Israel back to the faith. These must have been some of the harder years of Elijah's life. I. He went away to the center of the enemy's camp. II. To a widow who was not of Israel. III. The widow's son dies as though God is not pleased. Elijah spent about three years in this Sidonian woman's house. During that time one miracle occurred but it was very important. The woman, who had listened to God from afar, now could be drawn close by the knowledge that a man of God truly was with her in her house. She could rejoice in the health of her son and, with Elijah, await God's direction. Return From Exile 031005 Elijah appears on the scene with no introduction. We know nothing about him except that he is from Tishbe. We are not even sure where that is today. He hears the word of God, proclaims it, and the heavens close up. The nation has turned to Baal worship. Baal is the god of the storm and provides the rain to make the crops. Now the God of heaven closes the heavens. Elijah disappears for three and a half years. Now its time for him to return. He will confront the enemy. I. God's command causes Elijah to obey. II. Obadiah had been faithful. It was necessary for the faithful to bide their time until God moved. There is a time to act and a time to wait. We must always wait on God and then when He speaks, respond quickly and faithfully. He will meet our needs from His resources. Praise God He is all-sufficient. Confronting the Enemy 031019 Elijah has not seen his enemy and king, Ahab, in more than three years. It is time for confrontation. God has arranged a process for this event. Obadiah is to be sent to the king and then the king is to be confronted. There is a remarkable contrast between the greeting of Obadiah and that of Ahab. The process is to include not just Ahab but the entire enemy within reach. I. Contrasting Greetings II. Response is direct and confrontational. Today the world is following after the same gods as in the days of Israel's sin. Sex, health, power and prosperity dominate the desires of the average person. The order may change but the same basic self-centered attitude prevails. God will judge and God will rule over all areas of the lives of His people. A Day of Decision 031102 Elijah has now challenged the popular religion of Baal. He has called for a public confrontation. The people are given a clear opportunity to decide who is God, Baal or Jehovah. Many Christians would like to see a similar confrontation between the world's culture and Christianity. The enemy is not focused in one object today but has scattered his force throughout society. There is no single place to confront. Neither has God laid out the conditions of confrontation. Remember, Elijah waited on God's time and God's place for this confrontation. God's way is always successful. I. The people are not clearly in either camp. II. An impossible contest was set up by Elijah. We need to remember that our God is a God of power and strength. His value is not measured in numbers of followers. He is not limited by apparent resources or by length of time. God had allowed years to pass. He then set up a contest that required years of drought and famine to get the attention of the people. We must remember that God will not act in a way to please people. He will only act to glorify Himself. Encouragement 031109 All around us there are abundant needs for encouragement. The Church should be one place where encouragement will always be found. Many who are in the background, and who think they have very little to do, are an important part of the kingdom. They have been given the ministry of encouragement. There are too many who seem to believe they have a ministry of discouragement. They always see the difficulties. For them, every silver lining has a cloud. What should characterize true encouragers? I. Encouragers put the needs of others first. II. Encouragers have a heart like Christ's. III. Encouragers have Godly sympathy. Too many see the weaknesses in others while failing to see their own weakness in the same light. Mat 7:1-5 The ministry of encouragement does not involve great personal gifts of speech, or musical talent. Encouragement can be done by anyone who will simply try to see those around them through the eyes of Christ. There is a great need for ministers who will lift up rather than put down. It is a gift that we all must cultivate or many who are downtrodden will be ground into the dust. Elijah's Appeal to the People 031116 Elijah had spent the past 3 ½ years in seclusion awaiting the word of God. When the word came it was to confront Ahab and then the prophets of Baal and the prophets of the groves. Also he was to confront the people of God who had wavered between serving the Lord and serving Baal. There were three classes of people there that day: the faithful servant of Jehovah, the faithful servants of Baal and Asherah, and the people who hesitated between the two. They were unwilling to be wholly servants of either. Now the appeal is given. The God who answers with fire he is truly GOD. I. The people wanted to accept Jehovah and Baal. II. A day of decision had come. III. The true God would answer by fire. What we do tells the world around what we believe. This Christian life is not just something we adopt on Sunday and then drop all week. If God is God then follow Him. If He is Lord obey Him. The world doesn't listen to our talk, they look at our walk, they will judge us by our actions every day. We must not stumble between two choices. The world must see that God is truly God. Elijah's Prevailing Prayer 031123 Elijah withdraws to pray after the confrontation on Mount Carmel. He has spent time with God, and has God's promise to assure him, now he goes alone to ask God to fulfill His word. This seems to go against the way most of us consider expect God to act. We need to remember that God's ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not like ours. Elijah's prayer pattern should help us in our time of need. I. Elijah was a man of prayer. II. Elijah's prayer followed God's words. 18:1 III. Elijah went alone to seek rain. We need to remember that God is not obliged to do anything at our command. He is Lord and we are His subjects. At a time that suits His purpose He will answer our prayers. As Zacharias and Elizabeth prayed for a son, God remembered their prayer and granted it in His time and they became the parents of John the Baptist. He will do for His people what He leads them to ask. From the Mountain to the Valley 031207 Elijah had passed the test. He had endured the 3 years without rain and confronted his enemy, Ahab. He had faced down the prophets of Baal and the Asherah. He had seen YAHWEH, the God of heaven, answer with fire. He had destroyed the prophets of Baal killed. Then he had prayed and the rains returned to Israel. He had run ahead of Ahab to Jezreel and now he could sit back and organize true worship. Enter Jezebel. Now the prophet of YAHWEH, the God of heaven, runs for his life. What happened? How could this be? He had forgotten who was in charge. He had begun to rely on his own strength. I. "The Hand of the Lord" was on Elijah. II. Ahab and Jezebel could only see Elijah. III. God intervened for Elijah. This is a sad message as we leave Elijah in the wilderness. That is exactly where we often are. We are there for much the same reasons as Elijah was. We forget who is in charge. We rely on our own strength and know we are not up to the challenge. We sink into despair and depression. Yet does this leave God with no recourse except to accept our failure? Never He is always sovereign. Praise His holy name. Why Did Jesus Come to Earth? 031214 "Jesus is the Reason for the Season" has been a popular slogan of recent years. Christians often complain of the secularization of this holy celebration. Of course, the participation of "church folk" is essential to this secularization. I fear most Christians have too little grasp of what His coming really meant for the human race. Maybe a little review will help us. 750 years before Jesus was born Isaiah spoke of Him. I. Isaiah tells us that Jesus came to be despised, II. Jesus had always known and accepted. III. He knew the greater purpose of the Father. The world will never understand the life that God has given in Jesus Christ. The human race is dead in sin and separated from the Father. Only when the Father gives life can people respond to Him. Only when the Father calls a person can they come to Jesus. We may persuade the world to act religious with regard to Christmas but only God can cause them to come to life. We need to plant seeds of truth and pray that life will come. How Should We Respond to Jesus' Birth? 031221 When I ask, "How should we respond to Jesus' birth?" I am presupposing that the "we" represented here are Christians. Many would try to make the question apply to all people. Only those who have come to know Christ could begin to choose to respond to Him in any way. Before coming to Him in salvation a person is dead spiritually and unable to respond in any way. Only when the Spirit of God moves upon a person in regeneration can they respond to Him. He must give life. I. How did those around Him respond to His birth? II. How did others respond after His birth? III. Upon being aware of who Jesus really is When we come to know Jesus the only sensible response is, "Here am I, Lord, send me." I am afraid too often we only come to know Him with our head. He must move on us before we really know Him and the power of His life in us. That is a life-long experience for us all. It cannot be entered into until God does the work in our hearts of real regeneration. For that we should pray. That God will assure us of our salvation and convict the unsaved of the lostness of their situation. Nothing else will truly change a person. God's Approach to the Defeated Prophet 031228 Elijah has now failed to come through. In an amazing turn of events our prophet, who confronted the evil King Ahab and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of the Asherah, now turns and runs in the face of a death threat from Jezebel the Queen. He runs to neighboring Judah, ruled by Jezebel's son in law, and throws himself under a juniper tree and asks God to take his life. Depression and defeat surround him and he is immobilized. How does God treat him after such a great defection? I. He had gone into the wilderness. III. We must remember God's commitment to us. III. How did God treat Elijah? When we pass in to valley of despair we must remember that God turns our grief into joy. With God's help we can "put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness". Isa 61:3 He who has lead us this far will not let us down. He will deal with us individually with lovingkindness. He will deal with our church the same way. Praise to His holy name. See also:
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