Author: Bryan Boatman

Genesis

Covenant in Noah (Genesis #20)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | TuneIn | Spotify | RSS | More

Covenant in Noah

Text: Genesis 6:17-19

Days of Noah

  • His spirit will no longer strive with man’s vile flesh. Genesis 6:3, 5-7
  • ...he also is flesh… Also? Who else is flesh?
  • Carnal angels
    • Genesis 6:1-4
    • Genesis 18:2, 16-22 then 19:1-5, Joshua 5:13-15, Luke 24:4, Acts 1:10
    • Jude 6-7, 2 Peters 2:4
  • Everything about their culture was carnal.
    • Celebrity of fallen angels 6:4
    • Immersion into evil – …EVERY imagination of the thoughts of his heart was ONLY evil CONTINUALLY… In 10 generations man has gone from paradise, to a knowledge of good and evil, to ONLY EVIL CONTINUALLY.
    • 6:11,13 describes the world culture as violent. People loving death, sex, drunkenness, partying, fornicating, and corruption. All flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth (vs 12).
  • How many people on the earth in Noah’s day? Just taking current growth rate there would’ve been just under a billion people on the earth. But considering people were living much longer and having children for much longer time frame there were many more than this. If you just add 1/1000th of a percent to the current growth rate you end up with 4 billion people on the earth. Realistically though we’re looking at 19 or 20 billion people.

Covenant in Noah

  • Purpose of the covenant is to save life!
    • …to keep them alive… (vs 19)
    • …to keep them alive… (vs 20)
    • …to keep seed alive… (7:3)
  • Preacher of righteousness
  • 2 Peter 2:5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
  • Noah saved by grace through faith. (Genesis 6:8, Hebrews 11:7)
  • Noah is perfect in his generations and a just man.
  • Noah walks with God. Enoch walked with God.
    • God will establish his covenant with Noah after Noah has put the grace of God to use by faith (6:17-18).
    • Grace of God is the ark which Noah will build by faith. So Noah is saved by works? No, Hebrews 11:7 is clear that Noah builds the ark by faith, it is not a work of the law, God defines it as faith. There is a difference between trying to establish your own righteousness by works of the law and listening to God’s instruction about how to avoid His coming wrath. Noah is NOT trying to establish his own righteousness using a law, Noah is simply obeying God.
  • Grace of God will be found in the ark of salvation (Genesis 6:14-16)

Righteous inheriting the world

  • Only those who are included in the covenant by grace through faith are saved alive.
  • 1 Peter 3:18-22 – baptised into his death and resurrection is what gives life
  • Inheritance of the earth because of the man God made a covenant with
    • The covenant (Genesis 9:9-17) is that God would never destroy all flesh again by a flood (Genesis 9:11). It is an everlasting covenant (Genesis 9:16). The token of the covenant is a rainbow (Genesis 9:12).
    • 2 Peter 2:1-9 – the Lord knows how to deliver the righteous while judging the wicked
    • 2 Peter 3:1-12
1 Samuel, Preaching

Israel’s Rejected King (1 Samuel #10)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | TuneIn | Spotify | RSS | More

Israel’s rejected king

Text: 1 Samuel 8

In our text, we are 1,100 years before the King of the Jews, the King of kings, the Lord Jesus Christ will become a man. At this time the Word, Jesus Christ, is ruling the nation of Israel as a heavenly king. Israel has been birthed, guided, protected, and helped from her king in heaven. The heavenly king, Jesus Christ, has sent prophets and laws and mighty works to shepherd his nation. But Israel’s king has not yet appeared in person to His nation.

This chapter serves as a pivot point in Israel’s history that forever changes her course. This chapter in the Bible is one of the most significant chapters in human history because the LORD changes His dealings with the nation of Israel.

Excuse to reject their heavenly king (vss 1-5)

  • Rejecting the current system of government
  • Samuel’s boys take advantage of the position they’ve inherited from their dad. Good parents don’t always make for good children. And bad parents don’t always make for bad children. People make their own decisions. Samuel seems to be in a different position than Eli was. God doesn’t hold him responsible for his boys’ greed like he held Eli responsible.
  • Peoples’ solutions to problems are often out of the frying pan and into the fire so to speak. Their solutions make things worse when people won’t turn to the Lord for help.
  • Israel’s leadership proposes a completely different style of government that reflects that of other nations. They wanted an earthly head, not a heavenly one. God’s plan is for their king to eventually appear, just not yet.

Explanation of Israel rejecting their heavenly king (vss 6-9)

  • The king of the Jews resides in Heaven at this time, awaiting the proper time to become a man – Jesus Christ. The king of the Jews – Jesus Christ – gave Moses the law, has fought for Israel, and led the nation as her heavenly shepherd.
  • Warn the people so they’ll realize what they’re asking for. But they’ll still ask for an earthly king because want to see with their eyes.

Earthly king to replace their heavenly king (vss 10-18)

  • Israel wants someone besides God until they don’t
  • Notice all the “he will take” statements

Endangered through conformity (vss 19-22)

  • Empowered through conformity
  • Israel will get what they think will empower them. They think conforming themselves to other nations will make them a stronger nation. The more we are like other nations the better off we’ll be is what they think. But it’s dead wrong.
  • Prayer answered and a nation forever changed
Matthew, Preaching, Teaching

Christ and the Conscience (Matthew #72)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | TuneIn | Spotify | RSS | More

Christ and the conscience

Text: Matthew 14:1-2

Herod hears of the fame of the Lord Jesus Christ and immediately his conscience brings to mind his sin. Herod sees others according to his own sin.

Voice of your conscience

  • Your conscience convicts you (John 8:9)
  • Your conscience accuses and excuses you (Romans 2:14-15)
  • Your conscience bears witness in the Holy Ghost (Romans 9:1)
  • Your conscience has a testimony (2 Corinthians 1:12) 
  • So it is true that it is a voice; it is a voice that informs your will.
  • 1 Corinthians 10:25-27 don’t stir up an issue that doesn’t need to be stirred up

Varieties of conscience

  • Weak conscience (1 Corinthians 8:7-12)
  • Seared conscience (1 Timothy 4:2)
  • Defiled conscience (Titus 1:15)
  • Evil conscience (Hebrews 10:22) You probably would not want to trust in one like that.
  • Good conscience before the Lord (1 Peter 3:16, 21)

Victorious conscience

  • Paul developed a conscience void of offence (Acts.24:16)
  • 2 Corinthians 4:2 Paul knew that he was an example to every man’s conscience,
  • Purged conscience in Hebrews 9:11-14 means there is no more sacrifice to be offered. See Hebrews 10:1-2, 22
Colossians, Preaching

Whatsoever Ye Do (Colossians #56)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | TuneIn | Spotify | RSS | More

Whatsoever Ye Do

Text: Colossians 3:17-4:1

Serving the Lord can look like many things depending on where you are and who you are in life. If a wife, do this. If a husband, do this. If a child, do this. If father, do this. If an employee, do this. Whatever it is you’re doing, do it heartily as unto the Lord. It’s not necessarily what you do. It’s the kind of work you’re doing and who you are serving that makes the difference to God. Verses 23-25 explain why you do it.

Wives

  • Serving the LORD can look like a wife who has a sweet spirit and is gracious.
  • How appropriate and how contemporary it is that Paul had to deal with gender issues in a carnal church. GOD created them male and female. That was God’s decision.
  • 1 Peter 3:1-6 Her power is in a meek and quiet spirit as it says in 1 Peter 3:5. Notice the phrase in verse 5 who trusted in God. Abigail wasn’t a good wife to Nabal because he was a good man. She was a good wife because she trusted in God.
  • Strength of her decision to submit
    • Not because her husband never makes mistakes.
    • Not because her husband is perfect.
    • Not because her husband always knows what he’s doing.
    • But her strength of a sweet spirit comes from God telling her to do it.

Husbands

  • Serving the LORD can look like a husband who loves his wife and treats her accordingly.
  • Ephesians 5:25-30 
  • Sacrificial love
    • So you’re not left with your own idea of love, the Holy Spirit directs you to the model of love the Lord Jesus Christ showed.  as Christ loved… and gave himself
    • Taking the lead in loving: We love him because he first loved us.
    • Love is measured by its cost (1 John 3:16)
  • Sanctifying love
    • True love desires purity in the object of its affection (1 Corinthians 13:6).  The purpose of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice is to achieve purity in his bride.
    • Jesus Christ’s love for his bride leads Him to do things necessary to sanctify her.
    • Husbands should have a purifying effect on his wife.
  • Strengthening love
    • Husbands, your love should have the effect of building up, strengthening and growing your wife.
    • Strengthening love is to give honour as unto the weaker vessel 1 Peter 3:7 – that your prayers be not hindered.  
    • This makes it very clear that God holds man responsible as the spiritual head of the home. He has treated you a certain way and then you turn around and treat your wife in a way you weren’t treated.

Children

  • Serving the LORD can look like children who obey their parents.
  • Do you want God’s will for your child?  Obedience is God’s will for your child.
  • Obey your parents because they’re always right?  No.
  • God is concerned with a proper order and structure.
  • Luke 2:41-52 even Jesus was subject unto them. Now do you think there was ever a time in Jesus childhood when his mother Mary said something that wasn’t exactly right and he knew it?  Don’t you think there were times when the Lord Jesus was maybe 18 or 19 and knew more about most things than his parents?

Fathers

  • Serving the LORD can look like a dad who instills confidence in his children by caring for them.
  • Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
  • The word “but” is contrasting two ways a father can father his children.  One way is to provoke them.  The other is to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
  • Wrath is emotional outburst. It’s a lack of emotional control. YOung people are stirred to uncontrolled emotions.
    • ANTIFA or “Social Justice Warriors”

Servants (Employees)

  • Serving the LORD can look like an employee who works as if he were working for the LORD. This is a good work ethic.
  • Ephesians 6:5-8
  • The ethic of pleasing God
    • Singleness of your heart… (6:5) As unto the Lord means without duplicity or deception, but trying to please God.
    • Luke 3:9-14 discontentment came from the money. John told people be content with your wages, quit trying to get something for nothing.
  • The ethic of character
    • not with eyeservice, as menpleasers… (6:6) As unto the Lord means the boss is always around!
    • Remember Joseph in Genesis who was sold into slavery. Mistreated. Unjustly accused and handled all of it as unto the Lord.  Until the day the Lord promoted him.
    • Doing the will of God from the heart… (6:6) by doing the will of your boss.
    • God’s will with your employment ensures these three things: you’re provided for, you have a natural opportunity to be a witness, and you have an alternative to sinning.
    • 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 your own business, your own hands.
    • Ephesians 4:28, stop stealing and start working that which is good, work with your hands that he may have to give
    • Titus 3:14 maintain good works for necessary uses…
  • The ethic of a good attitude
    • …with good will doing service… (6:7) As unto the Lord means your bosses attitude doesn’t matter
    • Do your job with the best attitude you can muster as though you were working for the Lord Himself. Notice this is not to men. Why say that? Because men will be the stumblingblock whether perceived or real. The reason you won’t want to do what the Lord told you is because of a fault you’ll find in another man. So the Holy Spirit is careful to say, not to men.
    • Alright, so we get it that your boss is crumby. But you’re doing what you’re doing because the Lord made it so. And it’s His order of things.  So this is not to men.

Masters (Employers)

  • Serving the LORD can look like an employer who treats his employees right because he will answer to God.
  • Ephesians 6:9
  • The ethic of service in authority
    • …do the same things unto them… What were those things? Work with singleness of your heart, as unto Christ. Work not with eyeservice, as menpleasers… doing the will of God from the heart… Work with good will doing service, as to the Lord…Knowing that your reward is with the Lord…
    • Luke 22:25-26 – the preparation for greatness in the Lord’s kingdom is service.
    • The example is the Lord himself as the Master. The Master is Jesus Christ according to John 13:13-14 and notice his service.
    • Do you know the things that made Joseph a good leader in Egypt were the same things that made him a good servant in prison?
    • The preparation for greatness in the Lord’s kingdom is service according to Philippians 2:5-11.
    • Peter Drucker said, “The man who stresses his downward authority is a subordinate no matter how exalted his title and rank.  But the man who focuses on contribution and who takes responsibility for results, no matter how junior, is in the most literal sense ‘top management’.”
    • Proverbs 30:21-22 For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear: For a servant when he reigneth…
  • The ethic of accountability
    • …knowing that your Master also is in heaven…
    • You’re accountable to God for your treatment of subordinates.
    • The principle here is that God is the restraint on authority.  And abuse of power is carried out by self righteous people who have no fear of God.  However, God will account for their abuse because He is not as impressed with their title as they are.
Genesis, Preaching

Days of Noah (Genesis #19)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | TuneIn | Spotify | RSS | More

Days of Noah

Text: Genesis 6:1-22

The sons of God (vss 1-4)

  • These sons of God are angels in the Old Testament Job 38:7. (Note: There are 4 options for who these sons of God are, but only one fits. Israel is God’s son, but Israel won’t exist for another 1000 years. Jesus Christ is God’s only begotten son, but Jesus Christ isn’t a man yet, he won’t be born for another 2500 years. Saved people are sons of God, but only if they believe on the Lord Jesus Christ who hasn’t come yet. Adam was a son of God, but Adam is dead. Lastly, angels are sons of God, and they are the only ones that fit this description.)
  • Genesis 18:2, 16-22 then 19:1-5, Sodom and Gomorrha’s two angels are men.
  • Joshua 5:13-15 Joshua draws his sword, but finds out this is the angel of the Lord, the captain of Lord’s army.
  • Luke 24:4, two men who were angels at the tomb
  • Acts 1:10, the disciples talked to two men after the ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ who were angels.
  • His spirit will no longer strive with man’s vile flesh. Genesis 6:3, 5-7
  • ...he also is flesh… Also? Who else is flesh?
  • Jude 6-7
  • When these angels with superior genetics produced children, they were larger than life, known for their physical attributes, celebrities, renown. They are sexual predators, deviants, polygamists, and fornicators.
  • 2 Peters 2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
  • Celebrity of fallen angels 6:4

The superiority of gods in their morals and beliefs (vss 5-8)

  • Moral superiority based on physical characteristics
  • Immersion into evil – …EVERY imagination of the thoughts of his heart was ONLY evil CONTINUALLY… In 10 generations man has gone from paradise, to a knowledge of good and evil, to ONLY EVIL CONTINUALLY.
  • First case of repentance in the Bible is God repenting that He made man.The angels that left their own habitation because of carnality. Mankind was consumed with carnality. The culture was eat up with strongest, fastest, prettiest.
  • Los Angeles (city of angels) where the renown, celebrities, pretty people, and where our culture learns how to live, what to wear, what to listen to, what to watch – Los Angeles.
  • 6:11,13 describes the world culture as violent. People loving death, sex, drunkenness, partying, fornicating, and corruption. All flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth (vs 12).

The soul that found grace (vss 9-13)

  • Noah saved by grace through faith. (Genesis 6:8, Hebrews 11:7)
  • How many people on the earth in Noah’s day? Just taking current growth rate there would’ve been just under a billion people on the earth. But considering people were living much longer and having children for much longer time frame there were many more than this. If you just add 1/1000th of a percent to the current growth rate you end up with 4 billion people on the earth. Realistically though we’re looking at 19 or 20 billion people.
  • God’s grace (Genesis 6:8) in light of God’s judgment; God’s desire to save mankind in light of his His unwanted judgment of the world with a flood.
  • Noah finds the grace of God.
  • Noah is perfect in his generations and a just man.
  • Noah walks with God.

The sudden wrath of God (vss 14-22)

  • Believer is prepared for God’s wrath
    • Grace of God will be found in the ark of salvation (Genesis 6:14-16)
    • By grace through faith is the recipe.
    • The ark was built in the open, was not hidden, just like Jesus Christ. We’re not told how long it took to build the ark; 20 years? 40 years? 80 years? But God allowed 120 years from his warning to Noah. Imagine Noah finishes the ark after 80 years. For the next 40 years he is a preacher of righteousness as Peter said.
  • Unbeliever is unprepared for God’s wrath
    • 7:17-20. So in 40 days the water went 15 cubits (26 ft) above the tallest mountain (29,029). That is a torrential flood of 726 ft over the whole earth every 24 hours. Or 30 ¼ ft every hour over the entire earth. Or 6 ft of water over the whole earth every minute. This happens so fast there is no time to respond if you’re not ready. Fossils are formed in this massive flood of water pressure.
    • And while the believer, Noah, is prepared for the wrath of God, the unbeliever is obviously not. This is why the days of Noah are like the coming of the Son of Man. Matthew 24:37-41 – The sudden destruction of the flood is a type of the coming of the Son of man (Luke 17:26-27).
Matthew, Preaching, Teaching

Prophet Without Honor (Matthew #71)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | TuneIn | Spotify | RSS | More

Prophet Without Honor

Text: Matthew 13:53-58

Ever since God made Israel a nation and birthed them as a son out of Egypt, the LORD contended to be accepted in the nation. There was incessant rejection of the LORD and His ways. Many times the LORD would use believing Gentiles outside of Israel to provoke Israel. Jonah and Nineveh was a great example. Jonah is sent to Gentiles who repent and believe and the result is God deferred His judgment. In Elijah’s day the Lord fed Elijah with unclean ravens and a Gentile widow according to the Lord in Luke 4:25-26. That’s the first time you meet Elijah in 1 Kings 17. Then the Lord heals Naaman, a Gentile, not an Israelite, who was a leper who believed.

Three words describe those familiar with a prophet, particularly Jesus Christ here. Those words are astonished, offended, and unbelief. The cross reference in Mark 6:1-6 emphasizes this by using the exact same words to describe those close to the Lord from his youth up: astonished, offended, and unbelief.

They were astonished

  • They were astonished but they were not impressed. In fact, they were perturbed and annoyed that someone they knew as a boy was doing and saying the things Jesus Christ was saying.
    • They resented his authority.
    • They resented his standards.
    • They resented his works.
    • They resented his claims.
    • And though they are the same thing, it is one thing to believe the deity of Christ, but I think it’s much harder to wrap your mind around the humanity of God Almighty. “Vail of his ordinariness” as someone called it.
  • His own kin didn’t think you could achieve that level of intelligence without the right schooling which Jesus didn’t have according to them.
  • John 7:1-5. Clearly no understanding of what God was doing in their midst.
  • Familiarity breeds contempt. Second generation and third generation people who grow up in faithful Christian homes usually didn’t fight the same battles the first generation did. Consequently, they don’t appreciate it. What became sacred to the first generation after they lived sinful lives before acknowledging the truth became ordinary to the second generation because that was all they knew.

They were offended

  • I drive to church and see signs with politician names on them in yards, on street corners. I see businesses advertising their businesses with signs. I see people with their favorite political candidate’s bumper sticker on their car who wouldn’t dare put a scriptural bumper sticker on their car. You know why? Jesus Christ is an offense in a way that a politician isn’t. You get a Christian to hold a sign for Jesus Christ with scripture and for some reason that is weird. How hypocritical it is. But it reveals the offensiveness of Jesus Christ unfortunately. It’s not the signs that’s the problem, it’s the content on the sign that the world and religious people have a problem with. And the world and religious people will never accept public displays of Jesus Christ, but they’ll never have a problem with public displays of their businesses or their politicians.
  • Matthew 13:18-21 Offended in Christ is proof you’ve deceived yourself about your faith. What you thought was “faith” is now disqualified. It’s proven to be rootless and the seed will not bear fruit.
  • Solution to being offended is loving the word of God. Psalm 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

They were unbelieving

  • Unbelief means the Lord will not work. As has been the theme throughout the Bible and particularly reinforced in Matthew, Christ’s kingdom and power is only accessed by faith.
  • Romans 9:30-33, then Romans 10 & 11
  • That’s about the summary of many places where the Bible is preached and taught and lived. The desire to help people is there for the servant of God, but no one will show up, therefore only a few ever get help.
  • Galatians 3:26
Colossians, Preaching

Christian Music (Colossians #55)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | TuneIn | Spotify | RSS | More

Christian Music

Text: Colossians 3:16

Music can help you live the Christian life or music can hinder your Christian life. The longest book in the Bible is a songbook.

Music is the best teacher

  • From nursery rhymes and ABCs all the way to depressing music that has encouraged many a teenager to go so far as suicide. Music is an incredibly powerful teacher.
  • Psalm 49:4
  • Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16 – teaching one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.
  • In 2 Kings 3:15 a minstrel played and the hand of the Lord was on Elisha.
  • There are many times music accompanies prophecy like in the book of Psalms, 1 Chronicles 25:1-3, and 1 Samuel 10:5-6. And even in our church services, this is why we sing before and sometimes after the preaching.

Music will fill you

  • Music is a great teacher because melody is memory. You’ll remember songs so well sometimes that you CAN’T get them out of your heart even when you want to. Music will put words in you and a spirit in you. Music sets the mood, it creates the atmosphere. Music has a way of filling a vessel like nothing else does.
  • Go to the bar to forget, listen to bar music, drink more than you wanted to and you’re drunk.
    • Proverbs 25:20 is a principle at work.
    • 1 Samuel 16:14-23 David changes the mood with music.
  • Club, loud music, fornication, that’s the spirit of the thing. Woodstock was a giant drug infested, lust filled, gathering of people listening to songs about drugs and fornication.
  • David plays for Saul and the evil spirit leaves Saul.

Principles of music

  • Music must be Biblically accurate. Our verse says Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. Your music should direct your thoughts toward godliness. So if your music at church reminds you of the music you heard at the bar or at the rock concert where drugs and sex were prevalent, you probably don’t understand what you’re doing to the people or the purpose the music you’re playing.
    • Emotions are the main reason people sin. The feeling becomes more important than the truth. So a drug addict who knows they’re dying from drugs will continue to die from drugs because the emotion tied to it is so strong.
    • Music is like a drug in that it stirs emotions. And the feeling becomes more important than the truth.
    • Now, emotions aren’t bad, God created them. Emotions, feelings, desires just need to submit themselves to the truth, not the other way around.
  • Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs will get the Lord involved. Consider 2 Chronicles 20:21-22 where the Lord fights a battle through the musicians.
  • Numbers 10:9-10 Israel was to convey truth the way it’s affected them.
  • The longest book in the Bible is a songbook.
  • Now being filled with the Spirit of God is like being drunk on alcohol in some ways. As we’ve seen, music has a way of filling a person like nothing few other things do.
    • It will affect how you walk, talk. It’ll affect your courage and sorrow.
Colossians, Preaching

The Peace of God (Colossians #54)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | TuneIn | Spotify | RSS | More

Peace of God

Text: Colossians 3:15

Let the peace of God rule in your hearts. 

God’s peace is ACCOMPLISHED in Jesus Christ body

  • Acts 10:34-43
  • Ephesians 2:11-18
  • The Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6)

God’s peace must be ALLOWED to rule

  • There are many things that can rule in your heart. Money can rule your heart. Lust can rule your heart. Fear can rule your heart. And whatever it is that rules your heart is something you allowed to rule your heart. The peace of God is the same in that if it’s going to rule your heart you’ve got to put it in charge.
  • Philippians 4:6-7
  • Cares don’t always put people before God
  • In this case worry, anxiety, fretting indicates a lack of prayer.
  • Luke 10:41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
  • Luke 8:14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
  • Prayer the opposite of care.  If you’re like me you think you don’t have time to pray because these things aren’t getting done.  The cares of this world will keep you from praying.
  • Part of prayer is to be careful for nothing.
    • Notice the contrast BUT in every thing by prayer…
    • Careful is to be full of care, to worry, fret, be anxious and nervous.
    • The idea is that saying a “prayer” and fretting about the same thing means you just SAID A PRAYER but you haven’t actually PRAYED. Saying prayers and praying are two different things.
    • Saying a prayer is not the same thing as praying
    • 1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
    • Biblical prayer means an exchange is made at the throne of grace.  My requests, my desires, my fears, my anxiety, my cares are placed before the throne of God and God replaces that with peace.
    • Like a trucker driving to his destination and coming right back with the same load.  A fellow asks the driver did you go to such and such a place? Driver says oh yes. Fellow asks, why do you still have that load on your truck. Driver says, oh well, I did drive to the location.
    • We could probably all say I don’t pray the way I should.  And I wonder how much anxiety, how many pills, how much alcohol, how much dope has been consumed by prayerless people.

God’s peace is APPLIED in gratitude

  • Peace is published in Isaiah 52:7 is interpreted by Paul as the gospel in Romans 10:15. How are they sent? Hebrews 13:12-15 is the sending out of the people who have made peace with God in Jesus Christ.
Genesis, Preaching

Enoch’s Faith (Genesis #18)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | TuneIn | Spotify | RSS | More

Enoch’s faith

Text: Genesis 5:21-24, Hebrews 11:5-6, Jude 14-15

Enoch’s faith is the subject of today’s sermon. He was contemporary with Adam for 308 years.  Enoch’s faith led to his victory over death, his rapture out of this world, and his legacy in his son Methuselah. Hebrews 11:5-6, Jude 14-15

Walk of faith

  • Genesis 5:24 And Enoch walked with God….
  • While these other folks built an ark and survived a global flood, were tortured and martyred, saw children raised from the dead, lived through attempts to be burned alive, Enoch’s claim to fame in God’s record is that he walked with God and that made God happy.
    • Walk implies progress
    • Walk implies fellowship. Walk implies agreement: Same pace.  Same direction
    • Walk to a destination.
  • In step with the Lord
    • Hear Him talk.
    • I need to talk to Him.
    • I need to work when and where He wants to work.
    • I need to be with others who are working with Him.
  • His life ended early in comparison to his peers, but only because he pleased God.

Victory of faith

  • By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death…
  • Victorious over death
    • Translation is the victorious transition of power
    • It is more than a “change” according to God. It is to be free from bondage.
    • O death where is thy sting?
    • 2 Samuel 3:1-10  House of Saul warred against house of David
    • Colossians 1:13 glorious power of the father…who hath delivered us from the power of darkness… translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son 
  • Victorious over the world
    • Enoch was accomplishing what he’s here to do.
    • Without faith it is impossible to please God (11:6). If something is of no value to God, what could it be good for?
    • Faith yields reward…he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (11:6)
    • … for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
  • The testimony meant he could tell others how to please God if they’d listen.
  • Must have this testimony else how will you be a witness to others to tell them how to please God?

Preaching of faith

  • The only specific thing that is recorded about Enoch is his preaching. Jude 14-15 Preaching against ungodly, warning of coming judgment.
  • He preaches Jesus Christ without knowing the name Jesus Christ.
1 Samuel, Preaching

Who’s Your Who (1 Samuel #8)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | TuneIn | Spotify | RSS | More

Who’s Your Who

Text: 1 Samuel 6

Let’s look at 1 Samuel 6:20 to begin. There are two questions that get to the heart of man’s trouble before a holy God.

  • Eternal life is a who
  • Righteousness is a who
  • Salvation is a who
  • Redemption is a who

Philistines couldn’t stand (vss 1-12)

  • The ark of God has been a hot potato with the Philistines. It’s been passed around to the major cities and left a wake of destruction in each city. Now the Philistines want to get rid of it. They recognize their nation suffers because of the heavy hand of a personal mighty God.
  • The Philistine CDC – Dr. Fauci goes on PNN – Philistine News Network – tells the people 15 days to slow the spread. The Philistines put together their brightest medical experts and religious leaders who come up with a ridiculous plan. The Philistine Center for Disease Control recommend making golden images of the emerods and mice that have plagued them. Then put them in a box with the ark. Build a new cart to put the ark and the coffer on. Then take two milking cows, tie them to the cart, take away their calves, and send the cows and cart away to see which way it goes.
  • Blood is required for a trespass offering (vs 4).
  • Verse 6 sounds real good but remember these Philistines are trying to get rid of God. They’re not trying to submit to God.

Israelites couldn’t stand (vss 13-21)

  • Not even the nation of Israel who were the ones who received the instructions and built the ark. None was able to stand.

The real question is who

  • The Philistines and the Israelites at this point understand none of them have a mediator that can stand before God, nor do they have any place for God to reside.
  • Eternal life is a who
  • Righteousness is a who
  • Salvation is a who
  • Redemption is a who
  • Maybe you thought a relationship, it’s the boyfriend or the girlfriend that you’re looking to for rest and peace and comfort. Don’t get me wrong, even God said people need people. But instead of trusting the LORD to provide the one He said you needed, you’re just grabbing at the one who showed interest.
  • Maybe you think a baby will solve your discontent. The baby will break your heart one day and babies without moms and dads are brokenhearted. Quit being selfish. Yes, the LORD said it’s good for people to have children when they have children in the context of a committed marriage.
  • Not why, but who.
    • I know whom I have believed in and am persuaded that HE is able to keep that which I’ve committed unto HIM against that day.
    • Trust in the LORD with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Matthew, Preaching, Teaching

Parable of the Householder’s Treasure (Matthew #70)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | TuneIn | Spotify | RSS | More

Householder’s Treasure

Text: Matthew 13:51-52

Parable’s meaning

  • In your house you have old things that have value to you and you have new things that have value to you. The old things either have sentimental value and are nostalgic or they are tools that are reliable. The new things are more about convenience or style probably.
  • The one who has been instructed in Christ’s kingdom becomes the evangelist of the treasure. He brings out old testament treasure and will be given new testament treasure in Jesus Christ.

Preeminence of Jesus Christ

  • Old was established with the blood of bulls and goats, but the new is established with the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Matthew 26:28 and Hebrews 9:13-22
  • Old is the letter of the law, but the new is the Spirit of the law. 2 Corinthians 3:3-17
    • (Illustration of “I’m not touching you,” obeys the letter but not the Spirit.) The old is the shadow and the new is the object. The old was very glorious, but the new is even more glorious. The Lord is the spirit, he is the new covenant, he is the more glorious.
    • Deuteronomy 10:11 the old addressed the spirit, but the written code of enforcement dealt with man’s actions. At least when it came to crime, punishment, and sacrifice.
    • Jeremiah 31:31-34
      • The new covenant describes the work of God’s Holy Spirit poured out by Jesus Christ after his blood has been shed for remission of sins and raised 
      • Jeremiah 31:33 with John 14:23-27
      • Jeremiah 31:34 with 1 John 2:26-27
  • 1 Corinthians 15:44-46
  • Matthew 5:27, 33, 38, 43 The Lord is that Spirit and describes the spirit 

Preachers bring out the old and new treasure to show off

  • Luke 24:44
  • Job 19:21-
  • Job 33?
  • Lamb sacrificed
  • Boaz redeemer
  • Mordecai ruler
  • Paul and Romans
Colossians, Preaching

Charity (Colossians #53)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | TuneIn | Spotify | RSS | More

Charity

Text: Colossians 3:14

Charity is the mortar that holds the saints together as they are perfected. If the structure will hold together and not fall apart, then we can live in the structure. Then we can rest in the structure. Then we can enjoy time in the structure. Perfection is the house and charity is what holds it together. You can have all the wood for the house, but no way of putting the pieces together then you just have a bunch of pieces. And the pieces aren’t really that valuable without being put together. A 2×4 is just a 2×4. But if it’s part of a frame of a house then it is more valuable because of its relationship to the other pieces.

Charity is value

  • Charity is substance (1 Corinthians 13:2), what a statement, I am nothing. So you aren’t something because of what you know or the talent you’ve been given. You are something when you give of yourself for someone else. A life that benefits no one else is a worthless life
  • Charity is value (1 Corinthians 13:3). All my goods… give my body to be burned. Bankrupt Christianity

Charity holds the people together so life can happen

  • 1 Peter 4:8

Charity holds the people together so rest can occur

  • 1 Timothy 1:5 the end of the commandment is charity…

Charity holds the people together so growth can occur

  • 1 Corinthians 8:1 Charity edifieth, like and edifice, a building, charity is building up.

Charity holds the people together so provision is made

  • 1 Corinthians 12:31 charity is the more excellent way. Spiritual gifts are good and necessary, but without charity they are nothing.

Marriage is the basis for love. I learn love when I’m committed to someone else.

Christian fellowship is the basis for growth. 

Genesis, Preaching

First Adam/Last Adam (Genesis #17)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | TuneIn | Spotify | RSS | More

First Adam/Last Adam

Text: Genesis 5

7 days of creation are 7 literal days because Adam’s age is given in verse 3

Likeness of first Adam vs likeness of last Adam (5:1)

  • Likeness of Adam is not an exact duplicate, but has the image, characteristics, and same substance as Adam.
  • Likeness of Christ works the same way. People who will one day be like Christ doesn’t mean they are going to be exact copies of Jesus Christ. Because eye color, hair color, size of a nose or size of ears doesn’t make any difference when it comes to righteousness.
  • 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
  • Philippians 3:21

Named by first Adam and named by the last Adam (5:2)

  • Basis for taking the name of the man in 5:2
  • Christian takes the name of Christ

Cursing in first Adam, Blessings in last Adam

  • 1 Corinthians 15:22, 45-49
  • Romans 5:12-21
    • Judgment vs Justification
    • Death reigns vs Life eternal
    • Disobedience made offspring sinners vs Obedience made offspring righteous
    • Death vs Resurrection from death
    • Earthly vs Heavenly
1 Samuel, Preaching

Holy vs Unholy (1 Samuel #6)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | TuneIn | Spotify | RSS | More

Holy vs Unholy

Text: 1 Samuel 5

The Philistines capture the ark of the covenant. It was the piece of furniture in the tabernacle that represented the presence of God to Israel. It contained an area on top of it called the mercy seat where God would meet with the high priest in Israel in a fire. But now the Philistines have captured the ark. But they won’t want it very long. The Lord is going to fight for Himself among the Philistines. And the ark will be passed like a hot potato to five major cities of the Philistines as the Lord leaves a path of destruction in each city the ark passes through. In this chapter, the holy vessel, sanctified by God, the ark of the covenant, will be set among an unholy and unsanctified people.

Place of exclusion versus a place of inclusion (vss 1-2)

  • The attitude of unbelievers is idols share space and it’s no big deal.
  • Unprepared people
  • The Lord Jesus Christ is exclusive; I am THE way, THE truth, THE life.
  • The Lord would never allow idols to sit in His tabernacle.
  • Isaiah 42:8 God will not share His glory
  • What fellowship hath light with darkness?
  • Ye cannot serve two masters

Powerful God versus impotent idol (vss 3-5)

  • One god needs to be set up while the true God fights for Himself. God Almighty doesn’t NEED human hands.
  • Plant a saint Christopher in the yard to sell the house. Patron saint of you name it. And it’s just this piece of plastic or wood.
  • Is your god wobbly? 
  • On the other hand; I can’t defend God’s word, I need it to defend me. I can’t protect God’s word, I need it to protect me. I don’t help faith that comes from God’s word, I need the faith of God to help me.

Heavy hand of God (vss 6-9)

  • Philistines are struck with hemorrhoids. 
  • Three times in these verses it’s noted that the hand of the Lord was heavy on the Philistines (6, 7, 9)
  • Heathen will come to hate the presence of God.
  • Not endure sound doctrine means they won’t put up with holiness. Paul’s advice to Timothy is to then do the work of an evangelist. Find other people when a congregation becomes overrun with “Christians” who won’t put up with holiness.

God will be magnified among the heathen no matter what (vss 10-12)

  • Ark goes to Ekron which is sort of the major capital where the chief God of the Philistines is. His name is Baalzebub. Baal for short. The same Beelzebub the folks accused Jesus Christ of promoting when He cast out devils since Beelzebub was the prince of devils.
  • God has no place among us! Says the unholy in verse 11.
  • Revelation 9:20-21 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.
  • Christian, you tired of this evil world? Take heart, Jesus Christ will be magnified in this earth one day.
  • But that means to all, the LORD wins in the end. If you’re not serving Him in righteousness it’s time to get on the winning side.
Matthew, Preaching, Teaching

Fishers of Men (Matthew #69)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | TuneIn | Spotify | RSS | More

Fishers of Men

Text: Matthew 13:47-50

The parable is a simple act of commercial fishing; cast the net, pull in the net when it’s full, then make the judgment of what’s a keeper and what’s not. It’s similar to the parable of the wheat and tares except it’s a fishing analogy. What are the fish in this parable? The fish are men. Jesus Christ’s kingdom is like fishers of men. And the coming of His kingdom is like drawing the net and sorting the catch.

Jeremiah 16:10-21 Note particularly the LORD sends fishers first, then sends hunters second. Also noteworthy is Gentiles would come in as well according to verses 19-21.

Matthew 4:17-22 600 years after Jeremiah prophesied, the Lord Jesus Christ begins his ministry by inviting men to become fishers of men.

Luke 24:47 (Matthew 28:19-20) Every kind gets caught in the net according to the parable and according to scripture.

  • Acts 10:34-43 Peter is preaching the gospel that he said started with John the Baptist who said, Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. So Peter is not preaching a different gospel to the Jews than the Gentiles. Everything is and always was about Jesus Christ, to the Jew FIRST, THEN to the Greek.
  • Romans 11:25-27 the mystery is that all nations would be gathered by Jesus Christ. His body would provide a refuge and salvation to sinners. He that hath the Son hath life and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
  • Colossians 1:23 – remember the parable says gathered of every kind, not every individual, but every kind is represented.
  • 2 Timothy 4:1-5 Preaching is fishing. Preach the word. Not preach to the right people. Just like the sower and the seed parable. The seed fell in all kinds of places.
  • 2 Thessalonians 1:3-10. Read that carefully. Is that the second coming of Jesus Christ? And what is the basis of judgment there? The gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. This leads us to the next aspect of this parable which is the end of this present evil world. So the parable says, So shall it be in the end of the world. The coming of Jesus Christ’s kingdom is the end of this world.
  • Luke 13:23-30 Israelites unable to enter Christ’s kingdom because they’ve rejected the stone who is Jesus Christ. But now strangers are entering Christ’s kingdom because they heard the preaching and received it.

John 21:11-13 after the resurrection, 153 caught, no nets brake, and there is a supper to follow.

Colossians, Preaching

Forgiveness (Colossians #52)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | TuneIn | Spotify | RSS | More

Forgiveness

Text: Colossians 3:12

Forgiveness is restoration based on the acknowledgement of sin

  • Forgiveness is not turning a blind eye to sin, it requires the acknowledgement of sin.
  • Just because Jesus Christ shed His blood for you does that mean you were forgiven?  Or was there something required of you? Does God require something of you before He forgave you? Or were you automatically forgiven when Jesus died on the cross for you? Confession and repentance are required by God for forgiveness. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.
  • Forgiveness is not blindly applied everywhere.

Forgiveness restores relationships but does not eliminate consequences

  • A person can be forgiven and still suffer consequences.  Someone that says they have sinned and may never recover, may never get their family back, may never be looked on favorably again, but their chief concern is between them and God.
  • David’s confession in Psalm 51:1-12
  • God can forgive you, as He did David, but that didn’t bring back the dead baby.  That didn’t make all the men David killed trying to get rid of Uriah in battle come back to life.

Forgiveness is God’s character

  • Psalm 86:5 For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive…
  • …even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Forgiveness allows you to be free from bondage

  • Ready to forgive is the right attitude. If you’re going to be ready to forgive, then some things have to be let go. Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

Forgiveness is Christian duty

  • Luke 17:3-10

Forgiveness makes you quit playing the victim

  • The reason you play the victim is so you can get away with doing something wrong. Sometimes it’s fun to have a pity party.
  • Willingness to forgive is a willingness to quit manipulating people and take responsibility for your own decisions.

Forgiveness prevents Satan from gaining the advantage

  • 2 Corinthians 2:6-11
  • 1 Corinthians 5:1-5. Carnal Christians are quick to gloss over the wicked because it makes them feel like good people, and more apt to judge and criticize the spiritual Christian. Don’t spiritualize your arrogance.
Genesis, Preaching

Calling on the Lord (Genesis #16)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | TuneIn | Spotify | RSS | More

Calling on the Lord

Text: Genesis 4:19-26

Success by any worldly standard, but without salvation

  • At the beginning here in Genesis you’re covering a lot of ground, thousands of years in just a few chapters. This means that whatever is included is VERY important to note. The last phrase in Genesis 4:26 – call upon the name of the Lord – will show up a few more times in the Bible. Each time it is the means of salvation of souls.
  • Lamech is the one the Lord picks out to define the state of things for a thousand years.
    • Lamech dishonors marriage
    • Lamech kills a man and boasts about it
    • Lamech says his sin is more noble than his great great great great grandfather Cain’s sin
    • Cultural advancements in the line of Cain and progress without God
  • The contrast will be that everything Cain’s lineage produces, all the culture and technology without God, will be wiped out in the flood. Noah will come from Seth’s line.
  • And that also means that everyone in Seth’s lineage dies too except Noah and his family.

God’s requirement for salvation of a soul

  • By the time of Seth’s birth Adam and Eve are probably broken but have come to accept sin having witnessed human history without sin and then living in sin.
  • David on his deathbed says in Psalms 116:1-4, 13, 17 that he’s called on the Lord and the Lord has heard him.
  • Zephaniah 3:8-13 and applied by Paul in Romans 10:13

A preacher of salvation

  • Enos apparently means weak, incurable, frail, and sickly. It certainly describes how a soul must see itself before it calls on the name of the Lord.
  • Peter preaches it in Acts 2:21 applying Joel 2:28-32
  • Jesus said in John 5:38-40
  • The point is there is a man associated with people calling on the name of the Lord!
1 Samuel, Preaching

Ichabod Nation (1 Samuel #6)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | TuneIn | Spotify | RSS | More

Ichabod Nation

Text: 1 Samuel 4

Twelve times in this chapter the ark of God is mentioned. The ark is significant in that it was where God met with the high priest. The chapter starts off with God’s word coming to Samuel, but the people seem to have their own ideas.

Glory of God gone from the battle (vss 1-2)

  • The title comes from 1 Samuel 4:21. The name Ichabod means the glory of God is gone. The glory of God is fully departed from Israel in this chapter. Israel is a nation of God’s people in name only. They have no resemblance to God’s people and haven’t for many years. When Samuel is called in chapter 3 it’s as if the Lord calls Samuel and promotes him right before the lights go out on the nation.
  • Maybe you keep getting beat up by your sin and God’s strength is no where to be found in your fight?
  • Endure hardness as a good soldier. Fight the good fight. Be not weary in well doing. Exhort one another daily. 

Glory of God gone from leadership (vss 3-9)

  • Panic sets in because there was great loss. People become superstitious, misguided, and cowardly. They can’t stomach another fight.
  • A sanctified joke in verse 4.
  • An emotional outpouring without any power in verses 5-7.
  • Maybe you’ve lost your stomach to fight sin in your life? Like these Israelites you’re looking for a good luck charm to ward off evil. You just want to take the pill and make it go away. You just want to smoke your troubles away.
  • God’s people won’t fight, but the devil’s people fight like their lives depend on it. Don’t let the devil have more fight in him than you do.

Glory of God gone from the priesthood (vss 10-11)

  • These priests who were sanctified jokes let the enemy in spiritually and disregarded God for years. Now the enemy has showed up physically to remove them.
  • The Lord was actively using an enemy to destroy those that made a mess of His house.
    • 1 Corinthians 5
    • 1 Corinthians 11:27-31 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

Glory of God gone from all things dedicated to God (vss 12-18)

  • How telling it is that Eli and his family are the ones responsible for the ark. But when it comes to spiritual matters Eli and his boys have become irrelevant. The messenger doesn’t even bother telling Eli what’s happened to the ark.
  • Spiritual life of Israel has gone to the wayside (vs 13). Anyone remember a parable Jesus told about seed falling by the wayside? Here is what that looks like in all its tragedy

Glory of God gone from the nation (vss 19-22)

  • So Phineah’s is not only fornicating with women who come into the tabernacle, but Phineahs, this priest of God so called, has a  wife and a child. What a mess!
  • It’s got to be really bad when a child is named after the hopeless estate the nation has come to find itself.
  • We are in the midst of the gasping convulsions of a nation that talks about God, but whose heart is far from God. We love our sin. We love our pleasure. We don’t want to be bothered by God unless we’re desperate.
  • God’s looking for a Samuel. Everyone in the priesthood died at the hands of the Philistines except one, Samuel. Where was Samuel when this happened? How come the Philistines didn’t take his life? He’s an easy prey as a boy. You know why he doesn’t die? Because God had plans for Samuel because Samuel has been faithful. But He no longer had plans for Eli or his boys.
Matthew, Preaching, Teaching

Pearl of Great Price (Matthew #68)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | TuneIn | Spotify | RSS | More

Pearl of Great Price

Text: Matthew 13:45-46

I’m aware of the interpretation of this parable and the treasure parable being Jesus Christ giving his life for the church as the pearl or Israel as the treasure. There are two inconsistencies with this interpretation. I’ll just deal with one because I’d like to get to the point Jesus Christ is actually making about His kingdom.

Jesus Christ finds sinners, he doesn’t find valuable treasure or pearls. People aren’t lively stones until they’re in Jesus Christ. That interpretation says people are already lively stones outside of Jesus Christ, then he sacrifices himself for them. And that’s not correct. Let’s get one cross reference to get the proper order in 1 Peter 2:3-5, 9-10. Verses 9-10 explain there are no lively stones outside of Jesus Christ. 

Though the parable of the treasure is very similar to this one, the kingdom of heaven is likened to the treasure in that parable while the kingdom of heaven is likened to a merchant in this one. This parable is focussed on the merchant while the treasure parable is focussed on the treasure. Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant man seeking goodly pearls.

There are two notable things about the merchant as the parable is related to Jesus Christ’s kingdom. There is a search and a cost.

  • Seeking and Finding
  • Selling and Buying

Seeking and finding

  • He made pearls his business. Just like the pearl merchant made pearls his business, people are commanded to make Christ’s kingdom their business.
  • All people are commanded to make Christ’s kingdom their business.
  • Zephaniah 2:1-3 – the things that people are being told to seek are things associated with Christ’s kingdom. Make His kingdom your business.
  • Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
  • Mark 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
  • Colossians 3:1-3
  • Hebrews 11:6, 13-14, 13:14

Must use the tools of the pearl trade to find pearls

  • Must use the tools and methods unique to Christ’s kingdom to participate in Christ’s kingdom.
  • Romans 2:5-9 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: 8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile…

Must look where pearls can be found

  • Matthew 6:31-33
  • John 5:39-40
  • Amos 5:4-14 – Notice the instructions to “seek” in 4, 6, 8, and 14.
  • Exclusive search (vss 4-5)
    • If you’re still going to Bethel you’re not seeking the Lord. Exclusive in the sense that God says if you seek Bethel while calling on my name, you’re not seeking me. Exclusive in the sense that God says if you continue to enter Gilgal while using my name, you’re not seeking me. Exclusive in the sense that God says if you’re passing by Beersheba you’re not seeking me.
    • Quit going to the house of other gods
  • Righteous search (vss 6-13)
    • …ye turn judgment to wormwood… leave off righteousness in the earth.
    • God says if you’re going to leave off righteousness in this earth, you’re not looking for me. You’re looking out for money or you have some other ulterior motive that has caused you to pervert judgment.
  • Good search (vss 14-15)
    • Notice how this search is carried out, hate the evil, love the good…
    • Establish judgment in the gate – Put judgment right in front.  Make it clear.
    • Do you want to find the Lord? Then establish judgment in the gate and give the Lord an opportunity to work.

Selling and buying

  • Revelation 3:14-22 you say you have need of nothing then don’t expect anything from the Lord.
  • 1 Timothy 3:12-13
  • Luke 18:18-30 (parallel passage in Matthew 19:16-30). Jesus doesn’t argue that this young man has kept the law. So it isn’t about keeping the law for salvation apparently. Because the Lord Jesus Christ then adds something that isn’t law, but has to do with a relationship with the Messiah.
Colossians, Preaching

Put on the New Man Pt. 2 (Colossians #51)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | TuneIn | Spotify | RSS | More

Put on the New Man

Text: Colossians 3:12

If you work at Whataburger, you wear a Whataburger uniform. If you work at Burger King you wear a Burger King uniform. But a Christian’s occupation is spiritual. A Christian is elect of God, holy and beloved by God, here is the dress code for someone occupying the position of God’s elect, holy and beloved. Put on:

Mercies

  • That which comes nearest to it is grace. It implies benevolence, tenderness, mildness, pity or compassion, and clemency, but exercised only towards offenders. Favor toward an offending party.
  • Mercy is the attitude when there is nothing the offending party can do to make things right. It is fully in your hand to address the relationship.
  • Philippians 2:1-2
  • Brandt Jean, brother of Botham Jean who was accidentally killed by officer Amber Guyger: “If you truly are sorry, I can speak for myself, I forgive and I know if you go to God and ask him, he will forgive you. And I don’t think anyone can say it, again I’m speaking for myself… but I love you just like anyone else. And I’m not gonna say I hope you rot and die just like my brother did but I presently want the best for you. And I wasn’t going to ever say this in front of my family or anyone, but I don’t even want you to go to jail. I want the best for you, because I know that’s exactly what Botham would want you to do. And the best would be to give your life to Christ. I’m not going to say anything else. I think giving your life to Christ would be the best thing that Botham would want you to do. Again I love you as a person and I don’t wish anything bad on you. I don’t know if this is possible, but can I give her a hug, please? Please?”

Kindness

  • Good will; benevolence; that temper or disposition which delights in contributing to the happiness of others, which is exercised cheerfully in gratifying their wishes, supplying their wants or alleviating their distresses; benignity of nature
  • Oskar Schindler saved 1,200 Jews from concentration camps. Their occupation would be their salvation. The Czech-born Schindler “was nothing if not a complicated man,” Carr-Wilcoxson said. He saved Jews who worked in his factory yet that factory made armaments for the Nazis, she said. While he saved Jews from death camps, Schindler was an early supporter of Adolf Hitler, Carr-Wilcoxson said. And as he worked with his wife to save others, he “wasn’t the most faithful husband,” she said.

Humbleness of mind

  • Low; opposed to high or lofty.
  • Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
  • Think highly of myself or I think humbly of myself.

Meekness

  • Softness of temper; mildness; gentleness; forbearance under injuries and provocations.
  • Moses most meek of all men. There are some people who seek leadership office, but others have it put on them. Moses wasn’t ambitious for a position, his leadership came from a duty to the Lord and the Lord’s people.

Longsuffering

  • Bearing injuries or provocation for a long time; patient; not easily provoked.
  • The main element is not being easily provoked.
  • 2 Peter 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

Sermons & Studies

Current Series

Contact

(361) 358-1611

bbbcya@gmail.com

Mailing Address

P.O. Box 247

Beeville, TX 78104

Physical Address

2601 N. St. Mary’s Street

Beeville, TX 78102

Proudly powered by WordPress | Theme: Consultera by Wpazure.
Back To Top