Tag: Romans

Preaching, Romans

Gospel is Divine

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The infallible proofs that the gospel cannot be a man-made idea.

Plan

  • Divine plan.
  • The gospel is a plan that man couldn’t implement – Romans 1:1-2 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)

Power

  • Divine power.
  • The gospel is a power man does not have – Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth.
  • Power of changed lives by eliminating sin; by moving from darkness into light.  Personal testimony.
  • Resurrection power – you can’t top that

Judgment

  • The gospel is a judgment that man would rather hide from: divine judgment.
  • Romans 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
  • To say the bible and the gospel are man-made means there must be some fingerprints of man on it. But the gospel presents man with things he prefers to keep secret, but that God will expose to the light.
  • Man proclaims his own goodness, man wouldn’t proclaim his own wickedness.

Love

  • Divine love.
  • The gospel is a love beyond man – Romans 5:7-8 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
  • Biblical love can be defined as a question, What are you willing to give for the object of your love? John 15:13.
  • 1 John 4:19 we love him because he first loved us

 

 

Success

  • Divine success.
  • The gospel has no failure rate – Romans 10:13 Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved
  • There is no such thing as 10 people called upon the name of the Lord, but only 5 of them were saved.

Change

  • Divine change.
  • Romans 15:16-21
  • Darkness to light, partakers of the divine nature, holy lives, love God, and victorious over sin. Filled with hope, joy, love, and peace.
Preaching

Self Examination (Lord’s Supper)

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Rejected by God

  • Romans 1:28-32
  • Not only do these things, but take pleasure in them that do them.
  • Entertained by them.  Celebrate them: “celebrities” are those who portray this list on screens enjoyed by other reprobates rejected by God.

Righteousness of man

  • Romans 2:1-5
  • Personal hypocrisy before God
    • You criticize people for being liars, and you lie.
    • You criticize people for adultery, yet you watch it on TV and are entertained by it.
    • You would gasp if anyone you knew was involved in a murder, but you’ve been entertained by hundreds of murders on your video games or your TV shows in the past week.
  • Storing up wrath for judgment day
    • Judgment is not meted out piece by piece.
    • Consequences are not the same thing as judgment.  Judgment is a day.
    • Revelation 20:11-13 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
    • Romans 2:5 after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.
    • It is appointed unto man once to die and after this the judgment.  No more chances.  No purgatory. No reincarnation.  No opportunities after death.

Righteousness of God

  • Romans 3:20 By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
    • You can’t do good to be accepted by God.
    • The charges against you are called sin.  Not only did the law point out your sin, it also awakened sin in you.  The law showed you that your very nature was to be against God.
  • Romans 3:21-26

Requirement of belief

  • Romans 4
  • Romans 4:16-21
    • You have to come to realize you are dead in sin and incapable of pleasing God.
    • If you’ve never come to a point in your life where you were cornered and trapped by your sin, you’ve never had a reason to trust Jesus Christ and you are stuck in your sin.
    • But, if you have come to the end of yourself and understand what Jesus Christ has done for you, then you are a partaker of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Preaching, Romans

God’s Goodness

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Text: Romans 2:4

Aren’t you glad God is good?  No, you’re not.

This phrase is interesting in that it brings up two very curious ideas.  The first is that you would despise God’s goodness. That doesn’t even sound reasonable, and it’s not.  The second is that God’s goodness as you interpret it is God’s approval when in fact God’s goodness is His longsuffering through His disapproval of behavior until He can hopefully correct it.

You despise God’s goodness when it’s shown to people you don’t like

  • You recognize moral failures in others, but you ignore them in yourself.  You want judgment of other people when they do wrong, but you don’t want it for yourself.  Highly critical of others, but not of ourselves.
  • You say why does that bad person live on?  Sometimes God is giving them an opportunity to get it right.  What you didn’t ask is why do you live on?
  • You get to a crossroads where you can put on display the goodness of God toward the unlikeable or you can despise the goodness of God toward them.

You despise God’s goodness when it presents us with responsibility

  • What about when God would like to use you to present his goodness to someone else?
  • The cross is an offence.  Jesus Christ is unfortunately an offense.  But the cross and the Lord Jesus Christ are the goodness of God.  You’re embarrassed about the goodness of God.
  • Don’t despise your responsibility to God’s goodness.  Take responsibility for it.
  • Galatians 4:15-16 Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me. 16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?

You despise God’s goodness when you’re led by overwhelming guilt

  • God’s leadership will lead you through guilt, but not to guilt.  Guilt is not the destination, it’s something you pass through on the way to restoration.
  • Some of you believe right now that you are too far gone in sin, or you’re too old to change, or you’re too far down some sidetrack in life to get back on course.
  • The verse says it is the goodness of God that provides the leadership to get you where you need to be!
  • God’s goodness is for the purpose of getting you where you need to be spiritually, mentally, emotionally, relationally, etc.
  • So you have an option.  You can either continue to despise God’s goodness by ignoring his leadership, or you can embrace his goodness and apply these scriptures to your life.
    • Dad guilt and more often Mom guilt.  And then so many parenting decisions get made out of guilt instead of letting the goodness of God in the scriptures direct and lead.
    • Regret in life; I’m just too far down the road to change anything.  Well, you can either continue to despise the goodness of God or you believe the verse you just read.
    • Nineveh was a city that was 1,500 years old – 15 centuries.  God said to Jonah Go tell the Ninevites they have 40 days left.  Were they too far gone? They could say Oh we’re too far gone! No, they repented and God spared them.

You despise God’s goodness when you proclaim your own goodness

  • And isn’t that interesting that God’s goodness leads to repentance?  When you and I think of God’s goodness we think of God’s approval of everything you do. And if there is any condemnation on what you’re doing it’s not God’s goodness, it’s bigotry.
  • God’s thoughts are higher than our and his ways higher than our ways.  Of course they are going to be different. And the Lord is trying to bring your thought up where His are.

You despise God’s goodness when it’s presented to us by someone you don’t care for

  • You ever have someone you really don’t like say exactly what needs to be said to you?
    • John the Baptist an outcast.
    • You’ll make it about personality, but it’s not about personality.
  • Matthew 23:3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

You despise God’s goodness when it’s presented in a way you don’t like

  • Preaching is how God has manifested his word and some folks would rather it be given a different way.
  • The hypocrisy here is incredible.  You know you’ll accept a lie in almost any form.  Loud, quiet, with explosions, with profanity, violence, murder, hatred, screaming, etc.  I mean you want the preacher to tone it down, or not use such harsh language, but you’ll go home and absorb much worse from a movie that is completely fake.  Or from your buddies in conversation at work.
  • But how dare that preacher get too excited about the truth.  Or that Christian get too excited about being saved. Tone it down a little bit, that’s so embarrassing.
  • Aren’t you glad you weren’t the mother of the girl who was raised from the dead by Jesus Christ?!
  • The truth is that presentation is not really the problem.  It is that we don’t like the truth.

You despise God’s goodness when you neglect his forgiveness in Jesus Christ

  • Not saved here today, then you have despised God’s good sacrifice for your sin.
Preaching, Romans

Romans Road to Resurrection

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Reprobate – rejected – by God

  • Romans 1:28-32
  • Not only do these things, but take pleasure in them that do them.
  • Entertained by them.  Celebrate them: “celebrities” are those who portray this list on screens enjoyed by other reprobates rejected by God.
  • You take pleasure in these things because you flesh, your body, has an appetite for these things that oppose God.  The lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, the pride of life.
    • The Lord says tell the truth, but the first thing you think to do when you believe you’ll be in trouble is lie.
    • The Lord says don’t covet, but the first thing you do when you see someone with something you don’t have is want it.

Personal guilt before God

  • Romans 2:1-5
  • Personal hypocrisy before God
    • You criticize people for being liars, and you lie.
    • You criticize people for adultery, yet you watch it on TV and are entertained by it.
    • You would gasp if anyone you knew was involved in a murder, but you’ve been entertained by hundreds of murders on your video games or your TV shows in the past week.
  • Storing up wrath for judgment day
    • Judgment is not meted out piece by piece.
    • Consequences are not the same thing as judgment.  Judgment is a day.
    • Thief breaks into a home.  He’s caught. He is shot in the leg.  (That’s not the judgment of God, that’s a consequence of a decision.)  The police come, arrest the thief. Take him to the hospital where he regrets what he’s done.  (That’s still not judgment and his sorrow is not a substitute for judgment.). He is charged with theft and thrown in county jail and given a court date. (Being is jail is still not judgment.)  The judgment will come at the appointed time.
    • Don’t confuse consequences with judgment.  
  • Romans 2:5 after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.
  • It is appointed unto man once to die and after this the judgment.  No more chances.  No purgatory. No reincarnation.  No opportunities after death.
  • You say you’re pretty good which everyone says about themselves.  There is not a person that doesn’t think they’re good. But goodness is determined by the law and the Judge, not you or me.
  • Romans 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

God has concluded you’re guilty

  • Romans 3:9-19, 23
  • You don’t need to wait and see what the verdict will be or whether God will weigh good and bad deeds.  God has already concluded you’re under sin. And you know you are because you’ll spend your entire life trying to offset the curse on you.
  • The charges against you aren’t about what you’ve done right. The law is only looking at what’s been done against the law.  God’s law is the same way. Whatever good you believe you’ve done does not justify the laws you’ve broken. That’s not a defense here and it’s not a defense before God.
  • In order to get to Hell and ultimately the Lake of Fire, you’re going to have to ignore the goodness of God and every attempt God is going to make to get you to turn around.
    • Tract
    • Preaching here
    • Friend at work trying to talk to you
    • Relative trying to talk to you about salvation
    • Churches open all week with multiple services preaching the gospel, but you were too busy watching the game, the races, fishing, hunting, whatever.
    • Every attempt God made to get you to avoid judgment was ignored.
  • Paul said, despisest thou the goodness of God?

God not only concluded the only way to save you is to give you his righteousness

  • Romans 3:21-22, 24-28
  • God Almighty is SO against having to judge you and send you to a lake of fire that God came in the flesh – God manifest in the flesh – to provide an acceptable body of flesh and blood.
  • 2 Corinthians 5:21 made him to be sin for you
  • 1 Peter 3:18 the just for the unjust
  • Acts 4:12 neither is there salvation in any other
  • Hebrews 10:10-13 one sacrifice for all
  • John 1:28 the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world
  • Luke 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Here’s how God plans to give you His righteousness

  • Romans 4:1-3
  • Romans 4:6-8 blessed forgiveness in the Lord Jesus Christ
  • Romans 4:19-25, believe what God has promised in Jesus Christ and God Almighty will account to you His righteousness

If you accept God’s plan to save your soul

  • Romans 5:1-2, 6-9
Preaching, Romans

Reason for the Season

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Sinful condition

  • Romans 1:28-32
  • Not only do these things, but take pleasure in them that do them.
  • Entertained by them.  Celebrate them: “celebrities” are those who portray this list on screens enjoyed by other reprobates rejected by God.

Personal guilt before God

  • Romans 2:1-5
  • Personal hypocrisy before God
    • You criticize people for being liars, and you lie.
    • You criticize people for adultery, yet you watch it on TV and are entertained by it.
    • You would gasp if anyone you knew was involved in a murder, but you’ve been entertained by hundreds of murders on your video games or your TV shows in the past week.
  • Storing up wrath for judgment day
    • Judgment is not meted out piece by piece.
    • Consequences are not the same thing as judgment.  Judgment is a day.
    • Thief breaks into a home.  He’s caught. He is shot in the leg.  (That’s not the judgment of God, that’s a consequence of a decision.)  The police come, arrest the thief. Take him to the hospital where he regrets what he’s done.  (That’s still not judgment and his sorrow is not a substitute for judgment.). He is charged with theft and thrown in county jail and given a court date. (Being is jail is still not judgment.)  The judgment will come at the appointed time.
    • Don’t confuse consequences with judgment.  
  • Revelation 20:11-13 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
  • Romans 2:5 after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.
  • It is appointed unto man once to die and after this the judgment.  No more chances.  No purgatory. No reincarnation.  No opportunities after death.
  • You say you’re pretty good which everyone says about themselves.  There is not a person that doesn’t think they’re good. But goodness is determined by the law and the Judge, not you or me.
    • Romans 3:20 By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
    • When law enforcement raided a home near us and apprehended a guy for his part in a murder, what if he just said, “But I’m a good guy.  I’ve never stolen anything.” Or what if he said, “But I’m a good guy, I take care of my family.”
    • The charges against you aren’t about what you’ve done right.  The law is only looking at what’s been done against the law. God’s law is the same way.  Whatever good you believe you’ve done does not justify the laws you’ve broken. That’s not a defense here and it’s not a defense before God.
    • The charges against you are called sin.  Not only did the law point out your sin, it also awakened sin in you.  The law showed you that your very nature was to be against God.

Reason for the season

  • The reason for the season is here.  God would become a man named Jesus Christ in order to be a substitute for sinful man.
    • His sacrifice was substitutionary – the just for the unjust
    • 2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
    • His sacrifice was sufficient – once suffered for sins
      • Self righteousness making Christ’s suffering pointless
      • If you can earn it, why is he hanging on a cross there?
      • Luke 24:46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
    • His sacrifice was reconciling – that he might bring us to God
      • Helpless condition of you and I – Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear
    • His sacrifice was complete and successful
      • being put to death in the flesh – crucified
      • John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
      • His sacrifice was successful – quickened by the spirit
      • The work of Jesus Christ as savior is vindicated and completed in his resurrection – declared to be the Son of God with power…by the resurrection from the dead
    • Opportunity to settle out of court
      • God Almighty is SO against having to judge you and send you to an eternal lake of fire that He made the best way possible for you to settle out of court.
      • Acts 4:12 neither is there salvation in any other
      • Hebrews 10:10-13 one sacrifice for all
      • John 1:28 the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world
      • Luke 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
    • In order to get to Hell and ultimately the Lake of Fire, you’re going to have to ignore the goodness of God and every attempt God is going to make to get you to turn around.
      • Tract
      • Preaching here
      • Friend at work trying to talk to you
      • Relative trying to talk to you about salvation
      • Churches open all week with multiple services preaching the gospel, but you were too busy watching the game, the races, fishing, hunting, whatever.
      • Every attempt God made to get you to avoid judgment was ignored.
    • Paul said, despisest thou the goodness of God?
  • Romans 2:12, 16 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; … 16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

Accepting the reason for the season

  • Acts 20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
  • Settling out of court will require repentance toward God.
    • That means I’m going to stop justifying myself my way, and now look to God’s way.
    • You’re not going to be able to add religion to your sin and pay for your sin.
    • Calling upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ is how you get justified before God.  But in order to call on Jesus Christ, you’re going to have to stop looking in other places for justification before God.
  • And faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ
    • What is God’s way?
    • That means you understand not only are not saved by works, but you are condemned because of your works.  It is your sin, the things you’ve done, the things you’ve thought, the things you’ve said, the things your heart has gone after that has separated between you and God.
    • Stop justifying yourself before God and accept God’s justification in Jesus Christ –
  • Romans 3:21-26 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
  • Romans 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Preaching, Romans
Preaching, Romans

The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ

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Reprobate – rejected – by God

  • Romans 1:28-32
  • Not only do these things, but take pleasure in them that do them.
  • Entertained by them.  Celebrate them: “celebrities” are those who portray this list on screens enjoyed by other reprobates rejected by God.

Personal guilt before God

  • Romans 2:1-5
  • Personal hypocrisy before God
    • You criticize people for being liars, and you lie.
    • You criticize people for adultery, yet you watch it on TV and are entertained by it.
    • You would gasp if anyone you knew was involved in a murder, but you’ve been entertained by hundreds of murders on your video games or your TV shows in the past week.
  • Storing up wrath for judgment day
    • Judgment is not meted out piece by piece.
    • Consequences are not the same thing as judgment.  Judgment is a day.
    • Thief breaks into a home.  He’s caught. He is shot in the leg.  (That’s not the judgment of God, that’s a consequence of a decision.)  The police come, arrest the thief. Take him to the hospital where he regrets what he’s done.  (That’s still not judgment and his sorrow is not a substitute for judgment.). He is charged with theft and thrown in county jail and given a court date. (Being is jail is still not judgment.)  The judgment will come at the appointed time.
    • Don’t confuse consequences with judgment.  
    • Revelation 20:11-13 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
    • Romans 2:5 after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.
    • It is appointed unto man once to die and after this the judgment.  No more chances.  No purgatory. No reincarnation.  No opportunities after death.
    • You say you’re pretty good which everyone says about themselves.  There is not a person that doesn’t think they’re good. But goodness is determined by the law and the Judge, not you or me.
      • Romans 3:20 By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
      • When law enforcement raided a home near us and apprehended a guy for his part in a murder, what if he just said, “But I’m a good guy.  I’ve never stolen anything.” Or what if he said, “But I’m a good guy, I take care of my family.”
      • The charges against you aren’t about what you’ve done right.  The law is only looking at what’s been done against the law. God’s law is the same way.  Whatever good you believe you’ve done does not justify the laws you’ve broken. That’s not a defense here and it’s not a defense before God.
      • The charges against you are called sin.  Not only did the law point out your sin, it also awakened sin in you.  The law showed you that your very nature was to be against God.

Opportunity to settle out of court

  • God Almighty is SO against having to judge you and send you to an eternal lake of fire that He made the best way possible for you to settle out of court.
  • 2 Corinthians 5:21 made him to be sin for you
  • 1 Peter 3:18 the just for the unjust
  • Acts 4:12 neither is there salvation in any other
  • Hebrews 10:10-13 one sacrifice for all
  • John 1:28 the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world
  • Luke 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
  • In order to get to Hell and ultimately the Lake of Fire, you’re going to have to ignore the goodness of God and every attempt God is going to make to get you to turn around.
    • Tract
    • Preaching here
    • Friend at work trying to talk to you
    • Relative trying to talk to you about salvation
    • Churches open all week with multiple services preaching the gospel, but you were too busy watching the game, the races, fishing, hunting, whatever.
    • Every attempt God made to get you to avoid judgment was ignored.
    • Paul said, despisest thou the goodness of God?
    • Romans 2:12, 16 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; … 16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

How do I settle out of court?

  • Acts 20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
  • Settling out of court will require repentance toward God.
    • You’re not going to be able to add religion to your sin and pay for your sin.
    • Calling upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ is how you get justified before God, but it is calling upon him as defined by God, not defined by you.
    • That means you understand not only are not saved by works, but you are condemned because of your works.  It is your sin, the things you’ve done, the things you’ve thought, the things you’ve said, the things your heart has gone after that has separated between you and God.
    • Turn to God away from your sin and take hold on Jesus Christ.  He is God’s offer of salvation to any sinner that will accept him.
Preaching, Romans

How God Uses Trouble

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Text: Romans 8:28

But nothing catches God by surprise, so he isn’t beside himself since sin entered the world.  What he is going to do is use this time to prepare his people, to test his people and to basically accomplish some things in you and I that he wants to accomplish.

So how is God going to use this troubled life to our advantage and for his glory?

Trouble keeps this world from becoming too attractive

  • The world is headed for disaster.
  • In the last month two young folks that I knew have died.
  • Trouble shows the world for what it is

Trouble provides a context for ministry

  • The Lord has an opportunity to get out of people what He likes.
  • Romans 8:27 he that searcheth the hearts…

Trouble equips you for the office of sympathy

  • If the value of your life and God’s use of your life is in ministering to others, and it is, then equipping you for that office is going to require some trouble.
    • Get a kick out of people who want to be in charge and have a leadership role.  I was that way when I was younger, just set me down cause I’m already wound up.
    • You understand the guy in the lead is the first to take the bullets.  Good for pastors to remember this so they don’t get bitter at their flock.  Be the example, taking the lead means being the example and taking the lead, not driving the flock where you want them to go.
  • You can understand the suffering
  • 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;  Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

Trouble reveals weakness

  • When the Lord tries your heart with some trouble, he wants to get a certain thing out of you.  But will use the trial to reveal to you your own weaknesses.  You understand he already knows your weakness and mine.
  • When God can really work is when you begin to realize your weakness.  Jesus said I didn’t come to call the righteous to repentance, I came to call sinners.  If you’re healthy you don’t need a physician.  You don’t need me if you think you’re OK.
  • Trouble can have the effect of purging away dross by bringing that dross to the surface so the Lord can deal with it.

Trouble reveals motives

  • If you’re motive is to please the Lord it will be hard to offend you.  Great peace have they which love thy law and nothing shall offend them.
  • On the other hand, if you are easily offended it’s because your motive is wrong and you’ve got too much to lose.
  • Some folks stick around church for a while, seem real zealous, get real involved and say, “God’s calling me to this ministry in the church.”  And then trouble comes along in the form of them being told to do something they don’t like, or pressure in the ministry, or a little tiff with the pastor or a brother in Christ and suddenly God’s not calling them to be there anymore.  Suddenly God’s calling them to go somewhere else.

Trouble will redirect your attention to the Lord

  • Magnifies the Lord Jesus Christ
  • Daniel 3:24-25 Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fie?…He answered and said, Lo, I see four men…
  • God’s way of dealing with trouble is not to take it away, but to put something of himself in the mix so you see more
  • My grace is sufficient for thee
  • disciples on the wind and the waves – what manner of man is this?

The Christian life is a present victory.  It is the victorious life.  Victory implies battle and struggle and trial.  The Christian life isn’t the insulated life, it is the victorious life.  Whether in life or death there is nothing capable of defeating Christianity.

Preaching, Romans

God is Good and You Hate It

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Text: Romans 2:4

God is good, all the time.  Aren’t you glad God is good?  No, you’re not.

This phrase is interesting in that it brings up the idea that people are opposed to the goodness of God.  You and I love God’s goodness directed toward us.  But when directed to others it shows us how little we actually care about God or what He’s doing.

Christian, you still have that old man who hates God’s goodness too.

We despise God’s goodness when it’s shown to people we don’t like

  • The argument Paul is making is to mankind in general.  You recognize moral failures in others.  But you ignore them in yourself.  You want judgment of other people when they do wrong, but you don’t want it for yourself.  Highly critical of others, but not of ourselves.
  • You say why does that bad person live on?  Sometimes because it is God giving them an opportunity to get it right.  What you didn’t ask is why do you live on?

We despise God’s goodness when it presents us with responsibility

  • God’s goodness feels like rules and restraints to me, so I’m not interested.
  • People said in Psalms, Let us break their bands asunder, let us cast off their cords.
  • What about when God would like to use us to present his goodness to someone else?  We despise it then too.

We despise God’s goodness when we’re overwhelmed with guilt and hopelessness

  • Some of you believe right now that you are too far gone in sin for the Lord to be of any help to you.
  • Now, instead of thinking that, what you ought to realize is that God didn’t lead you here, or put any of this together to throw it in your face.  God’s goodness is for the purpose of getting you where you need to be spiritually, mentally, emotionally, relationally, etc.  And the crazy thing about that is though you think you’ve gone further than God allows, He already knows how far you’ve gone and He still is pursuing you to get back to a place of blessing.

We despise God’s goodness when it’s presented to us by someone we don’t care for

  • You ever have someone you really don’t like say exactly what needs to be said to you?
  • Now, that’s painful.  When the accuser isn’t lying about you, but is telling the truth about you.
  • Ahab, a king in Israel hated the prophet Micaiah.  He hated Micaiah because Micaiah wasn’t a politician and wasn’t a “yes man”.  Micaiah simply said what God wanted him to say.  Ahab said Micaiah never says anything good about me so I hate him.  The problem was that what Micaiah said about Ahab was true.

We despise God’s goodness when it’s presented in a way we don’t like

  • Preaching is how God has manifested his word and some folks would rather it be given a different way.
  • The hypocrisy here is incredible.  You know you’ll accept a lie in almost any form.  Loud, quiet, with explosions, with profanity, violence, murder, hatred, screaming, etc.  I mean you want the preacher to tone it down, or not use such harsh language, but you’ll go home and absorb much worse from a movie that is completely fake.  Or from your buddies in conversation at work.
  • But how dare that preacher get too excited about the truth.  Or that Christian get too excited about being saved.  Tone it down a little bit, that’s so embarrassing.  Aren’t you glad you weren’t the mother of the girl who was raised from the dead by Jesus Christ?!
  • The truth is that presentation is not really the problem.  It is that we don’t like the truth presented to us that way.

We despise God’s goodness when it goes against how we WANT to think

  • You and I don’t like dealing with something contrary to our own ideas.
  • God’s thoughts are higher than our and his ways higher than our ways.  Of course they are going to be different.  And the Lord is trying to bring your thought up where His are.

Not saved here today, then you have despised God’s good sacrifice for your sin

Now, we are in love with the IDEA of God’s goodness.  But we are far from in love with a God who is good.

If we despise every attempt God makes with his goodness, if we push the life preserver out of the way every time He pitches it, there should be no question in our mind why we are drowning.

Preaching, Romans

Death Sentence

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We want to look at the substitutionary death of the Lord Jesus Christ and what that means to you and I.

Christ’s Substitution means there is a death sentence on you

  • If Jesus Christ took your place, that means there is a death sentence on you.
  • The wages of sin is death.
  • It is appointed unto man once to die and after this the judgment.
  • John 3:36 …and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
    • Where did the death sentence come from?  Sin.  Breaking God’s law.
      • Have you ever told a lie?  
      • Yes.  And if someone told you a lie what would you call that person?  A liar.
      • Exodus 20:16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
      • Have you ever stolen something, even very small?
      • And if someone stole from you, what would call them? A thief.
      • Exodus 20:15 Thou shalt not steal.
      • Have you ever used the Lord’s name in vain?
      • What do you call someone who takes God’s name in vain? A blasphemer.
  • Exodus 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
  • Have you ever disobeyed your parents?
  • The law also awakens sin – sin, taking occasion by the law
    • I’ll tell you something else about your sin.  Not only have you directly violated God’s law, but when you hear God’s law it stirs up the sin in you.
  • sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.
    • If you’ve never come to the realization that there is a death sentence on you because of your sin, you are under a curse because of your sin, you’ve never been truly saved.
    • Before you get mad about that, you need to think about that.
    • Being saved means you were rescued from death.
    • Look, if you were having a nice day on your boat and suddenly the Coast Guard showed up and picked you up for no reason.  You wouldn’t say the Coast Guard saved you or rescued you.  Why?  There was no danger, nothing life threatening to be saved from.
  • Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Christ’s Substitution means there is nothing you can do about your death sentence

  • No good work to buy it off.
    • If you could just buy off your guilt with a few good things, why didn’t the Lord Jesus Christ just say, Do good.  Why did he die?
    • Galatians 3:21 …for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
  • No baptism to take it away.
  • If you could buy off your guilt with a baptism, why didn’t the Lord Jesus Christ just say, Go get baptized.  Why did he die?
  • 1 Corinthians 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to
  • preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
  • No church joining or organization will bring salvation

Christ’s Substitution means He was a willing offering for you

  • 2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin:
  • Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity,
  • 1 Timothy 2:6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
  • Galatians 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world,
  • Galatians 2:20 …I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
  • 1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
  • 1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust,
  • Hebrews 2:9 …that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
  • Romans 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. … 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
  • Romans 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences,

Paper illustration

 

Preaching, Romans
Preaching, Romans

Four Words to Live By

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Romans 1:9 …God is my witness…

Responsibility

  • If you lived this way you’d stop doing some things that you’re doing
  • If you lived this way you’d start doing some things that you’re not doing

Reactions

  • If you lived this way you’d be comforted instead of distressed
  • If you lived this way you’d be rejoicing instead of bitter
  • If you lived this way you’d stop worrying about some things you worry about

Rewards

  • If you lived this way you’d look up rather than down
Preaching, Romans

Fellowship in the Local Churches (Romans #36)

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Text: Romans 16

Fellowship of the Saints (vss 1-16, 21-24)

  • Twenty seven names are mentioned in Romans 16.  Some were married couples, some were single men, some were single women, some were single moms, some were brothers, some were sisters, and some entire households.  The common bond between all of them is that they were faithful.
  • Peter is not the first bishop of Rome
    • Theodosius was the first to claim Petrine succession
    • No mention of Peter.  If he was the first Bishop of Rome as the Catholics say why is he not mentioned?
    • Because he was an apostle to the circumcision, not the Gentiles – Galatians 2:7-8
    • Paul specifically told the Romans that he was their apostle in Romans 15:16
    • Paul established the Roman church in Romans 1:11 and that he was not building on anyone else’s work – Romans 15:20
    • Acts 28:15 there is still no mention of Peter though all the church goes to greet Paul
  • Church or churches shows up five times in this chapter.  A church is not a religion, but a church is a group of individual saints in Jesus Christ.
    • 16:1, 4, 5, 16, 23,
  • Verse 7 – in Christ before me means the body of Christ was revealed to Paul, but existed before Paul.
  • Each one of these folks is recognized by the Lord for their individual work in the ministry.  And each one of these folks had an interesting story to tell.
    • Phebe is a help in the ministry and she knows the ministry, so Paul commends the Roman church to help her in whatever she needs.
    • Aquilla and Priscilla – Acts 18:2, forced to move out of Italy because of Claudius, travelled with Paul and taught Apollos in Acts 18:24 who in turn spake mightily of the Lord Jesus Christ
    • Rufus’ dad helped the Lord carry the cross – Mark 15:21
    • Timothy (Timotheus) of Derbe helped Paul initially in Derbe and Lystra, then in Galatia, Philippi, Corinth, Berea, and eventually pastoring the church at Ephesus (1 Timothy 1:3).  He spent at least 10 years with Paul in the ministry before pastoring the church.
    • Gaius, who was a part of the riot in Ephesus around the temple of Diana in Acts 19.  Acts 19:32 Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.

Factions of the Serpent (vss 17-20)

    • Paul’s encouragement is to keep the truth clean, pure, and undefiled.  The message is the most important thing.
    • Where is the line drawn for division?  Division and offence caused by error.
      • 1 Timothy 3:15 says that it will be the church of the living God that is the pillar and ground of the truth
      • 1 Corinthians 1:10
      • Galatians identifies those that cause division
      • 1 Timothy 4
    • Truth is defiled by wonderful deception: fair speeches, good words.
  • Proverbs 7:21 With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.
    • Proverbs 26:25
  • So what about folks who don’t know good doctrine and come into the assembly?  Do you mark them and avoid them?  No.  Paul specifically says those that cause divisions and offences.
  • When false doctrine is taught, it is motivated by selfishness
  • Bruise Satan under your feet is a reference to the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ
    • Isaiah 14:25-28
    • Genesis 3:15
    • Colossians 2:15

 Foundation of the Scriptures (vss 25-27)

  • Paul states the purpose of the letter to the Romans which is to stablish them.
    • What is the difference between establish and stablish?
      • Establish is used when only God is doing the work.  The Lord said for instance I will establish my covenant with him.  Or I will establish my covenant with Isaac.  The Lord does something for which Isaac was simply the recipient.
      • Stablish is used when a work is contingent on both parties agreeing.  The Lord said he would stablish Solomon IF he walked in the ways of David his father.
    • Paul is laying a foundation that will stablish, or create stable healthy saints of God on the contingency that they will hear and obey in faith.
  • Now made manifest and by the scriptures made known to all nations
Preaching, Romans

Unity in the Body: Part 2 (Romans #35)

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Text: Romans 15

In the body there is unity.  Not unity for unity’s sake, but unity for the benefit of the whole.  It seems like the folks who talk the most about unity are the most divisive.

Unity by edification (vss 1-4)

  • Your body is designed to edify itself.  If there is something wrong the body immediately goes into action to protect and heal itself.
  • Bearing another’s burdens – “He isn’t heavy, he’s my son.”
  • Using your liberty to help someone else – Special Olympics
  • Savior is used as an example
    • Jesus Christ’s will was his Father’s will.  He came to minister, not to be ministered unto.
    • Human nature looks for the return on it’s own investment.  In the ministry and when you give of yourself there is a tendency to expect some things to be given back.
    • The hatred people had for God fell on Jesus Christ and that will be true of you.
  • Scriptures
    • Verse 4 says the scriptures were written with others in mind.  The men writing were documenting events for future generations to read; particularly that those coming after would have hope, comfort, and patience.
    • Most books written for money.  Books to help you are written for money.

Unity in spirit (vss 5-7)

  • Pep rally everybody is saying and thinking the same thing
  • One mind –
  • One mouth
  • Congregational singing so important
  • mutual reception
  • The Lord Jesus Christ is again used as the example – as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

Unity in purpose (vss 8-12)

  • God would use the Jews to be a light to the Gentiles and bring us all into one body to glorify God for his mercy.
    • Revelation 4:11
  • Mission minded in the military.
  • Ephesians 3

Unity in preaching (vss 13-22)

  • Titus 1:3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;
  • Preaching in prison, nursing homes, door to door and of course in the pulpit
  • Brother Hoffmeister telling me about preaching 7 to 8 times a day in the Philippines

 Unity in giving (vss 23-29)

  • The Gentiles benefited from the spiritual labor of the saints in Jerusalem.  Then the saints in Jerusalem came under persecution and became very needy.
  • sealed to them this fruit – so there is the fruit of the spirit and there is fruit in the form of giving
    • Philippians 4:17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
  • 2 Corinthians 9 – Giving
    • 2 Corinthians 9:1-5 – Paul sends brethren before to ensure there will be money for the Macedonians.  And to separate himself from the money so there is no confusion about his intentions.
    • 2 Corinthians 9:6 – generosity is an agricultural principle like a farmer sowing seed.  But if you give to get, then your motive is greed and that falls under the same category as a prayer prayed so you can consume it upon your lusts.
    • 2 Corinthians 9:7 – you determine whatever you’re cheerful about giving.
    • 1 Timothy 6:18 – ready and willing
    • Generosity Produces Praise
    • Generosity is a blessing to all involved; to the giver and to those that receive
    • 2 Corinthians 9:11-12 – It generates gratitude to the giver and the receiver.
    • 2 Corinthians 9:13-15 – It generates glory to God.  And isn’t that your purpose here on earth, to bring glory to God?

Unity in prayer (vss 30-33)

  • The idea of striving in prayer
  • The difference between saying a prayer and getting a hold of God
  • Praying for deliverance
  • Praying that his service is accepted
  • Two or more are gathered in my name there am I in the midst – Corporate prayer – Acts 12:5-16, many local churches have a designated prayer service, midweek, weekend.  Gives you an opportunity to pray for others and have others pray for you.
  • Private prayer is good, but congregational prayer serves a different purpose in the life of a great church.  It helps the congregation see and move forward with energy and joy around God’s purpose for the flock.
  • Acts 1:14 – prayer made while waiting on the Holy Ghost to be sent.  Can you imagine when the answer came on Pentecost in power?  You now had the full commitment of all those who had been in prayer.
  • Acts 1:24 – prayer made about a replacement for Judas, then everyone cast their ballot – gave forth their lot.  So the Lord directed the congregation through their agreement.
  • Acts 12:5, 12-17 – Peter’s jail break.
Preaching, Romans

Judgment Seat of Christ (Romans #34)

Text: Romans 14:10

The Judgment for saved people, for Christians

  • Romans 14:10
  • 2 Corinthians 5:10

The Judgment based on what a person did after they were saved, and more importantly, how it was done

  • 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 – issue is what sort the work is.  It is allowing the Holy Spirit to live through you.
  • Notice also that everything they do may burn up, but they themselves are saved (Lot)
  • This is for saved folks who have built on the foundation of Jesus Christ
  • Rewards
    • Gold—God honoring works
    • Silver—redemptive work (Leviticus 27:1-7)
    • Precious stones—souls
      • Zechariah 9:16
      • 1 Peter 2:5

Crowns Rewarded

  • Incorruptible Crown
    • 1 Corinthians 9:25
    • Self denial for the purpose of the ministry.
      • keeping the body under control in order to be the most effective in ministering to others
      • Saying no to certain things so that the Holy Spirit can work through you.
      • Saying yes to certain things so that the Holy Spirit can work through you.
    • Athlete illustration – incredible disciplining in order to obtain a corruptible crown
    • Soldier illustration
  • Crown of Rejoicing
    • faithful testimony and souls brought to the Lord Jesus Christ
    • 1 Thessalonians 2:19
    • Philippians 4:1
    • we give an account of this to the Lord
    • Ezekiel 3:18
    • Acts 20:26
  • Crown of Righteousness
    • 2 Timothy 4:8
    • they love his appearing, living right expecting to see Jesus soon
  • Crown of Life – Martyr’s crown
    • James 1:12
    • Revelation 2:10
    • Hebrews 12:2-4
      • Stephen was stoned and some 2,000 other Christians suffered at the time of Stephen’s persecution.
      • James (Son of Zebedee) was beheaded in 44 A.D.
      • Philip was crucified in 54 A.D.
      • Matthew killed by a halberd in 60 A.D.
      • James the Just, beaten to death by a club after being crucified and stoned.
      • Matthias was stoned and beheaded
      • Andrew was crucified
      • Mark was beaten to death
      • Peter,
      • Apostle Paul, beheaded in Rome – 2 Timothy 4:6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
      • Jude was crucified
      • Bartholomew was crucified.
      • Thomas was killed by a spear.
      • Luke was hanged.
      • Simon the Zealot was crucified in 74 A.D.
  • Crown of Glory
    • 1 Peter 5:2-4
    • Pastor’s crown
    • Hebrews 13:17

Trial of your faith more precious than gold

  • 2 Timothy 2:12 If we suffer we shall also reign with him.
  • LEADERSHIP with Christ are Christians who are willing to lose their life now for the Lord – Royal priesthood –  Kings and priests Revelation 1:4-6, 5:10.
    • Melchizedek – Psalm 110:4 The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.  Quoted in Hebrews 5:6, 10, 6:20, 7:11, 17, 21.  Who was he?  Hebrews 7:1-2 a King and a Priest
    • Mark 10:43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:.
    • 1 Corinthians 6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

 When does it occur?

  • after the rapture of the church
  • when all church age saints are gathered together in the air
Preaching, Romans

Unity in the Body: Part 1 (Romans #33)

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Text: Romans 14

This chapter begins to deal with the unity in the body of Christ and how that unity is to be applied.

When disagreements arise how should they be handled?  Disagreements over the revealed words of God are one thing, but there are things that God doesn’t give commandment about.  Instead he gives you and I some guiding principles to live by.  Your relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ is your personal relationship with him.  It is individual.  However, it is not individual and isolated; it is individual and social.

The idea is you don’t bury brothers and sisters in your convictions and you don’t cause brothers and sisters to stumble flaunting your liberty.

Does it honor God?

  • (14:4) Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth.  Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
  • The first thing Paul deals with is food.  The most basic, fundamental part of physical life.
  • The first relationship you have to consider is your relationship with the Lord.  More importantly, in this situation, you have to consider that a brother or sister’s relationship with Jesus Christ is not YOUR relationship with him.
    • Being a vegetarian is not an indication of salvation or lack of salvation.  It isn’t even an indication of your fellowship with Jesus Christ.
    • 1 Corinthians 6:19-20…ye are bought with a price… you are not your own
    • You may have no problem eating ice cream and sugar or drinking Coke or coffee, but someone else may know one of those things affects them a certain way so they don’t eat them.
  • The stronger gives preference to the weaker.
  • (vs 4) Sometimes you and I have to let it go and let the Lord sort the brother or sister out.  Ultimately its between them and the Lord anyway.
    • (vs 4) If you’re doing what the Lord called you to do, God will hold you up in it.
    • If the disagreement turns to a fight, let it go and let the Lord sort it out.
  • 14:8-9

 Does it hurt my conscience?

  • (14:5) Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
    • The next thing the Holy Spirit deals with is holidays and Sabbaths.
    • The point is, if you can bow your head and thank God for it in good conscience, eat it; if not, don’t.  If recognizing a particular day brings conviction, don’t recognize it.  If it doesn’t bring conviction, OK.
    • Some folks argue about the sabbath.
      • Seventh Day Adventists make it a mark of salvation by saying you have to worship on Saturday because that is the mark of a true Christian.
      • Salvation has to do with what you do with Jesus Christ, not what day you go to church.  In fact the early church met on the first day of the week according to 1 Corinthians.  And then many other times during the week going house to house.
  • Colossians 2:16-17 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
    • Christmas, Easter, Valentine’s day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Independence Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, etc… There are no holidays that we celebrate that come from the Bible.  The holidays God gave Israel are shadows of Jesus Christ.
      • For some folks Christmas and Easter is the only time they will darken a church door and hear anything from the Bible.  And those are the only times all year where they think about Jesus Christ.
      • Dr. Ruckman, the man most responsible for returning Christians to a belief in the words of God in the 20th century, said when he returned from WWII and was in rough shape the thing God used to get him thinking about the Bible and God was a manger scene in front of a Catholic church.
  • (14:14) I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that  there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
    • Taken in context what the Holy Spirit is showing you can’t apply spiritual power to inanimate object or days or foods.
    • Take the famous Christmas Tree verse in Jeremiah 10:3-5.  The point is not to say a Christmas tree is evil, the point the Holy Spirit makes is that man attributes supernatural powers to things that have no power in themselves.  Look at verse Jeremiah 10:5; observing any power in them is vain.
    • Superstition around some beads.  Superstition around some carved image that someone bows to.

 Does it help my brother?

  • 14:10-13
  • Paul told the Philippians that it was better for him to go be with the Lord, but it wasn’t better for THEM that he go.
  • Something may be good for you that is going to be bad for someone else.
  • vs 21
    • stumbleth – you know a brother has this particular vice, don’t put it in his face
    • offended – you know a brother or sister has a particular conviction, don’t throw your liberty at them and tell them to get over it
    • made weak – you know a brother or sister has put up some boundaries that you didn’t put up, it is probably for some reasons you don’t have.  Don’t tear down their boundaries because they don’t do it like you.

Does it hinder the gospel?

  • (14:16) Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
  • Will this help or hurt my testimony?  Will I be credible in anything I say for Jesus Christ after I do this?
  • The problem with evangelism is that you’re trying to tell a carnal person about something spiritual (See 1 Corinthians 2:14).
  • Selfish decisions and ruined testimonies.
  • Friends of mine family were drunks.  These friends were Christians in church who liked to have a drink regularly as well.  They complained that they could never talk to their family about the Lord because their family was always drunk when they’d get together.  Sounds like you’re frustrated because you’re working against yourselves.  They don’t see any difference in your life and so their question is why do I need Jesus Christ?
  • It may draw a crowd, but does it help EVANGELIZE!
    • football stadiums are full of crowds, but when the game’s over the people leave.
    • What you win them WITH is what you win them TO!

 Does it hide sin?

  • Am I using my liberty  as a cloak for sin?
  • Someone says, “You show me in the Bible where it’s wrong and I’ll stop doing it.”  Most of the time that isn’t true.  They won’t stop because they didn’t start doing it because of what the Bible said.  They started doing it because they wanted to.
  • Instead of asking what’s wrong ask what’s right about it.
Preaching, Romans

Wake Up Christian! (Romans #32)

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Text: Romans 13:11-14

Christianity is like waking up out of a sleep.  Christianity is likened to the morning of a day.

1 Thessalonians 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

Wake up (vs 11)

  • It’s time to wake up whether you think it’s time or not
    • The appeal the Holy Spirit makes to you and I is our perspective on our time
    • With each passing moment you are that much closer to a sinless, joyful, glorified life
    • Procrastination comes from the thought that you always have more time
    • Proverbs 26:14 As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.
      • Sloths don’t grow churches
    • James 4:13-14 life is a vapor, don’t know what shall be tomorrow.
    • Biblically speaking this is redeem the time
    • Colossians 4:5 redeeming the time toward those that are without.
    • You only have what’s left
  • It’s time to wake up whether you feel like it or not
    • Don’t always feel like waking up.
    • If I waited to go soul winning for a time when I feel like going soul winning, it may never happen.
    • If I wait for a feeling to serve God, I’ll never serve God.
    • Sometimes I feel like I’d do anything to be able to get a chance to do nothing.
    • Proverbs 27:1 measure your time in days
      • You don’t have to beat temptation for the rest of your life.  You just need to beat temptation today.
      • One day at a time.  Matthew 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Do right today, not tomorrow.
      • fight temptation one more day – 1 Corinthians 15:31 I die daily

Get dressed (vs 12)

  • You generally don’t have to work in what you sleep in.
  • The daytime brings with it a new set of clothing.
  • Ever feel like wearing your pajamas all day?  I do.
  • College pajama people
  • Ephesians 5:11-13
  • Start living like where you are going
    • Eternal life has already started, so begin living it
    • cast off and put on
  • armor of light
    • fear in the darkness – at night, the unknown
    • turn on the light and the scary shadow you realize is just a tree
      • Satan isn’t working in the shadow, he isn’t the tree branch, he’s working in your mind.
      • Galatians 5:19-20 …witchcraft...
      • You know what makes you free from the fear?  The truth.
      • Armor of God – belt of truth

Go to work (vs 13-14)

  • Act differently in the daytime than you do at night.
    • Worked on a rig where my driller would wake up, get buzzed and come to work.  He smelled like alcohol all day.
    • But even the world recognizes some activities that go on at night don’t go on during the day.  The world will accept drunkenness at night, but in the daytime even unsaved folks would say you had a problem if by 9AM you were drunk.
  • Ephesians 5:14-18
  • Actively redeem the time because you will always face opposition doing the Lord’s will in this world.
  • Walk a certain way
    • honestly – nothing to hide
    • Not being filled wrong
    • Not using your body, your vessel, wrong
    • Not having the wrong attitude about others
  • 1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light
  • make no provision – that means a compromise
    • Friendship with the world is enmity with God
    • Satan generally gains ground by compromise
    • Partial fulfillment of God’s will
    • Go to church and back home to serve the devil
    • Separation is where strength comes from
    • Stay as near as possible to the world and sin
    • Keep one foot in each
    • Burn the bridges! make no provision for the flesh
    • God’s family unit divided or a “house divided” – Matthew 12:25
    • Wrong order in the family, divides the house
Preaching, Romans

Christian Principles of Government (Romans #30)

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Text: Romans 13:1-7

Jurisdiction of government originated with God (vss 1-2)

  • ...the powers that be are ordained of God.  God is the Creator and arbiter of power.  Is everyone that is in power his choice to be in power?  No.  Saul was not his choice of king, but Saul was the people’s choice and he gave the people what they wanted.
  • Colossians 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
  • John 19:11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above:
  • Obey the laws.  Unruliness doesn’t provide the needed change if change is needed.
  • Peter said honor the king in 1 Peter 2:13-17.  The king was Nero at the time.
  • Peter didn’t obey the law because he trusted Nero, he obeyed as much as he could because he trusted God.
  • Titus 3:1-2
  • Acts 23:1-5 Paul is struck by the counsel and curses them, wishing that they were not in the position they were in
  • Ordination does not mean the man God wants is the one that rules.  1 Samuel 8 – democratic election of Saul as king
  • Because all authority comes from God, when government breaks the laws of God, or steps where God has said don’t step there are cases of civil disobedience
    • Disobedient to government only when it defies God’s commands
    • Hebrews 11:23 & Exodus 1:15-22—midwives sparing the babies
    • Daniel 6:8-13—Daniel’s prayer
    • Acts 5:28-29—Peter forbidden to preach
    • Revelation 14:9-13—avoid taking the mark
  • Not just the present, but how about the future?
    • 2 Timothy 2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him
    • Luke 19:16-17 Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
    • How unfortunate at the judgment and in the Millennial reign of the Lord Jesus Christ to find out what this life was really all about.
    • God’s choice for governments are coming in the future – Luke 22:24-30

 Jurisdiction of government in judgment (vss 3-5)

  • Government has been given by God certain jurisdiction over our lives that pastors and churches don’t have.  beareth not the sword in vain
  • God delegated his authority to use force
    • Example: It is not right for you to lock someone in your basement for wronging you.  But if they broke the law, it is right for the government to lock them in a prison.
    • Punishment of crime, prison system are examples of God given jurisdiction
  • Jeremiah 25:8-11—Nebuchadnezzar my servant
    • 2 Chronicles 36:16-17
    • Daniel 1:1
  • War is not the same as murder
    • God has a bigger picture in mind.  Someone said war is God’s judgment on sin now, and hell is God’s judgment on sin hereafter.
    • Deuteronomy 9:4-6

Jurisdiction of government in taxation (vss 6-7)

  • The clear command is to pay your taxes.  What the government does with the money is not a prerequisite.
  • Matthew 7:24-27 …lest we should offend them…
  • Acts 5:37 – tax revolt leads to dispersion and death
  • What about tax exemptions for churches?
    • Ezra 7:24 Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them.
    • Genesis 47:26 And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt unto this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth part; except the land of the priests only, which became not Pharaoh’s
    • Wise government officials realize that immorality cost the government and society a lot of money: alcohol, tobacco, drugs, crime, crime fighters, policemen, FBI, CIA, judges, prisons, prison administrators, gambling, divorce, stealing, pornography, etc. A moral society with strong families and churches leads to a strong moral society that does not have to pay the price of sin.
    • Therefore religion makes its financial contribution to the country in money saved by producing godly people and not criminals.  It is wise to keep churches tax exempt and let them go about freely the work of the Lord in the community. It benefits all of us morally, socially and financially.
    • Righteousness exalteth a nation

 

Preaching, Romans

Christian Victory (Romans #29)

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Text: Romans 12:15-21

These verses show how the victorious Christian life is lived out.  It is how God further participates in the world through his people.  It is where natural responses meet the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit of God.

Victory is overcoming your nature by yielding to the Holy Spirit work  (vs 14)

  • It’s easy to be a blessing to people who are a blessing, but being a blessing when it’s hard to do really tests the metal
  • He starts with the worst case scenario of persecution
  • Paul had a hard time of it in Acts 23:2-3
  • Jesus Christ did it
  • Stephen did it
  • Tyndale prayed for the king while being burned at the stake

Victory is overcoming envy and malice with multiplied joy, and divided sorrow (vs 15)

  • Part of being a church family is strength in numbers
  • Many hands make light work.  Joys can be multiplied among many, sorrows can be divided among many
  • Too often our envy and jealousy get in the way
  • Missionaries struggling
  • Weeping because sometimes there is nothing to say

Victory is overcoming fighting and strife with unity in Christ (vs 16)

  • True friendship is not a monetary relationship
  • Mind not high things like how big can we make our “campus”
  • Not making regular visits to the highest tithing member
  • Conditions come from your high view of yourself

Victory is overcoming retaliation with a good testimony (vs 17)

  • Retaliation brings you down to a lower level in the eyes of onlookers
  • Don’t do wrong because someone did you wrong.

Victory is overcoming contention with peace (vs 18)

  • Whenever it is possible
  • Christian troublemakers are in it for themselves.  They are trying to make a name for them that God isn’t making for them.
  • It isn’t always possible to live peaceably.  The possibility with one is different than my possibility to live at peace with someone else.  Someone may be mean and ornery so they won’t be satisfied without a fight.  At that point, peace isn’t possible because they’ve determined it’s not.
  • Your flesh has a breaking point, but with the Holy Spirit you can go beyond that

Victory is overcoming vengeance with trust (vs 19)

  • sometimes people who avenge themselves or defend themselves look guilty when they aren’t
  • Point is that it’s God’s job to avenge.  It’s your job to trust him in that.

Victory is overcoming hostility with kindness (vs 20)

  • Ever been around someone whose skin you just couldn’t get under when you wanted to
  • It can have the effect of surprise when someone is doing something to get a rise out of you.   I notice so much of what the devil does is done to get Christians to react.

Victory is overcoming evil with good (vs 21)

  • Not being overcome means you have the upper hand, you have the victory.
  • Your actions cannot be manipulated
Preaching, Romans

Christian Principles of Generosity (Romans #28)

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Text: Romans 12:13

Generosity and hospitality are ways of describing a child of God’s attitude about their stuff.

Possessed of the Generous Spirit of God

  • Acts 4:31-33 – Filled with the Holy Spirit will cause you to be generous
    • Find a stingy curmudgeon and you can be sure the Holy Spirit has nothing to do with their possessions
    • Being wealthy and giving of one’s abundance does not mean someone is generous.  What’s a little to you maybe a lot to me.  But this isn’t a competition.
    • Someone who gives with strings attached – “That’s mine. I bought that.”
    • They let the Lord control their stuff and the grace and power of God was manifest in them.
  • True Worship
    • Worship can be a pious word without meaning.
      • What exactly do you mean when you say “worship God”?
      • That can be an impotent and benign “worship” that has no meaning or power or effect.
    • Real tangible, effective worship when the Lord has so moved your heart that you want to give him back something that cost you.
    • What is it worth to give God something that didn’t cost you anything?

Parameters of Distribution

  • Acts 4:34-37 – God makes provision through the generosity of the saints
  • Help you understand what is the Holy Spirit’s conviction versus what is self imposed guilt
  • Distributing to the necessity of saints is necessity of the saints, not every beggar unwilling to work.
    • The “bleeding heart” is satisfying some sort of guilt.  But this generosity is not being done to satisfy some guilt.
    • Not communism.  Karl Marx used Acts 4:32-35 to justify his socialistic philosophy.  This is not government enforced “generosity”; that is redistribution.
      • Mao’s Great Famine – The Great Leap Forward
  • Sometimes there is a misunderstanding of how the distribution is to be made.  Specific directions are given in several places.
    • 1 Timothy 5:5-16 – distribution to widows
    • 1 Timothy 5:17-18 – distribution to pastors and ministers
    • Philippians 4:15 – distribution to missionaries
    • 2 Corinthians 9 – wealthier church giving to a church in need
  • Ephesians 4:28

Difference Between a Generous Desire and Generosity is Letting Go

  • You may desire to be a blessing, but how you prepare yourself to be a blessing will determine your generosity.
  • Desire to be a blessing without letting go means your lusts will constantly be consuming your income and possessions and there will be no room to for the generous spirit of God to work.
  • 2 Corinthians 9:1-5 – Paul sends brethren before to ensure there will be money for the Macedonians.  And to separate himself from the money so there is no confusion about his intentions.
  • 2 Corinthians 9:6 – generosity is an agricultural principle like a farmer sowing seed.  But if you give to get, then your motive is greed and that falls under the same category as a prayer prayed so you can consume it upon your lusts.
  • 2 Corinthians 9:7 – you determine whatever you’re cheerful about giving. If it has to be pried out of your hands, just keep it.
  • 1 Timothy 6:18 – ready and willing

Generosity Produces Praise

  • Generosity is a blessing to all involved; to the giver and to those that receive
  • 2 Corinthians 9:11-12 – It generates gratitude to the giver and the receiver.
  • 2 Corinthians 9:13-15 – It generates glory to God.  And isn’t that your purpose here on earth, to bring glory to God?

Generosity is Openness

  • Hospitality is generosity with your home
    • Interesting social study of architecture of homes over time
    • History of the front porch and social behavior or Americans
      • Open, large, welcoming
      • 1920s moves to the side of the house – desire for more privacy
      • 1950s moves to the back of the house – more desire for privacy
  • Hospitality is openness
  • Church home

Given to hospitality – If you are “given” to something, you are fully devoted to that thing.

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