Second Hand Religion Not Enough
Job 12:1-2 We Americans are a peculiar people. Like the men of ancient Athens, we like new things. We will endure second hand things, but with a grudge. This is true in every phase of our life except the most important. Too often we are satisfied with a second hand experience of God that leaves us luke warm in a world that is on fire of Hell. I: A Personal Experience with God. 1. Job had not seen God face to face. 2. Job had been told of God and His requirements. 3. Job had served God with the knowledge he had. 4. But Job needed a new and vital knowledge of God. 5. It is not enough to believe God. One must walk daily with God. 6. One cannot walk with God and be content with lukewarm living. 7. When trials come to one, who does not have a face to face experience,...
Lord of Talent & Time
Matthew 25:24-30 “Each of us is about as lazy as circumstances will pursuit.” I: Three Parables: 1. Lord of the household: Servants responsibilities for harmony while He is away. 2. Lord of the Personal Life: Servant’s responsible for their personal lamps burning. 3. Lord of the merchandise of life: Servant, a steward of the Master’s gods. II: “The Kingdom of Heaven is as A Man …” 1. In truth a King takes a journey. 2. His good must be cared for. 3. The logical ones are his own servants. 4. He gave them goods according to their ability. 5. Perch – Material to build his kingdom. III: A Long Time Passed: 1. The servant of five talents began to trade and make gain. 2. The servant with two talents did likewise. 3. The...
Proving God With Tithes & Offerings
Malachi 3:8-10 Here is a distinct challenge from God that is found no other place in the bible. This challenge is made up of two things: Bring all the tithes and offerings to God’s house, God promises to bless. I: The Complain of God: 1. The whole nation has robbed God. a. God’s people knew two things: i. God demanded a definite portion of their income to be brought to His house. ii. They knew that they had kept money for themselves that belonged to God. 2. There were three kings of defaulters: a. Some never recognized God’s portion by giving (never paid). b. Some gave on special occasions. c. Some gave regularly but not according to God’s standards. II: The Curse of God Upon Them: 1. Upon their farms and fruit trees. 2. Upon their...
“Stewards of the Mysteries of God.”
Cor. 1 4:1-2. Cor. 2 4:1-7, & 5:17-20 Blind trumpeter of Pasadena 1941: Be ye reconcile. The greatest mystery of the ages is the mystery of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The greatest healing of all times is the healing of the soul. I: The Mysteries of the Ancient Past: 1. It seems that we live in a day when every one likes a mystery. 2. We have the mysteries of the past told by archeology. 3. We have the mysteries of science that are guarded with great care. 4. There is the mystery of the A and H bombs. 5. There is the mystery of biological warfare. 6. There is the mystery of inhuman machines. II: The Greatest Mystery of the Ages and Eternity is How A Soul Can Be Born Again. 1. The Israelites were keepers of that mystery for hundreds of years. a. They had the...
Stewards of Good News
Cor. 2 5:14-21, Peter 1 4:10 Bad news becomes a burden, and good news makes one to rejoice. I: The Greatest News of All Times: “Adam where art thou?” 1. “I have loved you with an everlasting love” Jeremiah 31:3. 2. “Greater love hath no man…” John 15:3. 3. “Love of Christ passeth knowledge.” Eph, 3:19. 4. “Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth…” Romans 38-39. 5. “For God so loved.” II: News that can Never Make Us Blush for Shame: 1. Paul before Ephesus, Athens, Phillipa, and Rome. 2. It is the greatest gift of all gifts. 3. It is a gift to those that loved him not. 4. News with no apology....
Eye Trouble
Matthew 6:22-23, 18:9 With all his mechanical skills man has never built a machine like the eye. The precision, delicacy, mystery, & durability of the human eye surpasses all mans ability to duplicate. Quote a scripture with an eye in it. The eye is mentioned 534 times in the bible. The eye flashes with indignation, kindles with enthusiasm, expands with devotion, melts with sympathy, stares with fright, droops with sadness, pale with envy, fires with revenge, twinkle with myth, beams with love, frowns with wrath, and contracts with pain.”An eye can threaten like a loaded gun, insults like hissing, or it can make the heart dance with joy.” The eye combines the abilities of telescope and microscope. I: The Eye Has Great Influence. 1. There is the...
But Not Without God
Matthew 5:13-16, Mark 6:31, & Isaiah 40:28-31 I: Liberty Has Its Restrictions. 1. A vacation is liberty from the same old routine. 2. Definite Prohibitions: a. “Flee from idolatry.” verse 14. Placing anything before God. b. “I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.” No sacrifice to pagan gods. c. The buying of meat that was a sacrifice to heathen gods. d. All this that others might not stumble at our way of life. II: A Vacation That Will Glorify God. 1. Means to make spiritual preparations: a. A family prayer and discussion. b. Bibles and periodicals. c. Don’t use Sunday completely for travel. d. Have a daily time of prayer and bible reading. 2. Don’t rob god. Financial plans: a. A vacation with money for...
Salting Our Community
Matthew 5:13 Jesus looked upon the heart-sickening effect of sin upon the ancient world and realized that true Christianity would be like salt. I: Salt Keeps from Rotting. A Taste All It’s Own. 1. The sea of Galilee is 680 feet below the Mediterranean Sea. Temperature usually above 90 degrees. 2. Sweet things soon turn sour and fresh things soon become rancid. 3. These people could not live without salt. 4. Christians are salt to keep moral health, the natural enemies of moral disease. 5. There sin threatens decay the Christian salt should be there to stop it. Preserves, Flavors, and Heals. II: What Attitude Must We Take? 1. Rottenness in our own lives. 2. In literature. 3. Rottenness in attitudes of slothfulness. 4. Rottenness of grudge and hate. 5....
Consider the Steward
Leviticus 26, Deut. 8:1-20 I: “And You Shall Remember …” Verse 2. 1. Remember the bondage of Egypt. 2. Remember the whip of the taskmaster. 3. Remember the death of children by Pharaoh. 4. But remember how God defeated the Gods of Egypt. 5. Remember how He led you thru 40 yrs. 6. Remember you are now humble and tested. 7. Remember that man does not live by bread alone. 8. God supplied your every need. II: “Into A Good Land.” Verse 7. 1. A land of brooks, fountains, and springs. 2. A land of wheat, barley, vines, fig trees & pomegranates, of olive trees and honey. 3. You will never hunger for bread. 4. There is iron and copper for your use. III: “Take Heed Lest You Forget.” Verse 11. 1. That the land belongs to God. 2....
The Holy Spirit
Acts 1:1-5 I: A Person: 1. Not an it, but a person. He can be grieved, rejected, blasphemed, and received. 2. He is always a symbol of power. The spirit of God in action. II: Old Testament: 1. Present in Creation – Booed over creation. 2. The breath of life breathed into man. 3. Clothed himself with Gedion, came upon others. 4. Job said “The breath of the Almighty hath given me life.” III: The Holy Spirit & the Christian: 1. Promised in: John 14:26 (in their darkest hour), 16:6-15. 2. John 14:26. The comforter, the teacher, and the reminder. 3. John 16:6. Would come when Jesus left! Jesus walked with them, the Holy Spirit would dwell within them. a. He would convict the world of sin (Cindy). b. He would convict the world of righteousness. ...
The Work of the Holy Spirit
John 16:1-14 I: “Comforter” “Advocate” “Paraclete:” 1. Their hearts were filled with sorrow. 2. The way of the cross was for their salvation. 3. The return to the Father was for their good. 4. The Holy Spirit would be everywhere in every believers heart and life. II: Reprover: “When He is Come.” Personal 1. Convict the world of sin: Leave them without excuse. a. They will know are sinners. b. The Spirit presents Christ to the sinner. c. The Cardinal sin is rejection of Jesus. 2. Convict the world of righteousness. Man’s sin reached its heights when he killed the Son of God. God raised him from the dead and proved that Jesus was right. 3. Convict the world of judgement. The Prince of this world was judged and...
“Zaccheaus, Make Hate & Come Down.”
Luke 19:1-10 I: Zaccheaus, the Tax Collector: 1. He was a man of business. 2. He was accustomed to wealth & pleasure. 3. He sought to see Jesus. 4. He did not let others stand in his way. 5. He found a way to overcome obstacles in his way. II: Zaccheaus Meets Jesus: 1. Jesus looked up and saw him (Jesus knew all about him). 2. Jesus commanded him to hurry & come down. It was necessary for Zaccheaus to come down. 3. He led the way to his home. III: There Were Some Definite Changes in Zaccheaus. 1. He gladly gave up his old life. 2. He received Jesus with joy. 3. His heart was moved to meet the needs of needy people. 4. He was ready to do more than required to right the wrongs he had done. IV: The First Thing Jesus Asked Him to Do Was to come Down from the...