The Church
Ephesians 4:11-14, 5:25-32, and Philemon 2:12-15 Conversion is just the beginning of the Christian life. The journey begins here. The new birth brings us the possibility of becoming Christ-like. The new birth revolutionizes ourselves, our motives, hopes, desires, our aim in life, but these must be worked out in our lives; they must grow. In working out our salvation, we must have a plan and that plan is a Church. Man can’t work out his salvation by self any more than he can be a husband or father by himself. You must live in a home and have a family to be a good husband, so you must live in a church and be a good Christian in the fullest sense of the Word. I: The difference between Sinner and Saint: 1. The spirit of God works thru the Christian. 2. God...
Sound of Rain
Kings 1 18:41-46 I: “The Prayers of a Righteous Man:” 1. Elijahs prayers were proceeded by work, (clearing and plowing). 2. Prayer was no lazy substiture for service. 3. It always puts fire in our prayer to be expecting something. 4. He knew which God he prayed to, (Abraham). II: “There is a sound of abundance of rain.” 1. The brazen sky didn’t stop him. 2. The dry desert of 3 yrs. failed to weaken his prayer. 3. It was as easy to pray for water as fire. 4. A small cloud was enough. III: Before the Chariots of Ahab: 1. A 17 mile run of pride. 2. Nothing wears out the Man of God more than to run before the Chariots of Ahab. 3. The hand of God was upon him, but we are not told of God commanding the race. 4. Elijah was out of company at...
Proof of Faith
A converted cowboy once gave this very sensible idea of what “being faithful” consisted in: “Lots of folks think that being faithful to the Lord means shouting themselves hoarse praising His name.” “I’ll tell you how I look at it. I’m working here for Jim. Now, if I’d sit around the house, talking what a good fellow Jim is, and singing songs to him, and getting up in the night to serenade him, I’d get my discharge. But when I buckle on my straps and hustle among the hills and see that Jim’s herds are all right, and not suffering for water and feed, or being branded by cattle thieves, than I’m serving Jim as he wants to be served. That’s what I call being faithful to Jim.” No, the Lord...
Power to Become
Cor. 1 12:, Ephesians 4:11-14, and John 1:1-13 Conversion is just the beginning of the Christian life. The journey to an eternal Heaven begins here. The new birth puts us on the Royal road to Heaven. I: Just the Beginning. 1. A new birth, a baby Christian. 2. The possibilities of becoming Christ-like (A baby transfered to a new home). 3. Aims in life are revolutionized. 4. Our motives, hopes, desires are whole life moves in a different channel. 5. The new life must be worked out in daily living. 6. Man can’t work out this new life alone. No more than a family can be a real family without corporation. 7. A whole family must work at making a wholesome family atmosphere. 8. A Christian must have a plan by which his life can grow. 9. God’s plan was and...
The Call of Elisha
Kings 2 2:9-15 The nation was at a low moral stand. God needed some servant to take up the work where Elijah left off. There were widows in need, hunger and famine was in the land, lepers to heal and armies to defeat. I: God had a young man in mind. 1. Servants may die, but Gods work must continue. 2. The faithful pass from the scene. 3. In every generation, God has some to lift up their voices for Him. II: Not chosen after the Ways of Men. 1. God isn’t bound to mens ways. 2. Elisha wasn’t found among the famous. 3. He wasn’t among the rich and learned. 4. God can use a little maid, a shepherd boy, the betrothed of a carpenter, and lowly fishermen. III: God chooses busy people. 1. “I’m too busy.” 2. “I don’t have...