Sunday, September 27, 2009

Job’s ‘S’s’ And God’s ‘P’s’

Temple Baptist Church - 9-27-2009

Job 23

Introduction: In this chapter, we find Job in a pitiful situation. He has lost all and does not understand why. His friends have indicted him for no reason other than human reason. God has been both silent and seemingly distant. He rues the day that he was born.

Job’s “S’s”

1. Job’s Situation – vs. 1 “Then”

2. Job’s Sorrow – vs. 2 “Bitter and Burdened”

3. Job’s Seeking – vs. 3-9

4. Job’s Strength – vs. 6

5. Job’s Surety – vs. 10

6. Job’s Submission – vs. 22

7. Job’s Sustaining – vs. 12

8. Job’s Satisfaction – vs. 16-17

God’s “P’s”

1. God’s Presence – vs. 15

2. God’s Person – vs. 15

3. God’s Providence – vs. 14b

4. God’s Performance – vs. 14a

5. God’s Purpose – vs. 13

6. God’s Path – vs. 11

7. God’s Promise – vs. 10

8. God’s Prerogative – vs. 9

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Six Steps To A Happy Life

Temple Baptist Church - 9-20-2009

Proverbs 1:1-18

Introduction:

A. The world is seeking for happiness and, unfortunately, in all of the wrong places.

1. Happiness is not wealth!

2. Happiness is not physical pleasure!

3. Happiness is not in “things!”

4. Happiness is finding the will of God for your life and living for Him!

B. In verses 13-18, we find the happiness of wisdom. Wisdom is much more than just knowledge. You can be a college grad and not have wisdom. Wisdom is the right application of knowledge. One of my favorite verses on wisdom is this: to him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin!

C. In these verses we find:

1. The Product of Wisdom – vs. 14

2. The Preciousness of Wisdom – vs. 15

3. The Power of Wisdom – vs. 16

4. The Pleasantness and Peace of Wisdom – vs. 17

5. The Payment of Wisdom – vs. 18

D. I want to look at six things in verses 1-12 that are earmarks of wisdom and will bring the happiness found in verse 13.

1. Happiness is Obedience to God – vs. 1-2

2. Happiness is Saturation in God’s Word – vs. 3-4 (vs. 21-24)

3. Happiness is Faith in God’s Operation – vs. 5-6 (vs. 24-26)

4. Happiness is Tithing – vs. 5-9

5. Happiness is Submission to Divine Chastening – vs. 11-12

Every Word That Proceedeth Out Of The Mouth Of God

Temple Baptist Church - 9-20-2009

Matthew 4:1-11

Introduction:

A. There is much argument today concerning the Scriptures: do we have the very Word of God or do we only have a translation.

1. Not to have the very Word of God denies biblical Preservation of scripture. If there are errors, things left out, or things added to our Bible, then we cannot have the Word of God. It may contain doctrinal truth or the thoughts of God, but not the very words of God. You cannot have it both ways.

2. Not to have the very Word of God denies biblical Inspiration of scripture. If the Word of God is not preserved by God (Psalms 12), then there is no biblical inspiration and 2 Timothy 3:15-16 is erroneous. God called the version or manuscript that Timothy had inspired!

3. Not to have the very Word of God denies Impeccability of scripture. If the Word of God is not impeccable, then it is simply a man made book and you can take or leave whatever suits you.

B. Biblical preservation and inspiration is not the subject of this message though. I made those statements to let you know that you can place your faith in this blessed old King James Bible and expect it to be both right and work!

C. Here is my thought for this morning: if “every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” was important to our Lord, then it should be doubly important to you and me?

D. When tempted of the devil, our Lord answered each of his attacks with Scripture!

1. Jesus Christ did not do away with Scripture, He fulfilled it.

2. Jesus Christ did not break the Scripture, He lived by it.

3. Jesus Christ did not argue the Scripture, He proclaimed it.

E. Jesus Christ was the Word of God incarnate and your Bible is the Word of God inscribed! You cannot separate them nor can you have the perfection of one without having the perfection of the other! The Son of God magnified the Word of God (Psalms 138:2) and the Word of God deifies and glorifies the Son of God!

F. Let us look at just a few of the things that make this Bible precious to not only the saint, but also to the sinner.

1. The Word of God Is A Mirror To Show Us Ourselves - James 1:23-25 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

2. The Word Of God Is A Fire To Melt The Heart Of Sinners - Jeremiah 23:29 Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?

3. The Word Of God Is A Hammer To Break The Will Of Stone - Jeremiah 23:29 Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?

4. The Word Of God Is A Sword To Pierce The Conscience Of Man - Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

5. The Word Of God Is A Seed To Quicken The Soul - 1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
6. The Word Of God Is A Fountain To Cleanse The Saint - Ephesians 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.

7. The Word Of God Is A Light To Show Us Our Way - Psalms 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

The Blessings Of Giving

Temple Baptist Church - 9-13-2009

Malachi 3:8-12

Introduction:

A. This morning, I am going to preach on stewardship. Not just its command, but its blessings. This matter of tithing and giving is one that strikes fear and anger into the hearts of some professing “Christians.” I have heard people say, “All you Baptist preach on is money!” This will be the first time in several years that I have even touched the subject.

B. The reason that I do not preach on this subject much is this: our church has been one of the most giving churches that I have ever been in. I believe that most here have a good grip on this thing of tithing. But, here is my fear: Giving In A Wrong Spirit!

2 Corinthians 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. (Even among some of God’s people, stewardship has become a thing of “necessity” which brings about “grudgingly” in our giving.)

C. Here is the problem: preachers have been guilty of only preaching the Command of giving and not the Blessings of giving.

1. Tithers do so because they “have to tithe” instead of realizing the blessings and “want to tithe.”

2. If tithing becomes a thing of necessity, they giving above the tithe becomes a thing of grudgingly!

D. Why do people hate the subject?

1. Because many religious charlatans have abused God’s people through their begging tactics. I want to reiterate this morning that God is not broke! I do not have to nor will I beg for God! I will present a need and allow the Holy Spirit to work in the heart of His people to meet the needs of the church!

2. Because tithing and giving are matters that reflect the hearts of individuals! Tithing and giving is a heart matter and shows both obedience to and love for our Saviour.

3. Because tithing has been preached the same way as separation, as a command instead of a blessing from God!

E. Tithing is beneficial to both the tither and a lost world. If we had testimonies this morning from tithing families, they would praise and glorify God for both the ability and blessings of tithing. I have no regrets concerning God’s precious tithe and offerings that my family gives. We tithe and give in the financially hard times as well as the good times because God is faithful.

F. Lets look at these verse for a few minutes and see both the command and the blessings of stewardship.

1. Understanding The Tithe. (Don’t get nervous on me now!J) Vs. 8 Some years ago, as I was passing Mt. Zion Baptist Church here in Laurens, I saw the pastor’s Sunday Morning sermon title on the church sign: “There’s Going To Be A Hold Up Sunday Morning!” I got a kick out of the title. I love to hear a black preacher preach when he is a fundamental Bible believer. They have a rare talent at doing so.

a. Tithing and Giving are place on an equal plane! God requires both.

1) The Tithe - Stewardship is much more than simply “paying a bill” that amounts to 10% of your GROSS INCOME. First fruits mean just that. It comes before your taxes, bills, or entertainment. It comes off of the top.

2) The Gift - My family’s giving above the tithe is more than the tithe. A man once asked me, “Just how much am I to give?” My answer was this: “Whatever God requires of you!” Ten percent, twenty percent, or 100 percent. It is all His and he will not let you starve through your obedience to His leading.

b. Failure To Tithe And Gives Brings A Curse! Because you actually “rob God!” There is a sign in the window of the bank that I use which reads: “What can you get for robbing a South Carolina Bank? Twenty five years!” If robbery of a bank brings about such a severe penalty, how much worse is it to rob God?

Haggai 1:6-11 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. 7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. 8 Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD. 9 Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the LORD of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house. 10 Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit. 11 And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labour of the hands.

c. Rob God and you will never prosper if you are saved!

Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

2. Understanding The Blessing. Vs. 10-12 God did not command stewardship to hinder your finances or hurt your stand of living! Tithing and giving is beneficial to the giver. It is a blessing, not a burden! It should thrill our souls to be able to give back to God a portion of that which He so graciously has given to us. Every good gift and every perfect gift comes from God. He feeds us, clothes us, and shelters us! It is God who supplies our every need and so graciously allows us to have a part in winning souls both here and on the foreign mission fields. Let’s go back to that verse on “necessity” and “grudgingly” for a minute but add the context to it.

2 Corinthians 9:7-11 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. 10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) 11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.

NOW BACK TO MALACHI 3

a. The Blessing Of Plenty. God will POUR you out a blessing from the windows of heaven! POUR, not trickle! POUR, not drop! God will bless you with so many spiritual blessings that you will not have room to receive it! I don’t know about you this morning, but God has blessed my family. No, we are not rich but we have enough! God’s blessings are so much more than just money. Having “ALL SUFFICIENCY IN ALL THINGS!” “BREAD FOR YOUR FOOD!”

b. The Blessing Of God Rebuking The Devourer. (Things that devour our living such as a “bags with holes.”)

Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Matthew 6:31-33 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (You take care of God’s business and let Him take care of yours! “MULTIPLY YOUR SEED SOWN AND INCREASE THE FRUITS!”)

c. The Blessing Of Being Blessed. (All nations will call you blessed!)

2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Daniel 12:3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. (The song says, “Thank you for giving to the Lord! I am a life that is changed. Only heaven and eternity will reveal what God has laid up for those who love Him!)

d. The Blessing of Pleasing God – True stewardship is because we love God, not because we must give! Faith in finances pleases God! We are trusting God with our lives and our living. “FOR GOD LOVETH A CHEERFUL GIVER!” If you want to shout, shout while the offering plate is being passed. Shout because God has so blessed your life. Shout because you have a chance to prove you love for and faith in God.

Conclusion: What a privilege to be able to give! What a blessing to be able to give! Tithing and giving are truly faith and heart matters.

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Twelve Indispensable Things

Temple Baptist Church - -9-6-2009

Ephesians 5:17

Introduction:


A. In our world, religion has become so diversified that “every man does that which is right in his own eyes.” Even individual denominations have more flavors than Baskin Robbins! Because of this, we have coined the phrase “Let us learn to disagree agreeably!”

1. There is not standard by which things are measured. The Bible is the Standard!

2. There is no right unless you think it is right. If you think it is right, do it in spite of what the Standard says.

3. There is not wrong unless you think it is wrong. If you think it is wrong, it does not matter what the Standard says.

B. I can agree with that statement to some degree because the Bible does say, “One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.” We are not to spend our days judging other believers on the merit of our own personal convictions.

1. This is the other side of the coin. We have believers judging other believers according to their own personal “convictions.”

2. Every one of us will give an account personally to our God and the Standard says that we are not to judge one another.

C. I do not require you, missionaries, or other pastors to “dot their I” or “cross their T” just like I do. You and they, just like me, will give a personal account to God for what we do. When missionaries come to Temple, I require some things that I deem fundamentals of agreement. “Can two walk together except they be agreed?” I do not require them to believe, think, or act exactly as I do because I do not always agree with myself on every issue.

D. The problem comes in when people disagree with foundational truths. There are some things that are both indispensable and non-negotiable with the Bible as the Standard! To disagree is to disagree with the Bible and, therefore, disagree with God! You have an opinion. I have an opinion. God has not opinion! He has absolute truth!

E. I want to look at a few things that are indispensable this morning and probably this evening also. Agree or disagree, you will be agreeing or disagreeing with God.

1. Without A New Birth You Cannot Go To Heaven – John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (No exceptions!)

John 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. (No exceptions!)

2. Without Christ there Is No Salvation – John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Ephesians 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: (No different or many ways!)

3. Without The Blood There Is No Remission - Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

1 Peter 1:18-19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (The only payment for sin is the blood of Christ! Hell is punishment, not payment!)

4. Without The Bible There Is No Saving Faith - Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (No wonder the Bible is so ferociously attacked today! If it is the Standard and it is the Foundation of the Faith, then it is of absolute necessity that we the very Word of God. Man shall not live by bread alone! Man must have “every word of God.”)

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

5. Without Works Your Faith Is Dead - James 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. (If you do not live like you are saved, please do not tell anyone that you are saved! 2 Corinthians 5:17 is still in the Bible and salvation still brings about a wonderful, permanent change in the life of the believer!)

Matthew 3:8-10 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: 9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

6. Without Chastisement You Are None Of His - Hebrews 12:6-8 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. (If you are saved, you will get spanked! If you are saved, you will get right! If you are saved, God will deal with you as with a son!)

7. Without A Preacher The Lost Will Remain Lost - Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? (The world will not be saved without someone to go! “Go ye therefore!” “As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you!” They must hear in order to believe.)

Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

8. Without Christ You Can Do Nothing - John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. (Princes will fail you; friends will fail you; family will fail you; your own personal strength will fail you; the Lord Jesus Christ will never fail you!”)

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

9. Without Faith You Cannot Please God - Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Faith can move mountains; faith can dissolve fears; faith can comfort those who are in any trouble; Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Faith is not sight, it is just that: faith!)

Romans 14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

1 John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

10. Without Holiness You Cannot See The Lord - Hebrews 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: (We will never see Him as He is until we become like Him! We will have an opinion about Him but not see Him. Seeing Him will change us forever.)

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.

11. Without Separation You Cannot Have Fellowship With Christ - Hebrews 13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. (Separation has become a negative term today but He resides “without the camp!” When we approach Him, we have turned our back on the world and each step separates us from the world. We are in the world but not of the world. We are His!)

1 John 1:5-7 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

12. Without The Right Foundation Your Home Will Fall - Luke 6:49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great. (Satan has viciously attacked the very foundation of our homes. Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it.)

Psalms 127:2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Fallen From Grace

Temple Baptist Church - 9-2-2009

Galatians 5:1-12

Introduction:

A. In our day, we hear much on the subject of “Falling from Grace.”

1. In the mind of the religious of our day, this term means to be saved and then, through sin, to be once again lost.

2. It is even of great interest to me that they use the word grace when speaking of losing your salvation. Grace means that it is undeserved; therefore, not of works. Losing your salvation means that it is of works and, therefore, not of grace!

3. Therefore, making “falling from grace” by their interpretation an oxymoron! An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines two contradictory terms.

B. In these verses, “Fallen From Grace” means just the opposite of what the Armenian theologians teach. It means that they started in Grace but have now removed or “fallen” away from it.

C. Salvation brings about a glorious liberty in Christ Jesus. We are free and free indeed!

1. We are free from the Penalty of Sin - Romans 5:6-9 - For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 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. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

2. We are free from the Power of Sin - Romans 6:14 - For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

3. We are free from the Problem of Law – Galatians 3:10 - For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

D. There is still not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not!” “All have sinned” includes both the lost and saved.

1 John 1:8-10 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

1. Cast Out The Bondwoman And Her Son – 4:30 Keeping the law for either salvation or security is an enemy of the grace of God and needs to be treated as such. It defiles and cheapens the grace of God. We are not to allow such teachings to enter our church family or personal lives.

a. It is a rejection of the Flesh (Our flesh is sinful at best and cannot inherit the kingdom of God!) 1 Corinthians 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

b. It is a rejection of Carnal Means (Abraham And Sarah took upon themselves to bypass God and faith!) Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Romans 10:1-4 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. 2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

2. Stand Fast In The Liberty Wherewith Christ Hath Made Us Free – 5:1 (We are not to either be influenced nor moved by unscriptural teachings of these people.)

a. We are not to be Influenced by Unscriptural Teachings - Colossians 2:20-23 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not; 22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

b. We are not to be Moved by Unscriptural Teachers - Galatians 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

3. Be Not entangled With The Yoke Of Bondage – 5:1 (Law brings about bondage while grace brings about freedom.)

a. The Entanglement of Law – vs. 3 Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

b. The Burden of Bondage - Acts 15:10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

4. Ye Are Fallen From Grace That Is In Christ Jesus – vs. 4 (The true meaning of “falling from grace.”

a. The Bewitching Of The Saint - Galatians 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel. (Listening to the doctrines of man instead of the truth of the Bible.)

b. The Becoming Of No Effect - The Travesty of Salvation - John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. (Laboring in the flesh bypasses the power of God that is the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.)

5. A Little Leaven Leaveneth The Whole Lump – vs. 9 (Let a camel get its nose in your tent and you have a camel in your tent!)

a. False Doctrine Can Infiltrate The Local Church - 2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

b. False Doctrine Can Indoctrinate The Christian - Ephesians 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Conclusion: To “fall from grace” is to be removed from the knowledge of salvation through Christ and Christ alone!