Henceforth Expecting

Temple Baptist Church - 8-28-2019

Hebrews 10:10-13

Introduction:

A.  I want to look at the words “henceforth expecting” to night as they are important in light of the finished work of Christ and its expectant results.

B.  I also want to give a short analogy between our use of “expecting” and God’s use of the word in Hebrews.

C.  As finite creatures with no knowledge of what will transpire in the future, we are limited to “hopefulness” in our expectations.

James 4:13-15  Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:  (14)  Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.  (15)  For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.

D.  Because of our lack of knowledge of the future, we often say, “The Lord willing,” which comes from James 4:15.  We often expect the worst and hope for the best or expect the best and hope against the worst.

E.  God is neither finite nor is He surprised by “future events” because God lives in a timeless eternity.  He is the “I AM THAT I AM” who inhabits eternity.

Isaiah 57:15  For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy …

F.  Our Lord fully expected Adam to sin; therefore, Christ expected to die for sin and preemptively prepared a Sacrifice Himself.  Verses 12.

Revelation 13:8  And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

G.  Tonight, we see the earthly work of Christ finished and His heavenly Priesthood at work.  He is now seated on the right hand of the Father.

Hebrews 7:25  Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

H.  “Henceforth expecting!”  What did our Lord expect?  Christ Jesus expects that all saints be saved and all unrepentant sinners be punished!

1.  The Offering of Christ was Singular.  Verse 10.  “once for all”  Christ Jesus knew that He would have to die but only once.  Hebrews is constantly and consistently contrasting the old covenant of atonement with the new covenant both propitiation and expiation. 

a.  Propitiation – His love for sinners that compelled Him to die on the cross in their place.

b.  Expiation – His hatred for sin that caused Him to become sin for us and do away with both the sin and its penalty on the cross.

2.  The Offering of Christ was Superior.  Verse 12.  “But this man …  sat down” 

a.  The Old Testament priest always remained on his feet as he represented sinful man to a thrice holy God.

b.  The Old Testament priest’s work was never finished because it was an atonement or covering and not the final solution.

c.  Christ Jesus sat down because His earthly work was finished.

Hebrews 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3.  The Offering of Christ was Satisfying.  Verse 12.  “sat down on the right hand of God”

a.  God the Father was Satisfied - Isaiah 53:11  He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

b.  The Lamb of God was Satisfied - John 19:30  When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

4.  The Offering of Christ was Sovereign.  Verse 13.  “enemies be made his footstool” 

a.  In this life, every knee should bow and every tongue should confess but many will not.  Philippians 2:9-11  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:  (10)  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;  (11)  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

b.  In the future, every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess.  Romans 14:11  For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

c.  The enemies of Christ will “be made his footstool!”

5.  The Offering of Christ was Sanctifying.  Verse 14.  “perfected for ever them that are sanctified”

a.  We have the Word of God that Cleanses.  Ephesians 5:26-27  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,  (27)  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

b.  We have the Spirit of God who Convicts.  Ephesians 5:26-27  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,  (27)  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

6.  The Offering of Christ was Sufficient.  Verse 15-17.  “their sins and iniquities will I remember no more”

a.  Our Flesh sets us up for Failure.  Romans 7:21-25  I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.  (22)  For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:  (23)  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.  (24)  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?  (25)  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.  (This is not condonement for sinfulness, it is just a fact of life.)

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.

b.  Though Christ wants His children to do good works, He does not want His children to trust in their good works.  Galatians 3:10-14  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.  (11)  But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.  (12)  And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.  (13)  Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:  (14)  That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

The Seven Churches of Asia

Temple Baptist Church - 8-25-2019

Revelation 1:4

Introduction:

A.  The Commencement of the Church Age. 

1.  These 7 churches will be prophetic of the 2,000 years between the First and Second Advents. 

2.  In Verses 4, 11, 13, 20, we find  Seven Churches, Seven Candlesticks, and Seven Stars.  These three “Sevens” are important as we begin the Book of Revelation.  “Seven” is a number of perfection in the Bible and we will see it used frequently in the Revelation.

B.  The Seven Churches.  Verses 4, 11, 20.

1.  These were contemporary churches.  They existed at the same time.  The Book of Revelation was to be circulated to and read in all seven churches.  Each one was faced with the truth that any or all these problems could eventually touch their church.

Revelation 1:11  Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

2.  These seven churches had the full Book of Revelation in their hands to know what was happening in their day and what was coming in our day.  This is important as to having the “grace” to endure and the “peace” to know that God had everything in His hand.

Revelation 22:16  I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

3.  I do not know if these were some that Paul mentioned in 1 Timothy, but the churches in the early days of the New Testament were “problematic” at best.  Satan attacked or infiltrated these churches. 

2 Timothy 1:15  This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.

3.  Paul mentioned these churches in 1 Corinthians.  

1 Corinthians 16:19  The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.

Acts 19:1, 10  And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples …  And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

4.  Though Paul planted these churches, it was not long until things began to worsen in Asia.  Paul later mentioned the fact that he was not received very well in the Book of 2 Corinthians. 

2 Corinthians 1:8-10  For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:  (9)  But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:  (10)  Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;

5.  In 1 Peter, we find a “scattering” of the people of God because of the apostasy from within and the persecution from without. 

1 Peter 1:1  Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

6.  Hopefully, some of the churches in Asia had revived to some degree but, as we get into chapter 2-3, we find that all but one of the seven continued to have some degree of problem.

7.  Why problems in the church?  Because of infiltrator, satanic attack, and carnality among the members.

8.  These warnings were both practical to these existing churches as well as prophetical of the existing “Church Age” found (chapter 2-3) between the First and Second Advents.

9.  In verse 11, these Seven Churches are named.  I will only mention them at this point as we will spend more time with them individually when we get to chapters 2-3.

Revelation 1:11  Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.  (In chapters 2-3, these churches are dealt with individually and in the same order as show here in verse 11.)

C.  The Seven Candlesticks.  Verses 13, 20.   

1.  The seven churches of Asia are referred to as “candlesticks” by our Lord Jesus.  The candlestick is important in both the Old and New Testaments as in the Old, it is a type of the local church in the New.

Revelation 1:12-13  And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;  (13)  And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

2.  In the Old Testament, the candlestick was made for and remained in the Holy Place as the light of Testimony.

Exodus 25:31  And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same.  (Gold is a type of Deity, a substance that is very precious and beautiful.)

Exodus 26:35  And thou shalt set the table without the vail, and the candlestick over against the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south: and thou shalt put the table on the north side.

3.  The candlestick was to lit at all times.

Exodus 40:4  And thou shalt bring in the table, and set in order the things that are to be set in order upon it; and thou shalt bring in the candlestick, and light the lamps thereof.

4.  The candlestick was the ONLY light in the Holy Place.

Numbers 8:2  Speak unto Aaron, and say unto him, When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light over against the candlestick.  (Notice that all seven individual lamps of the candlestick were always to be lit and kept lit.  This is important in both type and truth in the New Testament.) 

5.  In the New Testament, the candlestick is the local church.

Revelation 1:20  The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

6.  In the New Testament, the believers are individual lights.

Matthew 5:14-16  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.  (We are to be both shining and guiding lights to darkened souls in a dark world.)

7.  The believer is also to place his/her light “on a candlestick” as to give light unto ALL that are in the local church.

Matthew 5:15-16 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  (16)  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.  (Every believer is to put their light on the candlestick, i.e., the church, to give light to all that are in the house.)

8.  In Revelation, chapter 1, the “Day” is approaching.

Hebrews 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.  (Our individual lights are essential to give light to all that are in the house.  The world does not see into the church house, but our lights brighten other brothers and sisters.  Then we go out of the church and into the world as lights seen of all men.) 

d.  The Seven Stars.  Verses 16, 20.

1.  The Seven Stars are the pastors of the churches.

Jeremiah 3:15  And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

Ephesians 4:11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

1 Peter 5:2  Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

2.  The Seven Stars are in the hand of the Lord Jesus.

Hebrews 13:17  Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

3.  The Seven Stars are God’s messengers to the church.

Hebrews 13:7  Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

The Providence of God in Redemption - Love’s Resolve

Temple Baptist Church - 8-25-2019

Ruth 1:1-18

Introduction: 

A.  The Book of Ruth is one that has fascinated and thrilled people through the years.  A beautiful story of a young Moabite girl named Ruth who married into a Jewish family and ultimately is found in the lineage of our Lords Jesus Christ.

B.  The amazing thread of truth found in our Bible shows the redemption of Ruth at exactly the right time in history.

C.  In Genesis, chapter 19, we find that the Moabite and Ammonite people were the result of the incestuous relationships between Lot and his two daughters.  Under the Law, a Moabite or an Ammonite were not allowed to enter the congregation of the LORD until their tenth generation.

Deuteronomy 23:3  An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the LORD for ever:

D.  In the genealogy our Lord Jesus Christ—found in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 3:32-34—we discover that Booz (Boaz) was the tenth generation after Abraham!  Lot was the nephew of Abraham, so the genealogy began with Abraham’s children.  Lot and Isaac were first cousins and, therefore, in the same generation.  Since Lot is not found in the genealogy of Christ, we will count the generations from Isaac.  Isaac (1), Jacob (2), Juda (3), Phares (4), Esrom (5), Aram (6), Aminadab (7), Naasson (8), Salmon (9), Booz (10).

Luke 3:32-34  Which was the son of Jesse, which was the son of Obed, which was the son of Booz, which was the son of Salmon, which was the son of Naasson,  (33)  Which was the son of Aminadab, which was the son of Aram, which was the son of Esrom, which was the son of Phares, which was the son of Juda,  (34)  Which was the son of Jacob, which was the son of Isaac, which was the son of Abraham, which was the son of Thara, which was the son of Nachor,

E.  Thus, the Book of Ruth is a Book of Redemption!  God redeemed a Moabite girl and placed her into the genealogy of our Lord.  Ruth was David’s great-grandmother.

F.  I want to introduce the Book of Ruth this morning with 6 simple points.

1.  A Famine

2.  A Family

3.  A Failure

4.  A Funeral

5.  A Faith

6.  A Future

1.  A Famine.

a.  Famines in the Bible are almost as old as the history of mankind with the first in Genesis, chapter 12.

Genesis 12:10  And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.

b.  Famines were caused by either of two things:

(1)  Climate Change.  Ah, you have heard this phrase many times lately.  Climate has always changed!  In my lifetime, I can tell you of extremely cold times with much snow and extremely hot times with little snow.  Every 15 years or so, we go from one extreme to the other.  When is the last time that we have had day after day of 100+ degree temperatures?  Now, if it gets to 97-96, we think it is hot and it is but I remember well, back in the 1960’s, day after day of over 100 degrees.  Famines in the Bible can be caused by extremely hot but dry weather.

(2)  The Judgment of God.  God has also used famines as judgment.  Our story begins with the opening statement: “Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled.” 

Judges 21:25  In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

2.  A Family.

a.  Elimelech – “God is my King.” 

b.  Naomi – “Pleasant.”

c.  Mahlon – “Sickly or Weak.”

d.  Chilion – “Pining or Failing.”

3.  A Failure.

a.  Elimelech failed to trust God during the famine and took his wife and two sons to Moab.

b.  Elimelech took his family from Bethlehemjudah, “The House of Bread.”

c.  Down to Moab – “God’s Washpot.”

4.  A Funeral.

a.  Elimelech died in Moab, leaving Naomi with her two sons.

b.  Naomi remained in Moab for ten more years after the death of her husband.

c.  Her two sons married in Moab to Moabite women.

(1)  Orpah – “Declining, nape of the neck.”

(2)  Ruth – “Friend.”

d.  Both Mahlon and Chilion also died in Moab.

5.  A Faith.

a.  We find that 4 choices are made in this story: two bad choices and two good choices.  Faith is a choice!

b.  Two bad choices:

(1)  Elimelech – a bad choice to go to Moab.  Verse 1.

(2)  Orpha – chose to return to her people and to their gods.  Verses 14-15.

c.  Two good choices:

(1)  Naomi - heard that God had restored the blessing of bread in Bethlehemjudah and began her journey home.  Verses 6-7.

(2)  Ruth -  chose to remain with Naomi and go to Bethlehemjudah.  Verses 15-18.

6.  A Future.

a.  A Future Journey – “wither thou goest, I will go.”  Verse 16.

b.  A Future Home – “where thou lodgest, I will lodge.”  Verse 16.

c.  A Future People – “thy people shall be my people.”  Verse 16.

d.  A Future Faith – “thy God my God.”  Verse 16.

e.  A Future Death – “Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried.”  Verse 17.

Conclusion:  God took a bad beginning, made by bad decisions—both by Lot and Elimelech—to bring a young Moabite girl into faith in Christ and the blessing of the Genealogy of our Lord.

Job 14:4  Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.