The Hallelujah of Joy

 Temple Baptist Church - 8-30-2026

Psalm 149

 

Introduction:

 

A. Tonight, the fourth of five of the Hallelujah Psalms. Though the word “Hallelujah” is not found in your Bible, it is a translation of the Hebrew words “Praise ye the LORD.”

 

1. “Praise:” הָלַל hâlal haw-lal' and “ye the LORD:” יָהּ yâh yaw. Thus, Praise ye the LORD!” To hallow or praise, Jah - Jehovah, the LORD. Praise ye Jehovah! I am not changing the Bible, but am trying to show you the importance of knowing Who we praise!

 

2. Jehovah God of the Old Testament and Christ Jesus of the New Testament. The great “I AM THAT I AM!” The eternally, self-existing, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent Creator, Sovereign, Sustainer, and Owner of all that is or ever will be!

 

3. The reverence of the Jewish nation for Jah should be the same as our reverence of Jesus Christ! Religion in our day has tried to bring Christ Jesus down to our human level instead of elevating Him and striving to attain His level!

 

4. “Be ye holy” is commanded in both Old and New Testaments”

 

Leviticus 20:7 Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God.

 

1 Peter 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

 

5. “Praise ye the LORD is found in both the beginning and end of each of these 5 psalms, giving us a First Mention and Last Mention, as in all cases, that are same. Therefore, the entire Psalm is about Jehovah God, Christ Jesus our LORD, not about us.

 

B. My reason for saying all this is that with a First Mention and Last Mention being the same, everything between lines up with them. Each of these Hallelujah Psalms drive home a different theme and all together, they worship Him who alone is worthy of all our praise.

 

C. I call this psalm “The Hallelujah of Joy!”

 

1. One of the essentials of Christianity that is missing in most of God’s children is that of joy! The complexity of this world in which we live s, to some degree, as permeated our hearts and minds, therefore, stealing the joy of the LORD, which is our strength according to Nehemiah 8:10.

 

Nehemiah 8:9-12 And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law. (10) Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength. (11) So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved. (12) And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.

 

2. Joy is not found in our circumstances! Joy is despite our circumstances. I heard a story about circumstances controlling our spiritual state.

 

After the Sunday Morning worship service, a pastor stood at the door shaking hands with and encouraging the people as they went home. An older lady shook the pastor’s hand, and he asked her how she was doing. She answered, “Not too bad under the circumstances.” The pastor then asked, “Sister, what are you doing under the circumstances?” I heard a song say that when the waves are over your head, they are under His (Jesus’) Feet!”

 

3. Too many of God’s children choose to live under the circumstances. One of my favorite portions of Scripture is found in the little Book of Habakkuk:

 

Habakkuk 3:17-19 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: (18) Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. (19) The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

 

4. I will reiterate something that I have often said that has shaped my spiritual life in my older years: I refuse to allow my circumstances to dictate who I am or what I become!

 

D. Though Psalm 149 is all about the LORD, it also involves our appreciation for the things of life that only God can give. The “why” of our joy is enveloped within our relationship to the “WHO” of our praise. Let’s just break down the psalm into its parts.

 

1. Verse 1. The Who of our Joy! “Praise ye the Lord!” Personal and congregational praise. Why are we here this evening and what are we here to do! We are here to Worship the Lord!

 

“Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.”

 

John 4:23-24 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. (24) God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

 

a. Personal Joy through our Praise! “Praise ye the LORD!” “when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit …” Everyone here tonight should have come to personally praise the Lord for who He is and all that He has done for us day by day!

1) Have you “tasted” and personally “seen” that the Lord is GOOD?

 

Psalms 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

 

2) Have you come into His presence tonight with the realization of His Person?

 

Psalms 100:3-5 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. (4) Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. (5) For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

 

3) Have you come with the realization that you are His Peculiar Treasure? I am His and He is mine!

 

Psalms 135:3-4 Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant. (4) For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.

 

4. Have you worshipped Him this evening?

 

Psalms 29:2 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

 

b. The Congregational Joy of our Praise. “Praise ye the LORD!” “Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.”

 

1) Have we sung into the Lord in audible songs of praise. “Sing unto the LORD … and His praise in the congregation of the saints.” I cannot overly emphasize the importance of singing too much. It is of great importance both personally and corporately! Sing together and make a loud noise!

 

2) Have we sung “new songs” unto the Lord? This is not writing a new song every time that we sing. It is singing the old songs with a freshness, as if this were the first and will be the last time that we sing them. Using the songs in our hymnal to speak to the Lord and to express our desire to worship Him and Him alone!

 

2. Verses 2-5. The Why of our Joy! Because of our personal relationship with the Lord!

 

a. Because He’s my King! Thank you, Dr. S. M. Lockridge! I belong to Him. “Beloved, now are we the sons of God!” Oh joy, oh delight! Do you know Him tonight? Does He know you tonight? “Our Father, which art in heaven.” “My Father which art in heaven!” Just look at the singular, personal pronouns in Psalm 23! Sixteen of them! Not one plural pronoun because salvation is a very personal relationship. He loves me as if I were His only child!

 

Psalms 23:1-6 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. (2) He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. (3) He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. (4) Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. (5) Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. (6) Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

 

b. Because He is My Sovereign King! Psalms 100:3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

 

1) He not only knows me, but He sovereignly controls everything that comes my and surrounds me!

 

2) Nothing can touch me unless God allows and then, it becomes for my good and His glory! Though God does not cause all hardship, He certainly controls it!

 

c. Because He taketh Pleasure in Me! This is another truth hard to be understood until we realize that when the LORD sees us, He sees us through the precious blood of Christ applied to the Mercy Seat in heaven!

 

He sees me as worthy and not as I am! He thinketh upon me! He watches over me! He sustains me! He protects me! He provides for me! He guides me! He has mercy upon me. He is good to me! He gives me grace! He provides me with strength! He gives me hope! He is the reason that I get up in the morning, and He is my Joy and Praise when I lay down to sleep!

 

3. Verses 6-9. Why our Joy? Because He gives us Victory!

 

a. We find Victory in our Faith! I have read the first verse of the Bible and have sneaked a view of the end of the Bible! Jehovah God, our Lord Jesus Christ is found in both! He is before all things and He will be after all things and is EVERYTHING we need between!

 

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

 

Revelation 22:21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

 

b. We find Victory in our Fears. Be careful for NOTHING because He is the LORD of everything!

 

Psalms 53:5a There were they in great fear, where no fear was: for God …

 

c. We find Victory over our Foes! Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world!

 

Psalms 53:5b … for God hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth against thee: thou hast put them to shame, because God hath despised them.

 

Conclusion: Just these four words: “Praise Ye The Lord!”

Enemies of the Church - Part 1 - The Enemy of Division

Temple Baptist Church - 8-30-2026

Matthew 12:22-30

Introduction:  When dealing with the enemies of the local church, we need to understand that Satan has certain devices, or ways, that have worked efficiently throughout history.  In Genesis, chapter, the serpent isolated Eve in order to deceive, causing the fall of mankind.  The device pf division has been and will be one of his most deadly devices.  Though we are not ignorant of his devices, we allow them to continually work.

 

2 Corinthians 2:11  Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.. 

 

A.  This morning, I want to look at the greatest enemy of the local church: Division, the Pastor’s Nightmare!  We have read two texts that can be in direct contrast with each other.

 

Matthew 12:25  And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

 

1.  The “EVERY kingdom … city … or house” is doomed to fall when division permeates their existence!  This attack is being made nationally, locally, and in the home.  That is not the subject of my message, just an observation of the days in which we live.

 

2.  The most important unit on the face of the earth other than the family is the local church.  It is the vehicle through which God works to evangelize the world, teach the convert, and to edify and encourage the believer.  Satan hates the local assembly because it is the foundation of the entire work of God, inward and outward!

 

3.  I know this message is about the local church, but, as goes the home, so goes the local church.  So, GUARD your home!  This is the work of both husband and wife!  Your home is:

 

a)  The man’s castle.  As king, you are to rule the home and defend it in a godly way and in every way.  You are and will give an account for your family and home. 

 

b)  The woman’s domain.  As queen, you are to guide, conduct its operation and guard its direction.

 

c)  The children’s nest.  As children, respect and obey your children.  Otherwise, you may become a liability instead of a blessing!

 

B.  What or who is the greatest enemy of the local church:

 

1.  The greatest enemy of the church is not Satan, though he is a great enemy!

 

2. The greatest enemy of the church is not finances, for God is not broke!

 

3.  The greatest enemy of the church is not circumstances, for it rains on the just and the unjust!

 

4.  The greatest enemy of the church stands in its pulpit and sits upon its pews!  To quote Pogo, a classic newspaper comic strip by Walt Kelly, “We have met the enemy and he is us!”

 

a)   The first worst enemy from within is the backslidden pastor! As a pastor, my heart is the local church and its welfare.  Sometimes pastors get “off base” and damage greatly the church.  They become selfish instead of serving.  They  can destroy the church faster than anyone else.

 

b)  The second worst enemy of the church is the backslidden believer. This is the center core group of believers who make up the strength of the local church.  These are the faithful people of the church who become carnal which breeds confusion and division.  They can greatly damage the local church and, if left unchecked, destroy it.

 

c)  The third worst enemy of the church is the lost religionist.  Churches today are full of unregenerated people, and the natural man cannot understand the things of God.  No matter how much the Word of God is preached, it does not register with them because the things of God are spiritually discerned.  They tend to become very worldly or Pharisaical. 

 

C.  We are finishing the First Corinthian Epistle in our Wednesday night study.  The Church at Corinth was the epitome of carnality in its birth and throughout the writing of Paul’s first letter to them.  Division was mentioned three times in the epistle:

 

1 Corinthians 1:10  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

 

1 Corinthians 3:3  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

 

1 Corinthians 11:18  For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.

 

D. Now that we know who the greatest enemy is, let us see what they can do to the church.

 

1.  Division Destroys The Fellowship Of The Church.  People sit on the pews of the church with malice and unforgiveness in their hearts. 

 

2.  Division Destroys The Commission Of The Church.  Mission programs have been damaged because of gaining a family and then losing a family through spiritual nonsense!

 

3.  Division Destroys The Testimony Of The Church. Church fights and splits have been detrimental to the prosperity of the church, both physically and financially, along with their testimony in the community.  (Three ways to leave a good church right: God moves you out of the area, sin in the pulpit or pews unchecked, apostasy in doctrine.)

 

4.  Division Destroys The Posterity Of The Church.  Children both see and hear the ungodliness of the parents.  It affects their spirituality and, eventually, they are lost to both their pastor and church.

 

5.  Division Destroys The Worship Of The Church.  God and His Holy Spirit are grieved with this division, and worship is neither holy nor acceptable.

 

6.  Division Destroys The Evangelism Of The Church.  Instead of keeping our eyes upon the harvest and doing all that we can to win souls, our time is spent in bitterness and souls are lost.

 

7.  Division Hinders The Prayers Of The Saints.  Malice and unforgiveness are sins and when we regard iniquity in our hearts, our prayers go unheard.

 

Conclusion:  I close with a portion of Scripture that we are all familiar with:

 

Ephesians 4:1-5  I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,  (2)  With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;  (3)  Endeavouring (to labor with diligence and industry-to work had at doing something) to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  (4)  There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;  (5)  One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

Paul’s Last Words to Corinth

 Temple Baptist Church - 8-26-2026

1 Corinthians 16:5-20

 

Introduction: 

A.  We have seen in Corinth a church with a multiplicity of problems and all of them found in local churches in our day.  Why? 

 

1.  Their outlook was temporal.   They had no interest in eternal things.  Professing believers give little or no attention to the Lord on a daily basis.  Pray without ceasing is a command that most know nothing about.

 

2. Their appetites were fleshly.  Godliness and holiness are about 100 down on their most interesting things to do.  Churches try to feed the flesh instead of feeding the people

 

B.  In 1 Corinthians chapters 1-15, Paul dealt with their problems that led to their failure.  Fifteen chapters of rebuke with little or no commendation.  They were a spiritual mess!

 

Ch 1 - Division

Ch 2 – Failure to receive the Word of God  

Ch 3 - Carnality

Ch 4 - Pride (puffed)   

Ch 5 - Immorality

Ch 6 - Law Suits   

Ch 7 - Family Problems

Ch 8 - Judging by Sinning in Liberty  

Ch 9 - Questioning of Authority  

Ch 10 - Worldliness

Ch 11 - Sinning at the Lord's Table  

Ch 12 - Misuse of gifts

Ch 13 - Lack of Christian Charity 

Ch 14 - Misuse of Tongues

Ch 15 - False Doctrine (Resurrection)

 

C.  Thank God churches can repent and begin to grow in the Lord! 

 

1.  Paul’s reproving and rebuking, with all long suffering and doctrine, was received in the right manner, and the result was spiritual maturity.  Paul followed his own advice to you Timothy by following these two things with doctrinal exhortation.

 

2 Timothy 4:2  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

 

2.  The Corinthian church experienced both growth and revival.  You may ask how do I know?  Because the second Corinthian Epistle did not reiterate the reproof and rebuke of the First! 

 

3.  Chapter 16 was different in both context and content.  In verses 13-20, we find an 8-fold admonition to the church.  The great apostle has finished his reproving and rebuking and turns to exhortation.  In discipline of any nature, there needs to be explanation, chastening, and then exhortation to do better. 

 

D.  Apollos was not able to come and Timothy would come later.  Paul would also come months later and, if the Lord willed, abide and winter with them.  Therefore, Paul ends this epistle with instructions to a self-governing, now matured church. 

 

E.  The following exhortations given were intended to keep the church spiritual and not to return to carnality!  Elements of a great church.

 

1.  Verse 13.  An Exhortation To Be Watchful – “watch ye” – 1 Thessalonians 5:1-9  But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.   For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.  For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.  But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should  overtake you as a thief.  Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.  Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and  be sober.  For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.  But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.  For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,  (Keep looking up in expectancy!  Even so come, Lord Jesus!)

 

2.  Verse 13.  An Exhortation To Be Steadfast – “steadfast in the faith” – 1 Corinthians 15:58  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. (Don’t allow your circumstances remove you!)

 

Acts 20:22-24  And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:  (23)  Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.  (24)  But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

 

3.  Verse 13.  An Exhortation To Be Mature – “quit ye like men” – 2  Timothy 2:1-4  Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.  And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.  Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.  No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. (Grow up!  I am thankful for the ladies of the church, but the church needs men.)

 

4.  Verse 13.  An Exhortation To Be Strong – “be strong” – Ephesians 6:10-13  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (Never give up!  Stand strong.)

 

5.  Verse 14.  An Exhortation To Be Loving  – “let all your things be done in charity” - Ephesians 4:1-3, 31-32  I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,  With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;  Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace…Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

 

6.  Verse 15.  An Exhortation To Be Serving  – “addicted themselves to the ministry” (follow their examples) - Hebrews 6:10  For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.  (Serve instead of having to be served.  Never quit serving!)

 

7.  Verse 16.  An Exhortation To Be Submissive – “That ye submit yourselves” – Ephesians 5:21  Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.  (Obedience to spiritual authority!)

 

8.  Verse 20.  An Exhortation To Be Unified – “Greet ye one another with an holy kiss” – Ephesians 4:3  Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  (Stay put where God led you!)

The LORD Reigneth

 Temple Baptist Church - 8-23-2026

Psalm 99

 

Introduction:

A.  Why such a Psalm? Hmmm, let me take a wild guess?  Because of me?  Because of you?  Because of circumstances?  Because of spiritual and physical hardships?  Because of finances?  Hmmm, the answer is yes!  Because we are human and often weak spiritually!

 

B.  What causes such spiritual conditions?  Unbelief!  Simple enough.  Though the Bible says:

 

1.  Trust in the LORD!  Aha, an all too familiar verse?  Proverbs 3:5-6  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  (6)  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

 

2.  Be careful for NOTHING!  Aha, remember the verse we quote every Wednesday night?  Philippians 4:6-7  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  (7)  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

 

3.  Casting ALL your Care upon Him!  Yes, I remember!  1 Peter 5:7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

 

4.  Put your confidence in the LORD!  Oh, Pastor, why are you doing this?  Because I need it!  Psalms 118:8-9  It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.  (9)  It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.

 

Philippians 3:3  For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

 

C.  I thought of other verses of Scripture that WE love to quote but, in times of adversity, they hardly ever come to mind.  God reminds us in Psalm 99!

 

D.  I want to look at this Psalm of Praise tonight because of the first three words, “The LORD reigneth.”  Again, I call your attention to the “eth” ending of the word “reign”.  This word expresses the truth of God’s sovereignty throughout the ages.  The LORD did reign, the LORD does reign, and the LORD will always reign.  You can take that to the bank!

 

E.  This Psalm reminds us that the LORD will be “LORD of all” today, tomorrow, and forever!.  No matter what comes; no matter what problems that we face; no matter what disappointments and discouragements that we endure; the LORD will be the LORD and He will continue to control all things.

 

Acts 10:36  The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)

 

F.  The last verse of the Psalm exhorts us to 1)  “Exalt the LORD for He is our God”  and 2)  “Worship the LORD for He is holy.”

 

G.  “The LORD reigneth” speaks of His sovereignty, purpose, and power.  His sovereignty cannot be denied, His purpose cannot be hindered, and His power is unstoppable.

 

1.  Verse 1.  The LORD is sovereign in Heaven.  “He sitteth between the cheribums.”  He is LORD of heaven and, from there, controls His universe and all that is within it.

 

Isaiah 6:1-4  In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.  (2)  Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.  (3)  And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.  (4)  And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.

 

2.  Verse 2.  The LORD is sovereign in Israel.  “The LORD is great in Zion.”  God still loves His covenant people and will graft the natural branch back in one day.  What we see in Israel today is controlled by God!

 

Psalms 102:16  When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.

 

3.  Verse 3.  The LORD is sovereign in His name.  “LORD.”  “I AM THAT I AM” means that He Self-existent and Eternal. Jehovah God!  He needs nothing or anybody, He needs no advice nor counsel, He knows everything, He can do all things and is ever present!  He is LORD! 

 

Isaiah 9:6-7  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.  (7)  Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

 

4.  Verse 4.  The LORD is sovereign in His Judgment.  “thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob.”  Rest assured that God knows all that goes on and will make it right, His time and His way! The judgment of God will be a right judgment and a right reward.

 

Romans 2:2-3  But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.  (3)  And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?

 

5.  Verse 5.  The LORD is sovereign in Our Praise.  “Exalt ye the LORD our God.”  We worship the LORD and Him alone!

 

Psalms 150:6  Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.

 

6.  Verse 6.  The LORD is sovereign in His Answers to Prayer.  “they called … He answered.”  When God answers our prayers, He will answer in a perfect way.  No matter where you are, no matter what you need!

 

Jeremiah 33:1-3  Moreover the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the second time, while he was yet shut up in the court of the prison, saying,  (2)  Thus saith the LORD the maker thereof, the LORD that formed it, to establish it; the LORD is his name;  (3)  Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

 

7.  Verse 7.  The LORD is sovereign in His Word.  “they kept His testimonies.”  You can trust your Bible in life, salvation, and death.

 

Psalms 138:1-2  A Psalm of David. I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.  (2)  I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

 

8.  Verse 8.  The LORD is sovereign in Forgiveness.  “thou wast a God that forgavest them.”  Oft times, we are slow to forgive but God is a God of forgiveness.  No matter what sin you have committed, failure that you have had, His ears are open to your cry and His arms are open to your embrace.

 

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.

 

9.  The LORD is sovereign in in Holiness.  “for the LORD our God is holy.”  God will always do right!  God cannot and will not do wrong so His ways will be right ways.

 

1 John 1:5  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.

 

Conclusion:  Because God is all these things, we need not fear or worry concerning this life as He holds our lives in His hands!

The Purpose of The Church - Part 3

 Temple Baptist Church - 8-23-2026

Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8

 

Introduction:

 

Matthew 28:18-20  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.  (19)  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  (20)  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

 

Mark 16:15  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.  (We are not Calvinists, Reformed Theology) which is a Satanic doctrine.  Christ died for the sins of the whole world, and it is His will that all men be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth! 1 Timothy 2:4)

 

Acts 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.  (Witnessing starts at home and spreads to the uttermost part of the earth in an orderly fashion.)

 

A.  Over the past couple of Sundays, I have been looking at the Purpose of the local church and its members.  In these last days, so many churches have lost their way as what they are to stand for and do.  The Internal Purpose of the local church is:

 

1.  To Gather.  We need exhortation and to exhort one another!

 

2.  To Glorify.  We need to magnify the Word of God which glorifies the Son of God!

 

3.  To Grow.  When we stop going, we stop growing spiritually and begin to decline spiritually!

 

a) Feed our Flock.

 

b) Grow our People.

 

c) Encourage our Discouraged.

 

d) Restore our Fallen.

 

e) Protect our Children.

 

4.  To Go.  Every child of God is commissioned to Go!  “Both” means personally at home and to the “uttermost” through missions!  We are all vital to the work we are sent to do!

 

B.  God keeps telling us, through the Bible, to seek and return to the Old Paths wherein is the good way, but not the popular one. 

 

Jeremiah 6:16  Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

 

Therefore, we find that the Old Paths are not popular and are adversarial!  There are a “world” of things that capture our attention or thwart our return:  family, friends, finances, and foes in general.

 

C.  The external work of the local church is “witness and both” (Our Lord said “both” which means simultaneous).  In general, supporting missions!  By doing so, we can reach the uttermost, the outlying regions of the world. To go into all the world and preach the gospel, as every creature needs a preacher! 

 

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

 

Matthew 28:19  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations …

 

D.  The second part of the external work of the local church is personal witnessing. We owed a debt that we could not pay, and Christ paid a debt He did not owe!  Now, we have become debtors.  Paul said:

 

Romans 1:14  I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.  (Someone or something was instrumental to your salvation.  Aren’t you glad that you are saved this morning and heaven will be your eternal home?  We owe this world the same!)

 

Romans 10:14-15  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?  (15)  And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

 

E.  I find it of great interest that so many of the great song writers were women.  Margaret Clarkson told this story about her most famous hymn, "So Send I You":

 

When I graduated as a teacher in 1935, jobs were so scarce that I had to go to the far north of Ontario to get work. Seven long years were to pass before I could move to a position in my home city of Toronto. I was reading in John’s gospel one cold night in February, 1938, in the mining town of Kirkland Lake where I was teaching, when suddenly the words of John 20:21 leaped from the page. As I pondered on their significance, God seemed to speak to me. I had long known that because of a physical disability I could never go to the mission field, but that night God seemed to say to me that this lonely spot was where he had put me—my mission field. I wrote the first version of "So Send I You" that evening. Little did I think that it would one day be sung all over the world as a missionary hymn!

 

The words to the first verse of this song are these:

 

So send I you to labor unrewarded,

To serve unpaid, unloved, unsought, unknown,

To bear rebuke, to suffer scorn and scoffing—

So send I you to toil for Me alone.

 

Every Christian does not go to the foreign mission field, but every Christian is commissioned and sent to carry the gospel everywhere and share it with everyone he meets. Just as Jesus willingly came to this world to be our Savior, we must be willing to take His message to those who still have not heard, regardless of the cost.

 

F.  The personal, external work of each individual is threefold: we witness in three ways, with our Lives, with our Lips, and with our Literature.

 

1. With our Lives. I do not know who coined the words “A life lived is worth a thousand sermons preached,” but it is so true.  If our lives do not reflect Christ, then all else fails at that point.  Our Lord said at the Sermon on the Mount:

 

Matthew 5:13-16  Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.  (14)  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.  (15)  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.

 

a.  We are to be Salt.  Salt gives the world Desire.  Salt is both for savour and preservation.  I wonder what kind of spiritual taste we leave in the hearts and minds of those around us.  If you are not going to act like a Christian, do not say that you are one.  We hear so much about hypocrites these days because professing Christians to not act like it!

 

1 John 1:5-6  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:

 

b.  We are to be Light.  Light gives Direction. Our Light shines ever so brightly in the spiritual darkness of the world in which we live.

 

Matthew 5:16  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

 

2. With our Lips.  Salt and Light open the way of verbal witness while failure in those two things seal the lips of witness.  The door of verbal witness is ever so important.

 

a.  Because this world confuses the lost as to what salvation is.  They are being taught that baptism, communion, good works, and a myriad of other things, according to which “ism” or “schism” they ask, will add or take away from the simplicity that is in Christ Jesus.

 

2 Corinthians 11:1-4  Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.  (2)  For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.  (3)  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.  (4)  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus (who is neither holy or Lord) whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit (which operates in disobedience to the Scriptures), which ye have not received, or another gospel (adding to or removing from), which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

 

b.  They need to know and understand that salvation is a relationship based upon repentance and faith in a finished work, the Gospel.  I often say, “If going to church will make you a Christian, sleeping in a garage will make you an automobile!”

 

1 Peter 3:15  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

 

c.  The importance of a verbal witness: the lost need to know what the Word of God says. Notice the questions asked: 

 

Romans 10:14-17  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?  (15)  And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!  (16)  But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?  (17)  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

 

3. With our Literature.  Bible based gospel tracts are available on the tract rack beside of the front door!  Why the stressing of handing out gospel tracts?

 

a.  Because it is something that all can do!  You may not think that you can adequately express what you have in your heart.  Just tell them how you were saved!  If nothing else, put a gospel tract in their hand or in the envelope along with a bill.

 

b.  Because there are times when there is no time for a gospel presentation.  At work, at a grocery store, at some event, or otherwise.

 

c.  There will be many times when it is not convenient to witness verbally, therefore, “tract” them!

 

Conclusion: “Go ye” is the second part of the external work of the local church!