Sunday, October 13, 2024

An Introduction to the 23rd Psalm

 Temple Baptist Church - 10-13-2024

Psalm 23:1-6

 

Introduction:  The story of King David’s life from his conversion as a young shepherd boy to the eternal palace of the Lord of lords and King of kings.

 

A.  The Preciousness of the Psalm.  No doubt, the 23rd Psalm is the most memorized, the most quoted of all the Psalms.  We find it printed on the majority of the Funeral material given to those who attend.  As a child, it was the first Psalm that most of us memorized.

 

B.  It is Precious because of:

 

1.  The Position it Occupies.  “The Lord is my Shepherd”  Between the Cross of Christ, Psalm 22, and the Coming of Christ, Psalm 24.  The Care of the Shepherd!  From salvation to eternity, He cares for His sheep.

 

Matthew 6:25-26  Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?  (26)  Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

 

1 Peter 5:7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

 

2.  The Person it Unfolds.  John 10:11  I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

 

Hebrews 13:20  Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

 

1 Peter 2:25  For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

 

1 Peter 5:4  And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

 

3.  The Provision it Reveals.  “I shall not want”

 

Romans 8:32  He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

 

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

 

 

4.  The Prospect it Unveils.  “The house of the Lord forever”

 

1 Thessalonians 4:17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

 

Revelation 22:3-5  And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:  (4)  And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.  (5)  And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

 

C.  Some things that we find in Psalm 23.

 

1.  Verse 1.  A Perfect Provider.  “The LORD”

 

2.  Verse 1.  A Perfect Satisfaction.  “shall not want”

 

3.  Verse 2.  A Perfect Rest.  “lie down”

 

4. Verse 2.   A Perfect Nourishment.  “green pastures”

 

5.  Verse 2.  A Perfect Guidance.  “he leadeth me”

 

6.  Verse 2.  A Perfect Peace.  “still waters”

 

7.  Verse 3.  A Perfect Restoration.  “he restoreth my soul”

 

8.  Verse 3.  A Perfect Guidance.  “paths of righteousness”

 

9.  Verse 4.  A Perfect Confidence.  “fear no evil”

 

10.  Verse 4.  A Perfect Companionship.  “thou are with me”

 

11.  Verse 4.  A Perfect Discipline.  “thy rod”

 

12.  Verse 4.  A Perfect Support.  “thy staff”

 

13.  Verse 4.  A Perfect Consolation.  “they comfort me”

 

14.  Verse 5.  A Perfect Fellowship.  “thou preparest a table before me”

 

15.  Verse 5.  A Perfect Triumph.  “in the presence of mine enemies”

 

16.  Verse 5.  A Perfect Strength.  “anointest my head with oil”

 

17.  Verse 5.  A Perfect Joy.  “my cup runneth over”

 

18.  Verse 6.  A Perfect Promise.  “surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life”

 

19.  Verse 6.  A Perfect Habitation.  “I shall dwell in the house of the LORD”

 

20.  Verse 6.  A Perfect Eternity.  “for ever!”:

 

Conclusion:  What a glorious, wonderful, and perfect Psalm that takes the child of God from conversion to eternity in six short verses.

One Leaving, One Standing, One Returning - Part 1 - The Apostle Paul

Temple Baptist Church - 10-13-2024

2 Timothy 4:6-18

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  Today’s message will be an introduction to several messages that I believe are needful in the day that we live in.

 

B.  Over the last few weeks, I preached on the three states of the believer that are common today:

 

1.  The Carnal believer who is overcome in a fault.

 

2.  The Weary believer who, through disappointment and discouragement, is about ready to “lay it down.”

 

3.  The Spiritual believer who, despite the circumstances—disappointments—discouragements of this present evil world in which we live, continues to stand strong in stability. 

 

C.  1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus are Pastoral Epistles, written to young pastors who continue to stand in the Old Paths, were written for their admonition.  These doctrinal books lay out the guidelines for both the ministry and the operation of the local church.

 

D.   I want to look at this important passage of Scripture that is pertinent to the days in which we live as today, we have MORE leaving, FEWER standing, and EVEN FEWER returning.

 

E.  2 Timothy, chapter 4, sums up the life of one, if not the, greatest Christian who ever lived, the Apostle Paul.  Despite all the problems, persecutions, disappointments, discouragements, and loneliness, Paul fought a good fight, finished his course, and kept the faith. 

 

1.  You could ask no more than that.  In our text, several men are named who started right but not all finished right.  Through it all, Paul faced the “lion of Rome” with the confidence that, if all men forsook him, the Lord would stand with him and deliver him.

 

2.  Verse 8 shows that you and I can stand the same as the Apostle Paul and receive the same reward.  “and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

 

F.  In verses 10-11, we find several men mentioned of which I want to look at three who were friends, fellow soldiers, and companions of Paul. 

 

1.  Demas, the Carnal Believer, started right and finished wrong. 

 

2.  Luke, the Spiritual Believer, started right and stayed right. 

 

3.  John Mark, the Weary Believer, started right—got Weary—and could have finished right or wrong but finished right.

 

G.  In Paul’s last epistle, he sets forth his:

 

1.  Paul’s Life’s Work – Vs. 6-7  He faithfully finished the work that God called him to do.  Paul served God in spite of fault and failure as long as he lived.  Certainly, his life was “Christ.” 

 

Philippians 1:21  For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

 

2.  Paul’s Earnestly Contending – Vs. 7  He fought a good fight … kept the faith.  Paul remained fixed in the Old Paths of the scripture while “earnestly contending” for the faith once delivered. 

 

Jude 3  Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

 

3.  Paul’s Eternal Reward – Vs. 8  Paul rested in the faithfulness of the Lord as he set forth in his epistles to the Hebrews. 

 

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.

 

4.  Paul’s Companions – Vs. 10-11  Paul had several close friends and companions in labor during his ministry:  Barnabas, Silas, Timothy, Aristarchus, Secundus, Gaius, Tychicus, Trophimus, Demas, and Luke.  God always had someone there for the great apostle!

 

H.  Now, in the end of his life, Paul mentions several men and their affect upon his life and ministry.

 

1.  One Leaving: Demas who forsook him “having loved this present world.  I may deal with him in more detail later.

 

2.  One Standing: Luke who stood by the Apostle Paul “thought thick and thin.”  He continued with Paul alone. 

 

3.  One Returning: John Mark who was returning and would be profitable in these last perilous days of Paul’s life.  He, in his youth, had forsaken Paul and Barnabas but Barnabas took John Mark “under his wing” when Paul rejected him and he returns “profitable.”   Be careful to give those who are young or turned back room to get it right and serve the Lord. 

 

J.  Before we look at these three men individually, I want to look at Paul.  I remember the words to the song “I Have Decided To Follow Jesus.”  The words “though none go with me, still I will follow.”   These are words that are so easy and sweetly sung but are ones much harder to live!

 

K.  The Work of The Ministry Is Bittersweet!

 

2 Corinthians 6:1-10  We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.  (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)  Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:  But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,  In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;  By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,  By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,   By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;  As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;  As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

 

          a.  It Is A Needful Work – Souls are at stake.

 

          b.  It Is A Hard Work – There are many heartaches and trials.

 

          c.  It Is A Worthwhile Work – “making many rich.”

 

L.  Much of Paul’s last days were spent in prison and in verse 16 of Second Timothy, chapter 4, we find the sad commentary that “no man stood with me … all men forsook me.”  I am once again reminded of the sorrow and loneliness of the Lord’s work. 

 

2 Timothy 4:16  At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.

 

1.  It is heart breaking when good people that we have prayed with, went soul winning with, worked with, and worshipped with have forsaken us.  We, as God’s children, will give an account for our generation. 

 

2.  If people would put “self on the shelf” instead of God putting them on the shelf (1 Corinthians 9:27-“castaway”) we could do so much more for the Lord in both missions and in our Jerusalem.  I Corinthians 13 gives the bible definition of charity or brotherly love, and it condemns the actions of most!

 

3.  It is heart breaking when churches that once stood in the Old Paths of doctrine and separation no longer stand with us.  They are the ones who have moved and now we have become the enemy of sorts.

 

M.  The Apostle Paul made his choice earlier in life (Philippians 1:21  For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.) and God honored it.

 

N.  In verse 16, we find Paul standing alone. 

 

2 Timothy 4:16  At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.

 

O.  In verses 17-18, we find Paul NOT standing alone. 

 

2 Timothy 4:17-18  Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.  (18)  And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

 

1.  The Lord’s Presence – “Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me”

 

Hebrews 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (Heard this verse before?  I quote it often because it is one of the verses most easily forgotten when in trouble.  Everyone left Paul except the only One that can always be counted on to be there.)

 

Genesis 28:15  And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.  (Jehovah God spoke these words to Jacob when he feared.)

 

Joshua 1:9  Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.  (Moses died and Joshua stood in his place.  What an awesome responsibility!  The list could go on but I believe you have the message.)

 

2.  The Lord’s Power – “and strengthened me”

 

Philippians 4:11-13  Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.  (12)  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.  (13)  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.  (All things means just that!  There is no problem that you cannot sustain and no command that you cannot fulfill.)

 

3.  The Lord’s Purpose – “that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear”

 

Ephesians 3:6-9  That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:  (7)  Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.  (8)  Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;  (9)  And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:  (God’s mercy and grace allowed the great apostle to finish his course.  You are not done until the Lord is done with you.)

 

4.  The Lord’s Protection – “and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion”

 

Job 1:9-10  Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?  (10)  Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

 

Deuteronomy 33:27  The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.  (This is one of my favorite verses.  The Lord is our Hiding Place; our Covert from the storm; our Shield and Buckler.  When you find that He is all that you have, it is only then that you find that He is all that you need.)

 

5.  The Lord’s Promise – “And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom”

 

Psalms 23:4-6  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.  (I promise you, He will be with us and for us until we finally arrive at Home!)

 

6.  The Lord’s Praise – “to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” 

 

Romans 11:36  For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

 

Ephesians 3:17-21  That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,  (18)  May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;  (19)  And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.  (20)  Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,  (21)  Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Wednesday, October 9, 2024

What Is Truth?

 Temple Baptist Church - 10-9-2024

John 18:33-38


Introduction:

 

A. While our Lord Jesus Christ, The Truth-John 14:6) stood in Pontius Pilate’s presence, Pilate asked the age old question: “What is truth?”

 

B. An interesting question! For millenniums, men have searched for truth of one kind or another. There are many kinds of truth in this world that men claim to have found but, just because you believe something to be truth, it may or may not be true.

 

C. The question in our text is, did Pilate actually want to know the truth or did he mean that truth in this instance was not knowable.

 

D. Those in charge the night that Jesus was bound captive and interrogated, played a game of “Hot Potato” with our Lord as none of then wanted to be hung with the job of satisfying both Rome and the Jews.

 

1. The Mob brought Jesus bound to Annas, so Annas passed Him along to Caiaphas.

 

John 18:24 Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.

 

2. Then Caiaphas passed Him along to Pontius Pilate in the Judgment Hall.

 

John 18:28-29 Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover. (29) Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man?

 

3. At this point, Pontius Pilate became the “proxy” who stood between Rome and the Jews.

 

E. Pontius Pilate was Procurator of Judea and Governor of the East. By Procurator, it is meant a “proxy” or to stand in the place of someone else, that person was Tiberius Caesar! Pontius Pilate tried to be just but was placed into a “no win” position, so he—being a skilled politician—tried to settle a “could not be settled” thing.

 

F. Later, Pontius Pilate wrote this letter to Tiberius Caesar describing the situation through his eyes:

 

Pontius Pilate to Tiberius Cæsar the emperor, greeting.

 

Upon Jesus Christ, whose case I had clearly set forth to thee in my last, at length by the will of the people a bitter punishment has been inflicted, myself being in a sort unwilling and rather afraid.  A man, by Hercules, so pious and strict, no age has ever had nor will have.  But wonderful were the efforts of the people themselves, and the unanimity of all the scribes and chief men and elders, to crucify this ambassador of truth, notwithstanding that their own prophets, and after our manner the sibyls, warned them against it:  and supernatural signs appeared while he was hanging, and, in the opinion of philosophers, threatened destruction to the whole world.  His disciples are flourishing, in their work and the regulation of their lives not belying their master; yea, in his name most beneficent.  Had I not been afraid of the rising of a sedition among the people, who were just on the point of breaking out, perhaps this man would still have been alive to us; although, urged more by fidelity to thy dignity than induced by my own wishes, I did not according to my strength resist that innocent blood free from the whole charge brought against it, but unjustly, through the malignity of men, should be sold and suffer, yet, as the Scriptures signify, to their own destruction.  Farewell.  28th March.

 

G. When Pilate asked the question: “What is Truth?’, I believe that he though that truth at this point was unknowable. One side, the Jewish accusers of Christ making unproven allegations and on the other side, Christ Jesus who said that they knew the truth and refused to answer Pilate’s questions.

 

H. I just wanted to set this backdrop so as to give the proper interpretation of what transpired the night before Christ died.

 

J. Winston Churchill once said: “Occasionally men stumble over the truth. Most pick themselves up and go, as if nothing happened.” Thus, it was with Pontius Pilate who eventually washed his hands and turned Jesus Christ over to the Roman soldiers for crucifixion.

 

K. A Man in whom Pontius Pilate “found no fault at all” would shortly turn Jesus Christ over to be crucified!

 

1.     Faced with the Truth, Pilate found that the cost of Truth, with the mob of Jews on one side and Tiberius Caesar on the other, was too much of a price to pay.

 

2.     Thus, Pilate became the epitome a compromiser. Someone once said that Pilate has been trying to get the blood of Christ off his hands for 2,000 years in hell.

 

L. Now to the question, “What is Truth?”

 

1. Truth will always be Absolute. If it is Truth, it is right. Otherwise, Truth becomes untruth. The world struggles with the matter of Truth because they, as Churchill said, “Stumble over the truth … pick themselves up and go, as if nothing happened.”

 

a. Pilate was standing right face to face with TRUTH and yet he walked away! You can turn away from Truth because you do not want it to be truth, but if it is truth, you cannot change it!

 

b. Modern philosophy, the Love of Knowledge, sums it up this way:

 

1) There are no absolutes except the absolute that that there are no absolutes." This statement is a conflicting one because it states that there are no absolutes and says that there is an absolute truth that there are no absolutes!

 

2) There must be absolutes, otherwise there would be no Truths!

 

c. Truth has been silenced by intolerance. As one preacher put it, “America has undergone a moral lobotomy, and principled conviction has been replaced by political correctness.” This is simply a cloak under which hypocrisy hides!”

 

d. Many so-called “Christians” believe that truth is relative or what you think it to be or not to be. Thus, the end of such thinking is humanism: the worship of self. If you think it is right, it is right; if you think it is wrong, it is wrong.

 

2. Truth today has been Abandoned.

 

a. We find that mankind, those who reject the knowledge of God, must become willfully ignorant of the Truth.

 

1) By the Intellect. 2 Timothy 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

2) By the Evolutionist. 1 Timothy 6:20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:

 

b. There is Perfect Truth. If it is perfectly true, it will remain true.

 

Romans 1:18-22 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; (19) Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. (20) For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: (21) Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. (22) Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

 

c. Absolute Truth will never be obsolete nor diminished.

 

Isaiah 59:14-15 And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. (15) Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.

 

Psalms 100:5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

 

3. Truth will always be Accessible.

 

a. The Heavens and the Earth declare Truth.

 

Psalms 14:1-2 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. (2) The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.

 

b. The Word of God is Truth. We have the God given right to accept or reject it. Either our accepting or rejecting does not do away with the Truth of God’s Word. It remains Truth to all generations.

 

Psalms 12:6-7 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. (7) Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

 

c. The Son of God embodies Truth. Truth was available for Pontius Pilate but, because of his circumstances, he chose to walk away.

 

4. Truth is Available.

 

a. The Inscribed Word of God is Truth.

 

John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

 

b. The Incarnate Word of God is Truth.

 

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.

 

5. Truth is Liberating.

 

John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

 

Conclusion: Pilate, faced with Truth, rejected truth.