Understanding Spiritual Gifts - The Transition Period

Temple Baptist Church - 2-25-2026

I Corinthians 12:1

 

Introduction:

A. In Paul’s day, there was much ignorance concerning the gifts that God gave to the believers.

 

1 Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

 

1. They were ignorant in that some of these gifts were permanent, and some were passing. We will deal with that in chapter 13, but I need to mention it as I preface chapters 12-14.

 

2. By the same token, there is much ignorance in our day concerning which biblical gifts are relevant today and what gifts have passed away through the completed revelation of God’s Word, which we have in our hands, the King James Bible.

 

3. Paul did not want the Corinthian church to be ignorant of these divinely given gifts, and, as your pastor, I do not want you to be ignorant either.

 

B. To rightly understand these gifts, we must understand the times in which they were given and God’s rules for using them, found in chapter 14. Thus, the importance of understanding the transition period between the Old and New Covenants is found in the Old and New Testaments.

 

1. The Four Hundred Silent Years.

 

a. From the Book of Malachi until the Book of Matthew was a period of approximately 400 years. During these years, the heavens were silent. There were no miracles, no new revelations from God. God was using these 4 centuries to set the stage for the coming of Israel’s Messiah, the Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world.

 

1) The Transition Period was actually 500 years from Malachi to the end of the Apostolic Age around 100 AD.

 

a) Transition Period: Malachi to John the Baptist (The last of the Old Testament Prophets, who did no miracles – to Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world – to the end of the Apostolic Period, ending with John the Beloved writing the Book of the Revelation of Christ at approximately 95 AD.

 

b) Though the New Testament was canonized in 367 AD, John the Beloved had completed “That which is perfect”, the Book of the Revelation, approximately around 95 AD. The Word of God was finished.

 

b. Galatians 4:4 explains the value of these silent years concerning the coming of Christ.

 

Galatians 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

 

c. “The fullness of time” means that the world scene had to be set:

 

1) Politically, the influence of the seventh and last world power, Rome. During this time, we find the rise and fall of world powers as the Persian Empire gave way to the Greek Empire, and the Greek Empire gave way to the Roman Empire. Under Rome, roads were built for military purposes to move armies, but they also made travel much easier and quicker from one nation to another, which allowed the Apostles to turn the world upside down.

 

2) Culturally, the influence of Greece. The Greeks brought about koine Greek, which became the common language of the New Testament world. Virtually all people spoke this common form of Greek from which the New Testament is translated. Now the Gospel could be shared with all people.

 

3) Historically, the shift of concentration. The Old Testament is all about the Nation of Israel and the Jews, while the New Testament is about the Church: Jew and Gentile, male and female, the bond and free, the Body of Christ.

 

4) Ecclesiastically, the synagogue established. In the 400 silent years, we find the introduction of the synagogue. Historically, congregational worship took place at the Tabernacle and later at the two Temples, Solomon’s and Zerubbabel’s.

 

a) Though both the Lord Jesus and his disciples went to the Temple on certain days, we also find them worshipping in local assemblies called synagogues and later churches.

 

b) By 70 AD, both of these Temples had been destroyed, and local churches (ἐκκλησία ekklēsia ek-klay-see'-ah), called-out assemblies, were established, which remain today. “Church” or “churches” is mentioned 117 times in the New Testament.

 

2. The transition from the Old Testament Covenant of Law to the New Covenant of Grace.

 

John 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

 

a. The Mosaic Law given. The Law given to Moses on Mount Sinai was threefold: the Moral Law, the Civil Law, and the Ceremonial Law. Though the bulk of the Mosaic Law remains in effect today, some of it applies only to the Nation of Israel, especially the Ceremonial Law.

 

1) The Ceremonial Law was based upon the work of the worldly priests in a worldly Tabernacle offering worldly (animal) sacrifices. The Old Covenant was based upon animal sacrifices, with the blood placed upon the Mercy Seat by the High Priest.

 

2) Atonement, a covering, a putting off. Both sacrifice and priesthood were to undergo a vital change as the priesthood was sinful and had to sacrifice for themselves, and the blood of bulls and goats could never pay God's demand for sin.

 

b. The New Covenant applied. As the Law came by Moses and reigned for 1500 years, grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

 

1) By the works of the flesh, no man can be justified, as man is dead in trespasses and sin. Human merit is based upon “filthy rags,” which can never take away sin. The truth showed our feeble attempts to be right with God through human merit miserably failed.

 

2) A Finished Product. One eternal Sacrifice for all, sin not covered but GONE. It took the Gospel of Christ, the vicarious death-burial-resurrection, and the precious blood to purchase our redemption, and that, my friends, is called GRACE!

 

3. The transition from sight, the partial gifts, to faith in the Word of God and full salvation.

 

a. This brings us to 1 Corinthians chapters 12-14. In chapter 12, Paul mentions some of these partial gifts along with those gifts that would remain. Sign gifts were given to transition from the Old to the New Covenants. As the Word of God was not yet complete, God gave certain miraculous signs to show that His power was upon His people.

 

b. Walking by Sight. Signs were meant for the unbelieving Jews, not the Gentiles. Though Gentiles also used them, they were to be used to show the Jews that the power of God was upon the Gentiles also.

 

1 Corinthians 1:21-24 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. (22) For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: (23) But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; (24) But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

 

1) The unbelieving Jews REQUIRED a sign. Unless they could see, they refused to believe. God, in His marvelous grace, did something for His covenant people that He refused to do for us Gentiles. He allowed them to walk by sight.

 

c. Walking by Faith. The Gentiles operated by faith, not sight.

 

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.

 

2 Corinthians 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

 

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.

 

4. Now, as we open the Scriptures to the New Testament Church, 1 Corinthians chapters 12-14 are the only mention of the partial gifts as there is no need for extra-biblical revelations. Since we will look at this in depth in chapter 13, we will now begin looking at these divine gifts, both partial or passing and permanent. Why God gave them and the regulations by which they were be used.

 

a. Be careful when you develop your doctrine out of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Acts, as these are transitional books written before the coming of “that which is perfect,” the complete canon of Scripture.

 

2 Peter 1:19-21 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: (20) Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. (21) For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

b. As the transition period began to close, the Apostles had already begun to lose these transitional or partial/passing gifts. Primarily, the gifts of healing, tongues, and prophecy.

A Disquieted Soul

Temple Baptist Church - 2-22-2026

Psalm 42

 

Introduction: “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me?”

A.  This Psalm is one possibly written by David when Absalom came into Jerusalem and David had to flee for his life.

 

B.  It is a Psalm of sorrow and complaint as God’s man is overwhelmed within his soul.

 

DISQUIETED, v.t. To disturb; to deprive of peace, rest or tranquility; to make uneasy or restless; to harass the body; to fret or vex the mind.  Made uneasy or restless; disturbed; harassed.

 

1.  Many Christians doubt their relationship with the Lord.

 

2.  They feel that little nagging tug at the heart, though they know that they have accepted Christ. 

 

3.  There is a restlessness in their soul that becomes misinterpreted.

 

4. Oftentimes, they get caught up in an endless line of empty professions.

 

5.  It results in a loss of joy and usefulness.

 

C.  There are times when God’s people become overwhelmed with disappointment in circumstances, which causes a disquieted heart and soul searching.  Let us break this Psalm down into four distinct parts.

 

1.  Who the Psalmist is.  The first thing that David was to “check all the boxes.”  Am I in a disquieted place because of sinfulness?  

 

a.  Verses 1-2 - He is a saved man - panting and thirsting after God.

 

b.  Verse 4 - He is a faithful man - house of God.

 

c.  Verse 4 - He is a praising man - praising in worship.

 

d.  Verse 5 - He is a consistent man - yet praising amid problems.

 

e.  Verse 8 - He is a comforted man - lovingkindness ... in the night his song.

 

f.  Verse 8 - He is a praying man - in the daytime and in the night.

 

g.  Verse 9 - He is a trusting man - God my rock.

 

2.  What the Psalmist sees in life.  Overwhelmed by his circumstances.  Found in the Psalmist’s questions.

 

a.  Verse 2 “When shall I come and appear before God?”

 

b Verse “Where is thy God?”

 

c.  Verse 5 “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me?”

 

d.  Verse 9 “”Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”

 

e.  Verse 10 “Where is thy God?”

 

f.  Verse 11 “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me?”

 

(1)  From panting to pouting. 

 

(2)  From remembering to remorse.

 

3.  What caused the disquieting of the Psalmist soul.

 

a.  The disquieting of disappointments (Unbelief)

 

Mark 9:23-24  Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.  And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. 

                    Psalms 6:3  My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long? 

 

Psalms 13:1 How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? 

 

Psalms 35:17  Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from      their destructions, my darling from the lions. 

 

b.  The disquieting of personal failures (Sin)

 

Psalms 51:12  Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. 

                    Psalms 85:6  Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? 

 

c.  The disquieting of unforgiveness (Bitterness)

 

Mark 11:25-26  And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.  But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. 

 

Hebrews 12:14-15  Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:  Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; 

 

d.  The disquieting of feelings (Lack of Joy) – It can be:

 

(1)  Caused by sin - Psalms 51:12  Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation;

 

(2)  Caused by not communing with the Lord - Psalms 16:11  Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. 

 

(3)  Caused by chastisement - Psalms 30:5  For his anger endureth but a  moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.  Psalms 51:8  Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. 

 

4.  The solution for the Psalmist’s condition.  Verses 5, 11

 

2 Timothy 1:12  For the which cause I also suffer these things:  nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. 

 

a.  You need to know Whom you have believed.

 

b.  You need to believe in Whom you know.

7 Sayings of the Cross – Part 1 - Father, Forgive Them; For They Know Not What They Do!

Temple Baptist Church - 2-22-2026

Luke 23:26-34

Introduction:

A.  As we quickly approach Resurrection Sunday, 2026, I want our hearts and minds to center upon Calvary.  My pastor, Dr. Harold B. Sightler, advised his preacher boys to stay close to the cross in our preaching. 

 

B.  As we begin looking at the sayings of our Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross, it begins with these amazing, loving, kind, and enduring words: “Father, Forgive Them; For They Know Not What They Do!”  Paul, in the book of Hebrews, describes this moment:

 

Hebrews 12:3  For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.  (Contradiction: a statement or phrase whose parts contradict each other.  Christ has been abused above all measure and unjustly so.  In the moment of the world’s hatred of and cruelty against Christ, He asks the Father to forgive the perpetrators.)

 

1.  There is Conviction in the Cross.  John 12:32  And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

 

2.  There is Conversion in the Cross.  Romans 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

 

3.  There is Confidence in the Cross.  1 Corinthians 1:17-18  For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.  (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.

 

4.  There is Condemnation in the Cross.  1 Corinthians 1:22-25  For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:  (23)  But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;  (24)  But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.  (25)  Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

 

C.  Seven times our Lord spoke from the cross.  These seven sayings speak volumes concerning our salvation. 

 

1.  The first saying of Christ from the cross was a petition for forgiveness.  How appropriate!  Jesus died to save, not to condemn.

 

2.  The cross of Christ is all about the reconciliation of sinful man with a thrice holy God.

 

D.  At Calvary, we find the love of God for each and every one of us. 

 

1.  Calvary is the ultimate proving of the love of God for sinful mankind.  If you want to know how God feels about you, go to Calvary!  Greater love hath no man than this:  the one should die for his friend. 

 

2.  Calvary’s love is the greatest and most compelling of all loves as the Worthy died for the unworthy; the Holy died for the unholy; the Righteous died for the unrighteous.

 

E.  The reason for forgiveness is sin.  The fact of sin is what compelled the Father to send forth His only begotten Son.  This morning, I want to look at God's forgiveness.  “For they know not what they do!”

 

1 Corinthians 2:7-8  But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:  (8)  Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

 

1.  Some believe that ignorance brings forgiveness.  As ignorance of the law is not an excuse in our judicial system, neither is it an excuse in the court of heaven!

 

2.  Their ignorance was not that they did not know that the man they were crucifying was innocent. 

 

a)  Judas Iscariot declared Him to be innocent.  Matthew 27:4  Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.

 

b)  Both Herod and Pilate had declared Jesus to be innocent.  Luke 23:14-15  Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him:  (15)  No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him.

 

F.  “For they know not what they do!” What was their ignorance?  Their ignorance is the same as the ignorance of modern men.  I want to look at three areas of ignorance that will lead mankind to hell instead of to heaven.

 

1.  They were ignorant of Who He was!  Matthew 27:29  And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! (He was almighty Jehovah God in the flesh!  King of kings and Lord of lords!  They mocked Him!  The world still does not know who He is!  He was the Almighty, and He still IS the Almighty!)

 

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.

 

a.  “without faith”  Saving faith is based upon faith, not sight!  God cannot be seen but fully reveals His person through nature and the Bible!  That is the only revelation that man will ever get.  It was and is enough for me!

 

b.  “that He is”  Man cannot deny Him for He is!  Man cannot ignore Him for He will not go away!  God's existence is not nullified because man chooses to turn away from Him.  Jesus Christ is “the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.”

 

c.  “he is a rewarder of them.”  Jesus Christ is not only the Saviour of the world, but He will also save all who come to Him by faith.  He is not a “saviour”; He is THE Saviour.  The One and Only!

 

2.  They were ignorant of what He was doing!  John 1:29  The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.  (He was paying for the sins of the whole world.  The soldiers knew that He was innocent but did not know that He had become sin for them!  They did not know that He was dying for them!  The world still has no concept, as they are religionists instead of saved.  Their hope is in their religion and good works, not in the finished work of Calvary!)

 

John 3:14-17  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:  (15)  That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.  (16)  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  (17)  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

 

a.  “as Moses lifted up … even so must the Son of man be lifted up.”  Calvary paid for sin’s consequence.  The wages of sin are still death and have never changed!  In Genesis, chapter 3, God took the life of the innocent to cover the sin of the guilty.  That’s Calvary!

 

b.  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son.”  At Calvary, we find propitiation.  Appeasement!  God looked upon His Son’s sacrifice and was satisfied.  Calvary covers it all!  Calvary is sufficient! 

 

c.  “The world through him might be saved.”  God is not willing that any perish and gave His Son to die for the sins of the whole world.  “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4)    “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”  (1 John 2:2) 

 

3.  They were ignorant of what they were!  Romans 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.  (These men were the best of the best!  They were the “seals, green berets, delta force of the day.  They were the Pretorian Guard!  They were invincible!  They did not understand that they were sinners who would one day stand before an angry God!  People today believe that they will just cease to exist after death or that they will be justified before God by who they are but have no understanding that they will one day stand in their sin before a thrice-holiest God and be judged!)

 

a.  They no doubt knew that they were not perfect men, as they were soldiers and had done many things worthy of death.  They were “sinners,” BUT not lost sinners.

 

b.  They no doubt knew that they had sinned against mankind, but not that they had sinned against a thrice-holiest God.

 

c.  They did not realize that, because of their sinfulness against God, they needed to be saved from their sin.

 

4.  They were certainly not repentant of their sins against our Lord Jesus Christ!  They scourged Him, they beat Him, they spat upon Him, they placed on His head a crown of thorns, they crucified Him, they railed on Him, they gambled over His robe, and—as far as the Bible is concerned—they never got right with Him.  He forgave them anyway, but only in a temporal sense!  Forgiveness can only come through faith in the shed blood of Christ.  Hebrews 9:22b  And without shedding of blood is no remission.

 

a.  Our Lord’s forgiveness was personal and temporal, not eternal!  If they remained lost, they still faced their works at the Great White Throne Judgement.  Revelation 20:12  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

 

b.  Our Lord’s forgiveness was an example to us!  Forgiveness is as much for the victim as it is for the perpetrator!  When people hurt us, they may never make it right with us, but if we forgive them, we have done what we can and can live with it.  “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.”

 

Conclusion:  “Father, Forgive Them; For They Know Not What They Do!” 

 

John 15:13  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (The Lord Jesus Christ died for the sins of all men and will forgive those who come to Him by faith.)

 

Matthew 6:12  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  (We are to forgive those who sin against as God forgives us.)

The Lord’s Supper

 Temple Baptist Church - 2-18-2026

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

 

Introduction: 

A.  What a blessing it is to partake of the Lord’s Supper or Communion, as many call it. I want to look at its proceedings and purpose tonight.  The Lord’s Supper has not only been a blessing, but also a curse to many who have either misused it or taken it lightly in a sinful condition. 

 

B.  It is a serious matter to participate, and our people need to be informed as to the why, how, and manner of it.  The Corinthian church had perverted it, either out of willfulness or ignorance, and, for this cause, many were sickly among them, and many died.

 

C.  It is a Divine Ordinance, not manmade, not denomination, not traditional, nor optional.  It is a command, therefore an ordinance of the local church. 

 

D.  The Problems Associated With The Lord’s Supper – vs. 17-22  Paul wrote this section, with the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, because of the problems in the Corinthian church. 

 

1.  Their motives were wrong – their desire – vs. 17  “ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.”  Communion is referenced in 3 of the 4 Gospels.  It is of interest that there is no Scripture commanding us to commemorate the Lord’s Birth, but this one to remember His death!  People love Christmas but miss Communion.

 

2.  Their minds were wrong – their division – vs. 18  “I hear that there be divisions among you”  The Bible promotes unity while division and confusion are Satan’s devices.

 

3.  Their manners were wrong – their disorder – vs. 19  “For there must be also heresies among you”  This is the crux of my message tonight, the misunderstanding, misrepresentation, and misuse of this Divine Command.

 

E.  The Problems In The Continued Church.  In our day, we find so much confusion and division in our Communion.  Most is based upon biblical ignorance, willful or otherwise.  I will deal with several tonight.

 

1.  That the Lord’s Supper is a sacrament or imparts grace to the believer.  Many call it “Holy Communion,” a term adopted by Catholic, Protestant, and liberal Baptist churches.  Nowhere in the Bible is “Holy Communion” found. 

 

1 Corinthians 11:20  When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper.

 

2.  That the Lord’s Supper contains the literal body and blood of Christ.  Transubstantiation and Co-substantiation.  These two heresies make the mass a re-crucifixion and essential to salvation and produce grace for those who receive it.  Grace is a gift, an unmerited favor, given by God, and cannot be produced or reproduced through human ritual.

 

Hebrews 10:10-12  By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.  (11)  And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:  (12)  But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

 

3.  The actual use of wine, which is fermented or leavened, instead of the fruit of the wine.  Wine, as a strong drink, is a product of fermentation and, therefore, leaven.  Wine is also a mocker and is to be totally abstained from by the believer.  Also, the fruit of the vine was to be drunk by all who partake and not just a priest.

 

Matthew 26:28-29  For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.  (29)  But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.

 

Proverbs 20:1  Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

 

4.  The use of leavened bread.  Once again, leaven is a type of sin and brings the sinfulness of man into the Lord’s Supper, which defiles the type.

 

1 Corinthians 5:7-8  Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:  (8)  Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

 

5.  Open Communion – where everyone, saved or lost, fundamental or heretical .at you believe, you are welcome to partake.) 

 

1 Corinthians 11:18a, 20a  For first of all, when ye come together in the church … When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper.

 

6.  Closed Communion – where other Bible-believing Christians who visit from another local church are excluded from the fellowship.  Only those who are members of the church in communion are welcome to participate. All others, including those who are saved and fundamental but are members of other good local churches, are rejected and cannot participate.

 

F.  The Proceeding Associated With The Lord’s Supper – vs. 23-25

 

1.  The Thanksgiving – vs. 24  Thank God for Calvary!  It is sad to see the number of so-called Christians who never attend the Lord’s Supper.  We have some who never attend Sunday night services.  We normally hold the Lord’s Supper on Sunday night because there are fewer visitors.

 

2.  The Taking – vs. 24-25  The taking of both bread and juice.  It was not just the death of Christ that saved, but the precious blood that has been applied!

 

G.  The Purpose Associated With The Lord’s Supper – vs. 23-26

 

          1.  The Receiving – vs. 23  (From generation to generation.)

 

2.  The Remembering – vs. 24-25 – (In remembrance of me.  What Christ did for us!)

 

          3.  The Revealing – vs. 26 – “shew the Lord’s death till he come”

 

H.  The Problems Associated With The Lord’s Supper – vs. 27-32

 

          1.  The Problem Of Improper Actions – vs. 27-29 - unconfessed sinfulness

 

2.  The Problem Of An Improper Attitude – vs. 29 – “not discerning” A mere rite or ceremony.  The Lord’s Supper is a serious matter and needs to be taken as such.

 

J.  The People Associated With The Lord’s Supper – vs. 33 - The Saved – “brethren”

Action or Reaction

 Temple Baptist Church - 2-15-2026

Psalm 141

 

Introduction:

A.  Here, we find David in another troublesome time of his life.  This Psalm was written in retrospect.  There is an old saying that hindsight is 20/20?  David did not react in one way but he did in another.

 

1.  The backdrop for this particular Psalm is likely found in 1 Samuel chapter 24, when David tried to escape Saul by hiding in a cave with his men.  Saul then entered the cave, also with some of his men, and slept. 

 

2.  Now trapped, David’s men encouraged David to kill his enemy.  There is a worldly theory that the best defense is a good offense.  Though in some things, like basketball, where good defense produces good offense, it is not necessarily good advice spiritually. 

 

3.  David had an opportunity to take the life of Saul while he slept, but chose rather to cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe. 

 

4.  God smote David’s heart because he had stretched forth his hand against the anointed of the Lord.

 

B.  In times of trouble, we often become reactionary instead of proactive. 

 

1.  We often call this a “knee-jerk.”  No thought process before or during something that puts the believer in a hard place.  With this in mind, I want to examine how David handled his predicament.  He and his men are now trapped within the place of refuge that David chose.  But the trapped place became a trap or an opportunity for reprisal against his pursuer, King Saul.

 

2.  Proactive – tending to initiate change rather than reacting to events.  Thinking before acting.  Plan your plan and work your plan.  Understanding the positive and negative results of our actions before proceeding. 

 

3.  Knee Jerk – an automatic response without thinking.  There have been more than one occasion when I reacted without thinking, pausing to consider the problem and how to resolve it in a godly manner.  Almost invariably, I have paid a price for my reaction.

 

4.  There are times in life’s hard places when we are tempted to react.  Reaction to harsh words.  Reaction to harsh treatment.  Reaction to betrayal or pressure.  Proverbs 15:1

 

C.  In this psalm, we find that David chose to be proactive in his predicament.  He chose to respond in a less violent way, but not in the right way.  Now, we see his assessment of his reaction.

 

1.  Verses 1-2.  David’s Dilemma.  He is trapped in the cave by his enemies.  David chose to find counsel in the Lord rather than in his men.  To react with prayer instead of the flesh.  Though we can find good counsel in men, we are not to put confidence in men.  This is not an oxymoron but a realization that the counsel of men can be wrong, as they are also human.  We are to weigh the validity of men’s counsel by seeking God’s counsel.  Much is said in the Bible about wrong places of confidence.  Our confidence is to be in the Lord.

 

a.  David needed an immediate response.  Psalms 141:1  A Psalm of David. LORD, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee.

 

b.  David received immediate advice from his men, but not necessarily sound advice.  When problems come upon us in a moment’s time, we need an answer quickly, and there is little or no time for us to say, “Wait for a little while and give me time to call my counselors.” 

 

c.  David’s men were ready for him to kill Saul, God’s anointed!  David’s reaction was both spiritual and prayerful.  David did not allow himself to be pressured into something that he knew was a wrong response.

 

2.  Verses 3-4.  David’s Desire.

 

a.  Verse 3.  Guard my lips.  In times like these, we often say things in the heat of the moment that will come back to haunt us later.

 

Proverbs 15:1  A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

 

b.  Verse 4.  Guard my heart.  In times like these, when we react, we often do things we would never do if we thought them through.

 

Matthew 6:13  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

 

c.  Verse 5.  Guard my spirit.  We must keep the right spirit in hard times as others watch.  David would later, in his penitential prayer in Psalm 51:10, say, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

 

3.  Verses 5-7.   David’s Determination.  David was realistic!  He fully understood that not everything works out for the child of God in this world.  There will be times when we all suffer.

 

a.  David was determined not to be moved from doing right during this hard time.

 

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.

 

b.  In the end, God will bring about justice.  We are not to seek vengeance, as vengeance belongs to the Lord.

 

c.  The battles that we face are not always easy, and the way will sometimes be hard.  We will suffer in this world for righteousness; we will be persecuted because of godliness.  We do not always win every battle, but we will win the war!

 

4.  Verses 8-10.  David’s Dependence.  Whatever may come, God will always be with the child of God.

 

a.  God will always be with the believer.  Matthew 28:20b  “and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”  (The word “lo” is the second person singular imperative middle voice.  It means Behold!  To be sure of or to fully understand. It is used to draw attention.)

 

b.  God will always give grace or a way of escape.  1 Corinthians 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

 

Conclusion:  When trouble comes suddenly, learn not to “knee-jerk” act, but instead to act.  Be proactive instead of reactive. 

 

1.  Pray  2.  Guard your mouth.  3.  Guard your heart.  4.  Guard your spirit.  5.  Endure your hardships.  6.  Looking unto Jesus.  7. Trust God with the outcome. 

 

2.  Never “Knee Jerk”.  Be proactive by making up your mind before such an event occurs to act in a godly manner.  I have learned to ask God for patience before I need it.

 

Hebrews 10:35-37  Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.  (36)  For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.  (37)  For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

 

3.  Act instead of react, and there will be fewer regrets.