To Reject or to Receive

 Temple Baptist Church - 8-10-2022

John 1:11-12

 

Introduction:

 

A.  Last week, we dealt with verse 11 and made it a “stand alone” verse that is actually now such.  We made a biblical interpretation and then a practical application “but!” 

 

B.  “But” is a continuation of context which draws a contrast, not a similarity.  Verses 11-12 are to be interpretated together, not separately.  Israel, as a nation, rejected their Messiah.  That was their choice and they made it clear when, at the “trial,” (I place the word in quotations because it was a mockery of justice) the people cried, “His blood be on us, and on our children.” 

 

Matthew 27:24-25  When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.  (25)  Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

 

That statement is about as wicked and calloused as it gets, to call down a curse upon their own children.

 

C.  In verses 11-12, two types are mentioned:

 

1.  A Nation: “His own” speaks of the Nation of Israel, not an individual.  Not everyone in Israel rejected Christ!  We have that on record in our Bible.  The Nation of Israel is blinded, not the individual.

 

2.  An Individual: “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”

 

D.  Now, by application, these two verses are typical of what Christ described in the Sermon on the Mount:

 

Matthew 7:13-14  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:  (14)  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 

 

 

1.  Two different types of people: the unbeliever and the believer.  “Enter ye” or “Enter ye not”

 

a.  Those who reject Christ have “made their bed hard” and will have to “sleep in it!”  They have chosen Satan and the world over Christ and traded heaven for hell in eternity.  A Bad Trade!

 

b.  Those who receive Christ have traded their sin for salvation and an eternal home with Christ!  A Good Trade!

 

c.  The only middle ground is that of innocence and the sinner does not fit in that category!

 

2.  Two different types of travelers: “many” and “few.”

 

a.  The unsaved – the many.  They are unsaved because they have no desire to “find it.”  They travel the “wide gate” and the “broad way.”  The “there are more than one way to heaven” outlook of our religious world.  “It does not matter what church that you attend.”  The way to hell is often said to be paved with good intentions.  They way of the many is the most traveled road.

 

b.  The Saved – the few.  Those who have desired to “find it.”   These enter at the “straight gate,” (Christ and His finished work of the gospel alone!) and the “narrow way.”  The religious world thinks us as narrow minded and judgmental.  We simply believe what the Bible says instead of what religions accepts.  Sin is still sin and we that are saved try (and often fail) to follow the road less traveled which lined by biblical parameters. 

 

3.  Two vastly different final destinations: “destruction” and “life.”

 

a.  Destruction.  This does not speak of soul annihilation as every soul is eternal.  It speaks of the destruction of hell and the lake of fire.  Not long ago, thousands of people were subjected to the total destruction of a horrific tornado.  Some lives were lost but most survived but woke up to destruction.  These were able to begin cleanup and rebuilding, but hell is not so.  It is eternal fire, eternal destruction, and eternal consciousness!

 

b.  Life.  This speaks of both eternal consciousness and eternal joy in surroundings.  Eternal happiness while living in a placed prepared for them by God which exceeds our imagination.  Heaven is experiential: that which can only be fully known by those who will experience it.

 

4.  Two choices: “reject” or “receive.”

Resting In Peace

 Temple Baptist Church - 8-7-2022

Psalm 4

 

A.  I believe that everyone of us has suffered the horrors of a disquieted soul that produced a restless night.  A night when fear or distress would not let our minds “lay down” with us and sleep. 

 

1.  I heard from someone that “A clear conscience makes for a soft pillow,” and that is true but, you can have a clear conscience and still have trouble sleeping.  I hate those restless nights because sleep is invaluable to me!  I need my rest.

 

2.  At the drug store, Walmart, grocery store, or the local convenience store, you will find a myriad of pills and bottles dedicated to the cause of going to or staying asleep.  The world, like many physicians, treat the symptoms without finding the problems.  Thus, it is with all these “sleep aids” that are made available for a “small price.”

 

3.  Psalm 4 is God’s remedy for our sleep problem.  King David is still on the run from his son, Absalom, with a multitude of enemies seeking and mocking him.

 

B.  The whole of this Psalm is important because it gives the child of God a pattern to follow during hardship that allows the burdened heart to rest in peace.

 

C.  In David’s time of trouble, he gives some good advice to his enemies.

 

Verse 1:  David’s Help Comes From The Lord.

 

David’s Confidence in Prayer.  “Hear me when I cry … hear my prayer”  David was a man with confidence in prayer.

 

David’s Knowledge of God.  “God of my righteousness … have mercy upon me”  David was a man acquainted with the everlasting mercy of God.

 

David’s Encouragement in Trouble.  “thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress”  David had been here before when running from Saul and saw God’s blessing in the midst of the storm.

 

Verse 2-3: David’s Enemies Described.

 

Their Lost Condition: “O ye sons of men” vs. “God of my righteousness”

 

Their Wicked Association.  “How long will ye turn my glory into shame?”  David’s righteous throne established by God to the shame of Absalom’s insurrection.

 

Their Love of Lying.  “Seek after leasing”  David’s throne was established on truth while Absalom’s by lying.

 

Their Separation From God.  “But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself:”

Their Unanswered Prayers.  “the LORD will hear when I call unto him. 

 

Verses 4-5.  David’s Advice For His Adversaries.

 

Fear God.  “Stand in awe, and sin not”  David’s enemies knew that God had established his throne!

 

Understand Your Condition.  “commune with your own heart upon your bed”  While David sleeps in peace, they need to stay awake in conviction.

 

Hear God’s Voice.  “and be still. Selah.”  Selah – to meditate or reflect upon.

 

Trust The Lord.  “Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord”  Repent of your evil deeds and put you saving faith in the Lord.

 

Verse 6-7.  David’s Confidence In His God.

 

The World Tries To Destroy Confidence.  “There be many that say, Who will shew us any good?”  They know nothing of the God of the righteous!

 

God Watches Over His Children.  “LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.”  God’s eye is always upon the righteous as He guards their way.

 

God Gives A Gladness That The World Does Not Know.  “Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increase.”  Spiritual gladness is not in the abundance of the things that we have, but in the eternal position that we have with God.

 

Verse 8.  David’s Resting In Peace.

 

David’s Mindset. “I will both lay me down in peace”  David will go to bed with his conscience clear and his heart encouraged in the Lord!  Nothing wrong with taking precautions:

 

Song of Solomon 3:7-8  Behold his bed, which is Solomon's; threescore valiant men are about it, of the valiant of Israel.  (8)  They all hold swords, being expert in war: every man hath his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night.

 

David’s Sleep.  “and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.”  Resting in the peaceful knowledge that God alone will keep him safely through the night.

 

But Safety Is Of The Lord!  Sleep well, my child, and peace attend thee, all through the night!

Remind Me, Dear Lord - Part 1 - Why We Need To Be Reminded of Some Things

Temple Baptist Church - 8-7-2022

1 Peter 1:1-3

 

Introduction:  I want to begin a mini-series this morning from 1 Peter, chapter one.  I preached through the Book of 1 Peter six years ago and am not going to preach the same things nor the same way.  I will spend several weeks in chapter one of the book.

 

A.  The subject matter of this series is remembering during tribulations, trials, and troubles.  With that said, let me give a little historical background on the book.  There are several things that we need to understand at this point as to get the proper biblical interpretation.  I will spend this morning on the historical reason for 1 and 2 Peter, along with Hebrews, James, and Jude as the historical setting is the key to understanding what Peter is conveying to these suffering Christians.

 

1.  Peter states his Credentials.  The Author of the Book: Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ.  Of all the apostles, Peter was the most well-known and highly revered. 

 

a)  When the Bible lists the entirety of the apostles, Peter is always named first.  When the Bible lists the “inner three” (Peter, James, and John), it always lists Peter first.  As he opens the letter to the Jewish Believers, Peter (not bragging) reminds these Jews of both his person—a godly follower of Christ and his position—a God called apostle of Christ.

 

b)  Throughout the transitional books of the Bible (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Acts) it is Peter who stands out first because of his love and zeal for Christ.  When our Lord came for the disciples after His resurrection, He said, “Go tell Peter.”  (John 21:15-17) It was Peter who asked the question: “ Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68)  On the day of Pentecost, it was Peter who preached Christ Jesus and 3,000 men were saved.  This lends authority to Book.

 

2.  Peter states his Cause.  “to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia”  The confusion caused by great persecution, dispersion, and relocation of God’s people.  Hardship that causes questions.

 

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

 

3.  To whom 1 Peter was written.  1 Peter is one of the Hebrew Christian Epistles written to the dispersed Jews who had converted to Christianity.  These Jews had come to a saving faith in our Lord Jesus Christ in a time when Israel as a nation had rejected their Messiah.

 

John 1:11-12  He came unto his own, and his own received him not.  (12)  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

 

4.  Because of their conversion and Israel’s rejection, they became enemies living among their own people!  These dispersed Jews were born and raised in Israel.  Because Christ Jesus always makes a difference (a change that is recognizable), they stood out like “a sore thumb.”

 

Romans 10:9-10  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  (10)  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

 

5.  They could not live in peace in Israel because of the religious zealots (Pharisees and Sadducees) who were responsible for the crucifixion of Christ:

 

Mark 15:12-15  And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?  (13)  And they cried out again, Crucify him.  (14)  Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.  (15)  And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.

 

6.  They could not live in peace in Israel because of Saul of Tarsus:  Our Lord, in Matthew, chapter 28; Mark, chapter 16; and Acts, chapter 1 told the believers in Jerusalem to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature, but they did not leave Jerusalem and carry out our Lord’s command.  People normally call this the Great Commission, but I call it the Great Commandment.

 

Acts 9:1-2  And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,  (2)  And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

 

Acts 26:9-11  I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.  (10)  Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.  (11)  And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.

 

Galatians 1:13-14  For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:  (14)  And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.

 

7.  “to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia”  God raised up an “instrument of persecution,” Saul of Tarsus to bring about obedience in the believers at Jerusalem and all Israel.  Saul scattered them throughout Asia Minor. 

 

Now, they have left all and moved into the “mouth of the lion,” the Roman Empire where the emperor was “god” and would not allow anyone to worship any other.  Once again, they were hated because they were Christians and would suffer the consequences.

 

Also, they would suffer because they were Jews living among the Gentiles.  Out of sorts and out of place.  The most hated race of people on earth are the Jews as they prayed down the blood of Christ upon themselves and also their children.

 

B.  We have seen to whom the epistle was written (dispersed Jews) so now we will look at the reason for these Hebrew Christian Epistles.

 

1.  We cannot comprehend their suffering, but they paid a price for coming to Christ as their Messiah and Saviour. 

 

a.  The price was horrific!  Paul, in his Epistle of Hebrews referenced this:

 

Hebrews 11:36-40  And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:  (37)  They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;  (38)  (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.  (39)  And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:  (40)  God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

 

a.  These people were dying for their faith!

 

1 Peter 1:6-7  Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:  (7)  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

 

1 Peter 4:12  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

 

2.  Here is the message for today: The result of such suffering caused these “strangers scattered” to doubt! 

 

a.  They doubted their relationship with God.  How could their God, the Lord Jesus Christ, allow His people to suffer such atrocities? 

 

b.  They doubted their relation ship with Israel.  These Jews were now outcasts among their own families and friends; they were outcasts in the nation of their birth and heritage.

 

c.  The transition from the Old to the New Covenant caused them to doubt.  All their lives, they lived in the shadow of the Temple.  Their lives revolved around the worship of thousands of years, the worship of atonement.  Paul spent much time in Hebrews explaining why what they had now was “better” (the key word of Hebrews) than what they had under the Old Covenant.

 

d. They needed to “remember” some things.

 

3.  Times often get spiritually hard for God’s children as tribulations, trials, testing, and troubles come to us. 

 

a.  These things can cause doubt in the hearts and minds of God’s children when, despite of the circumstances we are so secure and blessed in Christ Jesus.

 

b.  Often, in the midst of the troubles of this life, we need to just pause and remember some things!  Peter reminds these suffering believers of some things that would anchor them in the storms of persecution. REMIND ME, DEAR LORD!

 

Conclusion:  Next week, we will begin with what Peter called to their remembrance as these same things will anchor us in the storms of our lives.

Israel’s Messiah –Christ Jesus

 Temple Baptist Church - 8-3-2022

John 1:11-14

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  He (The Word of God; Jehovah God; The Anointed One – Israel’s Christ; Israel’s Messiah; Israel’s Sacrifice; Israel’s Saviour; Israel’s King) came into this world and His people, Israel, rejected Him.

 

B.  Before we become too critical of Israel, let me put this into perspective: in John 1:1-5, we see that 4,000 years have passed since the Lord gave the promise of the “seed of the woman” – a virgin born Messiah – to Adam and Eve.

 

1.  How often do you and I give up on a promise from the Bible after a month, a year, 10 years, 20 years, 30 … years?  I remember well when God gave one of our precious ladies a promise from the Bible and over a 20+ year period it become “sort of” a forgotten promise.  Yet God in His omniscience and power, brought that promise to pass in a wonderful but unexpected way.

 

2.  Israel has waited 4,000 years for the Christ, the Messiah-The Saviour-The Liberator, to come. 

 

a)  God gave that promise to Adam and Eve for mankind – Genesis 3:15  And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

 

b)  God gave that promise to Abraham that Messiah would be a Hebrew, of Jewish ancestry – Genesis 15:1-5  After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.  (2)  And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?  (3)  And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.  (4)  And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.  (5)  And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.

 

c)  God gave that promise to Israel that the Messiah would be their King – Isaiah 7:14  Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

 

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.

 

C.  So, Israel waited and waited and waited until the Nation of Israel “sat in darkness” of unbelief.

 

Matthew 4:16  The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

 

D.  The word “Messiah” – Saviour, Liberator, Leader, Champion, Defender!

 

1.  He was and is the Hope of mankind.  The promised Savior!

 

2.  He was and is the Hope of Israel.  The promised King!

 

3.  He was and is the Hope of the Church.  The Promised Eternal Bridegroom!

 

E.  Israel’s Indictment!

 

1.  Christ Jesus came!  John 1:10-11a  He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.  (11a)  He came …

 

Numbers vary but there are approximately 80 major Messianic prophecies and approximately 270 additional prophecies that Christ fulfilled.

 

According to the math of probability and statistics, for Christ to fulfill just 8 of the prophecies given in the Bible, the odds would be 1 to the 17^th power or 100 quadrillion.  That is a 1 with 17 zeros after it!  1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000!

 

HE CAME!!  Israel knew the Scriptures yet they rejected Christ.

 

Acts 3:25-26  Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.  (26)  Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

 

2.  Christ Jesus came the right way: born of a virgin, yet they indicted Him for it.

 

John 8:39-42  They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.  (40)  But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.  (41)  Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.  (42)  Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

 

3.  Christ Jesus came the right time.  The wise men knew the time and watched for His star.

 

Matthew 2:1-2  Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,  (2)  Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

 

HE CAME!!!  Israel should have known!

 

Luke 19:41-44  And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,  (42)  Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.  (43)  For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,  (44)  And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.

 

4.  Christ Jesus was rejected by His own people.  “He came unto his own and his own received him not!”

 

Matthew 23:37  O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

 

Mark 15:12-14  And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?  (13)  And they cried out again, Crucify him.  (14)  Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.

 

John 5:39-40  Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.  (40)  And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

 

Conclusion: Verse 12 says, “But!” Israel should have known!  Israel could have known!  Israel refused to know!

 

1.  The ultimate price for rejection of Christ remains this day upon the Nation of Israel as she once again sits in darkness in light of the Second Coming of their Messiah.  National blindness along with a veil over their hearts when reading or hearing the New Testament along with the Old Testament prophecies concerning Christ Jesus.

 

2.  But this next time he is coming as King instead of a Lamb.

 

John 1:10-15  He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.  (11)  He came unto his own, and his own received him not.  (12)  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:  (13)  Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.  (14)  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.  (15)  John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.

Bless The Lord

 Temple Baptist Church - 7-31-2022

Psalm 103

 

Introduction:

 

A.  Psalm 103 is one of the great Psalms of Praise.  From the beginning of our salvation experience all the way to our going home to be with our Lord, God cares for His children!

 

B.  Oft times, we tend to look at the bad things of life and ignore the blessings. 

 

1 Thessalonians 5:18  In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

 

C.  God has made our lives so easy and comfortable today.  We are so blessed to live in this great nation!  We can say in a good way, “I have need of nothing!”  God has been so good to everyone but especially to those of us who are saved.

 

D.  Is a good thing to give thanks to the Lord!  Psalms 92:1  A Psalm or Song for the sabbath day. It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:

 

E.  Notice that the Psalmist writes that thanksgiving begins within:  “Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.” 

 

F.  True gratitude verses gratitude. 

 

1.  I have no doubt this evening that we are a grateful people.  The economy is not good as inflation is rising to record highs while salaries remain, for the most part, constant.  Especially those who are on fixed incomes and Social Security.  Yet, we are all doing well or so it seems.

 

2.  Are we grateful with all that is within us?  “Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.”  I THANK GOD TONIGHT FOR ALL HIS BENEFITS!

 

G.  Bless the LORD!

 

1.  Bless the LORD for forgiveness – vs. 3, 12

 

2.  Bless the LORD for good health – vs. 3

 

3.  Bless the LORD for Divine protection – vs. 4

 

4.  Bless the LORD for His loving kindness – vs. 4

 

5.  Bless the LORD for bountiful provision – vs. 5

 

6.  Bless the LORD for Divine intervention – vs. 6-7

 

7.  Bless the LORD for His mercy – 8-17