7 Sayings of the Cross – Part 5 - I Thirst

Temple Baptist Church - 3-22-2026

John 19:28-30; Isaiah 52:14-53:11

 

Introduction:

A.  Calvary is an inexhaustible subject as it involves the infinite love, mercy, grace, and sacrifice of God for sinful man. 

 

Romans 5:8  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 

 

Sinful man, loved by a holy God in spite of fault and failure.  The reconciliation of the irreconcilable!   Oh, what a Saviour Jesus Christ is!

 

B.  “After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished!”  Thus far, we have seen:

 

1.  Calvary’s Pardon as Jesus Christ cried out for the forgiveness of those who knew not what they did.   “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do!”

 

2.  Calvary’s Promise as Jesus Christ responded to the penitent cry of a dying thief.  “Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise,” thus giving hope to all who put their faith in Him.

 

3.  Calvary’s Provision as Jesus Christ placed His loving mother into the hands of John the beloved.  “Woman, behold thy son…Behold thy mother.”  Dying, our Lord entrusted His earthly family to His earthly church.

 

4.  Calvary’s Price as our Lord became sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him!  “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”  Because Jesus Christ literally became sin for us that we might one day live forever with Him.

 

5.  Now we come to Calvary’s Pain, as, in the darkness of the noonday, Jesus Christ’s voice was heard once more.  “I thirst.”  Sin is now taken care of from God’s side of the cross, and, for the first time, we see the human side. 

 

C.  All things are now accomplished!  Jesus Christ has done all that He came to do.  He has left nothing undone, including the care of His earthly mother.  I continue to emphasize “His earthly mother” because Jesus Christ—as Jehovah God—had no mother!  He has now become sin for us and is “forsaken” by the Father.  As we were separated from the Father by our sin, Jesus Christ is now separated from the Father by our sin! 

 

Romans 14:8-9  For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.  (9)  For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

 

D.  At Calvary, we find the climax of Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry; the culmination of God’s Salvation Plan, which was pre-determined from the foundation of the world.  During these hours of darkness, we find the payment of sin manifested in a twofold suffering. 

 

E.  “I thirst!”  For the first time, Jesus Christ requested something for Himself!  In Matthew 27, before His crucifixion, the Roman soldiers offered Him vinegar mingled with gall, which would have dulled the pain and lessened the suffering.  Jesus Christ refused the sedation offered! 

 

Matthew 27:33-35a  And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,  (34)  They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.  (35)  And they crucified him…  

 

F.  That the scripture might be fulfilled - Psalms 69:21  They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. 

 

Our Lord fulfilled every Old Testament prophecy during His earthly life. This was proof positive that Jesus Christ was Jehovah God in the flesh!

 

G.  An ordinary man would not have made it to this point!  Isaiah 52:14, 53:5  “As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men… But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” 

 

No man has ever been beaten as Christ was beaten!  He was unrecognizable as a man before He went to the cross.

 

Isaiah 52:13-15  Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.  (14)  As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:  (15)  So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.

 

Isaiah 53:1-5  Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?  (2)  For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.  (3)  He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.  (4)  Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.  (5)  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

 

 

H.  The pain and suffering were beyond our human imagination!  I have read much concerning the suffering from a medical viewpoint, and the agony must have been beyond anything that we have ever experienced.  I do not want to major on these physical sufferings, but do want us to realize that no man has ever or ever will suffer as He suffered.

 

J.  The Roman soldiers could not kill Him!  The crucifixion could not kill Him! 

 

John 10:17-18  Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.  (18)  No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. 

 

We will find in a later message that Jesus Christ had to dismiss (lay down) His life for us.  His death was entirely voluntary!

 

K.  The Sufferings of Christ were manifold:  **Isaiah 52:14-53:11

 

1.  The Sufferings of Gethsemane – The Sorrow of the Soul

 

a.  Suffering at the hands of Sorrow of the Soul - Matthew 26:38  Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

 

b.  Suffering at the hands of Sleeping Saints - Matthew 26:40  And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?

 

c.  Suffering at the hands of Sinners - Matthew 26:45  Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

 

d.  Suffering at the hands of a Supposed Saint - Matthew 26:47-49  And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.  (48)  Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.  (49)  And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.

 

2.  The Suffering of Separation – The Sorrow of the Spirit

 

a.  The Son of God, for the first and last time in all eternity, separated from God the Father.  The great Three In One no longer in unity!  The great I AM became sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him!

 

b.  The suffering of separation from God the Father!  I believe that the greatest of all of the sufferings of Christ were shown in the statement, “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?” 

 

c.  In hell, the rich man of Luke 16 was separated from Abraham’s Bosom by a gulf that was “fixed” by God.  It was a gulf that could not be breached.  Sin separates and this division must be reconciled in order for men to eternally live with the Lord.  At Calvary, we find a great gulf “fixed” by God that could not be breached until sin had been paid for once and for all.

 

3.  The Sufferings Of Golgotha – The Sorrow of the Flesh

 

a.  He was lied about - Mark 14:55-56  And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none.  (56)  For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together.

 

b.  They spit upon Him - Matthew 27:30  And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.

 

c.  They smote Him - Matthew 26:67  Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,

 

d.  They mocked Him - Luke 23:11  And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.

 

e.  They scourged Him - John 19:1  Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.

 

f.  They crowned Him with thorns - Mark 15:17  And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head,

 

g.  They smote Him on the crown of thorns - Mark 15:19  And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him.

 

h.  They rejected Him for a thief - Luke 23:18  And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:

 

i.  They caused Him to bear His cross - John 19:17  And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:

 

j.  They nailed Him to the tree - Psalms 22:16  For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.

 

k.  They pierced His side - John 19:34  But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.

 

Conclusion:  So few words to describe such suffering.  “They crucified him…I thirst!”  What the world normally watched in the light, God shrouded with darkness.

HH…

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1.  The Magnitude Of That Thirst can never be fully realized.

 

2.  The Meaning Of That Thirst takes us to the depths of hell and a rich man who cried for water out of his torments.

 

3.  The Message Of That Thirst is once again that Christ died for the sins of the world!  They crucified Him – Three little words!  Psalms 22:14  I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. 

 

He suffered physically in almost every way—I know that Christ's death and suffering were different from others, but here is a description of what crucifixion would feel like to the human body, and Christ experienced that.

 

Jesus is offered wine mixed with myrrh, a mild sedative. He refuses to drink. He is laid on the cross on His back. His flesh is in ribbons, and the pain is excruciating. The Roman soldier drives a heavy, square, wrought-iron nail through one hand and deep into the wood. He moves to the other side and repeats the action, being careful not to pull the arms too tightly, but to allow some flexion and movement. The left foot is pressed backward against the right foot, and with both feet extended, toes down, a nail is driven through the arch of each, leaving the knees moderately flexed. The cross is then lifted into place and drops into its socket. His weight falls helplessly upon the nailed hands and feet. The Victim is now crucified. As He slowly sags down with more weight on the nails in His hands, excruciating pain shoots along the fingers and up the arms to explode in the brain—the nails in the hands and feet put pressure on the nerves. As He pushes Himself upward to avoid this stretching torment, He places His full weight on the nail through His feet. Again, there is the searing agony of the nail tearing through the nerves between the metatarsal bones of the feet. At this point, as the arms fatigue, great waves of cramps sweep over the muscles, knotting them in deep, relentless, throbbing pain. With these cramps, He cannot push Himself upward. Hanging by His arms, His pectoral muscles are paralyzed, and the intercostal muscles cannot act. Air can be drawn into the lungs but cannot be exhaled. Jesus fights to raise Himself to get even one short breath. Finally, carbon dioxide builds up in the lungs and bloodstream, and the cramps partially subside. Spasmodically, He is able to push Himself upward to exhale and draw in the life-giving oxygen. It was undoubtedly during these periods that He uttered the seven short sentences recorded. Now follows hours of limitless pain, cycles of twisting, joint-rending cramps, intermittent partial asphyxiation, and searing pain where tissue is torn from His lacerated back as He moves up and down against the rough timber. Then another agony begins—a terrible crushing pain deep in the chest as the pericardium slowly fills with serum and begins to compress the heart. One remembers again the 22nd Psalm, the 14th verse: "I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels." It is now almost over. The loss of tissue fluids has reached a critical level; the compressed heart struggles to pump heavy, thick, sluggish blood into the tissues; the tortured lungs make a frantic effort to gasp in small gulps of air. The markedly dehydrated tissues flood the brain with stimuli. Jesus gasps His fifth cry, "I thirst." One remembers another verse from the prophetic 22nd Psalm: "My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death." A sponge soaked in vinegar is lifted to His lips. He apparently does not take any of the liquid. Jesus’s body is now in extreme distress, and death nears. He can feel the chill of death creeping through His tissues. His mission of atonement has completed as He cries, "It is finished." With one last surge of strength, He once again presses His torn feet against the nail, straightens His legs, takes a deeper breath, and utters His seventh and last cry, "Father! Into thy hands I commit my spirit." Now He wills His body to die for you and for me!

A Thankful Pastor

 Temple Baptist Church - 3-22-2026

Colossians 1:1-8; 2:5-7

 

Introduction:

A.  39 years ago, this morning, my family stepped through the front doors for the first time. What a beautiful spring morning that was, with the sun shining bright. We entered this sanctuary at 9:00 AM. No one was here, but one of the men from the church arrived early to open the doors. We walked through the church (which did not take long in those days, as there was just the original building with 3 classrooms and 14 pews) and then went out to eat breakfast. When we returned, 7 people were here for SS and Worship.  I came here just help a small church get on its feet and get a new pastor.  Little did I know!  God already had a pastor in mind!  I have never doubted God’s will for both Temple Baptist Church and my family since.

 

B.  I want to look at these few verses this morning on Homecoming

Day.  I have often described the pastorate as a bittersweet experience. Before we go any further, I want to clarify that statement. It is much sweeter than bitter, and I would choose it again without hesitation.

 

1.  Paul is in prison for his faith.

 

2.  Paul is writing to encourage people he has never met.  As far as I can discern, Paul did not plant the church at Colossae. 

 

3.  Paul is concerned about their welfare more than his own.

 

4.  Paul finds great joy in the testimony of the church that has come to him.

 

C.  Their “order” was right.  Order means priority!  Priorities keep our perspectives right.

 

1. Our nation needs to set the right priorities. We hear much about sequestration these days. Yes, our country must make spending cuts, but these cuts must be prioritized. You do not cut national defense; you cut the “fat' from contractors, etc. You do not cut meals for kids at school; you cut waste and non-essential expenses.

 

2. Our people need to keep their priorities straight. When we maintain proper perspective, life becomes simpler and rightly ordered. The Lord first, then our families, then our church, then our jobs and education, etc.

 

3. Our churches need to recognize their priorities. The Lord first, and then everything else should be spiritually ordered according to importance.

 

D. Their “steadfastness of faith” was right. I thank the Lord for the growth and steadfastness of our people. We must be cautious in these areas, though. Many of God’s people are losing their steadfastness, which shows in their attendance and service. Our spiritual steadfastness keeps everything else in the proper perspective. If we are spiritually right, then we will be right in other important areas.

 

E. When things go well, it brings joy to a pastor's heart. Here are a few things that need to be right in the church.

 

1.  The Saints Need To Stand Right – 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.

 

2.  The Saints Need To Fellowship Right – 1 John 3  That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

 

3.  The Saints Need To Labor Right – 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.  The Saints Need To Rejoice Right – Psalms 34:1  I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

 

5.  The Saints Need To Act Right – 1 Timothy 3:15  But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

 

6.  The Saints Need To Trust Right – Proverbs 3:5-6  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

 

7.  The Saints Need To Pray Right – James 5:16  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

 

8.  The Saints Need To Think Right – 2 Corinthians 10:5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

 

9.  The Saints Need To Follow Right – 1 Corinthians 11:1  Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

 

10.  When The Saints Mature Right – vs. 11-13 - 2 Thessalonians 1:3  We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;

 

Conclusion:  As Paul wrote to the Corinthian Church: “My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.”

Understanding Spiritual Gift - Part 3 - Unity In Diversity

Temple Baptist Church - 3-18-2026

I Corinthians 12:1-12

 

Introduction: 

A.  I know that I keep repeating this, but ignorance can be fixed, or willful ignorance becomes a way of life.  Paul said, in verse one, “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.”  False gifts (the Passing Gifts that are no longer viable) today have caused division rather than unity.

 

1.  There is much confusion concerning spiritual gifts because there is much spiritual ignorance.  Some of the gifts mentioned in our text are partial or passing gifts, while others are permanent.  The entirety of the New Testament was written during the 500 transitional years (the 400 silent years between the Old and New Testaments plus the Apostolic Age of the first century AD). 

 

2.  Prior to the completion of the New Testament, the people in general only had portions of the finished product to come, the completion of the whole called “that which is perfect” in chapter 13.

 

3.  During these 500 years of transition from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant, God gave sign gifts to show the presence and power of God to both the New Testament Church and the Nation of Israel, who had rejected the Messiah, Christ Jesus.

 

4.  Certain denominations in our day are “charismatic” in nature, if not in name. 
They exalt the passing gifts that were never intended to remain beyond the completion of the Word of God.  I am not here to deal with these denominations, but without apology, say that they are not consistent with the Word of God.

 

5.  We have the complete inspired, preserved, inerrant, infallible Word of God, the King James Bible, and have no need of signs, dreams, tongues, or any other extra-biblical revelations.

 

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.

 

6.  The first-century Corinthian Church was towards the end of the 500 transitional years, so some of these passing gifts were still relevant.  Paul uses chapters 12-14 to regulate their use while giving the circumstances of their passing in chapter 13.

 

7.  Now, on to our text for tonight.

 

B.  The Key verse for tonight is verse 12: “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.”  All members of one body, the Church.  Paul uses the illustration of the physical body, where the complexity brings about perfect unity.

 

C.  Our physical body is complex.  It was intricately created.  The Psalmist declared in Psalms 139:14, “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.”

 

D.  Every cell, every hair, every muscle, every bone, and every nerve is placed in the body with the purpose of the Creator and is necessary to the success and well-being of the entire body.  Below is a bit of trivia that shows the complexity of the human body.

 

Our bodies contain 11 totally independent systems that operate within and control all functions:  1. Nervous System 2. Circulatory (Cardiovascular) System 3. Respiratory System 4. Digestive System 5. Muscular System 6. Skeletal System 7. Endocrine System 8. Immune (Lymphatic) System 9. Integumentary System 10. Urinary (Excretory) System 11. Reproductive System.  Though independent, they all work together for the good of the whole body. 

Our five senses give us some astonishing capabilities. We can see a candle's flame 30 miles away on a dark, clear night, and smell a single drop of perfume diffused in a three-room apartment. We can taste .04 ounce of table salt in 530 quarts of water. Our sense of touch can detect a pressure that depresses the skin .00004 of an inch (4/100,000) on the face or fingertips. And we can tell where a sound comes from even when it arrives at one ear just .0003 (3/10,000) second before its arrival at the other ear.

What the Body Does in 24 Hours.  If you are an adult of average weight, here is what you accomplish in 24 hours:  your heart beats 103689 times, your blood travels 168,000,000 miles, you breathe 23040 times, you inhale 438 cubic feet of air, you eat 3.25 pounds of food, you drink 2.9 quarts of liquids, you lose 7/8 pounds of waste, you speak 4800 words (including some unnecessary ones), you move 750 muscles, your nails grow .000046 inch (46/1,000,000), your hair grows .01714 inch (1714/100,000), you exercise 7,000,000 brain cells (at least most do). 

The average human body is about 80% water, and 20% of the average adult male's weight is from his bones.  The average human brain has about 100 billion nerve cells. Nerve impulses to and from the brain travel as fast as 170 miles (274 km) per hour.  Your stomach needs to produce a new layer of mucus every two weeks, or it would digest itself.  It takes the interaction of 72 different muscles to produce human speech.  The average life of a taste bud is 10 days.  The average cough comes out of your mouth at 60 miles (96.5 km) per hour.  Relative to size, the strongest muscle in the body is the tongue. Babies are born without knee caps. They don't appear until the child reaches 2-6 years of age.  Blondes have more hair than dark-haired people do.  (BECAUSE EMPTY SPACES NEED EXTRA INSULATION!)  

An average human scalp has 100,000 hairs.  Your skull is made up of 29 different bones.  The surface of the human skin is 6.5 square feet (2m).  15 million blood cells are destroyed in the human body every second.  You were born with 300 bones. When you get to be an adult, you have 206.  There are 45 miles (72 km) of nerves in the skin of a human being.  The average human heart will beat 3,000 million times in its lifetime and pump 48 million gallons of blood.  Each square inch (2.5 cm) of human skin consists of 20 feet (6 m) of blood vessels.  During a 24-hour period, the average human will breathe 23,040 times.  Human blood travels 60,000 miles (96,540 km) per day throughout the body. 

Except for brain cells, 50,000,000 cells of your body will have died and been replaced while you were listening to this sentence.  The central nervous system is connected to every part of the body by 43 pairs of nerves. Twelve pairs go to and from the brain, and 31 go from the spinal cord. There are nearly 45 miles of nerves running through our bodies.  In one square inch of skin, there are four yards of nerve fibers, 1300 nerve cells, 100 sweat glands, 3 million cells, and three yards of blood vessels. 

The point behind all these facts is that your body is a wonderful, complex creation. Like a machine, all of its parts (organs, glands, muscles, and tissues) must be in good working condition. Its electrical system (nervous system) must be carrying energy smoothly to all areas. There must not be any short circuits. Finally, it must be fueled with the proper nutrition to keep it functioning, alive, and well.

 

E.  The body of Christ is like our physical body in both complexities, because it contains every born-again believer, and necessarily, because every believer is essential in the completion of the whole. 

 

F.  No wonder the Lord placed so many different people in the body of Christ.  The Master Creator designed all of our organs, bones, muscles, and blood flow.  We have many different parts to our body, but it is one body working together.  The church is declared to be His body...in essence, the body of Christ with Christ as the head.

 

1.  Notice The Complexity of the Body of Christ.  Vs. 4-11  (We are different and have different functions within the body of Christ.  Yet, we have the same Spirit.)

 

Romans 12:3-8  For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 4  For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5  So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 6  Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7  Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8  Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

 

a.  We Are Different In: Physical characteristics, abilities, and capabilities.

 

b.  We Are Different In:  Personalities, and traits. 

 

c.  We Are Different In:  Gifts of the Spirit. 

 

d.  Not only are we different in our gifts, but we are also different in our backgrounds, personalities, and convictions. (Romans 14)

 

2.  Notice The Continuity Of The Body Of Christ.  Vs. 12-25  (Every member of the body is essential to the well-being of the body and the work of the ministry.)

 

a.  Though These Gifts Differ:  One is not more important than the other.  Vs. 14-22  (Each and every member is equally important in the church.)

 

b.  Though These Gifts Differ:  One is not to be honored above another.  Vs. 23-24  What you have was given to you by God through grace. 

 

Romans 12:3  For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

 

(It is important that we recognize our own spiritual gift or gifts, and we recognize the importance of the gifts of our fellow members of the body....and that we put them to work for the same purpose.)

 

c.  We are many members. but all of the same body; different backgrounds, but the same body; different characteristics, but the same body; different features, but the same body. 

 

Ephesians 4:5-6 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 

 

3. Notice The Cooperation of the Body of Christ.  Vs. 19-26  (Can you imagine different parts of your body arguing and fighting?  WE ARE ONE!  WE ARE ONE!  WE ARE ONE!!)

 

a. Sadly, not every church operates the way the body is supposed to. Someone once described the bones in many churches this way…

 

Four Bones

There are four main bones in every organization.

The wish-bones: Wishing somebody would do something about the problem.

The jaw-bones: Doing all the talking but very little else.

The knuckle-bones: Those who knock everything.

The back-bones: Those who carry the brunt of the load and do most of the

work.

 

1 Corinthians 12:25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

 

1 Corinthians 1:10-11  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. 11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.

 

John 17:22-23  And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

 

2 Corinthians 13:11  Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

 

a.  Cooperation Edifies The Body – Submission to Christ, who is the Head of the body. 

 

Ephesians 4:14-16 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

 

b.  Cooperation Evangelizes The World – Commissioned by Christ in order to carry out His command to evangelize every creature. 

 

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

 

1 Corinthians 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

 

Conclusion:  The Holy Spirit gives gifts to individuals who are to use them together to complete the Whole, with no division.  Perfectly unified!

Never Give Up Hope in God

 Temple Baptist Church - 3-15-2026

Psalm 43

 

Introduction:

A.  Psalm 43 seems to be a continuation of Psalm 42 that I titled “A Disquieted Soul”.  As Psalms 22 (The Cross of Christ), 23 (The Care of the Shepherd), and 24 (The Coming of the King) compose a trilogy, Psalms 42 and 43 comprise a duo. 

 

1.  Disquieted defined: to take away the peace or tranquility, to make uneasy, to make anxious, to make fretful, to make restless. 

 

2.  Synonyms: perturbed, agitated, upset, disturbed, unnerved, unsettled, discomposed, disconcerted, ruffled, startled, worried, troubled, bothered, concerned, distressed, alarmed, appalled, frightened, panicked, vexed.

 

3.  Have I rung your bell yet?  Everyone here tonight has suffered from a disquieted soul!

 

4.  Twice, in Psalm 42:5,11, the Psalmist asks, “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.”  In verse 6, he continued with “O my God, my soul is cast down within me.”

 

5.  Psalm 42:11 is the last verse of the Psalm, and, evidently, the disquieted soul was still disquieted!

 

6.  Psalm 43 ends the same way with the same verse!  Psalms 43:5  Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

 

7.  Why the continuation?  Because we, as the Israelites, are often prone to continuing despite previous exhortation. 

 

B.  This tells me that there is no easy fix for a disquieted soul!  If this is so, then the only way we are going to get victory is by putting our hope in God and putting our noses to the Bible!

 

1.  So many of God’s people live non-victorious lives.  The victory has already been won, and the battle is the Lord’s.

 

2.  So many of God’s people never open the Bible except on church days, and, once the text is read for the message, they either close of never glance at the Bible again. 

 

3.  So many of God’s children hope in the world more than in the Lord.

 

C.  The obvious reason for this ongoing disquiet of soul is found in verse one of Psalm 43.

 

Psalms 43:1  Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man.

 

1.  This present evil world is not going away!  If we think the world is going to improve, we fool ourselves.  It will wax worse and worse.

 

2.  The ungodly will not be godly and leave us alone!  The godly have always been and always will be persecuted by those who are ungodly and God rejectors.

 

3.  And there is little justice in this world!  Not everything will work out either right or to the advantage of the godly.

 

D.  In this short Psalm, we find the prescription: the road from complaint to confidence.  From fear to victory.  From a disquieted heart to a merry and rejoicing one.

 

E.  Still disquieted?  Get on the road!

 

1.  Verses 1-2.  Judge me, O God, before you judge them!  Then, if I am right, judge them. 

 

a.  A cry for vindication, not revenge.  Vengeance belongs to the Lord, but so does righteous judgment.  “I don’t get mad, I get even,” is a saying that most of us have heard.  We are neither to get mad nor get even.

 

b.  Put the wickedness of false accusation, slander, and injustice into God’s hands.  In both Psalm 42 and 43 say, “Hope in God!”

 

c.  The Lord is our strength.  He is our sufficiency.  He is our Saviour.  If He is these things, and He is, then why do I feel like I have been cast away?  The problem is ours, not His!  We can do all things through Christ!  God will not cast us away. 

 

2.  Verse 3.  Three Requests.

 

a.  Light for Guidance. Psalms 119:105  Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

 

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

 

c.  Assembly for Exhortation. Hebrews 10:23-25  Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)  (24)  And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:  (25)  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

 

3.  Verse 4.  The Value of Worship.  One of my favorite passages of Scripture teaches us this truth.

 

a.  A thirsting for God.  Psalms 42:1-2  To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah. As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.  (2)  My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

 

b.  A Desire for Church.  Psalms 27:1-4  A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?  (2)  When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.  (3)  Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.  (4)  One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.

 

4.  Verse 5.  David found A Renewed Faith.

 

1.  He once again found his hope in God!  Our faith in God will sustain us when our heart is disquieted. 

 

2.  He resolved to praise God in all his circumstances.  “In everything give thanks!”

 

Conclusion:  Do not allow the temporal things of life to overshadow the eternal things of eternity.