The Holy One

Temple Baptist Church - 6-18-2014

1 John 2:20-24

 

Introduction:

A. Last week, we dealt with “Unction.” John continues this thought through the next 3 verses as “unction” is the fundamental basis of biblical understanding for God’s children. This “unction” is from the Holy One (verse 20): the precious Holy Ghost that dwells with us and in us.

B. I do not want to begin a series of the Person and Work of the Holy Spirit tonight but there is so much ignorance concerning our precious Companion in this present, evil world.

1. You cannot make “too much” of the Holy Spirit because He is as much God as God the Father and God the Son! Once again I will refer to an essential theological statement concerning the Person of the Trinity: “God is one God, manifesting Himself in three Persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. These Three are co-equal in all power and attributes.”

2. BUT, you can maintain a wrong emphasis of the Holy Spirit. He never draws attention to Himself as His work is point us to Jesus The Christ!

John 16:13-14 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. (14) He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

C. I do want to take a short look at this Holy One as we set up the next few verses because a vital part of His work is to point us to and convince us that “Jesus Is The Christ.”

1 Corinthians 2:9-16 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. (10) But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. (11) For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. (12) Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. (13) Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. (14) But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (15) But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. (16) For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

1. In “the mind of Christ we find the Filling of the believer. “Ye have an unction”

2. In “the mind of Christ we find the Fullness of the truth. “Ye know all things”

and ye know all things; for this anointing is a teaching one; it makes persons of quick understanding; it enlightens their understandings, refreshes their memories, and strengthens all the powers and faculties of the soul; it leads into the knowledge of all spiritual things, into all the mysteries of grace, and truths of the Gospel, into all things necessary for salvation; for these words are not to be taken in the largest sense, in which they are only applicable to the omniscient God, but to be restrained to the subject matter treated of, and to those things chiefly in which the antichrists and deceivers cited; and regard not a perfect knowledge, for those that know most of these things, under the influence of this unction, know but in part. The Syriac version reads, "all men", and so refers to that discerning of spirits, of the Spirit of truth, from the spirit of error; a gift which was bestowed on many in the primitive times, by which they could distinguish hypocrites from true believers, and antichrists and deceivers from the faithful ministers of the word. One of Stephens's copies reads, "and ye all know".

D. The Holy One: The Spirit of God will not violating biblical principle by acting or approving of unbiblical behavior as He is holy in all of His work. Much of today’s religious activity is contrary to the scriptures and is yet attributed to the Holy Ghost. I have listed below some of the works of the Holy One, i.e., the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost.

1. The Reprover of the man’s sin. John 16:8a “And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin,”

John 16:9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;

2. The Revealer of the man’s Saviour. John 16:8b “and of righteousness,”

John 16:10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;

3. The Pronouncement of the man’s judgment. John 16:8c “and of judgment:”

John 16:11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

4. The Converter of our soul. Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

5. The Baptizer who places us into the body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

Ephesians 4:4-6 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; (5) One Lord, one faith, one baptism, (6) One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Galatians 3:26-28 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. (27) For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (28) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. (In Christ or in the body of Christ, there are no distinctions of God’s children. The local church has Jew and Greek, bond and free, male and female—in the body of Christ, we are all the same.)

6. The Token of our salvation. Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

7. The Earnest of our inheritance. 2 Corinthians 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

8. The Confidence of our confession. 1 John 5:8-10 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. (9) If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. (10) He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

9. The Small Still Voice that guides us. 1 Kings 19:12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

10. The Newness of our life. Romans 6:1-7 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? (2) God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? (3) Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? (4) Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (5) For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: (6) Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. (7) For he that is dead is freed from sin.

11. The Small Still Voice of our companionship. 1 Kings 19:11-13 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: (12) And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. (13) And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?

12. The Comforter of our sorrow. John 14:26-27 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (27) Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

13. The Interceder when we are confused. Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. (27) And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

14. The Bestower of our gifts. 1 Corinthians 12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

15. The Power of our witness. Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

16. Our Truth in apostasy. 1 John 2:20-21 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. (21) I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

Conclusion: I could continue on but I believe that this brief description of the Holy One is an eye opener. He is the Holy Ghost! He is the Holy Spirit! He is God!

What Are You Going To Do When Daddy’s Gone?

Temple Baptist Church - 6-15-2014

Luke 15:11-32

 

Introduction:

A. Today is Father’s Day: Happy Father’s Day to all of you men. I say all of you men because, even if you do not have children, you men are “fathers” to all of our young people.

B.  The importance of parents is found in two opposite verses of Scripture.

1. The Blessing of Honoring - Ephesians 6:2-3 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) (3) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. (The promise of a good life coupled with a long life. This is the first command [and it is a commandment!] with promise.)

2. The Cursing of Disrespect - Proverbs 20:20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness. (Mistreat or speak of evil of parents is to get sideways with God! That is a promise!)

3. I am glad that when Barbara’s father died suddenly in 1970, everything was right in their relationship. I am glad that when my father died in 1988, everything was right in our relationship.

C. We normally make over the ladies more on Mother’s Day but you men are special to both the Lord and the family. One of my favorite verses is:

Proverbs 17:6: “Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.”

D. I want to use this story of the Prodigal Son to bring out a truth often missed.

1. We all know the story of the Prodigal Son’s downfall that ended up in the hog pen. We often hear of “Coming Out Parties” but his was a “Coming To Himself Party.” I thank God for those prodigals who get right with the Lord and their families but not all do so.

2. I will arise and go to my father! Not to mother but to father. The importance of your father. In this story we see: the Foolishness of the Son, the Presumption of the Son, and the Restoration of the Son.

E. He arose and went home where the father restored him.

1. At this point, I want to key in on the presumption of the son. “I will arise and go to my father.” They did not have the communication available that we have today. No phones or cell phones; no email service, etc. so the son did not actually know for sure that his father was still alive or living in the same place.

2. He made an important presumption! He took for granted that the father would be both there and consistent. Thank God dad was there when he got home but, I wonder what it would have been like if dad had not been there.

3. What if dad had given up and sold the farm so to speak? What if dad had given up spiritually and left the will of God? What is dad had died and the son could only visit the cemetery where he was buried?

4. The Faithfulness of the Father. He could have quit looking or died while the wayward son was in the hog pen. He was not only at home waiting, he was at home watching. Had he not been there, what would have happened to the prodigal son?

F. Barbara and I have lost our fathers and, one of these days, you will lose yours!

1. You are going to lose one of the best Friends that you will ever have. Proverbs 3:12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. (Even after you are grown, the father continues to try to guide you and look out for your safety. Your father will be there when you need him most. Your father will be there when you fail the greatest. Your father will be there to encourage and praise you when you succeed.)

2. You are going to lose the wisdom of a wise Counselor. Proverbs 1:8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: (The valuable instruction of the Father - Your father has a vast resource of experience and knowledge that will prove valuable all of your days. The valuable correction of the Father.)

3. You are going to lose a Pillar of strength to lean on. 1 John 2:14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. (Fathers are so different from moms and especially in the area of fortitude. I love my mom but my dad was a pillar of strength.)

4. You are going to lose a Refuge that you can always return to. Proverbs 22:28 Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set. (The prodigal son knew where to return to because he knew who was there waiting for him. “I will arise and go to my father” is a strong statement.)

Conclusion: Learn to love and enjoy your parents while they are here and you will have no regrets one day when they are gone. You will lose more than you can imagine when they are gone.

The Unction of Truth

Temple Baptist Church - 6-11-2014

1 John 2:20-21

 

Introduction:

A. We have spent over a month dealing with the spirit of antichrist that was apparent in the days of John the Beloved and has permeated Christendom today. I want you to understand that “Christendom” is a generic term that encompasses many denominations and movements both right and wrong.

B. The farther along in time we go, the worse the deception will get and the fewer the number of truly saved people who will stand in the Old Paths of doctrinal truth and separation.

C. Verse 20 uses a word that we sometimes hear from preachers when seeking the anointing of the Holy Ghost while preaching. 1 John 2:20 is the only use of unction found in the bible so we have the First Mention Principle as well as the Full Mention Principle of Bible interpretation found in this verse. This means that God will not change His teaching on the subject and what we see is all that we need to know on the subject.

D. Unction is important to the believer. First, we need to define unction: a special endowment or anointing.

1. This unction from God is something given to every believer! I hear preachers asking God for unction to preach and I know what they are asking but biblical unction is already present in the believer.

2. Unction is an endowment, legacy, gift, or talent. The actual word “unction” means an anointing, smearing, or rubbing as of that by oil. The Old Testament speaks of the anointing of fresh oil, which is a type of the Holy Spirit.

3. The Old Testament anointing was done by the high priest as he poured oil out of a horn for the purpose of showing approval and the transfer of power. High priests were anointed; kings were anointed.

Psalms 92:10 But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil. (This signified power, authority, and glory.)

E. The unction mentioned in 1 John is the knowledge of revealed truth.

1. One safeguard against the spirit of error is an inner alarm that automatically goes off when error is presented. I have heard men say things that immediately did not ring true and, almost invariable, when I looked it up in the bible, it was not true.

2. The believer also has the spirit of “amen” when truth is presented, no matter how humanly or logically impossible it may seem. I have never questioned the impossibility of a virgin birth; I have never questioned the truth of an errant, infallible English bible; I have never questioned the purity of either the Son of God of the blood of Christ; I have never questioned the miracles of the bible. I have the spirit of “amen” that God gave me when I was saved.

F. Truth must be presented before it can be acknowledged. I cannot over emphasize the importance of preaching, teaching, reading, and heeding God’s word. Our text uses the word “manifest” in verse 19 which means to declare of render apparent.

1. There must be a structured teaching of the bible. The study of God’s word must be orderly and through: both systematic and rightly divided.

2. There must be a desire to hear what the bible teaches. We are to conform our doctrine to God’s word instead of conforming the bible to our doctrine.

3. There must be strict adherence to the teachings of the bible. We cannot worship as we will; we cannot behave as we will; we must be doers of the word of God.

G. Unction is the anointing of the Holy Spirit in relationship to the knowledge and understanding of God’s word. Unction brings truth!

1. The Person of Truth – John 14:17a “Even the Spirit of truth;” Our unction comes from the Holy Ghost who is the Spirit of truth. He cannot lie so the truth is forever forthcoming through Him.

2. The People of Truth – John 14:17b “whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” The natural or unsaved man cannot understand God’s word because it is spiritually discerned. The lost man must be regenerated before he can be renewed through God’s word.

3. The Persuasion of Truth – John 16:13a “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you” The Holy Ghost leads us spiritually and persuades us of what is truth while rejecting what is not truth.

4. The Potential of Truth – John 16:13b “into all truth:” Spiritual truth has nothing to do with education! I have seen uneducated men and women learn God’s word and become doctrinally correct. To the contrary, the bible says “not many wise.”

5. The Purpose of Truth – John 16:13c “for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” The truth’s purpose is to give us all that we need for both life and godliness plus a good understanding of eschatology.

6. The Power of Truth – John 8:32 “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” It is only the truth of God’s word that makes the believer truly free. We are no longer under the bondage of the law but have been made free indeed!

The Seas of Life - The Sea of Chastisement

Temple Baptist Church - 6-8-2014

Jonah 1:1-2:10

Introduction:

A. We have been looking at some of the seas mentioned in the bible and making some biblical applications to our lives.

1. Seas are a beautiful type of problems, troubles, trials, and hardships. I, once again, want to say that life is hard! Someone once said that you are going into a valley, in a valley, or just coming out of a valley.

2. We hear such phrases as, “When it rains, it pours!” Sometimes troubles come few and far between and, at other times, they seem to come in bunches. When you realize that life is hard, you can make it. As long as we think that life is a “bed of roses,” we are “steam rolled” when hard times come. You have to brace yourself.

3. It is like going to the dentist or doctor, knowing that the needle is coming and you brace yourself. If I know that I am going to get stuck, I am ready for it but if someone walks up behind me and jabs me in the seat with a hatpin … Oh well, I guess you know the answer to that.

B. Some problems are out of our control while others are of our making and, to some degree, in our control. The latter is the case with Jonah.

1. The problem was one of his making.

2. The problem was one that he could have fixed at any time.

3. The problem was one that escalated as Jonah continued in his rebellion.

C. Now, a short summation of this little, four chapter book:

1. Jonah was a prophet of the Lord. (1:1)

2. Jonah was disobedient and ran from the Lord. (1:2-3)

3. Jonah’s life started an immediate downward trend. (1:3-5) The word “down” is found three times in these verses along with “so he paid the fare thereof.”

4. The Lord prepared a great storm. (1:4) “The Lord sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.”

5. Jonah’s rebellion touched the lives of others. (1:5-16) The mariners were caught up in the storm at sea along with Jonah.

6. The Lord prepared a great fish. (1:17) Matthew 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

7. Jonah repented to some degree, was vomited up, and preached. (2:1-3:4)

8. The Lord honored Jonah’s preaching but not Jonah’s attitude. (3:5-10)

9. The Lord continued His work in the life of Jonah to restore him. (4:1-11) God never gives us!

10. The last word the Lord ever said to His prophet was “cattle!” (4:11) We do not know the end of Jonah’s life because the bible falls silent at this point in order to make a point: getting right was Jonah’s choice!

D. Now, I want to give us three things concerning the “Sea of Chastisement.”

1. The Reason for the Sea.

a. Rebellion and disobedience. Jonah had prophesied before so I do not believe that the disobedience was that Jonah was not willing to preach.

2 Kings 14:25 He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of the LORD God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which was of Gathhepher.

b. Jonah’s rebellion and disobedience were in relation to WHERE God told him to go preach. The people of Nineveh were Assyrian people: the arch enemies of God and a very cruel people!

c. Jonah was like most of us: he wanted to be obedient to the commands of his choosing and disobedient to the commands that he did not like!

d. So, the sea was one of chastisement.

2. The Reaction to the Sea.

a. For a while, Jonah continue in his rebellion. He told the mariners to throw him overboard instead of bowing before God and repenting.

b. Jonah was not afraid of drowning in the sea but he knew nothing about the great fish that awaited. Too often, rebellious children of God are not afraid of dying and will continue to rebel not knowing that there are some things worse than dying!

3. The Revelation of the Sea.

a. The sonship of Jonah!

Deuteronomy 8:5 Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee.

Hebrews 12:7-9 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? (8) But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. (9) Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

b. The love of God for His children!

Proverbs 3:12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

Proverbs 13:24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes. (Betimes – to dawn or early at a task.)

Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

c. The resolve of God to do what is best for His children!

Hebrews 12:11-13 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. (12) Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; (13) And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. (The intention of the Lord is to restore, not to punish!)

Hebrews 12:5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

Some Enemies From Within

Temple Baptist Church - 6-1-2014

2 Timothy 4:14-15

 

Introduction:

A. Many people are named in the bible: some are mentioned in a good light and some in a bad light. I would not want to be noted for something bad such as

Demas whom we discussed a couple of weeks ago.

B. There are many people named in the bible.

1. Some people in the bible are noted for faithfulness while others for unfaithfulness. I had rather be named for faithfulness.

2. Some people in the bible are noted for godliness while others for ungodliness. I had rather be named for godliness.

3. Some people in the bible are noted for standing for truth while others for apostasy. I had rather be named for stand in the Old Paths of doctrinal truth.

4. Some people in the bible are noted for standing with God’s man while others are noted for standing against God’s man. I had rather be named for stand with instead of withstanding God’s man.

C. I find it of interest that Paul, in his last few verses of his last epistle, took time to mention a man in the church that had withstood him. We must be observant and able to recognize these for the spiritual health of the local church and the protection of God’s men.

D. Below are just a few that withstood God’s men in the New Testament.

1. Alexander the Coppersmith withstood God’s man publicly - 2 Timothy 4:14-15 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: (15) Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words. (Some people will not submit to the man of God who watches for their soul. They too often show open disrespect for God’s man and will not follow his leading.)

2. Hymenaeus and Alexander spoke evil of God’s man as he stood for truth - Hymaneaus 1 Timothy 1:18-20 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; (19) Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: (20) Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. (The man of God is charged in Jude 3 to contend for the faith once delivered and in 2 Timothy 4;1-2 to preach the word of God as it is to people as they are. Some people will not stand for contending or doctrinal, correctional preaching.)

3. Hymenaeus and Philetus argued against the doctrinal teachings of God’s man - 2 Timothy 2:15-19 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (16) But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. (17) And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; (18) Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. (19) Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. (God’s man is to be a student of the bible, prone to study and apt to teach. You stick with your pastor and you will be alright! Some people are teachers instead of students and leaders instead of followers. They, as a general rule, will not learn from or be led by the pastor.)

4. Diotrephes spoke maliciously against God’s man - 3 John 9-11 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. (10) Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church. (11) Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God. (Many churches have people or families that “loveth to have the preeminence” in the church. I am always leary of people who always have to be seen or in charge or be bragged upon. “THEY must increase and He, Jesus Christ, will decrease.”)