Sunday, November 29, 2015

Times and Seasons

Temple Baptist Church - 11-29-2015
1 Thessalonians 5:1-8


Introduction:

A.  Last week, I took a short look at the impending Rapture of the church found in chapter 4.  Paul, in chapter 5, is writing to the church at Thessalonica concerning the signs of the last days in which we live.  The general theme of chapter 5 is how we are to live in light of the times just prior to the coming apocalypse or day of judgment.

B.  The bible uses two terms to describe the last days:  times (representative of number of years) and seasons (characteristics, i.e. spring, summer, fall, winter or—in this case, the particulars).

C.  Paul said that God’s children know what time it is and what the conditions will be when the Lord returns.  “But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.”  Though we understand scripturally what time it is, the true church may not be sound asleep but I still see the tendency of God’s people to nap occasionally. 

D.  The false science (science simply means knowledge) of our day is based more upon theory than fact because all things must have a beginning and had to have come from something.  The realization that our universe had a beginning instead of always existing, presented an insurmountable problem to the nontheistic scientist.  This is what the atheistic scientists believe and teach:

Scientists believe that our universe began with one enormous explosion of energy and light, which we now call the Big Bang. This was the singular start to everything that exists. The beginning of the universe, the start of space, and even the initial start of time itself.
Nothing we observe today existed prior to that exact moment.

Further, it was something outside of time, outside of space, and outside of matter that caused all of this to come into existence.  Are scientists certain of this Big Bang Theory? Yes. In the late 1920's, astronomer Edwin Hubble saw through his telescope that galaxies (some millions of light years away) were hurtling away from each other at fantastic speeds. This was not caused by some force thrusting them away from each other. Rather, they were still moving as a result of a primeval explosion, all from one point of origin.

In this point of origin, all the mass in the universe was compressed into a single point of infinite density...smaller than a single atom.  Then in a cosmic explosion--the Big Bang--the universe came into being. Steven Weinberg, a Nobel laureate in Physics, gives further description, "At about one-hundredth of a second, the earliest time about which we can speak with any confidence, the temperature of the universe was about a hundred thousand million (1011) degrees Centigrade. This is much hotter than in the center of even the hottest star, so hot, in fact, that none of the components of ordinary matter, molecules, or atoms, or even the nuclei of atoms, could have held together."  He goes on and says, "The universe was filled with light."

E.  To sum up the Big Bang Theory: time, matter, and space all began in one instant.  This causes questions that they cannot answer: 1)  What time was before time as we know it?  There was no time before time?  That is preposterous!  If matter cannot be created nor can it be destroyed, then there must have been matter before the Big Bang in order to have something come from it.

F.  I do not want to go any deeper in the foolishness of today’s false science for it is much simpler to look around you and see that only God could have brought about the universe, our world, and all that in them is.  I do want to look at time for a few minutes through the eyes of the Bible.

G.  Stephen Hawking, a well-known physicist, wrote a book titled “A Brief History of Time.”  As an atheistic or deistic at best scientist, he made a fatal mistake when he said that physics has no place for God.  In true physics, there can only be understanding through the knowledge of God!  Without God, science falsely so called has no known facts concerning the beginning and must rest its case on theory alone.  The title of his book had more actual truth than what was contained within its covers.  “A Brief History” had to do with the size and content of his book but actual time has a brief history!

H.  “In the beginning God” stands as the only possible answer to the question of the beginning of time, space, and matter.  If all came from nothing, it had to be created and creation can only come from a Creator!  Natural science declares the impossibility of creation within nature itself. 

1.  The Times: The Bible teaches a total of 7,000 years of time in midst of God’s eternity.  Why 7,000 years?  Because that is what God created! According to the chronology of the Bible, there was 4,000 years from the beginning and the coming of Christ.  The coming of Christ signaled the beginning of the last days or 2,000 years of the Church Age.  This concludes the Six Days of man’s work and leaves the Seventh Day of rest which is the 1,000 year reign of Christ or the Millennium. 

a.  The Analogy of God's Time -  2 Peter 3:8  But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

Psalms 90:4  For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.

b.  The Allotment of God's Time -  Exodus 20:9  Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
Exodus 20:11  For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.  (Six thousand years from the beginning to the Rapture and the seventh one thousand years is the Millennium or Sabbath Rest.) 

c.  The Achievement of God's Time

Matthew 17:1-2  And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.  (Here is a beautiful of the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ at the end of the first 6,000 years of time.)

Hosea 6:2  After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.

1 Thessalonians 5:1  But of the times … brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you!  (We that are saved know what time it is!)

2.  The Seasons: The Bible gives the characteristics of the times just prior to the Rapture of the Church.  In great detail, the Bible describes the natural calamities, political realm, moral decline, spiritual falling away, etc. of the day in which we live.  No man could have written a book that described the future in such detail.  I remember the book “1984” that tried to give us a fictional look into the future.  Then came “2001: A Space Odyssey.”  Only the Bible, written over 1500 years by 40 writers, most of whom did not know what the others were writing, could have predicted with accuracy the times in which we life.

a.  Manifested in its Signs

Matthew 24:4-8  And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.  And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.  All these are the beginning of sorrows.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-4   But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.  For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.  For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.  But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
b.  Manifested in its Sinfulness

Luke 17:26-29  And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.  They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;  But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
c.  Manifested in its lack of Spirituality

Revelation 3:15-17  I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.  (16)  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.  (17)  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:  (People in our day just do not care!  They stand for nothing, believe nothing, and have little faithfulness of God’s house.)
2 Timothy 3:1-5   This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-3  Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,  (2)  That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.  (3)  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
1 John 4:3  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.  (America is quickly becoming anti-God and anti-Bible.)

Thanking God For A Satisfied Life

Temple Baptist Church - 11-29-2015
Psalms 103:1-5


Introduction: 

A.  We have been preaching on these verses for several weeks now.  What a blessing it is to sit back and take a look at the whole picture of our lives and know that we are blessed!  David had his share of problems, setbacks, disappointments, and failures but knew that God had blessed his life from beginning to end.  Too often, we find the bad times the focus of our attention instead of the big picture.  Life is hard and short!

B.  Thanksgiving is over but we are to be a thankful people 365 days a year.  Many get disturbed over Thanksgiving and Christmas being overlapped.  I do not!  I think that Thanksgiving through Christmas is truly the most wonderful time of the year and my mind goes to the blessedness of Christ throughout.

C.  David tells his soul, the seat of his affections, to bless the Lord.  In Bible College, we often said, “Bless the Lord anyhow!”  It may not be good English but it is good theology and advice.  God is good.

D.  David blessed the Lord for all of His benefits which included, up to this point, his great forgiveness of sins along with his good health.

E.  David blessed the Lord for a hedged life.  The Lord not only spiritually saved him but He also saved David’s life from the destruction of sin, self, and Satan!  Look around at where you are and then take a look at the destruction of sin in the lives of people that you know and say, “But for the grace of God go I!”  God changed your desires and your direction when He saved you.

F.  We live in days of lack of contentment and satisfaction.  People are neither content or satisfied with who they are no what they have. 

1.  More is never enough!  Not only the world, but God’s people lack satisfaction and contentment.  Preachers are possibly the worst of all in this area.  Some continually move because they never learn contentment.  This morning, you are looking at a contented man! 

2.  The Bible says much about contentment.  We need to be a contented people but satisfaction is another matter.  Let me explain the difference.  Contentment does not mean that you necessarily like your situation but it is livable!  You will improve it if you can but, if you cannot, then it will be alright.  Satisfaction is entirely different. 

a)  Contentment is something that needs to be sought!  Timothy 6:6-7   But godliness with contentment is great gain.

b)  Contentment is something that must be learned!  Philippians 4:11  Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.  (I had the privilege to go see Miss Linda’s mother in Hospice House the other day.  She is bedfast and it was Thanksgiving.  I began to talk with her about blessings.  You may think that is odd but, before I left, we were singing together: “There’s a roof up above me, I’ve a good place to sleep, there’s food on my table, and shoes on my feet.  You gave me your love, Lord, and a fine family.  Thank you, Lord, for your blessings on me!”  I thank the Lord that I left her with a smile on her face.  For a few minutes, she was content.  For a few minutes, she was satisfied!)

c)  Contentment is something that must be realized!  Hebrews 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Luke 12:15  And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

G.  When you are satisfied, you want no more.  When I have eaten to the point that I am not still overly hungry, I can be in a state of contentment.  When I have eaten to my fill, I am satisfied and want no more.  This morning, I want to look at verse 4: “Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” 

1.  I Am Satisfied With My Salvation: In Christ alone, full, free, and eternal! “That God should love a sinner such as I; how wonderful is love like this?”

John 4:13-14  Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:  (14)  But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

2.  I Am Satisfied With My Deliverance:  From self to Christ, from darkness to light, death to life, bondage to liberty, rebellion to loving submission!  He delivered me; He is delivering me; and He shall deliver me!

2 Timothy 4:17-18  Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.  (18)  And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
           
3. I Am Satisfied With My Bible: leads us and guides us, protects us and provides for us, encourages, it assures us, and it matures us.  You can trade “bibles” all you want but I am satisfied with the old King James Bible! 

Psalms 119:97  O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.

4.  I Am Satisfied With My Church:  I neither want nor would have any other! The best people in the world grace these pews!

1 Corinthians 16:24  My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.

5.  I Am Satisfied With My Future: as Bro. Jim used to say, “All of this and heaven too!”  One day just like today and it could be today, I will be finally home!  O, that will be glory for me!

Psalms 17:15  As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

6.  I Am Satisfied With My Life: a wonderful wife, a wonderful family, a wonderful life, a wonderful ministry, and the list could go on all day!  You can have your money, houses, and land!  I have plenty; I have enough; I have all that I want or need!

Psalms 103:5  Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Conclusion:  Let us be a happy people, especially over the next month as now our hearts turn to the wonderful birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.  The best things in life cannot be bought!  You can be content and not be happy but you cannot be satisfied and not be happy!

Isaiah 55:2  Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Losing The Things Which We Have Wrought

Temple Baptist Church - 11-25-2015
2 John 8


Introduction:

A.  2 John is all about apathy and apostasy. 

1.  The two actually go together as the battle against apostasy must be a fervent fight.  The enemy is united against truth and wages constant war against everything the local church stands or should stand for. 

2.  Satan hates God, God’s people, and God’s churches!  Do not think that he will ever let up or give up in the fight against truth. 

B.  I learned long ago to never over estimate or under estimate your enemy as both can be fatal mistakes. 

1.  Do not over estimate Satan!  Satan is limited! Satan is limited in both his ability (he is not omniscient; he is not omnipresent; he is not omnipotent) and the scope in which the Lord allows him to operate (though he is the “god of this world,” God has set boundaries that Satan cannot go beyond).  As Job was hedged in the Old Testament, we are also hedged about in our day.  Satan is on a spiritual leash. 

Job 1:10  Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

2.  Do not under estimate Satan!  Satan is a formidable adversary!  The Charismatic Movement has made Satan someone that they can command and cast out.  I understand that, in the early days of the church, God gave certain men that power, but those were the transitional years of the early church when the canon of Scripture was not completed.  Now, the partial or passing gifts given to the Apostolic Church have passed away: tongues, hands on healing, dreams and visions, the ability to see into the future, etc.  Satan is powerful and knowledgeable!  He is deceptive and destructive!

1 Peter 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

C.  The local church, along with individual believers, is under a sustained attack.

1.  We are to withstand and stand.  Withstand means to take a punch.  To stand means to be unmoved by the attack of the enemy.  Ephesians 6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

2.  We are to be aware of Satan’s tactics.  He infiltrates and divides within the local church.  Ephesians 6:11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

2 Corinthians 2:11  Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

D.  John said that we could be in danger of losing the things which we have wrought.  We have the duty of self-inspection.  “Look to yourselves!”

1.  Wrought means to labor or toil for.  In other words, we have labored hard and long to keep things biblical in our church and, if not careful, we can lose them along with rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ. 

2.  Once these things are compromised or lost, they become almost impossible to get back. Revelation 3:1-2  And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.  (2)  Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

E.  What does Satan want us to lose?

1.  Our fervent, immovable stand on the King James Bible.  So many people, preachers, and churches have gone to the modern, satanic versions or allow others to use them when in the SS classes or pulpit.  If you do not why they are satanic, inbox me and I will gladly give you the information that you need.

2.  Our fervent, immovable stand on Sanctification and Separation.  Most people, preachers, and churches have gotten “casual with God” in our day.  This is still God’s church and should be respected as such.  God is still a thrice holy God and needs to be respected as much.

3.  Our fervent, immovable stand against the Contemporary Music crowd.  I have problems with the music as well as those who promote it.  The Contemporary Music singers are worldly along with their music.  I want our music and singers to glorify the Lord in both their music and their lives.

4.  Our fervent, immovable stand to create a godly environment to raise our children in.  We want our children to be involved with other children of like precious faith and standards.  The church is to reinforce the teaching of the parents as they strive to raise their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.  The parents are to reinforce the teaching of the pastor and church in the same manner.

5.  Our fervent, immovable stand to establish and keep a godly testimony in our community.  People are church watchers.  They may or may not attend church but they are aware of subtle changes that take place as they see us come to worship.  They read our ever changing electronic sign and the messages that scroll across it.  They may not even like us but they should respect us.

Conclusion:  We, here at Temple Baptist Church, have fought long and hard to maintain a proper testimony before the Lord, our families, our friends, and in our community.  Such a testimony can be destroyed in a minute by just putting “Contemporary Worship Service” on our sign!

Sunday, November 22, 2015

The Rapture

Temple Baptist Church - 11-22-2015
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18


The Prophesy of His Coming – “not…ignorant”  Acts 1:11  Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

The Period of His Coming – “ignorant”  1 Thessalonians 5:5-7  Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.  (6)  Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.  (7)  For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.  (Apostasy)

The Preceding of His Coming – “asleep in Jesus”  1 Corinthians 15:22  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

The Person of His Coming – “the Lord himself”  John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

The People of His coming – “the dead in Christ shall rise first:  (17)  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds” 

The Performance of His Coming – “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  (17)  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

The Permanence of His Coming – “and so shall we ever be with the Lord”  Psalms 23:6  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

The Peace of His Coming – “Wherefore comfort one another with these words”  Isaiah 26:3-4  Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind isstayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.  (4)  Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

Bless The Lord, O My Soul - Thanking God For A Hedged Life

Temple Baptist Church - 11-22-2015
Psalm 103:1-4


Introduction:

A.  We have been preaching on these verses for several weeks now.  What a blessing it is to sit back and take a look at the whole picture of our lives and know that we are blessed!  David had his share of problems, setbacks, disappointments, and failures but know that God had blessed his life from beginning to end.  Too often, we find the bad times the focus of our attention instead of the big picture.  Life is hard and short!

B.  David tells his soul, the seat of his affections, to bless the Lord.  In Bible College, we often said, “Bless the Lord anyhow!”  It may not be good English but it is good theology and advice.  God is good.

C.  David blessed the Lord for all of His benefits which included, up to this point, his great forgiveness of sins along with his good health.

D.  This morning, I want to look at verse 4: “Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies.”  There are two things that I want you to notice in verse 4:

1.  The Lord Redeemed David’s Life from the destruction of sin.

2.  The Lord Replaced David’s Life with something far better.

E.  Here we find the wonderful results of God’s salvation.  I want to use a New Testament story to show what David is talking about.  In Mark 5:1-20, we find the story of the maniac of the Gadarenes.  The story of how the Lord saved a wretched, devil possessed social outcast.  What a beautiful picture of what our Lord did for us when we were saved. 

A.  A Pitiful Condition – The man in our story was in a terrible shape.

1.  His Place Of Residence – “tombs”  He dwelt in the land of the dead.

2.  His Spiritual Condition – “with an unclean spirit”

3.  His Social Standing – “no man could bind him, no, not with chains”  He was an outcast; a social misfit.

4.  His Fierce Countenance – “neither could any man tame him” 

5.  His Restlessness – “always, night and day…crying”

6.  His Self-destruction – “cutting himself”

7.  His Desire For Change – “when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him”

B.  A Providential Confrontation

            1.  Jesus Came To Where He Was – The Tombs

2.  Jesus Came To Him In Spite Of What He Was – Helpless, Hopeless, Hapless

3.  Jesus Availed Himself To Him As He Was – He Changed Him After Salvation

4.  Jesus Came Just For Him And Then Left Without Doing Anything Else – vs. 18

C.  A Personal Conversion

            1.  He Saw Jesus – He Knew Who He Was

            2.  He Came To Jesus – Ran, He Greatly Desired Him

            3. He Worshipped Jesus – He Knew What Was To Be Required Of Him

D.  A Prolific Change – vs. 7-18

1.  The Change Was Immediate – 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

2.  The Change Was Drastic - 1 Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

3.  The Change Was Evident To Others - Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven
.
                        a.  He Caused The Unclean Spirit To Depart

                        b.  He Caused Him To Sit At The Master’s Feet

                        c.  He Caused Him To Put On His Clothes

                        d.  He Caused Him To Be In His Right Mind

                        e.  He Caused Him To Have A Desire To Follow

E.  A Purposed Commission – vs. 19-20 

            1.  He Was Told To Go To Those He Knew

            2.  He Was Told To Tell Of His Conversion

            3.  He Was Obedient To The Command

Conclusion:  The Lord saved him, changed him, and then filled his life with a new purpose!  The Lord never empties us with filling us.  I do not know where I would be had I not come the Christ but I do know that my life has never been the same thanks of Calvary.