Wednesday, July 29, 2020

Follow Holiness

 Temple Baptist Church - 7-29-2020

Hebrews 12:14

 

Introduction:

 

A.  Holiness is a subject that is not often preached in our day.  We have come to accept worldliness and casualness with God as the “new normal.”  The government has introduced us to several oxymorons because of the COVID-19 scare.  New is not normal and normal is not new!

 

B.  “Without which no man shall see the Lord.”  The Book of Hebrews re-introduces the believer to holiness, which is necessary for seeing the Lord.

 

C.  “See the Lord” does not mean our perception of Him, it means to see Him as He is.

 

1.  The worldly have a warped perception of the Lord. 

 

2 Corinthians 11:4  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

 

2.  The holy have a right perception of the Lord.  Purity is the key to a right perception.

 

Matthew 5:8  Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

 

1 John 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like himfor we shall see him as he is.

 

1.  The Path of Holiness.  Our Approach to God.  We are exhorted to “follow” holiness.  Therefore, there must be both a clear path to holiness as well as examples of holiness.  The First Mention of the word “holy” is the context of man’s approach unto God. 

 

Exodus 3:5  And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.

 

Joshua 5:15  And the captain of the LORD'S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.

 

2.  The Person of Holiness.  Our Perception of God.   The First Mention of the word “holiness” gives us an attribute of God. 

 

Exodus 15:11  Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?

 

Isaiah 6:3  And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.  (A thrice holy God.  Found only once in both the Old and New Testaments.)

 

Revelation 4:8  And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

 

3.  The Purpose of Holiness.  Our Seeing of God.  As our sin separates us from God, our holiness brings us near to God.

 

Hebrews 12:14  Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

 

1 John 1:5-7  This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.  (6)  If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:  (7)  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

 

Matthew 5:8  Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

 

4.  The People of Holiness.  Our Sanctification to God.  Too many have preached sanctification from a negative point of view.  Our sanctification is to God which is our reasonable service.  It is both physical, our bodies, and mental, the renewing of our minds.

 

a.  A Physical Holiness.

 

Romans 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  

 

b.  A Mental Holiness.

 

Romans 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

 

2 Corinthians 5:14-17  For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:  (15)  And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.  (16)  Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.  (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 Peter 3:11-12  Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,  (12)  Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

 

 

5.  The Pattern of Holiness.  Our Example from God.   The believer has the Spirit of God, the Word of God, and the Old Paths to follow.

 

Matthew 16:24  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

 

John 8:12  Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

 

6.  The Power of Holiness.  Our Witness for God  As we become salt and light, people see Christ in us and desire what we have.

 

Matthew 5:13-16  Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.  (14)  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.  (15)  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  (16)  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

 

7.  The Pleasure of Holiness.  Our Joy with God.   Oh, what joy!  To walk with God each day!

 

Psalms 16:11  Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

 

2 Corinthians 3:17-18  Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.  (18)  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

 

Conclusion:  1 Thessalonians 4:7  For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

Sunday, July 26, 2020

The Valley Of Grace - The Valley of Contentment

 Temple Baptist Church - 7-26-2020

Philippians 4:4-19

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  We have spent much time dealing with the valleys of life because each of us will face many of them before we get home.

 

B.  In our text for this morning, we find one of the more notable valleys that we will face.  I call this the Valley Of Grace or The Valley of Contentment. 

 

C.  Paul sets forth the key to this valley in verse 11 when he said, “for I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”  The Bible teaches the child of God about the grace that brings contentment:

 

1 Timothy 6:6-8  But godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

 

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.

 

Matthew 6:31-33  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

 

D.  Contentment is a satisfaction and trust in what the Lord is doing in your life at any particular time.  Why contentment in problems?  Because of:

 

1.  The promise of God’s commitment to the believer - 1 Timothy 6:17  Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.

 

2 Peter 1:3  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.

 

2.  The promise of God’s companionship with the believer - 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.

 

Acts 23:11  And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.

 

2 Timothy 4:17  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.

 

E.  Valleys in life re-introduce us to God’s amazing, all sufficient, always abounding grace!  Grace for every trial and grace for every mile!

 

1.  Promised grace in forgiveness - Romans 5:20  Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

 

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

 

3.  Promised grace in endurance - 2 Corinthians 12:9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

 

1.  There Is Grace For Salvation.

 

a.  Grace's Position - Genesis 6:8  But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

 

b.  Grace's  Price - Romans 3:24  Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

 

c.   Grace's Purity - Romans 11:6  And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

 

d.  Grace’s Product - 1 Corinthians 15:10  But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

 

2.  There Is Grace For Living.

 

a.  Grace's Obligation - Romans 6:1 What shall we say then?  Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

 

b.  Grace's Abounding - 2 Corinthians 9:8  And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

 

c.  Grace’s Teaching - Titus 2:11,12  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

 

3.  There Is Grace For Suffering.

 

a.  Physical Suffering - 2 Corinthians 12:9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 

 

1)  Grace's Sufficiency - 2 Corinthians 12:9a  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: the power of Christ may rest upon me.

 

2)  Grace's Strengthening - 2 Corinthians 12:9b  for my strength is made perfect in weakness

 

3)  Grace's Satisfaction - 2 Corinthians 12:9c . Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

 

b.  Financial Suffering - Philippians 4:12-13  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. 

 

c.  Persecution’s Suffering - John 15:18-20  If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.  If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.  Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

 

4.  There Is Grace For Service.

 

a.  God’s Grace Administered - 1 Corinthians 15:10  But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 

 

b.  God’s Grace Abounding - 2 Corinthians 9:8  And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 

 

5.  There Is Grace For Sacrifice.

 

a.   Giving Grace's Example -  2 Corinthians 8:9  For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

 

                    1)  Christ Went From Riches To Rags

 

                    2)  the Believer Went From Rags To Riches

 

6.  There Is Grace For Dying.

 

a.  Manifested In The Lord Jesus - Hebrews 2:9  But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

 

b.  Manifested In The Apostle Paul - Philippians 1:21-23  For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.  For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

Sunday, July 19, 2020

Our First Glimpse of Heaven

Temple Baptist Church - 7-19-2020

Revelation 4:1-3


 

Introduction:

 

A.  I spent several weeks dealing with the Rapture of the Church and Eschatology (the study of Things of Come or Prophecy).  There is much confusion concerning the Church, the Body of Christ.  I will not take the time to reiterate it but will say that we are Pre-Millennial, Pre-Rapture in our doctrinal position because that is God’s position!

 

B.  Tonight, we find the Rapture has taken place in verse one and the Church is in heaven.

 

C.  There are things that the Bible either says little or nothing about, so we do not want to get into speculation in our study of Revelation.  I want to look at two verses for a few minutes to Biblically explain some things.

 

1 Corinthians 2:9-10  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.

 

D.  People normally quote verse 9 but leave out verse 10.  Though there are some things that we will not know until we get to heaven, there are some things that God has shed light upon through the inspiration of the Holy Ghost in our Bible.

 

E.  I want to look at two such things tonight as they pertain to our verses in Revelation 4:1-3.

 

1.  We are now in our glorified body. 

 

a.  1 Corinthians 15:50-53  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.  (51)  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,  (52)  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  (53)  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

 

b.  But what about those who are with the Lord before we receive our eternal body?

 

1)  Pre-Rapture, both saved and lost have an “intermediate” body of some kind.

 

Luke 16:23-24  And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.  (24)  And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

 

2)  Samuel when he appeared to Saul - 1 Samuel 28:14  And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.

 

3)  The Old Testament Saints at the death of Christ -  Matthew 27:50-53  Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.  (51)  And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;  (52)  And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,  (53)  And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

 

4)  The “rich man” who died without Christ had eyes and a tongue.  The “beggar,” Lazarus, was visible to the rich man and had a finger to dip into water.  Luke 16:23-24  And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.  (24)  And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

 

5)  As to what that intermediate body is, the Bible is silent but dead saints are not just spirit.

 

2.  We are now in heaven.  I want to differentiate between Abraham’s Bosom, Paradise, Heaven, and the New Jerusalem.

 

a)  The Pre-Resurrection saints that have died – Abraham’s Bosom is a pre-resurrection place of containment. 

 

1)  Abraham’s Bosom is mentioned only 1x and that is found in the New Testament.  Jesus gave an Old Testament example of where the redeemed were kept until the resurrection.

 

Luke 16:23  And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 

 

2)  Though in is called Abraham’s Bosom, Abraham was evidently not the first to go there.  The first man who died as a saved man was Abel, so he was the first there.

 

3)  In the Old Testament, 9x the wording “gathered unto his people” is used when speaking of the death of the saints.  The First Mention is found in Genesis, chapter 25.

 

Genesis 25:7-8  And these are the days of the years of Abraham's life which he lived, an hundred threescore and fifteen years.  (8)  Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.

 

3.  Post-Resurrection - Paradise – mentioned only 3x and all in the New Testament. 

     

Psalms 68:18  Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.

 

Ephesians 4:8  Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

 

a)  Paradise is a post-resurrection place of containment. When the Lord resurrected, He brought those from Abraham’s Bosom to Paradise.

 

b)  Paradise – definition: possible from a foreign origin (possible Persian) meaning an enclosed garden or Eden.  As man began in the Garden of God, the saved man returns to such.

 

Ezekiel 28:13  Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.

 

c)  The Tree of Life is found in three different places in the Scripture and is always found where there is no sin.

 

1)  In the Garden of Eden - Genesis 2:9  And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

 

2)  In the Paradise of God - Revelation 2:7  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

 

3)  In the New Jerusalem - Revelation 22:1-2  And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.  (2)  In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

 

d)  The uses of the word “Paradise.”

 

1)  The Thief on the cross - Luke 23:42-43  And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.  (43)  And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

 

2)  The Apostle Paul in his revelation -  2 Corinthians 12:2-4  I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.  (3)  And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)  (4)  How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

 

3) The Overcomer in the Church Age - Revelation 2:7  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

 

4. Post Rapture – Heaven – to rise or be elevated as on a mountain above a plain.  A happy place and an eternal place.

 

Revelation 4:1-3  After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.  (2)  And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. (3)  And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

 

Psalms 16:11  Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.