I’m Satisfied with Jesus

 Temple Baptist Church - 10-30-2022

Psalms 107:1-9

Introduction: 

 

A.  We live in days of discontentment. 

 

1.  People are not satisfied with who they are nor what they have.  More is never enough!  They have the “gotta have it” and “can’t help it” attitude about things.  “I owe I owe so off to work I go” is based for the most part on over buying and overextending.

 

2.  Not only the unsaved, but God’s people lack satisfaction and contentment.  Some preachers are possibly the worst of all in this area.  Some continually move because they never learn contentment. 

 

3.  Tonight, you are looking at a contented man!  The Bible says much about contentment, and we need to be a contented people.

 

B.  Contentment is something that must be sought.  1 Timothy 6:6-8   But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

 

C.  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.

 

D. Contentment is something that must be realized.  Hebrews 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and 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.  (I used this verse of Scripture when I preached my mother’s funeral.  She was a contented lady.  She valued her Lord and her family.)

 

E.  “For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.”

 

1.  I Am Content With His Great Salvation - 1-9

 

          a.  Redeemed From The Hand of The Enemy - 2

          b.  Redeemed From The Wilderness Wandering - 3-4

          c.  Redeemed From Spiritual Starvation - 5

          d.  Redeemed From Misery and Distress - 6

          e.  Redeemed From The Broad Way – 7

 

2.  I Am Content With His Great Deliverance - 10-16

 

          a.  Delivered From Darkness To Light - 10

          b.  Delivered From Death To Life - 10

          c.  Delivered From Bondage To Liberty - 10, 14

          d.  Delivered From Rebellion To Loving Submission - 11-13

 

3.  I Am Content With His Great Word - 17-22

 

          a.  God’s Word Keeps Us From Chastening - 17

          b.  God’s Word Keeps Us From A Shortened Life - 18

          c.  God’s Word Keeps Us From Unnecessary Troubles – 19

 

4.  I Am Content With His Great Protection - 23-32

 

          a.  God Protects Us In The Workplace – 23

 

          b.  God Protects Us In The Storms of Life - 25-27

 

                    1.  He Commands The Storm – 25

 

                    2.  He Controls The Storm - 25-26

 

                    3.  He Calms The Storm - 27-29

 

                    4.  He Customizes The Storm - 30-31

 

5.  I Am Content With His Great Blessings - 33-43

 

a.  I’m Satisfied With His Great Salvation - Psalm 90:14  O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

 

b. I’m Satisfied With My Life - Psalm 91:16  With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

 

c.  I’m Satisfied With My Wife - Proverbs 5:19  Let her be as the loving hind   and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.

 

d.  I’m Satisfied With My Lord - Isaiah 58:11  And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

 

e.  I’m Satisfied With God’s Blessings - Psalm 103:5  Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

 

f.  I’m Satisfied With My Ministry - Philippians 4:11  Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

 

g.  I’m Satisfied With The Bible – 2 Peter 1:19  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:

 

h.  I’m Satisfied With The Blood - 1 Peter 1:18-19  Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

 

i.  I’m Satisfied With My Church - Romans 12:4-5  For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not he same office:  So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 

Three Sevens in the Christian Life - Part 1 - Seven Things God Left the Saints

 Temple Baptist Church - 10-30-2022

2 Peter 1:1-4

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  The Book of 2 Peter is one of the Hebrew or Jewish Christian Epistles and was written to establish the dispersed Jewish believers in the faith.  It is tied with 1 Peter because of its nature and recipients.   

 

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

 

2 Peter 3:1  This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:

 

B.  Any time that you have a 2^nd or 3^rd epistle with the same name, the first is normally doctrinal in nature while the others are prophetic of the times preceding the Second Coming of Christ.

 

C.  Though written to the “strangers scattered” by interpretation, it was also given to the end-time church by application.

 

D.  The reason for 2 Peter was to “stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance.”  1 Peter, Peter mentioned Satan as a “roaring lion,” seeking whom he may devour.  In 2 Peter, we find Satan as a “serpent,” subtly deceiving God’s children.

 

E.  As we approach Thanksgiving, we reflect upon the many blessings that the Lord has given to us.  And we are blessed!  But most of the time:

 

1.  We tend to only think of our circumstances, both good and bad.

 

2.  We tend to only think of our physical blessings or the lack thereof.

 

3.  Peter reminds us to think beyond these things and in a spiritual realm that bears the eternal.   we tend to think of the temporal blessings instead of the spiritual ones.

 

F.  This morning, I want to take a short look at seven things in these first 4 verses that the Lord has given to us in the spiritual realm.

 

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:

 

1.  All things the pertain unto life.  We are approaching Thanksgiving (not Turkey Day) and a time for us to reflect upon the goodness of God in the land of the living.

 

2.  All things that pertain unto godliness.  We have His Holy Presence, His Holy Spirit, and His Holy Word.  We can live for God in this present evil world.

 

3.  Through the “knowledge of Him.”  Who He was; who He is; who He will be; what He has done; what He is doing; what He will do; His power; His providence; His purpose; and His pleasure!  “That I may know Him!”

 

Philippians 3:7-11  But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.  (8)  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,  (9)  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:  (10)  That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;  (11)  If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

 

1 John 3:1-3  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.  (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 him; for we shall see him as he is.  (3)  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

 

G.  Seven things mentioned in our text that God gives to His children:

 

1.  Verse 1.  A like precious faith. 

 

Romans 1:11-12  For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;  (12)  That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

 

a.  A relationship with Christ. “precious”

 

b.  A fellowship with the saints.  “like”

 

2.  Verse 1.  An unquestionable standing.  “the righteousness of God” 

 

2 Corinthians 5:21  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

 

a.  You may question my righteousness and be right.

 

b.  You cannot question His righteousness!

 

3.  Verse 2.  The grace to endure.  “grace … be multiplied”

 

James 4:6  But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

 

a.  Grace multiplied.  1 Corinthians 10:13

 

b.  Grace sufficient.  2 Corinthians 12:9

 

4.  Verse 2.  Peace to trust.  “peace be multiplied”

 

John 14:27  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.

 

a.  To trust His will.

 

b.  To trust His way.

 

5.  Verse 3.  Power to overcome.  “His divine power”

 

Ephesians 3:20  Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

 

a.  Power to overcome sin.

 

b.  Power to overcome Satan.

 

c.  Power to overcome self.

 

6.  Verse 4.  The promise of a new life.  “Partakers of the divine nature”

 

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.

 

a.  A new nature.  A new creature.

 

b.  A divine nature.  A new life.

 

7.  Verse 4.  The promise of eternal life.  “having escaped”

 

John 10:27-29  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:  (28)  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.  (29)  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

 

a.  Escaped the bondage of sin.

 

b.  Escaped the burning of hell.

The Woman at the Well

 Temple Baptist Church - 10-26-2022

John 4:1-14

 

Introduction:

A.  Here, we find possibly my favorite of all stories in the found in the New Testament!  I love to hear testimonies of salvation. 

 

1.  I think of the conversion of the Ethiopian Eunuch.  How God sent Phillip into the desert with the gospel to this man of Ethiopia.  Acts 8:37  And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

 

2.  I think of the conversion of the Apostle Paul.  How God saved the “Chief of Sinners” and gave such a clear description of biblical salvation.  1 Timothy 1:16  Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

 

3.  I think of the conversion of Cornelius.  How God gave a gentile dog eternal life.  Acts 11:9  But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

 

4.  I think of the conversion of Lydia.  How God so graciously opened her heart there beside of the river.  Acts 16:13-15  And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither. 14  And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. 15  And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.

 

5.  I think of the conversion of the Philippian jailor.  He simply believed on the Lord Jesus Christ.  Acts 16:30-31  And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 16:31  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

 

6.  All saved the same way but in different circumstances!  Jew and Gentile!  Moral and immoral!  Religious and non-religious!  Men and women!  Hallelujah, what a Saviour!

 

B.  I want to look at the wonderful conversion of this precious woman.  A woman so unclean in the eyes of her people that she had to come to the well alone to draw here water.  I am so glad that God loves even the worse of us sinners of this world!

 

1.  Verse 3.  The Lord’s compassion on the woman at the well.  “He left Judaea…into Galilee.”  The Jews, including the disciples, made extraordinary efforts to avoid Samaria!  Our Lord made an extraordinary effort to reach her!  Verse 6 says that Christ was “wearied with his journey!”  Salvation is not a casual action with God. 

 

Luke 15:4  What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

 

Luke 19:10  For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

 

a.  The Manifestation of God’s Love – “For the Son of man is come”

 

b.  The Magnitude of God’s Love – “to seek and to save that which was lost”

 

2.  Verse 6.  The Lord came to her when she could not come to Him.  “Jesus…sat thus on the well.”  He came to where she was.  You have to go to where sinners are for they, as a norm, will not come to you!  I am glad that He came to where I was in 1976! 

 

a. He came to the Ethiopian Eunuch.

 

b. He came to the Apostle Paul! 

 

c. He came to Cornelius.

 

d. He came to the Philippian Jailor.

 

e. He came to Lydia.

 

f. He came to this precious woman! 

 

g. I’m so glad that “He came to me!”  When I could not go to where He was, the song said, “He came to me!”

 

3.  Verse 6.  The Lord came to her at the right time.  “It was about the sixth hour…There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water.”  Jesus could have come to this woman either earlier or later but the result may not have been the same. 

 

a. I often wonder why God allowed me to “drift” so long.  I was baptized and joined the church in 1957 but was not saved.  God waited another 19 years before He stirred my heart, and I was saved. 

 

b. God’s ways are higher than our ways.  God’s thoughts are higher than our thoughts.  His timing is perfect!

 

4.  Verse 4.  Our Lord came through only once and that was for her.  “through Samaria”  He may or may not have ever passed that way again.  None of us have the guarantee that God will speak to our hearts more than once.  Rejecting Christ Jesus is more ignorant that playing Russian roulette! 

 

2 Corinthians 6:2  (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

 

Matthew 20:30  And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.  (I have to wonder: would He have ever passed that way again?)

 

5.  Verse 8.  Our Lord came for the Samaritan woman alone.  “For his disciples were gone away.”  Salvation is an individual thing, not a group thing. 

 

a. The night I was saved, I do not know if anyone else was saved or not at the altars.  The altars were full that night and I asked the Lord to save me on the back pew of the church. 

 

b. Though there was over 1,000 in attendance that night, I was alone with God as He dealt with my heart.  God deals with our hearts in a solitary way.  He came to ME!

 

6.  Verse 10.  The Lord offered her salvation simply by asking for it.  “asked of him, and he would have given thee.”  Most “soul winners” would have led her in a prayer at this point but the Lord knew that she lacked the understanding to be saved at this point. 

 

a. I believe that when God deals with a sinner and when they are “ripe” unto salvation, they will do business with God!  No one had to lead me into a prayer.  I asked God to forgive me and save me and He did!

 

b. One preacher once said something like this: “If you have to pull on the fruit, it is not quite ripe.  When it is ripe, it will fall into your hand with a simple touch!”

 

7.  Verse 16.  The Lord dealt with her sin frankly!  “Go, call thy husband!”  A sinner will never be saved until they see their spiritual need. 

 

a. Regardless of what man may think of say, repentance is a necessary part of salvation.  Our Lord knew where she was and wanted her to know that He knew!  Her soul was laid bare before her Maker that day!  You will get saved when you see yourself as God sees you. 

 

b. Then and only then can “godly sorrow” be exercised, and a real change made in a life.  As long as you see yourself as “alright” or “not that bad,” you are not a candidate for salvation.

 

8.  Verse 26.  The Lord gloriously showed to her who He was.  “I that speak unto thee am he!”  She had religion (vs. 25) but it did not affect her life. 

 

a. She knew the right words but did not know the Saviour.  I had heard about Christ all of my life.  I knew His name and understood the gospel but that night, He revealed Himself to me for the first time through the Holy Spirit! 

 

b. It was then that I understood just who He was and turned to Him.

 

9.  Verses 28-29.  The Lord graciously saved her that day.  “She left her waterpot…come see a man!” 

 

a. Her whole life’s priorities changed in an instant!  The necessities of life became secondary to her conversion. 

 

b. God will change your life when you come to Him by faith!

 

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.

 

10.  The Lord did not leave woman at the well the way He found her.  Immediately went back into the city where she was “well known” (as she had married five of these men and was living with another) and pointed others to Christ!  She showed neither bitterness nor animosity toward those who had reject her.

 

a. Her confession was made unto the salvation that had taken place.  Man believes with his heart before confession is made.  The confession is telling the world what took place within!

 

b. A shameful woman was unashamed of her Lord!  She came to the well instead of the normal “watering” time because of who she was.  She went into the center of the city for who He was!

 

11.  Verse 14.  She came to the well to fill her water pot with water and left with a well of living water within!  “water that I give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life” 

 

a. When you come to Christ thirsty, you will leave to never thirst again.  Jesus Christ satisfies!

 

b. I am often sorry for my sin but I never worry about the penalty for sin!  I need not ever drink of that “Fountain” again for He has satisfied my eternal soul!

A Fixed Heart

 Temple Baptist Church - 10-23-2022

Psalms 57:7-11; 108:1; 112:7

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  Here, we find David still in the midst of troubles.  As we go through the Davidic Psalms, we find a continual thread of problems, prayers, and protection.  I want to give a short outline of the Psalm.

 

1.  Verse 1 – David’s Prayer.  God’s mercy is found here.  I am sure that David, in the times of trouble, remember penning down the 23^rd Psalm in which he wrote, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.”

 

2. Verses 1-4 – David’s Protection. 

 

a.  God’s Protection – “shadow of thy wings … my refuge, until these calamities be overpast”

 

b.  God’s Performance – “unto God that performeth ALL things for me.”  He knows the way that we take and can do all things for us.

 

c.  God’s Power – “from heaven”  All power in heaven and earth are at His disposal.

 

3.  Verses 5-11 – God’s Praise.

 

a.  Verses 5-6.  David’s exaltation in praise – to lift up.

 

b.  Verses 7-8.  David’s excitement in praise – to wake up early.

 

c.  Verses 9-11.  David’s expression in praise – to publicly make known.

 

B.  I want to key on the word “Fixed” in verse 7: “My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed!”  Fixed defined.  Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines fixed as:  Settled, established, firm, fast, stable

 

C.  The word “Fixed” is used only 4 times in the Bible with three of these brief mentions being in the Old Testament one mention in the New Testament.  I will give the New Testament mention first as it gives a great definition of the work.

 

1.  The New Testament – Luke 16:26  And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.  (The gulf in Hades was fixed between Abraham’s Bosom and the flames of Hell.  It was immovable.  It was permanent.)

 

2.  The Old Testament – 3 mentions of the word “fix” that are found here.

 

a)  In Psalms 57, it is in the context of great persecution from David’s enemies.  It is a time of great trouble, and his heart is fixed upon the Lord in worship.  Beholding His glorious person instead of his great persecution.

 

b)  In Psalms 108, it is in the context of David’s great conquests against the enemies of Israel.  He is looking to God for both strength and victory.

 

c)  In Psalms 112, is in the context of evil tidings.  In all three of these mentions, the heart is fixed amid almost over whelming adversity.  Instead of fixing the heart upon problems, the admonition is to fix the heart upon the Lord of Heaven!

 

D.  We, because of our weakness of flesh, are prone to fix our hearts upon the circumstances instead of the Lord who controls them!  May the Lord help us to fix our hearts upon Him. 

 

1.  We know that He is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. 

 

2.  We know that nothing is impossible with Him and He certainly “thinketh upon me!” 

 

3.  We know that we are worth many sparrows and yet not one of these falls to the ground without His knowledge. 

 

4.  We know that He can and will supply our physical needs in this life. 

 

5.  We know that He goes before us and has suffered all that we will ever suffer. 

 

6.  We know that He is touched with the feeling of our infirmities and ever liveth to make intercession at the right hand of the Father. 

 

E.  Our lives are in His hand - John 10:28-29  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.   My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

 

Hebrews 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

 

Job 23:13-14  But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.  For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.

 

F.  A fixed heart does not:

 

1.  Look never looks back - Luke 9:62  And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

 

2.  Look never looks around - Matthew 14:30  But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

 

3.  Look never looks down - 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.

 

G.  A fixed heart ALWAYS looks up - Psalms 121:1   I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.