I Am the Light of the World - Part 1

Temple Baptist Church - 3-29-2023

John 8:12

Introduction: I will not get through with this in one night.

 

A. Tonight, I want to use a Hermeneutical Principle to explain verse 12 with, the First Mention Principle. Simply stated that in the first mention of any subject in the Bible, God states His mind on the subject and does not change it through progressive revelation. Progressive revelation only further develops the thought or subject without differentiation.

 

B. The First Mention of “light” is found in the beginning of your Bible so let us turn to Genesis, chapter one.

 

Genesis 1:1-5 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (2) And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. (3) And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. (4) And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. (5) And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

 

1. The world, without light, lies in darkness. “Without form and void because of two things:

 

a) Water covered the earth so that its physical characteristics were hidden and

 

b) Because of the absolute absence of light, nothing could be observed.

 

2. Illustration: Many of you have been on a guided tour of some cave in your lifetime. Caves are very interesting with stalactites and stalagmites as well as many other formations. Stalactites stick tight to the ceiling while stalagmites might reach the ceiling if they grow tall enough. 😊 During your visit to a cave, the guide normally brings you to a place where he askes you to either sit or stand still and they turn off the light. Without the light, the darkness is complete, and everything is without form and void.

 

3. In the beginning, when God created this world, there was a complete absence of both natural and artificial light. In verse 3, God said, “Let there be light.” The world, without God’s light would have remained in darkness. The heavenly bodies, sun-moon-stars, were created on the 4^th day.

 

4. Today, without God’s light, the world remains in darkness. Only God’s light takes away the “ without form and void” that permeates. Without the light of God, Satan leads the world deeper into darkness. Darkness is a choice as is light.

 

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: (4) In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

 

Acts 28:27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

 

5. God’s children are to walk in light according to John 8:12. Not to walk in the light is to walk in darkness.

 

John_12:35  Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.

 

Ephesians_5:8  For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

 

1 John_1:6  If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness we lie, and do not the truth:

 

1 John_2:11  But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

 

6. God placed a division between darkness and light.

 

a) Light - (illumination or (concretely) luminary (in every sense, including lightning, happiness, etc.): - bright, clear, + day, light (-ning), morning, sun.) does not co-exist with darkness.

 

b) Darkness - (the dark; hence (literally) darkness; figuratively misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness: - dark (-ness), night, obscurity.)

 

7. God placed a division between day and night.

 

a) Day – light, warm or hot. A time when man works.

 

b) Night – darkness or obscurity. A time when man sleeps.

 

C. God is light.

 

1. The Light of God’s Person - Psalms 104:1-2 Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty. (2) Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:

 

Matthew 17:2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

 

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

 

1 John 1:5 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.

 

Revelation 1:16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

 

2. The Light of God’s Place - 1 Timothy 6:16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

 

Revelation 21:23-25 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. (24) And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. (25) And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.

 

Compared to the Godless domain of the unsaved.

 

Jude 13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. (No natural light, no artificial light, and no light of God. Utter darkness.)

 

2 Peter 2:17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. (A cloud or shroud.)

 

Exodus 10:21 And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt. (Felt, smothering darkness.)

God’s Faithfulness to His Oppressed People

Temple Baptist Church - 3-26-2023

Psalm 12

Introduction:

A. King David spent a lot of time crying out to the Lord in times of trouble. This Psalm is one of those written during such a time. I thank the Lord that His ears are open to the cries of His people in times of trouble. Verses 2 and 8 give a brief description of the time of this Psalm while verses 3-7 give a blessed hope to the oppressed.

B. Each one of us has our personal battles that rage in our souls. I am speaking of spiritual battles which are the most important to win. If we lose our spiritual battles, we lose our spiritual values and, therefore, our spiritual usefulness.

1. We need an Anchor. The song writer said, “My anchor holds in the midst of the storm.” An anchor in the shifting sands of human theology.

2. We need Spiritual Stability. An anchor is of little use when it remains unused. People must be spiritually stable in instable times.

3. This Psalm is well fitted to the days in which we live.

C. I want to outline this Psalm as it is a good way to properly interpret and, therefore, rightly divide it. We will not study it in minute detail as that would take several messages. I just want us to get a little help in these last perilous times in which we live.

1. A Fearful Prayer. Verse 1. “Help, Lord!”

a. The Godly Cease. As people get farther away from God, godliness becomes a spectacle. The worldly look at us like a calf looking at a new gate. People of God bow to the peer pressure of this world.

b. The Faithful Fail. Because of this separation from God, the “as the manner of some is” has changed to “as the manner of most are”.

c. The Wicked Continue. 2 Timothy 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

2. A Flattering Lip. Verse 2.

a. They Speak Vanity. Much to do about nothing because what they speak has no eternal value. People are vain because secular humanism breeds vanity.

b. The Speak Flatteringly with a Double Hear. Speaking what people want to hear instead of speaking what people need. The pulpits are full of such men.

c. They Speak Falsely. 2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. (It is false teaching that leads astray.)

3. A Frightful Judge. Verses 3-4.

a. He is Listening. Verse 3. As God knows our thoughts afar off, He hears what is being said. Be careful little lips what you say because Almighty God

b. His is LORD. Verse 4.

c. The Reward of the Wicked. 2 Timothy 4:14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:

2 Thessalonians 1:6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;

4. A Faithful Lord. Verse 5.

a. The Lord’s Protection. He watches over His children.

b. The Lord’s Purpose. He has a plan for our lives.

1) We are to Continue in the Faith. Colossians 1:22-23 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: (23) If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

2) We are to Continue in Prayer. Colossians 4:2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;

3) We are to Continue in Doctrine. 1 Timothy 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

4) We are to Continue in Brotherly Love. Hebrews 13:1 Let brotherly love continue.

5) We are to Continue in Labor. James 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

6) We are to Continue in Fellowship. 1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

5. A Future Promise. Verses 6-7.

a. The Purity of God’s Word. Verse 6.

b. The Perpetuality of God’s Word. Verse 7.

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:

6. A Fact Present. Verse 8.

a. The Presence of the Wicked. Wickedness and wicked people surround us today. We live in a world of perversion.

b. The Power of the Wicked. Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

The Local Church and Prayer

 Temple Baptist Church - 3-26-2023

2 Chronicles 6:12-13

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  In our text, we find King Solomon dedicating the great Temple that he had built by through prayer.  I want to use this example, as I continue to preach on the local church, to show the importance of prayer within these walls. 

 

B.  Everyone should have a prayer life individually. 

 

1. Pray in Circumstances - Romans 12:12  Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

 

2.  Pray in Confidence - Philippians 4:6  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

 

3.  Pray in Constance - 1 Thessalonians 5:17  Pray without ceasing.

 

C.  When we come to God’s house and prayer should be a vital part of our worship of God.  When Jesus came into the Temple in Mark, chapter 11, He taught them saying, “Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer?” 

 

This comes from Isaiah 56:7, which reads, “Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.” 

 

D.  God’s house is Not a house of prayer, but the Lord said that it was THE HOUSE OF PRAYER!  They even had special times just to go to the Temple and pray. 

 

Acts 3:1  Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.  This was one of the three times that it was customary with the Jews to pray.  At 9:00 AM, 12:00 Noon, and 3:00 PM.

 

Daniel 6:10  Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

 

Psalms 55:17  Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice. 

 

E.  In 2 Chronicles 6:12-42, we find the Dedicatory Prayer that Solomon made upon completion of the Temple.  In 2 Chronicles 7:1, we find the acceptance of Solomon’s prayer and the consuming presence of God.

 

F.  The presence and power of God should be our ultimate desire when we meet at the church house.

 

1.  It Was A Prayer Of Humility – vs. 12-13

 

a.  Humbled In The Sight Of Man – vs. 12 – “in the presence of all the congregation and spread forth his hands”  (Not caring what man thinks.)

 

b.  Humbled In The Presence Of God – vs. 13 – “kneeled down on his knees…spread for th his hands toward heaven”  (Caring what God thinks!)

 

2.  It Was A Prayer Of Remembrance – vs. 14-18

 

a.  Remembrance Of God’s Person – vs. 14 – “there is not God like thee”

 

b.  Remembrance Of God’s Presence – vs. 14 – “nor in the earth”

 

c.  Remembrance Of God’s Power – vs. 15 – “fulfilled it with thine hand”

 

d.  Remembrance Of God’s Promises – vs. 16 – “keep…hast promised”

 

3.  It Was A Prayer Of Intercession – vs. 19-31

 

a.  For Forgiveness – vs. 21 – “when thou hearest, forgive”

 

b.  For Restoration – vs. 27 – “send rain upon thy land”

 

4.  It Was A Prayer Of Missions – vs. 32-33

 

a.  Foreign Missions – vs. 33a – “that all the people of the earth may know thy name, and fear thee”

 

b.  Home Missions – vs. 33b – “thy people Israel…may know this house”

 

5.  It Was A Prayer Of Deliverance – vs. 34-39

 

a.  From Enemies – vs. 34 – “go to war…enemies by the way”

 

b.  From Defeat – vs. 35, 39 – “maintain their cause”

 

6.  It Was A Prayer Of Enthronement – vs. 40-42

 

a.  God In His Rightful Place In The Temple – vs. 41a – “arise, O Lord God, into thy resting place”

 

b.  God In His Rightful Place In The People – vs. 41b – “let thy saints rejoice in thy goodness”

Jesus - A Friend of Sinners

 Temple Baptist Church - 3-22-2023

John 8:1-11 

Introduction:

 

A.  In our text for tonight, we find another “woman at the well”, as adulterous woman whose life is now exposed and lies in ruin.  I am so thankful again tonight that the Lord came to me, changed my life, and secured my future for eternity.

 

B.  Salvation is a personal choice and something that only Christ can do.  We come to God in repentance and childlike faith.  He has already taken care of the rest through the gospel: He died according to the Scriptures, He was buried, and He rose again according to the Scriptures. SALVATION IS OF THE LORD!

 

C.  I want to break down these verses to show the love and salvation of God in His love for the outcasts of this world.

 

1.  The Woman’s Fall.  Verse 4.  This was someone’s daughter, sister, mother, or friend.  Somewhere she left her upbringing (virgins of Israel were treated with respect and protected) and to the chagrin of her family, was caught up in her sinfulness. 

 

a.  Sin will take you farther than you want to go, cost you more than you want to pay, and keep you longer than you want to stay. 

 

b.  When her sinful thoughts became sinful acts, she never thought that she would one day be where she was this particular day.

 

c.  The private became public: “taken in adultery, in the very act.”

 

2.  The Woman’s Foe.  Verse 3.  The Scribes and Pharisees

 

a.  Religion at its worst becomes the enemy of the unsaved as they lift their religious noses at the very thought of one such as this woman was. 

 

b.  Simon the Pharisee said in his heart, “This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.”

 

c.  Instead of reaching the lost, the religious drive them farther away. 

 

d.  Instead of looking beyond their fault and seeing their need, the religious look beyond their need and see their fault!

 

3.  The Woman’s Fear.  Verse 5.  “Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?”  Her fear was two-fold.

 

a.  She feared the command of the Law.  The letter of the law ordered death, both physical and spiritual.  Destruction of sin here and the death in sin later in hell.

 

b.  She feared the condemnation of the Lord.  Our Lord was asked, “What sayest thou?”  She knew who Jesus was in the sense that He was the Messiah but she also knew the holiness of God and what He thought of the sin of adultery.

 

4.  The Woman’s Friend.  Verse 6, 7, 10.  “I have found a Friend in Jesus” the songwriter said.

 

a.  Jesus did not rebuke the woman; He rebuked the scribes and Pharisees.

 

b.  Jesus did not draw, Jesus silently wrote on the ground.  What He wrote, we can only surmise, but what He wrote THEY COULD READ!

 

c.  Jesus asked the woman where her accusers were as the convicted religionists melted away.

 

5.  The Woman’s Faith.  Verse 11.  “Lord!”

 

a.  Her answer was not, “Whew, I am free to go and do as I like again.”  The heat is off.  She could now walk away with no one to confront or stop her but she chose to stay and answer the question.

 

b.  The scribes and Pharisees said, “Master.”  Instructor, doctor, or teacher.  Her address given to Christ was “Lord!”  This was an admission of who she was and an acceptance of Who He was.  Paul’s answer was the same in Acts, chapter 9, when he went from “Who art thou, Lord?” to “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?”

 

Philippians 2:10-11  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;  (11)  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

6.  The Woman’s Forgiveness.  Verse 11.  “Neither do I condemn thee.”

 

a.  She was brought to Christ in the darkness of sin, caught and condemned by the Law.

 

b.  She was brought by Christ into the Light of Forgiveness with her sins gone.

 

Isaiah 1:18  Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

 

7.  The Woman’s Future.  Verse 11.  “Go, and sin no more.”

 

a.  The Lord did not save her and leave her as He found her.  I am glad that the Lord changed me, not left me as I was.

 

b.  The Lord did save her to serve Him!  Salvation cost Jesus His life and salvation will cost you your life!

 

c.  It will be worth it all here on earth and it will be worth it all in heaven!

Homecoming Day 2023

Temple Baptist Church - 3-19-2023 

Luke 4:16-19

 

Introduction: 

A.  Homecoming Day, 2023.  It has been the best 36 years of my life at Temple Baptist!  This is the best church that I have ever been affiliated with.  Barbara and I are completely satisfied with God’s calling and direction over these past years.

 

We have laughed and we have cried.

We have married and we have buried.

We have gained some and we have lost some.

We have won some here and many on the field to the Lord.

We have not dipped our colors nor compromised our standards.

We have stayed in the old paths with the old black Book.

We are getting a little older and a lot closer to Heaven.

We are continuing in those things that are right and holy.

We are excited about serving the Lord and the prospect of His coming.

We are, by God’s grace, expecting to serve the Lord until He calls us home.

We will continue to love one another and keep unity in the church.

We are committed to the fight for right and the souls of men.

 

B.  Our Lord preached many sermons in His short ministry, but—in His hometown—He chose to read from Isaiah 61.  If it was good and necessary enough for the Lord’s homecoming, it is good for ours too.

 

Luke 4:16-17  And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.  (17)  And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,

 

C.  We Live In A Hard Time.  The last days of peril, apostasy, and apathy.

 

1.  A Time Of Great Adversity – Satan

 

2.  A Time Of Great Temptation – Sin

 

D.  We Live In A Hard Place.  The unbuckled Bible Belt where religion has replaced salvation.

 

1.  Everyone Is Religious

 

2.  Everyone Is Satisfied

 

3.  Few Are Saved

 

E.  We Have A Great Responsibility.  Carrying the gospel to a people who seemingly no longer want it.

 

1.  We Are Responsible For The Upholding The Truth

 

2.  We Are Responsible For Dispensing The Truth

 

What we need, Jesus preached!

 

1.  A Spirit Filling – Verse 18  “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me”

 

a.  Spiritual Worship - Ephesians 5:18-20  And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;  Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;  Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

 

b.  Spiritual Walk - Galatians 5:22-25  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.  And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

 

2.  An Anointed Preaching – Verse 18  “he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor”

 

a.  Straight Preaching - Acts 20:26-28  Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.  For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.  Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

 

b.  Bold Preaching - Acts 4:31  And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

 

c.  Compassionate Preaching - 2 Timothy 4:1-2 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

 

3.  A Compassionate Heart – Verse 18  “to heal the broken hearted”

 

a.  Compassionate Towards Sinners - Jude 1:22-23  And of some have compassion, making a difference:  And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

 

b.  Compassionate Towards Saints - 1 John 3:17-19  But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?  My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.  And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.

 

4.  A Powerful Deliverance – Verse 18  “to preach deliverance to the captives”

 

a.  There Is Power In The Blood - Revelation 7:14  And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

 

b.  There Is Power In The Bible - Hebrews 4:12  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

 

5.  An Illuminating Message – Verse 18  “recovering of sight to the blind”

 

a.  An Illuminated Walk –.1 John 1:7  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.

 

b.  An Illuminated Witness – 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.

 

6.  A Glorious Hope – Verse 18  “to set at liberty them that are bruised”

 

a.  We Need To Comfort The Sorrowful - 2 Corinthians 1:4  Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

 

b.  We Need To Encourage The Discouraged - Hebrews 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

 

c.  We Need to Glorify The Lord - Isaiah 42:12  Let them give glory unto the LORD, and declare his praise in the islands.

 

7.  An Urgent Message – Isaiah 61:2 “to proclaim the acceptable year or the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God”

 

a.  The Reality Of A Harvest Perishing - John 4:35  Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

 

b.  The Reality Of A Harvest Past - Jeremiah 8:20  The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.