Ignorance - Ignorance and Death

Temple Baptist Church - 9-1-2024

1 Thessalonians 4:13; Philippians 1:20-24

 

Introduction:

 

A.  This morning, I want to preach on “Ignorance and Death.”  Once again, we hear the words that Paul said, “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.” 

 

B.  Now, most of you will probably, at this point, ask the question in your mind, “Why is the pastor preaching on the subject of ignorance and death to us?”  Because none of us want to die right now.  Thinking about death is not what we do as far as the flesh goes.

 

1.  Because we do not know when we will die, and God has given us a will to live.

 

2.  Because we do not know how we will die, and not one of us wants to suffer in the process.

 

3.  Because we have no control over death but know that it is coming for all of us if the Lord does not come soon.

 

C.  Why are we thus?  Why fear to some extent of death?  Because God has not yet given to us dying grace.  Dr. Harold Sightler used to say, “God’s people die well.”  If we are sick and screaming and hollering, we are more than likely not dying.

 

D.  Paul spoke of his dilemma in Philippians, chapter 1, concerning life and death.  Interesting the way the Bible describes this.  We understand the precept of magnifying Christ in our lives but death?  Paul wanted to live like a Christian and also die like one!  We are to magnify Christ when we die.

 

Philippians 1:20-24  According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.  (21)  For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.  (22)  But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.  (23)  For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:  (24)  Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.

 

E.  I am preaching this for this reason: as most of us are vaguely familiar with what happens leading up to, during, and after death, there is also a natural fear of death that all of us have.  I say vaguely familiar with death because none of us have experienced death by walking through that valley.

 

1.  It is a valley of the shadow of death.  Death is certainly a dark place. The words “darkness” and “death” are found 13 times in your Bible.  In Biblical Numerology, 13 is the number of ill omen.

 

Job 10:21-22  Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death;  (22)  A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness.

 

2.  It is a valley that can hold great fear.  Hebrews 2:14-15  Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;  (15)  And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

 

Job 24:17  For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death: if one know them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death.

 

Jeremiah 2:6  Neither said they, Where is the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt?

 

3.  An old saying goes like this:  “If I knew where I was going to die, I probably wouldn’t go there.”  I believe that this saying would apply to most of us, though we are saved.

 

4.  I have no fear of the afterlife but possibly will not enjoy the process of death.  I had just as soon go to sleep here and wake up there.  As one man said, “My brother went to sleep last night and this morning he woke up dead!”

 

5.  But, if I knew where I would die, I probably still wouldn’t purposefully go there and neither would you.  God placed within man a natural desire to live.  Our bodies are tough and will struggle against death until that final moment comes.

 

F.  Paul knew that he would continue to suffer in this life and also the gain of dying in the life to come.  Death was far better, and living was more needful.

 

G.  The gain of death far outweighs the pains of living.

 

1.  Heaven’s Person – we shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is.  

 

1 John 3:1-2  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.

 

John 14:3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

 

2.  Heaven’s Pleasure.  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.

 

Jude 24  Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

a.  No More Sea

b.  No More Tears

c.  No More Death

d.  No More Sorrow

e.  No More Pain

f.  No More Night

g.  No More Sin

 

3.  Heaven’s Place.  1 Corinthians 2:9  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.

 

a.  A Place of great Purity.

 

Revelation 21:27  And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

 

Revelation 22:14-15  Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.  (15)  For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

 

b.  A Place of great Beauty.

 

(1)  Walls of Jasper

(2)  Gates of Pearl

(3)  Foundations of Precious Stones

(4)  Street of Transparent Gold

(5)  Palaces Of Ivory

(6)  River As Clear As Crystal

(7)  Tree Bearing 12 Manner of Fruits

(8)  Lighted By The Glory of God

 

c.  A Place of great Accommodations.  “In my Father’s house are many mansions!” 

 

4.  Heaven’s People.  They Are Blood Bought

 

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.

 

Conclusion:  Have no fear, my little children, death is the final enemy, and our Lord Jesus Christ tasted death for us and now awaits our coming.  What a day that will be!  

Ignorance - Who Did Hinder You

Temple Baptist Church - 8-25-2024

Romans 1:13; Galatians 5:7

 

Introduction:

 

A.  This morning, I want to go back to our study on “Ignorance.”  Paul, writing to the Romans, spoke of the opposition that he faced.  Throughout his ministry, he faced foes from within and without.  I have heard it said, “The door of opportunity swings on the hinges of resistance.”

 

B.  When writing to the Corinthian church, he made mention of the opposition.

 

2 Corinthians 11:22-30  Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.  (23)  Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.  (24)  Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.  (25)  Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;  (26)  In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;  (27)  In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.  (28)  Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.  (29)  Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?  (30)  If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.

 

C.  Romans 1:13  Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.

 

1.  I want to look at the phrase “let hitherto”.

 

Let – hindered, prevented, kept from.

 

Hitherto – until, up to, as far as.

 

2.  These two words show us that Paul was stopped but not permanently stopped.  He was just “hindered” for a while but would later continue as is told in his last recorded message to Timothy. 

 

2 Timothy 4:7  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

 

D.  The Apostle Paul was possibly the greatest Christian example found in the New Testament.  Satan could not entice him to either compromise or quit though, later in life, a “messenger of Satan” was a continual “thorn in the flesh” that he had to bear.

 

1.  If Paul could be hindered, we can be hindered also. When writing to the Church at Galatia, Paul spoke of this.

 

Galatians 5:7  Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?

 

Galatians 3:1  O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

 

2.  The Galatians knew the truth but chose to disobey it because of the legalists of that day.

 

3.  To him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin comes into play.

 

4.  God’s children do not have to give into to hinderances!

 

E.  Paul fought a good fight, finished his course, and kept the faith!  God then gave Paul to us for an example of victory over hinderances.

 

F.  Now, a little disclaimer:  I am not the Christian that the Apostle Paul was by any stretch of the imagination and probably no one in this sanctuary is, but we too are hindered in our life as Christians.

 

G.  Satan is the definition of:  “If you can’t be good, be good at it!”  He cannot take our salvation away but does his best to hinder us in our example of Christianity before the world, our friends, and our families.

 

H.  Paul asked a question in Galatians as these precious people had soon wandered off course concerning obedience to the truth.

 

Galatians 5:7  Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?

 

J.  All of us here this morning fight personal battles as we endeavor to serve our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, the question: “Who did hinder you?”  Notice with me the word “who” instead of “what.”  Too often our hinderances are the result of people and not circumstances though we are hindered by both.

 

K.  I am not trying to “hinder” you with this message but am warning each of us that we will face hard things and hard times in this world because it and Satan are still “seeking” to devour.

 

L.  “Who did hinder you?”  Who or what doeth hinder me?

 

1.  We are often hindered by our Flesh.  Romans 7:18  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

 

2. We are hindered by our Foe.  Zechariah 3:1  And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.

 

3. We are often hindered by Friends.  Job 2:11  Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.  (Well meaning maybe but still a hinderance.)

 

4.  We are often hindered by Family.  Matthew 10:35-36  For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.  (36)  And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.  (As tragic as it sounds, much resistance comes from loved ones.)

 

5.  We are often hindered by False Brethren.  2 Timothy 4:14-15  Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:  (15)  Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.  (Old Diotrephes in 3 John.)

 

3 John 1:9  I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.

 

6.  We are often hindered by False Teachers.  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.  (A sign of these last days: heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears.)

 

7.  We are often hindered by Faithlessness.  Matthew 6:34  Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.  (Do not get caught up worrying over the future of our nation, of our health, or our imaginations.)

 

Conclusion:  “Who hath hindered you?”