Stand Fast - Part 2

Temple Baptist Church - 3-12-2017

2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

Introduction:

A.  Last week, we looked at some areas in which we must stand fast. 

1.  “In the shifting sands of human theology,” we must be firmly anchored in the Word of God: our Faith, our Freedom, our Fellowship, our Fight, and our Finishing.  Spiritually in America—the Bible Belt—and the World are in serious decline. 

2.  The Old Paths of holiness and doctrinal purity have been forsaken for the New Paths of worldliness and ecumenism!  I expect the world to be worldly but not the church.  We do not bow our knees to the “god of this world.”  We bow them to the God of this Bible!

B.  It is one thing to know where we need to stand but another to know what will help us to do so. 

1.  In our text, we find Paul’s encouragement to the church at Thessalonica as they face spiritual change and adversity.  The adversity that once came from without now was within.  The enemy is among us! 

2.  Paul gives several things in these verses that I believe are important to our maintaining the Old Paths wherein is the good way.

1.  The Assurance of God’s Abiding Love.  Vs. 13-14, 16.  “Brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:  Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ … which hath loved us.”

Ephesians 2:4-7  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,  (5)  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)  (6)  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:  (7)  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.  (Why doubt the love of Christ?)

2.  The Assurance of God’s Men Who Taught Us Truth.  Vs 15.  “Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.”  

2 Timothy 3:14  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; (He learned from his mother, grandmother, and the Apostle Paul.  Why would he doubt their sincerity?)

3.  The Assurance of God’s Consolation.  Vs 16.  “And hath given us everlasting consolation.”

Hebrews 6:17-20  Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:  (18)  That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:  (19)  Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;  (20)  Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. (Our Lord said to follow Him.  He chose our path so why should we doubt Him?)

4.  The Assurance of God’s Promises of Impending Victory.  Vs 16.  “And good hope.”

Romans 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

1 John 5:4  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.  (If the battle is the Lord’s, why should the outcome be in doubt?)

5.  The Assurance of God’s Amazing Grace in Suffering.  Vs 16.  “Through grace.”

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 Peter 5:10  But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.  (If God is the God of all grace and that grace is sufficient, why should we think that God will place more on us than we can bear?)

6.  The Assurance of God’s Comforting and Comforter.  Vs. 17.  “Comfort your hearts.”

John 14:16  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

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.  (If God promised that He would walk with us, why should we doubt His presence?)

7.  The Assurance of God’s Stablishing His Children.  Vs 17.  “And stablish you in every good word and work.

Romans 16:25-27  Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,  (26)  But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:  (27)  To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen. (To strengthen and stabilize. The results of establishment in the Word of God is two-fold: 1)  In every good word [their witnessing and preaching]  2)  “in every good” … work [evangelization and missions].  If the Word of God is right, why should we doubt His promises?) 

Stand Fast

Temple Baptist Church - 3-5-2017

2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

Introduction:

A.  We have looked long and hard at the churches of Macedonia which were standing fast in the faith and doing a great job in missions.  (2 Corinthians 8:1-5)  Thessalonica was the capitol city of the 2nd Province of Macedonia under Roman rule and Rome did not like the infiltration of Christianity as they thought Caesar to be god.

B.  In this second epistle to the Thessalonicians, Paul commended them for their work and labor of live in chapter one and gave warning in the first part of chapter two concerning the “falling away” that was in progress.  Paul alluded to that same “falling away” when writing to Timothy.

2 Timothy 1:15  This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.

C.  As the great Apostle preached, witnessed, and established local churches—Satan’s crowd infiltrated very quickly. 

1.  Thus, in our day, Bible believing people have gone from the being the rule to being the exception in my short lifetime.  Good churches are getting harder to find.

2.  As more and more churches get in to the “numbers game,” they give in to the worldliness and false doctrine that so quickly infiltrates.  I am all for numbers, but—in out day—churches that still preach sanctification are labeled by those who do not as “legalistic” and are to be avoided.

3.  Salvation is so much more than a “wink wink nod nod” pray this little prayer.  Salvation is to those who repent and turn to Christ.  It is not a prayer alone that brings one salvation but a heart condition that turns one to Christ.  He is Lord and the repentant bow!

D.  Paul is exhorting a great church to remain great! 

1.  Their greatness was not found in numbers because they were but few. 

2.  Their greatness was not found in finances because they were in poverty. 

3.  Their greatness was not found in peace because they were in great affliction. 

4.  Their greatness was found in obedience to the Word of God.

5.  Their greatness was found in their love for each other as well as the missionaries that came their way.

E.  The message is this: you can run well and stop!  Galatians 5:7  Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?  (A spiritual church is like your body’s weight: if you do not strictly maintain it, it begins to go up and is almost impossible to stop.  Once a church begins to slip, it becomes virtually impossible to pull it back to where it once was.)

1.  We Must Stand Fast In Our Faith

a.  Suffer The Word - Hebrews 13:22  And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.

b.  Magnify The Word - Psalms 138:2  I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

c.  Pray For The Word - 2 Thessalonians 3:1  Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:

d.  Preach The Word - 2 Timothy 4:2  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

e.  Continue In The Word - 2 Timothy 3:14  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

2.  We Must Stand Fast In Our Freedom – be not entangled “again” with the yoke of bondage – Christ’s yoke is not bondage, it is light – the blessing of coming to Christ is “free indeed”

a.  Beware Of The Yoke Of Bondage - Galatians 5:1  Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

b.  Beware Of The Yoke Of False Brethren - Galatians 2:4  And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:

c.  Beware Of The Yoke Of Phariseeism - Colossians 2:20-23  Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,  21  (Touch not; taste not; handle not;  22  Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?  23  Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

d.  Beware Of the Yoke Of Inexpedient Things – Hebrews 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

1 Corinthians 6:12  All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.  (Yes, we are free.  But we must be careful how we use our freedom lest it become bondage.)

3.  Stand Fast In Our Fellowship –persecution brings the church together.  The world hated Christ as Christ loved them.  The world hates us as Christ loves us.

a.  Fellowship In Unity - 2 Corinthians 13:11  Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

b.  Fellowship In Separation - 2 Corinthians 6:17  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.  (Separation is a must!)

c.  Fellowship In Light - 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.

4.  Stand Fast In Our Fight

a.  We Need To Fill The Gaps - Ezekiel 22:30  And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.  (Our older generation is passing off the scene and the need is great for men and women to “step up to the plate!”)

b.  We Need To Withstand The Onslaught - 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.

5.  Stand Fast In Our Finishing - 2 Timothy 4:7  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.

What Are We To Do?

Temple Baptist Church - 6-28-2015

Romans 1:18-32

 

A.  I started not to preach along these lines this morning but could not get away with from it.  We could have continued to silently follow the Lord and His Word with no fear of repercussions but I felt compelled to preach.  I cannot be silent and the world needs to know where we stand as a church. 

 

B.  What happened this last week when the Supreme Court ruled in favor of same sex marriage was slap in the face of God and a total rejection of biblical truth.  It was a monumental step toward a nation with reprobate lifestyle.  (vs 26-32)  Was it a surprise?  No, it was expected!  We prayed for its rejection but God said “as it was in the days of Lot!”  I was sad for our great nation as it continued its downhill slide into perversion.

 

C.  Friday, we watched as 5 unelected judges redefined God’s institution of marriage.  It will not be long until a father can married his daughter, a mother her son, or a brother his sister.  Many will say that this cannot happen but it can.  Why?  Because, not, no one has the right to tell someone that they cannot marry the one that they love. 

 

D.  Will this satisfy the sodomite community?  No!  Sodomites will never be satisfied!  Sodomy is a dissatisfaction of what God made in the His realm of nature.  What is natural is what follows nature.  Dissatisfaction in the realm of a man-woman relationship always leads to perversion which cannot be satisfied!  The sodomites will not stop until everyone who stands against them or speaks against their lifestyle is punished or done away with.  In Genesis 19, even after their blindness, they sought the door of Lot’s house.  This is not the end because the sodomites have an agenda!

 

E.  Our nation has been a “run a way train” for the last few decades as the advancement of liberal progressive thinking has gained strength and power.  Every value that the Bible sets forth is under attack by a godless (yes a president who sings Amazing Grace at a funeral and turns the White House a pastel rainbow color after the decision came down) people.  What a shame the present administration has brought upon our land! 

 

Titus 1:16  They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

 

F.  Three things the Supreme Court decision did not change:

 

1.  God has not changed His mind!  At least our God has not!  The “god” concocted by this world agrees with the Supreme Court’s decision.

 

2.  God has not changed His Word!  At least our King James Bible has not changed!  The NIV left the word “sodomite” out of it long ago.

 

3.  And God will not change His judgment of the sin of sodomy!  God did not make men to be born sodomites or cross-gender!  He made them male and female and if you do not believe it, check their DNA and you will still find that the male has both the X and Y chromosomes while the female has two X chromosomes.  Sodomy is a learned behavior, not an inherent one.

 

G.  Now, What are we to do as a Christian?  What are we to do as a church?  We are to keep on doing just what we have been doing for the past 2,000 years.  If God has not changed (and He has not), God’s Word has not changed (and it has not), and God’s judgment will not change, then the church must not change (and ours will not).

 

1.  We are going to continue to pray for America and its leadership.  1 Timothy 2:1-3  I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;  (2)  For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.  (3)  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

 

2.  We are going to continue to stand for God’s nature. Natural is a continuation of God’s nature.  Genesis 2:22-24  And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.  (23)  And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.  (24)  Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

 

3.  We are going to continue to adhere to God’s Word.  Acts 5:29  Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

 

4.  We are going to continue to preach against all manner of sinfulness.  Isaiah 58:1  Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.

 

5.  We are going to continue to accept the sinner but reject their wicked lifestyle.  1 Timothy 2:4  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

 

6.  We are going to continue to be good citizens and do what we can to make a difference.  Titus 3:1  Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,

 

7.  We are going to continue to trust the Lord as we see the signs of His eminent return.  Proverbs 3:5-7  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  (6)  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.  (7)  Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

 

8.  We will stand willing to pay a price for what we believe and what God said. Matthew 5:11-12  Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.  (12)  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

 

Some Things That Will Shut Our Mouths

Temple Baptist Church - 2-15-2015

Titus 2:15

 

 

Introduction:

 

A.  Over the past few decades, biblical Christianity has become the “silent partner” in America.  Satan and the world has done a “number” on biblical Christianity over the years while elevating false religions of every description.  You never hear anything negative about anyone’s religion unless they are true Christians.  Jesus Christ is defamed and maligned while nothing is ever said about Mohammed, Confucius, etc.

 

B.  I do not expect the world to be a friend to the bible or Jesus Christ but what bothers me is the silencing of God’s people.  Most believers have become “closet Christians” while the sodomites, athiests, agnostics, and generally wicked people are out of the closet and vocal about their beliefs (or lack of beliefs).

 

C.  Christians have been somewhat forced into silence.  Titus, chapter 2, sets forth the biblical responsibilities of God’s children.  They are to be biblical examples to those who are around us but, more importantly, to those who follow us.  We are not trying to be in the face of loved ones or the world.  We are trying to allow our lives to reflect Christ.  I want to give the application first though this is not the norm for me.  The application is to each and every child of God.

 

1.  Sinfulness of life.  Sin will shut your mouths.  You cannot speak, exhort, and rebuke when you are doing the same things as those you are speak to!  You cannot tell others to “Do as I say do and not as I do.”  Your lives should speak, exhort, and rebuke the world and, no, you will not be popular when you live a sold out life for the Lord and neither will you be well like but some will respect you for it.

 

Matthew 6:24  No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.  (When our lives become compromised or sinful, our mouths are effectively shut because serving the world by holding on to it will cause us to despise and turn loose of the things of God.)

 

2.  Family members who are not either saved or right with the bible.  This is one of the biggest enemies of our public witness.  One of the hardest things to do spiritually is witness to lost or worldly loved ones.  Most of us were raised in church so we come from “church families.”  When the Lord saved you, in many of your families, there is a division to some degree spiritually.  They think that you have gone too far; they think that you have joined a cult or something; they will apply pressure for you to be like them instead of them being like you.  Some of the things they do you biblically cannot do and the things that you do, they will not do.  Their question is:  We are “saved” and go to church; how come you are different from us?  Too often, your family can wield the sword of division very effectively!

 

Matthew 10:32-39  Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.  (33)  But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.  (34)  Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.  (35)  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.  (37)  He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.  (38)  And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.  (39)  He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

 

3.  Friends whose evil communication corrupt good manners.  We are not to be more afraid of what our friends think that of what God says.  Our old friends will come around and question our changed lives.  The world wants us to be like the world but the world cannot be like Christ until they are saved.  We work with the world; our children go to school with the world and yes, in so-called Christian Schools too.  Most “Christian Schools” are actually private schools with a Christian emphasis.  They are a mixture of both saved and lost children and the school is used as an evangelistic tool instead of a “nest” where our children are kept separate from the world and taught.  Work places are full of the unsaved and they will curse around you; they will tell you off colored jokes; they will try to get you to go when you should not go.  You speak right and live right, they will flee from you and your friends will be those of agreement.

 

Amos 3:3  Can two walk together, except they be agreed?  (The answer is “no” unless one keeps his mouth shut and you can rest assured that the world will voice their opinions.)

 

D.  Our verse for tonight commands that we speak, exhort, and rebuke with all authority, not caring what people think (let no man despise thee).  Nor for the interpretation: Paul is writing to the pastor!  He is writing to young Titus.

 

E.  Pastors are to SPEAK without fear.  Our churches are the voice of God in this world, the voice of one crying in the wilderness.  We are the fore runners of the second coming of Christ as John the Baptist was the fore runner of the first advent.

 

Ephesians 6:19  And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

 

F.  Pastors are to  EXHORT faithfully.  “And so much the more as you see the day approaching” is so relevant to our times.  God’s people are to be united with their voices.

 

1 Corinthians 1:10  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

 

G.  Pastors are to REBUKE with all authority.  With the bible as our basis for faith and instruction in our way of life, we have the authority of God on our side.  I do not like the signs signed –God I see on the sides of the roads.  They need to just put the scripture there because God has already signed it!  We should be just as vocal about the wrong of this world as we are about the right.  God’s people have been silenced in part because of the example of silence that “speaks so loudly” from the pulpits.

 

H.  I want to look at a few things that have silenced the voices of our pulpits:

 

1.  Pulpits have been silenced because of compromise.  Compromised pulpits are the result of congregations made up on people who want to be like the world and have the world in the churches.  Everything is contemporary!  Times have changed!  The bible has become relative in a wrong sense!  The people love to have it so!  People are stirred emotionally, having their flesh fed instead of their souls.  Churches have become “seeker sensitive” instead of “Holy Ghost sensitive.” 

 

Jeremiah 5:30-31  A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land;  (31)  The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?

 

2.  Pulpits have been silenced because of attrition.  There is a constant war between the pulpits and the pews of American.  Preachers who preach on sin have become “judgmental” and sinful people leave the church for the “stand for nothing” ones.  The war is a war between our flesh and our spiritual man.  The general nonconformity of the pew to the pulpit has caused good men of God to give up.  They have become light and the people love to have it so. 

 

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.

 

3.  Pulpits have been silenced because of fear of reprisal.  It has not only become politically incorrect to preach on certain sins but, in some places such as Canada, it is now against the law.  Many pastors are afraid of losing their “jobs” if they deal with the sinfulness of their pews. 

 

Acts 5:40  And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.