Trials and Discouragement

Temple Baptist Church - 2-8-2015

Numbers 21:1-9

Introduction: 

A.  When Holy Spirit spoke of the trial of our faith “being much more precious than gold that perisheth,” it was because we do not naturally see our trials in this perspective.

1.  First of all, it would be good to remember that Old Testament Israel operated much of the time on a “sight bases.”  They heard God speak; they watched God work; and, yet, they became easily discouraged when things did not work out right. 

2.  Not one of us likes the hard times and, when our trials are either very hard or very long ones, we all get discouraged.   Job knew about trials and discouragement when he wrote:  “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.

B.  One of the greatest enemies of God’s people is that of discouragement.  In these verses, we find Israel still wandering in the wilderness because of the sin of unbelief. 

1.  The 10 spies gave an evil report of the Promised Land and discouraged the hearts of the people to the extent that they turned back and brought upon themselves the judgment of God.  Even in the wilderness, the Lord was good to Israel and met their every need, but the way was long and hard and the people prone to complain. 

2.  Israel had just won a great victory through the help of Jehovah God and, in the next verse was discouraged!  I want to look at this enemy of discouragement this morning with both its causes and affects.  Why do God’s people get discouraged when He is meeting our every need?

C.  What are the major causes of discouragement?  I believe this passage of scripture reveals them.

1.  Discouraged because of the Foe.  Vs. 1-3  Israel has enemies all around them and so do we.  As Christ had enemies, the child of God has enemies.  The enemy fights long and hard; the enemy often wins battles; God will eventually take them down.  (“took…prisoners” and yet God is giving victory: “utterly destroyed them”) - Numbers 21:3  And the LORD hearkened to the voice of Israel, and delivered up the Canaanites; and they utterly destroyed them and their cities: and he called the name of the place Hormah.

2.  Discouraged because the Way.  Vs. 4  Israel spent 40 years in the wilderness.  Our Lord had no place to lay His head.  Life is hard at times.  I thank the Lord for the good times but bad times come and they are often long and hard.  (“they journeyed” and were led of God) -Numbers 32:7-9  And wherefore discourage ye the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land which the LORD hath given them?  Thus did your fathers, when I sent them from Kadeshbarnea to see the land.  For when they went up unto the valley of Eshcol, and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel, that they should not go into the land which the LORD had given them.

3.  Discouraged because of the frailty of our flesh.  Vs. 5a  Israel complained often.  From the time God delivered them with a high hand, they murmured and complained.  Our Lord never complained but our hearts are often complaining and bitter.  (“spake against God…against Moses”) - Numbers 14:2  And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!

4.  Discouraged because our spiritual sight is often dimmed and limited.  Vs. 5b  Israel lived from day to day because the manna had to be resupplied.  There was no water save that which God gave from the R0ck.  (“out of Egypt to die” instead of going to Canaan’s land - “no bread…water” yet God was giving them both!) - Exodus 17:6  Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

Exodus 16:15  And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.

5.  Discouraged because they were ungrateful for what the Lord gave them.  Vs. 5c  Israel was being clothed, fed, and led every step of the way through the vast wilderness.  We too often look at the things which we do not have which causes us not to be thankful for the things which we do have.  (“loatheth this light bread” which was actually angel’s food!) - Psalms 78:25  Man did eat angels’ food: he sent them meat to the full

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            a)  Discouragement Is Sin

            b)  Discouragement Is Infectious

            c)  Discouragement Is Curable

WHERE YOU WILL NOT FIND ENCOURAGEMENT

1.  You Will Not Find Encouragement In Circumstances (though they may improve temporarily, they will continue to change)

2.  You Will Not Find Encouragement In Human Reason (the world has no spiritual answers)

3.  You Will Not Find Encouragement In Self-Pity (this will only cause the trial to deepen)

WHERE YOU WILL FIND ENCOURAGEMENT

1.  You Will Find Encouragement In The Lord - 1 Samuel 30:6  And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.

a.  There Is Encouragement In His Person - Habakkuk 3:17-18  Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

b.  There Is Encouragement In His Presence - 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.

c.  There Is Encouragement In His Power - Romans 8:31  What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

Hebrews 13:6  So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

d.  There Is Encouragement In His Purpose - 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.

Romans 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to hispurpose.

2 Corinthians 1:9  But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:

e.  There Is Encouragement In His Protection - 2 Corinthians 1:10  Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;

2.  You Will Find Encouragement In the Word - Psalms 119:28  My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word. 

a.  There Is Encouragement In Its Promises - Deuteronomy 1:21  Behold, the LORD thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged.

b.  There Is Encouragement In Its Preaching - Hebrews 13:22  And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.

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

3.  You Will Find Encouragement In The Church - 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. 

           

a.  There Is Encouragement In Your Pastor

1)  To Continue - Deuteronomy 3:28  But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him: for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see.

2)  To Contend - Jude 1:3  Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

3)  To Conform -  Titus 2:11-15  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;  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.  These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

b.  There Is Encouragement In Your People

1)  There Is Visual Encouragement - 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.  (It encourages me just to see them!)

2)  There Is Vocal Encouragement - Hebrews 3:13  But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.  (It encourages me just to hear them!)

The Test of Brotherly Love

Temple Baptist Church - 2-4-2015

1 John 3:11-18

Introduction:

A.  As we look at this “test” of true salvation, it is imperative that we see that John the Beloved is not writing to a local church.  1 John is written to “my little children.”  God’s children: believers!  We speaking of loving the brethren, he is not talking about the local church alone but about every born again child of God.  Regardless of denomination!

1.  We that are saved both NOW and FOREVER!  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. 

2.  The Epistle of 1 John was written to bring blessed assurance to the children of God.  1 John 5:13  These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

B.  I believe that it is essential for the believer to have that blessed assurance and it comes through faith and examination!  2 Corinthians 13:5  Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

C.  One of the greatest tests of individual salvation is that of love.  Verse 11.  This goes back to:

John 13:34-35  A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.  (35)  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

D.  At this point, in verse 12, John goes back to the Genesis account of Cain and Abel.  I often use the Hermeneutical principle of First Mention. 

1.  Here, the Holy Ghost uses First Mention to drive home a spiritual truth.  In the story of Cain and Abel, we read that there was spiritual division between two brothers.  Cain killed Abel because he was righteous and Cain was not. 

2.  Cain’s anger at God drove him to kill a man who was righteous before God.  Truly, sin was the problem.  Genesis 4:7  If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

3.  Too often, there is spiritual division within the fellowship of the local church and that division is always caused by sin. James 4:1  From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?

E.  The world hates the children of God because they hate God.  They cannot strike at God so they do what Satan did in Genesis 3, they strike at what God loves.

John 15:18-20  If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.  (19)  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.  (20)  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.

1.  Our love for the brethren is inherent in our salvation because of the new birth.  Vs 16a 

Galatians 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,  (The first aspect of the fruit of the Spirit is love!  It does not come slowly but instantly when born again.  Love is the work of God in our hearts as we love what He loves: we love God, we love God’s Word, we love God’s Church, and we love God’s children!)

2.  Our love for the brethren is strengthened through teaching and faithfulness.

1 Thessalonians 4:9  But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

3.  Our love for the brethren is comparable to the love of God for us.  Vs. 16b

John 13:34  A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

4.  Our love for the brethren is observed by the world. 

John 13:35  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

5.  Our love for the brethren is a sharing love. 

Acts 2:44-46  And all that believed were together, and had all things common;  (45)  And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to allmen, as every man had need.  (46)  And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

6.  Our love for the brethren is to be a consistent love.

1 Timothy 5:21  I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.

7.  Our love for the brethren is an attribute that gives assurance of salvation. 

1 John 3:14  We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

The Workings of God’s Grace

Temple Baptist Church - 2-1-2015

Titus 2:11-12

Introduction:

A.  Before I look at the practical aspects of grace, I do want to take a short look at saving grace because of the natural man’s misunderstanding of this wonderful doctrine.  Saving Grace (Positional Grace) is both available and eternal.  Verse 11 speaks of this saving or positional grace.

1.  Saving Grace is available to ALL.  “hath appeared to ALL men” 

a)  Now the question may arise: “Preacher, why do you make so much out of the heretical teaching of Calvinism?”  Because it is rampant; because it is unbiblical; because it is damnable; because if puts our God in a terrible light! 

b)  God loves the world which encompasses all of mankind.  God does not love a select few and hate the rest.  Christ died for the sins of the whole world which is all mankind.  That is not limited atonement.  God is not willing that any perish but that all come to repentance.  I will continue to fight Calvinism because it is heretical!

2.  Living Grace (Practical Grace) is both available and abundant. 

a)  Romans 5:20 speaks of the Abounding Grace of God. 

b)  1 Peter 4:10 speaks of the Manifold Grace of God.

c)    2 Corinthians 12:9 speaks of the Sufficient Grace of God.

B.  The word “for” in verse 11 ties these verses back to the context of verses 1-10. 

1.  God gives the aged men the grace of God to live godly examples before the church.  The grace of God to be faithful before the people of the church.

2.  God gives the aged women the grace of God to live godly lives as examples so that they can teach the younger women. 

3.  God gives the young men the grace of God to suppress their self-centeredness and passions in order to be examples to their families and be a vital part of the work of the local church. 

4.  God gives the servant the grace of God to work hard at a job he does not like for a boss he cannot stand!  If you like your job, you can keep it.  If you like your boss you can keep him.

C.  In light of the context, how does the grace of God that bringeth salvation “appear” unto all men? 

1.  Notice the word “appeared.”  Not the word “hear.”  Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.  How can they hear without a preacher and how can he preach except he be sent. 

2.  “Appeared” is the driving force of God’s saving grace!  “The grace of God that bringeth salvation” is shown in these verses because grace not only saved us old sinners, but it also teaches and changes our lives.  That biblical saving grace “appears” to those around us.  We are the “witnesses” spoken of in Acts 1:8!  A man once said, “A life lived is worth a thousand sermons preached.”  I totally agree.  Too many people have been turned off by the hypocritical preaching or the witnessing of people whose lives to not reflect conformity to either God or the bible!

D.  God’s saving grace teaches us two things that can be broken down into many different areas but I want to make this message simple tonight:  1)  to Abstain    2)  to Adhere.

1.  To Abstain!  To abstain from the lusts of the world.  It is the grace of God that helps His children to live lives separate from this present, evil world.  The word “denying” has more than one use. 

a.  “Denying” means to refuse or to reject.  1 Thessalonians 5:22  Abstain from all appearance of evil.

1 Peter 2:11  Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;  (Abstain: to hold oneself off or to refrain.  This tells me that these are not only temptations but they are strong ones!  Have you ever had to restrain a man or woman who was trying to do something destructive or hurt someone else?  I have worked as a “bouncer.”  I am not proud of the fact nor am I advocating sinfulness but I have had to help physically restrain people who were inebriated and out of their right minds.  It is hard and dangerous work.  We have to restrain our flesh because it loves sin!  Saving grace teaches restraint!)

b.  “Denying: means to contradict or to speak out against!  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.

Titus 2:15  These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.  (I will deal with this verse later because I am preaching through the Book of Titus but we are not to be silent.  There is a concentrated effort in these last day to keep God’s people quiet, both in and outside of the local church!)

2.  To Adhere!  To adhere to the clear teachings of the bible!  One of the marks of the end time church is that of forsaking the faith “once delivered.”  There was a time when the bible was “right” and the bible was “followed.”  People of our day no longer try to adhere to the bible; they try to make the bible adhere to their personal lifestyle.  I want to look at two ways that the bible becomes personal to each believer in such a way as to change our lifestyle in a biblical manner.  I want to take just one portion of scripture out of the Book of Hebrews to make my point.  I will use these verses to show two necessities of the believer if he/she is to adhere to the Word of God.  There are 5 warning sections in Hebrews and Hebrews 5:11-14 is one of them.

a.  To adhere to the teachings of the bible through practical preaching and teaching.  Hebrews 5:11-12  Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.  (12)  For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.  (Todays churches and pulpits are the “Happy Cows” of religious people.  Most of you are familiar with the “Happy Cow Creamery” here in the upstate.  A place where you can go buy milk and milk products so close to the utter that you can utterly smell cows while in the parking lot.  They feed, milk, process, and sell in the same building!  The mile travels only 48 feet from the utter to utterly delicious!  I love it but I cannot live on milk alone, not matter how good and good for me it is.)

Hebrews 13:22  And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.  (Suffer means to allow, not to suffer through the service!  How do you suffer the word of exhortation?  By adhering to it!  One of the best ways to silence the pulpit is to hear and reject its teaching.  Eventually, the pastor will become silent on the subject because he knows that no one wants to hear it anymore so he just “moves on.”  If it is God’s Word, adhere to it!)

b.  To adhere to the teachings of the bible in personal study. Hebrews 5:13-14  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.  (14)  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.  (Babes have to be fed because they cannot feed themselves.  We have a lot of new babies in the church and that is a blessing.  Moms have to, on occasion, take them out to be fed and pampered.  Moms, learn to feed your babies, as much as possible, before, between, and after services.  If they are not hungry, feed them anyway!  I have watched my mother wake my little sister up and make her eat!  You ladies that naturally feed your babies understand why and it is none of the rest of you people’s business.  Spiritual babes are to grow up and learn to eat.  I do not want you moms taking your teenage youngins out to be fed during church!  People no longer pick up the bible and study it for themselves while asking the Lord to feed them from His word.  Read it, study it, meditate upon it, and adhere to it!)

Conclusion:  The grace of God that saved you and me will always be active to teach and change our lives until, one day, we will wake up satisfied with His likeness!