Our Gracious Heavenly Father

Temple Baptist Church - 11-12-2017

Genesis 3, Luke 15:17-24

Introduction: 

A.  I have spent several months preaching on both “Walking With God” and “Walking Away From God.” 

1.  At this point, let me say one more time that “there is no benign state of neutrality with God!”  We either walk with God or we walk away from God; we are either for Him or we are against Him; we either gather or we scatter.

2. While we can walk away from God, we can never walk away from the Voice of God: the inward voices of the Holy Spirit and the engrafted Word of God.

B.  I used both stories to show attributes of God from two sides.  There are both similarities and contrasts in these two stories.

1.  One walked away in Shame.  Adam and Eve tried to cover their shamefulness and hid from God.  God came to them and called. 

2.  One walked away in Shamelessness.  The Prodigal Son went to a “far country” and ultimately ended up in the hog pen.  The Prodigal’s father did not come to where he was but waited for him to come to himself and come home.

3.  Adam and Eve answered the Voice of God when He called and got right with the Lord. 

4.  The Prodigal Son came to himself but had a long walk home. 

5.  With both, there was still a price to be paid.

C.  The moral of these two stories is:

1.  We cannot hide from the Voice of God if we are saved!  There is an old saying: “You can run but you can’t hide!”

2.  We do not have to go to the hog pen before we get right but God will let us if that is what we desire.

3.  One of the great dangers of walking away from God is not returning.  Not every child of God gets right and even a hog pen will not change their direction.  They get an early departure from this life if they are truly saved.

D.  Now, let us take a short look at two things:  1)  How the Prodigal got right  2)  what he found when he got home.

1.  How the Prodigal Son got right.

a.  He Realized His Mistake – vs. 17  “when he came to himself”  (He came to himself – means he wasn’t thinking!  It is a shame that the word “when” must be there.)

b.  He Resolved – vs. 18 “I will arise and go to my father”  (He knew who his real friend was. His Father would never forsake him.)

c.  He Repented – vs. 18-19  “sinned against heaven and before thee”  (He realized that his sin was against God as well as his earthly father.  When we sin against God, we also hurt our families.)

d.  He Returned – vs. 20 “he arose, and came to his father”  (He swallowed his pride and admitted his wrong.  It was a long way back.  A far country is often a long journey.  When we get right with the Lord, there are often things that follow us the rest of the days of our lives.)

e.  He Was Restored – vs. 22  “robe…ring…shoes”  (The father was more than gracious, he was forgiving.)

2.  What the prodigal found when he came home.

a.  A waiting Father.  Listen to His Voice or a Long Walk Home, God is always graciously waiting.  Luke 15:20a  And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him …

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.  (Never means never!  Some people just don’t get it, but I am glad that I do!!)

Isaiah 49:15-16  Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.  (16)  Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

b.  A loving Father:  Hide from God or a Hog Pen, God still loves His children.  Luke 15:20b   … and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

Jeremiah 31:3  The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.  (God’s love neither changes nor diminishes.)

c.  A forgiving Father: the Prodigal was completely restored to his original position.  Luke 15:22  But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

Ephesians 4:32  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.  (We are to forgive as God forgives: immediately and completely.  What a forgiving Father we have.  70x7 each day is more than enough and if we go beyond that, He still forgives.)

d.  A gracious Father:  A Joyful Life or a Life of Misery, a joyful life awaited the returning son.  Luke 15:23-24  And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:  (24)  For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

1 John 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  (We confess and forsake, He is faithful and just to forgive, cleanse, and fully restore) 

The Peace That Is In Christ Jesus

Temple Baptist Church - 11-8-2017

1 Peter 5:14

Introduction:  We live in a world that is troubled.  There is very little peace of heart and mind, but God has promised peace to His children.

A.  We Find The Promise Of Peace – “Peace be with you” - 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.

B.  We Find The People Of Peace – “you” - Isaiah 48:22  There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked.

C.  We Find The Place Of Peace – “In Christ Jesus” - Colossians 1:20  And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

D.  We Find The Person Of Peace – “Christ Jesus” - Isaiah 26:3  Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

E.  Peace With God Depends Upon Him - Romans 5:1  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Colossians 1:20  And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.         

F.  Peace Of God Depends Upon You - Colossians 3:15  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Colossians 3:12  Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

1 Peter 3:11  Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.  (Ensue - to make to run or flee, put to flight, drive away)

G.  Since The Peace Of God Depends Upon You, Let Us See How To Have It.

1.  The Peace Of God Comes Through Believing What God Has Said - Romans 15:13  Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. 

a.  Believing His Promise Of Salvation - Romans 10:13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

b.  Believing His Promise Of Provision - Matthew 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

c.  Believing His Promise Of Protection - Proverbs 21:31  The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.

2.  The Peace Of God Comes Through A Realization That He Is In Control - John 16:33  These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Acts 10:36  The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)  (the winds and waves still know)

3.  The Peace Of God Comes Through Keeping Your Mind Stayed Upon Him - Isaiah 26:3  Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.  (Stayed – to lean upon or to rest in - not in self; not in circumstances)

4.  The Peace Of God Comes Through Spiritual Mindness - Romans 8:6  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Philippians 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if[there be any praise, think on these things.

5.  The Peace Of God Comes Through Making Peace - 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.

6.  The Peace Of God Comes Through Being Filled With The Holy Ghost - Galatians 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

7.  The Peace Of God Comes Through Prayer - Philippians 4:6-7  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

8.  The Peace Of God Comes Through Obedience To Scripture - Philippians 4:9  Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Isaiah 32:17  And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.

The Results of Justification

Temple Baptist Church - 11-5-2017

Romans 5:1-5

Introduction: 

A.  Justification is the change in the sinner’s state, from guilt and separation from God to salvation and peace with God!  No matter who you are, no matter what you have done, salvation is available through Christ’s sacrificial death, burial, and resurrection.

B.  Justification should also bring the peace of God.  Get your salvation settled!  You must place your trust in the finished work of the gospel.

1.  Man is condemned by his sin.   Chapters 1-3  “for all have sinned”Romans 3:10-12  As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:  (11)  There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.  (12)  They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

2.  Man is saved by grace through faith alone.  Romans 4:3-5  For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.  (4)  Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.  (5)  But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

3.  Man is justified by imputation.   Chapter 4:22-25  “imputed” Romans 4:22-25  And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.  (23)  Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;  (24)  But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;  (25)  Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

4.  Salvation and Imputation bring about Justification!

C.  Why keep repeating these things?  Because we often tend to believe that we are saved if we feel that we are being good and fail to realize that we are saved by what God did and not what we are doing.

D.  Justification Defined – to declare righteous (just as if I had never sinned)

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,

E.  The Results of Justification – 5:1-5

1.  Justification Brings Peace – vs 1  There was a time when we were enemies; but now in Christ we have peace with God. Peace with God means that our problem with sin has been settled by the blood of Christ.

2.  Justification Brings Access – vs 2  Before our salvation, we stood "in Adam" and were condemned; but now in Christ, we have a perfect standing before God and can enter into His presence.

3.  Justification Brings Rejoicing – vs 2  The unsaved person is "without hope." We cannot boast in good works that could never bring salvation, but we can boast in the wonderful salvation God has given us freely in Christ.

4.  Justification Brings Hope – vs 2  Not a false or baseless “I hope so.” But a blessed hope.

5.  Justification Brings Growth – vs 3-4  Growth through studying the Bible and victory over the tribulation.

6.  Justification Brings Love – vs 5  One of the outward signs of salvation is love.  The fruit of the Spirit begins with love, joy, then peace.

            a.  A Love For The Saviour

            b.  A Love For The Sinner

            c.  A Love For The Saint

            d.  A Love For The Scripture

            e.  A Love For The Sanctuary

Adam Walked Away From God In Shame

Temple Baptist Church - 11-5-2017

Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-10

Introduction:

A.  I will not be-labor the series on “Walking Away From God” because there are so many things that keep God’s children from walking with Him.  I do want to reiterate that, if you are not walking toward God, you are walking away from God.  “There is no benign state of neutrality with God.” But I do want to touch on two more important subjects.

B.  To set up this message, I need to go back to the First Mention Principle of Bible interpretation so, you guessed it, the Book of Genesis.  This Book of Beginnings is so rich that we could preach here for years.  It is in the Garden of Eden that we find the first man and woman who walked away from God in shame.

C.  Adam and Eve lived in an almost perfect environment in the Garden of Eden. 

1.  I use the word “almost” because there was: 1)  A commandant to be broken  2)  A devil to tempt. I leave “God’s toys” to God. 

2.  The question is often asked, “Why did God allow these two things to enter the Garden?”  I believe that the answer is simple: 1) because God wanted to do so  2) because God wanted man to want and to love Him; not to be “robots” with no will.

D.  In our text, we find:

1.  The First Man.  Genesis 2:25  And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.  (Man was created in innocence and purity.  How long that state lasted, we do not know.  Knowing mankind, not for long.)

2.  The First Command.  The command was both direct and simple.  Genesis 2:16-17  And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:  (17)  But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.  (Adam and Eve could enjoy everything in the Garden except for the fruit of one tree.

1 John 5:3  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. (Sound simple enough?)

3.  The First Temptation.  The first temptation was both fleshly and satanic. Genesis 3:1  Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?  (Why and how often did Eve stand and look at the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.) 

James 1:14-16  But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.  (15)  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.  (16)  Do not err, my beloved brethren.

4.  The First Lie. Genesis 3:4  And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 

Galatians 6:7  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

5.  The First Sin. Genesis 3:7  And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.  (Innocence lost!  Now they knew both good and evil for the first time.)

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.

6.  The First Shame.  To the child of God, sinfulness brings shame.  Genesis 3:10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

Romans 6:21-23  What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.  (22)  But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.  (23)  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Isaiah 59:2  But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

7.  The First Restoration. Genesis 3:9-12  And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?  (God initiated it when He called Adam and Adam was restored when he answered the call.)

8.  When we sin, we often hide in sin instead of running to God for forgiveness. 

a.  God wants us reconciled and calls but we MUST answer that call.  Too many have a tough time forgiving themselves and remain hidden in their shame never to be used again when reconciliation is available. 

b.  Yes, there is often a recompense for sin but restoration, peace, and usefulness will follow.

Philippians 3:13-14  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,  (14)  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

c.  We must learn to confess and forsake our sin and put it behind us.

Charity, The Bond of Perfectness

Temple Baptist Church - 11-1-2017

1 Peter 5:13-14

Introduction: 

A.  In our text for tonight, I find the phrase “holy kiss” of interest. 

B.  Four times (Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:26), Paul used the words “holy kiss” but here the Holy Spirit said, “A kiss of charity.” 

1.  The change needs to be examined because of its importance.  The word “charity” has been changed by many to the word “love.”  This is a major theological mistake!  If words are important, and they are, then we have no right to change, add, or take them away.  God says what He means and means what He says. 

2.  Many times, we greet one another with a “holy kiss” or, in our day a handshake or hug of holiness.  This expression shows no animosity and our love for one another.  I still say that I had rather people spend extra time shaking hands during our services than extra time fighting!

3.  Charity is a strong word and is a specific type of love.  1 Corinthians 13 contains a Full Mention Principle about charity.  In other words, if the Bible said nothing more on the subject, it said enough. 

C.  Charity Examined.  Charity - brotherly love, affection, good will, love, benevolence.

1 Corinthians 13:13  And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.  (The greatest gift given to the church is charity!)

D.  Charity, the Bond of Perfectness!  Colossians 3:14  And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. (A spiritual maturity that brings unity.)

1.  Charity, the Bond of Perfectness, is a sign of the maturity of the believer.  The Holy Spirit calls it “the bond of perfectness.”  This Biblical definition of charity spells out two things.

2.  Charity, the Bond of Perfectness, shows that spiritual maturity has its love right.  To love God supremely; to love the Bible; to love the church; and to love one another.

3.  Charity, the Bond of Perfectness, shows the effect of spiritual maturity.  Charity is a sign of spiritual maturity where others matter more than self, and God’s will become supreme in our lives.  A lack of maturity is “My will and not thine be done!” 

2 Thessalonians 1:3  We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;

E.  What does Charity, the Bond of Perfectness, do?

1.  Charity, the bond of perfectness, Edifies The Body - 1 Corinthians 8:1  Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.  (Edify – to build up; to strengthen.)

Ephesians 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

2.  Charity, the bond of perfectness, Profits The Body - 1 Corinthians 13:1-3  Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.  And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

3.  Charity, the bond of perfectness, Unifies the Body - 1 Corinthians 13:4-7  Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,  Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;  Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;  Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

4.  Charity, the bond of perfectness, Encourages The Body– Hebrews 13:1  Let brotherly love continue.  (Hebrews 10:22-25 – Satan hates us; the world hates us; we must love one another.)

5.  Charity, the bond of perfectness, Defines The Body - 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.  (Spiritual maturity manifests itself to those around us.  “Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men.”)