From Whence Come Wars And Fightings Among You?

 Temple Baptist Church - 11-10-2021

James 3:16-4:3

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  Last week, we dealt with godly wisdom vs. worldly wisdom. 

 

1.  James 3:17-18.  Godly wisdom is the fruit of righteousness and is "sown in peace of them that make peace."

 

2.  James 3:14-16.  Worldly wisdom is the fruit of "bitter envying and strife in your hearts" and the author of "confusion and every evil work."

 

B.  James, chapter 4 continues within the same context.  Chapter and verse divisions are great tools but often cause confusion because we deem them the end of one thought and the beginning of another.

 

C.  James 4:1-2.  The Bible is facetiously asking a question to which the answer should be obvious.  "From whence" ties us back to the preceding chapter where the question has been answered.  "From whence" speaks of a source. 

 

1.  Do "wars and fightings among you" come from godly wisdom and righteous works?  When people live for God, forgive those who trespass against them, and endeavor to live in peace—does this make them problematic in the local church?  No!

 

2.  Do "wars and fightings among you" come from worldly wisdom which brings about bitter envying and strife in heart?  Absolutely!

 

D.  Though the answer should be obvious to the believer of godly wisdom, it may be obscured in the heart of the unrighteous man.  Thus, The Book of James both gives the question and the answer to the question.  The Holy Ghost does not leave right and wrong up to the doer.  The Holy ghost draws a distinction between them!

 

1.  There is a Condition to be Desired.  "a wise man and endued with knowledge"  "a good conversation his works with meekness and wisdom"

 

2.  There is a Condition to be Shunned.  "bitter envying and strife in your hearts. 

 

3.  There is a Culprit to be Exposed.  "This wisdom …  not from above … earthly, sensual, devilish"

 

4.  There is a Result that is Divisive.  "confusion and every evil work"

 

5.  There is a Result that is Edifying.  "pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits"

 

6.  There is a Path to Follow.  "the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace"

 

E.  The Problem Exposed.  "your lusts that war IN YOUR MEMBERS"

 

1.  Illicit Desires.  "Ye lust, and have not"  Lust – to set one's heart upon something.  In this context, to set one's heart upon something that is biblically wrong.

 

2.  Willful Destruction.  "ye kill"  The wars and fightings are not physical ones, they are spiritual ones and the tongue is normally the weapon of choice.  Life and death are still in the power of the tongue!

 

3.  Unfulfilled Life.  "desire to have, and cannot obtain.  If you desires are wrong, then God does not give to you the desires of an ungodly heart.  Psalms 84:11  For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

 

4.  Uncontrolled Emotions.  "ye fight and war"  Galatians 5:22-23  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,  (23)  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

 

5.  Prayerless Life.  "yet ye have not, because ye ask not"  When someone knows that he/she is out of Gods will, they do not pray because they understand that their sins have separated them from God.

 

6.  Unanswered Prayers.  " Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts."  When the heart is not right, then the desires are not right and the "out of God's will" prayers are not answered!  Psalms 66:18  If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

 

Conclusion:  The most important unit on the face of the earth other than the family is the local church.  Because it is the vehicle through which God works to evangelize the world, teach the convert, and to edify and encourage the believer.  Satan hates the local assembly!

 

1.  The Greatest Enemy Of The Church Is Not Satan.  (Though he is a great enemy.)

 

2.  The Greatest Enemy Of The Church Is Not Finances. (For God is not broke.)

 

3.  The Greatest Enemy Of The Church Is Not Circumstances. (For it rains on the just and the unjust.)

 

4.  The Greatest Enemy Of The Church Is The Enemy From Within.  (The people who occupy the pulpits and sit upon the pews.) 

 

The Lamentation of The Great Whore

 Temple Baptist Church - 11-7-2021

Revelation 18

 

A.  Last week, we saw why the great whore had to be destroyed: 1)  Because she had outlived her purpose or usefulness to Satan  2)  Because Satan will not continue to allow anything or anyone to be worshipped in his stead.

 

B.  Her Description – Verses 1-3.  Babylon the Great, in chapter 17 and 18, is given a two-fold description.

 

1.  The Ecclesiastical description is "Mystery Babylon" in chapter 17.  This refers back to her beginning and follows her history until the end-time.  She is a religious whore who has sold her soul for temporal things.  Romanism is not a worship of God or Jesus Christ, it is a worship of the Catholic Church, Mary, and idols.

 

2.  The Economic description is "Babylon the Great" found in both chapter 17 and 18.  Here we find her commercial outreach from the city of Rome that has touched every nation in the world.  She is popular because she is rich!  She is the richest religious institution on earth.

 

3.  The End of this religious system comes at the hand of the Political Babylon in Revelation 17:16.  She is destroyed on two fronts referenced by the double "is fallen, is fallen."  She will be destroyed religiously as Satan will have no "gods" before him and economically as her great merchandise will cease at her falling.  Today, we are getting a small dose of what will transpire in the Tribulation Period as economies will ultimately collapse because socialism is a "failure looking for a place to happen."  You cannot live on another's finances!

 

C.  Her Wickedness – Verses 2-3.  She is great and she is wicked!  She is the habitation of devils, foul spirits, and unclean birds (interesting that her leadership bears the name of "cardinals.")  The heart of the Roman system of worship is idolatrous and anti-Bible.  Martin Luther found out that you cannot read and study your Bible and remain Catholic. 

 

D.  "Habitation of devils."  The first mention of "devils" in the Bible is associated with unacceptable sacrifice. 

 

Leviticus 17:3-7  What man soever there be of the house of Israel, that killeth an ox, or lamb, or goat, in the camp, or that killeth it out of the camp,  (4)  And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer an offering unto the LORD before the tabernacle of the LORD; blood shall be imputed unto that man; he hath shed blood; and that man shall be cut off from among his people:  (5)  To the end that the children of Israel may bring their sacrifices, which they offer in the open field, even that they may bring them unto the LORD, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest, and offer them for peace offerings unto the LORD.  (6)  And the priest shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar of the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and burn the fat for a sweet savour unto the LORD.  (7)  And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have gone a whoring. This shall be a statute for ever unto them throughout their generations.

 

The only acceptable sacrifice took place within the Tabernacle in the Wilderness.  There were some who chose to offer their personal sacrifices outside the Tabernacle and the Bible called these sacrifices "sacrifices unto devils, after who they have gone a whoring" in verse 7.  The only acceptable sacrifice today is on a hill called Calvary, where our Lord Jesus Christ died for the sins of the world.  Calvary and the Resurrection comprised a finished work called the Gospel to which nothing can be added or removed.  The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believeth, both Jew and Gentile.

 

E.  "Hold of every foul spirit." The word "hold" refers to a protected or guarded place.  "Foul spirit" refers to devils in general (fallen angels) who are enemies of Christ and mankind.  "Devils" refers to their association to Satan and their following of the same.

 

Mark 9:25  When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.

 

These "foul spirits" continue to exist in our day.  The wickedness of people is often because of devil possession as it was in the days of Christ.  Our Lord dealt with these fallen angels on a consistent basis and we have the same warfare.

 

Ephesians 6:11-13  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  (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.  (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.

 

F.  "Cage of every unclean and hateful bird."  This phrase does not speak of birds in general as God made them beautiful and harmless.  I love to feed birds.  They are a thing of beauty and singing that brings joy and peace to the heart.  The description is of a cage: a place of forced containment.  The spiritual Babylon holds captive the evil spirits that remain within it. 

 

G.  "Unclean and Hateful" speaks of those birds that I do not like to see such as buzzards, crows, and other birds that eat carrion.  Her priesthood is defiled and is likened unto unclean and hateful birds.  The First Mention of such is found when birds came down to devour the sacrifices made by Abram. 

 

Genesis 15:9-11  And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.  (10)  And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not.  (11)  And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away.

 

The end-time spiritual system is bankrupt because it destroys the singular sacrifice of Jesus Christ alone for salvation. There is no co-redemptrix nor is there a co-mediatrix as is taught by Catholicism.  Redemption and mediation are found in Christ alone.

 

H.  Verse 3.  All nations will be drunk (to be "intoxicated") with her spiritual fornication.  People who protect the religious Babylon have no comprehension of what the Bible teaches.  They only follow what the end-time church teaches.  I believe that it would be a fair assessment to say that almost all Catholic people have never read their Bible through from cover to cover much less studied the Scriptures.

 

J.  All the kings of the earth will have "bought in" to her fornication.  Fornication - to act the harlot, that is, (literally) indulge unlawful lust (of either sex), or (figuratively) practice idolatry: - commit (spiritual fornication).  These ungodly nations and kings agree with this religious institution though the religious institution is not in agreement with Bible.  The Bible MUST be assessed by them as a source of truth and practice but not THE source of truth and practice.  The end-time religious system becomes the form of worship to be followed.

 

Revelation 2:20-23  Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.  (21)  And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.  (22)  Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.  (23)  And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

 

K.  The merchants of the earth are "bought in" because this religious system has made them rich through the abundance of her delicacies.  She will be greatly mourned at her demise.

A Man After God’s Own Heart - Part 6 - David: A Man of Great Failure

Temple Baptist Church - 11-7-2021

2 Samuel 11:1-25

Introduction: 

 

A.  I love the bible and have many favorite chapters and verses but here is one story that I would call my “not favorite” one.  In these verses that we will read, we find one of the saddest days recorded in the Bible. 

 

B.  A day when a great man of God fails!  I read of the faults and failures of other men such as Noah, Moses, Peter, and Demas but this one is so different for me.  The “sweet psalmist of Israel,” a man after God’s own heart, the king of all Israel has fallen!  After killing a giant and his “ten thousands,” after subduing many of the nations that were enemies to Israel, he succumbed to the desires of his flesh.

 

C.  It is not an event that needs to be relished or broadcast to either the church or the world.  So many times, when the failure of a Christian is great and the man or woman notable, the sinfulness becomes public in the news.  What a shame and disgrace when the papers and TV stations make public such failures.  Those who fail may not be of our “stripe,” but they are linked to our Lord Jesus Christ by the words that they speak and the faith that they profess.

 

D.  To many times, the fallen is among true bible believers as I believe that Satan has “pulled out the stops” in his attack upon men of God, churches, families, and a “Christian” nation. 

 

1.  So often, it is a fellow believer or even a pastor who is the spreader of gossip and the bearer of the bad news.  I have a problem with the gossip that goes on in our churches and pulpits. 

 

2.  I believe that it is our obligation to pray for them, not spread the “bad news” across the land.  The less who know of such failure the easier it is to do “damage control” and ultimately make restoration.

 

E.  God recorded the event in such detail as to show the church both the cause and effect of such failure.  God recorded it so we will read it; God recorded it so that we will heed it.  You may look at the life of David and say, “This will never happen to me,” but take heed lest you or I become prey to the same sinful ness that captured the heart of God’s man.

 

1 Corinthians 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

 

F.  One would not think that our failures could have positive affect upon our lives, but we will find that the Lord brought something clean out of an unclean situation. 

 

G.  David’s sin brought about some bad consequences.  Sin may be finished and forgiven but often the results are ongoing.  David was never the same as before.  You can read David’s life and see that there was an innocence lost.  The man who kept the sheep on the hillside surrounding Bethlehem while writing the Psalms was no longer!  Yes, he would rise from the “dust” of failure to serve his God again, but he would never be the same.  It is not that God cannot or does not forgive, it is that now, when he slays a giant or kills his ten thousands, the world will only remember Bathsheba!  With Noah, it was his drunkenness; with Moses is was his anger; with Peter it was his denial; with Demas, it was his forsaking; with those of us who have fallen, the reproach and damage is ongoing.

 

H.  The question that I want to answer this morning is this:  What does personal failure have to do with being a man after God’s own heart?

 

THE STORY OF DAVID'S SIN.

 

1.  There Was Great Failure  (I have personally known pastors, evangelists, and missionaries as well as laymen and women who have fallen into gross sin and it is both devastating and heart breaking.)

 

a. The Condition Of The Sin – 2 Samuel 11:1 – David was out of the battle!  (The moment you quit serving the Lord and become a pew sitter, you became a potential liability!)

 

b. The Carrying Out Of The Sin – 2 Samuel 11:2-4 – David looked, lusted, and took Bathsheba.  (David exposed himself to seeing the wrong things and, instead of correcting the problem of downcast eyes by directing them back to the heavens and God, he lingered in his gaze, hungered in his heart, and became defiled his life.)

 

c. The Covering Of The Sin – 2 Samuel 11:5-27 – David not only killed Uriah the Hittite, but also others who died with him.  (Sin must either be confessed or covered and the covering never stops.)

 

d. The Continuance Of The Sin – 2 Samuel 12:14-15  David continued unrepentant for at least 9 months.  (There is a finishing of sin before the judgment as a general rule.  God gives you all of the “rope” that you need to hang yourself!)

 

2.  There Was Great Consequence

 

a. Consequence Of Loss Of Power And Peace With God – 2 Samuel 11:27 – The Lord knew and David knew!  (There was no peace with God or power of God on David’s life as he continued to try to serve the Lord in his sin.)

 

b. The Consequence Of Loss Of Testimony – 2 Samuel 11:14 (before Joab); 12:1 (before Nathan); 12:17 (before household); 12:18 (before his servants); 12:20 (before Israel).  (Be sure your sin will find you out!)

 

c. The Consequences Of The Sin

 

1) Loss Of Respect From All Of The Above

 

2) Defilement Of His Concubines – 2 Samuel 12:11-12

 

3) Loss Of Testimony Before The Wicked – 2 Samuel 12:14

 

4) Death Of His Child – 2 Samuel 12:18

 

5) Continuance Of The Sword Of Chastisement – 2 Samuel 12:10  (Rape of his daughter by his son, death of that son by another brother, Absalom’s rebellion and ultimate death!)

 

3.  There Was Great Restoration – Psalms 51 (We will not go into that as of yet.)

 

LESSONS ABOUT A MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART.

 

1.  There Is The Capability Of Great Failure.  (Even in the life of David!  We can as easily go from service to sin if not careful.)

 

a.  David was a man of content who became discontent.

 

b.  David was a man of character who became a character.

 

c.  David was a man of worship who failed to worship.

 

d.  David was a man of war who lost the war with the flesh.

 

2.  Be Sure Your Sin Will Find You Out.  (Even the best-hidden sins will eventually come out if not dealt with.)

 

3.  God Will Bring About Chastening and Consequences In Our Lives.  (Our sin neither goes unnoticed nor escapes His perfect judgment.)

 

4.  Though Failure Sometimes Brings About Chastening (both short and long ranged), We Can Get Right With God And Still Be A Person Useable For The Lord.  (In the New Testament, God said nothing concerning Bathsheba and only said that David was a man after God’s own heart.  Though there are certain failures that will limit our usability, even those with these failures can find a place of repentance and service.)