O Give Thanks unto the Lord

 Temple Baptist Church - 11-20-2022

Psalm 107

 

Introduction:

 

A.  I will not do this in all the Psalms but there will be some that require more than one message.  The Psalms were the “hymn book” of the Nation of Israel.  As with our hymn books, many of the Psalms or songs were born our of trouble and circumstances. 

 

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.

 

B.  The Psalm is Davidic and was written during his hiding from King Saul.  In the worst of times, David found things to be thankful for as we find things to be thankful for in our troubles.

 

C.  The key verse is verse 1: “O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.”  Notice with me that this first verse coincides with the last verse of Psalm 23: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.”

 

D.  Psalm 23 is a story written by David about his life.  From his salvation, “The Lord is my Shepherd” in verse 1, to his death and homegoing in verses 4-6, “(4)  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.  (5)  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.  (6)  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”

 

E.  Though David is the one in trouble, he brings us to remembrance of God’s deliverances of Israel in four areas of life.  This is what the Book of Psalms is about.  The goodness and mercy of God in both good times and also in times of troubles.  GOD IS ALWAYS GOOD! 

 

Psalms 100:5  For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

 

F.  As we are now only a short time before Thanksgiving, I feel it necessary to preach on “Thankfulness.”  This is a Psalm of Thanksgiving.  I do not have the time to dissect each verse as there are 43, but I do want to give you 4 things that stand out.

 

G.  There are 2 verses in Psalm 107 that are repeated 4 times.

 

1.  Verses 6, 13,19, and 28.  “Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.”  (4 times they cried unto the Lord, and He delivered them out of their “distresses” each time.  (Distresses – a narrow place or anguish.)

 

2.  Verses 8, 15, 21, and 31.  “Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!”  (Another 4 times they praised the LORD for His goodness and wonderful works to the children of men.)

 

 

 

1.  Verses 2-8.  The Goodness of the LORD’s Care. 

 

a.  David was thankful for the care of the Lord.

 

b.  David wanted Israel to be thankful for the care of the Lord.

 

c.  The Lord wants us to be thankful for His care.  When we have needs that cause distresses, He if faithful to meet those needs so that we have need of nothing.

 

2.  Verses 9-15.  The Goodness of the LORD’s Correction.

 

a.  David knew the correction of the Lord.

 

b.  Israel knew the correction of the Lord.

 

c.  We know the correction of the Lord.  I am thankful that God cares enough for me to correct me and place my feet back on a right path.

 

3.  Verses 16-22.  The Goodness of the LORD’s Compassion.

 

a.  David experienced the Lord’s compassion.

 

b.  David experienced the Lord’s compassion.

 

c.  We have experienced the Lord’s compassion.  The Lord not only takes care of us, He cares for us!  I have seen people who cared for someone but cared nothing about them.  Does Jesus care, I know He cares!

 

4.  Verses 23-31.  The Goodness of the LORD’s Control. 

 

a.  David wrote of his death and going home because he understood the sovereignty of God.

 

b.  Israel’s glorious end when they look on Him whom they pierced has already been recorded in the Bible and will come to pass.

 

c.  We need to understand that God is a sovereign God who both knows the end from the beginning but also controls our circumstances as we walk through this world of woe!

 

Psalms 107:6-8  Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.  (7)  And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.  (8)  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

IN Everything Give Thanks

Temple Baptist Church - 11-20-2022

1 Thessalonians 5:18

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  This is one of those verses that has been greatly mis-understood because of casually looking at the verse and making a wrong interpretation.  A wrong interpretation makes for a wrong application.  The key to the verse is the word “in.”  The Bible does not say that we are to be thankful “for” everything but “in” everything.

 

B.  There are a lot of things in this world that I am not thankful for! 

 

1.  I am not thankful for the sin that destroys the lives of people.  As I look around, I see people who have been murdered, raped, robbed, and otherwise mistreated and these things bring a sorrow to my heart. 

 

2.  I am not thankful for the sin that is bringing this nation to its knees.  The sin of rejecting the Lord Jesus Christ and His precious Word that can change things for the better.  Our nation is almost gone spiritually.

 

3.  I am not thankful for those of our church family that have been sick or died.  These are people that we loved; these are people who were and still are our family; these are people that will forever remain in our hearts and minds; these are people greatly missed.

 

4.  I am not thankful for the disease of cancer that has affected so many of our loved ones.  I watch and pray as they battle this terrible disease.  I wish that the cause be learned, and a cure discovered for it.

 

5.  I am not thankful for the people who once worshipped with us are no longer here.  What a blessing it would have been if they had all remained right with the Lord and stayed.  So much more could have been done for missions; so much more could have been done for our city and county; so much more done to win souls to Christ.

 

6.  The list could go on, but I believe that you get the point.  We are not to be thankful “for” all things.  Some things righteously anger us.  Be angry and sin not.  This tells me that we are to be angered about some things.  Some things sadden us, and we wish with all of our hearts that we could change them but we cannot.

 

C.  This is one of the tough verses in the Bible, but one of the most blessed when we get a hold on it. 

 

1.  If Romans 8:28 is in the Bible and means what it says (and we know that it is and does), then God is guiding us and giving us each day that which is pleasing to Him and beneficial to us! 

 

2.  1 Thessalonians 5:18 is also in the Bible and means what it says.  In the worst of situations, there is still much to thank the Lord for.

 

D.  I have so often said that life is hard, and disappointments come often.  There are so many things that we do not and cannot understand and, at that point, have to learn to trust the Lord with them.  I believe that we need to do the best that we can and then trust God with that which we cannot do.  The great Apostle Paul said that he had learned contentment in spite of his circumstances.

 

E.  Despite all that seems bad, there is so much that we need to be thankful for:

 

1.  Our great salvation that we cannot lose!  Saved by Grace!  Saved forever!  Billions will die without Christ, and we are saved, and heaven bound.

 

2.  Our great temporal blessings that we have come to expect!  Our homes!  Our food!  Our clothing!  Our freedom!  Our transportation!  Most of the world has nothing and we have everything.

 

3.  Our wonderful health that we too often take for granted!  We are not in the hospital this morning!  We are not in the care of hospice this morning!  We are not at home and in bed sick this morning!  I feel good and am blessed with good health!

 

4.  Our wonderful church!  Good churches are both special and scarce.  The unity and peace that permeates the church this morning!  A place where we feel at home.  A place where the Bible is still upheld and preached.  A place where our children can get to know the truth without compromise.  A place of prayer where we lift up each other as well as or lost family and friends.  A place where we meet missionaries and have a small part of their ministries around the world.

 

5.  Our blessed hope!  This present evil world is not our home!  One day just like today and it could be today, we will be finally and eternally home.  We will not see all of the bad things come to end in our days upon this earth as things progressively get worse, but we will one day see God remove the sin and restore the earth back to what it once was in the days prior to Adam’s sin.

 

6.  Our settled peace!  I do not know what lies on tomorrow nor do I want to know.  I do not want the knowledge of tomorrow destroy the peace that today holds.  But I am so glad that I know Who holds tomorrow and Who will hold my hand and walk with me through it!

 

Conclusion:  I did not make a long list but just wanted us to know that we have much to be thankful for in the midst of hard times.  “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you!”

The Pool of Bethesda

 Temple Baptist Church - 11-16-2022

John 5:1-16

 

A.  Verse 1-2.  The time and place of the miracle.  “After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.”

 

a.  The time was one of the 3 feast days where God required all the males of Israel, along with Jewish Proselytes, to appear before Him in Jerusalem.  Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles.

 

b.  The sheep market where displaced Jews who sold their sheep in their homeland could now buy sheep for their sacrifices at the feast.

 

c.  Bethesda – House of Kindness or Mercy.  A pool with five porches (5 in the Bible is the number of grace) where people with physical infirmities were brought to sit in hopes of healing.

 

B.  Verses 3-4.  The mystery of the Pool of Bethesda.

 

a.  In the transitional period of the “400 Silent Years” between Malachi and Matthew, God—for whatever reason known only to Him—instituted a way of healing for the people of Israel that was unique to its time.  God did the same type of miracles in the transitional books of the New Testament prior to the completion of the Word of God at the conclusion of the Apostolic Age.

 

b.  A certain angel came to a certain place with a certain healing.  It was a physical healing, not a spiritual one. The healing was evidently a cure for the chastisement of God upon the sinful. 

 

John 5:14  Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.

 

c.  The healing was because of the grace of God and not by the knowledge of earthly physicians.  “Bethesda.”

 

d.  The healing was not uniform, or “across the board” because only the first one to step into the pool received the healing.  A great lesson here is that sinfulness may continue to bear consequences for either a long time or for a lifetime.

 

C.  Now, I want to look at the physical healing that this man received and make a spiritual application. 

 

1.  The Condition of the Sinner.  Verses 5-7.  A Certain man who was helpless but not hopeless!  After 38 years of helplessness, he was still at the pool and hopeful for his own personal miracle.  Lesson: never give up.  “It ain’t over until it is over.”

 

2.  The Certainty of the Season.  Verse 4. 

 

a.  The impotent man did not know when the stirring of the waters would take place again, but he knew that it would stir once more. 

 

b.  Oft times we give up on the Lord when we have “open ended waiting” ahead.  He knew!  God is always on time: not early nor late.

 

3.  The Complexity of the Situation.  Verse 7. 

 

a.  “Sir, I have no man.”  The situation of the impotent man was one of human impossibility but still one of hopefulness. 

 

b.  Most of us would have given up and stayed at home after a few days, weeks, months, or years.  With God all things are possible because He alone can do all things.

 

4.  The Compassion of the Sovereign.  Verse 6. 

 

a.  “When Jesus.”  It will never cease to amaze me that the God of this universe, eternal existing and eternally sovereign, would look down on an impotent man sitting among the sick, maimed, and afflicted sitting on the porches of the Pool of Bethesda!  Even more so, that God would look down on a sinner such as I! 

 

b.  God, in His sovereignty, comes in His time and in His way.  Acts, chapter 9 and Paul’s conversion, is a great example.  Our Lord knew where this man was all the 38 years previous but came to him at the right time.  The question is often asked, “Does God really care?”  He does!  “Does God really love us?”  He Does.

 

5.  The Confrontation with the Solution.  Verse 6-7. 

 

a.  The question asked, “Will thou be made whole?”  The answer given, “Sir, I have no man.”  We see the honesty of the impotent man.  He was frank with the Lord concerning his inability and future.

 

b.  He answered, “Sir, I have no man.”  “No!”  His expectancy was for the help of some man to help when the solution was found in the Lord Jesus.

 

6.  The Charge of the Saviour.  Verse 8.

 

a.  “Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.”  For an impotent man, this was a solution far beyond his human ability.  It took an act of faith get up and get gone. 

 

b.  The Lord demanded the impossible; He required the unthinkable; He only asked for the man to place his face in Him.  “Go forward” was the command to Israel when faced with the Red Sea!  Go forward and trust God to make a way.

 

7.  The Change of the Salvation.  Verse 9. 

 

a.  “And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.”  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, 38 years of suffering and disappointment were over, and a new life began for the impotent man.

 

b.  Can you imagine the thrill, the utmost joy, the amazing hope in the impotent man’s heart and mind?  To walk again after 38 years of impotency.  It is amazing that God can fix things as quickly as He can slowly.  He can test our faith slowly  or He can reward our faith instantly.

 

8.  The Criticism of the Spectators.  Verse 10. 

 

a.  “It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.”  The religious crowd chose this wonderful time as to criticize instead of a time of joy and happiness for the cured.  The world does not comprehend, cannot comprehend, and cannot explain spiritual change that brings about an outward change. 

 

b.  People tend to malign what they cannot understand.  What they cannot understand, they tend to reject and or attack.  Why would it anger a righteous man when God heals a crippled man?  These Jews were so religiously pious that such a wonderful thing done on the Sabbath became a thing of sin instead of a thing of joy.

 

9.  The Confession of the Saint.  Verses 11-15. 

 

a.  “He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk ... The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.”  He gave glory and praise to the One who changed his life in a moment of time.

 

b. God did a wonderful thing for us when He took all our sin away.  How can we remain silent in the presence of the world?  Someone once said, “The Gospel is the best kept secret in the Bible Belt!”

 

10.  The Command of the Saviour.  Verse 14. 

 

a.  “Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.” Evidently, the impotence of this man was a result chastisement. 

 

b.  Not all sickness and affliction are results of personal sin, but they are results of Adamic sin.  We all have our sicknesses and afflictions, but God is able to deliver us from the all or through them all.

 

11.  The Clarification of the Son of God.  Verse 16-17. 

 

a.  “And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.”  But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.” This was an act of God, not that of an angel or the help of a man.  

 

b.  When a problem is fixed, remember that it is of the Lord’s mercies.  He loves us and He cares.

Three Sevens in the Christian Life - Part 2 - Seven Things We Are to Add to Our Faith

Temple Baptist Church - 11-13-2022

2 Peter 1:5-7

 

Introduction:

 

A.  This morning, I want to preach part 2 in the mini-series “Three Sevens In The Christian Life”.

 

B.  In Part 1, we saw “Seven Things God Left The Saints.”  Seven wonderful things!  These seven things accompany our salvation and are freely given to us when we get saved.  God is so good to His children and many times we take these blessings for granted with the world’s entitlement mindset.

 

C.  This morning, I want to look at the second of the sevens mentioned in this chapter.  “Seven Things We Are To Add To Our Faith”

 

D.  Salvation is free but sanctification is something that we, in our love for Him, give back.  The Bible defines sanctification as “your reasonable service.”

 

Romans 12:1-2  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  (2)  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

 

E.  I believe that we should be as excited about the 7 things that we are to give to God as we are with the 7 things that God gave to us.  Though we are saved by grace and not by works, good works should follow salvation.  Our text says that we are to add to our faith. 

 

F.  Saving faith will get you to heaven but it will not influence anyone else to want to go with you without seeing a difference. 

 

1.  Paul speaks of a faith without works being a form of godliness that denies the power thereof and that power is the power of change.  Paul gives a list that fits today’s “Christianity” well.  2 Timothy 3:5  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

 

2.  James said that faith without works was dead faith.  James 2:17-18  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.  (18)  Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

 

G.  Peter gives us 7 things in verses 5-7 that we have a responsibility to add to our foundation of faith.  These are noteworthy because of their importance in our being salt and light in this present evil world that we live in.  God has given us the ability to add these things.

 

2 Peter 1:3  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

 

H.  They will make our lives different from the masses of humanity that surround us.  They will give us a godly testimony as we witness to these masses of humanity that surround us;

 

J.  Here they are, a very simple list.

 

1.  Virtue – moral excellence or standard of right.  Virtue is inward which produces virtuous which is outward.

 

a.  Virtue in our actions. 2 Corinthians 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

 

b.  Virtue in our associations.  John 15:18-19  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.

 

2.  Knowledge – spiritual truth.  We are to study and rightly divided the Word of Truth.

 

1 Timothy 2:4  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

 

2 Peter 1:2  Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

 

a.  A lack of knowledge destroys us.  Hosea 4:6  My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

 

b.  A love of knowledge grows us.  2 Timothy 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

 

3.  Temperance – self-control.  Our passions, out appetites, our actions.

 

a.  Because God sees 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.

 

b.  Because the world sees us!  Romans 13:13-14  Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.  (14)  But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

 

4.  Patience – quality in endurance.  The Christian’s prayer: “Lord, give me patience right now.”

 

a.  Patience in our trials.  Romans 5:3-4  And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;  (4)  And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

 

b.  Patience in our disappoints and discouragements.  Romans 2:7  To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

 

5.  Godliness – the divine attribute of being Christ like.  I find it of interest that the Bible differentiates between virtue and godliness.  A lost person can be virtuous but only the child of God can be godly.

 

a.  Godly inside. 2 Peter 1:3  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

 

b.  Godly outside. 2 Peter 3:11  Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

 

6.  Brotherly Kindness – treating your brother as you would have your brother treat you.

 

a.  Brotherly Kindness should be our priority. Galatians 6:10  As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

 

b.  Brotherly Kindness should be our pleasure. 1 John 3:16-18  Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.  (17)  But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?  (18)  My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

 

7.  Charity – love for the brethren.  Once more we find a differentiation between to similar statements or words.  You can be kind to the brethren and not love them right.

 

a.  Charity, one of the three remaining gifts. 1 Corinthians 13:13  And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

 

b.  Charity, the greatest gift. 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.

 

Conclusion:  Along with our salvation comes our responsibility and obligations.  We are in the world, but it is a certainty that we are not to be of the world.

The Woman at the Well

 Temple Baptist Church - 11-9-2022

John 4:7-14; Isaiah 12:1-6

 

Introduction:

 

A.  I preached on the salvation of the Samaritan woman a couple of weeks ago and what a joy it was to see the love and compassion our Lord Jesus Christ had on this social outcast.  “Oh, how He loves you and me!”

 

B.  Tonight, I want to take a closer look at the statement that Christ made in verses 13 and 14 concerning the “spiritual well” that springs up in the heart and life of the believer.

 

C.  This precious woman came to the well to draw water and left the well with the well of salvation in her bosom.

 

D.  The promise of the Saviour was a “well of water springing up into everlasting life.”

 

1.  This well is an everlasting one.  Again, everlasting is from a point in time or a place of reference.  It has a time and a place associated with its beginning but no end in time future.

 

2.  This well is “springing up.”  It is more than just life giving, it is giving in our lives.  The prophet Isaiah spoke of this well after Israel’s long-awaited return from the Babylonish Captivity.

 

E.  We that are saved have this well springing up with us.  It is both everlasting life and also a life that is everlasting.  Let me explain.  When we are saved, we are saved forever, but that eternal life that God gives is one that continually gives back to us.  “What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought since Jesus came into my heart.”

 

Numbers 21:16-17  And from thence they went to Beer: that is the well whereof the LORD spake unto Moses, Gather the people together, and I will give them water.  (17)  Then Israel sang this song, Spring up, O well; sing ye unto it:

 

F.  We certainly need eternal life, but we also need spiritual things in our temporal life. 

 

Isaiah 12:1-6  And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me.  (2)  Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.  (3)  Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.  (4)  And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.  (5)  Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth.  (6)  Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.

 

G.  The wells of salvation:  notice with me that “wells” is in the plural form.  You can draw all you want, and you can draw many-faceted.

 

H.  These are the wells of Salvation.  The sinner first receives joy and peace through believing.  God’s promises are sure; God’s blessings are rich; God’s benefits are to be enjoyed.

 

1.  The Drawing.

 

a.  There is Salvation to be had – 2

 

b.  There is Faith to be had - 2 “trust”

 

c.  There is Safety to be had - 2 “not be afraid”

 

d.  There is Joy to be had - 2 “song”

 

e.  There is Deliverance to be had - 2 “is become my salvation”

 

2.  The Joy.

 

a.  The Joy of Praise - 4 “praise”

 

b.  The Joy of Prayer - 4 “call”

 

c.  The Joy of Witness - 4 “declare”

 

d.  The Joy of Worship - 4 “exalted”

 

e.  The Joy of Singing - 5 “sing”

 

f.  The Joy of Shouting - 6 “cry out and shout”

 

g.  The Joy of Understanding - 6 “great”