Why The Emphasis Upon the Local Church

 Temple Baptist Church - 1-8-2023

Hebrews 10:25

Introduction: 

 

A.  There has been a serious decline in church attendance in the past few decades and this decline is a fulfillment of Scripture.  It has been prophesied that in the last days, there would be a falling away and we are in the middle of it. 

 

B.  The “form of godliness” has permeated the ranks of the professing  believers with little or no conviction or holiness of life.

 

C.  Most churches are fairly full Sunday morning, but the Sunday night and Wednesday night crowds have dwindled to the point of calling off services.  “As the manner of some is” has become the rule instead of the exception with more and more of the once faithful now either slack in their faithfulness or completely out of church.  My Bible still says, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. “  (Matthew 18:20)

 

D.  The Importance of God’s House.  The phrase “The house of the Lord” is used 213 X in the Bible.  The phrase “house of God” is used 87X in the Bible.  That is a total of 300 references.  This does not include other references such as “temple” and “tabernacle.”  God’s house is a place of great importance.

 

1.  The Emphasis of God’s House - 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.  Why the emphasis?

 

                    a)  It Is A Place Of Rallying.  (When you are down.)

 

                    b)  It Is A Place Of Relying.  (When you are devastated.)

 

                    c)  It Is A Place Of Renewing.  (When you are defiled.)

 

                    d)  It Is A Place Of Revival.  (When you are defeated.)

 

2.  The Excitement of God’s House - Psalms 122:1  I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.

 

3.  The Encouragement of God’s House - Psalms 27:4  One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.

 

Psalms 55:14  We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.

 

1.  It Is The Place That God Loves - Ephesians 5:25  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.

 

2.  It Is The Place Of Worship - Psalms 5:7   But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.

 

3.  It Is The Place Of Preaching And Teach God’s Word - 1 Timothy 3:15  But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

 

4.  It Is The Place Where God’s People Gather - Psalms 55:14  We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.

(The greatest people on earth are there!)

 

5 It Is The Place Where Sinners Are Both Sought And Loved - Luke 14:23  And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

 

Matthew 9:10  And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.

 

6.  It Is God’s Instrument For World Evangelism - 1 Thessalonians 1:6-8  And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:  So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.  For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God–ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.

 

7.  It Was There That I Heard The True Gospel Preached And Was Gloriously, Eternally Saved – Luke 18:10, 13-14  Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican …  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

 

8.  It Is A Place Of Comfort And Spiritual Joy - Psalms 122:1 I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.

 

9.  It Is An Encouragement Filling Station - 2 Timothy 4:2  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

 

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.

 

10.  It Is Just A Little Bit Of Heaven On Earth - Psalms 84:1-12  How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!  My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.  Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God.  Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.  Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.  Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.  They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.  O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah.  Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed.  For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.  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.  O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.

What Sign Shewest Thou?

 Temple Baptist Church - 1-4-2023

John 6:22-31

 

Introduction:

 

A.  In the verses 22-25, we find the verification of the miracle of Jesus walking upon the sea. 

 

1.  Those whom the Lord fed knew that only one ship had launched out into the sea (it was getting dark when it left and not a time for sailing) and only the disciples got into it.  Jesus was not in the ship. 

 

2.  In the morning, they could not find Jesus, so they crossed back over the sea to Capernaum. 

 

B.  When they found Jesus there, they asked Him when He came, and He answered them not.  The Lord never explained how He did miracles, he just let men observe them and then, believe them or not.  They were aware of many miracles that this point:

 

1.  The Miracle of Incarnation.  John 1:14-18. 

 

2.  The Miracle of the Water made Wine.  John 2:9-11. 

 

3.  The Miracle of the New Birth.  John 3:1-2.  (The Pharisees knew that Jesus was sent from God.)

                         

4.  The Miracle of the Healing of the Nobleman’s Son.  John 4:49-52. 

 

5.  The Miracle of the Impotent Man made Whole.  John 5:6-9. 

 

John 12:37  But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:

 

C.  The Lord knew that their interest was not in His previous miracles, but in full bellies.  Great multitudes followed Christ because he fed and healed them but forsook Christ for the words that He spoke because their hearts were hardened.

 

John 6:26  Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.

 

Mark 6:52  For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.

 

D.  Faith verses Sight or Works.  John 6:29  Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

 

E.  They had the Son of God.  Verses 30-31.  They were knowledgeable concerning these 5 miracles (Nicodemus said that the Pharisees knew in John 3:1-2) and then they asked for a sign, after all these miracles, and gave Jesus an Old Testament example of what the Lord did for Israel in the wilderness. 

 

a.  Sign seekers grieve the heart of God.  Mark 8:11-12  And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.  (12)  And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.

 

b.  Signs constitute extra-biblical revelations.  In many of today’s religious denominations, extra-biblical revelation is imperative.  Dreams, revelations, visions, tongues, etc. are examples of sight walking instead of faith walking. 

 

c.  We are to walk by faith, not by sight.

 

2 Corinthians 5:7  (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

 

1.  Israel had the Word of God, both in the Old Testament Canon and the incarnation of Christ Jesus. 

 

a.  The Word of God in Jesus’ day.  They now had Christ Jesus, according to John 1, the Living or Incarnate Word of God.  John 6:29  Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

 

1)  These Jews had the incarnate Word of God, Jesus Christ: their Messiah.  But Jesus Christ was not enough for them.

 

1 Corinthians 1:22  For the Jews require a sign …

 

John 1:10-11  He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.  (11)  He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

2)  The Person of Christ, the Saviour of the World, became the Sword of Division.  Matthew 10:32-36  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.

 

3)  Four reasons that Israel rejected Christ:

 

a)  Because of where He was raised.  John 7:40-43  Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.  (41)  Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee?  (42)  Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?  (43)  So there was a division among the people because of him.

 

b)  Because of His miracles that contradicted their religion.  John 9:15-16  Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.  (16)  Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.

 

c)  Because of who He claimed to be.  John 10:17-19  Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.  (18)  No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.  (19)  There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings.

 

d)  Because of the words that He said.  John 6:64-67  But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.  (65)  And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.  (66)  From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.  (67)  Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

 

2.  Today, we have the inscribed Word of God.  Romans 10:17  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

 

a.  We have the King James Bible, but the Bible is not enough for many.  1 Corinthians 1:22b  … and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

 

1)  From 1611 until 1881, the King James Bible was not a version, it was the revered Word of God for the English-speaking people and was all that God’s people needed for the next 270 years.  The greatest revivals and mission outreach the world had ever known came out of this Bible.

 

2)  I believe the greatest extrabiblical revelation of the end time is that of the rise of critical texts from which come all the new bibles of our day have been translated.  In the mid-1800’s came the introduction of the Westcott-Hort Text with the translation of the Revised Version New Testament in 1881.  This line of texts was and still is extrabiblical revelation as they did not complement the Textus Receptus, they criticized and corrected it.

 

3)  These texts have been rightly labeled the minority text, the critical text, and the Catholic text.  There has been nothing but confusion and division since their discovery and translation!

 

b.  Though there have been sporadic groups who were different, for the most part, there were no extrabiblical revelations. 

 

1)  In 1906, unbiblical tongues (Biblical tongues were earthly languages, not unintelligible gibberish) were first heard in Los Angles, California, (The Azusa Street Revival) and the Pentecostal Movement was born.  This movement swept across this nation through people who were not content with the Bible as the only means of faith and practice.  They wanted extrabiblical revelations and began to seek these passing gifts.

 

2)  Today, this movement continues to speak in unknown tongues, dream dreams, see visions, and practice sign gifts that passed away 2,000 years ago. 

 

Conclusion:  They missed Christ then and they are missing Him today.  Salvation is found in the Word of God through the hearing of faith.

Victory Through Faith

 Temple Baptist Church - 1-1-2023

Psalm 9

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  Tonight, we will look at another Psalm of Deliverance that begins in praise being given to God.

 

B.  Here we find King David giving glory to God for His victory over the wicked.  I want to break the Psalm down into its parts as to get a better biblical perspective of what the Psalm is about.

 

C.  I found out long ago that one of the best ways to interpret a passage of Scripture is to outline it and interpret each point of the outline within the context in which it lies.

 

D.  Before I give you my outline of the Psalm, I want us to see the correlation between victory and faith.

 

Psalms 98:1-2  A Psalm. O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.  (2)  The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.

 

1 Corinthians 15:57-58  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  (58)  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

 

1 John 5:4-5  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.  (5)  Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

 

E.  The Key verses are 15-16.   Though we do see the end of things, there will be justice and judgment for the wicked and deliverance for the people of God from the hands to their enemies.

 

F.  Here is the outline:

 

1.  Verses 1-3 – The Praise of the Righteous

 

Verse 1 – For His Performance

 

Verse 2 – For His Person

 

Verse 3 – For His Presence

 

2.  Verses 4-8 - The Perishing of the Wicked

 

Verses 4, 7-8 – His Judgment is Right

 

Verses 5-6 – His Justice is Right

 

3.  Verses 9-10 – The Protection of the Oppressed

 

Verse 9 – He is a Refuge in Trouble

 

Verse 10 – He is Reliable in Trouble

 

4.  Verses 11-14 – The Petition of the Delivered

 

Verse 11 – David’s Proclamation

 

Verse 12 – David’s Plea

 

Verse 13 – David’s Plight

 

Verse 14 – David’s Presentation

 

5.  Verses 15-18 – The Promise of Judgement of the Nations

 

Verses 15-17 – The End of the Wicked

 

Verse  18 – The Exalting of the Weak

 

6.  Verses 19-20 – The Prevailing  of the Lord

 

Verse 19 – The Wicked Whipped

 

Verse 20 – The Wicked Warned

Choices To Be Made In 2023

 Temple Baptist Church - 1-1-2023

Philippians 1:20-26

 

Introduction:   Happy New Year! 2023!  We made it through another year.  2022 has become history and 2023 is not the future arrived.  I do not know that this new year will hold but I do know Who holds it, so let us face it in hope.

 

A.  Life is full of choices, and they can be either right or wrong. 

 

1.  Choices are made by each of us every day and, for the most part, they have little temporal or eternal value.  But some choices have eternal value and MUST be made right.

 

2.  Little decisions, little consequences; big decisions, big consequences.

 

B.  I will make a lot of choices today:

 

1.  I can choose to have a good attitude or a bad attitude.  I choose to have a good attitude.

 

2.  I can choose to trust God or not to trust God.  I choose to trust God.

 

3.  I can choose to murmur and complain when trials come, or to learn a lesson from hardship.  I choose to learn a lesson.

 

4.  I can choose to be a blessing or a discouragement.  I choose to be a blessing.

 

5.  I can choose to smile or to frown.  I choose to smile.

 

6.  I can choose to be faithful or unfaithful.  I choose to be faithful.

 

7.  I can choose to be used of God or to live for self.  I choose to be used for God.

 

8.  I can choose to live in sin or to be pure and holy.  I choose to be pure and holy.

 

9.  I can choose God’s blessing or God’s cursing.  I choose God’s blessing.

 

C.  Here, we find Paul’s Choices - 17-24

 

1.  He chose to be Uncompromising - 17 “set...defense”  It cost Paul his friends and family.  There is an unspoken peer pressure by unsaved friends and family members that constantly pressures God’s children to compromise the gospel through acceptance and quietness.

 

2.  He chose to be a Soul Winner - 18 “do rejoice ... will rejoice”  It cost Paul his time.  To be soul conscious, we must not be self-conscious.  Jesus first, others second, and you last is the acrostic for JOY.

 

3.  He chose to be Unashamed - 20 “in nothing”  It cost Paul his pride.  When we become something, Jesus becomes nothing; when we become nothing, Jesus becomes everything!  By the grace of God, we are what we are.

 

4.  He chose to be Bold - 20 “with all boldness”  It cost him his comfort  - quietness brings no conflict but boldness brought persecution.  There is a time to be quiet and there is a time to speak out.  Wisdom is knowing when and where to speak.

 

5.  He chose to be a Testimony - 20 “magnified ... life”  It cost Paul his liberty.  Paul said that all things were lawful to him but not all things were expedient.  “If you can prove me wrong, I will stop doing what I am doing” instead of “I will stop what I am doing until I can prove that I am right by doing it” is the mentality of this newfangled “Christianity”.

 

6.   He chose to be Faithful - 20 “magnified ... death”  It cost Paul his life.  Is not our will but God’s will that must be done.  Our Lord prayed for this in the Garden.

 

7.  He chose to Trust - 20 “death”  It cost Paul his self-reliance.  We are to trust the Lord with all our hearts in this New Year.  To live is Christ or to die is gain.

 

8.  He chose to be Holy - 21 “Christ”  It cost Paul his worldly pleasure.  We live in a fun oriented society.  “If it feels good, do it” is the mentality of this world but is not to be the mentality of the child of God.

 

9.  He chose to be Used - 24 “abide ... needful”  It cost Paul his personal desires.  Paul made himself available in the service and work of the Lord.  President Kennedy said that we are not to ask what our country can do for us but for what we can do for our country.

 

D.  Some of our choices have little value but some are of great value both now and later:

 

1.  Making Right or Wrong Choices About Salvation. It’s heaven or hell and it is Eternal.

 

Deuteronomy 30:19-20  I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: 20  That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them. 

 

a.  God will not force you to be saved!

 

b.  God has done everything necessary for you to be saved!

 

c.  God gives you the choice:  eternal life or eternal death in hell!

 

2.  Making Right or Wrong Choices About Sin.  Its peace and safety or consequences and regrets.

 

Galatians 6:7-8  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

 

Romans 6:23  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

Psalms 51:1-3  Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3  For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.  (That is one sad passage!  The sorrow and regret of a man after God’s own heart!)

 

3.  Making Right or Wrong Choices About Marriage.  Its heaven on earth or it is hell on earth.  I cannot stress this enough to our youth!  Make sure you find the Lord’s choice for a mate for life.

 

a)  Do not make quick decisions - Proverbs 18:22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.

 

b)  Do not simply go for looks - Genesis 29:17  Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.  (Leah was God’s choice!)

 

Proverbs 31:30  Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

 

4.  Making Right or Wrong Choices About Service  It is happiness or unhappiness.

 

Joshua 24:14-15  Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. 15   And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.