The Storms of Life

Temple Baptist Church - 7-8-2018

Nahum 1:1-7

Introduction: 

A.  The interpretation of our verses.  The Book of Nahum is the prophecy of the impending judgement of God upon Nineveh.  God sent Jonah, the reluctant servant, to Nineveh to tell of the judgement of God on a sinful city but, much to Jonah’s displeasure, Nineveh turned to God in chapter 2 and God saved the city.  In our text, we find that 150 years has now past and Nineveh has apostatized.  I want to make an application of these verses to the lives of God’s children.

B.  Lately, I have been taking a biblical look at problems that God’s people often face.  One of my favorite verses concerning hard times is found when Jacob went down to Egypt and stood before Pharaoh.

Genesis 47:9  And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage. 

Job 14:1-2  Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.  He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.

C.  There have been a lot of songs written by people who endured hard times. 

Psalms 77:19  Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known.

1.  Page 94 - Stand By Me – “When the storms of life are raging, stand by me!”

2.  Page 119 - Till The Storm Passes By – “In the dark of the midnight, have I oft hid my face; while the storm howls above me and there is no hiding place!”

3.  Page 120 - Jesus, Saviour, Pilot Me – “Jesus, Saviour, pilot me; over life’s tempestuous sea!”

4.  Page 145 - It Is Well – “When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.”

D.  Storms and valleys in the Bible are beautiful types of the hard times in life and help us to understand, to some degree, as to their benefit in our lives.  Storms are hard, often long, but always teachers!

            1.  Storms get our attention

            2.  Storms interrupt our plans

            3.  Storms show us our weakness

            4.  Storms correct our sinfulness

            5.  Storms prove our foundation

            6.  Storms introduce us to our Saviour

E.  There are two things that I want to look at in these verses, Storms and Known, but I will only deal with one of them this morning.  I what to look at what God said about our storms.

1.  The Omnipotent Side of the Storm. 

a.  God Is The Administrator of The Storm - vs 3a - “the Lord hath his way”

(1)  We See God’s Sovereignty in the Storm - “The Lord”

Psalms 135:6-7  Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.  He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries. 

                        (2)  We See God’s Divine Purpose in the Storm - “hath his way”

b.  God Is The Accelerator of The Storm - vs 3b-6 - “whirlwind and in the storm”

                        (1)  Whirlwind – a tornado or hurricane. 

                                    a.  They come suddenly with little warning

                                    b.  They strike at random and are seldom predictable

                                    c.  They have great destructive power

                                    d.  They leave behind devastated lives

                        (2)  Storm – a disturbance of the normal condition of the atmosphere.

                                    a.  They can be seen and predicted - Doppler radar

                                    b.  They usually last for an extended time

                                    c.  They can leave problems and destruction

                                    d.  They must be weathered

            c.  God Is The Accommodator in The Storm - vs 7 - “good ... stronghold”

(1)  Good – God does not attempt to be good, God is good.

(2)  Stronghold – A fortified place used for defense.  “If God be for us!”

2.  There is the Occupant's Side of the Storm.  Since we do not control the storm, we must ride it out.

a.  It is our duty to Trust God in the Storm.  Do not worry about or during storms. 

Philippians 4:6  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 

b.  It is our duty to Obey God in the Storm.  To realize that God knows what He is doing or allowing in our lives.

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

c.  It is our duty to Glorify God in the Storm.  As people watch us go through our storms, they become times that we can bring glorify God.

Isaiah 24:15  Wherefore glorify ye the LORD in the fires, even the name of the LORD God of Israel in the isles of the sea.

3.  The Other Side of the Storm.  Storms come to an end!

            a.  God will Sustain us in the Storm - vs 7 - “the Lord”   **Psalm 91

            b.  God will Supply us in the Storm - vs 7 - “is good”

            c.  God will Secure us in the Storm - vs 7 - “a stronghold...trouble”

            d.  God will Save us from the Storm - vs 7 - “knoweth them that trust in him”

Peter’s Final Admonitions

Temple Baptist Church - 7-4-2018

2 Peter 3:14-18

Introduction:

A.  There is a lot to deal with in these verses as Peter ends this second epistle to the Jews of the Dispersion.  I will take my time with them because of their importance in these last days.  2 Peter speaks of the problems that were contemporary with the times in which it was written but also prophetic of the times preceding the coming of the Lord.

B.  In verse 14, Peter admonishes them to be diligent considering His coming.  Most people never give the second coming of our Lord a thought.  Allow me to give you proof of this last statement.  Do not raise your hands but how many of you woke up this morning thinking that our Lord may come today?

C.  Our watchfulness or lack thereof will not change the time of our Lord’s coming.  He is coming again just like He said, and He is coming on time.  Our watchfulness is to be diligent for several reasons.

1.  Diligent because of the importance of our personal, spiritual wellbeing.  Self-Conscious. 

1 John 3:2-3  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.  (3)  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

2.  Diligent because of the importance of the eternal souls of those around us.  Soul Conscious. 

John 4:34-35  Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.  (35)  Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

3.  Diligent because of our reward of lack of reward at His appearing.  God Conscious. 

Revelation 3:11  Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

2 John 8  Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

D.  Peter uses the phrase “found of him” in the verse, not “found in him.”  The use of the preposition is important because it causes a significant difference in the meaning of the verse. 

1.  Positional Sanctification.  We who are saved are “in Christ Jesus.”  An unchanging position that is established through the New Birth.  Positional Sanctification is an act of God that places us in Him through salvation. 

2.  Practical Sanctification.  Practical Sanctification is a continuing act of the child of God in both spiritual growth and practice.  “Found of him” is something that we are both capable of and responsible to do.  Capable in the sense that God does not ask us to do something that we are incapable of doing. 

E.  Though we are in Christ Jesus, we—to some degree—fail in Practical Sanctification.  God wants us to maintain a solid, Christian life!

1.  Be found of Him in Peace.  I will quote one of Barbara’s life verses because of its importance in the realm of our peace.  I want to look at a verse that we quote often and the verse that follows it.  We quote and yet we fear?

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.  (7)  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Isaiah 26:3-4  Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.  (4)  Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:  (The secret of our peace is meditating upon the Lord and continually trusting in His sovereign control of our lives.)

Proverbs 21:31  The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.

Proverbs 3:5-6  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  (6)  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

2.  Be found of Him Without Spot. A “spot” is something that can be seen or observed.  We understand that we are not nor, will we be perfect in this life, but our lives should be ones of self-observation, confession, and repentance.  Striving to live in such a way as to show others Christ in us.

John 8:12  Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

1 John 1:5-10  This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.  (6)  If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:  (7)  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.  (8)  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  (9)  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  (10)  If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

3.  Be found of Him Blameless.  Do what we can!  We may not think that we can do much or make much of a difference, but God only expects us to do what we can.

Mark 14:8  She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.  (This sinful man to whom the Lord had forgiven much, was the only person to anoint the Lord’s body for burial!  She could not do much, but she “hath done what she could.”)

Watchfulness with expectancy has a purifying quality about it.  The busyness of these last days has occupied our hearts and minds, giving little time for thought on spiritual things.

God’s Faithfulness

Temple Baptist Church - 7-1-2018

Romans 8:28

Introduction:

A.  Romans 8:28 is one of those “faith” verses that are much easier quoted than lived.

1.  What this verse does not say:  that all things that affect our lives are good.  There things that we face that are unjust, unfair, horrible things that are out of our control.  These are not good things.  These are things that we wish had never occurred!  Bad things happen to good people!  Bad things happen to God’s people.

2.  The Bible declares that all things work together for good.  God uses these bad things as well as the good things that happen to us to bring us closer to God.

B.  I am not saying that we should have such a strong faith that we never doubt.  I am saying that we are human and occasionally our faith fails us.  God does not fail us, we fail God in unbelief.

Proverbs 3:5-6  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. (6)  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.  (We are not always trusting though we should be.)

1 Thessalonians 5:18  In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (We are not always thankful though this is the will of God.)

Philippians 4:4  Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.  (We are not always rejoicing though we should be.)

C.  The key words are “we know.”  Yes, we do know!  We know that we can trust God with both our salvation and our daily bread.  We can trust God with our lives and welfare.

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.

D.  Romans 8:28 is an important verse because:

1.  In a world gone mad – “we know”

2.  In sickness and death – “we know”

3.  In persecution and hatred – “we know”

4.  In financial woes – “we know”

5.  In uncertain times  - “we know”

1.  The People Of Romans 8:28 – “we ... to them that love God”

a.  Saved By His Loving Grace - 1 John 4:10  Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

b.  Secure Through His Eternal Blood - Hebrews 13:20-21  Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the        everlasting covenant,  Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

c.  Satisfied By His Faithful Provision - Mark 8:4, 8  And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness? ... So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets.

2.  The Perception Of Romans 8:28  - “know”

a.  We Rely On God’s Word - Colossians 3:16  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 

b.  We Recognize God’s Guidance - Proverbs 3:5-6  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

c.  We Rest On God’s Promises - Matthew 11:28-30  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

3.  The Providence Of Romans 8:28  - “all”

a.  God’s Sovereignty - Romans 11:34  For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

b.  God’s Scheme - Isaiah 14:24  The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand:

c.  God’s Security - Philippians 1:6  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: 

4.  The Paradox Of Romans 8:28 – “all things”

a.  The Complexity Of Romans 8:28  - Job 10:15  If I be wicked, woe unto me; and if I be righteous, yet will I not lift up my head. I am full of confusion; therefore see thou mine affliction;

b.  The Completeness Of Romans 8:28  - 1 Peter 1:6-7  Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

c.  The Contentment Of Romans 8:28 - Philippians 4:11  Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 

5.  The Power Of Romans 8:28 – “work...good”

a.  Suffering Brings Praise To The Saviour - 1 Peter 1:7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 

2 Thessalonians 1:10-12  When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.  Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:  That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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,

b.  Suffering Brings Purity To The Saint - Job 23:10  But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

c.  Suffering Brings Perfection To The Sufferer - James 1:4  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 

6.  The Purpose Of  Romans 8:28  - “together for good”

a.  Suffering Strengthens Our Faith - 1 Peter 1:7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 

b.  Suffering Strengthens Our Resolve- 1 Corinthians 16:13  Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. 

c.  Suffering Strengthens Our Testimony - Philippians 2:15  That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; 

7.  The Prospect Of Romans 8:28 – “for good”

a.  The Work Of Suffering - Romans 5:3-4  And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;  And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

b.  The Wisdom Of Suffering - Psalms 104:24  O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches. 

c.  The Worship Of Suffering - 1 Peter 1:7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 

8.  The Plan Of Romans 8:28  - “the called ... purpose”

a.  God Knows His Purpose - Ecclesiastes 3:1-8  To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:  A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;  A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;  A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;  A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;  A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;  A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;  A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

b.  God Knows Our Needs - Hebrews 10:35-37  Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.  For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.  For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

8. The Person Of Romans 8:28  - “God”

Romans 11:36  For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. 

a.  Romans 8:28 Is Of God

b.  Romans 8:28  Is Through God

c.  Romans 8:28  Is To God

Free Indeed

Temple Baptist Church - 7-1-2018

John 8:31-36

Introduction:

A.  This week, we will celebrate America’s 242nd Birthday.  It seems like yesterday that we celebrated our Second Centennial Birthday.

B.  America is the greatest place on earth to live!  I have often said that we are so blessed that we take our blessings for granted.  America is the Eutopia of the world, a nation of immigrants.

C.  May God never allow us to forget His blessings upon America and us as citizens.

1.  Our national blessings.  America is a good land!  America is a beautiful land!  America is a bountiful land!  America is a land of freedom!

2.  Our personal blessings.  We have homes to live in!  We have good clothes to wear!  We have more than enough to eat!  We have money to spend and places to spend it!  We dwell in safety!

3.  Our spiritual blessings.  We have heard the gospel preached!  We have a free salvation through the gospel!  We have the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob!  We have bibles galore!

4.  Our liberty in law.  Something that is being rejected today is the enforcement of our laws.  A nation that rejects its laws will soon become a lawless nation!

D.  Twice in our text, we have seen the word “free.”

1.  Liberty in Conversion - Verse 36.  “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed!” You will never truly be free indeed until know Jesus Christ as your Saviour!

2.  Liberty in Continuance - Verse 31-32.  “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth will make you free!”  Our Lord, in these verses, was addressing those Jews who had believed on Him.  The truth shall make you free!  You will never be truly free until you know the truth of God’s Word.

E.  Salvation makes us free from many things, but I want to name just a few.

1.  Salvation makes us Free from the Curse of the Law.  Galatians 3:13  Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:  (The Jews were great believers in Moses and the Law.  They followed it through ignorance of God’s amazing, saving grace.  We that are saved are under grace, not the law!  In Christ, the believer finds true liberty.)

2.  Salvation makes us Free from the Guilt of Sin.  Romans 8:31-33  What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?  (32)  He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?  (33)  Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.  (Our sin has been put on Christ’s account!  I sleep well at night because I am free from condemnation.  Still a sinner?  Yes!  But a sinner delivered from the penalty of sin.)

3.  Salvation makes us Free from the Dominion of Sin.  Romans 6:14  For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.  (I may not be all that God wants me to be, but I am not what I used to be!  God’s children have been freed from the dominion of sin.)

4.  Salvation makes us Free from the Power of Darkness.  Colossians 1:13  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:  (So many people are under the power of Satan.  Drugs, alcohol, perversion, etc. have enslaved them.  Many of God’s people were once enslaved.)

1 Corinthians 6:11  And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

John 8:12  Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

5.  Salvation makes us Free from the Fear of Men.  Hebrews 13:6  So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.  (We neither wrestle with flesh and blood nor do we fear them.  I know that God holds His children in His hand and He is greater than he that is in the world.)

6.  Salvation makes us Free from the Sting of Death.  1 Corinthians 15:55-57  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?  (56)  The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.  (57)  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  (As we walk through the “valley of the shadow of death,” God holds our hand and we fear no evil.)

7.  And, one day, Salvation will make us Free from this Present Evil World.  1 Thessalonians 4:13-18  But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.  (14)  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.  (15)  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.  (16)  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  (17)  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  (18)  Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (Oh, that will be glory for me, glory for me.  When by His grace I shall look on His face; that will be glory, be glory for me!)