This One Thing I Do - Part 2

Temple Baptist Church - 1-20-2019

Philippians 3:8-13

Introduction: 

A.  I quoted the first part of what Paul said in verse 13 three weeks ago: “This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind.”  This year I will be 71, so I have a lot to put behind me.

1.  This morning, I want to use the second part as they go together and tie it with the context.  

2.  “This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”  (This year, I want to go forward, not stagnate.)

B. In the first part of this verse, we PUT THE PAST IN THE PAST.  To forget the things that are behind is good but not enough. 

1.  We can reflect on our failures and fail to learn from them. 

2.  We can reflect upon our victories and have no victory in the next year. 

3.  We can sit still this New Year, do nothing, and miserably fail again. Or,

C. We can PUT THE FUTURE IN THE PRESENT!   We can go on for God while living in spiritual victory.  No, we do not know what we will face this year.  There may be trials to go through, sickness to come upon us, poverty because of an unstable economy but we can be victorious.  “This is the victory that over cometh the world, even our faith!” (1 John 5:4)

D.  We can put the future in the present by:

1.  Living for Christ today.  Taking one day at a time by not crossing bridges before we come to them.  A man once said that worry is “Paying interest on a loan that you may never have to take out.”  One day at a time. 

Matthew 6:31-34  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (32)  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. (33)  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (34)  Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

2.  Trusting Christ for tomorrow.  “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.” 

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.  (We often say that “I do not know what tomorrow holds but I do know Who holds tomorrow.”)

1.  In 2019, I Want To “Be Found In Him.”  Vs. 9, 13-14

a. Not “found in Him” in salvation because I am saved!  I got that settled long ago.  My salvation is settled for time and eternity.  If you do not know Him today, come to an old-fashioned altar and surrender your heart and life to Christ.  He will not “cast you out.”

b. “Found in Him” in testimony!  Everyone who names Christ has a testimony for Christ: either bad or good. 

2 Timothy 2:19  Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

c.  I want my life to glorify God, not bring shame to His name.  I want my life to reflect the wonderful salvation that He has given to me and the change that His salvation made.  So many people who are saved have brought nothing but reproach to a “name which is above every name.”

2.  In 2009, I Want To “Know Him.”  Vs. 10

a. I want to get to know Him in His person.

Philippians 3:8  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

b. I want to get to know Him in the fellowship of His suffering. 

Hebrews 13:13  Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.  (I believe that the greatest suffering of Christ was that of being forsaken!  “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”  The world will also forsake you when you “go forth therefore unto him without the camp.”)

c. I want to get to know Him in His Word.

Job 23:12  Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessaryfood.

d.  I want to get to know Him in His peace.

Matthew 11:28-30  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  (29)  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.  (30)  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

2 Timothy 1:12  For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

2 Timothy 4:16-17  At my first answer no man stood with me, but allmen forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. (17)  Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

Psalms 56:3  What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.

Psalms 56:11  In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.

Isaiah 12:2  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.  (His God; He is Lord, He is Sovereign!)

e.  I want to get to know Him in His power.

John 11:43  And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

Matthew 28:18  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

f.  I want to get to know Him in my praise.

Hebrews 13:15  By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

g.  I want to get to know Him in His purpose.

1 Timothy 1:15  This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

Israel My Glory

Temple Baptist Church - 1-20-2019

Romans 11:25-29

Introduction: 

A.  Tonight, I want to finish with the Nation of Israel.  We have spent many weeks looking at chapters 9-11 in detail as they are important to all believers.  Chapters 9-11 are a Parenthetical, a Trilogy and essential to each other for biblical interpretation. 

1.  Israel is important to us because Christ was born a Jew on His mother’s side.

2.  Israel is important to us because she is God’s timepiece in the end time.

3.  Israel is important to us because of God’s blessing upon those who bless her.

B.  Chapters 9-11 show the importance of the Nation of Israel to God.  God is no respecter of persons, but He is certainly a respecter of nations.  God loves Israel.

Jeremiah 31:1-3  At the same time, saith the LORD, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people.  (2)  Thus saith the LORD, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest.  (3)  The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

Isaiah 46:13  I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.

Zechariah 2:8  For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.

C.  Chapters 9-11 need to be rightly divided because the damnable heresy of Calvinism rests in chapter 9.

1.  Romans 9 - Israel’s Election – vs 1-2 - Romans 9:13  As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

a.  Israel’s Blessing - Genesis 12:3  And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

b.  Israel’s Protection - Isaiah 54:17  No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

c.  Israel’s Position - Deuteronomy 32:10  He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye.

Zechariah 2:8  For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.

2.  Romans 10 - Israel’s Rejection – vs 3-24 - Romans 10:3  For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

a.  The Reason For Israel’s Rejection - Romans 9:32  Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;

b.  The Result Of Israel’s Rejection - John 7:1  After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him.

1)  They Rejected The Christ - John 1:11  He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

2)  They Rejected The Gospel - Acts 18:6  And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.

a)  Israel Blinded - John 12:40  He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

Romans 11:7  What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.

2 Corinthians 3:14  But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.

Romans 11:25  For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

2)  Israel Banished - Matthew 24:2  And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

Ezekiel 7:20-22  As for the beauty of his ornament, he set it in majesty: but they made the images of their abominations and of their detestable things therein: therefore have I set it far from them.  And I will give it into the hands of the strangers for a prey, and to the wicked of the earth for a spoil; and they shall pollute it.  My face will I turn also from them, and they shall pollute my secret place: for the robbers shall enter into it, and defile it.

3)  Gentiles Blessed - Genesis 12:3  And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Isaiah 61:9  And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they [are] the seed which the LORD hath blessed.

Luke 2:32  A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

3.  Romans 11 - Israel’s Restoration – vs  25-36

a.  Restoration Prophesied - Zechariah 12:10  And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

Isaiah 45:17  But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.

b.  Restoration Performed - Romans 11:26  And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

The Word of God Is!

Temple Baptist Church - 1-16-2019

Hebrews 4:12

Introduction:

A.  Verse 12 is one of the most powerful verses in the Bible concerning the Word of God that we hold in our hand.

B.  As Paul writes to the “strangers scattered,” it does us well to realize that he is not referring to the original manuscripts that many maintain are the only perfect Word of God.  These dispersed Jews did not have and probably had never seen an original manuscript!

C.  Our verse says that the Word of God “is,” not “was.”  When writing to Timothy in 2 Timothy, Paul declared that the Word of God that Timothy had in his youth was “holy scriptures” and “inspired scriptures.”  I do not feel the need to define what “is” is!

Psalms 19:7-11  The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.  (8)  The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD ispure, enlightening the eyes.  (9)  The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.  (10)  More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.  (11)  Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

John 10:27  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

Romans 10:17  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  (We must hear the Word of God in our day to be saved.)

2 Timothy 3:13-17  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.  (14)  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;  (15)  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  (16)  All scripture (that which Timothy was raised with, which was not the original autographs) is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  (17)  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.  (If I do not have the Word of God in my hand, and I do not have the original manuscripts, then I cannot be “perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.)

Hebrews 3:7  Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hearhis voice,

1 Peter 1:23  Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.  (If we do not have the incorruptible seed of God’s Word, then we cannot be born again.  I know some do not believe this, but I believe the Bible.)

D.  Therefore, before I dissect verse 13, we need to know that this old King James Bible that we hold in our hand tonight is “inspired scripture.”

E.  We cannot be the pillar or ground if we do not have the truth!  Not “a” truth, not a “partial” truth, but THE truth.

F.  I know that, as a church, this is where we dogmatically stand, but we too must be careful not to let this precious, foundational truth “slip.”  We have a new generation growing up in this church that must be as firmly grounded as those of us who are now passing on.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9  Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:  (5)  And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.  (6)  And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:  (7)  And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.  (8)  And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.  (9)  And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

G.  Our children will face more resistance and animosity than we have faced over the Bible.  They will face false teachers, false preachers while being mocked and maligned over this precious old King James Bible that we hold so dear.

H.  I will not take the time to preach in depth concerning inspiration and preservation as I believe that everyone here this morning is here because we are a Bible believing church.  If I were to leave the Word of God, you would leave me.  If you were to leave the Word of God, I would leave the church.

I.  There was a reason for verse 3 of the Book of Jude.  The Bible has and always will be under satanic attack.

1.  Majoring on a minor?  Jesus said more about hell than He did heaven, but preachers say more about heaven than they do hell.

2.  The Bible says more about biblical preservation than it does biblical inspiration, but preachers tend to think more about biblical inspiration than they do biblical preservation.

J.  Thus, we have the “bone of contention” that must be contended for: our King James Bible.

K.  I have no use for a preacher, local church, or teacher who does not uphold this Bible!   “It is the cardinal doctrine upon which we stand and cannot be compromised.”

1.  As fundamental Bible believers, we believe in the Divine Inspiration of the Bible. 

Exodus 31:18  And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.

2 Timothy 3:16-17  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  (17)  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

2.  As fundamental Bible believers, we hold to:

a.  The Verbal inspiration of the Bible.  Every word was given by inspiration of God.  Not the thoughts of God and not just the doctrines of God, but the words of God.

b.  The Plenary inspiration of the Bible.  Full or All of the Word of God with nothing to be either added to it of taken away from it.  No extra-biblical revelations are needed.

3.  As fundamental Bible believers, we believe in the Divine Preservation of the Bible.

Exodus 34:1  And the LORD said unto Moses, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first: and I will write upon these tables the words that were in the first tables, which thou brakest.  (The First Mention of biblical preservation: man made the tablets and God wrote the words.)

Psalms 12:6-7  The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.  (7)  Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

Matthew 5:17-19  Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.  (18)  For verily I say unto you,Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.  (19)  Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

2 Timothy 3:14-17  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;  (15)  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  (16)  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  (17)  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.  (Inspired Scripture is required for the salvation and spiritual maturity of the saint.)

1 Peter 1:23-25  Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.  (24)  For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:  (25)  But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

2 Peter 1:16-21  For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.  (17)  For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.  (18)  And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.  (19)  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:  (20)  Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.  (21)  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

4.  Biblical Inspiration without Biblical Preservation is virtually useless! Just look at what so-called Bible Scholars have done to the Word of God over the past 130 years!

a.  To declare that only the Original Manuscripts were perfect is useless as we have none of them in our day.

b.  If God did not preserve His Word, then all we have is a man-made book that may contain some of the Word of God mixed with the errors, additions, and subtractions of men over thousands of years.

5.  As fundamental Bible believers, we must earnestly contend for the faith ONCE delivered. 

Jude 3  Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once deliveredunto the saints.  (The Bible is now in our hands!  Our forefathers have passed the “torch” down to us and it lives or dies with us.  We are maligned, scoffed at, and ostracized for believing the Bible instead of man.  “Earnestly contend” means to struggle, to fervently fight.)

6.  Four things can be your spiritual authority.

a.  The Church – Catholicism

b.  Personal Experience – Pentecostalism

c.  Human Reason – Intellectualism

d.  The Bible - Fundamentalism

7.  I choose the Bible over all else!