All Things Are Yours

 Temple Baptist Church - 7-16-2025

1 Corinthians 3:21-23

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  Last week, we examined an old heresy, the Doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which God hates.  The clergy over the laity.  In our case, the intellectual, or educated, superior to the uneducated,.  God finished with this: “Let no man glory in men!”  Look at verse 23. 

 

1 Corinthians 3:23  And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.

 

B.  Here, we find the equality of the children of God.  We are all in Christ, and He gets the glory!

 

1 Corinthians 12:12-13  For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.  (13)  For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

 

Galatians 3:26-29  For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.  (27)  For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.  (28)  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.  (29)  And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

 

C.  There is structure in the local church, but the upper echelon, pastor and deacons, are servants to the church!

 

D.  Our text is found in verses 21-22. These verses certainly put down the theology that we Christians are “as poor as a church mouse!” Sometimes we do not get the things that we want because they are not "good things" or not the will of God for us.

 

1 Corinthians 3:21-22  Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;  (22)  Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;

 

1 Corinthians 4:8  Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.

 

Psalms 23:1  The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

 

Psalms 34:9-10  O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.  The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing. 

 

E.  The Lord has supplied our needs:

 

Philippians 4:19  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

 

Psalms 37:25  I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

 

F.  The Lord has supplied our desires:

 

Psalms 84:11  For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

 

G.  All that I can say is that “the Lord has been so good to us!”  Verse 21 – “For all things are yours … Verse. 22 – “all are yours”  Let us look at the things between these two statements and see what we have in Christ.

 

1.  The Lord Has Provided For Our Spiritual Needs – “Paul, Apollos, or Cephas”

 

Paul, who founded the Church, and was instrumental in their salvation.

 

Apollos, who doctrinally grounded the Church.

 

Cephas, whose surname was Peter, who was the Apostle to the Jews.  This is interesting because Cephas is mentioned as one area of division in chapter one.  There were evidently Jewish believers at Corinth.

 

1 Corinthians 1:12  Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.

 

Ephesians 4:11-16  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; (passing gifts) and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers (permanent gifts);  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

 

a.  For the perfecting of the saints – John 21:15-17  So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.  He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.  He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

 

1 Peter 5:2  Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

 

b.  For the work of the ministry – 2 Corinthians 5:18  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

 

1 Timothy 1:12  And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;

 

c.  For the edifying of the body of Christ - 2 Timothy 2:25  In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

 

2 Timothy 4:2  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

 

2.  The Lord Has Provided For Our Pleasure – “the world” – Verse 22

 

Ecclesiastes 2:22-24  For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?  For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.  There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.

3 John 2  Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

 

1 Timothy 6:17  Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

 

Psalms 23:6  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.

 

Ecclesiastes 2:22-24  For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?  (23)  For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.  (24)  There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.

 

Ecclesiastes 8:15  Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun.

 

3.  The Lord Has Provided For Our Physical Needs – “or life”

 

3 John 2  Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

 

Psalms 37:25  I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

 

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:

 

4.  The Lord Has Provided For Our Future Needs – “death, or things present, or things to come”

 

a.  An Eternal Love When We Fail - Romans 8:35-39  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

b.  An Eternal Home When We Die - Philippians 1:21-23  For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.  But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.  For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

Rejoicing in the Blessings of God

Temple Baptist Church - 7-13-2025

Psalm 33

 

Introduction:

 

A.  Last week, I preached for the 249^th Birthday of the United States on verse 12 of this Psalm.  “God Bless America.”

 

Psalms 33:12  Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

 

B.  God has blessed us all in so many ways that to count them would not be possible.  The context of Psalm 33 is “Rejoicing in God’s Blessings.”  Although I believe that we enjoy the blessings God has bestowed upon this great nation, I fear that we do not truly rejoice in the Lord for the blessings that we have.

 

C.  We are admonished to “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.”  (Philippians 4:4)

 

D.  Verse 12 is one of the middle verses of this Psalm, as it has 22 verses.  That being said, the context is on both sides of the verse!  To understand what God is saying, we need to break down the Psalm.

 

1.  Verses 1-3.  The Command of worship.

 

a.  Verse 1.  The rejoicing of the Righteous.  The unrighteous have no sense of gratitude for the many blessings of God, but the righteous understand that every good and perfect gift cometh down from the “Father of Lights.”  “Comely” – suitable or beautiful. 

 

Psalms 22:3  But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

 

b.  Verses 2-3.  Rejoicing in musical instruments: skillfully and loudly.  This is not the modern “Praise Bands” playing worldly music.  This is righteous music, not worldly music.

 

Ephesians 5:19-20  Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;  (20)  Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

 

2.  Verses 4-11.  The Cause of Worship.

 

a.  Verse 4.  For the Word of God that we hold in our hands.  I fear that the least used of all gifts from God is that of His precious Word.

 

b.  Verse 5.  The righteousness and goodness of the Lord.  We often associate goodness with our possessions, and I am genuinely grateful for them.  Brother Harold would frequently request the song “Count Your Blessings” because he knew that they were innumerable.  God has been so good to us in many ways that are righteous, not simply worldly, eternal, and not simple temporal.

 

c.  Verses 6-9. The glory of His creation.  He spoke and it stood fast.  It remains steadfast.  “In all around, God I see!”  By “THE BREATH OF HIS MOUTH!”  The knowledge, the wisdom, the understanding, the power of an all-knowing, omnipotent Creator!  His creation declares the glory of God; His creation shows His handiwork!

 

d.  Verses 10-11.  The Counsel of the Lord.  As the psalmist reflects on the majesty of God’s creation and the deep reasons for worship, the imagery naturally leads us to consider the tender care and guidance that God provides to those who follow Him. This transition from acknowledging God’s power and righteousness to experiencing His personal leadership is beautifully captured in the next passages.

 

1.  Verse 10.  The Lord Overrules.  Spiritual wisdom always “trumps” worldly wisdom. The counsel of this world may fail us, but the counsel of the Lord remaineth to all generations.

 

2.  Verse 11.  The Lord Oversees.  The Lord watches over and guides His sheep.  In the multitude of counselors, there is safety, but they will sometimes either fail you or not be enough. In the counsel of the Lord, there is righteousness and peace of heart and mind.  Perfect leadership from our Great Shepherd.

 

Psalms 23:2-3  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.  (3)  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

 

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

 

e.  Verses 13-19.  The Care of the Lord.

 

1.  Verses 13-14.  The Lord watches over our lives.  This is an amazing thought that God cares about every aspect of our lives.

 

Psalms 40:17  But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.

 

1 Peter 5:7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

 

2.  Verses 15.  The Lord fashions our hearts.  The transformation of our heart and soul through the “renewing” of our minds.

 

Romans 12:2  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.

 

3.  Verses 16-19.  The Lord delivers in hard times.  Barbara and I can personally testify that God has done exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we could ever ask of think!

 

Psalms 37:25  I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

 

Philippians 4:19-20  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.  (20)  Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

 

f.  Verses 20-22.  The Confidence in the Lord.

 

Psalms 118:8-9  It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.  (9)  It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.

 

Proverbs 3:25-26  Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.  (26)  For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

 

1.  Verse 20.  Wait upon the Lord.  God’s will, God’s time, God’s way!

 

Isaiah 40:29-31  He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.  (30)  Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:  (31)  But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

 

2.  Verse 21.  Trust in the Lord.  God knows what He is doing so learn to trust Him!

 

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.

 

3.  Verse 22.  Hope in the Lord.  The Lord is on our side in this world and one day, just like today,  He is coming again to take us home.

 

Jeremiah 17:7  Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.

 

Titus 2:13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

 

Psalms 33:12  Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

Denying The Power Thereof

 Temple Baptist Church - 7-13-2025

2 Timothy 3:1-5

 

Introduction:

 

A.  As Paul writes to Timothy in this second epistle, he describes the characteristics of religion 2,000 years ago.  Religion, not salvation!  These verses describe what is going on in America, in our state, in our city, and in our local communities. 

 

B.  As we left for church this morning, most of our neighbors, who claim to be members of or affiliated with some church or denomination, will stay at home and treat Sunday as just another day off, a day for personal pleasure and entertainment.

 

C.  Paul’s description of these individuals paints a picture of what we face today. 

 

D.  Paul’s admonition is “from such turn away.”  We live in days of “universal acceptance” and “political correctness” instead of spiritual separation. 

 

1.  Religion says, “It does not matter where you go to church as long as you go to church.”  It does matter where you go to church! 

 

2.  Religion says, “It does not matter what you believe as long as you go to church.”  Religion says, “Doctrine divides but love unifies.”  It does matter what you believe.

 

E.  Fear of God is gone, morals are gone, national pride is gone, common sense is dead, religion is hodge-podge, and an old-fashioned conversion is a rarity. 

 

F.  I believe that it all “boils down to this: “denying the power thereof!” Religion without the Power of Change. 

 

1.  The Holy Spirit used the word “denying,” which means to refuse, reject, contradict, or change.  This world has heard and known the Truth, but is in a constant state of denying it. 

 

2.  THE WORLD DOES NOT WANT WHAT WE HAVE, therefore, they refuse it and contradict it and change it.  Romans 1:25 says, “Who changed the truth of God into a lie.” 

 

G.  The word “thereof” is intriguing. It originates from a root meaning “to breathe unconsciously.” Breathing involves two main parts: inspiration, or drawing air in, and expiration, or breathing air out. 

 

H.  Breathing is one of the body’s Autonomic Responses of the nervous system: heart beat and breathing are two of the most significant of these responses. 

 

1.  These are things that we do without thinking.  The beat of the heart is the more regulated of the two as, when, you think about it, you can hold your breath or change the way that you breathe. 

 

2.  Thus it is with the life of the child of God.  We are new creatures by birth and have a new nature that is an Autonomic Response to the work of the New Birth. 

 

J.  Thus the word “thereof.”  As a legal term, one of its meanings is “from that” or “because of that.” 

 

K.  In contrast to those in the previous verses who profess Christ, but their lives deny the influence of biblical salvation, we see these two words, “power thereof” that salvation:

 

L.  Salvation is a Powerful experience.  A “change of life” is ALWAYS there when one gets saved because it is “breathed out unconsciously.”  We do not necessarily feel a change but, suddenly, things take on a different perspective.  Change in the life of the believer is a natural part of our salvation.

 

M.  I want to look at the “power thereof” for a few minutes.  Things in our lives that automatically take place.

 

1.  The Power of Conversion.  The world wants “A Salvation without a Conversion.”  True biblical salvation ALWAYS makes a change in your life! 

 

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.  (Raised to walk in newness of life.)

 

a.  A changed life.  We act differently.  Conversion is an automatic response as it is done spiritually without thinking.  When I was saved, something forever changed in our lives, and we did not realize it.  Get saved and your life will NEVER be the same!

 

b.  A changed mind.  We think differently.  We see things of the world through spiritual eyes.

 

c.  A changed desire.  We desire differently.  “For to me to live is Christ.”  We do not want the old life any longer.

 

2.  The Power of Conviction.  The world wants “A Spirit without Conviction.”  When we are saved, the Holy Ghost of God begins to dwell within us. 

 

John 16:13-14  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.  (14)  He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

 

a.  A sensitivity to sin.  When we sin, we know it because we become sensitive to it.

 

b.  A conviction about sin.  Sinfulness becomes wrong to the child of God.

 

c.  A desire to change from sin.  A turning away from sin to Christ.

 

3.  The Power of Conformity.  The world wants “A Scripture without Commandment.”  If the Bible is the pure Word of God, and it is, then it demands obedience.

 

Philippians 3:8-11  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,  (9)  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:  (10)  That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;  (11)  If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

 

a.  Conformity to the Son of God.

 

b.  Conformity to the Word of God.

 

4.  The Power of Continuance.  The world wants “A Security without Cost.”  Biblical salvation is eternal and free, BUT it will cost you the world!

 

John 6:67-68  Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?  (68)  Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

 

a.  Where will we go?  We cannot, by the grace of God, we will not go back to where God found us!

 

b.  To follow Christ has a cost but the price must be willingly paid!

The Dangers of Intellectualism

 Temple Baptist Church - 7-9-2025

1 Corinthians 3:18-23

 

Introduction:

 

A.  In our text for tonight, we find the Apostle Paul warning of the danger of intellectualism. 

 

1.  The Person of the Deception.  He introduces this section with the words “Let no man deceive himself.”  I have often said that the most dangerous deception found in the Bible is self-deception, which Paul addresses in this passage.

 

2.  The Position of the Deception.  “If any man among you.”  Paul is no longer speaking of the deceivers from the outside as he did in chapter 1:18-31.  He now addresses one of the deadliest deceivers, one who operates within the local church. 

 

3.  The Problem of Deception.  “Seemeth to be wise in this world.”   Worldly wisdom, rather than biblical wisdom, is the problem found within the text.

 

4.  This is just an extension of chapter 1 where Paul spoke of the wisdom of the world begin foolishness to God and the wisdom of God being foolish to the world.

 

B.  Intellectualism can have more than one definition, as it can manifest itself both within and outside the local church. The term "intellectualism" is modern and is not found in the 1828 Webster's Dictionary. Therefore, I will define it using both contemporary and 1828 Webster's Dictionary perspectives.

 

1. Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary.  Merriam-Webster Dictionary – Intellectualism:  devotion to the exercise of intellect or to intellectual pursuits. 

 

2. Webster's 1828 Dictionary defines the Intellectualist:    One who overrates the understanding.

 

C. Now, for a brief history of the problem.  As Paul writes during the Apostolic Age (from the life of Christ, His death, burial, and resurrection) to about 100 A.D., intellectualism had already begun to take root within the local church.

 

D.  As the Apostles began to complete their mission through martyrdom, a “void” in leadership emerged within the churches. These Apostles, who had been with Christ and were a formidable presence, leaving the scene, the churches needed to establish new leadership. 

 

Matthew 26:31  Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.

 

E.  Revelation, chapters 2-3, are prophetic of the Age of the Church.  The Church at Ephesus was the Apostolic Church which left its first love.  It was followed by the Church at Smyrna (Crushed), the persecuted Church. 

 

F.  As early as Revelation, chapter 2, the Lord writes to the Church of Smyrna, warning them of the “deeds of the Nicolaitans.”  A thing which God hated!  There is significant discussion regarding the origins of the Nicolaitans and the meaning of the term itself, so I want to interpret the word as it provides its own definition.

 

Nicolaitan is a compound word.  “Nikao” – to conquer and laos – the people.  “Victorious over the people.”

 

G.  Within the third period of the Church age, the “deeds of the Nicolaitans” had developed into the “doctrine of the Nicolaitans.”  It is often associated with the word “Gnosticism” meaning having a special knowledge.  Gnosis – knowledge.  Two things happened here:

 

1.  The Deeds of the Nicolaitans.  The Nicolaitans began to fill the void of leadership by dividing the clergy from the laity.

 

2.  The Doctrine of the Nicolaitans.  The deeds that God hated turned into doctrines, which God hated.

 

3.  Intellectualism began to change biblical doctrine.  Before you “throw rocks” at this preacher, just read what God said.

 

H.  Local churches have “farmed out” their young preachers to parachurch institutions of learning that have caused a deviation from the Old Paths of the fathers.  I believe, and know that it is biblical, that young men need to be taught by men that they know and have been assured of, not some college professor.

 

J.  Intellectualism brings about:

 

1.  Spiritual Deception.  Verse 18.  God NEVER wants His people either deceived or confused.  Bible doctrine is always clear because it is Bible based!

 

2.  Spiritual Classification.  Verse 18.  A fool in the eyes of the world but wise in the eyes of God!  God’s people simply believe what God says.

 

3.  Spiritual Craftiness.  Subtility in trickery.  “Yea, hath God said?”  You old devil, you knew exactly what God had said!  You just changed it slightly so that you could obtain a copyright and earn a little money!  The word “Subtil” is used only three times in the Bible, with all three mentions being evil:  The Serpent, Jonadab, and the harlot.  God is about as “subtil” as an earthquake.  He says what He means and means what He says.

 

2 Corinthians 11:3  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

 

4.   Spiritual Vanity!  Verse 20.  “The thoughts of the wise, that they are vain!”  Intellectualism glorifies education and the educated man, not Christ!  We live in days of “Rabbi, Rabbi.”

 

Matthew 23:1-8  Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,  (2)  Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:  (3)  All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.  (4)  For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.  (5)  But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,  (6)  And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,  (7)  And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.  (8)  But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.

 

 

Conclusion:  Paul, through the Holy Ghost, gave the Corinthian believers a stern warning concerning the deception of the wisdom of this world.  I am not an enemy of education until education becomes an enemy of sound doctrine. 

Arise, O LORD, Into Thy Rest

 Temple Baptist Church - 7-6-2025

Psalm 132

 

Introduction:

 

A.  Psalm 132 is another of the Psalms of Degrees or Upward Psalms that were sung by the pilgrims traveling from around the world to Jerusalem on one of the three feast days, where all males were required to attend.

 

B.  In this beautiful Psalm, we find three tenses: past, present, and future.  The Psalm speaks of a rest upon the promises and presence of God among His people, Israel.

 

C.  There is a lot of speculation about who wrote the Psalm, King David or King Solomon.  King David is mentioned four times in the Psalms, but there is a strong possibility that King Solomon wrote them, as David’s name was used in the third person, and the verses cover the past rather than the present.  Verse 6 shifts from the third person to the first person, distinguishing between the past and the present.

 

1.  If King David wrote the Psalm, it was written concerning his moving the Ark of the Covenant from the house of Obededom to the Tabernacle in Jerusalem, 1 Chronicles 13-15. 

 

2.  If King Solomon wrote the Psalm, it was written concerning his moving the Ark from the Tabernacle into Solomon’s Temple in 1 Kings 8 and 2 Chronicles 5-7, where it rested until the Babylonian Captivity. 

 

D.  Be it what it may be, the Psalm serves as a reminder that the LORD God chose to dwell among men. 

 

1.  Verses 1-5.  The Past.  The Tabernacle and Solomon’s Temple. 

 

a.  Verse 1.  David’s Method of moving the Ark was wrong! 

 

1)  In 1 Chronicles 13, we find the first attempt to bring the Ark back to the Tabernacle failed, as they carried the Ark of God on a new cart with Uzza and Ahio driving it.  The oxen stumbled, and Uzza put his hand to the Ark to steady it and was struck dead. 

 

2)  They failed to carry the Ark after “Due Order.”  The Ark was left at the home of Obededom for three months, and his house prospered.

 

b.  Verse 2-5.  But his heart was right.  In 1 Chronicles 15, Israel carried the Ark upon the shoulders of the priests and brought it home as King David danced before the Lord with all his might.

 

c.  King David vowed a vow unto God and kept it!  A man after God’s own heart!

 

1) I will not enter my house.

 

2)  I will not sleep or tire.

 

3)  Until I have found a place of habitation for the mighty God of Jacob!

 

d.  King David’s heart was to build a Temple as the final resting place of the Ark of the Covenant, but God would not allow him to do so. 

 

Psalms 132:11  The LORD hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.

 

e. Though King David’s desire consumed him, God chose Solomon to build it because King David was “a man of war, and hast shed blood.” 

 

1 Chronicles 28:2-3  Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: As for me, I had in mine heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building:  (3)  But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood.

 

2.  Verses 6-9.  The Present.

 

a. Verse 6.  The Promise of the Messiah.  I find it interesting that the word “Ephratah” is used here.  “Ephratah” is another name used for Bethlehem and means “to bear fruit”.  To increase in fruit bearing.  Though Christ had not been born at this time, the promise of the Messiah was found in Micah 5:2. 

 

Micah 5:2  But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

 

“Ephratah” was a promise of the Word becoming flesh and dwelling among men.  The resting place of the Ark was in Jerusalem where Christ the Messiah will one day rule and reign for a thousand years.  Dwelling among men once again.

 

b.  Verse 7.  The Promise of a Place of Worship.  “His tabernacles” is plural: both the Tabernacle in the Wilderness and Solomon’s Temple, where these pilgrims were headed, the LORD was to be worshipped.  Today, we are to worship in the local churches.

 

c.  Verses 8-9.  The Promise of God’s Presence.    

 

1)  Verse 8.  The Lord’s Resting Place among His people. The presence of God with His people.  “ there am I in the midst.”  “Lo, I am with you alway.”  “ I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

 

2)  Verse 9.  The Saint’s Worship in Righteousness.  “The beauty of holiness.”

 

3.  Verses 10-13.  The Prediction of the Throne.  From King David to the fruit of his body, to the Second Coming of Christ.

 

a.  Verse 10.  The Prerogative of Succession.  Succession depends upon personal choice.

 

b.  Verse 11-12.  The Promise of Succession.  “The LORD hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.” 

 

c.  Verse 13.  The Place of Succession.  The LORD hath chosen Zion. 

 

4. The Future.  Verses 14-18.  All of the above verses highlight human responsibility.  This last section could be labeled:  “You do what you are supposed to do, and I WILL do what I promised you that I will do.”

 

a.  Verse 14.  The Saviour’s Promise of Christ’s Dwelling.  Today, the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost dwell with their children.  At the end of the world as we know it, God will dwell with His people for all eternity, world without end, Amen!

 

b.  Verse 15.  The Saviour’s Promise of the Saint’s Provision.  Better than in the early days of Adam and Eve, God will supply not only our needs but the desires of our hearts.  The Garden of Eden had an “off-limits” tree.  The New Heaven and New Earth will have no “off-limits” section.  It will ALL be ours.

 

c.  Verse 16.  The Saviour’s Promise of Imputed Righteousness.  Adam and Eve were clothed with innocence, with the potential to sin.  We will all be dressed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before His throne.

 

d.  Verse 17.  The Saviour’s Promise of Illumination.  John the Baptist was a burning light that introduced the Light of the World, Christ Jesus.  Today, we still live in a dark world, but our Lord Jesus Christ will be the light of our eternity.  Never will we experience or walk in darkness again.

 

e.  Verse 18.  The Saviour’s Promise of Christ’s Eternal Throne.  Finally, true justice and equality.  “Our liberty in Love instead of law.”