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John 7:14-17
Introduction: (background: read john 7:1-9 then 14-17).
I believe every true Christian wants to know God’s will for them. Today, I will share with you, briefly, a few things, from God’s Word that may be a help to you.
Remember, God will not hide His will for you.
I. John 7:17: God Never Leads Contrary To His Word = The Bible
A. His Will = Choice, purpose, desire, pleasure
1. Psalms 119:105 (Word a lamp, light)
a. Not only does the Word of God inform us of His will, but, as a light on a
path in darkness, it shows us how to follow the right and avoid the wrong
way.
b. The lamp is fed with the oil of the Spirit.
c. We walk, in our daily lives, through our part of this world.
d. We often go out into its darkness = come into contact with the sinfulness,
temptations, & wickedness of society.
e. Make sure you never venture there without the light giving Word, it will
keep us from slipping with our feet
2. Romans 15:20-21 & 32
a. After all that Paul’s desired and all of their prayers, it still depended on the
will of God
b. Paul was willing to submit to God’s will = whatever God desired.
B. Doing God’s will is doing what God wants us to do
II. God’s Will Is Found In Prayer
A. Luke 6:12-13
1. Jesus spent hours in prayer before making a decision
2. How much time do you spend in prayer before making
a decision that will affect your life?
Your future? Your family?
B. Luke 11:1: Jesus taught us to pray for God’s will to be done.
III. God’s Will Is Found Through The Holy Spirit: John 14:16-17 – John 16:7
A. The Holy Spirit will guide us, IF you are willing to listen and to obey.
1. He is Spirit of Truth: John 17:17; God’s Word is Truth
He will never lead us into error or false hood
2. John 14:26 – He will teach us
3. John 14:26 – He will remind us
IV. God’s Will Can Be Shown To You Through Your Conscience: I Corinthians 8:8-13
A. If it violates your conscience – DON’T do it
B. Being out of God’s will, will affect others – vs 12
1. “wound” = it will hurt them
2. Vs 11 – “perish” = it will “mar” or destroy them. Why? Because they are
young Christians,
They are spiritually weak. They can easily be affected by watching other
Christians.
V. God’s Will Can Be Shown To You Through Godly Council – Proverbs 24:6
A. God’s will is not for consideration – BUT for obedience
B. God can use Godly men to show you God’s will = your pastor
C. God can use your Godly wife to help you and show you God’s will
Conclusion: There are many things, in God’s Word, that God has revealed to us that are His will.
II Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
God’s will is for folks to receive God’s Gift of Salvation
God’s will is for Christians to live for the Lord – to obey Him in all things.
Are you obeying God is ALL things?
Are you 100% sure of Heaven?
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John 8:1-11
Note: Vs 6: tempting Christ; looking for something to accuse Him of.
Vs 6: Wrote on the ground: What?
Vs 8: What, did He write?
Whatever it was, Vs 9: they were convicted of their sin.
Vs 7: Only those who had not committed the same kind or similar kind of sin.
Four questions on this passage:
1. “Where was the man?”
Lev. 20:10 “And the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.”
De 22:22 If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel.
John 8:4: takes two
2. What did Jesus write on the ground?
A. Maybe He wrote the 1st Q? I asked?
B. Perhaps He wrote the man or men’s names?
C. Perhaps they were not a part of this crime, but wrote their inward thoughts / sins.
a. Vs 6: they were tempting Jesus
b. Vs 6: They wanted to accuse Him of this sinful act
c. Vs 4: Again, where was the male perpetrator?
d. They showed no compassion for this woman.
Vs 4: “Taken” = Gr. = seize, possess, apprehend, attain, come upon she was raped.
e. Vs 7: These men were guilty of some sins.
James 2:10-11 “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of
all.
11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery,
yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
Q 3. Where was the concern for their own spiritual lives?
A. a preacher once said: “If I could flash on a screen before us right now, all of your thoughts of this past week, you would have to leave town.” II. Corinthians 7:1 “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
a. It’s possible to curb the natural appetites of the body outwardly and yet be filled with all manner of inward defilement.
b. Your thoughts determine your character: Prov. 23:7 “For
as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he
to thee; but his heart is not with thee.”
c. Philippians 4:8: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
NOTE: Vs 6 & 8: Jesus wrote on the ground. In the Temple, where the Scriptures were taught, the ground was stone.
Therefore, those men’s sins were etched in stone for all to see, he exposed them for what they were.
B. Scribes & Pharisees of John 8, were most likely, outwardly pure, but if they neglected their inner thoughts, then envy, pride, becoming critical & unforgiving would control them.
C. EXAMPLE: Luke 15:25 The parodical son’s brother is a classic example of this.
a. Vs 29: he had an exemplary outward life.
b. Vs 28-30: His inward life was defiled.
d. He had envy, self-righteousness, unforgiveness, anger, sinful pride.
D. Luke 18:11-12: Pharisee & Publican
a. Pharisee had good outward deeds
b. Vs 11: “I’m not like other men.” = Inner defilement; sin.
c. He saw the faults of others but not his own faults.
d. This is the same as in our text today.
e. many people today, think they are O.K. because they see
people worse than themselves.
f. They see themselves as “better” than others = spiritual blindness.
Q 4? “What happened to the woman?
A. Vs 10-11: She didn’t gloat in her accuser’s retreat.
B. She was not condemned, nor acquitted. In effect, she was forgiven.
1. Christ didn’t condone her sin, He showed grace.
2. Vs 4, a word of instruction: “Go & sin no more.”
3. John 3:17: Jesus did not come to condemn (read).
He came to forgive & save Luke 19:10.
4. Vs 11: “Go and sin no more.”
This expression implies forgiveness on the part of Jesus
In other words, don’t keep living in the sin God saved you out of.
Luke 9:56: For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.
Conclusion: sad to say, there are Christians in this world like the Pharisees of John 8. They condemn the unsaved rather than pointing them to Christ.
(Matthew 13:24) “Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:”
(Matthew 13:25) But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
(Mat 13:26) But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
(Mat 13:27) So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
(Mat 13:28) He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
(Mat 13:29) But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
(Mat 13:30) Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
Introduction: Over in the Holy Land there is a plant called the bearded darnel. Its a poisonous grass, which, in appearance, is almost totally indistinguishable from wheat; while the two are growing into blades.
It is only when they come into ear that they are clearly distinguishable.
One day as Jesus was teaching….He, no doubt, pointed to a field of wheat just into blade and He said, “You see that field of wheat”? “Everything looks green and genuine, doesn’t it”?
The apostles said, “Yes, Lord, everything looks green and genuine”.
The Lord said, “But, its not all wheat is it”?
The disciples said, “Well, no”.
Jesus said, “What else is growing”?
The disciples said, “Well, everyone knows, all the farmers have problems with the bearded darnel; the tare, the noxious weed.
Jesus said, “Those tares among the wheat are a picture of the kingdom of heaven……the entire Christian domain……the whole realm of professing Christianity.
He said “the wheat……that’s true blue believers”.
He said “the tares?……..that’s the look alikes……..the person who puts on the act so well that you can’t tell him apart from a true saint”.
He said, “They look so much alike…….you can’t tell them apart.” No one is qualified to really tell who they are…….they come so close to the real thing. No one will ever know who they are until Harvest time when only God can tell the difference.
Now, folks, a few times in the Word of God, the Bible presents a truly sad predicament.
The saddest of all……..and I’ve searched the Bible for years……….there’s none more sad……than the TRAGEDY OF THE TARE.
Please consider with me the tare in 4 stages.
- THE CONCEPTION OF THE TARE
Mat 13:25) But while men slept, his enemy ame and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
Apparently the enemy had great confidence that his seed would survive because after sowing the seed, the Bible says, he went his way.
The enemy, that’s Satan, according to
(Mat 13:39) The enemy that sowed them is the devil;……….
The enemy seeks to place unsaved professors among the truly saved. He does it in every New Testament church. The one the Lord Jesus pastored had a tare in it.
The tare is born when the spirit of Satan RAPES the Word of God and produces a false professor.
Paul speaks of “believing in vain” in 1 Cor. 15:2.
Illustration: One of the ways it happens is when someone prays something like this, “Lord, IF I’m lost save me.” There is no such thing as a “just in case” salvation in the Bible.
Illustration: Another way it happens is when there is a profession without repentance. Old time preachers of yesteryears said, the missing note in modern day preaching is repentance.
How important is repentance?
(Luke 13:3)………except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
The old time preachers used to say, “Turn or burn, repent or perish”.
They were right! The most horrible declaration any preacher will ever say is this but say it they must, “Without repentance from sin and a fleeing to Christ there is fire in your future”.
By Divine Inspiration, the Apostle Peter wrote:
(2 Pet 3:9) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Have you noticed that the well known TV evangelists who hold city wide crusades seldom or never use terms as: Saved! Repent! Redemption!
Its, “make a commitment to Christ”…………..a non-Biblical statement.
Or they will use the word “Decision”
Or “Give your life to Christ.”
You see the reason they won’t use Bible terms is because they want to ease the sinner into a profession……….doing nothing to humble or offend the flesh.
May I say, even in New Testament Churches, where BIBLE terms are used, you still get a few spiritual mishaps.
You’ll not get saved unto God does a work of repentance in your heart and you get slain before God and by His power…….He brings you unto Himself.
The Bible says:
(Ephsians 2:8) “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
(Eph 2:9) Not of works, lest any man should boast.“
Salvation, the Bible way is not in:
Preacher, or people (It’s the Person of Christ.)
Water, wafer or works (It’s the Word)
Church, catechism, or Charisma (It’s Christ)
You say preacher, I’ve been baptized. Didn’t that save me?
| You can be Baptized, Catechized, Civilized, Homogenized, Pasteurized Americanized, | Eulogized, Canonized, Glamorized, Hypnotized, Sanitized, Customized, Naturalized, Modernized, But you will never be saved until you repent of your sin and invite jesus Christ into your heart to save your soul. |
You say preacher, I thought I got saved when I joined the church. You can
Join and Rejoin, But you will never be saved until you are BORN AGAIN.
The Bible says: (Luke 19:10) “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.“
Now, if it was God who brought you; you came to Christ:
- In an attitude of repentance
- In an attitude of surrender
- Convicted of sin.
- Knowing you were lost
And when you arose you were SUBDUED before God……desiring to obey God, as Paul, of whom it is said upon his conversion in:
Acts 9:6 “And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?“
And the reason a handful of our church members cannot UNLOCK the secrets of a Bible centered and Christ honoring life is because they don’t have the KEY of salvation.
11. THE CONDITION OF THE TARE
(Mat 13:29) But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
I.e. The reason you can’t root up the tares w/o rooting up the wheat is because you can’t tell them apart!
Did you catch that? He says the tare looks just like the wheat!
Now, hang on to your seat! The tare is NOT someone who looks out of place…….among the wheat.
The natural setting of the tare appears to be among the wheat not thorns.
The tare (are you ready for this). The tare is not the highly questionable church member about whom you keep on asking yourself, “Is he/she saved? They sure don’t look it or act like it.
The tare is not the false professor who sees everything cross-eyed.
The tare is not:
- the grump
- the slanderer
- the non-tither
- the gossiper
- the busy-body
- the critic
- the rebel
(And, in all likelihood, these aren’t truly converted people)
But the tare (And this is the heartbreaking thing here), the tare IS LIKE THE WHEAT.
The wheat is like the ideal church member and Christian.
The tare is like a faithful member in all areas of the Christian life just like the wheat.
The tare is found among faithful members. Are you ready for this?
Could be:
- a sweet pew filler
- A choir member
- a Sunday School teacher
- a tither
- one of the most cooperative and supportive members of the church.
The tare is not someone you stand in doubt of……….its the one no one would question………..no one here could pick out a tare……….no way!
111. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE TARE
(Mat 13:30) Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
Now, what happens to the tare? You say, well, the tare, gets saved
The Bible tells us that the tares get burned.
But I do know this. IT DOES NOT HAVE TO END UP THAT WAY.
You say, but why, preacher, why won’t the tare, why won’t he or she get saved?
More than anything else……….it’s one thing. PRIDE, PRIDE, PRIDE!
IV. the CONCLUSION OF THE TARE
(Mat 13:36) Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.
(Mat 13:37) He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
(Mat 13:38) The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
(Mat 13:39) The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
(Mat 13:40) As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
(Mat 13:41) The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
(Mat 13:42) And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
There is hope for the tare, they can be saved.
If the tare is unsaved……..being almost a perfect church member…….then what about the constant critic? The unhappy, scowling, bitter, uncooperative, censoring, non-tithing, church member?
If the tare isn’t saved……………I can assure you, there is a spiritual problem somewhere with these.
Illustration: Years ago, a watchman who was in charge of a RR trestle that spanned a deep canyon saw the bridge swept away by a mighty flood.
In a short while the midnight train would come thundering by.
Taking his red lantern, he made his way down and crossed the canyon on a footbridge and walked a good way up the tracks to meet the coming train.
In a little while he heard the rumbling of the train.
In a few moments the train came around the corner. Its floodlight lit up the tracks.
The watchman began waving his red lantern. The engineer was to sound
the whistle when he saw the waving red lantern.
But there was no whistle and the train came barreling down the tracks.
The watchman jumped aside and just as the train came speeding by he literally threw the red lantern into the face of the engineer and shouted……… “FOR God’s SAKE, STOP.”
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Acts 27: Example, Apostle Paul
I. They Think Prayerfully
A. Vs 9: sailing was dangerous
1. Vs 10: much damage & hurt ahead: lives at steak
2. Vs 14: tempestuous wind = hurricane like conditions
3. Vs 18: tossed with a tempest
B. Paul saw the storm coming
C. A storm doesn’t last forever
1. Life has its storms; they can get us doubting; afraid;
and sometimes wondering “where is God?”
2. I believe Paul went into this storm prayerfully.
That’s the way we, too, should approach life’s storms .
Whether a storm of bad weather or a storm / a crisis in our lives
D. Notice vs 11: the centurion would not believe the man of God, Paul
1. Sometimes, in haste, people disregard the council of God’s
man
2. They go around and tell their problems to many folks and
then settle on the advice from someone who has told them
what they wanted to hear. II. They Have A Childlike Faith
A. Vs 21- 25 (read)
B. Mark 10:14 – this is a simple faith that does not doubt.
1. Faith to believe what the Bible says
2. Faith to act upon what the Bible says
3. Whether it is faith to be saved or faith to live our daily lives for Him
III. They Have Optimism Based On The Word Of God
A. Yes, there is a hell; but, yes, there is also salvation to take us to heaven
B. There is a negative and a positive
C. Vs 22: (be of good cheer)
1. In the midst of life’s storms, you can have that same little childlike faith to believe in the Word of God.
2. You can be of good cheer because of no loss: vs 22
a. Here, no loss of life: we can thank God for His hand of protection on our lives
b. Also, no loss of eternal life.
God saves and He keeps us saved
D. They have mastered their own lives: Proverbs 16:32
(he that ruleth his spirit)
1. Life is a give and take relationship; things don’t always go
your way
2. They take life’s storms (problems) as they arise; they don’t fall apart during the storm
3. Be realistic about the future: no pie in the sky stuff
4. Paul had a grip on himself and he had self-respect.
Conclusion: The way to keep your head in a crises is to be close to the Bible; close to God. Faith in God and in His Word. Don’t follow after every newfangled thing that comes along in the world of religion. Be saved and know it for sure. Stick to the basics of God’s Word and have that childlike faith – it will get you through life a lot better.
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The Book Of Malachi
Intro: This is the last call of the Old Testament before the voice of prophecy dies into a silence of 400 years. The last spokesman utters his soul and retires behind the mystery curtains of the past.
The meaning and the message: This Book is an appeal – powerful and passionate … pleading for God’s people to repent of sin and turn to God … chapter 1:1-2 – vs 6-11
The key thought of Malachi: Malachi 2:17
I. An appeal in viewing their present sin: chap. 1-2
A. God speaks; the priests are appealed to: 1:6 – 2:9
1. 1:8: they offered what they didn’t want, to the Lord
2. 1:14: what they offered to the Lord was corrupt
B. Malachi speaks (message from the Lord) 2:10-17
1. They wearied the Lord: 2:17
2. They said the evil was good: 2:17
II. An appeal in viewing the Coming Day: chap. 3-4
A. God will judge the guilty on that Day
1. God will send His messenger to prepare the way – 3:1
2. John the Baptist was that messenger
3. The Day of His coming:- 3:2
4. This is the 1st coming of Christ
5. The religious leaders and people had sank to a new low of formalism and being
nonchalant about the things of God; they were living in hypocrisy.
6. God will judge: 3:4-5
7. God changes not; He is always the same: 3:6
8. Tithing is taught: 3:8-11. Note: vs 11: I Corinthians 16:1-2
B. God will bless the Godly in that Day
1. Vs 14: the ungodly find it vain to serve God
2. Vs 16-17: the Godly belong to God
3. God will send Elijah: 4:5
4. The appeal: 4:4-6
Malachi ends the Old Testament with a final promise of the coming of Christ; then we have
400 years of silence.
Next, the New Testament opens in the fulfillment of the prophecy with the first coming of Christ, with John the Baptist paving the way.
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The Book Of Haggai
Introduction: Haggai was relatively unknown but he voiced God’s message to the leaders of the Jews who had returned after 70 years of captivity.
Haggai writes to:
1. Rebuke and to instruct the remnant of the Jews: they were divided.
2. To admonish and to encourage the builders of God’s House.
The man and the Book: Haggai was born in Babylon and he returned to the Land. This was done due to the decree of Cyrus under Zerubbabel.
This Book covers a period of about 4 months, in the year of 520 B.C. It takes place 16 years after the return of the first group who came back to the Land.
Haggai writes regarding their problem: 14 years of inactivity. The Temple should have been rebuilt but the people didn’t build it.
The people were in apathy and that is why they basically sat there doing nothing in the Lord’s work for those 14 years.
Central message: Chapter 1:7-8
Haggai’s Four Fold Message
I. The Appeal To Rebuild The Temple: Chap. 1
A. Build The House
1. Vs 2: “the people say”
2. Vs 3-4: God’s Word says …..
a. God’s Word came to Haggai, God’s man
b. God was leading Haggai to rebuke and to encourage – His House needed to be built
B. Vs 5 – “…Consider your ways:” their thinking; attitudes; direction; needed to change
1. Vs 6: God was not blessing them in any labor of their hands, unless they rebuild His
Temple and restore His worship
a. God will not bless our labors when we fail to follow His Word.
b. They thought they could escape poverty by keeping their money and not give it to
God’s House; there was not enough to rebuild God’s House because of that
Proverbs 13:7 and 11:24
Instead of cheating God; they cheated themselves
c. Sown: but crop failures … bring in little = not enough food to eat
d. Not filled with drink: nothing satisfied them
e. Because of crop failures, there was not enough money to buy clothing
f. Their wages went into a bag full of holes: figurative. No matter how much they
made … there was never enough to go around.
2. Vs 7: Consider your ways. Is it right to build a nice house and neglect God’s house
consider whether your lack is due to God’s punishment due to your lack of giving
God what is really His
II. A Message Of Support: Chap 2
A. Vs 4: “… I am with you …” – Hebrews 13:5
B. “Be strong …” don’t let this discourage you
C. Vs 6-7: God is in control
1. Vs 6: God will shake the heavens etc.
2. Vs 7: God will shake all nations
3. Vs 8: poverty should not hinder them …. all things come from God. Depend on Him for
their financial needs
III. A Message To Confirm: Chap. 2
A. Vs 19: “from this day will I bless you.”
B. The seed has been planted
1. Harvest is months away
2. Harvest of the fruit trees is also a while off
3. In the past, they have had crop failures
4. God’s Word says: trust in the Lord and not in nature
5. Their obedience will bring the blessing of God
IV. A Message To Assure: Chap. 2
A. Vs 23: “I will take thee” “I will make thee as” “ I have chosen thee”
1. I will take thee: God’s leading and protection
2. I will make thee as a signet: a signature ring used as a seal. God will make them
very precious. He will exalt Zerubbabel to high dignity and power. He shall be
precious
3. I have chosen thee: “chosen” here, means appointed. God had a work for him to do.
God had a plan for Zerubbabel and He has a plan for you.
B. God’s Word gives assurance
1. Acts 17:31
2. Colossians 2:2
Conclusion: Matthew 6:33 is a great rule in God’s Word to follow. When we “consider our ways” and turn back to God, obey His Word in ALL things … He will bless.
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Introduction: We have no history regarding Obadiah – not even his father’s name. We find more than a dozen other Obadiah’s in the Bible, but none are identified with this one. He is a man of obscurity that was used of God to pronounce one thing: God’s judgment on Edom and final restoration of Judah under God’s Kingdom.
The name Obadiah means – Servant of Jehovah.
The Book: It is the shortest writing of the prophets and the smallest Book of the Old Testament. It’s primary concern is with God’s judgment upon Edom for their alliance with Babylon against their own kin: Israel. Then, the plundering and destruction of Jerusalem, by Babylon.
Date: An exact date is not found. We can speculate that it was written around 887 B.C.
Edom: During Obadiah’s time, the capitol was Petra … the Rock City.
I. The Day Of The Lord Is Near
A. Every eye shall see Him: Rev. 1:7
B. He comes as a thief: II Peter 3:10-12
C. Paul looked for it: Phil. 3:20
D. We are to wait for His coming: I Thess. 1:10
E. No man knows when He will return: Matt. 24:36
II. Rewards When He Returns: Obadiah 1:15
A. Galatians 6:7: Reap what you sow
B. Rev. 22:12: He brings rewards
C. I Cor. 3:14-15: Rewards can also be taken away from us
1. Build a work for Christ that will last
2. Our works will be tested by the refiner’s fire: I Peter 1:7
Even though Obadiah looked for the second Coming; Paul looked for it; the early Christians looked for it; you and I should look for the Second Coming. We must remember; God is on HIS time table and not ours.
God, in His wisdom and timing, still has a work to do; a work for you and me to do.
God must be waiting for something, what it is, we don’t know and it is not for us to know or we’d know it.
Genesis 7:4 & 10: for some reason, God gave 7 more days of Grace before He flooded the earth.
Today, He is still a God of Grace. God patiently waits for souls to receive Christ as Saviour.
He patiently waits for Christians to do a work for God, to live for Jesus, to win souls.
But …. He is Coming: Mark 13:32-33
Vs 2-3: God made them small, vs 2, because of their sinful pride: vs 3
Vs 2: they are despised, scorned, contemptible.
Vs 3: They deceived themselves by their own sinful pride
They dwelt in the clefts of the rocks … Petra … the capitol city was a Rock City.
Their houses were mostly cut into the rocks.
Vs 4: Pride MUST be brought down. No matter how high they tried to exalt themselves…
God WILL bring them down
Vs 5: The enemies of Edom have ravaged them more than thieves and robbers would have
Vs 6: Even the things that they hid in caves etc. were found and ravaged: I Corinthians 4:5
Vs 7: Brought to their border = they were hemmed in, on every side, by their enemies.
“They that eat thy bread” = they pretended to be their friends but in all reality: they
joined together to destroy them.
“laid a wound” = laid a trap or placed a snare.
“none understanding” = they we so foolish – they could not see their danger
Vs 8: The Edomite’s were remarkable for wisdom, counsel, and prudence.
When God purposes to destroy a nation for its sins, He commonly removes from it the
wise and prudent, and gives it over to weak and foolish counsels: Jeremiah 49:7.
Vs 9: The wise men will be destroyed by a violent death
NOTE: The problem here – is the sinful pride of Edom. In verses 1-16, we read of the destruction of Edom because of their sin. Proverbs 6:16-20 – Proverbs 8:13
Arrogancy means “swelling.” Or like “he has the big head.”
Verses 17-21: We read of the salvation of Israel.
Vs 17: Deliverance: Psalms 2:6
Holiness = they shall return to God and separate themselves from idols
The promise of God – in the Palestinian Covenant – to take what God has rightfully given
to Israel.
Vs 18: Isaiah 10:17: God’s power to consume his enemies properly belongs only to himself.
As a people and a nation, they shall be destroyed. It does not refer to every individual.
Vs 19 – 21: Obadiah ends his prophecy with a promise of the restoration of Israel and the
Messianic Kingdom.
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Introduction: Amos was a Jew who prophesied in the Northern Kingdom. Amos was not from the school of the prophets – he had no formal training. He was also a herdsman and a farmer. Yet, he had the same Divine Spirit of God upon him that influenced Isaiah and Daniel etc. God uses anybody that makes themselves available to Him. Remember, God gives abilities to us when we yield to Him. God can and wants to use you.
Date: This was written from 787 – 797 B.C.
The Book: Written during the reign of King Uzziah in Israel after Amos had been expelled from the Northern Kingdom for his bold preaching in Bethel.
Amos deals with the Judgments on the cities surrounding Palestine; Judah and Israel; Jehovah God’s dealing with the family of Jacob and the future glory of the Davidic kingdom.
- The Message Of The Book: Amos 3:1-3
- The context is this: Can you have God’s presence while you walk contrary with Him?
- In Amos day, God’s people broke sweet communion and fellowship with God.
- God did not break it from them, they broke from God: that’s sad.
- How can a child of God have the power of God on him while not fellowshipping with God.
- You cannot walk with God if you are not living for God in your daily life.
- Can you have God’s presence while you walk so contrary to him?
- Hate The Evil And Love The Good: Amos 5:14-15
- The choice between evil and good has gone on since Adam and Eve in the Garden in Genesis 3.
- Joshua exhorted God’s people to choose between good and evil in Joshua 24:15
- “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord …..”
- To some, they like the evil better than the good; that’s why we have so much hatred in this world.
a So much war
b.So much violence
c. So much murder
d.So much immorality
e. Abortion/murder of the unborn is into the millions
f. It becomes evil in the sight of people for God’s people to do good
g. Joshua exhorted the Israelites: God’s people, not the heathen, to choose between Gods and the false gods. The gods that they worshipped before God redeemed them and delivered them. The Israelites had a problem: sin. They couldn’t decide whether to go back and live in sin or to go forward and serve the God that had saved them.
h. Amos 5:15: hate ALL evil among God’s people: I Thessalonians 5:22.
i. Love, commend, encourage, defend the GOOD. Let your heart be towards good things.
Psalms 34:14 and Psalms 34:8
Paul refused to eat meat offered to idols: I Cor. 8:1 & 10:13-14
There was nothing wrong with the meat itself: I Cor. 8:4.
Vs 7-10: be careful lest we tempt others to fall into sin and false doctrine
Sometimes, it is not the thing itself that is the sin, but where we are or what we do with it: that is the sin.
Be careful where we go, what we say and what we do lest we become a hindrance to
someone and they not be saved. I Cor. 6:12 and I Cor. 10:23
III. God Always Keeps His Promises Amos 9:13-15
- God reminded Israel of what He has in store for them in the future.
- God’s Word also reminds us of what He has in store for those who have received Him as Saviour.
- A perfect salvation
- Salvation that lasts: He won’t cast us out
- Blessings and benefits: here and now
- The Comforter – the Holy Spirit to teach, guide and empower us John 14:6: a home in Heaven.
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Introduction: Joel lived during the time of the Prophet Elisha; approximately 800 years before the birth of Jesus Christ. Joash was king.
The Name Joel: Means “Jehovah is God.” He prophesied mostly about Jerusalem and Judah.
Date: Approximately 800 B.C.
- The Plague Of Locust: Chap. 1:11-2:11
- Chap. 2:1-11 references to revelation 16:14
- This refers to Armageddon
- Vs 11: references to Revelation 19:11-21
- Joel calls for repentance: 2:12-17
- Repentance is a turning back to God as well as a turning from our sin.
- The sin that keeps us from Gods blessings.
- The sin that hinders our sweet fellowship with the Lord.
- The sin that hinders our spiritual progress.
- Prophecy 2:28
“Afterward “= in the last days
- “Pour out my Spirit”
- This prophecy was fulfilled in Acts 2:15 -21
- Acts 2:16: “this is that”
- “this” = the happenings of Acts 2:1-14.
- The Day of Pentecost begins the “Last Days”, according to this fulfilled prophecy.
- The local New Testament Church was empowered on the Day of Pentecost
- Acts 2:41: 3,000 souls saved – baptized and added to the local church.
- That particular local church was the one in Jerusalem in Acts 1:15.
The Last Days
- Afterwards: Joel 2:28 – this is the last days of Acts 2:17
- Joel 2:28 was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost, therefore, the Last Days began on the Day of Pentecost.
- This means that we have been living in the Last Days for over 2,000 years
- We are living, I believe, in the last part of the Last Days.
- We are to LOOK for the return of Jesus Christ.
- We are to LIVE for Jesus until His return.
NOTES: Joel 3:14: “Valley of Decision.” The valley in which they are to meet their “determined doom.” The same as “the valley of Jehoshaphat,” that is, “the valley of judgment.”
This is the place where God executes His judgment upon His enemies.
People have decisions to make – to be saved or remain unsaved. Christians also have decisions –
Once we are saved, do I live for the Lord or not. Will I be faithful or remain unfaithful. How long will I serve Him?
Joel tells of the effects of the plagues, past and future. He looks beyond them to plagues of Israel’s enemies to come and calls Israel to repentance. Then, he looks to the end times and God’s triumph over Israel’s final enemies and the promise of God’s blessings upon Israel and the gentile believers.
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Introduction: Hosea lived at the same time as Amos; Isaiah & Micah.
The name “Hosea” means deliverance. He was an Israelite native to Israel.
200 years before Hosea’s time, 10 of the 12 tribes of Israel had left and set up the Northern Kingdom. They began the worship of idols and that’s why God sent the prophets, Elijah and Elisha to preach against their sin. God wanted them to repent of their sin and turn back to God.
Date: 785 B.C. or approximately 2,890 years ago
This Book covers a time period of 60 years.
The setting: There was outward prosperity in Israel: the borders had increased; the Temple offerings had increased. Then there was peace because Syria and Moab had been conquered.
Inwardly, there was spiritual decay; immorality abounded. Israel was worshipping false gods
Including offering children as sacrifices. The priests had condoned all of this.
- Israel’s Sins: chap 4:1-2
- Vs 1: Hear = listen and apply it to yourself – not to other people
- Vs 1: God has a controversy with Israel –
- Controversy = conflict
- No truth; mercy & no knowledge of God.
- Truth: John 14:6
- None of God’s mercy = no forgiveness of sins. Why?
(1) They did not know God and therefore did not confess their sins to God.
(2) Therefore, they could not receive God’s forgiveness – mercy and – pardon.
- No knowledge of God = they did not know the Word of God nor the God of the Word
- Vs 2: Swearing, lying, killing, stealing & adultery.
- Vs 3: Result of their sin
- The idolatry of Israel 4:12-19
- To some, their idol is money, sports, self, spouse, clothes, cars, recreation, music, children etc.
- Anything that you put before God or anything you allow to keep you from serving God
- Hosea 13:6: they sad account of Hosea
- They forgot God
- Vs 7-8 and 9: self-destruction
- God’s Pleading: chap. 14
- Vs 1: return
- Ask forgiveness of sins: vs 2
- Asshur = one of the 12 Tribes of Israel: only God can deliver / save.
- God’s promise if they would return to Him: vs 4-7
- What would be the effect on others if they would return: vs 8
God’s Ways Are Right Ways: Proverbs 16:25 – Psalms 19:8 – Psalms 119:75
Conclusion: God’s instructions are to “return” Why? Because it is “we” who moved away from God. If we “return” 14:4: God promises to “heal” the backsliding; to love us and turn His anger away from us.
FAITH - HOPE - FORGIVENESS by Growing Older 