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Sermon Outlines
Volume One
Decisions
J. L. Newborn, Ltd.
Kinston, NC 28501
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OUTLINES ON DECISIONS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CONTINUED...
Sermon Outlines Pages
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OUTLINES ON DECISIONS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CONTINUED...
Sermon Outlines Pages
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"WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?"
ACTS 16:25-31
A. THE QUESTION, BY THE STARTLED JAILOR, REVEALS TWO GREAT GOSPEL TRUTHS WHICH EVERY SINNER
MUST REALIZE
1. The true condition of the sinner:
a. He is lost — body, soul, and spirit - Rom. 3:9-18
b. He must realize that he is lost - Luke 18:13
c. Finally, he must confess his lost condition - Rom. 7:24
2. For the encouragement of the penitent sinner:
a. He knows that he can be saved from his sinful condition - 1 Tim. 1:15
b. But, he must want to be saved -
(1) "Lord save me" - Matt. 14:30
(2) "Lord save us: we perish" - Matt. 8:25
c. Most of all, he must do something about it to be saved -
(1) The prodigal son acted - Luke 15:20
(2) Blind Bartimaeus acted with persistence -Mark 10:46-52
(3) Zacchaeus acted - Luke 19:5-9
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WHAT SHALL I DO WITH JESUS?
MATTHEW 27:22-24
C. BUT THE QUESTION OF OUR TEXT IS AS APPLICABLE TO US NOW AS IT WAS WHEN PILATE PLACED IT
BEFORE THE JEWS
1. Christ has placed Himself in every life of every person born into this world:
a. He died for all - 2 Cor. 5:14
b. That makes every one of us morally obligatory to take a positive attitude toward Him.
2. There are two basic factors that will enter our personal decision:
a. Our appreciation of what He did for us - Gal. 2:20, 21
b. Our attachment to sin - John 3:19
3. Let us consider Pilate's question from another standpoint:
a. The question, what to do with Jesus will help us to resist temptation; because if I yield to temptation, I
crucify Him afresh - Heb. 6:6
b. There can be no compromise between Christ and sin; accepting Christ means parting with sin - Matt.
6:24
c. Rejection of the Word of God is the same as rejecting Christ - John 5:39
4. But before you make your final decision, consider prayerfully:
a. The sin problem - what will you do with your sins without Christ? John 9:41
b. Think of what you lose by rejecting Christ - John 5:40
c. Finally, let me warn you that not to choose is choosing just the same; postponing your decision will
only endanger your hope.
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"THIS ONE THING I DO"
PHILIPPIANS 3:13, 14
A. WHEN WE STUDY THE LIFE OF PAUL, WE LEARN THAT HE WAS A MAN OF DECISION
1. He felt that Christ was an impostor and that it was his God given duty to oppose Christianity with all he had in
his power:
a. "And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto
the high priest, and desired of him letters to Damascus . . . that if he found any of this way, whether
they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem." - Acts 9:1, 2
b. In his letter to the Philippians he says, "Concerning zeal, persecuting the church" - Phil. 3:6
2. But after he had given his heart and life to the cause of Christ, he was equally determined to go all the way:
a. His trip to Jerusalem - Acts 21:13
b. His burning desire to help his own nation - Rom. 9:1-3
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CHRIST OR CHAOS
ISAIAH 45:22, JOHN 3:14-19
A. MY FRIENDS, ONE NEED NOT BE A PESSIMIST TO SAY THAT OUR WORLD TODAY IS IN VERY SERIOUS
TROUBLE IN MORE THAN ONE WAY
1. The nations are in serious difficulty; that was foretold by our Lord:
a. Distress among the nations.
b. Heart trouble among men - Luke 21:25, 26; Matt. 24:6, 7
2. Our modern society is in trouble:
a. Morality is, in many instances, cast to the wind - 2 Tim. 3:1-8
b. Excess in amusements and pleasures are sapping the strength of the nation - Luke 17:26, 27 (as in
the days of Noah, etc.)
c. The America home is in difficulty -
(1) Juvenile delinquency keeps the courts more than busy.
(2) Parents seem unable to keep their children within bounds.
(3) Divorces are on the increase to an alarming extent, and the end is not in sight.
3. The church is in a state of impotence, unable to cope with the influence of the world upon its members:
a. Ponder the testimony of the true witness to the church of Laodicea - Rev. 3:14-22
b. Think of the prediction of our Lord of the last days - Matt. 24:12 (Because iniquity shall abound the love
of many shall wax cold.)
c. And above all, read Paul's prophecy of the conditions in the last days - 2 Tim. 3:1-9
C. CHRIST OR CHAOS
1. Our text offers God's remedy for ills of the world, society and the family:
a. "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth" - Isa. 45:22
b. There is no remedy for sin outside of Christ -Acts 4:12
c. Only the blood of Christ is able to cover our sins - 1 Pet. 1:18, 19, Rev. 1:5; John 6:51-56
2. When the Jews, as a nation, rejected Christ
a. They cut themselves off from all hope.
b. They cut the last link between them as a nation and a people.
3. Christ has the remedy for what ails the world:
a. The world needs real peace.
b. Christ offers that peace to all who desire it - John 14:27
c. The world needs rest.
d. Christ offers rest to all who come unto him - Matt. 11:28-30
4. Here are a number of very timely questions:
a. What will the world do with its sins?
b. The Bible has the answer - John 1:29
c. What can the world do with all its problems?
d. The Bible has the answer - 1 Pet. 5:5-7
e. How shall we face the judgment day without Christ?
f. The Bible has the answer - 2 Cor. 5:10; Rev. 20:10-12
g. Take Christ out of the world, and peace is impossible; take him out of society, and society is doomed;
take Christ out of the church, and the church is meaningless; take Christ out of the home, and you
have a home filled with darkness and despair.
h. That brings us back to our subject title -- Christ or chaos?
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GO FORWARD
A. "AND THE LORD SAID UNTO MOSES, WHEREFORE CRIEST THOU UNTO ME? SPEAK UNTO THE CHILDREN OF
ISRAEL, THAT THEY GO FORWARD." Ex. 14:15
1. Israel was in a tight place:
a. The overflowing Red Sea before them.
b. The towering mountains about them.
c. The Egyptians followed them.
2. Israel was inexperienced:
a. In the ways of the Lord.
b. Unprepared to cross the Red Sea, and not organized to fight off the enemy - Ex. 14:14-18
B. "GO FORWARD"
1. Was the Lord's answer to Moses' cry:
a. The captain of the host of Israel had taken command of the army of the Lord - Josh. 5:14, 15; Heb.
2:10
b. "The Lord shall fight for you" - Ex. 14:14
2. Forward!
a. Has ever been God's command -
(1) Was the order in creation: light came first.
(2) All other creative acts by God followed - Gen. 1; 2
b. That is God's order in the new creation -
(1) Christ, the light of the world broke up the darkness- Isa. 60:1, 2; John 1:1-6; 14:6
(2) Believers in the world are the lesser lights, breaking through the darkness in the world - Matt.
5:14, 15
3. The great gospel truth of a risen Saviour is on the forward move today:
a. Said the captain of the army of the Lord, "Go" - Matt. 28:19
b. "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations"
c. "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world" - Matt. 24:14
4. That means that the army of the Lord:
a. Must not look backward - Luke 9:62
b. Must not become entangled with the cares of this world, as Israel did in the wilderness - Acts 7:39
5. Go forward:
a. In faith - 1 John 5:4
b. With full confidence - 2 Tim. 1:12
EXAMPLES -
(1) Joshua and Caleb - Num. 13:30
(2) David fighting Goliath - 1 Sam. 17:45-51
(3) Paul and the gospel - Acts 27:21-25
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a. We will see the manifestation of the great power of God in the hearts of souls for whom Christ died.
b. We shall praise God, as ancient Israel did in days of old.
c. Let us, therefore, obey our marching orders and go forward in faith.
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THE HOUR OF DECISION
JOEL 3:14
A. "MULTITUDES, MULTITUDES IN THE VALLEY OF DECISION: FOR THE DAY OF THE LORD IS NEAR IN THE
VALLEY OF DECISION."
1. To make a decision is one of the most important acts mortal men can make:
a. Harry S. Truman had to make a great decision when he gave the green light for the dropping of the
Atomic Bomb.
b. The decision to accept or to reject Jesus Christ is of eternal importance.
2. A moral decision is based upon the recognition of our obligations to God and men:
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MAN'S COOPERATION
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FOUR BIG CHEATS
MARK 8:36- 38, 39
B. THIS EVENING I PURPOSE, WITH THE HELP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO FOUR BIG
CHEATS THAT WILL KEEP MANY OUT OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD
1. "No Danger" is a deadly cheat; beware of it:
a. Lot's sons-in-law fell for this death trap - Gen. 19:14
b. The people, living in the days of the second coming of Christ will be faced with the same deadly cheat
- Luke 21:34, 35
c. Your humble servant could write a large book showing how many he knew personally that lost their
lives by not heeding the "No Danger" sign.
2. "Plenty of Time" is another deadly cheat; beware of it:
a. The rich farmer of the parable of our Lord is a vivid example of this cheat - Luke 12:16-18
b. Let none of us be hasty and point the finger at the foolish farmer of yesterday. How many of us think of
tomorrow as being sure because we feel well bodily:
c. Thousands lose their lives every year attempting to cross the railroad tracks; why? because they are
cheated by "Plenty Time"'
d. Lot's wife was cheated out of her life by thinking that she had "Plenty Time" to stand still and look
back to see what was happening to her home town -Gen. 19:26
e. No, dear soul, you do not have "Plenty Time" to get right with the Lord; it never pays to put off the
most important duty of our life.
3. "Not Now" is the third deadly cheat to beware of: Felix, governor of the province of Judah, was troubled at the
thought of meeting his sins in the day of judgment, but he said to God and Paul:
a. "Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee" - Acts 24:25
b. Pharaoh's answer to Moses' plea to let Israel leave Egypt was - "Tomorrow" - Ex. 8:10
c. But God says, "Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation" - 2 Cor. 6:1-3
d. "Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith) Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts" - Heb.
3:7, 8
4. "Almost" is, if that is possible, the most deadly cheat of the four:
a. It endangers the future of God's own people. How many "almost" Christians are members of the church
of God?
b. Said King Agrippa, "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian" - Acts 26:28
c. Who is an "Almost" Christian?
(1) One who lives his faith maybe seventy-five percent, or even ninety-five percent, but not one
hundred percent.
(2) To many, many in the church of God, Christ would say, "One Thing Thou Lackest" - Mark
10:31; Luke 18:22
d. He who keeps nine commandments and breaks one - Jas. 2:8-11
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REASONING WITH GOD
ISAIAH 1:18
A. A WONDERFUL CONDESCENSION
1. The invitation is given:
a. Not by a glorious being, such as the angels, but the Sovereign of the universe.
b. The condescension by God is another token of His divine love for fallen humanity.
2. It is given:
a. Not to a loyal subject of God.
b. But to a rebel, a traitor against heaven.
3. Notice the description:
a. It includes those whose sins are glaring and very manifest.
b. It is an invitation to them whose iniquities are especially productive of great evil and misery.
c. It has reference to them that have sinned against great privileges - Matt. 11:20-24
C. LET US DEVOTE A LITTLE TIME TO THE CONSIDERATION OF GOD'S WONDERFUL APPROACH TO THE
PROBLEM OF SIN
1. He appeals to the powers of reason:
a. That is one reason God has equipped man with the faculty of reason.
b. It is the gift that differentiates between man and beast.
2. Let it be noted in this connection that Satan is fully aware of the powers of reason and he will do all at his
command to destroy or to weaken this God-given power:
a. When he gets control of men, he makes sure that their minds are blinded first - 2 Cor. 4:4
b. That was what happened to the prodigal son - Luke 15:11-32
c. That is the work of demons, to destroy the powers of reason - Mark 5:1-17
d. He knows that God appeals not to human emotions, important as they may be, but He appeals to
reason.
e. Read prayerfully Eph. 1:18; Acts 26:18; 2 Cor. 4:4; John 12:40
3. God wants us to see the terribleness of sin:
a. Belshazzar saw his sin - Dan. 5:1-7
b. Felix saw his - Acts 24:25
c. Peter saw his sinfulness - Luke 5:8
4. It is when we see the terribleness of sin that true repentance will come to our hearts: Mark 14:7-72
5. The appeal in our opening text shows very clearly the attitude of God toward sinners:
a. He does not want to see them die in sin - Ezek. 18:23, 32
b. He gave all and the best He had to deliver us from the power of sin - John 3:16
c. What more can a reasonable God do to save us from ourselves and sin?
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THE CHOICE OF A MASTER
JOSHUA 24:15
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"REMEMBER LOT'S WIFE"
LUKE 17:32
C. LET US TAKE A BRIEF LOOK AT SOME OF THE REASONS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF LOT'S WIFE
1. Lot was partially to be blamed for the calamity that came to his wife:
a. He, as the head of the family, hesitated, lingered, when he should have moved forward - Gen. 19:16
b. He would not have gone forward, had not the angel urged him on - verse 16.
2. Divided interest seems to have been responsible for her disobedience:
a. It is possible that they had accumulated treasures in Sodom; and that she was unwilling to part with
these treasures - Matt. 6:21; 19:16- 20
b. They had married children in Sodom, who refused to leave that city - Gen. 19:14
c. She evidently was unwilling to leave part of her family behind; if that is not so, why did she look back?
3. The sad part of it all:
a. She perished on the way of rescue.
b. She was lost in spite of God's efforts to save her.
c. What makes it still sadder, if that is possible, is that her loved ones were not permitted to bury her; no,
not even to look back to see what had happened to her.
4. The important lesson for God's people in the last days: a. The judgment hour message is proclaimed in all the
world - Rev. 14:7, 8
b. We believe that we understand the implication of this message - 2 Cor. 5:10; 1 Pet. 4:17, 18
c. We know that the world today is no better than Sodom was before it was destroyed - John 7:7; Luke
17:26-32; 1 John 5:19
d. Paul confirms this fact - 2 Tim. 3:1-9
e. We, too, have heard God's call of mercy - Rev. 18:1-4; Matt. 24:14
f. We have made a good beginning; left the world, our relatives and friends - Mark 10:28-34; Rev. 18:4; 2
Cor. 6:17
g. Are we going to be in the same danger that overtook Lot's wife? Are our affections divided between
God and the world? WHATEVER OUR ANSWER MAY BE, LET US REMEMBER LOT'S WIFE.
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THERE CAN BE NO RETREAT
DEUTERONOMY 17:16
B. BUT THERE IS, IN OUR OPENING TEXT, A MUCH DEEPER TRUTH FOR OUR PRAYERFUL CONSIDERATION
1. The "no retreat" is true in the sphere of our own being:
a. No one can retrace the steps we have already trodden; nor recall the words we have carelessly
spoken; nor reproduce the circumstances of bygone days.
b. We cannot recall, or change, or obliterate the past, even if we wanted to.
c. The actions of the past are eternal; they are history, good or bad.
2. But there is a brighter side to our text:
a. Thank God that we may forget our sinful past - Phil. 3:13
b. God has promised to blot out all our sins - Mi. 7:18, 19; Isa. 44:22
c. "Therefore if any man be in Christ Jesus, he is a new creature: old things have passed away; behold all
things are become new" - 2 Cor. 5:17
d. For who wants to return to the old life of sin? Not I.
3. Let us take a still closer look at our opening text:
a. Retreat is indicative of weakness of the one in question. That is true when an army flees in battle.
b. In the case of a professed Christian, retreat into the old life of sin is indicative that he or she has never
been free from the bondage of sin.
c. It means that at heart the guilty one is still in Egypt - Acts 7:39
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"WHERE ART THOU?"
A. "AND THE LORD GOD CALLED UNTO ADAM, AND SAID UNTO HIM, WHERE ART THOU?"
1. Disobedience brings disillusionment:
a. The serpent's promise, "your eyes shall be opened . . . ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."
b. Opened their eyes to discover their nakedness.
c. They did learn the difference between good and evil, but only to their sorrow.
2. Effect of disobedience:
a. It distorted their concept of God.
b. God's voice was no longer an invitation to sweet fellowship as before.
c. They no longer sought refuge with God, but sought to hide from Him.
d. Sin has made them afraid of God. What a tragedy!
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"THOU ART THE MAN"
2 SAMUEL 12:7
C. SELF-DECEPTION
1. It strikes us most forcefully when we read the conversation between David and Nathan, the prophet:
2. David unwittingly passed sentence upon himself:
3. He had planned the crime so cleverly that he was confident that no one would ever know about it:
4. That is why he was so ready to pass sentence upon the man in the parable:
5. Note four specific facts about self-deception:
a. We blind ourselves to the evil we know is in our own life.
b. We make excuses for the sin we know we ought to confess.
c. We become so familiar with the sin in our life that it diminishes in our own estimation.
d. We never are honest enough to go into judgment with ourselves.
Face savings is the ever present temptation to all of us.
D. SELF-DISCOVERY
1. The story of Nathan's interview with David moves us with pain and pity:
a. God takes a hand in it by revealing the sin of David to Nathan.
b. He lets David see the hideousness of the crime he had committed against his own soldier, whom he
was pledged to protect.
c. Finally, he allows David to pass the verdict.
2. Thou art the man:
a. David made a new discovery, which he faithfully recorded in Ps. 139:1-17
b. He discovered that all things are open to the eyes of God - Heb. 4:13; Ps. 139:1-8
c. He began to see the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and it pressed heavily upon him - 2 Sam. 12:13
d. He was a very fortunate sinner because there was pardon with God for him - 2 Sam. 12:13
But friends, what if that verdict should come to us after probation closes?
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THE TENTH MAN
LUKE 17:11-19
A. "AND JESUS ANSWERING SAID, WERE THERE NOT TEN CLEANSED? BUT WHERE ARE THE NINE?"
1. Many useful sermons have been preached on The Tenth Man:
2. The story of the 10 lepers is full signification:
a. Leprosy is a chronic endemic infectious disease marked by the formation of nodules, ulcerations and
deformative eruptions in the affected body.
b. It is a disease of the blood and it is very repulsive to look at.
c. Lepers were isolated from the people and they had to make known their condition by a warning voice.
d. In Bible times, leprosy was considered a plague - Lev. 13:45
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TOUCHING THE MASTER
LUKE 8:43-44
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THE TOUCH OF THE MASTER
LUKE 13:12, 13
B. THE TOUCH OF THE MASTER MEETS ALL OUR NEEDS AND SOLVES ALL OUR PROBLEMS
1. It brought life to the dead:
a. The daughter of the ruler of the synagogue - Mark 5:13
b. The dead son of a widow - Luke 7:14
2. It brought cleansing to the leper:
a. Matt. 8:3
b. 1 Cor. 6:11; Heb. 4:3
3. His touch brings light:
a. The blind man of Bethsaida - Mark 8:22, 23
b. Blind Bartimaeus - Matt. 9:29; Mark 10:46-52
c. It is because He is the light of the world - John 8:12
4. His touch enables the dumb to speak:
a. The man that had an impediment of speech - Mark 7:32-35
b. That is His promise to us - Isa. 35:6; Acts 2:4; 19:6
5. His touch brings relief to the suffering:
a. Luke 7:13, 14
b. Ps. 108:12; John 14:27
6. "But my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Phil. 4:19
a. Friends of mine, what do you know about the touch of the Master? b. Can you say from experience,
He touched me?
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WHO SHALL GO?
EXODUS 10:8
A. PHARAOH'S QUESTION WAS A CHALLENGE TO MOSES AND AARON AND ANCIENT ISRAEL
1. He challenged them to dare to leave Egypt' Ex. 8:25
2. He sought to beguile Moses through compromise:
a. "Go ye sacrifice to your God in the land" - Ex. 8:25
b. "I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness; only ye shall not go far
away" - Ex. 8:28
c. "Your little ones: look to it; for evil is before you" - Ex. 10:10
d. "Let your flock and your herds be stayed" - Ex. 10:24
C. IMPLICATIONS OF MOSES' ANSWER AND THE LESSON FOR GOD'S PEOPLE TODAY
1. The implication:
a. The answer of Moses made it clear that God's program is complete, that He never does anything
halfway.
b. Moses wanted Pharaoh to understand that it was impossible to serve God under the yoke of bondage
in Egypt - Ex. 8:26; Lev. 26:13; Ezek. 34:27
c. It was paramount for Israel to be removed from Egypt as was possible; to do otherwise would have
been fatal to God's plan.
d. Our substance is a part of our service of the Lord; without it, it would be impossible for us to worship
the Lord.
2. A timely lesson for God's remnant people:
a. The Bible speaks of two major movements -
(1) The coming out of Egypt of ancient Israel to take possession of the promised land.
(2) The great second Advent movement which will take God's people into the promised Canaan,
the earth made new.
b. If God had a positive program for his ancient covenant people, He certainly has an all - inclusive
program for the last movement of which we are a part.
c. That program provides that -
(1) All believers, including the whole family, shall participate in the movement.
(2) That all God-given means shall be a part of the movement that will take us into the kingdom of
God.
d. It is certain that we cannot serve God halfway - Matt. 6:24
e. We must make a complete break with the world and with Babylon - Rev. 18:4; 2 Cor. 6:14-16, 17.
f. There can be no halfhearted participation in the closing work of the Lord. We either are altogether for
the movement or we are against it - 1 Ki. 18:21
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GOD'S TODAY
A. "WHEREFORE AS THE HOLY GHOST SAITH, TODAY, IF YE HEAR HIS VOICE, HARDEN NOT YOUR HEART."
Heb. 3:7, 8
1. Today may mean eternity:
a. Esau sold his birthright to Jacob, his brother; and Jacob made this offer to Esau, "Sell me this day thy
birthright" - Gen. 25:29-34
b. That the word "today" meant eternity - compare Gen. 25:34 with Rom. 9:13 and Heb. 12:16
c. The decisions of Ruth and Orpah were eternal - Ruth 1:14-19. Orpah returned to her people and her
idols; that was the end of her, as far as the record goes.
2. The word today meant the conversion of a nation, as in the case of apostate Israel: 1 Ki. 18:36, 37-39.
3. It meant redemption to the penitent thief on the cross: Luke 23:43
24
HOW SHALL WE ESCAPE?
HEBREWS 2:1-6
B. LET US CONSIDER THREE RELATED TRUTHS ABOUT OUR SALVATION IN THE LIGHT OF OUR OPENING TEXT
1. If we neglect so great salvation:
a. To neglect is to disregard heaven's effort to save us.
b. The antediluvians disregarded God's message through Noah - Matt. 24:36-39; Luke 17:26-29
c. That was true of Lot's sons-in-law when Lot appealed to them to leave Sodom - Gen. 19:14
d. To slight, to be indifferent to, or to look upon God's invitation as unimportant -
EXAMPLES -
(1) The man without a wedding garment - Matt. 22:1-12
(2) The men that had been invited to a big feast - Luke 14:16-24
2. So great salvation:
a. The greatness of salvation is found in what it offers--it offers to save us from sin and its penalty; it offers
eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord; and finally, it offers a home in the earth made new.
b. The cost to heaven to redeem us from sin and its consequences, as well as make us fellow heirs with
Christ of God's promises, is infinite.
c. We may be able to form some idea of the cost of salvation when we compare John 3:16 with 2 Cor.
5:18-21; Rom. 8:31-33
d. The scars in the hands and feet of the Son of man will be a constant reminder to the redeemed of the
price heaven paid for salvation.
e. In the way it is offered to sinners -
(1) By faith in Jesus Christ: Could God make salvation easier?
EXAMPLES -
(a) The answer of Peter to the jailer's question - Acts 16:30, 31;
(b) the answer of the eunuch to Philip is still another illustration of God's requirements to
save sinners - Acts 8:37
(2) This offer is made by One who cannot lie - Heb. 6:17, 18; Num. 23:19
25
MARRED VESSELS
JEREMIAH 18:4
A. "AND THE VESSEL THAT HE MADE OF CLAY WAS MARRED IN THE HAND OF THE POTTER"
1. Our text is another illustration of how God used the life of the common people to teach great truths:
a. We think of the great Master teacher, Jesus Christ, and His method of teaching the people the gospel
of the kingdom -
(1) The sower, the seed, and the soil - Matt. 13:18-40
(2) The woman, the leaven, and the meal - Luke 13:21
(3) The vineyardist, the vineyard, and the fruit - Matt. 21:33-45
b. In our text God compares Himself to the potter, and His people to the clay.
2. The vessel was marred in the hand of the potter; some people are marred by sin while God is working with
them:
B. LET US CONSIDER GOD, THE POTTER, THE PEOPLE, THE CLAY, AND HOW THE VESSEL GOT MARRED
1. God the Potter:
a. Here we have a great gospel truth brought to view under the simile of a potter - Lam. 4:2
b. This shows that my life is not an accident, but a design in the hand of God - Gal. 1:15
c. We are the workmanship of the great Potter of our life- Eph. 2:10; 4:24
2. The people, the clay:
a. This fact receives repeated emphasis in the Word of God - Job 10:4; 33:6; Ps. 40:2; Isa. 29:16; 64:8
b. Clay, left to itself, is helpless; it is utterly unable to make anything out of itself; so is man helpless,
unless God makes something out of him.
3. The Pattern:
a. The potter is an artist in his own right. He uses a pattern when he fashions a vessel.
b. Jesus Christ is God's Pattern after whose likeness he seeks to fashion our lives - Rom. 8:29
c. Paul understood this great truth as well as John - Phil. 3:8-12; 1 John 3:1-3
26
LOOKING TO JESUS
ISAIAH 45:22
A. "LOOK UNTO ME, AND BE YE SAVED, ALL THE ENDS OF THE EARTH: FOR 1 AM GOD, AND THERE IS NONE
ELSE."
1. This gracious invitation is indicative:
a. That the eyes of humanity are fixed upon all else but God.
b. The lust of the eye, the pride of life, and the lust of the flesh have turned the hearts of men away from
God - 1 John 2:15, 16
2. The eye is the light of the body and reveals the condition of the heart: Matt. 15:19-23
27
"ETERNITY" - THE MOMENTOUS WORD
ISAIAH 57:15
A. "FOR THUS SAITH THE HIGH AND LOFTY ONE, THAT INHABITETH ETERNITY, WHOSE NAME IS HOLY; I
DWELL IN THE HIGH AND HOLY PLACE, WITH HIM ALSO THAT IS OF A CONTRITE AND HUMBLE SPIRIT, TO
REVIVE THE SPIRIT OF THE HUMBLE, AND TO REVIVE THE SPIRIT OF THE CONTRITE."
1. The word ETERNITY is found but once in the Bible:
a. Our text shows that it applies to the great JEHOVAH ALONE.
b. He is the eternal and self-existent One - 1 Tim. 1:17; 6:15, 16; Rom. 1:20; Deut. 33:17
2. He is the SOURCE or FOUNTAIN of all life-giving energy: Acts 17:25-28; Ps. 36:9
B. LET US ATTEMPT TO ANALYZE THE WORD "ETERNITY" IN THE LIGHT OF OUR TEXT
1. Eternity:
a. Is a duration without limits -- past, present, and future - Jas. 1:17; Mal. 3:6
It is the very essence of INFINITY.
b. Man is finite; he has a beginning; he is a created being - Gen. 1:26, 27; 2:7
c. That is true of the angels. They, too, are created beings, and we do, at this point, think of them, as
well as of man, as finite beings - Col. 1:15- 17; Ps. 8:4-9
d. To both, the angels and man, Christ is the SOURCE of life - Gen. 1:1-5; Acts 17:25-28
2. ETERNITY and the PLAN OF REDEMPTION:
a. Sin made man a finite, very finite being; he is subject to death because of sin - Rom. 5:12; Heb. 9:27
b. But God has provided a way, a plan, whereby ETERNITY can become the possession of man: This is
what the Bible means by "eternal life" - Matt. 25:46; Mark 10:30; John 3:16
c. Man's ETERNITY is tied to the plan of redemption, to his relationship with the Son of God - 1 John
5:10-12
d. It has its Source in Christ, past, present, and future. "He that hath the Son hath life." - 1 John 5:11, 12;
Rom. 6:23
3. That shows that ETERNITY is, as yet, conditional:
a. Faith in Jesus Christ- John 3:16
b. Tied to the first resurrection - Rev. 20:6; John 5:28, 29; Luke 14:14
c. Our acceptance of the sacrifice made by Christ on the cross of Calvary -John 6:53, 54
28
IDOLS IN THE HEART
EZEKIEL 14:4-8
A. "THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD: EVERY MAN OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL THAT SETTETH UP HIS IDOLS IN HIS
HEART, AND PUTTETH THE STUMBLING BLOCK OF HIS INIQUITY BEFORE HIS FACE . . . I THE LORD WILL
ANSWER HIM ACCORDING TO THE MULTITUDE OF HIS IDOLS."
1. It seems strange that God would have to direct the message of our text to His ancient covenant people;
a. Who had been blessed with the heavenly gift of the lively oracles - Acts 7:38; Rom. 3:2
b. Who worshiped in the sanctuary where the law of God was, that prohibited idolatry - Ex. 20:1-3
2. This is positive proof that idolatry is a sin peculiar to the individual practicing it:
B. LET US CONSIDER, BRIEFLY, "IDOLATRY", ITS NATURE AND ITS SERIOUS IMPLICATIONS
1. Idolatry is very ancient:
a. Lucifer is the founder of Idolatry.
b. He initiated it when he centered his affections upon his own person - Isa. 14:13, 14
c. Introduced Idolatry to the human race when he told Eve, "ye shall be as gods" - Gen. 3:5
2. It is to be noted that the first two of the Ten Commandments are directed against idolatry: Ex. 20:1-5
3. What is an idol?
a. An idol is that which is placed by man into the place which belongs to God alone.
b. It receives the devotions and affections of man which belong to God alone.
c. It is, in its very root, self-worship, self- glorification, the worship of the human ego!
d. It is a misrepresentation of God, therefore, a reproach to God and His holy name, and is, therefore, an
affront to the Creator.
4. Why Idolatry or the worship of idols appeals to the human heart:
5. A study of the history of Idolatry shows:
a. That it appears to the carnal nature.
b. Immorality flourishes where Idolatry prevails - 1 Ki. 21:26; 2 Ki. 21:11
c. Study the history of the temple worship in India and other countries to discover the true nature of
Idolatry.
6. Idolatry leads to the grossest and most fiendish practices possible:
a. Human sacrifices are brought to appease the idol - Ps. 106:38; 1 Ki. 13:1-9
b. Sons and daughters were sacrificed to Molech -- burning them - 2 Chron. 28:3
29
LIES AND FALSEHOOD
ISAIAH 28:15
A. "BECAUSE YE HAVE SAID, WE HAVE MADE A COVENANT WITH DEATH, AND WITH HELL ARE WE AT
AGREEMENT; WHEN THE OVERFLOWING SCOURGE SHALL PASS THROUGH, IT SHALL NOT COME UNTO US:
FOR WE HAVE MADE LIES OUR REFUGE, AND UNDER FALSEHOOD HAVE WE HID OURSELVES."
1. The strong words of our text indicate that God, and not Isaiah, is the speaker:
a. The One who knows the intents of our heart - 1 Chron. 28:9
b. The Spirit of God, who searcheth the deep things of God, records these words - 1 Cor. 2:10; Isa. 34:16
2. The words of our text are an eye opener to the true condition of our sinful heart:
a. It is deceitful and desperately wicked - Jer. 17:9
b. Human imagination is evil all the way - Gen. 6:5
c. Man makes plans that never can come true for his own good - Jas. 4:13-14; Luke 12:16-20
d. The indictment by the all-seeing God should lead to a re-examination of our lives in the light of our
opening text.
30
THE PEACE CHRIST GIVES
JOHN 14:27
A. "PEACE I LEAVE WITH YOU, MY PEACE I GIVE UNTO YOU: NOT AS THE WORLD GIVETH, GIVE 1 UNTO YOU."
1. Our Lord was about to be crucified, and soon after that He would leave this world:
a. This filled the hearts of the disciples with deep sorrow - John 14:1-3; Luke 22:45
b. To comfort them, He promised that His own peace would abide with them.
2. In this gracious promise our Redeemer shows His love and compassion:
a. For all who are troubled with the sorrow that is so common to so many of us.
b. "That ye sorrow not, even as such which have no hope" - 1 Thess. 4:13
c. The Lord knew that the world would be hostile to the disciples after He left them.
31
A BRAND PLUCKED OUT OF THE FIRE
ZECHARIAH 3:1-3
32
"THOU HAST SOLD THYSELF TO DO EVIL"
1 KINGS 21:20
A. "AND AHAB SAID TO ELIJAH, HAST THOU FOUND ME, O MINE ENEMY? AND HE ANSWER, I HAVE FOUND
THEE, BECAUSE THOU HAST SOLD THYSELF TO WORE EVIL IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD."
1. This was the last meeting that Elijah had with Ahab:
a. What a meeting that was:
b. The vineyard of the murdered Naboth was the meeting place.
2. The conversation included the Lord's final sentence upon the wicked king:
a. Who had sold himself to work evil.
b. By becoming an accomplice to a brutal murder of an innocent citizen, Ahab should have protected.
33
UNTENABLE EXCUSES
A. "THEY ALL WITH ONE CONSENT BEGAN TO MAKE EXCUSE" - Luke 14:16- 24
1. To better comprehend the subject before us, it is important to note that:
a. The feast or supper was of a spiritual nature.
b. Had it been of a physical or material nature, there would not have been such unanimous excuses.
2. A banquet:
a. That does not involve financial obligations, on the part of the invited guest, will not be turned down
readily.
b. The human heart is not so self-denying as to refuse a free meal.
34
"HOW MUCH OWEST THOU TO MY LORD?"
LUKE 16:1-17
35
IMMORTAL DECISIONS
PSALMS 119:30-32
B. IMMORTAL DECISIONS
1. "I have chosen the way of truth":
a. There are but two ways to choose from - Matt. 7:13, 14
b. Both are open to our own free choice - Deut. 30:15; Josh. 24:15
c. The false way appeals to the natural mind more than the narrow way -- less inconvenience and more
company - Matt. 7:13; but it is the way that will lead to destruction -
(1) Cain and Abel - Gen. 4
(2) Esau and Jacob - Gen. 25
(3) Ruth and Orpah - Ruth 1:16-18
(4) Matthew and the young ruler - Matt. 9; 19:16-22
2. To choose God's way necessitates:
a. Forsaking our own way - Isa. 55:7
b. Complete self-denial - Matt. 16:24
3. "Thy judgments have I laid before me":
a. That means that we will keep our eyes upon God's road map, the Bible - Josh. 1:7, 8; Ex. 32:8; 2 Tim.
3:15-17
b. That, in turn, means that we give up the traditions of men - Jer. 6:16; Ps. 1:1-6; Mark 7:7-13
c. This constitutes one of the severest tests of discipleship to Christ because the inherited traditions of
our fathers seem to be a part of our very life-
EXAMPLES -
(1) Saul of Tarsus - Gal. 1:14
(2) Martin Luther and the Reformation.
(3) My own personal experience.
d. To break loose from all of it is a miracle itself.
4. "I have stuck unto thy testimonies":
a. That indicates the constant danger of being tempted to forsake the testimonies of the Lord.
b. We are warned to beware of last day deceptions -Matt. 24:24; 2 Thess. 2:9-11
c. Many, many stick to spiritual spider webs - Isa. 59:5, 6; Job 8:13, 14
5. "I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart":
a. This shows that when people refuse to accept light and truth, it is because their prejudice has closed
their minds to the truth.
b. Enlargement of the heart will mean that our concept of truth has been widened; we have an open mind
for more light - John 16:12, 13
c. This involves a change of heart; it is a new experience -- one might call it the new birth - Ezek. 36:26-
28. Examples of persons that received enlargement of heart -
(1) Saul of Tarsus - Acts 9:6
(2) The Jailer - Acts 16:31-33
(3) The Samaritan woman - John 4:22-29
36
a. We make an immortal decision; it is effective in all eternity.
b. In this no one can or ought to make the decision for us.
c. How solemn, and yet how rewarding, is the decision to walk on the way of truth!
d. It will decide our eternal destiny!
e. Friends, have you made your eternal decision?
37
BUILDING FOR ETERNITY
MATTHEW 7:24-27
A. WE ARE LIVING AT A TIME WHEN CONSTRUCTION WORK IN THE U.S.A. IS AT AN ALL TIME HIGH
1. It is a sign of the end:
2. The nearness of Christ's second coming: Luke 17:28; Matt. 24:37-39
3. Many are building, but not for eternity: Matt. 7:26; Ps. 127:1, 2
38
A CURE FOR OUR WORRIES
MATTHEW 11:28-30
A. IN SPITE OF ALL THE UNHEARD OF MODERN CONVENIENCES TO MOST AMERICANS, MOST PEOPLE ARE
AFFLICTED WITH WORRY
1. Things are moving along at an unprecedented pace:
a. Affecting most of us.
b. To attempt to keep up with the Jones' adds still more pressure to the load.
2. This state of increased worry was foretold in Bible prophecy: Luke 21:34, 35
B. LET US CONSIDER THE MANY UNDERLYING CAUSES FOR THE WORRIES PLAGUING OUR NATION
1. For many, finances seem at the bottom of their worries:
a. The cares of this life sap the life out of our nervous system - Matt. 13:22; Luke 18:22, 23
b. Said someone wisely, "The load of the world's financial obligations is heavy enough to sink any ship of
state."
2. Family difficulties:
a. Divorces are on a steady increase and some predict that soon there will be as many divorces as there
are marriages.
b. Financial difficulties in the home have darkened many hearts and broken up many homes.
c. Poor health is another contributory factor leading to increased worry! How to meet the medical bills,
which are staggering in our day, cannot be overlooked.
d. Fear of the future leaves its marks on the minds and bodies of many - Luke 21:26
e. The Bible predicts uncontrollable fear in the last days - Isa. 13:6-8; 22:17
f. A life of sin and the certainty of the judgment to come worries many people -
(1) It worried Felix - Acts 24:25
(2) It worried Belshazzar - Dan. 5:6
(3) It will worry the unsaved - Rev. 6:13-16
3. Worry is actually a sin:
a. It is the result of mistrusting God; for if we had childlike confidence in a loving Providence, there would
be no worry on our part - Ps. 23:1-6
b. It is a sin because we have no faith in God's promises - Matt. 6:25-34
4. Worry is enemy Number One:
a. It digs early graves.
b. It takes the joy out of life.
c. It poisons the atmosphere we live in.
d. It discourages not only ourselves but it makes the lives of those who have to live with us miserable.
39
OVERCOMING BAD HABITS
ROMANS 12:21
40
"AWAKE THOU THAT SLEEPEST"
EPHESIANS 5:14
A. "WHEREFORE HE SAITH, AWAKE THOU THAT SLEEPEST AND CHRIST WILL GIVE THEE LIGHT"
1. This is, without any doubt, one of the strongest gospel appeals:
a. It is, in fact, a resurrection call.
b. That fact alone ought to stir our hearts and awaken us out of our state of spiritual lethargy.
2. What amazes me is the fact that this resurrection call is directed to sleeping church members: 1 Cor. 11:30
41
STOPPING SHORT OF THE PROMISED LAND
GENESIS 11:32, 33
i. Go on your knees and plead with God to give you grace to make it to His kingdom.
42
"WHAT WAIT I FOR?"
PSALMS 39:7, 8
43
THAT FATAL NIGHT
DANIEL 5:30
A. "IN THAT NIGHT BELSHAZZAR, THE KING OF THE CHALDEANS, WAS SLAIN"
1. Historic setting of our text:
a. Belshazzar was the son of Nebuchadnezzar, who ruled between 500 and 600 years before Christ.
b. Just prior to the fatal night for Belshazzar, the city of Babylon was one of the wonders of the world.
(1) It had hanging gardens.
(2) Magnificent buildings.
(3) Its walls were made of bitumen 87 feet thick and 350 feet high.
(4) The city was surrounded by a deep channel, the Euphrates, and seemed impregnable by
every known military standard of the time.
2. All this until the fatal night:
a. Fatal for the kingdom of Babylon.
b. Fatal for the king - Belshazzar.
3. A memorial to the just retribution of divine justice:
44
THE HANDWRITING ON GOD'S HANDS
ISAIAH 49:16
45
WHAT IS TRUTH?
JOHN 18:38
B. "WHAT IS TRUTH?"
1. "Truth is a queen who has her eternal throne in heaven and her seat of empire in the heart of God": (Bossut)
2. The Bible speaks of:
a. The holy scriptures of truth - Dan. 10:21; John 14:6; 17:17
b. The law of truth - Ps. 119:142, 172
c. Christ says of Himself, "1 am the way, the truth, and the life." John 14:6
d. The Holy Spirit is called "the Spirit of truth" - John 16:13
3. Protestantism maintains:
a. That the writings of the sixty-six books of the Bible are the only safe rule of faith.
b. They reject the traditions of church fathers as being anything but the truth.
c. Our Lord himself marked the traditions of the Jews as being void of the truth. Compare Matt. 15:1-9
with Mark 7:1-13
d. Seventh-day Adventists maintain that the Bible and the Bible only is the God given rule of our faith and
practice.
e. They maintain that all claims to truth must be tested by the Bible.
f. "To the law and to the testament, if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no
light in them." - Isa. 8-20
46
THE WAY OF TRUTH
PSALMS 119:30 - 33
C. GOD'S CHARTER FOR THE STRAIGHT AND NARROW ROAD TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD
1. Travel on the King's highway has rules to go by:
a. We must consult the law that governs the road - 2 Tim. 3:15-17; Matt. 22:29; Ps. 43:3, 4
b. Study the word daily- Acts 17:11; John 5:39
c. Ignorance of God's word is inexcusable without exception - Matt. 22:29
d. We are willing to give up and leave behind everything offensive to God.
e. We realize that it is not easy to break old habits or the customs of the world.
f. But Christ laid down the law- Matt. 10:32-36; Mark 10:28-31; Luke 14:26, 27
2. "I have stuck unto thy testimonies":
a. Firm adherence to fixed principles laid down in the word of God is a must on the King's highway.
(1) Joseph in Egypt - Gen. 39:9
(2) Daniel in Babylon - Dan. 1:8
b. Many are sticking to spider webs -
(1) Human traditions - Mark 7:7-13; Matt. 15:1-9
(2) Not so Ruth - Ruth 1:16
c. Isa. 59:5; 29:13
d. Our opening text has the answer to the rule of the road.
3. Many, many past, present, and 1 suppose in the future, will enter the narrow road and fail:
a. Judas entered but failed; why? because he was unwilling to abide by the rule of the road.
b. Many of the early disciples entered that straight and narrow road, but they failed; why? because they
were unwilling to abide by the rule of the road -John 6:66
c. That is why the Lord says, "Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to
enter in, and shall not be able." - Luke 13:24
47
"BUY THE TRUTH AND SELL IT NOT"
PROVERBS 23:23, 24
C. INCENTIVES FOR BUYING THE TRUTH AND FOR NOT SELLING IT AGAIN
1. Some incentives for buying the truth:
a. It makes us free - John 8:32. That means that by nature none of us are truly free; we need to be made
free.
b. It will eventually lead us to the kingdom of heaven - Ps. 23:1-6; 43:3
c. It will purify our lives - 1 Pet. 1:22; Isa. 1:18, 19
d. Truth, in our lives, has the promise of this present life and that of the world to come - EXAMPLES -
(1) Joseph - Gen. 39:9
(2) Daniel- Dan. 1:8; 6:10
e. It will, some day, open for us the gates into the city of God - Isa. 26:2
2. This brings us to Pilate's question: "What is truth?"
a. Jesus Christ is God's Truth in the flesh - John 14:6
b. The Bible - sixty-six books! The Bible is the truth- Dan. 10:21; 2 Tim. 3:15-17
c. The Ten Commandments are God's truth - Ps. 119:142, 172
d. The Holy Spirit is the truth - John 16:13
3. "Sell it Not"
a. That ever present temptation to exchange the truth for worldly advantages is too well known unto most
of us -
(1) Judas sold the embodiment of the truth for thirty pieces of silver - Matt. 26:15, 16
(2) Esau sold the truth for a meal of vegetables - Gen. 25:30-34
(3) Adam and Eve sold the truth for a lying promise - Gen. 3:1-19
b. To sell the truth is to become disloyal to what we know to be our duty to God and our fellow men -
(1) Sabbath keeping.
(2) A faithful tithe.
(3) Upholding the standards of the truth.
48
THE SOLEMN CAUTION
HEBREWS 3:7
49
GILEAD'S BALM AND PHYSICIAN
JEREMIAH 8:22
A. "IS THERE NO BALM IN GILEAD? IS THERE NO PHYSICIAN THERE? WHY THEN IS NOT THE HEALTH OF THE
DAUGHTER OF MY PEOPLE RECOVERED?"
1. Gilead is a name given to a ridge of mountains which extended from Lebanon southward on the east coast of
Palestine:
2. This name is applied to that whole district:
3. This same name has reference, also, to a compact made between Jacob and his uncle Laban: Gen. 31:48
4. The country was noted for its fertility and for some herbs with healing properties:
B. WE HAVE RECENTLY CONSIDERED THE PLAGUE OF THE HEART: LET US NOW INQUIRE WITH THE PROPHET:
"IS THERE NO BALM IN GILEAD? IS THERE NO PHYSICIAN THERE? WHY THEN IS NOT THE HEALTH OF THE
DAUGHTER OF MY PEOPLE RECOVERED?"
1. There is balm in Gilead:
a. God's word is God's balm for the health of the daughter of Zion - Ps. 103:30
b. It is called, "the word of salvation" - Eph. 1:13; Acts 13:26
c. The precious blood of Jesus Christ is also the cleansing power, to make clean and white from the stain
of sin - 1 Pet. 1:18, 19; 1 John 1:7
d. There is no life outside the blood of the Son of God - John 6:53; Heb. 9:22, 23
2. Yes, there is the great Physician in Gilead:
a. Jesus Christ is that physician - Ex. 15:26; Matt. 9:12; Luke 4:23
b. He encouraged John the Baptist with these memorable words, "The blind receive their sight, and the
lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised." Matt. 11:5
c. His ministry of love is summed up in these words, "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy
Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for
God was with him." Acts 10:38
3. He is well qualified as a physician:
a. He knows our frame - Ps. 103:14
b. He is well acquainted with our infirmities - Matt. 8:17; Luke 5:15
c. He is distinguished for great tenderness - Isa. 42:3; Matt. 12:20
d. He is accessible at all times and in all places, "1 am with you always, even unto the end of the world"
- Matt. 28:20
e. His cures are permanent - John 8:36
f. His terms are of the most gracious kind "without money and without price" - Isa. 55:1
50
THE BOW IN THE CLOUDS
GENESIS 9:13
A. "I DO SET MY BOW IN THE CLOUD, AND IT SHALL BE FOR A TOKEN OF A COVENANT BETWEEN ME AND THE
EARTH."
1. The flood and the rainbow:
a. Symbolize justice and mercy - Ps. 85:10
b. The flood came because of sin.
c. And mercy or grace came because of Christ's righteousness - Rom. 5:17-19
2. Thus we see a close relationship between the flood and the placing of the rainbow in the cloud:
51
GOD'S LIFE INSURANCE POLICY
PHILIPPIANS 4:19, 20
A. "BUT MY GOD SHALL SUPPLY ALL YOUR NEED ACCORDING TO HIS RICHES IN GLORY BY CHRIST JESUS."
1. This glorious promise by God should put to rest the fainthearted: it should set them at ease about their
security: Matt. 6:31-34
2. It is a gracious assurance by God that He knows our every need and will, in due time, supply it: 2 Thess. 3:3;
Heb. 10:23
52
THE VALLEY OF ACHOR, THE DOOR OF HOPE
PART I
HOSEA 2:15, 16
A. "AND I WILL GIVE HER . . . THE VALLEY OF ACHOR FOR THE DOOR OF HOPE"
1. Bible students know that the valley of Achor is noted as:
a. The tragedy that came to Achan and his family.
b. This tragedy affected the whole congregation of Israel - Josh. 7:4, 13, 14
2. It has a lesson for God's people:
a. Secret sins among some of the church members are known to God as truly as the sin of Achan was
known to him.
b. "Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance." Ps. 90:8
c. We will do well to pray, with David, "cleanse thou me from secret faults" - Ps. 19:12
53
THE VALLEY OF ACHOR, THE DOOR OF HOPE
PART II
HOSEA 2:15-17
54
WHY EVERY INFIDEL SHOULD BE A CHRISTIAN
MATTHEW 16:26, 27
C. FAITH IN CHRIST OFFERS THESE ADDITIONAL BLESSINGS THAT OUGHT TO PERSUADE INFIDELS TO
BECOME CHRISTIANS
1. It changes my concept or outlook upon life:
a. It makes the golden rule the moral compass of my life - Matt. 7:12
b. It gives me something to strive for -- the highest concept of morality - Phil. 4:8
c. It shows the difference between the life for 'self' and that for 'others'. It uproots human selfishness. -
Rom. 9:1-3, 14:7-14; Phil. 1:20
2. Faith in Christ gives life insurance that infidelity cannot give:
a. David testifies. - Ps. 23:1-6
b. Paul's assurance. - Phil. 4:19
3. Faith in Christ brings to us honors which infidelity cannot give:
a. We become associated with the noblest characters which ever lived in this world.
b. We are associated with the most useful lives. — Daniel, Moses, Joseph, Ruth, Paul and many other
worthies too many to enumerate.
c. It connects us with the most enduring friendship.
d. It helps us take hold of the most beneficial and enduring memories.
4. But best of all:
a. Christianity brings us back to God and His love.
b. It appropriates the sacrifice of the Son of God to atone for our sins.
c. It has the promise of this life and of that to come.
5. But what about the infidel?
a. He has no hope.
b. He has no future.
c. He faces the judgment of the God he seeks to deny and the Christ he rejects.
55
THE SPIRITS IN PRISON
1 PETER 3:18-20
56
BIDDING GOOD-BYE TO GOD
ACTS 24:25
A. "GO THY WAY FOR THIS TIME; WHEN I HAVE A CONVENIENT SEASON, I WILL CALL, FOR THEE"
1. To get the true signification of this polite rejection of Paul's appeal, we must remember:
a. The impression Paul's appeal had made upon the conscience of that cold and sin-hardened governor -
(1) Felix trembled.
(2) He was visibly affected by the appeal of Paul's testimony - Acts 24:25; Dan. 5:6
b. The power of the truth laid Felix's life open; his conscience tormented him to a point where he lost self-
control.
c. He realized that he will have to give an account of the life he wasted - 2 Cor. 5:10
2. In turning down Paul's appeal, Felix committed a threefold sin:
a. He sinned against the appeal of the Holy Spirit - Heb. 3:7-9
b. He sinned against an awakened conscience - John 8:9; Dan. 5:22
c. He turned down his God-given opportunity to be saved - 2 Cor. 6:1-3; Luke 21:36
57
SOWING AND REAPING
GALATIANS 6:7
C. HARVEST TIME
1. Sowing and reaping are nature's twins:
a. Where there is no seeding there can be no harvest; that is a law quite well understood by most people.
b. The laws of sowing and reaping seem to be unchangeable; are true to the season as planned by the
Creator - Eccl. 3:1-2
2. This is true, also, of our earthly lives:
a. There is a time when we have opportunity to sow — thoughts, words, and deeds.
b. Seeding time is followed by harvest - Gal. 6:7, 8
c. Sow a thought and reap an action; sow an action and reap a blessing or a curse.
3. We know of some misguided souls:
a. Who think that God is merciful and that we will not harvest the results of sin, but that is an illusion on
their part.
b. Our opening text states very clearly: "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man
soweth, that shall he also reap."
4. Let us note these eternal truths:
a. The seriousness of this present life -
(1) God will hold us accountable for what we do or say - Matt. 12:36, 37
(2) That we shall not escape the results of our deeds in the body - 2 Cor. 5:10
(3) That God does not pay at every turn, but He will surely pay at last.
b. The importance of sowing upon the spirit and not upon the flesh -
(1) Sow upon the flesh and reap corruption.
(2) Sow upon the Spirit and reap eternal life.
58
"WE WILL SERVE THE LORD"
JOSHUA 24:15
A. "CHOOSE YOU THIS DAY WHOM YE WILL SERVE . . . BUT AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, WE WILL SERVE THE
LORD." - Josh. 24:15
1. Joshua was a man of decision:
a. That was a quality that fit him for leading Israel into the promised land.
b. Indecision would have been fatal to him and his people.
2. He placed himself in the lead:
a. To his nation and to his family, he could say, "follow me, as I follow the Lord."
3. My burden at this point is to point out the positive attitude and relationship of Joshua to his family:
a. "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
(1) That shows that he knew the attitude of his family.
(2) They had confidence in his faith and followed his leadership.
b. That was the testimony God gave to Abraham - Gen. 18:19
59
GOD'S MOUNTAINS
ISAIAH 49:11, 12
A. "AND I WILL MAKE ALL MY MOUNTAINS A WAY, AND MY HIGHWAYS SHALL BE EXALTED."
1. Mountains have, in the history of ancient Israel, played a large part in God's communion with His people:
a. Mount Sinai where Israel received laws and the ministry of the earthly sanctuary.
b. Mount Nebo where Moses died and was buried by the Lord - Deut. 32:49; 34:5-7
2. We think of Mount Moriah where Abraham sacrificed his son Isaac: Gen. 22:1-12
B. GOD'S MOUNTAINS
1. Mountains have become symbolic of the experience of God's people:
a. We think of 'mount sacrifice'; this mountain has to be climbed by all who aim to enter the kingdom of
God -
EXAMPLES -
(1) Abraham and his son Isaac climbed this mountain - Gen. 22:1-12
(2) Moses, all alone, climbed this mountain -Deut. 32:48, 49; 34:5-7
(3) Our blessed Saviour, too, climbed this mountain - Matt. 17:1-6; Heb. 5:1-12; Phil. 2:6-11
b. This mountain was made a condition of discipleship by the Lord - Matt. 10:34-36
c. Some were unwilling to climb this mountain - EXAMPLES -
(1) The rich young ruler - Matt. 19:16-22
(2) Seventy disciples - John 6:66
2. Mount tribulation:
a. Here is where some people get confused. They think that when we accept Christ as our Saviour, all
trials and tribulation cease.
b. But let us listen to the Bible to get the truth -
(1) "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." - 2 Tim. 3:12
(2) "We must through much tribulation enter the kingdom of God" - Acts 14:22
(3) "In the world ye shall have tribulation" - John 16:33
3. Mount Zion of victory:
a. John sees God's remnant people standing upon Mount Zion, singing the song of victory - Rev. 14:1-5
b. All of God's people, who have won the victory over sin, will eventually stand on that mountain - Heb.
12:22-29
60
THE REVEALING OF THE FACE
ISAIAH 3:9
61
A PROMISE TO THE OVERCOMER
REVELATIONS 21:7
A. "TO HIM THAT OVERCOMETH WILL I GIVE TO EAT OF THE TREE OF LIFE, WHICH IS IN THE MIDST OF THE
PARADISE OF GOD."
1. A most revealing promise:
a. It leads us back to the Garden of Eden, as recorded in the second and third chapters of the book of
Genesis.
b. It shows that the paradise of God has not been altered - the tree of life is still in the midst of the
garden. Compare Gen. 3:3 with Rev. 2:7; 22:1-3
2. It is an inspired reminder of the beginning of the loyalty test of the human race:
a. That is why the tree of knowledge of good and evil was planted beside the tree of life.
b. The test itself shows that man was created a free moral agent; he could choose between good and
evil.
62
THE LOVING KINDNESS OF GOD
PSALMS 63:3
A. "BECAUSE THY LOVING KINDNESS IS BETTER THAN LIFE, MY LIPS SHALL PRAISE THEE."
1. The phrase "loving kindness" occurs a number of times in the Bible:
a. The Psalmist uses this expression twenty-one times — Ps. 17:7; 92:2; 26:3; 36:8, 10; 40:10, 11;
42:8; 48:9; 51:1; 63:3; 69:16; 88:11, 33; 92:2; 103:4; 107:43; 119:88, 159; 138:2; 143:8
b. Jeremiah uses this phrase four times - Jer. 9:24; 16:5; 31:3; 32:18
c. It is found once in the Book of Hosea - Hos. 2:19
2. It will be most rewarding to the reader of the Bible to learn how the Psalmist and also the prophets used this
phrase to magnify the love of God:
63
THE MARVELOUS GRACE
1 PETER 2:9
A. "THAT YE SHOULD SHOW FORTH THE PRAISES OF HIM WHO CALLED YOU OUT OF DARKNESS INTO HIS
MARVELOUS LIGHT."
1. Our text shows that:
a. True faith not only amends, but it also transforms.
2. Our views, dispositions, and actions are all transformed:
a. It is this experience which brings great joy and is most convincing.
3. Our text is most illuminative on the effects of faith in Christ:
C. SUCH HEAVENLY BLESSINGS BRING WITH THEM CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS TO THE RECIPIENT
1. Gospel blessings cannot be hoarded away by the believer:
a. They are to be shared with others -
(1) The parable of the talents - Matt. 25:14
(2) The pounds give a similar message - Luke 19:13-25
b. This shows that we all are, at best, God's stewards, entrusted with the blessings of the gospel of
grace - 1 Pet. 4:10
2. Our mission in this world:
a. To shew forth the praises of God.
b. That means that we demonstrate with our transformed lives that God's word is indeed the power of God
unto salvation.
c. We are to be able to say with Peter and John, "Look at us" - Acts. 3:1-3
d. Yes, we are to say with Paul, "it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called
me by his grace, to reveal this son in me, that I might preach him unto the Gentiles." - Gal. 1:15, 16
e. This is the most effective way of witnessing for Christ -
(1) "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your
Father which is in heaven." - Matt. 5:16
(2) By the fruit shall we know the tree - Matt. 7:16-20
(3) "While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear" - 1 Pet. 3:2
(4) "For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified."
- Rom. 2:13
3. Thus we see the work of God's marvelous grace:
EXAMPLES-
a. The lame man made whole - Acts 3:8, 9
b. The impotent man made whole - Matt. 9:7, 8
c. The work of the apostles - Acts 4:18-21
God grant that we, too, may manifest the marvelous grace of God to a dying world.
64
WHAT LACK I YET?
MATTHEW 19:20
65
THE PROFANITY OF ESAU
HEBREWS 12:16
A. ESAU
1. What we know about his person:
a. He was the oldest son of Isaac and Rebekah.
b. He was, for some reason, his father's favored son.
c. He was, by occupation, a hunter - Gen. 25:25-28
2. The Bible calls him a profane person:
a. The word "profane" means to be disrespectful; to disregard, and to treat with contempt things of a
religious nature.
b. Some Bible translations speak of Esau as a wicked person, one that has no desire for God or His
word; who lives by the impulses of his own heart.
B. ESAU'S PROFANITY
1. He was godless:
a. Even though he had been brought up in a God- fearing home, the same as Jacob, yet we have no
record of him ever using the name of God in prayer or otherwise — he was godless.
b. His two wives were idol worshipers, and there is no record of him winning them to the worship of the
true God.
2. He was disrespectful:
a. As the first born to his parents, he was the heir to the birthright and its blessings.
b. He manifested neither respect or interest in the birthright; he sold it for a mess of pottage - Gen. 25:32-
34
c. He lived by his own sinful impulses and had no respect for the future; he lived for today, tomorrow was
discounted by him.
d. He cared for things temporal only; O yes, he wanted the blessing of the birthright, but refused the
responsibility connected with the birthright.
e. We shall see that Esau's profanity did not die with him; he has many counter parts in the world today.
f. That is what makes this sermon of great importance to us.
66
TAKE HEED WHAT YOU HEAR
MARK 4:24
A. THE ADMONITIONS BY OUR LORD ARE TIMELY AND APPLY ESPECIALLY TO OUR TIMES
1. Never before, in the long history of man, has humanity been surrounded by so many voices as today:
a. The radio.
b. The television.
c. Press and kindred media.
2. What makes the Lord's warning doubly important is that the very air is filled with confusing and contradictive
messages:
a. Some things that are coming over the air are most harmful to the moral life of the listener.
b. It takes a keen mind to differentiate between truth and error.
67
"IS THERE NOT A CAUSE?"
1 SAMUEL 17:29
A. WHEN GREAT JUDGMENTS HAPPEN, THERE MUST BE GREAT GUILT. WHEN A NATION, CITY, OR FAMILY IS BROUGHT INTO
DANGER, IT IS WISE TO INQUIRE INTO THE CAUSE
1. David, doubtless, under divine inspiration, came to visit his brethren on the battlefield:
a. He saw how the hearts of the soldiers of Israel fainted in the face of Goliath, the challenger.
b. David thought of the situation as a reproach to all of Israel.
2. He offered to meet the challenger — this to the dismay and displeasure of his brethren:
a. It was in answer to the belittling by his brothers that he asked the question of our text. "Is there not a
cause?"
68
"BE TROUBLED, YE CARELESS ONES"
ISAIAH 32:11
69
REPENTANCE, FORGIVENESS, RETRIBUTION
2 SAMUEL 12:1-14
A. "AND DAVID SAID UNTO NATHAN, I HAVE SINNED AGAINST THE LORD. AND NATHAN SAID UNTO DAVID, THE
LORD ALSO HATH PUT AWAY THY SIN; THOU SHALT NOT DIE. HOWBEIT, BECAUSE BY THIS DEED THOU
HAST GIVEN GREAT OCCASION TO THE ENEMIES OF THE LORD TO BLASPHEME, THE CHILD ALSO THAT IS
BORN UNTO THEE SHALL SURELY DIE."
1. David's confession of his sin:
a. Was sincere and heartfelt - Ps. 32:1-6
b. It evoked deep sorrow in his heart; he never was the same man after this - Ps. 41:4; 51:4
2. God, who knows our heart, was ready and willing to forgive David his sin: Mi. 7:18, 19
a. That is the promise to all who are truly sorry for their sin - Isa. 55:7
b. The story of the prodigal son is encouraging testimony for the willingness of the Lord to forgive us -
Luke 15:11-27
C. FRIENDS, WE HAVE TAKEN A BRIEF LOOK AT THREE RELATED FACTS WHICH FOLLOW SIN
1. Repentance: A deep and heartfelt sorrow because of our sin against God, his cause, and our fellow men. If it is
sincere, it will bring good and lasting benefits.
2. Forgiveness: That is God's nature -- mercy, compassion, and pardon. How thankful we ought to be that we
have a forgiving Saviour!
3. Retribution: Sin is a contagion, a malady, a poison, and its effects cannot easily be erased. Look into the
history of mankind and see the scars sin has made in the lives of saints and sinners; in the lives of kings and
prophets. It is frightening to think of the final wage of sin - Rom. 6:23. There is but one hiding place -- under the
blood of Jesus Christ.
70
THE SUPREMACY OF THE SPIRITUAL
ZECHARIAH 4:6
A. "NOT BY MIGHT, NOR BY POWER, BUT BY MY SPIRIT, SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS."
1. This heavenly assurance came to Zerubbabel, the governor of the Jewish province at a time:
a. When the work was at a standstill.
b. When even the stouthearted of the returning Jews grew faint.
2. The Jews from exile were few and poor; and the enemy that harassed them was strong and very active:
3. To encourage the hearts of His people, God assured them in the words of our text:
a. Not by might, nor by power,
b. But by my Spirit, saith the Lord.
B. CONSIDER THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE GRACIOUS PROMISE GOD GAVE TO HIS PEOPLE
1. Not By Might:
a. With these words the Lord indicates the might as conceived by men; God does not choose to finish
his work in that manner.
b. Think of the means God used by the hand of Gideon to free Israel - Judg. 7:4
c. David used a small stone and a sling - 1 Sam. 17:1- 39
d. Recall the means Samson used to smite the Philistines - Judg. 15:3-5, 8, 9
2. Nor By Power:
a. This was a timely message for the Jews; they were so weak that the enemy made sport of their
feebleness.
b. Material power may have its place, but it cannot change the heart - Jer. 13:23
c. You recall what Peter said to one Simon - Acts 8:18-20
3. Salvation is of a spiritual nature which must be effected by spiritual power:
a. hat which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit - John 3:1-9
b. Spiritual things are perceived by a spiritual mind - 1 Cor. 2:10-14
71
CHRIST RECEIVING SINNERS
LUKE 15:2, 3
72
BRUISES AND WOUNDS
JEREMIAH 30:12
A. "FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD, THY BRUISE IS INCURABLE, AND THY WOUND IS GRIEVOUS"
1. These words are directed primarily to God's ancient covenant people, showing the reason for their going into
captivity:
2. But I believe that they have a spiritual message for the people today:
a. "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning" - Rom. 15:4
b. "Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition,
upon whom the ends of the world are come." - 1 Cor. 10:11
73
THE VALUE OF MAN
PSALMS 8:1- 9
C. CHANGED VALUES
1. The gospel of Jesus Christ has changed the value of man:
a. He has again become a son of God - 1 John 3:1-3; John 1:12, 13
b. A new creation - 2 Cor. 5:14-17; Eph. 2:10
c. Worth more than the whole world - Matt. 16:26
d. The salt of the earth - Matt. 5:13
e. The light of the world - Matt. 5:14-16
f. A costly pearl - Matt. 13:45, 46
g. One of God's treasured jewels - Mal. 3:16, 17
h. A saint - Ps. 50:5; 1 Cor. 1:2
i. A fellow heir to God's promises - Eph. 3:6
2. The price God was willing to pay for man's redemption: a. "Ye are bought with a price" - 1 Cor. 6:20
b. The price for man's redemption included the best Heaven had to offer - John 3:16
c. Holy angels are put to serve men that are to be heirs of God's kingdom - Heb. 1:13, 14
(1) They protect him against danger - Ps. 34:7; Dan. 6:22
(2) They deliver men from death - Acts 5:19
(3) They are God's messengers of peace to men - Luke 2:13, 14
(4) They will gather the saints for a trip to heaven - Matt. 24:31
d. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is wholly dedicated to the preparation of man for immortality - John
16:13; Zech. 4:6
74
THE POWER OF MEMORY
GENESIS 41:9
A. "THEN SPAKE THE CHIEF BUTLER UNTO PHARAOH, SAYING, I REMEMBER MY FAULTS THIS DAY"
1. The story of Joseph is familiar to most Bible readers. It never loses its attraction:
a. Children hearing the story of Joseph are fascinated by its pathos.
b. It ranks among the best of the Bible stories.
2. The chief butler had a good reason to make the confession, as stated in our text:
a. Joseph's interpretation of the butler's dream brought hope to him to be set free again.
b. And it was in appreciation of this deed of kindness that Joseph asked him to remember him when he
regained his freedom - Gen. 40:7-15
75
MAN, A TOMB OR A TEMPLE
MATTHEW 23:37; 2 CORINTHIANS 6:16
A. "YE ARE LIKE UNTO WHITED SEPULCHERS." "YE ARE THE TEMPLE OF THE LIVING GOD."
1. Both these utterances are addressed to men:
a. That reveals two possibilities in our lives -
(1) We can be a tomb
(2) Or a temple
2. We have the capacity of virtue or of vice, of joy and of sorrow:
C. A TEMPLE
1. The dwelling place of the Holy Spirit:
a. 1 Cor. 3:16, 17
b. 1 Cor. 6:19, 20
2. Lighted up with the word of truth: Ps. 119:105, 130
3. Full of the life of the Holy Spirit:
a. Experience of the believers on the day of Pentecost - Acts 2:1-17
b. The gifts of the Holy Spirit will fill the soul- temple with life and light - Gal. 5:22, 23
D. THE GREAT DIFFERENCE
1. A tomb houses the dead:
2. A temple houses God's Holy Spirit:
3. You and I have it in our power to be:
a. A tomb
b. Or a temple.
4. If we allow Satan to control our lives, we shall be a tomb:
5. But if we let Christ come into our hearts, we shall be the temple of the living God. Which shall we be?
6. There is a prayer in my heart that as you weigh the decision you and every other person must make:
a. You will realize the importance of your life, body, soul, and spirit, bought with an infinite price - 1 Cor.
6:20
b. You will see the wisdom of Paul's admonition to the Romans, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by
the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is
your reasonable service." - Rom. 12:1
c. There is a difference in the final outcome of what our lives have been, a temple or a tomb -
(1) Think of Judas - Matt. 27:1-5
(2) Or of Paul - Acts 9:15
(3) What is your life?
76
THE SEARCHING TEST
LUKE 18:18-30
A. "AND A CERTAIN RULER ASKED HIM, SAYING, GOOD MASTER, WHAT SHALL I DO TO INHERIT ETERNAL
LIFE?"
1. Of special interest to the careful reader of the Bible is in the fact that similar questions were asked by different
persons:
a. John the Baptist was approached by the publicans, "Master, what shall we do?" - Luke 3:12
b. The soldiers, listening to John, asked, "What shall we do?" - Luke 3:14
c. The multitude, who had been stirred by Peter's sermon the day of Pentecost, asked "What shall we
do?" - Acts 2:37
d. A lawyer asked the Lord, "What shall I do to inherit eternal life?" - Luke 10:25
e. Saul, of Tarsus, asked the Lord, "What wilt thou have me to do?" - Acts 9:6
f. The startled Jailer said, "What must I do to be saved?" - Acts 16:30
2. All these burning questions show that the salvation of man is, as it has been in the past, a very burning
question for every judgment bound sinner:
77
PREPARE TO MEET THY GOD
AMOS 4:11, 12
78
DIVINE PARDON
ISAIAH 55:7, 8
A. "LET THE WICKED FORSAKE HIS WAY, AND THE UNRIGHTEOUS MAN HIS THOUGHTS: AND LET HIM RETURN
UNTO THE LORD, AND HE WILL HAVE MERCY UPON HIM; AND TO OUR GOD, FOR HE WILL ABUNDANTLY
PARDON."
1. The pardoning of our sins is the foundation blessing of all the enjoyments and privileges the gospel presents:
a. We are, by our very nature, sinners; sin is the transgression of God's law - Rom. 3:23; Gal. 3:22; 1
John 3:4
b. The transgression of God's law brings the sinner under condemnation; he stands in need of divine
pardon - Rom. 5:12-19
2. Pardon is, therefore, the very heart of the plan of salvation:
a. We think of Mary Magdalene - Luke 7:37-47
b. The publican - Luke 18:13, 14
B. "HE WILL ABUNDANTLY PARDON." PLACING THE EMPHASIS UPON THESE WORDS, LET US NOTE THESE
WONDERFUL TRUTHS
1. Consider the disparity between God and those whom He pardons:
a. He is the Eternal and self-existent One, divinely self-sufficient - Isa. 57:15
b. Those who are pardoned by Him are but a speck of dust, a little more than the atom - Isa. 40:15
c. He is the embodiment of Holiness and perfection; his eyes are purer than to behold evil - Hab. 1:13
d. The sinners are defiled and in a state of rebellion against God's will- Isa. 1:4-6; Rom. 3:9-19
2. Yet, God's pardon far exceeds man's guilt of sin:
a. Meditate upon Isa. 1:18; 55:7
b. Think of the words found in Ezek. 16:6 - "And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine
own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in
thy blood, Live."
c. Rejoice over Mi. 7:18, 19; Isa. 38:17
3. Mark the contrast between the offenses committed against God and men:
a. Sin is aggravated by the dignity of Him against whom we have sinned, and by our obligations to Him.
b. Now the Being against whom we have sinned is not only the greatest but also the best Being in the
universe - Jas. 1:17
c. Remember the divine independence and power of God to punish, yet He still loves to pardon our
transgressions - Isa. 55:7
d. How different is the pardon by men -
(1) They forgive with difficulty.
(2) He limits his forgiveness - Matt. 18:21 (Is seven times enough?)
e. Keep in mind the story as recorded in Luke 16:1-22; Matt. 18:23-32
f. How often do we hear words like these, "I will forgive him, but I am unable to forget"; thus attaching a
condition to his forgiveness.
g. That is why the Lord makes our readiness to forgive others a condition to His forgiveness -
(1) Forgive as we forgive - Matt. 6:15
(2) "If ye forgive not from your heart" - Matt. 18:35
4. How differently is the forgiveness by our heavenly Father:
a. "I will remember their sins no more."
b. "I will blot out their transgression."
c. "I will remember them no more." - Mi. 7:18, 19; Isa. 44:20
5. Let us claim the wonderful promise of our merciful God as recorded in our opening text:
a. Yes, it is conditional — based upon our attitude toward sin.
b. It must be confessed.
c. There must be sincere sorrow over our sin - Ps. 32:1-9
d. We must want to be set free from the power of sin.
e. As free moral agents, we can claim the pardon of our God, or we can reject it.
f. Friends of mine, what is your personal reaction to this message this evening?
g. Are you ready to seek and accept the pardon God offers through the gospel of Jesus Christ?
79
SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS
MATTHEW 6:33
A. WHAT HAVE PEOPLE NOT UNDERTAKEN IN THEIR ADVENTURE FOR EARTHLY GAIN?
1. Esau sold his birthright for a mess of pottage: Gen. 25:31-34; Heb. 12:16
2. Lot chose Sodom because that valley was very fertile: Gen. 13:13, 14
3. Balaam sought to curse Israel for gain: Num. 23:1-3; Jude 11
4. Judas sold the Prince of life for thirty pieces of silver: Matt. 26:15, 16
5. Ananias and Sapphira attempted to lie to Peter because of the filthy lucre: Acts 5:1-11
C. SOME REASONS WHY WE SHOULD TAKE HEED TO THE ADMONITION OF OUR LORD
1. We must heed the admonition:
a. Because of our natural tendency to be preoccupied with the cares of this life - Luke 21:34; Matt. 13:22
b. Because of our ignorance of true values - John 6:27
2. There is a great risk in our delay:
a. This is illustrated in the parable of the five foolish virgins - Matt. 25:1-12
b. Our own life is so uncertain - Luke 12:20; Gen. 33:17-20
c. God's appointed time is Now - 2 Cor. 6:1-3; Heb. 3:7-9
3. Rule of God's kingdom:
a. First things come first -
(1) Moses had to remove his shoes first before he could commune with the Lord - Ex. 2:5
(2) His hands had to be held first before the army could win against the enemy - Ex. 17:11
(3) Abraham had to go all the way in offering Isaac before the Lord demonstrated that he provided
for himself a sacrifice - Gen. 22:1-12
4. Why so few seek the kingdom of God first:
a. God's kingdom is light, and sinners love darkness rather than light - John 3:19-21
b. God's kingdom is based upon truth and righteousness, but the world would rather believe a lie and
refuse to comply with the principles of the kingdom.
c. The kingdom of God requires self-denial, and so many people do not want to deny themselves - Matt.
19:16-22
d. There is a price attached to seeking the kingdom of God, stated by the Son of God - Matt. 10:34-36;
Mark 10:28-30; Matt. 19:16-22
e. The kingdom of God is based upon love, and the world does not possess this heavenly gift.
80
OBJECTS OF THE DIVINE DELIGHT
PSALMS 149:4, 5
C. WHAT GOD KNOWS AND SEES IN HIS CHILDREN THAT GIVES HIM SUCH AFFECTIONATE DELIGHT
1. Negatively:
a. Not because of their sins.
b. They grieve him and cause him much work and weariness - Isa. 43:24; 47:13
c. Not when they go through suffering and pain - Isa. 63:9
d. Not in the death of His children - John 11:35
2. Positively:
a. In their redemption from sin - Luke 15:6, 9, 23
b. In their loyalty to His will - Gen. 18:17-19
c. In their eagerness to witness of the great wonderful works of God - Acts 7:55
d. In their childlike trust in His mercy - Ps. 91:14
3. This raises a number of challenging questions for each of us to ponder:
a. Am I so closely connected with the Lord to know that He delights in me?
b. What can I conscientiously point to in my life that would cause delight to my heavenly Father?
c. Do I take delight in Him, His Word, His people, and His Cause?
4. May I close this outline with this humble prayer offered by David on a number of occasions: "Search me, 0
God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead
me in the way everlasting." - Ps. 139:23, 24
81
THE HOPE OF THE BACKSLIDER
HOSEA 14:1- 6
A. A BACKSLIDER
1. One falling behind or out of step; one who retrogresses in his moral duties:
a. Lot's wife is a vivid example of backsliding - Gen. 19:26
b. The prophet Jeremiah uses the word "backsliding" twelve times - Jer. 2:19; 3:6, 8, 11, 12, 14, 22; 5:6;
8:5; 14:7; 31:22; 49:4
c. Hosea uses this word three times - Hos. 4:16; 11:7; 14:4
2. The term "backsliding" was used in connection with army practices; when a soldier fell behind or out of step
with his comrades, he was marked as a backslider:
a. That was considered a serious offense in the army, unless illness or other unavoidable incident
caused it.
b. This word is used, also, with reference to persons that retrogress in their moral obligations; fail to keep
a promise.
c. It is in this sense that the Bible uses the word continuously.
82
"AND THE LORD SHUT HIM IN"
GENESIS 7:16
A. THE BIBLE STORY OF THE FLOOD EMBODIES A NUMBER OF GOSPEL TRUTHS FOR GOD'S PEOPLE LIVING
IN THE LAST DAYS
1. Our text expresses one of these thought provoking truths, "And the Lord shut him in":
a. The time of God's waiting and long-suffering had finally run out - 2 Pet. 3:9; 1 Pet. 3:20
b. That shows that there is a limit even to the forbearance of a merciful and compassionate God -Ex.
34:6, 7
c. Said the Lord, "My Spirit shall not always strive with men." Gen. 6:3
2. That the forbearance of God has its limits is easily seen:
a. In the experience of Sodom and Gomorrah - Gen. 19:23
b. That was true of ancient Israel - Matt. 21:43
C. PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF OUR LESSON IS FOUND IN THESE FACTS
1. God honored the faith of Noah:
a. Noah believed God.
b. He proved it when he built the ark for salvation of his family - Heb. 11:7
c. Those who perished in the flood made no provision for the safety of their own selves, nor for their
families.
2. A most solemn question to all of us:
a. When the door of mercy closes forever, will it shut us in or will it shut us out?
b. Learn a lesson from the study of Matt. 7:13, 14
c. Think of the wedding feast and the ten virgins -Matt. 25:1-12
d. Or attempt to understand the words of our Lord as recorded in Luke 13:22-29
3. The answer to our question is very simple:
a. They that were ready went in before the door was closed.
b. They who were not ready came too late, and were left in outer darkness.
c. Our Saviour, knowing the end from the beginning, warns us in these words, "be ye also ready: for in
such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh" - Matt. 24:44
d. How many of us do want to make sure that when the door of mercy is shut, that we are in and not out!
83
THE BRUISED REED
ISAIAH 42:3
A. THE REED
1. It is mentioned a number of times in the Bible:
a. Bible references in the Old Testament - 2 Ki. 18:21; Job 40:21
b. Scriptures in the New Testament - Matt. 11:7; 12:20; 27:30; Rev. 11:4; 21:15
2. Its habitation and usefulness:
a. It grew in the miry places, in those oozy marshes where fever lurked and the foul air rises.
b. Wild beasts had their habitation in its environment.
c. The stronger sorts were converted into measuring rods; others were used as a staff on which the
traveler leaned; the finer ones were used as writing pens.
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THE POOR MAN'S MARKET
ISAIAH 55:1, 2
A. "HO, EVERY ONE THAT THIRSTETH, COME YE TO THE WATERS, AND HE THAT HATH NO MONEY; COME YE,
BUY AND EAT; YEA, COME, BUY WINE AND MILK WITHOUT MONEY AND WITHOUT PRICE"
1. Bible students are agreed that Isaiah was a prophet of the highest order and, also, a great Evangelist:
a. The second half of his book is devoted to the highest type of soul saving Evangelism.
b. Our text contains enough material for Evangelistic messages, for a series of sermons.
c. The appeal of our text touches upon two great essentials of life - bread and wine. These, we know, are
typical of spiritual food freely offered through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
2. It is an invitation best understood by the people who treasured both bread and wine:
85
THE UNANSWERED QUESTION
HEBREWS 2:1-10
86
PILATE WASHED HIS HANDS
MATTHEW 27:24
A. "PILATE . . . TOOK WATER, AND WASHED HIS HANDS BEFORE THE MULTITUDE, SAYING, I AM INNOCENT OF
THE BLOOD OF THIS JUST PERSON: SEE YE TO IT."
1. This was, without question, Pilate's most important decision he ever made, as governor, over Jesus:
a. He passed judgment upon the Judge of the universe - Acts 10:42; Gen. 18:25
b. His judgment was, in fact, a miscarriage of justice in the highest degree.
2. Our opening text embodies a number of very valuable points, worthy of our prayerful consideration:
B. PILATE WASHING HIS HANDS REVEALS THREE SPECIFIC FACTS ABOUT WRONGDOING
1. The vain plea for wrongdoing:
a. He knew that the sentence he gave was a miscarriage of justice.
b. He had been forewarned by God against doing what he did - Matt. 27:18
c. He knew that the Jews sought the life of the Son of God because of envy - Matt. 27:19
2. His decision to deliver the Son of God into the hands of His enemies was based upon pure selfishness:
a. It was based upon seeking the favor of the Jews, regardless of the injustice; but in doing what he did,
he lost the favor of the Jews.
b. No man can force us to do wrong at any time. The Jews had neither right nor power to cause Pilate to
betray an innocent person to be killed.
3. Note, please, the possibility of self-deception:
a. Pilate had persuaded himself to believe that he was free from the blood of the Son of God, by the
ceremony of washing his hands.
b. He had blinded himself to the fact that some day God will bring into review the miscarriage of justice in
Pilate's judgment hall.
c. All in all, the act of Pilate shows that one can persuade himself to believe that under certain conditions
wrong is right and evil is good.
C. BUT THE ACT OF PILATE AND HIS EXCUSES FOR THAT ACT REVEAL TO US
1. The utter impossibility to wriggle out of our personal responsibility:
a. He washed his hands but not his heart.
b. History will mark him as a coward, a murderer, and a charlatan of justice.
2. Shifting the blame on others was not, however, Pilate's exclusive gift:
a. Adam blamed God for giving him Eve - Gen. 3:12
b. Saul blamed the people for sparing the king and the cattle - 1 Sam. 15:15
c. How often are we tempted to blame others for our wrong doing!
3. When we look deeper into Pilate's washing his hands, claiming innocence, we learn:
a. He revealed an inherent weakness in his person to act out his own convictions.
b. Had the Jews been less persistent in their demands, he might have set the Son of God free.
c. But God, who foreordained that His Son should take the cup that rightfully belonged to us, allowed
Pilate to become one of the chief actors in the crime of the ages.
4. Yes, a person may ceremoniously wash his hands, but he is powerless to wash away the sins in his heart:
a. The Pharisees and Scribes were masters in this art - Matt. 23:25, 26
b. There are many among God's people who follow the same practice, "having a form of godliness, but
denying the power thereof" 2 Tim. 3:5
5. Friends of mine, what would you have done, had you been in Pilate's place?
a. Would you have stood up for justice, regardless of the opinion of the Jews?
b. Would you have shown to the world that when you assumed the responsibility to uphold justice, you
would do so at all times?
c. Well the answer can be found in your attitude! Do you accept or do you reject the Son of God, who
died for you?
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LIFE BELTS FOR SEA VOYAGERS
PSALMS 85:1-14
B. OUR TEXT OFFERS SOME VERY THOUGHT PROVOKING IDEAS ON LIFE BELTS FOR SEA VOYAGERS
1. Our present life may easily be compared to a voyage on a stormy sea:
a. That was Jacob's testimony to Pharaoh, in an interview Pharaoh gave him - Gen. 47:8, 9
b. Paul gives us a vivid picture of his voyage on a stormy sea - 2 Cor. 11:23-27
c. None of us is exempt from this experience - 2 Tim. 3:12
2. The danger to the people of God will increase as we near the end of our voyage:
a. We are indeed facing perilous times as we near the end of the controversy between Christ and Satan -
2 Tim. 3:1-5
b. Satan, knowing that he has but a short time, will turn his wrath upon the people that keep the
commandments of God - Rev. 12:17
c. Cunning deceptions will test all who are not well founded upon the word of God - Rev. 3:10; Luke
23:32, 33
d. Our greatest dangers are spiritual indifference; neglect of prayer; and the cares of this world. These are
forces the devil uses to tempt God's people with - Matt. 24:12; Luke 21:34-36
e. Secret sins, too, endanger our voyage to the kingdom of heaven - Ps. 32:1-6; 90:8
f. Our greatest danger is a state of lukewarmness which paralyzes us in many ways and threatens our
hope of being saved.
C. WE ARE IN URGENT NEED TO MAKE USE OF THE HEAVEN PROVIDED LIFE BELTS FOR OUR SECURITY
1. God has graciously provided us with life belts which provide maximum security:
a. God's promises must be considered as real life belts of sea voyagers. We are told that the Bible
contains over 4000 such promises.
b. God's people have, in times of danger, made use of these wonderful life belts.
(1) David used them to save his soul on many occasions - 1 Chron. 17:26
(2) Moses, too, reminded the Lord of promises when things went hard for him and his people -
Deut. 1:11; 15:6
2. The Lord's care for His people is another life belt to have and hold onto:
a. "Lord, thou hast been favorable unto thy land."
b. "Thou has forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sins."
c. "Thou hast taken away all thy wrath." - Ps. 85:1- 3
3. Faith, active and living faith, is still another life belt to make sure of:
a. Read Hebrews 11. What a panoramic view of those who passed over the raging sea of life. Many,
many lost their earthly possessions, their loved ones and friends; yea, even their lives, but they saved
their souls!
b. On the other hand, many have suffered shipwreck, have fallen by the wayside - 1 Tim. 1:19
c. The things of this world have blinded them to the deadly dangers facing them - 2 Cor. 4:4, 5
d. Consider the testimony of the true witness as found in Rev. 3:14-22
e. This testimony shows conclusively that it is possible to make a profession of Christianity and yet be
devoid of spiritual life and security against shipwreck.
4. Earnest prayer is still another must for us to have security:
a. Read Ps. 107:13, 14
b. Consider Ps. 50:15; Heb. 5:8, 9
88
THE FOLLY OF SELF-CONFIDENCE
PROVERBS 28:26
89
PLAYING WITH THE FIRES OF HELL
JUDGES 16:1-14
A. THE STORY OF SAMSON RANKS AMONG THE MOST FASCINATING BIBLE STORIES
1. One can see the great potentials of a life under the power of the Holy Spirit:
a. Samson had been chosen for a special work before he was born.
b. He was to be a Saviour of his nation.
2. But sin in his life changed God's plan, and ruined Samson's life:
a. The lust of the eye and the lust of the flesh became his master.
b. A life of great possibilities became a spectacle of sin and ruination.
90
THE VISIBLE AND THE INVISIBLE
2 KINGS 6:17, 18
A. "AND ELISHA PRAYED, AND SAID, LORD, I PRAY THEE, OPEN HIS EYES THAT HE MAY SEE. AND THE LORD
OPENED THE EYES OF THE YOUNG MAN; AND HE SAW, AND BEHOLD, THE MOUNTAIN WAS FULL OF
HORSES AND CHARIOTS OF FIRE AROUND ABOUT ELISHA."
1. There are people who think that what is called the Old Testament is of historical value; but here we have a
mighty spiritual demonstration of the difference between the visible and invisible:
a. Our text reveals human limitations.
b. It shows how prayer changes things, it opens our eyes to the invisible world.
2. There are many precious gems of gospel truths in the writings of Moses and the Prophets, of these our text is
one:
91
BURIED IDOLS
A. "AND THEY GAVE UNTO JACOB ALL THE STRANGE GODS WHICH WERE IN THEIR HAND, AND ALL THE
EARRINGS WHICH WERE IN THEIR EARS; AND JACOB HID THEM UNDER THE OAK WHICH WAS BY
SHECHEM." - Gen. 35:1-10
1. Our text is most revealing:
a. Jacob did not break or burn the idols; he buried them.
b. The whole procedure shows that the patriarch had some special failings in his life, in spite of his
knowledge of the true God.
(1) He was not altogether weaned from his idols.
(2) That accounts for the idols hid by Rachel, the woman he loved - Gen. 31:34-36
2. This weakness in the life of the Patriarch was very harmful to his relationship with God:
a. It is known as double dealing.
b. His natural descendants are noted for this weakness.
B. BURIED IDOLS
1. This is a challenging subject:
a. How we may be guilty of the same double dealing -
(1) We are guilty of double dealing when we retain privately those evil practices we have
renounced in public.
(2) Iniquity is iniquity to God, whether done in secret or openly.
b. We are guilty of double dealing when we practice partially the evils we have renounced as a whole.
2. That was the weakness of the Reformers:
a. The inherent weakness of the reformation was when the reformers retained some of the Papal
practices, which the reformers knew were out of line with the Bible.
b. This is true also of the individuals who leave the world and join the church. They seem in earnest, yet
privately they retain some of their former ways which are contrary to the faith they profess.
c. Here is food for thought for all of us.
3. Let us be honest with ourselves and with God:
a. Is our life any different than that of the Patriarch Jacob?
(1) Can we think of some secret pet sin to which we cling, even though we know better?
(2) By what standard do we measure our dedication to the Lord?
b. Do we bury our little or big idols, or do we hide them as Rachel did?
92
THE MEASURE OF GOD'S LOVE
JOHN 3:16
A. IT IS SAID, WITH GOOD REASON, THAT JOHN 3:16 IS A SUMMATION OF THE SIXTY-SIX BOOKS OF THE
BIBLE; THAT THE LOVE OF GOD IS SPREAD OVER EVERY PAGE IN THE BIBLE
1. God's love created this world:
2. And God's redeeming love seeks to save it from sin and destruction: 1 Tim. 2:1-3
93
CHRIST'S YOKE
MATTHEW 11:29, 30
A. "TAKE MY YOKE UPON YOU, AND LEARN OF ME; FOR I AM MEEK AND LOWLY: AND YE SHALL FIND REST
UNTO YOUR SOULS. FOR MY YOKE IS EASY AND MY BURDEN IS LIGHT."
1. The hearers were familiar with this gracious invitation of this metaphor:
a. They smarted under the yoke of bondage for many years - Lev. 26:13; Deut. 28:48
b. They knew the yoke of affliction - Lam. 3:27
c. They knew the yoke of severe punishment - Lam. 1:14
2. Our Saviour was well informed of the attempts by the Jews to cast off the yoke of the Romans:
B. CHRIST'S YOKE
1. Purpose of that yoke:
a. It is God's means of restraint. A yoke is placed on the neck of an ox to restrain him, and at the same
time enable him to do useful service to his master.
b. When we place our lives under the restraint of the doctrine of Christ, we become true yoke-fellows in
the service of the gospel - Phil. 4:3
2. The yoke of Christ in contrast to the yoke of man-made traditions:
a. The yoke of human traditions enslaves and is at times unbearable - Matt. 23:4; Acts 15:10; Gal. 5:1
b. But of the yoke of the gospel of Christ, Jesus says "my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
3. What makes the yoke of Christ easy?
a. It is the absence of sin and its effects upon the burden bearer - John 8:36
b. It is our association with him, who knows our every care - Isa. 53:3
c. Are you weary and heavy laden? Cast all your cares upon Jesus; he careth for you - 1 Pet. 5:7
4. The lesson the Lord seeks to communicate:
a. The aim of the yoke is to give him the control of our energies and talents.
b. To use these gifts in the service of soul winning.
c. Finally the yoke of Christ keeps us from coming under the yoke and bondage of sin.
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KEPT BY THE POWER OF GOD
1 PETER 1:5
A. OUR TEXT IS A CHALLENGE TO THE UNBELIEVING WORLD; AND A JOYOUS BOAST OF THE BELIEVERS
1. Many think that they are their own keepers:
a. Napoleon thought he was, but he learned a lesson in Russia.
b. The prosperous farmer thought that he had it made, but he, too, found out that without God, all is lost -
Luke 12:20
2. The believers, however, make their boast in God:
a. The Psalmist does - Ps. 23:1-6; 46:1; 121:1-8
b. And Paul boasts in his God - 2 Tim. 1:12; 4:16-18
c. Says David, "My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad." -
Ps. 34:2
95
A CASTAWAY
A. "LEST THAT BY ANY MEANS, WHEN I HAVE PREACHED TO OTHERS, I MYSELF SHOULD BE A CASTAWAY." -
1 Cor. 9:27
1. This statement by Paul speaks volumes:
a. It exposes the man-made theory of "once in grace, always in grace" as a deception.
b. For, if it were true, as alleged by the theorists, "once saved always saved", why speak of the
possibility of becoming a castaway?
2. Paul was a realist; he was too practical to dally with a bogy dread:
a. He knew and he taught that salvation is conditional.
b. To him it was a most serious matter to devote a whole life to the service of God, and yet realize the
ever present danger, of possibility, of being a castaway -
EXAMPLES -
(1) Saul had been chosen by God to be king over Israel, yet, he became a castaway.
(2) Judas was one of the twelve chosen by the Lord, yet, he became a castaway - John 6:70;
Matt. 27:1-5
96
WHEN THE GUESTS FAILED TO COME
LUKE 14:15-24, 25, 26
A. OUR LORD WAS AT THE HOME OF ONE OF THE LEADERS OF THE PHARISEES
1. A man that had dropsy was healed by the Lord:
a. That was looked upon as manual labor by the Pharisees.
b. Christ pointed out to them that if the ox of one of them would fall into a pit, he would surely pull it out,
even on the Sabbath day.
c. That being true of an animal, how much more should a son of Abraham deserve to be healed from his
sickness.
2. It was at this point that one of the guests exclaimed: "Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of
God": Luke 14:15
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COMING SOUL FAMINE
AMOS 8:11
A. WARNING BY GOD
1. Directed, not to Heathen lands, but to the land unappreciative and backsliding — Israel:
a. A people professing to be God's children - Isa. 29:13, 14
b. The people that have the form of godliness but deny the power thereof - 2 Tim. 3:5; Rom. 2:20
2. It is, without doubt, a prophecy for the last days:
a. Note, please, Paul's predictions in 2 Tim. 4:1-3; 2 Thess. 2:10
b. We are living in these days - 2 Tim. 3:1-9
3. The prediction of a coming soul famine shows:
a. That the present privileges to hear the word of God will not continue forever.
b. We have been forewarned of the conditions in the last days - 1 Pet. 3:20; Gen. 6:1-3; Luke 17:26-28
98
THE DEADLY DANGER OF DRIFTING
HEBREWS 2:1-3
C. SOME DANGEROUS AND INSIDIOUS CURRENTS OF OUR DAY THAT ARE DANGEROUS TO THE REMNANT
CHURCH
1. The spirit of our time:
a. Our Lord describes this spirit and its influence in Luke 17:26, 27; Matt. 24:36-42
2. The spirit of our time is noted for:
a. Indifference in the conduct of the people.
b. Carelessness in our conduct.
c. Neglect of prayer and the study of the word of God.
d. Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.
e. Neglecting to work for the salvation of souls.
f. Harboring ill feelings to others.
g. Drinking out of polluted fountains — reading things that will dull the mind and deaden the spirit.
3. But the most dangerous of all is found in:
a. Simply doing nothing about our spiritual relationship to the truth and the cause of God — just drifting.
b. Allowing time and opportunity to slip away from us until it is forever too late.
4. "Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we
should let them slip."
a. You see what it means to just drift along with the tide of our times!
b. Unless we take hold of ourselves and arouse ourselves out of the deep stupor we find ourselves in, we
are of all men most miserable; we are to be pitied because we have the light and do not live it.
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SEEKING A RIGHT WAY
EZRA 8:21, 22
100
TWO WAYS TO LIVE
MATTHEW 7:13, 14
A. "ENTER YE IN AT THE STRAIT GATE: FOR WIDE IS THE GATE, AND BROAD IS THE WAY, THAT LEADETH TO
DESTRUCTION, AND MANY THERE BE THAT GO IN THEREAT. BECAUSE STRAIT IS THE GATE, AND NARROW
IS THE WAY, WHICH LEADETH UNTO LIFE, AND FEW THERE BE THAT FIND IT."
1. These words show clearly that Christ recognizes only two ways to live:
a. The broad way.
b. The narrow way.
2. He emphasizes the end of each of these two ways of life:
a. The broad way leads to destruction.
b. The narrow way leads to life everlasting.
101
UNCONSCIOUS LOSS
JUDGES 16:20
A. "AND SHE SAID, THE PHILISTINES BE UPON THEE, SAMSON. AND HE AWOKE OUT OF HIS SLEEP, AND SAID,
I WILL GO OUT AS AT OTHER TIMES BEFORE, AND SHAKE MYSELF. AND HE WIST NOT THAT THE LORD
WAS DEPARTED FROM HIM."
1. The story of Samson must rank among the most colorful in sacred history:
a. The announcement of his birth.
b. Samson's childhood training.
c. His exploits among his enemies.
2. His tragic ending brings sadness to our hearts:
B. LET US CONSIDER THE LIFE AND DEATH OF SAMSON AND THE LESSON IT HAS FOR US
1. Samson before:
a. Samson had an exceptional background, equal to that of many other Bible heroes.
b. We think of his birth - "Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong
drink, neither eat any unclean thing: for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day
of his death." Judg. 13:7
2. Thus we see that his life had been planned before he was born:
a. Definite responsibilities rested upon his parents in bringing him up according to God's plan.
b. He received his early training in the God-fearing home of his parents - Prov. 22:6
c. The Holy Spirit used him to do exploits for God.
3. But Samson went down four times and came to a tragic end:
a. "And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines"
- Judg. 14:1
b. He married a nonbeliever, contrary to his parents' wishes and God's counsel - Judg. 14:3; Deut. 7:4
c. But he was destined to be bitterly disappointed.
(1) The Philistines gave him plenty company.
(2) Lost his wife to another - Judg. 14; 15
4. He went down the second time:
a. He saw an harlot at Gaza - Judg. 16:1
b. That indicates how sin blinds a person progressively — first step seems easy, but the second step
leads into the mire of sin, deeper and deeper.
c. He ignored his parents' instructions and the repeated snares the enemies had set for him.
5. He went down the third and fourth times:
a. He was untruthful to the Philistines and the harlot Delilah - Judg. 16:5-15
b. He went down to his ruin when he gave away the secret of his strength - Judg. 16:16-21
C. UNCONSCIOUS LOSS
1. This is the heart of my message:
a. Because all of us are, as Samson was, in constant danger of being doped by sin.
b. Satan is a master deceiver; he knows how to dope people -
EXAMPLES -
(1) Achan was doped - Josh. 7:1-20
(2) Solomon was doped - Neh. 13:26
(3) David was doped - 2 Sam. 11:1-4
2. Let us take a closer look at Samson:
a. He imagined that his sins would not affect his relationship with his Maker.
b. He forgot a natural law - Gal. 6:7, 8
c. His playing with sin cost him the loss of moral power, his eyes, and finally his life.
3. What a lesson for our young people today:
a. The high and useful plans God has for our youth.
b. The wonderful educational privileges at their disposal.
c. The home surroundings — the family altar, the services of the church.
4. He wist not that the Lord had departed from him:
a. Can it be possible that we are forsaken by God and not know it?
b. Would it not be a travesty for us to make a profession and yet be forsaken by the Lord?
102
"GIVE ME MY PRICE"
ZECHARIAH 11:12
B. "GIVE ME MY PRICE"
1. How can poor, sinful, finite beings evaluate the Majesty of heaven?
a. Judas did - Matt. 26:15
b. Mary Magdalene did - Luke 7:38-40
2. When we place a price upon the Lord Jesus Christ:
a. When our faith in Him requires a special sacrifice -
EXAMPLES -
(1) Abraham offered Isaac - Gen. 22:1-12
(2) The poor widow placed all her living on the altar - Mark 12:41-44
(3) The rich young ruler refused - Matt. 19:16-22
b. In the hour of temptation -
EXAMPLES -
(1) Joseph paid a price for purity - Gen. 39:7-12
(2) Daniel, too, paid a price for standing up for principles - Dan. 1:8; 6:10-17
c. When we are asked to give up the world and its sinful pleasures - Matt. 10:32-39
EXAMPLES -
(1) The disciples - Mark 10:28-30
(2) The New Converts at Ephesus - Acts 19:18, 19
3. How much are we willing to endure for the Lord Jesus?
a. Are we minded as Paul was? Acts 21:13
b. Peter was crucified with his head downward.
c. Think of the martyrs of Christ in all ages; how they joyfully endured cruel tortures for Christ's sake -
Heb. 11:36-40
d. It is under severe trials that we place a price upon the Lord Jesus; we either pay the price or we refuse,
as many do.
C. W MUCH DOEST THOU OWE THY LORD? BY FINDING THE RIGHT ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION, WE HAVE A
GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT VALUE TO PUT UPON THE LORD
1. We evaluate our Lord by what He did for us:
a. He became poor to make us rich - 2 Cor. 8:9; Phil. 2:6-11
b. How poor was He? Matt. 8:20; Luke 9:58
c. He bore our sins in His own body - 1 Pet. 2:24
d. He became curse to redeem us from the curse - Gal. 3:13
e. He died for us that we may live - 1 Cor. 15:3; Gal. 2:20
2. We show that it means to us by what He is doing for us:
a. He is our advocate, our mediator before God; pleads our case before the Father - 1 John 2:1- 3; 1 Tim.
2:5; Heb. 7:25
b. He is preparing mansions for us, whatever that means! John 14:1-3
3. In placing a price upon the Lord Jesus, we must keep in mind a number of facts:
a. The value that Heaven has placed upon Him!
b. What He actually means to us -
EXAMPLES-
(1) What will I do with my sins without Him?
(2) What shall I do with sorrow when it strikes?
(3) What does the future hold for me without Christ?
4. The least I can do to show how much I value my Lord and Saviour:
a. I can give my unworthy, sinful self to Him!
b. I can acknowledge Him in all my ways.
103
c. I can witness for Him in word, thought and deeds.
d. I can commune with Him day by day, and enjoy His fellowship.
e. I can, by His Spirit, obey His will.
f. Finally, I can live to His wonderful praise the remainder of my life!
104
THE CHOICE OF A MASTER
JOSHUA 24:15
105
MY GOD IS ABLE
2 TIMOTHY 1:12
A. "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 Tim. 1:12
1. The words of our text are both inspiring and reassuring to God's people:
a. They express complete confidence in the great cause in which the apostle was engaged.
b. Such implicit faith in the ultimate triumph of the gospel of Jesus Christ is the heartbeat of Christian
witnessing.
2. That is why Peter writes, "we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the
power and the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty." 2 Pet. 1:16
3. John adds his testimony in these words, "we have seen with our own eyes, which we have looked upon, and
our hands have handled, of the word of life." 1 John 1:1
B. MY GOD IS ABLE
1. This testimony, by Paul, about God being able, is based upon his threefold knowledge about God:
a. By what the Bible teaches about God - Deut. 33:27; That the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of
the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have
no might he increaseth strength - Isa. 40:28-30
b. By what God did for him.
c. And by what God did for His people - Eph. 3:20, 21; Phil. 2:12; 4:13; Gal. 2:20; 1 Tim. 1:15
2. The untold numbers of transformed lives of God's people confirm the testimony of the apostle in a glorious way:
C. GOD IS ABLE
1. To save sinners to the uttermost: Heb. 7:25
a. By recreating them into the likeness of the image of His dear Son - Eph. 2:10; 2 Cor. 5:14- 17
b. By preserving those who come to Him through Jesus Christ our Lord - John 17:1-26; 2 Tim. 1:12
c. By presenting the saints unto Himself without spot and without wrinkles - Eph. 5:27; 1 John 3:1-3;
Rev. 19:7
2. To translate them into His glorious kingdom:
a. He promised this to the penitent thief on the cross - Luke 23:42, 43
b. Our Lord assured the sorrowing disciples that He would prepare mansions for them - John 14:1-3
c. He promised to raise the dead and give them immortality - John 5:28, 29; Luke 14:14
3. Let us take a brief look at God's agents used in fulfilling His promises to His people:
a. His Holy Spirit - Zech 4:6; Isa. 59:19
b. His word of promise - Heb. 1:3; 4:12; 2 Cor. 1:20
c. The power of faith in His wonderful name - 1 John 5:4, 5; John 17:11. Think of what living faith in the
name of the Lord Jesus did for all who exercised it -
(1) The lame man at the gate of the temple - Acts 3:16
(2) The woman with the issue of blood - Matt. 9:20-22
(3) The centurion and his servant - Matt. 8:8
4. The blood of the Lord Jesus takes care of all our sins: 1 John 1:7-9; 1 Pet. 1:18, 19
5. What more need we to know that MY GOD IS ABLE!
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PAST - PRESENT - FUTURE
EXODUS 14:13
A. "FEAR NOT, STAND STILL, AND SEE THE SALVATION OF THE LORD, WHICH HE WILL SHEW TO YOU
TODAY."
1. "Fear not":
a. Israel in a state of great fear because of the Egyptians being almost upon them.
b. The Red Sea before them.
c. The mountains surrounding them.
2. They blamed Moses for their seeming plight:
a. "Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? Wherefore
hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?"
b. "Is not this the word that we spake unto you in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the
Egyptians."
3. How soon they forgot the miracles of the God of their fathers in Egypt:
a. How quickly men's memory fails to bring God's love and care to us.
b. How easy it is to blame the leaders for our seeming difficulties!
C. AS WE LOOK BACK OVER OUR BRIEF SOJOURNING IN THIS PRESENT LIFE, WE CAN SEE HOW
WONDERFULLY THE LORD HAS LED US. EVEN THE PRESENT LOOKS ENCOURAGING, BUT WHAT ABOUT . . .
1. The Future?
a. This we know for sure, that our future is in the same hands that led us in the past and cares for us at
the present.
b. This is very important for us to keep in mind at all times.
2. Experience shows that human memory is very forgetful at times:
a. That was Moses deep concern with his people - Deut. 4:9, 23; 6:12; 8:11; 14:19
b. David, too, was concerned, lest the people forget - Ps. 59:11; 78:7
3. Heavenly assurance for the future:
a. "As thy days so shall thy strength be" - Deut. 33:25
b. "My God shall supply all your needs" - Phil. 4:19
c. "Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends
of the earth fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding."
d. "He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength" - Isa. 40:28-31
4. The future of God's people is as bright as God's promises to them:
a. One promise to keep in mind is found in Isa. 49:15-16
b. Another gracious promise for the future of God's children is found in Matt. 28:20
c. A third assurance is found in the words of the Son of God as recorded in Matt. 24:35 and in Heb. 13:8
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