‘Indecent Liberties’ or ‘The Occasion of Grace’

TEXT: John 8 (33) “³³ They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?”

BR: John 8 (31-38)

INTRO: Indecent liberties. Two words used to describe when a person takes unlawful liberties.

Indecent: not conforming with generally accepted standards of behavior or propriety

Liberty: the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one’s way of life, behavior, or political views

Jesus faces the Pharisees

They said they weren’t in bondage, but they were. Jesus said they were in bondage, because, only those whom HE sets free, are free INDEED (TRULY FREE). The Pharisees were not TRULY free, but pretending to be free; claiming freedom, but TRULY in bondage.

We see a trend in the churches of today, that advocates the use of ‘salvation by grace’ as an “occasion for the flesh”  Gal. 5: ¹³ “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.“ These Pharisees were calling their bondage, freedom. Jesus was calling their sin, bondage.

One wonders, what does Jesus set people free from? Sin? Or Sin and the WORLD? Or does He set them free from the restrictions of service? Obedience? Rules? Law?

I John - Truly free Christians are set free from the ‘spirit that is in the world’

I) Worldly Christians

Brethren beware of such! To be entangled in Christian Rock and Rap, cross-gender dressing, and the vanities of immodesty and profligate behavior is bondage, not liberty. Worldly Christians are not “free indeed”; they are in bondage rather, to a spirit of the world that causes people to walk according to the vanity of their minds, the course of this world. (Eph. 2)

We would do well, brethren, to practice the instruction of the Apostle John in I John, in which he tells us to TEST the spirits (what’s behind people’s actions) and determine if it is coming from God or not. This is not being judgmental, it is spiritual self-defense. He also says not to just believe every one of them.

Chapter 4 “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

This is how you will know:

² Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: ³ And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. ⁴ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. ⁵ They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. ⁶ We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. ⁷ Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. ⁸ He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

Does that mean merely acknowledging that the Lord came in the flesh, viable proof? No, the emphasis is on the presence or absence of love, or the opposite, worldly speech and behavior.

We live in a time when many seek to justify such things in the name of ‘grace’ and even speak against holiness of life and separation from the world (aka blaspheme). The worldly Christian must speak against the dedicated Christian, and claim that he is trying to be saved “by his works”, when the problem is that he knows he has no works of his own, that God will truly accept.

II) People’s Idea of Liberty is Warped:

We live in the time once described by the bible in II Tim. 3:

3 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. ² For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ³ Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, ⁴ Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; ⁵ Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away… 

He is talking to Church people in the passage above, and instructing us to “turn away” from them. Today, the Apostle would have said “def-riend them”.

⁶ For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, ⁷ Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. ⁸ Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. ⁹ But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was. ¹⁰ But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, ¹¹ Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. ¹² Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. ¹³ But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. ¹⁴ But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

The gospel and holy living have come under attack over and over, even until now. Those who are slothful about God’s work, who don’t want to persevere to success in what God has called them to do and excuse their failure to follow through, maintain loyalty to the body of Christ and the brotherhood, and integrity, by resorting to the basest form of excuse; “I’m not saved by working”.

It  is not the authority of GOD that Christians are supposed to be liberated from, but the power of sin and satan. It is not God’s authority that we want to be separate from, but the authority of satan, which is broken when a newborn Christian is ‘liberated’. It’s supposed to stay that way, but time and neglect gradually eat away, and as lust is conceived (for lands, money, prominence, prosperity, possessions, etc) it brings forth sin and soon God’s call to separation becomes, in their view, a type of bondage and unnecessary restriction; and unwanted authority or rule over them.

We cannot call Jesus Lord, unless He rules us. We must also remember that the Bible is a Rulership of God, not a certain church’s or a man’s rulership. So that leaves a man only one option to justify his rebellion; twist the scriptures. This necessitates denouncing the views of other Christians who, if anything, go ‘the extra mile’ for God. They claim liberty, yet behave and speak indecently.

III) Walking after the flesh is TRUE BONDAGE

Peter presents two opposites in his discourse in I Peter 2: one using liberty as a cloak (a garment that covers- hides) and abstinence from lusts, i.e., having TRUE liberty (freedom).

¹¹ Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; ¹² Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. ¹³ Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; ¹⁴ Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. ¹⁵ For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: ¹⁶ As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. ¹⁷ Honour all men. Love the brotherhood.

We see many today who claim to be “free” but abide in malice: malice is from the Latin “malitia” (think ‘malo’) meaning – the intention or desire to do evil; ill will.

Notice several things above:

• Christians are to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul (11)
• The ‘Gentiles’ (non-Christians) speak against you as if YOU are the evil-doers (12)
• Christians are to be submissive (13)
• Liberty is not a covering for malice, but abstinence from malice is liberty indeed (16)
• Christians are to be TRULY free (16)

II Peter 2

This chapter describes exactly what we’re dealing with in churches today, brethren. Notice some things in the following passages.

“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. ² And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. ³ And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you:” 

This happens to people in NTCC ministry, Baptist ministries, any ministry or church. Why think it a strange thing that many follow such blasphemers? The basis of their behavior is (3) covetousness. Those who listen to their “feigned” words, have some kind of lust of their own going on.

To FEIGN is actually a verb meaning to ‘pretend to be affected’ by a feeling, state, or injury. To invent (a story or excuse)  To indulge in pretense.

I”M SO WOUNDED! they sniffle…
Someone insulted me 10 years ago…! 

…whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. ⁴ For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; ⁵ And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; ⁶ And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; ⁷ And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: ⁸ (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) ⁹ The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: ¹⁰ But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. ¹¹ Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. ¹² But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; ¹³ And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; ¹⁴ Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: ¹⁵ Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; ¹⁶ But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet. ¹⁷ These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. ¹⁸ For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. ¹⁹ While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. ²⁰ For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. ²¹ For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. ²² But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
Be ye separate!

II Cor. 6
¹⁴ Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? ¹⁵ And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? ¹⁶ And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. ¹⁷ Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, ¹⁸ And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

‘Cause and Effect’ or ‘What do You Think’?

Text: Gal. 5 (7) Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

 ⁸ For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. ⁹ And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. ¹⁰ As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. 

INTRO: Jesus asks “who do YOU say that I am?”

What you think about Him, is everything!

I Thinking is the Cause

James Allen, author of the well-known book “As a man thinketh,”  said;

“Man is a growth by law, and not a creation by artifice, and cause and effect are as absolute and undeviating in the hidden realm of thought as in the world of visible and material things.” As a progressive and evolving being, man is where he is that he may learn that he may grow; and as he learns the spiritual lesson which any circumstance contains for him, it passes away and gives place to other circumstances. Man is buffeted by circumstances so long as he believes himself to be the creature of outside conditions, but when he realizes that he is a creative power, and that he may command the hidden soil and seeds of his being out of which circumstances grow; he then becomes the rightful master of himself.”

“That circumstances grow out of thought every man knows who has for any length of time practiced self-control and self purification, for he will have noticed that the alteration in his circumstances has been in exact ratio with his altered mental condition. So true is this that when a man earnestly applies himself to remedy the defects in his character, and makes swift and marked progress, he passes rapidly through a succession of vicissitudes.”

“The soul attracts that which it secretly harbors, that which it loves, and also that which it fears. It reaches the height of its cherished aspirations; it falls to the level of its unchastened desires, and circumstances are the means by which the soul receives it own. Every thought-seed sown or allowed to fall into the mind, and to take root there, produces its own, blossoming sooner or later into act, and bearing its own fruitage of opportunity and circumstance. Good thoughts bear good fruit, bad thoughts bad fruit.”

II Circumstance is the Effect

The outer world of circumstances shapes itself to the inner world of thought, and both pleasant and unpleasant external conditions are factors which make for the ultimate good of the individual. As the reaper of his own harvest, man learns both of suffering and bliss. 

Following the inmost desires, aspirations, thoughts, by which he allows himself to be dominated

(pursuing the will-o’-the wisps of  impure imaginings or steadfastly walking the highway of strong and high endeavor), a man at last arrives

at their fruition and fulfillment in the outer conditions of his life.

III What do you think about Jesus?

“Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, Am?” “What do you think?”  in other words. The way you think of Jesus has everything to do with your actions.

Effect of Thought on Circumstances

A man’s mind may be likened to a garden, which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild; but whether cultivated or

neglected, it must, and will bring forth. If no useful seeds are put into it, then an abundance of useless weed-seeds will fall therein, and

will continue to produce their kind. Just as a gardener cultivates his plot, keeping it free from weeds, and growing the flowers and fruits

which he requires so may a man tend the garden of his mind, weeding out all the wrong, useless and impure thoughts, and cultivating

toward perfection the flowers and fruits of right, useful and pure thoughts. By pursuing this process, a man sooner or later discovers that he is

the master gardener of his soul, the director of his life. He also reveals, within himself, the flaws of thought, and understands, with

ever increasing accuracy, how the thought-forces and mind elements operate in the shaping of character, circumstances, and destiny.

A noble and God-like character is not a thing of favor or chance, but is the natural result of continued effort in right thinking, the effect of

long-cherished association with God-like thoughts. An ignoble and bestial character, by the same process, is the result of the continued

harboring of groveling thoughts.

The Garden

A man’s mind may be likened to a garden, which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild; but whether cultivated or neglected, it

must, and will bring forth. If no useful seeds are put into it, then an abundance of useless weed-seeds will fall therein, and will continue to

produce their kind. Strong grass deters the weeds Just as a gardener cultivates his plot, keeping it free from weeds, and growing the flowers

and fruits which he requires so may a man tend the garden of his mind, weeding out all the wrong, useless and impure thoughts, and

cultivating toward perfection the flowers and fruits of right, useful and pure thoughts. By pursuing this process, a man sooner or later

discovers that he is the master gardener of his soul, the director of his life. He also reveals, within himself, the flaws of thought, and

understands, with ever-increasing accuracy, how the thought-forces and mind elements operate in the shaping of character, circumstances,

and destiny.

GETHSEMANE::  A garden near Jerusalem, where Jesus prayed. The word means, literally, “oil press.” From two words: gath (from NAGAN, Heb.), “wine-press”; and shemen, (from SHAMAN, Heb.) meaning “grease, especially liquid (as from the olive); figuratively referring to anointing, fruitfulness, ointment, oil, olive.”

Jesus was under severe pressure in the Garden of Gethsemane, while he struggled in prayer – releasing his burden to the Father’s will: “if possible, let this cup pass… yet not my will, but Thine be done.” Following is the full text of Matthew 26:36-44, followed by personal insights.

Matthew 26:36-44

Some insights on this text: ( by Diane Dew)

1. Jesus was “grieved and distressed” in prayer. (v. 37)  He did not put on an air of pretense.

2. Jesus confessed verbally his feelings of grief. (v. 38) He did not pretend anything.

3. Jesus fell on his face when he prayed; it was a consuming prayer. (v. 39)

4. Jesus prayed, “If it is possible…” His “if” did not suggest unbelief; rather, it indicates the sense of urgency with which he prayed. Just like us, he had to keep on praying, till he found that place of surrender to the Father.

5. In fact, Jesus prayed “the same thing” three times! (vv. 39, 42, 44) Repeatedly praying the same thing is not unbelief. Persistence is necessary, for a breakthrough – either in the circumstances or in our surrender to the Father’s will.

Heb. 2 (10) shows us that God made Jesus, the Captain of our salvation, perfect through sufferings…some say that Jesus struggled not to sin here, but that’s not the case, because He is God. The scriptures teach us in II Cor. that a Christian has the power to pull down all imaginations, and every thought that contradicts the knowledge of God. He pounded every human way of thinking into submission, after repeatedly being overwhelmed with emotions.

Man is made or unmade by himself. In the armory of thought he forges the weapons by which he destroys himself. He also fashions the tools

with which he builds for himself heavenly mansions of joy and strength and peace. By the right choice and true application of thought, man

ascends to the divine perfection. By the abuse and wrong application of thought he descends below the level of the beast. Between these two

extremes are all the grades of character, and man is their maker and master.”  (James Allen)

The Parable of the Sower Mark 4 (14)

This parable perfectly illustrates the enduring quality of the seed, God’s word, and also the true problem, which is The SOIL.

Your whole way of thinking determines the properties of the soil of your mind and heart.

Getting a Soil Test

You can get the soil in your yard tested at certain local government facilities to determine its nutrients, properties, etc.

Hos. 10: “Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. ¹³ Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.”

 Test the soil of your heart; see what’s growing, prepare it for optimal growth into the fulness of the stature of Christ.

The Door Swings Both Ways

TEXT: Rev. 3 (7)

BR: Rev. 3 (7-13))

INTRO:  The Rev. 3 discourse is about Christ’s ability to open doors.

The man invited by Rev. Keener; Mr. Powell said not a word, stepped back and slammed the door in their faces. He didn’t realize what he was slamming the door on. This was the man who, two weeks later, blew apart his house in the South Hill area, killing his two sons with him. Had he responded to the invitation to church and found the hope of Christ’s salvation, they would probably be alive today.

God sends someone our way to present the open door or opportunity, which no man can close. Except of course, the invitee.
I) God both opens and closes doors of opportunity

Noah (Gen. 6)

…”and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it. “

Gen. 7

¹⁶ And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the Lord shut him in.

Not only that…..the others were permanently shut out!

Noah warned them, but they only made fun of him.
2 Peter 2 (4-5)
⁵ “And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly”
YOU only have so much time to respond to God’s invitation, because, who knows when He will close it?

II) God opens doors of other kinds

In two places in the Bible, the Apostle Paul spoke of God having opened a door of opportunity to preach the gospel; 2 Cor. 2 (12) and Col 4 (3) and again in I Cor. 16 (9) where he said in was a both GREAT and EFFECTUAL door.

He added that there are many adversaries, but did not say that any of them were able to close that door that God had opened. With every opportunity to preach the Word of God comes the opposition of adversaries; enemies who are unable to shut the door or shut you up.

Acts 5

¹⁷ Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, ¹⁸ And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. ¹⁹ But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, ²⁰ Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

²² But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told, ²³ Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.

Acts 12

12 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. ² And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. ³ And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) ⁴ And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. ⁵ Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. ⁶ And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. ⁷ And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. ⁸ And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals.
Acts 16

²⁵ And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. ²⁶ And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed. ²⁷ And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.

III) Jesus is the Door

John 10

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. ² But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. ³ To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. ⁴ And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. ⁵ And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. ⁶ This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.

⁷ Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. ⁸ All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. ⁹ I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. ¹¹ I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep
John 9

¹⁹ Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
Rev. 3 (8)

I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

All these doors Jesus opens to man, yet when He desires to enter a person’s life, He knocks and respectfully waits for them to open up to Jesus and His fellowship.
Rev. 3 (20)

²⁰ Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Joy in Believing

TEXT: Romans 15 (13)

¹³ Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

You know that to escape the wrath of God and be spared you must be a BELIEVER. A believer is described in the bible as having certain characteristics. If you find that you lack them, you just might not be a real believer.  One critical thing is PEACE, if we would survive spiritually.

INTRO: Peace is freedom from disturbance; quiet and tranquility: mental calm; serenity: the peace of mind this insurance gives you.

 I. True BELIEF in the Lord brings PEACE

You have to settle things with God and man. You cannot have disturbances going on in your heart and mind and be truly at peace.

John 14

²⁵ These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. ²⁶ But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. ²⁷ Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

True BELIEF in the Lord brings JOY

John 16

³³ These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

You have to make things right with people, before you can move on. If you aren’t joyful in your Christianity, quit blaming other things; you just aren’t at peace for some reason

True BELIEF in the Lord gives HOPE

Hope comes alive again, when you make everything right and just drop all your issues with people. People are joy stealers.

Is God Calling You? – by Mike Kekel

^{TEXT: Mark 1 (17)
BR: Mark 1 (16-20)
16} ”Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. ¹⁷ And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. ¹⁸ And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him. ¹⁹ And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets. ²⁰ And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.”

INTRODUCTION: Through the years, many people have asked me why they weren’t sure what God wanted them to do; all they knew was that God had called them to preach. Why would we know, if it isn’t time to do it?

In Mark 1, Jesus said little more than ‘follow me’ and ‘I will make you’. He didn’t say where they would go, or what God’s intentions were concerning their ministries nor even mention how they would die. That’s the whole idea of ‘following’ isn’t it?  Neither will He show us these things about ourselves, before the time; at first He simply says “follow me”, and wherever that leads, it will be for the purpose of reaching others (catching fish?).

God didn’t promise them a health care plan, nor guarantee coverage of their dental expenses or even promise them heaven.
I. When you’re following Christ, it doesn’t matter where He’s leading

Believe it or not, Universities structure their curricula  to accommodate  the unfocused nature of freshmen students, especially males. They will take courses that are common to all majors, and mature enough during those first few years of college to determine their direction.

II. When you’re following Christ, it doesn’t matter what you’re doing
When an employer tells you “sweep that floor over there,” you do it.  Then you let him know you’re finished. “What’s next?” you ask. He gives you another task, you repeat the cycle. The ministry is the same; God gives you a task and, when He has something else for you, He lets you know.

I Cor. 12
This teaching was to show the Corinthians that they should neither (Chap. 3)  judge nor disdain one another by where in the church God placed them.

12 (1-11) – The Spirit works all the gifts, but there are different ones
12 (12-14) – We’re all part of a body that is ONE (Unified) but do the same things
12 (15-17) – No matter what part we play, we’re all important to the whole body
12 (18) – God puts us doing what HE wants, not what WE want
12 (19-22) – If we all had the same ministries, we’d be only a stack of parts, not a body
12 (23-27) – The less glorious jobs, are necessary and deserve more honor
THE BOTTOM LINE: (25) “but that the members should have the same care one for another”

The Sum of the Matter

²⁸ ”And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. ²⁹ Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? ³⁰ Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? ³¹ But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way. “

Chapter 13 shows us that, even if you worked ALL of those gifts, without love, you’re nothing. I have seen so many in the work of God who are carnal. They look at their resume instead of the will of God and what He wants done next. People more concerned about being “of Apollos” (I Cor. 1) than being a true Christian who loves his brother. They’re about “who’d done this” and “who’s done that”.

ILLUSTRATION:
A Brother once told me that, when he was in the military, he was a very “stract” trooper! He kept his shoes shined, fatigues starched, etc. and that “anyone can push a pencil”. I had never Pastored a church at that time, and I realized that he was talking down to me just a little. “No, anyone can be a grunt, but not anyone can push a pencil” I replied. We went back and forth with that a little, and left it there. I had done the grunt thing too, so I knew the difference.

A year or so later, he wound up doing administrative work. When he wasn’t at the Campground at the usual time, I asked where he was. Someone said “he’s trying to solve some problem with the finances, and then he’ll be coming. “Tell him, anyone can push a pencil” I said. He later acknowledged that I was right.

Don’t let anyone talk down to you, if you are a helper, a soul-winner, a children’s church teacher, whatever. God puts us where He wants us, and He’s the one that matters. Only those who are of carnal thinking, cannot see this truth of the scriptures.

III. When you’re following Christ, it doesn’t matter what’s next
Some people in the ministry live for ‘someday’. That is, their current work for God is ill affected by their plan to use it only as a stepping stone to their next job.

Coming to the Place

TEXT: Luke 22 (40)

BR: Luke 22 (39-46)

³⁹ And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. ⁴⁰ And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. ⁴¹ And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, ⁴² Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. ⁴³ And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. ⁴⁴ And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. ⁴⁵ And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, ⁴⁶ And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.

INTRO: Knowledge is progressive; we have knowledge of many things today, because of the discoveries of others since the beginning of the world. The Law of Moses is a standard against which all things are compared, and according the the bible book of Galatians, that OT law of God was a “Schoolmaster”  (Teacher) to us; it gave us knowledge of our sins and shortcomings, so we could realize we need Christ.

We have to “come to certain “places”, through progressive learning and experiences, to realize certain things. That’s why you get better at things you do, that’s why you change from the way you once did things.

You can HAVE knowledge, without using it.  A bible can sit on your coffee table, but it won’t act alone. You may know WHAT to do; what you SHOULD do; what you CAN do; but you will not ACT until you ‘come to the place’

Look at II Peter 1 (1-11)

THROUGH the knowledge; All things pertaining to LIFE; MIGHT!

There must be TWO factors to multiply and realize a PRODUCT! In the same sense, it takes both Jesus’ and YOU!

I) The Place of Understanding
The Ravens Feed Elijah (I Kings 17:3-6)

³ Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. ⁴ And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. ⁵ So he went and did according unto the word of the Lord: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. ⁶ And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook. He had to get to that place, before God could feed and care for Him the way He wanted to.

Heb. 5 (7-9)

⁸ Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; ⁹ And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

He continues in vs. 11-14 to show us something about Jesus’ progressive learning;

¹¹ Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. ¹² For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. ¹³ For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. ¹⁴ But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Ordained to follow in His steps

I Peter 2 (21-25) ²¹ For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: ²² Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: ²³ Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: ²⁴ Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. ²⁵ For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

Let’s look at some of the major steps in the life of Jesus, realizing that, we all as Christians, come to these same places.

EMPHASIZE; It does not make sense to put off the decision to give your life to God;

• God did so much, Christ gave so much, it shouldn’t be wasted
• TIme flies whether you’re having fun or not, and your days are numbered
• Your life is WAY better and FAR more fulfilling with Christ in it!
• The torment of hell in never-ending and unthinkable
• As much as it makes good sense to get saved quickly and gladly, no one will, until they come to that place.

II) The place of Gethsemane

A place of many olive trees; the word Gethsemane means “the place of crushing”

This was a method used to crush the olives with a huge, tapered stone, that rolled over the olives and pressed the oil out and down through a drain to be captured. With it was made wonderful, fragrant things; things needed for the burning of the lamps of God’s house; anointing oil for procedures described in God’s law to Israel; and of course, cooking.

John 18

18 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples.

² And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples. ³ Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.

• Judas was the traitor that gave Jesus over to the murderous band of false accusers and political puppets!
• He knew Jesus would be there, in the place of prayer
• He knew he SHOULD be there with Him

Many people start their Christian experience just fine, with JOY! But when they are crushed, you see what is inside them because it is squeezed out. The outer part of the olive is firm yet tender, and retains its shape well. But when it is ‘pressed’ its form is destroyed as it yields forth the oil within.

So too, our pretenses, claims, professions. exterior is lost when crushed and the true ‘us’ comes out. It is then that we learn things about ourselves; things that are at times, ugly to behold. We then have two choices; quit or persevere!

III) The place of the cross; Calvary

GOLGOTHA Place where Jesus and two thieves were crucified, in the vicinity of Jerusalem. The term appears in the NT only in the accounts of the Crucifixion. Three of the Gospels use the Hebrew-Aramaic term, “Golgotha” (Mt 27:33; Mk 15:22; Jn 19:17), while one uses the Latin equivalent, “Calvary,” meaning “skull or cranium” (Lk 23:33).

GAL. “I AM CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST!”

God’s Gift to Men

TEXT: Romans 6 (23)
²³ For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

BR: Romans 6 (17-23)
INTRO: In I Cor. 12-14 - The mighty works of God through His Holy Spirit are called “the gifts of the Spirit”  This is healing for the body, mind and heart, and anything else that is needed; a word of encouragement, knowledge, wisdom, faith, power! All GIFTS from God, not just on Christmas, but EVERY DAY!

Psalm 68 (19)

Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loadeth us with benefits, Even the God of our salvation. Selah.

In Ephesians,  even faith to believe the word of God is called “a gift of God”!

I Cor. 13- LOVE is the greatest Gift, the Lord said!

I) When God gave His Son, He gave us His love

John 3 (16)
¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

There is NO GREATER GIFT than that…and NO GREATER LOVE than that He laid down His life for us!
II) When God gave His Son, He gave us all that pertains to Christ

ILL:  The present given to Grant years ago; a box, in a box, in a box, in a box…

When you receive the gift of God, (Jesus) there’s one great discovery after another!

II Cor. 1 (20) ²⁰ For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen,

Prov. 12 (14) A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.

Funny how a gift has the power to turn away a person’s wrath, melt their resistance, etc.  Even in anger they would be glad to receive it, even giggle lightheartedly because someone “brought them a present”. But when the Gift of God, Jesus Christ, is presented, it makes people mad! Ironically, He’s the greatest gift of all and the gift most often rejected! 

James 1 ¹⁷ Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

III) You must RECEIVE THE GIFT! 

Sometimes people’s pride won’t let them receive anything from another, because they don’t want it held against them later or they ‘don’t want anyone’s handouts”. Remember what James said, we just read it;  God gives to YOU, and neither VARIES, nor TURNS AWAY. He is not ambivalent about giving you what you need and, according to the first chapter of James, will not upbraid you for asking.

Who would receive a gift, unless they wanted it?  Neither would a person received Christ without a desire; he must “acquire the desire” for Christ! How?  Just decide to receive what you know you need.

There are many human ant-eaters!

(Charles Spurgeon, “Treasury of David”)

“Their throat is an open sepulcher! They flatter with their tongue.” Psalm 5:9

“Their throat is an open sepulcher!” That is–a sepulcher full of loathsomeness, of pollution, of pestilence, and death! But, worse than that, it is an open sepulcher, with all its evil gases issuing forth, to spread death and destruction all around. It is just so with the throat of the wicked!

It would be a great mercy if the mouth of the wicked could always be closed. If we could seal it in continual silence–it would be like a closed sepulcher, and would not produce much mischief. But, “their throat is an open sepulcher,” consequently all the wickedness of their heart exhales, and comes forth!

How dangerous is an open sepulcher! Men in their journeys might easily stumble therein, and find themselves among the dead!

Ah! take heed of the wicked man, for there is nothing that he will not say to ruin you; he will long to destroy your character, and bury you in the hideous sepulcher of his own wicked throat!

“This figure graphically portrays the filthy conversation of the wicked. Nothing can be more abominable to the senses than an open sepulcher, when a dead putrefying body steams forth its tainted exhalations. Just so, what proceeds out of the mouth of the wicked, is infected and putrid! And, as the exhalation from a sepulcher proves the corruption within, so it is with the corrupt conversation of sinners.” Robert Haldane 

“The speech of unregenerate men is unsavory, rotten, and hurtful to others; for, as a sepulcher sends out detestable savors and filthy smells–so evil men utter rotten and filthy words!” Thomas Wilson

“They flatter with their tongue.” Or, as we might read it, “They have an oily tongue–a smooth tongue.” A smooth tongue is a great evil; many have been bewitched by it. There are many human ant-eaters, who with their long tongues covered with oily words, entice and entrap the unwary and make their gain thereby.

When the wolf licks the lamb, he is preparing to wet his teeth in its blood!

10 Suggestions? -by Mike Kekel

Someone has written these beautiful words. Try to understand the deep meaning. They are like the ten commandments to follow in life all the time.

1]  Prayer is not a “spare wheel” that you pull out when in trouble, but it is a “steering wheel” that directs the right path throughout. 

2]  So a Car’s WINDSHIELD is so large & the Rear view Mirror is so small? Because our PAST is not as important as our FUTURE. So, Look Ahead and Move on. 
 
3]  Friendship is like a BOOK. It takes few seconds to burn, but it takes years to write. 
 
4]  All things in life are temporary. If going well, enjoy it, they will not last forever. If going wrong, don’t worry, they can’t last long either. 
 
5]  Old Friends are Gold! New Friends are Diamond! If you get a Diamond, don’t forget the Gold! Because to hold a Diamond, you always need a Base of Gold! 
 
6] Often when we lose hope and think this is the end, GOD smiles from above and says, “Relax, sweetheart, it’s just a bend, not the end! 
 
7]  When GOD solves your problems, you have faith in HIS abilities; when GOD doesn’t solve your problems HE has faith in your abilities. 
 
8]  A blind person asked St. Anthony: “Can there be anything worse than losing eye sight?” He replied: “Yes, losing your vision!” 
 
9]  When you pray for others, God listens to you and blesses them, and sometimes, when you are safe and happy, remember that someone has prayed for you. 
 
10]  WORRYING does not take away tomorrow’s TROUBLES, it takes away today’s PEACE. 

(Unknown Author)

Sorriness by Mike Kekel

TEXT: II Cor. 7 (10) ”For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”

INTRO: It is true that forgiveness sometimes must be earned. A domestic dispute isn’t always resolved with a simple apology. One must feel that the other is truly SORRY for what they did. When they say “sorry” or “sorry about that” or offer an explanation like, “I don’t know what got into me,” or “I’ve just been stressed out lately” it is accepted; if someone feels they really MEAN it.  But at the same time, there’s something about the words “I’m Sorry” that people find difficult. They can’t really apologize, they just offer a little “sorry”. But they aren’t; at least not enough to truly and humbly apologize.

Not just ‘SORRY’, But adding the “I’M”.

TRY IT NOW, under your breath….try to say it to someone next time you owe them an apology.

I The Sorrow of this World

Reading of Psalm 38 

David was in great adversity…look here at his prayers

⁶  I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.

⁷  For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: And there is no soundness in my flesh. ⁸  I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart. ⁹  Lord, all my desire is before thee; And my groaning is not hid from thee. ¹⁰  My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: As for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me. ¹¹  My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; And my kinsmen stand afar off. ¹²  They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: And they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, And imagine deceits all the day long.

mis•chie•vous \ˈmis-chə-vəs
1 : harmful, injurious 〈mischievous gossip〉
2 a : able or tending to cause annoyance, trouble, or minor injury; b : irresponsibly playful 〈mischievous behavior〉

¹³  But I, as a deaf man, heard not; And I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth. ¹⁴  Thus I was as a man that heareth not, And in whose mouth are no reproofs. 

¹⁵  For in thee, O Lord, do I hope: Thou wilt hear, O Lord my God. ¹⁶  For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: When my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.

¹⁷  For I am ready to halt, And my sorrow is continually before me.

¹⁸  For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin. 

¹⁹  But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: 

And they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied. 

²⁰  They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; 

Because I follow the thing that good is. 

²¹  Forsake me not, O Lord: O my God, be not far from me. ²²  Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation. See vs (18-19)

David the King was SORRY, but he said his enemies… ”are LIVELY and STRONG”, i.e., they don’t feel bad at all. David was the one that did GOOD to them, and they paid him back with evil! ²⁰  “They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries;”

This means they were NOT THANKFUL for the good David had done for them!

Romans 1 (18-21) ^18″ For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; ¹⁹ Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. ²⁰ For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:”

…”neither were they thankful”
Unthankfulness is brother to sin, and enemies like David’s are usually unthankful for any good you do.

II. Godly Sorrow II Cor. 7 (5-10)

Paul said … Titus told me your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more. ⁸ For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. ⁹ Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. ¹⁰ For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

Paul’s rebuke caused them to be sorry for what they had done, but they didn’t react unthankfully or with resentment. What this means is THEY WERE THANKFUL!

1. You Can’t Earn God’s Forgiveness

But you do have to convince Him that you’re sorry

II Chron. 7
¹³ If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; ¹⁴ If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

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

Romans 10
If thou wilt confess the Lord Jesus…