MAY 2007 SERMONS
MAY 6, 2007
“FINDING
COMFORT IN GOD’S GRACE”
SCRIPTURE READING:
ISAIAH 40:1-11
SCRIPTURE TEXT:
Isaiah 40:11 (KJV) He shall feed his
flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs
with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall
gently lead those that are with young.
INTRO:
How do we gain a
here and now understanding of God’s Word?
Are the stories
in the Old Testament just a history lesson or does
it address our lives today? If so, how?
We need to learn
to apply God’s Word to ourselves personally.
How does this
story teach us about Grace, and what is Grace?
Grace means:
unmerited favor; an act or instance of kindness.
All of us at one
time or another has needed God’s Grace in a very
special way.
-
Mountains of
sin and quilt
-
Valleys of
despair and discouragement
-
Deserts of
trials and temptation
-
Paths of
confusion and hopelessness
-
Rough roads
of sickness and disappointments
Whenever we are
struggling with the difficulties of this life we can
always find comfort in God’s Grace.
God’s Grace is
not limited to our salvation but rather it touches
every aspect of our lives.
What are some of
the things that bring us comfort in God’s grace?
I. WHO IT IS THAT
INITIATES THIS GRACE?
NOTE:
It is the initiator
of Grace that determines the scope of Grace.
The grace of man
is limited by the ability and compassion of man.
The plan of
redemption (God’s Grace) was always in the mind of
God.
God’s plan of
redemption has neither beginning nor end.
It is God’s Grace
that saved us; it will be God’s Grace that will keep
us throughout eternity.
II. TO WHOM AND
UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES IS THIS GRACE GIVEN?
A.
GOD’S GRACE IF
OFFERED TO EVERYONE.
NOTE:
God’s Grace is given
to any and all who would come and accept it.
Acts 2:21 (KJV)
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall
call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
2 Peter 3:9 (KJV)
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as
some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to
us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but
that all should come to repentance.
Rev. 22:17 (KJV)
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let
him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is
athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the
water of life freely.
B.
GOD’S
GRACE IF OFFERED TO THE WORST OF SINNERS AND THE
BEST OF THE RIGHTEOUS.
NOTE:
God’s Grace will
redeem the worst of sinners and the best of mankind
cannot get along without God’s Grace.
Luke 5:30-32 (KJV)
But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against
his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with
publicans and sinners? And Jesus answering said
unto them, They that are whole need not a physician;
but they that are sick. I came not to call the
righteous, but sinners to repentance.
NOTE:
Those who consider
themselves righteous will never see their need for
God’s Grace and therefore will never experience it.
The Bible tells
us that there in none righteous therefore we all are
in need of God’s Grace.
Psalm 53:3 (KJV)
Every one of them is gone back: they are
altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth
good, no, not one.
Isaiah 53:6 (KJV)
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have
turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath
laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Romans 3:23 (KJV)
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory
of God;
NOTE:
We are unable to
cleanse ourselves; we are totally dependent upon God
for our Salvation.
Proverbs 20:9 (KJV)
Who
can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from
my sin?
Isaiah 64:6 (KJV)
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our
righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do
fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind,
have taken us away.
NOTE:
God does not
withhold His Grace until we clean ourselves up; He
offers it to us while we are still in our sin.
Romans 5:6-8 (KJV)
For when we were yet without strength, in due
time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for
a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a
good man some would even dare to die. But God
commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we
were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
III. WHAT IS THE
COST OF THIS GRACE?
NOTE:
Someone said, “There
is no free lunch” everything cost something.
There are those
who contend that Grace cost nothing but this is not
true.
God’s Grace is
very expensive the only difference is who paid the
bill for Grace.
A. WHAT IT COST THE
ONE WHO INITIATED THIS GRACE.
NOTE:
It cost God the very
best He had to provide His Grace to each and every
one of us.
1 Peter 1:18-19
(KJV)
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with
corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your
vain conversation received by tradition from your
fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as
of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
B. WHAT IS COST
THE ONE WHO RECEIVES THIS GRACE?
Ephesians 2:8-9
(KJV)
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that
not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of
works, lest any man should boast.
Isaiah 55:1-3 (KJV)
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. Wherefore do ye spend money for that
which is not bread? and your labour for that which
satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat
ye that which is good, and let your soul delight
itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto
me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make
an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure
mercies of David.
CONCLUSION:
Do we accept God
Grace and live in its comfort, or do we reject it
and live in the turmoil of sin?
MAY 13, 2007
“WOMEN OF
CHARACTER”
SCRIPTURE READING:
GENESIS 2:18-25
SCRIPTURE TEXT:
REVELATION 19:7 (KJV)
Let us be glad and
rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of
the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself
ready.
INTRO:
Throughout the
Bible, God has likened the Church as His wife or
bride.
As a woman
prepares herself for her wedding, so must the Church
prepare herself for the coming of Jesus Christ.
There are several
women found in the Scriptures that have certain
characteristics that the Church of
God must also possess.
I. RAHAB: A WOMAN OF
VISION AND HOPE. Joshua 6
NOTE:
The first step in
becoming a part of God’s Church is recognizing what
we are and Who God is.
When we consider
Rahab in the natural eye, she is not the Bride of
Christ material.
-
She was a sinner
(an harlot)
-
She was of a
doomed race.
NOTE:
Every one
of us is in the same boat.
-
She saw herself
for what she was.
Until we
recognize ourselves as sinners doomed for hell we
will never seek the salvation of God and can never
be a part of His Church.
Her vision was
three-fold:
1. She saw God
as the supreme God will all power.
2. She saw the
hopelessness of her situation.
3. She saw God
as a God of mercy and grace.
NOTE:
Because of her
vision and hope God brought her into the linage of
Jesus.
What is our
vision of ourselves and God?
It is when we
recognize God for Who He is and we for what we are
and we fall upon His mercy and grace we become a
member of His family.
II. DEBORAH: A WOMAN
OF COURAGE AND LEADERSHIP. Judges 4-5
A.
OPPRESSED BY THE CANAANITES. (Sis-a-ra)
B.
BARAK
REFUSED TO LEAD
C.
ISRAEL
HAD A GREAT VICTORY
D.
JAEL
(a woman) KILLED SIS-A-RA.
NOTE:
The Church today is
a lot like Israel of old.
A.
WE ARE
BEING OPPRESSED BY THE ENEMY.
B.
WE
NEED MEN AND WOMEN OF COURAGE TO BECOME INVOLVED.
C.
WE
NEED MEN AND WOMEN WHO WILL STEP UP AND ACCEPT THE
DIFFICULT TASK OF LEADERSHIP.
NOTE:
There always seems
to be those who are critical of those who lead but
they themselves refuse to get involved.
III. A SHUNAMMITE
WOMAN: A WOMAN OF COMPASSION. II Kings 4
NOTE:
She saw a need and
she did something about it.
She provided a
room, a bed, a table, a stool and a candlestick.
She offered
comfort and rest to a weary traveler.
NOTE:
This is the
responsibility of God’s Church today.
We must offer a
place of comfort, rest and safety to who are in need
of it.
The Church is the
world’s Inn Keeper. Luke 10:33-35 (KJV)
But a certain
Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and
when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went
to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and
wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him
to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow
when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave
them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of
him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come
again, I will repay thee.
IV. MARY: A WOMAN OF
HOLINESS AND SUBMISSION. Luke 1:26-38
A. MARY WAS A
VIRGIN.
This speaks of
personal holiness before God.
NOTE:
To be used of God we
must be holy (cleanse by the blood) and submissive
to His will.
Hebrews 12:14 (NLT)
Try to live in peace with everyone, and seek to
live a clean and holy life, for those who are not
holy will not see the Lord.
B. MARY WAS
SUBMISSIVE TO GOD’S PLAN.
NOTE:
Just because we are
being used by God does not except us from trials and
tribulations.
C. MARY SOUGHT
SUPPORT.
NOTE:
We need the support
of others and we need to be supportive of others.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
(NLT)
Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as
one; they get a better return for their labor. If
one person falls, the other can reach out and help.
But people who are alone when they fall are in real
trouble.
V. UNNAMED WOMAN: A
WOMAN OF LOVE AND WORSHIP. Luke 7:36-50
NOTE:
This woman was
filled with gratitude for what Jesus had done for
her.
She had been a
great sinner now she had become a great worshiper.
It is more
difficult for those who have been kept from deep sin
to truly appreciate the Grace of God.
A.
SHE
LOVED DEEPLY AND OPENLY.
NOTE:
There is no such
thing as a secret service Christian.
Mark 8:38 (KJV)
Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of
my words in this adulterous and sinful generation;
of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he
cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy
angels.
B.
SHE
WORSHIPED UNASHAMEDLY.
NOTE:
She was unconcerned
with what others thought of her as she offered her
worship to Jesus.
ILL:
David
dancing before the Ark. II Samuel 6:20-23 (NLT)
When David
returned home to bless his family, Michal came out
to meet him and said in disgust, "How glorious the
king of Israel looked today! He exposed
himself to the servant girls like any indecent
person might do!"
David retorted
to Michal, "I was dancing before the Lord, who chose
me above your father and his family! He appointed me
as the leader of Israel, the people of the Lord. So
I am willing to act like a fool in order to show my
joy in the Lord. Yes, and I am willing to look even
more foolish than this, but I will be held in honor
by the girls of whom you have spoken!" So Michal,
the daughter of Saul, remained childless throughout
her life.
We need to be very
careful how we condemn those who worship different
from us.
The greatest way
of showing worship to God is by the way we daily
live.
The day if fast
coming where the True Christian and the Facade
Christian will be separated.
ILL:
The sheep from the
goats. Matthew 25:31-46
C.
HER
LOVE AND WORSHIP INVOLVED GIVING.
NOTE:
Many people want a
place in heaven, but they are unwilling to believe,
do, give, or say anything to get there or help
someone else get there?
God is looking
for a people who are willing to love Him enough to
do it openly, worship Him without concern of what
others may think and to give generously to support
His work.
MAY 27, 2007
“WHO OR WHAT
DO YOU WORSHIP?”
SCRIPTURE READING:
ISAIAH 40:12-31
SCRIPTURE TEXT:
Exodus 20:2-3 (KJV) I am the LORD thy God,
which have brought thee out of the
land of Egypt, out of the house
of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
INTRO:
God has created in
man the need to worship.
Everyone worships
something or someone.
The problem is
that most people worship falsely.
They worship
someone or something besides God.
The question I
wish to ask; “Who or What Do You Worship?”
What we truly
worship can be seen in three different aspects of
our lives:
-
Our Time
-
Our Talent
-
Our Treasure
I. GOD AND GOD ALONE
IS WORTHY TO BE WORSHIPPED.
NOTE:
There are two
reasons we should worship God.
A. FOR WHO HE
IS.
NOTE:
If we fail to have a
Biblical understanding of who God is we will never
be able to worship Him as we should.
-
He has all
power.
-
He knows all
things.
-
He is
everywhere.
-
He is
eternal.
-
He is holy &
righteous.
-
He is
perfect.
-
He is just.
B. FOR WHAT HE
HAS, IS AND WILL DO.
NOTE:
We fail to worship
God when we do not recognize His involvement in our
lives.
James 1:17 (KJV)
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.
-
What has God
done for us in the past?
-
Salvation
-
Healings
-
Provision
-
What is God
doing for us now?
-
What is God
preparing for us in the future?
-
He is
interceding on our behalf.
Romans 8:34 (KJV)
Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that
died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even
at the right hand of God, who also maketh
intercession for us.
Hebrews 7:25 (KJV)
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the
uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever
liveth to make intercession for them.
-
He is
preparing our eternal home.
John 14:1-2 (KJV)
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God,
believe also in me. In my Father's house are many
mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.
I go to prepare a place for you.
-
He is coming
again to take us to heaven.
John 14:3 (KJV)
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will
come again, and receive you unto myself; that where
I am, there ye may be also.
II. WHAT DOES
WORSHIPPING GOD ENTAIL?
A. PUTTING GOD
FIRST IN EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIVES.
Exodus 20:2-3 (KJV)
I am
the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the
land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou
shalt have no other gods before me.
NOTE: This
means we allow no one and nothing to come between
God and our personal relationship with Him.
-
Family.
-
Job.
-
Entrainment.
-
Recreation.
-
Finances.
-
Our pursuit
of happiness.
B. LIVING OUR
LIVES IN OBEDIENCE TO HIS WORD.
John 13:34 (KJV)
A new
commandment I give unto you, That ye love one
another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one
another.
John 14:15 (KJV)
If ye
love me, keep my commandments.
John 14:21 (KJV)
He
that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it
is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be
loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will
manifest myself to him.
C. JOINING WITH
OTHERS TO WORSHIP GOD.
Psalm 133:1 (KJV)
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for
brethren to dwell together in unity!
Psalm 26:8 (KJV)
Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house,
and the place where thine honour dwelleth.
Psalm 84:10 (KJV)
For a day in thy courts is better than a
thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house
of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
Psalm 92:13 (KJV)
Those that be planted in the house of the Lord
shall flourish in the courts of our God.
Psalm 122:1 (KJV)
I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into
the house of the Lord.
Hebrews
10:25 (KJV)
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves
together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting
one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day
approaching.
III.
WHY WOULD WE WORSHIP ANYTHING ELSE?
NOTE:
Too often we try to
be like the Children of Israel, and worship both God
and the things of this world.
1 John 2:15 (KJV)
Love not the world, neither the things that are
in the world. If any man love the world, the love of
the Father is not in him.
A. THE THINGS OF
THIS WORLD HAVE NO ETERNAL VALUE.
Matthew 6:19-21
(KJV)
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth,
where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves
break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves
treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust
doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through
nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will
your heart be also.
B. THE THINGS OF
THIS WORLD WILL FAIL TO MEET OUR NEEDS.
Jeremiah 2:13 (KJV)
For my people have committed two evils; they have
forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed
them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no
water.
CONCLUSION:
We must make a
choice, do we serve the gods of this world,
pleasure, possessions, power or do we serve the
living God.
Joshua 24:15 (KJV)
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord,
choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the
gods which your fathers served that were on the
other side of the flood, or the gods of the
Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and
my house, we will serve the Lord.
