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JUNE 2009

SERMONS

JUNE 14

 “MAKE PEACE WITH YOUR PAST, SO YOU MAY ENJOY THE PRESENT AND NOT FEAR THE FUTURE”

 SCRIPTURE READING: I JOHN 1:4 – 2:2

SCRIPTURE TEXT: Micah 7:18-19 Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He retaineth not His anger for ever, because He delighteth in mercy.  He will turn again, He will have compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities; and Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

 INTRO: “A boy kills the family rooster.”

 I. MAKING PEACE WITH YOUR PAST.

 NOTE: The Bible tells us that we are all sinners and are facing the judgment of God.

 Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

    If we claim to be free from sin we are deceiving ourselves.

 I JOHN 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

    If we claim to be free from sin we are calling God a liar.

 I JOHN 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

 Ezekiel 18:4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

 NOTE: It has been often said you can’t do anything about the past, but this is not true.

    We can’t undo the past but we can get rid of the sins of the past.

 1 John 1:7, 9 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. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 NOTE: We can have the confidence that if we come to Christ and confess our sins and accept Him as our Savior we have made peace with our past.

Romans 10:9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

 Ephesians 2:8-9 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.

 NOTE: If we fail to make peace with our past then we are faced with living in fear of God’s judgment.

 Isaiah 33:14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?

 Isaiah 66:4 (NLT) I will send great troubles against them—all the things they feared. For when I called, they did not answer. When I spoke, they did not listen. They deliberately sinned—before my very eyes—and chose to do what they know I despise."

 Hebrews 10:27 (NLT) There will be nothing to look forward to but the terrible expectation of God's judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies.

 II.  ENJOYING THE PRESENT.

 NOTE: A life that lacks peace cannot be truly enjoyed.

 Isaiah 48:22 & Isaiah 57:21 There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.

    If we fail to make peace with our past we will be domed to live without peace.

 Isaiah 48:18 (NLT) Oh, that you had listened to my commands! Then you would have had peace flowing like a gentle river and righteousness rolling like waves.

 Romans 8:6 (NLT) If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death. But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace.

    When we make peace with our past we will enjoy the present life in Christ.

 Philip. 4:7 (NLT) If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

 NOTE: When we make peace with God we will posses the Peace of God.

 Isaiah 26:3 (NLT) You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, whose thoughts are fixed on you!

 John 14:27 (NLT) "I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn't like the peace the world gives. So don't be troubled or afraid.

 John 16:33 (NLT) I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."

 III. HAVING NO FEAR OF THE FUTURE.

 NOTE: Those who have failed to make peace with their past will be faced with the White Throne Judgment.

 Revelation 20:11-15 (NLT) And I saw a great white throne, and I saw the one who was sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide.  I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God's throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to the things written in the books, according to what they had done.  The sea gave up the dead in it, and death and the grave gave up the dead in them. They were all judged according to their deeds.  And death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire.  And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.

   For those who have made peace with their past by accepting Jesus Christ as Savior can look forward to eternity without fear.

    They have no fear of judgment because Jesus took their judgment for them at the cross.

    They will have a new home in heaven.

John 14:1-3 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.  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.

   There will no sin.

 Revelation 21:27 (NLT) Nothing evil will be allowed to enter—no one who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

    Those who have made peace with their past will dwell with God forever.

 Revelation 21:3 (NLT) I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, "Look, the home of God is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.

    There will be no suffering.

 Revelation 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

 CONCLUSION: Have you made peace with your past so you can enjoy the present and look forward to the future without fear?

JUNE 21

 “GIFTS OF THE FATHER”

 SCRIPTURE READING: MATTHEW 7:7-13

 SCRIPTURE TEXT: Matthew 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

 INTRO: Fathers who truly love their children love to give gifts to them.

    Sometimes they are little gifts other times they are great gifts.

    But they all are given in the spirit of love.

    How much more does our Heavenly Father long to give us gifts.

 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.

I. HE GIVES US STRENGTH:

 NOTE: There are times when each of us fine ourselves face with a situation that is beyond our ability to handle, that is when God steps in and grants us the strength we need.

 ILL: A Father’s Hand

    God will never do for us what we can do for ourselves.

 ILL: The valley of ditches (2 Kings 3)

 Psalm 18:29 (NLT) In your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall.

 Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

 2 Corinthians 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

 Philippians 4:13 (NLT) For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need.

 II. HE GIVES US COURAGE:

 NOTE: What causes you to be fearful?

    Possessing God’s love in our lives will cast out fear.

 1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

NOTE: When we know that God loves us and that He has all power and wisdom, we have no need to fear whatever we are experiencing.

 Psalm 118:6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?

 Isaiah 12:2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.

 ILL: Three Hebrew Children

Daniel 3:16-17 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.  If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

 III. HE GIVES US THE HOLY SPIRIT.

 John 14:16-17 (NLT) And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, who will never leave you.  He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world at large cannot receive him, because it isn't looking for him and doesn't recognize him. But you do, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.

• To comfort.

• To guide.

• To teach.

• To convict

• To empower.

IV. HE GIVES US HIS PROMISE TO ALWAYS BE WITH US:

NOTE: All of us will face times of difficulty, sorrow and pain, when we feel all alone.

 Isaiah 43:2 (NLT) When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.

V. HE GIVES US HIMSELF:

 NOTE: The greatest gift a father can give his children is himself.

ILL: A boy borrowing $ 5.00 from his father.

 John 3:16 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.

    God has given Himself completely because He loves us. 

    It’s not a case of God not willing to spend time with us; it is a case of us not willing to spend time with God.

   Not only does God give to us Himself but He also gives to us all the resources of heaven.

 CONCLUSION: What more could we ask for?

JUNE 28

 “THAT WE ALL MAY BE ONE”

 SCRIPTURE READING: Romans 12:1-16

 SCRIPTURE TEXT: Romans 12:5 (NLT)

    So it is with Christ's body. We are all parts of his one body, and each of us has different work to do. And since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others.

 INTRO: God created us with the desire to be one with us, but sin separated us from God.

 Genesis 3:8-9 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.  And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?

 NOTE: God was seeking Adam, Adam was not seeking God.

    Since the time of the Fall, God has sought to restore this unity between Himself and man.

    God did His part to restore unity between Him and man at Calvary, now it is up to us to do our part by present ourselves as a LIVING SACRIFICE unto God.

Romans 12:1 (NLT) And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask?

 NOTE: God requires us to present our bodies (life) as a LIVING SACRIFICE to Him.

    The thought of a LIVING SACRIFICE is an oxymoron.

    Sacrifice means something has to die.

    Living means something is alive.

    We must die to self and live to God.

    This requires a whole new way of living.

   We no longer live to please ourselves or anyone else outside of God.

    Being a LIVING SACRIFICE means that there are times when it will be un-pleasant.

    This requires a whole new way of thinking.

 Romans 12:2 (NLT) Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.

    As Christians we must have a different mind set than those of this world.

   We must be no longer driven by what pleases us, or by the things of this world; we must be driven by pleasing God.

    And what is pleasing to God: Living in unity with Him.

    And what is the key to live in unity with God? Humility.

 Micah 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?  

 Romans 12:3 (NLT) As God's messenger, I give each of you this warning: Be honest in your estimate of yourselves, measuring your value by how much faith God has given you.

 NOTE: This is a warning, something we need to pay close attention to.

    There are two types of false humility: verbal humility and low self-esteem.

    True humility has two fronts: one towards God and the second towards others.

    If we are to live in unity with God we must live in unity with fellow believers, (this means not only those within our church doors but also fellow believer of other churches).

 Romans 12:4-5 (NLT) Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ's body. We are all parts of his one body, and each of us has different work to do. And since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others.

    The thought that attracted me to the Church of God was that all blood washed ones were brothers and sisters in Christ.

   “If God calls a person his child, shouldn’t I call him by brother?” And, If God accepts others with their errors and misinterpretations, shouldn’t we”[1]

   We are seldom surprised or disappointed at God’s judgments, but we are often surprised and sometimes frustrated at His grace.

    We are quick to rejoice over the judgment of the wicked; we should just as quick or even quicker to rejoice over their repentance.

    Three grace surprises:

 1.    Zacchaeus. Luke 19:9-10 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

 2.    The woman caught in adultery. John 8:11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

 3.    The thief on the cross. Luke 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in paradise.

 NOTE: God does not require doctrinal perfection or membership in a certain denomination so why should we?

 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 (NLT) The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up only one body. So it is with the body of Christ.  Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into Christ's body by one Spirit, and we have all received the same Spirit.

     Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part.

 1 Corinthians 12:18-20 (NLT) But God made our bodies with many parts, and he has put each part just where he wants it.  What a strange thing a body would be if it had only one part!  Yes, there are many parts, but only one body.

 1 Corinthians 12:22-26 (NLT) In fact, some of the parts that seem weakest and least important are really the most necessary.  And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect from the eyes of others those parts that should not be seen, while other parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together in such a way that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity.  This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other equally.  If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.

 CONCLUSION: Let us offer the right hand of fellowship to all other True Believer and let us seek the salvation of all these who are lost.

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