Sermons from 2022

I. Expedient: Conducive to advantage in general, or to a definite purpose; fit, proper, or suitable to the circumstances of the case.

II. The N.T. is a law of liberty. JAM 1:25; 2:12; 2CO 3:17. A. It liberates believers from the fear of death. HEB 2:15. B. It liberates believers from the service of sin. ROM 6:16-18. C. It liberates believers from a marred conscience. HEB 9:14. D. It liberates believers from abolished strictures of Mosaic Law. COL 2:13-16. E. It liberates believers TO the law...

I. faith: Belief, trust, confidence, reliance (in the ability, goodness, etc., of a person; in the efficacy or worth of a thing; or in the truth of a statement or doctrine).

II. Paul here sets in contrast various things: A. Zeal v. knowledge. B. Knowledge v. ignorance. C. God’s righteousness v. the sinner establishing his own righteousness. D. Trust in God v. trust in one’s own doing. E. The righteousness which is of faith v. the righteousness which is of the law. F. “Do and live” v. “live and do.”...

1. Jesus plainly taught that men should prioritize their lives with God first. MAT 6:31-34. A. kingdom: Kingly function, authority, or power; sovereignty, supreme rule; the position or rank of a king, kingship. 4. trans. and fig. a. The spiritual sovereignty of God or Christ, or the sphere over which this extends, in heaven or on earth; the spiritual state of which God is the head. B. This kingdom is not secular but inward and spiritual. LUK 17:20-21; ROM 14:17. (1) We know that Jesus reigns as King with...

V. Clearly, “the righteousness which is of faith” (v. 6) CANNOT be a righteousness which relies upon something that a person DOES so that he may live (i.e., ACQUIRE life and righteousness), for that would make it a “do and live” proposition: “the righteousness which is of the law” (v. 5). A. But the sinner’s faith is something he DOES. ACT 16:30-31; 1JO 3:22-23. 1. A man may be asked, “Do you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ?” and, if so affirmed, the man would rightly answer, “Yes, I do.” 2. If the conc...

Ebedmelech (JER 38-39) I. The Time, Place and Circumstances. A. This was during the last years of the last O.T. king of Judah. B. This was just prior to the fall of the city of Jerusalem and the subjugation of the Jews by the Babylonians. C. Much of Judah had already been taken captive by the Babylonians. D. Jerusalem had been greatly reduced by sin, then by Babylon. 1. Life was cheap. Truth and judgment had departed. JER 4:31; 5:1-4. 2. The people were only wise to do evil. JER 4:22; 9:3. 3. They abused...

Children and Church

I. Children are the “...heritage of the Lord...” (PSA 127:3) and are to be raised by parents in trust for God Who desires a godly seed. MAL 2:15; PSA 144:11-12. A. Children are to be trained up in the way that they SHOULD go. PRO 22:6. B. The way that children should go is obviously established by God. EPH 6:4. 1. nurture: Breeding, upbringing, training, education (received or possessed by one). b. Moral training or discipline. 2. admonish: To put (a person) in mind of du...

C. Ebedmelech. His name means “servant of the king.” 1. He was an Ethiopian eunuch who feared the true God. a. The name “Ethiopia” is the same Hebrew word which is elsewhere translated as “Cush” (the son of Ham and father of Nimrod). b. The name “Cush” means “black” (per BDB Dictionary). c. Ethiopians were then, as now, obviously unwhite. JER 13:23. 2. As an eunuch, he could bear no familiar fruit (biologically); he was a “dry tree” (ISA 56:3). But his good deeds were fruit of another source of life with...

III. Children from infancy should be familiarized with church assembly and order to prepare them for God’s service in His kingdom. A. Inordinate concern about the challenges for the little ones cost Israel dearly at Canaan’s border and gospel duty is not grievous. NUM 14:31-32 c/w 1JO 5:3. 1. There will always be obstacles and inconveniences to any worthwhile enterprise. The value of the enterprise is largely determined by the desire, effort and dedication one has for it. MAT 13:44-46. 2. Our church serv...

IV. JER 38:7-13. A. Ebedmelech the Ethiopian went in unto Zedekiah to intercede for Jeremiah. Given the abhorrent character of Zedekiah (EZE 21:25), it might be said that Ebedmelech went boldly unto the throne of disgrace. His compassion was love in deed and in truth. 1JO 3:17-18. B. The fact that he may have been putting himself at risk did not deter him from trying to help the man of God. He joined the ranks of the heroes of faith by his actions. HEB 11:27. C. Ebedmelech spoke out on behalf of a wrongl...

I. This sermon will take on a personal aspect. A. I want to set forth the biblical basis for N.T. ministry. B. I want to set forth what drives me in this work and what my goals are. C. I want to set forth some personal reasons for ministering as I do. D. A challenge that I have faced in pondering this topic is a matter of self-examination: am I seeking to explain myself or justify myself?

II. I am totally persuaded that I have the preserved word of God at hand and that it is the ultimate authority ...

Tattoos, Piercings, Body Modifications I. This study seeks to steer between extremes concerning the care and government of the body.

II. God has written into human nature a principle of nourishing and cherishing (treating with tenderness and affection) one’s flesh. EPH 5:29. A. Mind that this text implies an unnatural hating of one’s flesh is commensurate with not nourishing it or cherishing it. B. We should steer clear of idolizing the body (PHIL 3:19) as if our lives must be dedicated to a sensua...

Tattoos, Piercings, Body Modifications I. This study seeks to steer between extremes concerning the care and government of the body.

II. God has written into human nature a principle of nourishing and cherishing (treating with tenderness and affection) one’s flesh. EPH 5:29. A. Mind that this text implies an unnatural hating of one’s flesh is commensurate with not nourishing it or cherishing it. B. We should steer clear of idolizing the body (PHIL 3:19) as if our lives must be dedicated to a sensua...

V. Here is a random list of other motivations and explanations for my manner of ministry.

A. A Pauline minister should be a studier. 2TI 2:15. 1. More than any other writing, I study Scripture for perfection (2TI 3:15-16): if I had no other study book but the Bible, I would have enough and plenty for the work. 2. There are plenty of books to weary my flesh (ECC 12:12), and not all of them are profitable for me or for you. 3. I may flavor my teaching with extra-scriptural knowledge as Paul did (ACT...

Ark Errors A. Israel foolishly ascribed the power of salvation to the ark of the covenant. They had turned it into a talisman or charm. 1SAM 4:3. 1. The ark was a token of God’s power, presence and favor to Israel, a box crafted by sinners’ hands out of elements under the bondage of corruption. EXO 25:10. 2. Many likewise have errantly ascribed saving power to other than God in areas where He alone has power and will be glorified, ascribing power to such things as genealogy, circumcision, sacraments, eve...

I. Christians are called to spiritual warfare. A. There is a universal call to war against Satan. EPH 6:10-11. B. There is a general warfare in contending for the faith. JUDE 1:3. C. There is particular warfare of ministry to which only some are called. 1TI 1:18-20.

II. In DEU 20, Moses laid down some rules for Israel’s wars. We may here glean some insights for our duty to our own Commander and Captain of our salvation. ISA 55:4; HEB 2:10. A. These instructions pertained to the secondary wars of Is...

I. Preparation is needed. EPH 6:15; 1PE 3:15-16; 2TI 2:20-21. A. The minister who thus purges himself is an example to those who hear him to purge themselves. 1TI 4:12; 2CO 6:14 – 7:1. B. The Christian profession at large is like a great house with vessels unto honour and vessels unto dishonour in it. C. The vessels of gold and silver are vessels unto honour whereas the vessels of wood and earth are vessels unto dishonour. c/w LAM 4:2; 1CO 3:11-15. D. A minister must purge himself from the vessels of woo...

I. This study assumes that the individual has a regenerated spiritual nature to enable understanding. JOH 8:43, 47 c/w 1CO 2:14. A. Do not conflate spiritual death with spiritual immaturity which lacks understanding. ACT 8:30-31 c/w LUK 24:45. B. Knowledge and understanding are progressive. PRO 4:18. C. Even an unregenerate man can derive some benefit from reading Scripture inasmuch as it can acquaint him with what motivates spiritually-minded men, with historical information, with things that concur wit...

A. In the Garden of Eden, God planted a tree of life to which man had access until sin entered. GEN 2:9; 3:22-24. 1. If it was still there by the time of Noah’s flood, it would have been destroyed since nobody, including Noah, had a right to touch it. GEN 3:22-24. 2. It evidently, though, was removed to glory. REV 2:7; 22:1-2, 14. 3. The Second Adam (Christ) restores man to what the first Adam lost: the right to the tree of life. ROM 5:17-18. 4. NOTE: Christ is our life (COL 3:4), made so to us by His cr...

I. Definitions A. Truth - Conformity with fact; agreement with reality; accuracy, correctness, verity (of a statement or thought) B. Fact - Something that has really occurred or is actually the case; something certainly known to be of this character; hence, a particular truth known by actual observation or authentic testimony, as opposed to what is merely inferred, or to a conjecture or fiction; a datum of experience, as distinguished from the conclusions that may be based upon it. C. Reality - The quali...

I. Nature only supplies a limited knowledge of God. ROM 1:19-20; PSA 19:1. A. The “Book of Nature” is corrupt and therefore unreliable to reveal God. ROM 8:21-22. B. Polytheistic idolatry is evidence of the vanity of knowing God from nature. To discover God by interpreting the creation is to end up where all paganism ends up: creature worship, idolatry and uncleanness. ROM 1:22-25. C. Some have thus concluded that God is inscrutable and unknowable, and that it is wrong to declare to know Him. 1. Mind tha...

A. rumour: 1. a. A (wide-spread) report of a favourable or laudatory nature. Obs. b. Talk or report of a person or thing in some way noted or distinguished. Now arch. c. The fact of being generally talked about; reputation, renown. Obs. 2. a. General talk, report, or hearsay, not based upon definite knowledge. Also phr. rumour has it. B. Believers can expect certain troubles in this troubling life. JOH 16:33; ACT 14:22.1. There will be certain persecutions to the godly in Christ. 2TI 3:12.2. There will b...

I. Read GEN 1-11 and accept it as historical narrative. It sets forth creation, the entrance of sin by Adam, and a worldwide flood which wiped out everyone except Noah and his family. 1. It establishes the proper pattern of marriage. 2. It establishes morality. 3. It establishes the need for clothing. 4. It establishes cosmology, geology, anthropology, biology and paleontology, etc. 5. If you can’t believe what God tells you of earthly things, on what basis can you believe what He tells you of heavenly t...

I. This study sets forth academic information and scriptural arguments, the latter being most reliable.

II. apocrypha: A writing or statement of doubtful authorship or authenticity; spec. those books included in the Septuagint and Vulgate versions of the Old Testament, which were not originally written in Hebrew and not counted genuine by the Jews, and which, at the Reformation, were excluded from the Sacred Canon by the Protestant party, as having no well-grounded claim to inspired authorship.

A. JOH 15:13-15 is a unique occurrence of the word “friends” in three successive verses. 1. It is a very special identity to be known as the king’s friend. 1KI 4:5. 2. These sons of Abraham were sharing in his special relationship with God. JAM 2:23. 3. They later still called themselves servants (2PE 1:1; JAM 1:1) for the honor which Christ puts upon men should not puff them up but humble them. 1TI 1:15.

B. These verses leave no doubt as to what extent Christ’s command to brethren to love one anot...

A. COL 2:9-11 sets forth great benefits that are the result of one being IN Christ.

B. “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily” (v. 9).

1. It pleased God that all fulness should dwell in Christ. COL 1:19.

2. The elect all receive of this fulness. JOH 1:16.

3. The great work of the gospel is to bring saints knowledgeably and practically to this fulness. EPH 3:16-19; 4:11-13.

C. Since all fulness dwells in Christ, it stands to reason that if on...

I. This study is meant to set forth an alternative to the popular assumption among some Christians that Gog and Magog (as depicted in EZE 38-39) could not have had an ancient historic fulfillment but rather refer to a culminating battle at the end of time as noted in REV 20:8-9.

A. It should be remembered that certain names in the Book of Revelation which appear in O.T. writings are not the same entities.

B. The Babylon of Revelation is not the ancient Babylon of the O.T. but rather a spiritu...

1. Josiah was the last good king of Judah prior to the Babylonian captivity.

   1. The account of his life and his good reign of 31 years are recorded in 2KI 22:1 - 23:30; 2CH 34:1 - 35:27.

      1. His father, Amon, was murdered by conspirators who themselves were slain by the people who then installed young Josiah as king, fulfilling an ancient prophecy.

         2KI 21:23-24 c/w 1KI 13:2.

      2. In spite of his heritage, Josiah went the opposite way of his fathe...

A. reproach: A source or cause of disgrace or shame (to a person, etc.); a fact, matter, feature or quality bringing disgrace or discredit upon one.

B. A primary goal of us as Christians is to convert men to repent and follow Christ with us as members of His church in this world. 1TH 1:5-6. 1. We do this by sound reasoning from Scripture. ACT 17:2. 2. We do this by showing sinners a better way and hope. 1PE 3:15. 3. We do this by mirroring Christ in our conversation. EPH 4:13; COL 1:27-28. a. We ca...

IV. Futurists/Premillennialists have had a habit of unnecessarily assuming that certain prophecies must have future fulfillments rather than historical fulfillments since such fit better with their scheme of prophetic interpretation. A. They assume that certain prophecies of Israel’s regathering and rebuilding in their land have a distant fulfillment but Scripture shows a satisfaction of such prophecies in history. EZR 1:1-3. 1. NOTE: After the Jews returned to their land from Babylon, there is thereafte...

I. The Scriptures set forth several principles and patterns of Bible study to be followed by God's flock. The following principles and patterns are limited to those that help us use the Scriptures to determine truth and to communicate that truth. A. We are to study the Scriptures to know the truth. 2TI 2:15; PRO 15:28 ct/w MAT 22:29. 1. Principle: Prove what is truth and then believe and maintain it. 1TH 5:21; EPH 5:10. a. The commandment is to prove and hold. b. This commandment assumes knowledge an...

A. ark: A chest, box, coffer, close basket, or similar receptacle; esp. a. in north. dial. a large wooden bin or hutch for storing meal, bread, fruit, etc. 2. spec. in Jew. Hist. The wooden coffer containing the tables of the law, kept in the Holiest Place of the Tabernacle. Also called Ark of the Covenant, Ark of Testimony. B. What men died for trying to look into (1SAM 6:19), we may look into by faith and perceive our need for Christ. C. There was a golden pot that had manna in it. c/w EXO 16:32-36. 1....

A. God is known to double a name, especially of someone or something under His special care to get their attention: 1. Moses. EXO 3:4. 2. Saul. ACT 9:4. 3. Martha. LUK 10:41. 4. Simon. LUK 22:31. 5. Jerusalem. MAT 23:37.

B. One of the most stirring examples of double-calling is God’s dealings with Abraham. 1. After waiting about twenty-five years for the birth of the promised son and watching him grow into a young lad, God called, “...Abraham...” and instructed him to offer Isaac. GEN 22:1-2. 2. On...

VII. Disclaimer: The thoughts that follow only present possible historical satisfaction of the Gog and Magog prophecy of EZE 38-39, a reasonable alternative to the Futurist interpretation according to the light I have now.

VIII. Generally, the Futurist affirms that the Gog and Magog battle of EZE 38-39 is the same as the Gog and Magog battle of REV 20:8-9 which precipitates the swift, arresting judgment of God upon the enemy of the saints and the destruction of the devil who deceived the aggressors...

A. pride: The quality of being proud. A high or overweening opinion of one's own qualities, attainments, or estate, which gives rise to a feeling and attitude of superiority over and contempt for others; inordinate self-esteem.

B. Scripture has plenty of condemnation of human pride. 1. It will bring a man low. PRO 29:23. 2. It will bring shame. PRO 11:2. 3. It is the basis of contention. PRO 13:10. 4. It is the prelude to destruction. PRO 16:18. 5. God resists the proud. JAM 4:6. 6. “The fear o...

(Acts 3:19-26) I. Definitions. A. refreshing: The action of the vb. in various senses; also, an instance of this; refreshment given or received. B. refreshment: The act of refreshing, or fact of being refreshed, in a mental or spiritual respect.

II. This study has a two-fold purpose: A. To show that the “times of refreshing” (v. 19), the days of which the prophets foretold (v. 24) is not referring to a future dispensation. Some affirm that these verses support the idea 1. that natural Israel will f...

I. The gospel proclaims liberty to the captives. ISA 61:1. A. There are various liberties that concern us: political, economic, social, safety, etc. B. The greatest liberty is from the bondage of Satan’s lies, which take many forms since he is the father of all lies (JOH 8:44) and (as the saying goes), “Father knows best.” 1. father: 3. a. One who institutes, originates, calls into being; a constructor, contriver, designer, framer, originator. Also one who gives the first conspicuous or influential examp...

Fatherhood is rooted in the trinity. God is our Father. He is the Father in many ways. He is the Father of glory. EPH 1:16-17 He is the Father is spirits. HEB 12:9; JOB 1:6 c/w JOB 38:6-7 He is the Father of lights. JAS 1:17 He is the Father of all mankind. LUK 3:38; MAL 2:9-10; ACT 17:26 He is the Father of the man Christ Jesus. 1TI 3:16 Through Christ we are brought into a special relationship with God. He is our heavenly Father. He is our Father in regeneration. He is our Father in adoption. EPH 1:3-5...

A. The house of God was to be “...exceeding magnifical...” (1CH 22:5), and Solomon made it so. 1. David didn’t build but made preparations for Solomon his son to build it. 2. Similarly, Christ the Son of David built what David had prepared in type: the gospel church including uncircumcised men of faith with a spiritual worship devoid of Levi. ACT 15:13-17. 3. The temple’s construction was according to God’s pattern as was the tabernacle. EXO 25:9, 40; NUM 8:4 c/w 1CH 28:11-12, 19. 4. The pattern was of h...

I. Preliminary thoughts. A. The created order is a data set that can be analyzed. The “stuff” of creation does not lie but conclusions about it and drawn from it are subject to limited power of investigation, faulty premises and biases, assumptions, inadequate sampling, etc. B. The data of the creation is the same for both the unbeliever and the believer. The difference is in how the data is interpreted and processed. C. If the created order is an equal witness to Scripture in finding ultimate truth (God...

H. Nature can not teach heaven nor heaven’s spiritual truth. 2CO 4:18; 5:7; HEB 11:1. 1. Observational reasoning obviously has limitations: it can only deal with phenomenon (a thing that appears or is perceived by any of the senses, or by the mind). 2. The things that are not seen (2CO 4:18) can only be known by special revelation from God Who is superior to the creation and has infinite knowledge not limited to the revealed order of things. 1CO 2:9-11. 3. The unobservable things of God revealed by the S...

A. thankful: Feeling or expressing thanks or gratitude; prompted by feelings of gratitude; grateful. Phr. thankful for small mercies. 1. Here is an area where emotion should be a prompt for our decisions. 2. True love and true joy also have their places but wisdom must discern between proper responsive emotions and faulty emotion-led decisions. PRO 3:5 ct/w PRO 28:26. 3. One may be “prompted by feelings of gratitude” to his own judgment. LUK 18:11. 4. Biblical thinking will produce the right emotions for...

J. The wisdom of God in the crucifixion death of His only begotten Son exceeds all the wisdom of the wisest creatures. 1CO 1:23-25. 1. The greatest philosopher would never have concluded that the Creator God would humble Himself to become a man that would suffer death unjustly, for such would imply that God is dead. 2. The Jews were perplexed at the notion that the Immanuel (God with us, ISA 7:14) Messiah of promise should be humiliated and die. JOH 12:34. 3. The princes of this world saw only the elimin...

A. This chapter of Zechariah has been the subject of much discussion, even controversy, as to its correct interpretation: when, who, how are these things to be understood? What I offer here is according to the degree of light I have at present. Some qualifying markers I use in sorting through such prophecies are: 1. Apostolic revelation and explanation prevails. 1JO 4:6. 2. The church of Jesus Christ under the New Testament is superior to the church of Moses under the Old Testament and has displaced it b...

V. It has been said that God designs to instruct men by general revelation (phenomenon and logic) and by special revelation (inspired prophecy). The former deals with observable things to which human reasoning is applied, the latter deals with information communicated from the Supreme Intellect (God) directly and includes information which must be accepted by faith since it is beyond human ability to test it. A. Some analogies that have been suggested to describe these fields are: 1. They are like two bl...

I. Difficult people are referred to as froward in the Bible. 1. Froward adj. - 1. Disposed to go counter to what is demanded or what is reasonable; perverse, difficult to deal with, hard to please; refractory, ungovernable; also, in a wider sense, bad, evilly-disposed, ‘naughty’. (The opposite of toward.) 2. People that are difficult to deal with are evil (Pro 2:12, 14-15; Pro 6:12). 3. God hates froward people (Pro 3:32; Pro 8:13; Pro 11:20). A. Abomination n. - 1. The feeling or st...

A. Truth can liberate (JOH 8:32) or lacerate, depending on the hearer. 1. Truth can prick one in his heart (ACT 2:37) or cut one to the heart (ACT 7:54), producing repentance in the former or resentfulness in the latter. 2. Truth can make believers free and unbelievers foes. GAL 4:16. 3. Recipitur ad modum recipientis (the reception depends upon the receiver). 4. How one responds to convicting truth says much about his nature or character. 5. Wicked men hate the light of truth (JOH 3:19-20) and would rat...

A. In the midst of Paul's mad, misdirected campaign of terror against Christians (vs. 9-11), Christ arrested Paul, rebuked him, converted him and commissioned him as His minister.

B. Paul was not then seeking Christ, but he found Him anyway. c/w ISA 65:1. 1. What follows is the account of the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, not his regeneration. It is the change of his thinking, not his nature. a. It is the purging (purifying) of his ill-informed conscience which he had been dutifully honoring. A...

A. There is a general rule of human nature and economics that says that something of genuine value is worth the effort made to obtain it, and conversely, where little or no effort is required, the thing is of little value to its seeker or holder. 1. As such, the person who has to work to obtain something is much more likely to treasure that thing but the person who obtains something without working for it is much less likely to treasure it. 2. This is true for material and relational desires. The value o...

X. Here are some pertinent elements relative to a near historical fulfillment of EZE 38-39 during the intertestamental period between the prophecy of Malachi and the gospel of Matthew. A. The voice of prophecy was silent during this season of hundreds of years. Therefore there is no authoritative inspired record of the events of those years. 1. This does not mean that God could not confirm His word by other means, as was the case in EZR 6:1-3. 2. There are extra-biblical historical records which do provi...

A. Jesus described the Law and the Prophets as hanging on two commandments. MAT 22:34-40. 1. These accord with the tables of the Law (the Ten Commandments) which set forth man’s relating to God before man’s relating to man. EXO 20:1-17. 2. Believers can only know that they truly love others by loving God first. 1JO 5:2. 3. Conversely, one cannot claim to love God if he doesn’t love brethren. 1JO 4:20-21. 4. The love of God both qualifies and animates the love of others.

B. Consider the Biblical bra...

A. goodness: The quality or condition of being good. B. good: adj. With reference to moral character, disposition, or conduct. Morally excellent or commendable. sb. That which is good. C. Goodness is connected with righteousness and truth. EPH 5:9; 2CH 31:20-21. 1. There is much in life that passes for good which is not good. 2. If something is not right and true, it is not good. 3. We are called to mature discernment of what is actually good. 1TH 5:21; HEB 5:14. D. By nature none are go...

XII. Dr. Scofield affirmed that the invading forces of EZE 38-39 had to be speaking about Russia and northern European powers in the far-distant future. A. “That the primary reference is to the northern (European) powers, headed up by Russia, all agree.” (SRB on Ezekiel 38:2) B. This slant on EZE 38-39 fit better with Dr. Scofield’s premillennial dispensational theory of an end-time regathering of Israel and the final establishing of the Messianic Davidic throne therein. C. But Scofield was wrong: all do...

I. Scripture declares that God foresaw the fall of man and therefore set in motion a plan of salvation based upon His own will and effort, not man's. EPH 1:3-7 A. Man under sin is anything but holy and blameless. ROM 3:9-18 1. All have sin (the principle) from Adam. ROM 5:19 2. All have sinned (the deeds). ROM 3:23

B. Man's will is corrupt; he is sold under sin and free from righteousness. ROM 7:14; 6:20; PSA 10:4 C. Man's works are corrupt, even his good ones. ISA 64:6 D. Laws cannot c...

I. Ministers are closer to God’s lightnings than others. JAM 3:1. A. They are to preach what the flesh despises and this often generates opposition. 2TI 4:2-3. B. They are continual hypocrites for preaching a flawless code of righteousness. 1. This fact is not a license for uncharitably attacking or rejecting a minister or making him an offender for a word or something of little account. ISA 29:20-21. 2. Nor is it a justification for a minister to avoid preaching against his own “issues” or justifying in...

The Valley of Hamongog A. The defeat of Gog and Magog demanded a special effort of burying the dead. EZE 39:11-16. 1. Hamongog means multitude of Gog. 2. Hamonah means multitude. There was either to be in that area a city renamed, a city founded by that name (perhaps a city of specialists: men of continual employment), or Hamonah was a metaphorical city of the dead (a massive graveyard). 3. English tra...

The Right Priorities A. Jesus plainly taught that men should prioritize their lives with God first. MAT 6:31-34. 1. kingdom: Kingly function, authority, or power; sovereignty, supreme rule; the position or rank of a king, kingship. 4. trans. and fig. a. The spiritual sovereignty of God or Christ, or the sphere over which this extends, in heaven or on earth; the spiritual state of which God is the head. 2....

Some Rules and Standards I. The church of Jesus Christ is a very special society with rules and standards that set it apart from the world system. JAM 1:27. A. For example: 1. We cannot affirm sodomy as an acceptable behavior/lifestyle. ROM 1:26-27. 2. We cannot affirm works of the flesh as non-issues. GAL 5:19-21. 3. We cannot affirm unjustified divorce and remarriage. MAT 19:9. ...

The Hired Labourers (Matthew 20:1-16) I. This parable emphasizes two major themes. A. God is sovereign and altogether just in His dealings; no charge of unfairness can be levelled against Him. B. Oftentimes the first shall be last and the last shall be first. 1. Late converts may outshine earlier ones. 2. Sometimes the least likely eleme...

VI. We are especially to beware of the gainsaying of Core/Korah. JUDE 1:11; NUM 16. A. gainsay: To deny; to speak against, contradict. B. That which befell Korah and company in NUM 16 was meant to stand as a sign to the O.T. church and to us. NUM 26:10; 1CO 10:5-6. C. This disenchanted uprising followed a case of church discipline. NUM 15:32-36. D. The mutineers “rose up” against Moses. NUM 16:1-2. 1. Their real problem...

Discrimination

1. discriminate: To make or constitute a difference in or between; to distinguish, differentiate. (See EXO 11:7)

2. Discrimination has gotten a “bad rap” because of historical and cultural errors regarding people of differing skin colors, ethnicities (and other innate, immutable characteristics) who were denied equal liberty, opportunity, representation at law, access to public benefits or consideration in policy.

   1. Some of the worst abus...

Jesus Christ Is King I. Jesus Christ, who was made of the seed of David, has been raised to sit on David’s throne as king. A. This is the very gospel which we confess. B. At the opening of the New Testament Jesus Christ is introduced as the Son of David. MAT 1:1. C. At the close of the New Testament Jesus Christ is presented as the root and offspring of David. REV 22:16. ...

Sums, Succinctness, Plainness A. The accumulation of knowledge and wisdom includes the use of imagery, figurative language, etc. 1. Poetry and song which mingle fact and imagery are powerful methods of communication. 2. Scripture makes use of psalms, songs, proverbs, parables, figures, signs, etc. MAT 13:3; 1PE 1:11; 3:20-21. B. There are times, though, when the best way to convey information is through plain speech that is ...

B. The Lord then announced His covenant with David, which contains the following promises. vs. 12-17; PSA 89:3-4; 132:11. 1. When David was sleeping with his fathers, his seed would be set up after him. 2. God would establish the kingdom of this seed of David. 3. David’s seed would build an house for God’s name. 4. God would establish the throne of David’s seed forever. 5. God would sustai...

V. Jesus Christ now holds the key of David which key is a symbol of office, in this case the office of David, which is king. REV 3:7. A. key: 1. a. An instrument, usually of iron, for moving the bolt or bolts of a lock... 2. In pregnant sense, with reference to the power of custody, control, admission of others, etc., implied by the possession of the keys of any place; hence as a symbol of office, and fig. the office itself. B. ...

Some Facts About Election I. Definitions. A. elect: v. trans. To pick out, choose (usually, for a particular purpose or function). B. elect: a. and n. Picked out, chosen; also, chosen for excellence or by preference; select, choice. Also absol. a person or persons chosen. C. election: The formal choosing of a person for an office, dignity, or position of any kind; usually by the votes of ...

Halloween A. Hallow-e’en: The eve of All Hallows or All Saints, the last night of October. In the Old Celtic calendar, the year began on 1st November, so that the last evening of October was 'old-year's night', the night of all the witches, which the Church transformed into the Eve of All Saints. (OED) B. “In the 7th century CE Pope Boniface IV established All Saints’ Day, originally on May 13, and in the following...

V. Jesus Christ is especially God’s elect, being chosen out of the people. ISA 42:1 c/w MAT 12:18; PSA 89:19-20. A. God has highly exalted Him. PHIL 2:9-11; HEB 1:3-9. B. Christ is God’s found servant, the ransom He found. JOB 33:24. C. No other man could we find who was fit to the task of conquering sin and death and to ransom/redeem sinners. REV 5:1-14. D. “God has laid help upon him, not only helped him, but treasured up help in him for us.....

Holiday Tips I. Here are some additional considerations regarding holidays: A. Bible Christians celebrate Christ's birth, death, and resurrection by joyfully receiving the gospel by faith, repentance and baptism, by praising God, and observing the Lord's Supper. 1. Jesus Christ was incarnated and manifested to take away our sins by His death, burial and resurrection (MAT 1:21; 1JO 3:8; ...

Psalm Chapter 23 A Psalm of David.

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup ...

Images Unto God? A. Question: Is it appropriate to make images of things as adjuncts to faith and worship? 1. image: An artificial imitation or representation of the external form of any object, esp. of a person... 2. Some maintain that idols are wrong but images of saints or angels are permitted or even recommended or required. 3. idol: An image or similitude of a deity or divinity, used as an object of...

Thoughts on John 2:12-17 A. These events took place after the wedding feast in Cana which started the clock on the prophesied Messianic miracle season. JOH 2:11 c/w MIC 7:15 c/w ACT 7:36. 1. The Jews’ passover (v. 13) was a commemorative observance of that critical event which marked Israel’s deliverance from political bondage and oppression in Egypt. 2. God gave Israel forty years of miracles again to lead them out of spi...

Concurring Testimonies About Our Doctrine And Practice I. This study is meant to demonstrate that we are not entirely alone on various distinguishing points of doctrine or practice. My goal is to comfort and confirm your souls by this approach. ACT 14:22; 15:32, 41; ROM 11:2-4. A. There are certain doctrinal points we hold with which “mainstream Christianity” would not find fault: the Trinity, the dual Nature of Christ (God & Man), th...

VII. The holiday issue. A. We affirm that the observance of such holidays (holy days) as Christmas and Easter are, at best, foolish, man-made substitutes for the way that God in the Scriptures ordained the birth, death and resurrection of His Son to be honored. At worst, such observances are rank disobedience to the plain commands of Scripture and are the assimilation of devil- worship. 1. The observance of holy...

Friendly Relating To One Another In Christ I. Christians have a ministry one to another. A. We are to be “...kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love” (ROM 12:10). 1. Are we inclined toward or away from our brethren? 2. Do we view each other as brothers or strangers? 3. Do we prefer Christians? Do we make friends of them? B. Our love for one another must be expressed i...

XII. Salvation. A. We affirm that Adam plunged the whole of his posterity under the condemnation of sin, which they inherit through his loins and which leaves their nature totally depraved and unable to extricate themselves in any way from out of this condition of death in trespasses and sins. This condition exists in fallen man from conception and remains unaltered unless God of His own will freely gives a person a new heart and n...

Transhumanism A. transhumanism: A belief that the human race can evolve beyond its current limitations, esp. by the use of science and technology. 1. The term and concept is attributed to Sir Julian Huxley (circa 1957), grandson of Thomas Henry Huxley, who has been called, “Darwin’s bulldog.” Assumptions of naturalism, materialism and biological evolution should be expected. 2. The prefix trans prim...

Marriage Tune-Up I. Sometimes marriage doesn’t run properly. The default answer should not be, “Junk it” or “Trade it,” but “Diagnose it and fix it.” A. A lot of break-downs can be averted by proper maintenance. Why wait for the “idiot light” on the instrument panel to let you know you’re about to be stranded? B. A well-cared for marriage can last long enough to become a classic that isn’t taxed like ...

Faith, Reason, Emotion A. Faith and reason are compatible and necessary partners in arriving at truth. ACT 17:2-4. 1. Love or hatred of truth does not determine it. Truth is truth and should be believed. 2. Unreasonable men lack faith, not emotion. 2TH 3:2; PRO 14:16. B. There are many human emotions mentioned in Scripture, such as joy, sadness, pleasure, love, hatred, anger, envy, fear, sorrow. C. Emotions may be good or bad d...

10. COL 3:19. The husband is not to be bitter against his wife and take out his frustrations on her. a. She may be a good sounding board, but not a dart board. b. Reserve disgruntlement for her rebellion, not for her flaws and womanly nature. c. bitter: Characterized by intense animosity or virulence of feeling or action: virulent. d. virulent: fig. Violently bitter, spiteful, or malignant; full of acrimony or ...

Voices From Beyond A. It is not uncommon for people (including professing Christians) to affirm that they have heard some form of speech from the invisible realm of God, spirits or the afterlife. 1. Some affirm that God “speaks” to them in dreams to convey information to be heeded. 2. Some affirm that God “speaks” to them spiritually by way of an innate sense whereby they feel His guiding presence in a decision, etc...

Bringing Up Children (Ephesians 6:4) A. Preliminary thoughts. 1. Children are a blessing, not a curse (PSA 127:3-5) and a society that ignores this in trouble from internal chaos and demographic shifts which represent value shifts also. 2. Children need to know that they are dearly loved by parents, safe and secure from danger. Obedience and proper character development a...