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SERMON SEEDS FOR JULY 27, 2008

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Numbers 1:47-53

THE LEVITES

 

There is a census taken of available soldiers in Numbers 1.  The Levites were not numbered with them. Not only were they the “Priestly Tribe” with the priests coming from Aarons family, but they were the Tribe that was to take care of the Tabernacle.

 

EXCLUSIVE CARE – Vss. 47-51 – They were exempt from military service in order to serve God exclusively.

 

EXTREME CLOSENESS – Vss. 52-53 – They were to be camped as close to God’s presence as possible.

 

EXCELLENT PRIVILEGE – Vs. 53 – They were to guard the Tabernacle.

 

 

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2 SAMUEL 11

IT’S EASY!

 

·       What are some things that most human beings find easy to do?

·       What are some things that are easy for you to do either because you have natural ability or have practiced a lot?

·       What are some of the things we find easy to do that we wish that we didn’t do?

·       How easy is it for us to receive forgiveness for the things we’ve done wrong?

·       How easy is it to live the Christian life?

 

In 2 Samuel 11 we find just how easy it is to do the wrong thing!  David, the “man after God’s own heart”, did what was not pleasing to God.

 

IT’S EASY TO GET LAZY – Vs. 1

 

·       The culture and practices of David’s day are different than ours.

·       There was a season for war, probably after a rainy season.  General Joab and the troops were out fighting.

·       Why was it easy for King David to stay at home rather than go out and be with his men?

·       Perhaps David, in retrospect, would have admitted to having been lazy.

·       What are the differences between getting saved and living the Christian life?

·        Spiritual warfare is work!

·       2 Timothy 2:3-4 - Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

1 Timothy 6:12 -  Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

Ephesians 6:10-11 - Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

1 Peter 5:8 - Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

·       How can you tell when you are getting lazy as a Christian?

·       Why is getting lazy as a Christian such a big deal?

 

IT’S EASY TO LUST – Vss. 2-3

 

·       Vs. 2 - David’s problem was not that he took a nap or that he saw the woman bathing.

·       What decision did David have to make when he saw her?

·       Jesus warned against the wrong attitude towards women in Matthew 5:27-28.

·       Vs. 3 – David made inquiries as to the identity of the woman.  It seems that the one giving the information was also giving a warning.

·       What are some of the ways God will warn us when we are about to do something wrong?

·       1 Corinthians 10:13 - There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

·       What seems to be God’s prescription for times of temptation? Also see Matthew 4:1-11.

·       How will strict adherence to 1 John 2:15-17 help us?

 

IT’S EASY TO LET GO – Vs. 4

 

·       What is most likely to happen the longer you look at temptation?

·       David let go or gave in. He listened to Satan’s urges instead of heeding God’s restraints.

·       James 1:13-15 explains the process that happened to David.

 

IT’S EASY TO LOOK OUT FOR #1 – Vss. 5-25

 

·       Why do people try to cover their sins? David tried to cover his sin with more sin and it didn’t work.

·       Vs. 5 – David was told that Bathsheba was pregnant.  What were his options?

·       Vss. 6-8 – What was David’s clever plan?

·       Vss. 9-13 - Why did God keep David’s plan from succeeding?

·       Proverbs 13:15 - Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.

·       Vss. 14-17 – David hit what I would call an “all time low”.

·       How are David’s actions a warning to us?

 

IT’S EASY TO LIVE A LIE – Vss. 26-27

·        What do you think David was thinking after he had completed his cover up and married Bathsheba?

·        Do you think that life seemed any different for David after this event seemed to be behind him?

·        What was David’s biggest problem? Do you think he knew his problem or cared? Why?

·        Why was it a good thing that God was displeased?

·        God is about to show His great love for righteousness and for David in the next chapter.

 

This is a previously shared outline in Sunday School Lesson format.

 

 

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Psalm 11

SURVIVAL!

 

Here’s a Psalm that helps us get through life victoriously.

 

BASIC SUPPOSITION – Vs. 1a

In the LORD put I my trust:

BRUTAL SUGGESTION – Vss. 1b-3

…how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?
For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart. If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?

BREATH TAKING SUPERIORITY – Vss. 4-6

The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD'S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.
The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.
Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.

BLESSED SECURITY – Vs. 7

Psalm 11:7 For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.

 

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Mark 11:12-26

PRAYER THAT LEADS TO FRUITFULNESS

COMMUNICATIONS CLINIC - Lesson #4 - JESUS TEACHES ON PRAYER

 

What do the following verses tell you about fruitfulness?

·         John 15:5-8 - Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.  If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast [them] into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

·         John 15:16 - Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and [that] your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

·         Ephesians 5:9 - (For the fruit of the Spirit [is] in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

·         James 3:18 - And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

·         Galatians 5:22-23 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

·         Romans 1:13 - Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.

·         1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 - For what [is] our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? [Are] not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy.

 

As we continue to study the teachings of Jesus on prayer, we come to an unusual story accompanied with those teachings.  Jesus “curses” a fig tree.  We may think it strange that Jesus would do a destructive act, but if that act helps us learn valuable spiritual truth it is well worth it!

 

THE PROBLEM OF HYPOCRISY Vss. 11-19

 

·        Vss. 11-13 - There were early and later figs.  Although it was not yet time for figs, the abundance of leaves indicated that there should be figs.  The leaves and the early figs arrived at about the same time.

·        The tree was a “hypocrite”, pretending to be what it wasn’t - a fruitful tree.

·        In the Old Testament Israel was likened to a fig tree. Jeremiah 8:13, Hosea 9:110, Nahum 3:12

·        Jesus often took issue with the hypocrisy of Israel and her leaders.                                                  Matthew 15:7-9 - [Ye] hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with [their] lips; but their heart is far from me.  But in vain they do worship me, teaching [for] doctrines the commandments of men.                                                       Matthew 23:28 - Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

·        Vs. 14 – In pronouncing judgment on the fig tree, Jesus was also pronouncing judgment on Israel.

·        Vss. 15-16 – Israel was hypocritical in its worship procedures. Outwardly Israel was very religious. There were many sacrifices and religious laws kept carefully.

·        Israel’s hypocrisy was shown in the way the temple worship had become “big business” for the religious leaders.

·         Vs. 17 – Why was Jesus so adamant in his cleansing of the temple?

·        In what ways do our bodies, which are also houses of prayer, become “dens of thieves”?

·        In what other ways are we as Christians guilty of hypocrisy?

·        What is the correlation between fruitfulness and hypocrisy?

 

THE PRIORITY OF FAITH Vss. 20-23

 

·        Vs. 20-21 – How did the withered fig tree stand as a warning to Israel?

·        Luke 13:6-9 - He spake also this parable; A certain [man] had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.  Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung [it]: And if it bear fruit, [well]: and if not, [then] after that thou shalt cut it down.

·        What does the parable above teach us about Israel and ourselves?

·        Vs. 22 – When we see hypocrisy in ourselves, how will faith in God help?

·        Why is faith in God essential to dealing with our hypocrisy?

·        Vs. 23 – I think of a mountain as an encumbrance.  Our habitual sins are encumbrances.  By faith we can claim victory over them.                                                                                                                                            Romans 6:11-14 - Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.  Neither yield ye your members [as] instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members [as] instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.                                                                                                                                                        Romans 8:3-4 - Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.  Neither yield ye your members [as] instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members [as] instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

·        Why do our declarations of victory over habitual sin often fail?

·        What are keys to a true declaration of victory over sin?

·        How does victory over sin lead to fruitfulness?

 

THE POWER OF PRAYER Vs. 24

 

·        What is the connection between the declaration of faith in verse 23 and prayer.

·        How does prayer lead to fruitfulness?

·        1 John 5:14-15 - And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:  And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

·        Consider the testimony of Jabez in 1 Chronicles 4:10 - And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow.

 

THE PREREQUISITE OF FORGIVENESS Vss. 25-26

 

·        Why was Jesus so adamant about us forgiving others?

·        Why is a lack of forgiveness a hindrance to faith and prayer?

·        When should we examine our lives to see if we have truly forgiven others?

 

This is an elaboration upon a previously shared outline

 

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Luke 19:1-10

WHAT TO DO WITH JESUS?

 

Zacchaeus teaches us what to do with the Savior.

 

DESIRE JESUS – Vss. 1-5 – LET HIM CALL YOU!

DINE WITH JESUS – Vss. 5-6 – LET HIM CHALLENGE YOU!

DEFER TO JESUS – Vss. 7-10 – LET HIM CHANGE YOU!

 

 

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Galatians 5:1-5

TODAY!

 

BE FREE TODAY – Vs. 1

BE FOREWARNED TODAY – Vss.2-4

BE FERVENT TODAY – Vs. 5

BE FAITHFUL TODAY – Vs. 6

 

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Hebrews11:27-29

FAITH WALKS

 

We are visiting “Faith’s Hall of Fame”, Hebrews 11. 

We are reminded of the importance of faith in Hebrews 11:6 - But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

This whole chapter is the testimonies of those who walked by faith, or we could say faith walked in them. 

The challenge for us is that faith would walk inside of us. And I’m not referring to saving faith, as important as that is.  I’m talking about the daily faith of each one of us believers!

That faith should be the predominate motivator for all we think, say or do.  Let’s look at just three verses this morning and try to learn how faith walks. We’ll see that:

 

FAITH WALKS OUT OF BONDAGE – Vs. 27

Hebrews 11:27 - By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

When it says that Moses forsook Egypt we are reminded that he did so twice. The first time Moses had tried to deliver his fellow Israelites he did so by killing an Egyptian who was beating an Israeli slave.  When it was found out, Moses had to flee for his life. He was afraid.

The second time Moses left Egypt it was under God’s direction.  He was not afraid.  Indeed Moses had boldly stood  before Pharaoh and said, “Let my people go!” After 10 plagues that came upon Egypt, Pharaoh finally conceded.

When Moses led the Children of Israel out of bondage, it was into freedom.

Moses did this without fear. He had to endure various trials and tribulations to do so, including the obstinacy of  Pharaoh and the unbelief and rebellion on the part of the Israelites.

How did Moses do this? He did it by faith.  Out text tells us for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

Moses didn’t literally see God, but God revealed Himself to Moses.  Sometimes God just spoke to Moses. Other times he uses audio-visual aids, like the burning bush, and the cloud on Mt. Sinai.  By faith Moses saw the God that cannot be seen!

You and I were in bondage to sin. Jesus died to deliver us from that bondage.  Every Christian has been delivered from the bondage of the penalty of sin. 2 Corinthians 5:21

But there is more. Jesus died so that you might have freedom from the bondage of the power of sin. Sin is not to reign in your life. It is not to be your dictator! Romans 6:14

How is this accomplished? It is by faith. That is, believing this promise and acting on it and seeing the “invisible God” who is ready to give you victory.

RECKON - Romans 6:11 - Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

YIELD - Romans 6:12-13 - Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

TRUST – Romans 6:14 - For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

 

FAITH WALKS IN OBEDIENCE – Vs. 28

Hebrews 11:28 - Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

God, through Moses, warned Pharaoh of the tenth and final plague. Exodus 11:5-7

In the meantime, Moses was instructed that the children of Israel were to keep the Passover. They were to offer a spotless lamb for each family and to sprinkle the blood on the doorposts. This, of course, was a picture of what the Lord Jesus would do for us, sacrificing his life as the innocent “Lamb of God” for our sins.

Moses and the Israelites had to believe what God told them to do, and by faith they had to do it.

I figure that there were over a million people involved in this exodus. Can you imagine how many lambs this was going to involve? 

Can you imagine the trouble of baking unleavened bread and all the other details of the Passover?

So Moses and the children of Israel applied the blood to their doorposts, and the “Angel of Death” passed over them.

They were obedient, by faith, believing God.

In Egypt there was tragedy. All of the first born of man and beast were taken.  In Israel there was no tragedy. Everyone was safe.

Just as it took faith for Moses and all of Israel to obey, it will take faith for you to obey.  Faith is believing God enough to do what he says.

First you need to believe God to apply the blood of Jesus Christ to your own life. In order for you to have forgiveness and eternal life, you must believe on Christ alone as the one who died for your sins. Ephesians 2:8-9

Second you need to believe God by faith to obey in every area of your life.

 

 What motive should we have for obedience? John 14:15, 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

 

FAITH WALKS THROUGH TROUBLE – Vs. 29

Hebrews 11:29 - By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

Have you ever felt trapped?

Have you ever felt like there was no hope of escape from your problems?

Have you ever felt down for the third time?

Have you ever felt that your enemies are sort of playing chess with you and have you blocked into a corner and are about ready to yell “Checkmate!”?

That’s how the Children of Israel felt when they did leave Egypt and Pharaoh followed with his horsemen and armies.

They were trapped. They were up against the sea and could not escape in any other direction. Exodus 14:10-12

They were trapped in their troubles, just like you often feel. There’s no way out!

Moses encouraged the Israelites to simply trust God! Exodus 14:13-14

And God instructed the people to go through one of their biggest troubles, the Red Sea! Exodus 14:15-16

God says “Go through the troubles”. I’ll take care of you.

And you know what happened.  They put their foot in the water and the sea parted. They went through on dry land.

You also know Pharaoh’s armies tried to follow.  Moses put down his rod and the sea came back together. Pharaoh’s forces were destroyed!

God does not always make your troubles go away. Often he makes you walk through them!  He gives you strength through the troubles. He gives you personal victory over the struggles that face. He gives you guidance on how to act.

In the end you are able to say, “I don’t how anyone who doesn’t know the Lord can go through what I just went through without the Lord!” Isaiah 41:10, Psalm 23:4, Ephesians 1:19-23

My friend Faith relies entirely on God.

My friend Faith has no hope but God.

My friend Faith walks.

 

FAITH WALKS OUT OF BONDAGE – Vs. 27

FAITH WALKS IN OBEDIENCE – Vs. 28

FAITH WALKS THROUGH TROUBLE – Vs. 29

 

This is an a previously shared outline elaborated upon.

 

 

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