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SERMON SEEDS FOR AUGUST 24, 2008

www.sermonseeds.org

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A PRAYER REQUEST FROM PASTOR JACK PETERS

 

Dear Friends – After 10 ½ years at our current church, the Lord has made it clear that it is time for us to consider another pastorate. Please pray for us as we seek the Lord’s leading in this matter. Many thanks for your interest and support of Sermon Seeds.

 

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Genesis 24

ABRAHAM’S SERVANT

 

HE WAS DEPLOYED – Vss. 1-10

HE WAS DEPENDENT – Vss. 11-20

HE WAS DISCERNING – Vss. 21-27

HE WAS DETERMINED – Vss. 28-60 – He wouldn’t eat until his business was discussed.

                                                                    He wouldn’t stay. He had to get on the road back.

HE WAS DEPENDABLE – Vss. 61-67 – Mission Accomplished!

 

 

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Deuteronomy 1:16-17

WHEN JUDGMENT IS NECESSARY

 

Deuteronomy 1:16-17 - And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him. Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God's: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.

HEAR RIGHTEOUSLY – Vs. 16

HEAR IMPARTIALLY – Vs. 17

HEAR HONESTLY – Vs. 17 – If it’s too hard for you, take it to someone else!

 

 

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Psalm 114

GOD AT WORK

 

GOD DELIVERED THEM – Vs. 1

GOD DWELLED IN THEM – Vs. 2

GOD DEMONSTRATED HIS POWER – Vss. 3-6

GOD DESERVED THEIR REVERENCE – Vs. 7

GOD DELUGED A DESERT Vs. 8

 

 

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COMMUNICATIONS CLINIC

JESUS TEACHES ON PRAYER

Lesson #5 – A GOOD PRAYER LIFE – LUKE 11:1-13

 

·         What are the ingredients in a good prayer life?

·         Why is a good prayer life of significant importance?

 

We are approaching a passage of Scripture that, to me, gives us the good ingredients for an effective prayer life.  Again our teacher is the Lord Jesus, who, as God the Son, spent much time in prayer, and encouraged us to do the same.

 

PRAYER LIFE WITH A MISSION Vs. 1

 

·        It was not unusual for disciples to ask their masters to teach them to pray.

·        Why do you think that the disciples were right in asking Jesus this question?

·        Even if we already have a consistent prayer life, why should we continue to make this request?

 

PRAYER LIFE WITH A MODEL – Vss. 2-4

 

·        Why is the “Lord’s Prayer” a good title for this prayer?

·        Why is the “Lord’s Prayer” a questionable title for this prayer?

·        On what basis can we pray “Our Father” to God?

·        Although the Jews in Jesus day referred to God as Father, it was never worded in a personal sense.  The word for father here is “Abba” or “Daddy”.  This would have been an intimate, personal, trusting, and respectful way to address a parent.

·        How is being able to address God as “Father” an encouraging way to pray?

·        Note the five distinct requests in this prayer. Two deal with our relationship with God, three with our daily lives on earth.

1.     “Hallowed be thy name…” – Praise, sanctification and adoration

2.     “Thy kingdom come…” – Looking for God’s rule in the future, and now in our lives.

3.     “Give us this day our daily bread…” – Relying on God for our daily needs.

4.     “Forgive as we have forgiven…” – Confession and forgiveness of others.

5.     “Lead us not into temptation…” – Not wanting our temptations to lead us into sin.

 

PRAYER LIFE WITH A MANNER – Vss. 5-8

 

·        The manner is persistency.

·        Why is persistency in prayer so important?

·        Vss. 5-6 – Middle Eastern hospitality requires going out of one’s way to meet the needs of a guest.  This guest arrived at a very late hour and needed to be fed. Of course one would go to a neighbor and ask.

·        Vs. 7 – The neighbor, being wakened from a sound sleep, was not cooperative at all. He had excuses.

·        Vs. 8 – Evidently the neighbor “made a scene”.  He kept pounding on the door and yelling until the host within, probably in fear of waking up the neighborhood, gave in. He gave his neighbor as much as he needed.

·        God wants us to be persistent in prayer, not because He is unwilling to answer our prayers, but because he wants us to be sincere in our asking.

 

PRAYER LIFE WITH A MANDATE – Vss. 9-10

 

·        The original text means that we are to keep on asking, seeking, and knocking.

·        What are some of the things we should be asking for in prayer?

·        What should we be seeking for in prayer?

·        What significance does knocking have to do with prayer?

·        How and why does Jesus encourage us to be persistent in these verses?

 

PRAYER LIFE WITH A MOTIVE – Vss.11-13

·         Vss. 11-12 - A stone can look like bread, a snake like a fish, and a scorpion like an egg.

·         Why would a father not give these things to his son?

·         Vs. 13 – We being evil know how to give what is good to our children.

·         God being good knows how to give not only what is good, but what is best for His children.

·         The best gift God has given you is the Holy Spirit. Why is He the best gift?

·         The Holy Spirit already resides inside of us.  What do we need to ask concerning Him?                                                           1 Corinthians 12:13, Ephesians 3:16

·         If God will freely give us His best gift, he will also give us the ones that are good.

 

Based on a previously shared outline

 

 

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John 1:15-18

ENCOURAGED BY JESUS

 

·       Name some things that discourage you.

·       Name some things that encourage you.

·       Cite some Scriptures that encourage you.

·       God wants us encouraged and encouraging others. Psalm 27:14, Hebrews 10:24-25                                                                                                         

·       There is no greater encourager than the Lord Jesus.                                                                                                           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.

John 14:12-18 - Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

John 14:26-27 - But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Our text shows us 3 ways that we can be encouraged by Jesus.

 

ENCOURAGED BECAUSE HE IS FOREMOST - Vs. 15

 

John 1:15 - John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.

·       John the Baptist is speaking in this verse. He is telling us that Jesus is foremost. In the human time frame, John was first in birth and ministry.  However, John is saying that Jesus is first. He was before John in power, glory, deity, and preexistence.                                                                                                                                              Micah 5:2 - But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
Micah 5:4 - And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.

John 1:1-5 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

John 1:27 - He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose.

Colossians 1:15-18 - Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Hebrews 1:1-4 - God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

·       We should be encouraged by this truth about the Lord Jesus.

·       Because He is foremost: There is no problem that He does not understand. There is no problem too big for Him to solve. There is no task that He cannot enable you to perform. There is no trial too great for Him to get you through it. Philippians 4:13, 1 John 4:4

 

ENCOURAGED BECAUSE OF HIS FULNESS - Vss. 16-17

 

John 1:16-17 - And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

·       Vs. 16 - Jesus is speaking of all believers when He makes this statement.

·       Perhaps you've heard the expression "That's all there is, and there is no more."Jesus is all that there is. He is complete. He is full. Jesus is all there is of holiness, righteousness, love, joy, peace, mercy, power, redemption, and sanctification.                                                                                                                                  Colossians 1:19 - For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

·       Jesus Christ lives inside of us, and we have experienced His fullness at work in our lives. Out of His fullness comes His grace. We received grace at salvation, but God continues to pour out "grace upon grace" through Christ.  We never run out of grace as we walk with Him. 2 Peter 3:18

·       Vs. 17 - God gave the law through Moses. The law was good.  Jesus Christ is better than the law, because in Him is found grace and truth. He fulfilled the law.

·       Jesus Christ satisfied the truth of the law through His perfect life, substitutionary death, and resurrection. We have grace because of His work on the cross. Ephesians 2:8-9

 

ENCOURAGED BECAUSE OF HIS FAITHFULNESS - Vs. 18

 

John 1:18 - No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

·       No man has literally seen God at any time. Jesus Christ, God's Son, has been faithful to reveal God to us.           John 14:8-11 - Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.

·       Because we see Jesus, we see God. We understand God, because Jesus came in a form we can understand. This is why studying the Gospels is so important. God wants us to know Him, so He sent His Son to us.

·       Be encouraged!

Based on a previously shared outline

 

 

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Acts 14:26-28

MISSIONARIES ON FURLOUGH

 

RETURN – THERE’S A TIME TO COME HOME – Vs. 26

And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.

REPORT – THERE’S A TIME TO GIVE ACCOUNT – Vs. 27

And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.

REFRESHMENT – THERE’S A TIME TO REST – Vs. 28

And there they abode long time with the disciples.

 

 

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1 Thessalonians 1:5-10

WHAT HAPPENED?

 

We introduced the Thessalonians to you last week.  We explained that Paul, Silas, and Timothy had brought the Gospel to them.  Paul’s ministry in Thessalonica may have been as short as 3 weeks in length when he was forced to leave town due to persecution.

However, when Paul left town many of the Thessalonians were not the same. As we saw last week the Thessalonians had acquired three core values for their lives.

1 Thessalonians 1:3 - Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

Their faith, love, and hope, would have motivated others to ask these new believers in Christ, “What happened?”

So what did happen to these Thessalonians, and what happens to each individual who truly puts their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ?  These verses can serve as an inventory that will help you decide if you are truly in the faith or not.  These verses will also help you develop in Christian maturity if you let them.

THE GOSPEL IS PRESENTED – Vs. 5

1 Thessalonians 1:5 - For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

Any time a person believes on Christ, the word of God has been presented.  It might mean remembering a Bible verse from childhood.  It might mean reading the Bible for oneself. It might mean reading a book or a Gospel tract.  More often than not it is the preaching of the Word of God that leads someone to faith in Christ.

The word “Gospel” of course, means “good news”.  I feel that the simplest and most concise presentation of the Gospel is found in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4.

Notice when Paul preached the Gospel, it was not Paul presenting God’s Word in his own power. It’s important to proclaim the Gospel, and not just preachers, should do that, but all Christians.

When Paul preached the Word of God, he preached in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Paul realized that he could not save a soul.

Paul realized that he was only a messenger, and that the true power to transform anyone or to get anyone saved was found in the power of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

Not only was the Gospel presented as the Word of God in the power of the Holy Spirit, but it was also presented in much assurance or confidence.

When someone believes the Gospel it is partially because the one preaching it usually preaches it in full assurance or confidence that what he is saying is absolutely true.

And there’s more here. The preaching of the Gospel was backed up by Paul and his associates with a life that reflects the truth of the Gospel.

…as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

As Paul, Silas, and Timothy presented the Gospel, they also lived the Gospel.  They would have lived Godly lives that reflected the reality of their faith in Christ.

They would be preaching that faith in Christ brings positive change in one’s behavior.  For the sake of those hearing the Gospel, they lived out the reality of that change before them. 2 Corinthians 5:17

THE WORD IS RECEIVED – Vs. 6

1 Thessalonians 1:6 - And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:

When the Thessalonians “received the word”, they believed the Gospel message.  They became new creatures in Christ.

As new believers they first became imitators of the ones they admired and appreciated. Of course this was the missionaries.  Those preaching the Gospel indeed should be role models worth following.

As they progressed in faith, they learned to follow the Lord and his teachings.

A person who is truly saved is going to seek out positive role models.  Hopefully they will find them in church and among friends who are believers.  We in this church should be role models worth following.

Most of all a Christian should want to imitate his Lord and master. Luke 6:40, 1 John 2:6

Notice here that the Thessalonians received the word in much affliction.  Paul was persecuted in Thessalonica, and those who believed were persecuted as well. In some way, somehow, if we are truly believers, we will also be persecuted for our faith.

2 Timothy 3:12 - Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Think of communist Russia, China and Moslem nations and how many Christians have been persecuted for their faith. It could happen here as well.

Yet in many cases it is the persecuted Christians today who imitate the Thessalonians that have a joy that is produced by the Holy Spirit!

In spite of the persecution, the Thessalonians had joy.  Why did they have joy, and how can we have joy?  It’s really quite simple. Let God’s Holy Spirit control you. Galatians 5:22-23

THE EXAMPLE IS SET – Vss. 7-8

1 Thessalonians 1:7 – So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.

·        Have you ever been inspired by a new believer?

·        There is something about a new believer who’s on fire for the Lord that helps to get us excited too.

·        New believers get excited about singing and worship.

·        New believers get excited about studying the Bible and going to church.

·        New believers get excited about what they learn.

·        New believers get excited about witnessing.

·        New believers can be a great inspiration to us old believers.

The Thessalonians were great role models as new believers. They inspired people in two provinces of Greece, Macedonia and Achaia. Hebrews 10:24-25

1 Thessalonians 1:8 - For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak anything.

The sound of the Gospel reverberated or blasted out of Macedonia. The Thessalonians kept sharing their faith, and that, with their changed life style made them topic for conversation everywhere.

Thessalonica had a nearby port, and they were a city of Egnatian Way, a well traveled Roman highway. The world came to them and they shared their faith. And I imagine, as they traveled they also shared.

In fact people were telling Paul what a great work God did through him at Thessalonica. He didn’t have to tell, the Thessalonians were broadcasting their new found faith.

Why do you think Christians today are reluctant to share their faith? I think that it’s because we have lost our enthusiasm. We’re not excited about the Gospel and therefore we don’t share the Gospel.

A CHANGE TAKES PLACE – Vs. 9

1 Thessalonians 1:9 - For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;

What happened when Paul and his friends preached the Gospel? The Thessalonians repented. They turned to God from idols.

Lots of time people will say, I don’t want to get saved because I don’t want to give up my lifestyle.

It is never a matter of turning from lifestyle to God.

Christianity is not me giving things up to be saved.

It is a matter of turning to God away from my idols. As I find out what I can have in Christ and turn to Him, then I will turn away from my idols.

An idol is anything that I worship more than God. An idol is anything that I am trusting to get to Heaven instead of trusting Christ.

Remember, whenever you turn to something you are turning away from something else.

Why do we turn to God from idols? We turn to God from idols so we can serve the true and living God!

Christian, why do you exist? Is it to serve the true and living God?

THE LORD IS EXPECTED – Vs. 10

1 Thessalonians 1:10 - And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

The Thessalonians were waiting for the second coming of Jesus Christ.  They realized that Jesus could come quickly and were anxiously awaiting His arrival.

What about you? Are you waiting for His coming? Titus 2:11-13

When Jesus raised from the dead after dying for our sins, it was an assurance that Jesus would deliver us from the wrath to come.

What is that wrath?  It is the wrath of God’s judgment of sin on those who did not trust Jesus as Savior. John 3:16-18 Revelation 20:15

What happens when someone is truly saved?

THE GOSPEL IS PRESENTED

THE WORD IS RECEIVED

THE EXAMPLE IS SET

A CHANGE TAKES PLACE

THE LORD IS EXPECTED

 

Are you truly saved? Are these things happening in your life?

 

 

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