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SERMON SEEDS L40 FOR 1/11/09

Posted by: jackpeters <jackpeters@...>

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SERMON SEEDS FOR JANUARY 1/11, 2009

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Rev. Jack Peters is now the pastor of Ringwood Baptist Church in Ringwood, NJ. You may visit their website at http://www.ringwoodbaptist.org. To hear recordings of his messages go to Weekly Message.

 

 

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DEUTERONOMY 16:18-20

GOOD GOVERNMENT

 

Good Government:

 

APPOINTS JUDGES – Vs. 18

Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes:

APPROVES JUSTICE – Vs. 18

…and they shall judge the people with just judgment.

AVOIDS INJUSTICE – Vs. 19

Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.

ABOUNDS RIGHTEOUSLY – Vs. 20

That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live, and inherit the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

 

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Psalm 76

GOD IS KNOWN

 

God Is Known:

 

AMONG HIS PEOPLE – Vss. 1-2

FOR HIS POWER – Vss. 3, 5-6

FOR HIS GLORY – Vs. 4

FOR HIS JUDGMENT – Vss. 7-9

FOR HIS MERCY – Vs. 10 – The Cross 

FOR HIS PREEMINENCE – Vss. 11-12 – He is to be feared

 

 

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Ezekiel 34:1-7

SOBERING QUESTIONS FOR PASTORS (AND CHURCH MEMBERS)

 

Ezekiel 34:1-7 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock. The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered. My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them. Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;

Here are some serious questions we should as pastors, church leaders, and even congregation members.

 

AM I FEEDING THE SHEEP? – Vss. 1-3

AM I STRENGTHENING THE WEAK (DISEASED)? – Vs. 4

AM I HEALING (SPIRITUALLY) THE WEAK? – Vs. 4

AM I MENDING (BINDING UP) THE BROKEN? – Vs. 4

AM I BRINGING BACK THE “STRAYS” (THOSE WHO’VE WANDERED AWAY.)? – Vs. 4

AM I SEEKING THE LOST? – Vs. 4

ARE THE SHEEP SCATTERED? – Vss. 5-7

 

 

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Matthew 25:14-30

INVESTMENTS

 

Several years ago I submitted my resignation from a church in New York State to go to a church in western Pennsylvania. I'm happy to say that there were tears and not a round of applause when I resigned.  One of the things that impressed me about our people in New York was their good attitude. They were sorry to see us go, they said, but they didn't want to stand in the way of the Lord's will.

 

In fact, after our announcement, and in the coming weeks, several people really impressed me.  There was Willis, a man in his mid eighties who came over and helped me pack the contents of the garage. There were Jeff and Mike, relatively new believers who came over to help me paint.  There was Dick, who helped me pack up my books.  There was Rose Marie, Dick's wife, who helped pack box after box, and kept my wife Dottie motivated.  Finally there was Peggy, a lady who came to know the Lord about a year before, who for the 8-9 years before didn't seem to like me. Peggy was everywhere, giving us things to take with us, helping us paint, packing boxes, and feeding us as well. The loving support of these people and others was really appreciated.

 

The example of our church family in New York reminds me that God wants willing people!

God wants willing people who are ready to invest the gifts that God has given them.

 

The theme of this parable that Jesus told is investments.

When we invest we put something into something else.

When we invest money, we place it in a business, or a bank or the stock market.

When we invest time, we place it in a project, or work or some form of pleasure or responsibility.

When we invest energy we work on something, such as the nice closets which one of our men in this church has built in one of our classrooms.

 

Jesus told this story about a rich man who went on a journey, but before leaving, turned over his money to three of his servants, or slaves. 

Two of the servants willingly invested the money on behalf of the master.  One servant, who was unwilling, hid the money instead of investing it.

 

This particular story reminds us that God has turned over particular "riches" to us, and wants us to be willing investors of what He has given us to use.  From this parable, we want to see three things:

 

WE ARE ASSIGNED. Vss. 14-15

A "talent" was a large sum of money equivalent to 20 years worth of salary for a common working man.  This "talent" was worth thousands of today's dollars.

Just as the rich man in this story assigned responsibilities according to ability, our Lord has assigned us responsibilities according to our ability and his plan for our lives. He has assigned us various amounts of:

 

Treasure - Finances at our disposal to be used according to His will.

Talent - Here I'm using the word to refer to Spiritual gifts and natural abilities.

Testimony - An area of influence for Christ

Time - We each have an allotted number of years in which to serve the Lord.

 

WE TAKE ACTION Vss. 16-18

 

Each one of us, like the men in this story, will take action with the things God has given us.

We will invest them in some way.  If we like the first two servants, we will be productive.  If we are like the last servant, we will bury our gifts.  Consider how we can wisely invest those things God has given us.

 

Treasure - Luke 16:9-13, 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

Talent - Romans 12:3-8

Testimony - Matthew 5:14-16, Psalm 107:2, 1 Peter 3:15

Time - Ephesians 5:15-17, Psalm 90:12

 

WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE Vss. 19-30

Just as the men in the story answered to their master, we will answer to ours.

We must remember that there will be a time when we will be evaluated for what we have done for our Lord.  See 2 Corinthians 5:10.

 

Sermon Seeds B52, 3/1/99

 

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Romans 1:18-25

THE STORY OF A PERVERTED WORLD

 

GOD WAS RESISTED – Vs. 18 – The truth was suppressed.

GOD WAS REVEALED – Vss. 19-20 – Through nature.

GOD WAS REJECTED – Vss. 21-23

GOD RESPONDED – Vss. 24-25

 

 

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WHY BOTHER?

 2Peter 1:8-11

Christian Character Clinic #1

 

I think that we can all agree that good character is an important part of being a Christian.

Ephesians 3:21- Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

One of the ways we glorify God is when each person who calls this church home is continuing to develop and display Christian Character.

This character is described in 2 Peter 1:5-7.  When I give all diligence to something, I am “making every effort” to do it. The word means to be “zealous and eager”.

As Christians we should be diligent, making every effort, zealous and eager to develop our Christian character.

But there’s a problem. Most Christians today have so many other things that take up their time, and have so many other interests, that they quite frankly wonder if developing Christian Character is a high priority.

You may secretly, or not so secretly, wonder if you want to work diligently at developing the Christian character that Peter describes in these verses. After all, there are so many other things to do that are far more interesting and pleasurable, why bother to be zealous to develop Christian Character? 

“Why bother?”

We are beginning a series that I call the “Christian Character Clinic”. We want to study various qualities of Christian Character as listed here in 2 Peter 1:5-7 and apply them to our lives. We want to diligently work together on our Christian character.

Before we can start to discuss the qualities of Christian character mentioned here, we need to answer the question that I just asked, and you may be wondering about.

WHY BOTHER? Why should you and I exert the effort to develop Christian Character? Although there are additional reasons for developing Christian character found elsewhere in  the Scriptures,  God, through Peter answers this question in 2 Peter 1:8-11.

Let’s put this in the first person. There are five reasons why I should bother to eagerly, zealously, develop my Christian character:

1.     I WANT TO BE PRODUCTIVE

2.     I WANT TO BE INSIGHTFUL

3.     I WANT TO BE GRATEFUL

4.     I WANT TO BE ASSURED

5.     I WANT TO BE TRIUMPHANT

1.     I WANT TO BE PRODUCTIVE – Vs. 8

Vs. 8- Peter gives us a condition here. He says “If”.

If these qualities are in your life, that is, they are character traits.  Not only do they need to be in you but they need to abound, that is, increasing.

What things?

·        Faith that has saved you

·        Faith that trusts

·        Faith that prays believing prayers

·        Virtue – Moral Excellence – Not only outwardly moral but inwardly moral where only you and God can see

·        Knowledge – You are getting to know God and His Word better

·        Self-control – You are under God’s control so that you know when not to do what when you feel like doing, and you know when to do what you don’t feel like doing.

·        Endurance – You are patient with people who naturally make you impatient.  You are patient through hard circumstances that are beyond your control.

·        Godliness – You are becoming more like Jesus every day!

·        Brotherly Kindness or Brotherly love. You know how to treat others properly and you do so!

·        Love – This of course, would be agape love, the highest form of love for God and Man. This is self-sacrificing, always giving love.

So Peter says, “IF these things are in you and increasing, you will not be “barren or unfruitful”.

The word barren means “ineffective” or idle. A Christian who is not developing his or her Christian character is ineffective or idle.

But there’s another word that can be used here. The word is “useless”.

Think of how tragic it would be if your Lord and Savior were to say to you, “You’re useless!”

But if you continue to develop your Christian character, you will never be useless, nor will you be unfruitful.

You will always be fruitful when you develop Christian Character because you will be producing the fruit of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-23

So if you do the things mentioned in verses 5-7 you will be productive in the knowledge of your Lord and Savior.

 

2.     I WANT TO BE INSIGHTFUL – Vs. 9a

The person who fails to develop these Christian character traits is “blind and cannot see afar off”. He is short-sighted.

He is extremely near-sighted.

The person who is near-sighted is seeing and living for what is near!

He wants gratification now!

He wants pleasure now!

He wants riches now!

He wants his own way now!

He only sees what is in front of his face!

But the person who is developing the Christian character traits is insightful. He sees the big picture!  He sees the prize at the end of the race. He follows the example of the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

A “cast away” is an “also ran”.  He has been disqualified! Paul kept his body under control so he could develop the Christian character traits. He kept his body under control so that he would not be disqualified from receiving his rewards from the Lord Jesus.

We’ll share more about this in a few minutes.

So let me ask you. Are you near sighted or do you have insight?

3.     I WANT TO BE GRATEFUL – Vs. 9b

The Christian who is not developing these Christian character traits is not only near-sighted, but forgetful!

He has forgotten that his sins have been cleansed or purged by the blood of Christ. He has forgotten the high price that was paid that he might have forgiveness and eternal life.

He has forgotten the truths of Romans 5:6-9.

The Christian who continues to live in sinful habits is forgetful. The person who is forgetful does not remember all that Christ has done for him and lacks gratitude. He is an ingrate.

 If you remember all that Christ suffered for you, you will want to live a Godly life for Him because you are grateful.

1 John 4:19 - We love him, because he first loved us.

John 14:15 - If ye love me, keep my commandments.

4.     I WANT TO BE ASSURED – Vs. 10

Vs. 10 – We are told again to give diligence to perfecting the character traits mentioned in verses 5-7.

If we do these things, we are told, we make our calling and election sure.

Does Peter mean by these words that I have to earn my salvation? Do I have to develop these traits in order to be saved?

No! That’s not what it means. The Scripture is very clear that salvation is by grace, God’s unmerited favor.

Ephesians 2:8-9

Okay, salvation is by grace, God’s unmerited favor.  But then is Peter saying in this verse that I must do these things in order to stay saved?  If I don’t do these things will I lose my salvation?

Again the answer is “No!”

If a person truly knows Jesus as Savior, he or she cannot lose their salvation. John 10:27-31

If you are truly born again, you have been called through the Holy Spirit and chosen in Christ. Such calling and choosing is secure! God doesn’t change his mind. Ephesians 1:4

Yes, you had to make a decision to trust Jesus Christ as your Savior.  God’s election does not negate your responsibility. You need to choose Christ! John 3:16

Both God’s choosing us and us choosing Christ appear in the Scriptures.  Our human minds cannot understand how they work together. We just believe that God knows what he is doing.

So if making my calling and election sure does not mean that I have to earn my salvation.

And if it doesn’t mean that I have to develop character in order to not lose my salvation. What does it mean?

The idea here is that as I develop Christian Character, I become more and more assured within myself of my own calling and election. That is I become more convinced that I am a child of God. I am more confident.

I feel more secure and more like part of God’s family.

Also as I develop these character traits I am told that I will never stumble.

 

5.     I WANT TO BE TRIUMPHANT – Vs. 11

Vs. 11 – If you are a Christian, you will one day enter Christ’s Kingdom. 

Do you want to enter triumphantly, or do you want to feel like you are sneaking in the back door?

That may seem like a silly question.  But let’s face it, if our Christian lives on earth have not been what they should have been, then our rewards in Heaven will not be what they could be.

Turn please to 1 Corinthians 3:11-1

Vs. 11 – There is only one foundation to be laid for eternal life, and that’s the Lord Jesus Christ.

Vs. 12 – In a sense, each of us is building on the foundation of Christ a life that is either made up of wood, hay and stubble, or gold, silver or precious stones.

The gold, silver, and precious stones we build with would include the faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity.

The wood, hay and stubble would include the qualities that are the opposite of these qualities. Some of these opposites include unbelief, moral impurity, lack of knowledge, lack of self control and patience, ungodliness, mistreatment of others, and hatred.

Vs. 13 – At the Judgment Seat of Christ all our works as Christians will be revealed. Our works will be tried by fire, and that which is not gold silver and precious stones will be burned.

Vs. 14 – The one whose works remain will be rewarded.

Vs. 15 – The one whose works are all burned will suffer loss and will be saved as through fire.

You cannot lose your salvation, but you can lose your reward, and try to explain to the Lord Jesus why you did not live the kind of life He wanted you to live.

I don’t know about you, but I’d rather have an entrance ministered unto me abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I WANT TO BE TRIUMPHANT

So, why should I bother to develop Christian Character as outlined in 1 Peter 1:5-7.

I WANT TO BE PRODUCTIVE

I WANT TO BE INSIGHTFUL

I WANT TO BE GRATEFUL                                                                

I WANT TO BE ASSURED                                                    

I WANT TO BE TRIUMPHANT

 

Over the next several weeks we will be having a Christian Character Clinic in the Morning Service.

We will discuss each characteristic of a Godly Christian as mentioned in this passage. We will show you how to develop them.

Will you attend faithfully?

Will you give diligence to developing the character traits in your life?

BECAUSE,

YOU WANT TO BE PRODUCTIVE

YOU WANT TO BE INSIGHTFUL

YOU WANT TO BE GRATEFUL

YOU WANT TO BE ASSURED

YOU WANT TO BE TRIUMPHANT

I previously did a Wednesday night series on this same subject, so some of the material is repetitious.

 

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