Quote from Forum Archives on January 14, 2003, 11:07 am

Posted by: jpeters <jpeters@...>

WELCOME TO SERMON SEEDS FOR JANUARY 13, 2003

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Genesis 8

A NEW START

GOD REMEMBERED NOAH - Vs. 1

GOD REMOVED THE WATER - Vss. 2-13

He removed it slowly, steadily, surely.

GOD RECOMISSIONED MAN - Vss. 14-19

GOD REASSURED MAN - Vss. 20-21

There would not be another worldwide flood.

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2 Kings 5

STEADY REASONING

Life of Elisha, The Steady Prophet #6 of 9

We as Christians are expected to demonstrate steady reasoning. That is we should have the ability, with God's help, to think things out clearly and logically.

2 Kings 5 presents us with a good example of the importance of steady reasoning. The way people reacted to the leprosy of Naaman and his appeal for healing give us some examples of good thinking and examples of bad thinking. Our outline shows us types of thinking that lead to steady or not so steady reasoning.

BACKGROUND - One of the enemies of Israel at this time was Syria. According to verse 1, the general of the Syrian army was a man named Naaman. The Lord, who controls governments, had given a great deliverance to Syria through Naaman. His name means "pleasant". Naaman was stricken with the dreaded disease of leprosy. Leviticus 13:3, 45-46

FAITHFUL THINKING - Naaman's Maid - Vss. 2-3

The Syrians had sent raiding parties into Israel. The little maid was taken captive and made a slave to Naaman's wife.

Instead of being bitter, she was faithful to God and to those in need in her thinking.

She spoke of Elisha, the prophet, who she felt could heal Naaman.

FEARFUL THINKING - The King of Israel - Vss. 4-7

Naaman himself reported the words of the maid to the King of Syria.

He sent expensive gifts and a letter to the King of Israel, requesting that Naaman be healed.

When the King of Israel received the letter, he panicked, and was sure that the King of Syria was trying to pick a fight. Instead of relying on God, the King was overtaken with fear! This is a king of thinking which we also need to avoid. Proverbs 29:25

FEARLESS THINKING - Elisha - Vss. 8

Elisha the Prophet was not afraid. His confidence was in God. He simply sent to the King of Israel asking him why he was so upset, and assured him that he, God's prophet would handle the matter. I'm sure the king gladly sent Naaman to Elisha. Isaiah 41:10

FAULTY THINKING - Naaman - Vss. 9-12

Elisha didn't even come out to meet Naaman when he arrived.

He simply sent a messenger to Naaman and told him to go wash in the river Jordan seven times.

Naaman got upset. He thought Elisha would heal in a more dramatic way. Vs. 11.

He was upset that he had to wash in the Jordan and not a river in his own country.

He was in a rage because things weren't going the way he planned. Sound familiar?

FACTUAL THINKING - Naaman's Servants - Vss. 13-14

Naaman's servants reasoned with him, and convinced him that the prophet was not asking for much. It was simple request. Naaman should do it.

Naaman did as he was told and was healed.

FINANCIAL THINKING - Gehazi - Vss. 15-26

A grateful Naaman offered gifts to Elisha. Elisha refused.

Gehazi, Elisha's servant, chose to deceive Naaman and take some of the gifts.

Gehazi was judged for his sin of greed. 1 Timothy 6:10

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Psalm 117

GOD IN CONTROL

Psalm 117:1-2 - O praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. [2] For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the Lord endureth forever. Praise ye the Lord.

GOD'S MASTERY - Vs. 1

He is Lord! He is superior.

GOD'S MERCY - Vs 2 - merciful kindness

GOD'S MESSAGE - Vs. 2 - and the truth of the Lord endureth forever.

GOD'S MANDATE - Vss. 1-2 - Praise ye the Lord.

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MATTHEW 5:4

GOOD MOURNING

#3 - SERMON ON THE MOUNT

I have seen some good mourning. My father in-law Erroll Adams lost his wife of over 50 years. Tears were shed, but Dad realized that he would see Mom again. For a few weeks Dad just wasn't himself. He missed Mom. He was down. Then he moved in with us.

He never stopped missing Mom, but even at 80 years old he got on with his life. He decorated his room and the attached porch with favorite mementos. He washed dishes for Dottie, attended our boy's soccer and basketball games in all sorts of weather, and attended church services regularly. He also took us out to eat at least once a week.

Dad practiced good mourning.

Often people have a "wake up" call caused by some tragedy in their lives. During this time they recognize their sin, grieve over it, and turn to Christ for forgiveness. They mourn. But it's good mourning!

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

The Lord Jesus is telling us that there is a type of mourning that is good.

This is a mourning caused by sorrow over sin.

This is a mourning that brings comfort.

Most people do not like to even admit to sin, let alone sorrow over it. However the person who admits to sin and sorrows over it Biblically is the one who is going to experience the comfort of God's forgiveness.

In this message I want us to consider mourning in three ways.

MOURNING OVER SELF

Mourning is often involved in the salvation experience.

When a person is under the conviction of the Holy Spirit for salvation, it is a natural response to mourn before God because of your sinfulness.

The comfort for that kind of mourning comes when a person discovers that Christ has died for their sin, and that by claiming Him as Savior, there is forgiveness.

Christian, you and I are the ones who should know something about mourning over sin. Because Jesus had to suffer a horrific death so that we can have forgiveness and salvation, we should be grieved when we are convicted of anything that causes Him pain.

The classic case of sin and mourning over it is the story of "David and Bathsheba".

When David was convicted over the sin, he mourned. Psalm 51:1-4

David was totally honest with God about his sin.

He gave no excuse.

He blamed nobody else.

He took full responsibility.

When we mourn over sin, we will do the same.

We will be totally honest.

We will name the specific sin or sins.

We will blame nobody else.

We will take full responsibility.

We will be sorry for the sin, not just for being caught.

We will strive to forsake that sin.

With confession comes the comfort of forgiveness. 1 John 1:9, Psalm 32:1-2, 5

How should we handle mourning over sin as Christians?

• First we should confess any known sin to God that we have not dealt with before.
• Second, we should have a set time each day to examine our lives for sin, perhaps, first thing in the morning, or the last thing at night.
• Thirdly, if we need help knowing what God considers sin, we can refer to the Scripture. Two excellent lists are found in Colossians 3:5-10 and Proverbs 6:16-19

• Finally, we need to beware of delaying the mourning process. Sometimes we are just too comfortable in our sins and enjoying sins too much to actually mourn over them.

As Christians, let's look to the cross and remind ourselves how Jesus has suffered for us. That should be motivation for us to quit what we are doing for His sake. Isaiah 53:3-6

MOURNING OVER SAINTS

There is a difference between being critical of the saints, and mourning over the sins of the saints.

When a person is critical, he or she, is not concerned about the spiritual well-being of the person involved.

When a person is critical, he is not sorrowed over the sin.

When a person is critical, he is making himself feel good by pointing out what's wrong in another person.

When a person is critical, he thinks of himself as better than the other person.

How is mourning over the sins of the saints different from criticism of the saints?

• Your are seriously concerned about the holiness of God, and don't want to see anyone, especially yourself, sin against Him.
• You are concerned about the spiritual well being of the person.
• You want to see the person restored to God.
• You talk to God in concerned prayer about the person.
• You ask God to deliver the person from their sin.
• You talk to the person involved about their sin instead of talking to others.

There was once gross sin in the church at Corinth.

The Corinthians instead of grieving over sin and seeking to restore the brother to righteousness, instead congratulated themselves on their open-mindedness. They were "tolerating" the man's sin. 1 Corinthians 5:1-2

There is another sense in which we can mourn over the sins of the saints. It is when we acknowledge for ourselves and for other Christians that we have all sinned against God.

Nehemiah prayed such a prayer when he was lamenting that Jerusalem's walls had been devastated. Nehemiah 1:6-7

We should mourn over the laxness and outright sin we see in the church and in ourselves. I believe America is in moral trouble today because Christians have failed to live righteously and to take a stand for what is right. But there is hope. 2 Chronicles 7:1-14

MOURNING OVER SINNERS

Now let me reiterate that we are all sinners.

The sinners I refer to now are the sinners without the Savior.

I am referring to those who have not trusted Jesus Christ for forgiveness of sin and everlasting life.

We should mourn for those we know without Christ.

The Apostle Paul did. Romans 10:1, 9:1-3

that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

The great passage that reminds us to mourn over those who do not know Christ as Savior is found in the Old Testament.

Psalm 126:5-6 - They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. [6] He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

When we sorrow before God over the people we know without Christ and pray for them in mourning. When we then go to that person, bringing the precious message of salvation.

We can expect there will be times when we will see those we pray for and witness to coming to Christ as Savior.

And if we need motivation to mourn for those without Christ consider just one more verse of Scripture. Revelation 20:15

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Mark 10:32-45

TRUE GREATNESS

THE PLAN OF GOD - Vss. 32-34

Jesus informed the disciples of God's plan of Jesus' death, burial and resurrection.

THE PRIDE OF THE DISCIPLES - Vss. 35-40

The disciples fussed over who was the greatest.

THE PRINCIPLE OF HUMILITY - Vss. 41-45

Jesus informed the disciples that true greatness was found in humility.

Jesus himself was that example of humility by giving His life a ransom for many.

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Philippians 2:19-23

MAN ON A MISSION

Paul was planning to send Timothy to visit the Philippians.

TIMOTHY WOULD COME KNOW THEIR STATE - Vs. 19

TIMOTHY WOULD CARE (NATURALLY) THEIR SOULS - Vss. 20-21

TIMOTHY HAD CONDUCTED HIMSELF AS A FAITHFUL SERVANT - Vss. 22-23

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1 Peter 2:1-3

BIBLE STUDY

Here is a simple format for studying the Word of God:

EXAMINATION FOR SIN - Vs. 1

Make sure there is nothing that will hinder your study of God's Word.

Confess any known sin. 1 John 1:9

If the Spirit of God is grieved, you will not get much out of God's Word. Ephesians 4:30

ENDEAVOR IN THE SCRIPTURES - Vs. 2

As a baby is eager for milk, we should be eager to learn from the Scriptures.

Our purpose for studying God's Word should be to grow! 1 Timothy 3:16-17, Romans 15:4

EXPRESSION OF SALVATION - Vs. 3

The examination for sin and endeavor in God's Word is proof that we have been saved.

We have "tasted that the Lord is gracious".

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Pastor Jack Peters
Ezra 7:10
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