SERMON SEEDS G15 FOR JUNE 16, 2003
Posted by: jpeters <jpeters@...>
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Deuteronomy 34
THE PASSING OF A GREAT MAN
MOSES WAS SHOWN THE PROMISED LAND – Vss. 1-4
MOSES SUCCUMBED TO DEATH – Vss. 5-7
THE PEOPLE WERE SADDENED BY THE DEATH OF MOSES – Vs. 8
MOSES WAS SUCCEEDED BY JOSHUA – Vs. 9
MOSES STOOD OUT AS A TESTIMONY – Vss. 10-12
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Joshua 1:1-9
WAKE UP CALL!
When on a business trip, a person staying in a motel will ask the person at the service desk to call the room at a certain time. This is known as a "wake up call".
In America, we use the term "wake up call" to mean something that has happened to get our attention or make us alert. For instance the death of a friend or loved one is often a "wake up call" for someone to get serious about the things of God.
In Joshua 1:1-9, Joshua received a "wake up call" concerning his leadership of the children of Israel.
REALITY - THIS JOB IS MINE, Vss. 1-2
Moses was dead.
Joshua was the new leader. He was responsible.
Sometimes God will startle us into the reality that a job that once belonged to someone else now belongs to us.
REASSURANCE - GOD IS WITH ME, Vss. 3-5
Just as God was with Moses, God would be with Joshua.
Just as God is with other Christians, He will also be with me.
RESPONSIBILITY - DO AS GOD SAYS, Vss. 6-9
The secret to success for doing God's work, is to do things God's way.
The biggest responsibility I have is to obey God.
Sermon Seeds A51
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Psalm 19:7-9
THE BENEFITS OF GOD'S WORD
GOD'S WORD CONVERTS THE SOUL - The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul:
GOD'S WORD COMMUNICATES WISDOM - the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
GOD'S WORD CHEERS THE HEART - The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart:
GOD'S WORD CLEANSES THE EYES - the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
GOD'S WORD CONSISTS FOREVER - The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever:
GOD'S WORD CHAMPIONS RIGHTEOUSNESS - the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether
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Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
QUIET MINISTRY
#16 – Sermon On The Mount
If you are a child of God because you have trusted Jesus as your Savior, God has given you ministry. Ephesians 2:10, Colossians 3:24, Galatians 5:13
In our text we find Jesus telling us that the best kind of ministry that we can have is quiet ministry.
Quiet ministry is simply serving the Lord without drawing attention to ourselves. The Scribes and Pharisees of Jesus' day often drew attention to themselves when they performed religious service. They wanted the attention and praise of men. They were hypocrites. They lacked sincerity.
Matthew 6:1 - Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
The word "alms" refers to 'acts of righteousness'. This could refer to anything that is by nature good and helpful.
Jesus is saying "When you do good things, don't do them to be seen of men. If you do things to receive men's praise, you have no praise from God."
If I do something so someone will think I'm a nice person, I have no reward from God.
If I do something so people will note how religious I am, I have no reward from God.
If I do something good so that in return someone will do good to me, I have no reward from God.
Is Jesus saying that if I do something good and someone sees it, I get no reward from God? No.
Jesus is saying, if I do something good looking for the praise and adoration of men, I have no reward from God.
If you are doing something good out of devotion to God, you will draw as little attention to yourself as possible.
When people find out about what you have done, it will not be because you drew attention to yourself, but because God wants your good works to be a testimony for Him. Matthew 5:14-16
So, the key word is "motive".
If your motive is to bring glory to God, you will do things quietly. You will have a quiet ministry. And if, you are a Christian, you will be awarded by God at the "Judgment Seat of Christ". 2 Corinthians 5:10
In the passage before us Jesus itemizes three areas of quiet ministry.
QUIET SHARING – Vss. 2-4
Vs. 2 – In this verse Jesus is talking about sharing with the poor, giving alms to those in need.
Jesus is telling us, "Don't blow your own horn" when you give. Don't make a big deal of it. There are people who give to charity, and yes even churches, so that their giving will be recognized. That's what a hypocrite will do. He is acting as if he or she is concerned for those in need. In reality, he or she is concerned that they be thought well of.
Jesus tells us here, "that they have their reward". They actually do receive the praise of men. But they receive no reward from God.
Vs. 3 – Jesus gives a figurative illustration of quiet ministry. Quiet ministry doesn't let the active hand, which for most of us is the right hand, let the inactive hand, the left hand, know what it is doing. We are to do our giving and then forget it!
Vs. 4 – Giving in secret doesn't always mean that nobody knows about your giving. It means that you do it as quietly as possible.
Please notice that Jesus doesn't say, "If you give alms", he says "When you give alms". Giving is something that God has designed to help to meet the needs of those suffering.
When Paul had a meeting concerning his ministry to the Gentiles with some of the early church leaders, Peter, James, and John, Paul reports, Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do. (Galatians 2:10)
Romans 12:13 - Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
QUIET SUPPLICATION – Vss. 5-6
Vs. 5 – Please note that Jesus is not condemning corporate prayer, praying together, or out loud in church.
Jesus is condemning those who make their private prayers public. These people pray where they can be seen and appreciated by men for their dedication. These people do not pray to be heard of God. They pray to be heard of men.
Jesus says "They have their reward" which is the praise of men.
There is another challenge in this verse for those of us who pray publicly. We must be careful that our prayers in church and elsewhere are actually talking to God, and not trying to tickle the ears of men.
Vs. 6 – Notice again that Jesus is not saying, "if" you pray.
Jesus says "when" you pray!
Prayer is to be a very integral part of the life of the Christian. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Ephesians 6:18
Jesus tells us here, that our personal prayers to God are to be just that, personal.
Jesus tells us to go into our "closets" to pray and to shut the door.
A closet can be any place that you can be alone with God.
Now why would you want to get alone with God?
1. Only God can answer your prayers.
2. Your body, Christian, is the temple of the Holy Ghost. God lives inside.
3. God wants your fellowship and your dependence on Him.
4. God is deserving of your worship and adoration.
5. God understands and knows you better than anyone else. You can pour out your heart to Him and He will understand.
6. God has promised to answer your prayers.
QUIET SACRIFICE – Vss. 16-18
Vs. 16 – Like giving and praying, fasting is a private ministry. When a Christian fasts, nobody should know it. People who wanted to appear religious would do all they could to show that they were fasting.
Fasting may be done in times of mourning.
Fasting may be done in times of conviction of sin.
Fasting may be done in times of prolonged prayer.
Jesus seemed to assume that there would be times when the Christian would fast.
Vss. 17-18 – Jesus is telling us here that when we fast, don't make it a public issue. Go out of your way to not look like your fasting.
God, who will see your private fast, will reward you openly.
I'd like to make an application of this principle.
Perhaps you don't fast now, or have never fasted.
But there are times when you have made other sacrifices for God or for the benefit of man.
Perhaps you sacrificed a dinner out to give to a missions project.
Perhaps you have sacrificed your time to help a Christian friend in need.
Perhaps you have sacrificed your own career for the sake of your husband and/or children.
Perhaps you've sacrificed to take care of your parents.
Perhaps you've sacrificed for the sake of your church.
I believe that we should perform these sacrifices as quietly as possible and not draw attention to ourselves.
And I further believe, that God, who sees us privately will reward us openly.
And besides, Christian, when we consider what Christ has done for us, no sacrifice is too great.
Let's be like the servant in Jesus' story in Luke 17:7-10.
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John 10:27-28
ABOUT THOSE SHEEP
If you know this Psalm, please recite it with me. Psalm 23
The best known Psalm is Psalm 23.
Many can recite it when they can recite no other Scripture.
Many a pastor has shared this Psalm in the sick room or next to a deathbed.
Psalm 23 is the favorite Psalm of many people including me.
Who is the "Lord" in Psalm 23? It is the Lord Jesus Christ!
How do I know?
John 10:11 -"I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep."
As the good shepherd, Jesus came to earth to give His life for the sheep.
He gave His life by teaching the sheep how to live.
He gave His life by being the sinless example of how to live.
He gave His life by working great miracles.
He gave His life by leaving Heaven and taking on a human body, with all its inconveniences and pains.
He gave His life by suffering indignity and persecution. As creator He suffered at the hands of His creatures.
He gave His life to train and pray for His disciples.
Most of all, He gave His life by dying on the cross for our sins. He took the punishment that we deserved! Isaiah 53:5-6
Jesus as the good shepherd died for the sheep but rose again on the third day from the dead!
1 Corinthians 15:3-4
Jesus is still the good shepherd, and He is very active as Psalm 23 just showed us. For a shepherd to be an active shepherd, He must have one thing. He must have sheep!
In John 10:24-26 we see that not everyone is one of Jesus sheep. Also see Matthew 7:21 and
Matt 25:31-33
So if not all people are sheep, it is important that we know who the sheep are, and it is most important that we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that we are Jesus' sheep.
Jesus teaches us some very important things about His sheep this morning in John 10:27-28.
JESUS' SHEEP ARE SENSITIVE - "My sheep hear my voice,"
A sheep knows the call of his shepherd. As Jesus' sheep, we know the call of the master.
First of all, Jesus' sheep have been sensitive to heed His call to salvation. They listened to His voice when He said, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28
As we already shared, Jesus died for your sins, was buried and rose again. The price has been paid for you to have sins forgiven and He paid it! He gave His life for the sheep.
Salvation is a gift. Jesus wants you to accept the gift by faith. John 3:16
When you, at a specific moment in time, accept the gift of salvation, believing that Jesus died for your sins and that He is your way of forgiveness and only hope of eternal life, you are sensitive to His call, and become one of His sheep!
The invitation is open for anyone to come to Jesus and become one of His sheep! Revelation 22:17
What about you? Are you one of Jesus' sheep?
If not, you can become one of His sheep today by accepting His offer of the free gift of eternal life.
Now there is another challenging thought here for those who know Christ as Savior.
If we are His sheep, we above all others are to be listening to His voice!
How do we listen to His voice as His sheep?
First we must be sensitive to His Word!
If you are one of Jesus' sheep you must be interested in what Jesus has to say in this Book!
We should be able to say with the Psalmist, "O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day." Psalm 119:97
If you don't care about reading the Bible, and hearing God's Word preached and taught, what kind of a sheep are you? You are not sensitive to your Master's voice!
Another way we can be sensitive to the voice of Jesus is to heed the nudging of His Holy Spirit.
There was a day when the Elijah the Prophet was depressed, and he ended up by himself on a mountain. 1 Kings 19:11-12
Jesus still speaks today in the still, small voice, if we just take time to listen. We are so busy running here and there and everywhere that we fail to take the time to just listen! Often we sheep know how to talk to God, but we haven't learned to quietly listen to God, meditating on His Word and letting Him speak quietly to us.
JESUS' SHEEP ARE SPECIAL - "and I know them,"
As God Jesus knows everyone. But there is an intimate way that Jesus knows those who have trusted Him. He calls us His friends! John 15:15, Proverbs 18:24
As a good friend, Jesus will never leave or forsake us. Hebrews 13:5
JESUS SHEEP ARE SMART - "and they follow me:"
As sheep following the good shepherd, we are smart when we follow Him. In fact, following Jesus is proof that we are one of His sheep!
As a child I was smartest when I did what I was told by my parents. When I accepted their leadership I was at my best!
Now, I show just how smart I am when I follow and obey my wonderful Lord and Savior.
And Jesus does call us to follow Him! Luke 9:23
Why should we follow Jesus?
1 John 4:19 - "We love him, because he first loved us."
John 14:15 - "If ye love me, keep my commandments."
Every time we follow and obey Jesus, we are saying to Him, "I love you."
Every time we follow and obey Jesus, we are also saying, "I trust you. I believe that you know what is best for me."
JESUS' SHEEP ARE SAFE - And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish,
Jesus told a story about a rich man and a poor beggar named Lazarus. The rich man had a terrific life, but he was unsaved.
Lazarus suffered a poor and miserable life, but he was saved.
Both died. Luke 16:22-26:
This poor old beggar was safe from the fire of hell, because he was saved. He was one of Jesus' sheep.
The rich man was not safe from the fires of hell, because he was not one of Jesus' sheep.
It is a great comfort to know that we are safe from sin's punishment. But is disconcerting to think that there are so many without Christ who are not safe. John 3:17-18
This is why I urge you to witness to your friends and family.
This is why I urge you to bring unsaved friends and loved ones to church. Those who are not yet Jesus' sheep need opportunities to trust Christ before it is too late.
Recently I preached at an ordination service for my friend Wade Prime. When I gave the invitation I led in the sinner's prayer. I then asked Wade to come up and watch as I asked those who just prayed the prayer to raise their hands. Jesus' uncle and second cousin both raised their hands. Wade had been praying for and had talked some with his uncle, and God answered.
If you are safe in the arms of Jesus because you are His shape, be concerned about those who are not, and take action. Begin with prayer!
JESUS' SHEEP ARE SECURE - "neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand."
Please understand something. If you are truly saved, there is no way the Son of God is going to let you go.
The very hand of God the Son holds you.
And if that isn't enough, the very hand of God the Father holds on to us as well. John 10:29
God the Father and God the Son love Jesus' sheep too much to ever let them go or to let them wiggle out of their hands!
TAKEN FROM OUR DAILY BREAD, PUBLISHED BY RADIO BIBLE CLASS - "When Pastor Thomas Collins called on a family from his church, he found the mother to be very despondent and feeling that god had forsaken her. Looking at the baby in the woman's arms, Pastor Collins said to her, 'Drop that baby on the floor."
"Startled by the suggestion, she looked at him in disbelief.
'Well,' he said, 'for what price would you do it?' Indignantly she replied, 'Not for as many dollars as there are stars!'
"He then said kindly, 'Tell me, do you really think that you love your child more than the Lord does His?'
"That truth broke through the woman's despair."
Romans 8:37-39 - Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Sermon Seeds D45
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1 Corinthians 13:1-8, 13
THE GREATNESS OF LOVE
FUTILITY WITHOUT LOVE – Vss. 1-3
FACTORS OF LOVE – Vss. 4-7
FAITHFULNESS OF LOVE – Vss. 8, 13
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2 Corinthians 8:1-5
THOSE GENEROUS MACEDONIANS
GENEROSITY THAT WAS PERFORMED UNDER PRESSURE – Vss. 1-2
GENEROSITY THAT WAS POWERFUL – Vs. 3
GENEROSITY THAT WAS PERSISTENT – Vs. 4
GENEROSITY THAT WAS PRIORITIZED – Vs. 5
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