SERMON SEEDS H39 FOR 1/3/05
Posted by: jpeters <jpeters@...>
SERMON SEEDS FOR JANUARY 3, 2004
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Mark 13:32-37
THE WORD FOR 2005
2004 is over. 2005 is here.
I feel that you and I need a word for 2005.
We need a word to live by as Christians that will help us and keep us focused no matter what happens in this current year.
The word that God has led me to for 2005 is a word that Jesus Himself used. It is a word, a command that Jesus used. It is the word, watch!
Mark 13:32-37 - But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. [33] Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. [34] For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. [35] Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: [36] Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. [37] And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
Jesus makes it very clear. He is speaking to all, especially all of His followers or disciples. And He says watch!
When Jesus gives these words He is completing what is known as The Olivet Discourse. Jesus was answering the disciples questions about future events, and in light of these future events he is telling them to watch.
The event that Christians, including you and I, should watch for is the return of the Lord Jesus Christ and the resurrection of all believers from the dead. 1 Corinthians 15:51-58, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18:
In Mark 13:32 Jesus tells us that no man knows the day or the hour when the events described in the Olivet Discourse will be fulfilled. This means that no man knows the day or the hour when Jesus is returning for us. It could be anytime.
The word Jesus gives us in light of His coming is WATCH!
Using this passage and a couple of others, I want to suggest to you that there are at least three ways that we should be watching for the coming of the Lord Jesus.
WATCH PERSISTENTLY
Vs. 34 Jesus gives an illustration.
A man is taking a long journey.
He gives to various members of the household different responsibilities. He tells them what to do while he is gone.
He tells the porter to watch.
The porter was the door keeper. While the other members of the household were also to watch for the return of their master by going about their business, it was the job of the porter to be awake and looking for the return of the Master, so He could alert the others.
The church today is like the household in the story.
Our Master is the Lord Jesus Christ.
Before He left to go on His long journey to Heaven he gave instructions to the church. Matthew 28:18-20.
The Epistles give us even further instruction. God has intended that each Christian, after coming to Christ, live a life patterned in good works. Ephesians 2:10
God also has given each of us abilities or spiritual gifts that are to be used to further His kingdom.
1 Peter 4:10-11
So Jesus has gone away. He has given us jobs to do.
And as we do the jobs Hes given us to do, we are to do them as if Jesus were coming back soon, even today!
Vs. 35 Jesus says, You watch, for you dont know when Im coming.
The watch Jesus talks about is to be a persistent one.
We dont know when He is coming, but we should be about His business, doing what Jesus has told us to do.
Vs. 36 It will be a tragedy if Jesus catches us napping when he comes.
This napping or sleeping neednt be thought of as literal.
· If we are caught up in our own pleasures when Jesus comes we will be napping.
· If we are worrying about our own well being when Jesus comes we will be napping.
· If we are delaying serving the Lord Jesus when He comes, thinking we have plenty of time, we will be napping.
· If we are concentrating on our business, our families, our comforts when Jesus comes, we will be napping.
When Jesus comes, I shouldnt really be surprised. I should be expecting Him!
I should be expecting Him, because He told me to watch for His coming!
Mark 13:37 - And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
So, what you do today should be based on the fact that you believe that Jesus could come today. And because Jesus could come today, you should be about His business.
Actually, thats why God delays the coming of Jesus, so that we can accomplish more of His work.
2 Peter 3:8-9
WATCH PERCEPTIVELY
Turn please to Titus 2:11-13.
When someone is perceptive they know whats going on.
They sense things. They understand things.
As we watch for the coming of the Lord Jesus in 2005, we are to watch perceptively.
Titus 2:11 - For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
The grace of God has appeared unto all men, to all types of people.
The grace of God is Gods unmerited favor.
You dont deserve forgiveness for your sins or a place in Heaven.
You dont deserve to be a child of God.
But if you have turned to Jesus Christ, believing that He died for your sins, and trusting Him for forgiveness and eternal life, the grace of God has touched you.
Ephesians 2:8-9
If you have put your faith in Christ then the grace of God is at work in your life.
Among other things, the grace of God teaches us to be perceptive.
Titus 2:12 - Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Gods grace not only saves us, but it teaches us.
First of all, it teaches us to deny ungodliness.
What is ungodliness?
Ungodliness is anything that God wouldnt do Himself.
It is anything that is not fitting or true of God.
Ungodliness is also anything that we do without God.
If what I am doing is not dependent upon God or approved by God, it is ungodly!
How do I go about denying ungodliness?
I deny ungodliness by staying close to Jesus!
John 15:4-5 - 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. [5] 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.
I am not only to deny ungodliness, but I am to deny worldly lusts or desires. These are basically anything that I do to excess.
How do I deny worldly lusts?
I deny worldly lusts by allowing Gods Holy Spirit to control me.
Galatians 5:16 - This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
The grace of God not only teaches us to deny ungodliness and world lusts. It also teaches us to live soberly.
To be sober is to be serious.
If we live soberly we will live seriously. That doesnt mean that we cant have a sense of humor.
It means that we will take our commitment to God seriously.
The serious Christian lives seriously practicing the things of God on a continual basis.
Sunday Morning attendance is only one part of the bigger commitment to Christ that includes a daily walk with Him!
Not only are we to live soberly, but righteously and Godly.
Our activities should be right in the eyes of God.
Our activities should be the things that God would do if he were in our situation!
So why does the grace of God teach us the way it does?
Titus 2:12-13 - Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; [13] Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
If we truly live lives that deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and that are serious, righteous and godly, we will also be perceptive enough to be looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ!
The blessed hope and the glorious appearing are one and the same!
The one who is looking for the wonderful coming of the Lord Jesus will be perceptive to live as if He is coming back at any moment.
If you expect company, you clean up the house.
If you expect Jesus, you clean up your life and keep it clean on a daily basis. You look forward to His coming, so you live as if he is coming.
WATCH PRAYERFULLY
Lets go back to Mark 13 for a moment.
Mark 13:32-33 - But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. [33] Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
Watching and praying go together!
Jesus commanded it here. It is also commanded in the Epistles.
Colossians 4:2 - Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
1 Peter 4:7 - But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
Why do watching and praying go together?
· Praying helps us have victory over temptation.
· Praying keeps us Spiritually sharp.
· Praying accomplishes Gods purposes before Jesus returns. John 14:13-14 says, And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. [14] If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
· God doesnt want anyone to perish, so we are instructed to pray. 1 Timothy 2:1-4 says, I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; [2] For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. [3] For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; [4] Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
The Word for 2005 is watch!
WATCH PERSISTENTLY
WATCH PERCEPTIVELY
WATCH PRAYERFULLY
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Genesis 1:26-30
THE CREATION OF MAN
GODS PURPOSE Vs. 26 Create man in His own image and give him dominion
GODS PERFORMANCE Vs. 27 Man was created in the image of God
GODS PROCLAMATION Vss. 28-30 Man was to be fruitful and to multiply and to rule
GODS PLEASURE Vs. 31 All of Gods creation was very good
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Psalm 1
THE BLESSED MAN
THE BLESSED MAN IS A SEPARATED MAN Vs. 1
THE BLESSED MAN IS A SATURATED MAN Vs. 2
THE BLESSED MAN IS A SUPPLIED MAN Vs. 3
THE BLESSED MAN IS A SECURE MAN Vss. 5-6
He will stand in the judgment and the congregation of the righteous
The Lord knows his way.
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Isaiah 2:1-4
COMING!
COMING TEMPLE Vs. 2
COMING THRONGS Vss. 2-3
COMING TESTIMONY Vs. 3 - Isaiah 2:3 - for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
COMING THEOCRACY Vs. 4 The reign of the Lord Jesus will result in peace
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Matthew 4:12-25
HIS GREATNESS!
THE GREATNESS OF HIS PREACHING Vss. 12-17
THE GREATNESS OF HIS PULL Vss. 18-22 He attracts disciples
THE GREATNESS OF HIS POWER Vss. 23-25
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1 Thessalonians 2:1-4
GOSPEL POWER
The Gospel that Paul preached had power as we see in this passage.
PROFITABLE ENTRANCE Vs. 1
PROFOUND BOLDNESS Vs. 2
PURE EXHORTATION Vs. 3
PLEASING PROCLAMATION- Vs. 4
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James 4:1-10
A SPRITUAL CLINIC
There are all sorts of "clinics" available today to meet medical needs. There are medical clinics, eye clinics, dental clinics, psychiatric clinics and a host of other clinics. They specialize on particular physical needs.
In James 4:1-10 God is giving to us a Spiritual clinic. He's helping us see what some of our Spiritual problems are and how to fix them.
OUR MAJOR SOURCE OF CONFLICT IS OUR LUSTS - Vss. 1-2
OUR MAJOR LACK OF CONTENTMENT IS DUE TO IMPROPER PRAYER LIVES - Vss. 2-3
OUR MAJOR LACK OF COMMUNION WITH GOD IS DUE TO SPIRITUAL ADULTERY - Vss. 4-5
OUR MAJOR MEANS OF CORRECTION IS HUMBLE REPENTANCE - Vss. 6-10
Sermon Seeds C17
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