Quote from Forum Archives on February 7, 2005, 7:49 am

Posted by: jpeters <jpeters@...>

SERMON SEEDS FOR FEBRUARY 7, 2005

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THE STATE OF YOUR SOUL 

A TOPICAL MESSAGE

 

This past week President Bush gave his annual “State of the Union” Address.

 

Of course messages and written documents similar to the State of the Union message are often presented.  Messages are given on the “State of the State” in many places, or “the state of the city”.  In fact, pastors, including myself, have spoken on the “State of the Church”. 

Such messages usually sum up how things are now and what the plans are for the future.  This is the type of message I usually give in the Pastor’s report as part of our Annual Report.

 

Let me suggest to you that the most important thing you have to report on is “THE STATE OF YOUR SOUL”,

 

Your soul, of course, is the part of you that will live forever.  It is the real you.  And the status of your soul is of extreme importance. Mark 8:34-37

 

The state of your soul is so important that Pastors like me have been assigned to watch for it, and to take active part in helping you take care of your soul. Hebrews 13:17

 

So I want you to give a report on the State of your Soul.  I’m not asking you to do it out loud.  I’m asking you to do it within, reporting to yourself, and to God.  Such a report will help you to review the state of your soul right now, and what you need to do this year by way of making improvements.

 

IS MY SOUL REDEEMED?

 

2 Corinthians 13:5 - Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

 

Most of you know the Gospel.

You know that all of us are sinners.

You know that we are not righteous enough to earn our ways into Heaven. Isaiah 64:6

 

You know that Christ redeemed us, purchasing our souls out of condemnation. Ephesians 1:7

 

You know that Christ has risen from the dead.

You know that faith in Christ makes us righteous before God and makes us citizens in Heaven.   

Ephesians 2:8-9

 

So examine yourself!

Have you placed your faith in Christ as Savior?

Do you have the assurance of Christ dwelling in you?

Can you say with the Apostle Paul in Galatians 2:20, Christ liveth in me?   

   

Paul expected them to examine themselves and indeed find that Christ was present!   

You should be able to examine and find that you have had fellowship with the Lord Jesus.  That He has changed your life!  You realize that since making a profession of faith in Him, you are different and now interested in the things of God.

 

You should be able to examine yourself and find the assurance from God that you are His child.

Romans 8:15-16

 

If you examine and find no real evidence that you have trusted Christ, do so.

If you examine yourself and find evidence that Christ is in your life, that you are indeed a child of God, then you have reason to rejoice. 

 

You also have reason to encourage yourself to a deeper, more intimate walk with Him, seeing that He is present!

 

IS MY SOUL RELIANT?

 

There are times when we have all failed to be trustworthy.  Sometimes, we have not been worthy of being trusted because of our actions, because of our sinful nature.

And yet how much it hurts when someone does not trust us, especially when we’ve done nothing wrong, when there’s no reason not to trust us!

 

Imagine how God must feel when we are not reliant on Him!

He is perfect.

He has done all things well!

He is almighty!

If He can’t be trusted who can!

 

And all through Scripture we are encouraged to put our trust in Him and His Son!  We need to be reminded of these Scriptures. Psalm 62:5-6,8, Deuteronomy 33:27, Proverbs 3:5-6, Isaiah 41:10, John 15:5, Hebrews 11:6,

 

You know in your head that God can be trusted.

But do you know in your heart that God can be trusted?

 

Has it ever occurred to you, that as a Christian that the biggest insult to God is to live in a continual state of worry and unbelief; to be out of sorts and anxious about the past, present or the future?  

   

God makes it clear that everything is to be committed to Him in prayer so that we can have peace of mind. Psalm 55:22, 1 Peter 5:7, Philippians 4:6-7

 

So how reliant has your soul been? 

Have you lived in a state of trust or anxious worry?

To please your God and for your soul to right with God there MUST be reliance on Him!   

 

IS MY SOUL REMISS?

Some of the hardest words for anyone to hear are, “I don’t love you anymore.”

It’s said often, but actually practiced even more frequently.

Often our actions, and even more so, our attitudes say to someone, “I don’t love you anymore.”

Is that what you are saying to God, “I don’t love you anymore”?

 

Revelation 2:4-5 - Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. [5] Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

 

These words were spoken to the Christian church in Ephesus.  This was a church that was very active and doctrinally sound.  And yet Jesus had a problem with them.

 

The fervent love which they once had for the Lord Jesus was no longer there. 

The things they did were only a going “through the motions.”

 

They left their “first love”, which implies they loved something or someone else more than they loved the Lord.

 

It’s very easy to do, because there are so many things around to “love”.

 

The Lord tells us what to do.

He tells us to remember what it was like when we were most in love with Jesus.

He tells us to repent, to turn around.

He tells us to go back do the first works. 

Think like you thought when you most loved Jesus.

Act like you acted when you most loved Jesus.

Love like you loved when you most loved Jesus.

 

IS MY SOUL RESPONSIBLE?

 

How responsible a Christian are you?

 

Check out the New Testament.

In the Book of Acts, when a person believed he was baptized.

Jesus’ command was very simple. Matthew 28:19-20

 

Baptism is to follow belief.  Have you been baptized?   

 

How responsible a Christian are you?

Do you attend this church regularly?

Are you a member?

You’re not?

In most cases that’s irresponsible.

You want to receive but you don’t want to give.

You can find all sorts of excuses not to join.

But joining requires commitment. 

Commitment means responsibility. 

And if you don’t join, you never have to worry about responsibility.  

 

Does Jesus love his church?

Did Jesus make a commitment to His church? Ephesians 5:25

   

Christ loves His Church.

Do you love His church?

How about his local church?

Then love it, enough to make a commitment to membership.   

 

One more thing in the way of commitment:

Hebrews 10:24-25 - And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: [25] Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

 

You need to be here more than once a week or once every couple of weeks.

You need to be in Sunday School and Church.

We need you in the Evening Service to be encouraged and to be an encouragement.

We need you to be part of our Prayer Team on Wednesday nights.

Some are concerned about our lack of growth, and the need for new blood.

 

Let’s get out and pray for these things.

 

How is the State of your Soul?

Ask yourself:   

IS MY SOUL READY?

 

Are you ready for Jesus to come back?

What if He had appeared last week?

Would you have been ready?

 

Luke 12:40 - Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

 

Here’s how to be ready:   

Titus 2:11-13 - For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, [12] 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;

 

What is the State of your Soul?

Ask yourself:   

1.     IS MY SOUL REDEEMED?

2.     IS MY SOUL RELIANT?

3.     IS MY SOUL REMISS?

4.     IS MY SOUL RESPONSIBLE?

5.     IS MY SOUL READY?

 

 

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Genesis 27:1-40

DECEIVED!

 

A PROPOSED SUPPER – Vss. 1-4

A PLANNED SCHEME – Vss. 5-17

A POWERFUL SCAM – Vss. 18-29

A POUTING SON – Vss. 30-40

 

 

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Psalm 33

GOD AT THE CENTER

 

GOD AND PRAISE – Vss. 1-3 – He is to be at the center of our worship.

 

GOD AND PROPRIETY – Vss. 4-5 – He loves righteousness.

 

GOD AND POWER – Vss. 6-9 – His power is seen in creation.

 

GOD AND PEOPLE – Vss. 10-13 – He is superior to the heathen. He takes care of his own people.

 

GOD AND PERCEPTION – Vss. 14-15 – He sees everything.

 

GOD AND PROTECTION – Vss. 16-19 – He protects his own.

 

GOD AND PEACE – Vss. 20-22 – He gives it those who wait on Him.

 

 

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Matthew 25:1-13

WISE OR FOOLISH?

 

1 BRIDEGROOM, 2 COMPANIES – Vss. 1-5

Wise Virgins

Foolish Virgins

 

1 ANNOUNCEMENT, 2 CONDITIONS – Vss. 6-9

The Bridegroom’s arrival was announced.

The Wise Virgins were ready.

The Foolish Virgins were not ready.

 

1 WEDDING, 2 CONCLUSIONS – Vss. 10-13

The Wise Virgins were received.

The Foolish Virgins were rejected.

 

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Mark 1:1-8

THE MESSAGE OF JOHN THE BAPTIST

 

PROCLAMATION OF COMING MESSIAH Vss. 1-3

 

PARTICIPATION BY THE HEARERS Vs. 4-6 (Baptism)

 

PREEMINENCE OF THE ONE WHO WOULD FOLLOW Vss. 7-8

 

Sermon Seeds A23

 

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Hebrews 11:1-7

BY FAITH

STUDY #21 in Hebrews – A complete lesson                                                                                    

 

·        Many of the simplest things that we do, like sitting on a chair, require faith.  What are some other things that we do regularly that require faith?

·        What exactly is faith to you?

·        Why is faith the only way to please God?

·        Why is faith the only way to Heaven?

·        What behavior indicates that a person has faith?

 

Hebrews 11 has been called “Faith’s Hall of Fame”.  In this chapter the author of Hebrews shares the stories of many Old Testament saints who had faith.  It is certainly a place in the Bible where we find “Heroes of Faith”.  In verses 1-7 we find some basic lessons about faith.

FAITH’S PARTICULAR’S – Vss. 1-2

 

ë    Is faith just believing that something is going to happen without any proof? 

ë    With or without religion, what is most faith based on?

ë    On what is a Christian’s faith based? Romans 10:17

ë    Faith is the “substance” or “foundation” of what we are hoping for. What are people like who do not have a foundation of Biblical faith?

ë    Without faith we would have no real hope.  What are people like who have no hope?

ë    The word “evidence” means “conviction”.  We are convicted that things we can not see are true or will take place.  What are you convicted is true, although you can’t see it yet?

ë    Vs. 2 means that the elders obtained approval, or a good testimony.  Who approves when men have faith?  Why should this motivate us?

 

FAITH’S PERCEPTION – Vs. 3

 

F   Why does believing in creation require faith?

F   Why does believing in evolution require faith (not in God)?

F   How does God assist us in believing in creation?  Romans 1:20

F   How does Genesis 1:1 give credence to Hebrews 11:3?

 

FAITH’S PROCLAMATION – Vs. 4

 

R    How do each of these dead people speak to you about spiritual things? – Pansy Farster, Raymond McEIwain, Pastor Cunnings

R    The story of Cain and Abel is found in Genesis 4.

R    What were the two sacrifices the boys offered?

R    Why was Cain’s sacrifice rejected and Abel’s sacrifice accepted?

R    Obviously, Cain lacked faith which led to what?

R    Abel’s faith led to obedience.  Why is faith required for us to be obedient?

R    What was Abel’s legacy?  Why should we want the same legacy?

 

FAITH’S PATH – Vss. 5-6

 

Genesis 5:24 - And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

 

V     Vs. 5 – What did Enoch do specifically to please God?  What does it mean?

V      How does one go about “walking with God”?

V     In what way is Enoch’s “translation” a precursor of things to come?

V     What was Enoch’s legacy?  Why should we want the same legacy?

V     Vs. 6 – How is the first phrase in this verse a reprimand to all of us who worry, fret, and disobey God’s Word in other ways?

V     What do you do that indicates that you believe that God really exists?

V     What will I do if I believe that God “is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him?”  How will I go about doing it?

 

FAITH’S PARTICIPATION – Vs. 7

 

O    What had the world not yet seen when God told Noah to build an ark?

O    How convinced was Noah that God was telling the truth? How did it show?

O    How did Noah “condemn the world?”

O    Are there still heirs “of the righteousness which is by faith?”  Who are they?

 

CONCLUDING THOUGHT – IF YOU AND I ARE NOT OBEDIENT TO GOD, OUR FAITH IS DEFICIENT.

 

 

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1 John 4:1-6

ON GUARD

REAL CHRISTIANITY #14 (Series in 1 John)

 

As we continue our study of Real Christianity in 1 John we return to a theme that John has elaborated on before.  It is a warning against false teachers, and it teaches us to be On Guard concerning them and their teachings.

 

BE CAREFUL - Vss. 1,5

 

Usually, when we say, “Be careful”, we are concerned about someone’s well being.

When we use the words “Be careful” in conjunction with

1 John 4:1-6, we are concerned that somebody not be led astray by false teachers.

 

Just because a preacher sounds good, it doesn't mean the person is right. We must be careful to test the spirits to make sure we follow those teachers that are from God.

 

Vs. 1 - Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

 

We are to try or test the spirits to see if they are of God.

The best way of testing the Spirits to see if they are of God is to compare what they say with what the Word of God says. 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20-21,

 

Because of the large number of false teachers in the world we have to be careful.

 

1 John 4:5 - They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

 

False teachers are "of the world". They follow the “world system” of thinking and acting.

Worldly teachers accentuate the things of the world. 1 John 2:15-17  

 

Can we assume that because a person has a large following he is right?  Of course not! Many false teachers have large followings because they appeal to worldly people.

 

Hitler drew large crowds and was wrong.

 

10 spies brought back the majority report after going into the Promised Land and they were wrong!

 

False teachers are of the "world". Because they are worldly, those who love the world want to hear them.

 

BE COGNIZANT - Vss. 2-3, 6

 

1 John 4:2 - Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

 

We must be cognizant or aware of what comes from the Spirit of God.  We should be able to tell when someone is speaking for God.

 

A person who believes that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh must believe in His eternal deity.

Colossians 1:15-17

 

The word Jesus means "Jehovah saves".  If a person truly believes that Jesus came in the flesh, he must believe in Him as Savior.

 

The word Christ means "anointed one".  It is reference to Jesus as Messiah.  If we believe that He's Messiah, He is our Lord!   

 

We must believe that He came in the flesh.  Jesus Christ is not just a spirit, but He became God in the flesh! Philippians 2:5-7

 

When a person "confesses" that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, he is making testimony of his own salvation. He is “of God”. Romans 10:9-10 

 

1 John 4:3 - And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

 

Be aware that if a person does not confess Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, he is not of God.   

Listen to what people are saying. If they are not confessing Christ as Savior and salvation through faith in Christ alone, they are false teachers.

If they are not saying that Jesus is God who has come to earth literally in a human body, they are false teachers.

 

A false teacher is anti-Christ.  He is against Christ.

1 John 2:18 - Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

 

Although the anti-Christ has not yet made his appearance, there are many today that have his Spirit.  

Be aware of the spirit of anti-Christ that is in the world.

 

1 John 4:6 - We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

 

Vs. 6 - John and the Apostles were of God.  The writings of Scripture are from God.

 

Those who know God through Christ, especially preachers and teachers, will hear and adhere to the Word of God, which contains the teaching of John and other Apostles.

A true teacher will present God's Word accurately.

 

Be aware that those who are not of God will not adhere to or teach the true doctrine of the Word of God.

Because of this awareness it is not as hard as it would seem to tell if someone has the spirit of truth or the spirit of error.

If a person teaches accurate Bible doctrine he has the spirit of truth.

If a person teaches heresy he has the spirit of error.

 

BE CONFIDENT - Vs. 4

 

1 John 4:4 - Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

 

While God wants us to be careful about the teachers we follow and cognizant of the difference between a true teacher and a false teacher, he doesn't want us to worry.

He wants us to be confident that we will be able to tell the difference.

 

John tells us, who are Christians, that we are of God.  That's very assuring! John likes to call us little children, and that's appropriate. John 1:12, 1 John 3:1-2

    

Because we are "of God", children of God, we have overcome the false teachers.  We don't have to be fooled by their false teachings.

Who is it that in us who is greater than he that is in the world?

It is the Spirit of God who is greater than Satan.

Our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:19, John 16:8-13

 

For detecting the false teachers, greater is he that is in you than he that is the world   

 

In what other ways is the Spirit of God helpful in our lives?

·        For power to witness – Acts 1:8

For victory over sin – Romans 6:14

For Fruitfulness – Galatians 5:22-23

·        For strength in prayer – Romans 8:26-27

·        For Assurance of Salvation – Romans 8:16

 

Indeed, greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world.

So we can be confident.   

 

So let's be on guard:

BE CAREFUL - Vss. 1,5

BE COGNIZANT - Vss. 2-3, 6

BE CONFIDENT - Vs. 4

 

Elaboration of a previously shared outline

 

 

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