SERMON SEEDS J15 FOR 6/26/06
Posted by: jpeters <jpeters@...>
OUR TENTH YEAR
SERMON SEEDS FOR JUNE 26, 2006
***************************************************************************
TO SUBSCRIBE - Send a blank e-mail to: sermonseeds-subscribe@welovegod.org
TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Send a blank e-mail to: sermonseeds-unsubscribe@welovegod.org
***************************************************************************
PASTOR MAIL is a mailing list for male pastors. The purpose of the list is to share sermons, outlines, illustrations and prayer requests. To subscribe send a blank email to pastormail-subscribe@associate.com
MOUNT UNION ECHOES is a mailing list that includes a full text sermon from Pastor Jack Peters. To subscribe send a blank email to mountunionechoes-subscribe@welovegod.org
************************************************************************************
Nehemiah 1:1-11
NEHEMIAH, PATRIOT
We as Christians need to be strong patriots, if this country is going to survive. It does not mean we agree with everything our country stands for, or for everything our leaders do, but we need to be committed to our country as patriots in a God honoring way.
There are patriots mentioned in the Bible. Samson and David were loyal to Israel. After Israel split in two, Jeremiah was loyal to his country, Judah. However, each one of these men was more loyal to God, than they were to their countries. It should be the same for us today. Loyalty to country should be secondary to loyalty to God through our loyalty to our Lord Jesus Christ.
One of my favorite Bible patriots is the man we read about in the Scripture reading this morning. Nehemiah was zealous for his nation, even while living in a foreign country. We can learn to be good patriots if we learn from Nehemiah.
BACKGROUND
Because of sin, Israel (The Northern Kingdom) and Judah (The Southern Kingdom) were carried into captivity. After 70 years of captivity for Judah, permission was given by Cyrus, King of Persia for some to go back to the land and rebuild the temple. As we enter into the story of Nehemiah, the people had gone back and after a number of years rebuilt the temple. But, as we will learn, the walls of Jerusalem were down, making them susceptible to the enemies of Israel.
The man God chose to lead in the rebuilding of Jerusalem was Nehemiah. His job was the cupbearer for the current king of Medio-Persia.
According to Cyril Barber, "As a cupbearer, he is in a unique position. He holds the offices of prime minister and master of ceremonies rolled into one. Fear of intrigue and the constant threat of assassination caused a king to lead a relatively lonely life. It was, therefore, quite natural for him to gravitate toward a man of wisdom, discretion, and ability. A cupbearer who had his monarch's best interest as heart, and who stayed abreast of the times could frequently exert great influence upon his sovereign. Besides testing the king's wine, he was also responsible for guarding the king's sleeping quarters." Cyril J. Barber, Nehemiah and the Dynamics of Effective Leadership, (Neptune, New Jersey, Loizeux Brothers, Date not known), p. 14
HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT HIS NATION - Vss. 1-4
Read Vss. 1-3
Nehemiah's brother returned from a trip to Jerusalem.
Patriot that he was, Nehemiah asked about the conditions of the hometown. This was not a casual question, like some of us would ask concerning the well being of another and not really care. For Nehemiah this was an important, significant question, because he did care!
The answer he got to his question was not a pretty one, nor was the one he wanted to hear.
The city was in great reproach.
The walls were down. To us that doesn't mean much, but please remember that cities in those days had to have walls for protection.
Also note that the gates were down because they had been burned with fire. Without gates the walls would not be of much use.
Vs. 4 - We see Nehemiah's true concern
He sat down.
He wept.
He mourned.
He fasted.
He prayed.
Say, have your noticed the moral state of America today?
Have you noticed the way thousands of babies are murdered through abortion? And just this week the Supreme Court thinks that partial birth abortions are okay!
Have you noticed that the traditional family is becoming obsolete? I generally of more people living together and having babies than I do of people getting married and then having the babies!
Have you noticed the way people "party" with alcohol and drugs, and think nothing of it?
Have you noticed the way God has been taken out of the public schools and the government?
Have you noticed the way homosexuality is called an "alternative life style" instead of what God calls it? He calls it sin.
Have you noticed how few of your friends go to church, and how so many of the people who do go to church are so irregular in their attendance?
We see that America is going down hill morally, but do we care?
Do we care enough to pray?
Do we care enough to weep?
Do we care enough to fast?
Do we care enough to mourn?
We should be broken-hearted that America is in such a sorry state. We should be broken-hearted that so many Americans have not been saved. We should care that fellow Americans turn to Christ.
We should follow the example of the apostle Paul who said in Romans 10:1, Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
NEHEMIAH CRIED TO GOD
Where did Nehemiah go with his burden for his nation?
He went right to God of course!
Abraham Lincoln - "I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom and that of those about me seemed insufficient for the day."
Vs. 5 - Notice Nehemiah's approach to God
He was distressed. He was concerned. He was burdened.
But he did not forget to whom he was talking.
He worshiped God, pointing out God's covenant keeping and mercy.
Worship should be an important part of our prayer lives!
So often we rush into God's presence without adoring Him,
and without considering to whom we are talking. Psalm 113:3-5, Hebrews 13:14
Vs. 6 - Nehemiah asked God to hear his prayer.
Vss. 8-9 - Please notice that Nehemiah's prayer was based on the promises of God. There are many, many, promises in God's Word that we can claim in prayer. And there are many things that are God's will mentioned in Scripture. We can ask God to keep His promises. We can ask God for His will to be done. 1 John 5:14-15
Vs. 10 - Here is an important point.
Nehemiah was praying for the people of God.
We are to pray for the unsaved.
We are to pray for our nation.
But we must pray for God's people, our brothers and sisters in Christ.
When God's people are living as they should, the nation will become more righteous.
Ephesians 6:18 - Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
NEHEMIAH CONFESSED SIN
I imagine that Nehemiah was familiar with Psalm 66:18 - If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
Vss. 6-7 - Nehemiah confessed sin.
Nehemiah confessed his own sin.
Nehemiah confessed the sin of his fathers, of his nation.
It is important that we as individuals confess our sins, naming them, seeking God's forgiveness.
1 John 1:9
When we confess the sins of our nation and family we are owning up the fact that we have no right or merit that justifies us having our prayers answered. We are acknowledging our total failure. We are also acknowledging our need for God's mercy and grace.
Imagine what would happen if Christians around the country started confessing to God family sin and the nation's sin, as well their own sin. 2 Chronicles 7:14
NEHEMIAH CHOSE TO GET INVOLVED
Vs. 11 - He was ready to go before the king to see what he could do. He realized he needed God's help, but he also realized that there was personal responsibility.
As a result of his going before the king Nehemiah ended up going back to Jerusalem and leading in the rebuilding of the walls. He actually served as governor of the area.
Nehemiah had a comfortable and responsible position, but set it aside to be used of God to solve the very problem about which he was concerned.
The end result is summed up in Nehemiah 6:15 - So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days.
For Nehemiah being concerned, crying to God and confessing sin led to direct involvement.
For us being concerned, crying to God and confessing sin should lead us to involvement as well.
We should be registered voters.
We should write or call our congressman from time to time.
Sometimes we need to work to bring about change in our nation.
We can't involve ourselves in every cause, but we can involve ourselves in one or two.
Please remember that God wants to use your mouth, you feet, your hands, your brain and your talents for His glory. Be willing to get involved as you pray!
NEHEMIAH - PATRIOT
HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT HIS NATION
HE CRIED TO GOD
HE CONFESSED SIN
HE CHOSE TO GET INVOLVED
This is an elaboration on a previously shared outline.
***************************************************************************
1 Samuel 1:1-18
WOMAN OF PRAYER
HER FAMILY Vss. 1-5
HER FRUSTRATION Vss. 6-8
HER FERVENCY Vss. 9-16
HER FAITH Vss. 17-18
***************************************************************************
Psalm 86
GOD FOR MY TROUBLES
REQUESTS FOR HELP Vss. 1-4, 6, 11, 16-17
REASONS TO PRAY Vss. 5, 8-10, 13-15
RELIANCE ON GOD Vs. 7
REJOICING IN WORSHIP Vs. 12
*************************************************************************
Matthew 8:28-34
CONFRONTATION!
There were often confrontations between Jesus and the representatives of Satan. Sometimes Satan's representatives were real people like the scribes and Pharisees. Other times Satan's representatives were people possessed by demons, such as the case in this story.
THE DESPERATION OF SINNERS - Vs. 28
These men were under Satan's control and in desperate straits. Any person without Christ is in desperate straits as well. Ephesians 2:1-3
THE DESIRE OF DEMONS - Vss. 29-31
It's ironic, the tormentors did not want to be tormented. They can dish it out, but don't want to take it. Their desire was also that they would be sent into a herd of swine.
THE DOMINATION BY JESUS - Vs. 32
At the word of Jesus the demons departed into the swine.
At the word of Jesus the demoniacs became sane.
Such is the authority and power of our Lord.
THE DECISION OF A CITY - Vss. 33-34
Instead of embracing Jesus, they asked him to leave.
How many people today have made the same tragic decision?
Shared Previously on Sermon Seeds
************************************************************************************
John 10:7-10
WHAT A DOOR!
I have walked through many doors in my lifetime.
I arrived here coming through the "door" of birth.
I walked often through the doors of my growing up home in Wayne New Jersey and have walked through the doors of different homes ever since.
I walked through the door of education, going through grade school, high school, college, and Bible College. In October of 1970 I walked through the door of military service, having been drafted into the army. On June 10th, 1972 I entered the door of marriage, and I'm so glad I did.
On March 30, 1973 I entered the door of fatherhood with the birth of David, our oldest child.
On January 25th, 1976 I officially entered the door of pastoral ministry through ordination.
In December of 1997, I entered the door of being a grandparent when David and his wife Carletta brought Nicole home from the adoption agency. Later she was "officially" adopted.
In February of 1998 I walked through the door of the Mount Union Bible Church as a candidate.
In April of 1998 I walked through the door of the Mount Union Bible Church as the pastor.
Those are just a few of the doors, literal and figurative that I have walked through down through the years. You too have walked through some of the same doors, and those of you who are younger will walk through some of those doors as you get older.
A door is an entranceway.
For all the doors I mentioned I left out the most important one.
I was a good religious boy going to church every Sunday. I thought that if I did more good things than bad I'd make it to Heaven. Then, one day in spite of all my religiosity, I realized that I was not good enough to go to Heaven. While listening to Billy Graham on the radio in bed one evening I knelt by my bedside and trusted Jesus Christ as my Savior. I came to God through faith in Him. Jesus Christ is my door to forgiveness of sin and everlasting life.
John 10:9 - "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture."
In the beginning of John 10 Jesus is speaking of himself the true shepherd. He was the true religious leader, the Messiah that God had promised and that many were waiting for. The religious leaders of his day were not true shepherds to the sheep. They were thieves and robbers.
Read Vss. 7-8 - In verse 7 Jesus announces that he is the "door of the sheep." He is the true entranceway compared to the "thieves and robbers" in verse 8. By the way in verse 8 Jesus is not saying that the Old Testament prophets were thieves and robbers. He was saying that the current leaders of his day, some of whom were probably standing in front of him, were thieves and robbers. Instead of leading the Jews to true faith they were leading them astray.
When Jesus says I am the door, He is saying that He is the entranceway. As I meditated on this passage of Scripture I realized that Jesus is the door to many exciting things that should encourage you.
JESUS IS THE DOOR TO PROTECTION
John 10:9 - "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved,"
A few months ago Harold and Emma Schrack had a fire in their home. Someone woke them up before the fire got to their bedroom and they were able to escape, ultimately through a door that led to the outside of the house.
I was at one point in my life in great danger of being consummed by fire. I was in danger of facing what we call "hell fire", and what Revelation 20 calls "The Lake of Fire". It is a terrible place Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched according to Mark 9:46.
Why would a loving God send any person to such a place as that?
It is because our loving God is also a holy and righteous God.
It is because of our iniquities and sins.
A holy and righteous God demands that someone be punished for our sins. We are the logical choice to be punished.
We have failed God so greatly that the book of Ephesians tells us that without Christ we are dead in trespasses and sins. Isaiah 64:6, Ezekiel 18:4
So we need protection. We need a door to protect us from the fire of hell and everlasting damnation.
That's where God's love enters the picture.
That's how Jesus became your door of protection.
Jesus came to earth.
Jesus led a sinless life.
Jesus died on the cross bearing the punishment for your sins and mine.
Romans 5:6-8, Hebrews 10:12, 14
So Jesus died for our sins. He arose from the dead. He's living in Heaven. He says, I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved,
How do you enter in Jesus as the door?
You enter in by faith! Romans 5:1, Ephesians 2:8-9
When you enter in the door of faith, you are saved or protected from the punishment you deserve.
When Jesus said that He was the door, He was referring to the door of a sheepfold. That's where sheep were kept at night. It was a protective place made for the sheep. After the sheep were gathered into the sheepfold, the shepherd would lay down in the doorway and literally be the door for the sheep. No sheep could get out and no thieves, robbers, or predators like wolves could get in without dealing with the shepherd.
Christian, I want you to realize something.
When Jesus is your Savior, not only is He your door to protection for eternal life and against wrath to come, but He is also your door to protection right now as you face the bumps and bruises of life.
John 10:27-28, Psalm 34:7, Hebrews 13:5-6, Deuteronomy 33:27
JESUS IS THE DOOR TO PEACE
We live in a world full of troubles and cares.
We face challenges to our physical, emotional and Spiritual wellbeing every day.
Things are so hectic, so out of control, so worrisome and so burdensome that we need to enter a big door labeled "PEACE". That big door labeled peace is none other that the Lord Jesus. John 14:27
How do we keep our hearts from being troubled or afraid? Philippians 4:6-7
Quote the words to the hymn His Eye Is On The Sparrow - http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/h/i/hiseyeis.htm
Christian, next time you feel anxious and worried, and a lack of peace wells up in your soul, take that problem to God in Jesus' name. Let Him be the door to your peace.
JESUS IS THE DOOR TO POWER
John 10:9 - I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out...
Going in and out carries the idea of power.
You can't go in and out unless you have the power to do so.
If you are a Christian you have power that comes through the shepherd the Lord Jesus. He is the door to power.
John 14:12 - That's a pretty weighty promise isn't it? Jesus says that those who believe on him will do the works that He did, and that they would do greater works.
I believe that the works that we can do as followers of Jesus are greater in quantity, but not greater in quality. We can accomplish great things for the Lord if we allow him to work through us.
John 14:13 -14 - 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.
I told you earlier that you should be praying when you need peace. These verses tell me that you should be praying when you need power!
We fail to witness.
We fail to be victorious over sin.
We fail to help others effectively.
We fail to persevere.
We fail to have Jesus' strength, largely because we fail to pray and believe.
And notice why we should pray these prayers for power. We should pray for power so that Jesus will be glorified!
JESUS IS THE DOOR TO PASTURE
John 10:9 - I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
What do sheep need to be healthy sheep?
They need to be fed. They need pasture.
Jesus provides pasture to His sheep.
First there is the pasture of His word.
As we feed on His word we will grow.
John 15:7, Joshua 1:8, Jeremiah 15:16
I believe that there is another kind of pasture as well.
I would call it the pasture of God's Spirit.
He has to be in control of our lives.
As we allow that control we will be victorious. Ephesians 5:18, Galatians 5:16, 22-23
What is the end result of good pasture? I believe John 10:10 answers that question.
The result of good pasture is more abundant life.
JESUS IS THE DOOR TO PROTECTION
JESUS IS THE DOOR TO PEACE
JESUS IS THE DOOR TO POWER
JESUS IS THE DOOR TO PASTURE
Sermon Seeds E33
************************************************************************************
Ephesians 4:24-32
THE NEW MAN
Ephesians 4:24 - And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
THE NEW MANS TRUTHFULNESS Vs. 25
THE NEW MANS TEMPER Vss. 26-27
THE NEW MANS TASK Vs. 28
THE NEW MANS TONGUE Vs. 29
THE NEW MANS TRIUMPH Vss. 30-32
1. HE CAUSES NO GRIEF (to the Holy Spirit) Vs. 30
2. HE HOLDS NO GRUDGE Vs. 31
3. HE MANIFESTS GRACE Vs. 32
*********************************************************************
Philippians 1:27-30
LIFE PATTERNS
BE CONSISTENT Vs. 27a
Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ:
BE COMPATIBLE Vs. 27b
that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
BE COURAGEOUS Vs. 28
And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.
BE CONSCIOUS Vss. 29-30
For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.
***************************************************************************
HAVE THESE SERMON SEEDS BLESSED YOU? THEN, PLEASE PASS THEM ALONG!
ABOUT SERMON SEEDS:
Sermon Seeds is a weekly e-mailing of free brief sermon outlines from Pastor Jack Peters. These outlines are meant to help other pastors and Bible Teachers in their own preparations.
These outlines are only "seeds". They are not sermons ready for you to preach. Feel free to improve on these outlines anyway the Lord leads you.
TO SUBSCRIBE - Send a blank e-mail to: sermonseeds-subscribe@welovegod.org
TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Send a blank e-mail to: sermonseeds-unsubscribe@welovegod.org
PLEASE VISIT OUR WEB SITE!
http://www.sermonseeds.org is the location for the Sermon Seeds Archives. You will find most of the outlines from these e-mail editions, plus links to other helpful web pages. Be sure to sign the guest book, and tell me a little about yourself.
JACKS EMAIL ADDRESS jpeters@alltel.net
TALK TO JACK THROUGH INSTANT MESSAGING
I welcome live correspondence with those on the Sermon Seeds list. To put me on your "buddy list" here is the information you need.
AOL AIM JackPeters1947
MSN (Microsoft) - johnwpeters@hotmail.com
VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://www.sermonseeds.org
This ministry has grown over the years because people like you have told others about Sermon Seeds. Always feel free to forward the weekly Sermon Seeds email to those who you think might be interested in these outlines. Also, please share our website address with others as well. Thank you for your support.
-- To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: sermonseeds-unsubscribe@associate.com