SERMON SEEDS K33 FOR 10/29/07
Posted by: jpeters <jpeters@...>
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SERMON SEEDS FOR OCTOBER 29, 2007
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ROMANS 6:20-23
THE CHOICE IS YOURS
ROMANS 6-8 NORMAL CHRISTIAN LIVING #6
CHOICES We all have them to make. We look back at some of the choices weve made, and say, That was a good choice.
We look back at other choices that weve made and say, That was a bad choice.
When we make choices, we dont always think about the consequences of those choices. However, we should remember that we are accountable to God for all our choices.
Romans 14:12 - So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
This morning we are concluding Romans Chapter 6. We are talking about the Normal Christian Life in Romans 6-8. It has also been called The Victorious Christian Life.
We have learned that we as Christians died with Christ, were buried with Christ, and rose with Christ that we might have the victory. Believers baptism is a testimony to this. Romans 6:3-4
Based on the work of Christ for us, we have choices to make.
We need to reckon, yield, and trust. Romans 6:11-14
We need to remember that to whomever we yield or give in to, we are their servants. Romans 6:16
We also need to remember that as Christians we have been promoted. Romans 6:18
And now, because we are the servants of righteousness, we are to follow the pattern stated in Romans 6:19.
The way you live your life is entirely up to you.
You have a choice to make!
· You can choose not to be a Christian at all or to pretend to be one to please somebody.
· You can choose to be a Christian who struggles without ever knowing real victory.
· You can choose to be a Christian who lives, a normal victorious Christian life.
Lets put it another way based on this mornings text. You can choose:
LIFE THATS FREE, FRUITLESS, AND A FAILURE
Vs. 20 - For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
Remember this! A person who does not have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ is the servant of sin. He has no choice but to sin!
Even the person who appears to live an exemplary life but doesnt have Christ is free from righteousness! Such was the case with the Jews of Pauls day! Romans 10:1-4
My friend, if you have never truly placed your faith in Christ, you are free from the righteousness of God.
Not only does the unsaved person have a life that is free from righteousness, but its fruitless! Romans 6:21
Unless you were saved when you were very young, you can look back at your life before you were saved, and be ashamed of some of the things which you did. Lets face it! How the people without Christ act bears no fruit for God. Much of what they do only brings shame. And that makes sense. You can only have the fruit of righteousness if you know Jesus as your Savior.
Your can only have the fruit of the Spirit if you know Jesus as your Savior. Galatians 6:22-23
So without Christ, a persons life is free, fruitless and A failure!
for the end of those things is death.
No good ever comes from sin!
What ultimate good comes from stealing, murder, lying, cheating, unforgiveness, unrighteous anger, bitterness, or any other sin? Absolutely none!
Theres deadness in sin.
Theres failure in sin.
Theres despair in sin.
Even as Christians, when we sin, the results are death. Not eternal death, but death in the sense that what we do displeases God and is totally unproductive.
Have you lied? There is deadness in that lie. No good ever comes from deception.
Have you committed adultery? There is deadness in that adultery. It will put a wedge between you and your mate.
Have you cheated? Theres deadness in that cheating. It is an affront to Gods righteousness.
Have you worried? There is deadness in that worry. Your lack of faith dishonors God and causes you much grief.
You get the idea.
When we sin as Christians, we do not lose our salvation. But there is a death to our fellowship with God. The Holy Spirit is grieved, and our prayers are not answered. Isaiah 59:2
God forbid that we as Christians should choose to live the way we were before we came to know Christ as Savior.
We are not the servants of sin! We do not have to live a life thats free from righteousness, fruitless and a failure!
You can choose:
A LIFE THATS FREE, FRUITLESS AND A FAILURE
A LIFE THATS SEVERED, SERVING, SPROUTING, AND SAVED
Romans 6:22 - But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
When you trusted Jesus Christ as Savior, your relationship with sin became cut, severed. You were set free from your servitude to sin. You are no longer obligated to serve sin.
Now you need to choose to live your life like one who has been severed or freed from sin. Thats what we were told in Romans 6:11.
But this new found freedom from the bondage of sin is connected with a new servitude. That servitude is serving God.
One might say, Now wait a minute! Youre still in bondage! Youre still a slave!
In a sense thats true. But as a servant of God I am also a servant of righteousness. And as a servant of righteousness I am free to live a life that is beneficial to God, myself and others.
I am also free from feelings of guilt. I am also free to enjoy the love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and self-control that come from the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:31-32, 36
In case you havent discovered it yet, there is a great feeling that accompanies the freedom that we have in Christ. When we do what is right and honoring to God, we have a feeling of satisfaction and joy that nobody can take away from us.
When we serve like this, we will enjoy true freedom.
You can chose a life thats severed, serving, and sprouting.
ye have your fruit unto holiness
As servants of Christ we will be sprouting fruit. This is a fruit unto holiness.
What is holiness or sanctification?
It is living a life that is set apart from sin and set apart to God. It is a life that continues to grow and mature.
When we choose to live as Gods servants, we cant help but produce fruit unto holiness.
Holiness does not mean that I am holier than thou.
Holiness does mean that I try to be more like my Master. Holiness does mean that I try to live the way Christ lived. Holiness does mean that I allow my Master to live His righteous life through me.
1 John 2:6 - He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
I would consider it an honor to be told that I am just like my Dad.
I would consider it to be an even great honor to be told that I am like just like my Savior.
Being like Him is the fruit that sprouts in holiness.
A life that is severed, serving, sprouting is also a life that is saved.
Romans 6:22 - But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
The ultimate result of choosing a life thats severed, serving and sprouting is everlasting life.
You can choose:
A LIFE THATS FREE, FRUITLESS AND A FAILURE
A LIFE THATS SEVERED, SERVING, SPROUTING, AND SAVED
A LIFE THAT ENDS IN DEATH OR DELIGHT
Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
God is the paymaster.
He gives wages for your efforts of sin.
Unfortunately, the wages for sin is death. Death is always separation from life. Eternal death is everlasting separation from God. Eternal death is a place called the Lake of Fire. We usually refer to it as hell.
Jesus refers to it in Mark 9:48 as a place Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
Nobody will be in hell because God is unfair. Everybody in hell will there because theyve earned it. It is where everyone deserves to go.
What about Heaven?
Heaven is not earned. Heaven is a gift from God.
God can offer this gift because of what Jesus has done for us on the cross. He took the punishment you deserve for your sins on the cross. 2 Corinthians 5:21
This gift is offered. It only needs to be accepted by faith. Ephesians 2:8-9
When you accept this gift you look forward to the delights of Heaven. Revelation 21:3-4
DEATH OR DELIGHT - The choice is yours.
Will you trust Christ as your Savior?
You have choices to make. What will they be?
· A LIFE THATS FREE, FRUITLESS AND A FAILURE The Choice is yours!
· A LIFE THATS SEVERED, SERVING, SPROUTING, AND SAVED The Choice is yours!
· A LIFE THAT ENDS IN DEATH OR DELIGHT The Choice is yours!
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Genesis 43
DINNER IS SERVED
A RELUCTANT RELEASE Vss. 1-15 Jacob finally, but reluctantly allows Benjamin to go with his brothers back to Egypt.
A REASSURING WORD Vss. 16-23 The money in their sacks was not an issue.
A REMARKABLE MEAL Vss. 24-34 Joseph saw his brothers, and with his identity not known to them, placed them in birth order at the table. Benjamin was given five times as much food as his brothers. And they drank, and were merry with him. (Vs. 34)
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Psalm 45:1-8
SPEAKING OF OUR KING
I believe that this a Messianic Psalm, looking ahead to the glories of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Psalms 45:1 - My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
SPEAKING OF HIS GRACES Vss. 2
SPEAKING OF HIS GLORY Vss. 3-4
SPEAKING OF HIS GREATNESS Vss. 5-6
SPEAKING OF HIS GLADNESS Vs. 7-8
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Jeremiah 2:13, 32
TRAITS OF A BACKSLIDER
Jeremiah 2:13 - For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.
Jeremiah 2:32 - Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.
There are many people who profess Christ as savior but act as backsliders. Israel did the same. Lets learn from her.
THEY HAVE FORSAKEN GOD - they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters
THEY HAVE FORMED NEW CISTERNS - and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.
THEY HAVE FORGOTTEN GOD - yet my people have forgotten me days without number.
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Mark 2:1-12
THE BELOVED PHYSICIAN
HIS METHOD - Vss. 1-2 - He preached the word.
HIS MESSAGE - Vss. 3-5 - Forgiveness
HIS MAJESTY - Vss. 6-12 - He forgave and He healed.
Sermon Seeds B46
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EPHESIANS 5:1-7
KEEP YOUR HANDS OUT OF THE COOKIE JAR
R. Kent Hughes - A little boy's mother had just baked a fresh batch of cookies and placed them in the cookie jar, giving instructions that no one touch them until after dinner. But it was not long until she heard the lid of the jar move, and she called out, My son, what are you doing? To which a meek voice called back, My hand is in the cookie jar resisting temptation! The fact is, no one can resist temptation with his or her hand in the cookie jar.
There are open cookie jars all around us. The ubiquitous cookie jar of our culture is the television, dwelling in the heart of nearly every home in America. Turn it off, and the goodies are present in an open magazine or a billboard. There are living cookie jars everywhere, inviting passersby to taste their wares. It would be so easy ... But when these wares are removed from the jar, their sweetness soon turns to rot, and the decay is shared by the hand that plucked them, resulting in gangrene of the soul. R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word, Ephesians, The Mystery of the Body of Christ, (Wheaton, Illinois, Crossway Books, 1990), pp. 155-156
Resisting the temptation to be tempted is Keeping our hands out of the cookie jar. It is something that each Christian keeps to learn how to do. The Bible gives us many pointers on how to resist all temptations. Some of these tips for Keeping our hands out of the cookie jar are found in Ephesians 5:1-7. The tips found here are:
BE FOLLOWING Vs. 1
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
The word followers means imitators. We are to be the imitators of God! That, of course, is quite a challenge and is also mentioned in other parts of the Scriptures. Matthew 5:48, 1 Peter 1:15-16
And notice that we are to follow our Heavenly Father as dear children.
If we really appreciate our Heavenly Father we will strive to imitate Him.
There is a word is this verse that we did not talk about yet. It is the word, therefore. When we see the word therefore in Scripture we are to look and see what it is there for.
We only need to go back to the last verse of the last chapter. Ephesians 4:32
Although we should imitate God in every thing we do, we are especially to imitate God in the way He forgives.
How does God forgive?
For Christs sake, God has forgiven you totally! If you are truly saved, there is no sin that will keep you out of Heaven. Psalm 103:2
What about forgiveness now after we have been saved?
When we confess our sins as Christians God forgives us. 1 John 1:9
We are tempted to put our hand in the cookie jar by not readily forgiving those who have offended us. This will lead to us holding a grudge. Jesus is very clear that we should be quick to forgive others. Mark 11:24-26
So, to help keep your hand out of the cookie jar, make sure that you imitate your Heavenly Father as a loving child, especially in the area of forgiveness.
BE LOVING Vs. 2
Ephesians 5:2 - And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
You will be able to keep that hand out of the cookie jar as your life is one that walks in, or follows the pattern of love.
We are not talking romantic love here, but the highest form of love, called agape love.
Christ is the example we are to follow. Again, we are imitating. Christ loved us. We are to love Him because he first loved us.
The sacrificial love that Christ showed was an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
In other words, it was a sacrifice that gave off a sweet aroma because of what was accomplished in redemption. In a figurative sense, God liked the smell of Christs sacrifice.
BE CLEAN Vss. 3-4
Vs. 3 - But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
It seems that this verse is talking specifically about sexual sin.
Fornication would include sex before marriage and adultery.
Fornication would include homosexuality. Leviticus 18:22, Romans 1:25-27
I believe that the word, uncleanness which refers to filth in a more general way, would enlarge the scope to include pornography. Psalm 101:3, Philippians 4:8
What part does covetousness have to do with sexual sin? Another word for covetousness is greed.
We should not be greedy for what does not belong to us, and that includes another woman that is not my wife, or, for the ladies, another man that is not your husband. Exodus 20:17
These sins should not be named among us. They shouldnt be found in our midst and other than to call sin sin, we should not discuss them among ourselves. All that detailed discussion of sin can do is tempt us to have sexual fantasies, or to try it ourselves.
Vs. 4 - Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
Filthiness is obscenity. We would all agree that to have a filthy, suggestive tongue is an abomination. To use vulgar, suggestive language is just not right.
So, to stay out of the cookie jar we must watch how we joke, and what jokes we tolerate. Some of you would not tell such jokes but do you listen to them and laugh at them?
God is not saying that all humor is bad.
In Ecclesiastes 3:4 He says that there is a time to weep and a time to laugh.
In Proverbs 17:22 He says that a merry heart doeth good like a medicine.
Our daily prayer should be, Psalms 141:3 - Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.
BE WISE Vss. 5-6
Vs. 5 - For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
We should in no way glorify sin!
Paul is talking about habitual sin here. The person who habitually does these things has no inheritance in Gods Kingdom. Revelation 21:8
We dont want to do the same things that impure people are doing because they are not going to Heaven.
Instead of joining in with their sins, we need to keep our hands out of the cookie jar, and having nothing to do with their filth. Ephesians 5:6
We need to be wise enough not to be deceived.
The wrath of God is coming on these people.
We need to be wise enough to understand that their sins should not be talked about, joked about, and acted upon those of us who call ourselves the children of God.
Keep your hands out of the cookie jar!
BE SEPARATE Vs. 7
Ephesians 5:7 - Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
If I were going to rob a bank, would you rob one with me?
If I were going to go on a drinking binge, would you go with me?
If I were planning a murder, would you plan one with me?
I would hope that you would be wise enough not to participate with me if I were going to do such foolish things.
Perhaps it would be good to end this message by reading 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 BE SEPARATE
Ephesians 5:7 - Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
Beloved, lets keep our hands out of the cookie jar.
BE FOLLOWING Vs. 1
BE LOVING Vs. 2
BE CLEAN Vss. 3-4
BE WISE Vss. 5-6
BE SEPARATE Vs. 7
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Ephesians 6:14b
#3 THE RIGHT FIT
BROTHERS ARMED FOR BATTLE
Ephesians 6:10-18
and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Ephesians 6:14b
· In what ways are clothes which do not fit a problem?
· What do you do with clothes that do not fit?
· How would you define righteousness?
· Why is righteousness not a good fit for most people?
· Why do we need a righteousness that fits?
We as brothers in Christ are involved together in a spiritual battle against the world, the flesh and the devil. Praise God for the armor that He has provided for us.
The second piece of armor mentioned is the breastplate of righteousness. We are to be clothed with a righteousness that not only helps us live a righteous life daily, but deals with the past and future as well. The Christian has three kinds of righteousness, one of which is practical righteousness. This righteousness comes from being armed with the Breastplate of Righteousness.
ABOUT THE BREASTPLATE
· No Roman soldier would go into battle without his breastplate, a tough, sleeveless piece of armor that covered his full torso. It was often made of leather or heavy linen, onto which were sewn overlapping slices of animal hooves or horns or pieces of metal. Some were made of large pieces of metal molded or hammered to conform to the body. The purpose of that piece of armor is obviousto protect the heart, lungs, intestines, and other vital organs. John Mac Arthur The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Ephesians, (Chicago, Illinois, Moody Press, 1986), p. 351
· I see the Breastplate of Righteousness as guarding the heart. Why does the heart need to be guarded so carefully? Proverbs 4:23 - Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
POSITIONAL RIGHTEOUSNESS
· What is mans biggest problem and why? Isaiah 64:6 - But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Romans 3:10 - As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
· What are some of the ways most people try to solve their lack of righteousness?
· How did God solve mans righteousness problem? 2 Corinthians 5:21 - For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Titus 3:5 - Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
1 Peter 1:18-19 - Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not
redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your
vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But
with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish
and without spot:
Romans 5:9 - Much more then, being now justified by his
blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Romans 5:1 - Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
· Whose righteousness does God see when He sees a Christian? How does this make all the difference in the world?
· Every true Christian has been declared righteous by God. This is positional righteousness.
PRACTICAL RIGHTEOUSNESS
· What is the difference between positional righteousness and practical righteousness?
· Why do we struggle with practical righteousness? 1 John 1:8 - If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
Romans 7:19 - For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
· How is a Breastplate of Righteousness helpful?
· What does Romans 13:14 suggest about the Breastplate of Righteousness? But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
· What procedure does Galatians 2:19-21 give for putting on the Breastplate of Righteousness? For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
· How does Romans 6:17-18 encourage you? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
· How are putting on the Breastplate of Righteousness and being filled with the Spirit similar? Ephesians 5:18 - And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
Galatians 5:22-23 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
· Why should I daily desire the Breastplate of Righteousness and the Filling of the Spirit?
· How steep is the cost for these things? Luke 9:23 - And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
PERMANENT RIGHTEOUSNESS
· How permanent is your positional righteousness? John 10:27-29 - My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
· How permanent is practical righteousness right now?
· When will your practical righteousness become permanent? 1 John 3:1-2 - Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
· How can we contrast Heaven and life here on earth? Revelation 21:7-8 - He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
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