Faith Free Will Baptist Church

*THE MIGHTY CONQUEROR*
(Isaiah 63:1-10)

Israel had been in bondage, defeated, and rejected but God delivers them.
God gives a promise (62:4-12)
But not all were willing to do that which was required for victory (63:10)
Notice (vs 1 of chpt 63)
1)    Who is this man whose garment is dyed and stained red with blood?
2)    Who is this man who comes from Bozrah?
3)    Who is this man who is glorious in His apparel?
4)    Who is this man who works in His own great strength, who needs none to assist Him?
5)    Who is this man that speaks in His own righteousness with power to save?
(Rev 19:11-13)
Notice (Isa 63:5)
There was and is nothing man can do in his own power to redeem himself.
(Rom 3)
But we see Jesus standing before every enemy,  defeating them,  marching forth as the Mighty Conqueror.
(1)    He defeated sin’s Bondage
(II Chor 6:36)
(Eph 2:1-2)
(Gal 4:4-5)
(Rom 6:6)
(Rom 5:8 )
(2)    He defeated the power of death
(Heb 2:14,15)
(Rev 1:18 )
(3)    He defeated Satan, the enemy of all men
(I John 3:8 )
(Col 2:13-15)

*COMMANDMENTS FOR CHRISTIANS*

(I Thes 5:16-23)

Webster defines the word commandment as a law or order, especially in the Bible, any of the Ten Laws God gave to Moses.

*Yet I find in the scriptures that there are certain commands the Apostle Paul gives which will produce maturity and growth toward perfection in our Christian walk.   (vs 23  Read)

*I believe all Christians should desire at least two things in their personal lives:

1) To grow spiritually and have a deeper sense of God in their lives daily.

2) To have a deep yearning in their heart for the Lord’s return.

(*In fulfilling (vs 23) Paul gives us seven commandments:)

(1) Rejoice evermore (vs 16)

*For what are we to rejoice?

1) Rejoice for all the good things the Lord has done for you

(Deut 26:11)  “And thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which the Lord thy God hath given unto thee.”

*Folks are we not better off right now than we were years ago?

2) Rejoice in a good church home

(Ps 122:1) “I was glad when they said unto me let us go into the house of the Lord.”

*Listen:  I know the grass looks greener somewhere else but I love it here.

3) Rejoice if your children are saved

(Prov 23:24) “The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice”

4) Rejoice when folks get saved

(Luke 15) Gives us two parables in which something was lost but found:

(vs 6) “rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost”

(vs 9) “rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost”

5) Rejoice because you are saved

(Luke 10:20) “rejoice because your names are written in heaven”

(2) “ Pray without ceasing”  (vs 17)

*In (I Thes) Paul mentions at least three times praying (1:2    3:10   5:25)

*We are to be in a constant attitude of prayer, ready to pray effectively in a minutes notice.

(3) (vs 18  Read)

*Notice what Paul says in (Rom 8:28  Read)

*I realize not everything is perfect, not everything goes right.

*Why are we to give thanks in everything?

“For this is the will of God”

Question: Can you trust the Lord enough to thank Him for everything that comes into your life?

(4) “Quench not the spirit” (vs 19)

*The Holy Spirit is not an it, but a person, the third head of the Trinity of God.  As such He can be quenched.

1) The Holy Spirit convicts you of sin, you quench Him by not acknowledging it in your life

2) The Holy Spirit can be quenched when we disrupt His work in public worship

3) Quenched when we refuse to obey His leading

(Eph 4:30) “And grieve not the Holy Spirit where by ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”

(5) “Despise not prophesying”  (vs 20)

*Prophesy is not foretelling but forth telling.

*Prophesy is telling what is going to happen.  Paul’s meaning here is telling known truth.  We call it preaching.  The preacher reveals God’s word to us.

*Your attitude toward preaching determines whether you despise it.

*Do you enjoy singing but endure preaching?  How sad when people follow singers but not the hunger for preaching God’s word.

(6) “Prove all things”  (vs 21)

1) Points of doctrine

*What do you believe about the virgin birth, blood atonement, the second coming of Christ?

2) Prove doubtful things

*Some doubt their salvation

Question: How are we to prove things?

*By the Word of God.  I don’t care what your experiences are, if the Bible does not back it up, it’s false.

(7) “Abstain from all appearances of evil”  (vs 22)

*It is not enough to abstain from evil but to abstain from the very appearance of it.

*Unless absolutely necessary I don’t meet alone with a woman who is not my wife.

*Remember this: If there is any question in your mind whether something is right or wrong, then it’s wrong for you.

*HAVE YOU LOST YOUR SONG?*
(Psalms 137)

Most folks think King David wrote all the Psalms, but he did not.  This Psalm was written well after the time of David.  It was written during Israel’s captivity in Babylon, one of the largest cities of their time.  We know that the Jews were not all taken at one time.  Daniel was taken in one group, Ezekiel was taken in another group.  The finest and most talented and most skilled, but the unskilled , the handicapped, the weak were left in Jerusalem.  The temple was burned and the city plundered.

(Two things to be noted)
1) The Jewish people were singing people and also had the ability to play instruments, especially the harp.
2) Their music abilities were known even by their enemy.  (vs 3  Read)
*From our text it would appear that the Jews no longer played or sang their songs while in bondage.
*Unfortunately some Christians today have lost their ability or they no longer have the desire to sing the Lord’s song.  Circumstances have come into their lives and taken away their song.

(Notice three thoughts)
(1) Songs have a powerful influence on people.
*Think about some songs which touch people, or are known by a lot of people: Wedding March, God Bless America, Happy Birthday.
(Notice what the Bible says about singing.)
1) The Bible tells us what to sing
(vs 4)  “The Lord’s Song”
(Col 3) “Admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord”
*Your songs, your singing should exalt the Lord
2) The Bible tells us when to sing
*Times of victory: when Israel crossed the Red Sea, when Deborah and Barak defeated Sisera
*Times of happiness: Psalms 45 is a love song
*Times of sadness: In 1871 tragedy struck Chicago, a fire ravished the city, over 300 killed, 100,000 homes were destroyed.  Horatio Gates Spafford had one son and four daughters, he had recently lost his son but stayed to help rebuild.  He was a friend of Dwight L Moody and for two years he stayed to help those left homeless.  After those two years Spafford and his family decided to take a vacation.  They were to go to England and join  Moody and Ira Sankey for a crusade.  Horatio was delayed by business but sent his family on ahead.
*Their ship, the Ville de Havre never made it.  Off Newfoundland it collided with another ship.  Horatio’s wife Anna was one of 47 who survived among hundreds.
*Their four daughters, Maggie, Tanetta, Annie and Bessie died.   His wife sent him a two word telegram “Saved Alone”.   Horatio boarded the next ship to be near his grieving wife.  Even though reports vary it is said as the ship came near the place where his daughters died, he penned these works to a great song: “When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll, whatever my lot, thou has taught me to say it is well, it is well with my soul”.
Beloved: Singing makes the difficult times easier.

(2) What causes us to lose our song?
(vs 3) uses the word “captive” to explain the Jews problems.
1) Their captivity was the result of sin.  The number one reason Christians lose their song is sin.
2) Discouragement: whether death of a loved one, sickness, or actions of others can take your song.
3) Complaining and griping: being negative all the time can take your song.
4) Circumstances:  we all go thru times of trouble; jobs, money, it can take your song.  (Paul and Silas  in Acts 16)

(3) Saints remember  (vs 1 Read)
1) God’s people should be a singing people.  (Mark 14:26)  Jesus and his disciples sung hymns the night He was betrayed.
2) Remember what it was like before you lost your song?:  the joy, peace, happiness.
3) Don’t hang up your harp but if you do, it is right where you left it.

(Don’t lose your song but if you do, you can regain it.)

*THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE*
(John 12:1-8)

According to (Matt 26) Jesus had come to the house of Simon the leper, but I believe he had been healed before this time.  John tells us that the person doing the serving was Martha and Lazarus who had been raised from the dead was present.  When the meal is completed, Mary took a very expensive ointment and anointed Jesus as preparation of His death.
*The ointment is in reality a very costly perfume, equal to a year’s wages.
*Mary’s sacrifice proved that she thought there was nothing too good for her Lord.

(Three thoughts on sacrifice:)
(1) What is sacrifice? Dictionary defines it in various ways:
1) The act of offering the life of a person or animal in the place of another.
2)  Selling or giving up something for far less that it’s value.
3) In baseball a person sacrificing himself in order to advance a runner.
*A sacrifice means different things to different people.
*I read a story of a father who, through great sacrifice, gave his daughter a very generous weekly allowance on the condition that she keep good records of how she spent it.  At the end of the month he inspected her expenditures and noticed that about 25% of her money spent was list as OTLK.  He asked his daughter about this.  “Well, its this way, sometimes I forgot to write it down immediately and when I did go to record it, I could not remember the exact amount so I wrote OTLK.”  The father asked “But what does OTLK means”.  She replied “Only The Lord Knows”.
*This is also true when it comes to sacrifice.  We think we have sacrificed but the Lord knows.
(Psalms 4:5) “Offer the sacrifices of righteousness and put your trust in the Lord.”
To live righteously means we must sacrifice some of the activities of this world.

(2) What constitutes a sacrifice?
*In order for a sacrifice to be classified as such, it requires three things:
1) It must be freely given.  If you are forced to do something it is not freely given.
(Psl54:6)  “I will freely sacrifice unto thee, I will praise thy name, O Lord, for it is good.”
*A sacrifice from an unwilling heart will not be accepted.
2) A sacrifice must be completely given.
*We have too many “Let’s make a deal” Christians.  God is not looking for your ability but for your availability.  We cannot try to meet God halfway.  He doesn’t work that way.  (Rom 12:1   Read)
(Mark 12)  “widow who gave all she had”
3) A sacrifice must be given at cost
*It may not be much of a sacrifice to give $100.00 but what if asked to give $1000.00.  (II Sam 24)  King David has a tremendous desire to make a sacrifice to the Lord to save Israel from God’s judgment.  He sees a great estate of a man named Araunal and seeks to buy it.  After hearing what David wanted it for the man tries to give it to him plus the animals but David refuses and answers (vs 24  Read).

(3) Does Jesus’ sacrifice meet these requirements?
*Let us look and see if the sacrifice that Jesus made at Calvary qualifies.
1) Was His sacrifice freely given?  (John 10:15  Read)
*Could Jesus have come down from the cross?  Listen to His words in (Matt 26:52,53  Read)
*His love for us caused Him to freely lay down His life.
2) Was His sacrifice completely given?  (Rom 5:6-8  Read)
*Even though we did not love Jesus, even though God knew that we would reject Him, He laid down His life.
(Heb 10:5) “A body thou has prepared for me”
3) Was His sacrifice given at cost?
(Matt 20:28)  “Even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister and to give His life a ransom for many.”
(I Tim 2:6)  “Who gave Himself a ransom for all to be testified in due time.”
*We understand ransom, when a person is kidnapped and a person demands money to release them.  Satan holds men in bondage, Jesus paid the price to set us free.
4) Christ’s sacrifice is that it required the shedding of blood.  (I Pet 1:18-20  Read)
*It cost Jesus the gold of His blood to bring about our salvation.
(Heb 9:22)  “and without shedding of blood is no remission”

Beloved:  Whether you realize it or not, you have broken God’s law (Rom 3:23) “for all have sinned” and punishment is demanded.  But the law allows for an innocent substitute.

(Jesus Christ stepped out of eternity and died for you.  The Ultimate Sacrifice.)

*GOD’S TOUCH*

(Job 19:21)

Some people like Job’s so called friends have the idea that God is a great giant sitting on a throne  somewhere not caring whether we live or die.  That He is not interested in what’s going on in our life, whether we are having good times or struggles.

*How wrong they are.  God is a great, benevolent and loving Father.

*He is interested in every phrase of our lives, wanting the best for us, being there in our good days and bad days.

*He does not leave us to blind chance.  He is ever guiding and ever touching our life.

*If we are His children we bear His handprint on our life.

Notice times when God touches us:

(1)   There is the touch of salvation

*Having been born in sin we walk the straight line that leads to hell if a divine change does not take place.

*God sees us, God loves us, He touches our hearts and says (Isa 1:18  Read)

*In (Acts 9) God touched a murderer named Saul and changed him to a minister named Paul.

*In (Acts 16) God touched a jailer and transformed him into a justified child of God.

*In (Acts 8 ) God touched an Ethiopian.

*Has He touched you?  Do you know Him through a personal relationship with His Son Jesus Christ?

(2)   There is the touch of service

(Matt 4:18-22   Read)

1)      Moses was tending a flock when God touched him for service

2)      Isaiah was busy in the temple

3)      Peter, Andrew, James and John were about their fishing business

*Has God touched and called you to some service?  Are you doing it?  If not, why?  If not, when?

Beloved fear not His call to service for who He calls He equips.  Give Him your availability and He will give you the ability.

(3)   There is the touch of strength

(I Pet 5:8,9    Read)

*We face an enemy who is relentless in his attacks.  At times it seems like one attack after another.

*Yet we have the same promise God gave the Apostle Paul.  (II Cor 12:9 Read)

*Devil I may not can whoop you but my Big Brother can.  He’s got your number “He is the Lord my strength”.

(4)  There is the touch of solace and comfort

*Life is full of sorrows, God’s children at times have eyes filled with tears.  During those times we may feel alone, feel God is not near.

*The story is told of a little girl who woke up in the darkness and was afraid.  She called out “Father”.  Her dad heard her but kept quiet hoping she would go back to sleep.  But she called out louder “Father”.  He answered her “Yes honey, what do you want?” “Nothing” she said. “I just wanted to know that you are there.”

*God has promised to be there

(II Cor 1:3-5  Read)

(5)   There is the touch of satisfaction

*Christians are never fully satisfied here.  Because there is work to be done.  Jesus said “Occupy til I come”.  Simply put: We have business to do for our King.

*But King David gave us a clue when we will be completely satisfied (Ps 17:15  Read)

Has God touched you?

*IF ANY MAN BE IN CHRIST*

(II Cor 5:17)

The great preacher George Finney was walking down a sidewalk in a town he had preached.  A man came staggering up to him.  It was quite evident he was drunk.  He said to Finney “I heard you preach the last time you were in town, I’m one of your converts”.  Dr Finney replied “You must be one of mine, you certainly are not one of the Lords”.

(vs 17)  “if any man be in Christ he is a new creature”

*God knows how to create.  He created the world, the sun, the moon and the stars.  He created man and when fallen sinful man comes to Him in repentance He creates a new man.

(1) If a man is in Christ he doesn’t enjoy sin anymore

*Here is the difference between a lost sinner and a child of God.   When a lost sinner sins they enjoy it and stay in it. But when a true Christian sins, they are sorry and are broken over it and cry out for forgiveness.  (I John 1:5-7  Read)

(2) If a man be in Christ he loves the gospel

(Rom 1:16  Read)

*The real Christian never tires of hearing about the Lord Jesus.  The Good News stirs our heart, we remember the effects it had on our life when we first believed it.

*There is something wrong when a person professes to be a Christian but they do not come to hear the gospel preached.

1) He makes much about Jesus and little of himself.

2) He makes it plain that man is lost and magnifies the cross, the blood, the Christ.

(3) If a man is in Christ, he loves to see others saved.

(Luke 15:10  Read)

*There is a joy that cannot be put  into  words when you see or help one come the Christ.  (I Thes 2:20) “For ye are our glory and joy”

(4) If a man is in Christ, he has a different attitude toward others.  (John 13:34,35  Read)

*The real Christian has an attitude of Christ’s love in all their personal relationships.

*We can be talked about, criticized, blamed for something when we are innocent yet still we are motivated to forgive and love because we know Christ has loved us.  (Eph 4:31,32  Read)

(5) If a man is in Christ, he transfers his major interest from Earth to heaven  (Mat 6:19-21  Read)

*The unsaved lives only for this world.  They look to life here and all it holds.

*I believe the closer the Christian gets to God, the less hold the things of this world have on him.

Are you in Christ?

*IT IS FINISHED*

(John 19:30)

Finished means: To bring or come to and end.

*The message of the cross and the death of the Lord Jesus are engrained in the 66 books of the Bible, like a sculptor carving an unmovable granite stone.

*Prior to the statement we read, the Lord Jesus had spoken several times while on the cross

1) He spoke to God on behalf of others

“forgive them; for they know not what they do”

2) He spoke to the dying thief on the cross

“Today shalt thou be with Me in Paradise”

3) He spoke to His mother Mary and his disciple John

“Woman, behold thy son” and “behold thy mother”

4) He spoke out in a cry to God

“My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken Me?”

5) He spoke after three house of extreme suffering

“I thirst”

*When He spoke “It is finished” it is one of the couple of times scripture reveals the Lord saying it is finished.

(Gen 2) “Thus the heavens and earth were finished”   when creation was complete

(Rev 16) “voice out of the temple of heaven from the throne saying It is done”  when a certain judgment was complete.

*This morning I will point out four things that were finished that day on Calvary:

(1) The OT system was finished

*The Old Testament is filled with types, symbols, sacrifices, priesthood was finished

1) Calvary marked the finish of types and symbols

*Adam, Melchizedek, Isaac, Moses, David, Joshua were all types of Christ in some ways.

*Jacob’s ladder, the blood on the doorpost, the Tabernacle, it furnishings, the manna, the brazen serpent, cities of refuge all represent symbols of Jesus Christ.

2) Calvary marked the finish of the sacrifices and offerings

*Burnt offerings, peace offerings, sin offerings were finished.

*Sacrifice of bulls for High Priest, goat offerings for rulers, lamb offering for the common man finished.  Jesus providing the one time sacrifice for all.

3) Calvary marked the finish of the Levitical Priesthood

*The High Priest of the OT Jews was a type of Christ our High Priest forever.

(I Tim 2:5,6   &   Heb 7:23-25)

(2) The conquest of Satan is finished

*Speaking of Satan Jesus said (John 14:30) “for the prince of this world cometh and hath nothing in Me”

*The Lord Jesus has been doing battle with the Devil all of His earthly natural life.

*Satan had put into Herod’s heart to kill all male children two years old and under in an attempt to kill Jesus and defeat God’s plan.

*When Jesus was 30 years old, His ministry beginning, Satan sought to defeat Him with three temptations in the wilderness.

*Now at the cross, Satan probably thought he had finally defeated this man called Jesus, The Son of God: But on the 3^rd day out walked “the Lord our Salvation, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the  Prince of Peace, the  Mighty Counselor,  the Rose of Sharon, the Living Water, the Living Bread of Heaven, the Resurrection and the Life: arose with the keys of death and Hell.

*Listen:

1) I can think of reasons why I should fail at business.

2) I can think of reason why I should fail as a salesman.

3) I can think of reasons  why I should fail as a politician.

But as a Christian I cannot think of any reason to fail because (I John4:4) “Greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world”.  Yet Satan continues to fight.

*In June 1967 war broke out between Israel and the Arabs.  The first reports told how Israeli planes and tanks had been destroyed.   The reports stated that Egypt had penetrated Israel and would be Tel Aviv by nightfall.  Egypt boasted of victory, however when the war ended it was revealed that is was Israel who had actually won the victory.  Even though Arabs continued to fight.

*Even so the Devil is still bragging of victory, but he is defeated for we can see his defeat at Calvary in the person of Jesus Christ.  (Col2:15) “on the cross Jesus spoiled principalities and powers.

(3) Calvary marked the finish of Christ’s personal suffering

*There is a picture that was painted showing Jesus as a boy standing in the doorway of his father’s carpenter shop, His arms are stretched out, the rays of the sun reflected His shadow on the wall, and it was a perfect shadow of the cross.

*His whole life was lived in the shadow of the cross, from the wedding in Cana to the time He laid aside

His robes of Holiness and was made sin for us.

(Three types of suffering : )

1) He suffered at the hands of men

*Beaten, hair plucked from beard, spit upon, crown of thorns placed on His head. He suffered great agony from men.

2)  He suffered at the hands of Satan

(Gen 3:15  Read)

*His life and ministry was filled with Satan’s attempts to hinder Him.

3) He suffered at the hands of God

*Who is responsible for the death of Jesus?  It was not the Jews, it was not sinners, though in a sense we all were because He bare our sins on the cross.  But it was God who sent His Son in our place:

(Isa 53:10)  “yet it pleased God to bruise Him”

(Rom 8:32) “He that spared not His own Son but delivered Him up for us all.”

*But His suffering is finished, He is the King of Glory.

(4) Calvary marked that God’s plan of redemption was finished

(Rom 5:6-9   Read)

*A minister had finished his sermon when a young man approached him and asked “What must I do to be saved?” The preacher replied “You may be too late.  Young man you want to do something to be saved but you are 2,000 years too late. There is nothing left for you do except to believe in Christ as your Savior.”

Today: “It is finished”

*PIGS OR PEOPLE*
(Luke 8:26-39)

After a day of teaching in Capernaum Jesus and His disciples get in a boat and head across the Sea of Galilee to Gadara.  Suddenly a storm swept across the Sea so severe that the disciples feared for their lives.  No doubt they were trying to do all they could to ensure safety, but finally they  go to Jesus who is asleep and says “Master we perish”.  Jesus rebukes the wind  and sea and a great calm comes.
*The disciples seeing this made a great comment (vs 25  Read)
*Soon they would see an even greater miracle: Jesus would still the storm that had swept the soul of a wild man.
Notice three thoughts revealed:
(1)    The condition of the man
1)He was demon possessed (vs 27)
*His mind and will were taken over by evil
*What brought this about?  Your guess is as good as mine.  Maybe drink, it has destroyed thousands, maybe wicked life.
*Whatever the reason he was in this condition because of sin.
*Sin had bound him, possessed and ruined him.
*That body which was designed to be the temple of God had been made a den of devils.
2) He was naked
*Adam and Eve were naked and not ashamed until they sinned and then they tried to hide themselves by fig leaves.
*From that day men have tried to cover their nakedness by the own efforts.  But you are naked before God.
*The God who fashioned your body, The God who know your thoughts, The God who knows every secret you have, The God who is no respecter of persons, The God you’ve refused, you will be judged one day by Him.
3) He was homeless
*He lived among the tombs, away from friends, separated from God
*You without Christ are homeless.  (Eph 2:12  Read)
4) He was uncontrollable (vs 29  Read)  (Matt 8 ) says he was “fierce”
*Maybe folks have tried to help you, but you break the vows you’ve made, sin is holding you.  You want to do better but can’t.
5) He was cruel to himself  (Mark 5:5 ) “cutting himself with stones”
*Sin always cuts, tears the soul, the devil will always take you further than you want to go.
*There is no hope or rest outside of Christ.
(2) The complaint of the people
(vs 31-33) Tells us Jesus cast out the devils, whom  then entered the pigs and they committed “hogicide”
(vs 34-37) Tells us those responsible for the pigs care go and tell in the city what has happened.
*They found the wild man calm, in his right mind, sitting clothed with Jesus.
(He had been delivered from the Kingdom of Darkness into the Kingdom of God’s Light  (Col 1:13) )
Notice (vs 37  Read)
1)    A man was saved but hogs were destroyed.  They were not interested in the man but the profits they would lose: (Mark 5) about 2000 pigs
2)    They were more interested in cash than in Christ, in gold rather than God.  Told Jesus to leave.
Question: Have you barred Jesus from your home, your work?
Do you see Him as an interference with my life, my plans, my family, then I’d still rather be a Christian.
(3)The command of Jesus (vs 38,39  Read)
*Listen, this man who once wanted Jesus to leave him now wants to be with Jesus wherever He goes.
Jesus says “Go home and tell what great things God hath done for thee”.
*Notice three words of great importance (vs 39) “and he went”
*He who was once a loser for the devil is now a trophy of God’s grace
You may not be as far gone as this man, but you are still lost.  Will you let Jesus transform your life?

*THE PRECIOUS STONE*
(I Pet 2:4-12)

*Is anyone here wearing jewelry? Any diamonds, rubies, pearls?  Many of us have probably heard the words “precious stones”.
*Three times in the scripture Peter uses the word “precious” (vs 4,6,7) to describe our Lord Jesus.
*The apostle Peter portrays the Lord Jesus as “The Precious Cornerstone”
Cornerstone means:  A stone laid that marks the beginning of a building.  The most important part of a foundation.
(Four thoughts on the Precious Stone:)
(1)    When we come to Christ , He becomes our cornerstone.  (vs 6  Read)
*In (vs 4) Peter says “to whom coming”
*The word “come” is a word of obedience.  This in one of the first words taught in dog obedience school.
*This word appears over 1700 time in the scriptures.  It is not only an invitation but a command.
*The Lord Jesus has been saying “come” to people of every generation and He calls to this generation to “come”.
*You and I have two choices when He says “come”
1) We can come to Him and trust Him as our Savior
2) We can turn away from Him and go our own sinful ways
*Minister John David Michaels tells a story of a temple being built.  The workers used no hammers but instead the workers went to a rock quarry and shaped stones and each fit together perfectly.  The stones were sent to the building site but as they began to put the stones together there was a huge stone that didn’t seem to fit anywhere so they pushed it to the side.  Finally after they had laid a foundation it came time to place the cornerstone.  They contacted the quarry and said they were ready for the cornerstone.  The quarry workers told them it had already been delivered.  It was the stone they had rejected.  They went and got it and it slid perfectly in place.
(Eccl 3:11  Read)
*You can try to build your life on good works on good deeds but there is that place in your heart that only Christ will fit and fill up.  You will not be complete without Jesus.
(2)  If He is our cornerstone, we are His construction project    (vs 4,5   Read)
*Song we all know “He’s Still Working on Me”.  We are under construction.
*The Lord is building “a spiritual house”.  As a child of God we are the molding into His workmanship: living stones, a holy priesthood, a chosen people, a holy nation, a people that belong to God.
*There is a museum in Florence Italy which  houses Michelangelo’s famous statue of King David.
It is an enormous work of art carved from a block of marble 18 feet high.  But maybe you didn’t know he was not the first one to attempt to carve this statue.  A man named Du-c-cio first began working on this piece of marble.  But it was so difficult, so thin in places and misshaped he quit.  In 1501 Michelangelo undertook the work and for over 500 years the world has been thrilled by it’s beauty.
*You and I are difficult, misshaped blocks of marble but Jesus Christ is a master sculptor  who  is chipping away, polishing and making us into His own image.
(3) If we are His construction project, we have a divine purpose.
*We are not an accident, a mistake but what does God intend for us?  (vs 9  Read)
*Are you praising Him or are you proclaiming Him?  Notice three people who knew their diving purpose:
1)  The woman at the well  (John 4)
2)  Man who was possessed (Mark 5)
3)  Philippian jailer  (Act 16)
(4)  If we have divine purpose we should live accordingly  (vs 11,12  Read)
*The word “abstain” means to refrain from doing certain thing, going certain place, indulging in certain habits.
*If you are a Christian, you are God’s representative  on Earth.  Should we not be careful what we do, what we say and where we go?
(I Cor 4-9)  “we are made a spectacle (on open arena) unto the world”
Is Jesus your precious stone?

*THOUGH YOUR SINS BE AS SCARLET*
(Isa 1:18)

*This is one of the greatest verses in the Bible.  We know that man, even though far from God, even though he is deep in sin, that God will show great mercy and forgive him.
*He never forces man to be saved and to  put their trust is Him.  But He does want to reason with sinners.  He says “I will wash all your sins away if you will listen and obey Him”.
*So let us listen to what God, who is filled with compassion and love, is saying to the sinner.
(1) God says: “You must realize that you are a sinner”
*Here is the way He puts it:
(Rom 3:23)  “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God”
(Rom 3:10)  “There is none righteous no not one”
(Isa 53:6)  “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way”
*God is not just saying that we have done some sinful things, He is saying that we have a sinful nature.  Some folks may say “I’ll stop doing this sin or I’ll give up this bad habit.
*You can do all that and still be a sinner.
*Listen: An apple tree is not an apple tree because it bears apples.  It bears apples because it is an apple tree.
*You are not a sinner because you sin.  You sin because you are a sinner, you have a sinful nature.
* 1) If a man is drowning, he sees his need for a rescuer.
* 2) If a man knows he’s sick, he sees his need for a doctor.
(God wants you and I to realize we are sinners and when we do we realize we need a Savor.)
*DL Moody says “Before a man can be saved he must first realize he is lost”.
(2) God says “I love you in spite of your sin”
*The question is how can that be possible?
*Because God is Holy and Righteous, He hates your sin but loves you.
*Suppose that you had a child that has a dreadful disease that was taking the child’s life.  You would not love the disease but you would love the child.
*How do we know God loves a sinner?
*We look to Calvary and see God’s love as His Son in dying on the cross.  (Rom 5:8  Read)
*Why did He let His Son suffer so?  (John 3:16)  “For God so loved the world”
*Now God calls for a response: What are you going to do about His love?
(3) God says “I don’t want you to perish”
(II Pet 3:9  Read)   (Ezek  33:11  Read)
*We are told that Hitler’s Nazi butchers  lead men, women and children in gas chamber killing six million Jews.  They were evil, wicked men but yet God would not have any pleasure in them dying and going to hell.
1) God called Noah out of a wicked world yet let him preach 120 years before destroying all lives.
2) God sent Jonah to the wicked people of Nineveh.
Why?  Because He has no pleasure in one sinner dying and going to hell.
*God has placed many stumbling blocks in our lives to stop us from going to hell; Bible, church, sermons, witnesses.
(4) God says “I offer salvation to you though my Son”
*If you are here today and God has been speaking, convicting you today that you are a sinner what are you going to do?
Will you
1)    Ignore Him and perish without hope?
2)    Step our from were you are and come to Christ