Faith Free Will Baptist Church

Posts Tagged ‘Ever Mindful’

*THE LOSSES OF LOT*

(Gen 19:15-25)

It is tragic to see people lose things due to some great trouble that can sometimes come into our lives.

*You pick up the paper or see on the TV a family that lost all their possessions due to a fire or tornado or some other terrible event.  And if you have a heart, you are saddened for them.

*But more heartbreaking is to see a Christian brother or sister lose those things God has blessed them with thru sin and spiritual neglect.

*Sometimes Satan makes things look so good that we don’t take time to count the record and see there are more losses than gain is listening to his lies.

*Sin never adds but subtracts, takes away the blessings of God.

*In talking about Lot the Apostle Peter says: (II Pet 2) “That righteous Lot was vexed by the wicked living of those in Sodom and Gomorrah”. But as we will see Lot lost something very precious in his life, as do some Christian who slides backward from God.

(1) Lot lost his faith

*Lot was the nephew of Abraham who the bible calls “The Father of Faith” and “The Friend of God”

*There can be no doubt Lot knew about the things of God thru Abraham.

1) He knew what it was to talk with God

2) He knew what it was to worship God

3) He knew what it was to feel  God’s  presence

Yet Lot lost faith in God.

(vs 17-19 & 30  Read)

*Lot feared the place of protection God had established but also he feared Zoar the place he had chosen.

*Fear comes from the devil (I John 4:18 ) “fear hath torment”

(II Tim 1:7  Read)

*How tragic to see Christians lose faith, confidence in God and His word.

(2) Lot lost his finances

(vs 16  Read)

*In (chpt 13) we not only see Abraham was rich but also Lot.  God had richly blessed them both.

*In (chpt 14) we see Lot lose his entire possessions  due to an enemy King taking all his goods.  But Abraham gets them back for Lot.

*But in (chpt 19) when God brings judgment we see nothing taken by Lot as he flees nor restored back to him.  As a matter of fact the only thing mentioned taken out by Lot is the wine he got drunk with.

*God desire is to bless His children thru His Son the Lord Jesus Christ.

(III John 2) “Beloved I wish above all thing that thou mayest  prosper and be in health even as thy soul prospereth .

*To that one who has drifted away from God, your soul is no longer prospering:

1) You have lost the riches of joy

2) You have lost the riches of peace

3) You have lost the riches of fellowship with God. God wants to restore you.

(Rom 8:32  Read)

(3) Lot lost his family

(vs 14,26,36  Read)

*Lot’s family had no confidence in his warnings.

*Lot’s family had no confidence in his leadership.

I believe Satan is working overtime to destroy the family.

To disrupt and corrupt the home: adultery, divorce, sanctity of marriage, rebellion, overcomes many homes, even Christian homes.

*The bible say “Husbands love your wives, wives submit to your husbands as unto the Lord, children obey your parents “.

*How sad it is to see a Christian father or mother backslide on God and lose their testimony with the family.

*Trust broken, love hurt: all because of drifting away from the Savior.

(4) Lot lost his fruitfulness

(chpt 18:32  Read)

*Abraham knowing God was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah pleads for their mercy: From 50 to 10 righteous and God would not destroy them.

*According to (II Pet 2:8) they only needed nine more righteous souls and they would be spared.

1) Sodom could have had a testimony if Lot had not compromised.

2) Sodom could have had more time to repent if Lot had prayed for them like Abraham did.

But Lot’s life had no effect on anyone. Does yours?

1)      Has anyone found Christ because of your testimony?

2)      Has anyone been encouraged to draw closer to Jesus because of your testimony?

(Phip 4:9) Apostle Paul said “Those things which ye have both learned and received and heard and seen in me do and the God of peace shall be with you”.

*THE MEASURE OF A STRONG CHURCH*

(Heb 10:24,25)

*Someone once said “If absence makes the heart grow fonder, some people ought to love their church greatly” because they’re absent more than present.

*The practice of assembling with a church is important (Psl 122). Naturally we hope the congregation we assemble with is a strong one, but it may not always be the case.  In NT times there were many good congregations but some were not what they should have been.

(Rev 2) Church of Ephesus had left their first love

(Rev 3) Church of Laodiceans  had  become lukewarm

(Rev 3) Church of Philadelphia “thou has not denied my name”

*Question: What is the measure of a strong church?

*Some would say the building, some think the number of programs: Sunday School, choir, children’s church.

*Others think a smoothly run organizations without problems, but you can have all these things and still be dead.

*But I suggest a better measure is to be found when we think of the church in terms used in the Bible.

(1) A strong church functions like a body

1) The church is the body of Christ

(I Cor 12:27  Read)

*The church is an organism (it is living) not simply an organization.

2) The body of Christ has many members

(Rom 12:4,5  Read)

3) The body must have members who fulfill their function

(Eph 4:15,16  Read)

*We understand that a chain is as strong as its weakest link.  So is the body of Christ in the church.  We must all seek to do our part, if we are half-hearted then those who are doing all they can must also do your part.

(2) A strong church functions like a family

*The Apostle Paul told the church in Thessalonica they were good examples

(I Thes 4:9,10)

*A strong family is where there are certain things:

1) There is concern and care for each other.  Do we pray and lift up one another to God?

2) There is a genuine love that builds up each other.

3) There is a desire to spend time with each other.

(I Thess :12  Read)

(3) A strong church functions like a temple

*Temples were built to glorify and offer up praise to our Creator (I Cor 6:19,20)

(Psl 150:1) “Praise ye the Lord, praise God in His sanctuary.”

(Psl 145:3) “Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable.”

*Beloved:  When was the last time you just praised God? When was the last time you clapped in honor to Him?  When was the last time you just let go and let God take over?

(4) A strong church functions like a pure bride betrothed to Christ

Note two things:

1)      Christ offered Himself to enable His bride to be pure and holy

(Eph5:25-27  Read)

(II Cor 11:2  Read)

*He did this out of His great love for her.

2)  The bride makes herself ready

(Rev 19:7-9  Read)

*Are you ready for the marriage?

*Only thru the shed blood of Christ can you be made ready.

Does this church show;  The Measure of a Strong Church.

*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.)

Growing in Grace

II Peter 3:17,18

The desire of God for those saved is to grow spiritually.  Like all things that live, there is a beginning and maturity.

*How do we accomplish this in a proper way.

1  The Christian Life begins with a Birth

John 3 (Nicodemus)

II Corinthians 5:17

2  What is Growth in Grace and Knowledge

First : What it’s not

1 Not becoming more saved than the day you were saved.

2 Not becoming more justified.

Second: What Christian growth is .

1 It is learning more of what God wants through His word.

2 It is being able to accomplish more of what God wants.

*Consider the expectation of physical growth.

Baby – Child – Adult

Garden – Seed – Sow – Reap

3  What are the Evidences of Growth

1  Increase in Love

I Thes 3:12

2  Increase in Faith

II Thes 1:3

3  Increase in Fruit of the Spirit

Galatians 5:22,23

*How’s your Fruit Tree doing?

4  What are the means God uses to help you grow in Grace?

1  He uses His word        I Peter 2:2

2  He uses troubles and experiences     James 1:2-4

3   He uses public worship    Hebrews 10:24,25

*THE ACTS OF THE APOSTATES*

(Jude 1-3)

This small epistle is often overlooked. Yet if there is any book that relates to the days in which we live, it is this book.

*It is the only book that is devoted entirely to the great Apostasy that will take place before the return of Jesus Christ.  Other books refer to it, but Jude majors on this theme.

*Apostasy means “an abandoment of what one has voluntarily professed”.

(I Tim 4:1)  describes “a departure from the faith.”

(II Tim 4:3) speaks of those who are unwilling to endure “sound doctrine”.

(II Thes 2:3)  speaks of the end of the age in which “the end will not come except there come a falling away first”.

*The writer is Jude, the brother of our Lord Jesus.  It is noteworthy to notice this book begins and ends with a message of encouragement and comfort.

*Jude was moved to write to christians and charge them to vigorously defend the faith, to stand in the truth.

Notice four thoughts:

(1) Three marks of the Apostate

(Vs 4  Read)

*Please remember that an apostate is one who receives the Word, believes or accepts it for a while, then falls away.

Three characteristics:

1) They are Ungodly

*This does not mean that they are wicked or openly sinful.  It means that person lives without the fear of God.

*This person may be morally good but there is no place for God and no fear of God.

2) They turn the Grace of God into lasciviousness.

*Because of sensual, fleshly desires they continue to sin knowing it’s wrong but believing God will forgive them even thought they continue to do them.

3) Denying the Lord God and the Lord Jesus Christ

*The meaning is simple: They refuse to bow to the rule of God in their lives.

Saying: If He’s not Lord of everything then He’s not the Lord at all.

(Luke 19) Parable of the Pounds make this statement “We will not have this man rule over us” which refers to Jesus Christ.

(2) Three groups of Apostates

(vs 5-7  Read)

1) The Israelites who were delivered from Egpytian bondage.

(I Cor 10) reveals how the Lord delivered them thru the sea, led by a cloud, identified with Moses, ate the same spiritual meat, and drank from the same spiritual rock.  The rock symbolizing Jesus Christ.  But they did evil things, were idolaters, committed fornication, murmured against God.

2) The Angels that sinned

*Simply these angels did not like the positions given to them by God.

3) The wicked cities of the Plain

*These cities were very wicked but they were not ignorant of the truth.  They knew the history of the flood, 450 years had passed,  Noah’s kin still living but also Lot.  They knew of God’s mercy but rejected it.

*How is this different from King David’s sin?  He repented, they refused to.

(3) Three individual Apostates

(vs 8-11   Read)

1) Cain (Genesis 4)

*Cain sought forgiveness thru works of his hand and when God made a way to him, he refused to repent.

2) Balaam

In Numbers 22-24 Israel’s enemy Barak hired Balaam to curse Israel but God would not allow him to do so.  But according to Numbers 31 He enticed Israel with two sins: 1) maring strange women,  2) the sin of idolatry.  In (vs 8 ) we are told that Balaam was killed with other enemies of Israel.

3) Core-Korah

Again in Number 16 we are told this man along with 250 others murmured and rebelled against the authority God gave Moses.  God opened up the earth and they were destroyed.

(4) Words of Encouragement

(vs 20-25  Read)

*As these days approach we are to do several things:

1) We are to grow spiritually into mature believers  (vs 20A)

2) We are to pray  (vs 20B)

3) We are to live in the light of the second coming of Jesus  (vs 21)

4) We are to try to get as many folks saved as possible   (vs 22,23A)

5) Develop a holy hatred for all sin and impurity  (vs 23B)

6) Be assured of the fact that the Lord is able to keep us even in this Apostate Times  (vs 24,25)

PART 3: MIRRORS IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE – LIVING IN THE MOMENT

PART 3  MIRRORS IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

*LIVING IN THE MOMENT*

(John 10:14,27)

Do you know someone who always seems full of energy, when talking seems to have the right words or is quick witted?  Whose mind seems to always be going 100mph?

*You hear comments like “that guy is always on”.

*Today “always on” has a new high tech meaning that refers to our connection to the Internet on our home computers.

*In the early days, all we had was what was called “dial-up”.  Your computer dialed a number, your modem squeaked for a few seconds and if you were lucky you got connected.  Then you logged in and more often than not you lost the connection and had to start all over again.

*Now the days of logging on are almost disappearing.

*Today over 45 million Americans are accessing the internet on what is called “broadband connection”.

*Because of the quickness of it you are constantly getting current news and information in seconds.

*With this thought in mind notice three thoughts:

(1) Broadband spirituality

(vs 27) Jesus said of christians “they follow me”.  There is action not stagnation in our lives.

(Luke 9:23)  “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me”.

*I fear that too many of us live our spiritual lives in dial-up mode so we miss alot of what God wants to do in the world and our lives.

*We log on to God once a day when we have our quiet time, we read our bibles, or go to church once a week, we pray and connect with God and then shut down.

*We need christians who are always on and connected with God.  Christians who are in constant communication with Him, walking in the Spirit, listening for His voice.

Question: If we are a christian, should there ever be a time in our lives when we are not connected and in communication with God?

(2) Dangers of dial-up

(Matt 24:42)  Jesus said “watch therefore”.

*This term is a warning, there is a danger.

*There are dangers to dial-up christianity.

1) Missing divine appointments

(Prov 16:9) “A man’s heart deviseth his ways, but the Lord directeth his steps”.

*How many people do you interact with each day?  If not careful you may miss something God

wants you to give or receive in that encounter.

2) Missing divine directions

(Exo 13:17,18)  God saved Israel from a great struggle.  We get busy with things in our life

that if not careful we will miss God delivering us from impending trouble.

3) Missing divine communications

(vs 14)

*Thoughts pop in and out of our mind all day long but because we’re in dial-up mode we do not

notice some of those thoughts may be speaking to us. (Samuel when a boy : I Sam 3)

4) Missing divine opportunities

*Have you ever had a crossroad in your life, a time that required a decision to be made?

*Choice A seems to be better than Choice B, but do we give time for God’s input?  Many

mistakes are made when we are not connected to God.

(3) The benefits of spiritual broadband

(Vs 27  Read)

1) Attitude:  When was the last time, you felt God was involved in your daily activities?  Just as we

expect our Home Page to be up in our computer, we live expecting God to get involved each

day in our living.

2) Gratitude:  Each day with God allows us to see His many gifts to us.  We stop thinking in terms

of lucky or coincidences and start thinking in terms of His blessings in our lives.

(James 1:17   Read)

3) Magnitude:  Living in the moment with God helps us get the full picture of (John 3:16) “the

world” not just our neighborhood or city but reaching, with the power of God, the world with

the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

(4) Aptitude or spiritual intelligence

(Ps 119:99,100   Read)

Question: How much smarter and wiser would you be if you spent your day with a certified genius all day long?  Have we figured it out yet that God wants us to be in fellowship with Him all day long, 24hrs a day, 1440 minutes a day, that He desires to make Himself known to you?

Live in the moment: stay connected with God.