Sermons

Psalm 19:7

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

1. Memorial day.

a. On Memorial day we traditionally look at the lives of others that have gone on before us. We remember the good and the bad and the outcome of the trials in their lives, but when others look back at our lives, What are we going to be remembered for.

Mt 26:6 Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,

7 There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.

8 But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?

9 For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.

10 When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.

11 For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.

12 For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.

13 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.

b. As you look back apon this past year what have you done that is eternal.

2Co 4:15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

 18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

c. Are you leaving a legacy.

d. My Grandmother was laid to rest this weekend. Many nice things were said when reflecting apon her life. She was a woman that feared and loved God. She loved to talk and sew. I’m surprised that they didn’t just use her singer sewing machine as a headstone. When I get to heaven and  get my robe of righteousness I’m going to look at the tag on the collar. I imagine that it will say “sewn with love, Ruth”.

e. What can we be remembered for.

Ro 12:9  Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

2.  Judge not a man by his actions, but by his re-actions.

a. My Dad was a great man for sayings.

b. I have tried to live this saying and watch for it in others.

c. God works through a man’s re-action to triumph or adversity.

d. We see it throughout the Bible in so many peoples reaction to either God’s call or from a good or bad situation.

e. Adam, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, John the Baptist, The woman at the well, the disciples, Paul, Luke, Didimus.

Conclusion:

Paul says that is we judge ourselves we should not be judged, but when we are judged we are chastened of the Lord so that the world should not condemn us.  If we Look to live our life for others, we seek to leave a legacy for our children and friends, we fear God and love His son Jesus Christ, and we seek not to judge a man for what he is going through but by the way he handles it; next Memorial day perhaps, we should be better for God and each other.

1.  He went out like a lamb.

a. His meekness

Is 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

Mt 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Jo 13:5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

6  Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?

7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.

8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.

9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.

10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.

11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.

12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?

13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.

14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.

15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

Ps 149:4    For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.

b. His innocence

Is 53:9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

Lu 23:40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.

45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.

46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

47 Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.

1Pe 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

1Pe 2:22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

Mt 27:22 Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.

23 And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.

24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.

25  Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

c. His sacrifice

Is 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

5  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

6  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

7  He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

8  He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

9  And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

1Pe 2:24       Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Rev 1:5         And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

2. He’ll come back as a lion.

a. His Majesty

Ac 5:31      Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

Jo 13:31    Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.

Phi 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

b. His Power

Mt 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

He 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

c. His Longevity

He 1:10  And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:

11 They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;

12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

He 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

17  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

Rev 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

1. God deals with people differently.

a. As children.

1Pe 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

b. As learned Christians

Phi 4:9 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.

c. As a Pastor

1Pe 5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

4  And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

d. We are dealing tonight with the learned, those that God has placed under a pastor. We must understand and believe that what he has (and is) teaching to us has (and will) help us live a better life.

2. What would we die for?

a. A friend?

 Jo 15:13  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

b. Our example. Jesus Himself

Jo 10:15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.

c. There are many things that we see as Christians that we concider as absolutes, things we would die for.

• Our faith in Christ
• King James Bible
• Our Church (made up of members)
• Our Family
• Our Country

d. These are all noble and proper things worth dying and sacrificing for.

3. A better question is, what do we live for?

 a. We are not dealing tonight with the “babes in Christ” we are dealing with the learned, taught of our pastor.

Phi 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

9 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.

b. Our pastor has taught and showed us through his continuing testimony how the scriptures matter; and that what we do now for Christ is what manners in eternity.

2Ti 3:10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,

11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.

12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

c. We are to follow our Pastor.

1Pe 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

6   Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

7   Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

8   Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

9   Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by     Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

c. God desires of us to have a good life, one that is spent in honorable service to Him.

Jo 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

d. Oftimes the Christian service means work.

Ec 9:10     Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

e. What we do for Christ has its eternal reward.

1Co 15:58   Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

f. Vain means empty. What we do for Christ will not be Empty.

• So often we let life’s circumstances get in the way of actually living life. We need to see that these things that we would die for is what we should be living for.
• We should share and show our faith in Christ
• We should study, preach and teach the perfection of the King James Bible.
• We should activily be involved with the ministry and lives of the members of this body, praying and lifting up each other before God.
• We should seek to be better parents, husbands and wives and children, to strengthen the family unit to be stronger for Christ and set an example that there is a difference in Christian home.
• We should support the freedoms that this country gives us to worship The One True God in the way That the scripture states.
• The result of living these absolutes is a more fulfilled life served for Christ, so that one day we will hear…

Mt 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

I saw a bumper sticker the other day that read:

” Protect the Ten Commandments!”

What are people so afraid of?

You have to wonder if that guy even knows the Ten Commandments!

• Do we not believe the Bible?
• Do we not believe that God is in control?
• Do we not believe that we are to fear God and not the world?

The Media (” prince of the power of the air “) and the Government have Christians all stirred up about taking away the Word of God!

Does not the Bible say:

Mt 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

Ps 119:89 For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.

Ps 12:6 The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

7  Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

Why is it that people think that God needs our help?

To understand what is really going on with this argument we must look at a few things.

1.  Where is this false message from?

a. The world and false prophets

2Pe 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

4  And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

• Funny, that we can trust God to save us.
• We’re pretty sure he can keep us saved.
• But we can’t seem to trust that he can protect and preserve His own word!

2.  Somewhere over time we have stopped trusting God. 

We don’t really believe anymore that God can take care of our needs and therefore can’t take care of His own.

Mt 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

Jesus wants us to understand that it is a promise that He will take care of us.

But Christians find it hard today because we have so much to put our trust in.

• Cars —— break down
• Homes —— get old
• Government —— lies
• Insurance —— raises the prices of medical and forces you to get insurance.
• Family —— will let you down every time.

3.  We don’t fear God anymore.

a. The World does not fear God.

Ro 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

11  There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

12  They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

13  Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:

14  Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:

15  Their feet are swift to shed blood:

16  Destruction and misery are in their ways:

17  And the way of peace have they not known:

18  There is no fear of God before their eyes.

Ro 3:19   Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

Ps 36:1 The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.

2  For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.

3  The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.

4  He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.

• We have allowed this fear of the world and lack of faith in God to taint our reputation as Christians.
• The world doesn’t take God seriously, because Christians don’t.

b.  The Christians have either forgotten how to fear God, or have never been taught.

Ps 34:9 O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.

10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.

11 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

De 14:23      And thou shalt eat before the Lord thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always. 

We as Christians have forgotten how to fear God.  This Bible teaching has gone out of America’s Churches. We have learned to rely on the doctrines of faith and love.  We have brought our harvest into the Church and closed the door.  These Christians are not discipled.  They are the sheep that do not recognize the voice of the shepherd. 

4. We have left the Church and entered the courtroom.

We as the Church of God must get back to the basics and stop allowing politics to lead us astray.

a.  We have allowed the politics of the separation of Church and state to change our focus.

b.  We used to be on the offensive.  Proclaiming God’s truth. Teaching clean living. 

c.  But now we are on the defensive.  Begging people to come to Church instead of a clear witness.  Looking at the world to dictate our lifestyle.  Bringing in entertainment to replace clear preaching.

• Satan has used this argument to drag Christians into spiritual warfare where we are fighting against ourselves.  In the end we only seem to futher expand the gap between Church and the role it SHOULD play in Government.
• Understand, I and we should be involved in the democratic process…
• But, if we were minding the store so many years ago. And we were in the world professing Jesus name all along…

Then maybe:

• Prayer in schools wouldn’t be banned.
• Creation wouldn’t be banned from schools.
• Taking your Bible to a school or Government building wouldn’t be banned.
• Public display of the Ten Commandments wouldn’t be outlawed.
• The Words “In God We Trust” would be coming off our money.
• The Christmas Tree wouldn’t be called a holiday tree.
• Street preaching wouldn’t be outlawed.
• Passing out a gospel tract wouldn’t be outlawed.

The words “under God” wouldn’t have been taken out of the Pledge of Allegiance.

5. What sort of message are we sending?

a. We don’t believe that God is really in control.

• We make stupid bumper stickers and signs to try and voice our cause with no faith or knowledge behind it.

b. We are looking for a fight, regardless of what’s at stake or what damage it may cause.

• We loose sight too often that there is a world to save through the testimony of our witness and our actions.

6. What’s the answer?

1Jo 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;

2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)

3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

a.  We should be a faithful witness.

• The word of God clearly shows that when you do the will of God, your joy is full!

b.  The salvation recipe.

• Get out the Word.
• Get ’em saved.
• Get ’em in Church.
• Get ’em discipled.
• Teach them to fear God.
• Send them out.
• Repeat as needed till Jesus comes.

7.  When God makes a promise, He keeps it!

a.  Whether the world or the Church likes it or not! 

Ps 66:16 Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.

He 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

• How ’bout that for a Bumper sticker!

8. How do we put it to practice?

a. Trust God

Pr 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6   In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 

b. Fear God

Pr 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

c. Get back to the basics.

Ro 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us

Ec 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

1Jo 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

– Sin can be identified in one of these three categories.

– No matter what age you are you are guilty of these.

– We are tempted daily to stray away from God.

– Part of our prayer life must be that we pray to keep from temptation.

Lu 22:40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.

1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Mt 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Mk 14:38 Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.

Lu 8:13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

Jas 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

– We must learn to deal with temptation.

Jas 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

3   Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

4   But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Luke 2:8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Mark 7:6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctines the commandments of men.

• Jesus seen today as weak
• Only positive
• Salvation is an additive, no real change

John 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Worship is not ceremony or position…. it’s WORSHIP (singing)

Philippians 3:10  That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

• Jesus wept – John 11:35 – over Lazarus death.
• He had compassion – Matthew 14:14, Matt 15:32, Matt 20:34, Mark 1:41 – When He fed and taught the multitudes and when He healed the blind.
• He was angered – Matt 21:13 – When He came to Jerusalem to see the temple being used as a market place instead of a house of prayer.
• He was angered and grieved – Mark 3:5 – From the hardness of the Jews heart when He chose to heal on the Sabbath.
• He had displeasure – Mark 10:14 – When the disciples tried to keep the children from coming to Him.
• He was glad – John 11:15 – When He received an opportunity to show His power over death.
• He Rejoiced – Luke 10:21 – That the Father had hid His knowledge from the wise and revealed it unto babes.
• He felt disappointment – Mark 11:13 – When He gladly came to the fig tree and then found it with no fruit.
• He loved – John 13:34, John 14:23, John 14:31 – His disciples and told them that they will be known to the world if they love one another as He has loved them.
• He has peace – John 14:27 – Which He extends to the believer
• He has joy – John 15:11 – Which He extends to the believer.

Ephesians 3:19  And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

He came to this earth, was born, raised, lived and died so He could say to you one day… “I know what you’re going through, we’ll go through this together.”

• The Shepherds returned
• It was more that a one time event
• When they met Jesus they were changed forever
• Yours can be changed too.

James 2:19  Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

Romans 6:23  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Matthew 25:41  Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

Matthew 13:41  The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

2 Peter 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Romans 10:13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Romans 5:8  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

1 Corinthians 15:3  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

2 Corinthians 6:2  (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

John 14:1  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Ever get frustrated when trying to share the gospel with someone. Sometimes no matter how simple we make it, they just don’t seem to get it. We are going to look at some of the Biblical reasons why, so maybe instead of getting frustrated when this happens, we can learn to better deal with the lost.

1. Salvation is of God, not of man.

The lost world doesn’t quite know what to do with someone who would get up and declare the scriptures…  To them it is foolishness.

1 Corinthians 1:18  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 1:27  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

2. The Lost are Not Spiritually Discerned ( They CAN’T get it! )

1 Corinthians 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are        foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

• It is the Holy Spirit through the Word of God that the world can understand salvation.
• NEVER Argue Scripture! (Where is their final authority!)
• The More time you spend arguing the less time you have to talk to someone else about Jesus. (They have Moses and the Prophets!)

Romans 10:17   So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

1 John 5:13   These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

3.   Religion has twisted the simple truth of the Gospel.

Religion tries to breach the gap between God & Man. 

If you take a man who is truly tired of the consequences of his sin, he’s not looking for something close.  He’s looking for something as far from where he is as possible.

If I’m filthy dirty I don’t want to wash up with a rag, I want a shower with soap!

Remember that God’s law is written in the hearts of man (everyone believes in God at a funeral) There is that inside him that says that God is pure and Holy.  When a man gets saved that is what he will go looking for.

4.  God has not been taught in the home

2 Tim. 3:15  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Deuteronomy 6:2  That thou mightest fear the Lord thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9  And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

5.   So how do we deal with a lost person.

Realize that it is not US that gets them saved.

Romans 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Become the window by which one can view the cross, not the door that blocks the view.

Know that it is more than developing a personal relationship with Jesus, it’s about getting saved! 

Have a right Motivation (why are you telling someone about Jesus?) Who gets the credit?

1 Corinthians 3:5-10  Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

Bible, Bible, Bible!  KEEP THE FOCUS ON JESUS!

It is important that we share what God has done for us, to have a clean testimony, but our desire needs to be that God get the Glory.

Enjoy Being a Christian! It’s Contagious!

We cannot get saved for them.  Our job is to go into the darkness where the lost are, take them by the hand and walk them to the light switch.  It’s up to them to turn on the switch.