Sovereign Grace Baptist
Church
"Preaching New Covenant Sovereign
Grace"
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Sovereign Grace Baptist
Church
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08/08/2008 09:14 AM To view samples of our sermons, click on the following links: Biblical Evangelism: Encouragements to: #2 Revelation 12 Biblical Evangelism; God’s Purpose #1 Weapons, Water and Walls Isaiah 21-22 2 Thes. 2:13-14
Why me? Ever ask that? Of all the billions in the world today, why would God consider you? You have been picked and so many passed over. Why? How humbling it should be. If you are a Christian, do you thank God regularly for such a great gift as life? Paul, the Apostle thanked God for electing love. Do you?
Many choose to go to Hell. Why did you believe? 2 Thes. 2:13-14 Deut. 7:7-8 The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people...but because the LORD loves you...” He loved you because He loved you. The reason for God's choice does not lie in you and me, but in the loving kindness of God. Today we look at the order of salvation and the purpose and the results as time allows. Love -> Choice -> Call and Regeneration -> Salvation -> Sanctification/holiness.
The choice of God is from eternity past. So your security is not in myself or my work or my behavior. My security as a believer rests in the choice of God. Phil. 1:6 2 Tim. 2:19 Do you want peace and safety in your soul? Reflect on the loving choice of God. “There is no fear in love, perfect love casts out fear.” The choice of God is for salvation, according to our text, and not just for service to the Lord. 2. Call and Regeneration. By the Spirit of God. John 3:3, 5, 6, 8 - The birth is first, the belief is 2nd. The Spirit takes God's beloved from being dead and blind to spiritual things to LIFE. _____________________________________________ | | | | Made Alive (Eph. 2:1) Born Again Given Sight (2 Cor. 4:6) ^ ^ Gospel call God's work (Effectual calling) James 1:18; I Pet. 1:23, 25; Rom. 10:14-15
3. The electing choice of God produces belief and sanctification. However, people MUST respond. High Calvinists, hyper-Calvinists deny man must respond in faith. They reason, “I do not know if I am elect, so I should not presume and believe. If I am God's , He will see that I believe and repent.” This passage and others make it very clear that Men must repent and believe. While it is true that it is God who grants repentance and faith (2 Tim. 2:25-26; Phil. 1:29) God commands all men everywhere to repent and believe. This passage today shows that God will grant these things to His chosen. PSALM 110:3 Made willing in the day of his power. Sanctification – chosen to it. Phil. 2:12-13. what God begins he finishes. What God commands, He works in His people. Titus 2: 11-14, 3:8.
4. God's PURPOSE IN ELECTING LOVE. a. His Own glory – I Cor. 1:26-31 b. Salvation for His people – past – Rom. 1:1- 2 Gospel of salvation promised present – I Tim. 6:12, Gal. 5:13 future – I Pet. 5:10, I Thes. 2:12 c. Holy living – I Thes. 4;7, I Pet. 2:9 Chosen. Have you been? You will know if you have truly repented and believed. You will know if your desire is for holiness all the days of your life. It is your job, if you love the Lord to share the good news with others. Those whom god has chosen will respond in time to the message at some time in their life. Perhaps God will use YOU as the one who brings them into the kingdom of God. Live holy, share the word, glorify Jesus with your life. This is how you show thanks to God for choosing you.
Biblical Evangelism: Encouragements to: #2 Revelation 12 We Shall Overcome
In the 60's we heard; "We shall overcome, we shall overcome, we shall overcome some day." Will you overcome? Do you overcome? We were encouraged last week to 1. Be aware of the obstacles, 2. focus on God’s honor and strength, 3. encourage others in the fight, 4. remember victory promises. Like Jonathan and David of old, we must go out and fight the battles of the Lord, one of which is storming the enemy camp with the gospel. How was you gospel; sharing last week? Today, we will be reminded that WE SHALL OVERCOME. Turn to Revelation 12. READ IT.
We will not go into a detailed study of this chapter at this time, but leave that for our Bible School hour of a future date. Let’s just briefly look at I. Satan’s Rage II. Why He Rages III. We Overcome the Rage. As you go out into the world to share the good news, Satan rages against you. Expect it and march forth to victory.
I. Satan Rages (1-9) A. The Setting - (1-3) 1. 1st Sign - Woman - She is a heavenly woman, The people of God, one has called it the Messianic Community - Messiah’s people. "The Jerusalem above, the mother of us all." Gal.4:26 As she has a crown, or garland, of 12 stars, this wreathe was a symbol of honor, or a prize won in a competition, a victory crown . we see she is a woman of dominion. Already before the birth of the baby, victory is certain. 12 - the complete people of God, all the remnant [12 tribes and 12 apostles of the church]. * Verse 2 - She is in travail, about to give birth. We shall here more about this shortly. 2. Second major character - vs. 3-4a -> Dragon - fiery red (being with murderous intent) 7 heads, 10 horns (horns in Scripture indicate power or kingdom) - diadem is a different kind of crown, not won by victory. In his case it is a usurped, stolen dominion. "He is the prince of the power of the air." "The ruler of the darkness of this age." B. Development - vs 4-6 1. Ready to devour her Child - poised to pounce on the baby as soon as he can. This birth and ascension are taken in as one event: Birth through rasied to throne. 1st Herod - but foiled, then Satan in the wilderness alone with jesus, foiled again, Peter’s temptation that christ not go to cross - again satan is the loser. Then at last the cross and death. This event was satan’s greatest victory, but became his downfall. 2. Vs 6 - wilderness time - a time of testing and provision and wooing by God. We will go into details in our bibe school class. Now we just need to see that the woman, the people of God are protected and cared for by God.
II. Why Such Rage? 7-12 A. Vs. 10, 12 - time is short. 1. Satan lashes out as an enraged loser. Like the final days of the axis Powers of WW2, or Iraq did, or most bullies may do. "I may have lost, but I’m not going down alone." Satan fell from the power he formerly exercised over the nations before the coming of the gospel. 2.. Vs 9 - Victory of the lamb is certain. Satan is cast down because Christ is lifted up. Satan falls by his own hand - his greatest victory, the cross, is his greatest defeat. With the resurrection and ascension of Christ, Satan’s power was doomed. John 12:31-32 See the WORD "NOW"? Now is the kingdom and salvation come - 2 Cor. 6:2;; Acts 17:30
B. Limited influence - 10, 13, 16 - earth, and energies focused on persecuting believers.
III. Believers Overcome the Rage - 10, 11, 17 A. Overcome by appeal to the blood of Christ - this is the ground, why they overcome. "No condemnation" You overcome because of the blood of Christ. The promise is based on the OBJECT OF FAITH, not the intensity of your faith. There may be times that your faith is week, but that does not undo the promise, because the work of the blood of Christ has not changed. B. You overcome by the word of your testimony. Your testimony to the word of the gospel and the Scriptures, We are always just one generation away from extinction. Consider the Netherlands - Prime Minister Kuiper worked hard to "Christianize" Holland. It was a center for the gospel. Now look at Holland - very liberal, killing off old people, loose morality and few Christian believers. We are always one generation from heathenism. We must share the gospel constantly, or we will not be around in one generation. YOU WILL overcome by the blood of the Lamb, You will overcome by your testimony - go out and share the gospel more and more. C. Overcome by dying for the faith - How important is truth for you? . Important enough to want to hear truth? Important enough for you to keep sharing the truth more and more? Important enough to keep loving one another and the lost? Important enough to read and study word daily? The remnant, the church on earth, will obey God and proclaim Him. John 14:15 - If you love Me, keep my commandments. I John 4:11 - Beloved,if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
Biblical Evangelism is a certain victory. You can and will overcome if you are one of Christ’s. Go out and evangelize. Go out and invite people to the community gospel services. Hand out those tapes, make those calls, write those letters. You shall overcome. Mount Zion, the city of the living God, heavenly jerusalem,the general assembly and church of the first born ; God’s Purpose #1 The Smell of Christ - 2 Cor. 2:12-17 I would like you folks to list some wonderful, beautiful scents and smells. Now share some repulsive, disgusting, repulsive smells. Nearly everything around us has a smell. Did you know that Christ has a smell?
Before we introduce this today - let us review. We are focusing on evangelism. We have looked at some encouragement toward evangelism. I Samuel 14- Jonathan and his armor bearer reminded us to 1) Be aware of obstacles 2) Be aware of God’s power and presence 3) Be aware of fellowship Do you remember Revelation 12? We shall overcome. The children of the woman, who pictures the messianic community, the children overcome 1) by the blood of the Lamb 2) by the word of testimony 3) personal sacrifice for the gospel, even to death. Are these not wonderful encouragements to continue and increase effort in sharing the gospel.
Now; God’s purpose in evangelism. Or, we could say ‘God’s activity through the gospel’. Turn to 2 Cor. 2:12-17. I. The Purpose of God in the Gospel II. The Response of God to the Gospel
I. Purpose A. The open door - Vs. 12-13 1. Acts 14:27 2. I Cor. 16:8-9 3. Acts 20:6-12 - this is the THEM B. The honor of the Son - vs. 14 - this is God’s desire 1. God always leads US IN TRIUMPH - always, As a traveling evangelist friend says, "Christ cannot lose for winning," 2. Victory march - a. Like the Roman general going to war - conquers. The army marches back in to home area wearing military best, clean and shiny, General in front, then the army. In the back representatives of the captives in ropes or chains. Sweet smelling flowers and incense might line the road. b. Christ, the victor, went out to battle against Satan and sinners. He has conquered the enemy. We believers, as captives, follow along behind Christ. We follow not only as captives, but as part of His army. We are the victors. We become the sweet smell of victory. The world is full of the stench of sin and we are like the sweet aerosol. We exude the fragrance of Christ by our words and actions - snifff! Ahhh! Everywhere we go and in every place.
THE PURPOSE OF THE GOSPEL.
II. Response of God - 15-17 A. Two responses of people - 1. Life or death. Some will hear and believe. Others will hear and refusing harden themselves even more. Either way the word of Christ has had its effect. Who is sufficient for these things, who is adequate to do anything for God. A most impossible task. II Cor. 3:4-6. Our sufficiency is from God ALONE. **Every word of the gospel you share is an aroma of Christ. Our job is to speak and show forth Christ. It is a win/win situation. Go out and share, tell and speak again. Those who hear will join the victory parade. Those who refuse to repent will exalt God’s wrath and justice. Christ wins either way. 2.. - vs. 16 - Peddling/corrupting a.. To treat like junk, cheap merchandise (dollar Tree, Dollar Store - buy and break easily Take or leave it or value it little. Do you love the word or only read and study as little as conscience will let you get away. Take verses out of context to suit your fancy. b. Peddling - sell it - megabucks in the gospel business. c.. Dilute, water down - adding or removing gospel truth. Some say forget Hell preaching or preach morality=godly gospel. Others add to grace alone through faith in Christ.
You must do certain things to be a Christian. Non No No.Gospel is one of grace alone, no works. SINCERITY = honest and truthful with it. B. God always works. 1. Christ is a sweet savor - Eph. 2:2 can you smell Him? He’s here today. Whether in pretext or in truth, when Christ is preached, Christ wins. Phil. 1:15-18 Even if one peddles truth or preaches from wrong motives, Christ is preached. 2. God loves to hear you brag on Jesus. I Cor. 1:30-31 Go out and share the aroma of Christ and glory in the Lord.
Weapons, Water and Walls Isaiah 21-22
Have you read the paper or listened to the news recently? Local, national, around the world - people are troubled and causing trouble. People do foolish of things. Looking to yourself will lead to ruin.
Verses 1-2- People are noisy and joyous, yet dying of disease. Your neighbors are full of pain and sorrow, yet run around trying to disguise it - with pleasures and busyness.
Verses 3-4 - The rulers flee bound and enslaved. These four verses are a picture of everyone at birth, at conception. John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil, Ephesians 2:1-2 dead in trespasses and sins; in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, Romans 6:16 Do you not know that to whom you yield yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? - slaves of the cruel master - SIN.
Unsaved, unbeliever, soul living in sin "What ails you that you joy?" You are heading for destruction. Looking to yourself leads to ruin.
**What is your response, my people?- Are you filled with sorrow, even to tears? I need to be more compassionate Jer. 4:19-22 I am pained at my very heart; my heart makes a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because you have heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war. Destruction upon destruction is cried; for the whole land is spoiled: suddenly are my tents spoiled, and my curtains in a moment. How long shall I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet? For My people is foolish, they have not known Me; they are sottish children, and they have no understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.
Verses 5-7 - Trouble, downtrodden, perplexity, breaking down, mourning, war. . This is the life of each who works his own way. Hebrews 2:14b-15 14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. John 10:10a The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. ; Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ** When the enemy of your soul attacks throughout the day, what do you do? Looking to yourself leads to ruin. Verse 8 - remove protection, reveal Judah - Lamentations 1:8 Jerusalem has sinned gravely, Therefore she has become vile. All who honored her despise her Because they have seen her nakedness; Yes, she sighs and turns away.
Spiritually you are weak and naked without Christ. Hebrews 4:12-13 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two‑edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
When you are troubled, embarrassed and ashamed at your sin and self, what do you do? Ps. 33:16-17 No king is saved by the multitude of an army; A mighty man is not delivered by great strength. A horse is a vain hope for safety; Neither shall it deliver any by its great strength.
You are weak without Christ. Your weapons will do you no good. Weapons of withdrawal, humor, nastiness, cruelty. Weapons come in many shapes. Looking to yourself will lead to ruin. ADVANCE \d13 Verses 9.-11 - Water to pools. No water = no live. Many care for the physical and ignore the spiritual. Is. 12:3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.
***Not looking to Maker, not respect Him. In family problems, work, church what do you do? Complain, criticize, figure out on own how to fix it, is this what you do first and most? Or PRAY, PRAY, and leave burden with Jesus. Looking to self leads to ruin. '
Verse 12 -13 - Joy and gladness In danger or distress, do you repent? The Kekchi Indians of Guatemala describe repentance as "it pains my heart." Baouli of West Africa describe repentance as "it hurts so much I want to quit it." Being sorry is not enough, remorse js not enough, God demands each of us to repent.
Glad, feast, drink and ignore the danger or "oh well, just enjoy till it comes." To seek self is to focus on self and ruin.
Verse 14 - No atonement -You will die if you do not change - Mom looks out window on snowy day. Saw son Danny, 7, sled into street. Called him into house said, "I've told you never to go out into the street. Stay in house rest of day." Heard kids enjoyinig sledding. Early evening, "Mom, may I go out again? “ Mom, "Remember to stay in the yard." Five minutes later Danny was dead - crushed by car when sledded out into street. Repentance could have saved Danny's life. How often do you spiritually sled out into the street in disobedience to God. Looking to yourself leads to ruin.
Isaiah's Example: Shebna and Eliakim 15-20 -> Bounced to Babylon. Look to yourself = ruin. Did not believe God's word about judgment. He was "over the house" as a servant. Claimed great power for himself but God threw him down. Just like Satan. ADVANCE \d14Verses 21-25 - Name means 'God raises up' - a picture of Christ. a. A servant of the King. governing for God -Is. 9:6 b. a father - Job. 29:16, Is. 9:6 c. Key - safety of palace committed to Him - Church is protected by Christ. authority - open and closes Rev. 3: 7 and Mt. 28:18 d. nail- hang glory of house on Christ.
Efiakim was removed - > men are frail and fails. To lean on men is foolish. Christ was cut off but He is the faithful servant over Him own house. All authority resides with Him. He is the safety of His house. To Him be the glory.
Look to yourself, to flesh, world = ruin. Do not trust your weapons, your own water, or your walls. Trust Christ. Look to your Maker and have respect unto Him. |
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Sovereign Grace Baptist Church Mailing Address Ken Mick - Pastor/Counselor Phone: 413-447-8127 Email: kmickjr@verizon.net © 2004-2008, Sovereign Grace Church, all rights reserved Web Design by BW Web Designs
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