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Not Above That Ye Are Able

Introduction: 1 Cor. 10:13

1. What do we say to those who cry, “I don’t know if I can live the Christian life.”

1) They’ve seen others fold under temptations.

2) They’ve not been able to conquer certain habits.

2. Here the apostle Paul gives a promise from a faithful God. You can trust Him.

1) No uncommon temptations.

2) No temptation beyond your ability.

3) No temptation without a way of escape.

Discussion:

I.   NO UNCOMMON TEMPTATION

1. Eve in the garden, Gen. 3:6.

2. Jesus in the wilderness, Matt. 4:3-10.

3. Summary of John, 1 John 2:16.

II.  NO TEMPTATION BEYOND YOUR ABILITY

1. WE ARE RESPONSIBLE, Eze. 18:20. No temptation beyond ability is implied.

2. God sets boundaries in the spiritual world as he has in the physical world, Job 1:8-10

1) Demons can’t control you.

2) Satan can’t make you do anything.

III. NO TEMPTATION WITHOUT A WAY OF ESCAPE

1. David & Bathsheba, 2 Sam. 11:1-2.

2. Acts 5:1-4, “Was it not in thine own power?”

3. Way of escape may come through endurance, suffering, even death.

4. Way of escape does not mean escaping effects or persecution but escaping offense to God, Rev. 2:10.

5. Already in the grasp of sin? God still provides a way, Acts 8:22; 1 John 1:7-9.

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Ye Are The Salt of The Earth
Introduction: Matt. 5:13

1. It is impurities that cause salt to lose its taste.

2. Clay, sand, etc., might make the salt useless.

3. Impurities cause men to be useless or good for nothing.

4. Jesus is speaking of sin.

5. What makes us impure? 1 John 2:16.

DISCUSSION:

I.   LUST OF THE FLESH

1. Live after flesh – die, Rom. 8:13.

2. Mind of the flesh is death, Rom. 8:6.

3. Flee fornication, 1 Cor. 6:18.

4. Works of the flesh, Gal. 5:19-21.

II.  LUST OF THE EYES

1. Keep yourselves from covetousness, Luke 12:15.

2. Looketh – to lust, Matt. 5:28.

3. Put it to death, Col. 3:5.

4. Be content, Heb. 13:5.

III. PRIDE OF LIFE

1. Luke 12:16-21 (Eat, drink and be merry).

2. Rev. 3:17 (Need of nothing).

3. John 6:66-68, “Thou hast the words…”

4. James 1:17, “Every good … gift.”

Conclusion:

1. Be free from impurities. “Be ye holy…” (1 Pet. 1:16).

2. 1 John 1:7-9

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Christian Persistence

INTRODUCTION:

1. Often the difference between heaven and hell is persistence.

2. The value of persistence was highlighted recently in the news.

3. If you fail to learn persistence you will fail to get to heaven.

DISCUSSION:

I.   FOCUS ON POSSIBILITIES, NOT CIRCUMSTANCES

1. Remember the power of God.

2. Rom. 4:17-21

II.  REMEMBER OTHERS WHO HAVE MADE IT

1. V. Alexeev and 500 lbs.

Alexeev, a legendary Olympic weight lifter, was the first to lift 500 lbs. in the Clean and Jerk. In this lift 500 lbs. was thought to be impossible. Alexeev thought it impossible himself. He would lift 499½, 499¾ but not 500. One day a trainer loaded up the bar to over 500 but didn’t tell him. He lifted it as usual and then was told. Word got around that 500 wasn’t the impossible barrier that everyone thought and soon all the top lifters broke the 500 lb. barrier.

After it had been done, others could do it. Others have faced the hardships and challenges of the Christian life. So can you.

2. Heb. 12:1-2

III. YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU CAN DO UNTIL YOU HAVE TO

1. Grandpa at Okinawa

My grandfather was in the navy in WWII. He was in the Pacific war. At the battle of Okinawa, when the Kamikazes were raining down on the fleet, the ship Grandpa was serving on was hit through the bow at the waterline. Grandpa was sent with others below deck and sealed in. He was ordered to seal up the breach or the ship would sink. With water coming in the holes in the ship and rising Grandpa and others had to work mostly underwater to seal the breaches.

It was this experience that caused him to pass on to me these words, “You don’t know what you can do, ’til you HAVE to.”

Who knows what you’ll be faced with as a Christian. Fact is, whatever comes you CAN endure it. Others have before you. You can too.

2. Rev. 2:10

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Rejecting the Counsel of God

Introduction: Luke 7:30

1. The Pharisees and Lawyers heard the counsel of God as the rest did.

2. He saw the confirmation as the rest did. Knew about John and Zacharias. Knew the prophecies.

3. Yet they rejected God’s counsel. Wouldn’t obey.

4. Their sins needed remission like the rest. Wouldn’t accept God’s remedy.

5. Don’t reject the counsel of God.

DISCUSSION:Don’t reject the counsel of God because…

I.   THE WAY OF MAN IS INSUFFICIENT.

1. Jer. 10:23, way of man not in himself.

2. Prov. 14:12, ways of death.

II.  THERE IS NOWHERE ELSE TO GO

1. John 6:68, to whom shall we go?

2. Heb. 10:26, no more sacrifice for sins.

III. THE PENALTY IS SEVERE

1. Rom. 11:22, goodness and severity of God.

2. Heb. 10:26-31.

CONCLUSION:Don’t reject the counsel of God

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Blessed are the Peacemakers…

Introduction: Matt. 5:9

1. The world doesn’t agree. Those able to wage war, engender strive are rewarded.

1) The warlord, revolutionary, the thug,

2) The bully is rewarded.

3) These rewards come by force.

2. Jesus stands in stark opposition to this thought. He epitomizes the peacemaker. He teaches peace in a world of “might makes right.”

DISCUSSION:

I.   JESUS CAME TO BRING PEACE BETWEEN GOD AND MAN.

1. Man is at odds with God because of sin, Rom. 6:23; Rom. 8:7.

2. Jesus brings peace, Rom. 14:17; Eph. 2:17-19.

II.  JESUS CAME TO BRING PEACE BETWEEN MAN AND MAN

1. He calls us to end gossip, backbiting, quarreling, hatred.

2. Rom. 12:18; 14:19

III. PEACEMAKERS ARE CALLED THE CHILDREN OF GOD

1. Sons of God (ESV).

2. The overcomer will be His son, Rev. 21:7.

3. “Now are we the sons of God,” 1 John 3:2.

4. Peacemaking is an attribute of God. Like Father like son.

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See That None Render Evil…

Introduction: Read 1 Thess. 5:15

1. Paul gives instructive commands to the new Christians in Thessalonica.

2. What shall the Christian reaction to persecution be?

DISCUSSION:

I.   SEE THAT NONE RENDER EVIL FOR EVIL.

1. Resist not evil, Matt. 5:39; 5:44-45.

2. Love ye your enemies, Luke 6:35.

3. Avenge not yourselves, Rom. 12:17-21.

4. Like Jesus, 1 Pet. 2:22; 3:9.

II.  EVER FOLLOW THAT WHICH IS GOOD.

1. Peace and edification, Rom. 14:19; Heb. 12:14.

2. Follow after…, 1 Tim. 6:11.

3. Do good, 1 Pet. 3:11.

4. Doeth good, of God, 3 John 11.

5. Rom. 12:17, “in the sight of all men.”

6. Do good unto all men, Gal. 6:10.

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Open His Eyes That He May See

INTRODUCTION: 2 Kings 6:8-17

1. Through the prophet the king learned what he could not see.

2. Through the prophet Gahazi learned what he could not see.

3. Through Jesus Christ we learn things we cannot see. Hebrews 1:1-2

DISCUSSION:

I.   THE BLACKNESS OF SIN.

1. His very name means “savior.” Matthew 1:21

2. Without Him we will die in our sins. John 8:24

3. How do we know how bad sin is? We cannot begin to understand until we view the cross. Matthew 26:28

II.  HEAVEN AND HELL.

1. Matthew 26:31ff

2. John 14:1-4

3. Rev. 21

III. THE RESURRECTION.

1. John 5:25-29

2. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

3. John 11:25-26; 43

4. 1 John 3:2

5. 1 Corinthians 15:50ff

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Sermon on Crucifying the Flesh – How to Crucify the Flesh

SUBJECT: Obedience

TITLE: How To Crucify The Flesh

PROPOSITION: To teach the meaning and the actions involved in crucifying the flesh.

OBJECTIVE: That the hearer might understand what it means to crucify the flesh to the end that he might accomplish it.

INTRODUCTION: Read Galatians 5:24.

1. Paul’s argument — We have been called unto liberty, Gal. 5:13, but this gives us no license to live after the flesh.

2. He identifies what he means by the works of the flesh, vv. 19-21. We understand that we are not to be involved in such.

3. We are to walk in the Spirit, v. 16 and bear the fruit of the Spirit, vv. 22-23.

4. I want us to ponder, however, the word “crucify.” We are to “crucify” the flesh.

1) Not pound, beat, or smash.

2) Not kill, murder, or massacre.

3) CRUCIFY!

5. Have you pondered the intensity involved in what Paul is saying?

6. Why did Paul say, “CRUCIFY the flesh?”

DISCUSSION: Paul said “crucify” because:

I.   WE MUST THINK ABOUT CALVARY

1. What was done to Jesus is what must be done to the works of the flesh. Psa. 22:1-7

2. The crucifixion was a concentrated effort to embarrass, silence, discredit and eradicate Jesus.

1) He was nailed (John 20:25) to a cross and left to writhe in pain.

2) He was tortured and murdered horribly.

II.  WE MUST GET AWAY FROM THE EDGE OF SIN

1. Many are “close enough” Christians.

1) Not really modest but “close enough.”

2) Not really sober but “close enough.”

3) Not really clean of speech but “close enough.”

4) Close enough that we don’t think that anyone will call us on it.

a. We only tell “white” lies.

b. We say “bless his heart” when we gossip about someone.

c. We only speed when we really “need” to.

d. We’re only really immodest when we’re at the beach.

2. But Paul said CRUCIFY.

III. CRUCIFIXION IS SYNONYMOUS WITH OBEDIENCE

1. The deepest most profound sense of obedience.

1) Luke 9:23, Obedience is taking up the cross.

2) Gal. 2:20, Obedience is being crucified with Christ, Christ living in him.

3) Heb. 5:8-9, Made perfect by his obedience.

2. So we should understand that crucifying the flesh requires the deepest and most profound sense of obedience. It’s a serious matter.

CONCLUSION:

1. If you don’t yet understand what Paul meant when he said “crucify the flesh” imagine…

1) The malevolent intent of the Jews as they shouted, “Crucify him, crucify him.”

2) The same malevolence in Paul toward sin when he writes, “Crucify the flesh.”

2. If you do this you’ll understand what to do.

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Why in Bethlehem, to Shepherds?

Sermon on the Birth of Jesus

Listen

INTRODUCTION: Luke 2:8-14

1. On the night of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, an angel appeared and called on mankind to rejoice.

2. Then the hosts of Heaven appeared and glorified God and pronounced peace and goodwill to the inhabitants of planet Earth.

3. The announcement was not made in Rome or Jerusalem or even in the East among wise men.

4. It was made exclusively to the lowly; to shepherds in the field.

5. It makes one wonder, WHY? Why, in the wisdom of God was this announcement made near Bethlehem, to shepherds?

DISCUSSION: Let’s begin with the obvious.

I.   BETHLEHEM IS THE CITY OF DAVID.

1. There is no one person in the Old Testament more associated with the Messiah

1) 2 Samuel 7:16, “Thy throne shall be established forever.”

2) Jeremiah 23:5, “I will raise unto David a righteous branch and a king shall reign and prosper.”

3) Micah 5:2, “Thou Bethlehem Ephratah.” Chief priests and scribes agreed, Matthew 2:6.

2. It is very likely that David, a shepherd of Bethlehem kept his father’s sheep in those same fields.

II.  STILL, WHY DID GOD PROPHESY THE BIRTH OF JESUS IN BETHLEHEM?

1. Jerusalem is only 6 miles north of Bethlehem.

2. How much sense would Rome have made for making it known?

3. God didn’t want it that well known at this point. (Herod)

4. Here’s my main point.

1) By making the announcement to the poor of Judean pastures the poor could NEVER be marginalized in Christianity. The rich were not even present at its heavenly announcement.

2) This is an announcement from the very first that Salvation Full and Free is available to…

a. Unclean Judean shepherds.

b. The conquered and enslaved of the Roman Empire.

c. The untouchables of India.

d. The native peoples of the South Pacific and the remote jungles and rain forests of Africa and South America.

e. The slaves of our recent past.

f. Our children, should America fall.

3) Anyone who knows the story of Jesus can know this simple truth: Salvation is not something just for the rich to claim. Anyone can say, IT CAN BE MINE!!!

CONCLUSION:

1. Indeed, Glory to God in the Highest.

2. Follow His Son

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“Sin Night”

1. Local bar advertised on a marquee, “Sin Night.”

1) The usual amount of drinking, carousing, and lusting wasn’t enough.

2) They needed an occasion to sin to entice more customers.

2. Our answer to this is…

1) Sadness – “terror of the Lord,” 2 Cor. 5:11.

2) Outrage – led astray, Matt. 18:6.

3) Warning – severity, Rom. 11:22.

3. We need to be warned, Isa. 59:1-2; Rom. 6:23.

DISCUSSION: With the example of the local bar in mind we ask ourselves if we take occasions to sin.

I.   HOLIDAYS AND FAMILY

1. Brethren neglected, Lord forsaken.

2. Matt. 12:48-50

II.  HUNTING AND FISHING

1. Worship in the deer stand?

III. WINTER VACATION. AN OCCASION:

1. to be immodest.

2. to consume alcohol.

3. to vacation from worship.

CONCLUSION:

“Flee also youthful lusts” 2 Ti. 2:22

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