SERMONS

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Fundamental Thoughts: The Beginning and the End

Fundamental Thoughts: The Beginning and the End: " When I read, Revelation 21:1-6 , quoted below, I am considering the existence of God. (I do not doub..."

The Pre-Eminence Of Christ

Colossians 1:15-19 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: (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. (18) And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (19) For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

INTRODUCTION: Jesus Christ, as God's Beloved Son, and as the Redeemer of men, has been so honoured by the Father· that in all things, in all spheres, in all times, and in all Eternity He should have the PRE-EMINENCE. He has the pre-eminence:

I. IN HIS POWER

Colossians 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:

A. It Pleased God That:

1. “by” Him,

2. “through” Him,

3. “in” Him, and

4. “for” Him,

i. All things were brought into

existence,

ii. Without Him was not anything

made that was made

John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

5. By Him also He made the universe

Hebrews 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

B. This Is The Same Christ

1. By whom,

2. Through whom,

3. In whom, and

4. For whom,

i. God is now seeking to save

sinners

ii. For the glory of His Name.

II. IN HIS BIRTH

Colossians 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

A. He Is The First:

1. The Beginning and the End

Revelation 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

2. Also He is the “…firstborn from the dead;..”

Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

B. Christ The Firstfruits,

1. Afterwards they that are Christ's at

His Coming

1 Corinthians 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

3. The firstborn usually becomes the heir.

God hath “he hath appointed [His Son] heir of all things,”

Hebrews 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

C. By His marvellous grace,

1. Those who believe in Him are made

Romans 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

III. IN HIS LIKENESS.

Colossians 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

A. Angels Are Holy,

1. Many of His people in every age have

been Godly,

2. Christ alone in His essential character

was the express image of His Person

Hebrews 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;

B. Only He could say:

John 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

1. Only He could say:

John 10:30 I and my Father are one.

2. Here we see His grace pre-eminent

IV. IN HIS AUTHORITY.

Colossians 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

A. The Physical Laws of Nature

1. Are an ordinance of God

i. He has a mighty balancing effect

in holding things together.

ii. But this law has no influence

over heavenly things.

B. Christ upholdeth all things

1. By the Word of His power

His wisdom and His will are inconstant activity over all the works of His hands. His will is done in Heaven, and the time is coming when it will be done on earth. The enmity of man’s free will is meanwhile a perennial obstacle. But all power has been given Him in Heaven and on earth, and He will yet subdue all unto Himself. The Lord shall reign.

V. IN HIS CHURCH.

Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

A. Here His Authority Is Generally Acknowledged,

1. However, does He get His true place as the leader of His Church?

2. He is also the Head of the body,

i. Not the hands that does the

thinking and the planning.

B. In His Word

1. Wee have

i. His mind,

ii. His will

2. The Church's authority and power lies in obedience to His Word,

i. Both in doctrine and in polity.

ii. What is displeasing to the Head:

a. Must be dishonouring to the body.

b. The head takes all the responsibilities of the body,

1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

3. He supplies all the needs of His Body.

Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

CONCLUSION: Colossians 1:19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

This is a Divine act of grace that God should be pleased that in Jesus Christ the world's Redeemer,

That all His fulness should dwell,

That all who are in Him by faith may be in touch with all the fulness of God.

2 Corinthians 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

John 1:16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

All the blessing we have received has come out of His fulness. Our cup may be full, but the infiniteness of His fulness still remains.

Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

Monday, May 9, 2011

THREE ATTITUDES OF JESUS

[1] THREE ATTITUDES OF JESUS

Matthew 11:20-28 Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: (21) Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. (22) But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. (23) And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. (24) But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee. (25) At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. (26) Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. (27) All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. (28) Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

INTRODUCTION: We are going to look at the attitude of Jesus. They are attitudes of in some places of compassion on the believer. Yet, the compassion was shown also for those who stood by, non-believers, people who were having trouble discerning God’s purpose, and who Jesus was.

These attitudes are directly reflecting on how we have acted, at one time or another and how are going to act likely act in the future. As Christian’s we were on the wrong side of one of Christ’s attitudes. Now that Salvation has been given through you belief, where do we now stand, I pray within the will of God.

I. HIS ATTITUDE TOWARD THE WILLFUL NON-REPENTANT.

"Woe unto thee" (v 21).

A. Think Of Their Privileges Seeing These Miracles

1. Christ’s presence with them

2. Where most of His teaching took place.

3. His most extraordinary miracles

i. The Centurions servant

a. Jesus healed him

(Matthew 8:5) And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, (v 11) “I have not found so great a faith…”

ii. Peter’s wife’s Mother

a. Jesus healed her

(Matthew 8:14) And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever. (v 15) “…He touched her hand…”

iii. All sorts

(Matthew 8:16) When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: (v 25 “…took her by the hand…’\”

(Matthew 9:1-2) And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city. (2) And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.

iii. The ruler’s daughter

a. She was healed

(Matthew 9:18) While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live. (v 25) “…took her by the hand…”

v. The woman with the bloody issue.

(Matthew 9:20) And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:

4. What mighty works were done

i. Among the unbelievers

5. How many miracles had they witnessed!

6. Christ Himself had lived among them.

7. Christ only knows the awful consequences of rejection.

B. Think Of Their Doom.

1. We have been told, however, that knowledge did not lead them to

i. To the knowledge of their sins

2. To feel their spiritual misery

3. To realize their peril.

4. To confess and turn to God.

5. To accept Christ as their Divine Saviour.

C. It Didn’t Seem That Anything Christ Did Or Said Had Any Affect,

i. They certainly did not believe.

"Woe unto thee.” (v 21)

Our responsibility will be according to our privileges.

II. HIS ATTITUDE TOWARD THE PURPOSE OF GOD.

"I thank Thee” (v 25)

He thanks His Father for two things:

A. For Hiding These Things From The Wise

1. We have wisdom of science / nature

2. We have not the wisdom of the Bible and God.

i. We have much divine wisdom is in this Holy Book.

3. What would un-saved men do with these holy things?

i. Pearls before swine.

B. For Revealing Them Unto Babes.

1. To those to receive,

2. To those to trust. and

3. To those to be thankful

(Matthew 18:3) And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

4. Not as babies, but like children, with unfaltering faith.

i. They believe what they are told.

III. HIS ATTITUDE TOWARD THE SINNER.

"Come unto Me. " (v 28) A gracious invitation, “come” in trust, not because of doctrine or law, just personal faith. John 3:16

The sovereignty of God; is no excuse for the sinner’s delay.

A. They Have Been Invited.

1. Laborers-those trying to earn rest by their works,

i. A poor-paying business.

2. Burdened ones - those staggering, helplessly and hopelessly,

i. Under the weight of sin and guilt.

B. They Have The Promise.

“I will give you rest.” (v 28)

1. He gives the laborers rest

i. By doing the work for Him -

“It is finished" (John 19:30).

C. He gives the burdened ones rest by carrying their load.

i. He bore our sins in His own body.

CONCLUSION: Here we have seen three different attitudes of Jesus. The questions I have from this study one is, “What privileges has God through His Son Jesus given you?” Have you seen His divine work in your life, and then in others lives, yet are still reluctant to trust Him?

I would suppose we should then ask “Whose disciple are you?” We saw in many of those miracles of healing that Jesus did were by the touch of His hand. We do not have His literal hand, nor do I have His literal Blood, but I do have the spiritual hand of God on me because of the Blood Christ spilt at Calvary. With what God has given me my attitude toward God is (v 25) “I thank Thee…”

We seem to stop and thank God around Thanksgiving Day. Yet, His blessing flow daily. Some days it seems they flow hourly. We need to thank God for those blessings. But be in the attitude of thankfulness within the Grace He has given those whom He has accepted by their faith and faith alone.

Matthew 11:28-29 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (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.

Look to Him and let Him be your guide through this despicable world. This is where God put us, now it is up to us to walk a path with Him. Avoid the world’s paths and seek the path of our Lord and Saviour.

How does Jesus expect us to get saved? It is not via works.

Ephesians 2:8-9 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.

We know from our Bible that is not true. We each know we are sinner, and if you believe you know some one who isn’t a sinner;

Jesus tells us through Paul in Romans we are all sinners:

(Romans 3:23) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Paul goes on and tells us there are none righteous:

(Romans 3:10) As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Paul is telling us we must understand we are all sinners and there is none, other than Jesus, that is righteous.

If you don’t comprehend that, then salvation is a ways away.

Jesus tells us in John 3:3 “Ye must be born again.”

He also tells us we must believe in John 3:15-16; Romans 10:9. Paul also tells us in

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

[1] “Handfuls On Purpose” Smith-Lee, Eerdmans Publications, Volume 1 Page 133