SERMONS: July 2011

[1] “How To Overcome Evil”

Romans 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

INTRODUCTION: This chapter contains the ethics of Christianity. It stands in relation to Christianity, as the Sermon on the Mount, and is a sort of supplement to it. It is a perfect code of Christian requirements, and the higher elements of saintly conduct. If it could be transferred in its brightness and power to Christian professors, it would fill the world with its light and glory. I have never known but one perfect living embodiment of it, yet it is the mark at which we should aim-the life we should labour to live. The concluding paragraph is most sublime-the enemy is to be killed-the man saved. Now the text contains a great general principle, one of supreme importance.

Notice in the text.

I. TWO PRINCIPLES.

A. Evil and good

1. The existence of these requires no

argument.

i. Sin is evil - Holiness good.

a. All sin-thought, imagination,

desire, purpose, deed.

b. Holiness includes all good-

graces, virtues, purposes and

acts.

ii. Ignorance is evil - Knowledge is good.

1 Timothy 1:13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

a. Ignorance is darkness, night

b. Knowledge is light, day.

iii. Error is evil - Truth is good.

James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

a. Error is false, crooked,

perversion, etc.

iv. Selfishness is evil - Benevolence good

Proverbs 11:26 He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.

a. Selfishness, violation of the

great law - the second

commandment.

Exodus 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

v. Hate is evil - Generosity and

Love good

1 John 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

a. Love, to pity, sympathize and

help.

II. THESE PRINCIPLES ARE DIRECT OPPOSITES

A. No Likeness, The Opposites

1. Night and Day; Evil and Good; Satan and

God; Hell and Heaven:

2. They are in absolute conflict

a. In eternal conflict

B. The Conflict Between The Two Is,

1. Ancient.

i. In Heaven-in Eden.

2. Persistent.

i. Ever since.

3. Universal.

i. In all persons and places

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

4, Still rampant.

i. We see it daily.

ii. The two elements are most visibly

in conflict.

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

5. Evil is often in the lie

i. In our hearts,

ii. Paganism-barbarism.

a. Mother Nature

iii. All the curses socially the result,

III. EVIL MAY BE OVERCOME

Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

A. Evil Is Not Irresistible Or Invincible.

1. Jesus in His own life overcame it.

i. His actions temptation of Satan,

a. reviling

2. It is overcome in the sinner's conversion.

i. Evil spirit exorcised

a. Evil nature renewed

b. Evil dominion overthrown

James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

3. It has been overcome by God's people.

i. Stephen, Paul,

a. Martyrs

4. It shall be totally overcome.

i. Light,

ii. Truth,

iii. Love

IV. EVIL IS TO BE OVERCOME BY GOOD

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

A. This Is The Only Way

1. The Certain way.

i. Not devil against devil

ii. Not sin against sin

iii. Not passion against passion

iv. Not vengeance against vengeance

a. The evil must be overcome

by good.

2. See it in Redemption

Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

i. Satan the prince

a. Sin the curse

b. woe the doom.

ii. Jesus the good

a. Incarnate love

b. His grace the power

iii. He conquers by truth and love

a. By tears

b. With His precious blood

iv. See it in the Conversion of the soul.

a. The good truth

b. The good spirit

c. The good grace.

4. See it in the Separated life

Ephesians 4:21-24 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: (22) That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; (23) And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; (24) And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

i. All malice and hatred and envy

destroyed.

ii. The good and renewed nature

rising in love and goodness.

5. See it in the Conversion of the world.

i. It must be converted-absolutely certain;

ii. By love, by goodness,

iii. The world's darkness

a. By light,

b. By messages of

reconciliation

c. By the loving Christ

d. By the loving Spirit.

iv. God's own method is to overcome

evil with good.

CONCLUSION: We as Christians are in a battle, with the reward of souls for Christ. Our text (v 20) says “…overcome evil with good.” The one thing I want you to see is the word “overcome” is not an entirely passive word, it has “Go ye” within it, yet not with a hammer, sickle and a sword.

Our Sword is our King James Bible, and it is backed with our love Christ Himself and our love for the same souls He longs for us to reach.

We must consider what we are, what we have become and above all consider how we are Glorifying God. Our battle isn’t with God, His Son Jesus or the Holy Spirit. Our battle is between our ears and our heart, and the devil himself.

Our heart remembers our first father old Satan and he is familiar. It is like an old reformed drunk walking into a bar, familiar situations, and familiar smells. All real friendly, come on back we love you.

That is why we are warned to put on the WHOLE armour of God.

Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Without His armour, all that familiarity is quite inviting. Stay in His Word; then continue listening, growing in His wisdom.

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

[1] adapted from “200 Sermon Outlines” Jabaez Burns, Kregel Publications, 1999, page 193

Psalms 61:1-8 Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. (2) From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. (3) For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. (4) I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah. (5) For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name. (6) Thou wilt prolong the king's life: and his years as many generations. (7) He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him. (8) So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.

INTRODUCTION: David in distress vows that whatever comes, “I will cry unto Thee.” He determines not to be angry over affliction, and to pray with earnestness and fervency even though he is far removed from the sanctuary.

I. DAVID OFFERS HIS PETITON. (vv 1-2)

A. Hear Me God.

1. Answer my prayer.

(Jeremiah 29:13) And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

B. No Matter Where He Is.

1. I will call upon God’s name.

2. When my heart is overwhelmed.

C. Lead Me To The Rock That Is Higher

Than I.

(Psalms 18:31) For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?

II. DAVID EXPRESSES HIS TRUST. (vv 3-5)

A. David Knows God Has Provided (v 3)

1. In the past

(Psalms 91:2-4) I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. ³ Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. ⁴ He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

2. Expects He will provide in the future

(Psalms 27:5) For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

B. David Knows He Is Heaven Bound. (v 4)

1. I will abide in thy tabernacle (Heaven)

(Psalms 122:1) I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.

2. I will trust in the (covert) shelter.

C. God Has Heard My Vows

(Deuteronomy 23:21) When thou shalt vow a vow unto the LORD thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the LORD thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee.

(Ecclesiastes 5:4) When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.

1. I am of God’s heritage

(Isaiah 54:17) No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

i. Of those that fear the Lord.

III. DAVID PRAYS FOR LONGEVITY. (vv 6-7)

A. Thou Will Prolong My Life.

(1 Kings 3:14) And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.

B. The Lord Has Been A Strong Tower.

1. David will abide before God

ii. Forever

(Daniel 12:2) And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

2. Give me mercy and truth

(Psalms 40:11) Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.

3. Which preserves me

(Psalms 37:28) For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.

IV. DAVID OFFERS A PROMISE (Vow) (v 8)

A. I Will Sing Praise.

1. Unto thy name

i. for ever

(Numbers 30:2) If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.

B. David Wants To Pray Daily.

1. He wants to follow God.

(Nehemiah 8:18) Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according unto the manner.

CONCLUSION: We have seen David’s desire and his promise (vow) to God.

We talk to people weekly and ask them to come to our church and some say we will be there, count on it. I know sometimes something comes up and well they just can’t make it.

They see or hear nothing providential, just their need to go to the lake, or the park, or who knows.

Now I know I am a servant of God and an elected official of this local New Testament church.

When you tell a servant of God you will serve God, and don’t I would suspect you are in trouble. They made a vow. (A promise to God)

We each have made vows to God and we need to refresh our minds about what they were, and get on our knees to beg forgiveness if we haven’t kept our promise.

(Ecclesiastes 5:4) When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.

Don’t wait pray, do your promise to God today.

Make good on your promises to God through His Son Jesus the Christ.

That is the purpose of these altars.

SERMONS

Friday, July 8, 2011

How To Overcome Evil

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

David Vows To Serve God, Will You?