SERMON SEEDS
Q21 – THE WEEK OF MAY 28, 2018
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2 Chronicles 7:14 – IF MY PEOPLE…
We come to holidays such as Memorial Day and patriotism stirs within us, and we often regret what is happening in our country. Things aren’t what they used to be.
Our text this morning is 2 Chronicles 7:14 - Read
We wonder what can be done to rectify the situation. God in his love gives us a conditional promise that will make a great difference if, we as Christians, meet the conditions.
God tells us three things from this verse about God’s people:
GOD'S PEOPLE ARE RESPONSIBLE
If my people, which are called by my name,
When these words were originally written, God's people were the Children of Israel. And although Israel is still special in God's eyes and will one day serve God through the Lord Jesus Christ, there is another people today that are the people of God.
The Lord Jesus Christ came to earth because of mankind's need for a Savior.
Every man and woman, boy and girl is a sinner.
Every man and woman, boy and girl, deserves to be punished for their sins. Romans 3:10, 23, Ezekiel 18:4
On the cross the Lord Jesus took our punishment. 1 Peter 3:18
Forgiveness and eternal life are available today when a person sincerely trusts Christ as Savior. Ephesians 2:8-9
Another great thing happens when a person trusts Christ as Savior. They become born of God, born again, and thus the children of God. We become God's people. John 1:12-13
Not only are we God's people but, as the text says, we are called by God's name. Actually we are called by the name of God's Son. We are called Christians.
When things are morally and spiritually rotten, God's people are at least partially responsible.
If my people, which are called by my name,
You might be thinking, "How can you blame all of this on us Christians?"
I believe that the problem is, at least in part, our fault for a few reasons:
- We have failed to live Godly lives. 1 Peter 1:15-16
- We have failed to be the "salt of the earth" and the "light of the world" to those around us. Matthew 5:13-16
- We have failed to witness to others.
- We have failed to really care about the conditions around us, and failing to care, we have,
- We have failed to raise our kids properly.
- We have left our first love.
- Failed to pray!
So, like it or not, we are responsible for part of the problem, because we have not been part of the solution.
GOD'S PEOPLE ARE TO REPENT
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves,
When a person repents, he or she has a change in heart and a change in direction. He is headed in the wrong direction and turns around to go in the right direction. The first part of repentance is humility.
Humility is a quality that God requires of those who would be saved. In order to have God's forgiveness we have to admit that we are sinners and can't save ourselves.
Humility is a quality that God requires of Christians.
- I believe that we as Christians need to humble ourselves in two ways. First of all, we try too hard in our own strength.
- We try to preach and teach in our strength.
- We try to have victory over sin in our strength.
- We try to solve our problems in our own strength
- We try to witness in our own strength.
- We try to pray in our strength.
- We try to raise our families in our strength.
- We fail to admit what Jesus told us in John 15:5
The sooner we realize that we are helpless without God, the better off we will be. What stops us? Our pride keeps us from humbling ourselves before God and admitting that we need His help.
Also our pride and our lusts keep us from admitting that we have sin in our lives that needs to be dealt with. We don't like admitting our sin or allowing God to take the sin away from us.
Sin is anything that God does not agree with!
We can't walk with God unless we agree with Him!
We are like the church in Ephesus that left it’s first love. Revelation 2:1-4
We get mixed up. We are intolerant of others when they sin, but extremely tolerant of ourselves when we sin. We need to be intolerant of ourselves when we sin.
When we humble ourselves before God, we are willing to admit our own helplessness and our own sinfulness.
If my people, which are called by my name ,shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face,
The next step in repentance is seeking God's face through prayer.
We fail to live holy lives because we fail to pray.
There was once a man named Nehemiah who was concerned because the city of Jerusalem was defenseless. Before he did anything else he beseeched God in repentance and prayer. Nehemiah 1:4-11
Nehemiah knew how to seek the face of God in prayer. How about you?
It is obvious that God is looking for prayers of confession. Oh, He wants prayers of petition. He wants us to ask for things. But before we can ask expecting an answer we must humble ourselves and confess our sins. Psalm 66:18, 32:5, 1 John 1:9
And with confession of sin comes turning from sin.
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways;
Turning away from sin means I've truly repented of sin. Revelation 2:5
GOD'S PEOPLE WILL BE REWARDED
then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Notice the word "then".
Don't expect God to hear, forgive or heal until you have humbly repented.
God promises to hear when we cry out to him in humble confession and forsaking of sin. When God hears, He is attentive and ready to act in our behalf.
God also promises to forgive our sin. We've already seen that. But please realize that forgiveness means a removal of guilt. So many of us walk around feeling guilty about things that God wants us simply to confess and forsake.
Finally, God promises to heal our land.
What land? – The Church!
But God also promises to heal YOUR LAND.
Perhaps it's a behavioral problem in your family.
Perhaps it's a broken relationship.
Perhaps it's a financial need.
Perhaps it's a problem with your husband or wife, son or daughter, Mom or Dad.
Perhaps it's a need for friends or loved ones to be saved.
When we are right with God, we open the door for God to answer our prayers and to meet our needs. Jeremiah 33:3, 1 John 5:14-15
First we are healed, the church is healed, and then the church impacts the country. John 13:14-15
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PSALM 18:28-38 – GOD IS
GOD IS MY LIGHT – Vs. 18
GOD IS MY STRENGTH – Vss. 29, 32, 34
GOD IS MY GUIDE – Vs. 30a
GOD IS MY PROTECTION – Vss. 30b, 33, 35, 36
GOD IS MY GOD – Vs. 31a
GOD IS MY ROCK – Vs. 31b
GOD IS MY VICTORY – Vss. 37-38
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ECCLESIASTES 11-12 – IN CONCLUSION
#12 OF 12 OUTLINES ON ECCLESIASTES
If you had to give one last word of advice to your family, what would it be?
If you had to give one last word of advice to this church, what would it be?
In these last two chapters, Solomon gives some concluding advice.
RESOURCES - 11:1-6
Solomon tells us that we must make proper investments.
We are reminded how important it is to invest in the things of the Lord.
REJOICING - 11:7-10
Youth is to be enjoyed.
REMINDERS 12:1-14
About Aging - Vss. 1-7
About Wisdom - Vss. 8-12
About Judgment - Vss. 13-14
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LUKE 20:9-19 – THE VINEYARD
REALITY OF THE VINEYARD - Vs. 9
The vineyard in this parable is the nation Israel.
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE VINEYARD - Vs. 9
God made the leaders responsible for the care of the vineyard.
REBELLION IN THE VINEYARD - Vss. 10-15
When there should have Spiritual fruit there was none.
God sent messengers (prophets) to collect the fruit and they were persecuted. Vss. 10-12
God sent His Son and they murdered Him. Vss. 13-15
RETRIBUTION FOR THE VINEYARD - Vss. 16-18
The current responsibility for the vineyard has been taken away from the leaders of Israel and has been given to the church. Matthew 28:19-20
Jesus is the cornerstone (Psalm 118:22). The one who falls upon Him in faith is broken of self-righteousness and becomes a child of God.
In Judgment He will crush the one who fails to fall on Him.
Vs. 19 - Note that the leaders realized that this parable was spoken against them.
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JOHN 12:1-8 – GUESS WHO CAME TO DINNER?
Any dinner party has a variety of guests with a variety of backgrounds. This dinner held after the resurrection of Lazarus from the dead had a variety of people involved. These people will teach us many lessons. There was:
MARTHA, WHO SERVED - SHE WAS FAITHFUL - Vs. 2
LAZARUS, WHO SAT - HE HAD FELLOWSHIP - Vs. 2
MARY, WHO SHARED - SHE WAS FERVENT (IN HER DEVOTION) - Vs. 3
JUDAS, WHO STOLE - HE WAS A FAKE - Vss. 4-6
JESUS, WHO SAVED - HE IS FANTASTIC! - Vss. 7-8
Mary understood that Jesus was going to die. She anointed Him in anticipation of what was going to happen. Jesus went to the cross to die for our sins. Faith in Him brings eternal life. John 3:16
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1 JOHN 5:11-13 – THIS IS…
THIS IS THE RECORD - Vs. 11 - And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
THIS IS THE REQUIREMENT - Vs. 12 - He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
THIS IS THE REASSURANCE - Vs. 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.
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AN ORDERLY TRANSITION – REVELATION 20
THE BACK OF THE BOOK #18 (REVELATION)
“Chapter 20 provides a great summary of many end-time events. It reveals Christ’s Millennial rule on earth, Satan’s destruction and destiny, the destiny of Tribulation saints, the order of various resurrections presented in the Bible, and details of the Great White Throne Judgment. Evidence in this chapter proves that the Premillennial interpretation is the correct view.” David Levy, Revelation: Hearing The Last Word, (Bellmawr, NJ, The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, Inc. 1999), p. 235
Revelation 20 shows us the orderly and logical transition that will take place between Christ’s victory at the Battle of Armageddon in chapter 19 and the “Eternal State” as described in Revelation 20-21.
SATAN’S RESTRICTION – Vss. 1-3
- The Battle of Armageddon will be short and decisive. The enemy armies will be destroyed and the vultures will have a feast. Revelation 19:17-21
- Vs. 1 – An angel (Michael?) will come down with a key to the “bottomless pit” (abyss) and a great chain.
- Vs. 2 – John leaves no doubt as to the identity of the one imprisoned. He is the dragon, who acts like a cruel animal. He is the “old serpent” who deceived Eve in the Garden and all of her offspring throughout the ages. He is the “Devil”, the slanderer and “accuser of the brethren”. He is “Satan”, the adversary who fights God and all believers.
- Vs. 3 - Satan will be bound for a thousand years. During that time Jesus will rule with a rod of iron. Any outward rebellion will be squelched. Psalm 2:9, Revelation 12:5
MILLENNIAL REIGN – Vss. 4-6
- Vs. 4 – Although all believers are promised to reign with Christ (Daniel 9:27, 1 Corinthians 6:2, Revelation 5:10), the Tribulation saints are in view in this verse. They, as well as Old Testament saints, will reign with Christ.
- Vs. 5 – There are two resurrections. The first resurrection is the resurrection of those who are saved. This resurrection will not take place all at once, but at different times. Daniel 12:1-3,1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, verse 4
- Those who are not saved will wait until the second resurrection after a thousand years.
- Vs. 6 – This is a beatitude. What privileges all saints have! We will be God’s priests and help rule the Millennial Kingdom! Best of all, we will not be hurt by the “second death”. Verses 14-15
FINAL REBELLION – Vss. 7-8
- Those saved people living on earth will enter into the Millennial Kingdom. Matthew 25:31-46
- They will have children, and in ideal conditions, the earth’s population will thrive.
- There will be peace, lack of disease, and an ironclad rule by Christ. This will cause the population to boom, as well as longer life spans. Isaiah 65:17-25
- Vs. 7 – God has a reason for releasing Satan and giving him another chance to wreak havoc.
- Those born during the Tribulation will not all be believers! Although they will know who Christ is, and will be submissive to His rule, many will be living in quiet rebellion. Their faith will not be in Him. Although conditions will be perfect for belief, they will not believe.
- Vs. 8 - Satan’s release will allow him to tempt the multitudes of unbelievers. They will be drawn into one last rebellion against God.
- The term “Gog and Magog” originally referred to a group of people who will invade Israel during the Tribulation and will be destroyed. Ezekiel 38-39
- Dr. John Walvoord said that one possible explanation for the use of these terms is “… that the expression is used much as we use the term ‘Waterloo’ to express a disastrous battle, but one not related to the historical origination of the term.” John Walvoord, The Revelation of Jesus Christ, (Chicago, Moody Bible Institute, 1966), p.303
- The number of those rebelling will be like “the sand of the sea”. Remember the population will have flourished, therefore the number rebelling can be huge.
DESERVED RETRIBUTION – Vss. 9-10
- Vs. 9 – The huge rebellious army will not have a chance. After they are assembled around Jerusalem, God will send fire from Heaven and they will be destroyed.
- Vs. 10 – Satan will be cast into the Lake of Fire, the final place of suffering for him, the antichrist, and the false prophet.
- Notice that the Lake of Fire is a place of permanent suffering. Those there will not be annihilated, but will suffer forever. Mark 9:43,48, 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9
DIVINE REMODELING – Vs. 11
- A great white throne will appear great in size, purity and authority.
- It is the Lord Jesus Christ who will be the judge. John 5:22, 26-27, Acts 10:42
- God is going to destroy the current heavens and earth. 2 Peter 3:10-13
JUDICIAL REVIEW – Vss. 12-14
- The unsaved dead will be raised and stand before God. Every unsaved person who ever lived will be resurrected no matter whether they were buried, burned, or drowned.
- The books will be opened and they will be judged according to their works.
- Just as there are degrees of reward for believers, there will be degrees of punishment for unbelievers. 1 Corinthians 3:11-15, 2 Corinthians 5:10
- Death and Hell (Hades) will be cast into the Lake of Fire.
JUSTIFIED REWARD – Vs. 15
- Here is the tragedy of the second death. Those not found written in the Book of Life were cast into the Lake of Fire.
- This is justified because of their wicked unbelief. John 3:36
- Understanding the severity of punishment should make us all fervent witnesses for Christ!
