SERMON SEEDS
Q21 – THE WEEK OF MAY 28, 2018
_____________________________
TO VIEW PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF SERMON SEEDS CLICK ON:
http://www.fbcnhremembers.com/sermon_seeds
CLICK IN BOX THAT SAYS: VIEW ANOTHER BLOG ENTRY
TO SUBSCRIBE – SEND A BLANK EMAIL AND PLACE
THE WORD “SUBSCRIBE” IN THE SUBJECT LINE TO
TO UNSUBSCRIBE – SEND A BLANK EMAIL AND PLACE
THE WORD “UNSUBSCRIBE” IN THE SUBJECT LINE TO
___________________
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:
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.
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
If you would like to listen to this Sermon visit:
(Recording quality not as good as usual.)
http://www.fbcnhremembers.com/if_my_people
_________________________
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
_____________________
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
____________
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.
____________________________
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
__________________________________
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.
______________________________
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
MILLENNIAL REIGN – Vss. 4-6
FINAL REBELLION – Vss. 7-8
DESERVED RETRIBUTION – Vss. 9-10
DIVINE REMODELING – Vs. 11
JUDICIAL REVIEW – Vss. 12-14
JUSTIFIED REWARD – Vs. 15