SERMON SEEDS
Q15 – THE WEEK OF APRIL 16, 2018
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LUKE 12:22-34 – JESUS’ WORLD OF FINANCE
In 2005, I needed a financial advisor. I turned to John, a friend of mine since college days. We’ve now known each other for over 50 years.
Since then, John, has given me advice and helped me make right decisions as a friend. Although, compared to most of his clients, I have little, John has treated me as if I had a lot of money.
Although John has been a good financial advisor, we have a Heavenly one! The Lord Jesus, and God’s word through the guidance of the Holy Spirit gives us much guidance about finances, and what’s important. Adding what we saw Jesus say about finances last week to what we have already read this week, we find four important words of advice in what I call, “Jesus’ World of Finance.”
- DON’T BE GREEDY! – Luke 12:15-21
(Covered last in last sermon, Q14)
Proverbs 23:4-5, 1 Timothy 6:10-12
- DON’T WORRY! – Luke 12:22-28
Vs. 24 - Ravens were unclean birds and were not appreciated. They are in the same family as crows and magpies.
We admire the robins, goldfinches, and cardinals, but not crows. God takes care of them as well!
- Vs. 25 – Worrying will not add a single second to your life span! Psalm 90:10, Hebrews 9:27
- Vs. 27 – Lilies refer to any flowering plant.
- Vs. 28 – Sums it up! Little Faith! Psalm 23:1
- Darrell Bock – “Worry casts doubt on God’s care,” and “The essence of trust is to recognize that God will take care of what is in his hands.”
- PRIORITIZE! – Luke 12:29-32
- Vs. 31 – Seek God’s kingdom first and God will meet your needs, not your greeds! It does not mean that we cease to make a living, but our #1 desire is the furtherance of his Kingdom.
- We seek the Kingdom when we seek the coming of King Jesus and act accordingly. Titus 2:11-13
- We seek the kingdom when we carry out the King’s plans! Matthew 28:18-20
- INVEST! – Luke 12:33-34
- Let me give you a basic principle to live by: When Jesus is your Lord and Master, nothing belongs to you. If he wants you to sell something to help others, by all means, do so! Think of how much good the rich man in Luke 12:16-21 could have done if he gave of his excess to the poor instead of desiring to build bigger barns.
- Jesus did not say “Sell all you have.” He seems to say that when people are putting their wealth between themselves and God as the Rich Young Ruler did (Mark 10:17-22)
By giving of alms we help those in need. By giving to the church missions we further the Gospel.
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PSALM 61:5 ETC. – DEALING WITH A FOOL
Psalm 61:5 - …thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.
What is the heritage of those that fear God’s name?
- Position – Child of God – John 1:12-13
- Place – Heaven – John 14:6
- Profit – Rewards – 1 Corinthians 4:5
- Prayer – Answered – James 5:16-18
- Peace – With and of God – Romans 5:1, Philippians 4:6-7
- Power – Holy Spirit, Ephesians 3:16, Acts 1:8
- Protection – Psalm 61:3, Psalm 121
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ECCLESIASTES 5:1-16 – GOD AT WORK
#6 OF 11 OUTLINES ON ECCLESIASTES
Man has various relationships. Ecclesiastes 5 talks about some of these.
BETWEEN MAN AND GOD - Vss. 1-7
- Watch Your Works - Vs. 1 "Keep your foot" means "watch your step". We should be careful of our behavior when we enter the house of God. We should be quick to listen and resist offering "the sacrifice of fools". Evidently the sacrifice of fools is to offer something to God when our heart and soul aren't in it.
- Watch Your Words - Vss. 2-3 – Solomon appears to be talking about prayer in these two verses. The secret of effective praying is in our heart preparation. We must humble ourselves before God and listen before we speak.
- Keep Your Vows – Vss. 4-7
BETWEEN MAN AND GOVERNMENT - Vss. 8-9
Solomon is warning us not to be surprised at corruption in government.
Of course, we are to obey the government. Romans 13:1-7
BETWEEN MAN AND GOLD - Vss. 10-17
- Riches Do Not Satisfy - Vs. 10
- Riches Produce Sponges - Vs. 11a – A sponge is someone who wants to soak up your riches. The more we have, the more others want. My Dad had a friend who once asked somebody to be the executor for his will. The first thing the would-be executor did was to ask for a 30- thousand-dollar loan.
- The Things Riches Buy Are Of Limited Value - Vs. 11b
- Riches Can Cause Loss Of Sleep - Vs. 12
- There Is No Guaranteed Security In Riches - Vss. 13-17
BETWEEN MAN AND GRATITUDE - Vss. 18-20
A person should work hard and enjoy the blessings that God has given him.
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MARK 2:1-12 – PROOFS THAT JESUS IS GOD
People want proof that Jesus is God – Here are four simple ones:
HE SEES AND RESPONDS TO FAITH – Vss. 1-5
HE FORGIVES SIN – Vss. 5, 11
HE KNOWS WHAT WE THINK – Vss. 6-8
HE DOES WHAT HE SAYS HE WILL DO – Vss. 9-12
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1 CORINTHIANS 3:11-15 – GIVING AN ACCOUNT
The Christian need not fear condemnation and sentencing to hell. Romans 8:1. He will not be judged at the "Great White Throne" of Revelation 20:11-15.
The Christian, will, however stand before the "Judgment Seat Of Christ" to give account for his service after salvation. 1 Corinthians 4:5, 2 Corinthians 5:10, Romans 14:12
Our current passage teaches us a little of what this judgment of believers will be like.
THE FIRE OF EVALUATION Vss. 12-13
THE FORMULA FOR RETRIBUTION Vss. 14-15
The Christian is rewarded for the permanent good he's done.
If "fire" burns everything he has, he is still saved, but has suffered loss of reward.
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GENUINE COUNTERFEITS – REVELATION 13
THE BACK OF THE BOOK #12 (REVELATION)
This is a series of complete study notes. If you take a premillennial, pretribulational, position in prophecies, these notes may be helpful. I have shared these previously.
REVELATION 13
GENUINE COUNTERFEITS
THE BACK OF THE BOOK #12
- Over the years counterfeit Christianity has taken many forms. Can you name some of them?
- The ultimate counterfeit to Christianity will take place during the Tribulation.
- There will be an “unholy trinity”, masterminded by Satan himself. This threesome will deceive those who are not saved.
- The “unholy trinity” will consist of the dragon (Satan), the Antichrist, and the False Prophet.
- After being introduced to the dragon in Revelation 12, we now meet the other two members of this group. They are counterfeiting the work of God’s Holy Trinity, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit
THE FIRST BEAST – THE ANTICHRIST – Vss. 1-10
1. HIS POWER – Vs. 1-3
- Vs. 1 – The “sea” could refer to the Gentile nations, or the “bottomless pit”. Revelation 11:7, 17:8
- It is apparent that the Antichrist will be demonically controlled. He will be strongly influenced by Satan.
- The “beast” definitely refers to a person, and probably to the kingdom he will rule. It is hard to separate, in our thinking, a powerful king from his kingdom.
- “…those seven heads represent seven successive world empires: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, and Antichrist’s final world kingdom.” John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Revelation 12-22,, (Chicago, Moody Press, 1999), p. 43
- The ten horns are representative of the “revived Roman empire”, of which the Antichrist will be the head.
- This will be the most blasphemous kingdom that ever existed.
- Vs. 2 – Daniel gives us a similar description in Daniel 7:3-7. This kingdom will have the qualities of Babylon (lion), Medo-Persia (bear), and Greece (leopard).
- Vs. 3 – Satan will evidently pull off the great deception of the Antichrist dying and coming back to life. This will cause the world to be in awe of the beast.
2. HIS PRAISE – Vss. 4, 8
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- Satan desires to be worshipped. Isaiah 14:13-14, Matthew 4:9-10
- He will get his wish as both he and the dragon receive homage from those who are unsaved. They will declare that there is none like him.
- It is encouraging to note that true Christians will not bow down to worship the Antichrist, and that their names are securely written in “the Lamb’s Book of Life”.
3. HIS PERVERSITY – Vss. 5-7
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- Vs. 5 - Although Antichrist will be on the scene for the whole Tribulation, the last three and a half years will be when he is most ruthless.
- It is encouraging to note that the Antichrist has a limited time frame in which to work.
- Vss. 5-6 – Like most dictators, the Antichrist will have a mouth and know how to use it! He will blaspheme publicly and outrageously against God, God’s name, God’s tabernacle (Heaven), and those that dwell in Heaven.
- Vs. 7 - Antichrist will have power given to him to “make war with the saints, and to overcome them”.
- His reign during the last half of the Tribulation will be worldwide.
4. THE PERSEVERANCE (OF THE SAINTS) – VSS. 9-10
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- The instructions given here actually are encouragement to the Tribulation saints to persevere.
- They were to persevere through imprisonment or death. James 1:2-8, 1 Peter 4:14
- Such perseverance is only possible through faith. Hebrews 11:6
THE SECOND BEAST – THE FALSE PROPHET – Vss. 11-18
1. HE WILL BE DYNAMIC – Vss. 11-13
- Vs. 11 - The False Prophet will be the spokesman for the Antichrist. He will not come out of the raging sea, but the earth. Some think this will make him to be milder in his approach.
- He had 2 horns, which represent power. Although he will have some power, he will not have the same power as Christ, who is referred to as having seven horns in Revelation 5:6.
- He will appear to be meek like a lamb, but with the mouth of a dragon, he will be a formidable foe.
- Vs. 12 – The False Prophet’s power will be up to par with the Antichrist. His purpose will be to cause people to worship the Antichrist.
- Vs. 13 – Because the False Prophet is a counterfeit, he will try to do the same things God does through his servants. He will bring fire down from Heaven like God’s two witnesses.
Revelation 11:5
2. HE WILL BE DECEPTIVE – Vss. 14-15
- By using many deceptive signs and wonders the False Prophet will influence the world to make an image of the Antichrist which will be worshipped.
- This very possibly is the “Abomination of Desolation” that Daniel refers to in Daniel 9:27.
Matthew 24:15
- Somehow the image that is made will be given “life” by the False Prophet. We are not sure how this will be accomplished, but it will be a reason for worshipping the beast.
- Whoever does not worship the image will be sentenced to death.
3. HE WILL BE DEMANDING – Vss. 16-18
- Vs. 16 – Each person will be required to receive the “mark of the beast” in his right hand or forehead. Could this be a computer chip?
- Vs. 17 – No one will be able to buy or sell unless they have the proper identification.
- Vs. 18 – The number of the Antichrist is “666”.
- In the day that he appears people will be able to identify him, but any such attempt at identification is fruitless now.
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SONG FOR ALL SEASONS – A TOPICAL MESSAGE
BASED ON THE HYMN “IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL”
Words – Horatio Spafford, Music – P.P. Bliss
This hymn was written after two major traumas in Spafford’s life. The first was the great Chicago Fire of October 1871, which ruined him financially (he had been a wealthy businessman). Shortly after, while crossing the Atlantic, all four of Spafford’s daughters died in a collision with another ship. Spafford’s wife Anna survived and sent him the now famous telegram, “Saved alone.” Several weeks later, as Spafford’s own ship passed near the spot where his daughters died, the Holy Spirit inspired these words. They speak to the eternal hope that all believers have, no matter what pain and grief befall them on earth.
- When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Refrain:
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
- Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
- My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
- And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
All of the above information came from the Cyber Hymnal a long time ago.
This is a great hymn. It is a hymn which, I feel is a hymn for all seasons. As you rely on the Scriptural truths behind this hymn, you will find this to be a hymn that will help you get through each part of your lives. This hymn will also assist each of us in this room, as we make the truths of this hymn real in our own lives.
As we consider this hymn for all seasons, we want to see,
THE PARTS OF LIFE
When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When trials lie sea-billows role
The opening words of this song remind us that life is a mixed bag.
There will be various parts of life. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
THE PROBLEM WITH SIN
Thou Satan should buffet, tho trials should come...
You have an enemy!
Your enemy is the Spirit being who rebelled against God, Satan, and his forces of evil. 1 Peter 5:8, Ephesians 6:12, 2 Corinthians 11:14
Satan is, however, not your biggest problem, or your biggest enemy. Neither are the trials that will come to your life.
The biggest problem is the result of Satan's temptations, and the cause of trouble in the world.
The problem is sin. Sin is failure to please God. Sin is going my own way, and doing my own thing, disregarding God. Sin is disobedience against God. We have all sinned! Isaiah 64:6, Romans 3:10-18, 23
Ezekiel 18:4 says in part - The soul that sinneth it shall die;
Death is separation. Because of sin we are separated from God now.
In the future there is eternal separation which is referred to as "hell"/.
Israel was told in Isaiah 59:2, But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid [his] face from you, that he will not hear.
THE PROVISION OF CHRIST
Please notice what the hymn writer says in the second stanza:
Thoug Satan should buffet, tho trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed his own blood for my soul
Here we see the love of God at work.
Here we are reminded of the work of the Lord Jesus.
Here we are told of the forgiveness that is available in Christ. 1 John 4:10,
Isaiah 53:2-6
The price for your sin was paid in full on the cross.
What you couldn't do, atone for your own sins, Jesus did for you on the cross.
All that is required of you is faith in Christ!
My sin oh, the bliss of this glorious thought:
My sin not in part, but the whole is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, oh my soul.
If you already know the Lord as your Savior, you also know that you continue to sin.
God is not pleased with you sin.
But, it is paid for on the cross.
It is covered by the blood of Christ.
This does not mean that you should take sin lightly.
Any sin against God is a sin against the Savior who gave his all for you.
That indeed is serious!
But there is still forgiveness.
There is forgiveness that means you will be in Heaven in spite of any new sin.
There is forgiveness which restores communication with God.
We must remember that sin grieves God, and hinders the fellowship, peace, and answered prayer that come from him. 1 John 1:8-10, Psalm 32:5
Please keep short accounts with God.
Confess your sins. Remember, the price has been paid. They've been nailed to the cross. Apply the cleansing blood to your account through confession.
THE PEACE OF SOUL
The chorus is what speaks of peace for the soul.
It is well with my soul, It is well, it is well, with my soul.
The only thing a person needs to do is to turn to Christ in faith and put trust in Him. Romans 5:1
To be justified is to be declared right with God.
When you turn to Christ and place your faith in Him at a specific moment in time, you become "born again" by the Spirit of God.
You become a member of God's family. John 1:12
As a member of God's family, you now have peace with God.
You are no longer God's enemy because of sin, but you are God's child!
So, indeed you can sing "It is well with my soul!"
Is it well with your soul? If not, turn to Christ in faith this morning.
But wait, there's more!
When Horatio Spafford wrote this song, It Is Well With My Soul, he was already a Christian. He already had peace with God. But through the trials of financial reversals and dead children, Spafford was experiencing the peace of God.
Please turn to Isaiah 26:3 - Thou wilt keep [him] in perfect peace, [whose] mind [is] stayed [on thee]: because he trusteth in thee.
My Christian friend. part of life is sorrow.
My Christian friend, part of life is great distress.
My Christian friend, part of life is going to hurt.
The problems do not go away.
Many facts, like death, incurable illness, family problems, lost wages, and lost jobs, and misunderstandings do not always change.
But God has promised peace for the Christian through the difficulties.
What is the secret to a Christian's peace?
Keep you mind "staid" or focused on the Lord.
Bring the trials to Him!
Trust Him! Matthew 11:28-30, 1 Peter 5:7
THE PROMISE FOR THE FUTURE
And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll,
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
There is hope beyond this life.
You and I who know Christ are looking forward to a glorious day, when He is coming again!
John 14:1-3, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
And if you are looking forward to the Lord's coming, please remember that we are to live a certain way. Titus 2:11-13
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