Various Sermon Notes “The Secret of Pleasing God” Hebrews 11:5 Walk in Newness of Life Walk not After the Flesh – Romans 8:1 Walk Honestly Walk by Faith Walk Worthily Walk in Love Walk to Please God “The Blood of Christ” Hebrews 9:22 INTRODUCTION: Three Parts to the Blood: 1. The Red Corpuscles 2. The White Corpuscles 3. The Platelets Shed Blood is Life Sacrificed Shed Blood is Redemption’s Price What the Shed Blood of Christ Has Done “Fathers” I Corinthians 4:15 Real Fathers Examples of Devout Fathers “The Life of Sin” Romans 6:23 The Life of Sin The Wage of Sin The Gift of God “Reversing the Verdict” Isaiah 38:1-6 The Verdict The Verdict Reversed How He Reversed the Verdict “A Man’s Life” Luke 12:15,21 Introduction A Warning for “ A Man’s Life” What a Man’s Life Does not Consist In What a Man’s Life Consisteth In “A Man’s Life” James 4:14 Introduction The Scientist The Materialist REV. JAMES R. REYNOLDS, SR. 1 “THE ANT-CHRIST” 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 I. “Except there come a falling way first…” vs. 3 –a time element I Timothy 4:1 a falling away and an approval of those that are falling away (associated with this “Man of Sin” [II Thessalonians 2:3]). vs. 7 iniquity (_Greek) _= lawlessness (a sign of the “man of sin” coming) II Peter 2:1- II. Character of the Anti-Christ vs. 3 son of perdition –the embodiment of Satanic character. “Signs without truth is Anti-God.” 2 .Deliverance Center August 12, 2001 Sun Am “FREEDOM FROM SIN” Text: Romans 6:1-18 (vs. 18) The Problem We were in bondage. We were created in the image of god with a free will, dominion over all to subdue all, and given only one restriction as a test—the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. A. Rebelling against the Maker brought man in a position of slavery to sin. God did not bring man into slavery. Romans 5:21 “sin hath reigned” because men subjected himself to it We sin by choice. Many don’t know they are in bondage. Adam was created without the nature of sin, but we are born with it; we aren’t taught to sin. “Man had dominion, but subjected himself to sin and gave it dominion.” 5:21; Genesis 1:26 Also, in bondage to the law Ezekiel 18:4, 20; Romans 7:11—occasion-a base of operation in war Romans 7:14, 18 The Promise Romans 6:14 1. We have a new position—under Grace now, not the law. 2. We have a new life. Romans 6:11, 13 3. We have Divine assistance. Romans 8:1 Grace does not excuse how we live, but brings us above the law. The law being SATISFIED not BROKEN! The law of the Spirit and life offsets the law of sin and death. Romans 8:2 >>>>>>>If we let sin rule, we are in bondage<<<<<<< The Price Freedom is not free. Christ paid the price so we could have opportunity to be free from the bondage of sin. It cost Christ all to free me; it will cost me all to keep free. Freedom requires obedience. vs. 17 We are in a new position. We don’t have to let sin rule. vs. 22 vs. 18 No longer in bondage to sin, but now a bondservant to righteousness. _He bought us to make us free not to bring us to bondage!_ 3 “THE MASTER’S VISION” Matthew 9:35-38** **(v.36) saw-Greek-knowledge; perceiving; understanding He still reads hearts. The Lord’s heart has always been for the soul of man. Ps. 142:4 Sheep: a dumb animal! They are completely dependent on their shepherd. Christ SAW their real need! We need to look a little deeper (Ps 142:4) I Sam.16:7 There is no redemption for the angels. But God saw fit to provide a means of redemption for mankind. scattered-Greek-out loose (He saw them as sheep out loose with no shepherd. No direction. No restraint.) Isaiah 53:6 < Not necessarily by their own design, but there is an enemy of our soul. scattered abroad-Greek-(one word) cast down This enemy has the power to do whatever to those caught on his property. They are gullible. Susceptible. They are lacking a covering. The only way sheep can get back on their feet after falling on their back is if the shepherd helps them. We need the same vision as the Lord to see BEYOND! Mark 8:24,25** **Touch me again Lord! Do I see men as valueless as trees? Give me Your vision. Let me see them as You do. Col. 3:12 People are hurting. We must exercise longsuffering. SEE BEYOND!!! “Pray for me?” How do I respond to this? Sheep cast down with no shepherd. John 4:35 You can’t drive sheep into the kingdom. You must lead them. The song “Rescue the Perishing, Care for the Dying” “Sir, are you Jesus?” Could I be mistaken for Him? YOU are the finger of God. THEY ARE LOST!!! We must return to the ‘first things’. Prayer-witnessing-etc. Put feet to your faith. WORK. 4 “KNOWING AND BEING LED BY THE SPIRIT” Romans 12:1-8 Present body a living sacrifice Be not conformed Be transformed Have good counsel—wise counsel Psalm 73:24 I Kings 19:9- Isaiah 30:21; 42:16 John 16:3 By His Spirit James 1:5 By prayer _Mistakes_ Thinking of guidance as essentially inward prompting of the Holy Spirit apart from the Written Word of God. Stop and think. Does it makes sense? Is it contrary to the Word? Deuteronomy 32:29 Unwillingness to take advice Romans 12:15 Unwillingness to suspect myself Psalm 139:23,24; 2 Cor. 13:15; Gal. 5; I Thess. 5:21 Unwillingness to wait Psalm 27:14 5 “LIVELY STONES” I Peter 2:4,5 v. 5 1) Spiritual house (temple) 2) Holy Priesthood (priest) 3) Sacrifices (sacrifices) Christ is the true priest we become priests through Him. Heb. 4:15,16;I Tim. 2:5,6 “An holy priesthood…” v. 5 The chief office of a priest is sacrifice. We are not our own. I Cor. 6:19 Christ is the true sacrifice. We become acceptable sacrifices through Him. I Peter 2:5 Surrender Luke 22:41,42 Atonement How are we a sacrifice? Sacrifice of witness Sacrifice of prayer Sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving ALWAYS!!! Sacrifice our life and will to Him 6 “PURCHASED BY BLOOD” Matthew 27:33-52 Gall—wrath of God (Illustration: SS Teacher: What do we have to do to become eligible for God’s grace? Little boy: Sin! v.43 What crazy things men say. v.51 God was saying, “Okay, priests, you can go home now!” We can now enter into the holiest of holies. 7 “WHAT IS WRONG WITH MAN?” 2 Timothy 3:1-9 Causes of Rebellion: Television a. They want the things they see. b. They want to do the things they see. c. They want to be like what they see. New types of Education Teaching that truth is whatever the individual finds in himself; everything is relative. There are no absolutes. The Churches failure to preach Truth. 2 Timothy 4:3,4; Psalm 11:3 The example of parents. The human race is a rebel. Adam was a rebel. We are born with a nature of sin. What is the Cure? The cross is the cure. I Cor. 1:18; Ephesians 2:6; Colossians1:20; 2:14 There is healing at the cross There is forgiveness at the cross There is sanctification at the cross The cross is the “cure-all” for man’s needs What’s wrong with man? He rejected the Cross! 8 “JUSTIFICATION” Romans 5:1-10 We came into this world with strikes against us. We had a bad record. 9 “THE SILVER TONGUE” Proverbs 10:16-22 (v.20) The tongue of the Just-Hebrew-righteous If the tongue is right, the tongue will be right Silver speaks of Redemption. Words that help, heal, redeem. Also, silver speaks of something pure Psalm 12:6 By our words we bring 1. Death or 2. Life Proverbs 18:21; Romans 3:13, 14*; Proverbs 12:18 *producing, revealing nothing but death John 6:63-life; Proverbs 25:11; Matthew 15:18 The tongue is the servant of the heart. James 3:2 The tongue has been the greatest instrument of the devil. Matthew 12:37 “If you ever lose your salvation it will run right out your mouth.” Words will make a man or harm him. Words can fill a home. Words can make the world a little bit like heaven or life like hell. Words can lead people to Christ. James 1:19 Speak fitting words with wisdom 10 “THE POSSIBILITY OF IMPLICIT TRUST” Proverbs 3:1-6 Object of trust Nature of trust Measure of trust Warnings of trust Condition of trust Promise of trust Put your trust in Jehovah, the covenant keeping God. We can trust Him because he loves us. 1. He is all wise. 2. He is all loving. 3. He is all mighty. The Lord that healeth The Lord my banner- victory The Lord my peace The Lord Who provides The Lord my shepherd The Lord my righteousness The Lord my comfort HE IS TRUSTWORTHY! 11 “THE LIFE OF SACRIFICE JUSTIFIED” John 12:1-9 Lazarus—sat at the table Martha—served Mary—worshipped A Costly Gift v.3 Mary came with a gift of sacrifice (a costly gift) pence: a day’s wage v.5 300 pence –a life’s savings. It’s going to cost you something. The price is not too great The Alabaster box which the perfume was in had to be broken first. Symbolic of—there has to be a breaking before the worship. A Loving Gift For her to let down her hair was a sign of surrender. She loved Him by surrendering her all An Effective Gift What an affect a life of sacrifice has on the work of God! Mark 14:9 A Faith Gift v.7 “Against the day of my burial has she kept this.” _The life of sacrifice is NEVER a waste of time, but is a life of worship._ 12 Wed. Nov.15, 2000 “LIVING THE GODLY LIFE” Text: II Timothy 3:1-17 (v.12) “If we don’t pray, we pay.” v.1 “Don’t stick your head in sand acting like everything is ok.” Liberty—not what you want, but what is right The world hated Him; therefore, they will hate us. God expects the believer to live Godly, righteously, above and apart from sin, not morally, not the best you can do, not even religiously, but _GODLY_. Be determined—make up your mind! COMMITMENT It’s a delight to live Godly. Make it your focus, focal point “If they turned all red Jesus would still be with us.” …shall suffer persecution. If God doesn’t give grace we won’t make it. I Peter 5:10 Romans 8:17 II Corinthians 1:17; 4:11 Philippians 1:29 II Timothy 2:12 13 Sun. A.M. Nov. 19, 2000 “THE CAUSES OF SEPARATION” Song of Solomon 5:2-6 1. A state of indifference. 2. Not seeing any need to improve. 3. A state of satisfaction and inaction. 4 She prepared to get comfortable. She took off her coat. ---Its her house. Things need to be cleansed, cared for, picked up.--- 5. A state of deception. James 1:22 14 Sun. A.M. Sept. 24, 2000 “ASHES ON A RUSTY ALTAR” Revelation 2:1-7 “ashes on a rusty altar” Ashes—indicates prior use; once was something Rusty Altar—lack of use; left to itself Something had died out within them. No more revelation, insight, or Word from God. v.5 Lost and leaving are two different things. Leaving is a deliberate act. v.2 These works of faith and obedience, laboring, bearing up under the pressure—patience. Patience all grows in hard places. We don’t have to die out! It’s not inevitable. “You don’t love me like you use to.” When the fire goes out, the light goes out. “Love is not based on feeling, but it does have a lot of feeling.” Causes of decline: Love is hungry—be loved more, must be fed—spend more time Love needs to be developed—work at it—keep it alive. Failure of guarding our love. Matthew 24:12 v.5 Remember Repent Return v.7 15 Sun. P.M. Sept. 24, 2000 “A NEW COVENANT” Hebrews 8:3-10 If there is a breakdown, the problem is with us.” v.8 new in contrast to the old because they were unable to keep the old. The old has been done away with. The New is an eternal covenant. Differences: Old New Time: Before Christ After Christ’s death Manner: Shadows and Types 2 Cor. 3:13,14 Mediator: Moses Christ Offerings: Sealed by Blood of animals Sealed by Blood of Christ The New Covenant reveals God’s condescension to man. God making a covenant with man. Psalm 22:6 He is the supreme sovereign. There is none higher you can go to. He had no reason to, no obligation, but He did! As Lord, whatever he wants to do he does with now help. He is dependant on no one. He is ,was, free. Unrestricted, and yet, He bound Himself to the covenant. What God expects of me is what is laid out in the “contract”. We must keep our own part or the covenant is no good. We must live right. (this covenant is not with sinners) Learn and know what’s in the covenant (requirements, blessings, promises, etc.) 16 “OBEDIENCE REQUIRED FOR THE FULFILLMENT OF THE PROMISE” John 2:1-11 17 “THE RESURRECTION” I Cor. 15:1-9 Christ was declared to be the Son of God. (God declared Him so.) John 1:34 Angel declared him as God’s son. Peter declared Him as God’s son. In Matthew 6 x’s by men 3 x’s by demons In Mark 2 x’s by men 2 x’s by demons In Luke 1 x by men 4 x’s by demons In John 6 x’s by men 5 x’s by Himself John 10:36 Proven to be the Son of God by the resurrection. II Peter 1:16 1. The Resurrection is a Revelation of His Person. 2. The Resurrection is Revelation of His Power. 3. The Resurrection is Revelation of His Provision. 18 DBI Convention Sun. A.M. Oct. 8, 2000 ”DIVINE DESTINY” Esther 4:1-14 “Who knows why for this time?” Haman was an Amalekite (a Hebrew king was commanded to 100% destroy the Amalekites.) If you don’t completely destroy the enemy, He’ll gain strength and destroy you. God has placed me where I am for a reason. The church has grown too comfortable in the kings house. God has given each of us talents. The advantages He gives us are to be used only to promote His cause. Don’t separate religion and politics. 19 “THE MYSTERIES OF THE MASTER’S PLAN” Romans 8:22-28-30 v.30 Takes us away from the ash hill to the throne. I Sam. 2:8 We don’t always understand what He is doing. There is a long process between these two. Why? Only He knows why and what could’ve been. He works his purpose with those he answer the call. Illustration: Gordon Hall, a Bible school student, was invited to a country church to preach. He told a friend there might be a full time position for him at this church. Gordon was unable to make it because an emergency came up and so he asked this friend if he would take the service for him. The friend eventually took a lifetime position there. Gordon Hall was later called by the missionary board to go to a foreign land and he accomplished what now other man could have because he was God’s man. God has a plan. We need patience to let God work. He knows the end from the beginning. What is His purpose? 1. God is dealing with us for the purpose of purifying us from sin. To take sin from us. Mal. 3:3 He wants to work righteousness in us so we can offer sacrifice in righteousness. He will not force us in the fire to be righteous. We must be willing. 2. To promote growth. His purpose is not for us to remain as babes. Have you felt growing pains lately? We were saved by grace, and we need to grow in grace. II Peter 3:18 3. To be made in the likeness of His Son. v.29 He wants to change us. If I am willing to go through the process He has the power to cause us to be Christ-like. The mystery of the plan. v.28 “And we know” some of us don’t know (Peter had his feet washed by Jesus. “You know not.” We LEARN to know. We don’t from the first. We learn by: 1. Promise Hebrews 6:18 2. Revelation 3. Experience How do you know, Paul? I’ve been there! God’s plan will come to pass because He has the power to do it. Nothing happens by coincidence to the Believer. It is by design. The Believers life is not an unconnected series of events but each happening together forms a perfect pattern of design. Jer. 29:11 “an expected end” Expected—twisted like cords of a rope He wants us to get so close to Him you can’t tell which fiber is which. Always remember, “God is Good!” He has something in mind for beyond what my mind can fathom. God’s favors are infinite. His character is perfect. God’s purposes are good. Heb. 12:11 affliction ( as oak in a fire, sing!) Ps. 119:71 He’ll turn evil around: Mordecai, Daniel, etc. “For Good!” John Bunyan We see the process God sees both the purpose and the product. See God’s view! 20 “THE TRIAL AND TRIUMPH OF OUR FAITH” Matthew 15:21-28 There was much against her: She was a greek—a people most hated by the Jews She had received some truth. She knew He was the Son of David. She came amongst those Jews. Christ gave her the “silent treatment”. It seems to her that He turns a deaf ear. He ALWAYS hears prayer, but not always does He just jump! God always heals, but he balances his action according to our faith. The trial of our faith purifies it. The conduct of the disciples v.23 “send her away” v.24 (sometime need takes you beyond theology) We must first acknowledge the source of the problem. v.22 “the devil” It is blasphemous to name the work of satan as the work of God or as something good from God. Hate the works of the devil! Matthew 4:24; 12:15; 15:30; Luke 6:19; 19:11 Faith is strengthened by trial. Faith always agrees with the Lord. v.27 God owes no one anything. 21 Dec. 20, 2000 “WINNING SOULS” or “CONVERSATIONAL SKILLS” John 4:3-29 The Master’s plan for winning souls: I. Look for common ground v.4 “he must needs go through Samaria.” What did they have in common? A. They shared a common environment. v.5,7a (make a reference like “Nice place isn’t it?”) They shared a common atmosphere. v.6a (“Nice day isn’t it?”) They shared a common time. (“What time is it?”) They shared a common need. (“Give me to drink.”) II. Don’t do all the talking. Conversation is two-way. Let them talk. v.9 Be a good listener. You have 2 ears and only 1 mouth James 1:19 Eccl. 5:3 Psalm 39:1 A good listener shows genuine interest. Romans 12:15 Don’t get into an argument. You want to win a soul not an argument! Prov.11:30 III. Keep the conversation alive. A. Ask questions v.10a Do you know the gift of God? B. Arouse curiosity v.10b , 11, 12 C. Focus on their spiritual need. vs.13-18 D. Use a lot of wisdom and kindness. Phil. 2:4 Find what they need. I Peter 3:8 He Won a Soul! (v.28,29 “is not this the Christ?”) 22 Sun. A.M. January 2, 2000 “A BURNING AND A SHINING LIGHT” John 5:30-35 The supreme task of the church is to win souls. 23 ISAIAH 59:1-4 Amos 3:7 Proverbs 1:24 “The only cry God will hear is repentance.” There was a breach of conract. They broke their part of the covenant and so God can’t bless them. Their sin separated them from God. Illustration: (We Thy 40 Wrestlers) 24 Wed. Aug. 6, 2002 “SANCTIFICATION” Romans 3:23-31 Many experiences lead us step by step to complete sanctification—character like God. There are no shortcuts. God’s universal charge. God’s universal provision. God’s universal meeting place. v.23 ALL have sinned John 1:14; 2:11; 17:5; Hebrews 1:3 We are lacking, deficient of His glory. John 11:40; Romans 6:4; 2 Peter 1:17 25 Nov. 17, 1999 “BLOOD FOR BLOOD” Revelation 16:1-7 (v.6) “7 terrible years are yet to come.” 3 ½ years of God’s judgment. 3 ½ years of God’s wrath. Innocent: Psalm 94:21 unborn; newborn; abortions Psalm 94:23 not only judgment but wrath Revenging of the blood of the saints, prophets, and innocent. Herod, after he slaughtered all the babies, lost his mind from an incurable disease. Herod, who killed Jesus, hung himself. God is righteous in His wrath.