02-26-2020 – Wednesday PM
Live Stream
Text: 1 Kings 8 (Part 2)
02-26-2020 – Wednesday PM
Live Stream
Text: 1 Kings 8 (Part 2)
Okay. Okay. Yeah. How is everyone doing this evening? Good. Doing well, doing well. We are in first Kings chapter eight again this evening. We noticed at the beginning of this chapter on Sunday and I mentioned then that we weren’t going to get finished with it and we didn’t, we didn’t get any more clubs. Uh, but this,
this is one of the, Um, one of those Key chapters in scripture that very much connects the law to the events of the latter portion of the old Testament, uh, the times of the Kings, the times of the divided nation of Israel, even the times of exile and captivity there. And we’ll see this as we go through. We’re going to not only look back at some of the specific references to the law that’s,
that are here in chapter eight, but we’ll also look forward to a few of the occasions where this passage in view of the law is also, um, referred to or, or at least the concepts there are carried forward. So it’s a, it’s really a fundamental chapter, uh, in the old Testament and kind of one of those that you should just kind of keep track of in your mind that,
that there’s a lot here that’s very important. Let’s begin with a word of prayer. Gracious father in heaven, We come before you, grateful for the day, for the blessings, for the health that we have to assemble together Or mindful of many places throughout the world because of illness and difficulties and disease may not be able to assemble together. We pray that you will be with individuals who are in those countries dealing with virus that is becoming a problem in this world and we pray that they will have safety and health and we pray for the Christians in those regions.
We pray for the missionaries that are throughout the world, that they are also those who remain healthy during this time of uh, difficulty and they are able to continue to travel and continue to reach lost souls and perhaps even have additional doors open to them through this difficulty at times. Lord, we pray that you will be with us as we go through this evening and as we go through this study,
may the things that we read reinforce your word in our heart and our mind. May we learn the things that you would have us to learn and may we put them in our hearts that we might not turn against you, that we might not sin against you, but that we might also know how to return to you and repent when we’ve done wrong. All this we pray in Jesus name.
Amen. Beginning of chapter eight they begin to do what? Dedicate the house of the Lord the so the temple has been built by Solomon and and the people of Israel. It has been finished. They bring up the tabernacle and all of the items that were in the tabernacle to the temple and it is during the seventh month. It is during the feast of the seven month,
seventh month, which was the feast of Tabernacles connected to the feast of Tabernacles was the day of atonement. And so they come to this day that the temple is being consecrated and all these things are going to transpire and they begin offering sacrifices. They begin to go through this consecration process and Solomon will stand up and he will begin to speak. And then around verse 22,
Solomon will begin to pray from verse 22 down through verse 61 is Solomon’s prayer. Um, someone is stated and, and I didn’t count the verses to validate it, but somebody stated this is the longest prayer we have recorded in the old Testament. Um, but it’s certainly uh, fairly lengthy whether it’s the longest one or not. So verse 22 is where we’re going to pick up.
Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven. And he said, Lord God of Israel, there is no gun in heaven above or on earth below. Like you who keep your covenant and mercy with your servants who walk before you with all their hearts. But question, What is the correct posture of prayer?<inaudible> That’s a trick question.<inaudible> Because the answer is a humble heart.
There is no physical posture of prayer that has ever been dictated in old or new Testament. There are many examples of postures of prayer. Um Hmm. This would be one that you probably would very rarely see, But there’s nothing wrong with this one. Uh, here is Solomon and instead of a, I don’t know if he, his head is bowed or not,
but I know where his hands are. His hands are raised up. But you know, there’s an interesting connection there Because when Moses is leading the children of Israel through the wilderness to Mount Sinai and they are attacked and there’s a battle going on and Joshua and the people are fighting and in battle, as long as Moses’s hands were in what position? Israel was winning,
right? Raised. Yeah. But whenever they went down, what happened? They were losing When the, his Ray hands were raised, God was fighting on their behalf. When his hands went down, God wasn’t, They were being defeated. And so eventually because of exhaustion, Moses can’t hold his hands up anymore. So what do they do?<inaudible> All right.
They have him sit down and Aaron and her on either side hold up his hands. Not that there’s anything magical about holding up hands is there. That’s simply what God did in that occasion. We don’t read about it ever again. We don’t read about that being anything other than one thing that occurred and just what it was. Make that point to say God has made it clear that prayer is important.
God has made it clear that prayer in private and public settings is important. Paul will write to Timothy if my memory serves me correctly. First Timothy chapter two and he will make the statement concerning men who are Christians that his desire is that men pray everywhere lifting up. Holy hands. No, I think the emphasis is rightfully placed in that passage, not on the position of the hands,
but on the condition of the hands. The position of the hands lifted up is much less significant than the condition of the hands being Holy<inaudible>. So I say all of this just simply to draw our minds back to, we have traditions of how we do things, but just because someone doesn’t necessarily do it the way we’ve always done it, as long as they do it in an in accordance with scripture and in not in opposition to scripture,
what they’re doing isn’t wrong. So you ever see someone lead a and their hands are lifted up? Don’t think, Oh, I don’t know that guy’s liberal. Don’t think that because that guy may have just read the scripture and said, you know what? This is how a public prayer was led. So I’m going to lead it that way. Oh,
by the way, I actually have, I know someone who grew up doing that because he had read it in the scripture and then was told by someone who was even a preacher to stop doing it because he was causing a problem.<inaudible> Absolutely. So now let’s draw that back to Jesus. His example of the Pharisee and the sinner. Jesus says, here comes this Pharisee and he prays before God and he prays loudly and he talks about everything that he’s done on behalf of the Lord.
And Jesus says his prayer goes nowhere. And yet here’s the sinner who smokes his breast and and recognizes his own sinfulness and Jesus says his prayers heard. So all of this is again simply to remind us, we should look in scripture for examples of how things are done. We should examine those examples, we should learn from them and we should also learn to apply what Jesus and the new Testament has said and not said.
And we should give Liberty where the Bible gives Liberty While also making sure we speak where the Bible speaks. So he says, Lord God of Israel, there is no God in heaven above or on earth below like you who keep your covenant and mercy with your servants who walked before you with all their heart. Here is going to be the concept that is going to carry throughout this whole prayer.
You God, Okay, We’ll maintain your covenant, your promise and your relationship with your people upon a condition. And that is that they will follow you with their whole heart. Okay? He says, you have kept your promise, uh, or she kept what you promised your servant David, my father. You have both spoken with your mouth and fulfilled it with your hand as it is this day.
Therefore, Lord God of Israel now keep you. Keep what you promised your father, your servant David, my father saying, you shall not fail to have a man sit before me on the throne of Israel. Only if your sons take heed to their way that they want before me. As you have walked before me. Question, would there be a time Where the lineage of David stop sitting on the throne of Israel?
Yes, there would. When they went away in the Babylonian captivity, from that moment forward to the day of Christ, there would not be a son of David on a throne in Israel. Four, seven or 600 plus years, no descendant of David would sit on a throne in Israel because no descendant of David would meet the criteria necessary. And because the ones who had come before that lost that right.
And God said no more because they weren’t following after David their father. They weren’t serving the Lord. They weren’t faithful to him. God’s promises were conditional And yet ultimately the fulfillment of second Samuel seven and God’s covenant with David would be his seed. Christ who would sit on a throne And that Peter mentions in acts chapter two but then we read and now I pray,
verse 26 Oh God of Israel. Let your word come true, which you have spoken to your servant David, my father, but will God and indeed dwell on the earth. Behold heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain you. How much less? This temple, which I have built, Solomon, builds this grand structure significantly larger than the tabernacle overlaid with gold made with the greatest and finest craftsmanship that was available made with the Cedars of Lebanon and made with these massive stones.
Never was a was a hammer heard in the, in the whole vicinity of the temple because it was all carved out at the quarry and then brought in built And Solomon gets to the consecration day and says, Oh, by the way, This temple can’t contain you. So sorry to burst any bubbles. If you thought God dwelt in the house, made with hands,
he doesn’t. But turn to Isaiah chapter 66<inaudible> Isaiah chapter 66 and in verse one Isaiah writes, as he closes out his prophecy, thus says the Lord, heaven is my throne and earth is my footstool. Oh, okay. So so God doesn’t dwell in temples made with hands. God would manifest his presence, but God’s real dwelling places is heaven.
But keep reading. Isaiah 66 in verse one he says, and earth is my footstool. Where is the house that you will build me? And where is the rest is the place of my rest? Verse two for all those things my hand has made, God says, what are you going to build for me? Where’s the temple you’re going to build And whose stuff are you going to use?
Because I built everything you have. I made everything that you see. So how are you going to build a temple for me? Well then he says this, and all those things exist as the Lord. But on this one, will I look On him who is poor and have a contract spirit? And who trembles at my word? God says, you won’t build a temple for me to dwell in.
You won’t contain me. But I’ll tell you who I’ll abide with. Not the person who walks in my Gates of my temple in Jerusalem, but the person whose heart is willing to submit to me. So what Solomon says here is you’ll dwell with Israel so long as they will dwell with you. And Isaiah is saying the same thing centuries later. But then notice we read verse 28 yet regard the prayer of your servant and his suffocation.
Oh Lord my God. And listen to the cry and the prayer which your servant is praying before you today. Solomon just requests and reiterate. Lord, hear us in this prayer, that your eyes may be open toward this temple night and day toward the place of which you said, my name shall be there. That you may hear the prayer which your servants make toward this place.
And you may and may you hear the supplication of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place here in heaven, your dwelling place. And when you hear, forgive, God had said, I will put my name here. And Solomon says, Lord, if you’re going to put your name here, then will you. You keep your eyes on this place.
You keep eyes on it day and night. And when you hear the prayer of Israel coming toward this place, being prayed toward this location and you hear the supplication of Israel, hear it, and forgive Daniel chapter six We made mention of this that we didn’t, I don’t think we actually turned over and looked at it. Daniel chapter six Verse 10 now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed,
that is the law that said, you can’t pray to anyone other than Darius. He went home and in his upper room with his windows opened towards Jerusalem. He knelt down on his knees three times that day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom. Since early days<inaudible> He knelt down and prayed. Ah, so there’s yours.
There’s another posture, one sanding up with arms raised, one kneeling now, but he kneels down with what?<inaudible>. Humble heart. But a window open window open facing where Jerusalem, by all indications, he’s in Babylon, Maybe Susa, depending upon the time. So he’s not in Israel, buddies praying back towards, Well not the temple. Why wasn’t he praying toward the temple there?
There wasn’t a Dumble, But where was the place where God had said he’d put his name Cause it wasn’t about a physical temple. And so Daniel still prayed toward that place. But then also Nehemiah chapter one Over in the Mio<inaudible>. We read in Nehemiah chapter one in verse five and I said, I pray Lord God of heaven. Oh great. And awesome.
Gone. You who keep your covenant and mercy with those who love you and observe your commandments. Please let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, that you may hear the prayer of your servant, which I pray before you now they in night for the children of Israel, your servants and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which they have sinned against you.
Both my father’s house and I have sinned. We have acted corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, nor the ordinances would you commanded your servant Moses. Remember, I pray the word that you commanded your servant Moses saying, if you are unfaithful, I will you among the nations. But if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them though,
some of you were cast out to the farthest part of the heavens, yet will I gather them from there and bring them to the place which I have chosen as a dwelling for my name Here. Nehemiah is after centuries of the existence of the nation of Israel from the time of Solomon, after 70 years in Babylonian captivity and after additional times where Niamh time where Nehemiah is still there working in the palace of the King and there are those back in Jerusalem and they’re struggling and he still rehearses this prayer and its connection back to the law.<inaudible> That’s why I say this is one of those fundamental chapters of the old Testament because here you find two individuals centuries later coming right back to this In their own prayers.
Verse 30 and you may hear your supplication of your servant and of your people Israel when you pray or when they pray toward this place here in heaven, your dwelling place and when you hear forgive, when anyone sins against his neighbor and is forced to take an oath and comes and takes an oath before your altar in the temple, then here in heaven and act and judge your servants condemning the wicked,
bringing his way on his head and justifying the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness. This references back to Exodus chapter 22 verses eight through 11. And basically what the law said is if you have someone who is accused of stealing or destroying something that belonged to another Israelite, that is light would bring that accusation against them. And that individual who had been accused would be broad and would be forced to make an oath if they claim they were innocent,
they would be brought to make an oath before God claiming they’re at the temple and the altar. I didn’t do this, I didn’t damage this person stuff or this person’s family member or steal what they claim. And what Solomon is saying is, Lord, when this occurs, when someone is brought before you to make an oath, you act, you judge,
you determine whether he’s righteous or unrighteous and you act accordingly.<inaudible> You know, it’s almost as if Solomon thought after all of these years and after all of these changes and after, uh, you know, all the things that have transpired since the days of Moses, it’s almost like Solomon thought that intended for his law to still be the same hundreds of years later.
Like he gave a law and he didn’t tended it to not change. Oh, I guess that’s because he did. He intended to give a law and it not change unless he changed it. You know, there are people who will not treat the Bible that way and will not treat the new Testament that way. All I know, that’s what they said back then,
but<inaudible> We just live in a different world now. You know, Solomon, Solomon’s environment was quite a bit different from Moses’s. Moses never saw the promised land and not one day At least by way of stepping foot in it. Moses Dwell and Sojourn for 40 years, Solomon’s living in extravagance, And yet none of it changed the law Or God’s expectation for them to keep it When your people,
verse 33 when your people, Israel are defeated before an enemy because they have, they have sinned against you and when they turn back to you and confess your name and pray and make supplication to you in this temple, then here in heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them back to the land which you gave to their fathers. That’s Deuteronomy chapter 28 verse 25 Deuteronomy chapter 30 verses one through three that Solomon is referencing then here in heaven and forgive the sins of your people Israel,
and bring them back to the land which you gave their fathers. When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against you and when they pray toward this, this place and confess your name and turn from their sin because you afflicted them, then here in heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people, Israel, that you may teach them the good way in which they should walk and send rain on your land,
which you have given to your people as an inheritance. That’s Deuteronomy chapter 28 verse 23 Deuteronomy chapter 28 verses 2122 and 27 And all, almost every single one of these is also in Leviticus chapter 26 Because that was the giving of it to the first generation that was wicked and died in the wilderness and Deuteronomy 28 and 29 and 30 is the giving of it to the second generation.
Solomon’s not inventing any new requests here. Solomon’s dedicating this temple and saying, God, will you please keep the same promises made centuries ago for this people now that you made for that people then will you still keep your covenant and when this people sins, the one thing that I think is very interesting about this is Solomon had the wisdom to know it wasn’t a question of if Not a single time in all of this.
Does he say if your people does this? Yeah. You know, back in Deuteronomy and back in Leviticus there’s, there’s very much that verbiage. If you do this, if you turn away, if you do that, Solomon is the, the, the, the wisest man. He’s been given understanding and judgment buying God and he doesn’t say, if He says,
when Solomon knows this is coming, Maybe he knows it’s coming because maybe Solomon thought, you know what? God wouldn’t have given the law if that wasn’t going to happen. God knew it was going to happen, so we gave the law telling you exactly what was going to happen when you did it. Or maybe Solomon was a student of the history of Israel up to this point.
Maybe Solomon knew what had happened in the time of the judges knew what had happened in the time of Eli knew what had happened in the time of Saul knew what had happened in the first generation of those who left Egypt. You think, Oh yeah. And so Solomon says, when your people does this, Remember and forgive. But you’ll notice also in this,
that every single time Solomon makes it clear that the condition for forgiveness Is repentance. There’s no plea by Solomon God, will you just ignore the sin? God? Will you just overlook the wrongdoing? Gone? Will you? Will you just took, take these things and put them away and act as if it never happened? No. When you see the repentance and when they turn to you in supplication,
then Forgive me, And that’s one of the lessons we need to learn from this passage. That’s one of the lessons we didn’t need to learn from the old Testament is not only are God’s promises always contingent upon obedience, but God’s forgiveness is always contingent upon repentance. No repentance, no forgiveness, okay. But then notice he goes on Verse 37 when there is famine in the land,
pestilence or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers, when their enemy BCGs them in the land of their cities, whatever plague or whatever sickness there is, whatever prayer, whatever supplication is made by anyone or by all your people. Israel, when each one knows the plague of his own heart and spreads out his hands toward this temple, then here in heaven,
your dwelling place and forgive and act and give to everyone according to all his ways whose heart you know for you alone. Know the hearts of all the sons of men that they may fear you all the days of that, that they live in the land which you gave to their fathers. I think it’s kind of interesting. This phrase that he uses here Talks about the plagues.
He, he uses a reference back to Egypt because God had said, if I bring you out, Okay And I bring you into this land and then you turn your heart back to sin, I’m going to do to you what I did to Egypt. And Solomon says, so when Israel does what you told them not to do, and then notice this phrase,
He says, Uh, There in verse 37, he says, when their enemy besieged as them in the land of their cities, whatever plague or whatever sickness there is, whatever prayer, whatever supplication is made by anyone or by all your people, when each one knows the plague of his own Heart,<inaudible> Like Israel was going to be able to see the plague around them and see the enemies overcome busing them and see the destruction and look inwardly and say,
this is My fault. They’re not going to look at those enemies standing outside their Gates and saying, you know what? It’s this people’s fault. They’re attacking us. No, they’re going to look in inward and say,<inaudible> God told us it would happen And it’s our heart. That’s the problem.<inaudible> Moreover, Like has happened a number of times throughout the old Testament as we’ve been studying the lessons of the old Testament.
God never intended Israel To stand alone. God never intended Israel to be a sheltered, huddled group of people who didn’t have any interaction with those around them and didn’t have any influence on the Gentiles and didn’t have any presence among the Gentiles and just live in their little land until the Messiah came. That’s not what God intended. Verse 41 moreover, concerning a foreigner who is not of your people Israel,
but as comb from a far country for your name’s sake, that is the Lord’s names sake. For they will hear of your great name and your strong hand and your outstretched arm when he comes and prays toward this temple here in heaven, your dwelling place and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to you that all peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you as do your people Israel and that they may know that this temple which I have built is called by your name.
Solomon says when the foreigner comes because he’s heard about you Lord, and when he’s heard about your outstretched arm, what? What did God through Moses tell Israel over and over and over again that he was going to do to Egypt and why he was going to bring about these plagues. And it was for one singular purpose. That is that Egypt and Israel and all the nations throughout the earth would know what that I alone am the Lord.
And so Solomon says, when a foreigner comes because he’s heard about you because he knows about your outstretched arm because he knows what you’ve done for this people and what you’ve done in this place. And when he prays here, There was grace for the foreigner, the non Israelite even under the old Testament. But then notice verse 44 when your people go out to battle against your enemy or their enemy,
wherever you send them, and when they prayed to, uh, to the Lord toward this city, which you have chosen, and the temple which I have built for your name, then here in heaven, their prayer and their supplication and maintain their cause. In other words, fight on their behalf. When they sin against you for there is no one who does not sin.
You could just jot down there a first John chapter one verse seven and eight because John says the exact same thing. Let him who says he has no sin or he who says He has no sin is a liar and deceives himself For there is no one who does not see it and you become angry with them and deliver them to the enemy and they take them captive to the land of the enemy far or near.
Yet when they come to themselves in the land, when they were carried, kept it and repent and make supplication to you in the land of those who took them captive saying we have sinned and done wrong, have committed wickedness and when they return to you with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies, who led them away captive and prayed to you toward this their land which you gave to their fathers,
the city which you have chosen and the temple where I’ve built for which I have built for your name. Then here in heaven, your dwelling place, their prayer and their supplication and maintain their cause. Turn very quickly to Jeremiah chapter 29 Is kind of interesting, um, without going too far down, uh, down a rabbit hole here That Let me say this in a way that maybe isn’t going to get me in trouble.
So I’ll, I’ll couch it in in a, uh, in a qualification I, I very much understand, appreciate and M no way diminishing Diagnosed mental illness. Okay. But Solomon makes it clear that the worst mental illness Is sin Because he knows what he just said. He said, when the people sin and they do this and they’re carried away and then they go into a foreign land,
they’ve been conquered. They’ve been so the praised by sin, they’ve been so overwrought with sin that he says, and then they finally come to them selves As if they were insane and outside their own mind Because they couldn’t see what sin was doing to them. The worst mental illness that exists And frankly, the cause of many mental illnesses that do it yeah,
exists Is sin Because people will allow sin to control their every action Until they can’t even understand what they’re doing. And finally sometime later having an endured. All of this being carried away being brought into this foreign land. He says they finally wake up And They were the problem all along. But notice Jeremiah chapter 29 he says, thus says the Lord of hosts,
the God of Israel, do not let your profits, your diviners who are in your midst deceive you nor listened to your dreams which you which you cause to be dreamed for. They prophesy falsely to you. In my name I have not sent them, says the Lord. So Jeremiah is prophesying and the Lord is speaking through Jeremiah and Jeremiah through or the Lord through Jeremiah says,
You have deceived yourselves, even your profits who dream dreams are causing themselves to dream dreams. And their message didn’t come from me. I didn’t send them, but then he goes on. He says, for thus says the Lord. Verse 10 after 70 years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform my good word toward you and cause you to return to this place for I know the thoughts that I think toward you says the Lord.
Thoughts of peace and not of evil to give you a future and a hope, then you will call upon me and go and pray to me and I will listen to you. I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I’ve driven.
You says the Lord, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away. Cap. Yeah. Here’s Jeremiah. Centuries later, Telling them before they go into captivity, but they won’t listen. Oh, you’re going into captivity. Oh, you’re going to Babylon. Even though your profits tell you you’re not going. They yell peace,
peace. When there is no peace. You’re going to Babylon And you’re not going to be there for a short time. Oh, I know. There’s other province saying, Oh, we’ll go to Babylon, but it’s just going to be short time. He says, no, it’ll be 70 years, But at the end of that time, When you pray and when you repent,
I’ll bring you back Back to first Kings chapter eight<inaudible> What verse did I leave off? Verse verse 51 or 50 and verse 50 and forgive your people who have sinned against you in all their transgressions which they have transgressed against you and grant them compassion before those who took them captive, that they may have compassion on them for they are your people and your inheritance whom you brought out of Egypt,
out of the iron furnace, that your eyes may be opened to the supplication of your servant and the supplication of your people, Israel, to listen to them whenever they call to you, for you separated them from among all the peoples of the earth to be your inheritance as you spoke by your servant Moses when you brought our fathers out of Egypt. Oh Lord God.
Solomon concludes his prayer with a reminder. God, yeah, You chose us. You gave us an inheritance. We are your people. And if there’s not a connection between that and a Christian, I don’t know what it is. Turn to first Peter chapter two second Peter chapter one many other passages that talk about our inheritance and our relationship with God. And so all of these things as well are a lesson for us When we can’t figure out why things aren’t going well,
when we can’t figure out why the church isn’t doing what it should be or why their struggles or why there’s problems. Maybe it’s time to look inward. Maybe the problem isn’t somebody else. Maybe we’re the problem. And that’s the reminder of first Kings chapter eight and so it was for 54 when Solomon had finished praying all this prayer and supplication to the Lord that he arose from before the altar of the Lord,
from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to the heaven, up to heaven. Oh, so there, there, there’s this full posture. He’s down on his knees, but his hands are up. Then he stood and blessed all the assembly of Israel with a loud voice saying, blessed be the Lord who has given rest to his people. Israel.
According to all that he promised, there has not failed one word of all his good promise which he promised through his servant Moses. May the Lord are gone be with us as he was with our fathers. May he not leave us nor forsake us. Then he may incline our hearts to himself to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments,
which he commanded our fathers. And may these words of mine which I have made supplication before the Lord be near the Lord our God day and night, that he may maintain the cause of his servant and call and the cause of his people. Israel as each day may require that all the people of the earth may know that the Lord has gone. There is no other.
Let your heart therefore be loyal to the Lord, our God to walk in his statutes and keep his commandments as it as at this day. So Solomon concludes his prayer. And then exhorts the people obey the Lord, be faithful to him, And yet who will lead them away from God? Solomon. Well, Solomon will build up the high places. Solomon will build the temples for the idols in Jerusalem.
Solomon the one who prays this eloquent prayer will be the one who will fail to guard his own Hard. Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. So then verses 62 through 66 then the King and all Israel with him offered sacrifices before the Lord. And Solomon offered a sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered to the Lord 22,000 bowls and 120,000 sheep.
So the King and all the children of Israel dedicated the house of the Lord. On the same day that King consecrated the middle of the court that was in front of the house of the Lord. For there, he offered burnt offerings, grain offerings in the fat of the peace offerings because the bronze altar wa that was before the Lord was too small to receive the burn offerings,
the grain offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings. So basically day one, as they Institute the temple, they have to actually make the offering somewhere other than the place where they built to make the offerings. Because the place they built to make the offerings wasn’t big enough for the offerings they built on the day they consecrated it. So I, you know,
I guess it was kind of like technology today you buy it and day one it’s out of date. It’s not large enough as kind of the way it was with the altar. Uh, so they do it in the middle of the court. Uh, at that time Solomon held a feast and all Israel with him, a great assembly from the entrance of Haymoth to the Brook of Egypt before the Lord our God,
seven days and seven more days, 14 days. On the eighth day he sent the people away and they blessed the King and went to their tents. Joyful and glad of heart for all the good that the Lord had done for his servant David and for the Israel. His people. Question four, we did the first three on Sunday. What promise that God had promised David.
Did Solomon pray to God to keep, Hey, let me go back there real quick. Think specifically is that there would not fail to be a descendant of David sitting on the throne. That that’s I believe with the specific question is looking for by way of an answer. Um, question five, what did Solomon do after the Ark of God was placed in God’s house?
He prayed. Yeah. Uh, what position did Solomon take when he prayed to God? Kneeling with his hands lifted up way or did he pray that an Israelite prayer be directed Toward the temple? Question six. How did Solomon define repentance? Okay, so when they sin, when they come to themselves, they repent, make supplication And return. Um,
Those are kind of the fundamental things there. Something like that will be acceptable. Uh, specifically the idea of turning their hearts back, Right? They have a contract. Heart question seven, yes or no? Did Solomon say that the house he had built could contain God? No. All right. Thank you for your attention. You are dismissed.<inaudible> Good evening.
Good to see everybody here tonight and sheerly winter night. I guess there’s things I want. It doesn’t sound like it to main, but anyway, Oh Yeah. Bearish is with us tonight. Cartel. Which one’s vicious? Which one’s not You to pick ADI cause she’s bossing them kids around or something. But anyway, good to have y’all with us. Uh,
Rodale and Darth are still on the sick list. Julia Case is still in hospice care. Joan Springer are still recovering from her Bronco pneumonia, the Rushmore family. Oh, They’re still in Ghana. I thought I come Monday, But Martha fail I guess why she was over there and uh, she does have a mass on her kidney and um, we’ll be seeing about that on March the sixth.
And Lewis, his father, cliff Rushmore fell and broke his hip last week and uh, he’s still got some problems if they got straightened out before they operate on that. Well, we need to remember the Rushmore family. I guess the day off I was still sick. Right? We’re 600. They lose doing a lot better on, uh, after her surgery she had on her hand Monday and Don Robinson has stripped throat All of our sick.
Uh, they went out, uh, Beverly, Beverly’s back with us. She’s been out. Oh wow. Blood pressure. She back Ladies Bible class. We’ll meet tomorrow if it doesn’t snow Big like fair where the friend people, But anyway, they’ll meet tomorrow at 10 o’clock in the fellowship hall. Coleman Avenue, ladies day Saturday at eight 30. Oh Yeah.
Richardson a song later. Yeah. Promotional and Terry weekly. We’ll have the closing prayer. 569 I’ll add to the prayer list. Cassidy is going to be flying out in the morning with my parents to Homer, Alaska for a week. They are doing a campaign up there. So remember her, she’s excited for sure. First time. Remember her 569<inaudible> uh,<inaudible> uh,
Jesus<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> Uh, Ooh. And I reached Chris C voice as well. Cough voice and that’s when I call<inaudible>.<inaudible> No, Jesus is a<inaudible>.<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible>. So<inaudible> No Marketing handles the page number nine zero four, 900. And Matthew chapter 16, Jesus says beginning in verse 24, if anyone desires to come after me,
let him deny himself. Take up his cross and follow me While we often discuss the need and the requirement to hear and to believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God and to repent of one’s sins, that you can’t stay in the same lifestyle that you lived in before you were a Christian. You have to conform and be, be transformed to God’s way of living.
One of the things that I think we often don’t spend enough time on Is confession. Jesus said, if you want to be my disciple, you have to take up your cross and follow me. In the first century, for one to confess the name of a King, for one to proclaim allegiance to a King, it demanded that as one who followed that King,
they would do anything that King required up to and including losing their life on behalf of that. Okay? Jesus says, if anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself. You say, well, why would someone lose their life for a King? Why would they plead allegiance to a King? W we have a very Set way of thinking.
In America. We, we like freedom and we like democracy and we, we are not big fans of monarchies. We don’t think that way.<inaudible> But that’s not the kind of relationship Jesus has with his citizens. Christianity is not a democracy. It is a monarchy and there is one King. And if you will be his citizen, you will have to deny yourself.
Take up his cross and follow him for whoever desires to save his life will lose it. But whoever loses his life for my sake will find it for what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul or what will a man give in exchange for his soul, for the son of man will come and the glory of his father with his angels,
and then he will reward each according to his works. There’s a need for us to remind people, You don’t make the decision to become a Christian lightly. And when you make that commitment, You’re not going to walk away from it. And if you do, It won’t be without consequence. But for the one who chooses To lose his life for Christ’s sake,
to die to himself, to live to Christ, to confess Christ. Jesus says, when I come, there’s a reward that comes with me. Paul would write as he was nearing the end of his life, He says, I’m about to be poured out as a drink offering. I fought the good fight. I finished the course. I’ve kept the faith.
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness and not for me only, but for everyone that loves his appearing. You love the appearing of the one you’ve pled allegiance to. If you’re here this evening, you’re outside the body of Christ. You do have to confess Christ, but you also have to die. You have to be immersed in water buried with Christ to rise again so that he lives instead of you.
You’re outside the body of Christ. You don’t have to stay there. You can change that tonight if you’re a member of the body of Christ and maybe you’ve become a little democratic in your Christianity, You can’t stay that way. You have to be on the cross and he has to be alive in you. If you have need of repentance, if you have need of prayers for sin or for any other reason,
Ephesians 5:11 – And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
Transcript:
How should you interact with people who are doing what’s wrong?
I’m not talking about every moment of every day, every time you see someone doing what’s wrong, but generally speaking.
How do you interact with the people who are doing wrong things around you and encouraging you to do them as well?
Paul says, in Ephesians chapter five, verse 11, And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather expose them.
Don’t cover up other people’s wrongdoing. Shine the light of God today.
I hope the light of God is in you, today. For more from the Collierville Church of Christ, visit www.colliervillecoc.org.
Ephesians 5:10 …finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.
Transcript:
Is God okay with whatever you want to do? What I mean by that is, are there things that are acceptable and unacceptable before God? Well, yes, there certainly are.
In Ephesians, chapter five, we read about the things in verse six for which God brings His wrath upon the sons of disobedience.
But then we read in verse 10 that we ought to be finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.
We need to be looking in our lives and in God’s word for what is acceptable to God and then implementing that in our lives today.
I hope the light of God is in you, today. For more from the Collierville Church of Christ, visit www.colliervillecoc.org.
Ephesians 5:9 for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth
Transcript:
In all the things that God says about how we are to live, remember that He gives us things that help us. Think about how your life would change if you filled your life with these things.
The things called the fruit of the spirit. They’re called goodness and righteousness. They’re called truth, Ephesians chapter five, verse nine.
If you filled your life with goodness and righteousness and truth, would your life be better than it is today?
I hope the light of God is in you, today. For more from the Collierville Church of Christ, visit www.colliervillecoc.org.
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Okay, Good afternoon. Welcome back to one 30 after an afternoon worship service and uh, good to see all of you back. Francis and Gladys and Janet. We went to the Piccadilly and it was a man at the door asked me if I came from Kirby Pines.
Really did, that’s not none of my joke. Yeah. Before he came from Korea, Japan. But he had as many elderly ladies as I did with him. But anyway, nothing any better than a good laugh. Uh, Rodale and Dorothy are still having their problems. Julia cases is at home under hospice care. John spraying are still recovering from her,
uh, Bronchitis, brawn, bronchial pneumonia and get it out. And Beverly is still having problems with the bread, blood pressure. Betty Lou is going to have surgery on her other hand tomorrow. Um, but Dale’s are all out sick. The richest isn’t drunk out of town. He’s preaching at Ripley. Tyrell cares. We’ll meet tomorrow at seven Coleman Avenue.
Sip Saturday the 29th. You need know anything about that? Eddie kosher. You’re going to be teaching a class over there. Oh, the rush mowers. A steel in Guyana. Martha failed and uh, bruised up a little bit, but she also has a mass on her kidney, one of her kidneys and is going to be back home to see about that.
On March the sixth, or Rebecca’s grandfather fell and broke a hip and he lives out in piss some binder. If you need a can for the donation thing, a coin can for a Potter’s children home. There’s some on the table in the office by the office and that’s about all of that. Uh, Joe was going to lead singing this afternoon. Eric Harrison has an opening prayer.
Aaron<inaudible>, um, sermon and Marie going to have the closing prayer Firsthand would be number 912.<inaudible> hearts are lonely and<inaudible>.<inaudible> sorry, Jane’s on since. Bang.<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> glory. Jesus says bam, man.<inaudible> Cash YourCare on jeans on us today.<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> James. And since bam ran<inaudible> Burns on it to that cow.
Well, I agree.<inaudible> burns.<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> Prob also the savior can say, Hey, pray hard. I can<inaudible><inaudible> hello tree. Jesus said fat<inaudible><inaudible> well reap.<inaudible><inaudible> Jesus says fat rain. Our next song will be in her 542. You need to use your book number 542 after this song will be leaded and opening prayer.
Somebody would, I don’t know if somebody was trying to get in the back door. He said blot. Okay, well they might just be reading a schedule. I just saw them. I thought they might want to come in. Number five 42.<inaudible> argue heavy, hard and down at two GS two GS. Are you grieving? Oh, jaws.
Depart it down at two GS. Dalit two GS. Two GS. A T as a friend. You have no, uh, there’s such a friend or brother Dan that jeez, Tears flow down your cheeks. Sunbed down at two GS. Sat down at two GS. Have you since that two man’s eyes are hid down at two GS, Dan, two GS.
A sign that to Jesus. He has a friend. You have no, uh, there’s such a friend or brother down at two GS. Yeah, yeah. Fair. Uh, gathering clouds of sorrow down into jeez, uh, salad to uh, are you a John? What will be tomorrow?<inaudible> jeez, Dan Entergy’s a salad. Jeez. Uh,
he has a friend. You have a, there’s such a friend or brother. Tell that to. Jeez.<inaudible> God, our father in heaven. We come to you at this time thanking you for another opportunity to assemble here this afternoon and sing songs. Praise your name and most importantly, study another portion of your word. And as brother Aaron brings that portion of word of your word to us,
we ask that you help each and every one of us to fully understand the meaning of your word. So we may apply it to our lives and live as better servants of yours here on earth. And also Lord, help us to have the strength and the courage to take your word and share it with those who have yet to hear your word or those who have heard it and fell away so we may bring them back to you.
Back to your fold. Lord, we want to thank you for those that have had improving health because we know we neglect every now and then to thank you for the small things and we thank you for that. But Lord, they’re also many amongst us. They’re struggling with various health issues and we ask that you wrap your loving arms around those their family members and their caretakers and providers.
And if it be your will, restore them to a measure health at each one. So desires we ask that you forgive us when we fall short and we pray all this in your son. Jesus’ name. Amen. 841 this will be the song before the lesson. 841 Hi Mia, my savior. Hi me and I hope<inaudible> Oh, let me see.<inaudible> hi.
Hi. The Oh bless. And sang<inaudible> us.<inaudible> safely on Lord West.<inaudible>. Hi Mowen. This arm is Rae Jang or lies tribe.<inaudible><inaudible> Oh, let me fly to<inaudible>. Hi there. Hi. Name. Oh, bless him. Saying hi. Name us.<inaudible> say fleeing on Lord with<inaudible>. Hi. May when my heart is breaking with suede<inaudible> uh,
uh, for cancer long days. Aye. Aye. Oh, blessed and safe. Yeah. Hi man. Uh,<inaudible> safely. All along with<inaudible> Our song of encouragement being number 911, it will be on the overhead number 911.<inaudible>. Good afternoon. Take your Bibles if you will, and open them to the book of Galatians. We continue our study in Galatians.
We are coming near the end of the book. We’re going to pick up in Galatians chapter five, beginning in verse 16 this afternoon. Yeah. Did want to make mention of a couple of, uh, announcements just to put them in your memory. Once again, uh, on the 29th, there is a ladies day happening at the Coleman Avenue church of Christ.
And uh, there will be four different ladies, speaking of which my wife is one of them. And, uh, every, all of the ladies are invited, uh, to be there that that is posted on the, on the board. So see that, um, on the board for the details. But then also this Thursday night, uh,
Jonathan Burns from Pulaski, Tennessee and uh, our brother-in-law more nice to fondness will be speaking at Coleman Avenue for their lectureships. So be sure if you have time Thursday evening to make it out there. The first lesson begins at six 30. They have two lessons back to back and then a fellowship meal afterwards. You know, I know you will enjoy it if you can make it out for that.
Galatians chapter five, Paul has been writing to this church about the law, About the law and faith about those who were seeking to bind them under the old law, the law of Moses trying to bind them under a law that had no sufficient sacrifice, that had no sufficient reconciliation with God and that left them cursed by the law. And yet Paul says they have Liberty in chapter five,
verse one, he says, stand fast in the Liberty by which Christ has made us free. He says to the Christians, you’re free. You have Liberty. You are no longer under the yoke of bondage. You are none, no longer under the yoke of sin because in Christ you have found salvation. Galatians chapter three and in verse 27 we read verse 26 for you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
For as many of you as were baptized into Christ, have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek. There is neither slave nor free. There is neither male nor female for you are all one in Christ and if you are Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise. He says, you have Liberty, you are free,
you are in Christ and you have an inheritance and you have all of that without circumcision, without the law, without the bondage of the law of Moses and without becoming a Jew. Yeah. Then he says in verse seven of chapter five you ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? There was a time he says, when you were running,
well, there was a time when you were, if this was compared to a race, you were doing well, you were running, you were striving for perfection, and yet now you have turned a side. You have departed to another gospel, which is not another, but there are some who would pervert the gospel of Christ. He says, I have confidence in you though.
Verse 10 Okay In the Lord that you will have no other mind, and I brethren, verse 11 if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross had seat has seized. I could wish that those who trouble you were even cut off themselves, but then he says, verse 14 for all the law is fulfilled in one word,
even in this, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. Paul summarizes the law utilizing that second commandment, which Jesus recognized in the book of John when he said that the second greatest commandment is like under this, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Paul says, this is the fulfillment of the law. He’s already said that the law was put in place because of sin.
The law was put in place because they were not living the way they ought and now he says, if you desire to fulfill the law, you don’t do it by circumcision. You don’t do it by becoming a Jew. When you’re a Gentile, you do it by loving your neighbor as yourself, But in contrast, verse 15 if you bite and the vowel or one another,
beware lest you be consumed by one another. Their relationships with one another were fundamental to their Christianity, their relationships to one another were fundamental to their Liberty and their freedom that they have in Christ. They needed to treat one another with love instead of as animals as there were those who were doing that very thing. He says, then in verse 16 I say,
then walk in the spirit and you shall not fulfill the loss of the flesh. Paul lays down this ordinance. Paul lays down this, this reality for them. If you walk after the spirit, the walking after the spirit is not the Holy spirit guides you every step of the way in. You. Imagine there’s a voice in your head telling you what to do.
That’s not what walking in the spirit is walking in the spirit is one who walks according to the revelation of the word of God, one who walks in agreement with the spirit in the same way that walking in the light. First John chapter one verses six through nine verses six through 10 is a one who hears the word of God and sees the light of God through his revelation and is obedient to that truth.
The one who sees what God has said and does it is the one who walks in the light. It is also the one who walks in the spirit, but he says, if you do these things, you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Peter would say that if you fulfill, if you do those things which are called the Christian graces,
if you don’t do those things, you will never fall. Now, Peter, that’s a, that’s a very maybe boastful statement. Some might say it too, to say that if I do these things and continue in them, I will never fall. Then I will never sin and turn away from God. It’s not boastful to say that it’s not over arrogant or arrogant to say that because what Paul or excuse me,
what Peter is saying is if you have these attitudes connected with these actions, you won’t depart because you will give sin, no place in your life. And so Paul will tell them, you walk in the spirit and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. And he’ll go on to enumerate those. He says, for the flesh, lust against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh,
and these are contrary to one another so that you do not do the things that you wish. Paul said, there was a time you ran well, but someone’s hindering you. And now Paul says that the spirit is contrary to the flesh. The flesh is contrary to the spirit, and because you’re allowing the flesh to take over in your life, you aren’t doing the things you wish to do.
You aren’t walking after the spirit. You aren’t fulfilling the desires of the spirit. You aren’t serving God as you ought because you’re allowing the flesh to win the battle in your life. Grace is a reality and grace most certainly covers our sins and the blood of Christ continually us from our sins and we know that we have sins again. First John chapter one verses seven through 10 Okay,
But grace doesn’t promote sin. Grace doesn’t allow us to continue in sin. Grace teaches us that denying ungodliness, we ought to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, grace tells us to correct sin and if we refuse to correct sin in our lives, if we refuse to turn away from sin in our lives, grace ceases to cover sin.
No, Because we have refused to walk after the spirit. Verse 18 but if you are led by the spirit, you are not under the law. He has set these things in contrast throughout this entire time, he’s tied the law to the flesh. He’s tied the law to the things that are carnal. He’s tied the law to the things which cannot save you.
He is tied the spirit to faith and obedience. He says, if you walk by the spirit, you’re no longer under the law. Now, that in no way means if you walk in the spirit, there are no laws that pertain to your life. That’s not at all what Paul says. The context of this statement is 100% the law of Moses,
the law of circumcision, the law of the flesh. So then he says, if you are led by the spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident. Paul says, these things are obvious and yet he’s repeating them. These things were obvious and yet he’ll repeat them to the church. At Corinth, these things are obvious,
but he’s going to repeat them to the church at Ephesus and to the church at Colossi. These things are obvious and yet Christians are still continuing to participate in these activities and Paul’s is, these are evident. The works of the flesh are evident, which are adult tree that is having a spouse that belongs to or having relations was one who belongs to someone else,
is the spouse of someone else for an occasion that is illicit sexual activity. Both inside, both with one who is a married or one who is not. You have a number of other things that relate to that. These first four all have a connection to sexual sins. The third one being uncleanness, the fourth one being lasciviousness or as the new King James translates to lewdness.
It’s not just the act itself, it’s all these things that lead up to this act. It is the sexual activity and the sexual perversion of the world that is around this. Paul says, if you’re a Christian, you’re not participating in these things. You’re not walking after these paths. You’re not living these kind of lives. These things don’t describe a Christian And yet it is sad that many Christians will argue for participation in just these kinds of activities.
They’ll say, God doesn’t care. There’s no log in. See, do I can do this? It’s my body and many such arguments and yet Paul will make it clear. These are the works of the flesh and they have no part in the life of a Christian. He’ll go on in verse 20 insight, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies.
If you follow after idols, and by the way he’s called a, that which is desiring to have what belongs to someone else. Covetousness. He’s called that idolatry already, Sorcery following after things that are, that are magic or or wizardry or things like that. Believing in these things which are not true in these powers and evil forces that are not real hatred and contentions and jealousy.
Notice how he’s already talked about them biting and devouring one another. Well, where do those things come from? One hating another, one being contentious with another one being jealous or envious of another Outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions. Dissensions and heresies envies, murders, drunkenness, revelries and the like. Paul wants us also to realize this is not an exhaustive list.
The works of the flesh don’t end here, but anything that pertains or is like these things. Okay. Falls under the same condemnation. Yeah, Of which I tell you beforehand. He says, just as I told you in time past the those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Paul doesn’t want any confusion. He’s not saying,
you know what? I’m not really in favor of the these things. He’s not saying, I don’t think these are good ideas. Paul is not saying this is a generally bad idea. Paul says you participate in these things and you involve your life in these things and you will not inherit the kingdom of God. Okay. You cannot continue in these endeavors in these activities and these attitudes and be faithful to the Lord.
No, And so Paul says, those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. And that is just as true for a Christian. As a non Christian, We cannot be those who have our lives described by these type of things. Let me say something about degrees. There are those who will argue for degrees of some of these things.
They will argue for a degree of lasciviousness. You know, as long as it doesn’t go too far, it’s okay. So long as I’m just asking per acting provocatively and dancing and involved in these types of things. But it doesn’t go too far. It’ll be okay. And the such lie, well, you know, I just drink a little bit.
I don’t get drunk. I don’t get slobbering drunk like these other people do. I just drink a little bit. Well, let’s use those two ideas with some of these others. You know, I’m just, I just to involve myself in a little bit of jealousy. I just have a little bit of selfish ambition. I just want to keep in my life a little bit of adult tree.
No, we wouldn’t hold on to those things. We wouldn’t agree with those things. We wouldn’t say that that is a person who’s walking after the spirit. We would say now that is clearly a person who wants to still fulfill the lust of the flesh and they are not giving up the loss of the flesh to serve the spirit, but instead are entangling themselves again in the flesh which brought them to sin,
but then he says verse 22 but the fruit of the spirit, it some have made the point and I think it’s an interesting and a valid point that there are the works plural of the flesh, but there is the fruit singular of the spirit. These things aren’t multiple things. These things are one thing. This is the result of a Christian life. This is the growth of a Christian life.
This is the growth of maturity of what it means to be in Christ and dedicate oneself to the mind of Christ and the life of Christ. These are the attitudes that we must follow after the fruit of the spirit is love and joy, peace and long suffering, kindness, goodness and faithfulness, gentleness, self control against such things. There is no law,
Okay? All of these things that were mentioned to vote beforehand, there are many laws you could go throughout the old Testament and throughout scripture and throughout the prophets and through how the time of Christ alive on this earth and you can read over and over and over and over again where God said, do not do these things. Yeah. You can also go through the old Testament and through the law and through the prophets and through the the the books of wisdom and through the life of Christ and you can read over and over where God pleads with people.
Do these, These things Love one another, have peace with one another, be long suffering with one another. Bring about goodness towards one another. Gentleness and self control.<inaudible> We take these verses and we ought to go back up to verse 14 and remember the context of these statements. To fulfill the law is to love your neighbor as yourself And to be obedient to God is to have these characteristics in your life and fill your life with these characteristics so that when you interact with one another,
you automatically do these things Instead of the prior list of the works of the flesh. He says, those who are Christ, verse 24 have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. They, the people who belong to Christ don’t argue for a little bit of the passions and desires of the flesh. They don’t try to do to mitigate into rationalize just a little bit of participating in these things.
They have crucified to them. They put them on the cross, They’ve killed them in their lives. They’ve looked at these things and said, I won’t participate in these things and I won’t even look like I’m participating in these things. I won’t be involved in these things in any shader degree Because I’m not that person anymore that’s dead in my life, But instead we remind ourselves.
Galatians chapter two and in verse 20 Paul said, I have been crucified with Christ. These things are dead in their lives Because they are dead. If they’re like Paul. Paul says, I’m not alive anymore, but Christ is alive in me. Christ wouldn’t be doing these things. Christ wouldn’t be involved in these things. Therefore I won’t be either. He says in verse 24 those who are Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
If we live in the spirit, let us also walk in the spirit. When we teach our children, when we raise our children, when we admonish our grandchildren, and when we speak to the generations around us, may we promote those things that are good? May we show them those things that have real value. May we produce in their lives the word or the the the fruit of the spirit and not the works of the flesh.
May we seek to drive their lives and put a point their lives towards the spirit of God and not the fulfillment of the flesh. Then he says, verse 26 let us not become conceited provoking one another, envying one another. Paul says, don’t be self centered. Don’t focus on yourself. Don’t be conceited about yourself. Don’t envy what someone else has above all of these other things are in addition to all of these other things that the works of the flesh.
He says do not be self centered When you are one who is conceited. When you hold up and are prideful about yourself, your focus is on yourself. When you are provoking one another, it’s because of your self interest. When you are envying over one another, it is because of yourself. Injurous Paul says that the self in you is supposed to be dead.
The self in you is supposed to be put aside the self in you is supposed to be Christ. Then he says, verse verse one of chapter six, brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourselves less, you also be tempted. Here’s a brother in Christ who’s involved in the works of the flesh.
He’s fallen under the temptation in the snare row. Some of these things and our attitude toward him is not to cast him aside. Our attitude toward him is not to shun him. Our attitude toward him is not to say, Oh look, that terrible brother over there. He says, instead bear his burdens. Restore him, bring about a restoration in his life,
but notice what he says. He says, you who are spiritual restore such a one. Mm. There is in this passage a hearkening back to Matthew chapter seven in Matthew chapter seven Jesus says, judge, not that GB not judged for with what judgment. You judge it. You shall be judged and with what measure you mean it shall be measured to you.
Again, He says, there’s one who stands there looking at a man who has a speck in his eye and says, let me get the speck out of your eye. While he’s got a long sticking out of his own, we must not be those who are unrighteous judges of others, failures and sins while being ignorant and oblivious to our own. And so Paul’s admonition here is you first be spiritual.
You first walk after the spirit. You first set your life in order before you try to set someone else’s life in order. Now, this is not to then say as some might take it, well, you’ll never be perfect, so you can’t say anything to me. That’s not what Paul is saying. You can be imperfect and follow after the spirit.
You can be in perfect and walk in the spirit, but you can’t be living for the flesh and walk out For the spirit. And if you are living after walking after the spirit, if you are living has gone, is commanded to you. If you have put to death yourself and allowed Christ to live in you, then you have a responsibility to your Brethren to restore them when they fall because of sin.
But then he also mentions their attitude not only must you first meet the qualification of being spiritual, but you must restore them in a spirit of meekness, in the spirit of gentleness, Paul does not want them to attack. Remember the previous admonition is, do not bite. Do not devour one another. Do not do these things to one another that are violence instead,
Love one another, And so they are to restore such a one in the spirit of weakness and then they’re also to be self reflective. Not only do they need to be spiritual and meet the qualification to restore one, not only do they need to have the right attitude when they restore one, but they need to be self reflective when restoring one that they’re not pulled into The same sentence,
the same temptation That they’re not pulled into the sin, that they’ve just brought someone else out of. They need to watch themselves. Then he says, verse two, bear one another’s burdens. And So fulfill the law of Christ. Now wait just a minute. And all of the book of Galatians we’ve heard over and over again that we’ve got faith versus the law.
We’ve got grace versus the law. We’ve got the sacrifice of Christ versus the law. And now here Paul turns around and says, fulfill the law of Christ. Paul, are you telling us we’re still under a law? Yes he is. We’re no longer under the law of the flesh. We’re no longer under the law of Moses were no longer under the old law.
We’re no longer under the law that separated you in Denton were under the law. Christ, excuse me. And in Christ we have Liberty, we have freedom, We have Liberty, do what is Right and we have freedom to obey God and freedom to do what is right. And we have freedom from the bondage of the law and the freedom from the bondage of sin because we’re covered by a sacrifice that is sufficient.
And the grace of God cleanses us from our sins through the blood of Christ. But it doesn’t mean we’re not under law. We’re under the law of Christ and we fulfill that law by serving one another by bearing one another’s burdens, by living the life of Christ in our lives. What does our life look like today? Does it look more like the works of the flesh When we’re not sitting in these pews,
when we’re not meeting with other saints, do, does our life look a whole lot more like the world than it does Christ or are we fulfilling the law of Christ? Are we self centered? Are we focused on ourselves? Are we looking at others saying, I wish I had what they have? Are we Living the life of Christ? Are we seeing others who are struggling with burdens and struggling with difficulties and saying,
you know what, they need to get their act together, Or are we living the life of Christ? Are we fulfilling the law of Christ? Are we loving our neighbor As ourself? Are we bearing one another’s burdens and are we restoring those overtaken in a fault? Okay, We need to be living the lives of Christians. We need to be serving one another.
We need to love One another and we need to put to death sin in our lives and the desires and the passions of the flesh. There are things that are good and there are things that are not, and the things that are not are evident. And when someone is desiring those things, they’ll make any arguments To justify those desires. But when that person allows the mind of Christ to have influence in their lives,
they’ll stop arguing for those things. We need to set our mind and our affection on things that are above and not on things that are on the earth. If you’re outside of the body of Christ this evening, You enter into the body of Christ. Just as we read in Galatians chapter three verse 27 by being baptized into Christ. But if you’re a member of the body of Christ and you’ve given your life over to the works of the flesh,
given them over, given your life over to the passions of the flesh, there may not be a person here who knows about it, but you do. And Christ does. And as we discuss this morning, Christ is the judge and he will judge us based upon our deeds, our actions, and our heart. If you have need of being restored,
if you’ve brought shame and reproach upon the church, you can be restored. If you have sin in your life that is private, you need to pray and ask God for forgiveness. If you have need of the invitation, why not come as we stand? And as we sing Christ, you’re broke. And LA<inaudible><inaudible> man called, uh, Yeah.
And Yeah.<inaudible> bring him here every<inaudible><inaudible> What ever troubles you. Oh, bring and<inaudible> Ring him.<inaudible> I har he went, ran the, uh, I<inaudible> Rang ham. You’re aware in a Ray safe<inaudible> weep out your binding tears.<inaudible> this pie, Right? Uh,<inaudible> uh, uh, uh, breast savior of a saw.
Oh my friend as crass, uh,<inaudible> and, uh, Tim life wouldn’t be dark out.<inaudible> With fam morning Greg’s and have a<inaudible>. Please be seated. Those that did not have an opportunity earlier in the day to protect the Lord’s supper. If you would please raise your hand. And we will see that your sire, That’s about Oh God,
our father in heaven, as we now to the cross of Calvary where our savior died for the sins of mankind. We pray that those that partake of this bread, which represents his body might do so in a manner pleasing and Jesus we pray. Amen. Father in heaven, it is so grateful of us and thankful of us that your son was willing to sacrifice his life for us.
We’re mindful of that death and his blood being shared there on the cross. We pray as this fruit of the vine which represents that blood is those that partake might do so in a way pleasing and Jesus we pray. Amen. Oh, they’re in heaven. We’re grateful for your love and for this day that we’ve been able to come and worship you. We’re thankful father for the many blessings that we has been bestowed upon us.
And as we reflect on those blessings, father, we pray that we’re good stewards of them and that we purpose in our hearts to give a portion of that to you, that we might continue the work here and trying to reach those that are lost and also trying to help those that are in need. And Jesus, we pray. Amen. It’s certainly been blessed today by two good lessons from God’s word in our Bible study.
Together we hope that everyone has been encouraged and uh, we hope everyone will. We’ll be looking forward to coming together on Wednesday night and studying from God’s word and trying to live lives that are pleasing to God and that we glorify him. Our closing him would be number hundred 35 after which we will be led in a prayer if you would be standing<inaudible> that I tried dreaming seas with China.
Mang man<inaudible> teach my heart that uh,<inaudible> uh, I would try my a with aim. Oh my cat.<inaudible><inaudible> nine years passed and uh,<inaudible> I would sing die service long meaning God, I promise work that my, ah, Hey labors<inaudible> I am dine and uh, there’s, Oh with me, Our God and our father.
We’re thankful for this first day of the week and we live in a country where we can assemble worship tea without being molested by civil authorities. We’re thankful we’ve had this opportunity to father, to read potions. I word off of prayers and to deeds, sing hymns and take of the Lord supper. Help us to remember that this is a blessing that everyone doesn’t have,
but those that are Christians could and should participate in this worship. We ask father, that you be with those that are anticipating surgery this week and you to be with those that are going to minister to them and pray that you will guide them, pray that you will restore them back to their health. Father, if it’d be their wheel, we asked for forgiveness of our sins.
He thinks we ask in Christ’s name. Amen.
It helps if you turn it on. I, how about that? Oh, right. We are in first Kings chapter eight.<inaudible> Our text this morning is going to deal with the consecration of the temple and the initial uh, feast that, that will go along with the opening of the temple. So we’ll deal with that in a few moments. I,
I’ll just tell you right now, we may or may not get all the way through this chapter. Uh, we, we might continue a little bit of this on Wednesday. Um, there’s a lot here and there’s a lot of other passages in scripture that connect back to this. And so seeing this particular chapter in its full biblical view and all the different things that that touch on it,
um, we, we may take an extra class period to do that and fold to, uh, the, you know, to other classes together. Um, as far as two other lessons together to, to, uh, still hit our quarter, um, with the other classes. But we’ll get into that in a moment. Let’s begin with a word of prayer.
Gracious father in heaven. We humbly bow before you grateful for this day for the life and the opportunity that we have to serve you and the blessings you shower upon us on a daily basis. We pray for those who have been struggling with illnesses, difficulties. We pray for those who are dealing with chronic issues and chronic pains. We pray for those who have lost loved ones in recent months.
We pray for those who are struggling with just the day to day difficulties of life in all these areas. We pray that you will comfort those individuals and give them strength, help them to remain strong and steadfast and faithful to you above everything else and help them to seek your strength instead of relying upon their own. We pray that you be with us as we go through this period of study and this period of worship this morning may all that we do be in accordance with your will and right in your sight.
We pray for the missionaries that work throughout the world and we pray that you give them strength and a willingness to speak and boldness to proclaim your gospel and a willingness to go to places and to do things where others might not. And we pray that as they are sound in the faith and sound and faithful to you that you will bless them with fruitful opportunities and bless their labors.
We pray for the work here at Collierville and we pray for the congregation. May she always be sound in the faith instead fast proclaiming your word constant day in and day out. All this we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.<inaudible> First Kings chapter eight We read in chapter eight verse one now Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes,
the chief fathers of the children of Israel to King Solomon in Jerusalem, that they might bring up the Ark of the covenant of the Lord from the city of David, which is Zion. Therefore all the men of Israel assembled with King Solomon at the feast in the month of<inaudible>, which is the seventh month. So you tell me what feast this is<inaudible> Give you a clue.
Leviticus 23 verses 33 and 34<inaudible> East of Tabernacles. Okay. The seventh month there was the feast of Tabernacles where Israel was to come together and they were to dwell in Tabernacles. Tabernacles is another word for what? Tents. They were to dwell in tins. It’s kind of, I don’t know, a musing to me that it’s the feast of dwelling in tents where they moved the Ark of the covenant and God’s house out of a tent and into a permanent structure.
But that that’s when it happened. Uh, but it’s in the seventh month and it’s during this feast that Solomon calls all the elders of Israel, all the leaders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes, and he calls them together to bring what into this new temple, the Ark, the Ark, and all of the pieces from the tabernacle were brought together into the temple.
Now, have we ever had any miss steps while transporting the Ark before? Yes, we have. And they’re going to do it right this time. They’re going to do it the right way. Um, let’s notice here in verse three, so all the elders of Israel came and the priest took up the Ark. Oh look, you do it God’s way.
It works perfect every time. Uh, there’s just one more reminder that we need to keep having. We need to keep reminding ourselves of, it’s the way Peter said, I will not be negligent to always puts you in remembrance of these things. When you do it God’s way, it works. You may not get the result you imagined, but you’ll get the result God wanted.
You’ll get what God intended. And it’s that pattern. It’s that mentality. It’s that perspective that says, listen, do it God’s way and you’ll do it right. Do it your way and you’re bound to end up doing it wrong. And so the priest took up the Ark. Then they brought the Ark of the Lord, the tabernacle of meeting, and all the Holy furnishings that were in the tabernacle.
The priests and the Levis brought them up. It’s interesting, they don’t just bring the contents of the tabernacle. They bring the tabernacle as well. I mean this is a mobile structure and the temple is of massive size by comparison to the tabernacle, so they just as it were, fold up the tabernacle and bring it with them. They did everything that they were supposed to do as if they were transporting the tabernacle in the days of Exodus when they were moving from place to place,
the correct people, the Levites group did their job. They took their responsibility and they transported the articles that were in the tabernacle, the tabernacle itself and the arc of the covenant to the temple. Then they uh, excuse me, verse five, also King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel who were assembled with him were with him before the Ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen that could not be counted or numbered for multitude.
There is going to be a numbering of sacrifices later on in the chapter, but at this point I think that that was one portion of it and then there’s more indicated here even than that number and that number is significant when we get down to it. But there’s so many sacrifices going on. There is so much that is being offered in the consecration of the temple that it’s numerable,
okay. Going back for a moment in your mind to the requirement buying God back in the book of Exodus, when they came out of Egypt, he said, for every family, for every first born, there was a sacrifice required, okay? And that sacrifice, if the family had enough to do, had enough wealth, had enough possessions, was what to redeem the firstborn,
A kid of, of the flock, okay. And if they didn’t have enough, then there were alternatives that they could offer as well, including, uh, I think it was a dove or, or something like that. So here you have this responsibility as part of the consecration that occurred in Egypt as they’re leaving. And that was to be done,
uh, as part of their regular, uh, worship. Here you have essentially Solomon supplying what’s needed for the whole nation to do this. Again, this is really what you’re getting in this picture here is you have this consecration of not just the tabernacle, but of the nation to faithful service to God. Then the priest brought in the Ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place,
into the inner sanctuary of the temple, to the most Holy place under the wings of the cherubim. Now remember we talked about the chair of him the other week, uh, how, how large was their wingspan From one side to the other? There were two cherubim, one on one side and one on the other. They had wings going forward and wings going back and the back wings touched the walls on either side and the front wings touched each other in the middle.
And so the arc of the covenant comes into the middle underneath the two forward facing wings. Okay, so just so you can imagine that in your mind, uh, for the chair boom, spread their two wings over the place of the arch. And the cherubim overshadowed the arc and it’s polls. The polls extended so that the ends of the polls could be seen from the Holy place in front of the inner sanctuary,
but they could not be seen from outside and they are there to this day. Okay. So at the time of this writing, and we don’t necessarily, I think have a real good picture of who wrote the book of first and second Kings, but at the point in which this is being written, this, the temple is still there. The, the arc is still there.
These things are still there. That gives us some clue by the way, uh, that w of when it’s not written, it’s not written in the time of the Babylonian empire. It’s not written after the exile because by the way, the arc of the covenant doesn’t go to Babylon. But that’s another discussion for another time. But when this is being written,
he says it’s still there and this is still the case. So it’s interesting you think about the polls that they use to carry the Ark. The polls would go through what? On the Ark? The rings. So the priests carry in the arc and of course they’re carrying it through the veil, the veil that separated the Holy place where the priest came in on a daily basis to do the things that they were supposed to do in the Holy place.
But then the most Holy place, only the high priest went in and he went in. How many times a year? Once on the day of atonement. Does anybody remember what month the day of atonement in? So let me look that up. Second. I don’t remember off the top of my head. That’s why I’m asking you. So while somebody is looking that up,
the priest would, the high priest would go in through the veil into the most Holy place. But what they’re telling you here is the way they situated the arc of the covenant. The poles for transporting the Ark were left in the rings. Think maybe this might have been a, Hey, let’s not make this mistake again. Put the poles there. So we always know how to transport this thing.
Uh, but it’s put in there and the polls, the end of the polls are sticking through the veil. What does that tell these priests day in and day out when they go into the Holy place but aren’t allowed to go into the most Holy place? Well, it means they better stop. But it, if the polls are there, what else is there?
The Ark. Okay, it’s this, it’s this reminder. Every time they go into the Holy place, it’s still there. Nothing’s happened to it because they only get to go in once a year and only the high priest gets to go in. So let’s say somebody comes into the temple, breaks in and steals it, they wouldn’t know till the next day of atonement that it’s missing.<inaudible> I’m just saying,
I think there’s this, this, they go, Hey, if we leave the poles sticking out through the veil, it’s this reminder. It’s there. And, and what was on top of the arc? The cherubims, but what was between the cherubims, the mercy? See there’s this, there’s this connection, this reminder that God’s mercy comes from God’s throne,
comes from God’s presence and fills the lives of these people. And so this connection, they can’t go in and see it, but they can see those poles. They can know it’s there. 10th day of the what, seventh month. Oh, I was right. So, not only do we have, by the way, the feast of Tabernacles going on in the seventh month,
we also have the day of atonement. So all of this, even though it’s not spelled out, they don’t say, Oh, by the way, we’re doing the feast of Tabernacles. And Oh, by the way, it’s the day of atonement, and I’ll spell it all out in first Kings. But if you go connect this to the other passages,
you’re supposed to catch up on that. Hey, by the way, it’s the day of atonement when all of these sacrifices for all of the people are made, and when the high priest goes in through the veil, and that’s the day the temple is opened. Okay? Yes. So that is a, it’s an important point when even going back to the days of the tabernacle,
when it was time to transport the tabernacle, when they would go from place to place, those who had the responsibilities of transporting it were allowed to go in. But there was a procedure there. There were things that had to be done by the priests. And then the, the, I think it was the Kohathites were the ones responsible for transporting the articles of the temple and such.
And so there was a procedure they were to go through when it was moved and that’s how it gets in there is that they’re following that procedure now, but once it’s there, once the veil is shut, once all of it’s done, then it’s the high priest once a year that’s allowed to go in. What about speeding? You know, That’s a good question.
I don’t know that we ever read about it, but I guess my assumption is there’s probably some sort. Yeah. And what’d they do with all the blood? That’s going to be an interesting one by the time we get through this, um, to, to, to just a mental image to go, Hmm. I wonder how they did this. There was another comment.
Yeah, That is correct. That is correct. We’re going to see the prayer, the presence of God, God’s presence manifested in the Holy place and that is going to occur after the arc is placed there. So, um, this is part of the reason why we’re not getting through this chapter all today. So just, just FYI. Uh, so the priest brought in the Arctic covenant of the Lord to its place,
into the inner sanctuary of the temple, to the most Holy place under the wings of the chairman for the chairman, spread their two wings over the place of the arch. And the cherubim overshadowed the arc and its poles and the poles extended so that the ends of the polls could be seen from the Holy place in front of the inner sanctuary, but they could not be seen from outside.
And they are there. To this day, nothing was in the Ark except the two tablets of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb when the Lord made a covenant with the children of Israel when they came out of the land of Egypt. Now what was originally in the Ark? The the bowl of manna. Okay. Aaron’s rod that budded and the tabernacle or the tables of stones,
Tabernacles with the tables of stone. What’s there and how Errands Rod’s gone. So’s the bowl of man. The only thing that remains are the tables of stone. Now, what happened to the other things Eight? The answer is we don’t know. Uh, just like, you know, that rabbit, we’re not going to chase. We don’t know where the arc is either.
Um, it never went to Babylon. It’s not among the things listed is going to Babylon. But what happened to it before Babylon came into Jerusalem? We have no idea<inaudible> Uh, could, could be, could be, uh, that, that is the reminder that this had gone to the Philistines. The Philistines had it for a time, then it had gone to,
uh, was obeyed ITAM and, and these other places, um, before it came back. Did something occur then we know the Philistines tried to open it, uh, because many of them died when that occurred. So, um, we, we don’t know all the details. We do know that as of this point, this is what’s still in the Ark.
Uh, nothing was in the Ark except the two tablets of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb. When the Lord made a covenant with the children of Israel when they came out of the land of Egypt, and it came to pass when the priest came out of the Holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord so that the priest could not continue ministering because of the cloud,
for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord. So as they come in, they bring the Ark in, they place it in, they come and they’re continuing to offer the sacrifices. They’re continuing to do the work of priests in the Holy place. But God’s presence comes in to the temple. And as a result of that, they have to stop.
Basically all of them have to leave this, this cloud, as it is described, descends over the temple and into the temple. And everyone inside goes out. They can no longer continue to operate in the temple. And this was a continual reminder, the presence of God. And you’ll this, by the way, if you go back into Exodus, you’ll see the same thing occurring at the tabernacle.
Uh, in the days of of Moses, God, again, placing his stamp of approval on this, saying, this is part of my covenant. I will dwell with my people. I will be here and now it’s also important to realize what’s going to be said by Solomon and that Solomon and all the people recognize. Just because we have this manifestation of God’s presence here doesn’t mean that God dwells in places made with hands.
Okay, so Solomon makes this statement. Verse 12, then Solomon spoke, the Lord said he would dwell in the dark cloud. I have surely built you an exalted house and they place for you to dwell in forever. So Solomon makes this statement. He says, this is a place for God’s presence. This is a place for God to dwell. This is a,
and the connection here is to the covenant, to the promise. Notice the connection, the verses before it, nothing was there except the TA, the tables of stone that Moses put there. And he put them there. When, when God made a covenant with Israel, which you’re seeing is these verses are getting your mind to go to the covenant. God’s presence is to remind you of the covenant.
God said, I’ll dwell with you if you’d well with me, but if you cease dwelling with me, if you see following my laws. Isn’t that interesting? The covenant was connected to the tablets of stone and written on the stones were what? The 10 commandments foundation of the law. God said, the law is the fundamental connection between my presence here and you and as long as you continue in my law,
out continued dwelling with you, but you leave off the law and my presence will be gone from you. So notice verse 14 then the King turned around and blessed the whole assembly of Israel while all the assembly of Israel was standing. And he said, blessed be the Lord God of Israel who spoke with his mouth to my father, David and with his hand has fulfilled its saying since the day that I brought my people Israel out of Egypt,
I have chosen no city from any tribe of Israel in which to build a house that my name might be there, but I chose David to be over my people Israel. Now it was in the heart of my father, David, to build a temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel. But the Lord said to my father, David, whereas it was in your heart to build a temple for my name,
you well that it was in your heart, kind of hear, uh, a little bit additional information here from Solomon. You know, God told David, you’re not building the temple, but I’ll make a covenant with you and your son who comes from you. We’ll build a temple. But what Solomon includes in here is, but God wasn’t angry with David that he wanted to build the temple.
God said, you do well to have this perspective, to have this idea, uh, this was a, this was a positive thing and yet it needed to be done God’s way and not David’s way. Nevertheless, verse 19, you shall not build the temple, but your son who will come from your body. He shall build the temple for my name.
So the Lord has fulfilled his word, which he spoke. And I have filled the position of my father David and too, and sit on the throne of Israel as the Lord promised. And I have built a temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel. And there I have made a place for the arc which is in which is the covenant of the Lord,
which he made with our fathers when he brought them out of the land of Egypt. Solomon blesses the people and he stands before them and he reminds them why all of this has happened. How long has it taken to do this? Let’s go back to all the way back to second Samuel chapter seven when David initially had the idea, this has been a generation incoming,
th th Solomon would probably have still been a child when this idea initially came forth. And so, uh, you, you have all of this being leading up to what God is going to promise, what God is going to do, what God has done. And now Solomon says, and the Lord has done what he said, this is going to be one more example of what God says he’ll do.
He will do. Okay. We need to be reminded that these things happen and they happen according to God’s plan and they happen according to God’s timeframe. God doesn’t allow someone else to come in and you serve his authority, you serve his plan. But he also doesn’t allow someone else to get in the way of him fulfilling his plan. It’s this reminder that we get from,
from the book of Esther where Mordecai says to Esther, listen, you can go in and you can stand before the King and you can save your people and you can make sure that the King knows. But if you, you could rest assured God’s going to save his people anyway, But your house won’t be safe. So this constant reminder that God’s going to do what God has said he will do and God’s going to fulfill what he has promised.
Yes, absolutely. Absolutely. Um, so Just for clarification, cause my brain started thinking about this as I was talking, I said that Solomon probably was a child when God made the covenant of David. No, Solomon wasn’t born yet because second Samuel chapter seven happens before second Samuel chapter 11, where David committed adultery with Bathsheba. So Solomon wasn’t born yet.
That’s how long a time it’s been, uh, from the time that, uh, before Solomon was even born, until this is fulfilled. Now verse 22. Thanks. Let me step back and say one more thing. Yeah. God made a promise to David. You’re going to have a son and the son that I choose is going to be on the throne and the son that I choose is going to be the one who builds the temple.
Absalom was not that son at a Nijah was not that son. Solomon had not even been born and yet God said, I’m choosing Your son is going to continue your throne and I will make a covenant with him and he will build my temple. And Solomon here stands 11 years into his reign and says, God did what God promised before. I was even born and it is a recognition that it wasn’t all about Solomon,
it was all about God. We need to be reminded of that as well, so just carries back this connection all the way back to Abraham. God promised you’re going to have a son and I’m going to do this and I’m going to be with him and I’m going to be with his descendants before Abraham ever had a child, God did the same thing with David before Solomon was born.
Then Solomon stood verse 22 before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands towards heaven and he said, Lord God of Israel. There is no God in heaven above or on earth below like you who keep your covenant and mercy with your servants who walk before you with all their heart. You kept what you promised your servant David,
my father. You have both spoken with your mouth and fulfilled it with your hand as it is this day. Solomon says that God fulfilled this. God did this with his hand. The God just Make the temple. Who was God’s hand to do it? Solomon and the people. There’s this, there’s this reminder that Solomon gives here and that is that God has purposes and God has his will and God has the things that God wants done and God has the promises that he’s going to fulfill and sometimes we’re a part of that,
But the glory doesn’t go to us. The glory doesn’t go to Solomon. The glory doesn’t go to the people. The glory goes back to God because it was God who was doing it. But notice also that Solomon makes it clear. The presence of God is connected to the heart of the people. Go back to verse 23 Lord God of Israel. There is no God in heaven above or on earth below like you who keep your covenant and mercy with your servants who want before you with all their hearts.
Jesus has asked what’s the greatest command? No, And it seems as though Solomon already knew what it was To love the Lord thy God with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my strength, with all my mind. And Jesus said the same thing because both of them read the book of Deuteronomy. Both of them knew what Moses had said in the book of Deuteronomy about serving the Lord and God says,
you are. Solomon says concerning Lord, you’ll keep your covenant. You’ll keep your promise. You’ll walk with your people if they walk with you because that’s what you’ve told them. Then we verse 25 therefore, Lord God of Israel, now keep what you promised your servant David, my father saying, you shall not fail to have a man sit before me on the throne of Israel.
Only if your sons take heed to their way that they walked before me as you have walked before me. Not only is the relationship of the people with God contingent upon their hearts, but the relationship of the throne to David’s family was contingent upon their deeds contingent upon their actions and they’re keeping the law. It’s going to be, It’s going to be very sad to see where Solomon is in the 11th year of his reign,
where he goes in the years thereafter because he doesn’t do this. He does all of this work and does all of this to accomplish this great deed and then lets his heart Go And lets it follow after everything else. Now I pray, Oh God of Israel, verse 26 let your word come true, which you have spoken to your servant David, my father,
but will God indeed dwell on the earth. Behold, heaven in the heavens of heavens cannot contain you. How much less? This temple, which I have built Solomon’s not disillusioned about this, Solomon is not believing that, Oh, I built this great structure in this grand thing and encompassed it with gold and done all of these things. Therefore, now God dwells in this house in contrast to everywhere else.
Solomon says, heavens and the heavens of heavens cannot contain your presence. I am not confused about your presence being here. Is your presence here? Yes. Does that mean it’s not somewhere else? No. So Solomon understands that God is dwelling with his people, but that does not mean that God is not still God. But then also he says verse 28 yet regard the prayer of your servant and his supplication.
Oh Lord my God, and listen to the cry and the prayer which your servant is praying before you today, that your eyes may be open toward this temple night and day toward the place of which you said, my name shall be there. That you may hear the prayer which your servant makes toward this place, and you may hear the simplification of your servant and of your people Israel,
when they pray toward this place here in heaven, your dwelling place. And when you hear, forgive, Solomon makes clear that this temple is simply a representation of God’s true dwelling place in heaven.<inaudible> What is the church? According to first Kings chapter or sorry, first Chronicles chapter three in first Chronicles, chapter six<inaudible> First Corinthians. There we go.
Corinthians, I’m I messed you up on the Chronicles there. First Corinthians chapter three in chapter six, The temple. Paul writes to the Corinthians and he says, your body, If you look at the context of the two passages, one of them is the congregation and one of them is the Christians. You are the temple of God. One passage says,
if you’re the temple of God, you better not be joined to a harlot. That’s an individual relationship with God. The other one speaks concerning the church being the temple of God. God hasn’t left heaven. God isn’t missing from heaven. If someone is, and I know I’m speaking in earthly terms about spiritual legs, but if someone in heaven goes to look for God,
he’s still there. That doesn’t mean he’s not in the church. That doesn’t mean he’s not in you and me. It didn’t mean he wasn’t in the temple. But what Solomon wants these people to recognize and what he’s asking God to do is when this people turns their heart back towards the covenant, because what is it that’s there? What is it that’s housed inside this temple?
What is it that connects the people to God and his presence? It’s the covenant. So every thing that you read here when he re when he makes this statement about the people praying towards the temple and he says, when they pray towards this temple and this occurs and they ask for forgiveness, forgive them, but it’s not the temple that is the significant part of that.
It’s what’s in side. It’s what is of real consequence and value. All the things that the temple is is this external wrapping around two things, laying in a box, The law, and so he says when they turn their hearts back to you and when they pray towards this temple, you forgive. Now draw that forward because in Jeremiah chapter 31 or 32 I think it’s 32 verses 32 through 38 or 32 through 36 Jeremiah says that there was coming a time prophesying on behalf of God where I will write my law on their hearts.<inaudible> And first Corinthians chapter three and first Corinthians chapter six says that the church is the temple of God.
We don’t need to go about building any temples for God. Today we are supposed to live as temples of God. Today we are to act as if God’s law has written inside the deepest Portions of our heart. Yeah. And we are to live in relationship to him and dwell with him so that he can dwell with us. John chapter 17 Jesus is praying in the upper room and he says that he desires that those who are following him be one with God,
the father as he is one with God the father. And they achieve that by believing in him and by hearing the words that he delivered to the apostles. Yeah. The words that God had delivered to him In all of this, in everything that’s made up in the life of Israel and in the relationship with Israel and the covenant of Israel with God, the foundation of it all Was words,
Communication And it relationship built upon a law. Yeah. And a promise And a covenant. And when Israel remembered that They were faithful to God, When they were conscious of the law and when they were conscious of the word of God and when they were conscious of the relationship with God, they were faithful to God. Thank God, dwelled with them. And God blessed them and they served him.
But when they lost track of the importance of the law, when they lost track of the importance of the words, when they lost track of the importance of the covenant, they lost their connection to God. Turn to Jeremiah chapter seven real quick. We’ll close with this and the questions. Um, and then we’ll pick up here on Wednesday night. Jeremiah chapter seven,
Beginning in verse one, here’s what Solomon never wanted to happen, but it happened anyway. Here’s what God never wanted them to do, but they did it anyway. Jeremiah chapter seven, verse one, the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord saying, stand in the gate of the Lord’s house. What’s Lord’s house? The temple. He says, go stand in the gate of the temple and proclaim there this word and say here the word of the Lord.
All you of Judah who enter in at these Gates to worship the Lord. Alright, so Jeremiah is supposed to go, he’s supposed to stand in the gate of the temple. He is supposed to cry out to everyone who’s coming in and out of the temple. And here’s what he’s to say. Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel,
amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. Do not trust in these lying words saying so. Here’s the proclamation of the liars, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord are these. God says, don’t you trust in the temple? Don’t you trust in those who say,
look, we’ve got the temple. Look, we’ve got the temple. Look, we’ve got the temple. Verse four, do not trust in these lying words saying the Lord or the temple of the Lord, the tumble of Lord the tumble Lord are these four. If you thoroughly amend your ways and your doings, if you thoroughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbor,
if you do not oppress the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, or walk after other gods to your hurt, then I will cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers for ever and ever. Behold you trust in lying words that cannot profit. Will you steal murder,
committed adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to bail and walk after other gods whom you do not know and then come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name and say, we are delivered to do all these abominations<inaudible> Over in your margin. If you write notes in your Bible, Right? Romans chapter six verse one Shall we continue in sin that Grace May abound?
Let it never be so God for bid. That’s the same mentality they had right here. They were stealing, lying, robbing, killing, and then going into the temple and saying, We can do all of these things because God is with us And yet this is the same passage you read on that Jesus uses to accuse the scribes and the Pharisees and the money changers and those in the temple in his day saying,
you’ve turned my house into identities. The temple was never intended to be the important thing. It was always intended to remind them of the important thing, which was their heart and their actions. Let’s go through the questions. We’ll just go through the ones. Actually, we’ll just go through number one and number two, since that’s as far as we’ve made it,
those whom Solomon called to assemble when the Ark of God was brought God’s new house did not include the elders, the heads of the tribes, uh, the leaders of the fathers of the house, uh, or seen any of the fathers of the household or D, all the people, the, all the people. Uh, when Solomon had the Ark of God moved to God’s new house,
who carried the Ark, the priests. And what part of God’s house was the art placed Most Holy place. Why? Or excuse me, what was contained inside the Ark of God? Tables of stone. Why did the priest have to leave the house of the Lord after placing the Ark of God inside the most Holy place? Wow. Because the presence of God or the cloud filled the house.
Who originated the idea number three of building a permanent house for God. David. Okay. So we’ll pick up there and go through the remainder of the questions and the remainder of the chapter on Wednesday night. Thank you for your attention. You are dismissed.<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> Man, it kind of looks like the old man used to say he looked like last year.
His burden. It’s just, just all scattered out and not many there. Good to see everybody this morning. We do have a lot of people out, but it is good to see those of you that are here and we welcome all our visitors. If we have any, I don’t see any, but if you are here and I can’t see, we appreciate you fill out a card.
Uh, We need to remember our sick Rodale and Dorothy. Um, Julia occasion is now in a hospice care. Is there a note out there about where she is or whenever she’s at home but in hospice care and uh, John Springer is still at home recovering from her pneumonia. Beverly Price is a pill out. She’s having some blood pressure problems. The Richardsons are in Ripley,
Mississippi today. I think it was Mississippi think so. Anyway, they in Ripley, uh, he’s preaching there today. The Dales are all out sick and uh, Betty Lou is going to have her other hand operated on tomorrow and it is bothering her much smaller than the other one was. So they going to try to fix that one. Carville cares.
We’ll meet two, uh, tomorrow night at seven Coleman Avenue. Ladies day was sad. It will be Saturday the 29th. Uh, we need to remember the Rushmore’s are still in Ghana, but Martha fail and uh, kinda bruised up from that and she found out she has a mass on a kidney. They will see about that on March the sixth when they get back,
it’d probably be back before the sixth, but anyway, that’s when she going to see about our kidney. And uh, Rebecca’s grandfather fell and broke his hip, but they are unable to do a surgery right now because of some other health problems. They need to fix this. If you need a Cohen can from Potter’s children home there, uh, on a table in the,
by the office there and that’s all around Schick and the people that are out, uh, gear Carla will lead singing this morning. Uh, I’ll have the opening prayer. Aaron cohort, the sermon and Jay Shafir will have the closing prayer. Thank you. First song had number one Oh eight one Oh eight the Lord is in his Holy temple. A temple is a dwelling place of a God and of course Christians are the dwelling place of God now.
Okay.<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> Tim<inaudible><inaudible> the earth. Keep silence be for<inaudible> key.<inaudible> Key Long. He saw Lawrence B four<inaudible> Number 671 will be the next song. Pure In the heart. Oh God. Hell me.<inaudible> Ma. Hey. Hi D boy Martin Lawrence. Oh, today<inaudible> Watch that. All my words would be gone.
Guide me with cow. So sweet.<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> me too.<inaudible><inaudible> in the hall. Oh God. Help me.<inaudible> Teach me to do well. Most log<inaudible> Big doll, my friend and God that me with the buy side.<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> me too.<inaudible><inaudible> in hoard or God help me.<inaudible><inaudible> one day.<inaudible> Hey me prom.
See grandson Ray and doll my soul With an<inaudible>.<inaudible> Oh, me too.<inaudible> That was probably a father who art in heaven. We thank you for this first day of the week, an opportunity to have to come together as your children to sang songs of praise to the end to worship you the only true and living God. We pray that you would be with us today and give us wisdom to understand the things that we are to study today so they might help us to become stronger Christians and to be more faithful today.
We pray that you would be with our number that are sick today, that, that are unable to be with us. We pray that you would be with them and comfort them and be with those that attack Karen for them. We pray that you’d be with those that are in nursing homes and other health care places. We pray that you would comfort them and,
and uh, be with them and the people that are caring for them. We pray that you would be with those that are traveling. We pray that you would, uh, give them safe journey to where they go and to come back so they can be back with us. We pray that you would be with the ladies rock country during this time, that they may say they’re wrong and turn to them for guidance.
We pray that you would be with the teachers here at Chi will, that they will always treat, teach the truth, and and have a long service in your kingdom. Pray that you would be with us through the further exercise of this day. Keep us safe. Forgive us when we do wrong. Christ name we pray. Amen. Number 382 will be the next song to prepare our minds for the Lord’s supper.
Why did my savior come to<inaudible> And to the arm bull go, Whoa. Why did he use the lower lip? B calls, he law me.<inaudible> He lost hope. He’s<inaudible> He<inaudible> Me.<inaudible> He gave his precious life for me for me. B calls he law.<inaudible> Why did he drink the beer?<inaudible> Oh, saw roll pain.<inaudible> Well on the cross,
bill lifted<inaudible> B calls. He lost me.<inaudible> He Me<inaudible> Yeah.<inaudible> Me.<inaudible> He gave his precious life for me, for me. The calls he law<inaudible> To Jesus comes us seeing it<inaudible> and then two Glor rig<inaudible> And reign with him through and listen<inaudible> B calls. He lost me.<inaudible> He<inaudible> Me.<inaudible> Yeah.<inaudible> Me.<inaudible> He gave this precious life for me for me.
B, cause he lost me.<inaudible><inaudible> Would you bow with me? Our heavenly father, we truly thank you for Christ, our savior and his willingness to die far. So we thank you for this bread which does represent Christ’s body. We pray that as we do so we would do so in a manner that’s pleasing and acceptable thee and do so with a thankful heart.
These saints we ask in Christ’s name. Amen.<inaudible> Okay.<inaudible> Well, our heavenly father, we continue our thanks for this fruit of the vine, which does represents the blood of our savior that will shed for our sins. Pray that each one of us might do so with a thankful heart. The sinks we ask in Christ’s name. Amen.<inaudible> That’s bow.
Oh God, our father in heaven. We are truly grateful for all the blessings that you sow bountifully given to us. We pray, father, that we’re good stewards of those blessings and that we have purposed in our hearts today to give a portion of that back to the we pray, father, that the church here will use those funds wisely and try to have the needy and to spread the borders of the kingdom.
Not only here, but throughout the world. Bless us in our giving and we pray. We’re giving with a cheerful heart in Jesus name. Amen.<inaudible> Number 797 number 797 Lord, we come before the die feet. We humbly bow, Oh, do not our suit deuce. Dang Shaw. We see the Lord in vain jaw. We seek the Lord in verse Lord on the hour salt deep in comm a Sean.
Now Dee say and bill our hearts with by rich gray. He’s dude our knit to sing to our lips to sing by<inaudible> in died. Oh no audited way. Now we see the here we say, Lord, we know not how to go. Deal law, blessing dog, be stole to law. Blessing be stall. Whoa. Grind that whole movie.
Seek and find the uh, God’s Preme leak on<inaudible> dog app. Do you three<inaudible> Oh Ori Georgeson the leart also read yours in the<inaudible>. Our invitation song will be number 374 374<inaudible><inaudible> Good morning. Take your Bibles if you will, And open them to the book of John. Jesus came To seek and to save that which was lost.
Jesus came And preached a message To a people. His message was not for that people alone, For when he left this earth, he left instructions for his disciples to take that message to Jerusalem, Judea, Sumeria, to the most part of the earth. But Jesus preached a message of a coming kingdom. Jesus preached that the kingdom of heaven was at hand And Jesus proclaimed and said to his disciples that he would set up his kingdom,
the kingdom that Daniel chapter two verse 44 was prophesied about, that it would never be destroyed. The kingdom of God. Okay, And that he would build his church and the Gates of hell would not prevail against it. He preached all of these things. He said, all of these things, he came for this reason and yet as Jesus preached, there are topics and there are subjects that Jesus preached about differently than anyone else And specifically differently than anyone previous to him.
It was interesting that the people, the Jews would respond to Jesus’s preaching and they would say, no man ever spake as this man speaks for. He spoke with authority And Jesus preached about topics that were important And most assuredly, all of the things that he preached were true. It is for those reasons that I want to spend this morning looking at a topic that Jesus preached about more than any other preacher in scripture.
There are many who will believe and will hold and who will will proclaim that this subject is one which should not be preached, Should not be discussed, and frankly according to their is not accurate. And yet it’s interesting that Jesus preached about it more than any other preacher in all of scripture, old and new Testament. We begin in John chapter nine Yeah,
John chapter nine and verse 35 through verse 39 we read this. They answered and said to him, Abraham is our father. Jesus said to them, I’m in John chapter eight excuse me, John chapter nine verses 35 through 39 Jesus heard that they cast him out and when he found them, he said to him, do you believe in the son of God?
He answered and said, who is he, Lord, that I may believe in him? Jesus said to him, you have both seen him and it is he who is talking with you. The context to this event is Jesus will heal a man who is lame. The man will be questioned by the Jews as to who healed him and he will proclaim that he does not know and then his parents will be brought in and they will be questioned and they will say if he’s of age,
ask him and ultimately it will be determined that it is Jesus who healed him and the man will be cast out. He will be sent out of the congregation, pull it out of the temple. Jesus will then find him, and this is the discussion that ensues. He says, do you believe in the son of God? And he says, who is he that I may believe in him?
You have both seen him. Jesus said, and it is he who is talking with you. And he said, Lord, I believe, and he worshiped him. Then verse 39 four and Jesus said, for judgment I have come into this world. Yeah, Jesus said that he came into this world for a singular purpose. Now we’ve already mentioned Jesus said he came to seek and to save the loss.
That’s true, but in view of that mission to see and save a loss, the question must then be asked, save them from what Jesus says here in John chapter nine verse 39 for this reason, I came into the world that those who do not see may see, and those who see may be made blind. He says, for one reason, I came into the world and it is for judgment.
Okay, Jesus makes clear and Jesus proclaims with clarity. There is a judgment that is coming And if there is a judgment and if there is a need to save people from that judgment to seek and to save those who are lost, there must then be a consequence when the judgment comes, which leads us into this discussion of the topic that Jesus preached about more than any other preacher in scripture,
And that’s hell yeah. There are preachers today standing in pulpits today who will not preach On hell. Yeah. There are preachers today and pulpits today who will preach on hell in a way that is not correct and will say things about it that are not Correct. Well, what I want to do this morning is notice five reasons why Jesus preached on hell more than any other preacher in scripture,
And it begins here in John chapter nine it begins with this statement, John. Jesus said here in John chapter nine it is for this reason that he came into the world for judgment. Jesus preached on hell more than any other preacher in scripture because he knew it was the reason he came, The existence of hell, the consequence of judgment, the results of sin,
where the reason why Jesus came into this earth. Turn to Romans chapter five Paul will write concerning this situation in Romans chapter five beginning in verse six for when we were still without strength in due time, Christ died for the ungodly, for scarcely for a righteous man will one die. Yet perhaps for a good man, someone would even dare to die, but God demonstrated his love towards us in that while we were still sinners,
Christ died for us much more than having now been justified by his blood. We shall be saved from wrath through him. Jesus said, I came to seek and to save that which was lost. Jesus said, I came because of judgment. He, Jesus said that he came to reconcile us to God. Paul makes it clear that it is only through his sacrifice that we are saved from Raph.
What RAF? If God is a God of love, as some proclaim, if God is one who would not be angry with man, if God is one who will accept anything that we do, if God is one who justifies man air regardless of their actions, then why in the world would Jesus leave heaven to come to earth, to save men from the wrath of God and the judgment of God.
But notice in John chapter nine Jesus doesn’t say that he came to save men from judgment. That’s an important point. He came for judgment And that is because Jesus is the judge turned to John chapter 12 John chapter 12 Beginning of verse seven now my soul is troubled and what shall I say? Father save me from this hour, but for this purpose I came to this hour.
Father, glorify your name. Then a voice came from heaven saying, I have both glorified it and will glorify it again. Therefore, the people who stood by and heard it said that it was fun that it had thundered. Others said, an angel has spoken to him. Jesus answered and said, this voice did not come because of me, but for your sake now is the judgment of this world.
Now the ruler of this world will be cast out. Jesus came for judgment. Jesus came to bring about judgment. Jesus came as judge and Jesus came because this world was being ruled and is still under the influence of the ruler of this world who would be judged. It is important to understand the D the the reality of the fact that Jesus came not to preach.
Everyone will get to be happy forever. Jesus came to declare judgment and a separation. He came as he said, to bring a sword and not peace. Jesus came and he preached concerning judgment and consequences and wrath and hell because it was the reason he came. But consider secondly, he preached concerning hell more than any other preacher in scripture because he has power over it.
Turn to John chapter five John chapter five and in verse 22 we begin reading as Jesus here is speaking to the Jews. Verse 22 for the father, judges no one but has committed all judgment to the son. Jesus said for judgment, I came into this world and Jesus said that the judgment had been delivered into his hand. It had been committed to him.
He’s the judge. He’s the judge who will determine whether or not a person will be saved from wrath or receive wrath. But then notice verse 23 for the father, judges no one but has committed all judgment to the son that all should honor the son just as they honor the father. He who does not honor the son does not honor the father who sent him most assuredly.
I say to you, he who hears my word and believes in him who sent me has everlasting life and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death unto life. Consider the judgment that Jesus proclaims. It is a judgment that brings about death or a deliverance from death to life. Verse 25 most of surely I say to you, the hour is coming and now he is when the dead will hear the voice of the son of God and those who hear will live for as the father has life in himself.
So he has granted the son to have life in himself. The judgment that Jesus will deliver will either deliver one from death and bring them to live. We’ll give them new life or What’s the other option? Notice what he says. Verse 27 Okay To me, verse 28 do not Marvel at this. For the hour is coming, which all who were in the graves will hear his voice and come forth.
Those who have done good to the resurrection of life and those who have done evil to the resurrection of damnation. Notice Jesus doesn’t say those who have died, those who receive God’s wrath will just go out of existence and they’ll be never more. Jesus says, all who are in the gray will hear my voice. All who are in the grave will rise up.
Those who have done good and to everlasting life and those who have done evil unto everlasting damnation. Jesus said that he was the one who had power over hell and power over judgment. Matthew chapter eight, Matthew chapter eight and in verse 29<inaudible> When he had come to the other side, verse 28 to the country of the, uh, uh, gurgle scenes there he met him to demon possessed men coming out of the tombs exceedingly fear so that no one could pass that way.
And suddenly they cried out saying, what have we to do with you, Jesus, you son of God. Have you come here to torment us before our time? There is a torment. There is a judgment, there is wrath that is coming upon those demons that are spoken of here. And they knew it And they knew who had the authority over it.
Jesus preached about hell more than any other preacher in scripture because it was the reason he came. Jesus preached about hell more than any other preacher in scripture because he had the power over it. But consider thirdly that it was because it was intended for someone else. Okay? Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. Jesus came to reconcile. Man,
Jesus died when we were worthy of it because hell was intended for someone else. Turn to Matthew chapter 25 Nearing the end of Jesus’s life in the last week of his life as he is there in Jerusalem. Jesus speaks concerning when the son of man, verse 31 comes in his glory and all the Holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory.
All the nations will be gathered before him and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd divines his sheep from the goats. But if you go down to verse 41 then he will say to those who are were on the left hand, depart from me, you cursed into the everlasting fire. But notice this final statement prepared for the devil and his angels.
The wrath that is coming, the judgment that is coming, the separation that is coming, the separation of those who will have everlasting life, to those who will have everlasting condemnation, and those who have everlasting condemnation will be separated into the same place of judgment as Satan himself. Because Jesus came to defeat the ruler of this world. Satan. Jesus came to separate those into judge those who have allegiance to Satan.
Jesus says, if you’re his messenger, if you’re his partner, if you’re on his side, if you have allegiance to him, you’ll face the same judgment he faces. Jesus came And Jesus preached about hell more than any other preacher in scripture because Jesus knew hell was intended for someone else. It was intended for Satan, and yet he also knew that there were those who had given themselves over to serve Satan.
So again, we remind ourselves of Romans chapter five that while we were yet sinners, Okay, Those who had given ourselves over to Satan Christ died for us. Jesus is not the judge who sits on the throne, who desires with unrighteous judgment to condemn those who he doesn’t lie. Jesus is the judge who sits on the throne who also became the sacrifice to die for those who didn’t like him.
Number four Jesus preached about hell more than any other preacher in scripture because Jesus knows what it costs To avoid it. Avoiding hell doesn’t come without its cost and sometimes those costs are significant. Jesus in the sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapter five Begins in verse 21 He says, you have heard that it was said of those of old to those of old you shall not murder and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.
But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother, without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment and whoever says to his brother, rakish shall be in danger of the council, but whoever says you fool shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore, if you bring your gift to the alter and remember that your brother has something against you,
leave your gift there before the altar and go your way. First, be reconciled to your brother and then come and offer your gift. Agree with your adversary quickly. While you are on the way with him less your adversary deliver you over to the judge and the judge hand you over to the officer and you be thrown into prison. Surely I say to you,
you will by no means get out of there until you have paid the last penny. Jesus is using the law and Jesus is using the ordinances of the law and the commands of the law in the physical sense to reason towards the greater issue. Verse 27 he says, you have heard that it was said to those of old you shall not commit adultery, but I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish than for your whole body to be cast into hell and if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off, cast it from you for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish than for your whole body to be tasked into hell.
Jesus is trying to get them to realize there is a consequence for sin. There is a consequence for sin against one another. There is a consequence for one who does wrong to another and then does not restore what he has done wrong. He says, you can offer your sacrifices all you want but they won’t be accepted because you haven’t reconciled with your brother first.
But he also considers that the judgment in this world looks forward to a judgment in the world to come and he tells them now what about your heart? If your heart is not right, if your heart is turned away to loss, if your heart is turned away to adultery, if your heart is turned away from God, then you have a judgment that is coming.
Jesus knew what it would cost to avoid hell. Jesus said, if your eye offends you pluck it out. It’s better to lose a member of your body than to be cast into hell. Jesus isn’t talking about their physical eye. Jesus is talking about their heart. Jesus is talking about their allegiance to sin. Jesus is talking about them allowing their lives to pull them into sin and he is trying to get them to realize whatever you have to get rid of,
no matter the cost, whatever you have to get rid of to hell, It is worth it. Jesus preached about hell, Torment, condemnation, judgment, Consequences of allegiance to sin and Satan more than any other preacher because number five Jesus actually knew How wonderful heaven really was And he didn’t want any one to go to hell. Instead, John chapter 17 Beginning in verse 17 Jesus says,
sanctify them by your truth. Your word is truth. As you have sent me into the world, I have sent them the disciples into the world and for their sakes, I sanctify myself that they also may be sanctified by the truth. I do not pray for these alone, but for those who will believe me through their word, that they all may be one as you father are in me and I in you,
that they also may be one in us that the world may believe that you sent me and the glory which you gave me. I have given them that they may be one just as we are one I in them and you and me, that they may be perfect in one and that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them as you have loved me.
Yeah. Father, I desire that they also whom you gave me maybe with me where I M They may behold my glory, which you have given me for you loved me before the foundation of the world. Jesus prayed Before he left the upper room. Okay. That those who believe on the word of the disciples, those who believe that he was sent from the father,
those who would hear the message And obey it Would be unified, reconciled to God through Christ, And then when this life is over, they could be with him where he is. Jesus knows the glory of heaven And because he knew the glory of heaven, he preached concerning the destruction of hell, And if Jesus preached about it, then most certainly we should as well.
It was Jesus who spoke concerning the rich man who fared sumptuously every day, who had everything, his heart desire and thought. His life was going great until his life was over, and it was Jesus who preached concerning the man who was a beggar, who was covered in sores, who had the dogs to come and to lick his sores, who desire just a morsel of crumb from the rich man’s table And had no solace from the pains of this world.
Yeah. When the poor man died, he was carried by angels into Abraham’s bosom. He was carried to a place of peace. He was carried to a place of rest to await the judgment and the rich man died. And he wasn’t. Not because he was rich, but because he wasn’t rich toward God Because he wasn’t faithful and obedient because he was full of himself and thought only of himself.
Yeah, Because his allegiance was to himself instead of to God, and so he was put into Tarman and he was Put into torment and he desired to be removed from torment, and he couldn’t. He desired one drop of water that he might have the torment relieved just in some small way, and he couldn’t. He desired for someone to come back and to tell his brothers not to live the way he lived So they could avoid that torment.
Good. Abraham would tell him they have Moses and the prophets. Let them hear them. If they won’t hear them, they won’t hear someone come back from the grave. Jesus spoke about hell because Jesus knows what it really is and knows it can be avoided. Jesus came to help you avoid it, but it’s up to you the same way it was up to the rich man.
If you’re here this morning and you’re outside the body of Christ, you’re outside of the place where salvation is found. If you’re outside of the church, you’re outside of the place that Jesus came and died for, to purchase with his own blood. If you’re outside of the body of Christ, you’re outside of the place that God adds those who are saved from their sins and are washed from their sins and placed into a place of inheritance in everlasting life.
How do you get into the body of Christ? How do you get into the church of Christ? You get into it a simple way. You hear word of God and believe what was proclaimed. You believe that Jesus Christ is a son of God because except you believe that I am. He you will die in your sins. He says, you repent of those sins You repent of following after Satan and sin and turning back to serve God.
Yeah, Confess the name of Christ and allegiance to him and you are immersed in water for the remission of your sins, buried with him to rise up in newness of life so that you do not Face the second death and the destruction of hell, and then you live faithful until death that you may receive a crown of life. If you haven’t begun that journey today,
why not? If you have begun that journey and you’ve gotten off that path off that straight, hard and narrow path onto a broad path that leads to destruction, where many will go in where Jesus says, many will find that destruction because it’s easy. Why not repent? Why not be restored? Why not get back on the right path? The path that leads to salvation?
If you’re outside the body of Christ this morning, if you’re a member of the body of Christ and you’ve turned your back on him, why not come home? If you have need of the invitation, it is made available to you now for any reason why not come now as we stand and as we sing Be Draw mine yours<inaudible><inaudible> That blood lose all their<inaudible><inaudible> Lose all their guilty<inaudible> Lose all their<inaudible> and says nurse blondes<inaudible> That would lose all their guilties.<inaudible> Dude<inaudible> blood shower whole nerve Boogaloos it’s Oh<inaudible> the ransom church job God be safe too soon.
No. Be slaves to sin.<inaudible> We say to say it.<inaudible><inaudible> no runs from church or God be safe too soon.<inaudible> her sins by faith. I saw the stream flowing wounds up. Claw<inaudible> being blood has been my theme.<inaudible> doorway<inaudible><inaudible> And beat two Lord Dawn Reedy mean blood has been my theme.<inaudible><inaudible> Number seven 11 number seven one one.
And after this we will have our closing prayer. Blessed Be<inaudible> Barnes,<inaudible> Cruz, John law<inaudible> law to the O O Oh the four hour. All those throw home we put rock or done hers.<inaudible> teams or warn our call home put side<inaudible>. We share our music to all woes our mutual bird<inaudible>, her and Alton bore reach all the<inaudible>,
both sing to Heavenly father. We’re indeed grateful for this privilege that we’ve had to assemble and worship you and peace this day. We pray that our worship do you has been in spirit and truth and a sweet savor. As we prepare to depart, we’re mindful of those of our number that are suffering from illnesses. We pray that your healing hands may be put upon them.
Bless each of us according to our several needs. Forgive our sins as we repent and turn from them And go with us. Guide us in your footsteps each day of our lives. It’s in Jesus’ name that we pray<inaudible>.
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Eph 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
Eph 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
Eph 5:15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,
And now, Admonition, brought to you by the Collierville Church of Christ.
How should we walk? That’s a question we’ve discussed before, but Paul mentions three ways in Ephesians, Chapter five that we should walk.
Number one, he says, Walk in love because Christ loved you. Number two, he says, Walk as children of light, living the way God would have you.
And number three, he says, Walk, circumspectly, verse 15, Not as fools, but as wise. How are you walking today?
For more from the Collierville Church of Christ, visit Colliervillecoc.org.
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Watch more of Aaron’s videos about Salvation, the Gospel, the good news, the gospel message salvation, and in-depth studies of the books of the Bible by visiting https://cozort.org, and Collierville church of Christ.
This video is a production of Collierville Christian Radio, the Collierville church of Christ, and the Gospel Broadcasting Network.
Aaron Cozort is the preacher for the Collierville church of Christ.
The Collierville church of Christ meets on Sundays morning and afternoon at 575 Shelton Road, Collierville, TN 38017.
To learn more about the Collierville church of Christ, visit colliervillecoc.org
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Ephesians 5:7 – Therefore do not be partakers with them.
Transcript:
What should you do when people try and convince you to live in a way that’s not right for a Christian? To live in a way that’s against the word of God? What should you do?
Paul says in Ephesians Chapter five, Verse seven, Therefore, do not be partakers with them. Say, no, when someone tempts you to go against the word of God,
Say, no, and live the life of a Christian.
I hope the light of God is in you, today. For more from the Collierville Church of Christ, visit www.colliervillecoc.org.
Subscribe to Admonition on Youtube:
Subscribe on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3syE1ogS5LPeEsnAfgnYrg?sub_confirmation=1
Sign up for a daily devotional by Email: https://cozort.org/free
Leave a comment for the host of Admonition: https://cozort.org/contact
Watch more of Aaron’s videos about Salvation, the Gospel, the good news, the gospel message salvation, and in-depth studies of the books of the Bible by visiting https://cozort.org, and Collierville church of Christ.
This video is a production of Collierville Christian Radio, the Collierville church of Christ, and the Gospel Broadcasting Network.
Aaron Cozort is the preacher for the Collierville church of Christ.
The Collierville church of Christ meets on Sundays morning and afternoon at 575 Shelton Road, Collierville, TN 38017.
To learn more about the Collierville church of Christ, visit colliervillecoc.org
Not currently a subscriber to Admonition? Sign up for this daily video devotional by Email: www.colliervillecoc.org/daily or www.cozort.org/free.