For us to have the joy of the peace of God we must 1) Stand Fast, 2) Be of the Same Mind, 3) Rejoice in the Lord, 4) Replace Anxiety with Prayer. Each hearer will understand that joy and peace come from our faithfulness to Christ.
Every person is born into this world innocent. What happens after that is that people grow into adults and choose to commit sin. It is one’s own sins that brings him into a state of condemnation. Isaiah 59:1-2 says, “Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.” So, if a person is not saved, it is not God’s fault.
The combination of evil and deceitful is important. It is not just the words that are wrong, but the intentions also. One may speak good, sweet, and pleasing words to others, but if those words have an evil intent behind them, God considers them deceitful and evil. Proverbs 26:24-26 says, “He who hates, disguises it with his lips, And lays up deceit within himself; When he speaks kindly, do not believe him, For there are seven abominations in his heart; Though his hatred is covered by deceit, His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly.”
These words indulge the flesh and not to elevate the spirit. They are not gracious, edifying, or fruitful. We must avoid using these words. This prohibition covers any words that may be used for this purpose, whatever they might be. Words that refer to bodily waste would be included in this. Words that discuss the condemnation of another person are included—any word that refers to that which is corrupt, rotten, or putrid being used against another person or thing. This makes it a general prohibition that covers any are that we have not yet covered in this series of articles.
We promote the gospel when we 1) Respect one another’s Scruples, 2) Receive one another in Christ 3) Rescue the Lost, and 4) Render Help to those in Need. Each should understand how to promote the gospel as Paul did.
Christian brothers and sisters are not to speak to each other in a railing, insulting, angry, hateful or sarcastic way. Jesus says, “without a cause,” meaning when there is no evidence to support the words being said. Anger has little or nothing to do with the person against whom it is vented. It has to do with the person who is angry. Here, Jesus speaks about anger in the context of murder and hatred.
Psalm 22 prophecies the descent and triumph of the Messiah. Each hearer should be able to explain how the prophecy is fulfilled in Jesus. To show that Jesus is the Messiah.
What is the Bible’s teaching on modesty? 1) God has a standard for modest attire. 2) The consequences for immodesty 3) To uphold what is modest and eschew immodesty. Each should know what God's standard is for modest dress, the consequences of immodesty, and how to uphold modesty. To exhort, encourage, and warn regarding the virtues of modesty and the evils of immodesty.
God did not want the children of Israel using His name for vows or oaths that they did not intend to keep. Numbers 30:2 says, “If a man makes a vow to the LORD, or swears an oath to bind himself by some agreement, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.” Using God’s name in association with an oath was a way of emphasizing that a person intended to complete his promise.
This lesson sets forth some lessons learned from my experience in the Mission Field. 1) The poor are always with us, 2) The less one has, the more one values what one does have, 3) A good attitude toward life and work comes from the knowledge that one is serving God. 4) Time is our most important sacrifice. Each member should reflect upon their own attitudes in comparison to those of the brethren in the Mission Field. I want to communicate the idea that it does not take a lot to do a lot.
The joy of having our citizenship in heaven entails 1) Following the Example of Paul, 2) Forsaking the Allure of the World, 3) Focusing on Jesus in Heaven. Each hearer should be able to explain the relationship of joy with pursuing heavenly things and not pursuing earthly things.
The common element in these three activities is talking about others behind their back. Psalm 15:3 makes it clear that the person who backbites does not dwell with God. Paul lists “backbiters” in Romans 1:30 among those who have rejected God. “Backbitings” is a sin that causes divisions (2 Corinthians 12:20). God will destroy the one who slanders his neighbor (Psalm 101:5), and Proverbs 26:20 says that where there is no talebearer, strife ceases.
what is the standard? Is it not the first century church? They did not use instrumental music at all. Many passages in the New Testament discuss music in the early church, but they all refer to singing. These are: Matt.26:30; Mark 14:26; Acts 16:25; 1 Cor.14:6; 1 Cor.14:15; Eph.5:19; Col.3:16; Heb.2:12; James 5:13. Not once does the New Testament refer to playing an instrument such as a harp, pipe, drum or any other stringed instrument in the worship of the church.
The Messiah’s death would open a fountain of cleansing for sin and uncleanness (1). The idols, false prophets, and unclean spirits would be cut off and driven out of the land. This would result in all prophets being rejected (3). Even legitimate prophets would deny being prophets (4). In this context, God’s shepherd would be struck and His sheep scattered (7). In response to God’s Shepherd being struck, He will turn His hand against the “little ones.” This will result in two-thirds of the land being cut off and dying, and only one-third left (8). That one-third would be refined as silver and gold. They will be God’s people who remain (9).
Another area of forbidden speech is filthiness, foolish talking, and course jesting. Ephesians 5:3-4 says, “But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.” We used to call this telling “dirty jokes.” The context makes this clear. Discussing sexual matters in an inappropriate way is behavior not fitting for saints. It is sinful.
When the roll is called up yonder 1) time as we know it will end, 2) all will be resurrected, 3) today is the day of salvation. Each person will understand what we are singing in this song and how it relates to the Bible.
We ought all to have the Christian virtue of longsuffering because it 1) helps us know God, 2) keeps us faithful, 3) keeps us vigilant, 4) keeps up working, and 5) helps us finish. Each should be able to understand how being longsuffering will help us to heaven. That each would understand and desire the great benefits of longsuffering.
When we murmur, we create the false impression that we are doing something about the problem, but it does nothing to help. Murmuring is complaining with no intention of getting personally involved in the remediation; it is passive aggressive. What does that mean? It does not deal with things directly, but slinks around behind other peoples’ backs to create circumstances where someone else will do (for the murmurer) that for which he is murmuring. This is manipulative and sinful! In 1 Corinthians 10:10, the apostle Paul wrote, “Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.”
Murmuring is something that God forbids us to do, but we often do it anyway. Why? It’s a way to gratify the flesh. When we murmur, we create the false impression that we are doing something about the problem, but it does nothing to help. Murmuring is complaining with no intention of getting personally involved in the remediation; it is passive aggressive.
What does it take to enter the kingdom of heaven? 1) Faith Only is not Enough, 2) A Semblance of Sanctimony is not Enough, 3) Doing the Will of the Father is Key. Each person should understand that it takes both faith and action to enter the kingdom of heaven. This sermon seeks to show by Jesus’ teaching that salvation by faith only is a false doctrine.