ACTS 8:4-5 (1-8) - A Great Day!

Series: #15 Acts of the Apostles - Witnesses to All Judea and Samaria
TOPIC: Sovereignty (of God); Providence, Will (of God)

TITLE: A GREAT DAY - Being Blown Around a Corner for God's Glory!
TEXT: Acts 8:4-5 (1-8)

Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word. Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them.

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: How was the day of dispersion a great day?

Notice … (recall the threefold theme of the Acts of the Apostles) …

1) The preeminence of the Living Lord
2) the prominence of the Holy Spirit, and
3) the power of the Authentic Church

Add the privilege of persecution* of the Body (*severe opposition to the message) ...

The “witness” to Jerusalem is past … the maturing church now sent to Judea and Samaria (chapters 8-12, north and south) ... the “remotest part of the earth” is next (13-28) ... what is seen is God’s providential will at work.

Notice all was well with the growth of the church … but with Stephen’s death, Saul began to intensely persecute and scatter them. Yet it was God not Saul who actually set the wildfire behind the people ... but like the deer in wildfire, they had a River of Life to count on.

Go back and reread Stephen’s proclamation in Acts 6.

Isn’t this reminiscent of the Lord’s dispersion of Israel through their Babylonian captivity?

I. THE DAY HAD A GREAT PERSECUTION! [vv 1b, 3]

“God sometimes has to act through disagreeable circumstances in order to compel His saints to work in accordance with His plans ….” [H. A. Ironside p.176]

God kick-starts His outreach to the world through the fires of persecution; God only sees His plan, His mind is turned toward all men everywhere at all times!

Saul meant it for evil but God meant it for good; like Joseph’s brothers … like Joseph ...

“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.”

Genesis 50:20

“How often has the rage of Christ's enemies thus ‘turned out rather unto the furtherance of the Gospel’.” [Jamieson]

II. THE DAY HAD A GREAT DISPERSION! [v 1b, 4, 5]

“Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word. Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them.”

Acts 8:4-5

These were lay people “preaching (euaggelizō; declaring Good News) the word” and “proclaiming (kērussō; heralding) Christ.”
Not a popular message today; reading contemporary Christian literature suggests it isn’t well received among my brethren.

“Wind spreads the flame.” [Bengel]

“Their hearts were full … out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks; and they made the truth known to ‘all’” [Barnes]

[CHINA] In 1949 the communist wildfire overthrew the Chinese nationalist government … 637 China Inland Missions missionaries were expelled; they went to Japan and throughout Southeast Asia. Not only did new works start all over Asia, but the Chinese church grew geometrically and she remains a thorn in the commies’ side to this day.

Satan intended eradication; instead he got dispersion.

III. THE DAY HAD A GREAT PROCLAMATION! [vv 4, 5]

Preaching by the “laity” was begun ... Philip was one of the seven chosen to minister as deacons in the church in Jerusalem. He was the only one specifically identified as an evangelist in the New Testament; he became one of our great evangelists.

IV. THE DAY HAD A GREAT FASCINATION! [vv 6, 7]

The text says, they “with one accord were giving attention,” literally taking their minds captive [Cf. 2 Corinthians 10:5].

V. THE DAY HAD A GREAT JUBILATION! [v 8]

“And there was much rejoicing in that city.”

Jesus said, 'I am come to send fire on the earth'; Saul and his cohorts thought, if they scattered those kindled with that fire, to have put it out, but instead of they spread the fire every where in Judea and Samaria. [Henry; paraphrased]

APPLICATION: The key element for the church is the joy which resulted from its ravaging by Saul and his minions.

Often God’s enemies see nothing but scorched earth before them; but God sees the seeds of new life below the ash and destruction. The Bible tells us the church in pain and in flight finds joy in the end.

I conclude there is greater joy to be found; in reality I don’t find this to be true.

So I must admit to praying for greater persecution in order that she might have greater dispersion, greater proclamation where dispersed, that greater attention would be paid to her, and that we might all find greater cause for jubilation.

CHALLENGE:

“Whenever the church is governed from Jerusalem, or from Rome, of from anywhere … other than heaven, it is hindered and hampered and prevented from fulfilling the great functions of its life” [G. Campbell Morgan, p. 195]

“Effective evangelism is possible only when the church recovers both (1) the biblical gospel and (2) a joyful confidence in its truth, relevance and power.” [Stott, p. 144, paraphrased]

The Church is much like Israel fresh from Egyptian bondage seeking a king … not understanding she has the King of kings.

When returning home; go to church to worship, but leave to reach the lost … the flames of hell are pursuing them.

Acts, Christianity, Expository,
Homiletics, Outlines, Preaching,
Providence, Sovereignty, Sermons

ACTS 5:20 - Taking A Stand!

SERIES #9: Acts of the Apostles – Witnesses to Jerusalem

TOPIC: Proclamation; Evangelism, Good News (Gospel), Obedience, Testimony, Witness, Word (Scripture)
TITLE: TAKING A STAND – What the Authentic Church Is Expected to Do!

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What does God’s command to the apostles reveal about what He wants of them [and us]?
CONCISE OUTLINE

I. IT REVEALS HE DIDN’T WANT THEM IMPRISONED BY WORLD!
II. IT REVEALS HE DIDN’T WANT THEM TO WAIT FOR “THE PEOPLE” TO COME TO THEM!
III. IT REVEALS HE HAD GIVEN THEM SOMETHING WORTH STANDING FOR!
IV. IT REVEALS HE HAD GIVEN THEM SOMETHING TO SAY!

A. Who they’re to say it to – “the people”!
B. Where they’re to say it – “in the Temple”!
C. How much to say – “the whole message”!
D. What it’s about – “this life”!

TRUTH/CONTEXT: The death of Ananias and his wife Sapphira is now past; the result being great fear AND great growth.

1. great fear coming “upon the whole church, and upon all who heard of these things” (5:11)
2. great growth continued – that is, “all the more” were being added (5:14)

These two pretenders were used by God [Romans 8:28] to –

1. preserve church integrity,
2. develop a healthy fear of God, and
3. bring about dramatic church growth.

In our text we still see the bold, powerful witness of the “authentic church.”

TEXT: Acts 5:20 (12-21a)

“Go your way, stand and speak
to the people in the temple
the whole message of this Life.”

The apostles’ prayer continued to be answered: they asked to “speak Thy Word with all confidence” [aka: “boldness”], heal, and see signs and wonders – they received boldness to speak the Good News with signs and wonders [5:12, 14] and healings [15, 16].

Remember where we are: we’re in Jerusalem [through chapter 7]. Let’s also remember the central themes of Acts …

1. the Preeminence of the Living Christ
2. the Prominence of the Holy Spirit, and
3. the Power of the Authentic Church.

The Church was filled with Holy Spirit power, burdened to proclaim the Good News of “this Life.”

As it turns out, the apostles were not set free to save their own lives but the lives of others.

Literally, they were commanded –

1. to GO … “you go your way”
2. to TAKE/HOLD … “take your stand” or “hold your ground” or “stand firm”
3. to SPEAK … “continue to speak.”

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What’s God’s command to apostles reveal about what He wants?
EXPANDED OUTLINE
I. IT REVEALS HE DIDN’T WANT THEM IMPRISONED BY WORLD!

A. They were to “Go”… “Depart”
B. To get up and escape

1. Not to stay put
2. Not to wait for the guards
3. Not to submit to the ways of man
4. Not to be trouble free
5. Not to be sure they don’t offend
6. Not to fear man but God

II. IT REVEALS HE DIDN’T WANT THEM TO WAIT FOR “THE PEOPLE” TO COME TO THEM!

A. They were to go to “the people”

1. Not to their homes & families
2. Not to the Upper Room
3. Not to their place of employment
4. Not to flee Jerusalem
5. Not to the country to hide

B. God even told them where the people were - “in the temple”
C. The temple here is not naos (God’s)– but hieros (man’s)
D. In other words – right back to where they were arrested

III. IT REVEALS HE HAD GIVEN THEM SOMETHING WORTH STANDING FOR!

A. Standing on the Promises
B. On the Rock of Ages
C. “The whole message”

1. Not part of the word
2. Not the message of man

a) Not princes or rulers
b) Not shakers and movers
c) Not of mammon
d) Not one another

D. But the rhematos “of this life”

IV. IT REVEALS HE HAD GIVEN THEM SOMETHING TO SAY!
A. To say Publicly, Boldly, Resolutely, Truthfully
B. “All the words (rhemata) of this Life”! {“the full message of this life.” [NIV]}

1. “Peter answered Him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words (rhemata) of eternal life.’” [John 6:68]
2. “But what does it say? ‘THE WORD (rhema) IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART’ – that is, the word (rhema) of faith which we are preaching … ” [Romans 10:8]
3. “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word (rhematos) of Christ.” [Romans 10:17]

APPLICATION:

[OVERSHADOWED] Like in that movie where the alien space ship comes over the horizon and blocks out the whole sky … God has sent His Son and His Son has filled the universe … and through all ages.

My friends, the fact that we are here today is by the grace of God alone … whether saved or lost we owe our present life to Him. And no eternal life will come except through His Son Jesus.

People must be told!

Let’s be clear and honest … under no circumstance is God about to tell these just released messengers to speak …

1. anything but the full message or the whole truth
2. anything but that which is most important and of the highest priority
3. anything but a message related to the person and works of Jesus Christ, His Son
4. to anyone but those needing to hear the message
5. or in anyway that is not filled with divine confidence

[GILL] “The Gospel is to be preached to all; the Spirit of God makes it effectual to some, and others are rendered inexcusable.”

CHALLENGE: No matter the circumstances, God still desires His people go, take their stands, and speak boldly … the whole message of this life.

When we were released (if indeed we were released), the message was the same: go your way, continue to speak, to the people, in public (boldly, confidently), the whole message of "this Life."

We must fear God and not man: if we fear man, we inherit everlasting torment; if God, eternal life.

Acts, Christianity, Evangelism,
Expository, Homiletics, Outlines,
Preaching, Proclamation, Sermons

ACTS 4:23-31 - NOTICE THEIR THREATS

SERIES #6: Acts of the Apostles; Witnesses to Jerusalem [1-7]

TOPIC: Power; Church, Testimony, Witness

TITLE: NOTICE THEIR THREATS - Prerequisite for Speaking with Boldness!
TEXT: Acts 4: 29-30 [23-31]

"And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus."

CONCISE OUTLINE
INQUIRY: How did the disciples react to the threat of persecution by the Jewish leaders?

I. THE THREAT MADE THEM PROCLAIM GOD … !

A. Their faith in God

1. Openly
2. Enthusiastically

II. THE THREAT MADE THEM PRAISE GOD … !

A. Loudly!
B. Unanimously!

III. THE THREAT MADE THEM PETITIONED GOD … !

A. Powerfully

TRUTH/CONTEXT: By now we should remember …

First that the Acts of the Apostles is outlined in chapter 1 verse 8 … and second that there are three themes revealed in its contents …

1. The preeminence of the Living Lord,
2. The prominence of the Holy Spirit, and
3. The power of the authentic church

We’ll be in Jerusalem through chapter 7; we’ll then enter Judea and Samaria until chapter 13, when we begin a journey to “the remotest part of the earth.”

Last week we saw that the authentic church can’t stop speaking about what is know to be true … unless it has allowed calluses to build up on its heart, or unless it, like the church in Laodicia, has lost its first love. [Revelation 2:4]

This week we’ll see how persecution results in a fearless voice, a unified voice, and a powerful voice all working together for God’s Glory.

EXPANDED OUTLINE
INQUIRY: How did the report of persecution by the Jewish leaders affect believers?

I. THE THREAT MADE THEM PROCLAIM GOD – Fearless Voice!

For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel. [27]

A. Jesus
B. By faith
C. Openly
D. Enthusiastically

1. Considered it an honor to suffer for His name
2. Unconcerned about the consequences
3. Hungered more

E. Didn’t suggest a retreat, criticize or question the apostle’s motives, suggest they go easy, stop going to the temple, propose appeasement, or send others so they could stay home.

II. THE THREAT MADE THEM PRAISE GOD – Unified Voice!

“And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord.” [24a]

A. When the disciples reported on the threat the combined response was unified. [24]
B. Praised God

1. Loudly
2. Unanimously
3. About

a) His creative POWER! [24]
b) About His providential care! [25,28]
c) About His word and its truth! [25,26]

C. Gave God the glory

1. … here called “Sovereign Lord” …
2. recognized He is greater than “nations … peoples … kings … and rulers” [despõtes]

III. THE THREAT MADE THEM PETITIONED GOD … Powerful Voice!

"And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus." [29, 30]

A. As a result they prayed boldly to God …

1. to consider the threats of His enemies
2. to grant them all confidence to proclaim the Good News
3. to continue …

a. His healing … not just the flesh but the spirit.
b. His signs and wonders …

E. Notice the use of Scripture in their worship of God [24b,25b,26]
F. Notice they don’t hesitate to call a “spade” a spade [27,28]
G. Notice they don’t cower but rather

1. Requested God would humble His enemies and
2. make bold His witnesses. [29]

H. Notice they don’t ask for boldness selfishly but rather for the benefit of others and for the glory of God! [30]
I. And notice God answered their prayers and released them with power … but for many it meant dispersion, tribulation, and death! [31]
J. Notice the request is not for power to afflict God’s enemies with His wrath but rather to extend His mercy “through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.” [30]

We should covet the same.

APPLICATION:

[COMMAND] During WWII the North African Campaign was in a mess and General Montgomery was sent to clean it up. I’m told his first order was as follows: “The orders of the Commander-in-Chief will no longer be open to interpretation ... just action.”

God will not bully or threaten those He has chosen. No gun will be put to their head; they will not be drug kicking and screaming into the streets.

We may choose to obey or disobey. Yet there are those who insist they’re obedi-ent and but clearly are not! Such is the problem of the twentieth century.

Were I chosen to write the epitaph for the church of this century, I would write:

GREAT PROCLAMATION;
PROCLAMATION UNPROCLAIMED

The POWER of the church (for certain THE AUTHENTIC CHURCH) was reflected in the events that followed:

1. Immediate answer to prayer … [4:31]
2. Community … [4:32-35]
3. Barnabas … [4:36,37]
4. Ananias & Sapphira [5:1-16]
5. Followed by more persecution [5:17ff.]

CHALLENGE: The AUTHENTIC but contemporary church should expect, if it has committed itself into His hands, to be …

1. shaken
2. filled and
3. made bold.

[ARMY] A few years ago the U.S. Army unveiled a new recruitment slogan recently. The “Be All You Can Be” line, a cultural icon since the 1980s, was re-tired and replaced with “An Army of One.”

According to reports, the Army hopes the slogan will appeal to a genera-tion less attracted to military service than its predecessors.

Paul says the church has had that slogan for 2,000 years …

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.”

Ephesians 4:4-6

And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.

Acts 4:31

Thus we know and proclaim, “I am an army of One in Christ Jesus … undefeated and unbeatable; overcoming and victorious!”

Acts, Christianity, Expository, Homiletics,
Outlines, Preaching, Sermons, Sermons Series

1 KINGS 10:7: The Half Not Told!

TOPIC: Evangelism; Good News, Hope, Promise, Sovereignty, Testimony, Witness
TITLE: THE HALF NOT TOLD – Seeing Christ in Solomon and Sheba!

TEXT: 1 Kings 10:7 [1 Kings 10:1-13]

“Nevertheless I did not believe the reports,
Until I came and my eyes had seen it.
And behold, the half was not told me.
You exceed in wisdom and prosperity
the report which I heard.'

TRUTH CLAIM/CONTEXT: A type is a representation of a higher, greater, or truer value. For example, the image left by the key of a typewriter is a representation of the engraved head of the key.

It’s legitimate to relate Solomon to Jesus as a "type" of our Lord; support for this view comes from Christ Himself: Jesus Himself said -

“The Queen of the South shall rise up with this generation at the judgment and shall condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.”

Matthew 12:42

Now the similarities between Sheba as a seeker of truth and spiritual seekers of every age is amazing. Of course very few seekers are monarchs or as powerful as Sheba. One might also see Sheba as a type of the Church.

Paul Harvey relates half of the story to get his listeners' attention, to stimulate his curiosity … he then tells "The Rest of the Story".

This is the way it was with the Queen of Sheba, but she didn't know she had heard only half the story. She told Solomon, "the half was told to me." The claims concerning Solomon heightened her curiosity.

[GOOD TIMES] There have been times when the first half HAS been told very well, and seekers have come from all over to hear "the rest of the story." E. g., Moody, Finney, Edwards, Wesley, Whitefield, Luther, Calvin, Spurgeon, Graham ... Gillmartin … just kidding!

Haven't you found the Good News to be much more than what you heard? You were told you would have peace which passes understanding; isn't what you have twice as good as what you thought it would be?

Weren't we told Jesus would never forsake nor depart from us; has He lied? The Bible says hope is a byproduct of the Good News; isn't real hope still found between faith & love? [1 Corinthians 13:13]

Sheba was an ancient kingdom in the southern tip of Arabia: present-day Yemen (meaning south or southern). Its people colonized Ethiopia in the tenth century BC and were known for their wealth and commercial prosperity.

Wealth was useless in those days unless one had the power to hold it … and the Queen clearly held hers well. In order to understand today's message we must walk through our passage, verse-by-verse …

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: The foundational inquiry for this outline appears later.
EXPANDED OUTLINE: [Editor's note – the preacher may make as much or as little of each point as he wishes.]

I. THE QUEEN HEARD THE REPORT!

“… the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon …” [la]

Someone traveled to the Sheba and told her of this northern king, whose faith was in the God of Israel. A picture was painted her mind in words that seemed too good to be true.

II. THE QUEEN CAME TESTING!

“… she came to test him with difficult questions.” [1b]

Like most doubters, Sheba was puffed up by her own self-image and her faith was in her nation's superstitions and powers. She thought herself intelligent and experienced.

She probably consulted others before she came, even brought some with her. She had her talking points just like someone participating in a political debate.

III. THE QUEEN CAME BEARING!

“… she came … with camels carrying spices and very much gold and precious stones.” [2a]

She probably wanted to shame Solomon, if he didn't live up to his reputation. If the stories were true, the gifts would have elevated herself as a superior monarch or possibly to compromise the king.

IV. THE QUEEN CAME REVEALING [she was transparent]!

“… she spoke with him about all that was in her heart.” [2b]

Seeing was believing. She boldly told of her doubts. How can we deny what we see with our own eyes. Truth shatters the hard shell of pride, and its secrets spill out.

V. THE QUEEN WAS ANSWERED!

"… Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was hidden … which he did not explain …” [3]

The text says, “nothing was hidden from the king.” He gave her the answers she sought. He was not just a puppet in God's hands, God gave him understanding so he could explain it to her.

How often seekers are given "facts" by well-intentioned witnesses, yet no understanding follows because the student remains a student. [Cf. Hebrews 5:11-12]

VI. THE QUEEN WAS RECEPTIVE [open to the truth]!

“When the queen … perceived all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, the food of his table, the seating of his servants, the attendance of his waiters and their attire, his cupbearers, and his stairway by which he went up to the house of the LORD, there was no more spirit in her.” [4-5]

Sheba sensed one who was far superior to herself; far wiser, whose palace exceeded her own, whose table was so sumptuous all his subjects could feed at it. All of it was too much. And her spirit of pride departed from her. Some expositors say she was left breathless by the king's splendor.

[PERSONAL TESTIMONY] This is how I felt when I was saved. I was so filled with pride and self-centeredness. When I came into the presence of the Living God for the first time all my senses screamed out in recognition of His greatness and my insignificance.

VII. THE QUEEN GAVE TESTIMONY TO THE KING!

“Then she said to the king, 'it was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom. Nevertheless I did not believe the reports, until I came and my eyes had seen it. And behold, the half was not told me.” [6-7a]

VIII. THE QUEEN PRAISED THE KING AND GOD!

“You exceed in wisdom and prosperity the report which I heard. How blessed are your men, how blessed are these your servants who stand before you continually and hear your wisdom. Blessed be the LORD your God who delighted in you to set you on the throne of Israel; because the LORD loved Israel forever, therefore He made you king, to do justice and righteousness.” [7b-9; notice Messianic tone]

IX. THE QUEEN GAVE TO THE KING!

“And she gave the king a hundred and twenty talents of gold, and a very great amount of spices and precious stones. Never again did such abundance of spices come in as that which the queen of Sheba gave King Solomon.” [10]

When one is in the presence of someone greater the natural motivation is to give tribute.

X. THE QUEEN RECEIVED FROM THE KING!

“And King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire which she requested, besides what he gave her according to his royal bounty.” [13a]

When a righteous sovereign is consulted, no matter the intentions, a righteous response is given. And a great and righteous sovereign gives more. You can't out give Him.

XI. THE QUEEN RETURNED HOME!

“Then she turned and went to her own land together with her servants.” [13b]

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: Now, how does this apply to us today?

• People must hear the first half [Good News] before they're able to say "not the half was told to me."
• People will come to test what they've heard.
• People will challenge the King of kings.
• People open to the truth will pour out their hearts once they've heard it.
• People will then receive "the rest of the story" and the truth shall set them free!

We're told to be …

“ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you."

1 Peter 3:15

APPLICATION/CHALLENGE: Head knowledge is not enough:

• True conversion comes from openness to the whole truth.
• True conversion is accompanied by true testimony and submission.
• True conversion is accompanied by praise of God, through the King.
• True conversion is accompanied by a giving spirit, but you can't out give the King.

Those who are truly born-again go home and love to tell the story … just the first half, they have to hear the rest of the story for themselves, directly from the King of kings, before they can pass that on!

We can’t exhaust the wonders of God; He is infinite, we are finite. What was Solomon's kingdom in the light of God's grace? Sinners need infinite grace, only our God has that much grace.

Those who dine at the Lord's table are abundantly satisfied.

[NAMES] We've all seen graffiti. It irritates us when we see it everywhere we go. Doesn't it? But have you considered how temporary their message is, how impermanent the artist's name is? First the name is lost, then the message passes into oblivion.

Time also took the name of the Queen of Sheba, but not the name above all names, the name at which every knee shall bow and tongue confess, the name by which every man must be saved.

The challenge is telling the rest of the story ... God's grace is sufficient indeed.

1 Kings, Christianity, Expository, Homiletics,
Outlines, Preaching, Sermons, Sheba, Solomon

Genesis 1:1, 2 - Turn on the Lights!

TOPIC: God’s watchcare; Creation; Darkness; God's works; Light; Salvation; Damnation

TITLE: God’s Spirit is Moving – Turn on the Lights!
TEXT: Genesis 1:1-2

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: How is God’s creative work in the sinner’s heart similar to His creative work in the beginning?
CONCISE OUTLINE:

I. THEY ARE SIMILAR IN THEIR EXISTENCE!
II. THEY ARE SIMILAR IN THEIR CONDITION!
III. THEY ARE SIMILAR IN THEIR DEFICIENCY!
IV. THEY ARE SIMILAR IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP!
V. THEY ARE SIMILAR IN THEIR POTENTIAL!

TRUTH/CONTEXT: Here is the beginning of something great, something beyond comprehension! God was in a creative mood! He was about to implement the plan of the ages!

Now, in the beginning, He created two things: 1.) the earth and 2.) everything that was not the earth (“the heavens”)!

When He created the earth, it was created without form and was void! So, did God make a mistake? Of course not! He had a plan, a purpose! He made it that way on purpose!

Darkness also existed, but not in and of itself; it existed only because God the Great Electrician had not installed wiring or bulbs yet! Later, God did!

But, after the lights, darkness was not everywhere over the deep; it existed only where it was allowed to: on the backside of celestial objects (separated from the source of the light) and ultimately in a sinner’s heart (likewise separated)!

Now, before the light switch was thrown, God in the person of the Holy Spirit moved over the surface of the waters where the darkness everywhere existed!

NOTE: There was no life before the light! God is again in a creative mood … His Spirit is once more hovering over the deep and the surface of the deep is once more covered by darkness!

INQUIRY: How is God’s creative work in the sinner’s heart similar to His creative work on the earth?
EXPANDED OUTLINE:

I. They are similar in their existence!

A. Before the lights, God had only created “the heavens and the earth” … lifeless and useless!
B. Both existed, just as the sinner’s heart exists! It’s just there … lifeless and useless!

II. They are similar in their condition!

A. The Bible says, “the earth was formless and void”!
B. Formless: without organization; no appearance of usefulness or purpose!
C. Void: empty; unfulfilled!
D. In the same way sin has entered into the sinner’s heart and made it formless and void … empty, unfulfilled!

III. They are alike in their deficiency!

A. The earth had no light and so it had no life!
B. So too the sinner’s heart! Where their is no light there is no life! [1 John 5:9-13]

IV. They are similar in their relationship!

A. The Bible says, “and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters”!
B. Likewise, the Holy Spirit is moving over the hearts of sinful/sin-filled man! [John 16:7-11]

V. They are similar in their potential!

A. EARTH: Life & fruit:

1. God look at what existed before the light and thought to Himself, “This is not good”!
2. And “Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light.” [v.3]
3. “And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. And God called the light day, and the darkness He called night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day.” [VV.4-5]
4. And then He created life and it filled the earth and it bore fruit!

B. HEART: Life & fruit:

1. In the same way God looks at the heart of the sinner and says through His messengers, “This is not good”!
2. In the same way He as sent the Light.
3. And God has said that the Light is good; and He separated the Light from the darkness … and He called the Light salvation, and the darkness He called damnation!
4. And He told those who lived in the light to fill the earth and bear much fruit! [Matthew 28:19,20; John 15:8]

APPLICATION/CHALLENGE: Oh, dear friends the Holy Spirit is moving about the surface of the earth today! He is brooding over the hearts of sinful man, desiring they receive the light He has sent!

The Bible says they will not turn on the light unless someone goes and shows them where the light switch is! [Romans 10:14, 15] Won’t you go today!

Christianity, Creation, Expository, Genesis,
Homiletics, Outlines, Preaching,
Redemption, Sermons

ISAIAH - Seed Archive

Isaiah 9:6-7

TOPIC: Christmas; Emmanuel, hope, promise

TITLE: GOD'S LITTLE WORD - A Child With Us!

“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given ... .”

TRUTH CLAIM: God has revealed His plan for the ages! In a world gone nuts with hate (terrorists), evil (killing of the innocent unborn), deception (false religions), war (Israel), corruption (politics), and much, much more, it's good to know God has a plan!

God told us not to be downtrodden but rather to rejoice in everything ... for GOD IS WITH US! “If God is for us, who then can be against us”?

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: How does this passage apply to me?

I. It Provides Me a Greater Joy!
II. It Provides Me a Greater Light!
III. It Provides Me a Greater Victory!
IV. It Provides Me a Greater King!

APPLICATION/CHALLENGE: Dear friends, if the first half of Isaiah's prophecy has been fulfilled ... that is, if it is true that God "sent His only begotten Son," that His Son was "born of a virgin," that His Son "suffered and died for our sins," and that "God raised Him from the dead on the third day" … then we ought to believe the second half as well!

That is, Christ is coming again ... to bring a greater joy, to bring a greater light for those who dwell in darkness, to bring final victory, and to bring a government greater in every way than David's! Oh what a day of rejoicing that will be!

Isaiah 49:6

"I will also make You as a light to the Nations, so that You, My Salvation, may reach the ends of the earth."

TOPIC: Missions [Calling; Evangelism, Missionaries]

TITLE: TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH!

TRUTH CLAIM: God has a plan, salvation to "all the nations" through His Son; theSon has a plan, salvation "all the nations" through you and me!

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What is our role in foreign missions?

I. Our Role is Direct Involvement!

A. Through Submission!
B. Through Promotion!

II. Our Role is Indirect Involvement!

A. Intellectually!
B. Prayerfully!
C. Financially!

III. But Our Role is Never Uninvolvement!

APPLICATION/CHALLENGE: Our world view affects every thought we have and everyaction we take concerning missions. God is challenging all of us to remember: nomatter how many of us there are and no matter how great our problems seem to be,there are still billions more lost people than we have problems.

Isaiah 49:8-9

TOPIC: Covenant; faithfulness (of God), promises (of God)

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What then are some of His possessions which are now yours?

I. The Power of Christ is ours!
II. The Love of Christ is ours!
III. The Justice of Christ is ours!
IV. The Acceptance of Christ is ours!
V. The Righteousness of Christ is ours!

APPLICATION/CHALLENGE: Our blessed Jesus, as God, is omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent. Will it not console you to know that all these great and glorious attributes are altogether yours?

Our blessed Lord, as perfect man, is our substitute, our blood atonement. Does it not give you hope and peace to know that He did these things for you and that they are altogether yours?

Christ Himself is our peace and Christ is our the covenant, but you must be in Him to be a part of the agreement.

Homiletics, Isaiah, Outlines,
Preaching, Sermons