ZEPHANIAH 3:1-2 Examine Thyself!

TOPIC: Apostasy; Self-examination

TITLE: Examine Thyself!
TEXT: Zephaniah 3:1-2

“Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled, The tyrannical city! She heeded no voice; She accepted no instruction. She did not trust in the LORD; She did not draw near to her God.”

CONTEXT: After the reigns of David and Solomon, the nation Israel fell into a declining spiral of arrogance, apostasy, intrigue, idolatry, collapse, lamentation, searching, revival, and restoration … only to repeat the process.

Verse 1 says they had become an oppressive, rebellious, and defiled (blood-stained) society [the Hebrew says: filthy and polluted].

In verses1-5, Israel is judged according to the privilege granted her … as are all nation before and since. Her ruling classes had rejected any critique of their behavior or beliefs.

Israel trusted in her wealth, her military, and her alliances.

In verses 2:1-3:8, we see the earth and all her nations judged according to her privilege.

The verbs in verse 2 are participles, and carry the sense of present and continuous practice.

TRUTH CLAIM:

"Then the LORD appeared to Solomon at night and said to him, 'I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Now My eyes shall be open and My ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place. For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that My name may be there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.'"

2 Chronicles 7:12-16

The value of Zephaniah for the church is prophetic ... remember - God is unchanging (immutable)!

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What does God hate to find in his people ... what really grieves Him?
CONCISE OUTLINE:
Each of the following phrases is negative …

I. He hates to find a people who will not listen!
II. He hates to find a people who will not learn!
III. He hates to find a people without an eternal foundation!
IV. He hates to find a people who do not fear Him!

Notice the first two are indicative of Israel’s stubbornness; while in the second two the Hebrew is reverse, implying a particular kind of rebellion.

The ultimate question is “Will any nation which behaves in this way survive God’s wrath!” But today's question is simply -

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What does God hate to find in his people ... what really grieves Him?
EXPANDED OUTLINE:
I. He hates to find a people who will not listen!

Who are independent and self-reliant; who have misunderstood His blessings as a sign of their own cleverness!

Israel was that kind of people!

Consider our present post-Christian Era.

II. He hates to find a people who will not learn!

Who have no desire to learn or grow.

Israel was that kind of people! Refusing the Lord’s discipline!

Consider our present post-Christian Era.

III. He hates to find a people without an eternal foundation!

Who have a foundation of sand, who are not built upon The Rock. [Matthew 7:24-27]

Israel was that kind of people!

Consider our present post-Christian Era.

IV. He hates to find a people who do not fear Him!

Who will not draw near to Him in awe and reverence!

Who will not humble themselves before their Creator.

Israel was that kind of people!

Involves the acts of worship and service, prayer and praise.

They took the Lord's name in vain … in an irreverent or dishonoring way.

Consider our present post-Christian Era.

APPLICATION: Israel, especially her leaders, didn’t see the relationship between their current problems and God’s displeasure … thus they did not see their actions or philosophies as sin. Kind of like a pharaoh who did not know Joseph [Exodus 1:8].

Why? Because ...

“[the righteous man’s] delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.”

Psalms 1:2

... and ours is not! No wonder our righteousness is like a filthy rag.

The leaders of Israel were not God-fearers. Only in name! A violation of the commandment not to take the name of God in vain.

I personally fear Western Civilization (and most of the church) has fallen into a declining spiral just as Israel did … I fear she –

1) no longer heeds the voice of God or anyone else; heeding only its own voice

2) is no longer educable in the sense of receiving instruction

“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

2 Timothy 3:17

God’s word has become anathema to them.

3) no longer has a rock foundation ...

You see we’ve always known that we can’t expect every American to have saving or even living faith in God; but if the nation herself, meaning the majority of the people and the “ruling class,” were to have a solid moral and God fearing foundation … well??)

4) no longer fears God or even accepts His existence, and will not draw near to Him.

It can be said: “Any ship of state manned by a blind crew will certainly end up on the rocks but not on the Rock.” [quote me on that]

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

James 4:8

CHALLENGE: We must focus on things above, not on things of this world.

The final discipline of God, the one which has brought the true promise of peace to all men, fell on the shoulders of the Lamb of God, His “suffering servant” our Savior.

“But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.”

Isaiah 53:5

Apostasy, Christianity, Expository,
Homiletics, Outlines, Preaching,
Sermons, Zephaniah

HABAKKUK 3:2 - A Call to Revival

TOPIC: Revival; Rebellion, Repentance, Restoration, Righteousness

TITLE: A CALL FOR REVIVAL
TEXT: HABAKKUK 3:2

O LORD, revive Thy work in the midst of the years!

Dr. James Dobson writes in his book, When God Doesn't Make Sense:

A missionary in Africa returned home to find a huge python loose in his front room. He rushed to his truck and retrieved his .45 pistol. He shot the beast in the crown of its head. The snake thrashed so violently that the missionary was chased from his home for some time. Finally, there was silence. He went inside and found the interior of his home destroyed.

Satan too has received a blow to his head but his death throes are destroying the world.

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What should the cry of our hearts be?
CONCISE OUTLINE

I. A CRY FOR VICTORY IN REVIVAL!
II. A CRY FOR A VISION OF RIGHTEOUSNESS!
III. A CRY FOR A VANISHMENT OF REBELLION!

TRUTH CLAIM: The scenery of man's existence today is the same as the scenery of Israel's existence yesterday. The fruit of rebellion for both cultures is the same.

They provoked God and we cannot deny that we are too; the only thing we have to make these last days tolerable is our relationship with God!

America must repent; yet it only will if the people of God get as concerned about righteousness as the prophet Habakkuk.

God is calling out to His people ...

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What should the cry of our hearts be?
EXPANDED OUTLINE
I. A CRY FOR VICTORY IN REVIVAL! (3:2)

Stephan Olford defines revival: "the sovereign act of God, in which He restores His own backsliding people to repentance, faith, and obedience."

"O LORD, revive Your work in the midst of the years"!

[STEW] Revival is like putting last night's stew on the stove. What you have is something that was real good yesterday! But this was put in the refrigerator, and now it is cold, thick, chunky, and feels too heavy to eat.

The fire under it begins to chase away the chill first. Then it begins to lose its lethargy and begins to thin and warm. Soon with some stirring it becomes a warm, fluid, consistent source of nourishment and strength, as it was intended to be. Churches are like that, the faith is like that.

Once in awhile God needs to put us on the judgment's front burner.

II. A CRY FOR A VISION OF RIGHTEOUSNESS! (1:13)

"Your eyes are too pure to behold evil, and You can not look on wickedness with favor."

Like the revivals of old we need a vision for the righteousness of God ...

The last revival of any consequence in the US was in 1905.

"If My people who are [1] called by My name will [2] humble themselves, and [3] pray and [4] seek My face, and [5] turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

2 Chronicles 7:14

I know this, if I owned a home and a contractor offered to restore my home, free of charge, I'd be a fool to deny him. Why then do we deny God this response?

We are a people without a national vision.

"Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Matthew 26:41

III. A CRY FOR A VANISHMENT OF REBELLION! (1:3)

"Why do You show me iniquity, and cause me to see wickedness?

The prophet was complaining to God about what appeared to be evil loose in the world without restraint. It seemed that God did not care.

Our nation is in the midst of a cultural war of intense proportions. The power of darkness is at the controls of a nation gone nuts.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: The following list of ills is from 1994.]

• Mothers and fathers are put into jail because they have disciplined their children with the rod, their children taken away. But 4,000 unborn children are murdered each day.
• We spend millions in the war on drugs but the very legislators who write the laws are drunken bums who are regularly stopped for drunk driving.
• We spend billions on other nation's poverty and race problems but spend very little to solve the same problems in our own back yard.
• We spend millions to import democracy when our own government continues to pass more and more legislation aimed at limiting our democratic freedoms.
• Our denomination prints millions of pieces of literature on the errors of alcohol and tobacco yet we have churches in the east, the south and in Colorado where the pastor is not free to preach on these evils because church leaders work in those industries.
• We have a war on pornography that our Attorney General refuses to join and an administration which is favorably disposed to the worst kind of pornography, homosexuality.

[Just today (18 October 2007) Disney decided to purge the word "God" from its Radio Disney advertising; in Portland, Maine, the schools are now authorizing birth-control pills for middle schoolers as young as 11; the president of France separated from his second wife; and Robert Roberts, son of Oral Roberts, took leave from his duties as CEO of Oral Roberts University under a huge cloud of alleged improprieties.]

APPLICATION/CHALLENGE: When an acquaintance asked what he should do to start revival in America Billy Graham is said to have responded, "Go home, draw a circle around yourself, and begin there."

Friends, in these horribly difficult "last days," that is very good advice!

"Righteousness exalts a nation; but sin's a reproach to any people."

Proverbs 14:34

I remember when I lived in a cabin up in the woods above Santa Cruz, California, and used to take the ash in the fireplace (after being gone all day), stir it up, push some paper on it, and blew a little. Poof, fire!

We're not incapable of catching fire if the Holy Spirit comes our way but we must all recognize the dearth of embers in our hearth.

Christianity, Expository,
Habakkuk, Homiletics, Outlines,
Preaching, Revival, Sermons

HOSEA 14:8 - Believer's Fruit: Where does it come from?

TOPIC: Fruitfulness [Discipleship; Sanctification]

TITLE: BELIEVER’S FRUIT: Where does it come from?
Adapted from - Spurgeon's Morning & Evening Devotions, “Morning” September 8

TEXT: Hosea 14:8b

I am like a luxuriant cypress; From Me comes your fruit.

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: How is that the fruitless are able to bear fruit?
CONCISE OUTLINE

I. WE BEAR FRUIT BY WAY OF OUR UNION WITH GOD!
II. WE BEAR FRUIT BY WAY OF GOD'S PROVIDENTIAL PLAN!
III. WE BEAR FRUIT BY WAY OF GOD'S GENTLE CONSERVATION!

CONTEXT: In this "in your face" book of prophecy, we find Israel as Jehovah's adulterous wife, repudiated, but ultimately purified and restored. The prophet's distinctive message is summed up in one Hebrew word Lo-ammi, "not my people," and amplified by its antonym, Ammi, "my people."

Scofield says,

"Israel is not merely apostate and sinful--that is said also; but her sin takes its character from the exalted relationship into which she has been brought."

Though directed at Ephraim, the teaching is to all Israel; and so too the context fits our present Western Civilization, especially the Western Church, like a glove and certainly better than O. J.'s glove.

The context for our focal text is Israel's ultimate restoration, and like Job, blessing in the Latter Days. Oh, if they'd only have listened to their Mishua (my transliteration).

TRUTH CLAIM: Henry Blackaby in his classic curriculum on discipleship, Experiencing God, reminds us we are often so focused on our own work for God we fail to notice God is working far and away from us.

In 14:8 we understand ...

We need go no farther than God for the supply of all our wants; not merely the protection implied by the shadow of the cypress, but that which the cypress doesn't have, namely, fruit, all spiritual and temporal blessings.

It may be also implied, that whatever spiritual graces Ephraim seeks for or may have, are not of themselves, but of God (Psalm 1:3; John 15:4-5, 8; James 1:17). [Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; edits are from The CRIB]

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: How is that the fruitless are able to bear fruit?
EXPANDED OUTLINE

I. WE BEAR FRUIT BY WAY OF OUR UNION WITH GOD!

A. United with the Root!

The fruit of the branch is directly traceable to the root; sever the connection, the branch dies, and no fruit is produced.

Every bunch of grapes have been first in the root, it has passed through the stem, and flowed through the sap vessels, and fashioned itself externally into fruit, but it was first in the stem.

B. Christ is the Root! [Isaiah 11:10]

By virtue of our union with Christ we bring forth fruit; every good work was first in Christ, and then produced in us.

C. Root is the Source!

Believers, cherish your priceless union with Christ [Romans 6:5-9]; for it must be the source of all the fruitfulness which thou can hope to know.

If you aren't joined to Christ, you will be poorer than a barren tree indeed.

II. WE BEAR FRUIT BY WAY OF GOD'S PROVIDENTIAL PLAN!

A. Nature by God's Design!

When the dew-drops fall from heaven, when the cloud looks down from on high, and is about to burst forth with its treasure, when the sun swells the berries of the cluster, each heavenly gift may whisper to the tree and say, "From Me comes your fruit."

B. Not All is Supernatural!

The fruit owes much to the root – that is essential to fruitfulness – but it owes very much also to external influences.

C. Our Daily Bread!

How much we owe to God's providential and creative grace, from which he provides for us constantly; to this we owe our all of usefulness or virtue.

III. WE BEAR FRUIT BY WAY OF GOD'S GENTLE CONSERVATION!

A. Divine Grooming!

The gardener's sharp-edged knife promotes the fruitfulness of the tree, by thinning the clusters, and by cutting off superfluous shoots.

B. Divine Pruning!

So is it, Christian, with that pruning which the Lord gives to thee.

"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. "

John 15:1-2

APPLICATION: Believers today seem to have forgotten these elementary truths. They've become powerless in the forgetting - forgetting that our union with Christ has made us powerful and wise not powerless and ignorant.

CHALLENGE: Since our God is the author of our spiritual and natural graces, let's give him all the glory and all the praise of our common salvation. And then let's live like the blessed and mighty children of the King we are! Amen! And amen!

Christianity, Expository,
Homiletics, Hosea, Last Days,
Outlines, Preaching, Sermons

MALACHI: Full Sermons

The following are links to full sermons, preached at FBC La Verne in Southern California or at San Carlos Community Church (SCCC) in San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico ...

3:8-11

BIGGEST, MEANEST THIEF IN THE WORLD - Expose on 21st Century Holy Pickpockets!

quick link to MALACHI: Seed Archive

Homiletics, Malachi, Preaching,
Sermons, Sermon Series

HABAKKUK: Full Sermons

The following are links to full sermons, preached at FBC La Verne in Southern California or at San Carlos Community Church (SCCC) in San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico ...

2:4

RECKONED RIGHTEOUS - Faith is the victory!

3:2

A CALL FOR REVIVAL - A cry of the heart!

quick link to HABAKKUK: Seed Archive

Habakkuk, Homiletics, Preaching,
Sermons, Sermon Series

MICAH: Full Sermons

The following are links to full sermons, preached at FBC La Verne in Southern California or at San Carlos Community Church (SCCC) in San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico ...

6:1-8

YOU HAVE BEEN TOLD - What does the Lord take delight in?

quick link to MICAH: Seed Archive

Homiletics, Micah, Outlines,
Preaching, Sermons, Sermon Series

DEUTERONOMY 8:1-10: Stop! Look! Listen! Think!

TOPIC: Blessing; Obedience, Preparation, Sanctification, Voice (of God)
TITLE: "Stop, Look, Listen and Think! Hear the voice of God!"

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: Why did God encourage Israel to stop, look, listen and think?
CONCISE OUTLINE

I. That they might profit from their past! (v. 2a)
II. That they might be perfected in their present! (v. 6)
III. That they might be possessors of His promises in their future! (vv. 7-10, 16b)

TRUTH CLAIM/CONTEXT: [Cf. Deuteronomy 1:1-14] Israel's forty years in the wilderness has come to an end; Moses' life is also at an end; God tells Moses to confront His children with His words . . . one last time.

They are to leave the plain of preparation and go to the land of promise to possess it!

Here in chapter 8, God has Moses challenge the people to think (a.k.a.: reflect) upon their past, their present and their future.

The question we will want to answer is WHY?

[RR Crossing] In the mid-west, as a youth, I recall rail crossing signs . . . each looked like a big, white, letter ex. Three arms had a single word written on it: one read, STOP; another, LOOK; the third, LISTEN; while the last was unmarked.

Considering those who take liberties at railroad crossings today perhaps that fourth arm should read, THINK! The money and effort consumed in the attempt to prevent accidents at these crossings is staggering. Why? Because . . .

1. people don't focus on what is important in life
2. people don't think before they act and
   
3. people are prone to take risks . . . ignoring consequences!

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: Why did God encourage Israel to stop, look, listen and think?
EXPANDED OUTLINE

I. That They Might Profit from Their Past! (v. 2a)

"And you shall remember all the way which the LORD your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years . . . "

Deuteronomy 8:2

A. "all the way which the LORD your God has led you"
B. What was God's purpose for wanting to remind them of this?

1. Read v. 3 (to be humbled, to hunger, to understand)
2. Read v. 4 (clothing=provision)
3. Read v. 5 (to know in their heart that God, as any good father, was at work in their discipline and that it was for their own good)

"Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days."

Proverbs 19:20

II. That They Might Be Perfected in Their Present! (v. 6)

"Therefore, you shall keep the commandments of the LORD your God . . . "

v. 6a

Why?

A. "to walk in His ways"
B. "to fear Him"

III. And That They Might Be Possessors of His Promises in Their Future! (vv. 7-10, 16b)

"... to do good for you in the end."

v. 16b

How?

A. By ...

"bringing you into a good land . . . "

v. 7a

B. To ...

"a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing forth in valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey; a land where you shall eat food without scarcity, in which you shall not lack anything; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you can dig copper."

vv. 7b-9

APPLICATION/CHALLENGE: Now that we've answered the question "How?" let's answer the question "Why?"

So that . . .

"When you have eaten and are satisfied, you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land which He has given you."

v. 10

So how did things turn out? Not well, as we know. People tend to get familiar with things and then take them for granted . . . like trains at rail crossings.

[HEAVENS] In a book by H.G. Wells, Wm. Clissold, one of his characters is quoted as saying: "There was a time when my little soul was uplifted at the starry enigma of the sky. That's absolutely gone. I remember looking at the stars one might, and I was in ecstasy . . . but now I can go out to look . . . [like I would] at the pattern on the wallpaper [on a theater wall]." [H. G. Wells; in Outlines and Illustrations, MacPherson, p.46]

But you don't do that with God. Israel and all they experienced were "examples for us, that we should not crave" what God does not want for us! [1 Corinthians 10:6]

God challenged Israel to remember what He had done for them but , by the end of their 40 year camping trip, they had taken Him for granted and still longed for the garlic and onions of Egypt.

READ ALOUD: Deuteronomy 8:11-20

As a nation we have the same dilemma . . . do we look at the history of our great nation and see the hand of God in every blessing. And we claim its wealth comes from the power of our own hand?

In the light of God's unchanging character, would He encourage us to STOP, LOOK, LISTEN, and THINK about this latter day failure? Would He want us to look forward and consider His promises in the shadow of this time?

1. If so, what lessons would He have us learn?

[LIVING STONES] That we aren't bricks made by human hands in a kiln over a few hours. We are "living stones." [1 Peter 2:5]

Stones take ages and ages to form in the crucible of the earth's crust; followed by ages of washing and weathering . . . to smooth out the roughness and round them. This is done to so they can be clearly differentiated from plain old rough, ragged rocks.

Francis de Sales said, "This [life] is but a quarry where the living stones of the heavenly Jerusalem are cut and washed."

God is preparing us to be good "Christians"; He is preparing us for our place in the wall of His eternal Holy Temple.

2. If so, what commands are we to keep?

We are not of the law but of righteousness by faith!

"If you love Me, you will keep My commandments."

John 14:15

"If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love ..."

[John 15:10a

This is the paradox of obedience: We can't keep His commandments unless we first acknowledge His authority to command; yet we cannot (it seems) acknowledge His right to command unless we begin by desiring to keep them.

"For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day."

2 Timothy 1:12

3. If so, what promises have we been given?

"seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, . . . for by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust."

2 Peter 1:3a,4

"But it isn't as though the word of God has failed. For they're not all Israel who are descended from Israel; neither are they all children because they are Abraham's descendants, but: THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL BE NAMED. That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants."

Romans 9:6b-8

Above us are the blinking reminders of our heavenly future; below us is the dust of our earthly past; and in between . . . ???

Well, between:

"there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."

1 Timothy 2:5

And we have taken to heart the promise of Jesus our Lord, our God, and our Savior: "lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." [Matthew 28:20]

Christianity, Deuteronomy, Expository,
Homiletics, Outlines, Preaching, Sermons

JUDGES: Full Sermons

The following are links to full sermons, preached at FBC La Verne in Southern California or at San Carlos Community Church (SCCC) in San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico ...

2:3

THE THORNS & SNARES - The Proof Is Indeed In the Pudding!

quick link: ESTHER Seed Archive (INACTIVE AT THIS TIME)

Christianity, Easter, Expository,
Homiletics, Judges, Outlines, Preaching

JONAH - Seed Archive

Jonah 1:1 ff

TOPIC: Missions

TITLE: While Nineveh Goes to Hell!

I. Jonah's Success

Riding the crest of popularity; a successful prophet. [2 Kings 14:25]

II. Jonah's Call [1:1-2]
III. Jonah's Flight [1:3-2:10]
IV. Jonah's Message [3:1-4]

Short & sweet -- Forty days and Nineveh will be destroyed.

V. Jonah's Surprise [3:5-10]

The heathen repented and were spared; they weren't even part of chosen people.

VI. Jonah's Displeasure [4:1-4]

First time thus saith the Lord not literally fulfilled.

VII. Jonah's Lesson [4:5-11]

God is concerned about all people groups; it is not His will that any should perish [2 Peter 3:9].

[MISSIONS] If a child comes home and tells mom & dad the boss is sending junior to South America as part of a multi-million dollar oil exploration the folks say, "Wow! Great! You've made it son. We can't wait to call the family and the friends to tell them."

But if he comes home and tells them that God has called him to the mission field in South America to rescue the perishing, they say, "What? Are you sure? Are there any benefits? Is it safe? You don't even speak the language."

SOURCE: Bill Blanchard, Commission Magazine, May 1997 p. 280 (a publication of the International Missions Board of the Southern Baptist Convention).

Homiletics, Jonah, Outlines,
Preaching, Sermons

ZEPHANIAH - Seed Archive

Zephaniah 3:2

TOPIC: Apostasy (national)

TITLE: Believers! Examine Thyself - A four-fold indictment of national apostasy!
FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What is it about national apostasy that bothers God?

There are four things about national apostasy that God hates …

I. A people without hearing!
II. A people without knowledge/discernment!
III. A people without foundation!
IV. A people without reverence!

Homiletics, Outlines, Preaching,
Sermons, Zephaniah

HEBREWS - Seed Archive

4:14 -- 5:10

TOPIC: Eternal Life, Easter

TITLE: OUR HIGH PRIEST - The Source of Eternal Life!

The Hebrews were as familiar with the duties of the High Priest as modern Americans are with the duties of the President of the United States.

Their daily lives were permeated with priests, altars, and sacrifices; the writer of this epistle reminds them God has provided them a perfect High Priest and a Perfect Sacrifice for the heavenly temple ... the Lamb of God.

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: Why do we need such a High Priest?

Because we need an Intercessor ...

I. Who Is Appointed By God!
II. Who Is in the Presence of God!
III. Who Is God!

The Hebrews had the shadow of the good things to come ... we have found the reality and that reality is in Jesus ... we have found the evidence of His atoning work written in blood on the altar of God's Word.

God would encourage us to persevere in the face of obstacles. We have a forerunner who is our hope, and anchor of our soul, both sure and steadfast.

12:25

See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven.

TOPIC: Salvation; hearers, judgment, last days, warnings

TITLE: LAST DAYS WARNING - Salvation Message
FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What three types of listeners are seen here?

I. STUBBORN LISTENERS! (they refuse to listen)
II. UNHEEDING LISTENERS! (they do not heed the warning)

A. Earthly - did not escape him! (Moses)
B. Heavenly - will not escape Him! (God)

III. WARNED LISTENERS! (they heed the warning)

Hebrews, Homiletics,
Outlines, Preaching, Sermons

LAMENTATIONS - Seed Archive

1:1

"How lonely sits the city That was full of people! She has become like a widow Who was once great among the nations! She who was a princess among the provinces Has become a forced laborer!"

TOPIC: People of God

TITLE: The Cost of Disobedience - How to be Lifeless, Alone and Enslaved!
FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: How does God want His people ["the city"] to be?

I. He wants her full of life! [a city once "full of people," now "lonely"]
II. He wants her great among nations! [once "great," now widowed]
III. He wants her regal! [then a "princess," now a "forced laborer"]

1:4

The roads of Zion are in mourning

Because no one comes to the appointed feasts
All her gates are desolate;
Her priests are groaning,
Her virgins are afflicted,
And she herself is bitter.

TOPIC: Price of Sin [Church health & behavior, Spiritual infidelity, Worship; holiness]

TITLE: BLACK GOLD*: The Heavy Price of Infidelity! [* see 4:1]
FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: Why does the way to Zion mourn?

I. Attendance problems! [1b]
II. Missing Elders ! [1c]
III. Complaining priests! [1d]
IV. Declining [read "Reclining"] virgins! [1e]
V. Insensitive members [1f]

Apostasy, Christianity, Homiletics, Outlines,
Preaching, Rebellion, Sermons

NUMBERS 14:8-9 - Words to Live By!

TOPIC: Fear (of the Unknown); New Years, Rebellion, Unbelief
TITLE: WORDS TO LIVE BY - Facing the Unknown with Emmanuel?

TEXT:

"If the LORD is pleased with us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us - a land which flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the the LORD; and do not fear the people of the land, for they will be our prey. Their protection [Lit. shadow ] has been removed from them, and the LORD is with us; do not fear them."

TRUTH CLAIM/CONTEXT: Each New Year I seem driven to take a hard look at what's behind and ahead ... you? I want to take a hard look at this New Year for a variety of reasons; some practical, some spiritual, but mostly in light of the proverb - "If you're not a part of the solution, you're a big part of the problem."

Sin and human frailty give people short memories relative to historical hardship and experience.

The spies have returned and given their report; five to one against. That's the bottom-line. The people, blame God and want Moses and Aaron stoned. (Miriam? Is this a case of collective Chauvinism?)

In our effort see if we are a part of the solution or the problem we are going to do some roll play; God will play the part of Moses, Dan and I will play the parts of Joshua and Caleb, and ya'al will be the ten negative and the Hebrew children ... who wants to be Aaron.

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: In the face of an enemy, what consequences arise from a lack of trust in God versus a blind trust in Him?

I. THE CONSEQUENCES OF DISTRUST ARE CLEARLY SEEN IN ITS ...

A. Leading to Behavior Based on Emotion [vv. 1-3, 10, 40-45]

B. Leading to a Fear of the Temporal [vv. 1-3, 9]

C. Leading to a Loss of Life

"What profit is it ..." [Luke 9:23-25]

D. Leading to an Injurious Relationship with Others
E. Every tribe and family suffered because of the unbelief of eight men!

II. THE CONSEQUENCES OF TRUST ARE CLEARLY SEEN IN ITS ...

A. Leading to Behavior Based on Humility and Wisdom [vv. 5, 20-21]

1. Giving Him recognition [v. 17]
2. Proclaiming His attributes [vv. 18, 19]

B. Leading to a Fear of God [Pro. 1:7]

Who should we fear ... ? [Matthew 10:28]

C. Leading to ...

1. An Extended Temporal Existence [vv. 24, 30, 36-37]
2. An Endless Eternal Existence [Luke 9:26]

D. Revealing ...

1. Apart from Him ... [John 15:5]
2. If you're not with Him, then He is not "Emmanuel" for you! [Num 14:42]

APPLICATION/CHALLENGE: With this New Year before us, we are confronted with a challenge similar to that of the Hebrew children in the Wilderness.

In three short years we've had 9/11, the wars in Afghanistan and in Iraq, the Florida-four (four class four hurricanes in three months' time), the stress of Champaign 2004, and now the Christmas Tsunami.

What can we expect in the next year? Truthfully? We have no way of knowing, yet it is probable we can expect more of the same.

After all we still have the ongoing war in Iraq, the nuclear programs in Iran and North Korea, and Syria's involvement in the insurgency; the surprising increase in anti-Americanism, Antisemitism, and anti-Christianism; mainland China and Taiwan, an phenomenal increase in ungodliness (pornography, sexual perversion, judicial activism, unresponsive elected officials, corruption, graft, greed, and pridefulness.

"So, pastor, that's your encouragement for the New Year?"

[ASSURANCE] Charles Ellis is a tremendous sports fan. He videotapes his favorites while he is away at work.

When it's time to sit in his easy chair and view the tape, he doesn't start at the beginning. Instead he fast-forwards to the end to discover who won. If his team lost he puts the tape away, but if his team won he'll rewind, get some snacks, and watch the whole thing.

Some have laughed at this. But he says, no matter how bad his team looks, he never worries … he knows the ending.

When it comes to our faith, we ought to have a VCR mentality: no matter how bad things look, we know how it ends. [adapted from Perfect Illustrations, p. 13]

[DAILY OBEDIENCE] When Anne Graham Lotz and her husband attend football games at the University of North Carolina, people cram the entrances and she can't see where she's going.

Her husband, at 6’7”, can see over the crowd, so he takes her hand and leads her to their seats. "The way I get from the car to my seat is just by holding his hand and following him closely through the crowd," she says.

She uses the same procedure with the Lord. “I just try to faithfully follow the Lord step by step and day by day,” she says. “Ten years from now, I just want to look back and know that to the best of my ability I have been obedient to God's call on my life.”

[Randy Bishop, “Just Give Me Jesus,” Christian Reader (September / October 2000), p. 25; via Perfect Illustrations, ibid. p. 62]

God has sent the church into the world to check it out, and her witnesses [Heb 12:1] have returned with their report on the enemy's strength and capability.

Where are you in this? In the 17% solution (1 in 6) or in the 83% problem (5 in 6)?

Christianity, Homiletics, Numbers,
Outlines, Preaching, Sermons