NEHEMIAH: 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 ...

2:1ff

CHURCH RENEWAL NEHEMIAH'S WAY - A Cupbearer With National Vision!

Acts, Homiletics, Preaching,
Sermons, Sermon Series

1 CHRONICLES 9:33 - DAY AND NIGHT – Don’t Stop Singing!

TOPIC: Praise; New Year, worship

TITLE: DAY AND NIGHT – Don’t Stop Singing!
TEXT: 1 Chronicles 9:33

“Now these are the singers … who lived in the chambers of the temple … who were engaged in their work day and night.”

INQUIRY: Just what did they find to sing about day & night?
CONCISE OUTLINE

I. THEY SANG OF HIS PERSON …
II. THEY SANG OF HIS WORKS …
III. THEY SANG OF HIS CHARACTER …
IV. THEY SANG OF HIS GREATNESS …
V. THEY SANG OF HIS GRACE …

TRUTH/CONTEXT: Our text is from a section of the historical record concerning the duties of the temple servants … in particular, “the singers.” They were residents of the temple/tabernacle, and “free from other service.” We suppose so they could commit themselves wholly to the singing of praises to God, “day and night.”

Of note is that these were heads of household, fathers of Levites (aka: priests) … all of this is a picture of our heavenly realm.

This is the final day of a rather inauspicious (unpromising) year. It seems appropriate for the times that three men of some fame died this past week:

• First came James Brown (12/25) – the obituary said, “American rhythm and blues singer and band leader, heart failure”
• Then came Gerald “Jerry” R. Ford (12/26) – his record read, “38th President of the United States (1974-1977), natural causes”
• Lastly Saddam Hussein (12/30) – his epitaph says, “5th President of Iraq (1979–2003), execution by hanging”

What caught my attention here was the contrast of lives: one was of the flesh, the other of the world, two were of the Devil, one of God; all three woke up this week in a place which words fail to describe.

One was spoken of as evil incarnate; saw himself as a latter day Nebuchadnezzar. One was a rebel and bragged about his run-ins with the law. One obeyed the law of his land, even helped frame it.

One was labeled a butcher, murderer of women and children, wicked, and cruel. One was spoken of as the Godfather of soul (little "s"), called an adultery, drug addict, egomaniac, wife abuser, and felon. The other was said to be gentle, kind, thoughtful to all, respectful, humble, good, hardworking, loving, soft-spoken, and god fearing.

All three expected to be in the presence of God when they woke up from their sleep, only one did.

And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment.

Hebrews 9:27

Oh there will be a new year for all of us; I pray we are not standing on some phony resolution in our eternal hope; or on some inflated opinion of our self; no I pray each and all of you are standing on solid ground … the promises of God!

I normally don’t preach holiday homilies, other than Christmas and Easter … but let this be my message to you for the New Year (2007); let it be an encouragement that you might dig deep and reach your spiritual potential in a year which may be the worst than the one now ending.

In Joshua 1:8, we are admonished to study the word of God “day and night.” In the first psalm the “righteous man” is said to meditate “in the law of the LORD … day and night.” [Verse 2]

“… day and night (the four living creatures) do not cease to say, ‘HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME.’”

Revelation 4:8 [adapted]

The House of God was so well organized (courses, orders, shifts) that its sacred singers’ songs did not cease sun or moon … at set times, “day and night,” they praised God (whose mercies endure forever; and who inhabits the praises of His people) symbolizing continuous praise. Thus, the priests lived out their lives mak-ing majestic melodies for Almighty God.

[RAIN] In the same way that the oceans, without ceasing, supply moisture for the clouds, which eventually refreshes the soil with shed tears, God’s mercy and grace never cease to flow … not by day or by night … so, neither should the heart-songs of God’s children-priests be hushed.

O beloved, your heart (which is the new temple) should learn the lesson taught by Zion's ceaseless songs: you also, like the Temple singers, are dependent upon God, so see to it that your gratefulness, like love [1 Corinthians 13:8a], never fails.

God's praise is constant in heaven, so learn to sing its eternal hallelujahs. Just as the strains of “Holy, holy, holy,” are heard without end in the halls of heaven, so should they be heard “day and night” in your heart of hearts.

[SUN] Just as the sun sheds its light upon the earth, its radiance awakening grateful recipients to begin their morning labors, so too as “day and night” navigate their course a strain of praise should ascend at all hours, wrapping the earth in a blanket of thanksgiving and worship.

Even when clouds intervene, the sun continues in its labor.

The Lord deserves always to be praised … He inhabits them after all.

INQUIRY: Just what did they find to sing about day & night?
EXPANDED OUTLINE

I. THEY SANG OF HIS PERSON …

A. Wonderful Attributes: we might say character; some inherent quality found in a person’s personality and life.

1. In Him there is no darkness
2. In Him there is all perfection

B. Wonderful Nature: the disposition or temperament of someone.

1. He so loved the world.
2. While we were yet sinners

II. THEY SANG OF HIS WORKS …

A. Power-filled creative works …

“The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.”

Psalm 19:1

B. Tenderhearted providential works …

1. God foresaw the need of man
2. Jesus had compassion and fed the multitudes
3. Jesus provided a way of escape

III. THEY SANG OF HIS CHARACTER …

A. Lovingkindness toward his creatures
B. Protection from their enemies

IV. THEY SANG OF HIS GREATNESS …

A. Acts of deliverance (Egypt and rebirth)
B. Sustaining provisions
C. Hope-filled promises

V. THEY SANG OF HIS GRACE …

A. Which flow from our obedience
B. Which flow from our sacrifice

Paul said,

“I urge you therefore, brethren … to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”

Romans 12:1

APPLICATION/CHALLENGE: It’s always beneficial to praise the Lord; it brightens our days & warms our nights; it lightens our loads & softens our sorrows.

The gladness of continual praise sheds sanctifying warmth upon us … inside and out. This creates a glow which warms us from within; this glow attracts others to us as a moth to a bare bulb.

[GERRIT GUSTAFSON/WORSHIP EVANGELISM] He defines it in two simple phrases: “whole-hearted worshipers calling the whole world to the whole-hearted worship of God … [and] the fusion of the power of God's presence with the power of the gospel.”

Evangelism is what happens when our worship testifies to God's greatness, love, and faithfulness. …. In order for worship to evangelize, it needs to be more than just one hour … out of the week.

Worship that speaks to God’s majesty and transforming power is a lifestyle. It’s a 24/7 … worship.

We can’t expect non-Christians to understand the concept of a new life in Christ if they see Christians in church on Sunday morning worshiping a holy God and then worshiping the mighty dollar and living a lifestyle … that is no different from a non-Christian lifestyle. Our worship of God has to carry over into every aspect of our lives.

Haven’t we something to sing about at this next year? Can’t we weave a song out of 1) our present joys, or 2) our past deliverances, or 3) our future hopes?

Effort still yields its harvest, golden fields still wave, the sun still tarries to bring earth’s fruit, and this goes on both day and night … if He has kept His promise so, shouldn’t we lengthen the hours we devote to worship.

For the love of Jesus (and He loved us first), let us be inspired to fill our days with songs of sanctified joy and praise!

1 Chronicles, Christianity, Expository, Homiletics,
Joy, Outlines, Preaching, Sermons, Singing

LEVITICUS: Full Sermons

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

24:1-4

OIL FOR THE LAMP – How to Keep Your Light Burning Continually!

CrossLinked: Spurgeon's Morning & Evening Proclaimed Series (August 28 "Morning")

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

Homiletics, Leviticus, Outlines,
Preaching, Sermons, Worship

2 TIMOTHY - Seed Archive

2:22

Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

TOPIC: Maturity; Faith, Love, Peace, Purity, Righteousness, Spiritual growth

TITLE: BUILDING ON A FIRM FOUNDATION (v.19) - Gaining Maturity in an Immature World!
FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What may we understand mature pursuits to be?
We may understand that mature pursuits are

I. RIGHT LIVING!
II. FAITHFUL LIVING!
III. LOVELY LIVING!
IV. PEACEFUL LIVING!

And we will seek "those who call on the Lord from a pure heart" as mature believers! Amen!

2 Timothy, Christianity, Homiletics,
Maturity, Outlines, Preaching,
Religion, Sermons, Spiritual growth

NUMBERS 6:23-27 - Invoking God's Name!

TOPIC: Blessings (God’s); Name (the LORD’S)

TITLE: INVOKING GOD'S NAME - Remembering the Lord's Blessing!
TEXT: Numbers 6:23-27

Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, “Thus you shall bless the sons of Israel. You shall say to them:

‘The LORD bless you, and keep you;
The LORD make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you;
The LORD lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.'

So they shall invoke My name on the sons of Israel, and I then will bless them.”

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What Is It God Wants You To Know?
CONCISE OUTLINE: He wants you to know that He wishes ...

I. SPEAK WELL OF YOU!
II. TO PERSERVE YOU!
III. TO ILLUMINATE YOU!
IV. TO REVEAL TO YOU!
V. TO COMMUNE WITH YOU!
VI. TO BE PLEASED WITH YOU!

TRUTH/CONTEXT: What we have here is what I call “the Lord’s Prayer” of the Old Testament (not the “Our Father” one but the real prayer of the Lord in the Gospel of John) … I put this right along side the 2 Chronicles 7:13, 14.

The greater context of our passage is the book of Numbers, a book of wanderings and organization: wanderings in a wilderness and organization out of the disorganization for a people fresh from the oppression of slave masters.

How reassuring Israel was used by God to bequeath us an example … a example of fallen-man’s life in this world’s wilderness, needing organization and discipline. But the story of Numbers is also the story of rebellion by God’s people and their missing of a blessing from God.

God organized the people for His work immediately following their escape from Pharaoh and then again just prior to their entry into the Promised Land. But the people did not accomplish God’s work as He planned it, so God withheld His blessing.

The immediate context of our passage is in the period of Israel’s preparation for Kingdom living; during the section of the book dealing with cleansing. I suggest we’ve forgotten a key role of the Aaronic priesthood (pastors/leaders) as it relates to the sheep: that of blessing the sheep … now priests themselves (albeit Levitical).

Then Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people and blessed them, and he stepped down after making the sin offering and the burnt offering and the peace offerings. [Leviticus 9:22]

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What Is It God Wants Us To Know?
EXPANDED OUTLINE:

This is a comprehensive and wonderful prayer, it should be understood like this:

I. May God speak well to you, by keeping His promises for you!

II. May He preserve you in the possessions, providing good things and hedging you in from all evil by which you are threatened!

III. May God illuminate your heart, giving you true knowledge of yourself and of your God!

IV. May He show you His grace, forgiving your sins and sanctifying your walk with Him!

V. May God have communion with you, in each of the persons of the Godhead - Father, Son, and Spirit.

VI. And may God give you a constant sense of His pleasure, granting you prosperity in your heart and in your soul, and in all your temporal affairs!

APPLICATION/CHALLENGE: And so how is this done?

Verse 27 brings to mind the fourth commandment:

You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.

[BARNES] Put my name upon the children of Israel - i.e. pronounce My Sacred Name over them in blessing them. God will give effect to the benediction pronounced by the priests.

Some suggest the blessing reflects the Trinity or Godhead by the repetition of the LORD (Jehovah) three times. Might be?

That, I believe, is His desire, what is yours?

This passage focuses on the Israelite need for consecration unto God for total service (free of guile and iniquity; honoring vows they’ve made). This is the whole sacrifice of the child of God. It’s a body and soul offering to Jehovah.

Never did God have in mind Aaron getting up each morning and saying, “I need to go bless the people or their day will be miserable.”

No, they were to bring their offerings in, the priests were to perform their functions, and the people would then be blessed by Aaron. What is our offering?

I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. [Romans 12:1]

And how are we to accomplish this?

"YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.” This is the great and foremost commandment. [Matthew 22:37, 38]

Oh how God would bless us if we were but obedient to Him in His desire to bring us out of our wilderness and chaos; God desires to bless and to lead us into organization.

I have been forced by the Holy Spirit to admit my complicity as a stumbling block to your blessing … certainly Hebrews 13:20-21 is a benediction of blessing, but my heart was motivated by a desire to remind you God supplies each of you each day to do the work of ministry … not that you would be blessed by the invocation of His name.

[BLESSING] Suppose for a moment you were to receive an inheritance from a rich Uncle; the only stipulation was you must behave in a way not natural for you, and this only for a time. Even then, a provision was made for forgiveness if you mess up! Now suppose you didn’t and you wouldn’t!

This is what Israel did!

Now, the bible says,

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. [Ephesians 1:7-12]

[KMV BIBLE] Howard Hendricks reminds us it is not the version of the bible a person uses that separates him from God, but rather what version he makes of the version he has. Sadly, many people edit the Word of God as they go, creating their own King Me Version (KMV).

God had intended for our obedience to Him to be clearly visible to Him and His sub-shepherds (you will know them by their fruit) … as a result they could freely bless the people with this blessing. To the extent you’ve made yourself a living sacrifice unto God …

The LORD bless you, and keep you;

The LORD make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you;

The LORD lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.

Blessings, Christianity, Expository, Name of God,
Numbers, Outlines, Preaching, Sermons

1 Samuel 3:1-10 - How we ought to answer when He calls!

TEXT: 1 Samuel 3:1-10

Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD before Eli. And word from the LORD was rare in those days, visions were infrequent. It happened at that time as Eli was lying down in his place ... and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD where the ark of God was, that the LORD called Samuel; and he said, "Here I am."

Then he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call, lie down again." ... Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, nor had the word of the LORD yet been revealed to him. (this happened twice more) ... .

Then Eli discerned that the LORD was calling the boy. And Eli said to Samuel, "Go lie down, and it shall be if He calls you, that you shall say, 'Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Then the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak, for Your servant is listening.”

TOPIC: Calling; hearing
TITLE: HERE I AM - How we ought to answer when He calls!

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: How ought we respond when the Lord calls?
CONCISE OUTLINE:

I. GOD CALLS THOSE WORTHY OF HIS TESTING!
II. GOD CALLS THOSE WORTHY OF HIS CHALLENGE!
III. GOD CALLS THOSE WORTHY OF GOD SIZED VISIONS!
IV. GOD CALLS THOSE WHO WILL BEAR HIS MESSAGES!

TRUTH/CONTEXT: Samuel’s mother had given up her son to the service of the Lord as a fulfillment of her promise to God; if He opened her womb that she might have a son she would dedicate the boy to Him.

To double her trouble she was one of two wives; of the two one was fertile and it wasn't Samuel’s mommy, Hannah. [1 Samuel 1 & 2:11]

Another aspect of the passage’s context is the priesthood of Eli and his miserable apostate and heretical sons … who Eli knew of and did nothing. God cursed Eli and his seed [1 Samuel 2:12-36] and said …

I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who will do according to what is in My heart and in My soul; and I will build him an enduring house, and he will walk before My anointed always.

[1 Samuel 2:35]

The real story of our passage is the genuine and innocent obedience of the boy to his surrogate father on earth, and his genuine and earnest desire to serve his Father in heaven.

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: How ought we respond when the Lord calls?
EXPANDED OUTLINE:

I. GOD CALLS THOSE WORTHY OF HIS TESTING!

A. READER – Genesis 22:1-3 (we ask members to stand and read key Scripture for the message)

Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." He said, "Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you." So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him and Isaac his son; and he split wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.

B. Our Response should be “Here I am” because God may test us

1. Even though it may be costly
2. Even though the world may laugh

II. GOD CALLS THOSE WORTHY OF HIS CHALLENGE!

A. READER - Genesis 46:2-4

God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, "Jacob, Jacob." And he said, "Here I am." He said, "I am God, the God of your father; do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you a great nation there. "I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again; and Joseph will close your eyes."

B. Our response should be “Here I am” because God may challenge us at a difficult moment

1. And God is faithful to restore
2. Consider Job and Romans 8:28

III. GOD CALLS THOSE WORTHY OF GOD SIZED VISIONS!

A. READER - Exodus 3:2-4

The angel of the LORD appeared to (Moses) in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed. So Moses said, "I must turn aside now and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burned up." When the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am."

B. Our response should be “Here I am” because we never know when we may be chosen

1. To change the course of time and eternity
2. Remember Esther –

Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, "Do not imagine that you in the king's palace can escape any more than all the Jews. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?"

[Esther 4:13-14]

IV. GOD CALLS THOSE WHO WILL BEAR HIS MESSAGES!

A. Isaiah 6:8-10

Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here I am. Send me!" He said, "Go, and tell this people: 'Keep on listening, but do not perceive; Keep on looking, but do not understand.' "Render the hearts of this people insensitive, Their ears dull, And their eyes dim, Otherwise they might see with their eyes, Hear with their ears, Understand with their hearts, And return and be healed."

B. Acts 9:10-15

Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord." And the Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight. ... . Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine ... "

C. Hebrews 1:1-2

God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.

D. Matthew 28:18-20

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Our response should be “Here I am” because, if we are indeed authentic blood bought believers, that shed blood of Jesus flowed down upon us and poured out on the ground upon which we stand ... "Behold, we are standing on holy ground."

APPLICATION/CHALLENGE: Long ago, in the Temple of the King on High, a voice was heard ringing down the halls of heaven, "Who will go that this stubborn people might hear? Who?"

And a voice was heard to answer back, "Here I am, Father! Send Me! I will be Your living sacrifice upon the Mount of the King!"

READER - Romans 10:11-15

For the Scripture says, "WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED." How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!"

That any of us has not been called by God to be tested as Abraham, or challenged like Jacob, or trusted like Moses, should not be reason for rejoicing but for sorrow. It should say something to us that we’ve not been called. It should say that we're not considered worthy of God’s testing, challenge, or trust.

You ask, “What can I do?”

Let me suggest that you did not come this far, to this time, to this place alone … but in the presence and power of God.

The circumstances of this moment in your life are not greater than Him. He knows them better than you, and yet He permits them, and He will overcome them if you allow Him to. You are not to fret as though He does not know, does not care, and cannot overcome. Yours is to step out in faith, knowing only that He is there and here.

You are both His creation and His new creation. You are His to do with as it pleases Him - to bless or to consume, to serve or to endure. Today and every day belong to the Lord; it is the only day you have to serve and glorify Him. And so give Him all you have for today.

Lee Ann Womack sings a song called "I Hope You Dance," here are a couple of stanzas ...

Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance …
I hope you dance; I hope you dance

Give the heavens above, More than just a passing glance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance

[Finney] When Chas.Finney finished law school he reported to a law office as an apprentice. The senior lawyer quickly indoctrinated him in the office routine. Then the young lawyer sat at his desk and carried on this conversation with himself.

"What are you going to do when you finish your apprenticeship?"
"Hang out my shingle and practice law, of course!"
"What then?"
"Why, make a lot of money!"
"What then?"
"When I get rich I shall retire."
"What then?"
"Well, then I will die."
"What then?"

So let me ask you what you are making of the life the Lord has given you? What's next?

Calling, Christianity, Expository Preaching, Homiletics,
Preaching, Sermon Outlines, Sermons

ROMANS 6:19 – Our obligation!

I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification.

TOPIC: Sanctification
TITLE: OUR OBLIGATION – To die, live, serve, and be united to God!

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: How does Paul attempt to free the Romans from the Law and lead them to understand their new freedom?
CONCISE OUTLINE:

I. BY USING DEATH TO ILLUSTRATE THEIR FREEDOM!
II. BY USING LIFE TO ILLUSTRATE THEIR FREEDOM!
III. BY USING SLAVERY TO ILLUSTRATE THEIR FREEDOM!
IV. BY USING MARRIAGE TO ILLUSTRATE THEIR FREEDOM!

TRUTH/CONTEXT: Paul apologizes to his Roman audience for using slavery as an illustration; slavery had a specific meaning in Roman times … a citizen of the Roman Empire could not, by law, be enslaved to anyone!

This later word is a new word in Paul’s day … a word that supposedly enhances its twin, holiness; but the word “sanctification” has, in English, become something inferior to the twin.

Holiness is the goal of the sanctified life, and is the focus of chapters 6-8. Let me illustrate what the essence of the section is …

[MASTER BUILDER] A master shipbuilder steps out into his yard and looks around him. There are vast skeletons of ships in the process of completion; there are others nearing completion. But there is nothing in the scene to satisfy, nothing is as he envisions. The big hulls are at present good for nothing. A thousand hammers pounding a thousand rivets into place like a thousand woodpeckers from hell. The yard is strewn with scrap and jigs. [Continue reading ... ]

Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. [1 John 3:2]

Sanctification is both the inauguration of and the process of the life in fellowship with God, as well as that life’s objective … an ultimate state of permanent and perfect sanctification. It’s my opinion that the whole kit and caboodle are in view in verse 19, though the process seems to dominate.

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: How does Paul attempt to free the Romans from the Law and lead them to understand their new freedom?

EXPANDED OUTLINE:

PAUL DOES SO BY USING …

I. DEATH TO ILLUSTRATE THIS NEW FREEDOM! [6:1-8]

A. If indeed we died to sin “how shall we … still live in it?” [v.2]
B. Our baptism is a baptism into Christ Jesus’ death [v. 3]
C. So we’ve been buried with Him (with our unrighteousness, and the Law that enslaved us) [v. 6]
D. Thus, we’re free from sin by our death in Christ [v. 7]

II. LIFE TO ILLUSTRATE THIS NEW FREEDOM! [6:5-14]

A. If we're like Him in His death and His burial, how is it that we will not be like Him in His resurrection? [v. 5]
B. We will live again ... this should motivate us to a new kind of life [v. 8]
C. Death is no longer a master over Christ [v.9] and (by our baptism into His death [v. 3]) it no longer is masters us
D. The life He now lives He lives to God [v. 10] “so consider yourselves to be dead to sin” and “alive to God in Christ” [v. 11]

III. SLAVERY TO ILLUSTRATE THIS NEW FREEDOM! [12-23]

A. I’m glad Paul used slavery as a type of commitment to God for sanctification … today’s culture insists on it
B. Paul says because of our intentional slavery to sin we are morally defective [v. 19]
C. Therefore, we must, in the same way, intentionally submit ourselves to righteousness, so sin might not, like death, “reign in [our] mortal body so that [we] obey its lusts” [v. 12]
D. This, he says will lead to sanctification (aka: holiness) [v. 19]
E. This goal demands and deserves this new master “for sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace” [v. 14]
F. So obey this new Master [v. 16] for “you became slaves of righteousness” [v. 18]
G. What benefit is there in those “things of which you are now ashamed?” [v. 21]
H. You are now free from all that and are “enslaved to God” which results “in sanctification” and the benefit? Life eternal! [v. 22]
I. The wage of sin is death, but God in Christ gives us life everlasting [v. 23]

IV. MARRIAGE TO ILLUSTRATE THIS NEW FREEDOM! [7:1-6]

A. In this sin fallen world, if one is alive, the Law, by default, reigns over him [v. 1]
B. But if we’ve died to sin and born-again to God [v. 11] the law no more reigns
C. Paul’s example: the Law binds a woman to her husband as long as he lives (don’t get any ideas women), but when he dies, she is free to marry again [v. 2]
D. by dying to sin and the law you’re now free to join with another [v. 4-6]
E. Remember, Jesus said we can't serve two masters [Luke 16:13]
F. “so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter” [v. 6]

APPLICATION/CHALLENGE: When we accepted Christ as Lord we discovered

• we were free from sin, its yoke had been removed from our shoulders,
• we had a spontaneous desire to have nothing more to do with it; and
• a desire to serve and please God, with Him as our Master and righteousness as our labor

We’ve, so to speak, been led out of our personal Egypt, passed through the our Red Sea, into an our earthly wilderness, and now await our arrival at the Jordan, with the Promised Land before us.

Let's surrender to holiness and be as sincere and unqualified in our zeal for it as we were to sin. This is every Christian’s obligation.

Had every Christian employed the same energy in advancing the Kingdom of God as they did in promoting Satan’s kingdom, every land would have felt every step the Bride of Christ took.

It should be our lament that we have not; that we’ve used so much energy in Satan’s cause and have done so little in God’s service is our shame.

Remember, God is our Master Builder and though we may not yet be what He wants us to be ,He is building us according to blueprint drawn in the Blood of the Lamb.

We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. [Romans 8:28]

So we should be serving Him as if the goal is in sight.

The key of course is do you love God? Are you called according to His purpose? If indeed you do are, you should be looking back upon the fervor with which you served the devil and in the same way give service to God as your Master, only the latter should exceed the former.

If it does not or can not you would be wise to ask why!

Homiletics, Outlines, Preaching,
Sermons, Romans

MALACHI - Seed Archive

Malachi 1:6

"'A son honors his father, and a servant his master. Then if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is My respect?' says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests who despise My name. But you say, 'How have we despised Your name?'"

TOPIC: Commitment; Fear (of the Lord), Honor, Service, Worship
TITLE: "If I Am?"

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: If God really is Father and Master, where is His honor, where is His due?

I. If Father, where is His honor?
II. If Lord, where is His service?

Christianity, Expository, Homiletic,Malachi,
Outlines, Preaching, Sermons