Receive one sermon text a week by email, or a daily WiseWord by text or by twitter.

Weekly sermons and daily WiseWords are archived here.

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

The Source of the Trial John 14: 1-6


click to Read the passage: John 14  (a new browser window will open)

v.1 1. Inability to reason out unreasonable events.
(Let not your heart be troubled, ye)

v.1 2. An invitation to heaven’s truths that challenges earthly understanding.
(ye believe in God, )

v.1 3. Doubts that seem to speak louder than truth.
(believe also in me.)

v.1 4. Fears of the unknown.

v.2 5. Lack of a grasp and understanding of eternity. This causes an 
overemphasis on the earthly matters of life.
(in my Father’s house are many mansions, if)

v.2 6. Made up issues- focusing on the unmet issues of life versus the truths
taught and their revealings of life.
(if it were not so, I would have told you. )
focusing on the temporal versus the eternal

v.3 7. Threatenings of having to go it alone.
(I will come again, )

v.3 8. Unfamiliarity with living forever in heaven.
(and receive you unto myself: that where I am, there ye may be also.)
If we can believe God faithful here on earth, how much more His
faithfulness in heaven means.

v.5 9. Fear of failure- losing sight, getting lost, etc.
(Thomas saith unto, Lord, we know not whither thou goest: and how can 
we know the way?)

v.6 10. Forgetting once saved and held by Christ; one cannot lose the way.
(I am the way, the truth, and the life)
Nothing else really matters. The truth is forever settled in heaven.!






Saturday, June 25, 2016

Love's Integrity 1 Corinthians 13: 1-8


click to Read the passage: I Corinthians 13  (a new browser window will open)

V 1 1) Love doesn't have diluted content. 
( Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and 
have not love, ... ) 

God's love is full strength. It is either present or not. We may have lapses in our love however. 
God is in control of agape love - there are different administrations -ie - husband wife - friend 

V 2 2) Love is essential for the ministry of other gifts. 
( And though I have the gift of prophecy, ... faith ... and have not love, ... ) 
Specifically for these two mentioned. 

V 3 3) Love involves sacrifice with honor. 
( And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, ... and have not love, ... ) 

v 5 4) Love has genuine character. 
( Doth not behave itself unseemly, ... ) 

V 6 5) Love doesn't cast aside righteousness. 
( Rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth; ) 
No compromise Doesn't excuse sin 
Doesn't embrace error 
We seem more concerned today about giving people an excuse for their sin than telling them truth which reproves their sin. 
A person refusing to repent loves their sin more than their Savior. 
God chastens those He loves.

V 7 6) Love doesn't cast aside responsibility 
( Beareth all things, ... ) 

V 8 7) Love is not without accountability .
 ... ( Love never faileth; ) 

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Let Not Your Heart be Troubled John 14: 1-6



click to Read the passage: John 14  (a new browser window will open)

v.1 1. The search for security.   (let not)
God uses real issues to reveal the need in my life. i.e. Peter and the 
disciples.
Insecurity and waywardness threatens us.
Recount travels of disciples with Christ and the threatening uncertainties.

v.1 2. The need of security. (your heart be troubled.
Troubled hearts, not minds. 
The mind doesn’t need to figure things out if the heart is settled.
There are things man doesn’t understand that cause him trouble.
Things he cannot figure out. Things he doesn’t like.

The disciples had problems they didn’t anticipate, and felt unprepared for. 
They didn’t ask for them probably didn’t want to go through them. Yet 
that was God’s way.
Our problems may not be God initiated but are still an opportunity to 
discover God through. 

v.1 3. The lack of security.  (be troubled)
tar’as/so   of uncertainty, to stir or agitate
tar-akh-ay- disturbance, sedition  (of a mob)   sedition- the stirring up of
discontent, resistance or rebellion against government in power, ie. 
authority.
Roil- angry, irritable
Water roiling- to make cloudy, muddy unsettled by stirring up the 
sediment (something already there just settled to the bottom.)

Every man has a solution- his solution.

v.1 4. The security of faith.   (ye believe in God)
Our only source of security is our faith in God. 
Our primary instruction- believe in God.
Our priority of action- believe in God.
Anytime we put our belief in any other place we will be discouraged and 
unsettled.
The hardest challenge to men often is to keep their hands off of God’s
church. (the use of such means as calculation, manipulation, plans of men,
Maneuvers, in contrast with v. 2  praying, yielding, believing.

v.1 5. The security in faith.    (believe also in me.)
Jesus is the substance of our faith.
Jesus is the settling one in unsettled times and circumstances.
The focus must be on Jesus.

v.2 6. The security of Jesus’ possession.
(in my Father’s house are many mansions.)
Our security comes from the Father’s possessions.   
Insecurity comes when we worry about our possessions.
We try to protect our possessions.
We try to protect our reputation.
Cutting your hand off may not solve the problem.   Matt. 6: 2

v.2 7. The security of His expression.
(if it were not so, I would have told you.)
God will tell us what we need to know.  
We worry about what we think is true or untrue and judge motives.
Hear God’s report.  Quit listening to man’s report and prompting man’s
report.
Our security comes from what God says.
Don’t cooperate with the devil, and his false accusations.

v.2 8. The security of His work.   II go to prepare)
God’ work shall remain; man’s work shall fall and crumble; that is why
we worry.
God is at work! Allow Him to work!
Don’t interfere. Human influence is an interference with Godly work.

v.2 9. The security of His design.  (a place for you.
It fits.
God has a place of fit for you, for us together.
He fitly joins the body together. Ephesians 4: 16. 
We worry because we don’t see God’s design.
We see with undivine and eyes.

v.3 10. The security of His assurance.
(and If I go and prepare a place for you).  No questions if He will go.
God is in control. God is concerned. God is aware.
God is preparing a place. God is doing what He must do.
God has not turned away. We hve turned away- turned inward.

v.3 11. The security of His word.  (I will come again.)
God keeps His word. His word keeps us. His truth shall prevail.
We are secure in Jesus.  Focus on truth, not contrary circumstances.
v.3 12. The security of His presence.   (and receive you unto myself.)
Belong to Jesus.  Focus on belonging to Him- make sure all of you and all 
you possess belongs to Him.
If there is anything that doesn’t belong to Jesus, yield it to Him or give it 
up as appropriate.

v.3 13. The security of His fellowship.  (that where I am there ye may be also.)
Be where Jesus is. Jesus fellowship alone, only, is satisfying.
Look for Jesus. 
Go where He is dong His work.
Stay away from the action of the flesh.

v.4 14. The security of His counsel.
(and where I go ye  know,)
Hear God. Do as He says.
Insecurity comes when we hear and receive wrong counsel.

v.4,5 15. The security of His guiding hand.
(and the way ye know, Thomas said, Lord we know not …)
The necessity of obedience. Jesus had shown them the way.
Psalms 32: 8.  Guide with mine eye.
Look at Jesus’ eye- look for approval, for reproof, for joy, for grief, fo
peace …

v.6 16. The security of His authority.
(Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life; …but by me.
When you are doing His way, it will work.
When you hold on to truth, you are secure.
When you have His life, you are living.

Trouble always springs up when we follow or assert man’s authority; 
don’t do it.

v.6 17. The security of the Father’s acceptance.
(no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Jesus is our way of gaining acceptance.
Only as we please Jesus is the Father pleased.
Only as we obey Jesus is the Father glorified.
We need this security!
2 Corin. 5: 9  We labor that we may be accepted of Him.


Saturday, June 18, 2016

A Father's Responsibility Joshua 24: 14, 15


click to Read the passage: Joshua 24  (a new browser window will open)

His reach into the future:

v.14 1. To teach his family the fear of the Lord.
(Now therefore fear the Lord,)
includes to fear the Lord.
A big gap is bridged here- the building of a life relationship, so much more 
effective than teaching procedures or mechanics.

v.14 2. To teach his family how to serve the Lord.
(and serve him in sincerity and in truth:)

v.14 3. To model and teach spiritual reverence for God.
(and put away the gods which your fathers served ...and serve ye the Lord.)

v.15 4. Foremost, to lead his family to follow God.
(but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.)
Joshua  led his family to fully follow God.

v.15 5. To realize the importance of making right choices before God and to lead
                his family in right choices.
(choose you this day whom ye will serve;)
realizing the family (individuals within the family) will serve someone or 
something.
to serve an idol is to be continually in bondage; 
to serve Christ is to be continually free. 
The father is to relate every choice to the decision to follow God.
Clear choices are to be made, not popular or easy (costless)choices. Evil is 
                to be refused.  There was no tarrying with obedience.

v.15 6. Realizing future blessing comes from present commitment.
(As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.)
There must be a walk of faith to receive the reward of faith.

7. Desiring fullest honor for God to be given through his family.
(As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.)
Joshua was not making some brash, proud statement.
Joshua was clearly identifying with God, with God's word .
He was acknowledging God as source. (Look at Joshua's life message.)
Joshua's commitment was not what was in life for himself nor for his family.
Joshua's commitment was to God and to what God desired.





Wednesday, June 15, 2016

The Stirring of the Heart John 14: 27


click to Read the passage: John 14  (a new browser window will open)


(Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give
                I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.)

That which stirs the heart:

13:331. The ways of God that man cannot know.
 (Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.)
God is in a positional place that man cannot occupy.
        God has understanding and wisdom man cannot know.
        A believer is needlessly troubled when God overwhelms him with truth.
       The believer's responsibility at that point is to simply trust.

13: 2. The rigor of Christ's commands.
34, (A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have
35             loved you, that ye also love one another.)

13: 3. The loyalty of followship required.
36- (Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me 38 thrice.)

14: 4. The challenge of accepting the security the believer has in light of the uncertainty
of this age.          (Let not your heart be troubled: ...)

14: 6 5. The simplicity and necessity of just the life of Jesus being the believer's life and existence.
(Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: ...)

9-11 6. Not understanding the oneness between the Father and the Son.
(Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? ...)
The Jews were still in transition from the God of the old testament to the Christ
                of the new.
Believers today still wrestle with just believing Jesus, with totally believing
Jesus.

v.12 7. The mighty works of Jesus and the shallowness of believers' deeds.
(the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do;
because I go unto my Father.)








The Stirring of the Heart (cont.) Steve Johnson
John 14: 27

v.13, 8. The great promises of prayer that await a believer's faith. 
 14 (And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.)



v.15, 9. The test of love a believer is governed by.
  21,23 (If ye love me, keep my commandments.)



v.16, 10. The need for comfort from God.
(And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever;)



v.17, 11. Learning to trust and follow the way of the Holy Spirit.
(Even the Spirit of truth, ....for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.)
v.26-The way of spiritual learning and spiritual retention.
(But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.)


v.27 12. The seeming lifting of peace' anchor and the visitation of fear.
(Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.)



v.28 13. Christ's going to His Father and the time of His return.  
(I go away, and come again unto you.)



v.30 14. The sovereign allowance by God of the devil's work, considering the care of God and the power of His might.
(Hereafter I will not talk much with your: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.)

Saturday, June 11, 2016

Where to Place Hope Psalms 119: 74


click to Read the passage: Psalms 119  (a new browser window will open)

They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in
        thy word.)

1. Not in my changing circumstances, but in God's unchanging word.

2. Not in what my natural senses record, but in what God reveals through His
word.

3. Not in my own choices, but in the opportunities given of obedience.

4. Not in a quick solution, but in God's steps ordered through His word.

5. Not in positive human thoughts, but in sure revealed truth.

6. Not in man's capacities, but in God's resources, revealed through His 
                word.

7. Not in hypothesis or human reasoning, but in proven truth.
Psalms 33: 4






Wednesday, June 8, 2016

The Work of the Comforter John 14: 26


click to Read the passage: John 14  (a new browser window will open)


1. On assignment by the Father.
(But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send)

2. His loyalty is to Christ.
( in my name,)

3. His integrity is His holiness.
(Holy Spirit)

4. His work is to teach God’s people the words of the Bible.
( He shall teach you all things,)

5. He keeps God’s people from forgetting truth previously revealed.
( and bring all things to your remembrance, )

6. He reminds God’s people of commitments made to truth.
(and bring all things to your remembrance,)

7. He knows what God has said and its precise applicability to your life.
(whatsoever I have said unto you.)