Title: Grace Text: I Thessalonians 5:28

Message for a local congregation on January 18, 2015

Link to Audio:  http://dillonvineyard.org/church/sermons2015/DillonVCF-2015-01-18-MarkWorden.mp3

Introduction:  

• How I met Pastor Zane
• Sanctity of Human Life Sunday and New Hope of Dillon
• Prayer
• Testimony of Christian Rapper Lecrae
  with John Piper and John Ensor
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wauaI7rL0vM  Beginning to 9.33 minutes

Message Focus – Every one of us needs God’s mercy and grace and the healing it brings from sin!

Def: Mercy – not getting what we deserve. Grace – Getting what we don’t deserve.

Today I want to focus on God’s grace because that is what the book of I Thessalonians begins with and ends with – It is also a word I heard a lot last week in Zane’s message and the prayers that were offered up in worship of God.

•  . . . to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. 1 Thessalonians 1:1

 

• The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.   1 Thessalonians 5:28

Question 1: What is grace?   The word occurs in the Bible over 130 times, mostly in the N.T.

1828 Noah Webster Dictionary – first American English Dictionary

 Def. # 2. “Appropriately, the free unmerited love and favor of God, the spring and source of all the benefits men receive from him.”

 Def. #3. “Favorable influence of God; divine influence or the influence of the Spirit, in renewing the heart and restraining from sin.”

 My definition:   A divine enablement, empowerment, or gifting, to have or to do what we could not have or do without God’s favorable help.

Key verses:

•  Gift of eternal life: Salvation – For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10

•  Gifts of the Spirit: Service of God and others – Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies–in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.   1 Peter 4:8-11

Question 2: How do you receive God’s grace?  Humble Ask in faith

•  Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. I Peter 5:5b-7

• What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.  James 4:1-10

 Question 3: What does God’s grace look like in real life? Paul’s example:

• For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 1 Corinthians 15:9-10

• So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
  2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Conclusion: Is there a victor over sin that God want for you this year, or a special good work that he is calling you to do for Him?  By His grace you can do it for the glory of God!

• And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8

If time permits: Reading of Thomas Brooks exhortation on Romans 8:28

Thomas Brooks, 1662

All the sins of the saints

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

All the afflictions, and
all the temptations, and
all the desertions, and
all the oppressions, and
all the oppositions, and
all the persecutions—
which befall a godly man,
shall work for his good.

Every cross, and
every loss, and
every disease—
which befall the holy man,
shall work for his good.

Every device,
every snare,
every deceit,
every depth,
every stratagem,
and every enterprise of Satan against
the holy man, shall work for his good.

They shall all help to make him . . .
more humble,
more holy,
more heavenly,
more spiritual,
more faithful,
more fruitful,
more watchful.

Every prosperity and every adversity;
every storm and every calm;
every bitter and every sweet;
every cross and every comfort—
shall work for the holy man’s good.

When God gives a mercy—
that shall work for his good.
When God takes away a mercy—
that shall work for his good.

Yes, even all the falls and all the sins of
the saints shall work for their good. Oh . . .
the care,
the fear,
the watchfulness,
the tenderness,
the zeal—
which God raises in the souls of His saints by their
very falls! Oh the hatred, the indignation, and the
detestation—which God raises in the hearts of His
children against sin—by their very falling into sin!

Oh what love to Christ,
what thankfulness for Christ,
what admiration of Christ,
what cleaving to Christ,
what exalting of Christ,
what drawings from Christ’s grace—
are saints led to, by their very falls!

It is the glory of God’s holiness, that . . .
He can turn spiritual diseases—into holy remedies!
He can turn soul poisons—into heavenly cordials!
He can prevent sin by sin, and cure falling by falling!

O Christian! What though friends and relations frown upon you,
what though enemies are plotting and conspiring against you,
what though needs, like armed men, are breaking in upon you,
what though men rage, and devils roar against you,
what though sickness is devastating your family,
what though death stands every day at your elbow—
yet there is no reason for you to fear nor faint, because
all these things shall work for your good! Yes, there is
wonderful cause of joy and rejoicing in all the afflictions
and tribulations which come upon you—considering that
they shall all work for your good.

O Christians! I am afraid, I am afraid—that you do not
run so often as you should—to the breasts of this promise,
nor draw that sweetness and comfort from it, that it would
yield, and that your several cases may require. “We know
that all things work together for good, to those who love
God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” I
have been the longer upon this verse, because the condition
of God’s people calls for the strongest cordials, and the
choicest and the sweetest comforts.

Ten Commandments Bible Study – Commandment 10

“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor’s.”
Exodus 20:17

This last commandment gets to the heart of our sin against God and our neighbor. How many of the other 9 commandments does this command, “not to covet,” relate? Was covetousness at the heart of David’s choice to sin with Bathsheba? How many of the Ten Commandments did David break in his sin with Bathsheba?

1.  The Definition of “covet”:

a.  “ To desire or wish for, with eagerness; to desire earnestly to obtain or possess; in a good sense.”  “Covet earnestly the best gifts” (1 Cor 12.).

b.  “To desire inordinately; to desire that which is unlawful to obtain or possess; in a bad sense” (1828 Noah Webster).

 2.  Covetousness is a sin of the heart that has grave consequences:

•  Mark 7:20-23
•    1 Timothy 6:6-10

 3.  The Prophets rebuked Israel for covetousness:

•  Jeremiah 6:13, 8:10, 22:17
•  Ezekiel 33:31

4.  The commandment against covetousness brought Paul under deep conviction of sin:

• Romans 7:7-12

 5.  Deliverance from a covetous heart:

•  Prayerful dependence on God – Psalm 119:33-40
•  Put off and put on – Ephesians 5:1-4, Colossians 3:5-10
•  Learn contentment – Hebrews 13:5

Bible teaching about our hearts

Last month I had the opportunity to lead worship and fill the pulpit in our local church.  They video the worship (1-14 minutes)  and the message (14 minutes and following):

Blessings to you as you seek the Lord in your heart!

Sincerely,  Mark R. Worden

Found this on a blog that stopped by to visit my blog = blessed!

I needed this refocus today and honestly, everyday!

Spiritual Gifts – Lesson Two: Speaking Gifts

“As every man hath received the gift,

even so minister the same one to another,

as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God;”

I Peter 4:10-11a

Speaking Gifts

 1.  Apostleship: “a sent one”, or “a messenger”, a Missionary(I Corinthians 12:29, Ephesians 4:11).

Apostolic manifestation: The 12 Apostles of the Lamb were directly appointed by the Lord Jesus Christ. Their ministry was divinely sanctioned by the miraculous (Hebrews 2:3-4).

• First Apostolic Miracle – Acts 3:1-11

Present manifestation – A missionary who is called by God and gifted to the work of evangelization and discipleship of a people group that results in the establishment of indigenous local churches.  Many missionaries can testify of God’s miraculous intervention in lives when reaching unreached people groups.

 2.  Prophesying: Romans 12:6; I Cor. 12:10, 28, 29; Ephesians 4:11

Apostolic manifestation – An Apostle (or someone closely related to an Apostle) who was given new revelation directly from God to lay the foundation of the New Testament Church and give to us the inspired books of the New Testament.

Manifested in Paul – II Peter 3:15-16; II Cor. 12:1-7

Present manifestation: Proclaiming God’s revealed Word to challenge, call to accountability, confront, and urge people to repent of sinful practices and false beliefs in order that they might believe and obey the truth.

•  II Timothy 4:1-4

3.  Evangelist: A special ability to lead people to Christ which motivates and teaches other Christians to testify of their faith in Christ (Ephesians 4:11).

• Manifested in Philip – Acts 21:8, Acts 8:4-8, 26-40
• Paul exhorted Timothy to do this work – 2 Timothy 4:5
• All believers are to be a witness for Christ – Acts 1:8

4.  Pastor-teacher: This two-part gift enables a man to guide, care for, and instruct the flock of God (Ephesians 4:11).

•  Manifested in Timothy and Titus— God inspired Paul to write 3 letters to instruct pastor-teachers.
• Paul challenged Timothy’s stewardship of his gift – I Timothy 4:14, II Timothy 1:6
• Peter charged elders (pastors) to feed the flock – I Peter 5:2

5.  Teaching: The ability and desire to clearly explain God’s revelation in creation and the Bible (Romans 12:7).

• Demonstrated in Luke’s attitude – Luke 1:1-4
• Manifested in Paul and Barnabas – Acts 15:35
• All believers are to teach – Matthew 28:18-19

 6.  Exhorting: A particular ability to encourage Christians to a close walk with God and to serve Him faithfully (Rom.12:8).

• Part of Paul’s ministry – Acts 14:22
• Paul taught Timothy to exhort – I Tim. 4:13, II Tim. 4:1-2
• All Believers are to minister in this way – Heb.10:24-25

7.  Wisdom: “Skill in applying the truths of God’s Word to everyday affairs. The ability to counsel others for their own spiritual best interest” (I Corinthisnas12:8).

• Manifested in Steven – Acts 6:9-10
• All are challenged to pray for wisdom – James 1:5
• Character of wisdom from God – James 3:13-17
• Development is based on your choice – Col. 3:16

8.  Knowledge: “Unusual capacity to understand, retain, organize and communicate truth” (I Corinthians 12:8).

• Paul prayed for believers to have knowledge – 1:9
• Knowledge is essential for spiritual growth – II Peter 1:1-8

9.  Discerning of Spirits: “A heightened ability to read or hear a teaching, encounter a problem, or to consider a proposed course of action, and then determine whether the source behind the teaching, problem, or action is divine, merely human, or satanic” (I Corinthians 12:10). (Def. from an Internet source).

• Every believer needs to try the spirits – I John 4:1-3

10.  Tongues/ languages: I Corinthians 12:10, 30

Apostolic manifestation: The ability to speak a language without having ever learned it as a sign to the Jews.

•  Tongues in the book of acts were languages and used to communicate God’s truth as a sign to unbelieving Jews – Acts 2:1-11, I Corinthians 14:21-23, Isaiah 28:11-12
• Tongues were a sign to believing Jews that God was accepting Gentiles into the New Testament church –
  Acts 10:44-47
• Tongues were a sign to Jewish disciples of John the Baptist that Christ’s baptism was superior to John’s – Acts 19:1-7

Present manifestations: Missionaries have testified that God has giving them the ability to communicate the gospel in a new language, in a one time situation, without ever having learned it. Others have testified that after intense study and repeated failure God gave them the language instantaneously. Some missionaries have experienced divine help to speak a second language extremely well at times when they are preaching and witnessing when normally they slaughter it. Furthermore, one who is extremely gifted in learning many other languages could have a spiritual gift of languages.

Misuse of the knowledge of a language: Paul addresses the selfish misuse of languages that are unknown to others in a multilingual church service in I Corinthians 14.

11.  Interpretation of languages: The gifted ability to translate one language into another language for the purpose of edifying the assembly (I Corinthians 12:10, 30).

There is no example of the manifestation of this gift in the book of Acts. Its function is regulated by Paul in I Cor. 14:27-28

Note: All unreferenced quotations are from an outline presented by Pastor Dale Johnsen, Emmanuel Baptist Church – 1983

Wise words for new and old Christians from J. I. Packer

I liked the clip that John Piper shared today from J. I. Packer:

I would add that if you have never read J. I. Packer’s book entitled,  Knowing God, that you should.

Psalm 15 – A sharp knife!

As a carpenter I often get splinters.  They hurt and sometimes bleed. I remove slivers with a sharp knife.

Psalm 15 can be thought of as a sharp knife that God can use to remove the splinters of falsehood in our hearts.  Can you read and see that you have not walked blamelessly? I know my heart is exposed and I see the splinters of sin —I cry, “Woe is me, for I am unclean!”

Why do I still sin when Jesus my Savior shed His blood as payment for my sin?  He has promised to help me and provide a way of escape in every temptation, having been temped in every way that I am tempted.  Where do I go wrong when I choose to sin?

Psalm 15 not only convicts me of sin but gives insight into my thinking that leads to sin.  I sin when I cease to speak truth in my heart.  When I slander others, I am not speaking truth in my heart.  When I do evil to my neighbor, I have told myself lies to justify my actions.  When I criticize a friend, I believe the lie that I am better. When I enjoy the evil around me, I have accepted the lie that it’s not that bad.  When I distance myself from those who honor God, I have swallowed the lie that to do so is to my advantage.  When I don’t follow through on a commitment or promise because I would rather do something else, I have believed the lie that the highest goal in life is pleasing myself.  When I take advantage of someone to their hurt and my gain, I have embraced the lie that I should be first.  When I attack the innocent or don’t speak up to protect them because of financial gain, I have not spoken the truth in my heart.

O Lord, please remove the splinters of lies that lead to more sin from my heart. Enlighten me to only speak truth in my heart, to set my eyes on you, and to turn from sin and do what is right in your sight for your honor and glory!

Psalm 15
A Psalm of David.
O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent?
Who shall dwell on your holy hill?
He who walks blamelessly
and does what is right
and speaks truth in his heart;
who does not slander with his tongue
and does no evil to his neighbor,
nor takes up a reproach against his friend;
in whose eyes a vile person is despised,
but who honors those who fear the LORD;
who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
who does not put out his money at interest
and does not take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things shall never be moved.

Doing God’s work on earth . . .

I was reminded twice this past week that there is really no difference between the sacred and the secular.

First, as a handyman, I was called into a home to deal with a mold problem. Somewhere in my conversation with the home owner I mentioned that the Bible gives detailed instruction on how to deal with mold (leprous disease) in a home (see Leviticus 14:33-57).   Knowing that I previously pastored a church in our community, she said to me, “Then you are still doing God’s work.”   I smiled and said, “Yes!”   She then commented that I probably was able to help just as many or even more people as a Christian handyman than a pastor.   I find this true.  While I am not in the pulpit much anymore, I am able to help people with their physical needs that often leads to helping them spiritually by giving Bible counsel and praying together.  If we are to do as common a thing as eat for the glory of God,  then we certainly can do our work for the glory of God (I Corinthians 10:31).

Second,  I finished reading The Pursuit of God, by A. W. Tozer. The last chapter, The Sacrament of Living, begins with this statement:

One of the greatest hindrances to internal peace which the Christian encounters is the common habit of dividing our lives into two areas, the sacred and the secular.

The whole chapter was a rebuke and help. I highly recommend that you read this Christian classic.

James 5:7-12 — The Error of Impatience

Introduction: The theme of James is avoiding the common errors in the faith. So far James has warned us not to fall into the following errors: The error of misunderstanding God’s purposes in trails, the error of not maintaining born again attitudes, the error of partiality, the error of a dead faith, the error of an uncontrolled and hurtful tongue, the error of lust that is fed by our friendship with the world, the error of pride, the error of willful disobedience, and the error of not understanding the end of the ungodly rich. In today’s passage James confronts us with the common error of impatience.

Proposition: As we wait for the Lord’s coming, we must be patient with others (James 5:7a).

Explanation: Discerning the Greek synonyms used by James that are translated as the word patience  in many translations:

 Endurance – Hupominantas

 “The patient ability to bear up in all circumstances”

James 1:3-4 “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

James 5:11 “Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.”

Longsuffering – Makrothumesate

“A patient attitude toward others regardless of what they have done”

James 5:7-8  “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.”

 Outline:

I. The examples placed before us that demonstrate patience:

 A.  The husbandman (vs.7-8)

• “Establish your heart” – Strengthen so as to stand firm – Unmovable-

• Pro 4:23 ‘Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

 B.  The prophets (vs.10) Example – Jeremiah

 C.  Job (vs.11) Job 42:10b “And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also he the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.

 II. The warnings placed before us that try our patience:

 A. People try our patience (vs.9) —

• Don’t hold grudges – grumble against other

• The incentive – the judge – Jesus Christ is watching

“The warning is against the human tendency – when subjected to oppression and injustice – to give way to our vexations by unjustly lashing out against those near and dear to us” Hiebert p.301

 To walk in love with saints above
Will be a wondrous glory
To walk below with saints we know
Well, that’s another story

B. Pledges (commitments) try our patience (vs.12): Don’t swear (back up your word by making promises based on things of this earth or things in heaven).

•  See Matt. 5:33-37 – An echo of the teaching of our Lord

•  Be truthful – total honesty in speech – The incentive – condemnation

 “James has in view the self-serving attempt to hide the truth by appearing to appeal to God to establish the truth. Such duplicity is totally inconsistent with Christian honesty” (Hiebert p.308).

Psalm 15:1-5,  “LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.  He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.  In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.”

• Remember the context is about the LORD’S return.

– The Lord’s coming should be both a comfort and a concern to us.

 III. The nature of God placed before us that encourages our patience (vs.11c):

A.  God is pitiful – “intense inner yearnings of the heart”

Heb 4:15 For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

B.  God is merciful – Psalm 145:8 “The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.”

Conclusion: The LORD is coming, may He not only find us waiting patiently for Him but being patient with our brothers in Christ.

Text: James 4:17 – The Error of Willful Disobedience

Theme: Topical study on examples from scripture that illustrate the choice to obey or disobey.

Introduction:  One of the major themes in the letter of James is this matter of  “doing” what God has told us to do. (Review James 1:22-25; 2:8; 2:12 – Note that doing is connected with the Word of God.  Now, James sums up everything that he has warned us about by giving us a challenging summary statement.  He calls our attention to the fact that it is not enough to know the truth but that we must act on the truth in obedience.  He says, “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”  This is a clear warning against willful disobedience.   King David in Psalm 19 prayed for deliverance from this type of sin.  He prayed, “Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.”  The fact is that God did not make us like puppets.  He gave us the gift of choice – of freewill to obey or disobey.  The Old Testament is full of examples for our edification. Romans 15:4 says, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” I trust the O.T examples that we will consider today will help us to make the choice to obey instead of suffer the consequences of disobedience.

I.  Cain & Able’s choices – Gen. 4:1-12

II.  Joseph’s choice  — Gen. 39:7-9

• Focus on God enabled him to choose good instead of evil (vs.9).
• But God was with him (vs.21).
• Sometimes obedience to God brings harsh consequences from man (vs.20).

III.   Joshua’s choice – Joshua 24:14-15

IV.   King Saul’s choice — I Samuel 15

• Self deception of Saul’s choice (vs.13, 20)  Partial obedience is still disobedience
• Rebuke of Saul’s choice (vs.22-23).
• Partial repentance – He was still blaming others – he was the king and choose to disobey God (vs.24).  If fear was a motive, it was sin to fear man rather than God.

V.   Demas’ choice – 2 Timothy 4:10, “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica . . .”  James 4:4

Conclusion:  Avoid two errors in responding to a message like this about doing “good.”

For the Saved person: You cannot obey in your own strength – Saved by grace through faith – Live by grace through faith.  We can only live out the command of James 4:17 by a dependence on the empowering grace of God in our lives through the Holy Spirit.   Jesus himself lived on this earth by the grace of God the Father.  Acts 10:38 “ How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”   2 Corinthians 9:8  “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all-sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:”

For the unsaved person: Doing good will not save you.  Titus 3:5 “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us . . .”