Piggin' Out
Luke 15:11
Recorded live at Brannonville Baptist Church, Lynn Haven, FL On April 29, 2018.
For more sermons, visit my SERMONS page.
For more sermons, visit my SERMONS page.
Because He Lives
Every Easter Christians around the world celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. That event is the most important to the Christian faith. Why? Jesus explained it best. At the Last Supper, as He gave some final teachings to His disciples, He said, “Because I live, you will live also." (John 14:19 NKJV) He had just told the disciples that He would be crucified and given them the bread and wine as symbols of His impending crucifixion. Jesus knew He was about to die, yet He told them, "Because I live, you will live also." Although Jesus knew He was about to die to pay for our sins, He also knew He would rise from the dead three days later, proving that all He said was true. A dead man can save no one. Eternal life can only be given by one who possesses eternal life, one who is immortal and has conquered death. Jesus' resurrection demonstrated that He has the power to conquer death and give us eternal life. The grave is only a temporary resting place for the body of a believer. Just as Jesus was resurrected, so shall we be when He returns. The trumpet will sound and we will be raised from our graves with incorruptible bodies to live with God forever. Because He lives, we will also live.
Entering God's Presence
One does not visit a king just any old way. One must be invited and must follow the rules of the king's court. Likewise, God, the King of Kings, invites us to enter His presence and tells us how we should conduct ourselves before Him. Psalm 100 tells us three instructions on how to enter God's presence.
First, we must enter God's presence in the right manner. Psalm 100 tells us that we should enter God's presence with joyful shouting, singing, thanksgiving and praise. This is not a somber occasion. It is a boisterous celebration of God's goodness.
Second, we must enter God's presence with the right mindset. Psalm 100 instructs us to enter God's presence with the knowledge that the Lord is our God and our Creator. Also, the psalm instructs us to enter His presence with the knowledge that He owns us. God does not work for us. We work for Him.
Third, we must enter God's presence with the right motives. Psalm 100 tells us that we should worship God because He is good and forever merciful. Also, the psalm tells us we should worship God because His truth is eternal. God is worthy of our worship because of who he is and what He has done.
Just as one must be invited to appear before a king, we must come before God by invitation. He invites us to come before Him through faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. Then He rose from the dead. We must believe this, and be willing to turn from our sins and follow Jesus to be saved. Then and only then do we have an invitation to enter God's presence.
When we enter God's presence in the right manner and with the right mindset and motives, our worship becomes more than a routine. It becomes an appearance before the throne of God.
First, we must enter God's presence in the right manner. Psalm 100 tells us that we should enter God's presence with joyful shouting, singing, thanksgiving and praise. This is not a somber occasion. It is a boisterous celebration of God's goodness.
Second, we must enter God's presence with the right mindset. Psalm 100 instructs us to enter God's presence with the knowledge that the Lord is our God and our Creator. Also, the psalm instructs us to enter His presence with the knowledge that He owns us. God does not work for us. We work for Him.
Third, we must enter God's presence with the right motives. Psalm 100 tells us that we should worship God because He is good and forever merciful. Also, the psalm tells us we should worship God because His truth is eternal. God is worthy of our worship because of who he is and what He has done.
Just as one must be invited to appear before a king, we must come before God by invitation. He invites us to come before Him through faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. Then He rose from the dead. We must believe this, and be willing to turn from our sins and follow Jesus to be saved. Then and only then do we have an invitation to enter God's presence.
When we enter God's presence in the right manner and with the right mindset and motives, our worship becomes more than a routine. It becomes an appearance before the throne of God.
The Process of Forgiveness
"And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." (Matthew 6:12, NKJV)
Most people realize that forgiveness is one of the most beneficial actions a person can take, and one of the most difficult. Forgiveness is not forgetting. Sweeping a wrong under the proverbial rug or pretending it didn't happen does not heal the emotional damage caused by the wrong. Vengeance will not heal the hurt. Even if revenge is taken, the hurt will still return each time the wrong is remembered.
Forgiveness involves the following steps:
1. Recognition: Acknowledging a wrong has been done.
2. Release: Making a decision NOT to take revenge, but to let it go.
3. Repetition: Making that decision again and again each time the memory returns until your feelings get in line with the decision.
This process may take years. But it is the only way to truly heal.
Most people realize that forgiveness is one of the most beneficial actions a person can take, and one of the most difficult. Forgiveness is not forgetting. Sweeping a wrong under the proverbial rug or pretending it didn't happen does not heal the emotional damage caused by the wrong. Vengeance will not heal the hurt. Even if revenge is taken, the hurt will still return each time the wrong is remembered.
Forgiveness involves the following steps:
1. Recognition: Acknowledging a wrong has been done.
2. Release: Making a decision NOT to take revenge, but to let it go.
3. Repetition: Making that decision again and again each time the memory returns until your feelings get in line with the decision.
This process may take years. But it is the only way to truly heal.
Obedience
What comes to your mind when you hear the word 'obedience'? Most likely the word provokes negative thoughts or feelings. Obedience is something that is not valued in Western culture. Western culture celebrates breaking from tradition and authority to follow one's own inclinations and forge one's own path in life. To follow a path laid down by another is portrayed as repressive. Yet, the Bible tells us that obedience is exactly what is expected of us. Furthermore, the Bible tells us that we cannot please God without complete obedience to His commands.
That point is made clear in the narrative of King Saul. In 1 Samuel 15, the prophet Samuel delivered a message from God for King Saul. God told Saul to completely destroy the nation of Amalek. This destruction was to be divine retribution for that nation's attack on the Israelites during the Exodus. Saul did defeat Amalek. But he stopped short of complete destruction. Saul took the king of Amalek alive and kept the best livestock. After setting up a monument for himself, Saul proceeded to take the livestock he had captured to Gilgal, in order to sacrifice those creatures to God. The only problem was that was not what God wanted Saul to do. God told Samuel that Saul would be removed as king and another would take his place. When Samuel confronted Saul, he told him:
This very blunt statement tells us two reasons obedience is important to God.
One reason obedience is important to God is because obedience is better than religious ritual. Saul was willing to sacrifice the best of the spoils of war to God. But God was not interested in those sacrifices. God was interested in obedience. Saul had only partially completed the task God commanded him to do. Instead of completing the task, Saul thought he had a better idea. Somehow, Saul thought that he could please God more by doing things his way than by doing things the way God said. Although he would never have consciously thought such a thing, Saul thought his idea was better than God's command. This act of arrogance transformed Saul's sacrifice into an act of defiance against Almighty God. God was not pleased. Obedience is better than religious ritual.
How often do we do the same thing? We develop our own ideas about what is right or wrong, or what will please God without consulting or following the clear teachings of God's Word. It is as if we come to God singing 'I Did It My Way' instead of 'I Surrender All.' God is not impressed. God told us how He wants us to approach Him. We must approach God on His terms, not our own. Our salvation is established by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not by good works (See my page titled ETERNAL LIFE.); however, the quality of our fellowship with God and our usefulness in His kingdom work depends on our obedience to His commands. The sacrifice God is most interested in is a surrendered life. Without that, all other sacrifices are useless.
Another reason obedience is important to God is because disobedience is treason against God. Saul's disobedience was described as rebellion and stubbornness. Indeed, Saul's disobedience was rebellion against God, because he simply refused to do what God said. That rebellion was compared to witchcraft. When Saul refused to serve God, he inadvertently served the devil, just as much as if he had participated in the occult. Also, Saul's stubbornness is described as iniquity (sin) and idolatry. Saul's failure to complete the task God had given him was a sin. Saul's stubborn attitude was idolatry, because he placed more value on his own desires than God's commands. He placed himself above God. He became his own idol. Outwardly he worshipped God, but inwardly, without realizing it, he worshipped himself. Saul was leading the people to disobey God. God would not allow that to continue. Therefore, God decided to remove Saul from his position of leadership.
We often make the same mistake Saul made. We do not think of our actions as being rebellious. We simply think we have a better way of doing things than the antiquated ways of the Bible. But our failure to completely obey God has a profound effect on our fellowship with God. How can we have good fellowship with God when we are living in opposition to Him? We cannot. We must obey God completely. When we fail, we must quickly repent of our sins and re-align ourselves with God in order to restore our fellowship with Him.
God desires fellowship with us. He has a purpose for us. If we will follow Him, we will enjoy fellowship with God and discover our God-given purpose for our lives.
That point is made clear in the narrative of King Saul. In 1 Samuel 15, the prophet Samuel delivered a message from God for King Saul. God told Saul to completely destroy the nation of Amalek. This destruction was to be divine retribution for that nation's attack on the Israelites during the Exodus. Saul did defeat Amalek. But he stopped short of complete destruction. Saul took the king of Amalek alive and kept the best livestock. After setting up a monument for himself, Saul proceeded to take the livestock he had captured to Gilgal, in order to sacrifice those creatures to God. The only problem was that was not what God wanted Saul to do. God told Samuel that Saul would be removed as king and another would take his place. When Samuel confronted Saul, he told him:
"Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry." (1 Samuel 15:22-23, NKJV)
This very blunt statement tells us two reasons obedience is important to God.
One reason obedience is important to God is because obedience is better than religious ritual. Saul was willing to sacrifice the best of the spoils of war to God. But God was not interested in those sacrifices. God was interested in obedience. Saul had only partially completed the task God commanded him to do. Instead of completing the task, Saul thought he had a better idea. Somehow, Saul thought that he could please God more by doing things his way than by doing things the way God said. Although he would never have consciously thought such a thing, Saul thought his idea was better than God's command. This act of arrogance transformed Saul's sacrifice into an act of defiance against Almighty God. God was not pleased. Obedience is better than religious ritual.
How often do we do the same thing? We develop our own ideas about what is right or wrong, or what will please God without consulting or following the clear teachings of God's Word. It is as if we come to God singing 'I Did It My Way' instead of 'I Surrender All.' God is not impressed. God told us how He wants us to approach Him. We must approach God on His terms, not our own. Our salvation is established by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not by good works (See my page titled ETERNAL LIFE.); however, the quality of our fellowship with God and our usefulness in His kingdom work depends on our obedience to His commands. The sacrifice God is most interested in is a surrendered life. Without that, all other sacrifices are useless.
Another reason obedience is important to God is because disobedience is treason against God. Saul's disobedience was described as rebellion and stubbornness. Indeed, Saul's disobedience was rebellion against God, because he simply refused to do what God said. That rebellion was compared to witchcraft. When Saul refused to serve God, he inadvertently served the devil, just as much as if he had participated in the occult. Also, Saul's stubbornness is described as iniquity (sin) and idolatry. Saul's failure to complete the task God had given him was a sin. Saul's stubborn attitude was idolatry, because he placed more value on his own desires than God's commands. He placed himself above God. He became his own idol. Outwardly he worshipped God, but inwardly, without realizing it, he worshipped himself. Saul was leading the people to disobey God. God would not allow that to continue. Therefore, God decided to remove Saul from his position of leadership.
We often make the same mistake Saul made. We do not think of our actions as being rebellious. We simply think we have a better way of doing things than the antiquated ways of the Bible. But our failure to completely obey God has a profound effect on our fellowship with God. How can we have good fellowship with God when we are living in opposition to Him? We cannot. We must obey God completely. When we fail, we must quickly repent of our sins and re-align ourselves with God in order to restore our fellowship with Him.
God desires fellowship with us. He has a purpose for us. If we will follow Him, we will enjoy fellowship with God and discover our God-given purpose for our lives.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)