Category: Knowledge

Three Important Bible Periods

  1. The Promises (Christ)
  2. The Law
  3. The Gospel (Christ)

LESSONS

  1. God does not lie!
  2. Rejoice in the Lord always!
  3. Today we live by the gospel / the law of Christ and not by the law of Moses!
  4. Do the deeds of Abraham today!

Four (4) of Jesus’ Thought-Provoking Questions

  1. Isn’t life more than food or clothing?
  2. Who do you say that I am?
  3. Why do you keep on saying that I am your Lord, when you refuse to do what I say?
  4. You do not want to go away also, do you?

Jesus often asked questions:

  • not because He didn’t know or wasn’t sure about the answers,
  • but to provoke others to careful thought – to cause people to think very seriously about something.

The Bronze Serpent

The Bronze Serpent

(Num. 21:4-9)

  1. The people became impatient and spoke against God and Moses
  2. The Lord sent fiery serpents; Moses interceded for the people
  3. At the LORD’S command Moses made a bronze serpent
  4. Whoever believes in Jesus will have eternal life
  5. We must not shrink back to destruction

 

Behold the Goodness and Severity of God

Behold the Goodness and Severity of God – If God and Jesus so Love us, how can he send us to Hell? Some people have trouble with this scenario but when we better understand God’s nature, we can see how this is so. Take sometime to listen and hopefully be blessed by todays Sermon. Please see below for scriptures used in todays sermon. The Goodness of God Righteous/Holy Psa 145:17 Life Gen 2:7-9 Mercy/Lovingkindness Psa 100:3-5 Longsuffering Psa 86:15 The Cross Isa 53:2-11 The Severity of God The Destruction of the Old World Gen 6:5-7 The Proposed Destruction of His People Exo 32:7-10 The Lord Pours out His Fury Like Fire Lam 2:1-17 The Judgement Seat of God The Day Of Judgement Psa 9:7-8 Jesus is the Righteous Judge Joh 5:22-24 Jesus will send the Righteous to heaven and the Unrighteous to Punishment Mat 25:31-34

What is the meaning of life?

What is the meaning of life?
  • Why are we here?
  • What is life all about?
  • What is the purpose of existence?
It is natural and proper to search for the meaning of life.

the Bible shows us that we are unique compared to the rest of nature:

  • 3:11 He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.
    • e., We know intuitively that there is more to life than just what we see.
      • God has made us like this!
      • Our thoughts are directed to eternity – we are not satisfied with just the here and now!
  • So it is natural and proper for us to seek that which is higher and eternal.
Many search for the meaning of life in all the wrong places.

Solomon was the king of Israel at the height of its prosperity 1 Kings 10:21

So Solomon had all the resources to experiment with any kind of enjoyment in life – things like earthly wisdom, pleasure, wine, possessions, entertainment, etc. (scan Ecc. 1:16 to 2:17).

Ecc 2:11 Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labour which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun.

But don’t people today try exactly the same kind of things which Solomon did, only usually on a lesser scale?

  • They think that if they have more money, or have a better job, or get a bigger home, or reach a certain degree of fame and recognition, then they will feel fulfilled!
    • e., Many, like Solomon, search for the meaning of life in all the wrong places.
The meaning of life is really quite simple!

After all Solomon’s pursuits, he finally arrived at this simple truth:

  • 12:13-14 The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. 14 For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.

True Happiness

What is the key to true happiness?

  • Many seek for happiness in wealth, possessions, and pleasure, only to be ultimately disappointed!
  • Many seek happiness in various sins, but any such “pleasure” is of course passing, and leads to hell.

The book of Psalms with its very first Psalm shares with us the key to true happiness

Other parts of the Bible also share with us this same key to true happiness …

  • g., We started this morning with Solomon … let’s go back to his inspired findings:
    • 12:13-14 The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. 14 For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.
    • Prov. 3:13 How blessed is the man who finds wisdom And the man who gains understanding.
    • 3:18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who hold her fast.
  • Also recall Jesus in the beginning of the “Sermon on the Mount” (Matt. 5:3-12) …
    • 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
  • Also 1 Tim 4:7-8 But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; 8 for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

The way to true happiness:

  • Acts 2:36-38 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ– this Jesus whom you crucified.” 37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent, and let each of you be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
  • Acts 2:41-42 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. 42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

David’s Psalm of Deliverance

 

David’s Song (also recorded as Psalm 18) is first and foremost a prophesy of the coming Messiah, as it says things which cannot be said of any ordinary man.

However, it is also a summary and reflection of the life of David, who sang this song “in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.” And thus we consider the great drama of the life of David with it’s many ups and downs, and see how through it all, David was faithful to the LORD (despite his many sins and shortcomings), and the LORD rewarded David and delivered him from his enemies.

All of this serves to place David as a witness for us to the faithfulness of God. Why should we believe this prophesy of a faithful Messiah who is delivered from His enemies…? Because David was a faithful man whom God delivered from his enemies.

David’s life is the perfect testament to the faithfulness of God towards those who serve Him

The Danger of Bible Ignorance

1. The danger of Bible ignorance in the nation

Hos. 4:1-2 Listen to the word of the LORD, O sons of Israel, For the LORD has a case against the inhabitants of the land, Because there is no faithfulness or kindness Or knowledge of God in the land. 2 There is swearing, deception, murder, stealing and adultery. They employ violence, so that bloodshed follows bloodshed.

2. The danger of Bible ignorance in the home

Prov. 6:20-23 My son, observe the commandment of your father And do not forsake the teaching of your mother; 21 Bind them continually on your heart; Tie them around your neck. 22 When you walk about, they will guide you; When you sleep, they will watch over you; And when you awake, they will talk to you. 23 For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching is light; And reproofs for discipline are the way of life

3. The danger of Bible ignorance in the church

Heb. 5:11-14 Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
• Such ignorance leads to a lack of discernment = knowing right and wrong (v. 14)!
o Sadly, people can then fall back into “situation ethics” (i.e., allowing circumstances to justify
breaking God’s commandments).
• Are we growing spiritually as we should? If so …
o Eph. 4:14-15 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; 15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,

4. The cure for Bible ignorance.

Jesus gave two important principles:
• Mk. 4:24 And He was saying to them, “Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it
will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides.
• Lk. 8:18 “So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.”