Category Archives: Sermon Notes & Announcements

Dec 15, 2024. I Peter 1:6-12

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TRIAL TESTED. I Peter 1:6-12. 12/15/2024. #2.

6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls. 10 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, 11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.

1. Of grief and glory

                a. Peter has drawn a word picture of the glory ahead of the saints and the reason for their perseverance

                b. He now contrasts their grief with their joy

                c. There are 3 points Peter emphasizes about trials:

                                a1. They are necessary for trying faith

                                a2. They are beneficial in our spiritual growth

                                a3. God with both strengthen and reward us

                d. We now greatly rejoice

                                a1. The relationship with Christ overrides all other considerations for the faithful

                                a2. In the present tense (rejoicing now)

                                a3. Those who do not rejoice are not living by faith (focused on our problems)

                e. Peter uses the word trials rather than either tribulation or persecution

                                a1. He is speaking of all manner of sufferings

                                a2. All challenges of health, situations, attacks

                f. The word grief is used of Christ’s agony in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26) and the loss of loved ones in I Thessalonians 4:13 (lit. means heaviness)

                g. Our joy is inexpressible and full of glory since our burdens are subdued by presence of Christ

2. Faith under fire

                a. Our precious faith exceeds all privilege and glory

                                a1. We believe in a Lord that we have not physically seen (John 20:28-31)

                                a2. We actually experience what the prophets desired to possess but could not

                                a3. We’ve obtained a salvation that the angels desire to study, but can never know

                b. Trials are important because testing our faith is of extreme value

                                a1. Just as gold must be separated from its ore through extreme heat, our faith is refined by various trials

                                a2. Those who wither under trials did not possess true faith (seed on stony soil)

                                a3. Only through trials is our faith proven to us and men and angels

                                a4. Victory in trials is to the praise and glory of God through the power of the Holy Spirit

3. Perspective on trials

                a. Trials are to be expected (John 16:33)

                b. Trials are for our benefit (Romans 8:28)

                c. Compared to the glory awaiting us, trials are very minor (Romans 8:18)

                d. Trials are short-lived (James 4:14-16)

                e. Our trials are light compared to our relationship with the Lord and our hope in him (II Corinthians 4:7-18)

                f. It is important to keep our focus, perspective, and hope on and in Christ

                                a1. Romans 8:31-30 nothing overcomes the faithful

                                a2. Peter does not deny grief, pain, and suffering – they are real and hurt and create agony

                                a3. Jesus is greater than our suffering

                g. Galatians 6:7-10 in Christ we can endure to victory

                h. Anyone who is falling by the wayside is either depending on his own strength or not in the faith

                                a1. Since trials are God ordained, we are also God sustained (a guarantee to believers)

                                a2. By faith heaven comes to us now

Key passage: II Corinthians 4:7-187 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death is working in us, but life in you. 13 And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak, 14 knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. 15 For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Dec 8, 2024. I Peter 1:1-5

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THE GREAT HOPE. I Peter 1:1-5. 12/8/2024. #1.

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

1. Peter, the man

                a. Peter was the lead apostle (a brash fisherman chosen by the Lord to lead his church)

                b. Peter wrote 2 epistles, widely accepted as coming from him (Silvanus or Silas = his scribe)

2. The destination of the epistle

                a. Peter wrote to the dispersed (Jews away from Israel) Jewish Christians in the 5 provinces north of the Taurus Mountains in modern Turkey

                b. The epistle was to be circulated among the churches in this region

3. Hope in the midst of persecution

                a. The main theme of the epistle is reminding the readers of their hope in Jesus Christ

                b. The Jewish Christians were particularly vulnerable to attack, being hated by Jews and pagans

                c. Persecution broke out after the fire of Rome on 19 July 64 AD when Nero blamed Christians for the fire to shift attention from himself

                d. Peter was martyred during the persecution in 67 AD shortly after writing his 2 epistles

                e. He writes particularly to the elect according to the foreknowledge of God

                                a1. ELECT – believers were chosen by God even before creation (not by merit, but by his unexplained grace)

                                a2. FOREKNOWLEDGE – this does not mean that God knew who would respond to the gospel beforehand, but he FOREORDAINED by his sovereign choice his elect

                f. Peter’s greeting is to the foreordained

                                a1. The sanctified ones (set apart for his purpose to fulfill his will)

                                a2. The one’s having the blood of Christ sprinkled on them (Romans 6 figuratively crucified with Christ)

                g. Peter lists several benefits of being called ones

                                a1. By the grace of God believer have been begotten again (born again) by God

                                a2. Notice that all 3 persons of the triune God are involved – Father of mercy, sanctified by the Spirit, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead

                                a3. To and incorruptible (can’t perish) and undefiled (untainted) inheritance that can never fade away

                                a4. A living hope (always alive forever)

                h. All the benefits are reserved in heaven

                                a1. Guaranteed to be waiting for us

                                a2. Ephesians 1:3-14 salvation in Christ is the only eternal guarantee and it exceeds all expectations

                i. It is the power of God which keeps (guards) the fulfillment of our salvation for the last days

                j. Peter’s introduction is to solidify his readers’ resolve to remain faithful to the end

                                a1. The trials, pain, suffering, challenges, grief, and persecution will be worth it

                                a2. Revelation 21 he will wipe away every tear and reward the faithful

                k. Peter fortifies his readers to meet the trials

                                a1. There will be great trials for believers

                                a2. God will strengthen the faithful in trials

                                a3. God reserves reward for those who stand

                l. Focus on faith, calling, and promised reward

Key passage: Ephesians 1:3-143 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. 11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

Dec 1, 2024. James 5:19-20

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THE RESCUERS. James 5:19-20. 12/01/2024. #21.

19 Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.

1. Wandering from the truth

                a. James ends his epistle by exhorting believers to help rescue those who wander from the truth

                                a1. The truth is the Word of God

                                a2. The specific truth is the gospel (save a soul from death)

                b. It seems that James is speaking of those who claimed to be Christians, but were not

                c. There are several kinds of those who wander (err) from the truth

                                a1. GAL. 6:1-5  the believer who falls into sin

                                                b1. I John 1:9-10 those who confess their sins receive forgiveness

                                                b2. Paul went to Jerusalem against God’s will (Acts 21), Peter backed away from the Gentile believers (Galatians 2), the carnal believers in Corinth

                                a2. Heb. 6:4-6 false believers who never possessed true faith to begin with

                                                b1. These are either PRETENDERS (in rocky soul with no depth) who embraced Christ as an idea, but not in true faith or DOUBLE-MINDED (thorny soul consumed by the lust of the world, as with Demus)

                                                b2. There are also IMPOSTERS (those who are wolves that come in sheep’s clothing to destroy and confuse)

                                                b3. 1 John 2:19 those who are true believers remain true to the end

                                a3. 1 Cor. 3 the carnal Christian who never matures in faith, but remains fleshly, uninformed, and weak

                                                b1. Can’t tell if this one is saved

                                                b2. II Corinthians 13:5 leaves salvation in doubt

                                a4. James 4:1-4 the backsliding Christian who continues to fall back into sin (Galatians 5:15 this believer is argumentative, adversarial, self-willed, and slow to repent, but can be redeemed)

2. Turning the sinner back

                a. The approach to the wanderer is similar whether he is unsaved or backslidden

                                a1. Need to approach with the truth of the gospel and the Word of God

                                a2. Matthew 18:15-18 those who refuse to repent are treated as if they are unsaved and in need of coming to Christ

                b. Since one can’t tell if a wanderer is truly saved or not, the basic truths of faith must be applied

                c. A person may reject being corrected (turned back)

                                a1. Prayer and openness to help him needed

                                a2. Can’t force repentance

                d. Love covers a multitude of sins

                                a1. Christ’s atonement not only saves sinners, but provides forgiveness for the erring believer

                                a2. Once forgiveness is received, the sins are buried with Christ

3. The importance of the rescuer

                a. James mentions the rescuer last because it is our most important function

                                a1. Isaiah 52:7 those who carry the good news to others, whether for repentance of sins or reclaiming a believer are blessed

                                a2. Love demands that we live for Christ and bring his message to others

                b. Love causes us to care for others, continually seeking to help restore, encourage, and support

                c. Rescuers are God’s first responders

Key Passage: Galatians 6:1-51 Brethren, if a man is [a]overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For each one shall bear his own load.

Nov 24, 2024. James 5:13-18

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PRAYER OF THE RIGHTEOUS. James 5:13-18. 11/24/2024. #20.

13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

1.  Prayer for the sick

                a. This is one of the most abused passages in the New Testament

                                a1. It does not teach that everyone who has elders pray for them will be healed

                                a2. It does not teach that if we keep praying as Elijah did we get what we want

                b. Begins by telling people who are suffering (afflicted) to pray and those who are cheerful to sing

                                a1. Praying and praising are both a part of honoring and worshipping God

                                a2. Though prayer is to be a continual activity of believers (I Thessalonians 5), specific prayer for illness is in view here

                c. Many times God will not heal for his reasons

                                a1. Paul left Trophimus at Troas because he was very sick

                                a2. II Corinthians 12 Paul kept the thorn in his flesh

                                a3. Matthew 26 the cup did not pass from Jesus

                                a4. Hebrews 9:27 death is appointed to all

                d. Those who are suffering should call for the elders to pray over them

                                a1. The elders are to anoint (daub or wipe) oil on the sick (a medicinal act)

                                a2. The elders are to pray for the sick

                e. The prayer of faith produces healing

2. Healing of the repentant

                a. Verses 14 and 15 go together

                b. If the reason the sick is ill is due to disciplinary   action by the Lord, then he will be healed…

                                a1. If he confesses his sin

                                a2. If he repents

                                a3. If the elders pray for him

                c. Guaranteed healing is promised if the sickness is due to punishment for sin (1 JN. 5:14-17)

                                a1. God at times gives confidence in a positive answer to prayer so assurance is given

                                a2. We can never demand of God or claim to engender faith in our will to be done

                d. 4 principles in prayer:

                                a1. Matthew 26 praying for the Lord’s will to be done

                                a2. James 1, praying in faith that the Lord hears and will answer our prayers (not vacillating)

                                a3. James 4 not praying selfishly or carnally

                                a4. II Corinthians 12 accepting and submitting to God’s answer to prayer

                e. Confess sins to those whom you have offended

                                a1. Not confessing to everyone

                                a2. Matthew 5:22-24 seek forgiveness from the one you have affronted

3. Effective praying

                a. Elijah prayer for a drought and then for rain

                                a1. Elijah prayed in the will of God (led by him)

                                a2. It did not rain for 3 ½ years

                                a3. Notice that Elijah prayed 7 times before rain came upon the earth (persistent praying as God leads is different than pestering God for one’s own will to be done)

                b. Fervent (lit., energized) prayer is not praying harder, linger, or desperately

                                a1. A prayer that seeks the will of God

                                a2. Pray until God gives you peace that he hears and will answer in his perfect will

                c. Daniel 10 some prayer is intense spiritual warfare, battling against evil forces (Ephesians 6:11-12)

Key passage: 1 John 5:14-17

14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. 16 If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. 17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.