Gideon’s Battle

Posted on October 2, 2016 by pmayfield

Message by Richard Jones

rec1002-112021

Gideon’s Battle

Judges 6-7

Judges 6:1-40 (NIV)
1  Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, and for seven years he gave them into the hands of the Midianites.
2  Because the power of Midian was so oppressive, the Israelites prepared shelters for themselves in mountain clefts, caves and strongholds.
3  Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples invaded the country.
4  They camped on the land and ruined the crops all the way to Gaza and did not spare a living thing for Israel, neither sheep nor cattle nor donkeys.
5  They came up with their livestock and their tents like swarms of locusts. It was impossible to count the men and their camels; they invaded the land to ravage it.
6  Midian so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out to the LORD for help.
7  When the Israelites cried to the LORD because of Midian,
8  he sent them a prophet, who said, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
9  I snatched you from the power of Egypt and from the hand of all your oppressors. I drove them from before you and gave you their land.
10  I said to you, ‘I am the LORD your God; do not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live.’ But you have not listened to me.”
11  The angel of the LORD came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites.
12  When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.”
13  “But sir,” Gideon replied, “if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, ‘Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the LORD has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian.”
14  The LORD turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”
15  “But Lord,” Gideon asked, “how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”
16  The LORD answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together.”
17  Gideon replied, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me.
18  Please do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you.” And the LORD said, “I will wait until you return.”
19  Gideon went in, prepared a young goat, and from an ephah of flour he made bread without yeast. Putting the meat in a basket and its broth in a pot, he brought them out and offered them to him under the oak.
20  The angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened bread, place them on this rock, and pour out the broth.” And Gideon did so.
21  With the tip of the staff that was in his hand, the angel of the LORD touched the meat and the unleavened bread. Fire flared from the rock, consuming the meat and the bread. And the angel of the LORD disappeared.
22  When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the LORD, he exclaimed, “Ah, Sovereign LORD! I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face!”
23  But the LORD said to him, “Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.”
24  So Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and called it The LORD is Peace. To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
25  That same night the LORD said to him, “Take the second bull from your father’s herd, the one seven years old. Tear down your father’s altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.
26  Then build a proper kind of altar to the LORD your God on the top of this height. Using the wood of the Asherah pole that you cut down, offer the second bull as a burnt offering.”
27  So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the LORD told him. But because he was afraid of his family and the men of the town, he did it at night rather than in the daytime.
28  In the morning when the men of the town got up, there was Baal’s altar, demolished, with the Asherah pole beside it cut down and the second bull sacrificed on the newly built altar!
29  They asked each other, “Who did this?” When they carefully investigated, they were told, “Gideon son of Joash did it.”
30  The men of the town demanded of Joash, “Bring out your son. He must die, because he has broken down Baal’s altar and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.”
31  But Joash replied to the hostile crowd around him, “Are you going to plead Baal’s cause? Are you trying to save him? Whoever fights for him shall be put to death by morning! If Baal really is a god, he can defend himself when someone breaks down his altar.”
32  So that day they called Gideon “Jerub-Baal,” saying, “Let Baal contend with him,” because he broke down Baal’s altar.
33  Now all the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples joined forces and crossed over the Jordan and camped in the Valley of Jezreel.
34  Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet, summoning the Abiezrites to follow him.
35  He sent messengers throughout Manasseh, calling them to arms, and also into Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali, so that they too went up to meet them.
36  Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised–
37  look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.”
38  And that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew–a bowlful of water.
39  Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece. This time make the fleece dry and the ground covered with dew.”
40  That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew.

Judges 7:1-25 (NIV)
1  Early in the morning, Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) and all his men camped at the spring of Harod. The camp of Midian was north of them in the valley near the hill of Moreh.
2  The LORD said to Gideon, “You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her,
3  announce now to the people, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.'” So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained.
4  But the LORD said to Gideon, “There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will sift them for you there. If I say, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go; but if I say, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.”
5  So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the LORD told him, “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel down to drink.”
6  Three hundred men lapped with their hands to their mouths. All the rest got down on their knees to drink.
7  The LORD said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the other men go, each to his own place.”
8  So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites to their tents but kept the three hundred, who took over the provisions and trumpets of the others. Now the camp of Midian lay below him in the valley.
9  During that night the LORD said to Gideon, “Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give it into your hands.
10  If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah
11  and listen to what they are saying. Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack the camp.” So he and Purah his servant went down to the outposts of the camp.
12  The Midianites, the Amalekites and all the other eastern peoples had settled in the valley, thick as locusts. Their camels could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore.
13  Gideon arrived just as a man was telling a friend his dream. “I had a dream,” he was saying. “A round loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed.”
14  His friend responded, “This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands.”
15  When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he worshiped God. He returned to the camp of Israel and called out, “Get up! The LORD has given the Midianite camp into your hands.”
16  Dividing the three hundred men into three companies, he placed trumpets and empty jars in the hands of all of them, with torches inside.
17  “Watch me,” he told them. “Follow my lead. When I get to the edge of the camp, do exactly as I do.
18  When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, then from all around the camp blow yours and shout, ‘For the LORD and for Gideon.'”
19  Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the edge of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after they had changed the guard. They blew their trumpets and broke the jars that were in their hands.
20  The three companies blew the trumpets and smashed the jars. Grasping the torches in their left hands and holding in their right hands the trumpets they were to blow, they shouted, “A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!”
21  While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled.
22  When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the LORD caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords. The army fled to Beth Shittah toward Zererah as far as the border of Abel Meholah near Tabbath.
23  Israelites from Naphtali, Asher and all Manasseh were called out, and they pursued the Midianites.
24  Gideon sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim, saying, “Come down against the Midianites and seize the waters of the Jordan ahead of them as far as Beth Barah.” So all the men of Ephraim were called out and they took the waters of the Jordan as far as Beth Barah.
25  They also captured two of the Midianite leaders, Oreb and Zeeb. They killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb at the winepress of Zeeb. They pursued the Midianites and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon, who was by the Jordan.

Faith is not the absence of fear.

Faith is choosing to obey God in spite of our fear.

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The Righteous Act of Giving

Posted on September 25, 2016 by pmayfield

Message by Dr. David Drake

rec0925-112737

 

 

Series: “Inside / Out”

Living Today The Life Of Jesus

A study through The Sermon On The Mount

Matthew 5-7

 

 

The Righteous Act Of Giving

Matthew 6:1-4

Matthew 6:1-4 (NASB)
1  “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.
2  “So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
3  “But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
4  so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

 

 

1. This portion of the sermon begins with a WARNING

 

* ALMS … Our Righteous Conduct

* PRAYER … Our Righteous Conversation / Communion

* FASTING … Our Righteous Consecration

 

 

2. These righteous behaviors are to be spiritual acts

within our DAILY CONDUCT

 

 

3. Jesus Christ is more concerned with MOTIVE

rather than METHOD

 

 

When It Comes To Alms ”¦

 

1. The Responsibility … vs. 2

Romans 13:13-14 (NASB)
13  Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy.
14  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.

2. The Revelation … vs. 3

Acts 5:1-2 (NASB)
1  But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property,
2  and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife’s full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles’ feet.

3. The Reward … vs. 4

Matthew 6:4 (NASB)
4  so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

 

 

The Eternal Significance…

John 3:16 (NASB)
16  “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

*God is the greatest giver

*God gave the greatest gift

*To the greatest recipient

*For the greatest reward

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The Depth of God’s Love

Posted on September 18, 2016 by pmayfield

Message by Dr. Milton Perry

rec0918-111858

 

The Depth of God’s Love

Luke 15:11-24

 

 

Luke 15:11-24 (NIV)
11  Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons.
12  The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13  “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.
14  After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.
15  So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.
16  He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17  “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!
18  I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
19  I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’
20  So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21  “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22  “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
23  Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.
24  For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

 

1. God regrets our rebellion.

The Spirit is grieved when we sin.

 

2. God loves us even in the midst of our rebellion.

God’s love for us is unaltered, but He will let us freely face the consequences of our choices.

 

3. God runs to us.

God rejoices over our return.

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The New Commandment

Posted on September 11, 2016 by pmayfield

Message by Dr. David Drake

rec0911-112801

 

Series: “Inside / Out”

Living Today The Life Of Jesus

A study through The Sermon On The Mount

Matthew 5-7

 

 

The New Commandment

 
Matthew 5:43-48 (NASB)
43  “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’
44  “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
45  so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
46  “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
47  “If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
48  “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

 

 

I. The Partial Commandment … vs. 43

43  “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’

 

– Love your neighbor … (ref. Leviticus 19:18)

Leviticus 19:18 (NASB)
18  ‘You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD.

 

– Hate your enemy … (ref. Deuteronomy 23:6)

Deuteronomy 23:6 (NASB)
6  “You shall never seek their peace or their prosperity all your days.

 

ILL. Luke 10:30-32

Luke 10:30-32 (NASB)
30  Jesus replied and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, and they stripped him and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead.
31  “And by chance a priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32  “Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.

 

– They were hating their enemy

 

– They were not loving their neighbor

 

They were “partially” obedient … and partial obedience is total disobedience!

 

 

II. The Perfect Commandment … vs. 44-48

 

– The evidence of a new love … vs. 44

44  “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

 

Ref. Luke 6:27-28

27  “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28  bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

 

– LOVE – your enemies

– DO GOOD – to your enemies

– BLESS … your enemies

– PRAY FOR … your enemies

 

 

 

– The evidence of a new obedience … vs. 45

45  so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

 

– Our obedient life is heaven’s representation

 

– Our obedient life is earth’s revelation

 

THE BASIC CHRISTIAN LIFE … BE & DO

 

– The evidence of a new attitude … vs. 46-48

46  “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
47  “If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
48  “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

 

– True love is measureless … vs. 46

 

– True fellowship is selfless … vs. 47

 

– True maturity should be ceaseless … vs. 48

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How To Fight Like A Christian

Posted on September 4, 2016 by pmayfield

Message by Dr. David Drake

rec0904-113625

 

 

Series: “Inside / Out”

Living Today The Life Of Jesus

A study through The Sermon On The Mount

Matthew 5-7

 

 

How To Fight Like A Christian

 

Matthew 5:38-42 (NASB)
38  “You have heard that it was said, ‘AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.’
39  “But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
40  “If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also.
41  “Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.
42  “Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.

 

I. Jesus Exposes The Old Testament Standard

38  “You have heard that it was said, ‘AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.’

 

1. Equal Payment for Equal Loss

Exodus 21:24-25 (NASB)
24  eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
25  burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.

Leviticus 24:20 (NASB)
20  fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; just as he has injured a man, so it shall be inflicted on him.

Deuteronomy 19:21 (NASB)
21  “Thus you shall not show pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

 

2. No Negotiations

Exodus 21:24-25 (NASB)
24  eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
25  burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.

Exodus 21:23 (NASB)
23  “But if there is any further injury, then you shall appoint as a penalty life for life,

 

 

II. Jesus Expresses The New Testament Spirit

 
39  “But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
40  “If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also.
41  “Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.
42  “Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.

 

1. Do Not Resist the Evil Person, Redeem Him

(Surrender)


39  “But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.

 Matthew 5:44 (NASB)
44  “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

 

2. Go Beyond Your Christian Response to Reveal the Character of Christ

(Sacrifice)

 
40  “If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also.
41  “Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.

 

3. Give With No expectation to Get

(Service)


42  “Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.

Proverbs 25:21-22 (NASB)
21  If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
22  For you will heap burning coals on his head, And the LORD will reward you.

 

 

III. Jesus Explains How To Be R.E.A.L.

 

R… Reveal the Spirit of Christ

Faith in Christ…Fellowship with Christ…Fruitful for Christ

Ephesians 5:18 (NASB)
18  And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,

Galatians 5:22-23 (NASB)
22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23  gentleness, self-control;

 

E… Eliminate All Barriers Toward Others

Have your own personal “demo day.”

 

A… Accept (Not Understand) Every Situation

Is From God

Proverbs 3:5 (NASB)
5  Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.

 

L… Love People

First, come personally to the Love of Christ.

Second, stay in fellowship with God.

Third, let the fruit be revealed.

Galatians 5:22-23 (NASB)
22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23  gentleness, self-control;

 

God wants us to be REAL when we respond to those around us.

 

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God’s Final Judgment of Humanity

Posted on August 28, 2016 by pmayfield

Message by Dr. Gary Jarnagin

(No audio available)

God’s Final Judgment of Humanity

Revelation 20:11-15

Revelation 20:11-15 (NKJV)
11  Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them.
12  And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.
13  The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.
14  Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15  And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

 

A. The Great White Throne v.11

          1. All must appear before God.

          2. Absolutely sovereign in the affairs of man.

 

B. The Great Unveiling of Records v.12-13

          1. The books contain the record of every work.

          2. The Lamb”™s Book of Life.

 

C. The Great Destination for Eternity v.14-15

          1. The condition and location of those separated from God.

          2. The location of the second death.

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You Are What You Say!

Posted on August 21, 2016 by pmayfield

Message by Dr. David Drake

rec0821-112323

 

 

Series: “Inside / Out”

Living Today The Life Of Jesus

A study through The Sermon On The Mount

Matthew 5-7

 

 

You Are What You Say!

Matthew 5:33-37

Matthew 5:33-37 (NASB)
33  “Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT MAKE FALSE VOWS, BUT SHALL FULFILL YOUR VOWS TO THE LORD.’
34  “But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,
35  or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING.
36  “Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.
37  “But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is of evil.

 

 

THREE QUESTIONS

 

  1. What Are You Saying … To God? – vs. 33-34

Ecclesiastes 5:2, 4-7 (NASB)
2  Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few. 
4  When you make a vow to God, do not be late in paying it; for He takes no delight in fools. Pay what you vow!
5  It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.
6  Do not let your speech cause you to sin and do not say in the presence of the messenger of God that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry on account of your voice and destroy the work of your hands?
7  For in many dreams and in many words there is emptiness. Rather, fear God.

 

Let your actions speak louder than your words.

 

 

  1. What Are You Saying … To Others? – vs. 35

1 Corinthians 2:1-5 (NASB)
1  And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.
2  For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.
3  I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling,
4  and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
5  so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.

 

Question … “What Are Others Hearing From Us?”

 

– Words of Wisdom – Psalm 49:3

Psalm 49:3 (NASB)
3  My mouth will speak wisdom, And the meditation of my heart will be understanding.

 

– Words of Worship – Psalm 145:21

Psalm 145:21 (NASB)
21  My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, And all flesh will bless His holy name forever and ever.

 

– Words of Truth – Proverbs 8:6-7a

Proverbs 8:6-7 (NASB)
6  “Listen, for I will speak noble things; And the opening of my lips will reveal right things.
7  “For my mouth will utter truth; 

 

– Words from God – 1 Peter 4:11

1 Peter 4:11 (NASB)
11  Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God;

 

– Words of Warning – James 4:11

James 4:11 (NASB)
11  Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it.

 

 

  1. What Are You Saying … To Yourself – vs. 36-37

Luke 12:16-21 (NASB)
16  And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive.
17  “And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’
18  “Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.
19  ‘And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.”‘
20  “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’
21  “So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

 

Luke 18:13 (NASB)
13  “But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’

 

Illustration:

In ancient Greece, Socrates was reputed to hold knowledge in high esteem. One day an acquaintance met the great philosopher and said, “Do you know what I just heard about your friend?”

“Hold on a minute,” Socrates replied, “Before you talk to me about my friend, it might be a good idea to take a moment and filter what you’re goin to say, that is why I call it the tripe filter test! The first filter is – TRUTH! Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?”

“Well no,” the man said. “Actually, I just heard about it and…”

“All right,” said Socrates. “So you don’t know if it is true or not? Now let’s try the second filter…the filter of GOODNESS! Is what you are about to tell me about my friend something good?”

“Umm. No on the contrary…”

“So,” Socrates continued, “you want to tell me something bad about my friend, but you’re not certain it’s true? You may still pass the test though, because there’s one filter left…the filter of USEFULNESS! Is what you want to tell me about my friend going to be useful to me?”

“No, not really,” replied the acquaintance.

“Well,” concluded  Socrates, “if what you want to tell me is neither true, good, nor even useful, WHY TELL IT TO ME AT ALL?”

-David Wolfe

 

Jesus loves you with an everlasting love.

 

 

 

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Five Building Blocks For A Better Marriage

Posted on August 14, 2016 by pmayfield

Message by Dr. David Drake

rec0814-112035

 

Series: “Inside / Out”

Living Today The Life Of Jesus

A study through The Sermon On The Mount

Matthew 5-7

 

Five Building Blocks for a Better Marriage

Matthew 5:31-33

 

Matthew 5:31-33 (NASB)
31  “It was said, ‘WHOEVER SENDS HIS WIFE AWAY, LET HIM GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE’;
32  but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
33  “Again, you have heard that the ancients were told,

 

Three principles (truths) for people who have experienced divorce:

 

1. God’s view of marriage is very high.

Matthew 5:31-32

 

2. Divorce is never God’s way to resolve conflict in marriage.

That is why God never commands divorce

nor does God ever condone divorce,

and God also never condemns the divorcee.

Romans 8:1 (NASB)
1  Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

 

3. If divorce has occurred in your past,

 and you have properly recognized and confessed

that your decision was a sin against God’s Word,

your past is under the blood of Jesus Christ

and you now live in grace today.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NASB)
17  Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

 

 

Five Building Blocks for Better Marriages

 

 

1. Make a lifelong commitment.

Matthew 19:4-6 (NASB)
4  And He answered and said, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE,
5  and said, ‘FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH’?
6  “So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”

 

Upward decision (to God)…Inward decision (with your heart)…Outward decision (with your partner)

 

 

2. Live in absolute faithfulness.

Challenge…

Proverbs 6:20-23 (NASB)
20  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

Warning…

Proverbs 6:24-26 (NASB)
24  To keep you from the evil woman, From the smooth tongue of the adulteress.
25  Do not desire her beauty in your heart, Nor let her capture you with her eyelids.
26  For on account of a harlot one is reduced to a loaf of bread, And an adulteress hunts for the precious life.

Results…

Proverbs 6:27-29 (NASB)
27  Can a man take fire in his bosom And his clothes not be burned?
28  Or can a man walk on hot coals And his feet not be scorched?
29  So is the one who goes in to his neighbor’s wife; Whoever touches her will not go unpunished.

Proverbs 4:23 (NASB)
23  Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life. 

Unfaithfulness to others in your life may be the direct result of unfaithfulness to God in your life.

 

3. Give unreserved love.

(unreserved: not restricted, qualified, or unlimited)

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NASB)
4  Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,
5  does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,
6  does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
7  bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8  Love never fails;

How do you reveal your love to your spouse?

By the way you live…by what you say…by who you are

 

 

4. Establish open communication.

Take time

                              Allow freedom of speech

                       Learn to be a listener

                  Keep working at it

 

 

 

5. Develop spiritual companionship.

Spiritual control…mutual submission…responsible roles

Ephesians 5:15-33 (NASB)
15  Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise,
16  making the most of your time, because the days are evil.
17  So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
18  And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,
19  speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;
20  always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;
21  and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.
22  Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
23  For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.
24  But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.
25  Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,
26  so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,
27  that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.
28  So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself;
29  for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church,
30  because we are members of His body.
31  FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.
32  This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.
33  Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.

 

 

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Trusting in God: Regardless of the Circumstances

Posted on August 7, 2016 by pmayfield

Message by Dr. Gary Jarnagin

rec0807-111903

Trusting in God

Regardless of the Circumstances

Daniel 1-4

Our text for today focuses on a king who could possibly be the most influential king in all of human history and how that king came to honor and praise the King of Heaven, all because four believers trusted in God regardless of the circumstances. 

Daniel and his three Jewish friends found themselves in difficult circumstances. They made the decision to follow God. They made their decision based on 3 points:

1. They purposed in their hearts to follow God regardless of the circumstances.

2. They decided to promote God through their faith and service.

3. We are going to see that because of their faith and their actions,

others decided to praise and honor God. 

  

 

 I. Purpose in our heart to follow God regardless of the circumstances.

 

Daniel 1:1-4 (NKJV)
1  In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.
2  And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the articles of the house of God, which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the articles into the treasure house of his god.
3  Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the king’s descendants and some of the nobles,
4  young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans.

 

We read in verse 5 that it was a three year program of learning, indoctrination and brain-washing.

Daniel 1:5-7 (NKJV)
5  And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king’s delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that at the end of that time they might serve before the king.
6  Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
7  To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego.

 

Our text tells us that it was Daniel who was first up, with his difficult circumstances, who purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself.

Daniel 1:8 (NKJV)
8  But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

 

Why is it important to God that we live holy lives?

1 Peter 1:15-19 (NKJV)
15  but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16  because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy”…18  knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, …19  but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

What then? What happens after we accept God’s gift of salvation?

1 Peter 2:9 (NKJV)
9  But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

 

II. Promote God in our lives through our faith and service.

 

Daniel 2:46-49 (NKJV)
46  Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, prostrate before Daniel, and commanded that they should present an offering and incense to him.
47  The king answered Daniel, and said, “Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret.”
48  Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts; and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon.
49  Also Daniel petitioned the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego over the affairs of the province of Babylon; but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.

 

Now it is Shadrach’s, Meshack’s, and Abed-Nego’s turn to promote God and show their faith in God.
Daniel 3:1-6 (NKJV)
1  Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its width six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
2  And King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to gather together the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
3  So the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered together for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
4  Then a herald cried aloud: “To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages,
5  that at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up;
6  and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.”

 

King Nebuchadnezzar threatened the three Jewish lads who wanted to promote God through their faith and service. Their answer…

Daniel 3:16-18 (NKJV)
16  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.
17  If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.
18  But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

 

God received the glory because the three young men promoted God through their faith and service.

 Daniel 3:26-30 (NKJV)
26  Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here.” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire.
27  And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them.
28  Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God!
29  Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this.”
30  Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon.

 

III. Honor and praise God for who He truly is.

 

Reviewing Daniel 1-4:

1. Chapter 1…God had made Daniel and his three friends ten times better than anyone else in the court because they had purposed in their heart they would follow God regardless of their circumstances. King Nebuchadnezzar honored them by having the four serve in his courts.

2. Chapter 2…Daniel interpreted a dream of the king’s, and he and his friends were promoted because their god (Yahweh) is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets.

3. Chapter 3…Daniel and the three friends were promoted again because Yahweh had saved them from the fiery furnace. They had promoted God through their faith and service and would not serve any other gods.

4. Chapter 4…King Nebuchadnezzar directly rejects Yahweh and Yahweh deals with the king directly. The king has another dream and no one except Daniel could interpret the dream. God wanted King  Nebuchadnezzar to know that HE had given him the kingdom of Babylon and to acknowledge that God is sovereign.

Daniel 4:24-25 (NKJV)
24  this is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king:
25  They shall drive you from men, your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you eat grass like oxen. They shall wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.

 

Daniel declares what the king must do to avoid God’s punishment…

Daniel 4:27 (NKJV)
27  Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you; break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity.”

 

King Nebuchadnezzar rejects Yahweh…

Daniel 4:28-33 (NKJV)
28  All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar.
29  At the end of the twelve months he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon.
30  The king spoke, saying, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?”
31  While the word was still in the king’s mouth, a voice fell from heaven: “King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you!
32  And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.”
33  That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.

 

King Nebuchadnezzar returned from his rejection of God and praised Yahweh for who He is…

Daniel 4:37 (NKJV)
37  Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down.

 

Will you purpose in your heart to follow God regardless of the circumstances?

Will you promote God in your life with your faith in Him and in serving Him?

Will you honor and praise God for who He truly is?

 

 

 

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If Looks Could Kill!

Posted on August 1, 2016 by pmayfield

Message by Dr. David Drake

rec0731-112629

 

Series: “Inside / Out”

Living Today The Life Of Jesus

A study through The Sermon On The Mount

Matthew 5-7

 

If Looks Could Kill!

Matthew 5:27-30

Matthew 5:27-30 (NASB)
27  “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY’;
28  but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
29  “If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
30  “If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.

 

 

1. The Authentication Of The Old Law

27  “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY’;

Respect the Word of God by:

Read the Bible 

Memorize the Bible 

Meditate on the Word of God

Study the Bible

Share the Bible

Live the Word of God

 

 

2. The Inauguration Of The New Law

28  but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her

has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Looking…Lusting…Losing

 

 

Lessons From King David

2 Samuel 11:1-4 (NASB)

2 Samuel 11:1-4 (NASB)
1  Then it happened in the spring, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel, and they destroyed the sons of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem.
2  Now when evening came David arose from his bed and walked around on the roof of the king’s house, and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful in appearance.
3  So David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, “Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?”
4  David sent messengers and took her, and when she came to him, he lay with her; and when she had purified herself from her uncleanness, she returned to her house.

 

David’s LAZINESS

began his downfall…vs 1

“The idle brain is the Devil’s workshop.”

 

David’s LOOKING and LONGING

in the wrong direction continued his downfall…vs 2

 

David’s LUSTING

for that which he knew was off limits to him concluded his downfall…vs 3

 

David’s LOSS

affected not only his life spiritually, emotionally, and personally,

but it affected the lives of the people closest to him…vs 4

 

 

3. An Application Of The New Law

29  “If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30  “If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.

 

We should willingly do away with anything that would cause us to sin.

Sin, and only sin, will condemn  a person – here and for eternity.

We progress for the good by not giving in to sin.

We should passionately seek what prepares us for eternity…therefore look to God!

 

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