THE FIRST GOSPEL SERMON

THE FOCAL POINT OF ACTS 2

Text: Acts 2:22-38.

Delivered on: June 29, 2008. Streetsboro.

Introduction.

1. If Acts 2 is the Hub of the Bible.

2. Jesus is the center of the hub.

3. The events that occurred on the Day of Pentecost are all about Jesus and the establishment of His kingdom.

4. The purpose of Peter’s sermon here is to convince the Jews that they had crucified not just a man from Nazareth, but the Son of God.

5. His sermon had three main points.

   1. Jesus’ claims to deity were confirmed by the Father.

   2. Jesus’ death was God’s plan all along.

   3. Jesus rose from the dead.

Body.

1. JESUS WAS ATTESTED BY GOD. Verse 22. “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know.

   1. Jesus claimed to be the Son of God. John 9:35-38. Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” ³⁶ He answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” ³⁷ And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.” ³⁸ Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him.

      1. John 5:18. Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.

      2. There is no middle ground here.

      3. Either He was telling the truth and therefore deserves our service and devotion.

      4. Or He was a liar or crazy man and is not, therefore, worthy of our service and devotion.

   2. One of the proofs that Jesus was who He claimed to be is that God, the Father attested to His claims.

      1. “Attested” = approve, set forth, show.

      2. God set forth Jesus to show that He was His Son.

      3. He did this by the miracles that Jesus performed. John 5:36. But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.

   3. God attested to Jesus’ identity at His baptism. Matthew 3:17. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

   4. God attested to Jesus’ identity at the Mount of Transfiguration. Matthew 17:5. While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”

2. HE WAS DELIVERED BY THE FOREKNOWLEDGE OF GOD. Verse 23. Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death;

   1. Many would have seen the death of Jesus as proof that He was not who He claimed to be. Luke 23:35. And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God.”

   2. So Peter had to make sure that they knew that the sacrificial death of Christ was God’s intention all along.

      1. Christ was delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God.

      2. Ephesians 3:10-11. To the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, ¹¹ according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,

      3. Isaiah 53.

      4. Psalm 22.

      5. Luke 24:46. Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day,

      6. This is important because there are some who believe that Jesus did not come to die.

      7. Oprah Winfrey claims to be a Christian. But recently, she has become a disciple of Eckhart Tolle and is now spouting all kinds of nonsense. Listen to this statement which she made. “I thought Jesus came, died on the cross, that Jesus’ being here was about His death and dying on the cross. When it really was about Him coming to show us how to do it, how to be. To show us the Christ consciousness that He had, and that that consciousness abides with all of us.”

         1. She is also on record saying that even though she is a Christian, she believes that there are many, many different ways to God. John 14:6.

         2. She does not believe in the exclusivity of Christianity. Acts 4:12.

         3. Don’t support this woman!

         4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xM5ILOsHLnw

      8. If Jesus did not come here to die then logic can only lead to one conclusion. He is not the Son of God.

3. GOD RAISED HIM UP. Verse 24. Whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.

   1. Another way that God attested to Jesus’ deity was by raising Him from the dead. Romans 1:4. And declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.

   2. Peter quotes from Psalm 16:8-11.

      1. This is a Psalm of David.

      2. David predicts that His soul would not be left in Hades. But whose soul?

      3. Not his own. As Peter points out, David is still in the grave. Acts 2:29. “Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.

      4. Therefore, it was a prophecy about Christ. Acts 2:30-32. Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, ³¹ he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. ³² This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.

   3. As a result of Jesus’ resurrection… “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Acts 2:36.

4. HOW WAS MAN TO RESPOND TO THIS INFORMATION?

   1. Many of those who heard Peter’s sermon were cut to the heart. Acts 2:37. Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

      1. They felt godly sorrow. 2 Corinthians 7:10. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

      2. They wanted to know what they could do.

   2. Peter tells them what they must do. Acts 2:38. Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

      1. These people had already come to believe. But there was more to do.

      2. They had to repent. To turn and follow God.

      3. They had to be baptized.

      4. Baptism is the answer of a good conscience toward God. 1 Peter 3:21. There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

Conclusion.

How will you respond?

WHY HAVE YOU DONE THIS?

WHY HAVE YOU DONE THIS?

Text: Judges 2:1-2.

Delivered on: August 26, 2007. Streetsboro.

Judges 2:1-2. Then the Angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said: "I led you up from Egypt and brought you to the land of which I swore to your fathers; and I said, 'I will never break My covenant with you. ² And you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall tear down their altars.' But you have not obeyed My voice. Why have you done this?

1. God made a covenant with the children of Israel.
   
   

   1. Covenants come in two different forms.

      1. Sometimes they are an agreement between two equal parties.

         1. Between Abraham and Abimelech. Genesis 21:22-27. And it came to pass at that time that Abimelech and Phichol, the commander of his army, spoke to Abraham, saying, "God is with you in all that you do. ²³ Now therefore, swear to me by God that you will not deal falsely with me, with my offspring, or with my posterity; but that according to the kindness that I have done to you, you will do to me and to the land in which you have dwelt." ²⁴ And Abraham said, "I will swear." ²⁵ Then Abraham rebuked Abimelech because of a well of water which Abimelech's servants had seized. ²⁶ And Abimelech said, "I do not know who has done this thing; you did not tell me, nor had I heard of it until today." ²⁷ So Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two of them made a covenant.

         2. In a covenant like this, both parties agree to abide by certain rules.

      2. Covenants between man and God are a little different.

         1. These covenants are one-sided.

            1. Sometimes God just states what He is going to do. He requires nothing of man in return. Genesis 9:8-17. Then God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying: ⁹ "And as for Me, behold, I establish My covenant with you and with your descendants after you, ¹⁰ and with every living creature that is with you: the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you, of all that go out of the ark, every beast of the earth. ¹¹ Thus I establish My covenant with you: Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood; never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth." ¹² And God said: "This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: ¹³ I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. ¹⁴ It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; ¹⁵ and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. ¹⁶ The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth." ¹⁷ And God said to Noah, "This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth."

            2. God’s covenant with Abraham. Genesis 15:7-18. Then He said to him, "I am the Lord, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to inherit it." ⁸ And he said, "Lord God, how shall I know that I will inherit it?" ⁹ So He said to him, "Bring Me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon." ¹⁰ Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two, down the middle, and placed each piece opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds in two. ¹¹ And when the vultures came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away. ¹² Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, horror and great darkness fell upon him. ¹³ Then He said to Abram: "Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years. ¹⁴ And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions. ¹⁵ Now as for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old age. ¹⁶ But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete." ¹⁷ And it came to pass, when the sun went down and it was dark, that behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a burning torch that passed between those pieces. ¹⁸ On the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying: "To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates—

         2. Sometimes, God’s covenants with man give man a choice.

            1. Like when He gave the Law on Sinai. Exodus 24:7-8. Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read in the hearing of the people. And they said, "All that the Lord has said we will do, and be obedient." ⁸ And Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, "This is the blood of the covenant which the Lord has made with you according to all these words."

            2. It is still one sided in that God is going to keep His covenant. He just gave them the choice of which consequence they would receive.

               1. Deuteronomy 6:1-2. "Now this is the commandment, and these are the statutes and judgments which the Lord your God has commanded to teach you, that you may observe them in the land which you are crossing over to possess, ² that you may fear the Lord your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, you and your son and your grandson, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged.

               2. Deuteronomy 30:17-19. But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, ¹⁸ I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess. ¹⁹ I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;

               3. They could obey or disobey but God was going to keep His covenant. He would not break it.
                  
                  

   2. God expected obedience. But as we see in Judges 2, they had not been obedient. Judges 2:2. And you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall tear down their altars.' But you have not obeyed My voice. Why have you done this?
      
      

   3. The angel asked, “Why have you done this?”

      1. Was it because God asked too much of them? No.

      2. Was it because God would not help them? No.

      3. Was it apathy? Possibly.

      4. Was it rebellion? Possibly.

      5. Was it because they were worldly? Definitely.

      6. Whatever the reason, they were disobedient and God wanted them to tell Him why?
         
         

2. Today, God has made a covenant with the whole world.
   
   

   1. This covenant is the New Testament. Hebrews 8:6-13. But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. ⁷ For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. ⁸ Because finding fault with them, He says: "Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah-- ⁹ not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord. ¹⁰ For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. ¹¹ None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. ¹² For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." ¹³ In that He says, "A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.
      
      

   2. This covenant is not just for the House of Israel but the whole world.

      1. Acts 2:39. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."

      2. Ephesians 2:11-13. Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh--who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands-- ¹² that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

      3. John 3:16-17. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ¹⁷ For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

      4. Romans 1:16. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
         
         

   3. God expects us to be obedient to this covenant.

      1. Matthew 7:21. "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

      2. Hebrews 5:8-9. Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. ⁹ And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,

      3. This obedience includes:

         1. Seeking the Kingdom first. Matthew 6:33. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

         2. Worship. Hebrews 10:25. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

         3. Bible Study. 2 Timothy 2:15. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

         4. Evangelistic efforts. Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

         5. Walking in the light. 1 John 1:7. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

         6. Producing the fruits of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

         7. Good works. Matthew 5:16. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
            
            

   4. God has given man the freedom to choose which way he will go. Matthew 7:13-14. "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. ¹⁴ Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

      1. We can choose life or destruction.

      2. God WILL keep His end of the bargain.

      3. He’ll give us life or destruction.
         
         

   5. One day you are going to stand before God at the Judgment. 2 Corinthians 5:10. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
      
      

   6. What will your answer be if He says… Judges 2:2 …But you have not obeyed My voice. Why have you done this?

      1. Too busy? Matthew 6:33. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

      2. Too hard? 1 John 5:3. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.

      3. Maybe try the honest approach. I didn’t care enough. Matthew 22:37. Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'

WHY ATTEND SERVICES

WHY SHOULD I ATTEND SERVICES

Text: John 4:23-24.

Delivered on: September 30, 2007. Streetsboro.

Introduction.

1. The Church of Christ at Streetsboro meets three times a week.

2. As with almost every congregation we have a habit here of having our biggest attendance on Sunday morning.

3. Not for Bible Class though. Our biggest attendance is for Sunday morning worship.

4. Having just looked at a few weeks of our attendance records there is a clear pattern.

   1. If we have 100 in Sunday morning worship…

   2. We will have somewhere around 70 in Bible Class.

   3. We will have about 60 back for Sunday evening services.

5. That is pretty close to average if not a tiny bit above.

6. Why is it that 40% of those of us present here this morning will not be here tonight at 5PM?

   1. Perhaps some have to work.

   2. Perhaps some are not physically able.

7. That does not account for 40% of our number.

8. I see no reason why we could not and should not have 90% return on Sunday evenings. If not higher.

Body.

1. TWO  ATTITUDES THAT I HAVE SEEN WHICH MAY NEGATIVELY AFFECT ATTENDANCE.

   1. SOME ATTEND ONLY OUT OF A FEELING OF OBLIGATION.

      1. Without a doubt, attending worship is an obligation for a Christian.

      2. We will talk about this a little later.

      3. However, the one who attends ONLY out of a feeling of obligation is going to be miserable.

      4. Think about some of the obligations in our lives.

         1. Taxes.

         2. Work.

         3. School.

         4. Going to the dentist.

      5. If we do these things only because we have to, we come to resent it.

      6. They view worship as a way of fulfilling a requirement given to them by God.

      7. Like punching a time card.

      8. This person is not going to be willing to do any more than what is required.

      9. Matthew 15:8. 'These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.

      10. Psalms 51:16-19. For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. ¹⁷ The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart-- These, O God, You will not despise. ¹⁸ Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion; Build the walls of Jerusalem. ¹⁹ Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, With burnt offering and whole burnt offering; Then they shall offer bulls on Your altar.

      11. Hosea 6:6 For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

   2. SOME ATTEND ONLY TO BE UPLIFTED OR ENTERTAINED.

      1. Some come to worship for selfish reasons.

      2. They come because they want something out of it.

      3. Some come only because they want to be uplifted.

         1. Being uplifted should be a side effect of scriptural worship but it should not be the reason for that worship.

         2. Not all services are going to be uplifting.

            1. The song leader may not lead any songs that you like.

            2. The song leader may mess up.

            3. The preacher may have a really boring sermon. (Though that never happens here!)

            4. The preacher may preach a sermon that doesn’t uplift you but chastises you.

      4. Some come only because they want to be entertained… like they are going to some kind of performance.

         1. They forget that we are not the audience in worship. God is. John 4:23-24. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. ²⁴ God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

         2. Scriptural worship that is from the heart should bring us great joy.

            1. But we must realize that the joy we feel is not the purpose for that worship.

            2. The purpose is the glorification of God.

         3. Worship will not always bring you joy.

            1. Ask Abraham. Genesis 22:5. And Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you."

            2. Communion ought not to bring us joy but sorrow.

            3. The sermon may cut you. Hebrews 4:12. For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

2. WHY SHOULD I ATTEND EVERY SERVICE? HERE ARE MY TOP 4 REASONS.

   1. REASON # 4. BECAUSE I NEED MORE BIBLE KNOWLEDGE.

      1. All of us need more Bible knowledge.

      2. None of us have apprehended. Philippians 3:12-13. Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. ¹³ Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,

      3. None of us will ever get to the point that we don’t need more Bible study. 1 Corinthians 10:12. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

      4. We need that milk. 1 Peter 2:2. As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,

      5. We need to become teachers. Hebrews 5:12. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.

      6. Bible Class is a great way to learn more of the Bible.

   2. REASON # 3. BECAUSE I NEED TO ENCOURAGE MY BRETHREN AND I NEED THEIR ENCOURAGEMENT.

      1. One purpose of our worship is to exhort and encourage one another. Hebrews 10:25. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

      2. We spend long hours around people who are not Christians.

      3. We need to get around Christians for a while to “recharge our batteries.”

      4. We encourage one another by:

         1. Fellowship. Philippians 1:3-5. I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, ⁴ always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, ⁵ for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now,

         2. Singing. Colossians 3:16. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

         3. Prayer. Romans 15:30. Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me,

   3. REASON # 2. BECAUSE I NEED TO TEACH MY CHILDREN THE IMPORTANCE OF WORSHIP.

      1. What message are we sending to our children when we miss worship for some flippant reason?

      2. We are teaching them that worship is not important.

      3. This is not bringing them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4. And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

      4. Little eyes are watching you.

   4. REASON # 1. BECAUSE I LOVE GOD AND HE WANTS ME TO WORSHIP HIM.

      1. God desires to be worshipped. John 4:23-24. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. ²⁴ God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

      2. John 14:15. "If you love Me, keep My commandments.

      3. The God who gave His Son to die for me wants me to show Him the proper respect.

      4. God is deserving of our worship. He always will be.

      5. When we worship Him out of gratitude and love, we want to do that as often as possible.

      6. We look at worship as a privilege and blessing.

      7. Not as only an obligation.

TO WHOM SHALL WE GO?

TO WHOM SHALL WE GO?

Text: John 6:53-69.

Delivered on: January 8, 2006. Streetsboro.

Introduction.

1. To whom shall we go?

2. This is a question we ask ourselves all the time.

3. To whom shall we go for:

   1. Medical help.

   2. Auto repair.

   3. Plumbing problems.

   4. Legal Assistance.

   5. Etc.

4. However, mankind’s greatest need is spiritual help.

5. To whom shall we go?

6. John 6:53-69. Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. ⁵⁴“Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. ⁵⁵“For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. ⁵⁶“He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. ⁵⁷“As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. ⁵⁸“This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.” ⁵⁹These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum.⁶⁰Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?” ⁶¹When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you? ⁶²“What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? ⁶³“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. ⁶⁴“But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. ⁶⁵And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.” ⁶⁶From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. ⁶⁷Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” ⁶⁸But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. ⁶⁹“Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Body.

1. To whom shall we go for peace?

   1. Sinners do not have peace.

      1. Isaiah 48:22. “There is no peace,” says the Lord, “for the wicked.”

      2. Peace is not found in wealth (Ecclesiastes 5:9-13). Moreover the profit of the land is for all; even the king is served from the field. ¹⁰ He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; Nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity. ¹¹ When goods increase, They increase who eat them; So what profit have the owners Except to see them with their eyes? ¹² The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, Whether he eats little or much; But the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep. ¹³ There is a severe evil which I have seen under the sun: Riches kept for their owner to his hurt.

      3. Peace is not found in power (Ecclesiastes 2:1-11). I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure”; but surely, this also was vanity. ²I said of laughter—“Madness!”; and of mirth, “What does it accomplish?” ³I searched in my heart how to gratify my flesh with wine, while guiding my heart with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives. ⁴I made my works great, I built myself houses, and planted myself vineyards. ⁵I made myself gardens and orchards, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. ⁶I made myself water pools from which to water the growing trees of the grove. ⁷I acquired male and female servants, and had servants born in my house. Yes, I had greater possessions of herds and flocks than all who were in Jerusalem before me. ⁸I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the special treasures of kings and of the provinces. I acquired male and female singers, the delights of the sons of men, and musical instruments of all kinds.⁹So I became great and excelled more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. ¹⁰ Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, For my heart rejoiced in all my labor; And this was my reward from all my labor. ¹¹ Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done And on the labor in which I had toiled; And indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun.

      4. Peace can not be found in the pleasures of sin (Hebrews 11:25). choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin

      5. All these things are mere temporary pleasures.

   2. True peace is found only in Jesus Christ.

      1. John 14:27. “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

      2. Isaiah 48:18. Oh, that you had heeded My commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, And your righteousness like the waves of the sea.

      3. Philippians 4:6-9. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.⁸Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. ⁹The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

   3. This peace is only possible because Jesus paid the price.

      1. Colossians 1:20. And by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

      2. Hebrews 9:22. And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.

2. To whom shall we go for spiritual security?

   1. Should not go to:

      1. Our own opinions (Proverbs 14:12). There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

      2. To religious teachers or parents.

         1. 2 John 7-9. For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. ⁸Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward. ⁹Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.

         2. Israel was commanded to teach their children God’s word (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. ⁷“You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.

         3. Yet they had failed in that (Matthew 15:7). “Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:

   2. We can go to Christ.

      1. John 10:27-29. “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. ²⁸“And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. ²⁹“My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.

      2. Christ alone can save us from our sins and give us security (John 14:6). Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

3. To whom shall we go with our sins?

   1. Money will not pay away our sins.

      1. Psalm 49:6-7. Those who trust in their wealth And boast in the multitude of their riches,⁷ None of them can by any means redeem his brother, Nor give to God a ransom for him.

      2. 1 Peter 1:18-19. Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, ¹⁹but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

   2. Modern “Positive Thinking” preacher.

      1. Proverbs 28:13. He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.

      2. Jeremiah 6:14-15. They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly, Saying, ‘Peace, peace!’ When there is no peace. ¹⁵ Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No! They were not at all ashamed; Nor did they know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; At the time I punish them, They shall be cast down,” says the Lord.

   3. Not to an earthly priest to confess (1 Timothy 2:5). For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.

   4. We must go to Calvary with our sins.

      1. He died for us.

         1. Isaiah 53:6. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

         2. Acts 4:12. “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

         3. Acts 20:28. “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

      2. Believe, Repent, and Be Baptized or else die in your sins.

         1. John 8:24. “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”

         2. Luke 13:3. “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”

         3. Mark 16:16. “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

Conclusion.

1. At the time of your death.

   1. If you rejected Christ and His Way…

      1. You have no hope.

      2. Can not got to, turn to, anyone for relief or help.

   2. If you accepted Christ and His Way and have continued therein…you are safe in the arms of Jesus.

2. Nothing will matter more at the time of your death than your relationship with Christ.

THE MAN WHO HAD IT ALL

THE MAN WHO HAD IT ALL

and let it all slip away.

Text: 1 Kings 3, 11.

Delivered on: September 23, 2007. Streetsboro.

Introduction.

1. Solomon was the son of David through Bathsheba.

2. David reigned for 40 years as King.

3. When his life was nearly over, one of his other sons, Adonijah, took it upon himself to proclaim himself king without his father’s knowledge.

4. This was not what God wanted. 1 Chronicles 22:9-10. Behold, a son shall be born to you, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies all around. His name shall be Solomon, for I will give peace and quietness to Israel in his days. ¹⁰ He shall build a house for My name, and he shall be My son, and I will be his Father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.'

5. David, once confronted by Bathsheba and Nathan, quickly had Solomon appointed king.

6. David was happy to see his son reigning before he died. 1 Kings 1:48. Also the king said thus, 'Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who has given one to sit on my throne this day, while my eyes see it!' "

7. Some of David’s last words to Solomon are touching. 1 Kings 2:1-4. Now the days of David drew near that he should die, and he charged Solomon his son, saying: ² "I go the way of all the earth; be strong, therefore, and prove yourself a man. ³ And keep the charge of the Lord your God: to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn; ⁴ that the Lord may fulfill His word which He spoke concerning me, saying, 'If your sons take heed to their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul,' He said, 'you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.'

8. Eventually, the kingdom was firmly established in Solomon’s hands.

Body.

1. SOLOMON HAD IT ALL.
   
   

   1. He had great wisdom.

      1. God gave Solomon a blank check. 1 Kings 3:5. At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, "Ask! What shall I give you?"

      2. Solomon asked for wisdom. 1 king 1 Kings 3:6-9. And Solomon said: "You have shown great mercy to Your servant David my father, because he walked before You in truth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with You; You have continued this great kindness for him, and You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. ⁷ Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. ⁸ And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. ⁹ Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?"

         1. Have you ever stopped to consider that by asking that question Solomon was already showing wisdom beyond his years.

         2. We also see in his words a genuine love and respect for God.

         3. We see humility.

            1. He acknowledges that it was God who had made him king.

            2. He acknowledges a need for help.

      3. So God gave him great wisdom. 1 Kings 3:10-1. 3 The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. ¹¹ Then God said to him: "Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, ¹² behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you. ¹³ And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days.

      4. 1 Kings 4:29-34. And God gave Solomon wisdom and exceedingly great understanding, and largeness of heart like the sand on the seashore. ³⁰ Thus Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the men of the East and all the wisdom of Egypt. ³¹ For he was wiser than all men--than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol; and his fame was in all the surrounding nations. ³² He spoke three thousand proverbs, and his songs were one thousand and five. ³³ Also he spoke of trees, from the cedar tree of Lebanon even to the hyssop that springs out of the wall; he spoke also of animals, of birds, of creeping things, and of fish. ³⁴ And men of all nations, from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom, came to hear the wisdom of Solomon.
         
         

   2. He also had riches.

      1. His daily provisions are given in 1 Kings 4:22-23. Now Solomon's provision for one day was thirty kors of fine flour, sixty kors of meal, ²³ ten fatted oxen, twenty oxen from the pastures, and one hundred sheep, besides deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fatted fowl.

         1. A kor is estimated to be about 220 liters.

         2. These provisions are just for his household.

         3. Keep in mind, he had 700 wives and 300 concubines.

      2. 1 Kings 10:14-27. The weight of gold that came to Solomon yearly was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold, ¹⁵ besides that from the traveling merchants, from the income of traders, from all the kings of Arabia, and from the governors of the country. ¹⁶ And King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold; six hundred shekels of gold went into each shield. ¹⁷ He also made three hundred shields of hammered gold; three minas of gold went into each shield. The king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon. ¹⁸ Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with pure gold. ¹⁹ The throne had six steps, and the top of the throne was round at the back; there were armrests on either side of the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the armrests. ²⁰ Twelve lions stood there, one on each side of the six steps; nothing like this had been made for any other kingdom. ²¹ All King Solomon's drinking vessels were gold, and all the vessels of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. Not one was silver, for this was accounted as nothing in the days of Solomon. ²² For the king had merchant ships at sea with the fleet of Hiram. Once every three years the merchant ships came bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and monkeys. ²³ So King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. ²⁴ Now all the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart. ²⁵ Each man brought his present: articles of silver and gold, garments, armor, spices, horses, and mules, at a set rate year by year. ²⁶ And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen; he had one thousand four hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he stationed in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. ²⁷ The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedar trees as abundant as the sycamores which are in the lowland.

      3. Ecclesiastes 2:10-11. Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, For my heart rejoiced in all my labor; And this was my reward from all my labor. ¹¹ Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done And on the labor in which I had toiled; And indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun.
         
         

   3. It is so sad to see someone who seems to have the world at his fingertips let it all slip away.

      1. Art Schlichter.

      2. Maurice Clarrett.

      3. Pete Rose.

      4. O.J. Simpson.
         
         

   4. It also sometimes makes us a little bit angry.

      1. Maybe it is a little bit of jealousy.

      2. We tell ourselves that we would never squander such blessings.
         
         

   5. We tend to forget that we possess even more.

      1. We have all Spiritual truth at our fingertips.

         1. 2 Timothy 3:16-17. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

         2. 2 Peter 1:3. As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,

         3. Things that angels desired to look into. 1 Peter 1:12. 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.

      2. We have all spiritual blessings in Christ. Ephesians 1:3. 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,

      3. We have the promise that our physical needs will be met. Matthew 6:33. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
         
         

2. SOLOMON KEPT BAD COMPANY.
   
   

   1. Solomon loved women.

      1. Even right after he became king we see him marrying an Egyptian woman. 1 Kings 3:1. Now Solomon made a treaty with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and married Pharaoh's daughter; then he brought her to the City of David until he had finished building his own house, and the house of the Lord, and the wall all around Jerusalem.

      2. He did not limit himself to one wife. 1 Kings 11:1-3. But King Solomon loved many foreign women, as well as the daughter of Pharaoh: women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites-- ² from the nations of whom the Lord had said to the children of Israel, "You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods." Solomon clung to these in love. ³ And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart.
         
         

   2. By intermarrying with these woman from other nations, Solomon was being disobedient to God. Deuteronomy 7:3-4. Nor shall you make marriages with them. You shall not give your daughter to their son, nor take their daughter for your son. ⁴ For they will turn your sons away from following Me, to serve other gods; so the anger of the Lord will be aroused against you and destroy you suddenly.
      
      

   3. We are warned about the company we keep.

      1. 1 Corinthians 15:33. Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits."

      2. 2 Corinthians 6:17. Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you."

      3. In more general terms. 1 John 2:15-17. Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. ¹⁷ And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
         
         

3. SOLOMON DID EVIL.
   
   

   1. Solomon allowed his wives to cause him to do evil. 1 Kings 11:4-8. For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father David. ⁵ For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. ⁶ Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and did not fully follow the Lord, as did his father David. ⁷ Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, on the hill that is east of Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the people of Ammon. ⁸ And he did likewise for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods.
      
      

   2. We do evil when we allow other’s to influence us to worship something other than God.

      1. Some worship the god of popularity. John 12:42-43. Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; ⁴³ for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

      2. Some worship the god of money. Colossians 3:5. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

      3. Some worship the god of power. Jeremiah 9:23-24. Thus says the Lord: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; ²⁴ But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight," says the Lord.

      4. Some worship their families. Matthew 10:37. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
         
         

   3. Brethren, you need to surround yourself with people who want to go to heaven and who want to help you go to heaven.

      1. We often wonder why we lose so many of our young people.

      2. Perhaps it is because we have not shown them the necessity of this simple Biblical concept.

      3. We take them to band, choir, basketball, football, softball, baseball, girl scouts, boy scouts, but never take them to be around Christians!

      4. Hebrews 10:25. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
         
         

4. SOLOMON WAS PUNISHED.
   
   

   1. As a result of the evil which he had done, his kingdom would be divided. 1 Kings 11:11. Therefore the Lord said to Solomon, "Because you have done this, and have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant.
      
      

   2. If we allow the world to pull us away from our first love, we will lose our salvation.

      1. Revelation 2:4-5. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. ⁵ Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place--unless you repent.

      2. 2 Peter 2:20-21. For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. ²¹ For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.

Conclusion.

1. We are even more blessed than Solomon.

   1. We are in possession God’s plan of redemption for mankind.

   2. We enjoy every spiritual blessing in Christ.

   3. God has promised to provide for our every need.

2. God warned Solomon and warns us to be careful about who we associate with; lest they pull us away.

3. Often, like Solomon, we allow the world to pull us away from God.

4. If we do fall away and don’t repent, we will be punished.

5. Solomon learned his lesson. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all. ¹⁴ For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.

6. Will we learn it before it is too late?