Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Guard Your Heart | church of Christ | Sermon

Guard Your Heart

Introduction:

“Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.” NKJV (Proverbs 4:23) Solomon warns us about how powerful our hearts and minds are. Our thoughts cause our feelings and behavior. The choices we make reflect what’s happening in our minds. (Matthew 15:17-20) “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts,” NKJV (Matthew 15:18-19)

The apostle Paul revealed that we could be transformed by changing the way we think. (Romans 12:2) “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” NKJV So God’s truth can change our perspective, our habits, our feelings, and our speech. So what are some of these truths God wants us to know? Simpson lists several worthy of our consideration. [Simpson, Anxious, pg. 116]

Body:

I. God Is Unlimited

· God is not limited by what we can understand. He is not constrained by space or time like we are. (Isaiah 55:8-9) He knows far better than we do what the future holds. By focusing on His strength, we do not need to worry about the future.

· God has plans of His own. His plans, which are far better, can unravel our plans in an instant. Nothing surprises God. Job losses, health issues, unexpected deaths don’t catch Him unawares. (Isaiah 48:3, 5)

II. God’s Priorities Are More Important Than Ours

· Often they don’t coincide. His are on a grander scale. It’s ridiculous for us to insist on our way and expect that life should unfold as we think it should. (Romans 11:33-34)

III. God Is Good

· By looking around us, we can see all the goodness He sustains. His mercy and love are readily apparent – material blessings (Matthew 5:45) and spiritual blessings (Psalm 31:19). His goodness endures continually (Psalm 52:1). His plans for us are good; they are just and true. (Revelation 15:3) Even if we don’t understand them, we should be satisfied knowing He has our best interests at heart. (Jeremiah 31:14)

IV. God Calls Us to Joy and Peace

· Jesus proclaimed this in John 15:10-11. This is different from some temporary happiness that is dependent upon our circumstances. We can only experience this joy by being right with God.

· Jesus extends His peace to us and His peace is drastically different than the world’s. (John 14:27)

V. God Calls Us to Trust Him

· God doesn’t clear all the obstacles in our path or make life easy. It doesn’t mean life will be neat and tidy. (James 1:2-4)

· God knows what kind of world we live in and how disappointing it can be. (John 16:33)

VI. God Is In Control

· We are not in charge of the world. It is the Lord’s purpose that will prevail. (Proverbs 19:21)

· God is sovereign and does as He wishes. (Psalm 115:3)

· God made us and knows what we need. He knows us better than we know ourselves. (Isaiah 45:9, 11-12)

· We can’t fix this world. It’s not up to us. We can’t change all the social conditions that exist. It is beyond our capability. Note Jeremiah 17:9. “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” NKJV What we can do is prescribe the remedy to each person; that remedy is Jesus Christ.

Conclusion:

The truths we think about and meditate on will affect our attitudes, emotions, feelings, and behavior. That’s why the wise man Solomon said, “Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.”

Bobby Stafford

February 22, 2015

Monday, February 16, 2015

Book of Acts | 1:12-26 | church of Christ

Book of Acts | 1:9-11 | church of Christ

Book of Acts | 1:6-8 | church of Christ

Book of Acts | 1:1-5 | church of Christ

Acts of the Apostles Online KJV Bible the church of Christ

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Remember To Rest | church of Christ | Sermon

Remember To Rest | church of Christ | Sermon

During an especially busy time, Jesus urged His disciples to “come aside . . . and rest a while.” (Mark 6:31) We too need times of rest not only for physical renewal but also for spiritual refreshment through reflection, Bible reading, and prayer.

Monday, February 9, 2015

Understanding | Revelation | church of Christ

Sunday, February 8, 2015

What will happen when Jesus Christ Returns | church of Christ | Sermon

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Psalm 22 | church of Christ | Sermon

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

http://granbychurchofchrist.org/Sermons/pages/2015/pefect-law-of-liberty.htm

The Perfect Law of Liberty

The Perfect Law of Liberty

Introduction:

For many in the world, “law” is a dirty word, a bad word. They see law as something that takes away their freedom, their liberty to live as they please. But, just for a moment, try to imagine our world today without law. Chaos would reign. Murder, rape, stealing, would be rampant. No one would be safe. Civilization would break down. So law is good for us; it protects us.

The inspired writer James informs us about the importance of the “perfect law of liberty.” (James 1:25) We are told to look, to look intently, and to stoop over with our head bent forward to see something carefully and accurately. The idea is to focus all of our attention so we can inspect it carefully. So what lessons can be learn about the “perfect law of liberty”?

Text:  James 1:25 “But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.”  NKJV

Body:

I.   It Is a Law

·   In the prior verses 21-24, James is discussing the word, the Word of God, Scripture. James calls this a law because it is the authoritative body of divine truth which is the basis for the Christian faith. It is our rule of action, our standard of conduct. A Christian’s life is to be regulated today by the gospel, the New Testament.

·   Some say that today we are not under law, but under grace. While it’s true we are not under the Law of Moses, (Ephesians 2:15-16) we are under law because if we weren’t, there would be no sin. (I John 3:4) This law is binding upon all men. (Titus 2:11)

·   This law is elsewhere called the “law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2), the "royal law" (James 2:8) and the “law of the spirit of life. (Romans 8:1-2)

II.   It Is Perfect

·   The gospel is complete and whole, lacking nothing. (II Timothy 3:16) It is sufficient and comprehensive. All truth has been fully revealed. (Jude 3, I Corinthians 13:10)

·   This law is also perfect because it originates from a perfect God. The perfect Lawgiver cannot be bettered. It is without error and perfect for all situations and all circumstances. Note Psalm 19:7-11. God’s Word has the power to turn sinners to a holy God. It is sure and steadfast and capable of making us wise. This perfect law cannot be improved upon in any way. Any tampering by man will destroy its perfection. (Revelation 22:18-19)

III.   It’s the Law of Liberty

·   It is freedom from the bondage of the Law of Moses. (Galatians 5:1) “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangles again with a yoke of bondage.”  NKJV (Acts 15:4-5, 10, Romans 8:2) The law of Moses was incapable of the justification of sinners (Acts 13:39).

·   It is freedom from the bondage of sin. (Romans 6:16-19, 20-22) All who are under the tyranny of lust or anger or hate are slaves while all who live with the law are truly free. (John 8:34-36)

·   This liberty is not a license to sin, to live anyway that one desires. (Galatians 5:13, 1 Peter 2:16, Romans 6:1-2) True liberty is living as we should, not as we please. It influences us to serve and obey God not out of compulsion, but out of love. Men are truly free when they want to do what they ought to do. (II Corinthians 10:5)

·   The law of liberty is contrasted with the law of Moses.  Galatians 6:18, "Everyone that heareth these words of mine and doeth them not ... like the foolish man who built his house on the sand ... great was the fall thereof (Matthew 7:26-27). This is a call to obey all of what Jesus taught. But, is not the Law of Christ a "law of liberty" in comparison with the Law of Moses? To be sure it is.

All of the vast ceremonial, with its physical sacrifices, presentations upon certain days, and intricate, elaborate procedures for every conceivable kind of violation is gone.

The subjection to a priesthood of men, which was a part of the old law, has been taken away (Hebrews 9).

There is forgiveness of violations under the New, but there was none under the Old (Hebrews 10:4).

Not any of the morality, integrity, honesty, truthfulness, sobriety, chastity, etc., that were required under the law of Moses have been relaxed under Christ. The notion that Christianity has a looser moral code than Judaism is ridiculous; and yet that is the understanding some have regarding the wonderful "freedom in Christ." Such is a fatal delusion. If Christ came into the world in order to relax the will of God regarding what is or is not righteousness then it must follow that He died so that we would be free to sin as we please, (Romans 6:15-16). As a matter of truth, the morality of Christ is a higher, stricter and tighter code than Judaism ever was, as specifically elaborated in theSermon on the Mount.

This undeniable truth sends shudders of apprehension through those who see it and draw back and cry, "Impossible! Who can be perfect? Where is any possible ground of confidence?" Despite the higher level of morality required of Christians, and despite the specific commandments of both a positive and negative nature which abound in Christian doctrine, and despite the fact that no salvation of any kind is promised to them who "obey not the gospel," (2 Thessalonians 1:8), there is, nevertheless, the solid ground of absolute trust and confidence "in Christ." The forgiveness provided under the law of Christ is operative on a constant and continual basis, "cleansing us of all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:7-9). There are two questions that if answered affirmatively will bestow full confidence in the Christian. "Am I in Christ?" (Romans 8:1), and "Shall I be found in him?" (2 Peter 3:14). Our confidence is not found in our own success as to meeting God's standards, but it is in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Conclusion:

Our text, James 1:25, reveals that the one who continues in the perfect law of liberty and is a doer of the work, will be blessed in what he does. (Psalm 19:11) “Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward.”  NKJV (John 13:17) “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”  NKJV (Revelation 14:12-13) “Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, Write Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”  NKJV The blessed are singularly favored by God.

Bobby Stafford

February 1, 2015