Sunday, August 25, 2013

Sunday Sermonette

August 25, 2013
Delusion from God
"And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie." (2 Thessalonians 2:11)
 
This is a startling declaration! Why would God want to deceive people and cause them to believe a lie? The "cause" which would activate such an extreme decision on God's part must be very serious. The preceding verse states it plainly. It is "because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved" (2 Thessalonians 2:10). Because they "resist the truth" (2 Timothy 3:8), they will "believe the lie"!
 
The specific context refers to those who elect to follow the coming "man of sin," but the principle is timeless. It tells us that God's attitude toward men is determined by their love of the truth, rather than by their knowledge of the truth. When people love God's truth, there is no limit to the amount of truth and blessing they may receive from God. Note the attitude of the writer of Psalm 119: "How sweet are thy words unto my taste!" "Thy testimonies . . . are the rejoicing of my heart." "I love thy commandments above gold." "Thy law is my delight" (Psalm 119:103, 111, 127, 174).
 
But when people begin to exhibit a disdain for God's truth, there may soon come a time in their lives when they find it impossible even tocomprehend the all-important truth of God's saving gospel (creation, salvation, and reconciliation through Christ).
 
Because they refused the love of His truth when it would have been easy to believe, a blindness gradually engulfs their minds until they love the deceptive philosophies of the world, and they never escape the strong delusion which God has allowed to engulf them. Henceforth, though they are "ever learning," they are "never able to come to the knowledge of the truth" (2 Timothy 3:7). How important it is, as early in life as possible, to receive from God His proffered gift of the love of His truth! HMM

h/t: HENRY M MORRIS, INSTITUTE FOR CREATION RESEARCH

Sunday, August 18, 2013

Sunday Sermonette


August 18, 2013

Follow Righteousness
"Follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart." (2 Timothy 2:22)
 
The word "follow" is frequently translated "persecute" in other passages. Jesus used the word this way: "The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you" (John 15:20). The connotation of the Greek term includes a dogged and relentless effort.
 
Anyone who wants to serve the Lord Jesus faithfully must be determined to pursue righteousness. Those who "hunger and thirst after righteousness" are promised both happiness and fulfillment (Matthew 5:6). Those who seek "first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness" have the promise that God will supply all their earthly needs (Matthew 6:33).
 
Perhaps a quick review of some of the passages that require "pursuit" of a godly lifestyle would be helpful.
  • "Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another" (Romans 14:19).
  • "Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy" (1 Corinthians 14:1).
  • "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14).
  • "See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever followthat which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men" (1 Thessalonians 5:15).
  • "But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow afterrighteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness" (1 Timothy 6:11).
  • "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14).
Even this short list should keep all of us on our knees asking both for forgiveness and for strength to obey. HMM III

h/t: HENRY M MORRIS III, INSTITUTE FOR CREATION RESEARCH
 

Sunday, August 11, 2013

Sunday Sermonette


August 11, 2013

Things to Flee
"Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart." (2 Timothy 2:22)
 
There are times to stand and there are times to flee. There are some things so fearful and deadly that it is foolish to try to face them at all. The only rational course, when confronted by them, is to flee!
 
The most obvious of all such enemies is the wrath of God, for His judgment is terrible and eternal. Therefore, His message to all unsaved men and women is to "flee from the wrath to come" (Matthew 3:7—the first occurrence of "flee" in the New Testament) by receiving Christ as Savior.
 
It is wise to refrain from all kinds of sin, but certain sins have such deadly consequences, even in this present life, that the Scriptures warn us to flee from them. "But thou, O man of God, flee these things" (1 Timothy 6:11). In context, the apostle Paul is here warning against "the love of money" (v. 10) and those who suppose "that gain is godliness" (v. 5). Those who desire to be rich, he says, "fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition" (v. 9). Therefore, flee from this temptation!
 
He also warns us to "flee from idolatry" (1 Corinthians 10:14)—that is, from worshipping and serving any part of the creation "more than the Creator" (Romans 1:25). This warning is especially appropriate today when there is such a wide resurgence of evolutionary pantheism.
 
Also, we must "flee fornication" (1 Corinthians 6:18). This is a deadly danger to the Christian in this day of amorality. Finally, as our text says, young believers (and old believers need this admonition, too!) should "flee also youthful lusts," if we are to be able to "call on the Lord out of a pure heart." HMM

h/t: HENRY M MORRIS, INSTITUTE FOR CREATION RESEARCH
 

Saturday, August 3, 2013

Sunday Sermonette

August 4, 2013
The Name of the Lord
"And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you." (Exodus 3:14)
 
This unique name of God was given to stress the truth that He is timeless. The name "LORD" (Hebrew YHWH = Yahweh, or Jehovah) is essentially the same, conveying the truth that He is the eternal, self-existing One.
 
The Lord Jesus Christ appropriated this divine name to Himself when He told the Jews: "Before Abraham was |i.e., 'was born'|, I am" (John 8:58). Correctly assuming that this statement was nothing less than a direct claim to identity with God, the Jews immediately (but unsuccessfully) attempted to stone Him to death as a blasphemer.
 
As the I Am, the Lord Jesus Christ is, indeed, everything, and He has revealed Himself to us under many beautiful symbols. It is well known that there are seven great "I am's" in the gospel of John, each of which is rich with spiritual depth of meaning. They can be listed as follows:
 
"I am the bread of life . . . the living bread" (John 6:35, 51).
"I am the light of the world . . . the light of life" (John 8:12).
"I am the door of the sheep" (John 10:7).
"I am the good shepherd . . . |who| giveth his life for the sheep" (John 10:11).
"I am the resurrection, and the life" (John 11:25).
"I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6).
"I am the true vine" (John 15:1).
 
It is well known that this magnificent self-assertion of the Lord permeates the whole Bible, from its first use in Genesis 15:1, "I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward," to its final occurrence in Revelation 22:16, "I am . . . the bright and morning star." And all these beautiful figures help us to pray more fervently "that God may be all in all" (1 Corinthians 15:28). HMM

h/t: HENRY M MORRIS, INSTITUTE FOR CREATION RESEARCH