8/25/96, AM, Pr. McDearmon

The backslider in heart shall have his fill of his own ways.  The very concept of a gentleman is (has) vanished. 

Who is a gentleman or gentlewoman? 

• good manners
• good breding of a Christian family
• he is courteous and kind

I.   His world
[Note] his magnanimous spirit.  "Do all things without grumbling . . . " 
The gentleman is not to givee up.  Grumbling turns to rebelling.  The world returns evil for good.  His doing all things in an evil world is not gonig to harm him much.  Whatever you want others to do for you, do so for them, even if they don't return your kindness. 
II.  His irreproachable life
There is an innocence not only about what you see, but also what you don't see.  It requires Christian love.
III.  His testimony
We are light bearers, bearing the light of another, namely Christ.

8/18/96, PM, Pr. Brackett

Matt. 5:1-12, James 5:11Give a man a right relationship with Christ, and he will be in want for nothing.  If you make the world your goal and counselor, you will never know eternal happiness; you will only know eternal misery.  We are not asking you to be a momma's boy or daddy's boy, we want you to be Jesus' boy. 

This blessedness or happiness is associated wtih the happiness of heaven.  We're saying basically that Jesus has made us happy when we sing:  "Stayed upon Jehovah hearts are fully blest, [finding] as He promised, perfect peace and rest."

When the men at Vanity Fair asked what Christian would buy, he answered, "We only buy truth."

Confessing Sin, 8/18/96, AM, Pr. Brackett

I.  Negative
    A.  Object
    B.  Activity
    C.  Scope
    D.  Consequences
II.  Positive

The one who confesses will find favor.  God is not a man that He should lie, nor son of a man that He should repent.  We must confess and forsake our transgressions.  We must confess unto god, because God is the one that we have sinned against. 

Jesus.  It is in Jesus we are reconciled.  Jesus is our appointed mediator. 

Exodus 34:7; Deut. 30:3; Isaiah 54:8; Proverbs 28:13

Be gracious to me, O God, according to my transgressions, to my great sins.  We must forsake our sin.  We must, that means, leave it, hate it, turn from it, adn turn to the Lord to serve and obey Him.

Covering Sin, 8/18/96, SS, Pr. Brackett

Texts:  Prov. 28:13  "He who covers his transgressions shall not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy."

1 Kings 12:19 "So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day."

Isaigh 1:2b " . . . I have brought up children adn they have rebelled against Me."

2 Peter 3:15-16

Main Outline 
I.  Negative:  the one who refuses to repent shall not prosper
    A.  The object:  submit to authority
    B.  The activity

1. They twist the Scriptures to cover their sin
2. They blameshift to cover their sin
3. They lie to cover their sin
4. They camoflage their sin
• They say "everyone else does it"
• they call it [by] a different name
5. They seek to get out of doing one thing by doing another
6. They try to justify their sin by saying something to make it seem right
7. They cover their sin with a bad memory
8. They cover it by comparison & contrast

    C.  The scope
    D.  The consequences

Everyone who covers his sin shall not prosper.  Even though many seem to be prospering, their end, like the beef cattle is the meat line:  destruction. 

The unconverted shall nto prosper, but the converted also shall not prosper if they seek to cover their sin. 

You cannot prosper, for God, yea even God is against you.

8/11/96, PM, Pr. McDearmon

Introduction"Repent and believe in the gospel, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

I.  Primary dimension
 - telling others of the gospel
II.  Secondary dimension
 - giving your testimony

Psalm 66:16 - testimony
Sermon
I.  Biblical warrant for the personal
    A.  The Psalmist's invitation
    B.  The Lord's imperative
    C.  Peter's instruction
    D.  Paul's instance or example

Mark 5:19; 1 Pet. 3:15; Acts 9:1-22, 22:1-21, 26:1-23

II.  Practical directives for the personal testimony
   -  All are not called to preach, but all can testify
   -  In the book of First Peter, the word "hope" is a synonym to "faith"
   -  3 Segments

1. Paul gives in each case a description of life prior to conversion
2. A description of conversion is what he gives next
3. After he gives a description of life after conversion

Eternal Security, 8/11/96, AM, Pr. McDearmon

IntroductionI.  The eternal security of the believer
     A.  Perseverance
          - Must press on to the end
     B.  Preservation
          - Believers fastened toa rock forever

The people of God are "protected by the power of God through faith, ready to be revealed in the last time."  "My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me . . . " (Phil 2:13, 1:6; 1 Pet. 1:5; John 10:27-29).  That text often comes to mind [when] we think about eternal security.  God's sovereignty.  God shall keep His own.  The Lord knows who are His, and he preserves us.  We are assured that God shall preserve His believers, who persevere in Him.  Paul understood that the believer's perseverance works with the believer's self-control. 

The true believer cries to God not to let him fall away, lest he be given over to his own lusts. 
Sermon
I. 
    A.  Abimelech's example
    B.  David's example (1 Sam. 25)
    C.  David's prayers (Psalm 19)
    D.  Our Lord's prayers
    E.  Jude's confidence

We like David are exposed, tempted, etc.  Now we go to Jesus' prayers.  The Lord's prayer.  [ . . . ]

"Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation."

Even More Shorter Catechism

Outline #99
I.  The right way to baptize is
    A.  Immersion

1. Or immersing or dipping the entire body of that one saved into water
2. Not by

         a.  Sprinkling the water
         b.  Pouring the water
         c.  Dipping some part of the body
          - Even though people do it that way
    B.  In the name of

1. God the Father
2. God the Son
3. God the Holy Spirit

II.  Or otherwise stated:
    A.  The way Christ baptized
    B.  The way He taught the disciples to baptize

8/4/96, PM, Pr. Savastio

Our society is very passionate to have our bodies clean, while at the same time do not care about the cleanliness of their [souls].

I.  The context of this prophecy
II.  The urgent need of this prophecy
III.  The gloriosu promise contained in this
These words:  "sin and uncleanness" ought to stir us into action

A.  It is a cleansing fountain
B.  It is an open fountain
C.  It is a lasting fountain

Zechariah 3:8, 9:9, 12:10

8/4/96, AM, Pr. Savastio

2 Corinthians 6:1-2

I.  Paul's earnest plea expounded
    A.  The pleading mercy of God
          - His fear for some in the church
         B.  The judgment of God
    C.  The meaning of His earnest plea
          - Why should you come to Christ now?

1. Because you do not know what a day will bring forth.  It is appointed unto men once to die, and after this the judgment
2. Because you do not know the hour that Christ is coming.
3. Because every day you do not do so, you are increasing your wickedness
4. Because evil days are coming "Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth . . . "
   
5. Because every time you refuse, your heart becomes harder
6. Because God may never grant you another opportunity to hear the gospel
7. Sin is a grievous taskmaster If you are not serving Christ, you are serving your sins.  The joy of the critic is nothing.  Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.
   
8. Because God's arms are open right now

8/4/96, SS, Pr. Savastio

God is a singing God, though many might now realize that.

I.  The happiness of a reconciled people
    A.  Their happiness commanded
    B.  The cause of their happiness expounded
          - not the power of a positive attitude

1. Because their sins are forgiven
2. They have been given victory over their enemy
3. Because God is with us, His people
4. Because there is no fear of calamity

Providence is at times very dark, but we must not even let that darkest providence overshadow our joy.

II.  The joyfulness of a reconciled God
    A.  He will rejoice over you with gladness

1. He is full of mirth
2. He is rejoicing with gladness

    B.  He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy
    C.  He will rejoice over you with singing

Will you believe what God has said?  He who believes in the Son has everlasting life.
Zephaniah 3:17

Separation from the World, 7/28/96, PM, Pr. McDearmon

2 Cor. 6:17He who has become a Christian wishes to "come out of their midst and be separate."  We have an agent of the world within our own breast.  What is not meant by "separation from the world?"

1.  Performing our worldly jobs and business
2.  Declining all interaction with worldly people
 - Our Savior ate, drank, and conversed with people.
3.  Taking up no interest in anything except for that which is religious
 - Paul knew the value of good government
4.  It also does not mean that we must be eccentric or purposefully acting different to draw attention to ourselves

The shortest path is not always the path of duty. 

What is meant by "separation from the world?"

1.  His moral standard is not the crowd but the law of God
2.  It consists of keeping a Biblical perspective on the business of the world
 - the lust of the flesh indicates anything that the flesh desires [is to be pursued].  We need many things, but in our fallen condition, we crave and covet much more than we need.
3.  It consists in saying "no" to things that you want
4.  It consists of having only the people of God as our intimate friends, close relations and partners
 - We must not be unequally yoked.  "Bad company corrupts good morals."

Get a new heart.  A heart in which Christ dwells.  A heart in which old things have passed away and the new has come.  Coem out from their midst and be separate. 

Daniel, 7/28/96, AM, Pr. McDearmon

"Once saved always saved."  It is in our age a cop-out phrase that deceives men by teaching them that once they have made a decision for Christ, they can live any way they want and still be sure of heaven.  Heb. 3:14 "We have become partakers of Christ . . ." Heb. 4:11 "Let us be diligent to enter that rest" Heb. 6:11, Heb. 10:36, "My righteous one lives by faith, but if he shrinks back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him."

I.  Daniel's perplexity concerning 'time, times, and 1/2 time'
II.  Daniel's question:  "My Lord, what shall be the outcome of the end?"
III.  The response:  "God your way, Daniel, for the words are concealed and sealed unto the end."

The worship of God is a thing hated by the world.  1 Cor 11:22

1.  The rest of the grave Job 3:17
2.  The rest of the soul - the Sabbath

"Blessed are the dead, for they may rest all the day long."  the Antichrist will vent his most heated wrath on the church.  Eventually, however, he will fail, and no one will help him.  God shall have a faithful remnant throughout.  He is most fit to die, who is most fit to live.  This [world] is not a nice place.  It is a bad, evil, God-hating place.  It is not evolving.  Morally and spiritually, the world we live in is devolving.  We myust go our way to the end in standing alone.  "For those who honor Me, I will honor."  Daniel was a man of persistent prayer.  King Nebuchadnezzar found Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah ten times wiser than all his magicians, conjurers and wise men.  The book of Daniel sets forth many paths.  Daniel is a trail blazer for us.  We hope that God will raise up a host of those who will persevere unto the end.

More Shorter Catechism

Outline #97
Baptism
I. Is a sacrament of the new covenant
   A.  Practiced and taught by Christ Himself
   B.  A sign that the believer baptized is in union with Christ

II.  It means:
   A.  Christ's dying unto sin
   B.  His being buried in a tomb
   C.  His risign again - overcoming death

III.  Baptism signifies to the believer
   A.  His being transplanted from his sins to Christ
   B.  His sins all being paid off
   C.  His giving up his worldly desires for God, by the help of Jesus Christ
   D.  To live in the sight of God and his fellow man a changed life

#98
I.  Baptism is to be applied to all those
   A.  Believably say that they have experienced and still experience
   B.  And show faith in Jesus Christ, the Lord, not any other

And what this means is:  That the only candidates for baptism are those old enough to see their sin, repent of it, and put their trust in Him, not anybody else. 

7/21/96, PM, Pr. McDearmon

"Fugitive Sermon"

I.  The danger of sensuality
 - The gratifying of our fleshly desires
 - Example: "He has a tendency to sleep longer than he needs, and therefore skips personal devotions."

II.  The danger of worldly care
 - The wide realm of the legitimate and necessary affairs of live that divert men's attention to the things of this world.  "A full belly makes a foul heart.
     A.  It wears out that which is good
     - Example:  Good health
     - Example:  Good attitudes

Because of their sensuality, men become unaware of their spiritual needs.  The common thread between Matthew and Luke is the call for alertness.  Difficult days shall come upon men as the Lord's coming approaches.

Mark 4:19; 1 Cor. 6:3-4; 2 Cor. 11:28; Luke 21:34-36; Prov. 14:14; 1 Tim. 5:16; 1 Cor. 6:3-4; Matt. 24:37-39; Luke 21:34

    B.  It shuts out that which is best
     - Example:  It escludes church things
   C.  It shuts up men to the as it were 'poorest living quarters.'

A trait of the days of Noah was abounding wickedness.  It bids us to live like men who expect the Lord to return any day.  We keep on the alert daily in an expectant way by praying daily. 

We are finite creatures of flesh and blood with many fleshly desires and many opportunities to fulfill these desires.

7/21/96, AM, Pr. McDearmon

Daniel 12:5-13
The linen clothes indicate Christ's office as priest.  The position He holds indicates His office as king.  The fact that He was foretelling the future indicates His office as prophet.

The time, He says, will be for a time, times, and half a time.  It signifies a long time.  It is the same as Daniel 7:25.  What, though, does "time" mean?  We cannot tell.  It simply states a set time.  "As soon as they finish shattering the tent of the holy people, the time shall be used up."  There are things God in His wisdom has decided not to reveal.

It is our place to be instrumentally leading others to Christ.
A.  Daniel's perplexity
 - "As for me, I heard, but could not understand"
B.  Daniel's question
 - "What shall be the outcome of these events?"

Scripture is not a bunch of esoteric theocrasy. 

Deut. 21:21

7/14/96, PM, Pr. McDearmon

1.  All have sinned because all are descendants of Adam 2.  All have sinned by sinning, not only because they are descendants of Adam
"Therefore, as through one man's offense, judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so, through one Man's . . . "
Matt. 18:15, Rom. 5:18
What considerations caused David to remain quiet during the cursing [of Shimei]?

• He knew it was too true though it was false in the way Shimei said it
• He observed the hand of God in this

1. Our Lord's command
2. Apostle's confidence
3. The Psalmist's prayer
4. The wise man's teaching

A.  Peter's response  Luke 17:3-4
    1.  The preceding context
    2.  General duty
    3.  The absurdity of silently watching a brother sink lower in his sins

Col. 3:16, Prov. 27:5-6, 1 Thess. 5:12
In one of the two passages, Christ tells us that we need to administer and receive correction in the church.  you are to appreciate those who "dare" to show you your sin.  Paul honestly assumed that those even in the church would sin, and that sometimes they would be blidn to their sin.  Other brethren could see it and correct it. 

"Let the righteous strike me; it shall be a kindness, and let him reprove me; it shall be as excellent oil; let not my head refuse it."  Psalm 141:5

Correction hurts.  It hurts pride; it hurts to own your sin.  The friend is one to me who will be open to me, and rebuke me when I need it.

A.  The character of the one that refuses correction
    1.  Proverbs 12:1 - stupid
    2.  Proverbs 13:1, 15:12 - scoffer
    3.  Proverbs 15:5 - a fool

B.  The consequences of refusing correction
    1.  He/she will go astray
    2.  Poverty
         a.  Of reputation
         b.  Of material items
    3.  Shame
    4.  Stubbornness

C.  Man receives correction
    1.  Wise
    2.  Prudent
    3.  Man of understanding
    4.  Growing in wisdom and learning
    5.  Being honored

Several applications

• Each of us ought to pray, as David prayed, to point out our sin
• Prayerfully meditate upon the horror of coming to the state that no one wants anything to do with you because you throw it in their face
• you ought to actively solicit the corrective input of others
• Go to others if they are sinning.  Who?
• Your spouse
• Your children
• Your fellow church members
• Your parents

It is a dreadful ruinous thing for brethren to be afraid of you or avoid you and cut you off.

7/14/96, AM, Pr. McDearmon

Ben-Haded King and Ahab King fought twice.  The victory both times went to Ahab.  But, after that, Ahab foolishly released Ben Hadad and made a covenant with him!

Later, for that sin Ahab received the consequences.  Men are sinners not only because they are descendants of Adam, but simply because they sin. 

There was the manifestation of not being able to see one's own sin, while being quick to see other's sin.  "Don't take the speck out of your brother's eye, until you take the log out of your own eye."  In their perversity, sinners will seek to take revenge when "another has dared to correct me."  The very quick response of many is "You're judging me!"  Sinners seem to think that if another is judging them that person is wrong. 

Paul does not leave his readers with a pathetic blindness of morality.
1.  God's gracious remedies for man's moral blindness
Some men are brought as the prodigal to their senses.  The man (wild man) was left "sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in their right minds."  You have heard enough gospel.  You know enough facts.  You just need to be saved.

Possible Outline of Shorter Catechism Questions (?)

#93
I.  That the Word of God may become effectual unto the conversion of others, we must:
     A.  Minister to them

1. Diligence
2. Make ready for it
3. Pray daily

    B.  Receive it with

1. Faith
2. Love

    C.  Lay it up in our hearts
    D.  Give others a good example by our own lives

#94
I.  A sacrament of the new covenant is a
    A.  Sacred statute
    B.  Instituted by Jesus Christ
         -  By proper signs
II.  Christ and the benefits of the new covenant are:
    A.  Likened
    B.  Sealed
    C.  Applied to believers

#95
I.  The sacraments of the new covenant are
    A.  Baptism:  a sign that the believer is saved
    B.  and the Lord's Supper:  a sign that we remember Christ's death

#96
I.  Baptism and the Lord's Supper become profitable ways of salvation:
    A.  Not befause they have the power to save and change
    B.  Not because the man who applies them has the power to save and change
    C.  But because Christ sees them as His ordinances and therefore blesses them
    D.  And the Spirit sees the faith in the hearts of those who receive them and works there