12/14/97, AM, Pastor McDearmon

Divisions - to draw a line or make boundaries.
"though" - from or off.  To separate.

1. What was divided?
2. How were these divisions effective?

The churches in which these men were found were divided.  Division was being effective by false doctrine as some in the church embraced the false teaching while others, to their credit, were refusing it.  Rom. 16 "Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissentions."  Two occasions for false doctrine:  1.  smooth and flattering speech, 2. --. 

The members can[not?] be in doctrinal agreement if the members are not in consistent attendance.  They can be in doctrinal unity if they remain teachable.  The membership can be in substantial doctrinal agreement if the members remain honest.  We must remain vigilant to the rising of doctrinal disagreement.  These divisions were also being affected by false living.  False living and false doctrine are related.  Where you find loose living, you're going to find false doctrine.  Rebellion against the church's leadership could be another cause for division.  Unity in the church is a heart issue.

12/14/97, SS, Pastor McDearmon

10.  We are to read with faith, believing the Word to be of God.
     a.  Internal Evidence
         -  The subject matter
         -  The effects upon people's lives
    b.  External evidence.  Heb. 4:3

11.  We are to value the Scriptures, prizing the book above all other books.

12.  We are to "get an ardent love for the Word"
     "prizing" - relates to our judgments
     "love" - relates to our affections

13.  Come to the reading of the Word with honest hearts.
    a.  To come with a heart that wants to know the whole counsel of the Word
    b.  To read the Word unto the end to be made better by it

14.  To learn to apply the Scriptures to ourselves
    "A medicine will do no good unless it is applied to the patient."

15.  We are to observe the preceptive part of the Word as well as the promises.

16.  Let your thoughts dwell upon the most material pats of Scripture.  Such as Ephesians in comparison with 1 Chronicles 1-9.  Both are inspired, but genealogies are not as important as the directives of the New Testament.

17.  Copmpare yourselves with teh Word.

18.  Take special notice of those Scriptures which speak directly to your face.

19.  Take special notes of the examples of good to yourself or if of bad, an example to avoid.  Nothing draws God's judgment more quickly than hypocrisy.

20.  Leave not off reading in the Bible, till you find your hearts warmed.  Psalm 119:25,28,37,40,50, etc.

21.  Set upon the practice of what you read.

22.  Make use of Christ's prophetic office.

23.  Tread often upon the threshold of the sanctuary, or "go to church!"

24.  Pray that God will make you profit.  Content not yourselves with the bare reading of Scripture, but seek and labor that you may understand it.  You may profit by reading the Scriptures even if you do not have a good memory.

12/7/97, PM, Pastor McDearmon

James has spoken to the false.  Now with the true. 

I.  The True Origin of Temptation and Sin
Each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed.  Entice - to lure with bait.  To entice was often thought of as 1.  fishing or 2.  the harlot.

II.  Temptation's Development
What impregnates lust in order to bring forth sin?  Man's will unites with lust.  For from within, out of the heart of men proceed temptation and sin.  Every good thing bestowed comes from God, and supremely, the new birth.  Learn that sin develops by degrees, and remember the last consequence of sin, death.  We do not live in the same lusts as those of the false teachers.

12/7/97, AM, Pastor McDearmon

In this world, corruption in the hearts of men and women is not from money and nice things, but from incorrect desires for money and nice things.  Corruption is in the world by lust.  Sin knows no mother but man's own heart.  "God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts."  Rom. 1:24.  "Flee youthful lusts."  "The grace of God instructs us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts."

Lust - "a heated desire toward something" 
Lusts are evil because either the object is evil or the desires are excessive.  To live according to your own lusts is destructive and downright pitiful.  Outward trials have the potential to become inward temptation.  Men are very prone to blame God.  "We sin simply because we choose to sin."

Why God cannot tempt us to sin

1. The nature of God precludes Him from being the origin of sin
• His perfect sufficiency
• His perfect holiness
2. His character renders the conduct of being unable to tempt anyone.

Sinners strangely resists facing their own culpability to sin.

11/30/97, PM, Pastor McDearmon

One primary application

We must be committed to the discipline of daily devotions in communion with Him through His Word.  "Remember the words spoken by the apostles."  (Jude)  "Some people's bible reading is characterized by perpetuated dipping and picking." - J.C. Ryle

A suggestive format for the use and reading of the Word of God:  The systematic reading of the Word of God Genesis through Revelation in a fixed period of time.  That period of time can be 1 year, 3 years, 5 years, 10 years or any other amount of time.  This is recommended by many godly writers of yesterday and today. 

1. A time period is established
2. Each day has a designated old and new testament portion to be read
3.  OT objectives:  understanding, applying
• Read the OT portion seeking to understand its meaning, being mindful of the concept and of what you are reading
• Apply what is read and accurately interpreted to myself.  Ask questions like "How does this relate to me?  what should I learn?  What should I repent of? etc."  Meditate upon it.
• We must worship God through prayer.  We give thanks to God. 
4. Read NT portion with same procedure
5. Do not be frustrated if a portion remains unclear.  Try a Bible Dictionary, Commentaries, or another's counsel.
6. It is good to read other books, but your focus is to read the Bible.
7. Meditate on a few selected verses.
8. Memorize at lest one verse a week.

What can be offered to this approach?  What are biblical indications concerning this point?

1. The nature of the Bible itself.  "All Scripture is inspired . . . and profitable."  We must expose our souls to all Scripture.
2. Our need for the entire Bible points in this direction.  Matthew 4:4.  "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word which proceeds out of the mouth of God."  
3. Christ being the them of the entire Bible.  The Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms all point to Him.  The gospels tell of Him, the epistles promote Him and the Revelation also testifies to Him.
4. The unity of the entire Bible points in this direction.  It is one unified whole. 

Hebrews 1:1-2, Hebrews 8.  "I will put my laws . . . "

Dangers of this plan:

1. Danger of formality
2. Danger of self-righteousness
3. Danger of careless reading

Advantages:

1. The whole Bible read through consecutively
2. Time not wasted in choosing topic matter
3. Parents having regular subject matter with which to converse with children
4. Pastor will know what people are feeding on/matters to pray about
5. Production of symmetry/balance in our understanding and experience

Suggestions

1. Add to OT and NT reading each day 1 Psalm.
2. Read a Proverb a day according to calendar day.
3. Add a bit of devotional reading.  Even a few pages of a well-chosen book.

"You, beloved, ought to remember the words which were spoke of you by the apostles."

11/30/97, AM, Pastor McDearmon

Our minds are to dwell on those truths and realities concerning God, God's works, etc.  Phil. 4:8  Jude had been speaking of the bad guys.  The focus has very definitely changed. 

I.  The address that Jude uses:  "But you, beloved"
    A.  Denunciatory warnings are very much in agreement with Christian love
II.  The command.  Gal. 2:10, Heb. 13:3, Ex. 20:8
    Remember!  Like Remember Lot's Wife.  Where are there passages of Scriptures like these?
    What is a mocker?  Well, something a sensible man would esteem, a mocker scorns.

Concluding thoughts

1. It is evident Jude recognized the divine authority and inspiration of the writings of the apostles.
2. He teaches them that teh Scriptures are the only reliable and authoritative guide for living.
3. He's teaching them the Scriptures are to be used.

Application
If we are to remember the words of the apostles so as to have them to use in a moment of need, then we must begin to renew our knowledge and daily communion with God through the Word.

11/23/97, PM, Pastor McDearmon

II.  What is it to follow after (or walk after) your own lusts?  Jude :16

    A.  It includes a willing subjection to lust
    B.  It involves a customary practice of our lusts
    C.  And a fond indulgence of our lusts

This above described person is not a carnal backslidden Christian in declension, but an unconverted man.  The grace of God teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts.

III.  7 basic directives toward mortifying lusts
    A.  Identify the lusts that arise in yoru body, soul, and the world.
    B.  Identify the occasions predictably conducive to the rising of your lusts
    C.  Bring teh teaching of Scripture to bear upon your lusts
    D.  Consider the consequences of yielding
    E.  Consider the benefits of denying your lusts, or of a disciplined moderation
    F.  Solicit the warnings and rebukes of others unto the end of waking you up and warning you to stop indulging lusts.
    G.  One's response to lust is a central issue in our lives

They speak arrogantly
Or big, swollen words.  These men talk big to impress others, and to gain a following.
I.  Claiming a superior knowledge of God and the Bible.
II.  Censuring thsoe who dared to disagree with them.  Ps. 73:9
III.  To speak big words of others and about themselves

We ought to, yes, speak with passion, but also with humility, giving gratitude to God for our knowledge.

Flattering people to gain Advantage
The advantages of this - gaining people to their side, and to gain worldly treasure. Flattering people to gain something is patently evil.  Commending other in order to learn from them is right.

11/23/97, SS, Pastor McDearmon

The man of God consciously denies himself of all unnecessary worldly desires.  Jude:16

Following after their own Lusts
One who is an all-around complainer is one governed by his own lusts.

I.  What are lusts?
Most literally, "lust" in the original means "a heated passion focused on a particular thing."  Not always bad - Luke 22:15; Phil. 1:8; Matt. 13:17; Luke 15:16; 1 Tim. 3:1; 1 Pet. 1:21
Most frequently, the term is used in a bad sense.  Gal. 5:16; Eph. 2:3; 1 Pet. 2:11; 2 Pet. 2:18; 1 John 2:16; Matt. 5:28; Acts 20:33; 1 Pet. 4:2; 1 Cor. 10:6; Tit. 2:12; 1 Thess. 4:4;

II.  What is it to follow after one's own lusts?

11/16/97, PM, Pastor McDearmon

Finding Fault  Jude:16

I.  What is meant by finding fault?
II.  With what do complainers find fault?
    A.  The kind and portion of what they have
    B.  What they have as compared to what others have.  They forget . . .

1. Their actions have consequences
2. In the end, it's God's prerogative to make rich.

    C.  Having to expend themselves and their goods
    D.  About their circumstances of all sorts

1. Where they live
2. The condition of their living, etc. Num. 14:1-4

"Grass is greener on the other side of the fence."
    E.  About one's role in life Num. 16:1
    F.  About what other people do Luke 5:30
    G.  Other people --> their superiority
    H.  The recognition other people get John 7:11
    I.  About adversity

1. For what we want
2. For what we have gotten
3. For what we have in comparison to what others have

III.  Why are men complainers?
    A.  Pride
    B.  Self-love
    C.  Impatience
    D.  Presumption of merit
    E.  Carnal affection
    F.  Unbelief   Ps. 106:24-25

IV.  Some truths to mortify complaining
    A.  A little is enough, and too much is a snare.
    B.  The government of our lives in every detail belongs to God.
    C.  God sees what is most fit for us.  Jer. 29:11
    D.  God disposes all for the ultimate good of His people

If we have an accurate view of our dessert, we may wonder at what we do have.  If it is ill for the present, unbelieving men think it will not get better.  Without faith, man is a complainer.  Those who want to get rich want much - riches are a snare for the soul.  Count your present estate the best.  "Murmuring or complaining is a sin that pulls God off His throne."  Thomas Manton

11/9/97, PM, Mr. Ryan

Isaiah 53:11a "He shall see the travail of hsi soul, and be satisfied." 

I.  The nature of this satisfaction
   A.  Abundantly full Is. 66:10
   B.  Exceedingly joyous
Christ sees his sufferings and does not regret them, but is full of joy.

1. Application to the Christian.  We would hold a warped description if we believed that thought Jesus was satisfied with His travail, He is no longer satisfied and full of joy with us as Christians.  Ought we not to do what He asks us with joy?
2. Application to the Unconverted.  Do you not see that He has joy in saving sinners?  You don't hae to be perfect; you can't be. 

Does Jesus Christ find His satisfaction with the travail itself, or is He satisfied with something else?  his joy is in what He knew this travail would produce.

II.  The elements of His satisfaction. 
   A.  He is satisfied with the justification of many.

1. His seed shall be justified
2. Those whom He shall justify shall be many

He will justify many.  Man cannot do it for Himself.  He shall be satisfied - not pacified; there is a big difference.
   
   B.  He is satisfied with the ongoing victories of His justification.
   C.  He is satisfied with the exaltation and glory of Himself.
   D.  He is satisfied into bestowing of the glory and honors upon His people.

The only reason why we overcome is because He enables us.  Final application:  for the Christians:  He is satisfied with us.  Yes, we are not perfect yet, but when we stand before Christ, He looks before us just as if we had never sinned - justification.  Before we start getting bitter adn dissatisfied with each other, remember, Christ is satisfied with him/her.

11/9/97, AM, Mr. Ryan

"Blessed" conveys a sense of envious desire.  Blessed means that the one whose transgressions are forgiven is the most happy, blissful, to be envied, etc. 

The Blessed Man described
I.  Negatively
   A.  One whose life manner resists the ungodly or wicked.  Wicked-->one whose life misses the mark.
   B.  One who avoids the company of open blasphemers of God.
   C.  One who stays away from the path of the sinners.

II.  Positively described
   A.  He delights in God's Word
   B.  He meditates on the Word of God
   C.  He is a steadfast, fruitful child of God.

11/9/97. SS, Mr. Ryan

The Christian's Perspective on the Punishment of Crime

I.  The Area of the Punishment of Crime
    A.  What our perspective is not to be

1. not the world's perspective Eph. 4:17-18
2. not a well-meaning but Biblically warped Christian perspective
• those who hold to an imbalanced view of the person of God.  Predominating view:  "God is love."
• those who hold a warped perspective on the unity of the covenants.  Theonomy.  

    B.  What our perspective is to be governed by

1. Romans 13  We need to realize God establishes and empowers civil governments.
2. Rulers are established to do not their own will, but His will.  He has put them there for our good.  1 Tim. 2:2.  that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and reverence.
3. This is achieved by the punishment of evildoers.

II.  2 Critical Things Must Occur
    A.  These justices must be performed
    B.  The intended effect of the punishment meted out is actually realized

1. They are to cause fear and terror in the criminal
2. You must use swiftness and certainty in order to accomplish the goal of peace

    C.  What guidelines ought to be used in our societies?  An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.

11/2/97, PM, Pastor McDearmon

You can preach salvation by grace and justification by faith and you are called licentious; you preach teh holiness of God, and you are called legalist.  Jude:16 This is the final description of these false teachers:

A.  These are grumblers
Grumbl[ers] are quiet, behind-the-scenes complainers who have come to distrust their leaders. 
Matthew 20:11-12; Luke 5:30; John 6:35; Acts 6:1; Phil. 2:14; 1 Cor. 10:10
The Jews led out of Egypt were grumbling not only to Moses, but at teh same time, to the Lord.  Grumbling is most directly aimed at God's appointed leadership.  the intent of grumblers and complainers is to overthrow authority. 

We must identify and deal with our grumbling.

We must beware not to listen to our have anythign to do with grumblers. 

Jude says of these libertines, "these are grumblers."

11/2/97, AM, Pastor McDearmon

I.  The Prophet
II.  The Prophecy
Review:  Enoch walked with God consistently for a minimum of thee hundred years.  He obtained the witness that before he was taken up he pleased God.

II.  introductory matters

1. The sense of the prophecy is applicable to the men Jude was describing.
2. This prophecy is as good as accomplished.  

    A.  The manner of our Lord's return
He is described as surrounded by thousands or a myriad of "holy ones" either glorified saints, or more likely, His angels.  The angels shall accompany the returning Christ.

1. The doctrine of the day of judgment is as gold or ancient as the day of Enoch.
2. "Behold" grabs our attention.  He's coming!

    B.  The purpose of our Lord's coming

1. To execute judgment - general
2. To convict all the ungodly - specific

Notice in verse 15 "all" is stated 4 times!  No one will escape.  All our secrets shall be exposed.  Sinners will be convicted of every careless word.  "The Lord weighs the hearts."  The execution of judgment shall involve the omniscient Judge.  The ungodly are men who are not dominatedly devoted to God.  It does not matter how religious you are.  Enoch was devoted to God and that's what makes him godly.  When the Lord returns to execute judgment, He will convict the ungodly or "lay bare" their true heart.  In the judgment, the nature and character of a man shall be exposed.  Solomon said, "The ploughing of the wicked is sin."  For the wicked man ploughs with the wrong motives.  "These are grumblers, finding fault." 

We ought to put in mind that conviction now may lead to salvation.  Conviction in this life, as painful and/or shameful as it is, leads to salvation.

10/26/97, PM, Pastor McDearmon

I.  The Prophet                                                             Jude:14-15
II.  The Prophecy

I. 
    A.  The character of the age or era
It was primarily the proccupation of worldly activities that took away any thought of God.
    B.  The character of the man, Enoch

1. Enoch was a man of faith.  He believed that as a child of Adam, he had received a sin nature and was guilty as Adam and Eve.
2. Enoch was a man of persevering godliness.  "How can two walk together unless they be agreed?"  They can't.  Enoch was God's own child, and walking with God signifies
• Communion with, and
• Obedience to God.  He was not a man too busy to pray.  He communed with God so as to know God, and to commune with God.  Enoch's walking with God was precisely what the false teachers in Jude's day had failed to do.
3. Enoch spoke to his generation for God.  He prophesied about their ungodly deeds.  
4. Enoch was a man who pleased God.
5. The end of Enoch.  He was taken up into heaven without the ordinary experience of death, or the unique experience of the second coming of Christ. 

10/26/97, AM, Pastor McDearmon

Jude uses 5 metaphors taken from nature to describe those who would turn the grace of God into licentiousness.

I.  Hidden Reefs - in a love feast - sea .  Take heed of luxury.  This signifies selfishness.

II.  Clouds without water - sky
Do I find holy living improved by their teaching?  That is the question one should ask of teachers like this.

III.  Trees without fruit - land
These men are doubly dead.  First by their original state, dead again by apostasy.  Uprooted.

IV.  Wild waves - sea
You think of the waves washing up shells, sand, seaweed, and in the Northeast, medical waste.

V.  Wandering stars - sky
Shooting stars sometimes refer to fallen angels who will be doomed forever, like these libertines, to eternal darkness.

It does make a very big difference as to whose ministry you depend upon.  And there ought to be serious scrutiny of the fruits of these teachers.

10/19/97, PM, Pastor McDearmon

There is no such thing as new.  Anything and everything goes back to Genesis.  God did not intend men to live on the level of animals.  Men who live by appetite rather than by reason are a man's body with a beast's heart.  Cain, Balaam, and Korah are the men who are warnings from the Old Testament.  Jude :11

-  "Woe to them" is an expression of both denunciation and doom.  the man who used this phrase most is Christ Himself.  We ought to be passionate about the preaching of the gospel.
-  The predictive parallel text 2 Peter 2:15.  Peter predicts what Jude condemns, but Peter only puts in Balaam; Jude adds Cain and Korah.

I.  Cain "For they have gone the way of Cain."  (a manner of living or thinking)
Cain is depicted as a selfish, hateful brother whose offering was not acceptable because he did not have faith.

II.  The error of Balaam "have run greedily in the way of Balaam for profit" (or pay, money)
The gain they wanted was not only money, but popularity, a gratifying ego, followers, etc.  What was the error of Balaam?  The Old Testament narrative does not tell all that Balaam did, but there are other passages that fill us up in the rest of the story.  Balaam is willing to be a preacher for hire.  Balaam should have told Balak to get out of his sight, but he wanted the money.  The error of Balaam is that of getting others to sin.  the error of teaching others that sin doesn't matter, where sin abounds, grace super-abounds.

III.  The rebellion of Korah
A.  Korah rebels
B.  Moses' response to Korah
C.  Moses' summoning Korah's freinds
D.  The people gather around the tabernacle
later...
The earth swallows them up.

Though the scene be shifted and the actors replaced, the plot is the same.

10/19/97, AM, Pastor Austin Walker

John 18:11 "Then Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword in the sheath.  Shall I not drink the cup which my Father has given Me?" 
2 objectives
I.  Those of you who have not put your trust in Christ will be saved this morning
II.  Those who have already been freed from your sins will be encouraged by a fresh view of Christ crucified.

See Christ in His sufferings:

1. He is in total control of it.  He is not a martyr.
2. He is under divine judgment.
3. We see Him in His obedience.

It is in obedience to His Father that He drinks this cup.  All the sorrows, experiences, and death are from His Father.  And the son obeys.

10/19/97, SS, Pastor Savastio

The word "sin" in many places nowadays is used only as a joke.  Galatians 2:21

What is the sin?
I.  The sin of self-righteousness
    A.  The nature of self-righteousness
    B.  The evils of self-righteousness
    C.  A few antidotes to self-righteousness

More people believe they are going to heaven than believe there is a heaven.  Most people believe that "Whatever God requires of me, I will be able to accomplish."  Grace speaks of undeserved or unmerited favor.  Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 Cor. 1:30-31  if you can become righteous in and of yourself, then Christ died in vain.  Without holiness, no one shall see the Lord.  But remember, these things do not save you.  What are the cures for self-righteousness?  You need to change your view of God.  Nobody has their own view or convictions about gravity, and you cannot have more than one view of God.  The cross of Christ is all about salvation.  We need to embrace God's grace and God's provision.

10/12/97, PM, Pastor Hill

I.  The details of the event
II.  Apply certain points

Mary is identified as the one who anointed Jesus' head/feet.  This was very expensive perfume of pure nard, a very costly root from a remote region of the world.  Judas did not really care for the poor, but wanted the money it could have been sold for.  "She has done what she could.  She has prepared my body beforehand for the burial."  God's purposes may often be brought out n men and women who do not know what they are doing.

II.  A.  In Mary, we have the lesson of generous self-sacrifice.  She wasn't calloused to the poor, but not all of them put together, benefited by her money, did she love as much as Christ.  Christ deserves it all.  Proverbs 3:5-6; Psalm 116:12-14
     B.  What is really spent in honoring Christ can never be waste.  Luke 6:38
     C.  Let us not expect that the world will be impressed by our devotion to Christ.  They won't be.  They will call you a fool, legalist, Jesus freak, etc.
     D.  We ought to take a passing note, at least, of what it is to confess Christ.  Mark 14:9
     E.  The reason most people do not confess Christ is because they so little realize what God has done for them.

10/12/97, AM, Pastor Sarver

Spiritual Declension

The one thing the devil tries to keep us from is prayer.  2 areas of declension in prayer.

A.  Declension in the spirit of prayer
B.  Declension in the habit of prayer

Prayer is said to be an offering, an incense, the lifting up of the soul.  It is absolutely essential to pray from the heart.  God hears only the prayer that the heart prays.

--> Meditate on those realities which are most likely to kindle your desires.  We never struggle hard for something unless we want it badly.  Without desire, we will never pray from the heart.  1 Samuel 1  Without desire, there is no burden upon our hearts.  God has no more respect for lukewarm prayer than for lukewarm persons.  Psalm 10:17  All such desires must come from God.  Our minds must lead our hearts.  How can we pray like Elijah did?  After praying so, Elijah's thoughts would be turned to the great world within him, the great world before him, and the great world above him. 

Meditate on

1. The great world within you.  "We are beggars, that is true."  This is what made Luther mighty in prayer.  What do you see when you look at yourself?  Do you see that you are very poor and needy without Him?  Do you see how desperately you need God's guidance to get you through that day?  The Lord brings us to our knees that we might pray.  We say, "Lord, please take this thorn away."  The Lord says, "No, but I will give you grace."
2. The great world before us.  The state of this world ought to stir us up and drive out weeping for the poor, wicked nations.
3. The great world above us.  We should also think of the world beyond.  Every step the Christian makes is another step toward heaven.  Every step the sinner takes is another step toward damnation.

10/5/97, PM, Pastor McDearmon

The work of God's grace.  Titus 2:14
I.  The connection of verse 14 with the rest
II.  The fact of Christ's substitutionary death
III.  The reason for Christ's substitutionary death

The very purpose of Christ's redemptive acts is that we would desire to live sensibly, righteously and holy in the present age.  "Who gave Himself for us."
    A.  The giver
Yes, God the Father gave the Son, but it was also a voluntary act of the Son.  Christ is the One who gave.
    B.  The gift given
He gave Himself.  He laid down all His glory and majesty to become a man. 
    C.  Those for whom the gift is given. 
For us.  For poor, perishing, elect sinners that wanted nothing to do with God.  "In that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

III.  "That He might redeem us from every lawless deed."  Matt. 20:28  "The son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and give Himself a ransom for many."  Christ emancipated us from the against-law mindset.  We are no longer beaten from our try against sin before we start.

10/5/97, AM, Pastor McDearmon

"Libertine Christians shall share as bad as stubborn Jews."
These false teachers spoke evil of the angels, as they had immediate contact with the law and Mount Sinai.  If the highest angel was guarded with what he said, how much more should we, as mortal men, be careful with our speech!

I.  Describe them in terms of what they do not know
What does "revile" mean?  Defaming, derisive speech with the purpose of ruining the reputation of another.  "Hurling abuse."  Even in the presence of the devil, the archangel refused to give a railing judgment.  The reviler is a bitter, resentful person, and who is just trying to get even.  The president is no more wicked than the devil, so we are not to revile the president.  What is it that these men reviled?  They revile the things that they do not understand.  The angels are the servants of God and promptly do His will.  In what sense are these men ignorant of the angels?  1 Corinthians 2:14 "But a natural man."  This is an unregenerate man who lives under the influence of his passions and profusions.  He can mentally process Biblical truths but he does not really understand them.  No amount of theological decrees will give you an enlightening understanding of the Spirit of God.

"You are my friends if you do what I tell you."

II.  Describe them in terms of what they do know.
Their self-indulgence relative to their lusts, passions, appetites and pleasures.  And these are the things that they hold in common with animals.  God shall hold that one to account that was created a man, but acts like an animal.

9/28/97, PM, Mr. Ryan

Psalm 11
I. The temptation encountered  (verses 1-3)
    A.   The abiding disposition of a godly man - trust

1. The place of David's trust - the Lord.  God and God alone.
2. The nature of David's trust - a particular steadfast trust.  Perpetual and permanent.

    B.  The counsel and arguments of the tempters.
          What do they base their arguments on?

1. Self-Preservation
2. Self-Trust

II.  The response given
The Lord reigneth.  Let the people rejoice, let those who hate Him flee before Him.
    A.  God is in control
    B.  He is an informed sovereign
    C.  He is a ___

God never tests the wicked, because there is nothing to test.

9/28/97, AM, Mr. Ryan

Luke 8:22-25
God honors faith at

I.  The Journey Undertaken
II.  The Calamity Encountered
III.  The Calamity Addressed
IV.  The Results Observed

I.  Jesus, as a man, was spent, for head had been ministering all day.  He did have a goal; instead of saying "let's go for a ride," He said, "Let us go over to the other side of the lake."

II.  twofold nature
    A.  It was sudden and unexpected - no plan B
    B.  It was violent in its nature - like an earthquake in teh sea.  They were in real peril;  it was a 911 situation.

III.  It was addressed by both the disciples and by Jesus. 
These experienced, professional fishermen realized they could do nothing, and they went to Jesus.  What prompted them to go to the Lord?  They were sailors, not Him.  Faith brought them.  They go to Him as God.  If He can't get them out, no one can.  And that's faith.  Faith is very simple.  The calamity addressed by the Lord:  This is important and violent.  He responded to the cry of faith.  He undertook for His disciples.  He rebuked the wind and waves.  "Rebuke" in its original form is very strong.  he not only corrected but showed righteous anger.  He is not still sleeping when we cry out to Him.  He hears the meekest little whimper.  The object in the extent of His rebuke.  Why did He rebuke the water?  It could have calmed down after the wind stopped, but He takes care of the whole situation.

IV.  The Results:
The disciples were driven to two things: 
A.  Sober self-examination
B.  Worship and adoration
Their failure is that they forgot the former promises of God.  It is not possible to lose your salvation.  He didn't mock, He didn't chide the one who cried out.  Great answers to prayers of little faith ought to increase your faith.

9/28/97, SS, Mr. Ryan

The elect lady and her children could be a church and the members.

I.  All true Christians love the church.
You cannot love Christ without loving the church; you cannot love the church without loving Christ.  All of those who have known the truth, not "a" truth; there is only one.   They love it:
    A.  Generically - people they don't know
    B.  Specifically - people they do know
    C.  Sincerely - in truth

II.  All true Christians love the church because of the truth.
God is gracious and merciful to all people, and so we know peace.

Do we truly love the church?
Why do we love the church?

9/21/97, PM, Pastor Dunn

A married couple.  Before, during and after the fall.  God punishes the couple in marriage.  God punishes the couple "in" not "by" marriage.  He is not instituting headship.  It was already there.  "Evangelical feminism is just an oxymoron."  Men and women are not equal; they are one.  "Desire" means a strong and intense longing.  Now in marriage there is injected a propensity toward conflict regarding who would be head of the family.  The couple had wanted to have conflict with each other.  Why are the psychological functions of the woman brought in here?  Because of grace, sin and her punishment:  The perversion of extremes - the abuse of the husbands.  Efface means erase.  "Helper" is not a negative but a positive look on things.  "oik hos despoatais" in Greek means house despot, and that's what the wife and mother is.  There is such a thing as being abused.  Another cause is due to her view of herself.  Or there could be laziness and sloth.  Why would a man be a tyrant?  He may be emotionally immature.  Another cause is just insensitivity.  it can happen in a capricious emotional state of mind. 

Jer. 44; Isaiah 3:12; 1 Peter 1:18

9/21/97, AM, Pastor Dunn

God's first question to the man - Where are you?  God is the one who has given Adam everything.  He is the judge.  Through Adam death comes, and he is the spokesman.  The Bible does not say Eve ate and her eyes were opened then Adam ate and his eyes were opened, but they both ate, and their eyes were opened.  It's the man that's the legal head.  Adam is saying that his real problem is that God came on the scene.  The man was content with his fig leaf religion.  What he cannot tolerate is that God is holding him accountable.  His concern is his own personal discomfort of fear.  He was afraid not because he ate, but because of the situation he found himself in. 

God's second question - Who told you that you were naked?  The voice of the woman played the part in Adam's fall, but it wasn't her who told he was naked; it was the devil.  He didn't answer God's question.

God's third question - have you eaten from the tree?  The eating of the fruit was a violation against God's authority.  Man's fall into sin is his responsibility.  Satan didn't force Adam to eat the fruit; he didn't put it in his mouth and force it down his throat; he is the sinner.  He blame-shifts and accuses the woman and God.  He's believing that God is not good.

God's question of the woman - what did you do?  The woman blame-shifts too.  She just says "the serpent deceived me and I ate."  At least she doesn't blame Adam or God as Adam blamed her and God.  She did not acknowledge what she said and what she said to her husband, but she does pin the Evil One.  Now is not the time God is casting the wicked into the fire of hell; that day will come, but now is the day of salvation.  God salvages the original order of creation.  Grace prevails and grace dominates.

9/21/97, SS, Pastor Dunn

Death is not annihilation; it is separation.  The devil called it enlightenment.  Man was not without knowledge.  He didn't know everything, but what he did know, he knew truly.  His new knowledge is a perverted knowledge.  He knows what he didn't know, but what he knows isn't all true.  Death as experienced but a self consciousness of guilt and shame.  Now his self does not reflect on God, but self is reflected by self.  Death was experienced by their divorce.  Death is experienced in their relation to God.  Death was experienced by their superficial response to sin.  Death was experienced y their self-sufficient religion.  The whole thing is a lie.  Death was experienced by their self-concealment and their rejection of God.  When God comes, it is not to execute final judgment.  He could have, but He didn't.  He is coming to grant mercy and grace.  Fallen man is not aware that God is moving towards him in grace.  Do you know shame because of your sin?  Our generation has forgotten how to blush.  One thing you'll know by God's grace is shame for your sin.

9/20/97, Pastor Dunn

Man is the steward of the earth.  Genesis 2:8
He was given the responsibility to labor in and keep it, to be industrious adn rule the garden.  Labor and work in and of itself was not part of the punishment.  Women do have a sphere of work, but man was primarily cursed in Gen. 3:17-19.  The woman is to be a worker at home.  God created all things through His word. 

Man is a steward of what words? 
- creation words - law words
Sanctity prior to the fall is the distinction btween normal everyday objects and things special and blessed by God. 

Man is the steward of the family, that is, the head.  The world needs cultivating, and that's what God sent man into the garden for.  1 Cor. 11:3  God meant for man and woman to be one, not equal.  Man would rule and teach.  Man is to be the main provider.  Real masculinity is found in being a good worker.  It is for Christ that we labor, not for man.  Man is the responsible one to lead.  Man is the definer.  Man's duty to lead is in the church and in the home.

9/14/97, PM, Pastor McDearmon

"For the grace of god has appeared bringing salvation to all men."  Titus 2:11-13

Contextual connections: directives given to old men, young men, old women, young women, widows and bondslaves were directed not as a pleasant suggestion, but to make holy the justified sinners.  The grace of God has this purpose. 

The sanctifying purpose of God's grace
I.  The revelation of God's grace
II.  The deliverance of God's grace
III.  The education of God's grace
IV.  The confident expectation of God's grace
V.  The work of God's grace

I. A. "has appeared" English word epiphany.  It became visible when the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.  "Grace" refers to favor that is freely given undeserved by the recipient. 

II.  "bringing salvation to all men" salvation - doing something for someone which they could never do for themselves because of their incapable and impaired state.  Man was a kind of moral wreck.  Eph. 2:1-9

III.  The education of God's grace
"instructing us to deny all worldly desires and live sensibly righteously and godly in the present age."  The purpose of grace is not only to clear the sinner's record.  "Fathers, bring them up in the admonition and nurture of the Lord." 

2 summary lessons
1.  Self-denial.  Libertines don't want to hear anything about this; they dream of self-indulgence.  "If anyone wishes to come after Me let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me."  What is ungodliness?  Any failure in the performance of a proper relationship of duty to God.  Worldly desires are desires rooted in human nature that drive us to seek our pleasure a[t] the expense of duty.  1 John 2:15-16

2.  There must be the putting away of sin, but there also must be a putting on of virtue.  God's grace educates us to live sensibly.  "Sensibly" speaks of a person in his right mind.  The grace of God educates us to live with a thoroughgoing self-control.

We are also to live righteously or as is right, fit, proper, agreeably and [in] accordance with a moral standard.  The grace of God schools the child of God to do heart-work with the law as well as hand-work.

We are taught to live godly.  To live our life with a God-centered attitude, not a man-pleaser, but a God-pleaser.  To live according to the law of God is not legalism.

9/7/97, PM, Pastor Thompson

3.  A sobering reality
    a.  The temptation to trust in our own strength
    b.  The temptation to misunderstand and misapply the Word of God, Matthew 4:6
    c.  The temptation to idolize our work.  We must remember we are Christians and have been bought with a price.
    d.  The temptation to sexual immorality

B.  Biblical relationships on the job
The vast arena . . . The foundation of ethical precipitation is the fear of God.  It is the same fear as of Joseph, Daniel and even Christ Himself, and we ought to be cultivating [it] in our lives.
   a.  There are two kinds of fear
        - Fear that elicits anguish and
        - Fear that comes from admiration and adoration.
Both are present within Christians.  Is it right to be afraid of God?  It is the essence of impiety not to be afraid of God.  It is not the fear that is the soul of godliness.  This aspect of fear in and of itself will drive you far from God.  Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God.
    b.  We must cultivate
         - The all pervasive sense of the presence of God
         - The all pervasive sense of our dependence on Him
         - The all pervasive sense of our accountability to Him
We must all stand before the throne of God.  Our consciousness is not biblical unless it is conditioned by the fear of God.  What will keep your motives pure?  the fear of God.  No fear of God?  No sense of working to the eye of God.  You don't fear God, it won't happen; it's that simple.

9/7/97, AM, Pastor Thompson

III.  Practical Implications and Applications
Introductory Application
These implications are the issues of practice and they will only take root in teh fallow ground of the heart that seeks to worship and glorify God.  We must consider:

A.  Our work as a divine calling
Of course the ministry is the most sacred vocation, but every job, you must remember, is a divine calling.  The people of Nazareth considered Jesus just a carpenter, not a learned Rabbi.  the most of His life on this earth was spent in honest trade.  It was not the most important part of His mission; our work is not the most important part of our life.  But this can remind you that you have a divine calling.

1. An accurate self-assessment.  You cannot necessarily do anything you set your mind to.  Think so as to have sound judgment.  God's not particularly pleased with false humility.
2. The pursuit of excellence.  It's one thing to desire excellence, another to pursue excellence, and still another to attain it.  What we need to attain excellence:
• A fervent, focus[ed], consistent exertion of energy.  "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might."  How do you know if he's using enough energy?  He'll be tired.
• A conscious consideration of time.  Pursuing excellence takes time, and you ought to take enough time.
• Giving attention to the little things.  What does your conscience say about you?  The attaining [of] righteous goals will never happen unless you pay attention to the little things.
• Reject all outside interests that divert you from your calling.  Schoolwork is a proper training for the work of the outside world.  "All things are lawful for me, but not all things profitable." 
• Seek first the kingdom of God.  All things necessary for our creaturely survival will be supplied, and more often than not, abundantly supplied.  Your work and your career is not the most important thing in your life, so don't act like it is.

Luke 16:10, 19:17; Matt. 25:21

9/7/97, SS, Pastor Thompson

Introduction
Standing Before Kings
[Proverbs 22:29]

A.  Vital question - Do you see a man skilled in his work/
B.  He's hard to find
C.  Excellence, diligence, skill in our work is a determinate factor
 - Our work is not only a means of gain.

Main Preaching
I.  The biblical theological foundation
    A.  Labor           Genesis 2:8, 15; Gen. 1:28

1. A creation mandate
2. The fall
3. Redemption

II.  The ethical foundation
The creation mandate is ethical in its nature.
    A.  The fourth commandment.
          This is a commandment of labor as well as rest.  2 Thess. 3  Sound theology makes for good, sound practice.

III.  Practical implications a[nd] application

8/31/97, PM, Pastor McDearmon

5 problems with the angel/women cohabitation interpretation

A.  Pressing the interpretation of the "sons of God" to angels is questionable in view of

1. The existence of similar designations that refer to godly men
2. The relation of sonship which exists between God and His people after regeneration and adoption
3. Angels have not been mentioned in Genesis up to this point

B.  Serious doubt exists as to the bodily nature of an angelic being.
     Hebrews 1:14 "ministering spirits," celestial, not terrestrial
C.  The warning pronounced and judgment inflicted were both against men, not angels
D.  The reappearing of the Nephilim (sp?) after the flood

Supportive Arguments 
The language of Jude:6 regarding the angels who did not keep their heavenly abode, and regarding Genesis 6:2 does seem to fit, as they both went after strange flesh.  The exact expression "sons of God" is only mentioned 3 times in Job, and the reference is to angels, indisputably.  The likely rationale for this theory is that Satan desired to destroy the seed of the woman which would crush his head.  Angels have appeared in corporeal form before.  The book of Enoch does set forth the angel/women cohabitation view.  The big deal is Jude:14-15 quotes Enoch passages.

Which is correct?
It depends which end you grab on.  If you begin in Genesis, you think it is the intermarrying of Seth and Cain; if you begin in Jude, it seems the angel/women cohabiting is the case.  [Pastor McDearmon] believe[s] it was the intermarrying of the lines of Seth and Cain, and that the antecedent of Jude:7 "these" is the men in and of Sodom and Gomorrrah.

What is this going after strange flesh?
It is homosexuality of Sodomy.  It is expressly forbidden in the moral law, and such violators of the old covenant were to be executed.  This is the bottom of the barrel of moral scum.  We ought not refer to them as gay, but call them what they are, Sodomites and homosexuals. 

Practical Suggestions
Memorize and meditate [upon] Titus 2:11-12.  Consider in family worship taking out the Larger Catechism and going over the ten commandments.

8/31/97, AM, Pr. McDearmon

The third paradigm of judgment - a warning to all those who would turn the grace of God into licentiousness shall meet with such judgment.  "Libertine Christians shall share as bad as obstinate Jews."  What has evoked these reminders?  The false teachers who turn the grace of God into licentiousness and deny the very person of Jesus Christ.  We must remember it is a very grave thing to have ungodly and unbiblical views of how the grace of God relates to sinful man.  Are we libertine Christians?

The subjects of judgment
The inhabitants of Acma, Zabozam, Sodom and Gomorrah
The similar instance of judgment.
What is the antecedent of "these"?
4 possibilities

1. Cities of Sodom and Gomorrah - problem - "these" is masculine, "cities" feminine
2. "these" men, meaning the evil men of verse 8 - problem - the men are clearly distinguished as those who are turning the grace of God into licentiousness.
3. "these" means the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah.  The men were the most evil, and men are clearly masculine.  Possibly . . .
4. "these" is the angels of verse 6.  This is the most natural.  The similar instance of judgment is the similar judgment of the angels.  Now, if that is so, what is the similarity?  Both went after strange flesh.  Gross - signifies that which is both morally unlawful and unnatural, Sodomy.  The sin of the angels seems to send us back to Genesis 6.  Jude draws on 1 Enoch to make a point, because it agrees with Scripture.

Who are the "sons of God"?

1. Some say the godly men under the line of Seth
2. The angels?

Who are the "daughters of men"?
The women on the earth.  They were beautiful.  These did not take wives because of their godliness, but because of their looks.  Men are pretty bad, not as bad as they could be, though, God says He will not strive with man forever.  Someday He will lift us His hand and let them go.  Those are ripening fast, who will let go and be even more corrupt.  God said the days would be 120 years, that is He was giving them 120 years for repentance, so then came the flood. 

The sons of God and daughters of men had children who were the Nephilim (sp?).  Sort of like giants.  If God grieves over man's sin, how much more ought we to grieve.

Applicatory thoughts

1. Godly character is the primary factor in the seeking of a mate.  It is the disregard of this that our passage is about, and is that which provoked the flood.  "Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but the woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised."  Do not be bound together with unbelievers.
2. Beware of remaining indifferent to and rejecting the spirit of God, because God shall not strive with you indefinitely.  When you are left to your own depravity, you are most to be pitied.
3. Our hearts and lives are under the omniscient scrutiny of the Lord Himself.  He knows your thoughts, and He knows your intentions and why you do what you do.

Luke 17:39, 10:12; Matt. 10:15; Zeph. 2:9; Amos 4:11; Jer. 13:19, 23:14; Is. 1:9, 3:9; Deut. 32:32,5; Gen. 19:20-22; Deut. 20:23 Ps. 73:15; Hos. 1:10

8/24/97, PM, Pastor McDearmon

"Libertine Christians shall share as bad as obstinate Jews."  Are you not the better from the gospel of grace?  If you are not more holy because of it, you have received that grace in vain.  It is to make you more diligent and cheerful.  Loose-living is the ill sign that we are indeed the worse for our knowledge of the gospel.  The greatest sin is pardonable, but the least sin is not acceptable.  Are we growing less humble when we have committed sin?  God's children never loathe themselves more than when they remember Christ's sacrifice for them.  Nothing brings genuine humility more than when a Christian has brought to mind God's grace.  "What shall we say then, shall we continue in sin that grace might increase?  May it never be."

And angels, they are the highest ranking created being, but they are not exempt from punishment.  Why?  What sin did they commit?  Negatively, they did not keep their own abode.  What about the identity of these angels?  The ones who fell with Satan.  Those who are designated "sons of God" in Genesis 6:1-4.
2 reasons

1. Enoch (Apocrypha, not part of the Bible, not inspired history).  Jude is not saying we ought to add 1 Enoch to the Bible, but Jude is telling us this part is true.
2. In verse 7 of Jude, note the word "these" referring to most grammatically correct, the angels, in that both parties went after strange flesh.  It was strange flesh for the men of Sodom and Gomorrah to commit homosexuality, and strange flesh for sons of God cohabiting with human women.
• One objection:  Matthew 22:30 Jesus says "In the resurrection we are like the angels in heaven who neither marry nor are given in marriage."  But it is explained by the fact that these angels were not in heaven.  They had left their proper abode, their original domain.  These are no longer active against men, but are kept in eternal bonds.  
• However, these are not the only angels who have sinned.  There are others.  And our point?

Jude points out the false teachers and angels had at least one thing in common:  they were both arrogant, and that began their downfall.  This is the severity of our turning the grace of God into licentiousness.

Ez. 28:12-15; Is. 14:12-14

8/24/97, AM, Pastor McDearmon

Personal Question #1:  What are anti-nomian heretics?
Jude says, "You know all things," meaning the receivers of this letter do not need to be taught, but reminded of the truth.

Q #2:  What are libertines?
We, too, have been adequately instructed in many areas of truth.  Jude meant you do not know everything, but what you do know is adequate learning, and what you need is not further instruction but a present reminder.  What truths do we know that we are adequately instructed in but need to be reminded of?  Possibly . . .

1. The need and practice of private devotional life
2. The need, nature and practice of family worship
3. The keeping of the Lord's Day holy
4. The giving of tithes and offerings

"He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently."
"The backslider in heart will have his fill of his own ways."
Do your work heartily as unto the Lord, that is, diligently, competently and honestly.
"All things are lawful for me, but not all things [are] profitable."  Repetition is lawful for you.

"Destroyed" refers to gradual destruction.  After the 40 years in the wilderness, no men were left except Caleb and Joshua.  "Libertine Christians shall be as bad as obstinate Jews."  That is, the Jews in the wilderness.  Belief and faith lead to obedience, and where there's not the latter, there's not the former.  If there isn't the former there can't be a true latter.

1 Corinthians 10:6-4

8/17/97, AM, Pastor Brackett

II.  The prophet's message given
    A.  Prophetic oracles

1. Violent death of Ben-Hadad.  The man of God can out-face the man of war.  God knows all your sin and wickedness.  What are you before God?  True adn faithful ministers of god are not willing to compromise in order to get peace, pfot or popularity.  And they won't compromise from fear.  
2. The vicious destruction of the people.  God has revealed how merciless Hazael would treat these people.  Elisha does not add that the people deserved it, but he was moved to tears over it.  Even when men know that they are found out, they will still seek to hide and cover their sin.  And even when they know they are found out, they do not forsake it; they just carry through as if nothing will happen.  What Hazael did he was held accountable for and is still suffering punishment for.

8/3/97, PM, Pastor McDearmon

"All things work together for good to those who love God."  Romans 8:28

G.  The conviction of ultimate good
God is not more sovereign over His church and less sovereign over the wicked and the world. 
"You meant evil against me, but God used it for good."
Esther is a microcosm of the history of the world.  Innumerable dangers are constantly around us.  It is only the protective armor of God that keeps us safe from them.
Job was a book that trialed Job but all served the ultimate purpose of sanctifying Job and the world around him.  "When He has tried me, I will come forth as gold."  Job 33:29
"Behold, God does all things often times with men, to bring him back from the pit, adn to enlighten him with the light of the Lord."

When Judas fell, he did fall headlong, but not so with the righteous.  The Lord keeps all those who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy. 
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart.  Don't trust your own heart or your own understanding.  In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths."  Proverbs 3:5-6  In what sense is Christ the Savior of all men?  In that there is no other way of escape.  He is the Saviour of His elect in a special way.

1. The cause of ultimate good.  The primary and effectual cause of ultimate good is God.  
2. The concert of means unto ultimate good.  The "all things" must be as sweeping and broad as the "all things" of Romans 8:32.  this does not mean all things are good, in fact many of the things we do are patently evil, rather all things are working together for good.  Not one detail will work for evil for the elect of God.
3. The character of this ultimate good.  What kind of good is it?  Of living the American dream/  The good of popularity and rank, money and prestige?  Obviously, no.  We are to be made more like our Savior.  When something happens to me, yet I shall not read the will of God, I shall know that it is for my sanctification and conformity to the image of Christ.
4. The class of people who have a warrant to claim this promise.  For most people, they do not work out for the best.  "The Lord has made everything for His own purpose, even the wicked for the day of the evil."

"We know" is the language of absolute certainty.

8/3/97, AM, Pastor Semeroth

The Rich Young RulerMark 10:17-22

This man was not only young (age 18-40) but rich probably owning many farms with many workers and probably a very respected, pious man, with a great potential to be a religious leader.  1 Tim. 12-17

I. His description
II. His demeanor

He wasn't about ready to let Jesus leave without speaking with Him, and he had respect.  He kneeled before Jesus as was appropriate.  He addressed Jesus as a Teacher or Rabbi.  Generally, highly religious people are quite complacent about the eternal state of their souls, but not this man.  Note:  While he gave Jesus his due respect, this man only regarded Jesus as a very wise man. He did not realize He was the Son of God.  Was this man defrauding his workers?  the flaw in the rich young ruler:  he was a superficial thinker.  When he was told what he really needed to do, "his face fell" or more literally, he became gloomy.  What must we ask ourselves? 

1. There are many who are working for their salvation.  You can't; it is free.
2. Many think themselves good. 

 All it takes is one sin, and that will take you to hell.  And that sin is the first commandment.  Who is your god?  You may not bow before a graven image, but your god is yourself.  God says  He will not share His glory with idols, and that means you.  You do not know what life is until you've come to Christ.

7/27/97, PM, Pr. McDearmon

"Duty is ours.  Consequences are God's."  and "Don't take counsel of your fears." - Stonewall Jackson  True courage implies a true feeling of fear, but is a showing of a knowledge that something is better than fear.  Another kind of courage is just pride.  Moral courage is the true kind; it is the courage of a man who fears God, and fears nothing else because of that.  The man who is the bravest man is the man who is the best Christian. 

What is courage?  It is the fortitude of soul that enables a man to contend with his fears, to do his God-given duty.  It is the opposite of cowering, shrinking back, and quitting.  The word "han" means "courage."  A man must be certain that he's expending himself for a righteous cause, and have a sense of the providence of God.  Duty is ours, notwithstanding threat, fear or anything.  The wisdom and power of God caused this 7 day feast to begin His deliverance of His people.  One's physical endowment is from the God of providence.  "If I perish, I perish." - Esther.  "Whatever comes of it I will venture . . . I cannot lose my life for a better cause, better to do my duty than to shrink."  If I incur the loss of money, than I lose the money, but I will not fall.  If I incur the loss of favor, then my classmates have no favor for me, but I will stand alone.  the courage fo a man's life begins by union to Christ.

7/27/97, AM, Pr. McDearmon

F. Felt consciousness of benefits received by God

Providence is not to be confused with a deistic point of view or with a pantheistic point of view.  We do not pray to a feeble, unwilling God.  He who has called you will also bring it to pass.  Though it is of our calling and joy to be a thankful receiver, yet we can, by choice, be among teh ungrateful, spiteful people.

Psalm 92 was a song for the Sabbath day.  "It is good to give thanks to the Lord."  Cognitive aspect:  one must cognitively feel and give gratitude to the one who has bestowed.  The Sabbath is the choice day to "count your blessings."  "A Sabbath without thanksgiving is a Sabbath profaned."  To praise is to extol another for their virtues and accomplishments.  Calvin wrote about the suitability of the Sabbath.  The Sabbath was made to celebrate the creation by God.  It is good for us to do these things, and to give God thanks.  "For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory forever, Amen."  Great are the works of the Lord.  If there were no doctrine of creation or redemption, providence would still give us enough reason to be thankful to God.

Psalm 138; Psalm 92; 1 Chron. 29:10; Psalm 111:1; Acts 27:35

7/20/97, PM, Pr. McDearmon

"Prayer implies a providence."  - R.L. Dabney

E. Confidence in Prayer
"The Lord will accomplish waht concerns me."

1. Disciplined private prayer
2. Regular family prayer
3. public prayer - "with others"
4. He prayed "for others"
5. He valued the intercession of the prayers of others

Peace should not be the prayer we lift up to God for our country, but holiness.  "It greatly encourages me to feel that a great many people are praying for the forces under my command."  - Stonewall Jackson

Psalm 57; 1 Sam. 22:1; 1 Sam. 24:1-3; Psalm 138:8

7/20/97, AM, Pr. McDearmon

"The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord."

D.  Contentment in life

General Jackson was content in his every state.  What seems good to God in providence is certainly the best for His children.  "Godliness is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment."  "Archeio" = enough, satisfaction.  "Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have." 

Five lines of Biblical truth

1. The desserts of man (what he deserves)  Whatever your lot, it is more than you deserve.  The Lord says, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you."  What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
2. The ultimate aim and extent of His dealings with us. 

The extent of providence is all the way.  Providence is present in everything.

Phili. 4:11; 1 Tim. 6:6

7/13/97, AM, Pr. McDearmon

I. Theology of Providence
II.  Several Practical Implications
    A.  Being constant in duty
    B.  Confidence in prayer
    C.  Consolation in affliction
    D.  Contentment in our present state
    E.  Courage in tribulation
    F.  Consciousness of benefits
    G.  Certainty of ultimate good

God has determined to use means.  "The Lord gives and the Lord takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord."  "God causes all things to work together for the good of those who love God, and of those who are called according to His purpose."  God knows where His purposes are leading and what they are leading unto.  Our ignorance of providence is not the final word.  God's providence is like the Hebrew Bible; you begin at the end and read backward.  He knows the way I take.  "I have kept His way and not turned aside..."

Acts 27:34; Isaiah 10:5-15; Deut. 29:29; Job 23:1-7; Genesis 12

7/6/97, PM, Pr. McDearmon

II.  The element of God's government
"The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty rules over all."

The extent of providence.
Is the providence of God limited or unlimited?  Its bounds reach to every edge of creation.  The physical world, "Whatever the Lord pleases, He does."  He does what He pleases according to weather.  Whether for lovingkindness or for correction He does what He pleases.  The answer of the tongue is from the Lord.  Our times are in His hand.

Providence and evil
God was in absolute control of the crucifixion of Christ. God cannot sin.  The sinful actions of men are under God's control; they occur at God's direction.  The sinful desires of men are constrained by God.  Men are much worse than they appear.  The sinful actions of men are overruled by God for good.  "Let no man say he's tempted by God."  What is "special" relative to the church?  The good is the church's sanctification.  Much of what is happening to this world is happening to the bad of those who trod the broad way to destruction.  God's providence is out to cultivate humility in our souls.

7/6/97, AM, Pr. McDearmon

This is my Father's world.

I.  The ground of providence
    A.  The being of God
    B.  The works of God
    C.  The character of God

 "I AM WHO I AM."  The very hairs of your head are numbered.  God executes and enforces His works.  "He causes the sun to rise on the evil and righteous alike."  Divine providence may be recognized by the being of God:  if there is a God, there is a providence.

II.  The first of the two elements of providence
    A.  Preservation
    B.  Government

All God has created has its own real 'personality' if you will.  All creatures have the ground of an existence before god.  Nothing created came into or remains in being by any virtue of its own.  "god sent me before you and meant life."  The Lord sustains the righteous.  God "keeps us in life."  The Lord is our keeper.  In God we live, move and exist.  The Lord Jesus is the accomplishing agent of all this.  The God in the first chapter of Genesis is the Babe in the first chapter of Matthew.  God sees, cares and sustains.  He is the God of preservation.

7/6/97, SS, Pr. McDearmon

We do not know from which Euodia and Syntyche's argument had arisen, but it was enough that they had been denounced publicly. 

1. Disunity can arise in good churches
2. Disunity can arise between Christians
3. Disunity is a significant threat to a church's peace
4. Disunited members are each required to repent to each other and personally fix their matter.

Our mutual duties as members of a local church.

1. Duty of Love
1. forgiveness
2. forbearance
3. correcting one another, etc.
2. Hospitality
3. Diligent preservation of each other's unity
1. doctrinal
1. by our attendance when the doctrine is taught
2. by remaining teachable
2.  unity relative to our personal relationships
1. beware of an undisciplined tongue
2. beware of unresolved personal offences
1. the response of simply doing nothing
2. the response of retaliation
   
   "Never pay back evil for evil to anyone."
   "Never take your own revenge."
3. an unwise confrontation - tone - manner - circumstances

We are to be engaged in fervent prayer one for another.  We ought to carefully observe in ourselves the first appearance of division.
1 Cor. 1:10; Phili. 2:2, 4:2; 2 Cor. 13:11; Rom. 14:19, 15:5; Eph. 4:3

Grace, SEFC 1997, Friday morning, Pastor Hendrix

III.  The motivation
This is God's work.  He causes us to act contrary to our nature.  How does grace make us willing to try?
    A.  Our holy optimism
    B.  Our holy obligation
          1.  Some superficial observations regarding our holy obligation
What did it mean for the Great God to give Himself for us?  Grace keeps the truth of Christ in His self sacrifice very close to our consciences.  We will deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, now that we have become closer to God.  What are good works?

a.  Something commanded by God
b.  Something performed evangelical[ly?]
c.  Something performed for the glory of God
d.  Something beneficial to our fellow man

3 Distinguishing Characteristics of Christian Zeal

• It involves cheerfulness
• The serious and determined pursuit of moral perfection
• Yearning to see Christ glorified in the salvation of souls

          2.  Some consideration of our holy optimism
a.  Identify the holy optimism
b.  Explore the holy optimism
As Christians, we have the right to be always optimistic, for God is for us, and "if God is for us, who can be against us?"  The son of man is coming at an hour you will not expect. 
c.  Description of that optimisim
We're going to be brought into a realm that has riches more than we've ever imagined.  Everything that's good is being stored up for us.  The Lord will come down from heaven with a shout!

How grace trains the soul of the believer to respond at the thoughts of the Blessed Hope.  The contemplative expectation instead of minding earthly things.  Looking for the return of Christ involves a patient anticipation of His coming.  How does grace come primarily?  Expect glorious things to happen every Sabbath day.