Truth or Fiction [31mb]

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This is the eleventh sermon in a series of messages on the Ten Commandments. This message discusses the Ninth Commandment: Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness.

Written Excerpts:

Introduction:

Today we are going to be discussing the Ninth Commandment, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.”

I don’t suppose that I have to convince you that we are living in a cultural environment that has deteriorated in many respects over the last several decades. This fact is demonstrated in many ways, but perhaps none so prevalent as the loss of trust and truthfulness between citizens and even family members. Lying and distortions of truth has become so commonplace that many people rarely take anyone’s word at face value anymore.

Bending the truth, stretching the truth, hedging the truth as well as outright lying have all reached epidemic proportions in our world and our society. God has a plan and design for each of us when it comes to the matter of honesty and integrity and it is summed up in the ninth commandment… DO NOT LIE.

IX.       Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness

A. Negative Meaning: Do not give a false testimony against another person.

I want to briefly define a few of the words that are used here in this command.

“false” – [shéqer] a Hebrew word that means lie, falsehood or deception. It is derived from a word that means to deal falsely. It is used of words or activities which have no basis in fact or reality. In the ninth commandment it involves an accusation made against another citizen that is not based on fact. (Theological Wordbook of the OT by Harris, Archer, and Waltke)

When the TC are repeated in Deut. 5, a slightly different word is used. There, the word means vanity, worthlessness or emptiness. It designates anything unsubstantiated, unreal or worthless, either materially or morally. (HAW)

“witness” – [ed] a Hebrew noun meaning witness or testimony. It can refer to either a person who is giving testimony or to the actual written/oral testimony itself [which would be the equivalent of evidence]. (Complete Word Study Dict.)

The word derives from the Hebrew word meaning: return, repeat, or do again. A witness, therefore, is one who by reiteration, emphatically affirms his testimony. (HAW)

Based on these meanings, the command primarily and specifically condemns the giving of false, misleading and unsubstantiated testimony against another person in a court setting.

B. Positive Principle: Truth is sacred.

As we have been saying with all of the previous commandments, every command reveals to us a positive principle that is intended to be a guide for everyday life. The principle being taught by this command is that truth is something that is sacred.

C. Exposition: How does this commandment relate to life?

1. This commandment demonstrates the nature of God.

In the Scripture verses that were read earlier in the worship service, and in many other additional verses in the Bible, we get a clear understanding of God’s attitude toward lying and toward the truth.

When we speak of truth as it relates to God, it includes the concept of being authentically consistent with the rest of His own nature. In other words, God cannot act in any way that violates His perfect nature. It also implies that God is reliable, faithful, and dependable.

God commands truthfulness from us because we are expected to emulate Him in our own character and way of life. When we practice deceit, give false evidence or testimony, or just flippantly lie to one another, we are not acting like God is our Father. Instead, we are acting like we have a different father!

See John 8:44 “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”

2. This commandment promotes the administration of justice in society.

This point basically re-emphasizes what I said a little earlier when I was giving the definitions of the Hebrew words that are used in the text.

It is true that people will lie in court for the purpose of trying to get themselves out of trouble. Others will lie for the purpose of trying to get someone else in trouble. In either case, lying distorts the administration of justice in society and culture.

The sin / crime of perjury is wrong because it distorts the cause of justice and promotes the practice of evil in the world. This goes completely contrary to the nature of God who is perfectly just in all His ways, and He desires the same quality of justice and virtue in society.

One writer has stated that “justice is truth in action.” (J. Joubert, quoted by Randal Denny)

In the OT, when someone purposely brought a false accusation against another person, then the punishment that would have been given to the accused person is placed upon the accuser instead.

Deut. 19:18-19 And the judges shall make careful inquiry, and indeed, if the witness is a false witness, who has testified falsely against his brother, ¹⁹then you shall do to him as he thought to have done to his brother; so you shall put away the evil from among you.

Proverbs 19:9 “A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who speaks lies shall perish.”

A proverb is basically an observation about everyday life. So, with that in mind, this passage is probably not specifically talking about the same punishment for perjury that the passage in Deuteronomy was advocating.  The writer of Proverbs seems to be emphasizing the fact that society will not tolerate one who provides false testimony and in the end he will perish as a result of living his life by that pattern.

This illustrates the fact that God was very concerned about the accurate administration of justice in the civil matters of Jewish society. He literally refers to the distortion of justice as an evil that must be put away from among them.

I’m convinced that this commandment stresses more than just the character of God and the importance of justice in the world.

3. This commandment promotes honesty as a way of life.

The quality of honesty and integrity must be a vital part of our conduct and character. Without it, none of us can ever hope to develop meaningful relationships that are based on mutual trust and respect. While the literal interpretation of the commandment deals specifically with the matter of perjury in court, yet the general application of this command in everyday life is also included.

There are many, many texts throughout the Bible that condemn lying in all forms. Since I believe that the Ten Commandments provide the basis for all of the commands and principles found in the Bible, I conclude that the ninth commandment includes the matter of lying in daily conversation, because it is the only one out of the Ten that deals with the issue of truth.

Let’s look at a few other passages of Scripture as they apply to this issue.

Matthew 12:34b-37 declares, “…For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. ³⁵A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. ³⁶But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. ³⁷For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

I believe this passage of Scripture is relevant in two ways:

(1) A person that can’t stick with the truth and repeatedly resorts to lying is revealing what is in his heart, because that is what is coming out of his mouth. Just like the prophet says, “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked…” These people are not able to be honest even with themselves.

(2) Whatever does come out of the mouth will be the basis of judgment against the speaker, rather than judgment against the other person that is falsely accused.

Matthew 5:33-37 “Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: ³⁴But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: ³⁵Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. ³⁶Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. ³⁷But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.”

James 5:12 “But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.”

Neither of these texts speaks about lying. They are more directly speaking about people who swear by an oath in order to reinforce the veracity of their words. Both Jesus and James are insisting that everyone should always live and speak in such a manner that does not require the use of an oath in order to get others to believe what they say.

Related to these concepts is the well-know and oft-quoted passage we refer to as the Golden Rule:

Matthew 7:12 “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (NKJV)

Isn’t it amazing that people who lie and deceive others are usually very offended and angry when someone lies to them?

Jesus “hits the nail on the head” by saying this “rule” covers the whole purpose found in the Law and the Prophets. Don’t treat anyone else in a way that you would not want to be treated yourself.  This includes being truthful and honest every day of our lives in our conversations and our conduct.

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Ephesus and told them, “…put away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another.” (Eph. 4:25) Again, if I expect my Christian brother/sister to be honest with me, then I need to be honest with them.

Conclusion:

As we bring this message to a close, I just want to urge all of us to examine our hearts and our lives to see how we measure up to this commandment. Are you truthful in all your conversation? Do you regularly excuse the use of a lie by calling it just a little fib or just a little white lie?

I have news dear friends, lies only come in one color, and I’m quite sure it isn’t white. If the devil is the father of lies, then I would guess the color is something dark, like evil.

There is so much more that can be said on this subject and certainly a lot of questions that are related to how we need to practice truthfulness in every facet of life. But the primary lesson I hope we all will take away from this message today is that God loves truth and hates a lie. Let’s all purpose to live in such a way that everyone around us knows our word can be trusted and they never have to wonder if we are telling the truth.

This is the kind of life that is pleasing to God.


Next sermon in this series is: For All Intents and Purposes (link available in blog archive on right)

What's Mine Is... Mine [38 mb]

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This is the tenth sermon in a series of messages on the Ten Commandments. This message discusses the Eighth Commandment: Thou Shalt Not Steal.

Written Excerpts:

Exodus 20:15   Thou shalt not steal.

Introduction:

Today we are going to be discussing the Eighth Commandment, Thou Shalt Not Steal. As we have done with all the previous commandments, I plan to point out the “negative meaning” of the command; followed by the “positive principle” that is emphasized by the command; and then take the time to examine some of the ways the commandment applies to our lives in the “Exposition of the command.” So let us turn our attention now to the eighth commandment as it is given in Exodus chapter 20.

VIII.    Thou Shalt Not Steal

A. Negative Meaning: Do not take anything that belongs to another person without his/her consent.

B. Positive Principle: Personal property is sacred.

If it is wrong to take anything that belongs to another person, then it seems obvious that God recognizes and endorses the idea of personal ownership of private property. This may seem like a pretty simple point to make, but it is very basic to an orderly and civilized society.

(Keil & Delitzsch) “Property was not to be violated just as the sacredness of marriage was not to be violated.”

Let me say here that I do not see how anyone, whether they are a political leader or spiritual leader, can endorse the idea of communism or socialism as long as this commandment is part of the Decalogue. When you get down to the basic meanings of both communism and socialism, there is no true ownership of personal property. In both of those systems, property is ultimately owned by the government or by the community or group not by any person.

This may get me in trouble with some people, but I believe that the eighth commandment applies to governments as well as to individuals. That may be one reason why our founding fathers threw a “Tea Party” over “Taxation without representation.” In my opinion, taxation, without the consent of the governed, becomes a legalized form of theft.

While I’m on this subject, let me warn you of another growing trend in this nation. We are being “bombarded” these days with an orchestrated effort to get low income people to envy and to hate higher income people, and to vote for people and programs that are designed to take more and more money from high-income folk and give it away to the lower-income people.

Let me read a quote to you from a man that is now deceased, but at one time was the President of the Southern Baptist Convention.

You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom.  What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.

When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation.

You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it."

Dr. Adrian Rogers (1931-2005)

Dear friends, let me warn you today of the general spirit that has swept across this land legitimizing the “theft” of wealth from one person in order to give it to another person. That whole spirit and attitude flies in the face of the principle behind the Eighth Commandment – You Shall Not Steal!

C. Exposition: How does this commandment apply to everyday life?

1. This commandment forbids theft in all its various forms.

It really is very simple. Do not take anything that belongs to another person without their consent. That includes “borrowing” something (with/without permission) then “forgetting” to return it.

a.) Outright stealing personal property belonging to someone else.

Children steal from their parents. Stealing often starts out when we’re children.

People steal from their employers.

Burglars and robbers steal from everybody they possibly can.

Improper use of copyrighted material.

It is actually amazing the rationalization that people go through in order to justify their illegal use or theft of other people’s property!

b.) Stealing by deception, fraud or cheating.

Some writers tell us that there is more than one Hebrew word used in the OT regarding theft. The word “steal” used in the Eighth Commandment represents acts that are done secretly without notice of others. However, other related verbs emphasize the violent aspect of seizing the property of another. (Harris, Archer, Waltke) (Emphasis mine.)

Misrepresenting a product or service in order to get more money than it’s worth.

Lying about age of a child or an adult to get discounts at restaurants and other places.

Refusing to acknowledge or report a mistake when clerk gives you too much change or fails to charge you for a product.

Dishonest reporting on income tax returns.

Dishonest reporting on employee time cards, expense accounts etc.

c.) Stealing by overspending without reasonable ability to repay.

There are many individuals who spend way beyond their income without any regard for the means of paying for the items they have bought on credit. I don’t believe it is pleasing to the Lord for anyone to max out their credit limits on just material stuff and then default on their payments and shrug it off as if it doesn’t really matter.

2. This commandment emphasizes the importance of contentment and stewardship over selfishness.

When we consider the whole issue of personal property and individual ownership along with the legitimate use of work and payment for the things we own, it becomes necessary to talk about the principle of contentment.

The Bible is very clear that contentment is something that ought to characterize the life of a Christian.

1 Tim. 6:6-10 “But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. ⁸And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. ⁹But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

The Tenth Commandment, which we will discuss in a few weeks, emphasizes the matter of contentment with what we have and not envying or coveting the property of another individual. All of these passages point out the destructiveness of a selfish attitude that places our wants and desires over the rights of others, so that we may feel it is okay to take what belongs to them in order to satisfy our desires.

Let’s face it… the temptation to steal what belongs to another person ultimately stems from the discontentment with what we have and from a non-biblical viewpoint of material possessions and stewardship.

The parables of Jesus regarding the Steward (Lk. 16), the pounds (Lk. 19), and the talents (Matt. 25), all stress the fact that we are stewards of the money and goods that God has provided to us. They all emphasize the fact that we need to be more concerned over the proper use and investment of the things God has given to us rather than being so concerned with grasping and grabbing more stuff by whatever means we deem necessary to acquire it.

Proper stewardship also includes voluntary and compassionate giving of our goods and finances to aid and help those in need.

3. This commandment emphasizes the importance of a biblical work ethic.

Ephesians 4:28 states, “Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.” Rather than expecting others to simply provide for our needs and our wants, the Bible tells us that we are expected to work for our own needs if we are able. Our culture has certainly emphasized the idea and pursuit of “getting something for nothing.”

4. This commandment emphasizes the importance of making amends for stealing.

The OT requires, and the NT seems to endorse, the whole concept of making restitution for stolen property.

Restitution is a topic that you don’t hear preached about very much at all these days! I will tell you this; I’ve heard some great stories over the years of store owners and merchants that were won to the Lord because of people who came back to make restitutions for things stolen and/or to pay off long-standing accounts after they were genuinely converted to Jesus Christ. Restitution is one of the most effective ways to witness for Jesus!

Various passages in the OT laws required the payment of restitution for stolen property. The required restitution payments ranged from 1/5 of the original value up to 5 times the original value. These varied according to the type of theft and the importance of the item stolen. In every case, the restitution was always more than simple replacement value – it included replacement plus some.

In the NT the best example I know of is the conversion of Zacchaeus. He promises “…if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.”  When he says this, Jesus does not respond by saying, “Oh no, that’s not necessary. You need not worry about repaying those folks.” Instead, Jesus says, “This day is salvation come to this house…”

It is almost as if Jesus is saying that his willingness to repay (make restitution to) those he defrauded was evidence that real salvation had taken root in his heart.

I admit that I don’t have all the answers to every question that might arise regarding restitution. For example, what about the individual that stole on a daily basis for years before they came to Christ and they can’t even remember who all they stole from?

Conclusion:

Finally, as we close this message today, I want to touch on the aspect of forgiveness and clearing my conscience before God. There may be some here today that have heard God’s Spirit speaking to your heart regarding some issues that you may have never thought about before. Some of you may have thought of things that haven’t crossed your mind for years.

What to do?

If you’re not currently walking in faith with the Lord, then I urge you to recognize that what you feel is conviction from God’s Spirit and He is trying to draw you to the place of confession and repentance so that He can save you from your sins; including the sin of stealing.

Then, once you have come to Christ, along with those who already know the Lord, if He is reminding you of any specific instances – names, places and images are going through your mind – then by all means, take every effort to clear your conscience by making amends for the things you have stolen.

I can tell you this, if you will do that, God’s sweet presence and blessing will fill your soul as you obey the leading of His Spirit. And, who knows, there may be many people you could witness to for Christ by simply going back to them and making amends.


Next sermon in this series is: Truth or Fiction (link available in blog archive on right)

A Woman Worthy of Praise [29 mb]

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This is a sermon preached on Mother's Day and is based on the text in Proverbs 31:30

Written Excerpts:

Proverbs 31:30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. 

Introduction:

My message is based on the 30^th verse of Proverbs 31; particularly the phrase: “…but a woman that fears the Lord, shall be praised.” Notice that this statement is offered in contrast to two other qualities that might describe a woman – favor (charm) and beauty. So God is telling us that charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but in direct contrast to those two qualities, a woman who fears God is worthy of receiving praise.

I want to take a moment this morning to look at two main thoughts that come to mind in relation to this text.

I. The world heaps praise upon women for many reasons.

II. The Lord advocates praise for the woman who fears Him.

I.          The world heaps praise upon women for many reasons.

I know that most of you already know this, but let me remind you again this morning that the values of this world and the people of this world are completely contrary to God and His Word. That is why it is so important for all of us to develop a Christian Worldview; in other words, a Christian way of looking at all aspects of life.

What are some of the reasons that women receive praise from those who do not have a biblical view of life?

A.        Outward Appearance

I have chosen to mention this first because it is the topic that is highlighted in our text, Proverbs 31:30.

This is an area that has affected all people, men and women, as indicated in God’s words to Samuel the prophet when he went to anoint David the new King of Israel. Samuel was judging the sons of Jesse by their appearance, but the Lord told Samuel:

“…man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” (1 Sam. 16:7)

The reference to charm and beauty mentioned in our text highlights the outward appearance. These are definitely areas that the media and commercial world constantly bombard us with in order to get us to buy into the standards set by the world.

Charm is deceitful. This gives the idea that charm has the ability to hide what is real and promote that which is fake. The use of the word “deceitful” indicates that we are being tricked into thinking we’re “getting” something we really aren’t.

Now, I’m sure the writer here isn’t saying that there is no value at all in having some charm. Certainly a person that is charming is more pleasant to be around than someone who doesn’t have any charm at all. And the Lord knows that some people could stand to use a little charm now and then!!

But, what the intended message or emphasis seems to be is that a charming personality has the ability to cover up that which is undesirable and to promote an image that isn’t real.

Beauty is vain. The word vain can often be translated or understood as “worthless.”  In other words, beauty has no lasting value other than the brief moment of pleasing the eye. It can do nothing to improve character. Beauty alone doesn’t help anyone become a kind, loving or moral person. In fact, many times, it actually hinders the development of good character and moral principles.

In direct contrast to what God says or what God values, our world still promotes and emphasizes outward appearance over many more valuable character traits.

B.        Career Accomplishments

Our society praises women for unusual career accomplishments.

Ladies, it is sad to say, but most of you already know that if you want to get the world to notice you and praise you, it will never happen for the strength of character necessary to faithfully fulfill your responsibilities in the home and caring for your children. If you want the recognition and praise of the world, you must find some career and work your way to the top; especially in a field that has been previously dominated by men. Then you will get the applause and praise of the world.

I’ve listened to so many women over the years speak of the pain they feel when it seems that their commitment and sacrifice they have given for their families goes unrecognized and world tends to treat them as if they are not important because they didn’t make their mark in some distinguished career.

These are the things, as well as many others that could be mentioned, for which the world heaps praise upon a woman.

II.        The Lord advocates praise for the woman who fears Him.

In stark contrast to these reasons that the world may give praise and honor to a woman, God’s Word says that the woman who fears the Lord shall be praised.

A. God is the One to offer praise to the God-fearing woman.

It seems obvious to me that the world is not going to give this woman praise. We’ve already highlighted that fact. So who will? I believe the intended message here is that she will be praised by God Himself. God takes note of the woman whom the world despises because of her piety and devotion.

(K&D) One OT commentary indicates that the proper understanding of the phrase “worthy to be praised” is – “let her be praised.”

This is the attitude of God – i.e. give appreciation and praise to the woman who fears Me and directs her life and actions in a way that honors Me.

B. What does it mean to fear the Lord?

1. It does not usually mean trembling, quaking dread or fear.

There are instances in the Bible where this is evident such as the revelation of fire and smoke at Mt. Sinai and the resulting fear of the Israelites.

2. It does include a wholesome reverence and respect that is accompanied with awe.

Can be illustrated by people who work with high voltage lines. Even though there is no trembling fear that paralyzes them from doing their job, they know what kind of power it has and what one little mistake can do. So, they diligently follow all proper procedures and protocol in order to help guarantee their safety.

People who fear the Lord are not usually paralyzed in dread, but they understand and respect God’s sovereign power and His holiness.

(ISBE) “…it is more the feeling of reverent regard for their God, tempered with awe and fear of the punishment of disobedience.”

3. The fear of the Lord means that we hate what God hates.

See Prov. 8:13 “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.”

4. The fear of the Lord is the beginning point of all piety and godliness.

Proverbs 1:7; 9:10 teach us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom.

The fear of God is usually the starting point for many people when they establish a relationship with the Lord. They fear His judgment and going to hell. So, it truly is the beginning of knowledge. But, as one continues in the relationship with God, he / she finds that God is not only someone to be feared, but He is one to love and adore and share our burdens and concerns with.

A child may fear the judgment of his father when he knows that he has disobeyed, but as the child becomes an adult, he learns to love and respect the father. He learns that his father can be a friend to confide in and to listen to for counsel.

This is the way in which the fear of God can be the start of a relationship that develops into a strong bond of trust and love.

Conclusion:

Dear friends, let me conclude by simply admonishing each of us to hear the words of this King in the proverb we have studied today.

Ladies, don’t allow the world with its values to deceive you into thinking that charm and beauty and all the other glamour of this world is worth seeking after and chasing after.

Men, let us not allow the standards and values of this world trick us into adopting its measure of greatness or worth. We need to be the ones leading the way in praising our wives and daughters for fearing God and obeying His word rather than striving to measure up to the opinions and standards of the world.

God doesn’t see things the way that we do. Let us seek to have His praise in our lives. Let us purpose to honor that which He honors.

The Cure for Post-Easter Distress [34mb]

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This is a sermon based on John 20:19-29 regarding one of the post-resurrection appearances of Christ to His disciples. The message focuses on the three occurances of the phrase, "Peace be unto you" that are found in this Scripture.

Written Excerpts:

Introduction:

I noticed in these verses that there is a phrase spoken by Jesus three different times. The phrase I am referring to is, “Peace be unto you.”

The repetition of that phrase seems to highlight three different reasons that we human beings need to experience the peace of God that is offered through Jesus Christ.

Transition:

I believe that this passage of Scripture demonstrates that Jesus offers peace to us in times of fear; in times of jubilation; and in times of persistent doubt. All three of these conditions are presented in our Scripture lesson and they occur immediately after the resurrection of Jesus.

I.          Jesus offers peace in the midst of paralyzing fear.

Fear is a crippling emotion. Fear is something that we all experience in one way or another at various times in life.

A. There were at least two reasons for the disciples of Jesus to be filled with fear.

1. Fear for their own safety. “…for fear of the Jews”

In verse 19, we read that the disciples were gathered in a room or place and the door was shut. It also states that they were there “in fear of the Jews.” It is not clear whether the phrase “for fear of the Jews” is meant to explain why they were assembled, or to explain why the “door was shut.” It seems appropriate to assume that it was both.

Some (see Adam Clarke) have proposed the idea that the door was not only shut, but barricaded and / or locked. (IVP Bible Background Commentary) “Proper residences were equipped with bolts and locks.”

Their fear of the Jews is understandable in light of what had happened to their Master in the preceding days. Even though Jesus had commanded on the night of His arrest, “Let these go away.”  (18:8) The grammatical construction indicates He ordered them to let the disciples go, which seems to imply that Jesus would have prevented them from harming the disciples. (Supported by Adam Clarke and others.) However, they could have also recalled the words of the Lord when He said, “…The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you….” (Jn. 15:20)

2. Fear of unexpected and unexplainable phenomena. “… Jesus stood in the midst.”

First of all, they were scared to death that someone would find out where they were gathered and would send soldiers to arrest them. They’ve shut the door and perhaps even barricaded and locked it. Now, all of the sudden, there is a man who has just appeared with them in the room. It looks like Jesus, but all they can think of is a ghost. Luke says that they “supposed that they had seen a spirit.”

For many people, the sudden appearance of a person in close proximity to us when we are not expecting it would be a tremendous fright. So, if you couple these two circumstances together: fear of what the Jews might do to them, plus this sudden appearance of a person in the room when the door is shut and barricaded, you have a genuine recipe for paralyzing fear.

B. Jesus speaks comfort and peace to calm their fears.

“Peace be unto you” - was the standard Jewish greeting, but it was meant to communicate peace… (IVP BBC) The word “peace” carried a full range of meaning from the simple “absence of conflict,” to a rich and complete expression of tranquility, mental health, prosperity and welfare.

Jesus knows immediately and intimately that they are full of conflict; they have no tranquility and no calmness. So He calms them down by pronouncing a blessing of peace upon them that they have undoubtedly heard Him give many times before. And, He reinforces His comforting words with evidence of His identity (hands and side), and with His request for food (to prove He isn’t just a spirit or apparition).

Dear friends, Jesus can enter your chaotic room of fear today and speak peace to your soul too. He who has conquered death and the grave is certainly capable of conquering your “dragons” of fear! Praise God!

II.        Jesus offers peace in the midst of unparalleled jubilation.

After Jesus confirms His identity and confirms His physical reality, the disciples erupt in joy and jubilation.

The KJV says, “Then were the disciples glad.”

(Matthew Henry) The evangelist seems to write it with somewhat of transport and triumph. Then! then! were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord, If it revived the spirit of Jacob to hear that Joseph was yet alive, how would it revive the heart of these disciples to hear that Jesus is again alive?

Luke’s account reports, “They believed not for joy and wondered.” This seems to imply that their joy caused them to have difficulty trying to rationally explain what their eyes were seeing.

I don’t know about you, but I get the impression here that the disciples were beside themselves with joy and excitement. I can’t prove this, but I can just imagine that they are jumping around and hugging each other and hugging the Lord. I can imagine that they are whooping and yelling while slapping each other on the backs.

In John 20:21 it reads, “Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” Whoa! Right here in the middle of all their excitement, Is Jesus throwing a “wet blanket” on their celebration? It almost seems that way.

(Matthew Henry) The former salutation was to still the tumult of their fear, that they might calmly attend to the proofs of his resurrection; this [salutation] was to reduce the transport of their joy, that they might sedately hear what he had further to say to them….

I don’t know if you get this impression or not, but I tend to view this second pronouncement of peace to be His way of saying something like this…“Now men, I know you’re delighted and overjoyed, and I appreciate your enthusiasm, but I have something else to say that you need to hear, so calm yourselves and listen up. I have accomplished the mission that my Father has sent me to do, now I have a mission I want you to do. It’s fine and appropriate for you to express all this excitement and this joy, but don’t forget the mission. Don’t get all caught up in celebration and enjoying this moment and end up forgetting about the work that must be done.”

Dear friends, you know how life is. One minute there is unbelievable fear, worry and anxiety, then the next minute there is so much joy and reason for celebration.

Jesus not only offers peace and comfort in the time of fear, but He also offers peace when excitement and celebration threatens to get our focus off of the vital mission He has for us to complete. We need to feel joy and express joy over the resurrection, but we need to get that joy and message out to a lost and dying world; not simply soak it all up for ourselves.

III.       Jesus offers peace in the midst of doubt and uncertainty.

There is one more pronouncement in this report given by John.

It is a different day. In fact, it is now eight days since the last event we just spoke about. The disciples are gathered together again only now there is someone else with them who wasn’t with them before – Thomas.

Jn. 20:26 “And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.”

More than one commentator speaks to the fact that Thomas missed out on the first gathering of the disciples that he should have attended. All of them emphasized the fact that the very meeting Thomas missed was the one in which Christ appeared and gave a special proof of His own resurrection. If Thomas had made it to the previous meeting, he probably wouldn’t be known today as he is known – “Doubting Thomas.”

So, here they are, meeting once again behind closed doors. Again, Jesus just appears in the room. I am confident that Jesus knows already that Thomas is with the group this time. So, Jesus enters the room and speaks the same salutation as before, “Peace be unto you.” (Spoken to all of them , but I believe, with special significance to Thomas.)

It seems as though Jesus is saying, “Peace to you too, Thomas.”

The reason it is so easy for me to draw this meaning is because the very next words of Jesus are also directed specifically to Thomas as He urges Him to verify for himself that He truly is the risen Christ. He grants him “proof positive” in order to eliminate all doubts. When doubts and confusion threaten to overtake us, and we are struggling with faith, the Lord appears with words of peace and assurance. He comes at the right moment and He comes to alleviate our skepticism, doubts, and unbelief.

Peace – the calmness that makes faith suddenly seem logical and reasonable. Jesus knows exactly how to remove all those swirling clouds of confusion and doubt and leave us with the sunshine of love and faith.

Conclusion:

I suppose that I am talking to some people today who have had these same roller coaster emotions; genuine fear and doubt as well as jubilation and excitement. Both of these extremes have the potential to completely rob us of the steady confidence of faith.

But our Lord Jesus Christ understands our plight and offers us His divine solution – the Peace that Passes Understanding; peace in the midst of the storm; peace that only God can give.

The Benchmark of Faith [24mb]

(To download an mp3 file of this sermon, click on the title above. To listen now online, click on the play button of the audio player shown above.)

This is a sermon that was preached on Easter Sunday 2011 and based on the Scripture passage found in 1 Corinthians 15:14, 17.

Written Excerpts:

Introduction:

I certainly would not claim to be a carpenter or builder by any stretch of the imagination, but I have been taught a few basics about building. I’ve done many “honey-do” jobs around our house over the years; and I have some past employment experience working with contractors, as well as having contracted a few roofing jobs on my own. I’ve also “picked up” a few insights just by listening to others who were experts in the building trades.

I have learned what the term “bench mark” means, and learned how crucial a bench mark is for the construction of a building. “Benchmark” – has been defined as… a standard by which something can be measured or judged; a surveyor’s mark on a stone post or other permanent feature, at a point whose exact elevation and position is known: used as a reference point in surveying.

If we consider the term as it applies to the building of a new building, we understand how important it is to determine the proper measurements of elevation for the footers and foundations of any building. You would certainly want to have your bench mark on an object that is a permanent fixture. For example, you wouldn’t want to use an object that is subject to variation or change or you might end up with a foundation that has a different depth at one corner of the building than it does at another corner.

On this Easter Sunday morning, I would propose to you that the verses we read in our Scripture lesson earlier can teach us that the fact of the resurrection is the benchmark of the Christian faith and the Christian religion.

There are two main thoughts that I would like to leave with you today as we compare the fact of the resurrection to a builder’s benchmark.

1. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the benchmark of our corporate faith.

2. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the benchmark of our personal faith.

(Many of my thoughts in this message come from reading the works of many Christian apologists who have written numerous books defending the faith.)

1. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the benchmark of our corporate faith.

“If Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain…”

The Apostle Paul is staking the very reason and purpose for preaching on the validity of the resurrection. Preaching or proclamation of the Gospel, whether it is one-on-one conversation or mass communication, has no basis if there is no resurrection.

Skeptics would have us believe that the reason the church got started was because of some over-zealous, yet misguided men decided to start promoting a myth that they desperately wished was true. They preached it over and over so much that they began to believe it themselves and they swayed others to “fall for it” as well.

The problem with that view is two fold:

a. During and after the crucifixion of Jesus the followers (including his closest disciples) were so forlorn, dejected and afraid that they basically went into hiding.

It seems as though they were so fearful and disappointed that I get the impression they wouldn’t have been emotionally capable of starting a sewing circle, let alone a world-changing, dynamic religious movement! They were apparently afraid of being arrested next, and we read that some even returned to their previous livelihoods. So, there is no evidence that they were brave enough and bold enough to go about proclaiming anything that might get themselves in trouble with the same authorities that had just killed their master and teacher.

b. They did not follow the usual pattern used by “myth promoters.”

In other words, they did not go to some far-away place to start teaching a myth where the listeners could not easily ask around or check out the facts of their stories, nor did they wait until enough years had passed so that their listeners would have little or no recollection of the events. As soon as they realized that Jesus was alive, they started immediately telling the news to anyone and everyone who would listen.

So, the resurrection was the early benchmark for the corporate church and body of believers. They understood that if there was no resurrection, then they had nothing to talk about. They understood that if there was no resurrection, they would have gone back to their previous employment and had nothing but pleasant memories of a time they met and heard a very unusual teacher. If the resurrection hadn’t really taken place, then the church would have never been started. If the church hadn’t been started, then we would not be meeting here today continuing the long chain of faith going as we celebrate and propagate the message – Jesus Lives!

2. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the benchmark of our personal faith.

“And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.”

Two things stand out here in this sentence:

a. “… your faith is vain” – i.e. worthless, good for nothing.

I’ll never forget hearing a recorded message by Josh McDowell, a popular speaker for many years on various college campuses around the country, and author of many books.

Josh talked about a college student who once told him after a lecture that he should not put so much emphasis on the evidences for the resurrection, but should just try to get people to seek a personal encounter with God; to have an experience that changes their life. He went on to say, “If people spend so much time studying about the resurrection, then learn someday that it really didn’t happen, then they will lose their reason for faith, if they haven’t had an encounter with God.”

McDowell responded with these words, “Good point!” “That’s exactly what the Apostle Paul said – ‘If Christ isn’t raised then your faith is vain.’”

Josh went on to explain, “If my faith isn’t based on the fact of the resurrection, then how do I know, when I’ve had this spiritual encounter you’re talking about, that it is the true God I have encountered and not just heartburn from something I had for dinner?”

I have had many moments of doubt and skepticism over the years in the past, but again and again my mind has come back to the things I have studied about the resurrection as well as other bedrock truths of our faith, and I am reassured once again that it is all real and true and trustworthy. Over and over the truth of the resurrection has proven to be the foundation or benchmark of my personal faith.

b. “… you are still in your sins.”

Not only do we have nothing to believe in that is solid and unwavering, but neither do we have any basis for deliverance or victory from sin. Christ’s victory over death and the grave is a victory for us all. It is not only a promise of victory over physical death, but a victory over spiritual death and bondage to sin. Cf. Romans 8:11.

Conclusion:

Dear friends, let me remind you on this Easter Sunday morning, that Jesus Christ is the only person in the history of the planet that has predicted his own death and his own resurrection and then carried it out just as He proclaimed.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the benchmark of our corporate faith and gives us the reason and purpose for gathering to worship and for preaching the message we preach. Without the resurrection, all we have are nice memories and beautiful stories of a man that seem to care deeply about other people, but we have nothing more. The assurance of the resurrection helps bind all believers everywhere in a common faith.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the benchmark of our personal faith and gives us the basis for everything else that we believe. If the benchmark “moves” then the whole “building” of faith crumbles. Without the resurrection, we can still have a lot of emotional experiences and warm fuzzy feelings over the Bible stories we hear, but we have nothing that holds us steady when we are assaulted by the storms of doubt and skepticism.

I’m extremely glad today to know that Jesus Christ is alive!

Let us stand and close our service today by singing the well-known and loved chorus of the song written by the Gaithers: “Because He Lives”

Our Wounded Healer [36mb]

(To download an mp3 file of this sermon, click on the title above. To listen now online, click on the play button of the audio player shown above.)

This is a sermon preached on Palm Sunday 2011 using the text in Isaiah 53:5.

Written Excerpts:

Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 

Introduction:

Today is Palm Sunday. We have been singing songs that emphasize the kind of praises that were offered to Jesus on His way to Jerusalem so many years ago. It was an exciting time. Many people undoubtedly recognized the similarities between the events unfolding before their eyes and the events prophesied centuries earlier by the O.T. prophets. As I have pointed out at other times, the crowd’s response apparently grew in intensity as more and more joined in the excited shouting and cheering.

But, as you know, crowds can be fickle. As the week wore on, the people apparently forgot about the excitement of that joyous day and eventually were swayed to the exact opposite sentiment as they cried out for Jesus to be crucified.

For the message today I wanted to move away from the scenes of that Palm Sunday to have us start thinking about the events later in the week. I want to focus for a little while on some of the words that were prophesied centuries before by Isaiah as he describes in vivid words the suffering of our Lord.

I do not want to take the time today to try an in-depth study of this marvelous passage that so eloquently depicts numerous pictures of our Lord Jesus Christ. To adequately do so, would require a detailed look at all the verses of this chapter as well as the last three verses of the previous chapter.

So, for the sake of time, I want to just share some brief observations of this single verse that I hope will vividly remind us of all that Christ has done in our behalf.

1.  The person referred to is the “Suffering Servant” that is first mentioned in 52:13.

There have been various theological debates about who this “servant” was. It is my understanding that some ancient Jewish scholars believed that it was a prophetic reference to the Messiah, but later scholars argued that the “servant” was a reference to Israel, (or a segment within Israel) who suffered greatly for their transgressions.

For us, there can be no doubt that the passage is speaking prophetically about the Messiah. Various references in the N.T. confirm that Jesus is the fulfillment of these verses. One of my professors in college pointed out that verse 8 clearly indicates that this is an individual person suffering for the transgressions of the collective group.

2.  His suffering was great and it was real.

"Wounded; Bruised; Chastisement; Stripes" - These words found in our text all have clear and direct meanings that speak of immense suffering. In one commentary the author says, “There were no stronger expressions to be found in the language, to denote a violent and painful death.” (Keil &Delitzsch)

Alexander MacLaren – “The intensity of the Servant’s sufferings is brought home to our hearts by the accumulation of [descriptions], to which reference has already been made. He was ‘wounded’ as one who is pierced by a sharp sword; ‘bruised’ as one who is stoned to death; beaten and with livid [welts] on His flesh.”

3.  His suffering was for us not for him but for us.

Look at the pronouns used here in this verse…

Our transgressions; Our iniquities; Our peace. There can be no misunderstanding in this verse. The anointed servant of God was not suffering for His own transgressions, iniquities and peace. It was all for us!

According to the very next verse (6), the LORD laid all of the guilt for all our iniquities upon Him.

Someone wrote a song that uses these words, “When He was on the cross, I was on His mind.”

This is the force of this truth here in verses 5 and 6. All of the sin, disobedience and rebellion against God in the whole world for all time was placed upon the Son of God as He died on the cross.

4.  His suffering was sufficient.

We are healed. The terrible suffering endured by the Son of God was adequate for the dilemma we were in.

The healing is primarily spiritual.

Is. 6:10 “   “Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and return and be healed.”

1 Pet. 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

But it is also physical.

Matt. 8:16-17 “When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: “He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.”

All physical suffering in our world points back to the introduction of sin into our world in the Garden of Eden and the resulting curse upon humanity and upon the earth. Some have made the grave error of assuming that everyone who suffers is suffering because of some sin that they have committed. This is not biblical and is not always true.

Healing for the sickness and suffering in the flesh is certainly included in the atonement, but the healing for the sickness of the soul is far more important. Physical sickness will finally and permanently be eliminated in the glory of heaven, but the healing of the soul must be realized in this life in order to get to heaven.

Conclusion:

I usually do not read lengthy articles or stories from the pulpit, but I felt I wanted to share this story, "Want a Donut?" to close our service today. It circulated around by email a few years ago and I think it portrays in a limited way what this Scripture has been emphasizing.

Freedom from Fear and Dismay [31mb]

(To download an mp3 file of this sermon click on the title above. To listen now online, click on the play button of the audio player shown above.)

This is a sermon based on Isaiah 41:10 "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God..."

Written excerpts:

Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. 

The NASB reads: ‘Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

Introduction:

Isaiah was a prophet of the Lord. His ministry consisted of receiving immediate messages from the Lord and then communicating those messages to the people of Judah, whether they were kings or subjects. In ancient times a prophet was not only someone who predicted future events, but he was a person who spoke the word of God with authority and divine commission. Adam Clarke also refers to prophets as the “general preacher of the day.” The word for prophet in the O.T. was also understood to represent someone who engaged in prayer and supplication.

Isaiah’s ministry spanned a period of approximately 60 years and the reigns of four different kings. His writings can be distinctly divided into two parts; the first 39 chapters  speak primarily of judgment and condemnation, while the last 27 chapters talk more about hope and salvation. The chapter we are looking at today (41) is located in the early part of that second section dealing with messages of hope and consolation.

In verse 10, God tells His people that they are not to be afraid or anxious. This is a distinct contrast to the messages of judgment and pending doom that were prophesied in earlier chapters.

One author [W.E. Vine], says there are at least three reasons for them not to be fearful or anxious – His Presence with them; His Relationship with them; and His Assurances for them.

I.          His Presence with them – “I am with thee.”

The first assurance God gives as the basis for freedom from fear and dismay (anxiety) is that He is present with them at all times.

This may seem like a contradiction to earlier predictions of judgment and discipline for their idolatry and the many ways they have forsaken God. But, Isaiah, like many of the other prophets, always holds out hope in the midst of condemnation. It seems as though God is providing the assurance that basically says, “Even though I chastise you for your unfaithfulness to Me, I will not abandon you. I will always be with you.” [Always a remnant.]

This promise of His presence resembles similar statements in other biblical passages.

A.  God promised His presence in military conquests. See Deuteronomy 20:1 and 31:6, 8. 

The context of these verses is a discourse by Moses giving instructions to the nation of Israel concerning their conquest of Canaan and the pagan nations in that region.

The spiritual application of this truth can be related to the battles and conquests that the child of God must be involved in on the spiritual level. We too, can be assured that our God will be present in the heat of the battles that we often refer to as spiritual warfare.

B. God promised His presence in trials and burdens.  See Isaiah 43:2.

There is so much that can be said about this familiar text in chapter 43. In fact I have another sermon that I have preached on this chapter. But I just wanted to reference it here as it portrays God’s presence with us in raging floods and fiery trials.

God not only will be with us in those circumstances, but He knows exactly how to keep them from overcoming us and destroying us. He knows how high to let the waters rise without overflowing us. He knows how hot to let the fire get without burning or scorching us.

C. God promised His presence for those who are carrying out His commands.  See Matthew 28:20.

 In the context of fulfilling the Great Commission, God promises to be with His children as they faithfully make disciples and spread the gospel of Jesus Christ across the world.

God hasn’t abandoned you today. Whatever grief, whatever suffering, whatever trials you may be experiencing, remember that just as God promised His presence to the people of Judah, He will also be with every person that has been united with Him through faith in Jesus.

II.        His Relationship with them – “I am thy God.”

Not only did God promise His presence to dispel their fears and anxiety, but He also reminds them of His relationship to them.

A. There is an idea of ownership or possession.

God has stated that He is their God. The implication follows that they are His children. All He is and all He can do is at their disposal.

I would compare this to a young boy who finds himself in the middle of a fight and his daddy shows up. No matter how poorly the fight may have been going before that point, now all the authority and power of the boy’s father is at his disposal.

In the previous chapter Isaiah cites all the qualities of the Creator God who made the universe. Now, in this chapter he has just finished describing how God raises up nations and puts down nations. He establishes rulers to accomplish His divine purposes. There is nothing that goes on, but what He allows it. Nothing frustrates or derails God’s overall sovereign plan for His people. He is greater than the idols of the pagans as described in verse 7. He is the Almighty God. And, He belongs to them and they belong to Him.

There is no relationship more important than one’s relationship with God. In the context of N.T. gospel, anyone who is born again and redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ is adopted into the family of God. We belong to Him. He is our Father. That relationship has all kinds of implications for us in terms of what God desires for us, how He delights in us, and what He is willing to do with us and for us.

B. This relationship is better and greater than any earthly one.

There are many similarities described in the Bible between our relationship with God and our earthly relationships. He is compared to father, mother and brother in various passages and biblical contexts. In all of these analogies and pictures, God is infinitely greater and better than any of the earthly relationships we can define or describe. God is the infinite, Supreme Being over the entire universe. He declares that He is God, but more than that, he is our God.

III. His Divine Assurances to them – “I will strengthen… help… and uphold you.”

Finally, God promises three different assurances to His people in order to dispel the fear and anxiety they might experience.

A. The assurance of His divine strength.

The idea that seems to be conveyed by this phrase is that God’s power is offered to those who find themselves in extreme moments of weakness. In those times and circumstances when they believed they could not go on, God provided divine strength to endure, to fulfill, to accomplish what they never thought was possible. Compare Isaiah 40:31.

B. The assurance of His divine assistance.

The word “help” is “a verb meaning to help, to aid. It means to support, to give material or non material encouragement to a person. God was the one who helped His people (Gen. 49:25). It is used mockingly of the inability of idols or pagan gods to aid their people (Deut. 32:38). It describes people helping each other to accomplish goals (Josh. 1:14; 10:4). (Complete Word Study Dictionary)

I get the picture of God coming alongside to give us encouragement and support and any type of guidance or assistance that we need to reach the desired goal and destination. This compares to the word “comforter” used for the Holy Spirit in John 16.

C. The assurance of His divine support.

“Uphold” is “A verb meaning to grasp, to hold; to support. It means to grasp, seize something, to take hold of a person’s hand (Gen. 48:17); a person (Isa. 41:10); a scepter or a pole (Amos 1:5, 8). It refers to grasping and supporting a person’s hands and arms (Ex. 17:12).” (Complete Word Study Dictionary)

The indication of this word implies that when we have reached the point of collapse; the point when we know we can’t go on, either emotionally or physically, God will reach down and grasp us to hold us up and carry us through the difficult and overwhelming trial.

There is some sense that these three assurances are somewhat synonymous and convey the same kind of messages. Yet, the conjunction “yea” (NASB- “surely”) implies a cumulative heaping up of one upon the other. Each one is added on to the previous one. (Keil &Delitzsch)

Conclusion:

Dear friends, today I felt God wanted me to give this message of encouragement. We have experienced the death of a dear friend and member of this church. Her passing has left us with an emptiness and sadness. In addition to that, another one of our members has received more disturbing news from medical tests that were done this week, this is on top of all the medical problems he and his wife have already been going through the past few years.

There are others who have been faced with sickness and injuries (we have had six different people in five different hospitals in the last week), plus others who have had medical tests, and I know there is a weariness and a discouragement that would overtake us if we listen to the Devil and if we merely look at our circumstances.

Listen to the words of the chorus to a song Bob and Nancy sang a couple weeks ago,

God is still on the throne, and He will remember His own

Though trials may press us and burdens distress us He never will leave us alone.

God is still on the throne, He never forsaketh His own;

His promise is true, He will not forget you, God is still on the throne.