Who Speaks for God? [33 mb]

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This is the final sermon in a series of messages on the Ten Commandments. This message focuses on the ministry of God's prophets to proclaim the law of the Lord to the people.

Exodus 19:3; Deut. 34:10; Jer. 1:5; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11

Introduction:

We have been working our way through the Ten Commandments in a series of messages. I have tried to faithfully and accurately present to you the meaning of each commandment; not only in its original O.T. context, but in the N.T. context as well. Today I want to wrap up the series with a concluding message that I hope will remind each one of us about the importance of follow­ing God’s will in living out a life of holiness in a modern-day context.

Before I begin the main part of the message, I want to briefly review some of the points that I made at the very beginning of the series in the introductory message. It has been several months since I started the series. Some may not have been here and others may have forgotten these key points, so let us quickly review together. We said…

The purpose of the law is: to define what sin is, to reveal our helplessness/hopelessness, and to ultimately bring us to Christ.

The difference between law and grace is: the law is powerless to enable righteous attitudes and behaviors, but grace is the strength and power of God. The law teaches and condemns, but grace pardons, empowers and liberates.

Our method has been: to give the meaning of the command and the behaviors it either condemns or requires, followed by the positive principle underlying each command and how it applies to the life of holiness and Christian conduct today.

As I meditated on what approach I should use in this final message of this series, I felt impressed to focus on the role and ministry of the prophet as portrayed in the Bible. I am currently reading through the book of Jeremiah in my personal Bible reading and I have been impressed to use some of the material in Jeremiah as an appropriate illustration of how God uses His prophets to proclaim His law, along with its blessings and curses.

I remember reading and hearing long ago (although I cannot remember the sources) that a prophet is “one who speaks for God.” So I have chosen a question related to that description as the title for today’s message. “Who Speaks for God?” Who is willing to say, “Thus saith the Lord,” and courageously stand for the authority of God’s Word whether the listener feels good about it or not?

Vance Havner, a well-known Baptist preacher from the middle of the last century, once said something like this, “A true prophet of the Lord is not in a popularity contest. He doesn’t really care what people think about him, he only cares about delivering the message God has given him.”

The Bible has a great deal to say about prophets in both the O.T. and the N.T. I trust that we can learn some important truths today that will inspire us, awaken us and challenge us. Before we get into that, let me define the role of a prophet. There were two basic tasks of a prophet as illustrated throughout the Bible. One task was to proclaim the Word of God on any given issue or for any given circumstance. This was sometimes referred to as “forth-telling.” (i.e., telling forth the Word of the Lord.)

Another task of the prophet would include the prediction of coming events, which were usually the coming judgments of God for the disobedience and disregard for His commands.

In the N.T. we continue to see both roles utilized, but the role of proclamation (“forth-telling”) seems to more predominant than “fore-telling” or predicting the future.

There are two basic thoughts that I want to give you today regarding God’s use of prophets in conveying His Word to the people.

I. The Credentials of a Prophet and II. The Message of a Prophet.

Let us look first of all at …

I.          The Credentials of a Prophet

I believe that there are at least four qualifications that a prophet needed to have.

A. Discernment

If you look at the passage of Scripture in 1 Corinthians 12, you will find a list of spiritual gifts mentioned by the Apostle Paul. In that list, you will discover that the gift of discernment is mentioned immediately after the gift of prophecy. I believe that this was intentional by the Apostle because they are so closely related. It is hard for me to see how a prophet can truly be a prophet of the Lord without discernment.

There are two areas in which a prophet needs discernment. He needs discernment to understand God’s message. And, he needs discernment to detect the presence of evil or corruption and any disobedience to God’s will.

There were a number of examples in the Bible of false prophets who spoke their own words rather that the words of God. So the prophet who truly was the spokesman for the Lord had to be sure His message was, in fact, from God.

On the other hand, the prophet had to possess a level of discernment regarding what was going on around him. He had a God-given ability to “sniff out” any evil or corruption that was prevalent in his society and expose it. If you read through the O.T. prophets, you will find that they boldly confronted the evil practices that were prevalent in their culture; even if it meant confronting the king.

B. Connection to God

This is definitely related to the previous point. The ability to discern right from wrong and good from evil was primarily because the prophet maintained a close connection or intimacy with God.

C. Compassion

This trait did not stand out in all examples, but in many cases the prophet of God was a person that was truly heart-broken and burdened by the wickedness they saw and the coming judgment they saw. Jeremiah, for example, is often referred to as the weeping prophet.

Jer. 8:20-9:1 “²⁰The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved!” ²¹For the hurt of the daughter of my people I am hurt. I am mourning; astonishment has taken hold of me. ²²Is there no balm in Gilead, Is there no physician there? Why then is there no recovery for the health of the daughter of my people? ¹Oh, that my head were waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!”

A true man of God, who knows the law of God and knows the judgment of God, will certainly be heartbroken and burdened for the condition and the fate of the people.

D. Boldness and Courage

Possessing boldness and courage does not mean a total absence of fear or dread, but rather the ability to overcome it in order to be faithful to the call of God.

The prophet of the Lord undoubtedly experienced a normal fear or anxiety over what the consequences might be for going against the king or the popular attitudes and wishes of the public. But his fear of Almighty God was stronger. His concern for the welfare of the nation and the people was stronger. So he would muster the courage to boldly proclaim the word of God, and let the “chips fall where they will.” As I quoted earlier from Vance Havner, “A prophet isn’t too concerned about his popularity with the people; only his faithfulness to God.”

Jeremiah 20:7-9 ⁷ O Lord, You induced me, and I was persuaded; You are stronger than I, and have prevailed. I am in derision daily; everyone mocks me. ⁸ For when I spoke, I cried out; I shouted, “Violence and plunder!” Because the word of the Lord was made to me a reproach and a derision daily. ⁹ Then I said, “I will not make mention of Him, nor speak anymore in His name.” But His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, and I could not.

It is not only important to understand the credentials of a prophet, but we must also understand …

II.        The Message of the Prophet

In speaking for God, the prophet was obligated to proclaim at least three categories of truth. In all three categories I will share examples from Jeremiah, but keep in mind that the other biblical prophets also shared truths in these categories as well.

The first category of truth proclaimed was...

A. God’s Nature  

The prophet always, in one way or another, conveys a message about God’s nature or character. He feels compelled to inform the people about God’s holiness and judgment and anger. At the same time, he proclaims the mercy and forgiveness of God who will save, forgive and redeem anyone who turns to Him in repentance.

Jer. 23:23-24 “Am I a God near at hand,” says the Lord, “And not a God afar off? ²⁴ Can anyone hide himself in secret places, So I shall not see him?” says the Lord; “Do I not fill heaven and earth?” says the Lord.

Here in this example, the prophet is reminding the people that they cannot hide anything from God. He is intimately aware of everything they are and everything they do.

The second category of truth proclaimed was...

B. God’s Law

Jer. 17:19ff – The prophet proclaims God’s law regarding Sabbath observance.

Jer. 21:12; 22:3ff – He admonishes them about how they are to treat the ones that are oppressed and victimized in society.

These are just two examples of how the prophet is clarifying what God’s law requires in terms of their behavior and conduct.

The third category of truth proclaimed was...

C. God’s Response

1. With mercy and forgiveness to the penitent.

Jer. 18:7-8 The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, ⁸if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. 

2. With wrath and judgment to the unrepentant.

Jer. 18:9-10 ⁹And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, ¹⁰if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it.

Many people today seem to think that judgment was the predominant O.T. theme and mercy is the predominant N.T. theme. But, let me remind you that both themes can be found abundantly in the O.T. and the N.T. The N.T. doesn’t talk as much about imminent judgment, but focuses more on the future judgment that will come. Yet, it will certainly come. Contrary to the pop theology of today, the N.T. doesn’t deny or do away with the concept of judgment. The New Testament still has plenty of warnings about taking God’s grace for granted and using it as a license to fulfill the desires of the flesh and our own selfish will.

Conclusion:

So how does all this relate to our series on the Ten Commandments?

Well, I believe that every minister has a prophetic duty to show that God’s commands, especially the principles they teach us, are still relevant and required for everyone who professes to know God and wants to live a holy life. As the pastor of this congregation, it is my solemn duty to faithfully teach the Word of God, and to warn against any attitudes or behaviors that are contrary to His commands. I must from time to time fulfill the role of a prophet, if I am to faithfully discharge my responsibilities as pastor.

In reading the prophet Jeremiah I discovered a prevailing complaint by God against the false prophets that existed in Jeremiah’s day.

The false prophets were guilty of two things:

1) Encouraging and even enabling wickedness (Jer. 23:13-14)

2) Promising God’s blessing regardless of wicked behavior. (Jer. 23:16-17)

Dear friends, I do not want to be guilty of either of these practices. I certainly do not want to give anyone the impression that you can violate God’s law and still be okay on the Day of Judgment just because you made a profession of faith in Jesus at some earlier point in your life.

The purpose of the law is not to make you feel good about yourself. The purpose of the law is to alert you to any area where you have become lax and careless in following God’s commands and God’s will.

I don’t know whether you are aware of this fact or not … the purpose of grace is not to make you feel good about sinning either. The purpose of grace is to pardon, forgive and liberate from the guilt and power of sin.

If you are not currently walking in obedience to the will of God in any area of your life, I urge you to make the necessary adjustments in order to be in harmony with God’s Word. Seek God’s forgive­ness and the power of His Spirit to live a holy life.

Written Excerpts:

For All Intents and Purposes [31mb]

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This is the twelfth sermon in a series of messages on the Ten Commandments. This message deals with the tenth commandment, "Thou Shalt Not Covet."

Written Excerpts:

Exodus 20:17   Thou shalt not covet... anything that is thy neighbor’s.

Introduction:

As I pondered what might be an appropriate title for today’s message, I was thinking how this command addresses the intentions and motives of our hearts rather than mere actions or behaviors. The common phrase that we have heard and perhaps used a good bit in personal conversations came to my mind: “For all intents and purposes.”

What is the meaning of the phrase? I looked it up online and discovered that the most common meaning expressed is, “In all practical situations” or “in every practical sense.” “The first recorded use was in an Act of Parliament under Henry VIII, in 1546: "to all intents, constructions, and purposes." http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/all-intents-and-purposes.html

My obvious intent and purpose for using this title was not because of its actual meaning, but because of the play on words and how these words relate to the meaning of the tenth commandment. As you might notice, the tenth commandment does not pertain to any wrong behavior or conduct. Instead, it speaks about the initial desires and plotting that take place before the wrong behavior.

Walter Kaiser, Jr. in his book, Toward O.T. Ethics, has pointed out that the O.T. is as concerned with the internal response to morality as it is with outward acts. He also references the work of another author by the name of Gemser when he states that there are 36 occurrences in the OT where the Hebrew words for “thought,” “plan,” “counsel,” “intent,” or “deliberation” are linked with ethical judgments or behaviors.

Let us examine the last commandment to see what lessons we can learn that will benefit our quest for living a life of holiness before God.

X.        Thou Shalt Not Covet…

A. The Negative Meaning: Do not even desire anything that belongs to another person.

The word “covet” in Ex. 20:17 means “to desire earnestly, to long after, or covet” while the parallel passage in Deut. 5:21 uses a different Hebrew word that has a similar meaning, “to set one’s desire on something.” (Kaiser, Toward O.T. Ethics)

Some have concluded that there is a distinction between the two words. They insist that the word found in Exodus emphasizes the plotting and scheming that must go on in the heart before the actual deed is carried out, while the word in Deuteronomy emphasizes the desire that comes even before the plotting or scheming. (See Laura Schlessinger, The Ten Commandments, p.300.)

Others do not really see a distinction, but simply view the two words as synonyms,—the only difference between them being, that “the former denotes the desire as founded upon the perception of beauty, and therefore excited from without, the latter, desire originating at the very outset in the person himself, and arising from his own want or inclination” (Schultz in O.T. Commentary by Keil & Delitzsch).

In any case, the prohibition is against the desire and plotting within one’s heart that leads to overt action against one’s neighbor.

B. The Positive Principle: Motives and passions are sacred.

During our study of the Ten Commandments I have been providing a positive principle for each commandment to guide us while we live out a life of holiness.

 (By the way, I need to mention that the idea of finding a positive principle behind each of the commandments is borrowed from the author that I mentioned a moment ago, Walter C. Kaiser, Jr. in his book, Toward Old Testament Ethics. However, I have slightly modified the wording of each principle for the purposes of our study.)

It would appear that the positive principle behind the Tenth Commandment has to do with the motives, desires and passions of our heart.

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

1. This commandment emphasizes the root problem of sin.

Jer. 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

Matt. 12:35 “A 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.”

Matt. 15:18-19 “¹⁸But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. ¹⁹For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.”

James 1:14-15 “¹⁴But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. ¹⁵Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”

All of these passages I have quoted, and many others we could have referenced, instruct us about the problem of sin in our lives that originates in the heart. We are born into this world with the problem of a heart that is tainted with sin. We are born with an inclination toward evil and away from God. Our sinful, wicked, deceitful hearts lead us to want that which is forbidden.

The lesson we need to learn early and thoroughly is that our real problem is not environment, not poverty, not lack of education or any of those things that we tend to use as excuses for our wrong behaviors. OUR REAL PROBLEM IS A WICKED, SINFUL, DECEPTIVE, SCHEMING, SELFISH HEART!

2. This commandment emphasizes the need for heart purity.

If the root problem of sinful and wicked conduct is a wicked, sinful heart, then the solution is for us to let God do His purifying work in our hearts; to cleanse our motives and desires, so that we want what He wants.

Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”

Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; ²⁴and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”

Acts 15:8-9 “So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, ⁹and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.”

James 4:8 “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

These passages of scripture provide hope and good news to the person who seeks a remedy for the wickedness of his heart. God’s wonderful plan of redemption is as complete and thorough as necessary to remedy the problem brought upon us by sin. There are no defects with God’s plan of redemption. It has done and will do all that God intended.

We just recently finished a series of Bible studies on Wednesday nights regarding the topic of redemption. One of the segments in that study was about the different actions that God does for us once we make a decision to accept His provisions. We talked about how God forgives us, and pardons us by removing the condemnation that we deserve. He expunges our record and adopts us into His family and makes us one of His children. We also talked about the language used in Scripture that describes God’s action in our lives and our hearts to cleanse us from all impurity and sanctify us for His purposes.

That sanctifying/cleansing work of God’s grace is the solution to the problem we described a moment ago – a wicked, deceptive, and sinful heart that seeks to satisfy its own passions and desires.

3. This commandment emphasizes the need to guard one’s heart.

Finally, dear friends, I’m convinced that even after we allow God to perform His cleansing work in our hearts, there continues to be a need for diligence on our part to protect our hearts from illicit desires and passions.

Proverbs 4:23 “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.”

If the desires, passions and affections of our hearts determine what our actions will be, then it is vitally important to guard our hearts and protect them from ungodly and spiritually detrimental influences.

James 4:4 “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”

Romans 8:5-7 “⁵For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. ⁶For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. ⁷Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. ⁸So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

This conflict between the flesh and the spirit, or the spirit and the world that James and Paul are talking about is a vivid reminder of why we need to carefully guard what we feed our minds on and what we consume for entertainment. I don’t think there would be any dispute to the fact that whatever we watch, read, and participate in generally affects the direction of our ambitions, desires and motivations.

The reason some people are not very spiritually motivated is because they have done very little to feed the spiritual appetite within the soul. On the other hand, they have regularly fed the fleshly appetites by the entertainment activities and media that they consume.

I trust that all of us can understand the importance of protecting our minds and hearts from evil influences in order to avoid violating the tenth commandment.

Colossians 3:1-2 “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. ²Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”

Conclusion:

By giving us the tenth commandment, God has reminded each of us that the motives, desires and passions within our hearts are just as important as any behaviors or actions we might perform.

Let us remember that:

·        Our real problem is a heart that is inclined toward sin; that

·        God offers cleansing and purity as a remedy; and

·        The life of faith includes guarding our minds and hearts against all evil influences that would eventually lead us back into sinful behaviors.

Next sermon in this series is: Who Speaks for God? (link available in blog archive on right) 

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.