1 Thessalonians 5:15

Introduction:

-Paul closes his first epistle to these brethren in Thessalonica with a series of 20 short exhortations

-as he encourages them to let God’s love rule every action of their lives, he touches upon an area that presents one of the most overwhelming challenges for any believer

-this challenge is true no matter how long we have known the Lord; what is that challenge?

-it is when someone, or some group of individuals, carry out an act, or acts, of evil against your person, your family, your community or your country

-how are we to deal with it? how are we to respond now as believers in Christ?

-we are given direct counsel in the New Testament on how we are to respond to these evils

-Jesus Christ speaks of it often as He speaks to His disciples as recorded in the gospels

-we see the believers live it out in the Book of Acts; and we hear much counsel in the Epistles on dealing with this hardship

-just how far or how literal do we take the words of Scripture in regard to how we respond to evil? are we ever to defend ourselves or our families against evil?

-what about standing against evil influences rising like a tsunami in our society?

-I would like to dissect verse 15 of ch. 5 of 1 Thessalonians into two parts: what we are commanded NOT to do, and what we are commanded TO do

-I want to go deeper than just the command, though; I want to explore why those commands are there

-I also want to touch upon our position as evangelical Christians in our society today and how we are to respond to the evil that is slowly creeping into our laws as a country

-at the close of our message this morning we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper, remembering that He is the One who has conquered all evil, and in Him we are more than conquerors

-read 1 Thes. 5:15; pray

I.          See that No One Renders Evil for Evil

A.        Payback

-here is a mandate presented by the Apostle Paul regarding those who do acts of evil against your person or your family

-the Thessalonian believers had experienced and endured much persecution for their faith in Christ Jesus over the past few years

-all the charges of being heretics or traitors to the Roman government were completely false and unfounded; yet the rumor mill spread like a California wild fire

-when unjust charges are brought against your person or your family, everything within you wants to naturally vindicate yourself

-but not only do we find the natural tendency to vindicate ourselves, we want to go further and really punish the person or persons who brought the evil

-it is right to be angry over an injustice that is committed against us; anger isn’t the core problem; it is what the anger drives us to do that can bring us into sin

-it is one thing to demand justice over an evil committed; it is altogether something different to purpose malicious attack and revenge

-when you come to the gospels, you find this counsel from the Lord Jesus:

Mat 5:38-48 NKJV  “You have heard that it was said, ‘AN EYE FOR AN EYE AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.’  (39)  But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.  (40)  If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.  (41)  And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.  (42)  Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.  (43)  “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’  (44)  But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,  (45)  that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.  (46)  For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?  (47)  And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?  (48)  Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

-the overall counsel here from the Lord Jesus to His disciples is to put an end to retaliation and resentment in their hearts

-it dealt with the heart of the offended rather than the outward demand for revenge

-when the Mosaic Law gave the command, ‘Eye for an Eye…’, it was to limit vigilante justice and blood feuds

-but Jesus goes to a higher law for the believer: that of reflecting to the unbelieving, perishing world the heart of the Father in heaven toward them

-that becomes the core motive behind the heart and behavior of the believer

-obedience to Jesus’ counsel is only possible through the Holy Spirit of God; but there must first be a step of faith in that direction by a disciple of Jesus Christ

Pro 20:22 NKJV  Do not say, “I will recompense evil”; Wait for the LORD, and He will save you.

Pro 24:29 NKJV  Do not say, “I will do to him just as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work.”

B.        Protection

-there is a difference between having a spirit of ‘payback with interest’ upon someone who does you evil, and standing in a position to defend yourself or your family

-this would even apply to your community or your country

-it is interesting to read Webster’s Dictionary of 1828 on the definition of evil; included in the definition are these notes:

E’VIL, n. Evil is natural or moral. Natural evil is anything which produces pain, distress, loss or calamity, or which in any way disturbs the peace, impairs the happiness, or destroys the perfection of natural beings.

Moral evil is any deviation of a moral agent from the rules of conduct prescribed to him by God, or by legitimate human authority; or it is any violation of the plain principles of justice and rectitude.

There are also evils called civil, which affect injuriously the peace or prosperity of a city or state; and political evils, which injure a nation, in its public capacity.

All wickedness, all crimes, all violations of law and right are moral evils. Diseases are natural evils, but they often proceed from moral evils.

-but even in that definition one must begin with a standard which can be defined as goodness; evil is in effect the absence of goodness, just as darkness is defined as the absence of light

-the Bible puts forth this truth: only God as good; His attributes are the definition of true moral goodness, not the nature of man

-so when someone comes and breaks into your house and threatens you with bodily harm, are you allowed as a Christian to defend your life, liberty and property?

-absolutely! But there is to be no room for revenge or vigilante justice outside of proper just laws of the land

Albert Barnes Notes on the Bible:  “It may be right to defend our lives and the lives of our friends; to seek the protection of the law for our persons, reputation, or property, against those who would wrong us; to repel the assaults of calumniators and slanderers, but in no case should the motive be to do them wrong for the evil which they have done us.”

Rom 12:17-21 NKJV  Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.  (18)  If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.  (19)  Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord.  (20)  Therefore “IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM; IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP COALS OF FIRE ON HIS HEAD.”  (21)  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

II.        See that you Always Pursue What is Good

A.        Reflecting the Heart of the Father

-there is a higher law by which we are to live as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ; that law is called the law of love

-but this love is not just any fond affection or human idea of love; it is love defined by God Himself; the Greek word is agape’, which is an unconditional love

-the Apostle Paul sought to describe that love

1Co 13:4-7 NLT  Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud  (5)  or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.  (6)  It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.  (7)  Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

-this love is fully expressed through the sending of Jesus Christ from heaven

Rom 5:8 NKJV  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

1Jn 4:9-11 NKJV  In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.  (10)  In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.  (11)  Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

-to reflect the heart of the Father to the surrounding world, you must first get to know Him on a personal basis; this is done through trusting Christ for salvation

-God’s main desire is not so much in the outcome of your works as it is in the process by which those works are produced

-this means that relationship with Him is primary to Him

-illustration: bringing an out-of-town best friend along with you when you do your errands or when you are relaxing in recreation

-building a relationship requires that you spend time with an individual, as well as the gradual opening up of those deeper areas of your soul in vulnerability

-trust is a vital element between friends; confidentiality is the fence to that trust

-Jesus is the express image of the Father; study Him in the gospels

-see how He deals with conflicts, challenges, awkward situations; when you see Him, you are seeing the Father’s heart

-how the Holy Spirit of God is poised to bring you and me into a deeper fellowship with the Father and the Son! but we must follow His commands

1Pe 2:21-25 NKJV  For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:  (22)  “WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH” [Is. 53];  (23)  who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;  (24)  who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.  (25)  For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

1Pe 3:8-17 NKJV  Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;  (9)  not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.  (10)  For “HE WHO WOULD LOVE LIFE AND SEE GOOD DAYS, LET HIM REFRAIN HIS TONGUE FROM EVIL, AND HIS LIPS FROM SPEAKING DECEIT.  (11)  LET HIM TURN AWAY FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD; LET HIM SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT.  (12)  FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE ON THE RIGHTEOUS, AND HIS EARS ARE OPEN TO THEIR PRAYERS; BUT THE FACE OF THE LORD IS AGAINST THOSE WHO DO EVIL.” [Ps. 34] (13)  And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?  (14)  But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “AND DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THEIR THREATS, NOR BE TROUBLED.”[Is. 8]  (15)  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;  (16)  having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.  (17)  For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

B.        Released Through Forgiveness

Mat 6:12 AMP  And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven (left, remitted, and let go of the debts, and have given up resentment against) our debtors.

Mar 11:25 AMP  And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your [own] failings and shortcomings and let them drop.

-our forgiveness of others sins against us is based entirely upon what the Father has done for us in Christ

-forgiveness doesn’t mean that I pretend the offense never occurred; and it doesn’t require that you immediately trust the one who has committed the offense

-forgiveness doesn’t excuse the crime; but the ultimate justice must be entrusted into the hands of the Living God and the court of heaven

-it is right to be angry over the offense; but don’t let your anger, your hurt, your loss keep you from forgiving the person

-take your hands off their neck; only in this way can you ever hope to experience the fullness of the life God has waiting for you

-forgiveness is a process; but there must first be a sowing in faith to obedience to the counsel of God

-step out in faith and make a proclamation that you forgive that person or those people

-let the Holy Spirit flush out all the brine that has built up over the years

-remember what Jesus has paid to bring you into the privilege of forgiveness with God0

-Jesus has brought us out of spiritual and moral darkness into His marvelous light

-may we remember that He paid dearly for this gift of eternal life that we so cherish and partake of even this moment

COMMUNION

1 Kings 15:16-34

Introduction:

I. The Testing of Asa, King of Judah vv. 16-24

A. Warfare Between Asa and Baasha (vv. 16-17)

(16) Now there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days. (17) And Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.

-

B. Wandering Away from Reliance Upon God (vv. 18-24)

(18) Then Asa took all the silver and gold that was left in the treasuries of the house of the LORD and the treasuries of the king’s house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants. And King Asa sent them to Ben-Hadad the son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, who dwelt in Damascus, saying, (19) “Let there be a treaty between you and me, as there was between my father and your father. See, I have sent you a present of silver and gold. Come and break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, so that he will withdraw from me.” (20) So Ben-Hadad heeded King Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel. He attacked Ijon, Dan, Abel Beth Maachah, and all Chinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali. (21) Now it happened, when Baasha heard it, that he stopped building Ramah, and remained in Tirzah. (22) Then King Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah; none was exempted. And they took away the stones and timber of Ramah, which Baasha had used for building; and with them King Asa built Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah. (23) The rest of all the acts of Asa, all his might, all that he did, and the cities which he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? But in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet. (24) So Asa rested with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the City of David his father. Then Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place.

-

II. Two Kings of Israel vv. 25-34

A. Nadab, King of Israel (vv. 25-32)

(25) Now Nadab the son of Jeroboam became king over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years. (26) And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin by which he had made Israel sin. (27) Then Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him. And Baasha killed him at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines, while Nadab and all Israel laid siege to Gibbethon. (28) Baasha killed him in the third year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his place. (29) And it was so, when he became king, that he killed all the house of Jeroboam. He did not leave to Jeroboam anyone that breathed, until he had destroyed him, according to the word of the LORD which He had spoken by His servant Ahijah the Shilonite, (30) because of the sins of Jeroboam, which he had sinned and by which he had made Israel sin, because of his provocation with which he had provoked the LORD God of Israel to anger. (31) Now the rest of the acts of Nadab, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? (32) And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.

-

B. Baasha, King of Israel (vv. 33-34)

(33) In the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha the son of Ahijah became king over all Israel in Tirzah, and reigned twenty-four years. (34) He did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin by which he had made Israel sin.

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]]> http://www.calvarynorth.org/2008/07/03/wandering-away-from-being-reliant-upon-god/feed/ 00:01:01 1 Kings 15:16-34 Introduction: I. The Testing of Asa, King of Judah vv. 16-24 A. ... 1 Kings 15:16-34 Introduction: I. The Testing of Asa, King of Judah vv. 16-24 A. Warfare Between Asa and Baasha (vv. 16-17) (16) Now there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days. (17) And Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. - B. Wandering Away from Reliance Upon God (vv. 18-24) (18) Then Asa took all the silver and gold that was left in the treasuries of the house of the LORD and the treasuries of the king’s house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants. And King Asa sent them to Ben-Hadad the son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, who dwelt in Damascus, saying, (19) “Let there be a treaty between you and me, as there was between my father and your father. See, I have sent you a present of silver and gold. Come and break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, so that he will withdraw from me.” (20) So Ben-Hadad heeded King Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel. He attacked Ijon, Dan, Abel Beth Maachah, and all Chinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali. (21) Now it happened, when Baasha heard it, that he stopped building Ramah, and remained in Tirzah. (22) Then King Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah; none was exempted. And they took away the stones and timber of Ramah, which Baasha had used for building; and with them King Asa built Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah. (23) The rest of all the acts of Asa, all his might, all that he did, and the cities which he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? But in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet. (24) So Asa rested with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the City of David his father. Then Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place. - II. Two Kings of Israel vv. 25-34 A. Nadab, King of Israel (vv. 25-32) (25) Now Nadab the son of Jeroboam became king over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years. (26) And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin by which he had made Israel sin. (27) Then Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him. And Baasha killed him at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines, while Nadab and all Israel laid siege to Gibbethon. (28) Baasha killed him in the third year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his place. (29) And it was so, when he became king, that he killed all the house of Jeroboam. He did not leave to Jeroboam anyone that breathed, until he had destroyed him, according to the word of the LORD which He had spoken by His servant Ahijah the Shilonite, (30) because of the sins of Jeroboam, which he had sinned and by which he had made Israel sin, because of his provocation with which he had provoked the LORD God of Israel to anger. (31) Now the rest of the acts of Nadab, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? (32) And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days. - B. Baasha, King of Israel (vv. 33-34) (33) In the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha the son of Ahijah became king over all Israel in Tirzah, and reigned twenty-four years. (34) He did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin by which he had made Israel sin. - Recent Sermons Calvary North no No http://www.calvarynorth.org/2008/06/29/practical-daily-living-for-the-believer-part-1/ http://www.calvarynorth.org/2008/06/29/practical-daily-living-for-the-believer-part-1/#comments Sun, 29 Jun 2008 21:53:30 +0000 calvary-staff Recent Sermons http://www.calvarynorth.org/2008/06/29/practical-daily-living-for-the-believer-part-1/

1 Thessalonians 5:12-28

Introduction:

-the last 27 verses of 1 Thessalonians 5 contain 20 practical exhortations for this young church

-all of these exhortations can be summed up in one word: love…love toward their overseers (including Paul and Timothy), love toward one another, and love toward God

-these are exhortations are encouragements; they are not rules by which to gauge one’s acceptance before God; when treat make them rules you focus on ‘the rule’ instead of why it’s there

-the Word of God is to lead you into a deep relationship with God Himself through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ; you cannot have a relationship with rules

-when a believer is daily living his or her life in the love of God, these encouragements will be found already in action

-they are checkpoints: are these qualities a regular practice of my daily life as a believer in Christ?

-I have grouped them into two sections: Expressions of Love vv. 12-22; Encouragement to the End vv. 23-28

-read 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28; pray

I.          Expressions of Love vv. 12-22

A.        Loving the Church Leaders vv. 12-13a

-to recognize and esteem very highly in love: these are two expressions of love from the congregation toward those who are leaders in the church

-both words work together; they are choices made on the part of the individual

-I wanted to have the elders of our church come up here with me so you can see and ‘recognize’ them, to get to know them and their heart toward the flock

-we have those elders who are actively serving on our church board right now: Rick Redpath, Bill Prevatt, and Pastor Pat Lazovich from CC of Sierra Vista

-we have Mike Means who is our Secretary/Treasurer here at Calvary, and also an elder and has served for many years on our church board

-Pastor Lane Sharman and Pastor Jesse Claycamp are elders who have served on our church board in previous years; and Don Hodges is an elder here who also has served on our church board in previous years

-prayer over the eldership

-there are three activities listed here that are among the responsibilities of those in leadership over a congregation: to labor among them, to oversee the flock, to admonish the flock

-the Greek word used here for labor means ‘to toil to the point of weariness’

-so often we think of toil in terms of digging ditches or laying down asphalt during an Arizona summer

-the context puts labor together with oversight and admonition; labor has to do with all that is involved with praying for the flock, counseling with those in need, encouraging those cast down, preparing the teachings of the Word, training up future leadership, taking care of ‘behind-the-scenes’ logistics, etc.

-being involved in active ministry roles for over 27 years I can tell you that there is so much that goes on behind the scenes in caring for the flock

-it has been said to me in jest, “It must be nice to just work three or four hours a week up there teaching, and have the rest of the time to play golf.”

-first of all I don’t play golf much; people ask me to join their group to make themselves look like a great player

-but secondly, the time that is spent sharing the word is the byproduct of hours of study and a lifelong experience of walking in the Lord

-an example is how preparations are made for a very special dinner for special guests; how much time and preparations would go into thinking through what to serve, how to cook it, having it hot and ready when dinner is scheduled, setting the table, etc.

-and then in a matter of a few minutes, the entire meal is devoured and all that is left is dirty dishes!

-the Greek word for taking oversight is used in the same way as a husband is to watch over and care for his family

-admonish simply means to warn about the dangers ahead and to confront sinful behaviors and attitudes; this is an expression of love, not a power trip

Heb 13:7 NKJV  Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.

Heb 13:17 NKJV  Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

B.        Loving the Brethren vv. 13b-15

-I put the last sentence of v. 13 into this next section although it does describe the security that can be found when overseers are walking in the fullness of their responsibilities before the Lord and before the flock

-there is a charge here to make a choice to be at peace among the brethren; why? Because God has called us to walk in unconditional love toward one another

-this love is to be the hallmark of any Christian body of believers

-the trouble is that conflict will occur; not everyone is walking in love or according to the leading of the Holy Spirit at all moments of the day

-that is where always being ready to take responsibility for your sinful attitudes and actions is so important

-there is a great need to ask forgiveness when you have sinned against someone else, and to be ready to forgive that person even though they have hurt you deeply

-‘Be at peace among yourselves’ is just as much of a choice to honor one another as being a member of the body of Christ as you would choose to honor an elder

-then Paul goes into some specifics in vv. 14-15

-‘warn those who are unruly’; the Greek word for unruly means not only one who has a contentious, rebellious spirit, but it includes the idea of laziness

-actually it is a word used to describe a soldier who doesn’t keep ranks

-what is the warning? If that person continues in the path he or she is going down, the fruit of it will be destruction in some way in their life

Gal 6:7-8 NKJV  Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.  (8)  For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

-‘comfort the fainthearted’: fainthearted means to be ‘little of soul’; in other words, those who are so discouraged over life’s situations that they are ready to give up

-this is addressed to the congregation, not just the leadership

-‘uphold the weak’: this has to do with bearing one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ (love)

-‘be patient with all’: not everyone will be walking in the Spirit every moment of the day; when you find someone who is having difficulty and acting in a way that is in the flesh, don’t throw them under the bus and think that it’s not your problem

-take a look at how patient God has been with you over the years putting up with your crazy shenanigans and pipe dreams that were nothing more than pride and vanity

-finally, ‘see that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all’: this includes those in and outside the congregation, as well as those who are not believers

-these are all practical applications of God’s love in action among the congregation

(the rest of the chapter will be covered in our next study)

1 Kings 15:1-15; 2 Chronicles 13-15

Introduction:

I. Two Kings of Judah vv. 1-24

A. Abijam, King of Judah (vv. 1-8)

-here we see the grandson of Solomon through Rehoboam; Abijam only reigned three years; he is also called Abijah in 2 Chr., which means Jehovah is my Father

-Abijam’s dad had reigned 17 yrs and was 58 when he died; there is no mention of how old Abijam was when we took the throne or when he died

-he was a king that knew the religious history but “walked in all the sins of his father…his heart was not loyal to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his [fore]father David

-we get much more information on Abijam in the account in 2 Chron. 13

-Abijam grew up in a household that was accustomed to conflict with the northern kingdom; when he ascended to the throne there was an attempt to bring back the northern tribes to the control of the southern kingdom of Judah

-the one high point of his short three year reign was his proclamation to the army of King Jeroboam when they were about to engage in battle

-read 2 Chronicles 13:3-22

-Abijam’s heart was not loyal to the Lord; he had every opportunity to do right in the eyes of the Lord, but he looked to the example of his ungodly father instead

-he was someone who was out to build his own name and bask in the privileges of kingly authority with his many wives and children; but his reign abruptly ended

B. Asa, King of Judah (vv. 9-15)

(9) In the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Asa became king over Judah. (10) And he reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem. His grandmother’s name was Maachah the granddaughter of Abishalom. (11) Asa did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did his father David. (12) And he banished the perverted persons from the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. (13) Also he removed Maachah his grandmother from being queen mother, because she had made an obscene image of Asherah. And Asa cut down her obscene image and burned it by the Brook Kidron. (14) But the high places were not removed. Nevertheless Asa’s heart was loyal to the LORD all his days. (15) He also brought into the house of the LORD the things which his father had dedicated, and the things which he himself had dedicated: silver and gold and utensils.

-there were a total of nine kings over Israel and Judah that had the epitaph ‘they did what was right in the sight of the Lord’

-David was the first one, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite; and now the next one here is Asa’

-Asa’s name means ‘physician or cure’; he was a breath of spiritual life for Judah, a ‘cure’ if you will in how he instituted moral reforms in Judah

-it had been around twenty years since the death of Solomon, sixty years since the death of David

-the people of Judah had been greatly influenced by the spiritual carelessness of the past decades; the length of Asa’s reign is a testimony to God’s mercy over Judah

-it appears that he officially cleared Jerusalem of the idolatry left over from the days of Solomon; he even deposed his grandmother, Maachah, a descendant from Absalom, from her influential position of authority; her name means ‘depression’

-the account here in 1 Kings is a very general record; more detail can be found in 2 Chr.

-read 2 Chronicles 14-15

]]> http://www.calvarynorth.org/2008/06/26/the-value-of-a-loyal-heart-to-the-lord/feed/ 00:01:01 1 Kings 15:1-15; 2 Chronicles 13-15 Introduction: I. Two Kings of Judah vv. 1-24 A. ... 1 Kings 15:1-15; 2 Chronicles 13-15 Introduction: I. Two Kings of Judah vv. 1-24 A. Abijam, King of Judah (vv. 1-8) -here we see the grandson of Solomon through Rehoboam; Abijam only reigned three years; he is also called Abijah in 2 Chr., which means Jehovah is my Father -Abijam’s dad had reigned 17 yrs and was 58 when he died; there is no mention of how old Abijam was when we took the throne or when he died -he was a king that knew the religious history but “walked in all the sins of his father…his heart was not loyal to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his [fore]father David -we get much more information on Abijam in the account in 2 Chron. 13 -Abijam grew up in a household that was accustomed to conflict with the northern kingdom; when he ascended to the throne there was an attempt to bring back the northern tribes to the control of the southern kingdom of Judah -the one high point of his short three year reign was his proclamation to the army of King Jeroboam when they were about to engage in battle -read 2 Chronicles 13:3-22 -Abijam’s heart was not loyal to the Lord; he had every opportunity to do right in the eyes of the Lord, but he looked to the example of his ungodly father instead -he was someone who was out to build his own name and bask in the privileges of kingly authority with his many wives and children; but his reign abruptly ended B. Asa, King of Judah (vv. 9-15) (9) In the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Asa became king over Judah. (10) And he reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem. His grandmother’s name was Maachah the granddaughter of Abishalom. (11) Asa did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did his father David. (12) And he banished the perverted persons from the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. (13) Also he removed Maachah his grandmother from being queen mother, because she had made an obscene image of Asherah. And Asa cut down her obscene image and burned it by the Brook Kidron. (14) But the high places were not removed. Nevertheless Asa’s heart was loyal to the LORD all his days. (15) He also brought into the house of the LORD the things which his father had dedicated, and the things which he himself had dedicated: silver and gold and utensils. -there were a total of nine kings over Israel and Judah that had the epitaph ‘they did what was right in the sight of the Lord’ -David was the first one, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite; and now the next one here is Asa’ -Asa’s name means ‘physician or cure’; he was a breath of spiritual life for Judah, a ‘cure’ if you will in how he instituted moral reforms in Judah -it had been around twenty years since the death of Solomon, sixty years since the death of David -the people of Judah had been greatly influenced by the spiritual carelessness of the past decades; the length of Asa’s reign is a testimony to God’s mercy over Judah -it appears that he officially cleared Jerusalem of the idolatry left over from the days of Solomon; he even deposed his grandmother, Maachah, a descendant from Absalom, from her influential position of authority; her name means ‘depression’ -the account here in 1 Kings is a very general record; more detail can be found in 2 Chr. -read 2 Chronicles 14-15 Recent Sermons Calvary North no No http://www.calvarynorth.org/2008/06/15/being-prepared-for-the-coming-day-of-the-lord/ http://www.calvarynorth.org/2008/06/15/being-prepared-for-the-coming-day-of-the-lord/#comments Sun, 15 Jun 2008 23:05:00 +0000 calvary-staff Recent Sermons http://www.calvarynorth.org/2008/06/15/being-prepared-for-the-coming-day-of-the-lord/

1 Thes. 5:1-11

Introduction:

-as we make our way through the New Testament, we come across truths of the Kingdom of God that must be believed and received by faith

-the Bible tells us the truth about our world, about our Lord, about our position in Jesus by faith

-it also tells us the truth about what is going to happen in the world before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ to this earth; there are clear signs and historical events that will precede His Coming

-many today steer away from teaching on these ‘last things’ (eschatology is the technical term) because they feel it’s too controversial; they don’t want to stir people up causing needless anxiety

-but the Apostle Paul taught about these things to these new believers in Thessalonica during his three weeks with them; it is very evident from this epistle as well as from his second epistle to them

-there really is a mandate upon every Christian leader and teacher to declare the whole counsel of God to their congregations; Paul said this very clearly in his testimony to the elders at Ephesus

Acts 20:27 NKJV For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.

-teaching what the Bible has to say about the last days is part of this ‘whole counsel of God’

-just what is it going to look like on the earth before Jesus returns? Are there any significant historical events that must first take place before Jesus catches away His church unto Himself?

-these are among the questions we will be answering this morning as we look at 1 Thessalonians 5

-read 1 Thes. 5:1-11; pray

I. The Day of the Lord vv. 1-3

A. It Comes as a Thief in the Night vv. 1-2

-Paul had made it perfectly clear to the Thessalonian believers about the tribulation period that would come upon the earth just before Christ’s Second Coming

-in ch. 4 of this epistle he had clarified about the catching away of the believers unto the Lord occurring just before this time of trouble that would begin upon the earth

-from vv. 1-2 we can conclude that the coming judgment of God upon the world was shown to them by Paul and Timothy from the Scriptures

-the term ‘the times and the seasons’ is used three times in Scripture: once here, once in the book of Daniel, and once in Acts ch. 1

-in all three cases the context centers on God’s dealings with Israel’s future

-this event called ‘the Day of the Lord’ will begin after the church has been taken away from the earth

-after that the man of sin will be revealed (more on that when we get into 2 Thes. 2)

-the Day of the Lord culminates with the Second Coming of Christ to this earth

-when Christ returns to this earth He will set up His righteous world Kingdom headquartered in Jerusalem

-the Day of the Lord is a period of time, a season of seven years, during which God will bring Israel as a nation to a saving knowledge of Yeshua as Messiah

-it will also be a season when God will bring judgment upon the world for their iniquity

-there will be a purging of the world from its sin before the Lord Jesus comes to take His rightful place as King of kings and Lord of lords

Isa 13:6-11 NKJV Wail, for the day of the LORD is at hand! It will come as destruction from the Almighty. (7) Therefore all hands will be limp, Every man’s heart will melt, (8) And they will be afraid. Pangs and sorrows will take hold of them; They will be in pain as a woman in childbirth; They will be amazed at one another; Their faces will be like flames. (9) Behold, the day of the LORD comes, Cruel, with both wrath and fierce anger, To lay the land desolate; And He will destroy its sinners from it. (10) For the stars of heaven and their constellations Will not give their light; The sun will be darkened in its going forth, And the moon will not cause its light to shine. (11) “I will punish the world for its evil, And the wicked for their iniquity; I will halt the arrogance of the proud, And will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.

-some Bible commentators say this is only a prophetic reference to the coming destruction of Israel and Judah by the Assyrian and Babylonian Empires

-but Jesus also spoke of this Day of the Lord, putting it into a future tense

-and in case some believe it was a reference to the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD, you’ll find in the Book of Revelation (written down in 90 AD) a detail of the events that will transpire during this ‘Day of the Lord’

-Jesus gave instructions to His disciples (and to us today) about what would take place during this time period; you can read about it in Matt. 24-25, Mk. 13, and Lk. 21

-I also refer you to our church website under the link ‘archived sermons’ for further study on these chapters; the book of Daniel also speaks of this Day of the Lord

-as a matter of fact we are going to be showing a DVD teaching from Joel Rosenberg on Daniel 9 this Wednesday night

-Joel will show how that current events today with Iran, Israel, and Russia fit right into Biblical prophecy and what we can expect in the coming days

-Jesus also used this terminology ‘thief in the night’ when exhorting His disciples to be prepared for this coming Day

Mat 24:42-44 NKJV Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. (43) But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. (44) Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Rev 3:2-3 NKJV Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. (3) Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.

-and to the Jewish believers alive during the tribulation period Jesus says:

Rev 16:15 NKJV “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.”

B. It Comes as Labor Pains Upon a Pregnant Woman v. 3

-this idea of world peace and safety is something that has been espoused during our generation, especially in the last twenty years or so

-but the Bible tells us it will be brought about by one who is inhabited by Satan himself

-he is referred to in Scripture as ‘the antiChrist’, ‘the man of sin’, ‘the little horn’, ‘the prince that shall come’, ‘the beast’, ‘the son of perdition’, ‘the lawless one’

-but just as it appears that this one man has the answers to really bring about this elusive goal to the world, then the judgment of God begins to fall

-this illustration of labor pains coming upon a pregnant woman about to deliver is used throughout Scripture, usually in the context of a coming judgment

Jer 30:5-7 NKJV “For thus says the LORD: ‘We have heard a voice of trembling, Of fear, and not of peace. (6) Ask now, and see, Whether a man is ever in labor with child? So why do I see every man with his hands on his loins Like a woman in labor, And all faces turned pale? (7) Alas! For that day is great, So that none is like it; And it is the time of Jacob’s trouble, But he shall be saved out of it.

-Jesus also used this life reality to illustrate how the events at the end of time would culminate in this Day of the Lord in Mt. 24:8: ‘the beginning of sorrows’

II. The Disciples are Sons of Light vv. 4-11

A. The Day of the Lord is Not For Those Living in the Light vv. 4-5

-in the remaining verses of our text today we read of these contrasting terms, ‘darkness and light’, ‘night and day’

-they are used as a spiritual reference to describe the moral state of a person before God

-we see these terms used quite frequently throughout the gospel of John and in his epistles of 1, 2, and 3 John

-many have not even considered the words that Jesus spoke after He told Nicodemus that famous gospel summary of John 3:16

Joh 3:16-21 NKJV For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (17) For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. (18) “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (19) And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (20) For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. (21) But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

-if you have believed on, trusting in, relied upon Christ for your salvation, you are considered by God a person of the light

-the Day of the Lord is not going to come upon you

-now there were those in Israel that thought this Day of the Lord would finally rid them of their outward enemies; but they continued to live daily in sin and iniquity

-they couldn’t see that their own unrepentant hearts made then targets of this Day

Amo 5:18-20 NKJV Woe to you who desire the day of the LORD! For what good is the day of the LORD to you? It will be darkness, and not light. (19) It will be as though a man fled from a lion, And a bear met him! Or as though he went into the house, Leaned his hand on the wall, And a serpent bit him! (20) Is not the day of the LORD darkness, and not light? Is it not very dark, with no brightness in it?

B. The Determination to Be Alert and Aware vv. 6-8

-even though the Day of the Lord will not fall upon the church of Jesus Christ, there is this warning from Paul about being watchful and abiding in faith, love and hope

-all throughout Jesus’ message to His disciples when speaking about these last things, there were continual warnings to be watchful

-why? Because of the tendency in our flesh to grow complacent in the daily life pattern

-many people come into church services seeking answers to their life problems

-they hear how God understands their situation and loves them implicitly

-they are shown the way of salvation through faith in the Son of God, Jesus Christ

-they leave considering it all; but just because they have heard with their ears and understood with their mind doesn’t mean they have actually boarded the train

-if they trust in their hearing and their understanding but do nothing about surrendering their life to the Lord, they are in grave danger of the coming Day of the Lord

-there were those in Noah’s day who watched the ark being built, understood why he was doing so, but they never entered the ark to the saving of their soul

Mat 24:37-42 NKJV But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. (38) For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, (39) and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. (40) Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. (41) Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. (42) Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.

C. The Deliverance from the Wrath to Come vv. 9-11

-there are those today who teach that the church of Jesus Christ will be the mighty army going through the great tribulation triumphant in the end

-but in the full context of the Scriptures, and from a simple, literal reading therein, we find that the Day of the Lord is a time of the pouring out of the wrath of God upon a godless, sinful world

-looking at both the Old Testament and the New Testament, and considering God’s plan for the nation of Israel in these last days, we see that the church of Jesus Christ will be snatched away before the wrath falls upon this world in judgment

-our hope is that we not only are partaking of this Life (Zoe’) right now, but we will continue to partake of it after we physically put off this body

-God did not appoint us to partake of His wrath; do we understand this? God has given us the Passover Lamb of Jesus Christ that the destroying angel will not touch us

-does this mean that we will not have trouble and tribulation in our own lives?

-no; we may suffer greatly as we live out a godly life in Christ Jesus; persecution may become our lot as we stand fast to the word of God

-it is already happening in nations around the world, even in Canada

-also, the society in which we live may collapse and bring untold hardship and trouble upon our life; but God will be with us in the midst of it all

-this is His promise: I will NEVER leave you, nor FORSAKE you

Heb 13:5-6 NKJV Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU.” (6) So we may boldly say: “THE LORD IS MY HELPER; I WILL NOT FEAR. WHAT CAN MAN DO TO ME?”

Psa 46:1-3 NKJV To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. A Song For Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. (2) Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; (3) Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah

-what great comfort and encouragement we can have as we understand and receive these important truths—especially as we see the event in our world unfold!

-today we see the particular alliance of nations coming together as in no other time in history—an alliance that was prophesied about thousands of years ago that would take place in the last days

-we see the establishing of the nation of Israel, we see Russia in alliance with Iran and Libya, we hear the threats of annihilation against Israel from the Islamic Middle-Eastern nations; we understand the potential for nuclear disaster worldwide

Luk 21:28 NKJV Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

]]> http://www.calvarynorth.org/2008/06/15/being-prepared-for-the-coming-day-of-the-lord/feed/ 00:01:01 1 Thes. 5:1-11 Introduction: -as we make our way through the New Testament, we come across truths of the Kingdom of God that must be believed and ... 1 Thes. 5:1-11 Introduction: -as we make our way through the New Testament, we come across truths of the Kingdom of God that must be believed and received by faith -the Bible tells us the truth about our world, about our Lord, about our position in Jesus by faith -it also tells us the truth about what is going to happen in the world before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ to this earth; there are clear signs and historical events that will precede His Coming -many today steer away from teaching on these ‘last things’ (eschatology is the technical term) because they feel it’s too controversial; they don’t want to stir people up causing needless anxiety -but the Apostle Paul taught about these things to these new believers in Thessalonica during his three weeks with them; it is very evident from this epistle as well as from his second epistle to them -there really is a mandate upon every Christian leader and teacher to declare the whole counsel of God to their congregations; Paul said this very clearly in his testimony to the elders at Ephesus Acts 20:27 NKJV For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. -teaching what the Bible has to say about the last days is part of this ‘whole counsel of God’ -just what is it going to look like on the earth before Jesus returns? Are there any significant historical events that must first take place before Jesus catches away His church unto Himself? -these are among the questions we will be answering this morning as we look at 1 Thessalonians 5 -read 1 Thes. 5:1-11; pray I. The Day of the Lord vv. 1-3 A. It Comes as a Thief in the Night vv. 1-2 -Paul had made it perfectly clear to the Thessalonian believers about the tribulation period that would come upon the earth just before Christ’s Second Coming -in ch. 4 of this epistle he had clarified about the catching away of the believers unto the Lord occurring just before this time of trouble that would begin upon the earth -from vv. 1-2 we can conclude that the coming judgment of God upon the world was shown to them by Paul and Timothy from the Scriptures -the term ‘the times and the seasons’ is used three times in Scripture: once here, once in the book of Daniel, and once in Acts ch. 1 -in all three cases the context centers on God’s dealings with Israel’s future -this event called ‘the Day of the Lord’ will begin after the church has been taken away from the earth -after that the man of sin will be revealed (more on that when we get into 2 Thes. 2) -the Day of the Lord culminates with the Second Coming of Christ to this earth -when Christ returns to this earth He will set up His righteous world Kingdom headquartered in Jerusalem -the Day of the Lord is a period of time, a season of seven years, during which God will bring Israel as a nation to a saving knowledge of Yeshua as Messiah -it will also be a season when God will bring judgment upon the world for their iniquity -there will be a purging of the world from its sin before the Lord Jesus comes to take His rightful place