Saturday, July 31, 2021

Romans 15:5-6

 

Romans 15:5-6

That You Would Have One Mind

 

Rom 15:5  Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: 

Rom 15:6  That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

 

  1. Paul’s Heart Cry for Our Church:
  2. That God Would Give You All
    1. All true endurance is found in God

                                                              i.      Everything God requires of us He provides in Himself

1.      Philippians 4:13 

2.      Colossians 1:11 

    1. All true comfort in found in God

                                                              i.      The Holy Spirit provides comfort for us in His Word

1.      Romans 15:4 

2.      Psalm 86:5 

3.      2 Corinthians 1:3-4 

    1. All true Christian unity is found in God

                                                              i.      1 Corinthians 4:6-7 

                                                            ii.      1 Corinthians 12:25 

    1. God gives all, the aforementioned things, to us through His Son Christ Jesus

                                                              i.      Romans 8:32 

                                                            ii.      John 15:5 

  1. That You Would Give God Your All
    1. May we glorify God with one mind

                                                              i.      Unity is found in Christ as we all learn to follow His example. We are to:

1.      Serve as Christ serves

a.       John 13:15 

2.      Love as Christ loves

a.       Ephesians 5:2 

3.      Suffer as Christ suffers

a.       1 Peter 2:21 

4.      Walk as Christ walks

a.       1 John 2:6 

    1. May we glorify God with one mouth

                                                              i.      Psalm 117:1-2 

Friday, July 30, 2021

Wednesday, July 21, 2021

Romans 15:1-4

 

Romans 15:1-4

Bear Ye One Another’s Burdens

 

Rom 15:1  We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

Rom 15:2  Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.

Rom 15:3  For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

Rom 15:4  For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

  

  1. The Purpose of the Church – vs. 1-2
    1. Those that are stronger in the faith are to lovingly care for the weaker brothers

                                                              i.      There are those that are new babes in the faith

1.      1 John 2:12 

                                                            ii.      There are those that are more mature but not advanced in their faith

1.      1 John 2:13 

                                                          iii.      There are those that have grown strong spiritual muscles in the faith

1.      1 John 2:14 

    1. Those that are stronger in the faith are to put others before themselves

                                                              i.      It is easy to get focused on what we want to accomplish, but we must ask ourselves is this building unity in the church

1.      Psalm 133:1 

2.      Zephaniah 3:9 

3.      John 10:16 

4.      1 Corinthians 1:10 

                                                            ii.      We are all to put others first

1.      Do you have good intentions for your brother?

a.       2 Thessalonians 3:11-13 

2.      Do you desire his spiritual growth?

a.       Colossians 1:28 

  1. The Person of the Church – vs. 3
    1. If the previous verses do not describe you then you must find sustenance in the person of Christ

                                                              i.      Christ was not self-serving

1.      Christ did not want to go to the cross, yet He said not my will but thine be done

a.       Matthew 26:39-42 

                                                            ii.      Christ was willing to take the curses meant for you upon Himself

1.      Psalm 69:9 

2.      Psalm 69:20-21  

  1. The Precept of the Church – vs. 4
    1. If the first two verse do not describe you then you can find sustenance in the pages of scripture

                                                              i.      Scripture grows your mind

1.      2 Timothy 3:16-17 

                                                            ii.      Scripture enlarges your patience

1.      James 5:7-11 

                                                          iii.      Scripture gives you comfort

1.      Psalm 119:80-81 

                                                          iv.      Scripture provides you with hope

1.       Lamentations 3:22-26

Saturday, July 17, 2021

Romans 14:18-23

 

Romans 14:18-23

Food Will Not Stop the Church

 

Rom 14:18  For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. 

Rom 14:19  Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. 

Rom 14:20  For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. 

Rom 14:21  It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. 

Rom 14:22  Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. 

Rom 14:23  And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. 

      1.      A Believer Filled with the Holy Spirit is Pleasing to God and Man – vs. 18

a.       A Servant of Christ produces the fruits of the Holy Spirit because he is walking in the Spirit

                                                              i.      Galatians 5:22-23 

b.      A servant of Christ is pleasing to God

                                                              i.      Ephesians 5:9-10 

c.       A servant of Christ is pleasing to man

                                                              i.      1 Timothy 1:8-11 

          2.      A Believer is to be Dedicated to Building of the Church – vs. 19

a.       Are you a peacemaker in the church or does controversy seem to follow you around?

                                                              i.      Ephesians 4:3-6 

b.      Are you filled with a desire to see others grow in their maturity in Christ?

                                                              i.      Ephesians 4:11-16 

             3.      A Believer Must Understand both Sides of a Divisive Controversy and Yet Know Their Own                    Position – vs. 20-21

a.       Some things to remember from Romans 14:

                                                              i.      Food will not stop the church – vs. 20a

1.      Matthew 16:18 

                                                            ii.      A Christian is not contaminated by the external – vs. 20b

1.      Matthew 15:11   

                                                          iii.      If something offends your conscience than you must renew your commitment to stay away from it – vs. 20c

1.      1 Corinthians 8:9-12 

                                                          iv.      Be cautious that the exercise of your liberty does not offend others – vs. 21

1.      1Corinthains 8:13 

           4.      Advice for the Stronger Brother – vs. 22

a.       Feel free to enjoy your Christian liberty privately

                                                              i.      1 John 3:21 

b.      Be sure that your freedom never becomes and obstacle to your growth or the growth of others

                                                              i.      1 Peter 2:16 

          5.      Advice for the Weaker Brother – vs. 23

a.       If you are unsure about an issue that is commonly viewed as a Christian liberty, err on the side of caution, and do not participate

b.      Remember whatever you do should be honoring to God

c.       If you feel that something you are doing is not honoring to the Lord, do not sin against God and your conscience

                                                              i.      2 Timothy 2:1-6

Michael Reeves: Here We Stand in Europe

Saturday, July 10, 2021

Romans 14:17

 

Romans 14:17

The Kingdom of God

 

Rom 14:17  For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 

        1.      The Kingdom of God is not a Physical Kingdom

a.       What is the Kingdom of God?

                                                              i.      If the Kingdom of God were physical in its nature Christianity would be no different than any other religion – simply a new ethic, in a new package.

1.      The Kingdom of God is:

a.       Not comprehendible by the world

                                                                                                                                      i.      John 1:10 

b.      Is only attainable by a new birth

                                                                                                                                      i.      John 3:5 

c.       Is not accessible by the unsaved

                                                                                                                                      i.      Matthew 5:20 

d.      Has no connection to the kingdoms of the earth

                                                                                                                                      i.      John 18:36 

e.       Is advanced by the proclamation of the truth

                                                                                                                                      i.      Mark 1:14-15 

f.        Is only for the humble

                                                                                                                                      i.      Matthew 5:3 

b.      Your entrance into the Kingdom of God is not dependent on your dietary habits.

                                                              i.      While I am not going to tell what you should decide regarding wine, here are some things to think about

1.      Jesus turned water into wine

a.       John 2:10 

2.      Jesus served wine for communion

a.       Matthew 26:27 

3.      Wine is a picture of our salvation

a.       Isaiah 55:1 

4.      Wine is a picture of God blessings

a.       Joel 3:18 

5.      Wine will be served at the marriage supper of the Lamb

a.       Matthew 26:29 

                                                            ii.      Does this mean you should partake?

1.      Drunkenness is forbidden

a.       Ephesians 5:18 

2.      Elders should practice moderation

a.       1 Timothy 3:3 

3.      Deacons should practice moderation

a.       1 Timothy 3:8 

4.      Abstinence is a personal conviction

a.       The Nazarite Vow

                                                                                                                                      i.      Luke 1:15 

b.      Daniel

                                                                                                                                      i.      Daniel 1:8 

           2.      The Kingdom of God is Spiritual Kingdom

a.       Righteousness

                                                              i.      Righteousness is a gift from God

1.      Romans 3:22 

                                                            ii.      Which should create a pursuit of righteousness in the life of the believer

1.      You must flee youthful lust

a.       2 Timothy 2:22 

2.      You must yield to the fruit of righteousness

a.       Hebrews 12:11 

3.      You must sow righteousness

a.       Galatians 6:8 

4.      You must be filled with Christ

a.       Philippians 1:11 

b.      Peace

                                                              i.      You have been given peace with God

1.      Romans 5:1 

                                                            ii.      Which produces the peace of God

1.      Philippians 4:6-7 

c.       Joy      

                                                              i.      Does your salvation move you? If there is no emotion when you think of what Christ did for you, one must wonder if you truly understand what He has done.

1.      1 Peter 1:8 

d.      In the power of the Holy Spirit

                                                              i.      Galatians 5:22-25