God Is Not Silent-It Is Written

God is Not Silent - It is Written: Matt. 4:1-11
What a blessing it was to be in church yesterday. Four baptisms in one day! The Williams sisters, Will Wooten and my own son John Mark Atchley. God is indeed good! It was a special blessing to see both of John Mark's granddads pray over he and Will prior to their baptism.

A Short re-cap of the Sermon: "It Is Written" Matthew 4:1-11

It is a fact, Satan will hurl the fiery darts of temptation at believers. Paul confirms this in Ephesians 6. Jesus is our greatest role model when it comes to defeating the temptations Satan throws our way. In Matthew 4, we read how Satan tempted Jesus. The first point in the sermon was:

Use Your Sword

The Sword here is the same one used by Jesus in the face of Satan's temptations. For each temptation, Jesus reminded Satan that "it is written." Jesus pulled from the truths contained in the book of Deuteronomy. Paul calls the Word the "Sword of the Spirit" in Eph. 6. Therefore, when temptations and trials come, use your Sword, which is the word of God.

Sound the Alarm

The second point of the sermon calls our attention to that fact that we must be equipped to react when Satan tries to thwart our pursuit of God. We "Sound the Alarm" when we remind Satan what God's word says. During the second temptation Satan tries to persuade Jesus to throw himself down from the pinnacle of the temple. The devil even tries to reinforce his argument with Scripture. However, Jesus was able to "Sound the Alarm" and rebuke Satan over his improper use of Scripture.

Speak Confidently

The third point in the sermon compels the listener to speak with confidence in the Word of God. When tempted with an earthly realm, Jesus charges Satan to leave him - to Go Away! With an emphatic declaration Jesus shews the devil from the scene. You and I can have the same confidence in the power of the name of Jesus and the Word of God. Satan can not inhabit what God owns. Therefore, the believer can "Speak Confidently" and rebuke Satan when he throws those fiery darts at your heart. 

Thank You!

I would like to thank all of you who worked so hard on the meal. Also, a sincere thank you to all of the friends, family, and church family who came to see John Mark, Will Wooten, and the Williams sisters baptized. A huge thanks goes out to Mrs. Brenda for leading us in great worship music. It was truly an amazing day!

John Mark Atchley

Will Wooten

Be What You Are-Christian!

Scripture: 1 Peter 1: 13-16.

13 Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be serious and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. 15 But as the One who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; 16 for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy. HCSB.

Introduction

In this society of time-saving shortcuts and technology we work really hard trying not to work. We spend a lot of time trying to save some time. So, how hard do we work at being a Christian? I'm not referring to some effort to secure salvation, Jesus Christ finished that work. I'm really referring to the emphasis we place on developing a knowledge of God through His word and personal devotional time. Our pace of life is driven by our affections; what we love we will pursue. What we pursue charts the course and the direction that our lives will take. With that in mind we should review our pursuits and evaluate our path. In this sermon I tried to relate what Peter wrote to the first century Christians of Asia Minor as a guide for what we must do today in order to experience spiritual growth. 

Verse thirteen begins with "Therefore..." Because you have been chosen by God and set apart for obedience(vs. 2); Because He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead(vs. 3); Because you have an inheritance which is imperishable, uncorrupted, and unfading kept in heaven for you(vs. 4); Rejoice, though you suffer as your faith is being refined... Therefore...

Fix Your Minds

Text: vs. 13 - Get your minds ready for action, being self-disciplined.

Main Idea: Set your minds - Gird up the loins of your mind.

A.T. Robertson writes of this verse as a vivid metaphor for habit of the Orientals who quickly gathered up their loose robes with a girdle when in a hurry.We must prepare our minds in order to engage our culture with biblical answers to problems that our communities are facing today. We are to be ready to give an answer as Peter writes in 1 Peter 3:15. In this sermon I compared Christian discipleship with the preparation in Islam that Nabeel Qureshi(link to article in Christianity Today) received while growing up. He states that by age 5 he had rectied the entire Qur'an in Arabic and memorized the last seven chapters. I am convicted by my lack of passion to study the Bible and commit more of the truth to memory. God help us to fix our minds on your holy word. 

Focus Your Hope

Text: 13b - set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Main Idea: Focus your hope on the return of Jesus Christ.

As Christians we live in the future tense. Grace has been given and more grace forthcoming. Warren Wiersbe illustrates this fact by drawing attention to an engaged couple who make their plans in light of their future wedding. We should be making our lives reflect the hope that we have been given through the promise of our Lord about His future plans(John 14). 

Forget Your Former Ignorance

Text: vs. 14 - as obedient children do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. 

Main Idea: Forget the former, sinful life...

Peter speaks to his audience in Asia Minor who were possibly both Jews and Gentiles. Either group would be able to apply this teaching. The Gentile must leave the pagan gods of their forefathers while the Jews must see Jesus as the Messiah who fulfilled the Law. You and I must turn from the desires of the flesh and our sin nature which we have all inherited and turn to Jesus, our mediator and advocate with the Father. 

Finish in Holiness

Text: vs. 15 You also are to be holy in all your conduct.

Main Idea: We are to live in holiness as a reflection of God's holiness.

In his commentary Wiersbe notes that we are to maintain a different lifestyle, a holy walk in a polluted world. In order to do this we must be different from much of the culture around us. As we grow in the knowledge Jesus Christ we are being sanctified and set apart exclusively for God's use and pleasure. When I look at my own life I see where God has had to remind me that I have been redeemed from the worthless, former manner of life that I once lived. I am on a different course and I am called to finish the race in holiness. My aim as I study the Bible is not just to learn the Bible but to know its Author intimately. 

If you followed the link above and read the article about Nabeel Qureshi you know that he eventually trusted in Christ as Lord. At great personal loss he turned from Islam to Christianity. He writes, "He redeemed my suffering by making me rely upon him for my every moment, bending my heart toward him." Dear friend may I extend this thought to you? God is working in your life to bring you to a place where you rely upon Him for your every moment. Many times over the past few years God has reminded me of this truth. The more I yield and say yes to God, the more grace he sends to heal my heart. 

I hope something in this message has stirred your heart. If you have question post a comment. I would love for this blog to become a forum for sharing questions and prompting discussions about a biblical world view. If you desire to seek God, come join us in worship at Fyffe First Baptist.   

What Are You Looking For? Sunday Morning Sermon...

What Are You Looking For?

1 Peter 1:8-9

8)You love Him, though you have not seen Him. And though not seeing Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy, 9) because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls (HCSB). 

Introduction

The human race exhibits a great capacity to seek; we seek for answers to questions, we try to solve puzzles, and ultimately figure things out. From the Greek philosophers who sought the meaning of life to Copernicus and Galileo who searched out the heavens, we want to know why we're here and what purpose we serve. The Scientific Revolution gave way to the ideas of humanism(man can figure it out) and tremendous technological progress was the outcome. From Isaac Newton to Neil Armstrong the human race has sought to define and push the limits of our existence. What does this all mean?

     Man has a unique capacity to find what he is looking for(Columbus, Balboa, Magellan, Einstein, Von Braun...) How does this apply to faith and religion. I assert in this sermon that if man seeks God, he will find God. So, the real question is What Are You Looking For?

You Love Him

Text: vs. 8 You love Him, though you have not seen Him. 
Main Idea: Our love for God and His Son Jesus Christ is not based on what we see but rather on the historical narrative recorded during the lifetime of those who were eyewitnesses of the resurrection of Jesus. 
     Why would anyone who lived in the Roman Empire during the first century embrace Christianity? I contend that God is detectable in nature and in the moral code written upon the heart of every human(For more information on the evidence of God based morality see Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis). John conveys this in a foundational way in 1 John 4:19 We love Him because He first loved us. God redeemed His creation back to Himself through the sacrifice of His Son on the cross. This great display of love(John 3:16) shines as a light into the darkness of this world. The light bears witness to the message that Jesus Christ died for all who will call upon his name(Romans 10:13).  When this act of sacrificial love is fully comprehended - when grace stirs the heart to faith, we are left to repent and in humble obedience turn to God(Luke 9:23). Whether in Asia Minor during the first century or today, this message elicits a response.
    So, What are you looking for in this life? I assert that if you seek Him today, He will reveal Himself to you. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God - Romans 10:17. 

You Believe In Him

Text: vs. 8b And though not seeing Him now, you believe in Him...

Main Idea: Salvation through faith. 

     Isaac Newton could not see gravity, however, the natural force was very real and very evident. Newton's genius availed itself in his ability to correctly describe this invisible force. The Gospel of Jesus Christ contained in the New Testament correctly describes the invisible(rather I should say intangible) God we serve. God is Love - I John 4:16 and Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends John 15:13. 

     Psychologist tell us that the reason peekaboo is so fun for infants is that they have not developed an understanding of object permanence. Then, as babies mature they begin to understand that an object exists even though it is out of sight. The disciples were called on to do this same thing during the infancy of their faith. Jesus ascended to the Father and the disciples were left to believe by faith that Jesus still exists. However, this was in fulfillment of the prophecy spoken by Jesus(John 2). Much like Thomas, we all desire tangible evidence that God is real and that Jesus rose from the grave. Jesus appeared to Thomas and that appearance confirmed Thomas' faith. However, Jesus said, ...Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed(John 20:29). 

     I don't think it a curious thing to believe in a Savior whom I have not seen. My faith is built on the testimony and the events surrounding the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This event recorded by eyewitnesses has stood the test of time as a true historical narrative.(1 Cor.15). A good resource for the defense of the resurrection is The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus by Habermas and Licona. 

You Rejoice 

Text: vs. 8c ...rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy. 

Main Idea: Peter encourages the Christians of Asia Minor to rejoice despite suffering because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 

    Dr. Kevin Elko, a sports psychologist, speaks of living in vision and not in circumstances. This is exactly what Peter is advocating. As Christians we are to rejoice in the vision and promise of Jesus(John 14:1-6). If we live in this vision we can rejoice despite the hardships we may have to endure in this life. Peter uses two words to describe the joy with which we should rejoice - inexpressible and glorious. The word inexpressible is closely related to the term Paul uses in 2 Corinthians 9:15, to denote God's indescribable(unutterable) gift. The second word, glorious, is linked by A.T. Robertson to the glorified face of Moses when he comes down from Sinai(Exodus 34). We are to have glorified joy. Joy that comes from being in God's presence just like Moses.

Summary

It seems that what people search passionately for they find. History is full of examples. There is a very real reason why believers have sought for and found the love God. God has revealed his perfect love for humanity through the sacrifice of His Son. Having fulfilled specific prophecy and appearing again to His disciples after death, Jesus Christ has confirmed his complete victory over sin, death, and the grave. Embracing this news we have joy unspeakable and full of glory. 
I hope that something written here has encouraged you. If you do not have a church home please considered coming to worship with us at Fyffe First Baptist. We are trying our best to be a humble group of seekers who encourage others to seek our great God.