Come On Man! Get Back Up! :: Wed. PM 8/5/15

Come On Man, Get Back Up!

Prov. 24:15 Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place: For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

Intro: The word “falleth” in our text means to be cast down, overthrown, to be knocked down.

DEFINITION of DEFEAT is – to overcome in a contest, election, battle, etc.; prevail over; vanquish: to eliminate, an overthrow or overturning; to annul

ILLUSTRATION: The story is told that Andrew Jackson's boyhood friends just couldn't understand how he became a famous general and then the President of the United States. They knew of other men who had greater talent but who never succeeded. One of Jackson's friends said, "Why, Jim Brown, who lived right down the pike from Jackson, was not only smarter but he could throw Andy three times out of four in a wrestling match. But look where Andy is now." Another friend responded, "How did there happen to be a fourth time? Didn't they usually say three times and out?" "Sure, they were supposed to, but not Andy. He would never admit he was beat -- he would never stay 'throwed.' Jim Brown would get tired, and on the fourth try Andrew Jackson would throw him and be the winner." Picking up on that idea, someone has said, "The thing that counts is not how many times you are 'throwed,' but whether you are willing to stay 'throwed'."

There is absolutely no reason in the world why a Christian should live in a state of defeat.

            A. The Savior that we Promote is Invincible

·         Hebrews 7:22  By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:  But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

B. The Salvation that we Possess is Invincible

·         I Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

            C. The Scripture that we Preach is Invincible

·         Psalms 119:89 For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.

·         1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

·         Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

·         The word “fall” in verse 16 is a different word than “falleth” in that same verse.

·         The word falleth as pertaining to a JUST man is one that has been knocked down. 

·         The fall as pertaining to a wicked man is a stumbling, staggering, decayed ruin.  

·         The mischief is grievous, noisome wickedness.

No matter what has you in the dirt, lying face down, you’ve got to get up man! COME ON MAN, GET UP!

I. Because of the Person Within You

·         1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

·         John 14:16  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;  Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

II. Because of the People Watching You

·         I Corinthians 9:26  I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:  But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

·         Hebrews 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

III. Because of the Power Working in You

·         II Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.  We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

Failed in business 22
Ran for Legislature--defeated 23
Again failed in business 24
Elected to Legislature 25
Had a nervous breakdown 27
Defeated for Speaker 29
Defeated for Elector 31
Defeated for Congress 34
Elected to Congress 37
Defeated for Congress 39
Defeated for Senate 46
Defeated for Vice President 47
Defeated for Senate 49 
Elected President of the United States 51

That's the record of Abraham Lincoln. 

No matter what has you in the dirt, lying face down, you’ve got to get up man! COME ON MAN, GET UP!

Why Bad Things Happen to Good People :: Sun. PM 8/2/15

Why Bad Things Happen To Good People

Job 1, 2

Introduction: We all know godly people – good people – that have had difficult times. Why? Let’s examine a good man that had every bad thing that can be imagined happen to him.

A. Job’s Person

Job was the greatest man in the:

1. Empire – vs. 1
2. East – vs. 3
3. Earth – vs. 8

B. Job’s Possessions

1. Seven sons
2. Three daughters
3. Seven thousand sheep
4. Three thousand camels
5. Five hundred yoke of oxen
6. Five hundred she asses
7. A great household

C. Job’s Problems

Satan attacked Job in every area of life:

1. Crops – vs. 15
2. Caretakers – vs. 15
3. Commerce – vs. 17
4. Children – vs. 18
5. Comforts – 2:7
6. Comforter – 2:9
7. Companions -

D. Job’s Patience

1. His Analysis – Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return
2. His Attitude – the Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away
3. His Adoration – Blessed be the name of the Lord

Fact #1 – Job was a very good man.

Fact #2 – Job experienced some very bad things

Fact #3 – God allowed it to happen. – 1:12; 2:5

The question is: Why??  Let’s see what the Bible says.

Some reasons why bad things happen to good people are to…

1. Test our loyalty

• Job 1:9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?  Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.  But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.

2. Test our faith

• Job 2:9 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

3. Turn our eyes unto the Lord

• Job 5:8 I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause:

4. Take us another level of growth

• Job 40:6, 7 Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.

5. Teach us total dependence upon God

• Job 40:8-14 Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?  Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?  Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty.  Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one that is proud, and abase him.  Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place. Hide them in the dust together; and bind their faces in secret. Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee.

6. Take away pride

• Job 42:1-6 Then Job answered the LORD, and said, I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.  Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.  I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

7. Teach others of God’s goodness

• Job 42:7, 8 So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.  He had also seven sons and three daughters.  And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Kerenhappuch.  And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren. After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, even four generations.  So Job died, being old and full of days.

God's 1/39 Promise :: Sun. AM 8/2/15

God’s 1/39 Promise

Luke 6:38  Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

Intro: This verse is an amazing promise of God that has ONE word of CONDITION, and THIRTY NINE words of COMPENSATION. I am convinced that a large percentage of Christians fail to understand just how much they are robbing themselves of God’s blessings by their unscriptural view of GIVING.

Many Christians look at the Biblical teachings of giving like a speed limit law. If you do it, you’re OK. If you don’t, you’re under condemnation and punishment.  God’s Word is clear – our giving enables God’s desire to bless us.  Our giving is the trigger that activates God’s manifold grace in our lives.

·         QUOTE: “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.”  ― Winston S. Churchill

I. It is a Biblical Command

·         Deut. 16:17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee.

·         Proverbs 3:9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

·         Proverbs 3:27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.

·         Proverbs 11:24 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

·         Proverbs 22:9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.

II. It is Basic Christianity

A. The example of giving was set by God Himself.

·         John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

B. The example of giving was set by Jesus Christ.

·         Ephesians 5:25  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

C. The example was given by the Christians in the first church at Jerusalem.

·         Acts 2:44  And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

·         Acts 4:32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.  And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.  Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,  And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

III. It is a Blessing Compounded – see text verse Luke 6:38

·         Acts 20:35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

·         Malachi 3:8-12 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.  Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.  And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.