What The Bible Says - Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

What The Bible Says - Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

What The Bible Says Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

What The Bible Says Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

Temple Baptist Church - 3-13-2024John 14:7-15? Introduction:? A.? I used the title “Passing The Torch” because of an example that many of us older folks possibly remember.? When the Summer Olympics was ready to start some years ago, I remember that the torch that was to light the Olympic Torch at the beginning of the games was carried by individual runners who passed a lite torch from one runner to another until the job was done.? B.? John, chapter 14 shows the same thing spiritually.? The hearts of the disciples are troubled about the absence of the Lord but now Jesus lets them know that the work is theirs to maintain.? C.? Lets look at the introductory verse of this chapter.? ? John 14:1? Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.? 1.? “Ye believe in God” speaks of God their belief in the Father.? God the Father did what He needed to do to redeem and restore mankind.? John 3:16-17? 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.? (17)? For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.? a.? The Father sent His Son, heaven's Glory, Jesus Christ who never knew sin to become sin for us.? The Way, the Truth, and the Life.? The Creator of all that is.? The almighty Jehovah God of the Old Testament.? ? b.? The Father place His divine approval upon Christ Jesus when He spoke these words: “And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:11)? And again in Matthew 17:5, “While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.”? 2.? “Believe also in me” speaks of Jesus Christ, Israel's Messiah.? Jesus Christ went to the Jew first through the Gospel.? He never set foot outside of Israel!? The Father sent Jesus Christ to pay the price of sin in full.? Paid In Full is a term that we all know and revel in.? The “burning of the note!”? a.? Jesus Christ suffered everything that we suffer as He got hungry, tired, spit upon, scourged, shame, and would be nailed on the cross like the two thieves He died with.? b.? Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God would become SIN for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.? Philippians 2:6-8? Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:? (7)? But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:? (8)? And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.? Hebrews 12:2? Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.? D.? Then, it was the disciples turn to “put their hand to the plough!”? ? John 14:12? Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do? shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.? 1.? God the Father loved the World and gave His Son.? 2.? Jesus Christ died for the sin of the World.? 3.? Now, the message of salvation needs to be spread to the World through the believers.? Matthew 28:16-20? Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.? (17)? And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.? (18)? And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.? (19)? Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:? (20)? Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.? These men turned the World upside down.? Acts 17:6? And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;? E.? Now, it is OUR turn.? 2 Corinthians 5:17-19? Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.? (18)? And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;? (19)? To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.? 1.? Our turn to show and present the Gospel.? a) As salt and light through our good works which they shall behold and glorify our Father which is in heaven.? b)? to plant and water the seed of the Gospel to everyone that we come into contact with.? Matthew 5:13-16? Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.? (14)? Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.? (15)? Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.? (16)? Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.? ? 2.? Our turn to send men of God to the world through raising, and commissioning those whom God calls.? (Acts 13)? ? The Lord's Prayer Request.? Matthew 9:35-38? And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.? (36)? But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.? (37)? Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;? (38)? ? Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.? 3.? Our turn to support through prayer and giving those who surrender to God's call and go.? 2 Corinthians 8:1-5? Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;? (2)? How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.? (3)? For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;? (4)? Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.? (5)? And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.? Philippians 4:14-19? Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.? (15)? Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.? (16)? For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.? (17)? Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.? (18)? But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.? (19)? But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Imigrantes da América do Sul são uma força crescente nas igrejas do outro lado do Atlântico. Mas a iniciativa de parte deles na próxima eleição é vista com reservas.

? Temple Baptist Church - 1-31-2024John 13:10-11; 18-30? Introduction:? ? What a sad story!? I know that Judas was a traitor and led the religious crowd to the Garden where He was.? But the world has been and continues to have multitudes of “spiritual traitors” as well as Christ rejectors who die out of the will of the Lord and spend an eternity in a place called hell!? A.? Who was this man, Judas Iscariot?? ? There are theories about who Judas Iscariot is and who he might be during the Tribulation Period floating around.? Was Judas the incarnate devil?? Will Judas be resurrected during the Tribulation Period as Antichrist?? They use such verses as these to substantiate their theories.? John 6:70-71? Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?? (71)? He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.? John 17:12? While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.? Acts 1:25? That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.? B.? I will not take the time to dispel these theories? but will say that I do not believe that Judas was either the devil, as many wicked people are referred to in that manner.? I believe that the Bible teaches that Judas was just a man.? ? C.? Judas Iscariot.? The only disciple who was non-Galilean but was born of the same Tribe as Christ Jesus: The Lion of the Tribe of Judah.? ? Genesis 49:8-12? Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee.? (9)? Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?? (10)? The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.? (11)? Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes:? (12)? His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.? Judas – The Greek spelling of the Hebrew word? Judah:? of the posterity of Judah and its region.? Iscariot -? inhabitants of Keri-oth.? A city in southern Judah in the Negev.? D.? ? Why was the Lord “troubled in spirit?”? ? John 13:21? ? When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.), we find that Jesus was “troubled in spirit” because “one of you shall betray me.”? ? ? 1.? Because Judas Iscariot was a friend of Jesus Christ.? a)? Prophesied in one of the Davidic Psalms:? ? Psalms 41:9? ? Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.? b)? Performed in the betrayal of Judas Iscariot:? Matthew 26:48-50? Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.? (49)? And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.? (50)? And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.? c)? For those who teach that Judas Iscariot? and Antichrist are the same, Jesus Christ would have never called the devil “friend.”? 2.? Because Jesus Christ died for the sin of the whole world which included Judas Iscariot!? John 3:16-17? 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.? (17)? For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.? 1 Timothy 2:4? Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.? 1 John 2:2? And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.? In John Gill's Commentary, a 17th? century “theologian” and pastor (who was also a Calvinist) explained “the whole world” as 1) the Old Testament Saints who believed on the Messiah plus all the New Testament Saints who would believe on Christ Jesus, both Jew and Gentile.? The “whole world” is the entirety of all who ever lived or would ever live!? Typical Calvinistic “stretching” the Word of God to prove their damnable heresies.? E.? Judas Iscariot was prophesied in Psalm 55.? Psalms 55:12-15? For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:? (13)? But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.? (14)? We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.? (15)? Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.? 1.? The interpretation of the Psalm? was about Ahithophel, David's counselor and Bathsheba's grandfather, who betrayed David.? ? ? 2.? The prophesy of the Psalm, which is Messianic, was about Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Christ.? ? F.? Judas Iscariot.? 1.? Judas Iscariot was a Disciple.? “one of you”? ? John 13:21? ? When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.? a.? Judas Iscariot's Calling.? ? The Lord chose Judas as He did the other disciples.? b.? Judas Iscariot's Circumstances.? ? He saw, lived with, and heard Christ.? He shared the same conditions as the other disciples.? His accountability was great.? c.? Judas Iscariot's Communion.? ? He spent a lot of personal time with Christ, a personal friend to Judas as He was to the other disciples.? ? d.? Judas Iscariot's Choice.? ? He had the same right to choose as the other disciples.? 2.? Judas Iscariot was a Deceiver.? “Lord, who is it?”? John 13:24-25? Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.? (25)? He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him,? Lord, who is it?? a.? Judas Iscariot Deceived others.? ? The other disciples could not believe that it was Judas.? John 13:26-29? Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.? (27)? And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.? (28)? Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him.? (29)? For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.? b.? Judas Iscariot Deceived himself.? ? Matthew 26:25? Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.? c.? Judas Iscariot never Deceived the Lord!? ? John 13:26-27? Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.? (27)? And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.? 3.? Judas Iscariot was a Damned Man.? ? Matthew 26:23-24? And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.? (24)? The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.? a.? Judas Iscariot's Discovery.? Matthew 27:3? Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,? b.? Judas Iscariot's Discourse.? ? Matthew 27:4? Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.? c.? Judas Iscariot's Despair.? Matthew 27:5? And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.? 4.? Judas Iscariot's Decision.? ? I believe that the Bible teaches that Judas Iscariot could have been saved up to the point that he received the sop.? When John asked the Lord who would betray Him, Jesus said, “To whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it.”? Judas did not have to take the sop from the hand of our Lord but could have said, “Forgive me, Lord.? I do not want the sop.”? John 13:26-27? Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.? (27)? And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.? Conclusion:? Here we find the sad end of a life that could have been saved but chose to reject the Saviour.? Not the Devil, not the future Antichrist, just a man for whom Christ died.?

Disagreement without DisunityDr. Don SiskTue, 05/02/2023 - 10:14 I am nearing my ninetieth birthday. I made public my call to preach on Thanksgiving night of 1954. A few days after that I preached my first sermon in the prayer meeting service of the Black Oak Baptist Church in Gary, Indiana. Two years later, I began pastoring. I have been in full-time ministry since 1956—nearly seventy years.Because of the various ministries I have served in, I've preached in literally thousands of churches all over the world. Being in so many churches is a blessing because I get to meet men and women who are faithfully serving Christ all around the globe. But going to so many places does have a downfall: I sometimes see the sad disunity among God's people. Churches, Bible Colleges, mission organizations, preachers, and ordinary Christians find reasons to quarrel with one another.Of course, every church or organization has some differences with the next organization. But among the independent Baptist places where I am privileged to serve, most have so much more in common than different. Yet, for some reason, we emphasize our differences more than our common practices and beliefs. Would it not be wonderful if we would emphasize our commonality rather than our differences?Many years ago when I became the Far East Director of BIMI, my pastor, Dr. Lee Roberson, was generous in giving needful advice—principles by which to conduct my ministry. One night as we were driving together back to Chattanooga from a meeting, he said to me “Don, you go anywhere that you believe God is leading you to go and minister. Some of the places you go to some of the brethren will criticize you. Don't fight with them; just keep going where you know God wants you to go.” Of course, Dr. Roberson was speaking about doctrinally-solid Baptist churches. And that was good advice. He was right on both points—some brethren criticized me, and I learned not to spend valuable time defending myself.For the first eight years of my ministry. I was a Southern Baptist. When I began to see the liberalism and compromise taking place in the Southern Baptist Convention, I became an independent Baptist by conviction. I'm grateful for that decision, and I would do it all over again—even today. I soon learned, however, that independent Baptists sometimes aren't very independent in their relationships with one another. If I did things the way they wanted me to do and went where they wanted me to go and refused to go where they did not want me to go, I was accepted. But when I didn't meet those criteria, I was not always accepted.Over my nearly seventy years in the ministry, I have seen several leaders try to be a Baptist pope (although not, of course, with that title). None of them have succeeded. The reality is that we must each answer to God—not to each other. “Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. . . . But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ” (Romans 14:4, 10).When biblical doctrine or sin is involved, of course we must separate. And yes, we all have our preferences. We have a right to have them. However, pastors, in particular, have a responsibility to establish leadership guidelines for their church workers. But, pastors do not have the right to determine preferences for other churches.I realize we must not call the violation of biblical principles a preference. We are commanded to “contend for the faith” (Jude 3). But we need not be contentious about matters not pertaining to the faith.Throughout the New Testament, we have examples of the conflict that comes through pride and the good that comes when people who have differences give deference to one another.John the Baptist“And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him. John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:26–30).Some of the disciples of John the Baptist realized that when Jesus began His ministry, people were going to Him instead of to John. They told John, “all men come to him.” (By the way, all of the people were not going to Jesus. We often unwisely exaggerate when we want to make a point.)The answer that John the Baptist gave to his disciples was classic: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” John did not become jealous or competitive. In fact, he was not trying to make disciples for himself in the first place; he was pointing people to Christ. So rather than feeling insecure, he rejoiced in what Jesus was doing and how the people were following Christ.I fear—and I can speak from experience—that we have a tendency to criticize others not because of something bad they are doing, but because they are doing more and are seeing more results than we are. In short, we become jealous.None of us are in competition with other good Bible believing organizations or individuals. We are on the same team. Their success is our success, and it's all for the glory of God. But when team members become jealous of one another, we all lose.John the Apostle“And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us” (Luke 9:49–50).Basically, what John was saying was, “They didn't graduate from our college” or “They weren't with our mission organization” or “They are not in our camp” or “They aren't doing things like us.”And what did Jesus tell John? “Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.”To allow others to do things differently than we do without criticizing them is Christlike. And to attempt to be an enforcer of others is Johnlike—the immature, pre-resurrection version of John.Paul and BarnabasPaul and Barnabas were a wonderful team who were greatly used of God. In Acts 13, they were sent out as missionaries from the first organized church missions program. Throughout Acts 13 and 14, we read of the amazing ways that God used them. Then, when they returned to Antioch, they continued to work together, including speaking to the Jerusalem council in Acts 15.But when it came time for their second missionary journey, they had a falling out.“And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do. And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God” (Acts 15:36–40).Because we know this story of Paul and Barnabas' disagreement, we aren't surprised when we read it. But if we had known Paul and Barnabas before this incident, we would never have suspected that they would have parted ways.Perhaps the most amazing thing about this separation, however, is not that it happened, but what did not happen—specifically that they did not spend time criticizing one another. In fact, you do not find one word in Scripture of Paul speaking poorly of Barnabas or Barnabas of Paul. They parted ways, but they did not spend the rest of their ministries criticizing one another. And they did not draw John Mark into tests of loyalty over their disagreement. In fact, just before Paul was martyred, he makes the statement, “Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry” (2 Timothy 4:11).There are things that happen that make it nearly impossible for particular people to work together. But even if two Christians can't work together, they can be kind to one another. If we have differences with a brother, we can determine, “Even though I cannot work with this person, I am not going to be critical of him.”Paul in Prison“Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel. What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice” (Philippians 1:15–18).Paul was in prison for no other reason than preaching the Word of God. He did not look at his prison time as a hindrance to the ministry, but as an opportunity to preach to the other prisoners, to the people in authority, and to all of the other leaders. No doubt, many of them were converted.Because of Paul's boldness, many other leaders became bold in preaching the gospel. Some of these were sincere. And evidently, some of these were just trying to irritate Paul. Yet, Paul's conclusion was that regardless of the preacher's motives, he would rejoice that Christ was being preached.Years ago, I determined that I, too, will rejoice when others are preaching the gospel. When God's Word is preached and people are getting saved, baptized, and added to the church, I am going to rejoice. Rather than being jealous or critical, I am going to rejoice.I think we independent Baptists need to take Jesus' words in John 13:35 more seriously than we do: “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”If you are preaching the gospel, winning people to the Lord, discipling believers, and training leaders, you are my brother in Christ, and I love you, appreciate you, and will gladly pray for you. We can be brothers without being identical twins. Category Pastoral Leadership Tags Pastoral Leadership Christian Living