Our Church stands upon the Word of God (King James Bible) and endeavours to meet the spiritual needs of our community, our city, our country and indeed the uttermost parts of the earth. With ministries that endeavour to reach out to others, we would love

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

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DEVELOPING STORY: There was chaos across parts of Nashville as black college students took over streets and twerked on cop […]

A higher percentage of young women have left organized religion and identify as religiously unaffiliated than their male counterparts, prompting concerns about the future of religion in the United States, according to a recent survey.?

A man wearing white lace panties allegedly exposed his private parts during a drag show performance and workshop at a […]

? Temple Baptist Church - 3-24-2024Psalm 119:97-104? Introduction:? A. Psalm 119 contains 176 verses with 22 stanzas and 8 verses per stanza with each verse in a stanza beginning with the corresponding letter of the Hebrew alphabet. An acrostic.? B. Tonight, I want to look at the 13th? stanza, verses 97-104, and the Hebrew letter MEM.? 1. This letter MEM has two different forms – the regular letter? מ, which is open at the bottom? and the special final letter? ם, which is closed. I wanted to mention this without spending a lot of time on it. We are not here tonight to learn the Hebrew language. We are here to convey a simple truth.? 2. The regular MEM? מ, represents everything that we understand while the special letter MEM? ם, represents everything that we do not comprehend.? 3. In Genesis, chapter 1, we find both uses of MEM in one verse.? In the story of the Creation, the text mentions that God separated the waters above the firmament and below it. The first? MEM? represents the waters above the firmament, which we and the second? MEM? the waters below the firmament. Therefore, this letter is connected to the element of water.? Genesis 1:7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.? 4. God made a division between the waters above the firmament, which we can see, and the waters below the firmament which we can only see that which is above ground with the water underground not seen.? 5. There are parts of the Bible that we know and understand. There are spiritual truths found in the Bible that are later grasped through continuation of study of the Scriptures.? 6. The numerical value of MEM is 40, an important number in the Bible as it signifies ripeness and maturity.? a) The life of Moses was split into three segments of 40 years. Each segment of 40 was a stage of development in his life and ministry.? b) The rains of the Great Flood lasted for 40 days.? c) Moses stayed on Mount Sinai for 40 days to receive the Law.? d) Jonah the prophet told the people of Ninveh that they had 40 days to repent.? e) The Children of Israel wandered in the desert for 40 years.? f) The LORD Jesus fasted 40 days before the Mount of Temptation.? C. MEM represents water. In this portion of the 119th? Psalm, I want to look at the Word of God in relationship to our spiritual understanding. Many of God's people have only head knowledge of God's Word but, in life, the Word of God has little practical use. Putting the Word of God into practice, especially in decision making.? D. In your Bible, water represents the Word of God.? Ephesians 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,? John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.? John 4:10-14 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. (11) The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? (12) Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? (13) Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: (14) But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.? E. The common thread in these 8 verses is learning.? Proverbs 4:5-7 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. (6) Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. (7) Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.? 1. Verse 97. Knowledge. “O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.” The motivation for growing in God's Word is found in this verse. There are two aspects vital to our learning:? a. Love. “O how love I thy law! The words “O how” are exclamatory. This is a strong statement exemplifying the strength of “love I thy law!” Though punctuation is not a part of the actual text, the exclamation point at the end of the statement agrees with the wording. We will never gain knowledge of the Word of God unless we love the Word of God.? Job 23:11-12 My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. (12) Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.? ? b. Meditation. “It is my meditation all the day.” Another key to knowledge of Scripture is meditation. Emersed in the Bible! Controlled by the Bible. As we saturate our minds and hearts with the Word of God, the Spirit of God can bring the Word to our remembrance when needed.? Isaiah 55:8-11 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. (9) For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (10) For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: (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.? c. So, what's the problem in our day? Two-fold:? 1) It is a Pew Problem.? Hosea 4:1 Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.? Hebrews 5:11-12 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. (12) For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.? 2) It is a Pulpit Problem.? Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.? 2. Verse 98. Wisdom. “Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies.” Spiritual wisdom is greater than the wisdom of the world and will overcome the wicked.? a. The Master. “Thou … hast made me” is key to adding wisdom to knowledge. By my definition, wisdom is the right application of knowledge. When we love and meditate in God's Word, God the Holy Ghost will teach us how to use it in our daily lives and future days.? b. The Median. “through thy commandments”? Instead of the wisdom of the world which is good to some degree, the wisdom that comes through the application of the Word of God which is all good.? 3. Verse 99-102. Understanding. “Spiritual Engineering.” Knowledge is learning facts; wisdom it learning to put what you learn to work; Understanding is knowing why they work. What does understanding of God's commandment do?? a. Verse 98. They make you wiser than your enemies. You are not ignorant of Satan's devices.? b. Verse 99. They make you wise enough to be an example in both word and truth. You eventually become a teacher of teachers.? c. Verse 100. They make you wiser because you do not follow the wrong paths others before you have trodden.? d. Verse 101. They make you wise enough to know that sinfulness brings about a woeful end.? e. Verse 102. They make you wise enough to not think that you have “arrived” and are foolproof. Satan often attacks us in our strengths in stead of our weaknesses. Never get too wise to be smart!? 4. Verses 103-104. Never get to the place where you are no longer a learner. Often, teachers quit being students and become spiritually stale.? a. Keep the Word of God Sweet so as not to get Stale.? b. Keep the Word of God Faithfully to prevent going into the False Way.

? Temple Baptist Church - 3-10-2024Ephesians 1:15-23? Introduction:? ? A.? The Book of Ephesians has been called “The Highlands of Faith”? by some and it is a befitting title for the book.? It has six chapters equally divided into two parts.? ? 1.? Chapters 1-3 are Positional? as they show both the relationship of Christ with the believer and the believer's security in Christ.? ? 2.? Chapters 4-6 are Practical? as they show the responsibility and possibility of the believer in this world.? B.? In the first chapter of Ephesians,? we see Christ as He is—not as the world perceives Him.? ? 1.? The world has a warped view of our wonderful Lord.? They see Him as “god” but not as “God!”? If we see Jesus Christ through human eyes and mind, we get a worldly perception of Him.? ? 2.? Often, the believer has such a view of Jesus Christ.? We see Him as “God” when things go right and as “god” when circumstances change, and doubt arise!? ? a.? As faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God,? so our perception of Jesus Christ must (and I re-emphasis MUST) come from God's Word.? ? b.? Our faith is the substance? of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.? Whom having not seen you love!? Whom having not seen you believe!? We must believe what the Bible says about Him in order to perceive Him right.? C.? The Holy Spirit, through the Word of God, gives us gives us a right perception? of Jesus Christ in these verses.? This perception has nothing to do with our circumstances.? It is a perception that is? “far above”? anything and everything that can touch us or threaten us.? We cannot have a right perception of God unless we see Him as both all-powerful and all-wise.? D.? Here we find that Jesus Christ has no weaknesses;? He has no limitations; He has no doubts or worries. There is nothing that He cannot do; nothing that He does not know; there is no place where He cannot be found; and He knows the end from the beginning so we have absolutely nothing to worry about!? That is the “God” that Ephesians speaks of.? E.? I want to look at these verses? for a few minutes in such a way as to possibly change our view of Jesus Christ.? I say “possibly” because no matter what God said, it is up to each individual believer as to how we perceive our Lord Jesus Christ.? F.? I find it of great interest that chapter one ends? with a dissertation on the Power of God.? As the Spirit of God is the Earnest of our Redemption, the Power of God is the Guarantee of our Security!? ? G.? Notice the wording: “exceeding greatness”? in verse 19. God has power that is limitless in both its scope and demand.? ? Not power “in us” but power “to us-ward!”? His power is used in relationship to our daily needs.? He not only can but will perform upon our behalf!? He is “God” and He loves us.? He cares about what we feel, think, and need.? He is not only able, but He is also willing to meet “all your need” in every respect.? H.? What a wonderful description verses 21-23? give us concerning the “exceeding greatness” of His power:? Psalms 62:11? God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.? ? (Power both belongs to God and comes from God.)? 1.? Jesus Christ Is Far Above Principality!? The commencement, order, time, or rank of God's power.? The first estate.? God had power before anything was!? 2.? Jesus Christ Is Far Above Power!? Any force, influence, capacity, or strength.? 3.? Jesus Christ Is Far Above Might!? It speaks of miraculous power.? Force beyond any and all ability to do.? 4.? Jesus Christ Is Far Above Dominion!? Mastery, dominion, or government.? God still rules in the affairs of men, setting up and taking down authority at His sovereign will.? 5.? Jesus Christ Is Far Above Every Name!? Either literally or figuratively!? In both majesty and importance.? 6.? Jesus Christ Is Far Above All Things!? Things in heaven, earth, and under the earth!? All things were made by Him and for Him.? They are both inferior in both position and power.? 7.? Jesus Christ Is The Head Of The Church!? ? No man, no dogma, no creed preceded Christ nor is exalted above Christ.? Colossians 1:15-18? Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:? (16)? For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:? (17)? And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.? (18)? And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.? J.? ? In His power, we find:? 1.? God has power over things in heaven.? Job 1:10? 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.? ? (Angels are subject to Him.? Satan is under God's authority and power.)? 2.? God has power over creation.? Psalms 135:6-7? Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.? (7)? He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries.? ? (The wind and waves obey His voice.)? 3.? God has power over human government.? Romans 13:6? For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.? (He raises authorities up and He takes authorities down.)? 4.? God has power over nations, kingdoms, and dominions.? Proverbs 21:1? The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.? ? (All nations and all kings are under his control.)? 5.? God has all power, therefore nothing is impossible with Him.? ? 1 Chronicles 29:11? ? Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.? Matthew 28:18? And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.? ? (He can do anything, anywhere, and at any time.)? K.? We all know what I have just said is true? but none of the above areas of God's power are of any use to us if they are just facts concerning His omnipotence.? ? Our text says, “to us-ward!”? ? This affects both our position in Christ and our circumstances in this world.? Christ Jesus is our confidence.? ? Acts 17:28? ? For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.? 1.? The Exceeding Greatness Of His Power In Our Salvation - Hebrews 7:25? 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.? ? (Saved by God's power alone. You do not get any more saved or secure than that.? Many try to add personal merit to either saving or keeping or both.? I am so glad that my salvation is entire of and depends entire upon God's power.)? 2.? The Exceeding Greatness Of His Power In Our Preservation - Jude 24? Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,? ? 1 Peter 1:5? Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.? (The exceeding greatness of our salvation is in its eternality!? What can separate us from the love of God?? Romans 8 says, “NOTHING!”)? Romans 8:38-39? For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,? (39)? Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.? ? 3.? The Exceeding Greatness Of His Power In Our Sanctification - 2 Corinthians 5:17? Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.? ? (We can do all things through Christ which strengthens us!? We can be anything and all things for Him.)? Ephesians 2:10? For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.? 2 Corinthians 9:8? And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:? 4.? The Exceeding Greatness Of His Power In Our Protection - Psalms 121:1-8? A Song of degrees. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.? (2)? My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.? (3)? He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.? (4)? Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.? (5)? The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.? (6)? The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.? (7)? The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.? (8)? The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.? ? (We are truly “hedged in” by the Lord!? The only things that can touch us are the things that He allows.? As tough as this may seem at times, God knows what He is doing and He can be trusted in our hard times, which brings us to our next point.)? 5.? The Exceeding Greatness Of His Power In Our Predicaments - Isaiah 43:2? When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.? ? (This one is a little hard for my family at this time but I still believe that God can be trusted with our lives as well as with our things.? My family has been protected and will face December with the full assurance that the God of this Bible that I preach will do what He says!? When thou “passeth through the waters … walkest through the fire” they will neither overflow us nor kindle upon us!? You can trust God in the bad times just as well as you can trust Him in the good times.)? 6.? The Exceeding Greatness Of His Power In Our Provision - Matthew 10:29-31? ? Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.? (30)? But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.? (31)? Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.? ? (God has promised to supply all my need!? I have not starved as you can well see.? God has been so good to my family, and I fully expect Him to take care us until He takes us home!)? 7.? The Exceeding Greatness Of His Power In Our Promises - 2 Peter 1:3-4? According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:? (4)? Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.? ? (I still believe that you can take the promises of God to the “bank” and expect them to be made good!? God can neither lie nor can He break His promises.? We just have to learn to trust them.)? 8.? The Exceeding Greatness Of His Power In Our Providence -? Philippians 1:6? Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work