? Temple Baptist Church - 3-31-2024Luke 24:1-12? Introduction:? ? A.? Resurrection Sunday.? A day set apart to celebrate our Risen Lord.? ? Matthew 28:6? He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.? B. Once again, we come to the Garden Tomb and find it, as always, still empty!? The “Stone” which the builders rejected became the “Chief Corner Stone” and, ultimately, the “Capstone of Christianity.”? ? C. There are many “Cardinal Doctrines” in the Bible:? Fundamental, Key, Basic, Central, Principal.? When I use the term “Cardinal Doctrine”, I want you to understand that all doctrine is of major importance, but without the doctrine of the Resurrection, all others would be in vain.? ? D. The resurrection of Jesus Christ was both the end and the beginning.? The finishing of the Gospel, a completed work.? The Beginning of a new life in Christ Jesus for the believer.? 1.? The resurrection was the finishing of the Gospel.? In our text for this morning, we find the Gospel.? ? a)? The death of Christ -? Luke 24:7? Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.? b)? The burial of Christ - Luke 24:1? Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.? c)? The resurrection of Christ - Luke 24:6? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,? d)? 1 Corinthians, chapter 15, speaks of the magnitude of the resurrection.? In 1 Corinthians, chapter 15:1-4, we find the Gospel is perfectly defined.? 1 Corinthians 15:1-4? Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;? (2)? By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.? (3)? For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;? (4)? And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:? 1)? Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures.? The Son of God died once for all.? Sin's payment was made in full.? The Father looked upon the travail of His Son and was satisfied.? John 19:30? When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.? Romans 5:8? But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.? 1 Timothy 2:4? Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.? 2)? Christ was buried.? Placed in a Garden Tomb for 3 days and 3 nights.? There is no Good Friday found in the Bible!? Christ died on Wednesday.? Matthew 12:40? For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.? 3)? Christ rose again the third day according to the scriptures.? The Father's Acceptance of the price paid.? Romans 1:4? And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:? Matthew 28:6? He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.? Mark 16:1-6? And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.? (2)? And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.? 4)? There is the presentation of the Blood of Christ.? ? John 20:17? Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.? Hebrews 9:11-12? But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;? (12)? Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.? 2.? The resurrection was the beginning of a new life in Christ.? ? a.? The Resurrection gives the believer hope in eternity.? I thank God that there's a better day coming!? ? 1)? Without the Resurrection of Christ, Calvary would have been in vain; we would still be in our sins; and there would be no hope of life after death!? 2) Without the Resurrection of Christ, there would be no finishing!? No finishing of the Cross.? I am glad this morning that it is finished for time and eternity. Sin paid for in full and redemption purchased.? Hallelujah, what a Saviour!? 3) Without the Resurrection of Christ, there would be no faithfulness to the Scriptures!? This Bible that I hold in my hands would be just another fiction book.? 1 Corinthians 15:19-22? If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.? (20)? But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.? (21)? For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.? (22)? For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.? 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18? But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.? (14)? For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.? (15)? For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.? (16)? For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:? (17)? Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.? (18)? Wherefore comfort one another with these words.? Titus 2:11-14? For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,? (12)? Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;? (13)? Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;? (14)? Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.? b.? The Resurrection gives the believer confidence in life.? Everything is going to be alright!? Philippians 1:20-24? According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.? (21)? For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.? (22)? But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.? (23)? For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:? (24)? Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.? c.? The Resurrection gives the believer peace in death.? Death is the “door” through which we enter into the eternal presence of the Lord!? Psalms 23:4? Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.? John 11:25? Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:? Revelation 14:13? And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.? d.? The Resurrection gives the believer boldness in witness.? The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth!? Romans 1:16? For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.? 2 Timothy 1:12? For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.? Conclusion:? The Gospel is now finished as Christ has died for the sins of the world, was buried, and rose again for our Justification.? ? Let's stand and sing together: “Because He Lives.”? “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow; because He lives, all fear is gone; because I know I know He holds my future; life is worth the living just because He lives!? And then one day, I'll cross that river; I'll fight life's final war with pain; and then as death gives place to victory; I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives.”

? Temple Baptist Church - 3-17-2024Psalm 119:89-96? Introduction:? A. Tonight, we start the last half of Psalm 119. This Psalm contains 176 verses, 22 stanzas, with 8 verses in each stanza. In the Hebrew, each of the 8 verses in a stanza begin with the same Hebrew letter. An acrostic.? B. LAMED? ל? – the 12th? letter is the tallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet. It is the only letter that is allowed to stand taller than the height of the regular script.? C. LAMED is made with a combination of two letters: KAF – which represents a King, and VAV – which represents a Hook (used to hold the Tabernacle together). LAMED is God's way of keeping everything together through the Bible. Without your Bible, all things fall apart.? D. LAMED, in the Hebrew also has the numeric value of 30. The price of betrayal by Judas and the price to purchase a Bride. Christ was sold for 30 pieces of silver, the price of a woman, because He was purchasing us, His Bride.? E. In the first verse of the stanza, verse 89, we find the importance of the immutability of God's Word. Immutability is an attribute of God and is applied in your Bible to the Word of God.? F. In this stanza, we find changelessness in a changing world and circumstances. The Reliability of God's Word to all generations.? 1. Verse 89. Immutability. In John, chapter 1, we find that the Eternal Word of God always was and in verse 89 of our text, we find that the Eternal Word of God always will be. “For ever … settled” Psalms 119:89 LAMED. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.? a. As God is Eternal and Immutable -? Malachi 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.? b. God's Word is also Eternal and Immutable.? John 1:1-2 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2) The same was in the beginning with God.? c.? God's Word is settled! The Word was before time in eternity past (though eternity has no time, I used the words “eternity past” so that we finite people can get a glimpse of an infinite Word), and it will remain after time is no more in eternity future. “settled” – We use the phrase “that settles it.” “Settled” leaves no room for either argument or change. Take the Word of God as it is the Word of God.? d. It's God's Word (O LORD) and it belongs to God! The Word is God, the Word is by God, and the Word is for us.? 2. Verses 90-91. Preservation. “faithfulness is unto all generations”? Psalms 119:90-91 Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth. (91)? They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all? are? thy servants.? ? a. This Psalm is not about the earth though it is used for an example as all things continue through the faithfulness of God. Psalm 119 is about the Word of God and man's relationship to it. Verse 89 said it was an eternal Word and the Holy Ghost uses the earth to show the faithfulness of the abiding Word to God's people.? b. The Word of God is the Servant of God. Verse 91 says, ”THEY continue this day … for all ARE thy servants.”? 1) The Promise of the Immutability of God's Word -? Psalms 12:6-7 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. (7) Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.? 2) The Necessity of the Immutability of the Word of God -? 1 Peter 1:23-25 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. (24) For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: (25) But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.? 3. Verse 92. The Word of God stabilizes the believer. As he meditated in the Word of God, he finds the strength to keep him going in his affliction. I am amazed that when I have a special need, verses of Scripture will come back to me. Thank the Lord for the faithfulness of His wonderful Word. In the Word of God, we have an Anchor in the shifting sands of human theology that becomes our benchmark from which all things are measured.? Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.? 4. Verse 93. The Word of God keeps the believer alive spiritually. The Word of God that gave you spiritual life (Romans 10:17) and the Word of God will give you spiritual victory in this life. Without the Word of God, the believer would spiritually perish.? John 10:9-10 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. (10) The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.? 1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.? 2 Peter 1:1-4 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: (2) Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, (3) 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.? 5. Verse 94. The Word of God gives the believer blessed assurance of who he is (a son of God) and what God can do for him. I am His and He is mine! A child of the King!? 1 John 5:10-13 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. (11) And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (12) He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. (13) These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.? 6. Verse 95. The Word of God guarantees the protection of the believer. The Lord thinks upon the believer and also controls the circumstances of the believer. God can be trusted fully in every circumstance of life.? Psalms 4:8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.? Psalms 12:5 For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.? Proverbs 21:31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.? 7. Verse 96. The Word of God endures forever. There is an end to all human knowledge and wisdom. No matter how wonderful and excellent human knowledge has become, it has both limitation and an end. The Word of God has no bounds and is not bound as it is the mind of God, infinite and eternal.? 2 Timothy 2:9b “ … the word of God is not bound.? Conclusion: Divine? Inspiration has no value without Divine Preservation. These two acts, inspiration, and preservation are bound together through the faithfulness of God. The song writer wrote, “change and decay in all around I see” when speaking of the things of this world, but God's Word is forever settled, both in heaven and in earth according to LAMED.

? Temple Baptist Church - 2-28-2024John 14:1-4Introduction:? A.? Last week, we dissected the first part of verse 1: “Let not your heart be troubled.”? The Lord is leaving, and the apostles are going to have to “step up” and take on the work of the ministry.? Introduction over!? B.? We find several things in the verses that will help us in the last perilous times.? I want to look at these 4 verses tonight so as to encourage our people during these discouraging days.? Six things I want to look at tonight to encourage your hearts.? 1.? A Fear to Overcome.? “Let not you heart be troubled.”? a.? We live in the worst spiritual time in history.? There is so much sin and confusion today that many if not most have troubled hearts.? ? b.? Disappointing times, discouraging times, deluding times, defiling times.? ? c.? Sin is rampant and accepted as the norm; confusion comes at us from every side; voices of every kind to hear.? It is of no wonder that the believers is exhorted to assemble “so much the more” as we see the world set up for both the realization of Antichrist and the acceptance of his philosophy which is totally anti-God.? d.? The “falling away” is in its last stages.? There have always been good men of God and good churches in which to find the preaching, exhorting, and help that we need.? Now, they are about as scarce as “hens' teeth!”? Another young pastor resigned his church this week to go into evangelism.? Another church will be trying to find someone willing to come pastor the flock and hopefully stay!? e.? We find few believers who will buck the status quo and live in such a way to make a difference.? Most are too worldly minded to be of any heavenly good.? f.? Today, we find rejection by the masses, spiritual defeats, and multiple failures that all of us have experienced.? These inward, negative feelings can destroy us.? g.? It is here that we must be very careful! Often the most painful wounds are not the scars that are outwardly seen, but the hidden wounds deep in the heart. Being hidden, they are often the most dangerous.? g.? These things cause spiritual discouragement and troubled hearts.? When our faith is weakened, we tend to stop pressing toward the mark and finishing our race for Christ.? 2.? A Faith to Believe.? “Ye believe in God, believe also in me!”? a.? These disciples had no problem believing in the Jehovah God of the Old Testament but needed to have that same faith in Christ Jesus.? b.? Christ had always provided their every need from the physical to the spiritual.? They had been eye witness to all His miracles but these physical miracles were not enough to inspire them to trust Him wholly.? Matthew 8:26-27? And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.? (27)? But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!? “What manner of man is this” was not the faith needed to calm the heart.? c.? ? Notice that Jesus said, “Believe also in me!”? Here we find the faith that will cure the troubled heart.? 1 John 5:4-5? For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.? (5)? Who is he that overcometh the world,? but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?? ? 3.? A Future that is Secure.? “In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you!”? a.? Our future is secured through the promises of God.? Our heavenly homes are await us and they are not “rooms” or “little cabins over in the corner of Glory Land.”? They are beyond our comprehension, and they are there!? “Are”? b.? They are not being built as we speak, they are already there and have been from eternity past.? c.? We are not “sending up timbers” because they are “ivory palaces.”? “Home sweet home!”? Psalms 45:8? All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.? Revelation 21:1-4? And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.? (2)? And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.? (3)? And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.? (4)? And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.? 4.? A Foundation to Stand Upon.? “And if I go and prepare a place for you.”? The Blood of Christ!? The blood to be applied to the Mercy Seat in heaven. There were two Ascensions of Christ back to heaven.? This was accomplished in two parts:? a.? The First Ascension as High Priest with His Own Blood –? John 20:17? Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.? Hebrews 9:11-14? But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;? (12)? Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.? (13)? For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:? (14)? How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?? b.? The Second Ascension - Acts 1:9-11? And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.? (10)? And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;? (11)? Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.? 5.? A Fellowship that Awaits.? “I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am,? there? ye may be also.? a.? We will be with Him.? 1 Thessalonians 4:17? Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.? b.? We will be like Him.? ? 1 John 3:2? Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.? 6.? A Fight to Finish.? ? John 13:36-37a? ? Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.? (37a)? Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now?? a.? There is a work to be done.? ? Matthew 9:36-38? 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.? b.? There is a race to be run.? ? Hebrews 12:1-2? 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,? (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.

? Temple Baptist Church - 2-4-2024Psalm 119:41-48? Introduction:? ? A.? VAU (Vah)? is the 6th? letter of the Hebrew Alphabet.? VAU means a Hook: something used to hold something together.? Used to fasten things together. Here, it would be a noun but, in its general use, VAU is used as a conjunction:? a word used to connect clauses or sentences or to coordinate words in the same clause (e.g. and, but, if).? B.? When I think of holding something together in Israel at the time this Psalm was written, I think of their putting up the Tabernacle in the Wilderness.? Loops and taches were used to put things together in the construction of the Tabernacle.? ? Exodus 26:5-6? Fifty loops shalt thou make in the one curtain, and fifty loops shalt thou make in the edge of the curtain that is in the coupling of the second; that the loops may take hold one of another.? (6)? And thou shalt make fifty taches of gold, and couple the curtains together with the taches: and it shall be one tabernacle.? Notice the last 6 words of Exodus 26:6:? “and it shall be one tabernacle.”? Individual curtains became one.? ? C.? One, if not the best examples of walking with God in confidence is found in Job. Everything going wrong yet walking with God in the midst of troubles.? Job 1:20-22? Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,? (21)? And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.? (22)? In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.? Job 23:10-12? But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.? (11)? 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.? There was a VAU, a hook, a tache that held Job to the steps of God's choosing.? Something unseen and probably not felt, but an invisible trust that neither his wife not his friends understood.? D.? One, if not the greatest, enemies that we face is lack of confidence in the Lord.? ? ? I know that you and I would not admit to a lack of Confidence in a God who is all knowing, all powerful, everywhere present.? But our mental and spiritual state often proves otherwise.? ? An unbiblical sense of being alone despite the promise of the Lord to never leave us nor forsake us.? This is why we are often disillusioned, disappointed, discouraged, and defeated.? ? E.? This stanza expresses our walk of confidence in the Lord is found in our confidence in the Word of God.? Taches that hold us when we do not understand the why and His steps and way is in the sea which cannot be seen.? 1.? Verse 41 – The Tache of Mercy – Through the Word of God, we see His mercy.? An acknowledgement that mercy and salvation come from the Lord.? Let your mercies come to me in each step that I take.? Not salvation as we are saved, but deliverance from both self and situations.? God is merciful in our faults and failures but also in our future: what are and will be facing.? Exodus 33:18-19? And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.? (19)? And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.? Ps alms 23:6? Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.? Lamentations 3:22-23? It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.? (23)? They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.? 2.? Verse 42 –? The Tache of? Trust.? ? Through the Word of God, we finds His trustworthiness.? ? Because of God's Mercy all the days of our lives, we can have faith in the Lord to carry us through as we face this ungodly world, our enemies who hate us, and our situations—both present and future.? We are peculiar people and fewer in number which makes us stick out.? Psalms 56:2-4? Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High.? (3)? What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.? (4)? In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.? Psalms 118:8-9? It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.? (9)? It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.? Proverbs 3:5-6? Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.? (6)? In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.? 3.? Verse 43 –? The Tache of? Hope.? ? Through the Word of God,? we have seen the end of our race; we have read the last chapter and all ends well.? We see His? Hope in this sense is not “I hope God will be there for me” but a blessed hope which is a secure knowledge that He is and will be there with us and for us.? Our race has a starting point and a finish line as we finish our course.? ? Titus 2:13? Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;? Hebrews 13:5? Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.? 4.? Verse 44 –? The Tache of? Integrity.? ? Through the Word of God, we see His? Law is right.? ? I will keep thy law continually, in every circumstance, for ever, as long as I live.? This is not perfection but constancy.? In this life and the life to come!? Psalms 26:1? A Psalm of David. Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide.? Integrity – uprightness, honesty, truth? 5.? Verse 45 –? The Tache of? Liberty.? ? Through the Word of God, we see His? freedom that He has given to us.? ? Thy liberty in law is part of the song “America, The Beautiful.”? ? Liberty is not a license to sin; it is freedom to serve.? Free from the condemnation of law should cause us to walk in freedom within the law.? Oh what joy to be free from the fear of walking contrary to the Lord.? Oh what joy to be free from the fear of those who enforce the laws of man.? ? John 8:31-32? Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;? (32)? And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.? 6.? Verse 46 –? The Tache of? Faith.? ? Through the Word of God, we see His personal will for our individual lives.? “Whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”? ? Living a life for the Lord is living a life of boldness before men.? We take no personal pride in our life lived for the Lord.? We do take pride in the Lord who changed our life.? Walking at a guilty distance from the Lord cause shame as we cannot open our mouths for the Lord.? Hand out tracts, invite people to church, live a consistent life in front of the people that you are around.? 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.? 7.? Verse 47 –? The Tache of? Delight.? ? Through the Word of God, we see His love.? ? A song says, “I'd rather be an old time Christian, Lord, than anything I know.”? Love God, love the Word of God, love the life in God that He has given to you.? Acts 11:26? And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.? 8.? Verse 48 -? The Tache of? Confidence which ends in a Walk in Praise.? Praise, uplifted hands, for His commandments and Love for His statutes because they are Right.

? Temple Baptist Church - 2-4-2024Hebrews 10:24-31? Introduction:? ? A.? Sanctuary – A sacred place.? ? The word sanctuary has religious roots as it referred to a consecrated place where sacred objects are kept.? It often refers to a temple or church, the holiest of holy places.? ? ? ? ? 1.? As early as Genesis 4,? we find that Cain and Abel “brought” their sacrifices.? They did not offer just anywhere but there was? a special place? where they offered.? ? 2.? Abraham built an altar at Bethel? (The House of God) and later came back to that same altar, naming it El-Bethel (God-The House of God) and? found God there.? ? 3.? When God brought Israel? out of Egypt (a beautiful type of salvation), He gave instructions to Moses for the building of the Tabernacle in the Wilderness; when Israel came into the land of Canaan—they? brought the Tabernacle? with them.? 3.? Later build Solomon's Temple.? This beautiful temple was the center of Jerusalem.? When the Jews returned from their captivity in Babylon, the first order of business was the rebuild the walls and Temple.? ? 4.? When the New Testament Jews and Gentiles got saved, they had a local church to attend.? The Bible says much about the local church and works only through it.? ? It is around the local church that our lives are to be centered.? 5.? The Local Church is a special place of:? a)? Refuge from the storms of life.? b)? Rest from the toils of life.? c)? Refreshment from the disappointments of life.? d)? Restoration from the failures of life.? e)? Revival from the lifelessness of life.? 6.? The? Bible calls the? Local Church the pillar and ground of the truth:? ? 1 Timothy 3:15? But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.? B.? Sometimes,? when we go back to Hebrews 10:25, I wonder if I am not? “beating a dead horse.”? 1.? But the Holy Ghost emphasizes the importance of the local church? when using the words “and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”? ? That day is HERE? and the house of God forsaken.? 2.? ? Preachers preach the important truth found in these verses,? we quote these verses often, and yet—continually—we see a decrease in the faithfulness of God's people to the church.? ? C.? These verses? are the most profound concerning faithfulness to church that you will find.? In them we find:? 1.? The responsibility to each other – vs. 24? 2.? The importance and purpose – vs. 25? 3.? The callousness of the sin – vs. 26? 4.? The promise of the judgment of God – vs. 27-29? 5.? The seriousness of unfaithfulness – vs. 29? 6.? The fearfulness of the Lord – vs. 30-31? D.? If God said? and meant all of these things, you would think that His children would see the seriousness, repent of their sin, and get faithful? but just the opposite is true.? ? “As the manner of some is” has become the norm for most professing believers.? ? E.? In the last few years,? we have seen a great “falling away” from the local church.? ? 1.? With the rising number of “home churches,” “TV churches,” “Radio Churches,” “golf, fishing, motorcycle, cowboy, etc.,” there has been a great forsaking of the house of the Lord.? ? 2.? I find no substitute in the bible for the local church.? ? F.? The local church? is a landmark of the Lord's making and it needs not to be removed.? Churches all over the Bible Belt have gone from two services on Sunday and Wednesday night Prayer Meeting to just Sunday morning services.? 1.? A Place Of Assembly – Hebrews 10:25? ? Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.? ? (The word “church” means a called-out assembly.? We are called out of this world to assemble together.? If the Lord did not think that we needed a place of gathering, He would have just let us stay at home.? “Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God” describes the modern day “Christian.”)? 2.? A Place Of Exhortation - 2 Timothy 4:2? Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.? ? (We need each other's strength to continue on in this “present evil world.”? Bearing one another's burdens can only come about when we are together to know what those burdens are.)? 3.? A Place Of Fellowship - Acts 2:42? And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.? ? (We cannot love each other with a whole heart fervently if we are never together.? I love my family and spend much time with them.? I love my church family and spend much time with them!? We laugh, cry, eat, and share together.)? 4.? A Place Of Bible Teaching - 1 Timothy 3:15? But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.? ? (Most believers do not know how to behave in the house of God because they are not there often enough to be taught!? ? Teaching is a very important of our spiritual welfare!? The largest denomination in America is the “Church of the Ignorant Brethern!”)? 1 Timothy 4:16? Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.? 5.? A Place Of Powerful Preaching - 2 Timothy 4:2? Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.? ? (The pastor is commanded to preach the Word, but many are never there to receive it.? So often I know that a particular message will be of help to someone, and they do not show up.? We need bible preaching and need it from the pastor!)? 6.? A Place Of Prayer - Matthew 21:13? And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.? ? (We come, take prayer requests and pray!? We begin each service in prayer, we pray in the prayer rooms, we pray during the services, and we end each service in prayer.? We pray for each other, we pray for our families, we pray for our needs, we pray for the needs of others, we pray for our nation, we pray for Israel, we pray for those in authority over us, we pray for souls, and we pray for the coming of the Lord.? You have not because you ask not is an indictment against those who do not pray!)? 7.? A Place Of Faithful Giving - Malachi 3:10? 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.? 1 Corinthians 16:2? Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.? ? (Some tithe and give regularly while some tithe and give irregularly.? The local church pays its bills regularly and missions support should be paid the same.? How would we like it if we got paid on an irregular basis?? We would probably be a little upset.? Missionaries do not get full support because of irregular giving!)? 8.? A Place Of Divine Approval - Ephesians 5:25-26? Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;? ? ? That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.? ? (It is a sanctifying place where we are cleansed through the water of the Word.)