Cobblestone Road Ministries. KJV Bible Studies, Christian Quotes, Christian poems, Apologetics, Bible Prophecy, Bible Cure, Rapture, Famous Quotes, Salvation, Messianic Prophecies

Independent, KJV Bible, Eternal Security

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

? Temple Baptist Church - 4-17-2024John 15:11? Introduction:? A.? In verse 11, we find two kinds of “Joy.”? ? 1.? My Joy.? “remain in you”? A Joy that is found ONLY in Jesus Christ!? ? a)? The Joy of Salvation.? The Joy of Sanctification.? The Joy of Security.? The Joy of Serving.? ? b)? The Key words are “remain in” which implies that the joy of God is given to every believer and can be removed by the believer.? ? ? ? c)? “Living for Jesus” is a song that describes our Joy that is found in abiding in Jesus Christ:? Living for Jesus, a life that is true,Striving to please Him in all that I do;Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free,This is the pathway of blessing for me.Refrain:O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me;I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne;My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.Living for Jesus Who died in my place,Bearing on Calv'ry my sin and disgrace;Such love constrains me to answer His call,Follow His leading and give Him my all.Living for Jesus, wherever I am,Doing each duty in His holy Name;Willing to suffer affliction and loss,Deeming each trial a part of my cross.Living for Jesus through earth's little while,My dearest treasure, the light of His smile;Seeking the lost ones He died to redeem,Bringing the weary to find rest in Him.2.? Your Joy.? The key words here are “be full.”? The implication here is that the believer can have Joy to some degree and still not have fulness of Joy.? To have fulness of Joy is totally tied to the “My Joy” that is found only in our abiding in Christ.? “I had rather be an old time Christian that anything I know!”? Nehemiah 8:10? Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.? 3.? “Your Joy!”? I hear so much “Woe is me” preaching in our day.? People live lives of quiet desperation because of circumstances while God wants His people to enjoy life!? He wants them to enjoy His creation!? Proverbs 15:13? A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.? Proverbs 17:22? A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.? Ecclesiastes 2:24? There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.? Ecclesiastes 3:10-13? I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.? (11)? He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.? (12)? I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.? (13)? And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.? Ecclesiastes 3:22? Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?? Ecclesiastes 5:18-19? Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.? (19)? Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.? Ecclesiastes 8:15? Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun.? Ecclesiastes 9:7-9? Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.? (8)? Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.? (9)? Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.? B.? What is this joy of Christ?? I want to look at the best definition that I have ever seen, and it comes from your Bible because “My Joy” is not found in our circumstances which are subject to change.? It is completely found in the “God of my salvation” and the “God … my strength!”? *** Habakkuk 3:17-19? Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: ? (18)? Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. ? (19)? The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.? 1.? In these verses, we find both the “Cause” and “Effect” of the Christian's Joy.? The cause and effect is certainly not found in our circumstances as our days are so full for sin and sorrow!? Noah's Day, Lot's Day, Falling Away Days, Laodicean Days, Perilous Times all work together in our day to cause God's people to fret and fear.? Habakkuk used the word “Yet” to introduce “I will rejoice” and “I will joy!”? 2.? In Verses 18-19, we find the Cause of Joy:? a)? The God of my Salvation.? True Christian Joy comes from God in the form of Eternal Salvation.? John 15:13? Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.? b)? The LORD God, my Strength.? True Christian Joy is maintained in the spiritual Strength that comes from God, not circumstances.? John 15:5? I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.? 4.? In Verses 17-18, we find the Effect of Joy:? a)? Though things go wrong, and they do; though life is hard, and it is:? b)? Rejoicing comes from our inner fountain of Joy.? ? ? ? ? ? ? 5.? There was a day when praise and rejoicing were spontaneous, not something “worked up” by emotion.? “Popcorn Testimonies” have become a thing of the past.? We need to get our Joy back and Rejoicing will follow without having to be stirred or worked up.? Rejoicing is more than an emotion; it is a realization brought about by relationship and remembrance!? 6.? We live in days when pastors feel the necessity to stir our emotions with fleshly music and preaching as to produce rejoicing.? Thus, they become Promoters—not Pastors, Entertainers—not Preachers.? ? a.? A Pastor is none of these things.? He is to feed the flock of God, not stir them up.? Churches now have “Praise Leaders!”? ? b.? I find that preaching the Word is a divider because the Word brings about the knowledge of sin, the need for repentance, and division from the world.? c.? Rejoicing should be a spontaneous result of an inner Joy found in the Lord.? Rejoicing is a product of that inward Joy, not the cause of Joy.? Romans 12:12? ? Rejoicing in hope;? patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;? Philippians 3:1? ? Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord.? To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.? Philippians 4:4? ? Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.? 7.? The hymns of the Faith no longer cause Rejoicing, so the modern day “church” is now in the “Entertainment Business” instead of reproving, rebuking, and Exhorting with all longsuffering and doctrine.? Modern day preaching and music reflect the world because most professing “Christians” are more worldly than spiritual.? C.? Both rejoicing and joy are to be despite our circumstances, not because of them!? Most Christians live in discouragement with little joy.? ? Why?? The answer is simple.? 1.? Because Of Sinfulness - Matthew 24:12? And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.? ? (God's people are not drunks and harlots, but sin creeps in and we now walk at a guilty distance from God and the joy is gone.)? 2.? Because Of Our Situations - Matthew 14:30? But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.? ? (God's people have their eyes upon the “wind and waves” of circumstance and not upon Christ.? When Peter looked up instead of looking down, he saw the Lord of the “wind and waves” and once again walked on the water.)? D.? Many Christians live in defeat with no joy at all.? 1.? For The World, Joy Is Found In Circumstances – Luke 12:16-21? And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:? And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.? ? And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.? But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.? 2.? For The Christian, Joy Is Found Despite Circumstances - 2 Corinthians 7:4? Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.? 2 Corinthians 8:2? How that? in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty? abounded unto the riches of their liberality.Colossians 1:11? Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power,? unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;? 1 Thessalonians 1:6? And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord,? having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:? E.? Loss of joy comes through:? 1.? Losing the freshness of our salvation.? 2.? Losing the burning love for our Saviour.? 3.? Losing the excitement of our service.? WHERE THE CHRISTIAN FINDS HIS JOY? 1.? Christian Joy Is Found In Salvation - Luke 10:20? Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.? Psalms 35:9? And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall? rejoice in his salvation.? Psalms 51:12? Restore unto me? the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.? Psalms 132:16? I will also clothe her priests? with? salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.? Isaiah 12:3? Therefore? with joy? shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.? 2.? Christian Joy Is Found In The Holy Ghost - Romans 15:13? Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,? that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.? Joy Is Not Found In The Things Of The World - Romans 14:17? For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink;? but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.? 3.? Christian Joy Is Found In God's Word - Nehemiah 8:9-12? And Nehemia

? 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

? Temple Baptist Church - 3-6-2024John 14:1-6? Introduction:? A.? Disclaimer time.? Don't you just love having to give a disclaimer because of the lack of biblical knowledge of most people?? So many people who never read the Bible get their “theology” from people who never read the Bible!? Oh, they read but they have no spiritual understanding.? B.? Some years back, the “Left Behind” series hit the bookstores and people everywhere what to know what was coming and where they stood with God.? This series was heretical.? Its vdery premise flew in the face of God as it contradicted what the Bible teaches about Eschatology.? I am not here tonight to either discuss or fix that.? ? C.? We teach these verses to show the unsaved how to be saved!? Jesus Christ alone!? His death, burial, and resurrection called the gospel is where salvation is found.? I have no problem at all with the application of the verses but that is not the interpretation within the context.? D.? The context is to saved men who feared being left behind, supposedly alone, and told that they would be with the Lord later not understanding where He was going or how to get there.? Both Peter and Thomas along with the other disciples (they allowed these two men to be the spokesmen), were afraid and confused.? E.? The questions asked:? 1.? Peter's problem was two-fold:? ? John 13:36-37? ? ? Simon Peter said unto him,? (1)? Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.? (37)? Peter said unto him,? (2)? Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.? 2.? Thomas' problem was two-fold:? ? John 14:5? Thomas saith unto him, Lord,? (1)? we know not whither thou goest; and? (2)? how can we know the way?? 3.? Now, I want to give these disciples a break!? Don't you just hate it when someone will not even give you the benefit of a doubt?? They had no Bible!? When the Lord spoke of resurrection, they had no examples other than Lazarus and it was the Lord who visibly and publicly raised him from the dead.? F.? Verse 6 does not settle a salvation problem though it does settle Who salvation is found in.? Christ!? These disciples did not need to be saved and the understood that salvation was through Jesus Christ. They were both saved!? Peter called Jesus Lord twice and Thomas called Jesus Lord once in the context.? G.? The context of verse 6 is both directional and correctional.? ? 1. Their questions were not caused by a lack of salvation but of insecurity in the impending absence of the Lord.? Lord, you are leaving, and we cannot go with you, but you said we will follow you to where you are.? ? 2.? ? Jesus' answer? was correctional.? How do we know where that is, and how do we get there?? ? a)? Religions and denominations here and around the world believe that the way to heaven either before salvation or after salvation is a “path” of their own making.? If you try to live right, treat your neighbor right, keep all the rules and regulations, you just might make it to heaven.? ? b)? Jesus Christ is the only Way of salvation, and He is the only Way to get to heaven!? 3.? Jesus' answer was directional.? ? a)? How do we get from this life and place to our eternal life and place?? ? b)? The answer is the same!? Jesus Christ!? He said that it is My Father's house (heaven) and I, Jesus, will take you there!? H.? Though we are saved, and have the truth, there are times when we are fretful and insecure.? 1.? “I am the Way!”? Not just the way of salvation but because Christ is coming back for them.? The way to somewhere has a starting point, a traveling point, and a finishing point.? ? a.? Jesus did not say that He was the end of the trip because He would be in His Father's house.? He simply said that He was the Way!? That is from the start of the trip throughout the trip until we end up where He is in the Father's house.? b.? As the Lord stood on the right hand of the Father as Stephen was dying, He will be with us from start to finish when we go through the Valley of the Shadow of Death.? c.? They, as well as we, will not have to cross Jordan alone.? ? d.? If we live until the rapture of the Church, it is the Lord Himself who will descend from heaven with a shout and the voice of the archangel.? If we die first, we will fear no evil because He will walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death with us.? Psalm 23.? e.? Jesus is the Way home!? He said that He would come and get them!? John 14:3? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.? 2.? “I am the Truth!”? The Lord's promises for both the present and the future are secure.? ? John 14:2? In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.? a.? Our Lord told His disciples that He must go while they must abide.? Yet, the Truth would remain with them.? b.? The disciples did not know at this time about the revelations that our Lord would later give to them and neither did they know about the fullness of the Holy Ghost Who would descend upon them.? He simply said, “Trust Me!”? c.? The Lord will say in a later chapter of John that it was expedient that He go away, otherwise the Comforter would not come.? Instead of dwelling with God, God would be dwelling within them.? d.? Grace and strength for every mile of the trip.? Their needs constantly being met by their Lord.? Sometimes, in our lives during hard times, God's promises happen a thrill per minute as He is always on time to meet our needs.? e.? The Truth that they would one day be “where I am.”? God's promises sure and secure!? 3.? “I Am the Life!”? The lives of the apostles are getting ready for a drastic change. It is in Christ that we live, move, and have our being.? ? Colossians 3:1-4? If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.? (2)? Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.? (3)? For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.? ? a.? Christ? is? their spiritual life.? Acts 4:12? Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.? b.? Christ is their temporal life.? ? It is in Christ that we live, move, and have our being.? ? Colossians 3:1-3? If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.? (2)? Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.? (3)? For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.? ? c.? Christ is their eternal life.? Matthew 28:20? “and, lo, I am with you alway,? even? unto the end of the world.”? Colossians 3:4? When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.? 4.? “No man cometh unto the Father, but by me.? Simply said, you have nothing at all to worry about it.? As salvation is all of Christ, the rest of the trip at that point is all of Christ.? We will all end up at “where I am!”? Conclusion:? Their hearts were troubled because their future seemed to be insecure.? Often our hearts become troubled and insecure.? The answer to troubled hearts is the same for both the disciples and us today.? The Lord Jesus used these verses to reassure them that they would shortly be “where I Am!”

Holding Fast the FaithRick HoukTue, 07/25/2023 - 13:19 How Understanding “The Faith” Strengthens Daily Faith Many Christians think of doctrine as irrelevant to their daily lives. They hope their pastor studies it, but they don't think of it as having practical importance to the average Christian on a Thursday afternoon. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. You see, it is understanding and believing “the faith” that allows us to exercise daily faith.  When Jude wrote to “earnestly contend for the faith” (Jude 3), he addressed his epistle “to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called.” In other words, that's every Christian. So, if strong doctrine leads to strong faith, what should we know about developing strong doctrine? Our Faith Rests on the Word of GodFor a Christian, all doctrine comes from one final authority: the Word of God. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine . . .” (2 Timothy 3:16). God revealed His truth that he wanted us to have, recorded it in the inspired words of Scripture, and preserved it for all generations. Jesus told His apostles that He would give them His truth and they were to pass it on to the early church. In Acts 2:42, we learn that after three thousand souls were saved on Pentecost, the believers “continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship . . . .” The moorings of the early church and the rapid spread of the gospel was dependent upon sound doctrine to unify the believers in the local churches. The early church delivered the gospel and the faith to their generation, who in turn passed it on to the next generation, and now we have these precious truths today. All of this transfer happened through the written Word of God. What God delivered to us through “holy men of God” who “spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:21) is all we need. It is final, complete, infallible, inerrant. It is absolute truth. Our understanding of truth may grow, but the Word of God itself is, like God, immutable, infallible, and eternal. Our Faith Is Kept by Sound TheologyThe faith once delivered to the saints can only be maintained and grow when we live and practice sound doctrine. Paul told Titus in Titus 1:9, “Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.”Without sound doctrine, would we know the truth about salvation, eternal life, and eternal security? Would our faith have any stability or confidence? Would we be able to adequately give godly counsel? Would we be able to witness to the unsaved with confidence? Would we be able to defend our faith? Would we not be deceived by false teachings? Would we know how to walk in the Spirit and live a holy life? The answer to all of these is “no.” To live and propagate our faith it must be built upon the sound teachings of the Scriptures.Our Faith Should Lead to Daily ApplicationA.W. Tozer said, “There is scarcely anything so dull and meaningless as Bible doctrine taught for its own sake. Truth divorced from life is not truth in its biblical sense, but something else and something less.” Our doctrine should affect our behavior. James 1:22 admonishes us, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” A wealth of theological knowledge is practically meaningless unless we are regularly applying truth to our daily lives. Then, and only then, will our theology bring growth to our lives. Category Christian Living Tags Apologetics Bible Study

Today’s Reading: Acts 8:9-25 I want to spend a little bit more time in this passage to answer some questions that may have come up when you first read it. This passage actually contains a lot of doctrinal information concerning the aspects of salvation and eternal security. Plus, there’s a lot of neat back story that we [...]