Sermon Series: Genesis (31 Outlines Only)
SERMON OUTLINES FROM GENESIS
by Dr. J. Mike Minnix
Editor and Founder of www.pastorlife.com
j.mikeminnix@gmail.com
The following outlines come from my personal files. Most of these I have preached or used in Bible studies, but a few of them I developed and have not used. You will note that in some cases I have included in this article some added text to an outline, but for the most part I've simply given you the outlines without much in the way of commentary. Feel free to use them as you wish, but I'm sure you can improve them through your own study of the passages involved.
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NOT A BIG BANG, BUT A BIG GOD
GENESIS 1 - 2
I. THE DESIGNATION OF THE CREATOR
A. A REAL BEING
God is not the figment of an overactive imagination. He is real, eternal and holy.
B. A REVEALED BEING
We could never know God at all without His willingness to reveal Himself to us. We did not find Him – He found us!
II. THE DESIGN BY THE CREATOR
A. GOD CREATED THE WORLD FOR MAN'S GOOD
When God created the world, it was perfect. Only sin corrupted His creation.
B. GOD CREATED THE WORLD FOR HIS OWN GLORY
The earth brings glory to God, as does the entire Universe. One day the Lord will come and make this world what it first created it to be – a place of perfection and blessing.
III. THE DELIVERANCE THROUGH THE CREATOR
A. A PICTURE OF CHAOS
Everything is chaos unless God steps in to move over it by His Spirit.
B. A PICTURE OF CATACLYSM
Sin caused the cataclysm that ruined this world. Genesis beings with a Garden and ends with a Grave. Sin is the reason behind the sorrows of this earth.
C. A PICTURE OF CONVERSION
God is a God of conversion. He is still moving over that which is ruined to make it what it is meant to be. That is true of our lives. If we respond to His Spirit and receive His Son, we become what He intended and will live with Him in a New Heaven and New Earth. Why would anyone refuse?
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READ THE LABEL
GENESIS 01-02
I. THE BLUEPRINT FROM WHICH YOU WERE MADE
A. IN THE IMAGE OF GOD
B. BY THE HAND OF GOD
II. THE BLESSING WHEN YOU WERE MADE
A. GOD SPOKE GOOD TO YOU
B. GOD MEANT GOOD FOR YOU
III. THE BEHAVIOR FOR WHICH YOU WERE MADE
A. STEWARDSHIP BEHAVIOR
Man was to tend what God had given Him. That is still true today.
B. FELLOWSHIP BEHAVIOR
Man was made for fellowship and God gave Adam a wife named Eve to be His soul mate.
C. RELATIONSHIP BEHAVIOR
We were meant to have a relationship with God. Adam walked with God in the cool of the day. Sin ruined that relationship, but God provided a way for mankind to have a relationship with Him that sin can never again destroy. That relationship is available only through His son – the One born of the see of woman – the God-Man. His name is JESUS!
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THE CREATION OF THE HOME
GENESIS 02
Below is the outline of the sermon and after that more detail on the sermon.
I. BELIEVING
A. SURPRISING DECLARATION
B. SERIOUS OPERATION
C. SATISFYING PRESENTATION
II. LEAVING
A. REVELATION OF A PRINCIPLE
B. RESOLUTION OF A PROBLEM
III. CLEAVING
A. THE GLUE OF MARRIED LIFE
B. THE GRACE OF MARRIED LIFE
IV. RECEIVING
A. THE SEXUAL SIDE OF MARRIAGE
B. THE SHARING SIDE OF MARRIAGE
Introduction
We come now to the first sermon in a series of nine sermons on the home. Over the next few weeks we will consider the first institution created by God for the welfare of the human race. Turn to Genesis 2 and let's read the creation of man and woman, and the beginning of family life.
I. Believing
You must believe that God is the author of the home, the authority over the home and the hope
A. Surprising Declaration
It was not good for man to be alone. God had said that everything thus far was good. But it was not good for man to be alone. In fact, Eve was in the mind of God long before she was in the arms of Adam! Opposites go together - like a violin and a bow, peaches and cream, Mike and Jayne!
B. Serious Operation
All the animals were paraded before Adam. He named them. He named them Mr. and Mrs. Horse. Mr. and Mrs. Robin. Mr. and Mrs. Alligator. But Adam noticed that there was no Mrs. Adam. He was not a happy camper! Even in a perfect world he knew something was missing. God had put this in his heart.
So God performed the first operation. The first surgeon was God Himself. God took a rib from Adam's side and created the woman. Matthew Henry states that God did not use Adam's skull bone to create Eve, for He would not have her to rule over him. God did not use Adam's foot bone to create Eve for He would not have him to rule over her. God took the rib so that they could be partners and Eve would always be close to Adam's heart.
C. Satisfying Presentation
Then God presented her to Adam. She was different and Adam liked it very much. He said, "Wow, this is what I have been looking for. Where have you been all my life?"
He was Ish - which means man. She was ish-shah - which means soft man. You can't make women into men or men into women, in spite of the feminist movement to do otherwise. My wife and I were not created to compete but to complete each other!
II. Leaving
A. Revelation of a Principle
Adam and Eve had no father or mother, so why did God tell them to leave their parents? God was giving them a divine principle which they were to pass on to their children, their children's children, and so forth for generations to come.
B. Resolution of a Problem
Parents have an awesome responsibility from the time their children are born into this world. It is difficult for them to let go and let God have control of their children as they grow older. It is important for parents to begin to train their children to live on their own beginning very early in life. Howard Hendricks says, "If you do anything for your child which the child is fully capable of doing for himself, you are making your child a spiritual cripple."
Parents must "butt out" of their child's marriage. The intrusion into the marriage relationship by parents will do one of two things. It will destroy the marriage or alienate the children. Either of these is disastrous.
III. Cleaving
A. The Glue of Married Life
God means for you to be glued together - super glue. Someone here may be sad that you have not found the right person yet, or that you thought there was a right person but he or she decided to marry another. Don't fret, you may be better off. It is better not to marry than to marry incorrectly.
Have you ever heard about the two little tear drops floating down a stream? Two little teardrops were floating down the river of life. One teardrop said to the other, "Who are you?"
The other teardrop said, "I'm a teardrop from a girl who loved a man and lost him. Who are you?"
"Well, I am a teardrop of the girl who got him."
Ah yes, we cry over what we lose, and we cry over what we gain "cleave" together. That word is based on a Greek noun meaning GLUE, while the word "joined" in the next verse could be translated "yoked together." He therefore indicates that the partners are to adhere to each other faithfully and to work in harmony.
Understand that the romantic side of a marriage may wax and wane from time to time. The Saturday Evening Post shared the seven ages of a cold between a husband and a wife.
Year 1. Sugar dumpling, I'm worried about my baby girl. You could be getting strep. I'm am getting you checked into the hospital.
Year 2. I don't like the sound of that cough, I've called Dr. Miller and asked him to rush over here. Go to bed like a good girl.
Year 3. Maybe you better lie down. Nothing like a little a rest you feel lousy.
Year 4. Look dear, be sensible. After you have fed the kids and mopped the floor you had better lie down.
Year 5. Take a couple aspirin.
Year 6. I wish you would gargle or something rather than just sitting around barking all evening like a seal.
Year 7. For Pete's sake stop sneezing, are you trying to give me pneumonia.
B. The Grace of Married Life
As God loves you through the eyes of grace, you are to be just that committed to your spouse. Naturally, there was no one else for Adam or Eve to be interested in, since they were the only two people on earth. This is a picture of the way God would have us to view our spouse. There is to be no one else. Just think about it, Eve could ask, "Adam, do you love me?" Adam could honestly answer, "Who else?"
IV. Receiving
A couple must be open to each other fully. Closeness is essential. There must be an intimacy in the marriage. One couple went to a marriage counselor for help. The counselor observed that the husband was showing no affection to his wife. He tried explaining the matter to the husband but he still didn't seem to get it. So the counselor decided an example was needed. The counselor walked around his desk, put his arms around the man's wife and kissed her right on the mouth. He looked at the husband and said, "Your wife needs that at least three times a week."
The husband asked, "Which three days should I bring her in?"
Some men just don't understand the need for closeness. And that might be said about some wives as well.
A. The Sexual Side of Marriage
The world thinks that those of us in the church view sex as something wicked, sinful and dirty. Nothing could be further from the truth. Sex was created before the fall of man. God told Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply. Sex was ordained by God.
Sadly, those of us in the church have allowed the world to have the high ground when it comes to discussing sex. From Dr. Ruth to Howard Stern, the world offers up a plethora of pitiful platitudes about a subject which must be examined from the Creator's manual on the topic. We should never be ashamed to discuss what God was not ashamed to create. In fact, it is incumbent on us to tell it like it is on this subject. Sex is beautiful in the sight of God, but it must be kept within certain boundaries. Sex was created for procreation and pleasure, and was meant to be enjoyed only in marriage. Premarital sex is sinful, extra-marital sex is sinful, post-marital sex is sinful. In marriage God has told us that the marriage bed is undefiled! We are paying a high price in our day for transgressing this critical part of human life.
B. The Sharing Side of Marriage
But being one means much more than physical union. A married couple must receive each other psychologically, spiritually, personally, as well as physically. This means that a good marriage will be one whereby each partner feels total acceptance and total freedom of expression.
Dr. James Peterson of the University of Southern California has studied married couples for years. He states that only 6 out of every 100 people are fulfilled in the marriage relationship. Howard Hendricks says that this is true because couples do not know how to work out conflicts. These unresolved conflicts keep a couple apart.
Husband and wife should be best of friends. The best friend I have in this world is my wife. If I could spend an entire day with someone, I would want it to be Jayne.
Jayne likes to shop. I used to go with her, but I think I get on her nerves. You see, we men just don't get it. You ladies like to look at everything in the store, but we men like to rush in, get what we came for and dart out to the car. Men are hunters and women are shoppers. There is a vast difference. Hunters find what they are hunting, bag it and head home. Women are shoppers. Shoppers go to the mall to buy a pair of jeans, end up looking at furniture and leave with a pair of shoes for someone else on the shopping list. To us men, that makes very little sense.
In order to receive your spouse, you must learn to love the differences. You have to give and take in order to share and receive. For example, women like to talk in detail, men like to grunt in summary and generalization. Women have to learn to ask for less detail information from their husbands, and husbands have to learn to give a little more detail when talking to their wives. The wife many ask, "Did Bill and Mary decide to sell their house?" The husband will say, "Unhuh."
The wife then says, "Well?"
The husband replies, "Well, what?"
The wife says, "Well, when are they going to sell it, what do they want for it, where are they going to move, when do they think they'll be leaving?"
The husband has begun to read the paper and replies, "Yea."
He didn't hear a word she said! Listen, guy, you had better learn to talk with your wife!
There must be sharing in the marriage and the home. The following thoughts about the family were reported in a publication entitled "Fingertip Facts:"
"A place of warmth when the world is cold; a place of safety when the world is hostile; a place of light when the world is dark‑‑this is a family.... It is the core around which great nations are built. It is the foundation of any great society. A family is many things: a family is love around the dinner table; devotion walking to church together; friendship laughing under the same roof. A family is mother singing in the kitchen; father whistling around the house; children playing in the yard. A family is a light on the front porch on a dark night. A family is happy songs around a piano....A family is a cheering section when a victory is won; a family is a very private organization.... "Rudyard Kipling once wrote about families, 'All of us are we‑‑and everyone else is they.' A family shares things like dreams, hopes, possessions, memories, smiles, frowns, and gladness....A family is a clan held together with the glue of love and the cement of mutual respect. A family is shelter from the storm, a friendly port when the waves of life become too wild. No person is ever alone who is a member of a family."
C. The Spiritual Side of Marriage
For a marriage to be all that it should, husband and wife need to be united in their spiritual lives. Adam and Eve were made by God, and he placed them together. God made you, and he placed you with your spouse. He has a purpose for you. Just like Adam and Eve, we all fail in marriage. We are sometimes selfish, unkind, thoughtless and downright mean. Marriage requires that we act like Jesus – that is, we must be forgiving. We read in 1 Corinthians 12 that “love keeps no record of wrongs.” To love properly, you must forgive and forget – and if you can’t forget, at least you should not bring up every mistake your spouse ever made during your marriage.
I note that Adam never reminded Eve of offering him the forbidden fruit! And, Eve never reminded Adam that if he had been more attentive perhaps she would not have been in the Garden of Eden alone when the devil came along to tempt her!
Conclusion
The key to a happy marriage is not marrying the right person; the key to a great marriage is in being the right person! You must believe - God has given us instructions! You must leave - God has given us an exhortation! You must cleave - God has given us a prescription! You must receive - God has given us a direction! If we will follow God's way, we will have God's blessing. It is time for husbands and wives to rededicate their lives to God and to each other. Today is the right day to that and right here is the right place!
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TESTIMONY OF THE TREES
GENESIS 03
We find Adam hiding among the bushes and trees. He is hiding from God because he has sinned. Note the problems that brought to Adam in point one of the outline below. Mankind deals with this problem to this day. But, note also how God sought Adam. Likewise, He is seeking those who will come to Him for salvation and peace. The first Adam hid among the trees – the Second Adam died on a tree!
I. THE HIDING MAN
A. BREAKS FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD
B. BURDENS US WITH NEUROSIS AND PARANOIA
C. BARRIER OF SELF-DEFENSE ESTABLISHED
D. BRINGS JUDGMENT (DEATH & SEPARATION)
II. THE SEEKING GOD
A. HE CALLS FOR YOU
B. HE CARES FOR YOU
C. HE TOOK UP A CROSS FOR YOU
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THE DARKEST DAY IN HISTORY
GENESIS 03:01-06
I. THE GALL OF SATAN
A. HE PLANTS A DOUBT ABOUT GOD'S MORALITY AND DECENCY
B. HE PUBLISHES A DENIAL OF GOD'S INTEGRITY AND RELIABILITY
C. HE PROMPTS A DEFIANCE AGAINST AUTHORITY AND DEITY
II. THE FALL OF MAN
A. SHE SAW - DESIRE
B. SHE TOOK - DECISION
C. SHE ACTED – DEED
D. SHE GAVE - DIFFUSION
III. THE CALL OF GOD
A. HE CALLED THEM BY COMING TO THEM
B. HE CALLED THEM TO CONFRONT THEM
C. HE CALLED THEM BECAUSE HE CARED FOR THEM
D. HE CALLED THEM IN ORDER THAT HE MIGHT COVER THEM
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THE GREAT CONFLICT
GENESIS 03:01-07, 15, 21
I. A BEAUTIFUL PLACE MARRED
A. SUBTLE TEMPTATION
1. TO DOUBT GOD'S WORD
2. TO DISTORT GOD'S WORD
3. TO DENY GOD'S WORD
B. SINFUL TRAGEDY
1. REBELLION
2. RESULTS
II. A BEAUTIFUL PROMISE IS MADE
A. WAR PRONOUNCED
B. WINNER PROCLAIMED
III. A BEAUTIFUL PICTURE IS MANIFESTED
A. NO ACCUSATION (ROMANS 8:33)
B. NO CONDEMNATION (ROMANS 8:34)
C. NO SEPARATION (ROMANS 8:35)
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THE FEET OF GOD
GENESIS 3:8
Below you will find the outline to this message and directly below that you will find a more detailed copy of this sermon with content I used in preaching the message.
I. THE FOOTFALL OF GOD
A. THE FOOTFALL OF DISCOVERY
B. THE FOOTFALL OF ETERNITY
II. THE FOOTSTEPS OF GOD
A. FOOTSTEPS OF CORRECTION
B. FOOTSTEPS OF CARE
C. FOOTSTEPS OF COMFORT
III. THE FOOTREST ( OR FOOTSTOOL ) OF GOD
A. THE PLACE OF GLORIFICATION
B. THE PLACE OF EDUCATION
C. THE PLACE OF CONVOCATION
Introduction
Today we are going to study divine podiatry – that is, we are going to study the feet of God. John 1:14 tells us that God took upon Him a human body. We read in Revelation 1:15, as well as Revelation 2:18, that the Son of God has feet like burnished brass. In Genesis 3:8 we read that God walked in the Garden of Eden.
A corn syrup manufacturing company received the following letter: "Dear Sirs: I have ate three cans of your corn syrup and it has not helped my corns one bit." I don't think the man understood the purpose of 'Corn Syrup!'
Well, let me tell you that the Lord does not have any problems with His feet. The earth is still His footstool and He still walks where He wishes.
Few people would ever need to, or would know how to, praise someone’s feet. But it is different for a person selling shoes. A young man was applying for a job as clerk in a shoe store. The store owner asked him, "Suppose that a lady customer asked you, 'Don't you think one of my feet is bigger than the other?' What would you say?"
The young man responded promptly, "I'd say, 'Oh, no ma'am! If anything, one is a little smaller than the other.'"
Well, today we are going to look at the feet of God as described in the Bible. Lets look at some important elements related to the feet of the Lord.
I. The Footfall of God
Adam and Eve heard the footsteps of God. This was not comforting. This was troubling. Why? Because they had sinned. They heard God approaching them. They ran and hid as if one can hide from the Lord!
A. The Footfall of Discovery
The Bible warns, Be sure your sin will find you out. Someone has said that sin is the greatest of all detectives, but it is not sin that finds you, it finds you out. That means that God will bring out into the light that which we are unwilling to deal with properly. Adam and Eve learned this lesson the hard way. Many others have as well. David sinned with Bathsheba and time passed without incident. Then, one day, the Prophet came before and revealed his sin and the judgment of God to come. Surely in David’s mind he could hear the footfall of God. The Lord had walked into David’s world and brought his sin to light. You will remember the story of the couple in the New Testament who sold a piece of property and told Peter and the church that were giving ALL the money from the sale to the church. Actually, they were keeping part of the money. Of course, it was theirs to keep. But, they had lied to God and God’s people. When Peter confronted the husband with the facts, he dropped dead on the spot. Then the wife arrived, not realizing that her husband had died. Peter confronted her as well. He said to her, as recorded in Acts 5:7-10, About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?" "Yes," she said, "that is the price." Peter said to her, "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also." At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Surely those footsteps must have sounded like the footfall of God! Yes, Be sure your sin will find you out.
There are many such stories in the Bible. Like the story of Achan, who stole items from Jericho and hid them in his tent. One day the footfall of God came to his family and he was found out. Then there is the story of the brothers of Joseph, who sold him into slavery. One day they realized they were standing before their brother and he had the power of life and death over them. They suddenly heard the footfall of God.
When I was a little boy, my mother would sometimes warn me that my behavior would be dealt with when my father got home. I would not think much about at the time. I would go on with my playing. But then, I would hear the car pull into the driveway. I would hear my dad’s steps coming through the house. I would hear mom whispering to him and then his steps would near my room. It felt like judgment day had arrived!
One day, my friend, if you delay your repentance and confession, you will hear the footfall of God. Vance Havner used to say, It is too late to drain the swamp when you are up to your eyelids in alligators. Now is the time to make things right.
B. The Footfall of Eternity
One day our Lord is coming back for His Church. Listen to how Jesus described it, He shall come like a thief in the night. The Lord will come suddenly. We are warned again and again in the Scriptures to be prepared, for you do not know what hour the Son of Man will come.
II. The Footsteps of God
One can turn the fear of the footfall of God into the joy of the footsteps of God. This simply refers to the fact that Jesus has promised to be with those who know Him and love Him and that He will walk with us on the pathway of life.
A. Footsteps of Correction
How sweet the footsteps of the shepherd must have sounded to the lost sheep as recorded in Luke 15. Even though the sheep had wandered away, at last rescue had come and all would be made right. In Psalm 139:24 we read, See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
B. Footsteps of Care
Psalm 61:2-3 reads, From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe.
C. Footsteps of Comfort
Look at Psalm 23. Here we see that He leads us, He guides us, He is with us even in the valley of the shadow of death. He comforts us in the hour of our passing. The songwriter penned the words to the hymn Footsteps Of Jesus
Sweetly, Lord, have we heard Thee calling,
"Come follow Me!"
And we see where Thy footprints falling,
Lead us to Thee.
Footprints of Jesus that
make the pathway glow;
We will follow the steps of Jesus
where'er they go.
Tho they lead o'er the cold, dark mountains,
Seeking His sheep,
Or along by Siloam's fountains,
Helping the weak.
If they lead through the temple holy,
Preaching the Word,
Or in homes of the poor and lowly,
Serving the Lord.
Then at last, when on high He sees us,
Our journey done,
We will rest where the steps of Jesus
End at His throne." (Mary Bridges Canedy Slade, 1871)
III. The Footrest ( or Footstool ) of God
A. The Place of Glorification
We are told to worship at His footstool. The footstool of God was the Temple, and more precisely the Ark of the Covenant. Also, however, the earth is spoken of as His footstool (Isaiah 66:1). In each case the phrase, Footstool of God, is used figuratively to help us understand the immensity of God’s person and the magnitude of His greatness.
Suppose you were big enough to sit on Stone Mountain and use the train station for your footstool. How big would you be? Just think of God, so immense that He sits in the heavens and uses the earth as His footstool. Look at how Nahum speaks of this in 1:3. He speaks of the clouds as the dust of God’s feet! In essence, we are called to bow before Him and glorify Him and to worship Him.
In Psalm 132 we read a passage which speaks directly to our duty to worship at His footstool. In verse 7 we are called to glorify Him and worship Him.
In Ephesians 1:22 we read that all things have been put under His feet. Indeed, we are to worship Him who is above all things!
Some people no longer have an old-fashioned altar area in their churches. People are not called to bow down in worship, thankfulness, repentance and faith. Yet, look at Psalm 95:6, which reads, "Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker."
So, we see clearly that the footstool of the Lord is a place of glorification. It is a place where we can honor Him, glorify Him and worship Him!
B. The Place of Education
Sitting at the feet of another person has longed been viewed as a place of education. Paul sat at Gamaliel’s feet and was taught the Jewish Law (Acts 22:3). Mary sat at Jesus feet as recorded in Luke 10:39. She was listened to what He said. She was learning. You are I are to educated at His feet. That is, we are to submit to His Word, seek His will, and follow His way.
We often hear people speak figuratively of sitting at the feet of some professor and teacher. There is no teacher like Jesus. We can sit at His feet and learn from Him and of Him. This requires being still. It requires spending time in His Word. It means to let His mind be in us (Philippians 2:5-10).
C. The Place of Convocation
In Revelation, chapter 4, we see the twenty and four elders bowing at His feet and casting their crowns before Him. This is a picture of the day when we are gathered before the Lord. What a day of convocation that will be. We will receive rewards in the form of crowns. Then, with a great act of love and devotion to Him who paid it all, we will cast our crowns at His feet. The songwriter has penned,
What a day that will be, when my Jesus I shall see,
When I look upon His face, the One who saved me by His grace. (James Hill, 1955)
Conclusion
J. Wilbur Chapman tells of the time when Queen Victoria had just ascended her throne and went, as was the custom of Royalty, to hear The Messiah rendered. She had been instructed as to her conduct by those who knew, and was told that she must not rise when the others stood at the singing of the Hallelujah Chorus. When that magnificent chorus was being sung and the singers were shouting Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth, she sat with great difficulty. It seemed as if she would rise in spite of the custom of kings and queens, but finally when they came to that part of the chorus where with a shout they proclaim Him King of kings suddenly the young queen rose and stood with bowed head, as if she would take her own crown from off her head and cast it at His feet. Let us make Him King and every day be loyal to Him. This is the secret of peace.
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THE MAN WHO WALKED WITH GOD
GENESIS 05:21-24
I. THE ORIGIN OF HIS WALK WITH GOD
A. A WARNING THAT CAUSED FEAR
B. A WORD THAT CREATED FAITH
II. THE OBSTACLES TO HIS WALK WITH GOD
A. SELFISH INDULGENCE
B. SCIENTIFIC INCREASE
C. SPIRITUAL INFIDELITY
III. THE OUTCOME OF HIS WALK WITH GOD
A. ENOCH WAS NOT CONFORMED TO THE WORLD
B. ENOCH WAS NOT CONTROLLED BY THE WORLD
C. ENOCH WAS NOT CONDEMNED WITH THE WORLD
Additional Idea: Funeral Sermon
1. He was because God Made Him
2. He was not because God Took Him
3. He is because God Has Him
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A BOAT THAT WILL FLOAT
GENESIS 06-08
I. THE PLAN THAT MADE SALVATION AVAILABILE
A. THE SOVEREIGN INSTRUCTION
God told Noah to make the boat. The design was God’s and the plan was His. Man didn’t figure out how to avoid the flood and death, God gave instructions and Noah only had to follow them. The way of salvation is not up to man. God gives the instructions and we either follow them and live or deny them and perish!
B. THE SAVING INVITATION
God invited Noah, his family and others into the Ark. Only those who accepted His invitation lived – everyone else died. It is the same today. Jesus is the Ark. You are invited to accept Him and escape the Great White Throne Judgment. The plan is God’s and the choice is yours. The eternity hangs in the balance!
II. THE POSITION THAT MADE SALVATION IMPOSSIBLE
There were at least four positions taken by the people that perished. People are still making these decisions in regard to God’s offer of safety.
A. PROCRASTINATION
B. PLEASURE
C. POPULARITY
D. PERSONAL RELIGION
III. THE PROMISE THAT MADE SALVATION RELIABLE
A. IT WAS A PROMISE BY GRACE - NOAH DID NOT MERIT SALVATION
God offered the escape through His grace and mercy. It was not merited by man.
B. IT WAS A PROMISE FROM GOD - NOAH DID NOT MANAGE SALVATION
God kept Noah safe in the Ark, along with the others who had entered. Noah did not fall out of the Ark. Spurgeon once said, “You might fall down in the Ark, but you can never fall out of the Ark.” Yes, it is true! It is God’s promise to those who accept His Son – the true Ark of safety for the soul.
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A CALL TO FATHERS
GENESIS 07:01-07, 16
I. THE GRACIOUS INVITATION
A. DIVINE INVITATION
B. DIVINE OBSERVATION
C. DIVINE EXPECTATION
D. DIVINE DECLARATION
II. THE GLORIOUS INSPIRATION
A. URGENT INSTRUCTION
B. ULTIMATE DESTRUCTION
C. UNUSUAL CONSTRUCTION
III. THE GRAND IDENTIFICATION
A. NOAH'S ENTRANCE
B. NOAH'S INFLUENCE
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BETTER THAT A SILVER LINING
GENESIS 09:12-18
Below you will find the outline for this sermon. Below the outline you can read a further development of the message with content that I used when I preached the sermon.
I. FIRST, WE SEE THE MERCY OF GOD
A. THE STORM OF OUR OWN DEEDS
B. THE STORM OF THE DEVIL
C. THE STORM OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE
II. SECOND, WE SEE THE MESSAGE OF GOD
A. THE MESSAGE IS UNIVERSAL
B. THE MESSAGE IS PERSONAL
III. THIRD, WE SEE THE MEMORY OF GOD
Introduction
Today we are going to look at the rainbow God made as a covenant sign. A young man emailed his sweetheart saying, “Without you, everything is dark and dreary, the clouds gather and the wind beats the rain, then comes the warm sun, you are like the rainbow."
The girl emailed back, “Is this a proposal or a weather report?”
God had given Noah a weather report and a proposal. The direction from God saved Noah and his family from a great and awful judgment. It was proposal that Noah accepted and the rainbow was a covenant sign of God's love and mercy following the great flood.
The poet has said, “Into every life, a little rain must fall.” Indeed, if by the rain we speak of sorrows and suffering, it may well seem at times that there is more than a little rain that falls in our lives. Occasionally, we feel that the bottom of the clouds has dropped it entire supply or rain on our heads.
A student at college asked his teacher, “Were you out there in ALL that rain professor?”
The professor, being rather precise in his use of words answered, “No, I was merely in the portion of the rain that descended in my immediate vicinity.”
But, at times, it may seem that the entire clouds of trouble have opened directly over our heads and that ALL the rain is falling upon us.
Someone, trying to make all our troubles seem a little easier to bear has said, “Every cloud has its silver lining.” That adage or maxim posits that all problems contain blessings. That is not actually true. Those who face their sorrows without a Savior will live to see that every dark cloud does not have a silver lining. The Scripture states the principle of blessings out of difficulties correctly in Romans 8:28, “For we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose.”
There is something much better than a silver lining to the clouds that hang heavily over our lives. When clouds are accompanied by a love for God and a position in His purpose and will, good things can come from the downpour of trouble. For the child of God, clouds are just as thick and just as frequent as they are for those who are outside the faith. The difference lies in the final results which the clouds produce.
Noah was not kept from the clouds, but he was given a way through them. The storm broke over his head as it did over all the others on the earth, but he had a place of refuge and was delivered out of the storm safely and happily.
I want to speak today about something better than the silver lining; I want to share with you concerning the rainbow of God seen in the midst of the clouds. After the great deluge which brought death and destruction on the earth, Noah and his family departed from the Ark to see an amazing sight. There in the heavens was a bow of brilliant colors which seemed to stand like a grand artistic arch from one side of the horizon to the other. God spoke to Noah with the words in our text. Look with me at Genesis 9:12-17,
“12 And God said: ‘This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: 13 I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. 14 It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; 15 and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.’ 17 And God said to Noah, ‘This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth.’ NKJV
God made a promise to Noah - a promise which was in essence a Covenant. Never again would God destroy the world by water. Never again would He cover the earth with water and leave no place for man to stand. I see in this promise several things I want to share with you today.
I. See the Mercy of God
Let us be perfectly clear on the issue that Noah did not deserve to survive the flood. He came through in the Ark of safety which God had instructed should be built. Without the Word of God, Noah would have never been able to find a way of escape for himself or his family. Without God's instructions, Noah had no way to know of the approaching judgment. Noah received God's Word and accepted God's mercy.
Let me suggest some storms which we cannot escape without God’s mercy.
A. The Storm of our own Deeds
If we are judged for our works, our deeds, we shall surely perish. The Bible clearly states, “There is none righteous, no not one!” None of us can claim a right to the blessings of God. We cannot stand sinless before Him. Mercy, mercy, mercy, is the watchword of those who would escape their deeds.
Jesus told the story of two men who went up to the Temple to pray. One bragged on his works, the other bowed down and would not so much as look upward toward heaven because of the awareness of his sin. The latter man cried out, “God be merciful to me a sinner.”
Jesus tells us that the confessing sinner went home justified because of his confession and repentance. The clouds of judgment were hanging over him ready to break forth with wrath and destruction, but he cried for mercy and found a rainbow of promise from God. There is mercy for those who turn to God for forgiveness and receive His grace by faith.
Listen to what Isaiah had to say in Isaiah 59:1-2, “Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.”
What separates us from the mercy of God? Our sins, our deeds, our ways! But God is merciful. The rainbow was a sign to Noah of the wonderful, beautiful mercy of God. The Lord did not have to make such a promise. Noah did not have the foresight to ask for such a promise. The promise came from a God who is full of love and mercy. Peter said in 1 Peter 1:3, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” Great mercy! Praise, indeed, praise!
Mercy is our need,
Mercy for each deed,
For Mercy let us plead,
Since in Mercy our Lord did bleed!
B. The Storm of the Devil
Storms and rain come into our lives because of the devil. Job came to know this all to well. Satan came viciously and brought great hardship on Job’s life. He lost his home, his children, his business, and his health. Even his wife said, “Job, curse God and die.”
But Job lived to see the rainbow of God’s mercy. He saw the Lord not only restore to him a family and great wealth, but he met with God in conversation. He was instructed in the true nature of God. He came to see that faith not only affects this life but the life to come. He was so moved in faith that he stated factually that he knew he would one day see God in the flesh, even after his body had been eaten by worms.
Paul talked about a thorn in the flesh which the devil had sent to buffet or attack him. He even prayed for the thorn to be removed, but God told Paul that he had grace for him that was sufficient. Paul saw God’s rainbow - it was a rainbow promising him that he would not go through the storm which the devil had placed over his head without grace necessary to make it through. Even further, the thorn proved to have a positive purpose in Paul's life.
C. The Storm of Divine Providence
Look at Joseph. Sold by his brethren, falsely accused of a terrible crime of sexual assault, imprisoned and bound over for death. What a storm! But it was all in the plan of God. Later he was raised to Prime Minister of Egypt. He had a chance to tell his brothers, “You meant what you did to me for harm, but God meant it for good.”
Joseph had seen the rainbow of God’s mercy after he escaped the storm of hardship placed upon him.
Daniel escaped the Lion’s Den.
Peter escaped the sentence of death in prison.
Others escaped in the divine providence of the will of God. These were being led in God's providence. Their circumstances were not the results of their personal sins, but they were part of God's will to bring about His purpose in their lives and in the lives of others.
Sometimes we cause the storms to break over our head through our own deeds. Sometimes they come because of the devil. Sometimes they are actually from the hand of God, Himself. But when we turn to Him in faith, a rainbow of mercy is placed before us. God promises never to leave His children or forsake them.
The Rainbow of Noah’s day was a specific Covenant, but it is a symbol of the awesome mercy of Almighty God toward those who love and trust Him.
II. See the Message of God
The rainbow is a reminder of the importance of God’s message of grace and love. Note how important this message is, so important that God blasted it loud and clear in the form of a rainbow.
We live in a day when some people say that religion should be a private matter. Let me ask you something, did God make the rainbow a private matter? When did He ever suggest that you should be silent about your faith? More importantly, when did He ever choose to whisper His love to the world?
He led the Hebrew Children by a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day. The symbol of His loving leadership was loud and clear for all to see.
When He sent His Son, He had angels singing and a star so bright that the Magi could follow it over hundreds of miles. So much for your silent Christian.
He told His disciples that they would be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the uttermost part of the earth. Don’t let this world intimidate you with the silent religion bit.
God did not put the rainbow in a closet but in the sky for all of us to see. Jesus said that no one lights a candle and then puts it under a bushel basket. Go tell it on the mountain! We must not be silent about God’s love and mercy.
A. The Message is Universal
The rainbow can be seen by all. It is symbolic of the universal offer of salvation available today to all who will believe. God’s message must be written plain and clear to the world, for this message is one from God to all. Listen to John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
B. The Message is Personal
Even though the message is universal, it must become personal. You must hear it individually and come to Christ personally. Your family religion will not suffice. You must have a personal faith in Jesus Christ. The passage states whosoever, but “a whosoever” is an individual person.
God knows you and God loves you. His Son died for YOU! Jesus called people by name. And, He knows your name today. Oh, wonder of wonders, that the God of the Universe cares about you and about me so deeply that He wants our NAMES in the Lamb’s Book of Life. You are not a number to God. God knows your name and cares about you. He calls you personally.
III. See the Memory of God
God does not forget His own. Note that He did not say that we would see the rainbow and remember, but that He would see the rainbow and remember. The rainbow had its purpose for Noah, and for us. But the remembrance of it was in the heart of God.
How symbolic this is of the promises of God. He will never forget His promises. No doubt you have had people make promises to you and then promptly forget them. Perhaps you have done the same thing. You made promises but you forgot them. God never forgets His promises to those who trust Him.
We see this in a beautiful way when we look at Revelation 4:1-3, “After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, ‘Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.’ At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne.”
We never see the end of the rainbow till we see Revelation 4:3. The rainbow is a circle, a circle of unending love. There is no pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, but there is a gold street running through the middle of a giant rainbow circle in glory.
Hallelujah! What a Savior we have. He has provided for us a way to escape. He loves us and He publishes it with great fanfare. He calls us to Him in love and mercy. When we come to Him, He saves us, He keeps us, He remembers us, He provides a place for us in heaven, and puts a rainbow of love around us in the Heavenly City. No wonder in Revelation 5 we see the saints singing, “Worthy is the Lamb, Worthy is the Lamb, Worthy is the Lamb!”
Conclusion
Someone has said that if you could convince a man there was no hope, he would curse the day he was born. Hope is an indispensable quality of life. Years ago the S-4 submarine was rammed by another ship and quickly sank. The entire crew was trapped in its prison house of death. Ships rushed to the scene of disaster off the coast of Massachusetts. We don’t know what took place down in the sunken submarine, but we can be sure that the men clung bravely to life as the oxygen slowly gave out. A diver placed his ear to the side of the vessel and listened. He heard a tapping noise. Someone, he realized, was tapping out a question in the dots and dashes of the Morse Code. The question came slowly: “Is... there... any... hope?” This seems to be the cry of humanity: “Is there any hope?” Hope, indeed, is the basis of all human existence in Christ!
While attending college, a man visited a psychiatric institution with a group of students to observe various types of mental illness. The experience proved to be very disturbing. There was a man there called, “No Hope Carter.” His was a tragic case. A victim of venereal disease, he was going through the final stages when the brain is affected. Before he began to lose his mind, this man was told by the doctors that there was no known cure for him. He begged for one ray of light in his darkness, but had been told that the disease would run its inevitable course and end in death. Gradually his brain deteriorated and he became more and more despondent. “When I saw him in his small, barred room about 2 weeks before he died, he was pacing up and down in mental agony. His eyes stared blankly, and his face was drawn and ashen. Over and over he muttered these two forlorn and fateful words: ‘No hope! No hope!’ He said nothing else.” (from Our Daily Bread)
A story is told of a man out west who had a fine spring that furnished him with sparkling cold water for his daily needs. Then one morning an earthquake shook the earth and ruined the spring. The owner was extremely upset with the loss of his spring, but the next day a big gushing oil well appeared to take its place. The loss of one thing brought him something greater. Many times God allows some loss to come to us that He might give us something better in its place.
I don’t know what you are going through, but I know that if you will trust God, you will GO THROUGH IT to the other side.
In Luke 9:28-35 we read, “About eight days after Jesus said this, He took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, ‘Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters - one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ (He did not know what he was saying.) While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice came from the cloud, saying, ‘This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.’”
The clouds hold no fear for the true child of God. The rainbow in the cloud is a symbol of our Lord. When we are in the clouds, He is with us. One day, He will lift us above the clouds to be with Him forever. Are you ready? You can be today!
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OOPS!
GENESIS 11
Below you will find the outline, and directly below that additional material I used when preparing to preach this sermon.
I. FIRST, LOOK AT THE COMMANDER IN THE HUMANISTIC SOCIETY
A. DEFIANT TOWARD THE MASTER
B. DICTATOR TOWARD MANKIND
II. SECOND, LOOK AT THE COURSE IN THE HUMANISTIC SOCIETY
A. TURNING FROM THE LIGHT
B. TURNING FROM THE LORD
III. THIRD, LOOK AT THE CONSEQUENCES IN THE HUMANISTIC SOCIETY
A. CONFUSION
B. CONDEMNATION
Introduction
Bob was very tired of his friend Bubba, who was always name-dropping. If you're such a big shot, why don't you go over to the phone, call the White House, and get the President on the line?
"Okay," said Bubba. He punched in a number and in a few seconds someone answered the phone. Bubba handed the phone to Bob. "Hello, this is the president," said the familiar voice on the other end.
Bob thought it was a trick. "Okay, that was impressive," said Bob. "But if you are really such a hotshot, why don't you call Buckingham Palace and let me talk with the queen?" Bubba went back to the phone and punched in a number and handed the receiver to Bob. "Hello," came a distinctive voice, "This is the Queen of England speaking."
Bob was very impressed, but still very suspicious. "All right, you happen to know the president and the queen. But if you're really a big deal, you'll get the pope on the phone."
"I'll do better than that," said Bubba. Bubba took Bob to the airport and they boarded a plane to the Vatican. There Bubba disappeared, leaving Bob to mill about with the crowd in St. Peter's Square. Suddenly the crowd become silent. Bob followed everyone's gaze to the balcony, where Bubba and the pope stood side by side. Before Bob could recover from his amazement, a man standing beside him poked him in the ribs. With a heavily accented voice the man asked, "Who's that up there on the balcony with Bubba?"
We all enjoy being significant and it hurts us if someone misuses our names or even misspells them. That is a normal human reaction. But, there is a danger when our significance is found outside of God. We are going to read tonight about a people who wanted to make a name for themselves. They were going to learn a hard lesson, when you try to do something without God, you are in for real trouble.
As we learned when I presented the Book, Panorama of the Bible, there are four great events in the first 11 chapters of Genesis. They are: Creation, Fall, Flood, and Tower of Babel. Tonight we are going to look at the Tower of Babel. In this story, we see a people who tried to build without God, they tried to reach heaven without God, they tried to make a name for themselves without God. I have titled the message, Oops! I gave it this title because it describes the reaction man will be forced to make again and again when he tries to go forward without God. The final reaction will come when the lost person arrives before God and realizes that he build his life on sinking sand. That is the ultimate Oops!
To properly look at this Scripture this evening, I want us to view it from the viewpoint of a society seeking to get along without God. Lets view it from the viewpoint of a society trying to solve problems without God. Certainly we have that today. And isn’t it true that the humanistic solutions lead to one Oops after another? Certainly it does!
I. First, Look at the Commander in the Humanistic Society
In Genesis 10:8, 9, we read of Nimrod who became the leader of the empire of Babylon. We need to see some things about him.
A. Defiant to the Master
His name means rebellion or defiance. He was in defiance against God.
B. Dictator of Mankind
He was a hunter. He did not hunt animals, he hunted men. He wanted to rule mankind. He is the first of the dictator types in history.
II. Second, Look at the Course in the Humanistic Society
Everyone spoke the same language. God told Noah and his family to populate the earth. In fact, they were told to spread out over the earth. However, the people described in our text did not want to be scattered and so they settled in Shinar, in the empire of Babylon.
A. Turning from the Light
They came from the east, with their backs to the rising sun. Likewise, they turned their backs to the light of God. Their action was symbolic of all mankind. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God, as we are told in Romans 3:23. All of us, at one time or another, have turned out backs to the light of God.
B. Turning from the Lord
"Let us" is their theme song! They joined together in rebellion against that which God had spoken. Where did they get this idea? They got it from Nimrod, the one who had founded the city and the area.
One of the great dangers in this world is our tendency to "go with the flow," or to accept culture as being acceptable. "Everyone is doing it," is the mantra of society. The question, in terms of behavior and morals, should be, "What does God say about this?"
As they turned from the Lord, they sought to build a city, a tower and a name for themselves. They began to build using bricks made of clay and slime. That does not sound very good does it? It wasn’t very good at all. Rebellious man tried to build a city out of dirt and filth, when God is described as building heaven we see that it is built of precious stones and gold. Which sounds the best to you?
When we try to do things without God, it always results in something far less than God had in mind for us if we would only obey Him.
We need to remember that God’s original intent was for mankind to live in tents. They were to live as strangers looking for a city whose builder and maker was God. But the people in Babel wanted to build a city on earth and to unite themselves in rebellion against God. They wanted something permanent. But, there is nothing permanent in this world. Only God provides that which is lasting and eternal.
Socialism, humanism and communism are related. In each case, there is a leaders or a group of leaders who think they have the answer to solve all of societies problems. They wish to take away individual freedom and impose a dictatorial system upon mankind. They create a governmental system that replaces God. That is exactly what Nimrod was doing.
The people wanted to build a tower that would be a temple tower. It appears to be a Ziggurat from ancient time. The top was to be an altar upon which sacrifices were to be made, probably of human sacrifices. Some believe that this is the beginning of false religious worship. Some even suggest that this was the beginning of astrology. The tower to heaven might well have been a false religion based on the idea that each constellation represented a god. So, the people worshipped the stars or the gods behind them. Look in Deuteronomy 4:19 and see the command of God, And when you look up to the sky and see the sun, the moon and the stars-- all the heavenly array-- do not be enticed into bowing down to them and worshiping things the LORD your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven.
III. Third, Look at the Consequences in the Humanistic Society
A. Confusion
Humanism leads to confusion. This is, of course, one of the devils schemes. If he can confuse society, he can lead them away from God. We live in a very confused society today. Let's look at an example concerning abortion. If a man attacks a woman and her baby is killed in her womb, the man can be tried for manslaughter or murder. If, however, she has an abortion, it is perfectly legal. In other words, if the mother wishes to call her baby a fetus, it is not human. On the other hand, if she wishes to call her unborn child a baby, it is indeed human. Does that make any sense at all? Certainly, it does not! But that is the result of humanistic thinking. That is the world we live in today as people turn away from the truth, from the light and from God!
B. Condemnation
God came down and confused the people. One day they could understand each other completely, the next day they could not understand a single word a neighbor spoke. They were forced to scattered because they could not understand each other’s language. Now pay close attention at this point. Language is the ability to share ideas. The communication of a message against God is done with language. A message for God is done with language. God scattered the people by distorting their language. Since that time, the devil has been seeking a way to unite all people in to one group. That is why you read in the Book of Revelation about one world government, one world religion and a one world economy. However, the true uniting of people was to be spiritual not humanistic. God provided this at Pentecost when the people of different languages could understand each other clearly. God was going to bring people together speaking in Biblical terms not humanistic terms. A battle has been going on since the days of Babel.
The people in Babel united in a language of guilt.
The people of Pentecost united in a language of grace.
The people in Babel united in a language of confusion.
The people of Pentecost united in a language that brought conversion.
The people in Babel united in a language of rebellion.
The people of Pentecost united in a language of rejoicing.
The people of Babel united in a language doomed to destruction.
The people of Pentecost united in a language destined for eternal victory!
Conclusion
Back in 1965 in the town of Arles, France, a man named Andre-Francois Raffray, 47, made a real estate deal with a 90-year-old widow, Jeanne Calment. The contract called for Mr. Raffray to pay Mrs. Calment $500 a month until her death, at which time her apartment would become his property. This sort of arrangement is common in France because it works to the advantage of elderly people living on fixed incomes as well as buyers in a country where housing is difficult to obtain.
It didn't work out so well for Mr. Raffray, however, because Mrs. Calment has become the world's oldest living person. Now over 120 years old, she outlived Mr. Rafferty. When he died at age 77 in 1995, he had already paid $184,000 for an apartment he never got to live in. Not only that, but his heirs are bound by the contract to continue paying Mrs. Calment until she dies. We never know what the future holds. [Leadership, Sum 1996. Page 65.]
For those of us who know the Lord, we know who holds the future. Men plan and plot, but God performs His will! Turn to the Lord and the Light of the World, Jesus! His Kingdom is forever. He offers salvation and freedom from the tyranny of sin. He promises a unified, utopian society under His control one day in the future. He is mankind's only hope!
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WAITING ON GOD
GENESIS 12:1FF
Waiting on God is important. Abraham made the mistake of getting ahead of God and we are still paying a price for that in our world today. The Arabs claim Ishmael as their father and the Jews know that Isaac was the Son of Promise. The half-brothers are still fighting and the entire world is caught in the middle. Getting ahead of God is costly; however, God is merciful and kind. In the case of Abraham, he gave Him a chance to get it right. Abraham obeyed and experienced success in the end.
I. THE SINS OF ABRAHAM
A. HIS IMPERFECT OBEDIENCE
B. HIS INCOMPLETE DEPENDENCE
C. HIS IMPATIENT PERFORMANCE
II. THE SUCCESS OF ABRAHAM
A. THE DIRECTING OF HIS FAITH - TOWARD GOD
B. THE DIRECTING OF HIS FAITH - WITH GOD
C. THE DEVOTION OF HIS FAITH - FOR GOD
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WHEN A FATHER LISTENS TO GOD
GENESIS 12:01
I. COMFORT CHALLENGED
A. BY WHAT HE WAS TO LEAVE – FORSAKE
B. BY WHAT HE WAS TO RECEIVE - FACE
II. VALUES CHANGED
A. HE LEARNED TO VALUE HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
B. HE LEARNED TO VALUE HIS FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD
C. HE LEARNED TO VALUE THE LEADERSHIP OF GOD
III. PROMISES CONVEYED
A. THROUGH HIS WORD
B. THROUGH HIS WORK
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A BACKSLIDING BELIEVER
GENESIS 12:09-20
I. FAMINE
A. THE TEST
1. THE PERSON OF THIS TEST - THE BEST OF PERSON
2. THE PLACE OF THIS TEST - THE BEST OF PLACES
B. THE TOUGH TEST
II. FEAR
A. FEAR EXITS OUTSIDE THE APPOINTED PLACE
B. FEAR EXITS OUTSIDE THE APPOINTED PURPOSE
III. FALSEHOOD
A. SELFISHNESS IN HIS LANGUAGE
(3RD PERSON IN 01-08 TURNS TO 1ST PERSON LATER IN CHAPTER)
B. SELFISHNESS IN HIS LIE
IV. FAILURE
A. FAILING IN HIS PURPOSE
B. FAILING IN HIS PROCLAMATION
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A SPIRITUAL SAINT
GENESIS 13:01-18
I. ALTITUDE
A. SEPARATION
B. DEDICATION
C. ADORATION
II. ATTITUDE
A. A TENDER ATTITUDE
B. A TRUSTING ATTITUDE
III. APTITUDE
A. LED
B. BLESSED
C. USED
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MOVING ON UP!
GENESIS 13:01-18
I. MOVING ON UP THROUGH WHAT HE PUT OFF
II. MOVING ON UP THROUGH WHAT HE PUT ON
III. MOVING ON UP THROUGH WHAT HE PUT UP
A. AN ALTAR IS FOR BOWING
B. AN ALTAR IS FOR BURNING
C. AN ALTAR IS FOR BLESSING
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IS ANYTHING TOO HARD FOR THE LORD?
GENESIS 18:13-14; ROMANS 04:16-25; JEREMIAH 32:26-27
This outline is not original, as any preacher of experience knows. In fact, the first time I heard it was from Billy Graham. He said it was sent to him by a preacher friend and he thought it ought to share it so others could use it. It is interesting that preachers have been sharing sermons and outlines for generations, but there are those in this generation who believe that any message borrowed or adapted from another is a disgrace. Dr. Graham shared that many of his sermons through the years were sent to him by preacher friends.
I. THERE IS NO PROMISE TOO HARD FOR GOD TO KEEP
II. THERE IS NO PRAYER TOO HARD FOR GOD TO ANSWER
III. THERE IS NO PROBLEM TOO HARD FOR GOD TO SOLVE
IV. THERE IS NO PERSON TOO HARD FOR GOD TO SAVE
V. THERE IS NO PLACE TOO HARD FOR GOD TO BLESS
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GOD'S SCHOLARSHIP PLAN
GENESIS 19
A scholarship involves someone else paying for your education. Most of the time this is a payment of funds to an institution of higher learned for the benefit of a student. In God’s Word we see incidents that can provide us with an education in living. Some people in scripture paid a price through their mistakes and we can profit from them. It is God’s scholarship plan. Actually, a preacher can develop an entire series of messages on God’s Scholarship Plan. Simply use stories of those who have made mistakes and show how we can profit at someone else’s expense!
I. LOOK AT THE MARRIAGE
II. LOOK AT THE MINISTERS
III. LOOK AT THE MESSAGE
IV. LOOK AT THE MEDIATOR
V. LOOK AT THE MISTAKE
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SOME THINGS TIME CANNOT CHANGE
GENESIS 21:01FF
I. FAITHFULNESS OF GOD
II. EXPECTATION FROM GOD
III. JOY IN GOD
IV. OPPORTUNITIES FOR GOD
V. REDEMPTION BY GOD
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JEHOVAH-JIREH: THE LORD WILL PROVIDE
GENESIS 22
I. HE PROVIDES THE RIGHT THING
A. A RAM, A SUBSTITUTE
B. ONLY HE COULD PROVIDE THE NEEDED
II. HE PROVIDES AT THE RIGHT PLACE!
A. ON THE MOUNT OF THE LORD
B. THAT MOUNT OF SACRIFICE BECAME A MOUNT OF COMMUNION FOR ABRAHAM
III. HE PROVIDES AT THE RIGHT TIME!
A. THE VOICE WAS HEARD AND THE SUBSTITUTE SEEN
B. FAITH WILL BE TRIED AND MAY BE TESTED TO THE UTMOST LIMIT
C. WHEN WE GET TO “LORD SAVE ME, I PERISH”
D. ABRAHAM'S FAITHFULNESS LED TO THANKFULNESS
IV. THE LORD PROVIDES FOR THE RIGHT PEOPLE
A. CONFIDENT PEOPLE
B. EXPECTANT PEOPLE
C. PERSISTENT PEOPLE
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THE MASTERY OF STEWARDSHIP
GENESIS 22:01-14
I. TEST
A. LOVE
B. LORDSHIP
II. TRUST
A. COMPLIANCE
B. CONFIDENCE
III. TRIUMPH
A. UPWARDLY TRIUMPHANT
B. OUTWARDLY TRIUMPHANT
C. ONWARDLY TRIUMPHANT
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JUST ANOTHER GRAVE
GENESIS 23:19FF
I. DENIAL OF DEATH
A. A MODERN TREND
B. A MALICIOUS CAUSE
II. THE DOMINION OF DEATH
A. THE FACT OF IT - "APPOINTMENT"
B. THE FAIRNESS OF IT - "ALL"
C. THE FINALITY OF IT - "ONCE"
III. THE DESTINY OF DEATH
A. DEATH OF A SINNER
B. DEATH OF A SAINT
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MEETING GOD'S CONDITIONS
GENESIS 25:24-34
I. THE SPIRITUAL ABOVE THE PHYSICAL - INSIGHT
A. INDWELLING PRINCIPLE (HE DID NOT SEEK HIM)
B. INSIGHT PRINCIPLE (HE TOOK HIS PASSIONS FOR GRANTED)
II. THE DIVINE ABOVE THE SECULAR - IMPULSE
A. HE TOOK HIS PRIVILEGES FOR GRANTED
B. HE TOOK HIS PASSIONS FOR GRANTED
III. THE FUTURE ABOVE THE PRESENT - INVESTMENT
A. HE LIVED FOR THE HERE AND NOW
B. HE LIVED TO REGRET HIS LOSS
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BACK TO BETHEL
GENESIS 35
I. THE COMMAND TO JACOB
II. THE COMPLIANCE FROM JACOB
A. THE CHOICE HE MADE
B. THE CLEANSING HE EXPERIENCED
III. THE CARE OF JACOB
IV. THE COMMUNICATION WITH JACOB
A. THE GLORY OF GOD'S PERSON
B. THE GRACE UPON GOD'S PEOPLE
C. THE GREATNESS IN GOD'S PROVISION
V. THE CONSECRATION OF JACOB
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NO WATER IN IT
GENESIS 37:24
This message is one I really enjoyed preaching. I do not have the full sermon here, but the preachers who studies this story will have no problem seeing where each point leads. The point of the message is that Joseph’s brothers meant to harm him, but God had other plans. When they threw him in the cistern, there was no water in it. We may be in a deep hole from time to time as believers, but God makes sure we do not drown! He has plans for us. He can even use our enemies to exalt us. Our duty is to remain true to Him in all circumstances.
I. THE MAN IN THE PIT
A. A RESPONSIBLE MAN
He had a coat of many colors which represented his faithfulness and earned authority in the family.
B. A RECEPTIVE MAN
God could speak to Joseph. He listened to God and was receptive. He had dreams from God because he was open to God.
C. A RESPONSIVE MAN
He did what his father asked of him. Early in life he showed a willingness to be respectful of authority. Those who disrespect authority are unlikely to ever have it given to them.
II. THE MYSTERY OF THE PIT
A. SELF-INFLICTED
Joseph did have a pride problem. He bragged about his dreams and that infuriated his parents and brothers. He cause some of his own problems. Don’t we all?
B. SINS OF OTHERS
Part of his problem resulted as the sin of his brothers. Many of our problems come because others are being disobedient to God. Since God has given mankind free will, man makes decisions that inflict pain and hardship on others. Haven’t we all experienced that? Perhaps some of us have caused pain to others due to our own rebellion and disobedience to God.
C. SENT BY THE LORD
But, some problems come to us because God sends them to us. He does so because that is the only path to get us where we need to be for His glory and out good.
III. THE MISERY OF THE PIT
A. THE ABRUPTNESS OF IT
The pits of life come quickly. The only way to be prepared is to always be trusting and loving God.
B. THE ACCUMULATION OF IT
Things often go from bad to worse. From the pit to the caravan – sometimes, when it rains, it pours!
C. THE ALONENESS OF IT
We can feel all alone at times like these. It seems that the whole world is against us. Never believe that! God is for you. He has plans for you. He has plans to bless you no matter what others are doing to you.
IV. THE MESSAGE OF THE PIT
A. GOD IS WATCHING OVER YOU
God is watching over you. You are not alone.
B. GOD IS WORKING FOR YOU
God is in the midst of the affairs of your life, even when it seems that He has forgotten you. Never look at your position – always look at God’s promises.
C. GOD IS WALKING WITH YOU
God is with you. Even when you can’t sense His presence, He is at work for you and He is with you. He has said again and again, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
We all know the end of this story, but don’t forget how long was the journey before Joseph got to the place of victory. If he had given up on God, he might never have arrived at the place of success. Are you in a pit right now? There is no water in it! You will not drown there. Keep looking up. Remember, even though Joseph was in a deep hole, he could still look up and fix his sights on God – and so can you!
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THE CHALLENGE AWAY FROM HOME
GENESIS 37-50
This sermon is great for a time when students are graduating and leaving home. It reveals the life of Joseph and how he remained faithful to the Lord even when it seemed like God had forgotten him. He was true to the Lord away from home just as much as he was when he was at home.
Below is the outline and following that is more detail on this sermon:
I. YOU NEED CONVICTION OF A DIVINE PURPOSE
A. KNOW THAT YOU ARE SAVED
B. SENSE THAT YOU ARE SPECIAL
II. YOU NEED COMMITMENT TO A DETERMINED PURITY
A. MATERIALLY PURE
B. MORALLY PURE
III. YOU NEED CONSECRATION FOR A DEDICATED PERSISTENCE
A. IN THE FACE OF REJECTION
B. IN THE FACE OF TEMPTATION
C. IN THE FACE OF FRUSTRATION
D. IN THE FACE OF ISOLATION
IV. YOU NEED COMPASSION WITH A DEMONSTRATED PRACTICE
A. A BLESSING TO HIS FAMILY
B. A BLESSING TO HIS NATION
C. A BLESSING TO HIS ENEMIES
D. A BLESSING TO HIS GOD
In Genesis, chapters 37 through 50 we see the man Joseph. In doing so, we observe a man who was far away from his family, and how he acted in an honorable and godly way. To you who are graduates today, this young man is a perfect example of how a young man or woman can act in a godly way when away from home.
Genesis 37:5-10 Joseph tells his brothers about his dreams.
Genesis 37:23-28 Joseph thrown into a pit and sold to a caravan.
Genesis 37:36 Joseph sold as a slave to Potipher, captain of guard.
Genesis 39:6-20 Joseph tempted and falsely accused of attack.
Genesis 39:21-23 Joseph put in charge of prisoners.
Genesis 41:15 Joseph interprets dream for Pharaoh.
Seven fat and lean cows/corn/grain
Genesis 50:17-21 Joseph forgives his brothers and saves Israel!
You have arrived at a milestone in your lives. You are graduates. You have stayed the course over many years and now reap the reward for you labor. You are not like the little girl I heard about recently. She came home from school all excited and exclaimed, "Mommy, Mommy, I made 100 today at school!"
"Oh, I'm so proud of you, tell me about it."
"Well, I made 50 in spelling, 30 in history, and 20 in English!"
You did not arrive at this hour on your own. You owe a great debt to many others. First, you owe a debt to your parents. I heard about a college graduate who was having photos made with his family following his graduation. Mom was trying to take a picture of their son in a cap and gown, posed with his father. "Let's try to make this look natural," she said. "Junior, put your arm around your dad's shoulder." The father answered, "If you want it to look natural, why not have him put his hand in my pocket?" Your parents or guardians have helped you arrive at this hour with many hours of hard work, great expenditure of funds, and no doubt a lot of sincere prayers! One thing you will learn as time passes is just how smart your parents really have been through the years. "No wonder Monette gets straight A's in French," lamented one teen to another. "Her parents were born in Paris and speak French at home."
"In that case I ought to get A's in geometry," complained the other. "My parents are square and talk in circles."
Parents that seem square look pretty cool when you get out into the world and have to face more and more responsibility.
You owe much to your teachers who have invested careers in your education. Your teachers have worked for wages far below that of people with comparable education and abilities because they were committed to helping you learn.
Most of all, you owe a debt to God. He has given you a mind and years of life. Without His blessing, you would not be here today. Be sure you thank your parents, your teachers, and your Lord for helping you to arrive at this very special hour in life.
All of us here commend you on your accomplishment. But will happen next? Will you go on to live a life worthy of the investment that has been made in you? And what do you need to be a success as you leave home? There are four areas of awareness and action which made Joseph a great success, even though he found himself far from home and in difficult circumstances.
I. You Need Conviction of a Divine Purpose
There is no issue more important in life than the sense of knowing that God has a purpose for your living. The life of every Christian has been designed by the heavenly Father to fulfill a specific purpose. C. H. Spurgeon said, "There is not a spider hanging on the king's wall but has its errand; there is not a nettle that grows in the corner of the churchyard but has its purpose....And I will never have it that God created any man, especially any Christian man, to be a blank, and to be a nothing. He made you for an end. Find out what that end is; find out your niche and fill it." How important that we view the events of our life from the divine perspective! God has a plan for our lives. (Inforsearch)
It sounds like the ultimate exercise in futility, but people do it anyway. Writing letters to deceased or fictional characters, that is. At Graceland in Memphis, for example, as many as one-hundred Valentine cards addressed to Elvis Presley arrive each February. And in London, the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes receives more than 40 pieces of mail every week. These aren't like the letters little children send to Santa Claus; they are from adults who use valuable, fleeting time to send "dead letters" into oblivion. Are there any "dead letter" activities we get involved in as Christians? Do we do things with no possible expectation of a return on the investment of our time? Of course, we don't have to be productive every minute. We need to take a break. Even our Lord encouraged His disciples to rest. But what we have to watch out for are purposeless activities that keep us from doing what we should be doing. Let's stop our dead‑letter activities so we can become better living epistles. (Inforsearch)
A. Know that you are Saved
B. Sense that you are Special
Former Senator Dwight W. Morrow searched in vain to find his railroad ticket as he was on a train leaving New York City. "I must find that ticket," he muttered. The conductor, who stood waiting beside him, said, "Don't worry about it Mr. Morrow. We know you had a ticket. Just mail it to the railroad when you find it."
"That's not what's troubling me," replied Morrow. "I need to find it to know where I'm going."
We too may forget where we are headed if we do not regularly consider the principles in God's Word. (Infosearch)
II. You Need Commitment to a Determined Purity
A. Materially Pure
B. Morally Pure
A father was examining his son's report card. "One thing is definitely in your favor," he announced. "With this report card, you couldn't possibly be cheating."
III. You Need Consecration for a Dedicated Persistence
A. In the Face of Rejection
Joseph face rejection from his own brothers but he didn’t let it ruin his heart of mind.
B. In the Face of Temptation
Joseph faced powerful temptation, but his devotion to God and to his promises kept him from caving it to lust.
C. In the Face of Frustration
A poor student was explaining his grades to his irate father. "You just can't beat the system, Dad. Last semester I decided to take basket‑ weaving. It's a snap course, and I figured I would sail through. Know what happened? Two Navajos enrolled, raised the class average, and I flunked."
Joseph had to be terribly frustrated. He was thrown in prison for something he didn’t do, but even then he did not let that corrupt his heart or destroy his attitude.
D. In the Face of Isolation
In prison, he was left in a long period of isolation. One man promised to help Joseph, but after that man was released, he forgot all about his promise. Still, Joseph was faithful to God and his highest moral code of ethics.
IV. You Need Compassion with a Demonstrated Practice
A. A Blessing to His Family
Joseph ended up saving his own family, including the brothers who sold him into slavery
B. A Blessing to His Nation
He was a blessing to the Hebrew nation. His redemptive attitude was so important to the history of God’s people.
C. A Blessing to His Enemies
He even helped the Egyptians. Without his amazing walk with God, the famine that followed was certain to be a disaster to the Egyptian people.
D. A Blessing to His God
Most importantly, he was a blessing to God. He honored the Lord in all things. Far away from home, when no one was watching, Joseph was an honorable man. Can you do that? Once you leave home for further education or a career, can you be an honorable person? Sure you can! But, will you?
Conclusion
One morning in 1888 Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, opened the newspaper only to find an article about his own death. A careless reporter had confused Alfred with his brother who had indeed died. The shock of reading his own obituary was compounded by the realization of how the world saw him. To the general public he was simply the "Dynamite King," a successful industrialist who had amassed a fortune from explosives. There was no mention of his ideal of peace for mankind or his efforts to break down barriers. He would be remembered only for being a"merchant of death." Alfred determined right then that he wanted to do something to make sure the world would recognize the values to which he had devoted his life. He decided that this could be accomplished by the way he disposed of his vast wealth in his last will and testament. That's why today we have a prestigious award given to someone who has contributed significantly to the cause of world peace‑‑the Nobel Peace Prize. As Christians, we ought to be concerned about what the world will remember us for. [From Pulpit Helps, Mar 1992. Page 6.]
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SILVER IN THE SACK
GENESIS 42:25-28
I. SLEEPING CONSCIENCE
II. STIRRED CONSCIENCE
III. SHOCKED CONSCIENCE
IV. SANCTIFIED CONSCIENCE
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THE GREAT THEME OF THE BIBLE
GENESIS 45:01-03
I. WE SEE THE TEARS FOR THE SINNERS
II. WE SEE THE TERROR OF THE SINNERS
III. WE SEE THE TENDERNESS TOWARD SINNERS
IV. WE SEE THE TESTIMONY FOR THE SINNER
V. WE SEE THE TASK FOR THE SINNERS
VI. WE SEE THE TOGETHERNESS WITH THE SINNERS
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Do Not Be Afraid
Genesis 46:1-3
I. THE OPPRESSION OF FEAR
A. FEAR HARMS YOUR BODY
B. FEAR HAMPERS YOUR GROWTH
C. FEAR HALTS YOUR TESTIMONY
II. THE ORIGINATION OF FEAR
A. SIN IN THE PLACE OF FAITHFULNESS
B. SIGHT IN THE PLACE OF FAITH
III. THE OVERCOMING OF FEAR
A. GET IN TOUCH WITH THE ONE ABOVE IT ALL
B. GET IN TOUCH WITH THE ONE BEFORE IT ALL
C. GET IN TOUCH WITH THE ONE WHO WILL GO THROUGH IT ALL
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IT WILL DO WHEN YOU ARE DYING
Genesis 48
Below you will find the outline for this message, and then below that you can read additional content that I used when preaching this message.
I. WE SEE THE BELIEVER’S DEATH
A. THE REALITY OF DEATH
B. THE RESISTANCE TO DEATH
II. WE SEE THE BELIEVER’S DEPENDENTS
A. TEARS FOR THE DYING
B. TESTIMONY FROM THE DYING
1. THE TESTIMONY OF A FORGIVING LORD
2. THE TESTIMONY OF A FRUITFUL LIFE
3 THE TESTIMONY OF A FAMILY LEGACY
III. WE SEE THE BELIEVER’S DESTINY
A. THE PERSON THAT SHALL MEET HIM
B. THE PEACE THAT SHALL GREET HIM
Introduction
When I was young, there was a song we that I do not hear us singing any longer. Perhaps we do not sing it because it harkens to something old and this is the generation always looking for something new. The song was, "Give Me That Old Time Religion." It was good for our fathers, it was good for out mothers, it is good enough for me. One verse went like this, "It will do when your dying, it will do when your dying, it will do when your dying, its good enough for me."
Today we are going to look at the subject of death. No one has a more interesting view of death than children. One child said, "When you die, Jesus takes care of you the way your mother does when you are alive, only He doesn’t yell at you as much." Another child said, "If you are good, when you die, you good to a nice place to live; but, if you are bad, you go to a place really hot - like living in Florida." Yet another child said, "Doctor’s try really hard to keep you from dying – cause they want you to stay alive and pay your bills." One little boy and his friend were staring at a mannequin in a store when someone overheard one boy say to the other, "Don’t talk to him, I think he’s dead!"
What we really need today, however, are some facts about death that can change our lives and our eternity. I want us to think about having a faith that will do when we are dying. Jacob had such a faith. Look at Genesis 49 and you will see a faith that was sufficient when Jacob was dying.
I. We See the Believer’s Death
Jacob had placed his faith in God many years before the day we are reading about in our text. He had been quite a sinner in his day, but he had turned from sin and trust the Lord. Now, as he faces death, he does so as a believer in His God and Redeemer.
A. The Reality of Death
Jacob did not try to deny the reality of death. Many efforts are made today to deny that death exists. Yet, death cannot be denied. It was the sister of Napoleon Bonaparte who made famous the statement, Two things are certain in life, death and taxes. She was half right. You may somehow escape taxes, but not death (not unless the rapture occurs before you die). Jacob knew that death was coming and he was prepared for it.
Death comes to all. The brain surgeon and prostitute will die. The murderer and great artist will die. The rich Wall Street Baron and the homeless person will die. The great question is not how smart you are, how rich you are, what you have, how important you are, how many people know you – the great question is, Are you ready to die? Death is a reality and like the children’s game, it sometimes seems to call out, Coming, Ready of Not!
B. The Resistance to Death
There is a great resistance to thinking about or talking about death. Why? I believe it is natural to some extent. But, then, it is also prominent because we do not understand death. We think of death almost always in negative terms. Actually, the Lord sometimes spoke of death in positive terms. For example, on one occasion the Bible states, Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints (Psalm 116:15). It is interesting that God sees the death of a believer as precious. I believe there are reasons for that, and I will share them in a minute. In another place the Bible states, Then I heard a voice from heaven say, "Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them." (Revelation 14:13). Interestingly, the Lord speaks of death for a Christian as something positive. Does that mean it is wrong for us to resist death? Certainly not! We are to live and thrive as long as we can – and to be a witness for our Lord in this world. But, when death comes, we must get God view of it!
But much resistance to death comes because people are not ready to die. When Paul came to the time of death he said, I am ready. Those without Christ do not know what to do when death comes, they are not ready! Reuters News Agency just reported a story from Munich, Germany to prove this point. An elderly woman lived at home with her husband lying dead in bed for four months before he was found by police who had been alerted by a worried relative. Munich police said Thursday the 76-year-old man had apparently died of natural causes in December. His sister had finally turned to the police after his wife had repeatedly told her by telephone he did not want to see visitors.
II. We See the Believer’s Dependents
Anytime a believer dies, there are those who love him or her who are left behind. Note two things about the believer’s dependents.
A. Tears for the Dying
Look at Genesis 50:1, "Joseph threw himself upon his father and wept over him and kissed him." Sorrow is a part of death. It is natural. Some Christians wonder if something is wrong with them when they weep over the grave of a departed loved one. No! Ten thousand times no! Jesus wept at the tomb of Lazarus. Why is death so sad, even for Christians?
Death is the end of Physical union.
Death is the end of Planning and Possibilities on earth.
Death is the end of an earthly passage which may have spanned many years and many memories.
But, it is good to remember that death is not the end!
When David’s son was sick, David wept and prayed for him. When his son died, David washed his face and ceased crying. Some were surprised at his attitude. David said, "He cannot come to me, but I can go to him." Friend, we cannot bring a loved one back, but if that love one is saved and we are saved, then we can and will one day go to be with that person!
B. Testimony from the Dying
1. The Testimony of a Forgiving Lord
How wonderful when one dies that he or she can leave behind the testimony of having experienced the forgiveness of God. When a Christian dies, there is a testimony of purity provided through the death of Jesus on the Cross.
2. The Testimony of a Fruitful Life
The true Christian, the true believer, leaves behind a testimony of living for the Lord. What a marvelous thing when a believer not only gives testimony of forgiveness, but leaves a legacy of service for and to the Lord.
3. The Testimony of a Family Legacy
Furthermore, there is another testimony when the faith of the family continues in the lives of those left behind. Though each person must make personal decision for salvation through Christ, it is a joy to see the family of the deceased standing by a testimony for Christ! It leaves a legacy when your family stands by your grave with real faith in the Lord.
III. We See the Believer’s Destiny
A. The Person that Shall Meet Him
Paul said, "To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord." David wrote, "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!" A Christian does not go into the valley of death alone. The Lord meets us there. He is the Author and Finisher of our faith. He saved us and started us on our Christian journey. He will be there to meet us when the journey is over!
A little boy was traveling by train on a long journey. Someone asked the boy if he were not afraid? The little lad smiled and said, "No, I am not afraid, for my father promised to meet me when the train stops." Yes! Our Father will meet us when the train of life stops on this earth!
B. The Peace that Shall Greet Him
I told you that I would tell you why God sees the believer’s death as a blessing. It is because God desires to lift our burden from us. He desires to grant us all the blessings of our redemption in Christ. He desires to open our eyes to the celestial city and let us breath the celestial air or heaven. He has a place of peace for us.
There is no reason for a person in this room to die unsaved. Jesus has died for you. People are here today who, just like you, came to a point to see their need of a Savior and came to the only One who can save – Jesus! Yes, people can sit in churches just like this one and still die and go to hell. A man in the Old Testament died like that. His name was Jehoram. He departed this world without salvation. His father was the godly king Jehoshaphat. His preaher was Elijah. Yet, he died lost. David’s son Absalom died lost though his father was a man after God’s own heart. You can’t go to heaven because of your parents, or because of your church. You must have the Lord. Jacob came to a day when he repented and accepted the grace of God. Have you done that?
Time is running out. Why come to Christ now? Believe me, He will do when your dying! In fact, only He will do when your dying. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow penned:
"Art is long and time is fleeting,
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
Funeral durges to the grave."
Even our hearts are stout and brave, they remind us of drums beating a march to the grave. Longfellow reminded us in his poem that "time is fleeting." A missionary showed a watch to a native who had never seen one. He held it up and let the native hear it tick. The native said, "It seems to say, ‘Quick, Quick, Quick!" Indeed, that is what it is saying. Come to Jesus, Quick, Quick, Quick! For time is running out!
We are all dying - it is just a matter of time. There is One who will do when you are dying - that one is the Savior - and He is the only One who can provide what you need in this life and the life beyond the grave.
