Walking in Fear
Short and Pointed Sermon #11925
Walking in Fear
Job 28:28
28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom;
and to depart from evil is understanding.
Fear can be defined in 2 totally different ways. One definition is a feeling of horror, anguish. Being scared or deeply troubled. It can be as small as a mere reluctance that keeps you from doing or going or being. Or it can be as great as a consuming fire. A fear that destroys you and everything around you. A fear that freezes you into inaction or drives you into hiding physically and or psychologically.
Fear can also be defined as total reverence. Being in awe of a greater power. However, in this definition it cannot be a lesser fear because only a little reverence or awe for a greater power is to belittle or bring that power down to you. Being in total fear or reverence can only be to look up to that power and respect that power in all ways.
Now this brings us to envision who these 2 completely different definitions represent.
Well as Christians we know from the Bible that God is to be reverenced or feared and He is not the author of fear.
Satan is the author of what scares men to do everything but run to God. The fear that Satan promotes makes men greedy and selfish and arrogant. Leads them to be power hungry liars who fear being anything other than what their minds tell them they need to be to survive and be better than and be richer and more successful. Satan’s fear also works to make men weak and cowardly. Holding them down and chained to lives that will never glorify God. It is fear that keeps men bowing to Satan. Fear from Satan is a lie intended to keep men from the holiness and righteousness of God. It comes in all degrees to do its work. A little fear is as damaging as overwhelming fear because it’s purpose and eventual outcome are the same. It keeps people from God or keeps them from serving God. Everything Satan does is to belittle God.
However---
The fear of the Lord is being so awe struck one can only think of how great God really is. It is living a life of holiness in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. It is desiring all of Gods children to grow and prosper and be filled with the presence of God by His Spirit in them. It is a fear that protects and lifts one above the lies of Satan.
Psalms 27:1
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
The fear of the Lord is knowing the awesome power of God. It is knowing what God has done. It is knowing God is the creator of all things. It is knowing when His hand is for you it is against all who are against you. When God is loved and honored and revered and served by someone it becomes clear to them the awesome infinite power of His love is far greater than anything that can come against them.
Think about it, Folks! John 3:16 For God so loved the world---
God loves everything He has created! Sometimes we get lost in the whole creation thing in Genesis. We look at creation as something that happened eons ago. But we are just as much Gods creation here and now as the first fish and the first bird and the first man and woman. How?
Because God created all living things to reproduce their own kind.
We are still Gods creation in continuum.
When we stop to think about how great God is to have created all living things to recreate themselves it adds an even greater understanding of the power of God. A power that is unsurpassed by anything He has created including the angels. Yes, including Satan. God gave Satan pride and arrogance and self-righteousness for a reason. Satan is no surprise to God! He created him for a purpose and that purpose is being fulfilled in men today.
To fear God is to know how great He is and how great His love is for you. It is to live in awe and respect of Him. It is to know His love for you is as great as His hatred for sin.
So, for a Christian the fear of the Lord is not being afraid of Him, it is fearing sinning against Him. It is viewing sin with the same distain as He does and it is always looking, working and striving to live without sin in your life for God. That means living above this world because this world is dying to serve Satan.
Satan instills fear in men so they believe they must do everything and have everything before they die. It’s like living on credit. Get everything now, pay for it later. But sinners don’t care about later because they live for the present. They fear dying without having everything they ever wanted. They fear not being noticed and praised and glorified by men. They fear being caught in their sinful deeds and behaviors, yet they fear not having what they want now. 1 John 2:16
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
The fear of the Lord is the save now spend forever plan. It may seem to sinners that true Christians go without the joys of life but that is false. Living for God in fear of sinning against His Word brings all the joy and pleasures that this world cannot see or know.
Philippians 3:7-8
7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
The life of joy in Christ Jesus can hardly be described. The blessings that are poured out on true believers and disciples of Jesus are beyond counting because Romans 8:28
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Your purpose is to Glorify God and the only way that happens is when you walk in fear. When you reverence His presence for you, in you and through you. Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart;
and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him,
and he shall direct thy paths.
Trusting God is placing yourself in His hands. Then you will be leaving your worldly fears behind. Praising God for the love He has shown in and through His Son Jesus and the will He has for you to live in His love.
It is His paths that we can walk in with confidence. It is His ways that remove the fears that consume the lost and sinfully defiant. It is His light that shines before us so we do not stumble and can see where He wants us to go and what He wants us to do and be all in His strength and provision for His Glory. And that never ends for the Christian who fears God, who bows before Him in total reverence and awe.
Without the joy of the presence of Christ Jesus in your heart there is only one thing you will ever know. The fear that Satan rules you with!
Nothing Satan has to offer will ever come close to the love of God for you through His Son Jesus. Stop being afraid and rise in reverence!
On your knees is where God will begin to lift you. Ask Jesus to be your Lord and savior today!
Pastor Steven Freede
Down Home Preaching Ministry
Short and Pointed/ Walking in Fear
Sermon #11925
The Obedience of Christ
for us, in us and through us
2 Corinthians 10:3-6
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
What does it mean to be filled with the presence of God? What does it mean to live for Christ by the knowledge of the presence of the Holy Spirit in you? What is it that shields us and empowers us against the wiles of the Devil in this dead and dying world he rules? These are a few of the questions I will attempt to answer as we take a walk through this portion of scripture. The best way that I know is to take each line, each phrase, each word even and open it up to a greater understanding. Chew on the truth as it was intended for all of us throughout time. God does not change nor has the power of His presence in His Living Word in us. James 1:17
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Amen
Let’s begin.
3 For though we walk in the flesh, Here we are in the midst of this world being continually bombarded with every sinful innuendo, every view of inappropriate behavior, and every form of what God has declared to be an abomination being turned into normal and mandatorily accepted behavior. We walk in the filth of the sin Adam and Eve released with their disobedience Eons ago.
Romans 1:25
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
Romans 1:32
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
It all began with the first man and woman. God set them in a perfect world with one command and the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life introduced in thought to them by Satan began to grow quickly. So quickly they believed Satan over God and ate of the forbidden fruit damning all mankind to be filled with sin from birth. We are born in sin. We will never be anything but sinners. No matter how hard we try in our own strength and intelligence and desire we will always be nothing but filthy rags in these physical bodies. The temptations are continuous, and we do not have the will to turn away from every one no matter how hard we try.
Romans 7:24-25, 8:1-2
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Praise the Lord!
For though we walk in the flesh, there is life in this world because of our Lord and Savior. Through Him we are Given and filled with the Spirit of Life. The knowledge of His ruling power over the darkness filling this world. The unbelievers, haters of everything God is and stands for who serve everything and anything other than God. The followers of Satan’s lies and deceptions.
Psalms 23:4
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;-----
Paul is saying that even though we are so inundated with life threatening influences, demands and even laws which cry out to us and force us to be in the midst of everything un-Godly because we are in the flesh. Even though we are but men and women, all filled with the sin we are able to fight back! We are able to turn and walk away, we are able to rise above the evil in this world in spirit and live in the light of life. In Christ Jesus we have Gods promise of His presence forever. It all begins when we humble ourselves to confess and repent our sin and ask Jesus to be our Lord and Savior. On our knees is where we begin to rise in the Glory of God in the armor of God and the Power of God to make our way toward Holiness with God.
1 Peter 1:16
16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Our text reads, 2 Cor 10:3-------we do not war after the flesh.
There may be times when we will need to physically fend off the effects of sin in this world but our intent as Christians is for peace. We do not tolerate wrongdoing, but we are not called to physically take someone out who has wronged us or ours unless it is in self defense or defending another. Even then it is a last and sorrowful resort. Make no mistake we are at war every day. When a person devotes their life to Christ, they are no longer in Satan’s camp doing his bidding. That person is now the enemy of Satan and there is nothing he will not do, say or send to make that person stumble and fall to give God a black eye! Job is the Biblical example of every Christians life in some degree. Satan may fill your eyes with desires you left behind when you called out to Jesus to save you. He may bombard you with physical distractions and troublesome circumstances, or he may send any number of his followers to harass, accuse, lie and gossip about you to keep you from honoring God by living for Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit.
You see these are not Satan worshipers that he sends to do his bidding. Oh no my friends, they are just plain old everyday sinners just like you except they do not know who they are serving. They do not know God and certainly not Jesus or they would know the sin they live in. Satan doesn’t want them to know they are doing his bidding, or many would seek to change their ways. No, Satan works behind the scenes and manipulates people into thinking they are doing fine. Just going with the flow and blending in. Talking like everyone else and doing the things that are trending. There is no sin seen in much of anything anymore because even some of the vilest of sins have become normal and everyday occurrences.
Satan works behind the scenes like a puppet master and without the knowledge of the Gospel people are willing subjects for his work of tearing apart the church and destroying the desires of Christians to live above this world in Christ. Yes, the true believer and disciple of Christ is at war with almost everything and most people around them. Christians are daily coaxed by Satan to compromise and look the other way and blend in and allow sin to affect their lives directly and indirectly. Oh, what a challenge it is to walk the straight and narrow. In our own strength and knowledge, we would be doomed to fail. That is why we need a savior. That is why we live by faith in Christ Jesus.
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God-----
At the moment we cry out to Jesus to save our retched souls we are gathered into the family of God. We are lifted above this world to live for and with God in Christ Jesus. I pray the readers of this sermon and those who will here it preached do not take that as a far-off figurative statement. By grace you are saved through faith.
Ephesians 2:8-10
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
If God would send His only begotten Son to die for our sins, then why would He ever leave us to fend for ourselves in the midst of sin? When you are saved you are given the Holy Spirit as a seal of promise you belong to God. Just like Job, Satan will come against you, but God has already preordained you for His work and you will in His strength walk in His protection to fulfill that work. You are called to rise and walk in His path, in His protection, for His glory. If or when you do, you will immediately notice the world becomes weak around you. Your days are filled with joy. Satan backs away when you declare your faith in love for the living Word of God because it is an armor his lies cannot penetrate. It is a banner He must hide from and a force he cannot fight against. Nothing comes to you without being sifted through Gods fingers first. Yes, you will be tested and tempted and challenged but God knows your heart. You will not prove anything to God. He already knows your heart. It is for your good to be challenged that you will grow in faith and obedience. We are given everything we need to survive and grow and prosper for the glory of God. It starts with His Word.
Hebrews 4:12
12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
It is God’s Word in you that is so quick and powerful it can cut between right and wrong. It can sever sin from ever taking hold of you and can even forewarn the child of God, the disciples of Jesus, of the wiles of the devil in his servants before they ever get to do more than challenge you.
When we are saved, we begin to be fitted with the armor of God. Yes, there is a full suit of armor for us but we are not instantly made bulletproof from this evil and deceptive world. The power of God is in His Word. Jesus Christ is the living Word of God, and the Holy Spirit is in Christ and us. The Spirit of God lives in Gods Word and us when the Word of God lives in us.
You see it’s a complete and whole body. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. All one and when you give your heart and soul to Jesus you become part of that whole. But you must strive to know them as they already know you. If you live in the Word, the Word will live in you. If you know the power of the Word that power is in you for Gods glory. That power is the knowledge and the presence of the Holy Spirit in the Word in you.
Many years ago, I wrote a sermon to help folks understand the trinity. Which I’m not sure can be completely understood in our finite mental capabilities but a good way to view the trinity is by understanding how they are all different and yet the same.
First, we must understand God is the designer of all things. Seen and unseen, animal, vegetable, mineral etc. Everything was designed for a reason and has a purpose in this world. Second, Jesus was the creator of everything God designed. He is the Word of God that went out and did not come back void. John 1:3
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Third, the Holy Spirit is the operator. Everything works, together or apart, because of the presence of the Holy Spirit in this world. Everything works as God has designed it to and how He spoke it to be in existence. But it is the Power of God in His Word that makes everything function as He has planned. Three parts, all one. All God.
Now listen, it may seem that I’m getting way off the track here but without a good, grounded understanding of the total presence of God with you, in you and for you, just saying you have weapons to wield against evil is kind of like saying “Well son, you’re in the army now, good luck!
God is the commander, we are the soldiers, Jesus is our sword, and the Holy Spirit is the cutting edge on that sword. All you need to know is you are one with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit as a child of God, a disciple of Jesus and a servant in the power of the Holy Spirit. All one with you, in you, and for you. You are never left to fend for yourself. Psalms 23:4
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
Our text reads: 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;
Yes, our strength and ability is only from God. That is, our strength to battle everything that comes against us spiritually. Once again, I must state our battle is spiritual even though it may appear to be physical. Satan uses anyone who is willing to follow his commands. The most unsuspecting person may rise against you with lies and slander and malicious mischief even theft and destructive motives. It is difficult to put the blame where it really belongs, but we must remember. True followers of Christ, real children of God know right from wrong and fear (that is a sincere dread) disgracing God. They will treat you with respect and would much rather help someone than belittle or harm them in any way.
There you see the difference. Being filled with the Word of God gives you the knowledge of right and wrong. And gives you the ability by the Holy Spirit to rise and act in it. Without the Word of God no one has the ability to defend themselves from Satan’s lies or his liars, his promptings or his followers, his commands or his soldiers. Satan’s followers are the uninformed, gullible, lost who really have no idea what is right or wrong. Satan’s soldiers are those who have cast off their need to fill that God shaped hole in their souls and live in hatred for our Father in Heaven and His children.
That is the stronghold which we are empowered to stand against. That is the stronghold we can tear down with the Word of God. It is the Word of God that can pierce between soul and spirit. It is the Word of God that can cut the lies from the truth and reintroduce the need for salvation back to the soul. It’s not just our purpose as soldiers to fight off what comes against us. No, we are called to take out the lies with the truth then lift the wounded to be healed. What good are we if we just send them scurrying back into the dark so they can receive new orders and attack again? Are we not called to extend a hand in faith and love to lift them up in a better direction? The Word not only cuts, it heals but only if the truth is applied to the wounds! Help them to see the light from the darkness they have chosen or blindly walk in. That is what tears down the stronghold after it is severed from the soul.
5 casting down imaginations
The truth will always stand. Satan always works in numbers. He must. The only way he can make the lies he has propagated toward a person to appear to be true is to spread that lie to others who will listen. I wrote a Short and Pointed Sermon years ago titled The Liar and The Listener. It is actually a poem but the truth about how Satan uses people to attack and destroy true followers of God is within those lines. One character in that poem is a person who has heard the Word of God from her youth but has cast off the need for true salvation. The other is a supposed believer who has ears for the devil when it suits her. Ultimately the liar spreads her infectious untruths which influences others to do the same. Before long the lie has been told so many times by so many people it becomes completely believable, yet the accused stands in the truth in the protection of the Lord. Just as Jesus stood in the midst of His accusers and more and more came to believe them until they called for Him to be crucified. Satan was behind it all. Even the most religious, better than thou, supposedly holy people in this world are often more than eager to stoop for a juicy morsel that will feed their sin filled desire to belittle someone. Satan re-lies on numbers, but the truth stands unchanged.
No matter what is said about you. The truth will stand with you and for you and in you.
John 3:21
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Casting down imaginations is proving the lies do not fit. They were meant to harm but have been made of no account. No matter how many repeat the lie it will not stand. Satan’s servants will be cast down by the disciples and children of God who live in the truth.
Our text continues with, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God,
Satan was cast out of Heaven for exalting himself against the knowledge of God.
Isaiah 14:12-15
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!
how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God:
I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
Yet we deal with the servants of Satan who follow in his footsteps here in this world. Exalting themselves against and above the Word of God to tread on the followers of our Lord Jesus. Every false religion is the spawn of Satan. Every division in the Body of Christ, the church, is the work of Satan. Every false interpretation of the Word of God is the work of Satan. Every kind of untruth which keeps people at odds and keeps them from knowing God through Christ Jesus as He really is, is from Satan. But in the Word of God, we have the Holy Spirit that binds us to the truth. Binds us together with everything God has promised us in love. Lifts us above the waves of destruction Satan brings against the children of God. We are not exalted in stature, we are risen and lifted in and with and for Gods Glory, Jesus Christ. Luke 10:19-20
19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
Jesus spoke these words to the seventy disciples He sent out to the cities ahead of his coming. Jesus, the Living Word of God gave them command and sent them before the wolves of the world. You and I as faith filled servants of God, disciples of Christ Jesus in this very day are no less commanded by the Living Word of God and are no less blessed to walk with purpose and the protection of the presence of God by His Holy Spirit in His Word in us. All the Glory goes to God.
Once again, our text reads: bringing into captivity every thought into the obedience of Christ
May I be so bold as to ask where your thoughts are throughout the day?
I’m not talking about what we must do to make a living for ourselves and our families. I’m not talking about the things we must do to maintain our homes and schedule our whereabouts for different events. Those are thoughts which we are required to work with just to function as a human.
I’m talking about our thoughts about others. How we see them, how we plan to interact with them, what will be our reactions to what they may say to us or someone else. What our thoughts are about what our local churches are doing or not doing. How they are being run or run into the ground. This is a very short list of the things that can across a Christians mind in a very few seconds. However, worrying, fussing, pointing fingers, boasting in such matters is a waste of valuable time. Our thoughts will not ever make an ounce of difference without the Presence of God in them.
If you are truly concerned about something, if you are concerned about the way things are going and being managed, if you believe people are being misled by false instruction and beliefs, or just flat out being lied too, then PRAY! Your thoughts on how things should be may be the Holy Spirit prompting you to take it to God! Sincere prayer is the demonstration of faith and obedience to God.
Our text reads ---to the obedience of Christ.
What was the obedience of Christ?
He gave His all for all. He walked in this world in constant communion with our Father in Heaven. Satan’s servants could not touch Him until it was allowed for those who would be saved.
He shed His blood on the cross that our sin would be washed away in faith. The curtain was torn that separated us from the throne of God. Through the obedience of Christ, we now have direct access in prayer to our Father in Heaven, we may come boldly to the throne. The obedience of Christ brought us to be spiritually seated with Him in heaven. The throne room is where we may pour our thoughts out to God.
Here is where so many fail in their walk after and with and for Christ Jesus. We still think our opinions matter and actually places them at some higher level in life and the community. Just because we have a strong opinion about something or someone, we think the matter is settled for us and that’s good enough. Well, what a sad way to be.
Prayer my friends is what makes things happen for the Good.
First, you will find if you pray in line with the Word of God much of the way you think about others will change or should. You will spend more time asking for God to show you the truth and ask for guidance in your prayers for others.
Second, your fingers, your tongue and your thoughts will become far less pointed even though you may have legitimate concerns about many things.
You will ask in love for Gods hand to work all things for the Good. You will ask God to forgive you for allowing your thoughts to bow to Satan. Self-centered, self-righteous, self-aggrandizing thoughts are not from God. They are another path that leads us astray. A path that keeps us from walking and serving in the direction and strength of God. When we turn to walk a path that leads away from God it is like laying down the weapons we are given to use for what is right. It is like throwing away Gods directions for us to succeed in our walk for His Glory. It is allowing our thoughts to run free, unchecked and unrestrained by the power of the presence of God in us.
Sometimes we must take a hard line about things we know are wrong by the Word of God. Being able to stand for what is right by the Word is exactly the path we are called to be on. But it still takes prayer to be able to hold to that path and see the outcome for the good. We are not called to fix all the problems we see and are associated with in our lives. We will always have far more thoughts about how things should be than we will actually be called to take a physically active part in. However, our thoughts need to be brought before the throne of God. That is where God sees your heart and will hear your cares and concerns. Your prayers for others are sweet smelling to God. Sincere prayers are prayers spoken in love.
You are not the judge, jury or executioner. You are a foot soldier armed with the Word of God, the presence of God and power of God in prayer.
6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
Where is your obedience? Oh, my beloved brethren! It has all been spelled out for you. This is a statement of finality for the previous 3 verses.
In Christ, the Living Word of God you are fitted for a spiritual battle against all the wiles of the devil in this world. Not just for you but for everyone!
When your obedience to come before God on your knees in sincere prayer for everyone and everything that is set before you then revenge against disobedience will begin. The disobedience which Satan promotes in all who have not, can not or will not hear the Word of God. When you stand strong and stand for Christ Jesus in all you say, think and do. Praying in the Spirit of God (which means by His direction), your obedience will be fulfilled.
That is the revenge that Satan can not stand against. The truth of the power of Gods presence in you through His living Word will punish every servant of Satan who comes against you and those in your care. You are to offer yourself to the world as a Holy vessel. Full of faith and obedience to the Word, Philippians 4:6-7
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
2 Chronicles 16:9
9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.
If you’re not happy with the way things are, the people around you, the way they act, talk and do things, then be obedient to take your cares and concerns and troubles to God in PRAYER! In faith He will lift you from everything Satan has sent to distract, belittle or harm you. This is not a physical battle! It is a Spiritual battle, and it will continue until your obedience becomes the Obedience of Christ.
Pastor Steven Freede
Down Home Preaching Ministry
1/9/25
My Doctrine is not Mine
John 7:16-18
My Doctrine is not Mine
John 7:16-18
16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.
I Love it when I open my Bible and begin reading with the expectation of seeing something that needs further examination. It’s when a passage jumps off the page and seems to say “Here is where you need to spend some time. Meditate on what I’m saying. Open this message up for the good of those who I will bring to read and to hear this in a sermon.” And so, I read and reread the passage. Praying for the Holy Spirit to work in me to write what is needed for Gods Glory. I pray to open every bit of truth that can be found in a passage so we as Christians can grow in God’s Word. It’s the seed of faith planted in our hearts the moment we ask Jesus to be our Lord and savior. It is that seed that needs to be watered by the Word. A deep watering that reaches the roots. Not just a topical dampening but a real soaking for the purpose of growing into a strong, healthy, useful disciple of Christ Jesus.
You see the Word of God must be opened further than just reading from page to page. Every verse of Scripture holds a reservoir of truth and power. But it takes more than a topical glance to open that reservoir. That is my purpose. To open the Word of God, find the scripture that God wants me to preach on and then crack it wide open, so all the life-giving truth and goodness pours out for them who thirst and desire to grow.
Our text begins with: 16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
The very first thing we must understand is these are the Words of Jesus. These are the words recorded for us to know and to grow in. And yet they are not the words of Christ but the words of our Father in Heaven. They are the words of God spoken through the living word of God, Christ Jesus.
John made this clear in Chapter 1:1-2
John-1:1-2
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God.
John-1:14
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Jesus is the living Word of God. He is all the light, the life, the hope, the love, the grace, the mercy and the power of God because He is the living spoken Word of God. Go back to Genesis one and read the creation of all things. All creation began with “And God said”! John reiterates this very fact in chapter 1 when he says: John 1:3
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
This is where people who say they believe in God need to take a long hard look at themselves. No one comes to God except through Christ.
Ephesians-2:18
18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
The Word of God is not only alive, but it is life! If you say you believe in God but turn away from the Word of God, you are no more saved than the vilest of sinners. It is only through Christ Jesus the Living Word of God that you can and will be saved.
James-1:21
21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
When you read the Bible, you are in the Word of God literally and spiritually. It is faith in the Word, Christ Jesus that breaks the bonds of sin and death and brings you into eternal life for the Glory of God.
The living Word of God! Get a handle on this Folks! When Jesus spoke it was God speaking!
2Timothy-3:16
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That was quite a claim for a man to be promoting as He stood in front of the Jews. Jesus was proclaiming to these devout and religious people that He was speaking the Words of God!
Well, I can assure you that caused quite a stir. Of course, you would expect the usual mixture of people who would believe Him, those who would not and those who took the middle road ready to jump on the popular wagon as it went by. God spoke directly through His living Word, His Son born in the flesh but not of the flesh but of Spirit.
16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
It took me a long time to grasp the fact that God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit were all one. The Spirit is life and only comes to us through the Word of God. Through the Son of God. When I came to realize Gods Word came alive for us to know, I began to see the lifesaving, life changing effects of scripture. I began to live above and beyond this dead and dying world. I began to live with a greater purpose and loving every minute of it. People ask me, “How is it you’re always so happy, so positive, so easy going, so fearless in everything you do?” Well, I can assure you I’m not bulletproof but in the Word of God I have life. I have everything I need to walk through the valley of the shadow of death and fear no evil. I have the God breathed scripture that lives in me and for me and through me. It is God’s Word that came to live and die and rise again for all of us. It is God’s Word that goes out and does not come back void. It’s God’s Word that always was, is and forever will be. It’s God’s Word that is life. So, if you live in and for and through the Word of God you are alive in Christ by the Spirit of God.
John-10:30
30 I and my Father are one.
Jesus spoke nothing on His own for Himself. He was never separate from God in any way until He took our sin on His shoulders to the cross. He had to die in the flesh for our sin and rise by the Spirit of God for our eternal salvation. He gave glory to the Father in everything He did and said because He was one with our Father.
I would like you to think about this as a whole for a moment and hopefully it will make a lasting impression for your good. When you say I believe in God you are saying you believe in Jesus. When you say you believe in Jesus you are saying you believe in God. When you say you believe in the Word of God you are saying you believe in Jesus. When you say you believe there is life in the promises of God you are saying you believe the Holy Spirit, Jesus and God are all one. How awesome is that!
This is what Jesus was saying to the Jews. 16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
Jesus was not taking the credit for the teaching that was coming out of His mouth. He was not claiming it was something He was schooled on by men or memorized from scrolls but pointed straight to the Father as the author and Himself as the willing servant.
Mark-10:45
45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Jesus is proclaiming that the words He was speaking were not His own but given to Him from God for our Good! His whole ministry was for our Good! Everything from the simplest action of loving kindness to the sacrifice of His body on the cross. Jesus was here by the direction, the mercy and the love of God. His whole ministry here with us was for us.
And how can we know this is true?
17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
What do you read the Bible for? What is your intent? Are you looking for reasons, or promises or someway to justify something? Or are you looking for examples to follow? The Bible is full of faithful servants who rose to walk and be and do what God had called and commanded them to do. And everyone became even stronger in their faith and walk after doing so. Some got off the straight and narrow path, but most became even stronger when they turn to the right and the light again.
You see, 17 If any man will do his will, that is to say follow in the foot steps of Christ, follow the examples He set for us. Reading the Word of God is much different than living the Word of God. We are back to believing in God and doing as you please or Believing in the Word of God and doing what it commands for the Glory of God. Jesus was telling the Jews He was not speaking His own doctrine for His Good. He was speaking the Word of God as a servant for their Good.
That’s how He lived with and for us. That’s how we should live with others. We should live for them for the glory of God. I’m not saying everything you do and make is to be given away. I’m saying if you know the Word of God is the truth and the life and the light then that is what needs to be given freely. 2Timothy-4:2
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
We are all called to be ministers to God. And what does that mean? 17 If any man will do his will. Doing Gods will is being a minister to God. It is being His minister for others. In doing so you will know the truth that is in His Word. You will live and experience the life and the power of His presence in you and around you. You will be a walking, talking, teaching minister by the direction of God just as Jesus was for us.
Martin Luther wrote about always looking for what Jesus did for us as a gift and a blessing for us to cling to and grow in faith and those same works offered as an example for us to imitate and follow. (Complete sermons of Martin Luther Vol1 pg19).
At this point I must make something very clear. It is never your will to do what is right. I’m not saying that God makes you do His will. I’m say when you come to know the truth about the saving grace in the Word of God you come to a point of desperate need. You come to know without a doubt the path that leads to and into the holiness of God and all His blessing and mercy and grace. That is the meaning of your will. It’s not a decision you make for a positive outcome. God calls you to Him first by the truth in His living Word. His Word is what opens the door to salvation and guides you to move in the direction of God glorifying works.
I have often made the statement in my sermons—The only work you will ever do that will glorify God is the work He does through you. You are nothing but sin and you cannot in all your strength and wisdom please God. Oh, you may be far more God glorifying by the standards of men but the only work you will ever do that truly glorifies God is the Work He does in you and through you for His glory. It’s all God from start to finish. When you come to know what you are missing. When you realize the only thing that will fill that God shaped hole in your soul is God, you will come in need of His presence in you.
You are called by God through His Spirit in His Word. You are saved by faith in His Word, Christ Jesus and you are sealed with His Holy Spirit, the power of life, and truth and light in His Word. You do not need to ask for the Holy Spirit if you are saved. He is your seal of salvation and your helper for all your days. All you must do is what the Word of God says. If any man will do His Will,--If any man will empty himself of his own will and open himself to the will of God, then and only then will the Holy Spirit be able to do His work in you for Gods glory. One of my mentors used to say “the Holy Spirit is a perfect gentleman. He will never force you to do anything. His job is to guide you whenever you begin to listen and allow Him. Whenever you come to the realization your works are not God’s works. You can do all kinds of good deeds and attach God’s name to them, but you are doing those deeds for your glory not God’s. God works with power. The things He does through people who live for Him can only be seen as the presence of God.
I know people who have an abundance of money and wisely make much of it available for people in need. The Bible commands such actions if you are so blessed. But wise investments and large incomes are not what we are talking about. It is God’s choice on who should have much and who should have little. However, if someone who has little is so touched by the Word of God, they begin to seek Gods path for increase to help others. There is where you will see God’s powerful hand of direction and provision. Living for God is His will, and it can only be through the power of the Holy Spirit in His Living Word. God calls all of us to glorify Him by working beyond our means, beyond our strengths and abilities. Then it is God and God alone that is seen for what is done.
The walls of Jericho fell flat because the Hebrews humbled themselves to follow the Word of God to the letter. Their will was to do His will. He called them first. Their will was their need for His presence in an impossible task set before them. Isn’t that what each one of us faces every day? You are born in sin and cannot remove it from yourself as long as you live in this dead and dying world. We are saved by grace through faith, but we cannot keep from sin in this world. Great or small we all sin daily. Our goal is to strive to walk as holy as we can until we are called home with Christ but in our strength, we will always lose the fight. Thank God we have Christ Jesus as our savior. Christ our living Word to call on to lift us in faith above this sin filled world to walk in peace and joy and holiness in the power of the Holy Spirit by the grace of God. We live in continuous need of the presence of God and His will for us is to glorify Him by living for Him in His presence. Our need is our will, and His will is for our increase that can only come from Him.
17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
If any man answers the call of God through His Word to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit for God’s glory, he will know whether this teaching is true or false. He will know the presence of God in His Word or if this teaching is of men. It is the will of God for us to come to Him. He is the one that calls by His Spirit in His Word.
Romans-10:14
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
James-1:22
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Here is what this comes down to. You cannot receive Jesus Christ without first receiving the Gospel. The Word of God is the power of God to break every chain, light every darkness and fill you with the life-giving breath of salvation because it is filled with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God is never separate from His Word and the Word once again is Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit is not some separate entity just floating around ready to zap who ever He wants to change. The Holy Spirit is in the Word of God ready and waiting for anyone and everyone to seek, ask and knock.
Matthew-7:7-8
7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
You are not the one who opens the truth of the Word. The Holy Spirit reveals all things to those who would be added. The Holy Spirit opens the eyes of our hearts to see the truth beyond the printed words. Draws us to come closer and guides us to the foot of the Cross.
Jesus was not only talking to the Jews in His day when He said17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
Everything Jesus said and did was for our good, our edification, our instruction as well. When He said If any man He was speaking as the one and only Son of God who was is and forever will be. There is never a set ending date to anything God speaks toward us. His Word is His promise and will not end. So, when Jesus spoke, he spoke for the Father and said If any man which includes you and I and everyone past and everyone in the future until the sky’s open and Christ calls us home. This is the promise from God that should open the door to the truth that we do not decide to look into the Word for salvation, but God has preordained that all men are called to do so. All men have a desire fill that God shaped hole in their souls, but not all will hear or heed the call to come to the Word of God. Many will come to live in religion for a self-satisfying self-gratifying step above the rest of the world, but they are no closer to salvation than the totally naïve. However, them who hear the voice of God in the Words of God are the few who will recognize the need that is within them and that need becomes their will.
will do his will, not should or may or have an inkling but will do His will. Will is also not a personal desire. It is not free will. As I have stated before when the truth of the Word is opened to someone, they begin to have a need not a want. They begin to recognize that still small voice, they begin to taste and see that it is good, they begin to fill that God shaped hole in their souls that nothing the world has to offer has ever been able to fit or fill. If any man “will” do His will. That is to say answer the call of the Holy Spirit to rise and put the Word of God into action. God doesn’t call us to fill a church pew once or twice a week or like most folks once or twice a year. God calls us to do His will. This is the problem we have with Christians or so-called Christians today. Oh, praise the Lord, sing a few songs, act all holy around the rest of the congregation and forget everything the preacher said 15 minutes after they leave the parking lot. It doesn’t matter if the Word is spoken or read it is to be followed. Each individual in the living organism called the church has a responsibility to know the Word and live the Word.
If you claim to know Jesus, if you claim to love Jesus than why do you ignore His presence in you and for you and through you? Doing the will of God is following the direction of His Word. It is living to come closer to Christ and live for Him by the Guidance of the Holy Spirit. Faith is in the Word and the power of that faith comes from the Word. There you have it, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Jesus was saying to the Jews and us in extension: Look into the Word, rise up to follow the Word and the Holy Spirit will guide you to see and know it can only be from God. You will experience the presence and the power of God in His Word!
18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.
Speaking of himself does not mean speaking about oneself. It means speaking your own words, your own doctrine, your own interpretations of the Word. Oh, is the world full of that! Thousands of factions of denominations and religions throughout the world! All claiming to be correct in their teaching and the only truth God or their gods recognize. There are over 200 Christian denominations in the US and 45000 in the world. Each one has a different take on the Word of God in one way or many. However, that does not change the Word of God. There is and always will be only one truth to every Word in the Bible. Not some fruit flavored translation created to justify how one denomination or another wants it to be read but the authorized King James. If everyone worked from one Bible there would be a lot less speaking from oneself.
Why do so called ministers of God refuse to sit down together and study out their differences. Pride, arrogance, money, popularity, etc.; etc. Satan has done a wonderful job of dividing the body of Christ. I hate to give him credit for anything but divide and conquer is the oldest battle tactic there is. He has fractured and fractioned the church until it is of no value to humanity. As a whole there is nowhere to turn for those in need of life-giving fellowship. Oh sure, the local church has the ability to help someone on occasion, but the world does not look to the church as the source of fellowship and benevolence and guidance and uplifting promiscuity. There is no power in leadership because most follow what they have made up for their own benefit. There is no unity because the Body can only be united in the truth of the Word. Not something similar!
18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.
I would like all of my readers and listeners to think about what is being said here. Jesus is not calling for us to seek another denomination, another church group with a different pastor. Jesus says HE THAT SEEKETH HIS GLORY THAT SENT HIM. A man who seeks to glorify God by knowing His Word and Speaking His Word is true. True to himself and true to you who listen. I want you to open your Bibles and search the scriptures to be sure I’m not misleading you. Don’t take anyone’s word with a nod of approval because it sounds good to you. The orator may be able to mesmerize large crowds, but that doesn’t make his words true. Satan is proof of that very point! You are responsible for following the truth. Ask, seek, knock and the door will open.
James-1:5
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
God will not hide Himself from you. You will find Him in His Word and He will reveal Himself by His Spirit in the same. A minister or pastor, preacher or teacher is to open the Word of truth to you. Guide you to step up and in for your own salvation and joy filled life in Christ Jesus. He is not supposed to do your reading, your studying, your praying and your God glorifying preordained good works! I am not ordained to preach so I can stand on your shoulders to be closer to God in my service. No, I am ordained to lift YOU up to God that YOU may catch a glimpse of the light, YOU may catch the scent of life ever after and YOU may hear that voice your soul has yearned for all your days. I study for your good, but you must go on from there. You must build on the truths I have lain out before you. My prayer is that the words I send are true and will glorify Our Father who has sent me. My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine. Amen!
Pastor Steven Freede
Down Home Preaching Ministry
12/27/24
The Eyes of the Lord are on You!
#92723
2 Chronicles 16:9 9/27/23
This morning I would like to take you on a walk through one verse of scripture. Actually, a portion of a verse of scripture to give you an example of how rich the Word of God really is if you slow down and read to understand every word.
2 Chronicles 16:9
9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. -------
This is one of my favorite verses in the Old Testament. It’s what I like to refer to as a Power Verse. It’s filled with the presence of God, and it’s filled with promise and instruction.
As we look at our text, I would first like to point out the obvious. What should appear to us in some fashion. This verse gives us an amazing description of God and the relationship He wants with us. Right off the top that is what we should see.
We should also see there are only two persons involved in this powerful verse. One is unmistakable in His position and attitude. The other however is in question.
Let’s look at the description of God first.
For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf--
Let’s break this down into small bite size pieces.
For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth,
God is all seeing, meaning there is nothing hidden from His sight which also tells us He’s all knowing. Or Omniscient.
God is looking at everyone in the whole earth which means He is present to always see everything. Or Omnipresent.
2 to shew himself God is sovereign.
3. strong Omnipotent God is looking to show Himself supremely powerful.
4. in the behalf God is gracious
God does not need us to show himself strong. He chooses to bless us in His strength.
So, what do we have? We have a Supremely powerful God with all the right to pour out His blessings on those who He knows are deserving.
First that should instill in us a very healthy fear of God.
That’s a word I struggled with for many years when I was younger. The meaning when speaking of our relationship as Christians with God is total reverence and awe. It is knowing His presence, His power and His knowledge. It’s an attitude of total respect because of His greatness.
To the unsaved, well yeah, He can be really scary. Partly because they do not know Him personally and partly because they know they will answer to Him. That’s why even the demons tremble at His name.
Why should we have a healthy fear of our Lord God in Heaven?
Look at this Folks! He never stops looking and seeing what’s going on in every man, woman and child throughout the whole earth that He created! ---It does not say He sends out angels to check things out and report back. ---It doesn’t say He only goes out on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. ---No, it’s God Himself that is looking at every one to find what?
Well here comes the second person in our text and I pray it is each and every one of us.
them whose heart is perfect toward him.
Now here is where we need to do a bit of digging to understand just what is being said. As you read this portion of scripture each one of us will get an idea of what is acceptable to God as far as what a perfect heart is toward Him. And the reason is, it says toward Him. It doesn’t say a perfect heart period. No one has a perfect heart in this world but we as Christians should all have a heart for God. However, each one of us will interpret that to fit the degree of perfect we consider acceptable.
That is very dangerous because it is in our sin nature to bring God down to us in how we want to believe. That is defining the word heart to mean little more than an attitude.
You see without knowing the true definition of the word heart in our text we end up using our modern definition and lose out on the power of the truth in this verse.
them whose heart is perfect toward him.
So, whose heart is perfect toward Him. Is it the saved? Is that all it takes? Is it the regular church attendees or members of some religious organization?
The word for heart in Hebrew in this verse is pronounced (LAY-BAWB). The definition is the soul, the inner man, knowledge, thinking, memory, inclination, resolution or determination. But it’s not in your head!
Let me give you a simple example. Everyone here who is saved should get this immediately. How did you get saved. What was necessary for you to begin your walk with Christ.
It was the Word of God.
Romans 10:17
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
James 1:21
------and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
You first heard the Word of God with your ears, and it went into your head. Information that was available for you to process. When it went from being just believable to undeniable it went from your head to your heart, and you cried out to Jesus for salvation and you were set free from the bonds of sin that leads to death. It’s Jesus’ presence in you that creates a perfect heart.
That is the definition of heart in this verse. It’s Christ in your heart. It’s having the mind of Christ where it counts.
Well, you may say, “But I am saved so that’s me in that verse.”
Well, then I have another question for you. What is all creations purpose, especially man? To glorify God.
Man is the only thing God has created that has a soul. We are the only thing able to glorify God in return.
That is continuous, not past tense!
Gods glory is in His Son Christ Jesus, who is the creator of all things.
Hebrews 1:3
3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
We are not able to Glorify God in our selves. Gods glory is in Christ and for us to glorify God we must be in Christ. The only pour and perfect Glory that God can receive from us is in and through Christ Jesus.
So, when our souls are yearning to be inclined, resolute, and determined to glorify our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we are in the Eyes of God and He will be strong in our behalf.
What does it mean to be strong in our behalf? Does that mean we’re going to win the lottery or something?
No. When your heart’s desire is to Glorify God in all you say, think, and do, that is exactly where He will show Himself strong. He will enable, provide, direct you in that mission. His strength is unlimited for and to you for His glory. He is our sovereign God. He deserves it all.
Isaiah 42:8
8 I am the LORD: that is my name:
and my glory will I not give to another,-----
So, what is a perfect heart toward Him?
That is the condition of the blessing, and it means to get your heart in alignment with the purposes of God. Every holy and righteous thing we set out to do in His strength has already been approved by God.
Ecclesiastes 3:14-15
14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him. 15 That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.
What does in Gods strength mean?
Everything you would never think of doing or becoming on your own.
If you would have asked me shortly after I got saved if I would consider being a Preacher, I would have flat out told you ‘Ain’t no way!” But when you make a commitment and it’s more than just a verbal agreement. It’s a promise that you actually keep and keep working on and in, things begin to change. Before long I began buying concordances and commentaries and whole volumes of sermons by famous puritan preachers and authors. After a few years I became an adult Sunday school teacher and wrote all of the lessons. I began to pray that God would open the door for me to be a preacher and He answered that prayer.
Someone asked me one time how I got the be a preacher and I said “On my knees with my Bible open.”
Right here! I poured myself into the Word of God and Gods eyes were on me. God saw my heart, my inclination, my resolution, my determination and He said “yeah, I can use that man!
God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called. I don’t have a Dr, BA or a PHd after my name.
I GOT J-E-S-U-S and that’s all any of us need for Him to show himself strong in our behalf.
Remember, It’s all for the glory of God. Hallelujah!! Praise the Lord!!
Taking on the Mind of Christ is walking, and working and living in the Word of God. Your heart, your very soul that Jesus died to save needs to come alive and rise in Him. Remember He rose here before He ascended to Heaven!
I believe we need to do the same!
God showed Himself strong when He raised Christ from the dead and He’s ready to show Himself strong for you also. All it takes is commitment, resolution and determination to know Jesus! Pour yourself into Jesus. God wants to show Himself strong in and through you. AMEN!
Pastor Steven Freede
Down Home Preaching Ministry
9/27/23
Wilt Thou Be Made Whole
Down Home Preaching Ministry 11/20/24
John 5:2-14
Wilt thou be made whole?
John 5:2-14
2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.
3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.
6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?
7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.
8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.
10 The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.
11 He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.
12 Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?
13 And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.
14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
The Puritans preached from their hearts. They preached from their very own experience with coming to and living for Christ Jesus. They preached that salvation was just the beginning of Life with God through Christ Jesus. They were the angels that troubled the waters for the weak and the sick and the impotent. The Spirit of God was in their sermons to cut away all that was holding Christians from rising to live and serve in the power of God’s word as well as bringing life to the souls that were crawling and begging to be rid of the chains and burdens that held them in sin and certain death. Oh, to be able to preach like the Puritans. Oh, to be able to draw the hidden, golden truths from the scriptures and pour them out in a way that everyone would desire to hear more. My prayer is to preach with power for the Glory of God. My prayer is to open His Word to you for your salvation and strengthening on your walk and ministry in Christ for the Glory of God. AMEN!
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I was once listening to a teaching by RC Sprouls and in that teaching, he made the statement to the effect that there is only one truth to any verse of scripture, but the applications are endless. What he was saying was, you can’t make a verse say what you want but it can speak to you over and over again. The truth in that scripture can be applied to every generation in every changing lifestyle and location but the truth within it will never change. Applying the Word of God to our lives is when we begin to see the power of the truth within it. Taking the word at face value just for the people and times it was written for and about is the beginning of Bible study. Bringing those truths forward and applying them to our lives, our culture, and our surroundings is when we see everything in the Bible was written for our good. Everything Jesus spoke to every person in His time with us, was for us.
Before we go any further, I would like to present something plainly to you if you haven’t already grasped this. Everything that is in the Bible is recorded for our benefit. Jesus went to great lengths giving us parables that we may understand the spiritual things in Gods Kingdom by relating them to the physical things of this world. I am here to tell you Jesus did not only tell parables for our good but every place He went had a purpose. Everything He did was for our edification as well as our well-being. Why did Jesus choose this location to heal a man that had been impotent for so long? Why did he say what He did? I am not trying to spiritualize the scriptures. I’m trying to bring to light this is not just a story told about Jesus, but an actual event purposed for our edification. Everything in the life and ministry of our Lord Jesus has been recorded for us to use for our good. We are to hold ourselves up to these events to understand where we are now. These recorded events are as meaningful to each of us today if we will only apply it to our lives and surroundings and habits and even our congregations.
So, as we look at our text for this sermon, we need to not only understand what Jesus was saying to this poor debilitated man but what He is saying to us. Who is Jesus talking too? What are the circumstances? Where is this event taking place? And of course, why is this recorded? We have lightly touched on the Why but let’s reread our text then look at all the timing, the places and the characters in our text and bring this forward in time to right here, right now. –John 5:2-14
There are 3 things that Jesus says in our text that we must put together to understand the whole.
Wilt thou be made whole?
Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
We will be covering all the points for as each is important in themselves, collectively they are the powerful whole we must understand and live for the glory of God. Let’s begin
2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.
In Verse 2 of our text, we are given a specific location. Not only in Jerusalem, but a pool with the name Bethesda having 5 porches. A very large pool with even larger porches surrounding it. It is presumed that this location was roofed or at least roofed over the porches making it a safe place or a sanctuary of sorts for those who came to be among many.
Bethesda itself comes from two Old Testament words. The first bayith, meaning house and the second chesed meaning loving kindness or mercy. So, Bethesda was known as the House of mercy or flowing waters. It is said these waters had medicinal and or soothing powers.
Now before we go any further, I would like for you to bring this information forward to our time and tell me where you would find a House of Mercy, a House of Loving Kindness, a House of flowing waters, a house where the waters have healing and soothing properties.
Well, I can assure you it is the church or at least it should be. It is God’s modern-day Bethesda where loving kindness and mercy as well as the rich and powerful watering of the Word should always be found. But now for the truth that hurts.
3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
In these porches lay a “great multitude” Not just an occasional handicapper here folks! A great multitude of impotent folk— A huge congregation of people with needs. They obviously know where to go for their needs but not much is getting done. They know to go to the house of loving kindness and mercy but there is something missing. They come expecting to see and by chance experience the presence of God through the moving of the water.
Oh my, let me assure this also describes the church today! But let’s go back to our text to get a clear view of the ailments within this crowd.
First, we have a more general description with -impotent folk. The word impotent here means weak, feeble, lacking the strength to navigate or perform.
Second, comes a more specific ailment in the -Blind. Of course, we all know what that means. Unable to see or see clearly.
Third is the word -Halt. Which means limping or crippled.
Fourth is -withered. Oh my. Nearly wasted away.
Now let me ask how often have we read through these verses without taking the time to get a real understanding of the problems within this great gathering of faithful people? Yes, I said faithful. They came at designated times for the troubling of the waters that they may be healed. They were Jews believing God could heal them if they just could get there when His messenger was stirring the waters.
So, let’s go back to where we began to make our comparison about these faithful people coming to a House of Mercy, a House of flowing waters, a house where the waters have healing and soothing properties. A House where God can and will show His presence to and for those who come seeking Him.
There are two points that are outstanding here.
First people coming to churches today are just as in need spiritually as these poor folks were in need physically.
Remember, the Bible is full of physical examples of spiritual events and needs. The church today is full of spiritually impotent, blind, halt and withered souls just waiting for the angel to stir the waters so they may jump in and be healed.
Wow, that brings us to the second point,
The angel.
4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water:
Do you know the definition of the word “angel”?
Angel or Aggelos has a very simple one word meaning. Messenger. A messenger of God is the type of angel we are speaking of in our text. There are also evil messengers/angels who do Satan’s bidding, but we are speaking of God’s servants here.
In Revelation 2 the angels of the seven churches are quite obviously the bishops or pastors of those churches. So, you see the word angel encompasses all of Gods messengers. Angelic host and human. Messengers being sent, carrying Gods word for the good of them whom it is intended. Pastors, Preachers, Ministers, Sunday School teachers all come under the heading of angel when they are messengers of the Word of God.
Now look at verse 4 again and let’s break it down for a closer examination.
4 For an angel--- an angel. Not a specific angel but a messenger of God nun the less. went down at a certain season—Went to a specific location at a designated time. Into the pool—Into the midst of these poor impotent, blind, halt and withered believers and troubled the waters: -- and troubled the waters!
Remember this is the physical example of what we are to experience spiritually. Put this into a modern-day setting.
The angel is a pastor or preacher or minister who stands in the midst of a congregation of impotent believers expounding the truths of the Word of God that these believers would be healed of everything that is holding them back from being bold and powerful children and servants of God! The troubling of the waters is the pouring of the Word. The watering of the Word that saves and heals and lifts and strengthens and grows in every true child of God seeking to live a Christ filled, God centered life.
So, first we have people who are spiritually in need coming to a designated location at a designated time. Is that not what many do on Sunday morning? Some may choose Sunday evening or even a weekday if it is scheduled. What I’m saying is we today have our locations, our Houses of Mercy with regular hours for attendance.
The second thing that is needed is an angel. A messenger. Not just anyone. A real Servant of God! Let me tell you right here and right now. In today’s scheme of things. Real God-fearing servants are not as plentiful as you would presume. Far too many teach and preach from their heads and not their hearts. Far too many are seeking a place to support them for doing little more than repeating what they were taught in the colleges they attended. The real angel of God speaks the truth of God’s word from his heart. It is the Holy Spirit within him that opens the truth of God’s Word for Him to pour it out with the power of God’s presence for all who are in need. Just as surely as the multitudes come to be healed, the messenger of God should be just as sincere in delivering God’s healing Words. Should be filled with desire and need and God given ability to open the Word of God and pour out the hidden truths that take the simply saved but severely impotent to the joy filled, gracious and productive disciples and servants of God.
Someone asked me one time where I got my theological education and I answered quite simply, “On my knees with my Bible open.”
God doesn’t choose the qualified. He qualifies the chosen!
So, we have opened this text to our present-day setting. First, we have believers coming to church in spiritually poor or lacking health and we have God’s angel or messenger taking the Word of God and bringing it to life. Opening the truths of the Word and pouring it out on the congregation. Why? So, they will be healed.
Now some of you may be a bit thrown off here about coming to be healed but I can assure most people, even those or maybe especially those who have attended church for most of their lives are in need of healing, in need of strengthening and in need guidance. In need of direction and protection.
5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.
Just for a moment I would like all of us to think about the church today. Not all that long ago communities circled around the church. Did you know you can’t have a community church if you don’t have a church community? I’m going to let that sink in for a moment. Yeah. The community church was the foundation for the community. People were not just attendees, but they worked with and for each other. They shared what they had. They helped each other to grow and prosper. They lived like the first church in Acts 2. My grandmother used to tell me about how the women would get together and can and cook and bake and it was all for the good of each other. The men would work together on their farms and houses, and it was all done in the joy of the Lord. The church led the communities, and the communities were the church!
Today there are no community churches because the people who make up the communities live for themselves! Communities are rag tag, run down, drug and violence filled, broken, adulterous, mecca’s practicing everything God has declared to be an abomination.
Yet there are some who seek to be healed. There are a few who consistently come to a local meeting house, a House of Mercy, a House of Loving Kindness to seek a better life. A stronger, purpose filled life. And what do they find? Well, I can only pray they find a messenger who lives to preach. A messenger who deliverers The Word of God in such a way that these folks are cut deep and healed all in the same powerful sermon. Folks need to see where they are lacking. They need to understand that a little sin is still all sin to God. They need to understand we are all ailing from one thing or another. We are all impotent without the truth of the Word being poured out on us and over us and around us for our good. No matter how good a Christian you may seem to be there are always short comings in our lives that need addressed. Things that need to be changed and strengthened. There is always more we can do for the glory of God. Righteousness is what you do for others. That’s why we can only live in Christ’s righteousness because He is the only one who has ever given His all, for all.
Once again, I pray to be a messenger of God like the Puritan’s who lived to preach from their hearts for the good of the multitudes. They preached to show the sin in the world and preached for them who had come for the stirring, healing, and watering of the Word. Amen!
And what are the words Jesus spoke that we all should be hearing now?
6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?
Oh, my beloved listeners and readers. Here is the question we all should keep in the forefront of our minds and our hearts!
Wilt thou be made whole?
Wilt thou be righteous in the eyes of the Lord? Wilt thou lay down the sins that you still carry and hide from others? Wilt thou rise to live for each other? Wilt thou walk in the lighted path the Lord has prepared for you? Wilt thou live for the one true God who gave His only begotten for you? Wilt thou be the church in your community?
Jesus didn’t ask this man if he just wanted to be healed! He asked, “Wilt thou be made whole?”
Think about this, folks! Here comes the stirring of the water! Jesus was asking this man if he wanted to be more than just healed. Is that not what Jesus is still asking each and every one of us yet today?
Oh, how sad it is when preachers teach that we need to ask God to help us with our short comings and infirmities. It is true that God is always ready and willing to hear and give to the sincere soul when asked but why are we taught to limit our healing? Why are we taught use the word “just” in our prayers?
“Oh Lord, if you would just help me with this or that.” We limit ourselves by only asking for what we consider to be bad or sinful or harmful to our salvation at the present time. Or we pray for just a little of something that would ease the pain of everyday life.
Jesus asks us in the Bible. For the Bible is the living Word of God, Wilt thou be made whole?
Just this or that is not being made whole. It’s asking for a Holy Band-Aid. It’s limiting God.
James 4:3
3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
Fix my problem Lord so I can go on doing what I think is right!
I want you to look at a few verses in Ephesians. This is recorded for us that we may understand the fulness of what Christ is asking us.
Ephesians 3:16-21
16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Verse 16---It is God’s desire for us to be made whole!
Verse 17---It can only come through faith and love for, in and through Christ Jesus! Verse 18 --- It is His desire that we comprehend there are no limits! Verse 19---No limits to His love for us and His desire for us to know that love! Verse 20--- No limits to what He can and will do in us and through us! Verse 21--- And that is what makes the church whole! That’s what builds and binds the church into a church community and a powerful God-fearing, God Honoring country and World!
But it must start with each and every individual who seeks to be healed. Every one of us who has weaknesses and short comings and downright sinful behaviors and habits. Every one of us who seek the stirring and healing of the watering of the Word. Everyone who knows there is so much missing in their lives. Everyone who desires to rise in the strength and the knowledge and the powerful direction of the Lord.
Pray above and beyond yourself. Pray for glorious outcomes. Pray for great God glorifying events and for increasing purpose in the lives of fellow Christians and then rise up to live in God’s answers for you and all you live for!
Wilt thou be made whole?
Will you just keep coming and hoping for God to do something or show you something that might be what you need to do or hear? Will you continue limiting God with your “just” prayers that may or may not fix an immediate problem?
Or Wilt thou be made whole? Will you cry out to God in Love with Christ Jesus and desire to be a God glorifying, member of the church! Seeking to help and increase and live for others. Will you desire to live in the righteousness of Christ instead of just claiming it! Righteousness is what you give, it is not something you get or wear or show on special occasions. It’s how you live for others. Its walking in the footsteps of our Lord and Savior. It’s living for Christ by living for others.
For me to be whole is to open God’s Word and allow His Spirit to show me what He wants me to preach. I am to open the Word of God to those who will come and desire the stirring and the healing of the living Water of God, His Holy Word. It’s what I am called to do for others in the righteousness of Christ. I am being healed and being made whole because God has shown me, I need to rise in His strength, by His direction to live for others for His glory.
Where are you?
Wilt thou be made whole?
Jesus asked one man. One impotent believer in God one simple question and the man immediately answered that he was not able to reach the waters in time and he had no one to help him.
7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.
You know what I see in this verse in our day. In our time. I see folks going to church. I see people spiritually weak, feeble, lacking the strength to navigate or perform. I see people blind to the overwhelming power in the love and promises of God. I see congregations just limping along, just barely able to make ends meet and keep the doors open. And I see folks just withering away while they wait for a Servant of God, a messenger, a preacher who can stir things up in their lives. Someone who lives to preach instead of preaches for a living! A messenger that’s serves and speaks with the purpose of delivering what God has and is ready to deliver for all who will step into the truth of the Word.
Yes, that is what we are talking about.
Look at what Jesus says to this poor man after he gives his reasons for being in this weak, and helpless and impotent state for so long.
Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
What? Get a handle on this! Jesus did not touch him, nor did he touch Jesus. Jesus gave him a command that certainly would have been against everything this man felt or believed to be possible in his own strength, yet there he was in the House of Mercy, the House of loving kindness because he believed in God. He believed God would send an angel that he per chance would be healed.
This whole place was full of believers, but they were all in very poor, helpless, failing and useless conditions. Wow, once again a very profound description of the church today. Houses full of believers unable to perform their one purpose in this life. To glorify God!
So, the command still stands today! Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
Rise---Don’t just sit there! Rise! Well, you might ask how?
Look at this impotent man as our teacher. Jesus told him to rise which was the one thing he was sure he could not do.
How often we have listened to preachers telling us we are to be servants and evangelists and ministers to the poor and teachers to the young and on and on and very few ever Rise to become what the word of God commands. We are so sure within ourselves that we cannot for one reason or another that we do not answer the call even though we believe in God and come looking for healing for that very weakness. We have so many excuses for a lack of time, so many reasons for a lack of ability and so many fears that hold us back and keep us down until we wither away. Individually and collectively as the church. But the command is Rise. Rise in the power of faith. It doesn’t matter to God what you think you can do. It matters to God what you believe He can do in and for and through you. Your strength is in the casting off of fear itself whispering in your ears. Fear keeps you from receiving the clear and powerful truth in the scriptures. Keeps you from hearing the commanding voice of God through His living Word, Christ Jesus!
Rise means to physically begin to do the things you have always wanted to do, things you were afraid to do and things you were convinced you could not do.
Look at this poor impotent man. Are not those the three things that held him down for 38 years?
Wanting something is much different than needing something. Wanting is self-centered. Needing is seeking to be better. Being afraid you will not succeed leads to waiting until you are sure of success. In your own strength that wait can be a lifetime. Being convinced you can not do something is proof you bow to Satan. Everyone is handicapped in one way or another. But that should never keep anyone from diligently seeking to glorify God.
Being saved is just the first step in your walk with Christ. The impotent man was a believer in God, but he never understood God’s desire for him to be more. Such is much of the church today.
take up thy bed,
Within this command from Jesus are the words take up thy bed,. What is Jesus saying here? Don’t stay where you are. You have places to go and things to do. Rise up and don’t come back. Don’t test the waters, walk in the waters of the word. Live in the truth and the power and the promises of the Word. Weak is what you were, strong is what you will be. Live in it. Don’t come back!
Philippians 4:13
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
and walk.-- Don’t just stand there! You have just discovered you not only can do what you’ve always wanted and come to the realization you never have to go back to the fears and doubts and selfish wants that held you for so long. So, it’s time to do what God has called you to do from the very beginning of your new life in Christ!
It’s time to walk the path that God will light for you. It’s time to glorify God through Christ who strengthens you. It’s not for your glory you walk a righteous path. Christ raises us to walk a righteous path for the glory of God. We are saved through faith not of works.
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
The works come after your salvation. They are the works God has chosen for you.
Ephesians 2:10
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
They are the works you never believed you could or would do before and yes even after you were saved. You see this is the point of this sermon. Just being saved is where many if not most Christians are and have been for many, many years. Poor, impotent, blind, halt and withered Christians never being lifted by the power of the presence of Christ Jesus. Jesus is the living Word of God. He is the water of life.
John 4:14
14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
Revelation 22:1
1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
This is why I preach the Word of God. This is why I take the time to break the scriptures down and stir up the truths within so believers can drink up the goodness and rise and take up their beds and walk above what the world says they must be. It hurts me to see the church today so impotent, so blind, so halt and so withered. Assuredly most of the blame goes to the messengers who are not and can not stir up the waters that a real healing can occur. Christ is not present by His Spirit in the hollow and shallow sermons they preach.
There is one more thing that Jesus spoke to this man and in extension to us. Remember everything Jesus did and spoke in His time with us was for our good. Now look at His final words to this man.
Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
Behold –You have heard my words and in faith you have risen to go and do what God wills.
thou art made whole: -- You are healed of your fears, and you are no longer weak because you have come to know my presence as well as my strength in and for you.
sin no more, -- Wow, sin no more.
Well, you may be asking yourself just what was this man’s sin? Did Jesus know about something that was not revealed to us? Of course, Jesus knew everything about this man. He knew everything about every person that was there. But God doesn’t hide the truth from us in His Holy Word. So, to think this man’s sin was something unrelated to this healing is incorrect. Every detail of this event is recorded for our edification.
In the recording of the adulterous woman (John 8) being brought before Jesus it was quite easy to know what Jesus was talking about when He told her to go and sin no more.
The key to understanding the sin is understanding the reasoning for the sin. Now I want you all to pay very close attention to this. This man had lain helpless for many years. He believed God could heal him by sending an angel to make it possible but oh it never had happened because,
7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.
Because there was no one there to pick him up and put him in the water. It was always someone else’s fault. Things just never worked out. But oh well maybe next year!
Are you getting a glimpse at the sin here? Are you seeing a correlation between this man and church attendees today?
Let me make something clear. When you are saved you become a child of God. Adopted into the Kingdom of God through faith in Jesus Christ. We as Christians are called to follow in Jesus’ footsteps. Bringing love and joy and peace into the world. We are to be the light of Christ shining here and now. We are called to obedience to the Word that we should walk and work and serve in the love of our Lord and Savior just as He walked and worked and served to save us. It was His perfect obedience throughout His ministry here that we are to follow. Our lives are to mirror His. Our purpose is to show Christ lives in us for the glory of God.
Faith and obedience cannot be separated. You cannot believe in God, you cannot believe in Christ Jesus and then do as you please. You can not treat the Holy Spirit like he’s some extra power you need to ask for to do something you think God would approve of. When you are saved you are sealed with Holy Spirit.
God is already in you, but you must submit to His will. You don’t need to be saved to grow up and get a job and have a family and a house and cars and maybe a few other things. You don’t need to be saved to travel or just stay at home and grow old and as Solomon stated we will all surely die. These bodies will never leave this world. You see the unsaved and the saved act and look and do and don’t do the same things. The only difference is that the saved have the promise of the Holy Spirit in them. That’s what Faith in Christ brings you immediately. The sin is never rising in the power of the presence of that Spirit. Never grasping the truth of God in you, Jesus with you and the Holy Spirit for you.
Excuses, excuses, excuses!
Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more,
Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
Do you see the sin is knowing and not doing. God wants you to know He is here to help you in every way to glorify Him. It is your purpose in this lifetime. It is the end of all men, to Glorify God. When you are saved you become not only a child of God but a servant of God. That is faith and obedience in a nutshell. A servant ministers to someone. We need to understand the word minister does not just mean someone who stands in front of a congregation and preaches the Word of God. It means to serve, to take on the care of someone or their belongings. A caretaker to and for someone. When you are a minister to God you serve God in whatever capacity He has pre-ordained. Once again, Ephesians 2:10
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
That service, those works are your ministry! Yes, we all are called to minister to God in a ministry for God. It can be as simple as helping someone else in the ministry they already have but nun the less it is your ministry you are to rise in, take up and walk in.
So, let me ask you here and now. How many of you Faithful Followers of Jesus Christ have a Spirit filled ministry that is Glorifying God right now?---------
How many always wanted to start a ministry of some kind but just never could decide what to do? ---------
Wilt thou be made whole?
What are you waiting for! Do you think God wants His children to be weak and just limping along at being a Christian? Are you not called to live for Christ in the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit? Look folks. I’m doing the best I can by the ability and direction that God has given me. I am His sent messenger to stir things up here! I am called to open His Word and pour out the truth for anyone who will listen and rise and take up your life and walk in the path of Christ.
If you are listening to or reading this sermon today, and know you have been impotent in obedience, blind to the truth, just limping along in your faith, maybe even for many, many years; now is the time to be made whole. Just saved is not whole. Living in and for and with Christ Jesus is when you are spiritually healthy. You are made whole in faith AND obedience!
Now that you know the truth you can’t go back. You will be denying the truth of the Word. You will be excusing yourself from the good works that God has pre-ordained for you. You may never get another opportunity to glorify God in His blessing of strength and provision that is waiting for you.
Now that you know,
Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
There is a warning that comes with this lesson.
Sin no more. Fear is a sin. It is a sin that will hold you at a level far below what God has for us to live now and forever.
Psalms 27:1
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Being filled with the joy of the knowledge of Gods Word and living in the presence and Power of Christ Jesus with His Spirit in you is the best way to break away from fear.
Philippians 4:13
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Know the Word of God. Believe the Word of God. Be made whole in the Word of God by rising and living for God.
Wilt though be made whole!
Or will your fears consume you and a worse thing come unto thee.?
Pastor Steven Freede
Down Home Preaching Ministry
11/20/24
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