Archives for

Sermon Audio

Bringing the King back, Pt2

Scripture: “Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?” 2 Sam 19:10.

Watch video of this message:

 


THE CONCERN FOR THE KING’S RETURN.
There was only a short period between the beginning of Absalom’s scheming (15:1) and the recognising by the people that they had made a mistake. Pleasures of sin are only for a season! Heb 11:25.
At first things had gone well for the rebellion. “And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom,” 15:12. But “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD,” Isa 54:17.
I. THE PEOPLE BECOME AGITATED 
“All the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel,” v 9.
The word ‘strife’. First use – Genesis 6:3. It was a spiritual troubling.
There arose a ‘hunger’ for the king to be brought back! Matt 5:6.
This disturbing came from the Lord, Eze 37:7.The devil would have people to sleep and slumber but the Lord seeks to awaken, Rev 3:20.
II. MEMORIES OF PAST MERCIES TROUBLED THEM
“The king saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines,” verse 9. So it was with the Prodigal. “How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!”
  • Absalom made them discontent under David. 15:3-5. Just like false prophets in Jeremiah’s day. Jer 15:17. Ecumenism has sought to have us forget the benefits of the Gospel, the Bible, the Sabbath and the Reformation. Power-sharing would have us forget the murderous wickedness of SF/IRA!! Now we are to forget the distinctions God has ordained between men and women!
What folly that has wrought!
  • Now, I believe that the Holy Spirit was making them discontent with their folly as they begin to remember. Ps 137:1-4. It is the minister’s duty to remind the people of the mercies and blessings of the past!
  • That is what provokes memories. 2 Peter 3:1; Psalm 103:1-5.
III. THEY WERE AWARE THAT THE KING HAD TO BE ‘BROUGHT BACK’
He was not going to return of himself. He had to be ‘fetched’! It is the same word used of the ‘returning’ of the waters after the flood! Something only the Lord could do! The desire for a return of David was of the Lord, wrought in the hearts of the people. That is what is needed today!
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me,” Rev 3:20.
We must open the door but the Saviour comes in of Himself.
Revival and reformation is a work of God.
“Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?” Psalm 85:6.
 We cannot do this work. But we can and MUST ask for the actual accomplishment of what it is we seek.

The unsearchable riches of Christ, #3

Christ — God’s treasure Chest

Scripture: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual
blessings in heavenly places in Christ, Ephesians 1:3.

Stream or download The unsearchable riches of Christ #3


Even in his praises, Paul is a teacher and a theologian. This statement is filled with gospel substance and content.

Let me say a word about praise. This word of rejoicing stands at the very threshold of the epistle and so reminds us that in entering into an understanding of the gospel we are moved to bless and praise God. Heaven is all that we expect it to be and more because it is a place where we enter into the full knowledge of the Lord.

Our praises should be doctrinal. By that I mean that a right understanding of the doctrines of God’s Word will open our mouth in praise and right praise will be framed in doctrinal language.

Modern gospel songs are mushy sentimentality because this is a day in which doctrine is despised. Praises centred upon the doctrines of the gospel may be sung again and again with freshness.

Consider the words of our text.

I. PAUL PRAISES GOD FOR GOSPEL BLESSINGS
1. He traces gospel blessings to their source. God the Father, Who hath blessed us. Paul is enlarging on what he said in the previous verse.
2. The act of blessing is in the past tense. God purposed in eternity to bless His people and it shall be done. Our blessings, being willed by God, are secure.
3. The fullness of the blessing. All blessings. Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow, 2 Samuel 23:5. There is nothing lacking. Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage, Matthew 22:4.
4. The nature of the blessings. Spiritual. God’s blessing is essentially spiritual. Man desires earthly and carnal blessings and ignores all thoughts of spiritual values.
5. Location of the blessings. In heavenly places. How rich is the man that cultivates a heavenly furrow and how vain is it to look for riches amidst earth’s dust!
6. The depository of the blessings. In Christ. It is to Him we must go for the Father’s blessings. He is our Joseph. And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do, Genesis 41:55.

II. THE PURPOSE OF GOD THROUGH THE GOSPEL
Blessed us. These words contain the purpose of God. He would bless His people.
1. How old is that purpose. Verse 4.
2. How glorious is that purpose. 2:6.
3. How costly was that purpose. The cost was the blood of Christ, verse 7.

Bright and shining lights in the Bible #8

Stream or download Bright and shining lights in the Bible #8


This chapter 11 of Hebrews is all about faith. The word appears some 23 times in the chapter (if my counting is correct) as well as the words ‘believe, etc’ appearing many times as well.

Faith is DEFINED for us in verse1. “Now faith is the substance (the very foundation) of things hoped for, the evidence (proof) of things not seen.” We hope for that which God has promised on the basis that we BELIEVE that what God has said will come about.
I like the little definition often used. Forsaking All I Trust Him.

Again, I like the little chorus which says: “Faith is just believing what God says He will do”!
Faith is then DEMONSTRATED throughout the rest of the chapter.

1. ALL WHO ARE GOING TO HEAVEN HAVE FAITH. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him,” verse 6.
Here is a vital question indeed. Do you believe God today? Do you reject what every voice in opposition to God says and believe Him?
Remember: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God,” Ephesians 2:8.

2. BY FAITH THE OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS WERE WELL SPOKEN OF. Their faith in the Lord is what made them ‘good’ men and women.

3. BY FAITH WE UNDERSTAND WHAT UNSAVED MEN CANNOT UNDERSTAND! “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear,” verse 3. We believe in God’s mighty power and so it is easy for us to accept and believe in the creation of all things by God in 6 days.

4. FAITH IS ESSENTIAL FOR EVERY ASPECT OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. We will be looking at this matter more closely as we progress down the chapter. But note first of all that we cannot WORSHIP the Lord aright without faith.
That which separated Cain and Abel was FAITH!

Abel believed God. “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain,” verse 4. ‘A more excellent sacrifice than Cain’ means ‘a superior’ sacrifice. Abel’s sacrifice was seen by God as of great value whereas Cain’s was not and God rejected his.
Faith made the difference. Abel believed God’s promise of redemption through the promised ‘Lamb of God’ and so offered a lamb as a symbol or picture of the Lamb he was trusting in to save him.  “Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock,” Genesis 4:4.
Cain offered his own works. “Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD,” Genesis 4:3.
Abel is in heaven while Cain in hell and all because one had FAITH in God and one did not!