Year: 2020
COVID-19 (7) It’s Time to Practice Our Religion
The tendency of our time is to minimize religion. For many, a self designed “spirituality” has taken the place of religion. In this view, the concept of belief in God (or something out there) is divorced from any concept of religious duty or involvement.
I am convinced a reason for this is the self-sufficiency of our nation. The first world countries that enjoy a measure of material prosperity and reasonable health care are almost always secular and dismissive of any dependence upon deity. In fact, it is common to look down upon the religious as fanatical, superstitious and backwards.
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Sermon: God is Our Refuge and Strength
Sermon preached outside during COVID-19 Pandemic.
The text of Psalm 46 is used to express the great protection and strength granted to us as His children.
COVID-19 (6) Continue Earnestly in Prayer
Paul requested prayers from his brethren in Colosse, writing to them, “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak” (4:2-4).
It is interesting that during times of physical distress, prayers are encouraged. It is right for us to do this. “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them prayer over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord” (James 5:14).
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COVID-19 (5) Wait on the Lord
Psalm 27 has the caption (in my Bible) “An Exuberant Declaration of Faith.” The description is accurate, as the psalmist declares his complete faith and trust in the Almighty.
“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?” (1)
The Patternists: What NOT to Do in These Unique Times
We are certainly in the midst of a challenging situation with the current COVID-19 pandemic. It is unique in our lifetimes, and it has brethren scrambling to study their Bibles to determine the proper response to questions regarding assembly, obedience to civil authority, and worship.
There is insufficient room to answer these questions in this short article. Suffice to say that this writer is likewise studying and seeking to make proper applications that will please our Lord. “For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord” (1 Corinthians 4:4).
However, this writer has observed some bad argumentation being used by advocates for a particular position, and accepted seemingly without hesitation or examination by their readers or hearers. This is dangerous. Admonition is needed to be as the noble Bereans, who “searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11).
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COVID-19 (4) My Understanding Returned to Me
Daniel 4 records a dream that the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar had during his reign. His dream had frightened him, and again he sent for the Jew, Daniel to give him an interpretation.
Daniel told him that the dream was about the king himself, and it was from God. God had decreed that Nebuchadnezzar would be driven from men because of his unrighteousness and arrogance, and he would be insensible “your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you eat grass like oxen” (25).
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COVID-19 (3) I Have an Idea
People are bound to be going stir crazy with the shelter in place orders here and around the nation. There have been quite a few jokes about sitting on the couch binging favorite Netflix shows. I’m showing my age. I have never associated binging with watching TV. In my day binging had to do with a half gallon of Bluebell icecream!
COVID-19 (2) The Trouble with Brooding
Are you familiar with the term brooding? How about the etymology of the word? It is of Germanic origin, and originally referred to breeding. The term is a figurative use of the idea of a hen sitting on her eggs, or sitting with her chicks under her wings.
In fact, country folk are familiar with a broody hen:
“A broody hen is a chicken that has decided to sit on and hatch a clutch of eggs. The eggs may be fertilized or unfertilized. The broody hen will sit on the eggs day and night, leaving only once daily to eat, drink, and poop. If you try to remove her from her eggs, she may hiss at you and peck you.” (thespruce.com)
Today, the word brooding refers to “showing deep unhappiness of thought.”
COVID-19 (1) Remember the Works of the Lord
I have decided to write what I hope to be a daily, short article, to help everyone at West Side (another others who read it) during this time of isolation from one another. I will at least do the weekdays, though I can’t promise which time of day it will be posted. (I’m not that organized!)
The 77th Psalm, a psalm of Asaph, begins as follows:
“I cried out to God with my voice— to God my voice;
And He gave ear to me.
In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord;
My hand was stretched out in the night without ceasing;
My soul refused to be comforted.
I remembered God, and was troubled;
I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed” (1-3).
Today is a day of trouble for our nation, and brethren everywhere. We are concerned and anxious, and there is a tendency in times such as these to question. We appeal to God and we ask why? We complain, we feel overwhelmed. It is hard for us to focus on the blessings of God; to trust in His providential care; to see the possibility of an end to our suffering. We ask with the Psalmist, “Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has He in anger shut up His tender mercies?” (9).
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Sermon: Understanding of the Times
God expects Christians to have an understanding of the times in which we live, and react accordingly and appropriately. The days are evil and short, the evil that exists is not new, and ultimately it will not win. Knowing that victory is ours helps us to do what is required of us.
Sermon: A Covenant With My Eyes
The text of Job 31:1 reveals a conviction of Job not to lust with his eyes. This teaches us that we too need a determination not to involved ourselves in the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh or the pride of life.
The Mob Mentality
We live in harrowing times. The present pandemic is becoming more and more intrusive in the world. Not only have many died from the COVID-19 virus, but there is a growing panic in America and throughout the world.
It is hard to know whether things are as bad as they seem to be. The virus is actually fairly mild compared to others, but it is new, and seems to be easily spread. Regardless, it is being covered by the media 24/7, and is resulting in major lifestyle changes in America.
The Patternists: The Cost of Obedience
King Nebuchadnezzar had an image of gold made, proclaiming that all nations fall down and worship the image. Refusal to do so would result in death by fire.
At the signal given, “all the people, nations and languages fell down and worshiped the gold image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up” (Daniel 3:7).
Three Jews did not obey King Nebuchadnezzar. Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego would not serve the gods of Babylon or worship the image Nebuchadnezzar had commissioned.
Their refusal came with great consequence. The text reveals that the king, “in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego” (3:13). He demanded obedience from the three.
Draw Back to Perdition
In Hebrews 10 a hypothetical circumstance is expressed by the writer concerning willful sin. For the Christian who sins willfully there is great consequence. A willful disregard for truth (26-28), for the Son of God, (29) and the Holy Spirit (29) leads to condemnation.
God supplied only the gospel of Jesus Christ as the power to salvation (cf. Romans 1:16). He supplied only Jesus Christ as a sacrifice for sin. He supplied only His Spirit as the agent of inspiration. A rejection of these leaves one with only a “fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries” (27).
It is hard to imagine any Christian who would turn away from what God has offered, and he has tasted. However, some do. Peter described such as like a dog returning to his own vomit, and “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire” (2 Peter 2:22).
Some Christians to whom Hebrews was written were like this. They were not progressing (cf. 5:12-6:6). Some were not attending worship, and were in need of edification (10:25-26). But, the writer expresses confidence in 10:39, “But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.”
Perdition means utter destruction. Read the verse again. What kind of Christian are you? One who draws back to perdition? Or one whose faith persists to the reward?
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Sermon: Walking in Truth
A discussion about the emphasis that John places upon obedience to the truth that abides in us, using the text of 2 John. Truth, commandments, doctrine, they all mean the same thing in the context of the epistle. This is necessary for fellowship with God.
Included in the lesson is this wonderful poem about God’s word, attributed to John Clifford.
The Anvil of God’s Word
“Last eve I paused beside the blacksmith’s door,
And heard the anvil ring the vesper chime;
Then looking in, I saw upon the floor,
Old hammers, worn with beating years of time.
“‘How many anvils have you had,’ said I,
‘To wear and batter all these hammers so?’
‘Just one,’ said he, and then with twinkling eye,
‘The anvil wears the hammers out, you know.’
“And so, I thought, the Anvil of God’s Word
For ages skeptic blows have beat upon;
Yet, though the noise of falling blows was heard,
|The Anvil is unharmed, the hammers gone.”
