Author: Stan Cox
Sermon Minute: Today is the Day!
Today is the day that God wants us to embrace Him. It is unwise to delay!
The Need for Commendation (And Social Media)
Social media has shown me that many people need the psychological boost that comments, likes and follows bring them on social media. Of course, there are other reasons for coveting such things (making money, spreading a message), but the primary one in non-commercial postings is validation and expressions of love and support.
This is not new! Paul addressed it several times in his letters. Consider his words to the Corinthians. “Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some others, epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you? You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart” (2 Corinthians 3:1-3).
Efforts to gain support and sympathy, whether through social media, letters, emails, speeches, etc. ultimately have no legitimate merit. If such help in the area of acceptance, praise and support, they nevertheless have no bearing on the rightness or wrongness of the person being supported. Put it this way, an evil man can have as much such support as a good man. This is demonstrated clearly in politics. Partisanship will allow the politician to locate a group that is fully supporting him, while another group would not. Interestingly, on social media (Facebook, Instagram, etc.) online friends often even praise evil. Continue reading “The Need for Commendation (And Social Media)”
Continue Earnestly in Prayer
Paul wrote to the Colossians about prayer, asking for their prayers personally, “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” (Colossians 4:3-4).
However, his thoughts on prayer teach us a few important things, that are worth examining beyond Paul’s personal benefits from such intercessions. First, there is the phrase, “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it…” (4:2). The idea of continuing in prayer, and the idea of vigilance is important when making petitions to God. He loves us! The parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18:1-8 teaches us this. “And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?” We need to understand the importance and efficacy of prayer, and not to be discouraged if our petitions are not answered by Him immediately. It comes in His time.
Second, we can’t emphasis too greatly the importance of offering thanks to God. “…being vigilant in it with thanksgiving” (4:2). Christ illustrated the importance of thanksgiving in his words about the lepers He healed. “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” (Luke 17:17-18).
God deserves vigilant prayer with thanksgiving! Heed Paul’s words!
Sermon: The Day of Atonement
A discussion of the Day of Atonement mentioned in Luke 16, with applications to our atonement as Christians under the New Covenant.
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Sermon: Forgive the Offender
The apostle reveals the primary purpose of church discipline (to save the soul) in 2 Corinthians 2:3-11).
Sermon Minute: Protecting Children From An Immoral World
As parents and a society, do we protect our children from evil, or do we instead let them wallow and be harmed by immorality?
Sermon: Secret Sins
The text of Psalm 19 notes the frustration of the Psalmist who is concerned with falling into secret sins. Such sins are discussed, with ways to avoid them.
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“For I Am Ready”
The text of Acts 21:13 shows Paul expressing his willingness, no matter the consequence to obey God and travel to Jerusalem. His example is for us to emulate.
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Sermon Minute: Drowning in the Sea of Sin
The gospel does not condemn us. We are drowning in a sea of sin, and the gospel is a life preserver that when heard can be grasped or refused.
They Are Just Like Us!
One of the best aspects of God’s word is the willingness of the Holy Spirit to reveal the faults of His people as well as their positive attributes. This helps us greatly, as we do not improperly elevate the efforts of men, knowing they are subject to frailties and sin as are we.
Because of this, the emphasis of salvation by grace has value for us as does the realization that the imperfection of all men preclude salvation by merit. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
These things are born out by the imperfections of Adam, Isaac, Jacob, Jacob’s children, Moses, Samson, Saul, David, Solomon, Rehoboam, Jeroboam, and a host of others throughout the Old Testament. They were all great men, to be honored and respected, but that is all they were — men. Subject to the same failures and mistakes that trouble us all. Continue reading “They Are Just Like Us!”
It Takes All Kinds
This important lesson is illustrated in 1 Kings 18. The prophet Elijah was in conflict with King Ahab. The conflict had led Elijah to proclaim a drought in the land which lasted for several years. “As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word” (1 Kings 17:1). This was in response to Ahab’s sin.
During the drought (just before Elijah’s prayer brought it to an end, and before Ahab knew it was about to end), the Lord told Elijah to go and present himself to Ahab. Continue reading “It Takes All Kinds”
Mining the Scriptures: 2 Timothy 2:3-7
Our text gives three illustrations to examine truths that come with discipleship.
First is the necessity of enduring hardship. We are described as soldiers, and our discipleship should mirror that. Just as a soldier suffers loss and sacrifice as he gives himself over totally to serving his country, the Christian must do the same to be a faithful disciple (cf. Luke 14:26).
Second, you must carefully follow Christ’s “rules” or requirements to win your crown. An athlete who competes only wins his reward if he is not disqualified by cheating. A violation of the rules is equally problematic to a disciple of Christ (cf. Matthew 7:21-23).
Finally, developing skills to help others will first benefit you! Just as a farmer who plants crops to sell to and feed others, first feeds himself with his produce, the Christian is the first to benefit from his efforts to bring others to Christ! (cf. James 1:25).
Important truths to consider, and to understand! (cf. 7)
Wait Quietly
As Jeremiah lamented the rebellion of Judah, and the chastisement of his God, he nevertheless acknowledged God’s judgement was righteous and that His nature was merciful and good. And so he wrote, “The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. It is good for a man to bear the yoke in his youth” (Lamentations 3:25-27).
There are a couple of truths in this passage that are worthy of examination. Taking the last words first, we should acknowledge that it “is good for a man to bear the yoke in his youth.” While burdens, chastisements and distress are never easy, they do build character. The prophet knew that the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians and God’s judgment of the people was, though harsh, very much deserved. To live through this would help the young know of the consequences of rebellion, and cause a turn to righteousness and steadfastness as the lesson was learned.
The second truth is that God does His own will in His own time. It is not appropriate for us to complain about these things. Job did , and even to the degree of his suffering, the answer of God was basically, “How dare you?” So, when things are going bad with us, little or big, and we chafe at trouble, let us not murmur and complain. Instead, let us “wait quietly for the LORD.” He is the preeminent Creator. As His people, let us not be presumptuous!
Sermon: The Voice of the Lord
Psalm 29 describes the glory and power of God by the use of a storm metaphor. This interesting Psalm declares to us God’s worthiness for worship, and His character and power.
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