Monthly Archives: October 2020

Ordained of God

Sunday Morning Sermons

Ordained of God

Pastor Don Carpenter / General

Election; Government, Politics and National Identity; Stewardship / Romans 6:1–6

A Biblical overview of what government was originally designed to do.

A parishioner had dozed off to sleep during the morning service.

“Will all who want to go to heaven, please stand?” the pastor asked.” – All stood, except the sleeping parishioner.

After they sat, the pastor continued, “Well, will all who want to go to the other place please stand? At that moment, somebody suddenly dropped a hymnal, and the sleeping man jumped to his feet and stood sheepishly facing the pastor.

The sleeper mumbled confused as to what was going on. “Well, pastor I don’t know what we’re voting for, but it looks like you and I are the only ones for it!”

(Dan Thompkins. (2008). Sermons of Dan Thompkins.)

On Tuesday November 3 many of us will have the solemn privilege and responsibility to vote. When you think of all the believers who have ever existed through out history, few have had the right to vote. While the Bible does not tell us which party or candidate to vote for or against, it is important that we do not act like that sleeping parishioner. We should not only vote, but we should know Biblically why we did what we did.

Having said that I believe that it is an individual decision. Each one of us should do the research and then reflect upon what we have learned from the Bible about God’s design for government. We may come up with different conclusions, but we will all answer to God, not each other, for our ultimate decision. Let us step back from the mud slinging and rhetoric, and prayerfully consider what a government and a citizen looks like that has been ordained by God.

A Government Ordained By God.

Protect From Evil Doers

Romans 13:3–4 KJV

For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 

For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

Ordained of God – appointed

?????b: to cause someone to be in a state involving an order or arrangement—‘to cause to be, to be placed.’ ??? ??? ??? ???????? ???? ??? ???????? ?????????? ‘for I am a person who is under authority’ Lk 7:8.1

1 Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 150.

The use of kakos may be broadly divided as follows: (a) of what is morally or ethically “evil,” whether of persons, e.g., Matt. 21:41; 24:48; Phil. 3:2; Rev. 2:2, or qualities, emotions, passions, deeds, e.g., Mark 7:21; John 18:23, 30; Rom. 1:30; 3:8; 7:19, 21; 13:4; 14:20; 16:19; 1 Cor. 13:5; 2 Cor. 13:7; 1 Thess. 5:15; 1 Tim. 6:10; 2 Tim. 4:14; 1 Pet. 3:9, 12; (b) of what is injurious, destructive, baneful, pernicious, e.g., Luke 16:25; Acts 16:28; 28:5; Titus 1:12; Jas. 3:8; Rev. 16:21

1 W. E. Vine, Merrill F. Unger, and William White Jr., Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Nashville, TN: T. Nelson, 1996), 211.

Acts 16:28 KJV

But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.

Acts 28:5 KJV

And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.

 • This is not a broad legislation of morality

 • This is targeting those folks and organizations that cause others intentional harm.

 • Abortion

 • Robbing/ looting/ rioting

 • Policemen or soldiers who cause intentional hurt outside the scope of law enforcement.

 • Corporations that harm others as they shortcut safety and ethical protocols.

• Terrorist nations and individuals.

 • The government has been given lethal authority to deal with evil doers both foreign and domestic.

Praise Those That Do Good.

1 Peter 2:13–14 KJV

Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 

Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.

Isaiah 5:20 KJV

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; That put darkness for light, and light for darkness; That put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

 • Law abiding citizens commended

 • Law breaking citizens corrected

 • Never should the roles be reversed.

Protect the Freedom of the Individual

1 Timothy 2:1–2 KJV

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 

For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

 • The God ordained government is designed to deal with those who intentionally hurt others in order to then let the others just live their lives.

 • The government may do other things, but that was not their original design.

“When you become entitled to exercise the right of voting for public offices let it be impressed on your mind that God commands you to choose as rulers men who rule in the fear of God…. The preservation of a republican government depends on the faithful discharge of this duty; if the citizens neglect this duty and place unprincipled men in office the government will soon be corrupted….” – Noah Webster

A Citizen Ordained By God.

Subject to obey laws.

Romans 13:1–2 KJV

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 

Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

Subject to pay taxes

Romans 13:5–6 KJV

Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. 

For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.

Stewards of the Environment

Genesis 1:28 KJV

And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

Stewards of Wages – earned and paid

Matthew 20:12–15 KJV

Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. 

But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? 

Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. 

Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?

 • Personal ownership

 • That is Thine

 • What is mine

Stewards of Personal Property and Assets

Acts 5:1–4 KJV

But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 

And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 

But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 

Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

 • The government did not compel benevolence

 • The church had a voluntary giving program.

 • This was not forced wealth redistribution.

 • The property was his own

 • The $ received was his own.

 • The problem was misrepresenting how much was given.

Acts 5:7–10 KJV

And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. 

And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. 

Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. 

Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.

Tuesday is election day. God has ordained a government with a focused purpose. The God ordained government protects us from evil doers, those that cause intentional hurt. The government is to praise ( not harass) those that do good. The government is to protect individual rights so we can be left alone to live our lives as accountable to God.  Individuals citizens are to be subject to laws. Voting actually gives us a voice as to who makes those laws. Individuals are to pay taxes. Voting gives us a voice as to if those taxes are being used to deal with evil doers or being wasted on things that the government was never designed to be a part of. Voting helps us be free to act individually as stewards of our environment, our wages, our income, our property and our choice of charity.

You are wrong if you do not vote.

You are to render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s. Our Caesar [in the United States] is a government of the people by the people for the people. One vote may make the difference.

ONE VOTE made Oliver Cromwell Lord Protector of the Commonwealth and gave him control of England. (1645)

ONE VOTE caused Charles I to be executed. (1649)

ONE VOTE kept Aaron Burr – later charged with treason – from becoming President. (1800)

ONE VOTE elected Marcus Morton governor of Massachusetts. (1839)

ONE VOTE made Texas part of the United States. (1845)

ONE VOTE saved President Andrew Johnson from impeachment. (1868)

ONE VOTE changed France from a monarchy to a republic. (1875)

ONE VOTE admitted California, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho into the Union. (1850, 1850, 1889, 1890)

ONE VOTE elected Rutherford B. Hayes to the Presidency, and the man in the Electoral College who cast that vote was an Indiana Representative also elected by ONE VOTE. (1876)

ONE VOTE made Adolf Hitler head of the Nazi Party. (1923)

ONE VOTE maintained the Selective Service System only 12 weeks before Pearl Harbor. (1941)

ONE VOTE per precinct would have elected Richard Nixon, rather than John Kennedy, President. (1960)

I’m only one but I am one. I can’t do everything but I can do something and what I can do I ought to do and that by the grace of God I will do.

Brett Blair, Sermon Illustrations, 1999. Illustrations for October 20, 2002. www.e-sermons.com

Day of Reckoning

Sunday Evening Sermons, Sunday Morning Sermons

Day of Reckoning

Pastor Don Carpenter / General

Stewardship; Accountability; Reckon / Matthew 25:14–30

Epictetus, a Stoic philosopher, is recorded as having said the following:

“Never say about anything, ‘I have lost it,’ but only ‘I have given it back.’ Is your child dead? It has been given back. Is your wife dead? She has been given back. ‘I have had my farm taken away., Very well, this too has been given back. Yet it was a rascal who took it away. But what concern is it of yours by whose instrumentality the Giver called for its return? So long as He gives it to you, take care of it as of a thing that is not your own, as travelers treat their inn” (The Encheiridion, 11).

If this non-Christian could see all of life as a stewardship, how much more should we believers?1322

Michael P. Green, 1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2000), 358.

Today we are going to study the parable of the stewards. We are going to learn about trust, stewardship, responsibility, faithfulness and accountability. This message is so full of truth, we will be taking both this morning and this evening to explore it.

The main truth we will discover is that we own nothing we have been given by God. We are only servants, intrusted with our Master’s possessions. One day we will have to answer for what we did with these things. Sometime, whether soon, or in the future, there will come an ultimate day of Reckoning.

The Master Gives

Matthew 25:14 KJV

For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

 • He is going away for a while – he will not be watching their every move.

 • These are his servants

 • These are his goods

Matthew 25:15 KJV

And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

 • Not everyone is intrusted with the same stuff

 • Not everyone is intrusted with the same amount of stuff.

 • The master knew his servants.

 • The master gave according to raw abilities.

 • There is no requirement of equal distribution in order to expect equal faithfulness.

 • Everything you have, you do not possess.  

 • God has intrusted with with:

  • Your job

  • Your car

  • Your house

  • Your Parents

  • Your spouse

  • Your children

  • Your relationships

  • Your possessions

  • Your Position

  • Your influence

  • Your Facebook friends

  • Your ministries

  • Your church

  • Your talents

  • Your passions and abilities

  • Your intellect

  • Your opportunities

The Servants Act.

Matthew 25:16–17 KJV

Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. 

And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.

 • Faithful servants invested

 • Faithful servants took the risk (knowing they will owe the principle one way or another)

 • Faithful servants sought to multiply the talents given.

 • Faithful servants knew that the gain was the master’s not theirs.

 • Faithful servants knew their Lord’s return was imminent, even though it was not immediate.

 • What have you done with what you have been given to multiply it for the sake of the kingdom? 

 • Have you demonstrated that you understand that what you have been given is not yours to possess, but to use for the Master’s gain?

Matthew 25:18 KJV

But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.

 • The wicked servant hid the money.

 • He did not simply put it in the bank… then it would be on record that it was his Lord’s money… he hid it in the ground with the hope that if his Lord did not return, he could take full possession of it.

 • Though the servant did not outright steal the money, his sin was not using it wisely for his master’s prophet.

At 12:55 pm the mayday call crackled through the speakers at the Flight Service Station on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula. The desperate pilot of a Piper A22, a small single-engine plane, was reporting that he had run out of fuel and was preparing to ditch the aircraft in the waters of Cook Inlet.

On board were four people, two adults and two young girls, ages 11 and 12. They had departed two hours earlier from Port Alsworth, a small community on the south shore of Lake Clark, bound for Soldotna, a distance of about 150 miles. Under normal conditions it would been a routine flight; however, the combination of fierce headwinds and a failure to top off the fuel tank had created a lethal situation.

Upon hearing the plane’s tail number, the air traffic controller realized that his own daughter was one of the young passengers aboard the plane. In desperation himself, he did everything possible to assist the pilot; but suddenly the transmission was cut off. The plane had crashed into the icy waters. Four helicopters operating nearby began searching the area within minutes of the emergency call, but they found no evidence of the plane and no survivors. The aircraft had been traveling without water survival gear, leaving its four passengers with even less of a chance to make it through the ordeal. Fiercely cold Cook Inlet, with its unpredictable glacial currents, is considered among the most dangerous waters in the world. It can claim a life in minutes, and that day it claimed four.

Kirk adds these thoughts to the story: For reasons we will never know, the pilot of that doomed aircraft chose not to use the resources that were at his disposal. He did not have enough fuel. He did not have the proper survival equipment. Perhaps he had not taken the time to get the day’s weather report. Whatever the case, he did not use the resources that were available; and in this instance the consequences were fatal.

I wonder how many other people have died needlessly like these four people did? Why, because someone did not manage and or use the resources they had at their disposal. – I also wonder how many have died without Jesus — spiritually speaking from others being poor stewards of the resources God has placed them in charge of.

Nowery states, “The stewardship of resources is a serious business; and God’s will is that we give it serious attention. This demands that we have the right perspective on our resources, and that is possible only if we have the right focus on our source.”

(Story from Kirk Nowery: “The Stewardship of Life,” Page 118. From a sermon by Michael McCartney, 12 dollars a changed life, 6/20/2012)

The Master Returns

When Pompeii was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, there were many people buried in the ruins. Some were found in cellars, as if they had gone there for security. Some were found in the upper rooms of buildings. But where was the Roman sentinel found? Standing at the city gate where he had been placed by the captain, with his hands still grasping his weapon. There, while the earth shook beneath him—there, while the floods of ashes and cinders covered him—he had stood at his post. And there, after a thousand years, was this faithful man still to be found.4821

1 Michael P. Green, 1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2000), 143.

Matthew 25:19 KJV

After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

 • After a long time

 • Day of reckoning

 • Someday you will have to account for all you have been intrusted with.

1 Corinthians 4:1 KJV

Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

The Faithful Servants to the Master

Matthew 25:20 KJV

And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.

Matthew 25:22 KJV

He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.

 • Lord you gave me ___________

 • Realized that this was his master’s 

 • Knew exactly what he was trusted with.

 • I have gained ___________

 • But still knew that the gain was his master’s

 • If today was the day of reckoning, what could you tell the master he gave you and you used to get gain for the kingdom?

  • You gave me my children – I raised them for you.

  • You gave me a spouse – I made that spouse better for you.

  • You gave me a church – I made that church better for you.

  • You gave me a job – I shined the light using that job for you.

  • You gave me a home, car, money, food, possessions, I used them to do more for you.

The Master to His Faithful Servants

Matthew 25:21 KJV

His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Matthew 25:23 KJV

His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

 • Well done – The righteous judge approves

 • Good and Faithful Servant – you proved you could be trusted.

 A little boy walked down the beach, and as he did, he spied a matronly woman sitting under a beach umbrella on the sand. He walked up to her and asked, “Are you a Christian?”

“Yes.”

“Do you read your Bible every day?”

She nodded her head, “Yes.”

“Do you pray often?” the boy asked next, and again she answered, “Yes.”

With that he asked his final question, “Will you hold my quarter while I go swimming?1

1 Michael P. Green, 1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2000), 389.

 • You were faithful over a few

 • I will now make you ruler (not steward) over many.

The Wicked Servant to the Master

Matthew 25:24–25 KJV

Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 

And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

 • I know you are a hard man (implying that the master is basically unfair)

 • You take what you did not work for ( implying that any gain should have been the steward’s gain)

 • I was afraid – no personal relationship with the Master.

 • His thy talent in the earth ( not completely upfront with his motives)

 • Take what is yours – not even willing to dig it up for him.

 • Often people do religious things out of fear of punishment rather than love for the redeemer.  

 • This wicked servant is the picture of someone who has never had a saving relationship with the master.

LITTLE THINGS

This leads us to a simple but important principle: Our faithfulness in the little things will determine how faithful we will be with bigger things.

There is a story about a huge bank where one of the employees was up for a significant promotion. He lost that promotion one day in the bank’s cafeteria when the President of the bank saw the man hide two pats of butter under his bread so he wouldn’t have to pay for them. The President of the bank concluded that any man who was dishonest about butter could not be trusted with bigger things.

Little things are important. It was Benjamin Franklin who wrote:

For want of a nail the shoe was lost;

for want of a shoe the horse was lost;

and for want of a horse the rider was lost;

being overtaken and slain by the enemy,

all for the want of care about a horseshoe nail.

(From a sermon by Bruce Goettsche, “Little Things” 1/12/2009)

The Master to the Wicked Servant

Matthew 25:26–30 KJV

His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 

Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 

Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 

For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 

And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

 • Wicked – still in sin.. deceptive trying to take his Lord’s money

 • Slothful

 • You knew what was expected and did nothing

 • Take what he has and give it to the most faithful

 • Cast out the unprofitable servant.

When a flock of crows invades a field of corn, the birds customarily station two sentries in a nearby tree to keep watch and warn the rest of any danger. In Character Sketches, Bill Gothard relates the story of two people who succeeded in sneaking up on the flock and scaring them before the sentries had given warning. The birds burst into flight, immediately attacked and killed the two sentries, and only then flew off.1

1 Michael P. Green, ed., Illustrations for Biblical Preaching: Over 1500 Sermon Illustrations Arranged by Topic and Indexed Exhaustively, Revised edition of: The expositor’s illustration file. (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1989).

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 2:05 PM October 24, 2020.

Stewards of Grace

Sunday Evening Sermons

Stewards of Grace

Pastor Don Carpenter / General

Not From Around Here: The Complicated Life of a Sojourner / Stewardship; Spiritual Gifts / 1 Peter 4:9–11

Dave Stone says that “service is the language of grace.”

One day a couple of church members were out distributing loaves of bread in a low-income housing complex. They came to an apartment where they heard arguing through the door, but they decided to knock anyway. A man opened the door and asked what they wanted. One of the visitors said, “We don’t want anything. We just wondered if you know anyone who could use some loaves of bread?”

“Why are you doing that?” the man asked.

“Just to let people know that God loves them.”

“What did you just say?” the man asked, rather anxiously.

“We’re just handing out loaves of bread to let people know that God loves them.”

The man stared and said, “I can’t believe this. We just buried our three-week-old son yesterday, and now here you are at our door.”

The visitors offered to pray with them, and the couple accepted their offer. As they were leaving, and the door was being closed, they heard the husband say to his wife, “See, honey? I told you God cares. We thought he wasn’t paying attention to us, but he sent those people here to make sure we knew.”

Too many people make excuses as to why they can’t serve. Can you bake a cake? Can you cook some food item? Can you cut someone’s grass? Can you call people and give them an encouraging word? Can you do housework? Can you do handy work? Can you donate anything of value? Can you stop along your way and give a smile? Can you take an interest in someone else’s life?

The big thing is that you have to be ready to serve. You have to open your eyes and your ears to the needs of others.

As we continue to study 1 Peter, we see that even though we are not from around here, we are to use what God gives us, to help those who are around here. Perhaps they will also become pilgrims and join us in our journey to a better country. God has given us so many things, let us together be stewards of God’s grace.

Use Every Gift God Has Given You.

1 Peter 4:10 KJV

As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

A “steward” was one who served as a house manager; he had no wealth of V 2, p 854 his own, but distributed his master’s wealth according to his master’s will and direction. The “gift” (charisma) stems from God’s grace (charitos). His grace is manifested to His church as believers exercise their spiritual gifts in service to each other. His grace is evident in its various forms, that is, it is “manifold” (nasb), variegated, rich in variety (poikil?s; cf. 1:6, where Peter said trials are poikilois, or varied).1

1 Roger M. Raymer, “1 Peter,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 853–854.

“As” is in the Greek text “in whatever quality or quantity.” The word “gift” here is not the usual Greek word, but one that refers to the special spiritual enablements given graciously to certain Christians as an aid in the discharge of the special duties to which God has called them, as in I Corinthians 12 and 13. The word “stewards” is literally “one who governs a household.” It speaks of the responsibility of the proper use and disposition of something entrusted to one’s care.1

1 Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: For the English Reader, vol. 11 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997), 116.

Use The Gift of Hospitality

1 Peter 4:9 KJV

Use hospitality one to another without grudging.

The word “hospitality” is the translation of a Greek word meaning literally “friendly to strangers.” Thus the thought in the mind of the apostle is not that of hospitality shown to one’s friends who do not need it, but to Christians who in their travels for the Lord Jesus, or for whatever other reason, may be in need of food and shelter. The persecutions which some of these Christians were enduring deprived them often of the necessities of life, and such an exhortation as this was needed.1

1 Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: For the English Reader, vol. 11 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997), 115–116.

  • without grudging

But even with all its value, the practice was often a costly act of love for Christians who themselves often lived on a hand-to-mouth basis. Thus Peter does not simply call for hospitality (a virtue that they knew about and that would be even more in demand as persecution forced believers to flee their native villages), but for it to be offered “ungrudgingly.” This term, which means “grumbling” or “complaining”

Peter H. Davids, The First Epistle of Peter, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1990), 159.

On June 28 (2005), four Navy SEAL commandos were on a mission in Afghanistan, searching for a notorious al-Qaeda terrorist leader hiding in a Taliban stronghold.

As the battle ensued, three of the SEALs were killed, and the fourth, Marcus Luttrell was blasted unconscious by a rocket grenade and blown over a cliff. Severely injured, he spent the next four days fighting off six al Qaeda assassins who were sent to finish him, and then crawled for seven miles through the mountains before he was taken in by a Pashtun tribe, who risked everything to protect him from the encircling Taliban killers.

They took Luttrell back to their village, where the law of hospitality, considered “strictly non-negotiable,” took hold. “They were committed to defend me against the Taliban,” Luttrell wrote, “until there was no one left alive.” (Lone Survivor – by Marcus Luttrell)

Use the Gift of Speech

1 Peter 4:11 KJV

If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Peter gives two general examples of how God’s gifts should be used. First, “if someone speaks” covers the whole range of speaking gifts, that is, glossolalia (the second half of which comes from the verb Peter is using), prophecy, teaching, and evangelism (or preaching). It is not referring to casual talk among Christians, nor is it referring only to the actions of elders or other church officials (to whom it will be restricted in the Apostolic Fathers), but to each Christian who may exercise one of these verbal gifts. Such speech is not to be simply his or her own good ideas, nor even good exegesis, but “as … the very words of God.” 

2 Corinthians 2:17 KJV

For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:2 KJV

But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

Use The Gift of Service

1 Peter 4:11 KJV

If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Ability that God Giveth:

…appears only here and in 2 Cor. 9:10 in the NT. It originally meant “to pay the expense for training a chorus” for a Greek theater or “to defray the expenses for something.” In 2 Corinthians it indicates a God who “will supply and multiply your resources” (RSV). Here the Christian sees a service that God wants done. One can try to do it out of one’s own zeal and strength (which might appear effective in some ministries, but not in others, e.g., healing), a recipe for ultimate ineffectiveness and burnout, or one can depend on that strength which God provides; God has ordered the job done; God will pay the expenses, be they material, physical, or emotional. He “backs up the act” of the Christian who is being a good steward of his gifts in dependence on him.1

1 Peter H. Davids, The First Epistle of Peter, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1990), 161–162.

The Ultimate Aim is the Glory of God.

1 Peter 4:11 KJV

If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Corinthians 6:20 KJV

For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Some of us remember the bitter conflict between Russia and Finland in 1939. At last, Finnish officials ordered evacuation of their beloved homeland, including that of an old lady living alone. She had only a few hours to gather together her belongings. She was also told that to prevent the house from falling into Russian hands, it would be burned when she left. When the soldiers returned to pick up the dear soul, she was on her knees scrubbing the floor. Being astonished, they asked: “Mother, did you not understand we must burn your home?”

“Yes,” she said, “but if I must give it to my country, I want it to be the best I have to give.”

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 11:36 AM October 8, 2020.

Not Dead Yet!

Sunday Morning Sermons

Not Dead Yet

Not Dead Yet

Pastor Don Carpenter / General

Matthew 12:20

He’s washed up! He is a has-been, no longer necessary, useless! – These are all statements made in our cruel world when someone does not benefit another like he used to. Human beings can be written off and forgotten about quickly. Now, To be sure this seems harsh, but it is the way of business. If you cannot do the job, you are replaced. If you have made a stupid remark, or decision, you are forced into early retirement. If you listen to a pitcher who should be replaced, you will no longer manage the Red Socks. – This is simply the way things are.

It is a wonderful thing to be a blood-bought, born again Christian. There is nothing that the devil can do that will erase salvation! Butt… there are many Christians who feel that they are no longer useful to our Savior. We have been led to believe that God has sees our failure and has put us on the shelf, never to be used for his glory. It is a horrible feeling to believe that God has discarded you!

Our passage this morning is a quotation from Isaiah 42:1-4. The prophet is explaining how the messiah will be recognized. One distinct characteristic is that he will not get rid of the weak and broken. This morning let us meditate on this truth: Where there is life, there is hope… and we are not dead yet!

Jesus will not break a bruised reed

Matthew 12:20 KJV
A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.

A. Small stick with a crack or weak spot- not a mighty oak tree.

  1. Not much good for building
  2. Still had life in it

B. Bruised= an outward sigh of an inward hurt

  1. Personal failure
  2. The failure and hurt of others toward you

C. This bruise captivates the soul- Jesus sets you free!

Luke 4:18 KJV
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

D. David’s soul was bruised after his sin

  1. Guilt

Psalm 51:5 KJV
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; And in sin did my mother conceive me.

Psalm 51:7 KJV
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

  1. Lost joy

Psalm 51:12 KJV
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; And uphold me with thy free spirit.

  1. Broken heart

Psalm 51:17 KJV
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

E. God heals the bruised heart

  1. God is greater than your heart

1 John 3:20 KJV
For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

  1. God heals the broken heart

Psalm 147:3 KJV
He healeth the broken in heart, And bindeth up their wounds.

   Hearts are flowers; they remain open to the softly falling dew, but shut up in the violent downpour of rain.—Jean Paul Richter

Robert J. Morgan, Nelson’s Complete Book of Stories, Illustrations, and Quotes, electronic ed. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2000), 338.

Jesus will not quench the smoking flax

Matthew 12:20 KJV
A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.

A. The picture

  1. A little light
  2. A little heat
  3. A lot of irritating smoke.

B. Peter

  1. Proclaimed his loyalty to Christ Matthew 26:33–35 KJV
    Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.

Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.

  1. Peter denied Christ and wept bitterly

Matthew 26:73–75 KJV
And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.

Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.

And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.

  1. Peter was greatly used after he was filled with the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:41 KJV
    Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Jesus will bring judgment to victory

Matthew 12:20 KJV
A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.

A. Victory over emotions

1 John 3:20 KJV
For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

2 Corinthians 10:4–5 KJV
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

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;

B. Victory over the flesh

Romans 6:6–11 KJV
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

For he that is dead is freed from sin.

Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

C. Victory over guilt

Romans 8:1 KJV
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Romans 8:31 KJV
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

Romans 8:33 KJV
Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.

D. Victory over death

1 Corinthians 15:55–57 KJV
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

I recently read a peculiar story about a family in Lander, Wyoming that had gone to their local refuse dump to dispose of some unwanted family items that were either busted or greatly abused. As they were emptying there junk into a large dumpster, the man of the home saw something that caught his eye. It was apparently an ornate, antique four-poster bed that had been left there by some other family.

The man called to his wife to have her to look at it as well. After a few moments of discussion they both agreed that it most likely could be stored to its original condition. So, even though it was a bit worn and tattered, they began to inquire about that possibility with the management staff of the refuse center. They found that they there was no problem with taking the grand piece of junk home if they would just pay a small fee of a few dollars.

They proceeded to load the headboard, footboard and the wooden rails into the back of their pickup and pull-along trailer. As they were loading the post, which were separate pieces, they began to question the weight of each one. The husband felt they were quite a bit heavier than he had imagined they would be. But they finally got all the pieces loaded and drove home.

When they got home, the husband backed the truck and trailer into his driveway with the assistance of his wife and eldest son. They then proceeded to unload the bed one piece at a time. To their amazement, as their son picked up one end of the first bed-post, the finial at the top worked loose and slipped out of its socket. Thankfully they were standing in the front yard and a nearby hedge broke the fall, catching the post. But suddenly they heard the weirdest noise.

As they turned to look toward the area of the noise, something caught the glimpse of the father’s eye. A few silver coin tumbled to the ground near the base of the bush. After picking up the loose coins he looked in the opened end of the bed-post and to his surprise there were more silver coins inside. With the help of his son, he picked up the opposing end and hundreds of silver, brass and gold coins came rolling out onto the lawn. Many of the gold ones dated back into the 1800’s and almost all of the coins were near mint condition. After close inspection of the other three posts, they, too, were completely hollow and contained equal amounts of coinage.

What was cast away because of external circumstances had great value inside. Jesus not only sees our warn exterior, but also sees who we are and who we can become in Him. There is still life, there is still hope. We are not dead yet!

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 11:54 AM October 7, 2020.

When The War Is Over

Sunday Evening Sermons

When The War Is Over

Pastor Don Carpenter / General

Heaven; Kingdom; Eternity / Revelation 21:1–5; Revelation 22:1–7

A man who has a layover at an airport does not go into the bathroom, frown at its decor, and start redecorating! Why? Because he doesn’t live there. He has a home in another place. While he is away he will get by with only what he absolutely needs, to have more money with which to furnish his permanent home.

Why do we Christians work hard at trying to make our life in this world more comfortable? This is just the airport and we are in transit. We should spend our energy on enhancing our eternal reward, and not worry so much about the bare walls in the airport restrooms.638

The struggle to get through this sin cursed world is real and it is exhausting. However, we do not face these troubled times of folks with no hope. I have read the final chapter in God’s Book. I know how the story ends. I know what happens when the war is over!

There will be no more separation from God.

Revelation 21:3 KJV

And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

 • God and man were close in the Garden of Eden.

 • Sin separated God and man.

 • God will be with man face to face again.

Revelation 22:4 KJV

And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

There will be no more tears of regret.

Revelation 21:4 KJV

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Heaven

Dr. W. A. Criswell, the beloved pastor of First Baptist Church of Dallas, was once asked, “Will we know each other when we get to heaven?” His answer: “We won’t really know each other until we get to heaven.

There will be no more death.

Revelation 21:4 KJV

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

1 Corinthians 15:26 KJV

The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

1 Corinthians 15:55–57 KJV

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 

The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Timothy 1:10 KJV

But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

There will be no more sorrow = mourning that comes as a result of sickness and death.

Revelation 21:4 KJV

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Isaiah 35:10 KJV

And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, And come to Zion with songs And everlasting joy upon their heads: They shall obtain joy and gladness, And sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Isaiah 25:8 KJV

He will swallow up death in victory; And the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; And the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: For the LORD hath spoken it.

There will be no more crying 

 • a Greek word imitating the raven’s cry that denotes a great outcry or clamor.

Psalm 30:11 KJV

Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: Thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;

There will be no more pain.

Isaiah 33:24 KJV

And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: The people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.

There will be no more curse.

Revelation 22:3 KJV

And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:

Romans 8:21–23 KJV

Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 

For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 

And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

There will be no more night.

Revelation 22:4–5 KJV

And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. 

And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

Isaiah 60:19–20 KJV

The sun shall be no more thy light by day; Neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: But the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, And thy God thy glory. 

Thy sun shall no more go down; Neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: For the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, And the days of thy mourning shall be ended.

Jesus is coming soon!

Revelation 22:7 KJV

Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

Revelation 22:12 KJV

And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

Revelation 22:17 KJV

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Our Labor Is Not In Vain.

1 Corinthians 15:58 KJV

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Heaven

“There are a lot of questions the Bible doesn’t answer about the Hereafter. But I think one reason is illustrated by the story of a boy sitting down to a bowl of spinach when there’s a chocolate cake at the end of the table. He’s going to have a rough time eating that spinach when his eyes are on the cake. And if the Lord had explained everything to us about what’s ours to come, I think we’d have a rough time with our spinach down here” (Vance Havner).

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 10:51 AM October 1, 2020.