The Gift of Love

Sunday Morning Sermons

The Gift of Love

Pastor Don Carpenter

Best Christmas Ever

There was a great theologian who came to the USA from England and was being interviewed by a group of seminary students. The question was asked, “What is the most profound thought that ever occupied your mind.” The answer was, “Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so.”

You may go very, very deep in theology; you may become a scholar; you may become a philosopher, but you’ll never ever understand anything more profound than to understand that God loves you so much He gave His Son the Lord Jesus Christ.

For the last three weeks we have been considering what makes this the Best Christmas Ever. Each week we have been focusing on a different element of the Advent. Jesus came into this world, God became flesh. With His arrival He brought us Hope, Peace, Joy, and today we will focus on the final element of Advent, LOVE.

Any birth is a sweet story of miracles, life and love, but Christ’s arrival was no ordinary birth. Jesus, God’s only Son, became flesh so that He could live a perfect life, pay the price for Sin on the cross, and rise again victorious over sin and death, providing us a way to be saved.

Romans 6:23 KJV

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

2 Corinthians 9:15 KJV

Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

The Gift of Love to the Unlovely

The Gift Was Totally Undeserved

Romans 3:10 KJV

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Romans 3:23 KJV

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 6:23 KJV

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Gift was Given out of Love For Sinners

Romans 5:6–8 KJV

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 

For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

The Gift Was God’s Only Son

 John 3:16 (KJV)

 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 1:14 KJV

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.

John 1:18 KJV

No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

 1 John 4:9–10 (KJV)

 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 

 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

 Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) (2662 ???????)

 ??????? =means of forgiveness, an atoning sacrifice

The Gift of Life to the Dead 

 John 3:16 (KJV)

 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

On Our Own We are Dead In Sin

Ephesians 2:1–2 KJV

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 

Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

Romans 5:12 KJV

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

John 3:18 KJV

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

John 3:36 KJV

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

We Unwrap the Gift of Eternal Life By Faith

Ephesians 2:8–9 KJV

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 

Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Galatians 2:21 KJV

I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Romans 5:10 KJV

For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

John 3:15 KJV

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

1 Timothy 1:15–16 KJV

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 

Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

Romans 8:33 KJV

Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.

Romans 5:1 KJV

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

I don’t understand electricity, but I’m no fool—I’m not going to sit around in the dark till I do. I don’t understand the thermodynamics of internal combustion and the hydraulics of an automatic transmission either, but I’m no fool—I’m not going to stay in one place until I do. The truth is that I don’t understand a great deal of the things that are part of my everyday life, but I make them a part of my life anyway.

The same is true of salvation. No one will fully understand how God could become man, how he could die, how his death could be the basis for our forgiveness, how he could give you and me a new life, and all of the other aspects of salvation. But only a fool would ignore such a great opportunity just because he didn’t understand it.1

1 Michael P. Green, 1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2000), 318.

The Gift of Righteousness to the Condemned

John 3:17 KJV

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Next time you’re in an airport notice the difference between passengers who have confirmed tickets and those on standby (Hybels, Too Busy Not to Pray 113). Those who have confirmed tickets are relaxed, their confident and expectant. Those on standby hang around the ticket counter, they pace and smoke, pace and smoke, pace and smoke…all because of uncertainty. God offers us freedom from the burden of uncertainty, so we can know for sure where we stand with God.

Romans 3:19–25 KJV

Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 

Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 

But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 

Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 

Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

2 Corinthians 5:19–21 KJV

To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

2 Corinthians 9:15 KJV

Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

This last Sunday before Christmas 2021, let us rejoice in God’s Gift of Love, His own precious Son…. given for our salvation.

If you are still trying to merit heaven by your actions, your denomination, your sacraments, please, turn from these dead works and trust in Jesus’ finished work on the cross. You will experience the true meaning of the statement “God So Loved the World”. Ask Jesus to save you once and for all, and this will be the Best Christmas Ever!

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 3:52 PM December 16, 2021.

Don’t Get Carried Away

Wednesday Evening Sermons

Don’t Get Carried Away!

Pastor Don Carpenter

2021 Bible Reading Challenge

J.I. Packer wrote, “All Christians are at once beneficiaries and victims of tradition—beneficiaries, who receive nurturing truth and wisdom from God’s faithfulness in past generations; victims, who now take for granted things that need to be questioned, thus treating as divine absolutes patterns of belief and behavior that should be seen as human, provisional, and relative. We are all beneficiaries of good, wise, and sound tradition and victims of poor, unwise, and unsound traditions.”

Tonight’s passage is a short and pithy warning about becoming spoiled. In this case, Paul is not warning about soul rot, but rather being carried away by the forces of darkness as spoils of war. Every one of us as believers are targets of the Dark One. He and his wish to get us off track, to get us away from truth and to carry us away deceived and confused, and thus rendered ineffective in the battle for truth.

The warning is simple and profound we need to beware of those things that can be used to move us from Bible truth. We must be vigilant so that we do not get carried away.

Colossians 2:8 KJV

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

Don’t Get Carried Away

“Beware” is blepete (???????), “Be constantly looking out, keep a watchful eye ever open.” Lightfoot says; “The form of the sentence is a measure of the imminence of the peril.” Expositors says; “The future indicative after m? (??) (not) implies a more serious estimate of the danger than the subjunctive.” The Greek is, “Be ever on your guard lest there shall be anyone who spoils you.” 1

1 Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: For the English Reader, vol. 6 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997), 199.

 Paul continued the military image with this warning: “Beware lest any man carry you off as a captive” (literal translation). The false teachers did not go out and win the lost, no more than the cultists do today. They “kidnapped” converts from churches! Most of the people I have talked with who are members of antichristian cults were at one time associated with a Christian church of one denomination or another.

 How is it possible for false teachers to capture people? The answer is simple: These “captives” are ignorant of the truths of the Word of God. They become fascinated by the philosophy and empty delusion of the false teachers. (This is not to say that all philosophy is wrong, because there is a Christian philosophy of life. The word simply means “to love wisdom.”) When a person does not know the doctrines of the Christian faith, he can easily be captured by false religions.1

1 Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 125.

 Regardless of the specific teachings, the fundamental problem Paul identifies is that human rules and traditions are being recommended as necessary supplements to Christ. However, it is also possible that Paul is not correcting a particular false teaching. Instead, Paul could be concerned with the immaturity and ignorance of the Colossian believers.1

1 John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Col 2:8.

Don’t Get Carried Away By Philosophy And Vain Deceit

philosophia (?????????, 5385) denotes “the love and pursuit of wisdom,” hence, “philosophy,” the investigation of truth and nature; in Col. 2:8, the so-called “philosophy” of false teachers. “Though essentially Greek as a name and as an idea, it had found its way into Jewish circles … Josephus speaks of the three Jewish sects as three ‘philosophies’ … It is worth observing that this word, which to the Greeks denoted the highest effort of the intellect, occurs here alone in Paul’s writings … the Gospel had deposed the term as inadequate to the higher standard whether of knowledge or of practice, which it had introduced (Lightfoot).1

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), 470.

1 Corinthians 1:19–20 KJV

For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 

Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

Galatians 1:11 KJV

But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.

1. apate (?????, 539), “deceit or deceitfulness” (akin to apatao, “to cheat, deceive, beguile”), that which gives a false impression, whether by appearance, statement or influence, is said of riches, Matt. 13:22; Mark 4:19; of sin, Heb. 3:13.1

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), 151.

Philippians 3:2 KJV

Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.

Don’t Get Carried Away By Traditions of Men

The word tradition means “that which is handed down”; and there is a true Christian tradition (1 Cor. 15:3ff; 2 Thes. 2:15; 3:6; 2 Tim. 2:2). The important thing about any teaching is its origin: Did it come from God or from man? The religious leaders in our Lord’s day had their traditions and were very zealous to obey them and protect them (Matt. 15:1–20). Even the Apostle Paul, before he met the Lord, was “exceedingly zealous of the traditions” (Gal. 1:14).

If a new Christian from a distant mission field were to visit many of our churches, he would probably be astounded at the ideas and practices we have that cannot be supported by God’s Word. Our man-made traditions are usually more important to us than the God-given doctrines of the Scriptures! While it is not wrong to have church traditions that remind us of our godly heritage, we must be careful not to make these traditions equal to the Word of God.1

1 Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 125.

Matthew 15:3 KJV

But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?

Don’t Get Carried Away By Basic Worldly Teaching

“Rudiments” is stoicheia (????????), “rudimentary teachings,” such as “ceremonialism, meats, drinks, washings, Essenic asceticism, pagan symbolic mysteries and initiatory rites—all belonged to a rudimentary moral stage” (Vincent). “World” is kosmos (??????). Lightfoot defines; “belonging to the sphere of material and external things.”1

1 Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: For the English Reader, vol. 6 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997), 200.

Galatians 4:9–10 KJV

But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? 

Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.

Colossians 2:20–22 KJV

Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 

(Touch not; taste not; handle not; 

Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

 • Replacing the person of Christ for building blocks of merit based living.

Galatians 1:12 KJV

For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Jeremiah 2:13 KJV

For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

In the New York Times Magazine Robert Bryce writes:

Autumn is prime time for the use of eyeblack in sports: baseball players in daytime playoff games and football players put dark stuff under their eyes, supposedly to reduce glare bouncing off their cheeks. One popular smear, called No Glare, contains crushed charcoal, paraffin, beeswax and petrolatum. Does it do anything? Dr. Oliver Schein, an ophthalmologist at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, says, “Probably not.” Even so, it’s a tradition. The Pro Football Hall of Fame has a photo of the Washington Redskins fullback Andy Farkas using it way back in 1942. Bobby Valentine, when he managed the Texas Rangers, once wore eyeblack in the dugout. Boog Powell, the former Baltimore Orioles star, used it during his 17 years in the majors. “I don’t remember it ever doing any good,” he says. “But you looked cool.”

We do well on occasion to examine our traditions to see whether we really know their purpose—and whether they accomplish that purpose.1

1 Craig Brian Larson, 750 Engaging Illustrations for Preachers, Teachers & Writers (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2002), 581–582.

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 1:25 PM December 15, 2021.

Duty Bound

Uncategorized

Duty Bound

Pastor Don Carpenter

2021 Bible Reading Challenge

When DAVE THOMAS died in early 2002, he left behind more than just thousands of Wendy’s restaurants. He also left a legacy of being a practical, hard-working man who was respected for his down-to-earth values.

Among the pieces of good advice that have outlived the smiling entrepreneur is his view of what Christians should be doing with their lives. Thomas, who as a youngster was influenced for Christ by his grandmother, said that believers should be “roll-up-your-shirt sleeves” Christians.

In his book Well Done, Thomas said, “Roll-up-your-shirtsleeves Christians see Christianity as faith and action. They still make the time to talk with God through prayer, study Scripture with devotion, be super-active in their church and take their ministry to others to spread the Good Word.” He went onto say they are “anonymous people who are doing good for Christ may be doing even more good than all the well-known Christians in the world.”

That statement has more meat in it than a Wendy’s triple burger. Thomas knew ab out hard work in the restaurant business; and he knew it is vital in the spiritual world also.

Let’s Roll-up-our-shirt sleeves, there is plenty to do.

(Source: Dave Branon, Our Daily Bread. From a sermon by Dennis Davidson, Authentic Faith Works, 10/26/2009)

_____

The Apostle Paul wrote the book of Romans as a treatise on Salvation, how to obtain it and what to do with it once you have. In Chapter 15, Paul is summarizing the life of a believer. In verse one he uses a word that characterizes that summary. The word is “ought”.

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 71.25 ??????

71.25 ??????c: to be obligatory in view of some moral or legal requirement—‘ought, to be under obligation.’

God has much to say about how we are to behave in this world. This passage in a simple summary of our obligations as followers of Christ. These are the building blocks of character. These are the things to which we are duty bound to pursue.

We Ought to Bear The Infirmities of the Weak

Romans 15:1 KJV

We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

We That Are Strong(er)

Refers to believers who confidently trust that they no longer have to adhere to the religious rules they practiced before coming to Christ. Freedom in Christ clears their conscience (see 14:1).1

1 John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Ro 15:1.

to bear Paul encourages more than just tolerance; he wants the strong to be sympathetic toward the weak, even willing to restrict their freedom to prevent the weak from acting against their consciences. This is an opportunity for the strong to demonstrate the love of Christ and the unity of the Spirit.

Infirmities of the weak

“Infirmities” is asthen?ma (????????), used of physical or mental weakness.

the weak Refers to those who are unconfident about what they can or cannot eat. See note on 14:1.1

1 John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Ro 15:1.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 KJV

Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

 The Christian fellowship should be marked by the consideration of its members for each other. Always their thoughts should be not for themselves but for each other. But this consideration must not degenerate into an easy-going, indulgent lack of concern. It must always be designed for the good and for the upbuilding in the faith of the other person. It is not the toleration which tolerates because it is too lazy to do anything else. It is the toleration which knows that people may be won much more easily to a fuller faith by surrounding them with an atmosphere of love than by attacking them with a battery of criticism.1

1 William Barclay, The Letter to the Romans, 3rd ed. fully rev. & updated., The New Daily Study Bible (Louisville, KY; London: Westminster John Knox Press, 2002), 230.

We Ought to Seek to Build Up Our Neighbor First.

Romans 15:2–3 KJV

Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. 

For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

John 6:38 KJV

For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

1 Corinthians 10:24 KJV

Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.

Philippians 2:4 KJV

Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

 Joni Eareckson Tada recently told a story commenting on Romans 15:1-2: “We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.”

 She writes, “My husband, Ken, serves as a track-and-field coordinator for Special Olympics. There is always band music, colorful banners, and flags everywhere. Scattered across the infield are teams of mentally handicapped young people.

 “A few years ago at the games, Ken blew his whistle to signal the contestants for the 50-yard dash. A Down’s syndrome girl with thick glasses and a short, stocky boy in baggy shorts were the first to line up. There was a moment of stillness, then a bang from the starting gun. Off they sprinted–six contestants bobbing and weaving down the track.

 “Suddenly the boy in baggy shorts began running toward his friends in the infield. Ken blew his whistle to direct him back to the track, but it was no use. At that point, the Down’s syndrome girl, who was just a few yards from the finish line, turned around, ran toward him, and gave him a big hug. Together they got back on the track and completed the race arm-in-arm, long after the rest of the contestants had crossed the finish line.”

 She ends by saying, “We must run the race not to please ourselves, but to please the Lord. That often means taking time to stop and put our arms around a weaker friend who needs to get back on track. Have you watched a fellow believer get spiritually confused, and yet you’ve kept on going? Jesus doesn’t seems as preoccupied with ‘winning’ as we do. The important thing is how we run the race. And we are called to run it, bearing with the failings of those who are weak.”

(From a sermon by Rodney Buchanan, Christ’s Prayer for the Church, 6/6/2011)

We Ought to Read and Learn From the Book

Romans 15:4 KJV

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

1 Corinthians 9:10 KJV

Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.

 The Christian fellowship should be marked by the study of Scripture; and, from that study of Scripture, Christians draw encouragement. Scripture, from this point of view, provides us with two things. (a) It gives us the record of God’s dealing with a nation, a record which is the demonstration that it is always better to be right with God and to suffer than to be wrong with society and to avoid trouble. The biblical history of Israel is the demonstration in the events of history that ultimately life turns out well for the good, but evil comes to the wicked. Scripture demonstrates not that God’s way is ever an easy way, but in the end it is the only way to everything that makes life worthwhile in time and in eternity. (b) It gives us the great and precious promises of God. It is said that the great preacher Alexander Whyte sometimes had a habit of uttering one text when he left a home during his pastoral visitation; and, as he uttered it, he would say: ‘Put that under your tongue and suck it like a sweetie.’ These promises are the promises of a God who never breaks his word. In these ways, Scripture gives to those who study it comfort in their sorrow and encouragement in their struggle.

1 William Barclay, The Letter to the Romans, 3rd ed. fully rev. & updated., The New Daily Study Bible (Louisville, KY; London: Westminster John Knox Press, 2002), 230–231.

1 Corinthians 10:11 KJV

Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

2 Corinthians 3:12 KJV

Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:

2 Timothy 2:25 KJV

In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

We Ought to Be Like Minded Toward Each Other

Romans 15:5 KJV

Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:

Ezekiel 11:19 KJV

And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:

A number of years ago in Canada, a little two-year-old girl wandered away from her neighborhood. It was a cold, winter day. Her parents alerted the neighbors and they saw some tracks in the snow, but there were a lot of other tracks, so for several hours the searchers went in all different directions calling her name. They didn’t find her. A little before sunset one of the men said, “Instead of all working separately, let’s join hands and form a long line and walk through the field together. That way we cannot miss a square foot.”

That’s what they did. They joined hands and together walked as one long line calling that little girl’s name. Tragically, they found her frozen body curled up. One of the men said with great anguish, “Oh, if we had only joined hands sooner.

We Ought To Unite in Praise With One Voice

Romans 15:6 KJV

That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jeremiah 32:39 KJV

And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them:

Psalm 102:18 KJV

This shall be written for the generation to come: And the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.

 The Christian fellowship should be marked by praise. It is no bad test to apply to people to ask whether the main accent of their voices is one of grumbling discontent or cheerful thanksgiving. ‘What can I do, who am a little old lame man,’ said Epictetus, ‘except give praise to God?’ Christians should enjoy life because they enjoy God. They will carry their secret within them, for they will be sure that God is working all things together for good.

1 William Barclay, The Letter to the Romans, 3rd ed. fully rev. & updated., The New Daily Study Bible (Louisville, KY; London: Westminster John Knox Press, 2002), 232.

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 11:31 AM December 1, 2021.

Physician, Heal Thyself

Wednesday Evening Sermons

Physician, Heal Thyself

Pastor Don Carpenter

2021 Bible Reading Challenge / Wisdom; Take Counsel / Acts 21:1–14

Sometimes we focus so hard trying to impart wisdom and character to others, we neglect to take our own advice. Tonight’s lesson is about not only the wisdom to give good counsel, but wisdom to listen to the counsel of others.

It is important for the servant of God not only to teach and lead, but also to learn and follow from time to time. Through out several cities Paul had been warned of impending doom in Jerusalem. He was bracing himself for the worse. Tonight we will see that he was told clearly that he should not go to Jerusalem at all. We will see that his burden for Jewish people caused him to disobey God’s direct leading.

Paul was warned directly and specifically not to go to Jerusalem.

Acts 21:1–6 KJV

And it came to pass, that after we were gotten from them, and had launched, we came with a straight course unto Coos, and the day following unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara: 

And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth. 

Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden. 

And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem. 

And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed. 

And when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship; and they returned home again.

Paul knew of the coming bonds in Jerusalem.

Acts 20:23 KJV

Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.

The Holy Spirit specifically forbid Paul to go to Jerusalem. (verse 4)

Acts 21:4 KJV

And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.

Acts 16:6–7 KJV

Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, 

After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.

Revelation 3:7 KJV

And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

Paul encouraged the saints on his way to Jerusalem.

Acts 21:7–9 KJV

And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day. 

And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him. 

And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.

 A. In Ptolemais

 B. In Caesarea at Philip’s house

  1. His daughters prophesied

  2. His daughters did not teach Paul directly, even though God had many messages to give Paul regarding Jerusalem.

1 Timothy 2:11–12 KJV

Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 

But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

Paul was warned by the prophet, Agabus

Acts 21:10–14 KJV

And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. 

And when he was come unto us, he took Paul’s girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. 

And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. 

Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. 

And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.

Agabus had been used back before Paul had become a missionary.

Acts 11:28 KJV

And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.

Agabus illustrated Paul’s coming bondage.

All the saints tried to persuade Paul to change his mind.

Hebrews 10:24 KJV

And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

Proverbs 11:14 KJV

Where no counsel is, the people fall: But in the multitude of counsellers there is safety.

Proverbs 15:22 KJV

Without counsel purposes are disappointed: But in the multitude of counsellers they are established.

Proverbs 24:6 KJV

For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: And in multitude of counsellers there is safety.

Conclusion:

Sometimes we can find ourselves thinking and behaving like the Apostle Paul did in our passage tonight. We can have a good burden, and a passionate zeal for something. God may try to re-direct our efforts, but we could be so focused upon our own burden and idea that we do not follow the direct leading of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit leads through personal direction, through pastoral counsel, and through the counsel of wise peers. When all of those sources of wisdom seem to be saying the same thing, one should take a second look at what he plans to do, and allow himself to be taught by God’s leading. These are the lessons we can learn so we do not hear the rebuke, physician heal thyself.

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 11:09 AM November 23, 2021.

The Shout of Praise

Sunday Morning Sermons

The Shout of Praise

Pastor Don Carpenter

Holy Roar: 7 Words That Will Change The Way You Worship

Pastor Darren Whitehead tells the following story:

Brandy and I started our family in the shadow of the windy city, and though it was a great place and we were part of an amazing church, over time, we felt God calling us to contend for the future of the American church. We felt led to give the next several decades of our lives to the next generation, to plant a new church in a new city. Which city? That minor detail wasn’t quite so clear.

During a time of family prayer, I told our daughters we were considering leaving Chicago to plant a church. They asked the normal questions: Where? When? We told them we didn’t know, but we declared our trust in God. We’d go wherever he sent us. And in the meantime, as crazy as it all seemed, we’d praise him for what he’d do.

Weeks later, we put our house on the market. Our neighbors asked the same questions: Where are you moving? When? I didn’t know, I told them, but we were sure God would lead us. And in the meantime, we’d praise him.

We sold the house within months, and as the moving company loaded our boxes, they asked where we were moving. I told them, too, that I didn’t know.

Honestly, I felt like a madman, unsure where this trust in God would take us. Brandy and I were stepping out, declaring our faith in both our actions and words, and we were giving our children a front row seat to the madness.

Ultimately, God made his plan for our family clear, and we moved to Nashville, Tennessee. We learned that Nashville is home to more than one hundred thousand college students with 60 percent choosing to stay in the area after graduation.

Our children joined us in this journey of uncertainty and faith. They’ve seen how God led and provided for us, how he’s done so many miraculous things in our lives. They’ve seen how we’ve raised a shout of praise for everything he’s done. And it’s my hope that when they’re adults, when they’re making their own decisions, they’ll remember those shouts of praise. It’s my hope that when culture shouts at them, when it asks them to reject their faith and to conform, they’ll drown out those siren songs with their own declarations of faith, trust, and praise. It’s my hope that they’ll raise a shâbach.

 Shâbach, our final Hebrew word of praise, means to address in a loud tone, to shout, to commend, to glory, or to declare triumph. Quite literally, it means to raise a holy roar. The word is used sparsely in the Old Testament, a mere eleven times, but each time, it has powerful effect. 

Shout In Spite of Circumstances

 Psalm 63:1–4 (KJV)

 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: My soul thirsteth for thee, My flesh longeth for thee In a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; 

 To see thy power and thy glory, So as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. 

 Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise thee. 

 Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.

 Psalm 106:47 (KJV)

 Save us, O LORD our God, And gather us from among the heathen, To give thanks unto thy holy name, And to triumph in thy praise.

Psalm 71:23 KJV

My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; And my soul, which thou hast redeemed.

Shout Among the Nations

Psalm 117:1–2 KJV

O praise the LORD, all ye nations: Praise him, all ye people. 

For his merciful kindness is great toward us: And the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD.

Holy Roar: 7 Words That Will Change The Way You Worship BEHIND THE MUSIC

This shout of praise, this shâbach, is not simply a personal declaration though. The shortest psalm, Psalm 117, calls all nations to raise a holy roar.

The most vivid “cultural shâbach” that I have ever seen happened recently. It was a gathering of more than five million people. It was reported as the seventh largest gathering in human history. At one point, that crowd gave a full-bodied, full-volume shout at the top of their lungs. It was a thunderous sonic boom. It was a unified colossal roar.

The location? Hutchinson Field in Grant Park in downtown Chicago. The occasion? The Chicago Cubs winning the Major League Baseball World Series.

As a former resident of Chicago, I can appreciate how Cubs fans have lamented 108 years without a World Series victory. Entire generations of Chicagoans have been born, grown up next to Wrigley Field, lived long lives, and died without ever seeing the Cubs win it all. This was a shout that represented a century of pent-up anticipation and disappointment.

This corporate celebration, this shout, gives us the clearest image of shâbach. Every time we gather with God’s people to praise him, one voice unites with another. Songs become anthems. Anthems become declarations. Declarations become a holy roar.

Psalm 98:4 KJV

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: Make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.

Psalm 66:1–2 KJV

Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands: 

Sing forth the honour of his name: Make his praise glorious.

Shout From One Generation to the Next

 Psalm 145:4 (KJV)

 One generation shall praise thy works to another, And shall declare thy mighty acts.

Holy Roar: 7 Words That Will Change The Way You Worship BEHIND THE MUSIC

The holy roar of praise is not self-contained, not just for a particular people in a particular space. It’s not praise for the purpose of pumping up the present crowd. It’s for the purpose of passing on the faith from one generation to the next. The next generation, the future church, is waiting for the sound of shâbach.

The shout of praise needs your voice. Join the holy roar.

 Psalm 147:11–14 (KJV)

 The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, In those that hope in his mercy. 

 Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem; Praise thy God, O Zion. 

 For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; He hath blessed thy children within thee. 

 He maketh peace in thy borders, And filleth thee with the finest of the wheat.

Praise Was Not Optional For David – We Should Follow His Passion.

Psalm 119:164 KJV

Seven times a day do I praise thee Because of thy righteous judgments.

Holy Roar: 7 Words That Will Change The Way You Worship Conclusion: The Practice of Praise

No matter where he was, who he was with, or what he had to do, he made space to praise God. And if David were to walk into your modern life, if he were to visit you in the coffee shop, or climb into your cherry-red Mazda RX-7, what would you observe about his praise practices? You might note how he’d stop midconversation and ask for a moment to offer praise to God. He might fall on his knees, or raise his hand, or shout right there in the coffee shop: “God, you are so good!” It wouldn’t be a onetime practice. Seven times a day you’d experience this kind of interruption from David. He’d ask you to pull over so he could kneel on the side of the road. He’d ask you to drive him to the church building so he could offer some new song of praise. Your friends might look at him as if he were crazy, might ask you why your friend David was always dancing or kneeling or shouting or singing in praise. You’d shrug your shoulders and look to him. He’d just laugh and say, “You think this is abnormal? ‘I will become even more undignified than this because of what God has done for me. He’s set me free!” (see 2 Samuel 6:22). 

David, the king of all of Israel, the great unifier of the people—we could all learn so much from his indignities.

Holy Roar: 7 Words That Will Change The Way You Worship Conclusion: The Practice of Praise

The seven Hebrew words of praise—yâdâh, hâlal, zâmar, tôwdâh, bârak, tehillâh, and shâbach—have changed the way I enter God’s courts. In them, I’ve found complete freedom to express my praise to God. My guess is, if you explore the depths of these words, if you take them to heart, you’ll find that freedom too, and you’ll become a living expression of praise. 

Come with us on this unifying journey of praise.

Join the shâbach of God’s people.

Become a part of the holy roar.

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 6:30 PM November 17, 2021.

Divine Intervention

Wednesday Evening Sermons

Divine Intervention

Pastor Don Carpenter

2021 Bible Reading Challenge / Acts 12:1–5

DEFINE MIRACLE

A miracle is a divine intervention into, or interruption of, the regular course of the world that produces a purposeful but unusual event that would not have occurred otherwise(Geisler).

Scholar, William Lane Craig gives us an even more simple definition:

A miracle is an event which is not producible by the natural causes that are operative at the time and place that the event occurs.

SOURCE: Norman Geisler and Ron Brooks, When Skeptics Ask: A Handbook on Christian Evidences (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1990), 79. Lee Strobel, The Case for Faith (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Pub. House, 2000), 62

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Tonight we are going to take a simple look at the concept of Divine Intervention. When God gets involved, often the natural course of events change abruptly. God intervenes and the entire universe must bend to His will.

God Gets Involved When The Church Prays

Things Looked Bad For Peter

Acts 12:1–4 KJV

Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. 

And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 

And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) 

And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.

BUT PRAYER WAS MADE

 Acts 12:5 (KJV)

 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

Deliverance Came

Acts 12:6–12 KJV

And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. 

And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. 

And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. 

And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision. 

When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him. 

And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews. 

And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.

Matthew 18:19 KJV

Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

God Gets Involved When His People Pray

Dorcas Died

Acts 9:36–40 KJV

Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did. 

And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber. 

And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them. 

Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them. 

But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

BUT PETER PRAYED

Acts 9:40–41 KJV

But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 

And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.

Prayer Is Available For All Believers

James 5:16–18 KJV

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 

Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. 

And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

God Gets Involved When His Son Prays

Satan Desired To Destroy Peter

Luke 22:31 KJV

And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

BUT JESUS PRAYED

 Luke 22:32 (KJV)

 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

John 17:9–11 KJV

I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. 

And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. 

And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

Jesus Prayed For You Too!

John 17:15–21 KJV

I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 

They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 

As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. 

And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. 

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 

That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

This week when the course of events seem to be headed in a perilous direction, remember that all of creation must comply to the will of God. Drop to your knees, tell daddy what is going on and your story too will change with the narrative, but prayer was made!

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 7:22 PM November 16, 2021.

Sunday’s Coming! See You in Church!

Announcements

S.M Lockridge preached the message, “It’s Friday but Sunday’s Coming! Whatever you have been experiencing this week, Sunday’s coming. Lay your trials, and pressures at the feet of Jesus and worship Him with us. God loves you more than you can ever imagine! Will you join us in celebrating that love Sunday at 11 AM? Call 860-496-8022 for more information.

The Position of Praise

Sunday Morning Sermons

The Position of Praise

Pastor Don Carpenter

Holy Roar: 7 Words That Will Change The Way You Worship

Pastor Whitehead tells the following story:

Years ago, I received a phone call while driving to church. It was from an unknown number, and the voice on the other side of the line told me Rickey, a student from my days of youth pastoring, had been in a serious motorcycle accident in Franklin. He was in a coma, the voice said, and had been life-flighted to Vanderbilt Hospital. I was living in Chicago at the time, but Rickey was one of those special kids, one for whom I had deep affection. So I dropped everything and made my way to Nashville.

After a whirlwind flight, I made my way to the hospital. There, I saw Rickey lying in his bed, near lifeless. He’d been married the year before, and his wife was in the room, desperate. The doctors had told us that it would be critical to see some improvement in Rickey’s condition in the first twenty-four hours, so we made his hospital room a place of prayer. We begged. We pleaded. We cried out to God.

Despite our prayers, no change occurred. A day passed, then another. A third day, a fourth day, a fifth. Just before I was scheduled to return to Chicago, a doctor came, telling us that the chances of his survival were incredibly remote, and that with every passing moment, the likelihood of his death increased exponentially.

The doctor left the room, and a nurse came in. She looked at Rickey’s wife and said, “In situations like this, hard decisions need to be made. Sometimes it helps to talk those decisions out. I’ve been sent to have that conversation with you.” Rickey’s wife collapsed on the spot, sobbing uncontrollably. 

When it came time for me to leave, Rickey’s wife hadn’t yet made any decisions. I hugged her, gathered my things, and made my way back to Chicago. I was not hopeful.

The next Sunday, back in Chicago, I was driving to church and talking on the phone with my best mate of more than twenty years, Jon Tyson. Jon, also a pastor, had virtually raised Rickey after his dad had died when he was young. With devastated hearts, we started discussing the logistics of the impending funeral service. We talked about who would officiate it. Jon said, “I don’t know if I could get through it. He was like a son to me.” We sat with the weight of that statement for a few seconds until he broke the silence.

“Hold on. I’m getting another call.”

While he tended to business on his other line, I waited, heavyhearted. How could this thing happen to Rickey? How could I worship God in the heaviness of everything?

After a few moments, the phone silence was broken by Jon’s voice. “Rickey just woke up,” he said, and we both burst into tears.

I walked into the church, through the lobby, and into the main auditorium. There, Brandy and I entered with such gratitude, such praise. And as the music began, I looked at Brandy, now on her knees, arms outstretched, thanking God for the miracle he’d done. In that moment, I joined her, and together we wept in joy as we fixed our eyes on the Giver of life. 

Holy Roar: 7 Words That Will Change The Way You Worship BEHIND THE MUSIC

The fifth word commonly translated as praise, the word bârak, is a word of humility. Bârak embodies the notion of kneeling before God, of blessing and adoring him, of recognizing one’s position in relation to him. It’s a word used 289 times in the psalms, and on each occurrence, it’s used to describe worshippers falling on their faces before God in reverence, adoration, and thanks. 

Scholars of the ancient Hebrew provide additional insights into the word bârak. They believe that in the original context, the term did not simply mean bowing down. Instead, it carried the connotation of bending low while keeping one’s eyes fixed on the king. To bârak is to be transfixed.

____

As we continue to expand our understanding of Praise and Worship by examining the 7 Hebrew words used for Praise, today we focus on BARAK.. a position of humility and dependence. Let us discover our need to fall on our face with our gaze to the heavens… a position of praise.

The Most Powerful Men Must Fall Down Before Him.

Psalm 72:11 KJV

Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: All nations shall serve him.

 Psalm 72:15 (KJV)

 And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: Prayer also shall be made for him continually; And daily shall he be praised.

 2 Chronicles 6:12–15 (KJV)

 And he stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands: 

 For Solomon had made a brasen scaffold, of five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court: and upon it he stood, and kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven, 

 And said, O LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee in the heaven, nor in the earth; which keepest covenant, and shewest mercy unto thy servants, that walk before thee with all their hearts: 

 Thou which hast kept with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him; and spakest with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thine hand, as it is this day.

All Things Must Fall Down Before Him

All of Creation Must Fall Down Before Him

Psalm 95:6 KJV

O come, let us worship and bow down: Let us kneel before the LORD our maker.

 Psalm 103:1–2 (KJV)

 Bless the LORD, O my soul: And all that is within me, bless his holy name. 

 Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all his benefits:

 Psalm 103:20–22 (KJV)

 Bless the LORD, ye his angels, That excel in strength, that do his commandments, Hearkening unto the voice of his word. 

 Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; Ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure. 

 Bless the LORD, all his works In all places of his dominion: Bless the LORD, O my soul.

Even Unbelievers Will One Day Fall Down and Worship

Romans 14:11 KJV

For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

Philippians 2:9–11 KJV

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 

And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

We Fall Down When Seeking the Presence of God.

When Facing a Trial

 Daniel 6:10 (KJV)

 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

When Confessing

Ezra 9:5–6 KJV

And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the LORD my God, 

And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.

Because of Our Boldness to Enter His Presence

Ephesians 3:12–14 KJV

In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. 

Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. 

For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

When Experiencing God’s Presence

 Psalm 100:4 (KJV)

 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, And into his courts with praise: Be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

Ezekiel 3:22–23 KJV

And the hand of the LORD was there upon me; and he said unto me, Arise, go forth into the plain, and I will there talk with thee. 

Then I arose, and went forth into the plain: and, behold, the glory of the LORD stood there, as the glory which I saw by the river of Chebar: and I fell on my face.

Revelation 7:9–12 KJV

After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 

And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. 

And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, 

Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

Chris Tomlin recounts the following:

Holy Roar: 7 Words That Will Change The Way You Worship BEHIND THE MUSIC

It was the late 1990s, a time when the modern praise and worship movement was just taking hold. I’d traveled throughout college leading worship for youth retreats and church camps, and the summer after my senior year, I’d booked twelve camps in twelve weeks. One of those camps featured a dynamic young speaker from Atlanta. 

These were the days before Louie and I were close friends, before our ministries had become so intertwined, and as I listened to him preach night after night, I was taken by the way he brought the scriptures to life. Midway through the camp, he asked the students to turn to Revelation 4, and as he read the scriptures, he brought us to the throne room of God. He showed us Christ, seated at the right hand of God, showed how people of every tongue, tribe, and nation came before that throne and presented their crowns, their accomplishments, to the King of the universe. And this, he said, wasn’t just some event that would happen in the future. This casting down of crowns happened day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute. It was a present reality. One day, he said, it would be our turn to cast down our crowns.

Holy Roar: 7 Words That Will Change The Way You Worship BEHIND THE MUSIC

I often wonder how our church gatherings might feel if, Sunday after Sunday, we came with the eyes of our souls transfixed on the King. Would we complain about the music, about the song selection, about the volume? If we were bowed down, eyes on the King, would we care? 

At Church of the City, we’ve done our best to incorporate the notion of bârak, of keeping our eyes turned to Jesus in worship. When debriefing a church service over lunch, often we ask the question, “How was the worship?” We encourage people to respond with “That’s the wrong question!” The better questions are “How was your worship?” and “How was my worship?” It’s a question of self-examination, a reminder that when we come into the presence of God together, our sole focus should be on the King.

If we’ve experienced the goodness of God, if we’ve seen him at work in our lives, in the lives of our friends, in the life of our church, how can we not bârak? How can we not fall to our knees in gratitude with our eyes fixed on him?

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 4:19 PM November 11, 2021.

Meekness Personified

Wednesday Evening Sermons

Meekness Personified

Pastor Don Carpenter

2021 Bible Reading Challenge

A large group of European pastors came to one of D. L. Moody’s Northfield Bible Conferences in Massachusetts in the late 1800s. Following the European custom of the time, each guest put his shoes outside his room to be cleaned by the hall servants overnight. But of course this was America and there were no hall servants.

Walking the dormitory halls that night, Moody saw the shoes and determined not to embarrass his brothers. He mentioned the need to some ministerial students who were there, but met with only silence or pious excuses. Moody returned to the dorm, gathered up the shoes, and, alone in his room, the world’s only famous evangelist began to clean and polish the shoes. Only the unexpected arrival of a friend in the midst of the work revealed the secret.

When the foreign visitors opened their doors the next morning, their shoes were shined. They never knew by whom. Moody told no one, but his friend told a few people, and during the rest of the conference, different men volunteered to shine the shoes in secret. Perhaps the episode is a vital insight into why God used D. L. Moody as He did. He was a man with a servant’s heart and that was the basis of his true greatness.”

(Gary Inrig, A Call to Excellence, (Victor Books, a division of SP Publishing, Wheaton, Ill; 1985), p. 98.

From a sermon by Eric Lenhart, Are Your Feet Dirty? 8/12/2010)

One of the reasons I believe that God used D.L. Moody in a mighty way was not only because he could preach but also that he understood Christlike meekness. His story reminds us of the one we just read where Jesus washed the disciple’s feet.  The Bible tells us that Jesus is the living demonstration of the character of God, and the character we are to emulate.

John 1:14 KJV

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.

Matthew 11:29 KJV

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Albert Barnes gives us the following insight on understanding meekness:

“Meekness is patience in the reception of injuries. It is neither meanness nor a surrender of our rights, nor cowardice; but it is the opposite of sudden anger, of malice, of long-harboured vengeance.”

“Meekness is the reception of injuries with a belief that God will vindicate us. “Vengeance is his; he will repay,” Ro. 12:19. It little becomes us to take his place, and to do what he has promised to do.

Meekness produces peace. It is proof of true greatness of soul. It comes from a heart too great to be moved by little insults. It looks upon those who offer them with pity. He that is constantly ruffled; that suffers every little insult or injury to throw him off his guard and to raise a storm of passion within, is at the mercy of every mortal that chooses to disturb him. He is like “the troubled sea that cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.”

1 Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament: Matthew & Mark, ed. Robert Frew (London: Blackie & Son, 1884–1885), 44.

While it may take some work to dig into the meaning of “meek and lowly in heart”, our story before us this evening gives us a living breathing example of what Grace living looks like. Let us get ready to renew our minds as we discover together the picture Christ gave of meekness personified.

Jesus Knew

That His Hour Was Come

John 13:1 KJV

Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.

Who He Was in God – No Identity Crisis

John 13:3 KJV

Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;

John 13:13 KJV

Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.

Who Would Do What to Him

John 13:37–38 KJV

Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake. 

Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.

John 20:24–25 KJV

But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 

The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.

John 13:2 KJV

And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him;

John 13:11 KJV

For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.

John 13:26–27 KJV

Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. 

And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.

If Jesus knew the grievances committed against Him, yet showed love and grace in humility, all our excuses for withholding grace and kindness are gone. This should affect how we treat:

 • Our cut throat coworker

 • The bully in our life

 • Those whose lifestyle is opposite your own

 • LGBTQ community that may visit our church.

Jesus Loved

 John 13:1 (KJV)

 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.

The Sheep

John 10:11–14 KJV

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 

But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 

The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 

I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

The Lost

Luke 19:10 KJV

For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

So he used this act of Grace to teach the sheep and to perform one more little act of kindness before Judas was sentenced to Hell for eternity.

Jesus Demonstrated

Matthew 11:29 KJV

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

The Look of a Servant

John 13:4 KJV

He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.

his outer clothing First-century Jews typically wore two layers—an outside robe and an inside robe against their skin. Here, Jesus takes off his outside robe either because He doesn’t want to get it wet or, more likely, to demonstrate His vulnerability to His disciples, which suggests that love requires a person to be vulnerable. Jesus then ties a towel around his waist, likely to use if for wiping the disciples’ feet.1

1 John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Jn 13:4.

The Action of a Servant

John 13:5 KJV

After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

wash the feet This is an act that only slaves performed. When the master of a wealthy household returned from a journey or, at times, a day of labor, a slave would wash his feet. People wore open-toed sandals in the first century, which would have made this an unpleasant task.1

1 John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Jn 13:5

The Identity of a Servant

John 13:12–13 KJV

So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? 

Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.

Philippians 2:7 KJV

But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Jesus Taught

John 13:15 KJV

For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

By Example

John 13:15 KJV

For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

1 John 2:6 KJV

He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

Philippians 2:5 KJV

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

By Word

John 13:12 KJV

So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?

1 Peter 5:5 KJV

Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

By Position

John 13:16 KJV

Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

Luke 6:40 KJV

The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.

HE WASHED MY FEET – GREATER VISION

The moment our eyes met

I knew this was the night that I would betray him The precious Lamb of God

No other disciple was aware if my plan

Til He rose from the table with something in His hand

His holy eyes pierced through me

Revealing all my sin

I knew His wrath was coming

And this would be the end

But He bowed and He washed my feet knowing that I was the cause of His grief

When He should have scolded

He whispered peace

As He bowed and He bowed and He washed my feet

Judas would fail Him But he’s no worse than I

The moment I gave into satan’s compromise

Ungrateful that Jesus had saved me from hell

I was walking so proudly and that’s when I fell

His holy eyes pierced through me

Revealing all my sin

I knew His wrath was coming

And this would be the end

But He bowed and He washed my feet knowing that I was the cause of His grief

When He should have scolded

He whispered peace

As He bowed

The king bowed

Jesus washed my feet

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 12:44 PM November 10, 2021.