Open Doors
Open Doors
Pastor Don Carpenter / General
Opportunity; Worldview / Revelation 3:7–13
As we study of Christ’s letters to the seven churches in Asia, we find a letter of great encouragement and commendation written to the church at Philadelphia. As we explore the truths of this letter, we will find some wonderful laws of cause and effect. We will see that if we remain faithful – as born again believers – to our Savior, then He can put before us an open door of opportunity through which we can reach a lost world.
Jesus promises an open door of opportunity
Revelation 3:7–8 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;
I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
A. Jesus has the authority to offer such a gift – vs 7
B. No one can close a door Jesus opens
For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.
Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,
C. This comes as a result of certain behavior
1. Even when there is little strength
2. Jesus’ Word is kept
3. Jesus’ name is not denied
D. The open door is the unlikely salvation of those that have opposed them
Revelation 3:9 KJV
Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
Years ago a professor was giving a nature talk to children. His subject was plants and flowers. He explained how the seeds became plants, how the plants became leaves and flowers, and how the plants developed seeds all over again. Then he told about how all the different parts of a plant are built up of tiny cells, and how all these cells are filled with the amazing substance called protoplasm, which is contained in all living bodies and which makes them live and grow. Finally he stated that no one knew what gave protoplasm its power of living and growing. “That is a closed door, and behind the door is an unexplainable mystery.” Then one of the children asked, “Please, Sir, does God live behind the door?”
—James Hastings
Jesus Promises Deliverance
Revelation 3:10 KJV
Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
A. From Hell
B. From the wrath to come – tribulation
C. From our own foolishness
Jesus Promises Rewards
Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
A. Crowns for reward
B. Crown of righteousness
2 Timothy 4:8 KJV
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Two frogs fell into a can of cream,
Or so I’ve heard it told.
The sides of the can were shiny and steep,
The cream was deep and cold.
“Oh, what’s the use?” croaked number one.
“Tis fate, no help’s around.
Good-bye, my friend!
Good-bye, sad world!”
And weeping still, he drowned.
But number two, of sterner stuff,
Dog-paddled in surprise.
The while he wiped his creamy face,
And dried his creamy eyes.
“I’ll swim awhile at least,” he said,
Or so I’ve heard he said;
“It really wouldn’t help the world,
If one more frog were dead.”
An hour or two he kicked and swam,
Not once he stopped to mutter,
But kicked and kicked and swam and kicked,
Then hopped out, via butter!
God has brought you here in this exact spot by perfect design. He has closed some doors… some to normalcy, employment or even to personal health. But the God that closes some doors not to be opened, opens others that cannot be shut. Although it may be scary and unfamiliar there is a door that is opened just for you to walk through.
Exported from Logos Bible Software, 5:49 PM March 22, 2020.
Treasure Hunt
Treasure Hunt
Pastor Don Carpenter / General
Prefer; Eternity; Worldview / Matthew 6:19–21
Last month, when musing about this time of year, I thought of March Madness, the beginning of a promising year for the Red Sox, upcoming graduation for our seniors, and the joy of spring. Within a few short days all of that has ended. We now assemble in what will probably be the last time we are together in this building for some time. WOW! What a mind bending shift of circumstances.
What was once important has drastically shifted. Who knew it would be all about the toilet paper! In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warned his disciples not to get the priorities mixed up. This morning as we reflect on the truths of scriptures. Let see where our hearts are truly fixed… let us go on a treasure hunt.
Avoid Crashing Stocks
Matthew 6:19 KJV
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
• Lay = store up / work hard to amass
• Temporary Treasure
Proverbs 16:16 KJV
How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
• Corruptable
• Unstable – not secure
He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.
When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?
• Money/ Material
• Pleasure
• Prestige
Invest In A Sure Thing
Matthew 6:20 KJV
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
• Eternal Life
John 14:6 KJV
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
• Eternal Truth
Colossians 2:2–3 KJV
That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
• Eternal Relationship
• Lasting Legacy
I’d like to begin this morning with a story. It involves these men [photo of Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs]. You probably recognize them: Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs. The two men who founded Apple Computer. Right? Well, no, actually that’s not completely accurate. Here is a photo of the original partnership agreement, dated April 1, 1976 [Apple partnership agreement]. As you can see, it has three signatures, not two. The first is Stephen G. Wozniak. The second is Steven P. Jobs. And the third is Ronald G. Wayne. Here’s a picture of him
[photo of Ronald G. Wayne]. Who is that, you may ask.
Ronald Wayne was the third co-founder of Apple, with a ten percent ownership stake. Remember that figure: ten percent. He wasn’t an engineer, but he had a significant role in the early days of the company: he designed the first Apple logo, he wrote the user manual for the Apple 1 computer, and in general he provided administrative oversight of the new venture. He was the unofficial adult in the room: he was in his forties at the time.
So why haven’t most of us ever heard of Ronald Wayne? Is he a wealthy recluse, staying out of the public eye while he sails around the world on his 300-foot luxury yacht? Perhaps he’s a philanthropist, distributing his millions to deserving charities. No. No, neither of those things is true. In fact, today Ronald Wayne is far from wealthy. Because just twelve days after these partnership documents were signed, he and the others signed a second document [Dissolution of partnership document]. And in this document, he gave up his ten percent stake, in exchange for eight hundred dollars. Eight hundred dollars.
Let me ask you, would you be willing to pay $800 for ten percent of Apple Computer today? So what happened? Well, Wayne had second thoughts. As a partner, he would have been liable for any debts incurred by the new company, and that was a risk. He had assets that creditors could come after if the company went broke. He also felt a bit out of his league with Jobs and Wozniak, these two whiz-kid geniuses. And so he bailed. Took the $800 check and parted ways with them. And the rest is history.
Now, just for fun, let’s calculate what Wayne’s ten percent stake in Apple would be worth if he had held on to it all these years. Apple today is worth about $800 Billion dollars. And so that ten percent stake in 1976 would today be worth about $80 Billion dollars. That’s right. The ownership stake that Ronald Wayne relinquished in 1976 for eight hundred would today be worth over eighty billion dollars. In other words, about a hundred million times what he sold it for. Just let that sink in for a moment. Now, for the record, Mr. Wayne says today that he doesn’t regret his decision, and that it was based on the best information he had at the time. So, he’s made his peace with it. But you have to suspect that more than once, over the years, he’s said to himself: “If only . . . “.
However, Ronald Wayne isn’t the only person who sold their Apple stock too soon. Apple went public on December 12, 1980. And for 23 years, the stock didn’t do much. [chart: Apple stock price IPO-2003]. A lot of people sold their stock during that time. But beginning in 2013, the stock really took off. Here’s a graph [chart: Apple stock since IPO]. What that all boils down to is this: an investment of one thousand dollars in 1980 would today be worth about $400 thousand dollars. An investment of $2,500 back then would be worth close to a million today. Why is there never a time machine around when you need one?
I don’t share that story to gloat about buying Apple stock in 1980. I didn’t. If I had, I would probably be spending my winters in a warmer climate than Cleveland offers. Maybe on my own private yacht somewhere. No, I share that story to urge you not to do what Ronald Wayne did when he sold his stake in Apple for $800 instead of waiting to cash in at $80 billion dollars. I’m urging you not to do what all those Apple investors did who sold early and missed out on returns of literally hundreds of times what they had paid. I’m urging you to follow the ultimate buy-and-hold strategy.
Are You Headed For Recession or Is Your Investment Secure?
Matthew 6:21 KJV
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Will you be remembered for the things you did or the things that you owned?
I was asked that question the other day and the asker simply asked me to name, in ten words or less, the one thing that I would be most remembered for. It really didn’t take me long to figure that one out. Seeing as I am one of the few people around these parts that travels around daily (and have done so for years) in an old Corvair, I felt compelled to make that my answer. Once I am long with the Lord there will be, no doubt, someone, somewhere, who remembers me by that label. “He drove a Corvair, didn’t he? You know–that car with the engine in the back?”
He drove a Corvair! You know, that didn’t sound so bad to me at the moment. I could have been remembered for my temper or my lack of finishing things. I suppose there could be a lot of things worse than owning a Corvair that one could be remembered for. Right?
Perhaps! But, the more I thought about it, the more it bothered me that this was my answer. This was something I owned, not something I did. Ultimately, wouldn’t being remembered for our deeds be more important than our possessions? What I can put in my life, cars, houses, collections of this and that, are all testimony to what I have acquired in life and say little about the things that matter most, the things that we do, not the things that “do” us.
I remember reading sometime back about a robbery that took place in London. Armed gunmen broke into the deposit boxes in a London bank and stole valuables worth more than $7 million. One lady, whose jewelry was appraised at $500,000, wailed, “Everything I had was in there. My whole life was in that box.” What a sad commentary on her values! (Our Daily Bread.)
The Bible tells us that “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Owning things is not a bad thing. Getting enjoyment out of a car, a home or even a hobby are not bad in and of themselves. But, when our lives become so focused on “what” we own as opposed to “what” we do, we are guilty of idol worship. When our lives revolve around what we can put in a box, whether that box be a safety deposit box or a garage, our values can be suspect. Life was never meant to be lived in a box. Seeking fulfillment in our obedience to God is really living “outside” of the box.
COVID-19 is a divine litmus test of what we really hold dear… it gives us a chance to examine our priorities and go on a spiritual treasure hunt… find your treasure… find your heart…. where did you find it?
Exported from Logos Bible Software, 8:58 PM March 21, 2020.
COVID – 19 Update
Here at Evangelical Baptist Church, we are taking the COVID-19 Virus seriously. With that in mind we have done/ recommend the following:
1. Postponed the Sweet and Sappy Pancake Fellowship Dinner scheduled for March 15.
2. Disinfected all door handles and common surfaces before every service.
3.Made hand sanitize stations available.
4. Replaced handshakes with elbow rubs or simple waves.
5. Recommend that if you have flu symptoms, please stay home.
With these in place, we will continue to have regularly scheduled services. It is important that during a crisis we listen to healthcare professionals, follow common sense careful hygiene, and trust God. Again if you think that there is a chance you are sick, please stay home. Feel free to catch up with sermons via videos posted on http://ebcct.org
Whatever It Takes
Whatever It Takes
Pastor Don Carpenter / General
Introduction:
A couple of weeks ago, a missionary on deputation called me asking for a chance to schedule a meeting with a goal of raising support. When learing about his heart and his ministry, i asked him how many folks he won to Christ this past month… silence… how many in a year… none. At this point the pius excuses started to flow by wrote…
“ I don’t save anybody, Jesus does” as if that absolves him of any personal responsibility at all. I took him to this passage and showed him that Paul takes on personal responsibility
“… that I might by all means save some…”
I went on… ok no one in the last year, how about the last 5 years? He began to weep. I challenged him that if he has not been winning souls here, he will not magically become a soul winner once he crosses the ocean. He needed a fundamental change in his view. He needed to see that winning souls is his personal responsibility and we need to do whatever it takes.
Perhaps as you look back at 2018, or 2017, 16, 15, 14…. how long has it been since you personally led someone to saving faith in Jesus Christ? It starts with a desire, then a passion, then a strong sense of personal responsibility. In 2019, may God stir all the believers here at Evangelical Baptist Church to be personal soul winners willing to do whatever it takes.
It Takes A Burden For Souls.
A. Know that they need Jesus alone, being moral or sincere is not enough.
Acts 4:12 KJV 1900
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
B. Know the fate of the unbeliever.
1. He is condemned already.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 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. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
2. A literal and eternal Hell awaits the unbeliever.
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men… *
3. You are in debt to the unbelievers, and owe them the truth.
14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. 15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
C. Know our Savior’s desire to save the lost.
37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
2 Peter 3:9 KJV 1900
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
It Takes A Sense of Personal Responsibility.
A. You are a steward of God’s truth.
7 So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. 8 When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. 9 Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
Paul Rader had urged a banker in New York many times to receive Christ, but he did not respond. One day the preacher sensed that God wanted him to speak with this man again. Obediently he took a train and went with all speed to the town where the man lived. He hurried to the bank and found his friend standing in the doorway. “Rader,” he said, “I’m glad to see you! I wrote a telegram begging you to come, but later changed my mind and didn’t send it.”
That’s all right,” said the evangelist, “your message came through anyhow by way of Heaven.” Under deep conviction of sin, the banker was impressed by Rader’s earnestness and his special effort to reach him with the Gospel, and that same hour he accepted the Lord. Suddenly the banker gave a gasp and fell into the evangelist’s arms – DEAD! He had been saved on the very brink of eternity.
What if Paul Reader had delayed or failed to stress the urgent need of turning to the Lord immediately? Will you do whatever it takes?
B. Get your eyes off of yourself.
John 4:35 KJV 1900
Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
Constant Meditation in God’s Word.
A. To be cleansed.
9 BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
B. To be ready
1 Peter 3:15 KJV 1900
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
C. To be renewed daily.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Committed to take specific action.
A. To reach as many souls as possible.
• Lay aside your preferences in order to reach more people.
• To the religious preach true religion
• To the moral, preach the only true hope of pure morality
• To the free, preach true freedom
• To the week, preach gently
• Reach everyone where they are not where they should be.
B. To be blameless.
26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
You can never tell what God may do with a gospel witness. Many years ago in St. Louis a Christian man was completing some business with a lawyer. Before leaving the office, the Christian turned to the lawyer and said:
“I have wanted to ask you a question, but I have been a coward.” The lawyer was surprised. “I didn’t think that you were afraid of anything.” He said. “What is your question?”
The client replied: “Why aren’t you a Christian?”
The lawyer hung his head. “You know my weakness.” He said. Ísn’t there something in the Bible about drunkards having no part in the kingdom of God?”
Not to be detoured, the Christian said, ” That’s not what I am asking you. I want to know why you aren’t a Christian.”
“Well,” said the lawyer, “I can’t recall that anybody asked me, and I’m sure that nobody ever told me how to become a Christian!”
Before long the two were praying together and God moved into that lawyer’s life. He saved him and immediately broke the power of drink that had bound him.
That lawyer was Cyrus L. Scofield who later edited the famous Scofield Reference Bible, the most widely used study Bible in the world.
The man who went to speak with Mr. Scofield that day was a soul winner. He was driven with a burden for souls, a sense of personal responsibility, a constant meditation in God’s word, and was committed to take the specific action of sharing the gospel with his lawyer.
Exported from Logos Bible Software, 1:11 PM March 8, 2020.
What Can We Learn From Coronavirus?
What Can We Learn From The Coronavirus?
Pastor Don Carpenter / General
Particular Judgement; Sin; Salvation; Repentance / Luke 13:1–5
There was a farmer who had three sons: Ron, Don and Little John. All had their names on the church roll but none ever attended church or had time for God. Then one day Don was bitten by a rattlesnake. The doctor was called and he did all he could to help Don, but the outlook for his recovery was very dim indeed. So the pastor was called and appraised of the situation. The pastor arrived, and began to pray as follows: “O wise and righteous Father, we thank Thee that in Thine wisdom thou didst send this rattlesnake to bite Don. He hasn’t been inside the church in years and has shown little interest in You. We trust that this experience will be a valuable lesson to him and will lead to his genuine repentance. And now, O Father, wilt thou send another rattlesnake to bite Ron, and another to bite Little John, and another really big one to bite the old man. For years we have done everything we know to get them to get serious with Thee. Thank you God for rattlesnakes.
Everyone Is Going To Die Somehow.
Luke 13:1–2 KJV
There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?
Luke 13:4 KJV
Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
Death is appointed to everyone
Hebrews 9:27 KJV
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Death is deserved by everyone
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:
Romans 6:23 KJV
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Everyone Needs To Repent to Avoid the Sting of Death.
Luke 13:3 KJV
I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Luke 13:5 KJV
I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Repent and Trust Jesus
Hebrews 6:1 KJV
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward 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.
Repent of the Sin That Is Killing You
James 1:13–15 KJV
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
Struggling with repentance is like the experience of the boy who got his hand caught inside an expensive vase. His upset parents applied soap suds and cooking oil, without success. When they seemed ready to break the vase as the only way to release the hand, the frightened boy cried, “Would it help if I let loose of the penny I’m holding?”
So it is all too often with us. We cause others great anguish and risk the truly valuable because we will not let go of the insignificant things we possess today1
1 Michael P. Green, 1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2000), 300–301.
Everyone Needs to Hear the Truth.
Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
The Fields Are White
John 4:35 KJV
Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
The Time is Now
Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
The Responsibility is Ours
For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
Acts 20:26–27 KJV
Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.
For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
Show Some Respect
Show Some Respect
Pastor Don Carpenter / General
Not From Around Here: The Complicated Life of a Sojourner / The Fear of the Lord; Indifferent / 1 Peter 1:17–21
In a speech made in 1863, Abraham Lincoln said, “We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.”
Believers today take for granted the Salvation that they enjoy. We often do not take the time to realize how undeserving of grace we are, how much our salvation cost, and how we came to believe in God in the first place. We need to step back and realize the gravity of our former condition and the splendor of our future.
In our passage this evening we read Peter’s words of encouragement to the early sojourners. In order for them to understand their position of love and grace even during difficult times, they needed to see what God did in order to save them. They needed to show some respect.
Show Some Respect = Sojourn in Fear.
1 Peter 1:17 KJV
And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
Peter says he is to do this in fear. This fear has been defined as follows: “This fear is self-distrust; it is tenderness of conscience; it is vigilance against temptation; it is the fear which inspiration opposes to highmindedness in the admonition, ‘be not high-minded but fear.’ It is taking heed lest we fall; it is a constant apprehension of the deceitfulness of the heart, and of the insidiousness and power of inward corruption. It is the caution and circumspection which timidly shrinks from whatever would offend and dishonor God and the Saviour” (Vincent, quoting Wardlaw On Proverbs).1
1 Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: For the English Reader, vol. 11 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997), 41–42.
Show Some Respect Because God Sees All
1 Peter 1:17 KJV
And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
Peter describes Him as being One “who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work.” The words “without respect of persons” are the translation of one word in Greek which means literally, “does not receive face.” That is, God does not receive anybody’s face. He is impartial. Outward appearance, wealth, culture, social position, family background, education, beauty, intellect, all things that more or less sway the opinions of man, do not count with God when it comes to appraising a person’s character or worthiness. “The Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart”
1 Samuel 16:7 KJV
But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
God, Peter says, judges each man’s work with impartiality. And yet we are not to understand that He is a critical judge trying always to find a defect or flaw in our conduct or service. The Greek word is found oftener in a good than in a bad sense. That is, God’s impartiality is an honest appraisal of things, while His heart is always with His child and goes out to him in a spirit of love. That is beautifully brought out in the use of a particular Greek word in I Corinthians 3:13, which verse and its context refer to the judgment of the believer’s works at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
There are two Greek words which mean “to put to the test,” one meaning “to put to the test in order to discover what evil or good there may be in a person,” the other, “to put to the test in order to sanction or approve the good one finds in that person.” The latter is used in our verse. God expects to find in the life of each saint that upon which He can put His approval, for the Holy Spirit produces good works in all the saints, more in those who are definitely subjected to His control.1
1 Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: For the English Reader, vol. 11 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997), 40–41.
Sojourn in Fear Because Of Your Redemption
Not with Idols or Physical Things
1 Peter 1:18 KJV
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
A little boy went up to a missionary Sunday School leader in a pagan country. The boy said, “I like what you say about the God of the Bible but I can’t see him. But if I go to the temple I can see my God.”
The missionary said to the little boy, “Listen, does your God bleed?”
The boy said, “I don’t know.”
The missionary gave him a pin and said, “Next time you go to the temple, when no one else is watching, prick him and see what happens.”
The following week the boy returned to his Sunday School class. He said to the missionary, “I did it, I did it, I pricked the idol.”
The missionary said, “And what happened?”
The boy replied, “Nothing, my god doesn’t bleed.”
Straight away the missionary said, “But my God did! He bled for me and he bled for you!”
Redeemed By the Blood
1 Peter 1:19–20 KJV
But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
Acts 20:28 KJV
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
“It cost God nothing, as far as we know, to create nice things, but to convert our rebellious wills, it cost Him crucifixion.” C.S. Lewis
Show Some Respect Because of Your Belief
1 Peter 1:21 KJV
Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
Jesus introduced you to the True God
Jesus Demonstrated Power in the Resurrection
Jesus Gave you hope and assurance of salvation and of Truth.
Exported from Logos Bible Software, 12:39 PM March 4, 2020.
A Sure Foundation
A Sure Foundation
Pastor Don Carpenter / General
Growing Pains: The Struggles of a Culturally Relevant Church / Authority; Truth; Wisdom; Philosophy / 1 Corinthians 2:1–5
A Nation of Bible Illiterates
George Barna wrote The State of the Church in 2002. Barna conducted a survey of self-pronounced Christians and here’s what he found about their knowledge of the Bible. These are Christians.
• 48% could not name the four Gospels.
• 52% cannot identify more than two or three of Jesus’ disciples.
• 60% of American Christians can’t name even five of the 10 Commandments.
• 61% of American Christians think the Sermon on the Mount was preached by Billy Graham.
• 71% of American Christians think “God helps those who help themselves” is a Bible verse.
George Barna said, “Americans revere the Bible, but by and large they don’t know what it says. And because they don’t know it, they have become a nation of biblical illiterates.”
Just as the people in this Barna poll are woefully biblical illiterate, Christians are far too ignorant of the Word of God. No wonder 21st century Christians are failing to finish their marathon race. No wonder Christians by the thousands are falling prey to the false teachers of our day. They are being feed junk food and don’t feed themselves on the Word of God. They are desperately in need of a solid diet of good food, Scripture. We need to get into “spiritual shape”.
One of the things that trips us churches and causes divisions is placing one’s anchor on the wrong source of truth. Rather than basing one’s life on a constant study and discovery of truths from God’s perfect Word, the Bible, folks often trust personalities, associations, or denominations as filter for the scriptures, rather than letting scriptures be the filter for their associations.
The Corinthian church had a problem with unity. The problem is that folks were uniting under different men rather than uniting under the same Bible. In our passage we will see how the Apostle Paul is careful to teach them not to anchor their faith to him or any other man. They were to anchor their faith in the Word of God that demonstrates the Power of the Holy Spirit. The Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God is the Sure Foundation.
Don’t Anchor Your Faith to Your Pastor.
And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
The anchor is not in clever speech.
Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words Authority
3. huperoche (???????, 5247), primarily, “a projection, eminence,” as a mountain peak, hence, metaphorically, “pre-eminence, superiority, excellency,” is once rendered “authority,” 1 Tim. 2:2, KJV (marg., “eminent place”), RV, “high place,” of the position of magistrates; in 1 Cor. 2:1, “excellency” (of speech). Cf. huperecho, “to surpass.” See EXCELLENCY.¶
*Translation wheel**
The Anchor is the Testimony (Word) of God.
John 17:17 KJV
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
A Good Pastor Will Put the Focus on Jesus, not Himself.
For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
John 3:30 KJV
He must increase, but I must decrease.
Don’t Anchor Your Faith to Any Other Man’s Wisdom.
And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
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.
Never Quit Evaluating Every Word Preached With The Bible.
Acts 17:10–12 KJV
And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.
Anchor Your Faith to The Sword of the Spirit.
That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
The Bible is what has the power to convert the lost.
Romans 10:17 KJV
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
The Bible is what has the power to change a believer.
Hebrews 4:12 KJV
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Exported from Logos Bible Software, 12:46 PM February 29, 2020.
Closet Christians
Closet Christians
Pastor Don Carpenter / General
Inside Out: The Pursuit of Genuine Christianity / Prayer; Closet; Secret; Hypocrisy / Matthew 6:5–8
When Coach Bobby Bowden played baseball in college, he never hit a home run. His senior year at Howard College, he was the only player not to hit a home run. One day, he hit a line drive against Auburn. As he approached third, the coach was waving him on. As he made his turn, he heard his third base coach say, “But hurry!”
When he touched home, the team was ecstatic, slapping his back and shaking his hand back in the day before “high fives.” The first baseman yelled for the catcher to throw him the ball. The umpire yelled, “out.” When he ran the bases, Bobby Bowden never touched first.
Maybe that’s why he became a football coach. Anyway, you can probably imagine he told his players, “If you don’t take care of first base, it doesn’t matter what you do.”
Matthew 6:6 is part of the Sermon on the Mount. This is the first time Jesus taught his first disciples about prayer. His first lesson was, “Spend time alone with the Father in prayer.” If we don’t follow his first lesson, we are not following the example or the command of Christ.
In the last several weeks we have been looking at Jesus’ radical sermon on true Christianity. We have seen that we must do better than the Scribes and Pharisees, and they claim to be better than everybody.
Matthew 5:20 KJV
For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
We have seen that our righteousness must start in the heart with a true conversion, then extend to our actions. Last week we talked about alms giving. We saw that we must not do it to be seen as righteous, but we must do it ,often in secret, to be righteous. This week we will look at prayer in the same light. While some of us may pray in public from time to time, the real power comes when we learn to be Prayer Closet Christians.
A Closet Christian Will Pray to God.
Matthew 6:5 KJV
And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
• When you pray – not if… when was the last time you really prayed?
Psalm 55:17 KJV
Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: And he shall hear my voice.
• Don’t pray for others to hear.
• If you quote scripture, quote it to claim it, not to educate your audience.
• Don’t pray to preach
• Don’t pray to rebuke an audience
• Don’t pray to impress others
• Don’t be a hypocrite, God knows the real truth anyway.
A pious church member, who thought himself to be a great Christian, says Warren W. Wiersbe, visited the Junior Department of the Sunday school. The Superintendent asked him to say a few words to the boys and girls. He stood pompously before them, and asked, “Why do you think people call me a Christian?”
There was an embarrassing silence, then a small voice from the back of the room said, “Because they don’t know you.”
—Christian Victory1
1 Paul Lee Tan, Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc., 1996), 1136.
• Pray to God.
A Closet Christian Will Pray In Private
Matthew 6:6 KJV
But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
• Thy closet – have a place that is yours. (Describe the one I found in Shaffer dorm and the one on the top floor of Jackson Hall.
• Shut the door. Have a place and a time where you are completely alone and undistracted with God. No cell phone, no background noise, no audience.
• Be intimate in this place of intimacy.
• God will reward openly.
Psalm 34:15 KJV
The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, And his ears are open unto their cry.
• Make it a priority to have AND USE this private place of prayer
Of Mr. John Shepherd, of the United States, it is recorded that he was greatly distinguished for his success in the pulpit. When on his death-bed he said to some young ministers who were present, “The secret of my success is in these three things:
“1st. The studying of my sermons very frequently cost me tears. 2nd. Before I preached a sermon to others I derived good from it myself. 3rd. I have always gone into the pulpit as if I were immediately after to render an account to my Master.”
All who knew that devoted man would have united in expressing his secret in three words—”In the closet.”1
1 Paul Lee Tan, Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc., 1996), 1079.
A Closet Christian Will Pray For Real!
Matthew 6:7–8 KJV
But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
• Do not use empty repetition… like praying on auto pilot.
• Prayer is to communicate, not to put you in a trance or mood. The heathen would repeat the same prayer same words, same mantra, to induce feelings… it would work even when praying to a lifeless idol.
I love the story about the Lutheran pastor who always started each service off with the phrase, “The Lord be with you.” The people would then respond, “and also with you.”
However, one Sunday the sound system wasn’t working very well. The pastor stepped up to the pulpit and said, “There’s something wrong with this microphone.”
The people responded, “AND ALSO WITH YOU!.”
• This does not mean we can’t pray for something more than once… Jesus did… Paul did.
Romans 1:9 KJV
For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;
We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;
Philemon 4 KJV
I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,
• Remember who you are talking to! You are talking the God of the universe, and the Savior who loves you.
The brother of a seminary student came to visit him one day. Unsure of directions, he turned to the first person who passed by and asked, “Is this Davidson Hall?” On hearing the man described later, the seminary student asked his brother if he had realized that he had been talking to a world-famous theologian. The brother couldn’t believe it. He had the opportunity to ask any question—and he asked only where a building was.
Unfortunately that’s how many of us pray. We talk to God and ask for inane little things that are really insignificant.
• Prayer needs to be passionate and intimate. It is appropriate (especially in the prayer closet) to get in touch with powerful emotions. This can be done when we pray aloud.
James 5:16 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.
The truth in today’s passage is pivotal to living a successful Christian life. We all know we should pray. But this morning we discovered that if we pray in public, we must check our hearts and not pray for people, or pray empty routine phrases. We have seen that the lion’s share of our prayer life is to take place in private, with the door closed and our heart open. We must develop a habit of becoming Closet Christians.
Exported from Logos Bible Software, 11:59 AM February 29, 2020.
Godly Fashion Sense
Christian Fashion Sense
Pastor Don Carpenter / General
Not From Around Here: The Complicated Life of a Sojourner / Sanctification; Conversion; Holiness / 1 Peter 1:13–16
What kind of fashion sense do you have? This question may gender several interesting reactions. First of all some may say,
“Pastor, with all the crazy stuff you wear from time to time, who in the world are you to ask us about our fashion sense?”
If we were talking about clothing, tie dyes, or dashiki shirts, you would have a valid point. However, our passage this evening talks about how we fashion ourselves. This term speaks metaphorically about how we fashion, or pattern our attitudes, thoughts, and actions. Tonight we are going to learn, that especially when we are facing trials and pressure, we must have good Christian Fashion Sense.
Godly Fashion Starts With The Mind.
1 Peter 1:13 KJV
Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
• Gird up your loins, prepare for work or battle
It is not physical exertion that Peter has in mind here, but mental. If the purpose of girding up the clothing was to put out of the way that which would impede the physical progress of an individual, the girding up of the loins of the mind would be the putting out of the mind all that would impede the free action of the mind in connection with the onward progress of the Christian experience, things such as worry, fear, jealousy, hate, unforgiveness, impurity. These things harbored in the mind prevent the Holy Spirit from using the mental faculties of the Christian in the most efficient manner, and thus from causing that believer to grow in the Christian life and make progress in his salvation. The word “to gird up” is in the aorist tense which refers to a past once-for-all act. Bringing this oriental expression over to the occidental manner of thinking, enables us to translate, “Wherefore, having put out of the way, once for all, everything that would impede the free action of your mind
• Be sober
The first one is, “be sober.” The Greek word means, “to be calm and collected in spirit, to be temperate, dispassionate, circumspect.” It speaks of the proper exercise of the mind, that state of mind in which the individual is self-controlled, and is able to see things without the distortion caused by worry, fear, and their related attitudes.1
• Hope to the end
The second admonition is, “hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” The words, “hope to the end,” do not refer to the Christian living in a state of hopefulness to the end of his life. The word “end” is the translation of teleios (???????) which means “perfectly, completely.” The root idea of the word refers to that which is in a state of completeness. Thus this adverb qualifies the verb “hope” and describes this hope. It is to be a hope that is complete, a perfect hope, wanting nothing, being in its character an assured expectation. One could translate, “set your hope perfectly, unchangeably, without doubt and despondency.
Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: For the English Reader, vol. 11 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997), 37.
Godly Fashion Sets Aside the Past
1 Peter 1:14 KJV
As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
• Fashion=
In our characters as obedient children of God, we are exhorted not to fashion ourselves with respect to our former lusts. The word “fashion” in the Greek text refers to the act of assuming an outward appearance patterned after some certain thing, an appearance or expression which does not come from and is not representative of one’s inmost and true nature. It refers here to the act of a child of God assuming as an outward expression the habits, mannerisms, dress, speech expressions, and behavior of the world out from which God saved him, thus not giving a true expression of what he is, a cleansed, regenerated child of God, but instead, hiding the Lord Jesus who should be seen in the life of the Christian. It is the believer masquerading in the costume of the world.1
1 Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: For the English Reader, vol. 11 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997), 37.
• Avoid the old lusts
1 Peter 2:11 KJV
Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
• Avoid the old ignorance… you know better
Back in 1980 New York City Mayor Ed Koch appeared on a local news program in the middle of the city’s financial crisis. Koch had spent over a quarter of a million dollars to put up bike lanes in Manhattan, and they turned out to be a disaster. Cars were driving in the bike lanes, pedestrians were walking in the them, and bikers were getting crowded out. It was a mess and many people in New York were irate about it.
Koch was coming up for re-election, so a handful of journalists cornered him on this show, planning to tear him to pieces for spending money foolishly when the city was nearly broke. One reporter said, “Mayor, in light of the financial difficulties New York City is facing, how could you possibly justify wasting $300,000 on bike lanes?”
The stage was set for a half-hour confrontation. Instead, Koch said, “It was a terrible idea. I thought it would work, but it didn’t. It was one of the worst mistakes I ever made.” Then he stopped. None of the other journalists knew what to say or do. They were expecting him to squirm and make excuses, but he didn’t even try.
The next journalist stammered and said, “But Mayor Koch, how could you do this?”
Koch said, “I already told you. It was a stupid idea. It didn’t work.” Then he stopped.
There was still 26 minutes left to go on the news show, and the reporters had to find something else to talk about.
Because he was willing to accept that it was wrong… he won both Democratic AND Republican support.
When we acknowledge that certain things are wrong in our lives, and we determine not to live like that anymore then we get something far more important than the support of Democrats or Republicans. We get God’s support. And we get that support because we’ve determined to live HOLY lives. Lives that have been “set apart” with no excuses.
From a sermon by Jeff Strite, B Imitators, 11/1/2009
Godly Fashion Embraces Your Calling
1 Peter 1:15–16 KJV
But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Those who at one time were wholly controlled by their evil cravings, had through salvation entered into a new state of being, that of inward holiness, by virtue of the residence in them of the Holy Spirit, and now they were to see to it that that inward holiness found outward expression in their lives.1
1 Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: For the English Reader, vol. 11 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997), 37–38.
The word “holy” in Greek means literally, “set apart.” Thus, a holy person is one set apart from sin to righteousness. It has in it the idea of separation. Thus it is a separated life of which Peter is speaking1
1 Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: For the English Reader, vol. 11 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997), 38.
Can you imagine what it was like for the church in Smyrna as they watched their beloved and aged pastor burn at the stake? Polycarp was his name. he was a disciple of Jesus’ disciple, the Apostle John. One could tell it immediately because he possessed the same tenderness and compassion as his mentor.
Polycarp was Bishop of the church at Smyrna (present day Turkey). Persecution broke out in Smyrna and many Christians were fed to the wild beasts in the arena. The godless and bloodthirsty crowd called for the carcass of the leader – Polycarp.
The authorities sent a search party to find him. He had been taken into hiding for some Christians but the Romans tortured two young believers until they finally disclosed his location. When the authorities arrival was announced there was still time to whisk Polycarp away but he refused to go saying, “God’s will be done.”
In one of the most touching instances of Christian grace imaginable Polycarp welcome his captors as if they were friends. He talked with them and insisted they eat a meal. Ha made only one request before being taken away – he asked for one hour to pray. The Roman soldiers listened to his prayer. Their hearts melted and they gave him 2 hours to pray. They had second thoughts as well and were overheard asking each other why they were sent to arrest him?
Other authorities also experienced a warmed heart when Polycarp arrived. The Proconsul tried to find a way to release him too. “curse God and I will let you go!” he pleaded.
Polycarp’s reply was: “For eighty-six years I have served him. He has never done me wrong. How then can I blaspheme my King was has saved me?”
The Proconsul again looked for a way out. “The do this old man, just swear by the spirit of the emperor and that will be sufficient.’
Polycarp’s reply was: “If you imagine for a moment that I would do that, then I think you pretend that you don’t know who I am. Hear it plainly. I am a Christian.”
More entreaties by the Proconsul
Polycarp stood firm.
The proconsul threatened with the wild beasts.
Polycarp’s reply was: “Bring them forth. I would change my mind if it meant going from worst to best, but not to change from right to wrong.”
The Proconsul threatened, “I will burn you alive!”
Polycarp’s reply was: “You threaten with fire that burns for an hour and is over but the judgment on the ungodly is forever.”
The fires engulfed him. The witnesses noticed his faith and joy. He was finished off with a dagger. He was buried for the cause of Christ on February 22, 155 A.D.
It was as much a day of victory as it was a day of tragedy.
Polycarp illustrated the power of knowing Jesus intimately. Intimately enough to follow Him into the flames.
Exported from Logos Bible Software, 1:11 PM February 26, 2020.