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Sermon: Profession
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MP3 ---------- Getting to know a local congregation, a new visitor asked one proud man in the church, "What do you believe?"
"Well, I suppose the same thing," the man replied. ~end quote from the e-mail Clearly the question I have for you today is, “What do you believe?” Let us begin with the title of this sermon, "Profession." What does this word mean Profession:, noun 1. a vocation [calling] requiring knowledge of some department of learning or science: as in, "the profession of teaching." Note: for firstfruits it is the calling to become like Christ. 2. any vocation or business. 3. the body of persons engaged in an occupation or calling: as in, "to be respected by the medical profession." 4. the act of professing; avowal [frank statement]; a declaration, whether true or false: as in, "professions of dedication." Note: firstfruits enter into the act of becoming a professional. They dedicate themselves to it. 5. the declaration of belief in or acceptance of religion or a faith: as in, "the profession of Christianity." Note: Clearly Christianity is a profession. 6. a religion or faith professed. Note: To profess something is to lay claim to. It is a declaration that you are making your calling your profession. You are professing your faith in God and your allegiance to Him. You set yourself on a path to make yourself skilled, knowledgeable and wise in all that God guides you to. 7. the declaration [a positive, explicit or formal statement] made on entering into membership of a church or religious order. Note: the new firstfruit is avowing that this godly calling is his or her new profession. A professional firstfruit is one who professes his calling. He lives it. He invokes it. He is an example of it. The difference between a worker and a professional is diligence, zeal and fervency. It is a person with his eye on the Kingdom and who keeps moving toward it and perfection. From our doctrine on The Christian: The true Christian views his secular education, the establishment of a career and subsequent professional development as vital keys for building the successful life exemplifying the characteristics of God. Additionally, the opportunity to become professionally accomplished and prosperous by the world's traditional standards—to gain a good reputation in one's field, a position of responsibility, social recognition and financial rewards—are not only good but desirable, as long as God and His laws always come first. Note: A Christian is one who is striving to exhibit and manifest his or her calling in all aspects of education, earthly career and professional development. The spiritual glow [manifested by the Holy Spirit] permeates all things physical, mental and emotional. SCRIPTURES Deuteronomy 6:5 ...our key scripture. And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. Look at scriptures linked to our key scripture. Thou shalt love the LORD: from our key scriptures Deuteronomy 6:5 Deuteronomy 10:12 And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, Is God a professional? Deuteronomy 11:12 A land which the LORD thy God careth for: the eyes of the LORD thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year. ...and the next verse: Deuteronomy 11:13 And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, Deuteronomy 30:6 And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live. Matthew 22:37-38 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. Mark 12:33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. Luke 10:27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. 1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. Thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. from our key scriptures Deuteronomy 6:5 Deuteronomy 4:29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. 2 Kings 23:25 ...King Josiah And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him. Matthew 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. John 14:20-21 20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. 21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. Quotes on being a Professional: "Without hard work and discipline it is difficult to be a top professional." "Fairness is not an attitude. It's a professional skill that must be developed and exercised." Note: True of all fruits of the spirit and all things manifested by the Holy Spirit. “The professional has learned that success, like happiness, comes as a by-product of work. The professional concentrates on the work and allows rewards to come or not come, whatever they like.” “When passion blends with profession it turns into a masterpiece." Note: Remember our discussion on "passion." Passion is the same as "first love." Feed your passion. “A leader only follows a better leader than himself.” Note: We follow Christ. This next quote is definitely for all firstfruits: “Every day is a training day and every event is a training event.” Note: Assiduity!! "With self-discipline most anything is possible." ~Theodore Roosevelt Four more scriptures on our profession: 1 Timothy 6:12 [See Lesson] Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. Hebrews 3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; Hebrews 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) Now what does a profession firstfruit do? He believes. In fact, as we have discussed a number of times before, God is judging us on what we believe and the theology we use to get to those beliefs. What do you believe? We have established that you are a professional and we have defined what that term means. Let us talk now about belief. Belief, noun 1. something believed. 2. confidence in the truth or existence of something not immediately susceptible to rigorous proof 3. confidence; faith; trust Synonyms: view, conclusion, persuasion, assurance, certainty In the Bible the word is Greek 4102 pis-tis. --persuasion, that is, credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly constancy in such profession; by extension the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself: - assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity. Note: Firstfruits have a moral conviction of religious truth. They have reliance upon Christ for salvation. Firstfruits have a constancy in their profession. They have a constancy in truth itself. "Constancy" is the quality of being unchanging or unwavering. It is uniformity or regularity in belief. Synonyms: fidelity, loyalty, devotion, permanence and dependability. Scriptures: Here is the key scripture: 2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Acts 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. Acts 15:7-9 7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. 8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost [Spirit], even as he did unto us; 9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Is it possible that a firstfruit would not obey the truth? Galatians 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? Note: and these were people who had evidence of Christ. Where does truth come from? Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Colossians 1:5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; If the Word of God is the truth, what are we supposed to do? 2 Timothy 2:15 [See Lesson] Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. In our study of Timothy, did he have any experience in the scriptures? 2 Timothy 3:10-15 10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, [See Lesson] 11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. [See Lesson] 12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. [See Lesson] 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. [See Lesson] 14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; [See Lesson] 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. [See Lesson] God says that He begat us as firstfruits. How did He do that? James 1:17-18 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. The admonition from God is to believe. Mark 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. Mark 5:36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe. Mark 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. Mark 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. Hebrews 10:39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Quotes on Believing: "Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe." "Faith and believing is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase." "A man of courage is also full of faith." "Faith and believing is a passionate intuition." "Faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservation." So what do you believe? What is your profession? |
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