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Sermon:
Pathway lights
Part 1
[See Part 2]
by Chris Cumming 2011
MP3
MP4
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Let us begin today by turning to Psalm 119:105.
Psalm 119:105
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
We are in the way or journey of life and the Word of God is a light unto
our path. It is as if each scripture was one of those lamps we see
along a path or walkway in the evening.
The purpose of my sermon today is to make each scripture a lamp for your
feet as you travel through the Salvation Process. That is, “Light your
path.”
I am going give you a number of lights in the form of a set of
questions. Each question will lead us to a scripture you can use as a
light for your path.
Light 1: When Abraham was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to him.
What did He tell Abraham to do?
Genesis 17:1
And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to
Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be
thou perfect.
Light 2: According to the words of Joshua, why must we be strong and
very courageous?
Joshua 1:7
Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do
according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn
not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper
whithersoever thou goest.
Now I suppose the question would be, “How do I become strong and very
courageous?” Three quick verses:
Psalm 19:7-9 The law converts the soul and enlightens the eyes.
Proverbs 28:4-5 It gives understanding.
James 1:25 Those who look into the law are blessed in their deeds.
Light 3: Are we to envy sinners? If not, what are we to do instead?
Proverbs 23:17
Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD
all the day long.
Light 4: According to Ezekiel, what are we to cast away from us? As
we do that, what are we supposed to do?
Ezekiel 18:31
Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have
transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye
die, O house of Israel?
Light 5: When Jesus was contending with Satan in Matthew 4, He stated
just how man is to live. What did Jesus say?
Matthew 4:4
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread
alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Light
6: Jesus says we are to enter a certain gate? What is the name of that
gate.
Matthew 7:13-14
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the
way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto
life, and few there be that find it.
So the name of the gate is “strait.” Notice it is not named “straight”
which means “not crooked.” “Strait” means “pent up, narrow and
difficult to be entered.”
Light 7: Just how are we to love God? With this, how are we to love
our neighbor?
Matthew 22:37-39 (also Luke 10:27)
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. This is the first
and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love
thy neighbour as thyself.
Light
8: What kind of faith are we supposed to have?
Mark 11:22
And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
The commentary says:
have
the faith of God, i.e. have strong faith, or the strongest faith. –Adam
Clark
Jesus
is uttering this admonition in the strongest terms the Greek language
will allow. “…The Strongest Faith.”
Light 9: If we love Christ, what are we to keep?
John 14:15
If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Let us see this expanded by going to Joshua 22:5
Joshua 22:5
But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses
the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to
walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto
him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.
Light 10: The Bible talks about is conforming to something. Conformed
to what? Just how do we do this conforming?
Romans 8:29
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to
the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many
brethren.
2 Corinthians 3:18
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the
Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by
the Spirit of the Lord.
Light 11: Speaking of this idea of conforming, what are we not to be
conformed to? The Bible says we are to be transformed. How? The Bible
also says that we are to prove something about God. What?
Romans 12:2
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.
Light
12: Paul said we are to overcome evil. How?
Romans 12:21
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Notice the commentary:
[But
overcome evil with good] That is, subdue or vanquish evil by doing good to others. Show
them the loveliness of a better spirit; the power of kindness and
benevolence; the value of an amiable, Christian deportment. So doing,
you may disarm them of their rage, and be the means of bringing them to
better minds.
~Barnes
Light
13: Paul said that we are to follow two separate individuals. Who are
they?
1 Corinthians 11:1
Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
Light
14: How do we know that our work is not in vain? What are we to be to
make sure this does not happen?
1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always
abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour
is not in vain in the Lord.
[Your
labour is not in vain] Your labour in the Lord is not in vain; you must not only work,
but you must labour-put forth all your strength; and you must work and
labour in the Lord-under his direction, and by his influence; for
without him ye can do nothing. And this labour cannot be in vain; you
shall have a resurrection unto eternal life: not because you have
laboured, but because Christ died and gave you grace to be faithful.
~Clarke
Light 15: According to Galatians, what are we actually doing when we
get baptized?
Galatians 3:27
For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Light 16: How is God created in righteousness and true holiness?
Ephesians 4:24
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in
righteousness and true holiness.
From our statement on the
Holy Spirit:
Spiritual
solutions are needed to solve spiritual problems. If this one
fundamental point were understood, man should be forced to realize that
the structure of his entire society—from the government of nations to
the behavior of children—needs radical revision before people can at
last be joyfully busy with peace and progress.
This is
where God's plan of salvation comes in. God first calls us by—opening
our minds to His truth, leading us to recognize our wretched, sinful
state, cut off from God. Then upon our heartfelt repentance and sincere
acceptance of Jesus Christ as our Saviour, God enables us through
baptism and the laying on of hands to receive His Spirit. Conversion by
God's Holy Spirit means a renewing of one's mind (Romans 12:2), a
complete changing of one's attitude and heart; it is the creation of a
new man, walking in newness of life (Romans 6:4). Through God's Spirit
man can have the fellowship and communion with God that is so important
to growth in God's mind and character.
Light 17: In what way does God want us treating one another?
Ephesians 4:32
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,
even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
Light 18: In what way are we to follow God according to Ephesians 5?
Ephesians 5:1
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children.
Notice the commentary…
[As
dear children] The meaning is, "as those children which are beloved follow the
example of a father, so we, who are beloved of God, should follow his
example." What a simple rule this is! And how much contention and strife
would be avoided if it were followed! If every Christian who is
angry, unforgiving, and unkind, would just ask himself the question,
"How does God treat me?" it would save all the trouble and heart-burning
which ever exists in the church.
~ Barnes
Light 19: Still in Ephesians, how are we to walk? What is our
spiritual responsibility regarding time? What about God are we to have
an understanding about?
Ephesians 5:15-17
See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not
unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
Let us look at the idea of redeeming time: From
Barnes notes:
They redeem their time who employ it:
(1) in
gaining useful knowledge;
(2) in
doing good to others;
(3) in
employing it for the purpose of an honest livelihood for themselves and
families;
(4) in
prayer and self-examination to make the heart better;
(5) in
seeking salvation, and in endeavoring to do the will of God. They are to
redeem time from all that would waste and destroy it-like recovering
marshes and fens to make them rich meadows and vineyards. There is time
enough wasted by each sinner to secure the salvation of the soul; time
enough wasted to do all that is needful to be done to spread religion
around the world, and to save the race. We should still endeavor to
redeem our time for the same reasons which are suggested by the
apostle-because the days are evil.
Light 20: How do we stand against the wiles of the devil?
Ephesians 6:11
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the
wiles of the devil.
Having your loins girded with TRUTH
Having the breastplate of RIGHTEOUSNESS
Having your feet shod with the PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE
Taking the shield of FAITH
Taking the helmet of SALVATION
Taking the sword of the Spirit, which is the WORD OF GOD
Light 21: According to Philippians 2 there is something of Jesus
Christ that we are supposed to have. What is that?
Philippians 2:5
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.
To understand this verse, we need to look at it in context. Here are the
first eight verses of the chapter:
Philippians 2:1-8
1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of
love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
2
Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of
one accord, of one mind.
3
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of
mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4
Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things
of others.
5
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with
God:
7
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a
servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became
obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. –Philippians 2:1-8
Look at all the similar phrases in verse two. They all essentially mean
the same thing, namely, harmony in the church. One commentary I read
said, “Probably there is no single thing so much insisted on in the
New Testament as the importance of harmony among Christians.” The
reason for this is that God, Christ and Paul knew that this would be the
hardest thing to attain, due to the general makeup of the church [see
Menu item 10
here].
This leads us to the admonition in verse five that we all have the mind
of Christ.
Light 22: Colossians 3 gives us a whole long list of elements to
embrace. What are they?
Colossians 3:12-14
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of
mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a
quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And
above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
Light 23: According to Colossians 3 and Philippians 4 what is to rule
our hearts?
Colossians 3:15
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are
called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Philippians 4:7
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your
hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Notice the commentary on Philippians 4:7 and the phrase, “And the peace
of God”
Philippians 4:7
The peace which God gives. The peace here particularly referred to is
that which is felt when we have no anxious care about the supply of our
needs, and when we go confidently and commit everything into the hands
of God. "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on
thee;" Isaiah 26:3.
~Barnes
Light 24: In all things give _________ what?
1 Thessalonians 5:18
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus
concerning you.
Notice the word, “Everything” from the Wycliffe commentary:
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
16 Rejoice evermore.
17 Pray without ceasing.
18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ
Jesus concerning you.
Everything. All circumstances, even hardships and affliction. This, though
singular, seems to embrace the three commands of 5:16-18. God's will
includes constant joy, ceaseless prayer, and boundless thanks, attitudes
made both necessary and possible in Christ Jesus.
~ Wycliffe
Light 25: What is your highest responsibility regarding the power of
God that is in you, the Holy Spirit?
1 Thessalonians 5:19
Quench not the Spirit.
Notice the Matthew Henry commentary on this…
Quench
not the Spirit
- for it is this Spirit of grace and supplication that helpeth our
infirmities, that assisteth us in our prayers and thanksgivings.
Christians are said to be baptized with the Holy Spirit and with fire. [It]
worketh as fire, by enlightening, enlivening, and purifying the souls of
men. We must be careful not to quench this holy fire. As fire is put out
by withdrawing fuel, so we quench the Spirit if we do not stir up our
spirits, and all that is within us, to comply with the motions [workings]
of the [Holy]
Spirit; and as fire is quenched by pouring water, or putting a great
quantity of dirt upon it, so we must be careful not to quench the
Holy Spirit by indulging carnal lusts and affections, or minding only
earthly things.
~
Matthew Henry
[see
Part 2]
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