In John 1:35-51, the Apostles began following Jesus.
The following began when John the Baptist pointed Jesus out to two of his disciples, saying, “Behold the Lamb of God.” Understanding this to be a reference to the forgiveness that the Christ would bring for the sins of all mankind, John and Andrew left the Baptist’s side and followed Jesus.
Andrew went on to find his brother, Simon (now called Peter), and told him that “We have found the Christ.”
Jesus found Phillip, who went to find Nathanael, whom Jesus described as an Israelite “in whom there was no deceit.”
In reading about these interactions, three things are said of Jesus.
He is the Lamb of God (who takes away the sin of the world.)
He is the Messiah, the Christ, our Deliverer.
He is the King.
In the above-posted sermon, we examine each of these claims more thoroughly, and we explore more fully who Jesus is.
What separates believers from the rest of the world? What is the difference between us, and those who remain condemned in their sin?
In Psalm 5, King David discusses how God hates sin and evil. He discusses how God takes no pleasure in wickedness and cannot let evil dwell with Him. Ultimately, David references how the wicked and evil will be destroyed.
Yet, David himself admitted in Psalm 51 that “I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me.”
How does a man, who readily admits his own sin, expect to be spared the destruction that God will pour out on sinners?
He discusses it in Psalm 5. He opens by saying “Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation. 2 Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray. 3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.”
David expresses faith that the Lord hears his prayers because David lifts those prayers up daily, beginning with his morning prayers. Despite the fact that David dwells in a dark and sinful land, he will look up to the Lord and pray to him.
David goes on to say in verses 7-8, “But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple. 8 Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.”
The reason David expects to be spared from the judgment and wrath of God is because he is placing himself at the mercy of God, and worshipping God for His goodness and righteousness. He then begs the Lord to lead him in righteousness.
What separated David from the rest of the sinful world is that he recognized his sinfulness, confessed it to God, then placed himself at God’s mercy. God responds to that, and David knew he could trust in the Lord’s mercy.
What separates the saints from the sinners has nothing to do with societal standing, wealth, intelligence, or heritage. The saints are merely the sinners who realized their sinfulness, confessed it to God, then stepped out of that darkness and into the light by placing themselves at the Lord’s mercy.
The saints are the sinners who trusted the Lord’s mercy and grace, and believe in His righteousness and holiness. The saints are the sinners who trust the Lord has forgiven their sin, and will transform them into the people that He intended on them being.
The saints are the sinners who looked to Jesus on the cross and saw salvation and redemption. They are the ones who look forward to the Lord’s return, and who look forward to exiting this life in favor of the next.
We’re not spared God’s wrath and judgment because we’re “just better people.” And we’re not looking forward to the mansions in heaven because “we’ve earned it.” We are merely sinners who placed ourselves at God’s mercy, knowing and trusting that God rewards those who do.
Sunday morning, we will continue our study in the Gospel according to John. Last week, we kicked off this study in chapter 1, as the Apostle John made the case that Jesus Christ is God in flesh who came into the world to save us from our sins.
This week, our focus will be on John 1:15-34, where John references the testimony of John the Baptist.
John the Baptist was fairly controversial as far as the Pharisees were concerned, but few denied that he was a prophet sent from God. The Apostle John points out that John the Baptist was the fulfillment of Old Testament Prophecy from the book of Isaiah, and then points out that John the Baptist proclaimed that Jesus was the promised Messiah and deliverer.
On Sunday night, we will begin an amazing study in one of my favorite books of the Bible, the book of Romans.
Sometimes referred to as the fifth Gospel, the book of Romans is a letter written by the Apostle Paul to a group of believers in Rome who were enduring persecution without pastoral leadership. Paul’s aim was to encourage and strengthen their faith by giving them a deeper understanding of the Gospel.
Many Christians are intimidated by the book of Romans because they see it as deep and complex, but the book is actually very simple and straight forward. It’s the theologians who make it complicated.
Our study Sunday night will focus on Romans 1:1-17, where Paul introduces himself, establishes the Gospel as his theme, and expresses his good desire toward the Roman believers.
The book of Romans is one of my favorites because it transformed my faith, and ultimately my ministry. I think you will be blessed by it as well.
I hope to see everyone at First Baptist Church of Hermleigh this weekend, 483 Harlan Ave., Hermleigh, TX. Sunday School at 10 a.m., Worship at 10:50 a.m., Sunday evening at 6:30 p.m.
At the end of “The Wizard of Oz,” Dorothy asks Glinda for help getting back to Kansas, to which Glinda says, “You’ve always had the power to go back to Kansas.”
Dorothy had been through a harrowing journey with the scarecrow, the lion, and the tin man on the yellow brick road to Oz, dodging the evil witch and flying monkeys, en route to a man behind the curtain blowing smoke and mirrors, all in hopes of solving their problems.
In the end, each character learned that the solution to his problems was right in front of him the whole time.
In life, we often face problems and seemingly insurmountable obstacles. We try to solve these problems with our own wit, and often self-medicate our own anxieties through TV, music, food and drink. At the end of the day, our problems still plague us.
However, when I read Psalm 4, I am confronted with the same truth that Dorothy faced at the end of The Wizard of Oz. My solution was always right in front of me.
In opening Psalm 4, King David writes, “HEAR me when I call, O God of my righteousness: Thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.”
David’s first response was prayer, and in his prayer, he praised God for continually helping him in distress and hearing his cries.
David’s prayer life was so robust, and he often praised God even in the storms of life, because David had an intense faith in the Lord. You see this in his writings in the Psalms.
Often, David describes the calamity he faces, but then contrasts that calamity from God’s mercy, strength, love and grace. Psalm 4 is no different.
In Psalm 4:2, David asks his fellow man, “How long will ye turn my glory into shame? How long will ye love vanity and seek after leasing?” He then writes “Selah,” which is an instruction to stop and ponder.
Human nature gravitates toward the vain, the empty. When David asks “How long will you love vanity?” he is asking “How long will you love emptiness?”
What are some things that we love that, at the end of the day, are empty and worthless?
How often do we get caught up in the temporary things of the day-to-day life and fail to take a moment to consider the goodness of God and the eternal things of His Kingdom? And how often do we misplace our priorities on those temporary things of this world while neglecting the eternal things of the Kingdom?
We become like Dorothy, needlessly taking a frightful journey down a yellow brick road to meet a “wizard” that offers no real solutions.
In the second phase of Psalm 4, David expresses his faith.
“But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: The LORD will hear when I call unto Him. Stand in awe, and sin not, commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.”
David tells us that the Lord sets apart His people. As His people, we are different, and we are set apart for God’s higher purpose. We are special.
Special items are set apart from the rest. The classic 1964 1/2 Mustang may be kept in the garage, while the 2003 Honda Civic sits in the driveway. The Civic may be driven more, but the Mustang’s trips are special, and are for certain occasions.
Likewise, when we become God’s children at the point of faith, the Lord sets us apart. We may not see the same highway miles as the rest of the world, but our highway miles are ordered and have a special purpose.
Like a car collector takes special care of his classic, God takes special care of us. Thus, He hears and answers our prayers in the most perfect way possible.
On that note, David implores us to take time, to stand in awe of this, and to ponder this in our hearts as we rest upon our beds.
David then concludes the Psalm by calling the people to worship, while praising God for the joy that He has given, and the provision He makes.
Life is not a bed of roses. (Seriously, why would that even be a good thing? Roses have thorns.) Life comes with trials and tribulations.
When we focus on life’s problems, often problems are all we see. How can we overcome these problems and find ourselves back in a peaceful place?
Simple. Remember that God has set you apart. Pray to Him, and trust Him to bring you through the storm. You have the power to do that, and you don’t even have to be wearing the ruby-red slippers in order to find peace in the Lord.
Leland Acker 