Emory Baptist Church

Painful Sins

Introduction

We have come to our last sermon in this summer sermon series on a life full of pain.  We have talked about painful decisions, painful finances, painful health, painful losses, painful relationships, and, now, painful sins.

 

Don’t forget, while this earthly life will always be full of pain, Jesus promises eternal life free from pain.  That will be in heaven and only for those who made a personal decision to follow Jesus as Lord and Savior.

 

Also, please remember that we haven’t been only identifying painful experiences.  We have also identified how we as followers of Christ can survive.

 

Here in John 21, Jesus and seven of His closest disciples were in Galilee.  The 7 had spent all night fishing and caught nothing. 

 

Jesus told them to throw their net on the right-hand side of the boat.  They did and caught 153 large fish.  They then sat down with the post-resurrected Christ for breakfast.

 

Today’s verses focus on Peter.  Peter was the unofficial leader of the 12 and was the second closest to Jesus next to, John. 

 

Remember how Peter had recently failed the Lord?  Peter denied Jesus on three different occasions late Thursday night and early Friday morning before Jesus was crucified. 

 

John 18:17 17 Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not also one of this Man’s disciples, are you?”  He said, “I am not.”

 

John 18:25 25 Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Therefore, they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?”  He denied it and said, “I am not!”

 

John 18:26 26 One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” 27 Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed.

 

As we talk about painful sins this morning, we are not going to talk specifically about any one sin of SEVEN DEADLY SINS or breaking any of the TEN COMMANDMENTS.  We are talking about denying Christ.

 

However, don’t think you are off the hook.  Every sin is ultimately a denial of Jesus’ Lordship in our lives.  When you disobey parents, you are denying Christ.  When you lie, you are denying Christ.  When you lust, you are denying Christ.  When refuse not to witness, you are denying Christ.  When you are sexually immoral, you are denying Christ.

 

The good news is that in today’s story, Peter is forgiven and restored.  You can be too.

 

 

17. Jesus Restored Peter’s Past Failures, John 21:15-17.

15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”  He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”  He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”  16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”  He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”  He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”  17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”  And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”  Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.

 

In verse 15, Jesus turned to Peter and asked him this question, “Do you love Me more than these?”  Remember that they are probably sitting around the fire that cooked their fish, and it was around a fire that Peter first denied Jesus on Thursday night. 

 

Notice that Jesus called Peter “Simon, son of John.”  It was this name that Jesus first called Peter to follow Him in John 1:40-42.

 

40 One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus.  Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is translated, A Stone).

 

As for His question, Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him more than these.  Jesus asked this question of Peter three times to mirror the three times that Peter denied Jesus, and Jesus used the word “agape” to describe that perfect, total, complete, all-encompassing love that He desired.

 

What did He mean by “more than these?”  Was He talking about the fish and fishing and Peter’s former profession?  Was He talking about Peter’s love for the other disciples?  Was He talking about Peter’s love for Jesus compared to the other disciples’ love for Jesus? 

 

I would contend that Jesus was talking about Peter’s love for Him compared to the other disciples’ love for Him. Peter had said previously that he would follow Jesus regardless, but we know that didn’t happen.  It was important for Jesus to remind Peter what he said and then what he had done.

 

BTW…Before we glorify in God’s grace, we have to be reminded of our wretchedness.  The wages of sin is death!

 

I believe Peter grieved his failures in verse 17.  Jesus had asked him three times if he loved Him.  Three times, Peter said yes, and three times Jesus restored him to ministry after his three denials.

 

There is not a person in the room this morning that hasn’t failed in some form or capacity.  Some have failed as employees.  Some have failed as friends.   Some have failed as parents.  Some have spouses. We have all failed as Christians and church members.  I have failed as a pastor and your pastor.

 

However, I have good news for you today.  Peter failed, and yet, Christ restored him completely to ministry and service and to lead the first century church when He was gone. 

 

 

19. Jesus Revealed Peter’s Painful Future, John 21:18-19.

18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” 19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.” 

 

In verse 18, Jesus continued His conversation with Peter, and reminded Peter of what life was like when he was young.  When you are young, you make decisions for yourself and go your own way. 

 

However, when Peter would get older, Jesus revealed that others would lead Peter were they wanted him to go, and he would do what others decided he would do.

 

BTW, if you are here today and you are adult children caring for your elderly parents, be considerate of the decisions you make for them on their behalf.  More than likely, what you do with your parents when they are old will likely come back to you from your children when you are old.

 

 

Verse 19 tells us that Jesus was talking about how Peter would die.  His arms would be stretched out in order to be tied to or nailed to a cross, and he would be crucified like Jesus was. 

 

Church history confirms this fact as Jesus was correct in His revelation.  Peter indeed was led away against his will and crucified on a cross but upside down at his own request as Peter believed that he was not worthy to die in the exact same fashion that Jesus had died.

 

 

• Jesus Rebuked Peter’s Premature Focus, John 21:20-23.

 20 Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” 21 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?”  22 Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”  23 Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?”

 

In light of what Jesus had to say about Peter’s future, Peter was curious about John’s future.  Peter saw John there close by and asked Jesus about him in verse 21. 

 

Notice Jesus’ response in verse 22.  He rebuked Peter’s premature focus. 

 

Peter shouldn’t be worrying about John.  Peter should be worrying about Peter, and Jesus told him that.  Don’t worry about John.  You worry about Peter and just keep following Me. 

 

In verse 23, Jesus then corrected some misinformation within the group.  He didn’t say that John wouldn’t die.  He simply said that if He wanted John to live that was nobody’s business but His.

 

It’s real easy to worry about everybody else except the person in the mirror.  We can point fingers and name names and criticize everyone else’s actions and words and failures. 

 

Jesus said stop.  You worry about you, and let Jesus take care of everybody else.

 

 

 

Conclusion

What is the antidote to painful sins?  How can we survive painful sins?

 

Twice in our text, Jesus said these two words, “Follow Me.”  He said it at the end of verse 19 and the end of verse 22.

 

Here is how Jesus said it in in Luke 9:23. 

 

23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.

 

First, deny self.  Second, prepare to die to self daily.  Then follow Jesus. 

 

Submit to His leadership in your life.  That is how you survive painful sins.

Painful Relationships

We’re still talking about a life full of pain here at Emory BC.  This our Sunday morning sermon series for the summer.

 

We’ve talked about painful decisions, and painful finances, and painful health, and painful losses.  Today, we are talking about painful relationships.

 

Please remember, we are not just identifying painful experiences.  We are also trying to identify means of surviving a life full of pain.

 

Everyone’s life in the room is full of relationships.  We have family relationships. We have work relationships.  We have school relationships.  We have relationships with friends and neighbors.

 

However, sometimes, relationships can be painful.  Relationships can hurt, and hurt really badly.

 

This morning, I want to remind you of a relationship in the book of Acts that went experienced a lot of pain.  It was a relationship between Saul or Paul and Barnabas.

 

I suspect that many of us know quite a bit about Paul.  However, we might not be as familiar with Barnabas.

 

 

Barnabas and Saul/Paul

Let’s find out more.  Turn to Acts 4:36.

 

Acts 4:36 And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus.

 

Barnabas was an early convert to Christianity from the ministry of Peter and John.  We also note something of his character.  He was encourager and came from a family of encouragers.

 

Acts 9:27 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

 

He was one of the first Christians to welcome Saul.  This is key.  Their friendship was long.

 

Acts 11:22 22 Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch.

 

In a sense, he was a local-church missionary sent out from Jerusalem to Antioch.

 

Acts 11:25 25 Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul.

 

He and Paul were ministry partners.

 

Acts 11:30 30 This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

 

The two of them carried an offering back to the Jerusalem Church and their missions.

 

Acts 12:25 25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their ministry, and they also took with them John whose surname was Mark.

 

They welcomed John Mark, Barnabas’ cousin, to minister with them.

 

Acts 13:1 Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

 

Barnabas become an official and recognized leader in the church at Antioch.

 

Acts 13:2 2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

 

He was then sent out, along with Saul, on their first missionary journey.

 

Acts 13:50 50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region.

 

These two were persecuted for their faith in Christ.

 

Acts 14:12 12 And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.

 

Barnabas was involved with miracle that Paul performed at Lystra.

 

Acts 15:2 2 Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.

 

He was part of the Jerusalem Council that welcomed Gentiles into the first church.

 

Acts 15: 12 12 Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles.

 

He then confirmed how God was working in their lives.

 

Acts 15:22 22 Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren.

 

He and Paul then want back to Antioch.

 

Acts 15:35 35 Paul and Barnabas also remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

 

They stayed there in Antioch teaching and preaching the Bible until they were set to leave on their second missionary journey.

 

Do you see how connected these two were?  Barnabas was one of the first to welcome Saul.  They then traveled all over making disciples and starting churches.  When they are named in Acts, it is often together.

 

Acts 15:36-41 36 Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.” 37 Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. 38 But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. 39 Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

 

But then, Acts 15:39 happened, and it was painful.  It was all over John Mark.

 

Make no mistake about here.  This argument was bad. 

 

Most English translations use the word sharp to describe their contention.  The word in the New Testament is paroxysm. 

 

It means a sudden outburst.  It means a fit of rage.  These two men were mad!

 

They were so mad, they severed their ministry partnership.  Barnabas and John Mark went their way, and Paul and Silas went theirs.

 

BTW…God promises to bring good from evil.  God brought two mission teams from this sharp contention and more people heard the gospel.

 

But what was the deal?  Why did they get so mad?  Let’s find out about John Mark.

 

 

John Mark

We are introduced to John Mark in Acts 12.

 

Acts 12:12 12 So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying.

 

He lived in Jerusalem.  His mother was a Christian, and we learn from Colossians 4:10 that he was Barnabas’ cousin.

 

Acts 12:25 25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their ministry, and they also took with them John whose surname was Mark.

 

On their way to Antioch and on to their first missionary journey, they invited John Mark to come with them.

 

However, something happened on the trip.

 

Acts 13:13 13 Now when Paul and his party set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia; and John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem.

 

Why did John leave them?  Was he a momma’s boy and couldn’t be away from home?  Was the persecution so tough that he couldn’t take it? Did he not like Paul?

 

The bottom line is that we don’t know.  However, we do know this.  It made Paul mad!

 

It made him so mad that he would rather part ways with Barnabas than take him on another trip.  This just became a painful relationship. 

 

 

Reconciled

However, I have great news!  Paul and Barnabas and Paul and John Mark were reconciled.

 

Paul included Barnabas in statement he made to the Corinthian Church about how they should be paid.

 

1 Corinthians 9:6 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working?

 

Colossians 4:10 10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with Mark the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him),

 

Paul told the Colossians Christians to welcome Mark when he came to them and mentioned him with other faithful brothers in Philemon 1:24.

 

Philemon 1:24 24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers.

 

His most significant statement about John Mark came in 2 Timothy 4:11.

 

2 Timothy 4: 11 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.

 

He called the one who once deserted him now useful to him.

 

Let me share one other comment that Peter made about John Mark.

 

1 Peter 5:13 13 She who is in Babylon, elect together with you, greets you; and so does Mark my son.

 

Peter called him his son. 

 

BTW…we assume that John Mark quit the ministry for whatever reason, he obviously came back.  In other words, just easily as you stop a ministry, you can start a ministry. 

 

Peter took John Mark under his wing, mentored him, and who wrote the second Gospel?  It was John Mark from Peter’s eye-witness accounts.

 

 

Application

So here’s my question.  What happened to bring these folks back together after their paroxysm?

 

First, relationships are painful.  They hurt.  They cause us to get mad and angry.

 

Second, relationships are messy.  Disagreements happen between best friends.  Disagreements happen between family.  Disagreements happen between Christians and Christian leaders.

 

Third, relationships that are painful and messy can be reconciled. How?

 

Acknowledge that it takes two to tango.  Who was right between Paul and Barnabas?

 

There was Paul’s take, and there was Barnabas’ take, and somewhere in the middle was reality.  Or, there was Paul’s truth, and there was Barnabas’ truth, and somewhere in the middle was THE truth.

 

Ask for forgiveness.  In other words, be willing to say “I am sorry.”  I can’t tell you how many times I have needed to say I was wrong and needed forgiveness, and it was mostly to Christy and my daughters.

 

Finally, accept an apology.  In other words, be willing to forgive.

 

From Jesus lips to our ears:

 

Matthew 6:12 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.

 

Matthew 6:14-15 14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

 

Mark 11:25-26 25 “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

 

Luke 6:37 37 “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

 

And from Paul and Peter:

 

Ephesians 4:32 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

 

1 Peter 4:8 8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”

 

If you want to be godly, forgive like God.  If you call yourself a Christian, forgive like Jesus.

 

And there is not pain or hurt in the room that is as bad as our how bad and hurtful our sin is to a holy God.

 

Painful Losses

Today, we return to our summer sermon series on Sunday mornings entitled, “A Life Full of Pain: How Can Believers Survive?’  If you have your Bibles, find 2 Corinthians 1:3, and let’s talk about “Painful Losses.”

 

In the recent weeks, we have talked about painful decisions.  We looked at King Saul in 1 Samuel 15.  Our encouragement was to obey God completely instead of partially.

 

Next, we talked about painful finances.  We looked at the Apostle Paul’s experience in Philippians 4.  Our encouragement was to learn the spiritual discipline of contentment.

 

Then, we talked about painful health.  We looked at a man born lame who encountered Peter and John in Acts 3.  Our encouragement was to pray to God asking for healing and ask others to pray for our healing as well.   

 

Before I move on, remember that even though this life is full of pain, there is a time and place that is free from pain.  That place is heaven, and that time is eternity, but it is reserved only for the followers of Christ.

 

This morning, we are talking about painful losses, and everyone can relate.  There is no one who is immune to loss.

 

Generally speaking, losses can be grouped into three broad categories.  First, there is loss of position.  This may mean loss of job or loss of status.

 

Second, there is loss of possession.  This may mean income, retirement, home, etc.  Multiple families lost many possessions in the 2017 EF-3 tornado in Rains County.

 

Third, there is the loss of person and or pets.  Even though my message today speaks primarily to the loss of person, losing a pet is painful.

 

I used to not think this was true.  Early on as a pastor, when church members asked me to pray for them because their dog died or cat died, I did, but I was laughing inside.

 

However, in the past 15 years or so, I have lost three Labrador Retrievers, and I have cried every time.  Losing a pet is painful!

 

When we talk about losing a person, the Bible is not silent.  There are multiple examples of the death of a spouse, death of a child, death of a friend.

 

Remember Abraham who lost his wife Sarah.  See Genesis 23:1-2, 17-20.

 

1 Sarah lived one hundred and twenty-seven years; these were the years of the life of Sarah. 2 So Sarah died in Kirjath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.

 

17 So the field of Ephron which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field and the cave which was in it, and all the trees that were in the field, which were within all the surrounding borders, were deeded 18 to Abraham as a possession in the presence of the sons of Heth, before all who went in at the gate of his city.  19 And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah, before Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. 20 So the field and the cave that is in it were deeded to Abraham by the sons of Heth as property for a burial place.

 

Notice that Abraham mourned and wept and secured a burial for his wife.  Responding in kind to a loss of person is normal and right.

 

Naomi did the same in Ruth 1.  She lost her husband named Elimelech.

 

3 Then Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons. 4 Now they took wives of the women of Moab: the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth. And they dwelt there about ten years. 5 Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died; so the woman survived her two sons and her husband.

 

However, she not only lost her husband, but she also lost her adult sons.  They were also spouses to Orpah and Ruth.

 

I’m sure you know the shortest verse in the Bible.  See John 11:35.

 

35 Jesus wept.

 

Why did Jesus cry?  His dear friend, Lazarus, had died.

 

Finally, even though we are prone to skip this one obvious example.  God the Father experienced the death of His Son, Jesus Christ.

 

Personally, I have not experienced the losses that many of you have.  However, I experienced my own losses.

 

My family and I were set to adopt a set of brothers in the summer of 2014.  We had gone through all of the paperwork and home studies, and then found out another family had adopted them because our paperwork got misplaced.

 

I lost three of my closest friends on September 11, 2014 when three deacons at my previous church wanted me to change the gospel message that I was extending to blacks in our community.  I wasn’t going to change my message so I changed churches and landed here at EBC.

 

On Wednesday, February 24, 2021, I lost a father-figure when Dr. Jimmy Pritchard died due to complications with COVID.  He wasn’t my biological father, but he was my spiritual father and mentor.

 

 

Exposition

In 2 Corinthians 1, I want to comfort you as God wants to comfort us through Paul.  Notice that Paul used that word 6 times in verses 3-6.

 

Paul experienced his own trials and tribulation and suffering according to verse 5.  They were so bad that verse 8 describes them as beyond measure, above strength, and made them think they weren’t going to live through them.

 

What were they?  2 Corinthians 11:24-27 lists some.

 

24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

 

In this letter to the Corinthians and in effort to comfort them, Paul began by reminding to praise God for His mercies and comfort.  Certainly, that is a strange place to start because we think that we should be immune from loss.

 

Then, when we suffer loss, we are thinking about praising God.  We are thinking about cursing God.  However, the truth is, no one is immune from loss…no one.

 

We also see in verses 3-4 that God wants to comfort us in any and every loss.  Notice the use of the word all and any.

 

After praising God for His mercy and comfort, Paul says come to God for comfort again and again.  That word comfort in verse 4 is present active participle that means God will comfort over and over and over again.

 

In verse 5, we actually see that this idea has a financial connotation.  When our loss is this much, His comfort is always more. 

 

Finally, after praising God and coming to Him for comfort, we should recognize that He gives us opportunities to share that same comfort with others in our same situation. 

 

So here is the idea.  God comforts us in our loss.  We then comfort others in the same way that God comforted us. 

 

Therefore, our challenge is not to waste our loss.  Of course, we wouldn’t choose it.  However, we can choose to use it according to God’s plan to comfort others in need like we were and are.

 

 

Invitation

Our invitation is always first to trust Christ. If you have never made that personal decision to follow Jesus, I’d invite you to do so today.

 

Also, I’d invite you to connect formally to EBC.  If you are just visiting, what’s keeping you from making that next step?

 

Lastly, you just may need to be comforted today.  Just sit in silence and be comforted by the HS within you.

Gideons International Report

Painful Health

If you have your Bibles this morning, please take them and find Acts 3:1.  I want to continue in our summer sermon series on Sunday mornings talking about “Painful Health.”

 

This summer, we are talking about a life full of pain.  So far, we have talked about painful decisions in Saul’s life from 1 Samuel 15, and painful finances from Paul’s life in Philippians 4.

 

BTW…Please remember that life on this earth will always be full of pain.  However, a life in heaven for eternity will be painless and pain-free, but you can only experience such through a personal and saving relationship with Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

 

When we talk about painful health, almost all of us can identify.  So many of us have had the dreaded cancer diagnosis.  Others have diabetes.

 

You can add arthritis to list and migraines torn muscles and tendons and ligaments. We can all identify.

 

BTW…I want to publically thank EBC for the insurance that you provide for me and my family and our ministers.  If it were not for our very good insurance, my wife and I would have had to declare bankruptcy after two hospital stays last summer and trying to pay for college. Thank you!

 

 

1. A Man Who was Hopeless, 3:1-3

1 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; 3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms.

 

Here in Acts 3, Peter and John were on their way to the temple to pray.  It was 3 PM.  The ninth hour refers to from 6 AM.

 

They met a certain man who had been unable to walk since his birth.  Acts 4:22 says this man was 40 years old. 

 

Friends and family took him to the temple every day for him to be seen and cared for with the donations of others.  Of course, because of his physical handicap, he couldn’t work and couldn’t provide for himself.

 

Alms were offerings that were being given.  In our day and time, he would be considered a “panhandler.’

 

BTW…Was this man’s condition because of his sin or his parents.  John 9:1-3 tells us that this man’s handicap simply could have been a situation to demonstrate glory of God. 

 

Verse 3 says he saw Peter and John.  Maybe he hadn’t seen them previously.  Regardless, he requested assistance from them.

 

Otherwise, his situation was hopeless.  He had been lame for 14,600 days with no sign of change.

 

 

2. A Miracle of Healing, 3:4-7

4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” 5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” 7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

 

Verse 4 says that Peter caught his eyes and began to converse with him.  Since many had probably ignored him, when Peter began to talk, the lame man expected that Peter and John were going to help them, and they did, but not in the way he was expecting.

 

Peter commanded him to get up in the name and authority of Jesus.  Then Peter helped him up, and he was healed instantly and completely.

 

BTW…It was God’s plan for this man to be healed.  It was also God’s plan for Peter to play his part, to fulfill his role.

 

God can save anyone and everyone instantly.  However, His plan is use us in sharing the gospel.  Brothers and sisters, God left you on earth for a specific purpose, and that purpose is to share the gospel with anyone and everyone that He brings in your path. 

 

 

3. Magnifying the Healer, 3:8-10

8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God. 10 Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

 

What happened once he was healed?  The who was limping went to leaping. 

 

He praised God, and he showed others what had happened. 

 

Consequently, those in the temple were filled with wonder and amazement. They saw for themselves that a miracle had taken place, and they too knew that God had done it.

 

 

 

Application and Conclusion

First, God still performs miracles of healing today.  He can heal cancer, and He can heal diabetes, and He can heal anything and everything.

 

If you are in need, I invite you to do what the James invited the first-century Christians to do.  See James 5:14.

 

14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.

 

As the single elder of Emory Baptist Church, I have prayed for and anointed multiple people with oil.  I would love to do the same for you.

 

Second, when God does heal, we should praise Him.  We should praise Him personally, and we should praise Him publically. That’s what this man did.

 

BTW…If God doesn’t heal, He is still God, and He is still good.  See Job 2:10 and 13:15.

 

10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

 

15 Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.

 

Third, this example of physical healing is a picture and symbol of our need for spiritual healing. We are all spiritually lame, and we need Jesus, and only Jesus, to heal us and save us.

 

And this is Jesus’ first priority.  It is no good for Jesus to heal physically and then healed men and women spend an eternity in hell because they haven’t been healed spiritually.

 

This morning, I invite you to let Jesus heal your heart.  Will you trust Him today as Lord and Savior?

 

O Magnify the Lord with Me!

Painful Finances

Painful Decisions

If you have your Bibles this morning, I want you to find 1 Samuel 15.  I want to share a message with you this morning about painful decisions.

 

If you were here last Sunday morning, you know that I introduced a Sunday morning summer sermon series.  It is about lives full of pain.

 

However, my aim is not simply to identify pains in this earthly life.  My goal is address them biblically, and show us, from God’s word, how to survive.

 

BTW…the only time and place that is pain free is eternity in heaven.  That time and place is secured only for those that receive Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.

 

Life is full of decisions.  One “Psychology Today” estimated that we make 35,000 decisions per day.

 

Sometimes, we make painful decisions. Typically, they are painful because of the consequences, and that is true of Saul in 1 Samuel 15.

 

 

1. God’s directions and expectations are most of the time clear, 15:1-3.

 

The reason I saw most of the time is because I don’t think God tells in His word where to specifically to go to college or specifically to work or specifically how many kids to have.  However, He does tell us specifically to honor our parents and be honest and don’t murder or steal or commit adultery.

 

For Saul, God’s directions were crystal clear.  See 15:3.

 

The question that you are probably asking is why.  I asked that same question.  Isn’t this extra?  Isn’t God going overboard…the women, the babies, the animals?

 

Exodus 17:8-16, 8 Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. 9 And Moses said to Joshua, “Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.” 10 So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 13 So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.  14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.” 15 And Moses built an altar and called its name, The-Lord-Is-My-Banner; 16 for he said, “Because the Lord has sworn: the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”

 

But is this all?  This doesn’t sound like much.

 

Deuteronomy 25:17-18, 17 “Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you were coming out of Egypt, 18 how he met you on the way and attacked your rear ranks, all the stragglers at your rear, when you were tired and weary; and he did not fear God.

 

God was angry that Amalek attacked His people?  How did he attack them?  He attacked them from behind and when they were tired and weary.

 

When God gives instructions and directions, He expects us to obey.  The challenge that you and I face is deciding whether we know better than God.

 

 

2. God hates sin, and partial obedience is sin, 15:4-25.

 

For Saul, he thought his human wisdom was better than God’s instruction. Consequently, this led him down the road of partial disobedience and a series of painful decisions.

 

Yes, he obeyed God partially.  However, partial obedience is disobedience.  

 

Instead of what God had said, what did Saul do?  Look at verse 9.

 

He spared the king and the best animals.  This was painful decision number 1.

 

When Samuel confronted him, Saul lied.  Look at verse 13.  This was painful decision number 2.

 

When pressed even further, Saul blamed his people for his own decision.  Look at verse 15.  This was painful decision number 3.

 

In verse 21, Saul tried to justify his painful decision and those of his people by pointing out the good they were going to do. This was painful decision number 4. 

 

However, notice how Samuel responded in verse 22.  Obedience is better than sacrifice. 

 

In other words, don’t brag about your obedience in some areas when your disobedience is glaring.  Don’t tell me how much you’re giving to offerings when you aren’t tithing.  Don’t tell me about how much your serving when your forsaking the assembly on Sunday mornings.  Don’t tell me how much you want to know and follow God’s will and then you’re sexually active with your boyfriend or girlfriend.

 

Saul’s last painful decision is in verse 24.  This was number five as he feared the people more than he feared God. 

 

BTW…We typically don’t just make one painful decisions.  Once we start downhill, the ball is hard to stop rolling. 

 

 

3. Saul’s decisions were most painful because they meant forfeiting God’s blessing, 15:26-35.

 

Yes, Saul confessed in verse 26.  However, it was too late.

 

Not immediately, but eventually, God would take the nation of Israel from Saul.  He would remove him as king.

 

Did God do that?  Of course He did in making David king.

 

 

Conclusion

What is God making crystal clear to you right now, and you’re not obeying completely?  Is it your money? Is it your commitment to EBC?  It is your purity or your relationships?

 

Partial obedience is disobedience.  Disobedience runs the risk of forfeiting God’s blessing.  Stop making painful decisions today.

 

 

No Place Like Heaven...Pain Free

Life is FULL of pain.  That is probably not the encouraging word that you were looking for this morning before you arrived.

 

However, it is true, and I think you all would agree.  As Christians, I sometimes feel that the expectation from others is that we are to just put our head down and go on or bury our head in the sand and act like our pain doesn’t exist.  That’s not what we are going to do this summer at EBC.

 

Earlier this spring, the Hunt Baptist Association hosted a one-day seminar with Dr. Matthew Kim.  He wrote this book, “Preaching to People in Pain: How Suffering Can Shaper Your Sermons and Connect with Your Congregation.”

Ronnie and Chris and I all attended this seminar.  I especially was impacted to the degree that I felt you, as people in pain, needed to hear from God’s Word. 

 

In the Bible, the word “pain” is used 39 times.  12 times it refers to emotional or spiritual pain.  26 times it refers to physical pain.  The most common type of physical pain mentioned is childbirth.

 

This summer, we will talk about various types and circumstances of pain.  See bulletin insert.

 

I said pain was mentioned 39 times in the Bible.  12 are emotional or spiritual.  26 are physical.  12 plus 26 equals 38. 

 

The last time that pain is mentioned, it actually speaks to the absence of pain.  Where?

 

This life is FULL of pain, and the next life will be an eternity of pain.  However, there is a time and place where pain will be no more.

 

Take your Bibles and turn to Revelation 21:1. I want to share a message with you entitled, “No Place Like Heaven.”

 

 

1. Heaven will be pain FREE, Revelation 21:1-5a!

1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”  5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.”

 

In verse 1, John said he saw a new heaven and a new earth because the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.  The first heaven and the first earth are what we have now, but when will they pass away? 

 

 

Revelation doesn’t tell us. However, 2 Peter 3 does.

 

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

 

Remember our timeline.  We are waiting on the rapture.  Then will be the tribulation.  Then Jesus will return. Then He will reign on hearth for 1,000 years.  Then eternity will begin.

 

According to 2 Peter 3, after Jesus comes back and before eternity begins, the first heaven and the first earth will pass away, and there will be no more sea.  They pass away because they are tainted with sin.

 

However, specifically, why will there be no more sea?  It is hard to say.

 

It may something to do with the anti-Christ coming from the sea in Revelation 13.  It may have something to do with being the place of the dead in Revelation 20.  The bottom line is that Scripture isn’t clear.

 

In verse 2, John saw the holy city, the New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. John compared her to a bride adorned for her husband. 

 

Don’t simply pass over the significance of this analogy of a wedding and a marriage that has one bride and one groom.  We can probably conclude that John uses this analogy because the holy city will be the home of the bride of Christ, His Church. 

 

The absolute greatest fact about heaven is revealed in verse 3.  Heaven will mean the presence of Christ.  In verse 3, He is called the Tabernacle of God which reminds us of the Old Testament.  However, it also reminds us of John 1:14.

 

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

 

In His first coming, Jesus became flesh and dwelt or tabernacled among us.  He will do that again in heaven. 

 

Now listen to verse 4.  Eternity will be a return to Genesis with the new heaven and the new hearth.  It will be the presence of God in Jesus Christ, and it will be the absence of sorrow with NO pain.

 

Verse 4 is one of our favorite and most comforting verses in all of the Bible.  There will be NO pain at all…zero, none, nota.

 

Think about all of the pain in this life.  We will talk about painful decisions, painful finances, painful health, painful losses, painful relationships, and painful sins. 

 

However, that won’t be true in the life to come.  There will be no illness.  There will be no death.  There will be no betrayal.  There will be no abuse.  There will be no loss. 

 

There will be NO pain.  Heaven will be pain FREE.

 

 

2. You can’t count on this truth, Revelation 21:5b!

5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”

 

You might be wondering how will there be no sorrow and no pain.  The answer is in verse 5.  Jesus said He will make all things new. 

 

Here is what I know about this transformation just from one verse.  First of all, in heaven, Jesus will be in charge.  It won’t be me.  It won’t be you.  It won’t be anyone other than Him.

 

Second, His promise leaves nothing out.  There are no exceptions.  He said, “I will make ALL things new.”  There is no need to elaborate.  Heaven will be the transformation of every single thing.

 

Third, this promise is a promise made and a promise kept.  It hasn’t happened yet, but it will.  These words are faithful and true.

 

 

 

3. Will your pain end when you get to heaven, Revelation 21:6-8?

6 And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

 

Finally, in our last three verses for today, there is an invitation to experience life and eternal life.  This is an invitation for your pain to end!

 

In verse 6, Jesus is the Alpha and Omega.  Those are the first and last letters of the Greek Alphabet. He is the beginning and the end.

 

He was there in the beginning, and was the Creator in Genesis.  He will be there in Heaven in the end for eternity in Revelation, and He invites anyone who thirsts to come to the fountain of the water of life. 

 

He isn’t talking about physical thirst but spiritual thirst.  That may be you this morning. 

 

Is there something more to this life?  Are you missing something?  Are you not at peace with your Creator? 

 

Are you tired of pain and more pain and more pain?  Come to Jesus and thirst no more and experience freedom from pain.

 

However, if your life is characterized by cowardliness, unbelief, anger, murder, sexual immorality, sorcery, idolatry and lies, you haven’t been saved.  You don’t have a home in heaven.

 

You will experience the second death.  You will die physically and then spiritually for eternity.

 

Not only will you continue to experience pain in this life, you will experience pain for eternity.  Jesus invites you to be saved today.

 

Navigating the Road Ahead