HEBREWS 9: 11--17 GOD’S LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT
(sermon thought by Vanda Tankersley)
INTRODUCTION: EVERYONE MUST DIE BEFORE HIS WILL BECOMES EFFECTIVE. IT CAN BE WRITTEN AND ESTABLISHED FOR AN UNSPECIFIED TIME, BUT IT IS TO NO AVAIL UNTIL THAT PERSON DIES. GOD’S WILL IS A BLESSING IN SEVERAL WAYS: 1. HE LEFT US THINGS TO ENJOY HERE ON EARTH, AS A RESULT OF THE DEATH OF HIS SON JESUS CHRIST; AND YET HE EVER LIVES, THAT ONE DAY WE AS CHILDREN OF GOD,** WILL BE ABLE TO ENJOY ETERNITY WITH HIM, AND ALL THAT ETERNITY HAS TO HOLD. CHRIST, AS GOD’S SON, GOD IN FLESH, VERY GOD INDEED, DIES THAT WE MIGHT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE, AND THAT THROUGH HIM, A BETTER TESTAMENT (SALVATION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH) MIGHT BE ENACTED. CHRIST IS THE MEDIATOR OF GOD’S NEW TESTAMENT. THROUGH THE SHED BLOOD OF JESUS, GOD’S WILL IS PROVIDED THAT ALL MANKIND MAY COME UNTO HIM WITH A REPENTANT HEART, BELIEVE UPON CHRIST AND BE SAVED.
WHAT HAS GOD LEFT US IN HIS WILL? LET’S LOOK AND SEE.
I. HE LEFT US HIS PEACE. JOHN 14:27: PEACE I LEAVE WITH YOU. MY PEACE I GIVE TO YOU, NOT AS THE WORLD GIVES** LET NOT YOUR HEART BE AFRAID.
PEOPLE SEARCH FOR PEACE THROUGHOUT EVERY AVENUE OF LIFE, AND FIND NOTHING MORE THAN AN EMPTY SEARCH AND DISAPPOINTMENT.
1. THE FRUITS OF WORLDLY LIVING END IN BITTER DISAPPOINTMENT ROOTED IN SINFULNESS, THE HARVEST IS ALWAYS HEARTACHE. PROVERBS 20:17: BREAD OF DECEIT IS SWEET, BUT AFTERWARDS LIKE A MOUTHFUL OF GRAVEL.
(A) HIS PEACE IS A LASTING PEACE.
1. NOT A DO-BETTER, FEEL BETTER BAND-AID APPROACH,, BUT AN ETERNAL PEACE THAT WILL NEVER LEAVE US.
2. STORMS MAY ARISE, TRIALS MAY COME OUR WAY, OUR FAITH MAY BE TESTED, BUT HIS PEACE ABIDES ALWAYS****
(B) HIS PEACE IS A JUSTIFIABLE PEACE. ROMANS 5:I WE ARE JUSTIFIED BY HIS PEACE.
1. THROUGH OUR FAITH IN CHRIST WE HAVE A JUSTIFICATION WITH GOD AND A PERFECT PEACE THROUGH HIM.
(C) HIS PEACE IS A PERFECT PEACE.
(D)HIS PEACE IS AN ABUNDANT PEACE.
(E)HIS PEACE IS AN ASSURING PEACE. JOHN 16:33: IN THE WORLD, YOU HAVE TRIBULATION, BUT BE OF GOOD CHEER, I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD. *REV. (BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB>)
II. HE LEFT US HIS PERFECTION. WE ARE MADE PERFECT THROUGH CHRIST.
(A) WE ARE COMPLETE IN CHRIST. COLOSSIANS 2:10: WE ARE COMPLETE IN HIM.
(?) WHAT CAN YOU ADD TO COMPLETION?????? NOTHING!!!!!
1. MANY PASTORS AND CONGREGATIONS TODAY ARE FOLLOWING MAN’S PLANS TO BUILD HUGE “MEGA-CHURCHES”.
2. THEY USE A SEEKER- FRIENDLY APPROACH SO THAT WORDS SUCH AS “THE BLOOD” AND GUILTY, AND CONDEMNED DO NOT RUN OFF THE LOST SINNER.
(?) WHERE CAN YOU RUN A LOST SINNER OFF TO? (ALREADY BOUND FOR HELL. *****
3. THEY USE A “BLENDED” PROGRAM OF MUSIC. (BLENDED WITH WHAT???) MUSIC WITH AN ALTERNATIVE. (WHAT IS THE ALTERNATIVE?) IF IT IS NOT OF GOD THEN IT IS OF THE WORLD. WE NEED SONGS THAT TELL OF GOD’S LOVE AND MERCY.
4. WE HEAR OF THE “PURPOSE DRIVEN CHURCH”
1. THE CHURCH ONLY HAS ONE PURPOSE AND THAT IS TO SHARE THE PLAN OF SALVATION WITH THE LOST WORLD. 1. MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL MANKIND, 2. EDIFY THE SAINTS OF
GOD, LIFT UP THE NAME OF JESUS.
(B) HE LEFT US HIS PERFECT WILL. ROMANS 12:2: BE NOT CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD, BUT BE YE TRANSFORMED, BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND THAT YE MAY PROVE THAT PERFECT AND ACCEPTABLE WILL OF GOD.
(?) WHAT IS GOD’S PERFECT AND ACCEPTABLE WILL?
THAT NONE SHOULD DIE LOST AND THAT ALL SHOULD COME TO REPENTANCE.
1. NOT GOD’S WILL THAT ANY SHOULD DIE LOST.
2.NOT GOD’S WILL THAT ANY SHOULD BE BACKSLIDDEN.
3. HE GAVE PROVISIONS FOR BOTH CATEGORIES:
“LOST”****
ROMANS 10: VS 9, “IF THOU SHALT CONFESS WITH THY MOUTH, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND BELIEVE IN THINE HEART THAT GOD HAS RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, THOU SHALT BE SAVED” IRON CLAD GUARANTEE!!!!
WANT MORE??????????????????????????????????????????
HEBREWS 6:18: IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD TO LIE.
FOR THE BACKSLIDER. (saved person who has lost his joy with the lord, NOT HIS SALVATION)
1 JOHN 1:9: IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS**** HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE US OUR SINS AND TO CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS. (GOD GUARANTEES IT!!!!!!)
III. HE LEFT US HIS PORTION. PSALMS 16:5: THE LORD IS THE PORTION OF MY INHERITANCE.
1. HE LEFT US ALL THAT HEAVEN AFFORDS.
2. HE LEFT US EQUAL ACCESS TO ALL THAT HEAVEN HAS.
3. HE LEFT US A GUARANTEE TO SHARE ALL HIS RICHES IN GLORY.
(A) PSALMS 73:26: GOD IS THE STRENGTH OF MY HEART AND MY PORTION FOREVER.
1. WHEN MY STRENGTH IS GONE HE IS MY PORTION
2. WHEN MY LIFE IS OVER, HE IS MY PORTION
3. HE ASSURES US THAT WHEN OUR SPIRIT FAILS US HE IS OUR PORTION.
4. HE IS INDEED THE STRENGTH BEHIND US.
5. PAUL SAID I LIVE, YET NOT I BUT CHRIST WHO LIVES WITHIN ME.
IV. HE LEFT US HIS POWER. 2 COR 4:7 WE HAVE THIS TREASURE IN EARTHEN VESSELS THAT THE EXCELLENCY OF THE POWER MAY BE IN GOD AND NOT IN US.
(A) HIS POWER IS GIVEN TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE.
JN 1:12: AS MANY AS RECEIVED HIM, GAVE HE THEM POWER TO BECOME SONS OF GOD.
(B) HIS POWER IS GIVEN TO THOSE WHO FOLLOW HIM
1. POWER TO WITNESS TO A LOST WORLD
2. POWER TO TESTIFY OF HIS GRACE AND MERCY TO ALL WHO WILL HEAR.
3. POWER TO TEACH AND PREACH THE GOSPEL OF GRACE TO ALL NATIONS.
(C) HIS POWER IS GIVEN TO ALL WHO WILL USE IT.
1, TO THE CHURCH, OF ROME, PAUL DECLARED: “I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST FOR IT IS THE POWER OF GOD; SALVATION TO ALL WHO WILL BELIEVE.
2. GOD’S WORD IS LIKE A HAMMER. BREAK THE HARDEST HEART.
EXAMPLE: MAN AT FELLOWSHIP: IT WILL TAKE A BETTER ONE THAN THAT TO GET ME SAVED. THAT NIGHT HE DID!
3. THE HARDEST SINNER WILL CRUMBLE UNDER GOD’S POWER. (BIG TOM STORY)
4. THE MOST BACKSLIDDEN SAINT WILL CRUMBLE UNDER GOD’S CONVICTING POWER.
CONCLUSION: HE LEFT US HIS PROMISE THAT HE WILL RETURN FOR US. JOHN CH 14:1--3 “ I GO TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU AND IF I GO AWAY, I WILL COME AGAIN AND RECEIVE YOU THAT WHERE I AM YOU MAY BE ALSO.
