CBC WHILE YOU WERE AWAY
TEXT: Ps 16:11
Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
INTRODUCTION: YOU MAY RECALL, THE LITTLE NOTE PADS, USED FOR YEARS TO INFORM SOMEONE OF PERTINENT INFORMATION, TAKEN WHILE THEY WERE AWAY. YOU MAY STILL USE THEM TODAY. “WHILE YOU WERE AWAY, MR. JONES CALLED YOU CONCERNING YOUR MEETING TODAY” ETC. ***
MAYBE YOU HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF SOMETHING EXCITING THAT HAPPENED WHILE YOU WERE AWAY. (I HAVE BEEN GONE SEVERAL DAYS OF THE PAST TWO WEEKS,) MUCH PROGRESS HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED ON THE NEW FELLOWSHIP BUILDING. ****
1. BRO. FRANKLIN HOWARD TOLD ME IF I CAN STAY AWAY LONG ENOUGH, WE CAN COMPLETE THE BUILDING.**
2. I HEARD A STORY OF A COUPLE WHO MISSED CHURCH ONE SUNDAY AND THE CONGREGATION EXPERIENCED THE GREATEST SERVICE IN THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.
THEY SAW SOME OF THE CHURCH MEMBERS AT A LOCAL RESTAURANT, AND INQUIRED ABOUT THE SERVICES.
“WHAT A GREAT OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WE HAD TODAY, THEY SAID.”
SEVERAL PEOPLE GOT SAVED, TWO DEACONS REDEDICATED THEIR LIVES, SISTER JONES AND SISTER SMITH** RESOLVED THEIR DIFFERENCES, WENT TO THE ALTER TOGETHER AND PRAYED, HAD AN OLD FASHIONED NECK- HUGGING TIME, AND SISTER JONES’S GRANDDAUGHTER GOT SAVED AFTER WITNESSING ALL THIS. YOU MISSED IT ALL TODAY!!!!
MANY OF US TODAY LIKELY HAVE STORIES, WHERE WE HAVE MISSED A GREAT EXCITING TIME BECAUSE WE WERE SOMEWHERE ELSE.
WHEN IT COMES TO SERVING THE LORD, WE NEED TO BE IN OUR PLACE WHENEVER POSSIBLE TO RECEIVE THE BLESSINGS HE HAS FOR US.
THE BIBLE TELLS OF SEVERAL PLACES WHERE PEOPLE HAVE MISSED A GREAT BLESSING “WHILE THEY WERE AWAY.”
I. IN JOHN CHAPTER 20, THOMAS MISSED THE BLESSING OF SEEING THE RESURRECTED SAVIOR.
John 20:
Jesus stood in the midst, and said unto them, Peace be unto you.
And when he had so said, he showed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord . But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
1. HE MISSED THE BLESSING WHILE HE WAS AWAY
2. HE MISSED THE EXCITEMENT WHILE HE WAS AWAY
3. HE MISSED THE JOY WHILE HE WAS AWAY
4. HE MISSED THE BLESSING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
(A) HE BECAME RESENTFUL (just because 10 of you saw him…)
He was determined not to believe on any evidence that it might please God to give him: he would believe according to his own prejudices, or not at all. Adam Clarke’s Commentary*
(B) HIS FAITH WAS WEAKENED BECAUSE OF HIS ABSENCE.
John 20:24
His unbelief became presumptuous he would not believe that it was the lord, unless he could put his finger into the holes made by the nails in his Lord’s hand, and thrust his hand into the wound made by the spear in his side. Adam Clarke’s Commentary, Electronic Database *
(C ) HIS CONFIDENCE IN THE LORD’S PROMISES WAS SHAKEN.
Thomas had lost much good, and gained much evil, and yet was insensible of his state. Look at the consequences of forsaking the assemblies of God’s people! Jesus comes to the meeting, -a disciple is found “out of his place,” who might have been there; and he is not only not blessed, but his heart becomes hardened and darkened through the deceitfulness of sin. ***It was through God’s mere mercy that Thomas had another opportunity of being convinced of his error.
(From Adam Clarke’s Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright ©
II. THE PRODIGAL SON’S BROTHER MISSED THE HOMECOMING CELEBRATION. LUKE 15
HE MISSED THE JOY OF THE OCCASION
HE MISSED THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE FAMILY
HE MISSED THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW FORGIVENESS .
OFTEN TODAY, WE FIND THE SAME ATTITUDE AND ACTIONS BROUGHT ABOUT BY JEALOUSY, BITTERNESS, STRIFE EVEN AT TIMES AMONG CHURCH PEOPLE.***
(A) WE SEE THE PURITY OF HIS FATHER’S LOVE
HE LOVED BOTH SON’S EQUALLY
(B) WE SEE THE PURPOSE OF HIS BROTHER’S FORGIVENESS.
SWALLOWED HIS PRIDE, ADMITTED HIS WRONG, CONFESSED OF HIS SIN AND CAME HOME.
1. IT TOOK SOME COURAGE TO COME BACK HOME ***
2. IT TOOK THE LOVE OF GOD TO BRING HIM BACK HOME. ***
3. IT TOOK OBEDIENCE TO GOD TO COME BACK HOME. ***
( C ) WE SEE THE POUTING OF THE ELDER BROTHER.
1. COMMENTS ABOUT HIS BROTHER’S WAYWARD, WASTEFUL LIFE.
2. CONDEMNATION WHEN FORGIVENESS WAS THE ORDER OF THE DAY.
3. BITTERNESS CROWDED OUT ANY COMMON SENSE AND FAMILY LOVE.
4. BITTERNESS AND REBELLION WILL CHOKE OUT ANY ATTRIBUTES OF CHRISTIAN CHARACTER.
5. ENVY AND STRIFE WILL ROB YOU OF YOUR CHRISTIAN JOY.
III. THE LOST SINNER, WHO FAILS TO REPENT AND RECEIVE CHRIST AS PERSONAL SAVIOR WILL MISS HEAVEN.
JOHN 3:16-18 (NIV)
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
Rev 20:11-21
11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
CONCLUSION: WHAT WILL YOU MISS IF YOU DIE LOST AND SPEND ETERNITY IN HELL?
YOU WILL MISS ALL THE JOYS THAT HEAVEN AFFORDS,
1. WILL YOU MISS GOD’S BLESSINGS AS THOMAS DID, BY DOUBTING?
2. PERHAPS YOU WILL MISS HEAVEN’S CELEBRATION AS THE ELDER BROTHER DID BY POUTING.
WILL YOU ACCEPT CHRIST TODAY?
