WESTSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH
PASTOR: TERRY VAUGHAN
SERMON TITLE: THE TREASURE OF THE TRINITY
“FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE. FOR GOD SENT NOT HIS SON INTO THE WORLD TO CONDEMN THE WORLD,; BUT THAT THE WORLD THROUGH HIM MIGHT BE SAVED. HE THAT BELIEVETH ON HIM IS NOT CONDEMNED: BUT HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT IS CONDEMNED ALREADY BECAUSE HE HATH NOT BELIEVED IN THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD.” JOHN 3:16-18
1 CORINTHIANS 12:4-7 “NOW THERE ARE DIVERSITIES OF GIFTS, BUT THE SAME SPIRIT. AND THERE ARE DIFFERENCES OF ADMINISTRATION, BUT THE SAME LORD. AND THERE ARE DIVERSITIES OF OPERATIONS, BUT IT IS THE SAME GOD WHICH WORKETH ALL IN ALL. BUT THE MANIFESTATION OF THE SPIRIT IS GIVEN TO EVERY MAN TO PROFIT WITHAL.”
I’M GLAD I’M SERVING A WORKING GOD. AND I KNOW, ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF GOD THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENCES AMONG GIFTS, ADMINISTRATIONS AND OPERATIONS BUT THERE’S SOMETHING I KNOW THIS WEEK ABOUT STUDYING THIS SCRIPTURE. IT SAYS THERE ARE DIFFERENCES OF GIFTS BUT IT IS THE SAME SPIRIT. THERE ARE DIFFERENCES OF ADMINISTRATION BUT THE SAME LORD. AND THERE ARE DIVERSITIES OF OPERATIONS BUT IT IS THE SAME GOD. I WANT TO PREACH TO YOU TODAY ON THE TREASURE OF THE TRINITY. THERE’S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO TALK ABOUT WHAT GOD’S DONE FOR THEM. BUT EVEN THOUGH WE’RE SERVING A GOD THAT THE BIBLE SAYS IS ONLY ONE; HE COMES IN THREE PARTS. WE’RE SERVING GOD THE FATHER, GOD THE SON AND GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT. I’M GLAD HE STARTED OUT ON OUR LEVEL IN VERSE FOUR WHERE HE SHARED WITH US THE SPIRIT AND THAT’S THE GIFT. THEN HE SHARED WITH US THE ADMINISTRATION AND THAT’S THE LORD AND THEN HE SHARED WITH US THE OPERATION AND THAT’S GOD.
I THOUGHT ABOUT THE FOUNDER. THE FOUNDER IS NONE OTHER THAN GOD. HE’S THE FOUNDER OF THE TRINITY.
ISAIAH 45:22 “LOOK UNTO ME, AND BE YE SAVED, ALL THE ENDS OF THE EARTH: FOR I AM GOD, AND THERE IS NONE ELSE.”
THEN I THOUGHT ABOUT THE FOUNDATION. THE FOUNDATION IS JESUS CHRIST.
IN ACTS 4:12 “NEITHER IS THERE SALVATION IN ANY OTHER: FOR THERE IS NONE OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN GIVEN AMONG MEN, WHEREBY WE MUST BE SAVED.”
THEN I THOUGHT ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT AND WHAT PART THE HOLY SPIRIT PLAYS. GOD SHOWED ME THAT HE WAS THE FOUNTAIN. HE TOLD THE WOMAN AT THE WELL THAT HE’D PUT THE FOUNTAIN OF LIVING WATERS DOWN INSIDE OF YOU. SHE LEFT HER WATER POT THAT DAY BECAUSE SHE HAD MET GOD THE FATHER AND THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD.
THERE’S A LOT OF PEOPLE AND CHURCHES TODAY IN THE LAND THAT HAS GOD AS THEIR FATHER, JESUS AS THEIR LORD AND THE HOLY SPIRIT AS THEIR COMFORTER TODAY. IF YOU’LL LEARN MORE ABOUT THE TRINITY, YOU CAN HAVE SOME TREASURES IN YOUR LIFE.
I WANT TO SHARE WHAT I FOUND IN PSALMS 111 ABOUT THE WORK OF THE TRINITY.
“PRAISE YE THE LORD. I WILL PRAISE THE LORD WITH MY WHOLE HEART, IN THE ASSEMBLY OF THE UPRIGHT, AND IN THE CONGREGATION. THE WORKS OF THE LORD ARE GREAT, SOUGHT OUT OF ALL THEM THAT HAVE PLEASURE THEREIN.”
WE FOUND THERE THAT THE WORK IS GREAT. THEN WE FOUND HIS WORK IS HONORABLE, GLORIOUS AND RIGHTEOUS IN VERSE THREE. “HIS WORK IS HONORABLE AND GLORIOUS: AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ENDURETH FOREVER.” THEN IN VERSE FOUR WE FOUND THAT HIS WORKS ARE REMEMBERED. “HE HATH MADE HIS WORKS TO BE REMEMBERED: THE LORD IS GRACIOUS AND FULL OF COMPASSION.”
THEN WE FOUND OUT IN VERSE SIX THAT HIS WORKS ARE POWERFUL. “HE HATH SHEWED HIS PEOPLE THE POWER OF HIS WORKS, THAT HE MAY GIVE THEM THE HERITAGE OF THE HEATHEN.” THEN WE FOUND IN VERSE SEVEN THAT HIS WORKS ARE VERITY AND JUDGMENT AND SURE. “THE WORKS OF HIS HANDS ARE VERITY AND JUDGMENT: ALL OF HIS COMMANDMENTS ARE SURE.” THERE’S NOTHING MORE SURER TODAY THAN TO KNOW YOU’RE SAVED BY THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
EPHESIANS 2:10 “WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP, CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS UNTO GOOD WORKS, WHICH GOD HATH BEFORE ORDAINED THAT WE SHOULD WALK IN THEM.” DID YOU CATCH THAT? WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP. WITHOUT HIM WE’RE NOTHING. UNTIL JESUS CHRIST IS IN YOUR LIFE YOU’RE NOTHING BUT CLAY. HE’LL TAKE YOU AND MOLD YOU AND MAKE YOU INTO WHAT HE WANTS YOU TO BE.
ROMANS 9:28 “FOR HE WILL FINISH THE WORK, AND CUT IT SHORT IN RIGHTEOUSNESS: BECAUSE A SHORT WORK WILL THE LORD MAKE UPON THE EARTH.” IN OTHER WORDS IT’S NOT GOING TO LAST LONG. DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT JESUS SAID ON THE CROSS WHEN HE GAVE HIS LIFE AT CALVARY? HE LOOKED UP AND SAID HE HAD FINISHED THE WORK THAT GOD HAD SENT HIM TO DO. JESUS CAME HERE TO DO A WORK. HE CAME TO SEEK AND TO SAVE THAT WHICH WAS LOST. I WONDER, DO YOU REALLY KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR TODAY?
I WANT TO SHARE THREE PARTS OF THE TRINITY WITH YOU THAT WILL BE A TREASURE IN YOUR LIFE.
NUMBER ONE: GOD THE FOUNDER. GOD WORKS FOR US. GOD’S NOT WORKING AGAINST YOU TODAY. HE’S WORKING FOR YOU. IN ROMANS 8:31 “WHAT SHALL WE THEN SAY TO THESE THINGS? IF GOD BE FOR US, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US?” HE’S WORKING FOR YOU AND ME. GOD CARES ENOUGH ABOUT US TO WORK FOR US.
ROMANS 5:6-8 “FOR WHEN WE WERE YET WITHOUT STRENGTH, IN DUE TIME CHRIST DIED FOR THE UNGODLY. FOR SCARCELY FOR A RIGHTEOUS MAN WILL ONE DIE, YET PREADVENTURE FOR A GOOD MAN SOME WOULD EVEN DARE TO DIE. BUT GOD COMMENDETH HIS LOVE TOWARD US, IN THAT, WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US.” TELL ME GOD AIN’T WORKING FOR US. LET ME SHARE THIS ONE: JOHN 3:16-17 “FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE. FOR GOD SENT NOT HIS SON INTO THE WORLD TO CONDEMN THE WORLD; BUT THAT THE WORLD THROUGH HIM MIGHT BE SAVED.” GOD’S WORKING FOR US. I’M GLAD I’M ON THE WINNING SIDE.
HEBREWS 2:9 “BUT WE SEE JESUS, WHO WAS MADE A LITTLE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS FOR THE SUFFERING OF DEATH, CROWNED WITH GLORY AND HONOR; THAT HE BY THE GRACE OF GOD SHOULD TASTE DEATH FOR EVERY MAN.” WHY? SO THAT WE MIGHT HAVE LIFE AND THAT WE MIGHT HAVE LIFE MORE ABUNDANTLY. DON’T YOU TELL ME THAT GOD AIN’T WORKING FOR YOU.
JOHN 15:13 “GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS, THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS.” HE LAID DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS. HE DIED FOR ALL OF US. GOD WORKS FOR US. WE ARE HIS WORKMAN SHIP CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS.
TITUS 2:11 “FOR THE GRACE OF GOD THAT BRINGETH SALVATION HATH APPEARED TO ALL MEN.” THE GRACE OF GOD IS THE ONLY THING I KNOW OF THAT CAN BRING SALVATION TO ALL MEN. GOD WANTS US TO HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE.
NUMBER TWO: JESUS CHRIST IS WORKING IN YOU. HE SAID: BEHOLD I STAND AT THE DOOR AND KNOCK. IF ANY MAN HEAR MY VOICE AND OPEN THE DOOR, HE SAID I’LL COME IN AND SUP WITH HIM AND HE WITH ME.
GALATIANS 2:20 “I AM CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST: NEVERTHELESS I LIVE; YET NOT I, BUT CHRIST LIVETH IN ME: AND THE LIFE WHICH I NOW LIVE IN THE FLESH I LIVE BY FAITH OF THE SON OF GOD, WHO LOVED ME, AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR ME.”
HE WORKS FROM THE INSIDE OUT. I REMEMBER THE DAY THE LORD SAVED ME. HE’S BEEN THERE EVER SINCE.
PHILIPPIANS 2:13 “FOR IT IS GOD WHICH WORKETH IN YOU BOTH TO WILL AND TO DO OF HIS GOOD PLEASURE.”
1 CORINTHIANS 3:16 “KNOW YE NOT THAT YE ARE THE TEMPLE OF GOD, AND THAT THE SPIRIT OF GOD DWELLETH IN YOU?”
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR GOD OUT HERE IN THIS MATERIAL WORLD. BUT THEY’LL NOT FIND HIM. THE BIBLE SAYS THAT GOD IS A SPIRIT. WHEN I WAS A BOY I USED TO PRAY AT MY BED AND ASK GOD TO SHOW ME HIMSELF. BUT AFTER A WHILE GOD SHOWED ME THAT HE WASN’T IN THE CEILING. HE WASN’T IN THE CEILING FAN OR THE CURTAINS. HE WAS WITHIN ME. CHRIST LIVES IN US TODAY. THE BIBLE SAYS THAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS WITHIN YOU.
1 JOHN 4:4 “YE ARE OF GOD, LITTLE CHILDREN, AND HAVE OVERCOME THEM: BECAUSE GREATER IS HE THAT IS IN YOU, THAN HE THAT IS IN THE WORLD.”
IF YOU HAVE CHRIST ON THE INSIDE, YOU HAVE EVERYTHING THAT YOU NEED.
JOHN 14:20 “AT THAT DAY YE SHALL KNOW THAT I AM IN MY FATHER, AND YE IN ME AND I IN YOU.” I WONDER DO YOU KNOW THAT CHRIST JESUS LIVES IN YOU TODAY?
SOME PEOPLE WONDER WHAT GOD’S DOING FOR THEM. THEY HAVE TO SEARCH. YOU SEARCH YOUR HEART AND YOU’LL KNOW. GOD’S MIND, THROUGH HIS SPIRIT WORKS IN OUR HEARTS.
EPHESIANS 3:17 “THAT CHRIST MAY DWELL IN YOUR HEARTS BY FAITH; THAT YE, BEING ROOTED AND GROUNDED IN LOVE, MAY BE APBLE TO COMPREHEND ALL SAINTS WHAT S THE BREADTH, LENGTH AND DEPTH AND HEIGHT.” THERE MIGHT BE SOME HERE TODAY THAT DON’T KNOW CHRIST AS THEIR SAVIOR. MAYBE YOU’RE HERE TODAY AND YOU’RE NOT SURE. PAY REAL CLOSE ATTENTION BECAUSE THIS HAPPENED LAST SUNDAY. A VERY WELL KNOWN CHURCH AND I WON’T CALL THE NAME OUT. THAT CHURCH HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED SINCE THE EARLY 1940’S. THE PASTOR GOT UP AND SAID HE FELT LIKE DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT. HE SAID I WANT EVERYBODY THAT’S IN HERE THAT’S BEEN SAVED BY THE GRACE OF GOD TO STAND UP AND TESTIFY ABOUT WHAT GOD DID FOR YOU THAT DAY. PEOPLE STARTED GETTING UP AND TESTIFYING ABOUT THE TIME THEY GOT SAVED. THEN THE CHAIRMAN OF THE DEACON BOARD STOOD UP AND SHARED WITH THEM WHEN HE HAD GOTTEN SAVED WHICH WAS LIKE THIRTY YEARS AGO BUT HE’D NEVER BEEN BAPTIZED AND WOULD LIKE TO DO IT NOW. ANOTHER GUY ON THE DEACON BOARD STOOD UP AND YOU KNOW WHAT HE SAID? HE SAID I DON’T REMEMBER A TIME WHEN I’VE EVER BEEN SAVED BUT GOD’S DEALING WITH ME RIGHT NOW AND I WANT GOD TO SAVE ME. HE RAN TO THE ALTAR AND HE GOT SAVED. LISTEN, YOU CAN’T BE SAVED JUST ATTENDING THE HOUSE OF GOD. HE’D BEEN THE HOUSE OF GOD MANY YEARS BUT UNTIL CHRIST KNOCKED ON HIS HEARTS DOOR HE COULDN’T GET SAVED.
NUMBER THREE: THE SPIRITS WORKS THROUGH US.
1 JOHN 5:6 “THIS IS HE THAT CAME BY WATER AND BLOOD, EVEN JESUS CHRIST; NOT BY WATER ONLY, BUT BY WATER AND BLOOD. AND IT IS THE SPIRIT THAT BEARETH WITNESS BECAUSE THE SPIRIT IS TRUTH.”
AS A MATTER OF FACT JESUS SAID THIS: IF ANY MAN HAVE NOT THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST, HE IS NONE OF HIS.
GOD IS WORKING FOR US. CHRIST IS WORKING IN US AND THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUGHT TO BE WORKING THROUGH US. LET ME SHARE THESE SCRIPTURES.
1 PETER 4:10 “AS EVERY MAN HATH RECEIVED THE GIFT, EVEN SO MINISTERED THE SAME ONE TO ANOTHER.” DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS? WHEN YOU GET SAVED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD, THE GRACE OF GOD WILL WORK THROUGH YOU SO THAT OTHER PEOPLE MIGHT CAN GET THE GRACE OF GOD ALSO. I WONDER DO YOU DO LIKE JESUS DID IN MATTHEW: LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE BEFORE MEN THAT THEY MIGHT SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS AND MY FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN WILL BE GLORIFIED. IS HIS LIGHT SHOWING IN YOU TODAY? WE HAVE FAMILY AND FRIENDS, STRANGERS AND FOREIGNERS THAT DON’T KNOW CHRIST AS THEIR PERSONAL SAVIOR. THEY DON’T EVEN ATTEND THE HOUSE OF GOD. THEY NEED TO BE SAVED. IT TAKES ALL THREE. THE TRINITY TO GET SAVED. THAT’S WHY IT’S SUCH A TREASURE.
1 CORINTHIANS 6:20 “FOR YE ARE BOUGHT WITH A PRICE: THEREFORE GLORIFY GOD IN YOUR BODY, AND IN YOUR SPIRIT, WHICH ARE GOD’S.”
DO YOU GLORIFY GOD IN YOUR BODY?
PHILIPPIANS 1:20 “ACCORDING TO MY EARNEST EXPECTATION AND MY HOPE, THAT IN NOTHING I SHALL BE ASHAMED, BUT THAT WITH ALL BOLDNESS, AS ALWAYS, SO NOW ALSO CHRIST SHALL BE MAGNIFIED IN MY BODY, WHETHER IT BE BY LIFE, OR BY DEATH.”
YOU EVER SEEN A MAGNIFYING GLASS? PUT IT UP IN FRONT OF SOME WORDS YOU CAN’T SEE AND IT WILL BRING IT RIGHT UP THERE TO YOU. THAT’S THE WAY CHRIST OUGHT TO BE IN OTHERS PEOPLES LIVES THROUGH US AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. HIS LIFE OUGHT TO BE MAGNIFIED IN OUR BODY. JESUS CHRIST HAS TO BE NUMBER ONE. ALWAYS.
ROMANS 8:9 “SO THEN THEY THAT ARE IN THE FLESH CANNOT PLEASE GOD.”
WHEN YOU’RE AROUND OTHER PEOPLE DO YOU LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD? CAN THEY TELL THAT CHRIST IS MAGNIFIED IN YOU?
FIRST IS CHRIST IS WORKING FOR YOU. HE SENT HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON TO DIE ON A CROSS FOR YOU. GOD NOT ONLY MADE THE EARTH, HE MADE THE HEAVENS. HE’S GONNA SEND HIS SON BACK ONE DAY AFTER AWHILE AND ALL THOSE THAT ARE READY ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GO. GOD, CHRIST AND THE HOLY SPIRIT DID NOT DO ALL THIS SO THAT WE COULD DIE AND GOD TO HELL. THE BIBLE SAYS IT IS NOT THE WILL OF THE FATHER THAT ANY ONE OF YOU SHOULD PERISH BUT THAT ALL SHOULD COME TO REPENTANCE. HE WANTS EVERYBODY TO BE SAVED. GOD IS WORKING FOR YOU TODAY. SECONDLY DO YOU KNOW THAT CHRIST IS WORKING IN YOU TODAY? IS HE REALLY AND TRULY THE LORD OF YOUR LIFE? HAS HE GONE HOME WITH YOU A SINNER TO BE YOUR PERMANENT GUEST? IS CHRIST REALLY IN YOUR SOUL OR IS HE JUST IN YOUR MIND? CAN YOU SEE THE SALVATION OF CHRIST WORKING IN YOUR TODAY? THIRDLY, DOES THE SPIRIT OF GOD WORK THROUGH YOU? MOST PEOPLE WORK A FORTY HOUR A WEEK JOB. THEY SPEND THEIR SATURDAYS RUNNING AROUND AND SUNDAYS THEY SLEEP. THAT’S THEIR LIFE. THEIR LIFE IS WRAPPED UP IN ALL THESE MATERIAL THINGS. OUR LIVES ARE LIKE A VAPOR AND THEN IT VANISHES AWAY.
GOD WANTS YOU TO KNOW THE TREASURES OF THE TRINITY.
LET US PRAY: HEAVENLY FATHER, I’VE BEEN IN CHURCH ALL MY LIFE AND I CAN’T REMEMBER A TIME WHEN I STEPPED OUT ON FAITH AND ASKED YOU TO SAVE ME. I ASK YOU NOW LORD TO FORGIVE ME OF MY SINS. CLEANSE ME AND MAKE ME WHOLE. SAVE ME IN THE NAME OF JESUS.
FATHER, I KNOW THAT I AM SAVED BUT I HAVEN’T BEEN LIVING AS GOOD AS CHRISTIAN LIFE AS I SHOULD. I ASK YOU LORD TO GIVE ME WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE BEYOND MEASURE THAT YOUR LIGHT MIGHT SHINE IN ME, WHERE I CAN WITNESS TO THOSE THAT DON’T YOU AND THAT YOU MIGHT RECEIVE THE GLORY AND HONOR.
I PRAY THIS IN JESUS NAME. AMEN
