AUTO LESSONS
INTRODUCTION:
A. Jesus often used object lessons.
B. Behold a Sower went forth to sow.
C. What man of you having 100 sheep.
D. They help to impress spiritual lessons.
E. In the lesson today we want to use a familiar object-auto.
F. After all everyone (but me and my family) came in one, and hopefully will go home in one.
I. STEER STRAIGHT.
A. Steering determines success and safety.
B. When driving, important not to swerve.
C. The way to heaven is straight and narrow.
1. Matt. 7:13.
2. Devil lures us- must say no.
3. Lk. 9:62 "No man having put his hand. . .."
4. (Philippians 3:13-14) "Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, {14} I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
D. World as a whole does not steer straight; reasons:
1. 1 Jn. 2:15. do not love the Father.
2. Rom. 12:2 conform to the world.
3. James 4:4 friend of the world.
E. God instructs us not to turn- Josh. 1:7 "Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go..
II. DON’T LET CLUTCH SLIP.
A. Clutch connects motor to drive wheels.
B. (Hebrews 2:1) "Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip."
C. Deut. 4:9, Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren,
D. Deut. 6:10-12 So it shall be, when the Lord your God brings you into the land of which He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give you large and beautiful cities which you did not build, "houses full of all good things, which you did not fill, hewn-out wells which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant--when you have eaten and are full-- then beware, lest you forget the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
E. Slipping clutch gradual- spiritual slipping gradual.
F. Fate of those who slip- Psa. 9:17 "The wicked shall be turned into hell and all the nations that forget God."
III. KEEP UP THE BATTERY
A. Car battery must be continually charged.
B. If alternator goes out- short time you have trouble.
C. Our spiritual batteries must be continually charged.
1. Isa. 40:30-31 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint..
2. (2 Corinthians 4:16) "For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day."
3. (Colossians 3:10) "And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:"
4. Psa. 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me..
D. That’s the reason elders plan classes and services.
IV. PLENTY OF FUEL.
A. The most beautiful and powerful car in the world is helpless without fuel.
B. Must have spiritual strength to do great things.
C. Samson was strong because of fuel from God- Judges 16:20 And she said, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" So he awoke from his sleep, and said, "I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!" But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him..
D. Paul’s fuel was Christ- Phil. 4:13 "I can do all ..."
E. Notice.
1. (1 Timothy 1:12) "And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;"
2. (2 Corinthians 9:8) "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:"
3. (Romans 14:4) "Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand."
V. DON’T BLOW YOUR OWN HORN.
A. A horn is of value- unless abused.
B. Some boast of themselves.
1. (Matthew 6:2) ""Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward."
(Matthew 6:5) ""And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward."
(Matthew 6:15) ""But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
2. (Matthew 23:5) ""But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments."
C. Pride.
1. Psa. 73:6 "Pride serves as their necklace."
2. Prov. 11:2, When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.
3. Prov. 16:18, Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.
4. Prov. 21:4, A haughty look, a proud heart, And the plowing of the wicked are sin.
5. 1 Jn. 2:16. "For all that is in the world..."
VI. OBEY LAWS.
A. Get tired of laws when driving, but for our good.
B. Auto laws should be obeyed- Rom. 13:1.
C. STOP does not mean "Slightly-Tap-On-Pedal."
D. Notice:
1. Ezra. 7:26 Whoever will not observe the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily on him, whether it be death, or banishment, or confiscation of goods, or imprisonment.
2. Tit. 3:1 Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey,
3. (Matthew 22:21) "They said to Him, "Caesar’s." And He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.""
4. (1 Peter 2:13-15) "Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; {14} Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. {15} For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:"
VII. CHECK BRAKES.
A. Car is a dangerous machine without brakes.
B. Proper brakes help you avoid accidents.
C. Christians must have self-control.
1. (Acts 24:25) "Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, "Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.""
2. (2 Peter 1:5-7) "But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, {6} to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, {7} to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love."
3. Prov. 16:32 [He] [who] [is] slow to anger [is] better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city..
D. Temptations keep on coming- just say no.
VIII. STUDY THE MAP.
A. Have you ever tried to guess the way?
B. Spiritual way may seem right but - Prov. 14:12 "There is a way that seemeth ..."
C. Must do the will of the Lord.
1. Matt. 7:21 "Not everyone who..."
2. Deut. 26:16. This day the Lord your God commands you to observe these statutes and judgments; therefore you shall be careful to observe them with all your heart and with all your soul.
3. Examples:
a) Gen. 6:22 Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him,
b) Gen 22:2-3. Abraham to offer Isaac.
c) Josh. 11:15. As the Lord had commanded Moses his servant, so Moses commanded Joshua, and so Joshua did. He left nothing undone of all that the Lord had commanded Moses.
d) Heb. 5:8. "though He was a Son, [yet] He learned obedience by the things which He suffered."
D. The word of God is the road map to HEAVEN:
IS YOUR SPIRITUAL AUTO WELL-TUNNED?
