Thou Art The Man

THOU ART THE MAN

(Outline is based on "The Sin of Faultfinding" By: Guy F. Hester from Pulpit and Bible Study Helps)

November 1991 Editor-in-Chief: Spiros Zodhiates)

Scripture: Matt: 26:20-25 "Is it I?" II Sam 12:1-14 "Thou art the man" Matt. 7:1-5 "Judge not"

(Read sections as they are discussed. Do not attempt to read all sections at beginning.)

I. IS IT I?

Matt. 26:20-25; Luke 22:23; Mark 14:19, 29 --- "not I" John 13:22-25 "who is it?"

Peter said in Matt. 26:33 "yet will I never be offended"

A. We should rather say:

"If it be possible that others may be offended, there is danger that I may be also."

But it is common for those who think too well of themselves, easily to admit suspicions of others.

1. Peter stumbled --- so might I.

2. Judas fell --- so could I.

It was a great moment of emotion; it was a moment of splendid honesty. When Jesus made His statement. He forced them to come face to face with himself; and the question they asked Him was not, "Is it my neighbor?", but, "Is it I?". It was a moment when every man suddenly woke to the fact that there was within himself--howsoever he hated it--something of the capacity for treachery. (G.C.M. Mk 14:19)

B. No good thing in the flesh Romans 7:15-25 "evil is present with me"

(II Cor. 5:1-3) The body of flesh is a heavy burden, the calamities of life are a heavy load. But believers groan because burdened with a body of sin, and the many corruptions that are still remaining and raging in them. This make them complain, "O wretched man that I am!!!" Rom 7:24 (M. H.)

C. "take heed" I Cor 10:1-2 "take heed lest ye fall; many Israelites failed v. 5 But with many of them God was not well pleased:

Others have fallen, and so may we. (M. H.)

There is a proneness in good men to be over confident of their own strength and stability. We are ready to think ourselves able to grapple with the strongest temptations, to go through the hardest and most hazardous services, and to bear the greatest afflictions for Christ; but it is because we do not know ourselves. Those often fall soonest and foulest that are most confident of themselves. Those are least safe that are most secure. Satan is most active to seduce such; they are most off their guard, and God leaves them to themselves, to humble them. (M. H.)

D. Hezekiah

1. Heart lifted up II Chron 32:25

2. Left for trial II Chron 32:31 Isa 39:1-8

E. Other Scriptures:

1. Romans 11:20 "Be not highminded, but fear:" We need not to fear, but God will be true to His Word; all the danger is lest we false to ours. (M. H.)

2. Hebrews 4:1 Coming short Who is it? Is it I?

We cannot know what men are, much less what they will be, but those who appear to be sent of Christ we must receive, till the contrary appear. (M. H.)

3. John 6:70 "one of you is a devil"

We must not be too sure concerning any. God knows those that are His;

we do not. (M. H.) God knows which one is "a devil".

Advancement to places of honour and trust in the church is no certain evidence of saving grace.

F. Extra Comments on "Is it I?"

1. Matthew Henry --- Holy fear of ourselves, and not presumptuous confidence, is the best security against apostasy from God, and final rejection by Him.

2. Apostle Paul --- I Cor 9: 27 "But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a

castaway. It is not with good reason Paul wrote I Cor 9:27. * A preacher

of salvation may yet miss it!!!!

3. Thomas A. Keimpis "Imitation of Christ" --- We cannot trust ourselves, we are often in need of grace and wisdom.

4. G. Campbell Morgan --- One thing that a man cannot know is himself.

5. Jeremiah 17:9-10 "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

" O wretched man that I am!!!!!!!!!!!!"

II. THOU ART THE MAN

II Sam 12:1-14 Psalms 32 , 51

A. Time had passed (approx. 1 year) --- reprisal from God had not been immediate.

Eccl. 8:11 "Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil."

Though we lay aside thoughts of sin committed and go on, God does not so easily forget.