GODLY DECISIONS

"LEARNING TO MAKE GODLY DECISIONS"

Ruth 1: 1-22

 

Intro:

The following quote appeared in a copy of a newly produced songbook.  The final phrase was to say “when we RISE up”, but instead it came out:   "Praised is the Lord by day and praised by night; praised is he when we lie down and praised when we WISE up."

            While the author of this particular hymnbook didn't mean to include this wonderful phrase, what a great saying it is!  In this one mistake, we find almost more truth than we can handle.  The truth of the matter is that we all should long to praise the Lord, but the sad fact is that we so often lack the wisdom necessary to understand this.

            In this  lesson, using the first chapter of the book of Ruth, I want us to look at two unwise decisions that were made, and the consequences of those decisions.  Then, I want us to consider one very wise choice that was made, and the rewards of that choice.  Hopefully we can learn how to examine the choices that we have to make on a day-to-day bases, and then make a Godly decision.

 

I THE UNWISE DECISION OF ELIMELECH

 

1. Elimelech faced a very simple decision.

A. Ruth 1: 1 there was a famine in the land of Israel.

B. He could either trust god to provide for he and his family, or, he could take matters into his own hands and do something himself.

C. Foolishly, Elimelech took his family out of the hands of God.

2. There were to be serious consequences for the foolish choice, which he made.

A. Ruth 1: 3 "Then Elimelech, husband of Naomi, died;"

B. Rabbinic tradition teaches that he died either as punishment for greed, or else a lack of trust in God to care for him.

3. Does this sound familiar?

A. In the world today, we face more and more complex decisions.

B. But, in the same breath, we spend less and less time going to God in prayer.

C. Philippians 4: 6 what we should do is instead of pounding our heads against the wall; we should take time to ask for God's help!

D. Hebrews 10: 31 we don't want to find ourselves in the hands of an angry God, but instead we want to be in the hands of a proud Father.

 

II THE UNWISE DECISIONS OF MAHLON AND CHILION

 

1. Upon the surface, we might not spot the unwise choice, which these brothers made, but with careful study, we soon see that they went against the word of God.

A. Deuteronomy 23: 3 the children of Israel, the descendants of Abraham, were told not to marry the men and women of Moab, the descendants of Lot.

B. 1Kings 11: 1-2 Solomon did it, and lost his Kingdom.

C. Ruth 1: 5 Mahlon and Chilion did it, and lost their lives.

2. Again, are we not still making the same unwise choice today?

A. Proverbs 4: 4 God says, "Hold my word in your heart, and live", and we say, "I am to busy!"

B. Mark 12: 30 god says, "Love your neighbor", and we say, "I'm looking out for number 1!"

C. Romans 10: 14 God says, "Teach my word", and we say, "That's not my job!"

 

III THE WISE DECISION OF RUTH

 

1. Though she had to make certain sacrifices, Ruth's decisions led to magnificent rewards!

A. Ruth 1: 15 she left behind her people's sinful traditions, yet found a new home within God's family!

B. Ruth 1: 15 she had to leave behind Chemosh, the God of the Moabites, but she found favor in the sight of the God of Heaven!

C. Ruth exalted God with her wise decisions, and in return he lifted her up!

2. We need to understand that the same lesson applies to us today.

A. 1Peter 2: 9 he has called us to leave behind our sinful traditions, and to step into his marvelous light!

B. 1Timothy 6: 10 he is pleading with us to leave behind the God's of our society, and embrace our creator!

LOOKING FOR LEADERS

LOOKING FOR LEADERS

"CHARACTERISTICS WE NEED"

 

Intro:

            There is an old saying that says, "To many chiefs will spoil the stew."  In most aspects of life, this is indeed a true statement.  However, in the church today, we are suffering from just the opposite.  Instead of to many leaders, we don't seem to have enough.  Throughout our history, we have searched for those among our number who would lead us in those prescribed paths of righteousness.  In the past, those men have often been found.  However, as of late, we seem to have a void.

In this lesson, I want to consider the characteristics of an effective leader.  I want to look at three men of the Bible who were great leaders.  Each of these men brought something a little different to the table.  I hope that through our study that we will learn to take these traits, combine them together, and become the types of Christian leaders God would have us to be.

 

I JOSHUA WAS A LEADER BECAUSE HE WAS HUMBLE (Josh 24: 29-31)

 

1. Before we can lead, we must first be able to serve.

A. For forty years, Joshua served in the wilderness with Moses.

B. Exodus 24: 13 the Bible itself calls Joshua Moses' "assistant, or servant."

C. “Humility does not mean thinking less of yourself than of other people, nor does it mean having a low opinion of your own gifts. It means freedom from thinking

about yourself one way or the other at all.”

D. Joshua, like many leaders both before and after himself, understood that humility is the first step on the road to effective leadership.

2. However, the true leader understands that he must continue to be a servant, if he hopes to be a leader.

A. Joshua 4: 14, 5: 14 though he had been exalted by God, Joshua continued to be a servant.

B. John 3: 14, Mt 20: 28 though Christ was to be lifted up by God, he himself continued to serve.

C. James 4: 10 we ourselves can be lifted up and exalted by God, but we should continue to serve!

 

II DAVID WAS A LEADER BECAUSE OF HIS FAITH IN GOD (1Samuel 16:7)

 

1. In times of physical distress David put his faith in God.

A. 1Samuel 22: 1-3 as the battle raged, David trusted the Lord!

B. Psalm 25: 2 when his enemies came calling, David trusted in the Lord!

C. Because of his relentless faith in God, David became a great leader!

2. In times of spiritual distress, David put his faith in the Lord.

A. Psalm 51: 3 when David sinned, he put his faith in God!

B. Psalm 23:3 when David's soul grew weary, he put his trust in God! 

C. Proverbs 3: 5 if we hope to become effective leaders, we must learn to put our faith in God!

 

III JESUS WAS A LEADER BECAUSE OF HIS PRAYERFUL SPIRIT (Matthew 6: 9)

 

1. Jesus, in serving as our best example of an effective leader, led his followers by the guidance of the Father.

A. Mark 1: 35 before the day had bloomed, Christ prayed for guidance.

B. Luke 5: 16 when his soul grew thirsty in the heat of the day, he prayed.

C. Matthew 26: 44 when the hardships of the day chased him through the night, Christ prayed!

2. Why would this great leader have prayed?

A. 1Peter 2: 21 Christ came to serve as our example.

B. Luke 1: 37 he prayed that we might remember that regardless of the greatness of the leader in question, it is only with God on our side that all things are possible!

LORD IT'S HARD TO..

LORD, IT’S HARD TOO..

ISAIAH 40: 28-31

Intro:

In 1992, Derek Redmond of Great Britain wasn’t just a good sprinter; he was expected to be a gold medal winning sprinter.  UP unto that point, Redmond’s career hadn’t been quite what he would have wanted it to be.  He had won world championships, but he was forced out of the Olympic Games in 1988, because of an injury which he suffered one hour before his first race.  Derek came into the games highly confident.

Redmond ran beautifully during the prelims of the 400.  Everyone agreed that he would be the man to beat for a spot on the medal stand.  Finally the time had come, and Derek Redmond, running in lain 5, was looking good in the biggest race of his life.  As they made the turn and came down the backstretch, just 250 meters from the finish line, Redmond felt a pop in the back of his leg, and fell to the track.  Unknown to him at the time, Redmond had torn his hamstring, and would never run in another Olympic race again.  What happened next has become the stuff of legend.  Redmond stood back up as straight as possible, and began hopping and stumbling toward the finish. 

As you watch the footage, you can see the race officials trying to get Derek to stop, and let them help him from the track, but Redmond kept refusing.  The cameras shifted to the stands, and zoomed in on a man making his way through security.  The man was Jim Redmond, Derek’s father.  Mr. Redmond caught up to his son 75 meters from the line.  Derek said that he was getting ready to push his Dad away, because he thought he would try to stop him, but that wasn’t what Jim had in mind.  Instead, he put his arm around his son, and helped him to finish the race.  As the two men made their way around the track, the crowd of 65,000 stood and roared.  Truly that moment is one that captures the spirit of the Olympic Games.

As I read Derek Redmond’s story, it reminds me of what Paul Harvey once said when asked about the reason for his success.  “I succeed because when I fall I get back up.”  A statement such as this sounds good, but it is so hard to implement in life because the truth is that life is hard.      
Now, as Christians, you and I know that in our spiritual lives there are those times when we want to throw back our head, and cry, "Lord, that's hard!" This morning, I want to look at two of those moments which make us want to say, “Lord that’s hard!” I want you to see these difficulties, and then I want to show you how they can be overcome.

I LORD IT'S HARD TO FORGET MY PAST

1. Consider the past of some of the Apostles.
A. John 20: 27 Thomas who had once doubted Jesus!
B. Matthew 9: 9 Matthew who had been a tax collecting cheat!
C. Galatians 1: 13-14 Paul who had persecuted and killed!
D. Luke  22: 60-63 Even Peter, by whom the passage currently under examination was written, did the unthinkable and denied Jesus!
2. However, despite what they had done, we still find them serving the Lord!
A. Acts 1: 13 though he had once doubted the teachings of Jesus; Thomas was still to be found with the rest of the apostles in Jerusalem.
B. Acts 1: 13 Matthew, who had been a member of the oppressive Roman government, was also to be found in Jerusalem.
C. Galatians 2: 20 Paul, who had been a killer, put all that behind him and led thousands to Christ.
D. 2Peter 3: 18 Peter also understood the need to put the past in its place.
3. The question then becomes, how did they do it?
A. It comes down to a matter of focus.
B. 2Timothy 4: 8 they were not focused on there past mistakes, but rather they looked to their future rewards!
C. 1Peter 5: 4 though it might be hard, we must forget our past sins which have already been forgiven, and looked to the crown of glory!

II LORD IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE IN YOU AS I SHOULD

1. Again, throughout the scriptures, we find examples of those who experienced periods of disbelief.
A. Genesis 17: 17, 18: 12 rather than believe what the Lord told them he would soon do, they laughed instead.
B. Exodus 16: 2-3 the nation of Israel didn't believe in God's promises to them, so they longed to return to bondage.
C. Luke 24: 1 rather than believing what the Lord had taught them, none of the disciples came to the tomb to await his return.
2. In each of these cases, those involved didn’t believe God capable of performing the impossible.
A. Abraham thought it impossible for God to be able to provide a child.
B. Israel thought it impossible for God to be able to provide food.
C. The apostles thought it impossible for God to be able to raise his son.
3. The same problem exists for us today; the question is how to correct it?
A. Just as in the cases above, belief is possible, only when we consider all the blessings that God has already given to us.
B. Genesis 13: 14-18 God had already done the impossible and blessed Abraham beyond measure.
C. Exodus 12:51 God had already done the impossible and brought the children of Israel out of Egypt.
D. John 11: 44 God had already done the impossible and raised the dead.
E. Luke 1: 37 in the same way, God has already done the impossible in so many different ways in your life, and there is nothing that he can't do for the one who believes in him!

 

WHAT A DIFFERENCE THREE DAYS AND NIGHTS MAKE

AUDIO LINK:
http://centralcochainescity.podomatic.com/entry/2013-04-04T12_21_02-07_00

WHAT A DIFFERENCE THREE DAYS AND NIGHTS MAKE

MATTHEW 27: 57-61

 

Intro:

                In 1965, Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley joined forces to create a musical which would depict life in British society in the 1960s.  The result of their efforts was an eventual Broadway production called “THE ROAR OF THE GREASEPAINT, THE SMELL OF THE CROWD.”  At the time of its release, the viewing public wasn’t very enthusiastic about Bricusse and Newley’s work.  However, an American producer saw the show, and decided to bring it to Broadway, and there it found a certain level of success.

                One of the songs which propel the show to prominent was entitled “FEELING GOOD.”  A soulful rendition of the track was performed by Nina Simone, and has been reproduced by several artists over the years.  The major thrust of the song is that a new day has come, and with it hope has returned.  As the chorus enfadicly states: “It’s a new day, a new dawn, for me, and I’m feeling good.”

                We should acknowledge a central fact about this song.  In order for the new day filled with hope to come, there must out of necessity have been a day which stood in stark contrast.  It would have been a day that was the exact opposite.  It would have been a day in which birds didn’t fly, the sun never rose, the breeze was still, and the dawn never came.  In order for this old world to become a new world, things had to change, and they had to change in a big way.

                Today, in houses of worship the world over, people are gathering to speak in hushed and reverent tones of the resurrection of Christ.  There are many in the Church of our Lord who will stand today and deliver sermons in which they illustrate the reasons why we in the church do not celebrate this as being the literal day in which Christ was raised from the dead.  Today, I have zero intention of offering one of those sermons.  Instead, if you came here today to hear of the resurrected savior, then you came to the right place.  This morning, we will speak of an empty tomb, and a risen savior.

                However, before we can address the “new dawn, the new day”, we must look at the day which came before.  I want to show you the difference that three days and three nights made in the history of mankind, and his relationship with God.

                As we go through this lesson, I want to help you see the day that was, and the day that came, then contrast that with the day that is, and the great day that is to come.

 

I.                    THE DAY THAT WAS, AND THE DAY THAT CAME

 

A.      The day that was.

1.        

Matthew 26: 50 the series of very bad events began with the soldiers coming to arrest the Lamb of God, but hope still exists.

2.       Matthew 26: 57 Jesus was brought before a group of men who would preside over a kangaroo trial, but hope still exists.

3.        Matthew 26: 60 two false witnesses are found, lies are told, but hope still exists.

4.        Matthew 26: 66-68 he is condemned, beaten and scorned, but hope still exists. 

5.        Matthew 26: 74 even Peter, one of the inner circle, denies him, but hope still exists.   

6.        Matthew 27: 22 even the people, some of whom were beneficiaries of Christ’s ministry called for him to be crucified, but hope still exists.

7.        Matthew 27: 35 they pierced his flesh with nails, and hung him on the cross, but hope still exists.

8.        Matthew 27: 50 life left his body, but hope still exists.

9.        Matthew 27: 60 darkness fell upon the tomb, but hope still exists.

B.      The refrain remains because the resurrection was yet to come.

1.        Matthew 28: 6 hope is realized as the angel invites the women to view the place where the Lord had been, but where he no longer rested.

2.        In a single stroke, everything has changed, and hope once again walks the earth.

 

II.                  THE DAY THAT IS, AND THE DAY THAT IS TO COME

 

A.      If you stop and think about it, the world in which we live strongly resembles those final few days of the pre-resurrected Christ.

1.       Man continues to put him on trial, and bring false accusations against him.

2.        2Timothy 4: 10 man continues to deny him, and return to the world.

3.        John 3: 19 man continues to call for the darkness of this world, rather than the light of God.

4.        Romans 3: 10 we continue to crucify him with our sins.

5.        Hebrews 7: 25 he continues to serve as the ultimate sacrifice and go between for us.

B.      The refrain remains because of the empty tomb, and the promise to return.

1.       1Peter 1: 3 hope remains for us today because Jesus wasn’t just resurrected for his first century disciples, but for all who follow him.

2.        John 14: 1-3 the promise he makes wasn’t just to his friends, but for those who look for his coming, and celebrate in the reality of the empty tomb!