Sermons
Watch Now
What is Repentance? | Matthew 13:1-17
Series: All!
Scripture: Matthew 13:1-17
Acts 2:37-38, 3:19, 8:22, 20:21, 26:20
Title: What is Repentance?
Heavy credit: David Platt and Douglas Sean O’Donnell (See below for bibliography)
Summary of chapter: “John the Baptist begins his ministry and baptizes Jesus. The Holy Spirit descends upon Jesus and God declares that he is pleased with his Son.” (Outline Bible)
Bottom Line: Repentance is a change of mind that results in a change of living. Entering the Kingdom of God requires repentance of sins.
Story: CWP letter, finger prints and my trip to the Goose Creek police department on a Friday afternoon. (3:58)
“Lord, keep me close and keep me clean.” -Dr. Bill Bennett, pastor and professor
Discussion questions for group and personal study:
Note: We encourage you to use our sermons and discussion questions to gather with some friends and talk about the passage together. Pray and ask God to guide you. He is faithful. Questions? Email us at info@GraceToday.net
Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast
Goal: The goal isn’t to ask every question. The goal is to encourage people to engage the scriptures together.
1. Why is it significant that John's first command had to do with repentance?
2. What is the difference between regretful confession and true repentance?
3. How are some church attenders similar to the Jews who counted on family heritage for salvation?
4. How would you counsel someone who professes Christ but shows no marks of repentance?
5. How did the arrival of the kingdom point to the nearness of both salvation and damnation?
6. How would you explain to a non-Christian that a
"hellfire and damnation" sermon expresses love?
7. Explain why John's baptism and Christian baptism appear to exclude infants.
8. How are all three members of the Trinity present in Matthew 3:15-17?
9. Why was Jesus baptized if He had no sin?
10. What is the difference between resolving to be good before salvation In resolving to be obey God after salvation?
Scripture:
“In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ ” John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”” Matthew 3:1-7, 9-17 NIV https://matthew.bible/matthew-3-17
Opening:
"…Additionally, the ancestry was important to demonstrate that Matthew's Gospel did not pertain to a mythical character or hero. To the Jew, the ancestry testified to historical reality.
Several years ago a friend of mine, a missionary with Wycliffe Bible Translators, worked among a people who had never heard the gospel in their language. The people could not write or read, so all their communication was oral. The missionary's first task was to learn the language of the tribe. Then she had to change that oral language into written form and teach the people to read and write it. It was a laborious task that took many years. Only after all that was accomplished could she undertake the task of translating the Bible into this language. She began with the Gospel of Matthew. To expedite the project she skipped the genealogy to get to the meat and substance of the story of Christ, and then she sent her translation work off to be printed by a publisher in a distant city. She waited months for the first copies of Matthew to arrive at the compound, and when the trucks came in with the Bibles, or, at least, the Gospel of Matthew, the people were much more interested in the trucks than they were in the translation. After having spent ten years on the project, she was crushed when she saw that the people didn't care at all.
Nevertheless, she persevered in her task, and in the second edition of Matthew she included the genealogy. When that arrived the missionary explained the genealogy to the tribal chief, and he said, "Are you trying to say that this Jesus you've been telling us about for ten years was a real person?" She replied, "Yes, of course." He said, "I thought you were telling us a story about some mythical character."
Once he understood that this Christ was real in space and time, the chief came to Christ, and shortly thereafter the whole tribe came to Christ.”
—Douglas Sean O’Donnell
Outline based largely on David Platt and Douglas Sean O’Donnell
I. The ministry of the Baptist: Prepare the Way (aka Tell the World)
A. The man
Prophesying boldly
Living simply
Baptizing openly
Serving humbly
B. The message (What we do and Why)
Repent…How?
What is repentance?
It is changing your mind in such a way that you change your actions; 180 degree about-face
It’s necessary to believe and follow Jesus Christ and enter into his Kingdom
Repentance involves confession (admission of sin)
Repentance involves contrition (sorry over sin)
Repentance involves conversion (turn from sin)
…for the Kingdom of Heaven has come near (which means that the King has come near as well)
Repentance is for everyone
See Acts for other sermons and thoughts on repentance including:
Acts 2:37-38 “They were cut to the heart…what shall we do? Repent and be baptized”
Acts 3:19 “Repent then and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out”
Acts 8:22 “Repent of this wickedness and pray…that he may forgive you”
Acts 20:21 “they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.”
Acts 26:20 “I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance but heir deeds”
See the 7 churches of Revelation 2-3 as well
C. The method
The baptism of Jews
Renounce your dependence on self
Rely on mercy of God
The baptism of Jesus
The Son obeys
The Spirit anoints
The Father speaks
II. The ministry of the Church today: Tell the World
A. Repent and be baptized.
B. Resolve to proclaim this good news yourself. (Bearing fruit…leading others)
Conclusion
This is what we want to be known for. Loving our neighbors so well we’re willing to risk rejection to show and tell them about the mercy and grace of God found in and through Jesus Christ.
Let’s do this and lead others to do the same!
Pray
Other notes:
Why do people get baptized?
Because the Bible says to.
Because they see others who trust Christ do this.
To go public with their faith.
To testify to what Jesus Christ did for us
To testify to what Jesus Christ did in them
In our country, this is no big deal. They will likely not be threatened or abandoned because of this.
In other countries, they would do this a great personal threat to their literal lives.
Why do it then? Because they have come and seen who Jesus is and what he’s done. God has opened their eyes to see clearly. And they have believed what they have seen as more evidence that all God has said is trustworthy.
What about you?
What do I want you to know? The gospel
What do I want you to do? Believe and receive the gospel and live accordingly. It’s more than a game-changer. It’s true life-change. Transformational.
At the end I will invite you to do what many in this room have already done. To consider who Jesus is and what he’s done and then responding as you see fit.
My hope is that by believing you’ll find true and abundant life in his name. At the very least, I hope it will lead to more conversations about this for you in the near future.
We’re going to look at this through the eyes of a couple of women who witness stuff before anyone else does. Just walking through these 10 verses as if we were these ladies. They are not telling us what they believe happened. They are telling us what they saw and heard. We have it recorded reliably in the thousands of biblical texts/transcripts. Over 25,000 partial and/or complete. Overwhelming evidence.
References/Bibliography:
“Preaching the Word” Commentary, Douglas Sean O’Donnell, Edited by Kent Hughes
“Matthew” by RC Sproul
“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)
“the Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)
“Exalting Jesus in Matthew” by David Platt (CCE)
Outline Bible, D Willmington
NIV Study Bible (NIVSB)
ESV Study Bible
ESV Gospel Transformation Bible (GTB)
Series: All!
Scripture: Matthew 13:1-17, Acts 2:37-38, 3:19, 8:22, 20:21, 26:20
Title: What is Repentance?
Heavy credit: David Platt and Douglas Sean O’Donnell (See below for bibliography)
Summary of chapter: “John the Baptist begins his ministry and baptizes Jesus. The Holy Spirit descends upon Jesus and God declares that he is pleased with his Son.” (Outline Bible)
Bottom Line: Repentance is a change of mind that results in a change of living. Entering the Kingdom of God requires repentance of sins.
Story: CWP letter, finger prints and my trip to the Goose Creek police department on a Friday afternoon. (3:58)
“Lord, keep me close and keep me clean.” -Dr. Bill Bennett, pastor and professor
Discussion questions for group and personal study:
Note: We encourage you to use our sermons and discussion questions to gather with some friends and talk about the passage together. Pray and ask God to guide you. He is faithful. Questions? Email us at info@GraceToday.net
Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast
Goal: The goal isn’t to ask every question. The goal is to encourage people to engage the scriptures together.
1. Why is it significant that John's first command had to do with repentance?
2. What is the difference between regretful confession and true repentance?
3. How are some church attenders similar to the Jews who counted on family heritage for salvation?
4. How would you counsel someone who professes Christ but shows no marks of repentance?
5. How did the arrival of the kingdom point to the nearness of both salvation and damnation?
6. How would you explain to a non-Christian that a
"hellfire and damnation" sermon expresses love?
7. Explain why John's baptism and Christian baptism appear to exclude infants.
8. How are all three members of the Trinity present in Matthew 3:15-17?
9. Why was Jesus baptized if He had no sin?
10. What is the difference between resolving to be good before salvation In resolving to be obey God after salvation?
Scripture:
“In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ ” John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”” Matthew 3:1-7, 9-17 NIV https://matthew.bible/matthew-3-17
Opening:
"…Additionally, the ancestry was important to demonstrate that Matthew's Gospel did not pertain to a mythical character or hero. To the Jew, the ancestry testified to historical reality.
Several years ago a friend of mine, a missionary with Wycliffe Bible Translators, worked among a people who had never heard the gospel in their language. The people could not write or read, so all their communication was oral. The missionary's first task was to learn the language of the tribe. Then she had to change that oral language into written form and teach the people to read and write it. It was a laborious task that took many years. Only after all that was accomplished could she undertake the task of translating the Bible into this language. She began with the Gospel of Matthew. To expedite the project she skipped the genealogy to get to the meat and substance of the story of Christ, and then she sent her translation work off to be printed by a publisher in a distant city. She waited months for the first copies of Matthew to arrive at the compound, and when the trucks came in with the Bibles, or, at least, the Gospel of Matthew, the people were much more interested in the trucks than they were in the translation. After having spent ten years on the project, she was crushed when she saw that the people didn't care at all.
Nevertheless, she persevered in her task, and in the second edition of Matthew she included the genealogy. When that arrived the missionary explained the genealogy to the tribal chief, and he said, "Are you trying to say that this Jesus you've been telling us about for ten years was a real person?" She replied, "Yes, of course." He said, "I thought you were telling us a story about some mythical character."
Once he understood that this Christ was real in space and time, the chief came to Christ, and shortly thereafter the whole tribe came to Christ.”
—Douglas Sean O’Donnell
Outline based largely on David Platt and Douglas Sean O’Donnell
I. The ministry of the Baptist: Prepare the Way (aka Tell the World)
A. The man
Prophesying boldly
Living simply
Baptizing openly
Serving humbly
B. The message (What we do and Why)
Repent…How?
What is repentance?
It is changing your mind in such a way that you change your actions; 180 degree about-face
It’s necessary to believe and follow Jesus Christ and enter into his Kingdom
Repentance involves confession (admission of sin)
Repentance involves contrition (sorry over sin)
Repentance involves conversion (turn from sin)
…for the Kingdom of Heaven has come near (which means that the King has come near as well)
Repentance is for everyone
See Acts for other sermons and thoughts on repentance including:
Acts 2:37-38 “They were cut to the heart…what shall we do? Repent and be baptized”
Acts 3:19 “Repent then and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out”
Acts 8:22 “Repent of this wickedness and pray…that he may forgive you”
Acts 20:21 “they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.”
Acts 26:20 “I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance but heir deeds”
See the 7 churches of Revelation 2-3 as well
C. The method
The baptism of Jews
Renounce your dependence on self
Rely on mercy of God
The baptism of Jesus
The Son obeys
The Spirit anoints
The Father speaks
II. The ministry of the Church today: Tell the World
A. Repent and be baptized.
B. Resolve to proclaim this good news yourself. (Bearing fruit…leading others)
Conclusion
This is what we want to be known for. Loving our neighbors so well we’re willing to risk rejection to show and tell them about the mercy and grace of God found in and through Jesus Christ.
Let’s do this and lead others to do the same!
Pray
Other notes:
Why do people get baptized?
Because the Bible says to.
Because they see others who trust Christ do this.
To go public with their faith.
To testify to what Jesus Christ did for us
To testify to what Jesus Christ did in them
In our country, this is no big deal. They will likely not be threatened or abandoned because of this.
In other countries, they would do this a great personal threat to their literal lives.
Why do it then? Because they have come and seen who Jesus is and what he’s done. God has opened their eyes to see clearly. And they have believed what they have seen as more evidence that all God has said is trustworthy.
What about you?
What do I want you to know? The gospel
What do I want you to do? Believe and receive the gospel and live accordingly. It’s more than a game-changer. It’s true life-change. Transformational.
At the end I will invite you to do what many in this room have already done. To consider who Jesus is and what he’s done and then responding as you see fit.
My hope is that by believing you’ll find true and abundant life in his name. At the very least, I hope it will lead to more conversations about this for you in the near future.
We’re going to look at this through the eyes of a couple of women who witness stuff before anyone else does. Just walking through these 10 verses as if we were these ladies. They are not telling us what they believe happened. They are telling us what they saw and heard. We have it recorded reliably in the thousands of biblical texts/transcripts. Over 25,000 partial and/or complete. Overwhelming evidence.
References/Bibliography:
“Preaching the Word” Commentary, Douglas Sean O’Donnell, Edited by Kent Hughes
“Matthew” by RC Sproul
“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)
“the Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)
“Exalting Jesus in Matthew” by David Platt (CCE)
Outline Bible, D Willmington
NIV Study Bible (NIVSB)
ESV Study Bible
ESV Gospel Transformation Bible (GTB)
Why You Need to Know the Truth | Revelation 13:1-10
Bottom line: Knowing the Truth—really knowing—sets us free and leads to peace in a world of uncertainty, deception and falsehood.
Series: Revelation: The Best is Yet to Come
Title: “Why You Need to Know the Truth”
Scripture: Revelation 13:1-10; Joh 8:31-32; Mark 13; Matt 11:28-30
(Main commentary helps listed at the end)
Last week: “What to do when you feel defeated”
This week: “Why You Need to Know the Truth”
Two weeks ago: “What to do when you feel defeated”
This week: “Why You Need to Know the Truth”
Opening story:
Scotland Yard detective, an expert on identifying counterfeit bills, was asked how he was so good. He answered that he studied the authentic bills so thoroughly that he couldn’t help but recognize the fakes.
Q: Do you know the real Messiah/Christ well enough to recognize a fake one? Because Jesus seemed to think it would be very hard for even his followers to do this.
Eugene Peterson writes in his Message paraphrase of Matthew 11, “Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly’ (Matt 11:28–30).
This is the remedy to overcoming the gaps between what we say we believe and how we behave/live (which is evidence of what we truly believe). The unforced rhythms of grace are the means of getting God’s grace to flow in and through us daily.
Do you know Jesus or a satanic imitation?
My Bottom line: Knowing the Truth—really knowing—sets us free and leads to peace in a world of uncertainty, deception and falsehood.
outline:
Satan’s fake christ (13:1-4)
Murderous blasphemer (13:5-8)
The call to persevere (13:9-10)
The beast = Antichrist
Nero parallels
Outlines:
Applications:
Key: Verify do we see Jesus as he really is enough to recognize a fake? If it were easy, Jesus wouldn’t need to warn us.
Knowing the word of truth is how we recognize fakes.
Ill. Scotland Yard detective, an expert on identifying counterfeit bills, was asked how he was so good. He answered that he studied the authentic bills so thoroughly that he couldn’t help but recognize the fakes.
Satan is intent on appearing as a savior to receive praise.
What about us? Why do we pursue praise from people?
Is it really any different? Are we worthy?
For Satan to claim to be the messiah is to say that Jesus isn’t.
Let’s forsake any false hope in any mere human government or leader bringing in the Kingdom of God or any kind of salvation. Don’t be fooled by the fakes. Stop looking to the next shiny, new political leader to turn things around in the areas that matter most.
Impersonating God and Christ, Satan will blaspheme God and kill Christ-followers.
How are you preparing for this?
Word—saturating your mind
Way/Walk—by grace through faith daily
Works—carrying out the vision of the KOG where you live, work and play
God is our sovereign Creator still. Walk/rest in that.
Rom 8:28
Satan can’t create anything.
False prophets utter false teachings like
Universalism—everyone is ultimately saved.
Inclusivism—some go to hell but not anyone faithful to whatever religion they like; this all-roads-lead-to-heaven mindset is deeply embedded in our culture already.
Jesus said plainly, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Note the order:
Hear teaching. Obey it.
After obeying, true knowledge (comprehension) sets in.
Results in freedom.
Do you believe Jesus’s teachings on hell?
Confident you can’t be led astray?
If you’ve been chosen by God, then you cannot. You’re name is in the book of life.
Is that you?
Doctrine of election is a comfort to those who are elect.
I believe in the doctrine of election to the extent that the Bible teaches is. But I also see human responsibility and freedom in play. We’re not robots.
God chooses. He chose:
Adam and Eve
Noah and his family
Isaac over Ishmael
Jacob over Esau
Judah over Reuben
David over his older brothers
Israel over the other nations
You, if you’re in Christ Jesus
You, if you will trust Christ today
Sturgeon acknowledged the brain strain this tension between God’s sovereignty and human free will. He told people that he often prayed, “God save the elect and elect some more.”
How do you know if you’ve been chosen? J. Hamilton wrote:
IF you feel awful when you sin—not because you got caught but because you have offended God your holy and good Creator—that’s good evidence that God is at work in your soul. Repent and turn back to God today and walk in the confidence of your name being in the book.
Call to persevere (9-10) - There’s no avoiding God’s providential will. If he’s decided something, he’s fully prepared and warranted to carry it out. If you or I was to die for him, we die. This is why he follows it with the call for believers to endure nad keep believing. Because we’re going to be tempted to give up and give in.
Do you know Jesus or a satanic imitation?
My Bottom line: Knowing Truth—really knowing—leads to peace in a world of uncertainty, deception and falsehood.
Main commentary help:
Exalting Jesus in Revelation by Daniel Akin
Revelation by Jim Hamilton
Revelation by Paige Patterson, New American Commentary series
Breaking the Code by Bruce Metzger
Seven Seals by Matt Chandler, 2021 sermon
ESV Global Study Bible
Bible in One Year by Nicky Gumbel
Bible Knowledge Commentary
The Book of Revelation, NICNT, Robert Mounce
The Outline Bible, Wilmington
Have You Got Your Heart in Order? | Revelation 9:1-21
Bottom line: God‘s judgment is horrific and only those who God seals (who repent and believe) will be protected from it.
Text Series: Revelation: The Best is Yet to Come
Title: “Have you got your heart in order?”
Scripture: Revelation 9:1-21
Last week: “Why We Pray”
This week: “Have you got your heart in order?”
My Bottom line: God‘s judgment is horrific and only those who God seals (who repent and believe) will be protected from it.
Intro
Moving: Right after you move in, your house is NOT in order. House vs Spiritual house (aka heart) Seals It would be really helpful to me as a pastor to be able to see whether or not you had the seal of God on your forehead. Like Shadrach, Mishshach and Abednego, you will find yourself in the fiery furnace, but you will come out unsinged.
Evil: As we see the evil in the world around us, it’s understandable that you will want to put things in better order than they are. Some do this through politics, others through non-profits, others through writing or the arts, and even through ministry. Making a difference? If this is you, my question for you is, is your “house” in order? In other words, Are you trying to clean up the mess in the world before you’ve cleaned up your own “room”. I mean that literally—not just metaphorically. A better question than, “Is your house in order?” might be, “Is your heart in order?” (Title of today’s message)
Better questions: Before you ask yourself, is my house in order ask yourself is my heart in order? (Optional)
A picture of evil (LOTR) Read some of Lord of the Rings (LOTR) story that describes the Nazgul. “The Nazgul came again, and as their Dark Lord now grew and put forth his strength, so their voices, which uttered only his will and his malice, were filled with evil and horror. Ever they circled the City, like vultures that expect their fill of doomed men’s flesh. Out of sight and shot they flew, and yet were ever present, and their deadly voices rent the air. More unbearable they became, not less, at each new cry. At length even the stout- hearted would fling themselves to the ground as the hidden menace passed over them, or they would stand, letting their weapons fall from nerveless hands while into their minds a blackness came, and they thought no more of war, but only of hiding and of crawling, and of death.” Return of the King, p. 97
My outline:
Intro
I. 5th Trumpet: Spiritual warfare is as real as physical warfare. (9:1-12)
II. 6th Trumpet: When God removes his sovereign restraint on evil, all hell breaks lose. (9:13-19)
III. Unrepentant sinners show how depraved an unsealed heart really is. (9:20-21)
IV. Applications—God is sovereign over evil. That’s how he can use evil to judge evil. “The devil is still God’s devil.” -Martin Luther
A. See and feel the evil around us better by gazing at God
B. If sealed by God, rest in that no matter what.
C. If not sealed by God yet, repent and believe; trust and follow Jesus Christ.
1. Humble yourself before holy, almighty God
2. Repent of your sins against him and believe that he’s made a way out for you.
3. Evidence your faith by leading others to follow you as you follow Him.
Closing
My Bottom line: God‘s judgment is horrific and only those who God seals (who repent and believe) will be protected from it.
Applications
I. God is sovereign over evil. That’s how he can use evil to judge evil. “The devil is still God’s devil.” -Martin Luther
II. See and feel the evil around us—recognize the good God graciously pours out.
III. If sealed by God, rest in that no matter what.
IV. If not sealed by God yet, repent and believe; trust and follow Jesus Christ.
A. Humble yourself before holy, almighty God
B. Repent of your sins against him and believe that he’s made a way out for you.
C. Evidence your faith by leading others to follow you as you follow Him.
Closing My Bottom line: God‘s judgment is horrific and only those who God seals (who repent and believe) will be protected from it.
Read closing story of heroism in LOTR final books Return of the King. Narrated by Jim Hamilton: “King Theoden has been crushed beneath his fallen horse, and the Nazgul descends to defile the dead. Only one warrior has remained to defend the fallen king. This warrior was named Dernhelm, but it was really the maiden Eowyn in disguise. The presence of the Nazgul startled the horse that Eowyn and the hobbit Merry rode, and they were thrown from their crazed mount. ‘Merry crawled on all fours like a dazed beast, and such a horror was on him that he was blind and sick. ‘“King’s man! King’s man” his heart cried within him, “You must stay by him...” But his will made no answer, and his body shook. He dared not open his eyes or look up.’ “Eowyn disguised as Dernhelm then commanded the Nazgul, ‘Leave the dead in peace!’ “A cold voice answered: ‘Come not between the Nazgul and his prey! Or he will not slay thee in thy turn. He will bear thee away to the houses of lamentation, beyond all darkness, where thy flesh shall be devoured, and thy shriveled mind be left naked to the Lidless Eye.” ‘A sword rang as it was drawn. “Do what you will; but I will hinder it, if I may.” “Hinder me? Thou fool. No living man may hinder me!” “Then Merry heard of all sounds in that hour the strangest. It seemed that Dernhelm laughed, and the clear voice was like the ring of steel. “But no living man am I! You look upon a woman. Eowyn I am, Eomund’s daughter. You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone, if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him.” The black rider rises to kill Eowyn: “But suddenly he too stumbled forward with a cry of bitter pain, and his stroke went wide, driving into the ground. Merry’s sword had stabbed him from behind... “Eowyn! Eowyn!” Cried Merry. Then tottering, struggling up, with her last strength she drove her sword between the crown and mantle, as the great shoulders bowed before her. The sword broke sparkling into many shards. The crown rolled away with a clang...and a cry went up into the shuddering air, and faded to a shrill wailing, passing with the wind, a voice bodiless and thin that died, and was swallowed up, and was never heard again in that age of this world.” Return of the King, p. 97
Stand, brothers and sisters, against the onslaught of evil. Stand and fight against temptation...stand and fight for your life.” -Hamilton
Yes, stand and fight temptation, injustice, sin and evil. But start first in your own heart. Get your heart and home in order first. Then wade into the battle for the hearts and souls of mankind. Let’s pray
Other notes: This is the story of history & lore Lucifer chose to become the one worshiped and feared over worshiping his very own creator. His hubris led him to pursue conquering others to this end. Ever since he attempted Adam and Eve to follow him in this he’s been tempting others down the same path.
- The emperor and Vader in Star Wars
- Scar in the lion king
- Sauron in lord of the rings
- Thanos in Avengers
When we reject Jesus Christ as Lord, we walk down this who, naïve and dangerous path of anti-Christ as one of his followers. This is wicked. And there will be hell to pay. Literally. This is what the Lord is judging in the future as displayed in the Revelation.
Hamilton’s need: “We have a great need to see evil for what it is.”
Hamilton’s main point: “God’s judgment is painful and terrifying, and only those who God seals will be protected from his judgment.”
Akin’s main point: “In carrying out judgment on unrepentant humanity, the sovereign Lord will use Satan and his forces, but he will always remain in control over them.”
Outlines:
Hamilton Akin
I. 5th Trump (9:1-12) I. Spiritual warfare is real and intense (9:1-12)
II. 6th Trump (9:13-19) II. When God’s restraining grace is removed, Hell comes to earth (9:13-19)
III. Unrepentant sinners (9:20-21) III. God’s judgments reveal utter depravity of human heart (9:20-21)
Main commentary help:
- Exalting Jesus in Revelation by Daniel Akin
- Revelation by Jim Hamilton
- Breaking the Code by Bruce Metzger
- Seven Seals by Matt Chandler, 2021 sermon
- ESV Global Study Bible
- Bible in One Year by Nicky Gumbel
- Bible Knowledge Commentary
The Great Blot Out | Psalm 51:1-9
The Big Blot Out (Psalm 51:1-9). In this sermon, we learn three key realities: 1. Broken People Need Forgiveness. vv1-9. 2. Forgiven People Need Renewal. vv10-12. 3. Renewed People Need to Serve. vv13-17. Wise warning: Wrong person + wrong time + wrong place = wrong thing happening. Only God Can Fully Forgive vv1-3. If you are coming to God for the first time, He is ready to respond to your cry of repentance. If you are a follower of Christ and have sin in your life, take a moment to repent and have your fellowship restored.
The Big Blot Out Psalm 51:1-9
1. Broken People Need Forgiveness. vv1-9
2. Forgiven People Need Renewal. vv10-12
3. Renewed People Need to Serve. vv13-17
Backstory 2 Sam 11:1-12:23
Wise warning: Wrong person + wrong time + wrong place = wrong thing happening
Only God Can Fully Forgive vv1-3
David Confesses vv4-6
God Cleanses vv7-9
1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all righteousness.”
If you are coming to God for the first time, He is ready to respond to your cry of repentance.
If you are a follower of Christ and have sin in your life, take a moment to repent and have your fellowship restored.