Pathway to Peace Ministries Sermon Notes/Outline: Copy, Paste, Study, and Preach it! “Consider Your Ways” Introduction: The world and our modern education says work hard, get a good job, make money, and you will be successful with peace and happiness! This is a LIE! The world defines success by outward stuff you have such as houses, cars, clothes, friends, education, etc... God does not define success by outward attainment of stuff. He looks at the heart, the character. Success in Gods eye is a Christlike character in us. This is true success. 1Sa 16:7 (Last part)... for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. Joshua 1:7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Have we as a church bought into the worldly lie? Is that why we get excited about movie and sports stars? Have WE bought into the lie? Where is the lie taking the church? Where is the lie leading you? Is it leading you to “success” according to the Bible or the world? Are you more excited by this seasons NFL or NBA team more than the second coming of Jesus Christ? Are you more excited about the next block buster movie, hip hop star, more than the Bible? Have you considered your ways? Have you every considered why: 1. You may struggle spiritually 2. Why you are not content 3. Lack true peace 4. Have constant financial worries 5. Frequently in a state of crisis 6. Even when you reached your financial or education goals you still feel unsatisfied with no peace Have you really considered why? Jesus is asking you today to “consider your ways.” Did Israel, Gods people believe the same “success” lie of the world? What happened? Lets consider their ways, and find Biblical answers. As you study their example lets “consider your ways.” 1. At the time of Jeremiah, what was Gods message to His people, and what where the two evils that they committed? Jeremiah 2:4-13 Jer 2:4 Hear ye the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel: Jer 2:5 Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain? Jer 2:6 Neither said they, Where is the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt? Jer 2:7 And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination. Jer 2:8 The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit. Jer 2:9 Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the LORD, and with your childrens children will I plead. Jer 2:10 For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing. Jer 2:11 Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit. [Who do you glory? Have you changed your glory for another?] Jer 2:12 Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD. Jer 2:13 For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. Two evils of Gods people (demo 2 cups) 1) Forsook God living water (old way) 2) Drink from “broken” cups / worldly things, ideas, education from the world. “Broken” commandments and commitment. God 10 commandments is nail to the cross. “Broken cups” The Holy 7th Day Sabbath. We dont need to keep it. Broken Cups. “Follow just 9 of Gods commandments. “Broken cups” More stuff. Broken cups. I know what God requires of me, but I am not there yet, “Broken cups” ETC... 2. What did Gods people say when he pleaded with them to return to the old ways the living water? Jer 6:16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. Jer 6:17 Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken. 2 Chronicles 36:15, 16 2Ch 36:15 And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place: 2Ch 36:16 But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy. 3. What did Jeremiah prophesy to Gods people because of their disobedience? Jer 25:8 Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Because ye have not heard my words, Jer 25:9 Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations. Jer 25:10 Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the candle. Jer 25:11 And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. 4. Was this prophecy fulfilled? 2 Chronicles 36:17 – 21 2Ch 36:17 Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: he gave them all into his hand. 2Ch 36:18 And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king, and of his princes; all these he brought to Babylon. 2Ch 36:19 And they burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof. 2Ch 36:20 And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia: 2Ch 36:21 To fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years. 5. What does God promise His people after seventy years of Babylon captivity ? Jer 25:12 And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the LORD, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations. Isa 44:28 That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid. [Persian King] Isa 45:1 Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut; Isa 45:2 I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron: 5. Did King Cyrus king of Persia, fulfill His mission to let the people of God go back to Jerusalem to build the temple of God as God prophesied in Isaiah? 2 Chronicles 36:22, 23 Bible Intermission: 66 books, 39 OT 27 NT – [Slide with the categories and order of the Bible... 6. Who are the key persons who returned to Jerusalem from Babylon to rebuild the temple of God? Zerubbabel – governor/captain of Judah Haggai – Prophet Zechariah – Prophet... famous Zech 4:6 “not by might” encouragement for Zerubbabel Joshua (son of Josedech) – High Priest Ezra – the scribe or historian for Israel (his book is found among the history of book of Israel in the OT Haggai & Zechaiah books grouped the minor prophets, but the scene take places a few years after 70 years of captivity in Babylon. (show books of Bible by order and categories) 7. Those who returned to Jerusalem did they began to do as God commanded them to do in rebuilding the temple? Ezra 3:8 – 11 (note a few returned... the “faithful”) 8. Did Satan set forth opposition to try to stop the work of rebuilding the house of God? Ezra 4:1, 4 -6, 24 9. What was Gods message through His prophets Haggi and Zechariah? What did the people do after they stopped rebuilding the temple because of opposition? Ezra 5:1; for details go to Haggai 1:1 – 11; Haggai 2:10 – 17; Consider Your Ways; Zechariah 1:1 - 6 Stopped building of God, instead they start building for themselves. They forsook the command of God. Powerful Commentary (Ellen G. White) The expression, This people say, is significant. In the hour of their opportunity, the Israelites had not shown themselves willing. Prompt obedience is expected of those whom the Lord chooses and leads. Pleas for delay are a dishonor to God. And yet those who choose to follow their own way, often frame ingenious excuses in self-justification. Thus the Israelites declared that they had begun to rebuild, but that they were broken off in their work because of the hindrances devised by their enemies. These hindrances, they reasoned, were an indication that it was not the proper time to rebuild. They declared that the Lord had interposed difficulties to reprove their hot haste. This is why, in a communication through his prophet, he referred to them not as my people, but as this people. {RH, December 5, 1907 par. 12} The Israelites had no real excuse for leaving their work on the temple. The time when the most serious objections were raised, was the time for them to persevere in building. But they were actuated by a selfish dislike to encounter danger by arousing the opposition of their enemies. They did not possess the faith that is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. They hesitated to move forward by faith in the opening providences of God, because they could not see the end from the beginning. When difficulties arose, they were easily turned from the work. {Review and Herald December 5, 1097 par. 13} 10. What was their response? Haggai 1:12 11. What was Gods encouraging message? Haggai 1:13; Haggai 2:4; and Zechariah 4:6, 9 12. What work does God command us to do and what is His encouraging message with each command? Matthew 28:19 - 20; Isaiah 58:6 - 11 13. Does God accept excuses “you God understands” “I am not there yet.”? Luke 9:58 – 62 NO Appeal: Consider your ways.... Get in, lets get it done for the master..... NO MORE EXCUSES!!! To those who profess to believe in him, God says, Go forth to all parts of the world, and diffuse the light of my truth, that men and women may be led to Christ. Let us awake to our duty. Let us do all that we can to help forward the Lords work. Let superficial excuses be blown to the winds of heaven. No longer grieve the Spirit of God by delaying. Forget not the words, We are laborers together with God. Cooperate with the angels sent down from the heavenly courts to minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation. {RH, April 28, 1903 par. 8} Time is passing; the end is near. While you are unconsecrated, golden opportunities for helping souls to see Jesus as he is--full of grace and truth--are passing by, never to return. That which you have not done as a devoted Christian in the past, you can not now do. But through the grace of Christ you may redeem the time by redoubling your efforts. Let your interest in the souls for whom Christ has died deepen and broaden. Inquire not, What shall this man do? for then Christ would say to you, as he said to Peter, What is that to thee? Keep your own soul in the love of the truth, and work with untiring endeavor to win souls to the Saviour. {RH, April 28, 1903 par. 9} Earnest, self-sacrificing workers are needed, workers who will go to God, and with strong crying and tears plead for the precious souls who are going to ruin. There can be no harvest without seedsowing, no result without effort. {RH, April 28, 1903 par. 10}
Posted on: Sun, 03 Nov 2013 16:43:16 +0000
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