Taking A Second Look

Mark 8:22-25

I. Many of life’s problems come from oversight.

A. There is a well-traveled test in college classes that begins with a lengthy paragraph of instructions. Buried in the instructions is this phrase, “Before you begin to answer the first question, write your name on the top of the paper, turn it into the teacher and leave.” Most students never read the instructions. They assume they already know what to do. Consequently, they labor for an hour or two over problems they never had to do, had they only read the instructions.

B. Have you ever looked into the cupboards and said “We have nothing to eat?”
C. Have you ever stood at your closet and said, “I don’t have anything to wear?”
D. The problem is that we grow so accustomed to our surroundings that we become blinded to the things that are within our reach.

II. Many people suffer from a false sense of spiritual impairment.

A. Inadequate equipment: “If only I had…”
B. Impossible adversity: “If it were not for…”
C. Implied unfairness: “If God would just…”
D. If we feel that God has undersupplied, under-equipped, under-blessed us, and at the same time he has overloaded, overextended and over-commissioned us, we need to take a second look at what we already have!

III. God has fully supplied us with everything we need for the day.

A. The woman and the pot of oil. II Kings 4:1-7
B. Shamgar delivered Israel with an ox goad. Judges 3:31
C. Look at the insignificant, common things God uses:

• Hagar -A well of water
• Moses -A bush and a rod
• Israel -A piece of brass, a tree in the water
• Baalam -A donkey
• Elijah -A raven
• Elisha -A wispy cloud, an axe head, a word
• Daniel -A prayer meeting
• Jesus -A boy’s lunch, a ball of mud, a word, a look, a touch,
• a fish, a fig tree
• D. Many times we search for the spectacular, but overlook the ordinary things God has placed within our grasp.

IV. What do we have?

A. The Word of God:

1. Hebrews 4:12

2. Hebrews 11:3

3. I John 2:14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

B. The Name of Jesus:

Acts 16:18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

Phil 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

C. The Spirit of God:

1 Cor 2:9-12  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

D. Other spiritual gifts, truths and revelations:

• Gifts of the Spirit
• Fruit of the Spirit
• Praise
• Holiness
• Righteousness
• Prayer

V. Let’s take a second look at what we have and begin to use them for the Glory of God.

Are You Seeing Things?

Isaiah 42:1-7

1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. 2 He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. 3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. 4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law. 5 Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: 6 I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; 7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

Of all the organs in the human body, the most awesome one is the eye.

Hearing, tasting, feeling and smelling are important senses, but the ability to see surpasses them all.

Eye movement is controlled by six muscles that are directly attached to the eyeball. Four muscles form a relatively straight line from their points of origin, while two oblique muscles approach the surface of the eye at an angle. All the muscles combine to keep the eyeball in nearly constant motion in order to maximize human vision, which is capable of focusing on about 100,000 distinct points in the visual field. These muscles also enable both eyes to focus on the same point simultaneously, thereby creating effective depth perception.

Vision, ability to see the features of objects we look at, such as color, shape, size, details, depth, and contrast. The eyes and brain work together to form pictures of the world around us. Vision begins with light rays bouncing off the surface of objects. These reflected light rays enter the eye and are transformed into electrical signals. Millions of signals per second leave the eye via the optic nerve and travel to the visual area of the brain. Brain cells then decode the signals into images, providing us with sight.

Almost all animals respond to light. However, it is the vertebrates that have eyes and a brain that work together to process light into true images. Human vision is particularly unique in that the human brain can process visual images and use them to create language and pictures and to store information for future use.

• Seeing is recognition and cognitive processes.
• Seeing is breathtaking.
• Seeing is depth perception.
• Seeing is timing perception.
• Seeing is light and color sensitive.
• Seeing triggers defense mechanisms.
• The ability to see is so critical to the human existence that it has taken on the abstract meaning of understanding. We “see” solutions to problems. We “see” spiritual truths.

It is no wonder that spiritual eyesight is often referred to in scripture.

The Jews were “blinded” spiritually so they could not see the Messiah.

Rom 11:8-10 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. 9 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumbling block, and a recompence unto them: 10 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.

Those who are lost are considered blind.

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 

There are many things we see that we must not allow to affect our hearts.

2   Corinthians 4:17-18 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

1 John 2:15-17 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

We often see what we expect to see.

• We see temptations.
• We see faces.
• We see actions.
• We see worldly beauty and glamour.
• We see worldly success and pride.
• We also see negative things.
• We see discouragements.
• We see failure.
• We see dilemmas.
• We see problems.
• We see tragedy.

In 1999, I ministered in the Canadian province of British Columbia. We were at a retreat in Kolowna, up in the Canadian Rockies, about 4-5 hours from Vancouver. We made it through the pass, but that night the snows came and they highway patrol closed the pass to all traffic. The next morning, I woke up to a glorious sight of snow-capped mountains completely surrounding the city of Vancouver. Many years ago, many people would have looked at that sight and would have simply seen mountains. Pioneers, however, looked at the same sight and saw a mountain pass.

We must understand that God wants us to be able to see as he sees.

2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.

Maybe that’s why John rehearses the story of the blind man at length.

John 9:6-7 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,7 And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing. 

It is clear that Jesus had an ulterior motive in healing the blind man.

John 9:39-41 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. 40 And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? 41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth. 

Just as there are some things that you see that God doesn’t want you to see, there are some things you do not see that God wants you to see.

Hebrews 11:1-8 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. 3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. 4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. 5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 

Faith elevates you to a higher level where you can see things previously unseen.

• There are victories invisible to the naked eye that you must be convinced are there.
• There are spiritual milestones and miracles that are hidden to the carnal eye. The eyes of faith can always see beyond the visible.
• The eyes of faith see the preciousness in true doctrine.
• The eyes of faith see the blessings of living faithfully unto God.
• The eyes of faith see the true rewards of holiness.
• The eyes of faith see the answers to prayer.
• The eyes of faith see the paybacks to sacrifice.

Hebrews 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

Do not become discouraged just because you cannot see something you want to see.

• Do not think God has failed just because your carnal eyesight has momentarily won the day.
• Do not go backwards because you cannot discern a way out of your problem.

The fact is that you are experiencing a whiteout or a blackout. The problem is with your eyesight, not with the actual circumstances before you.

2 Kings 6:8-17

8 Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp.
9 And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down.
10 And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice.
11 Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel?
12 And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.
13 And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan.
14 Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.
15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?
16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
17 And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

It is time to open the eyes of faith and focus in on what God is doing.

Revelation 3:17-18  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

This Is the Word

“But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.“  I Peter 1:25

Religious scholars tell us that every religion has its scriptures, or holy book.
The origin of the Qur’an. (Means “To Recite,” Prophet Mohammed to Rabbis.)
The origin of the Book of Mormon (Joseph Smith, in a cave with glasses)
Even some quasi-Christian organizations and cults have books in addition to the Bible.
The Douay Version of the Bible includes the apocrypha.
Christian Scientists: Mary Baker Eddy’s Science and the Scriptures.
Seventh Day Adventists: Ellen G. White
Jehovah’s Witnesses: The New World Translation
Read “All Those Translation!” Jeffrey Gibbs – page 1.
Now we have a new translation: The Gender-Neutral Bible.
Many of these writings are interesting, even inspirational.
All of these books are considered sacred by some people.

But only one book is the word by which the gospel is preached.
The Bible needs no help, no additions, no subtractions, not even any additional translations to make it better or truer.

2 Peter 1:19-21 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Why is this important to us today?
Why should we make a federal case out of these deviations from scripture?
Is this just further proof of our arrogance and self-righteousness as some liberal-minded people would charge?

This is important because everything grows out of its source.

If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? Ps 11:3

That’s why the Devil is always trying to get at our source.

We are not built upon corruptible things, but on a man’s blood.

1 Peter 1:18-25 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. 22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 

But this man is no ordinary man. Jesus is the fleshly manifestation of the Word of God. John 1:1; 14

We are not born of a perishable man, but of the Word of God.

23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. 1 Peter 1:23-25

The secret that Satan doesn’t want you to know: He is destroyed by the power of the Word of God:

Matt 4:1-11 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. 3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

This is the word that spoke the worlds into existence.

Hebrews 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

Ps 33:6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

This is the word that cleanses the church.

Ephesians 5:25-26 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

What does the Word of God do in our lives?

• Impure Thoughts. Ps 119:9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
• Impulse to Sin. Ps 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
• Depression. Ps 119:28 My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.
• Salvation. Ps 119:41 Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word.
• Hope. Ps 119:49 Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.
• Understanding. Ps 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
• Protection. Ps 119:114 Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.
• Fullness of life. Ps 119:116 Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.
• Direction. Ps 119:133 Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
• Truth. Ps 119:160 Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

This is the word that is magnified above the Name of God.

Psalm 138:2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

This is the word that promises the rapture of the church.

1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

This is the word that will judge every person in the end of time.

Revelation 20:11-12 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

The Word of God is your linkage to eternal truths.
The Word of God is your authority over the world, the flesh and the devil.
The Word of God is our right to speak with confidence about your salvation experience.

Do you have this confidence today?

Now, the question is “What will you do with the Word?”

4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. 5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. 6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. 7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. Luke 5:1-7

Whole Life or Term?

Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

If you are going to buy life insurance tomorrow, two terms would be presented to you immediately—-whole life or term.

Whole life: You buy coverage for your whole life at the same monthly premium. It matures when you reach 100. It’s not a good idea, from an insurance point of view, to own this type of policy.

Term life: You buy coverage for a certain time period, usually one year. The cost is very low because all you are buying is insurance. The younger you are, the cheaper it is to buy this kind of policy.

So, I’m not really interested in the insurance meanings of the words here.
There is a far greater question that must be answered.
Are you truly making a sacrifice of your whole life to God?
Or are you giving God a term policy—-a limited commitment?

Your whole life consists of not just your time or money, but of your identity, your loves and affections, your values and judgments, your future and potential.  It speaks to career, job, home and possessions. It speaks to marriage, husband, wife, children and relationships. It speaks to dreams, ambitions and plans.

A term commitment means that you will do what you are doing for right now. As long as it works for you, as long as it gives you pleasure, as long as it remains convenient, as long as nothing else seems more attractive, you will stay with it.

Term commitment means that God is always up for sale…that you will always compare him and his word with competing forces…that you will first and foremost ask the question, “What’s in it for me?”

But God demands nothing less than an entire forfeiture of your life to him for him to use, to spend, to consume as he wishes.
The Old Testament system of sacrifices constituted the main way God dealt with the sins of the Israelites.

SACRIFICE

Scripture Terms. The following terms are used to express the sacrificial act:

1. Something given; a gift (Gen 32:13,18,20-21; 43:11; etc.); tribute (2 Sam 8:2,6; 2 Kings 17:4); an offering to God (1 Chron 16:29; Isa 1:13), spoken especially of a bloodless offering (Heb. minha; see Meat Offering, below).

2. Something brought near, an offering as a symbol of communion or covenant between man and God (Heb. qorban).

3. A bloody sacrifice (Heb. zebah from zabah, “to stay”), in which the shedding of blood is the essential idea. Thus it is opposed to minha (Ps 40:6) and to `ola, the whole burnt offering (Ex 10:25; 18:12; etc.).

4. Whole burnt offering (Heb. `ola), that which is completely consumed by fire (Lev 1:3).

Origin. The beginnings of sacrifice are found in the primitive ages of man and among all the nations of antiquity.

Cain and Abel offered sacrifices to God (Gen 4:3-4)

Noah expressed his gratitude for deliverance from the Flood by presenting burnt offerings unto the Lord (8:20).

The patriarchs built altars and offered sacrifices on them, calling upon God at the places where He had revealed Himself to them (12:7; 13:4; 26:25; 31:54; 33:20; 35:7; 46:1). “Indeed, to sacrifice seems as natural to man as to pray; the one indicates what he feels about himself, the other what he feels about God. The one means a felt need of propitiation, the other a felt sense of dependence” (Edersheim, The Temple, p. 81).

Fundamental Idea.

The fundamental idea of sacrifices. They are spontaneous expressions of reverence and gratitude that man feels toward God.
There was also the thought of securing a continuance of God’s favor and mercy.

• Propitiation
• Substitution
• Offering of a life.

SACRIFICE

5. Law of the Burnt Offering (`olah): At the setting-up of the tabernacle burnt and meal offerings were sacrificed (Ex 40:29). The law of the burnt offering is found in Lev 1. Common altars and customary burnt offerings needed no minute regulations, but this ritual was intended primarily for the priest, and was taught to the people as needed. They were for the statutory individual and national offering upon the “horned” altar before the sanctuary. Already the daily burnt offerings of the priests had been provided for (Ex 29:38-42). The burnt offering is here called qorban, “oblation.”

• (1) The ritual for the offerer (Lev 1:3-17).-This may have been from the herd or flock or fowls, brought to the tent of meeting; hands were laid (heavily) upon its head designating it as the offerer’s substitute, it was killed, flayed and cut in pieces. If of the flock, it was to be killed on the north side of the altar; if a fowl, the priest must kill it.
• (2) The ritual for the priest (Lev 1:3-17).-If a bullock or of the flock, the priest was to sprinkle the blood round about the altar, put on the fire, lay the wood and pieces of the carcase, wash the inwards, legs, etc., and burn it all as a sweet savor to God. If a fowl, he must wring the neck, drain out the blood on the side of the altar, cast the crop, filth, etc., among the ashes, rend the wings without dividing the bird and burn the carcass on the altar.
• (3) General laws for the priest.-The burnt offering must be continued every morning and every evening (Ex 29:38 f; Num 28:3-8).

Yet, even as the system of sacrifices was practiced in Israel, there was a feeling that the devotion of the sacrifice went beyond the victimized animal on the altar.

• Psalm 40:6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. 7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, 8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
• Heb 10:5-7 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. 7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.

There was an even greater thought—-instead of living to dead, we are to go from dead to living.

Rom 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

Whole Life or Term: Commitment Levels. Whatever happened to unwavering faithfulness? The most powerful churches got that way by leading people to wholly commit their lives to God. Term contracts with God, or tentative, limited discipleship, weakens the church’s integrity. God’s church of today needs a huge infusion of sold out saints. The first church grew through absolute discipleship. So will today’s church.

Shadrach, Meshech, Abednego

Dan 3:16-18 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

The Apostle Paul

Acts 20:24-38 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. 25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. 26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. 28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 33 I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel. 34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. 35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. 36 And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all. 37 And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him, 38 Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.

Stories from 9-11. “America’s Heroes”

I am issuing a call for commitment.

Whole life commitment.
Commitment that never looks back.
Commitment that never second guesses.
Commitment that says I started out to go to heaven.

I will climb every mountain.
I will ford every stream.
I will endure every hardship.
I will survive every valley.
I will walk on through loneliness and despair, success and defeat, pain and discouragement.

I am going to make it.
I give my whole life to God.

The Defense Never Rests

F. Lee Bailey, one of America’s most sensational trial lawyers of the late twentieth century practiced law according to the creed that every man is innocent until proven guilty. He claimed to have done all that was humanly possible to defend a client. Baily wrote a book by the same title as this message, “The Defense Never Rests.”

 ” I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. John 14:18

25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause. 26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: 27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning. John 15:25-27

I. Comforter comes from a Greek word, “paraclete”.

A. It means Advocate, or defense lawyer.

B. Anyone accused of a crime has a right to, and needs, a good defense attorney. I attended a trial in St. Louis where a man on trial for rape had to withstand a formidable attack by a prosecuting attorney.
C. In courts of law, there comes a time when the defense lawyer says, “The defense rests its case.”  But questions always persist:

• Has everything been said?
• Has every loophole been closed.
• Ten, twenty years, life imprisonment, or death, hangs in the balance.

D. The church has a defense attorney who never rests his case.

25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:25

II. You are on trial.

A. From the very moment God’s word influenced your heart and Christ’s love drew you to him, you have been undergoing a great spiritual trial. Your difficulty in loving for God is not just an insignificant personal battle. It goes way back…
B. Out of revenge, Satan introduced sin into the world, seeking to erase God from the minds of men.
C. Failing in this, he tried to destroy the personification of righteousness, Jesus Christ.
D. Having failed once again, he is not attempting to nullify the work of Christ in this world.

Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

III. Yes, you are on trial…and you are guilty!

A. Man is born in sin.

• Psalms 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
• Romans 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

B. Sin and death are our natural heritage.

1 Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

C. Man’s heart is deceitful.

Jeremiah 17:9-10 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 10 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.

D. All have transgressed the commandments of God.

Romans 6:7-11 For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

IV. You are on trial…and Satan is the prosecuting attorney.

A. He is called Satan (56 times), opponent or adversary.
B. He is called “the devil” (35 times) slanderer, accuser.
C. He is the source of evil. 1 John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

D. He is a liar. John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

E. He is called the tempter. Matthew 4:3  And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

F. He is called the great deceiver. Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

V. But your defense is flawless, and your defense attorney, the Paraclete Comforter, never rests!

He brings these things to your remembrance:

Satan says: He is my possession.  The Holy Ghost says: He is redeemed!
1 Peter 1:18-19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

Satan says:  He’s nothing but trouble. The Holy Ghost says:  I’ve given him my peace!
Colossians 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

Satan says:  He’s not good enough for heaven. The Holy Ghost says:  He is justified!
Romans 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

Satan says:  He is soiled with sin. The Holy Ghost says:  He is cleansed!
1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Satan says:  God is angry with him. The Holy Ghost says:  He is forgiven!
Colossians 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Satan says:  He’s too far from God. The Holy Ghost says:  I’ve drawn him close!
Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

Satan says:  I can still control him. The Holy Ghost says:  I’ve given him victory!
Revelation 12:10-11 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Satan says:  He is still guilty. The Holy Ghost says:  I can’t remember his sins!
Hebrews 10:17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

The defense never rests!