Author: Art Davison

WHAT WE NEED TODAY–II TIMOTHY 4:1-8

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WHAT WE NEED TODAY

II TIMOTHY 4:1-8

Introduction:

What is it that we need to do God’s will? Is it gimmicks? Do we need to do God’s work in the energy of the flesh? Here are some things that I have been thinking about and what I have seen over the years. Let us consider what we need to do.

I. TO DO AWAY WITH UNSCRIPTURAL METHODS THAT…

A. Cheapen the name of God – Romans 2:24-25, “For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. 25-For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.”

1. Obeying the Law of God shows that a Christian is faithful.

2. Breaking the Law make him look like an unbeliever.

B. Cheapen the Word of God – Jesus gives the example of the Pharisees, Matthew 15:4-6, “For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. 5-But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; 6-And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.”

C. Cheapen the power of God – 1 Corinthians 2:5, “That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”

II. WE NEED TO RETURN TO GOD’S PLAN

A. The flesh must be crucified – Romans 8:13, “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” Colossians 3:5, “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:”

B. God must be recognized as holy – 1 Peter 1:15-16, “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16-Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

C. He must be given His rightful place.

1. The Lord has make room for us – Genesis 26:22, “And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.”

2. We must give Him His rightful place in our lives.

III. THE WORD OF GOD MUST BE…

A. Read and Studied – 2 Timothy 2:15, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

B. Preached – 2 Timothy 4:2, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”

C. Practiced – 2 Timothy 2:20-21, “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 21If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”

1. Vessels of dishonor – unclean.

2. Vessels of honour – purged.

D. Promoted – by witnessing; and visitation must become an every day practice.

IV. PRAYER MUST BE ENGAGED IN

A. Not as a formality as one would repeat a ritual – Mark 12:38-40, “And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces, 39And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts: 40Which devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.”

B. It must become a part of our life as common as talking with our earthly father – 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing.”

V. WALKING IN THE SPIRIT MUST BECOME A REALITY

A. So that we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh – Galatians 5:16, ” This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”

B. In order to get along with one another – Galatians 5:25-26, “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.”

C. In order to glorify our Lord – Romans 15:6, “That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

CONCLUSION
What we need to do is live for the Lord and stop thinking of ourselves so much. We need to read His Word and pray for one another instead of looking for each other’s defects. We need to serve the Lord with all of our strength.

WAR–II CORINTHIANS 10:1-5

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WAR
II CORINTHIANS 10:1-5
Introduction:
There was no place in which the apostle Paul met with more opposition from false apostles than at Corinth; he had many enemies there. Here he seeks to show those who are false teachers that his weapons are not carnal, but powerful weapons for the God of Heaven.
His many enemies tried to undermine him and make him look weak, however, Paul knew where his strength lay and used the power of God to accomplish God’s will.
I. THE WEAPONS OF THE WORLD TODAY ARE:
A. Learning, education is said to be the secret for curing the ills of society, 2 Timothy 3:7, “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
1. We have more education than anytime before.
2. There is less knowledge about the truth now.
B. Personal influence, pressure brought to bear on those that do not conform, John 7:46-52.
C. Impressive credentials, 1 Corinthians 2:1-2, “And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.”
II. THE WEAPONS OF GOD’S PEOPLE
A. Our weapons are NOT CARNAL, vs. 4-5.
1. The weapons Paul used were weapons of DIVINE POWER:
a. The PROCLAIMED Word of God, Ephesians 6:17, “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
b. PRAYER to God for the victory, Ephesians 6:18, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”
2. These are not fleshly weapons such as men renown, 1 Corinthians 1:26, “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:”
3. These are not the weapons of the world, 1 Corinthians 2:1, “And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.”
B. The effect of those weapons, vs. 4-5.
1. Our sufficiency is in our Lord, 2 Corinthians 4:7, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”
2. We can do nothing without Him, John 15:5, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
3. Our full trust is in Him to win the battle, Philippians 1:6, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”
C. These weapons are frail by worldly standards, but not by God’s standard,
1. They are able to demolish the arguments of the gospel’s foes, 1 Corinthians 2:4-5, “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing, words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”
a. To the pulling down of strong holds, v. 4; Psalm 89:40, “Thou hast broken down all his hedges; thou hast brought his strong holds to ruin.”
b. To the casting down of imaginations (reasoning), 2 Corinthians 10:10, “For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.”
c. To the casting down of high things that exalt themselves against God, 1 Corinthians 3:19-20, “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. 20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.”
2. They are able to bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ, 2 Corinthians 10:5, “Casting down imaginations , and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”
a. He teaches us to rely on Him, Matthew 11:29-30, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
b. He teaches us control in our life, Romans 7:23, “But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.”
3. Through the power of God He teaches us to war, Psalm 144:1, “Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:”
4. With these weapons we can war a good warfare, 1 Timothy 1:18, “This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;”
a. We can endure difficulties, 2 Timothy 2:3, “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”
b. We fight by God’s rules, 2 Timothy 2:5, “And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.”
5. With these weapons the victory is the Lord’s, Psalm 98:1, “O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.”
a. He gives us the victory, 1 Corinthians 15:57, “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
b. Our faith in Jesus Christ is the victory, 1 John 5:4, “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”
CONCLUSION
Paul didn’t bother arguing with these false teachers, but rather, he preached the truth and let the Lord do the rest. The Corinthians church won the victory, but not without a difficult fight against the lies of the devil.

TRANSFORMED–ROMANS 12:1-2

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TRANSFORMED

ROMANS 12:1-2

Introduction:

We have been changed by trusting Jesus Christ as our Saviour. You as an individual are no longer the same as you were before you received Christ. The Lord said in John 15:19, “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” Let’s consider what has happened to us.
I. THE BELIEVER ACTS FROM NEW PRINCIPLES

A. The mind is the acting ruling part of us; so that the renewing of the mind is the renewing of the whole man, Proverbs 4:23-27, “Keep thy heart [MIND; UNDERSTANDING] with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

1. He puts away foul language, Proverbs 4:24, “Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.”

2. His eyes look straight ahead, Proverbs 4:25, “Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.”

3. He thinks about where he is going, Proverbs 4:26-27, “Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. 27-Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.”

B. He makes progress in Sanctification.

1. This is the transformation, “To change into another form, to transform.” 2 Corinthians 3:18, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

2. This is the Lord working in our lives, Ezekiel 11:19-20, “And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: 20That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.”

II. THE BELIEVER LIVES BY NEW RULES

A. He is a new man that has been created to follow after righteousness, Ephesians 4:24, “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”

1. We have been created in Christ Jesus unto good works, Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

2. We have been created to live by the faith of Christ, Galatians 2:20, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

a. Whom having not seen, you love, 1 Peter 1:8, “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:”

b. We are blessed because we love Him, John 20:29, “Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”
B. The great enemy of the new man is conformity to the world:

1. In times past we walked in the world, Ephesians 2:2, “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:”

2. Christ died to deliver us from this world, Galatians 1:4, “Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:”

3. Therefore we are not to love the world, Colossians 3:1-2, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2-Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”

a. Seek those things which are above, Psalm 16:11, “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”

b. Set your affection on things above, Matthew 6:20-21, “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

CONCLUSION

If we live according to God’s precepts our lives will be greatly blessed and our children will inherit a good name before the Lord who will be honored by our lives. Let’s live by His rules.

TRAINING YOURSELF TOWARD GODLINESS–TITUS 2:11-14

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TRAINING YOURSELF TOWARD GODLINESS
TITUS 2:11-14

Introduction:
The Apostle Paul admonishes us to “live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;” v. 12. That requires some effort and training in order to accomplish this in our lives. It does not come naturally, but, rather, it is an exercise in discipline for God’s glory. There are several things we need to do in this effort to train ourselves in holy living.

I. EXERCISE YOURSELF UNTO GODLINESS

1 Timothy 4:7, “But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.”
A. Involve yourself in that which edifies the New Man, 1 Timothy 1:4, “Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.”
1. Fables – doctrines of men, 1 Timothy 6:4-5, “He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.”
2. Endless genealogies, Titus 3:9, “But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.”
B. Follow after righteousness, 1 Timothy 6:11, “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.”
1. Flee these things:
a. Foolish and hurtful lusts, Mark 4:19, “And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.”
b. The love of money, Isaiah 56:11, “Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.”
2. Follow after righteous, 1 Timothy 4:12, “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
a. An example of Godliness, 1 Timothy 4:7-8, “But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.”
b. An example of Faith, Ephesians 3:17,“That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love.”
c. An example of Love, Romans 13:10, “Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”
d. An example of Patience, Romans 15:4, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”
e. An example of Meekness, Ephesians 4:1-2, “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness [gentleness], with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
C. Keep your commitment, 1 Timothy 6:20, “O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:”
1. Keep this commandment without spot, 1 Timothy 6:14, “That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:”
2. We should stand fast by the truth, 2 Thessalonians 2:15, “Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.”
3. We should continue in the things we have learned, 2 Timothy 3:14, “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;”
4. We should hold fast the faithful word, Titus 1:9, “Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.”
CONCLUSION
With the guidance of the Spirit of God every believer can live pleasing to the Lord. We can be trained in the things of God so that we can honor our Savior and glorify our Father in Heaven.

TO THE PURE ALL THINGS ARE PURE–TITUS 1:15-16

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TO THE PURE ALL THINGS ARE PURE

TITUS 1:15-16
Introduction:

Sometimes we as Christians tend to see things through rose colored glasses. That is, we don’t want to see things as they really are. Paul reminds Titus of the condition of the people to whom he was sent was that of unbelief. He quotes one of the poets of Crete describing his people as “alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.” Then Paul said that the poet was telling the truth.

Titus had his work cut out for him. They were dealing with Christians who needed teaching and unbelievers who were sometimes hostile toward the truth in Christ. We are in much the same situation today. Note the contrast between the two.

I. BORN-AGAIN CHRISTIANS HAVE A POSITIVE OUTLOOK

A. The believer accepts the Word of God as his guide in life, Psalm 33:4, “For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.”

1. The Word of God is the standard by which the true believer lives, Psalm 119:9, “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.”

2. The Word of God is that which leads him from day to day, Psalm 119:105, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

a. His steps are ordered by the Word of God, Psalm 119:133, “Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.”

b. The believer meditates in the Word of God, Psalm 119:148, “Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.”

B. That is what God requires of every man, Psalm 15:1-3, “LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? 2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. 3 He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.”

1. One who is blameless by faith in Christ, Ephesians 1:4, “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:”

2. One who has trusted in Jesus Christ, Ephesians 1:12-13, “That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13 In whom ye also trusted , after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,”

II. THE UNBLELIEVER HAS A NEGATIVE OUTLOOK

A. The unbeliever is defiled in mind, Mark 7:15, “There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.”

1. The problem with these “false teachers” was from within themselves, Mark 7:21-23, “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”

2. Nothing defiles man from the outside even though some think that, Mark 7:2, “And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.”

B. The Unbeliever believes that all men are like himself, Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things , and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

1. He is defiled in conscience, 1 Corinthians 8:7, “Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.”

2. He professes to know God, 1 John 2:4, “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”

3. His works deny that profession, James 2:18, “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.”

a. They are abominable (detestable), Job 15:16, “How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?”

b. They are disobedient, Titus 1:10, “For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:”

c. They are disqualified (Reprobate), Jeremiah 6:30, “Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the LORD hath rejected them.”

1) They did not like to retain God in their knowledge, Romans 1:28, “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;”

2) They resist the truth, 2 Timothy 3:8, “Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.”

CONCLUSION

Paul concludes this chapter by saying in verse 16, “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him , being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.” These are lost people who profess to know God in whose life there is no evidence. These folks need to know Christ in salvation.