Author: Art Davison

DIVINE MERCIES ABUSED–NEHEMIAH 9:5-19

Art Davison THE HISTORICAL BOOKS 0 Comment
DIVINE MERCIES ABUSED
NEHEMIAH 9:5-19

Introduction:

“There is grave reason to believe that much Bible reading and Bible study of the last few years has been of no spiritual profit to those who engaged in it. Yea, we go further; we greatly fear that in many instances it has proved a curse rather than a blessing. This is strong language, we are well aware, yet no stronger than the case calls for. Divine gifts may be misused, and DIVINE MERCIES ABUSED. That this has been so in the present instance is evident by the fruits produced.” —-Arthur Pink, Profiting from the Word of God.

I. WE ARE NOT WORTHY OF HIS MERCY

A. The mercies of God are GREAT, 2 Samuel 24:14, “And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the LORD; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man.”

1. Jehovah Himself declare His mercy to Moses, Exodus 34:6, “And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, 7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.”

2. David declares that God is plenteous in mercy, Psalms 86:5, “For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.”

B. However, we are NOT WORTHY of the LEAST of God’s mercies, Genesis 32:10, “I AM NOT WORTHY of the LEAST of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands.”

1. Because of God’s mercies He FORSOOK NOT ISRAEL in the WILDERNESS, Nehemiah 9:19, “Yet thou in thy MANIFOLD MERCIES FORSOOKEST THEM MOT in the wilderness: the pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to shew them light, and the way wherein they should go.”

2. Because of God’s MANIFOLD MERCIES He gave them SAVIORS when in trouble, Nehemiah 9:27, “Therefore thou deliveredst them into the hand of their enemies, who vexed them: and in the time of their trouble, when they cried unto thee, thou heardest them from heaven; and according to thy manifold mercies THOU GAVEST THEM SAVIOURS, who saved them out of the hand of their enemies.”

3. Because of His great mercies God DID NOT CONSUME Israel for their DISOBEDIENCE, Nehemiah 9:31, “Nevertheless for thy great mercies‘ sake THOU DIDST NOT UTTERLY CONSUME them, NOR FORSAKE them; for thou art a GRACIOUS and MERCIFUL God.”

II. GOD IS GOOD TO ALL

A. God extents the SURE MERCIES of David (of the MESSIAH) to all that will hear, Isaiah 55:3, “Incline your ear, and COME unto me: HEAR, and your soul shall LIVE; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the SURE MERCIES OF DAVID.”

1. Come, John 6:37, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”

2. Hear, John 5:24, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”

3. Live, John 5:25, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.”

B. Even though we have rebelled against him He extends His mercy, Daniel 9:9, “To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him;”

1. This is an exaggeration and illustration of his pardoning grace and mercy for we have sinned against him, v. 18; Psalms 106:43-45, “Many times did he deliver them; but they provoked him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity. 44 Nevertheless he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry: 45 And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies.”

C. We have willingly departed from God’s law and yet He extends His mercy, Daniel 9:10-11, “Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. 11 Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him.”

C. For God is the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort, 2 Corinthians 1:3, “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;”

1. He is ready to forgive, Psalms 86:5, “For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.”

2. Mercies and forgiveness belong to our God, Daniel 9:9, “To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him;”

3. Who is a God like our God? Micah 7:18, “WHO IS A GOD LIKE UNTO THEE, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he DELIGHTETH IN MERCY.”

CONCLUSION

UNBELIEF AND DISTRUST have ABUSED GOD’S DIVINE MERCY, however, God CONTINUES TO OFFER FORGIVENESS of sins and SALVATION from hell by faith in His Son Jesus Christ.

THE TRUMPET HAS SOUNDED–EZEKIEL 33:1-5

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THE TRUMPET HAS SOUNDED
EZEKIEL 33:1-5

Introduction:

Did you hear it? The trumpet has sounded and continues to be heard throughout America today. God has sent His Prophet, Preachers and Pastors to sound the warning that JUDGMENT is immanent.

For more than 400 years the Gospel of Christ has been preached on this continent and it still goes unheeded. Consider what Ezekiel was told to say to Israel under similar circumstances:

I. THE WATCHMAN HAS SOUNDED THE WARNING

A. When God brings the sword [JUDGMENT] upon a land, v. 2; Psalm 1:5-6, “Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.”

1. God’s judgment falls on the disobedient, Romans 10:21, “But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.”

2. God’s judgment falls on those who profess to know Him, but their works deny Him, Titus 1:16, “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.”

a. They have removed their heart far from me, Isaiah 29:13, “Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:”

b. Don’t be deceived, Ephesians 5:6-7, “Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 7Be not ye therefore partakers with them.”

c. They will reap what they sow, Galatians 6:7-8, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”

B. The office of a watchman established, Ezekiel 3:11, “And go, get thee to them of the captivity, unto the children of thy people, and speak unto them, and tell them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear.”

1. They shall know that there hath been a prophet among them, Ezekiel 2:5, “And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them.”

2. If he will hear the watchman there is still hope, Psalm 27:9, “Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.

3. Those that WILL NOT HEAR him shall die in his iniquity, Ezekiel 3:19, “Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.”

II. THOSE WHO NEED NO WARNING

A. The faithful of the land, Matthew 24:45, “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?”

1. The eyes of the Lord are on the faithful, Psalm 34:15, “The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.”

2. The Lord upholds the faithful, Psalm 37:24, “Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.”

3. He will never forsake them, Psalm 37:27, “8For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.”

B. Those who are vigilant, 1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”

III. THOSE WHO TAKE HEED

A. Those who fear the Lord, Isaiah 50:10, “Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.”

B. Those who know the “secret of the Lord,” Psalm 25:14, “The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.”

C. Those who have seen a great light, Isaiah 9:2, “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.”

1. They have seen the Light of the World, John 8:12, “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

2. His glory shall be seen in us, Isaiah 60:1-3, “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. 2For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. 3And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.”

3. We are now the light of the world, Matthew 5:14, 16, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

CONCLUSION

The watchman has sounded the alarm. Will you hear it and set things straight with the Lord or will you be like many in Israel who would not hear God’s servant as he warned the people?

Heed the watchman and trust Jesus Christ as your Saviour, or rededicate your life to the Lord and show what Christ has done for you. Judgment is coming.

POLLUTE MY HOLY NAME NO MORE–EZEKIEL 20:39

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POLLUTE MY HOLY NAME NO MORE

Ezekiel 20:39, “As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, IF YE WILL NOT HEARKEN UNTO ME: BUT POLLUTE YE MY HOLY NAME NO MORE with your GIFTS, and with YOUR IDOLS.”

Introduction:

Israel during all of her history has been up and down, vacillating in her service to Jehovah. When she had strong leaders as Joshua or one of the Judges she remained faithful to the Lord. However, when the strong man died eventually Israel fell into sin and idol worship pretending to worship Jehovah.

In our world today much the same is happening. False doctrine and sin has entered into many churches and the truth has become unknown to them. They have POLLUTED GOD’S HOLY NAME and lost their former position of respect before the world.

I. GOD WILL BRING YOU INTO JUDGMENT

A. Know for all these things YOU SHALL BE JUDGED, Ecclesiastes 11:9, “Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.”

1. God shall judge the RIGHTEOUS and the WICKED, Ecclesiastes 3:17, “I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.”

a. God will judge with righteousness and equity, Psalms 98:9, “Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.”

b. He shall reward every man according to his works, Matthew 16:27, “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.”

2. Go serve the gods that you have chosen, Judges 10:14, “Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation.”

a. Come to the house of God and transgress, Amos 4:4-5, “Come to Bethel, and transgress; at Gilgal multiply transgression; and bring your sacrifices every morning, and your tithes after three years: 5 And offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven, and proclaim and publish the free offerings: for this liketh you, O ye children of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.”

1) The have CHANGED the TRUTH of God into a LIE, Romans 1:25, “Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.”

2) God has GIVEN THEM UP to VILE affections, Romans 1:26-27, “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.”

B. God has given them up to the LUST of their hearts, Psalms 81:12, “So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels.”

II. MANY HAVE POLLUTE GOD’S HOLY NAME WITH THEIR FALSE CHRISTIANITY

A. Here is a judicial declaration of GOD’S GIVING UP of the HALF-IDOL, HALF-JEHOVAH WORSHIPPERS to utter idolatry, Revelation 22:11, “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.”

1. Many churches have done what Israel did in the Old Testament as Stephen declared, Acts 7:43, “Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.”

a. MOLOCH, the name of the NATIONAL GOD OF THE AMMONITES (modern Jordan), to whom children were sacrificed alive by fire.

b. The star of your god REMPHAN; these names represent the STAR-GOD SATURN or Moloch.

2. Many have halted between TWO OPINIONS, 1 Kings 18:21, “And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.”

B. God anticipated the SAME APOSTASY afterwards, …AS NOW,

1. Today we have the SCOFFERS, 2 Peter 3:3, “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,”

2. Today we have those whose LOVE HAS WAXED COLD, Matthew 24:12, “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”

3. Today many are trying to serve TWO MASTERS, Matthew 6:24, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

C. God will PURGE these out, Ezekiel 20:38, “And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.”

1. God will RECOMPENSE these folks, Ezekiel 11:21, “But as for them whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their way upon their own heads, saith the Lord GOD.”

2. God is KNOWN BY HIS JUDGMENT, Psalms 9:16, “The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands.”

A MAN TO STAND IN THE GAP–EZEKIEL 22:23-30

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A MAN TO STAND IN THE GAP
EZEKIEL 22:23-30

Key verse: 30, “And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.”

Introduction:

The Lord said this about Israel, His own people. Matthew Henry said, “All orders and degrees of men had helped to fill the measure of the nation’s guilt. The people that had any power abused it and even the buyers and sellers find some way to oppress one another. It bodes [to be an omen of] ill to a people when judgments are breaking in upon them, and the spirit of prayer is restrained.

Let all who fear God, unite to promote his truth and righteousness; as wicked men of every rank and profession plot together to run them down.”

I. I SOUGHT FOR A MAN AMONG THEM,” v. 30.

A. A MAN, a male, John 1:14, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

B. A SERVANT, a dedicated servant of God, Isaiah 42:1: “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.”

C. A GREAT MAN, an uncommon man, Isaiah 42:6-7, “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.”

D. A CHAMPION, One that is clearly superior or has the attributes of a winner. Note this list of men of ability and courage.

1. Noah, a man who walked with God, Genesis 6.

2. Abraham, a man of faith, Genesis 15.

3. David, a man after God’s own heart, Acts 13:22.

4. The Apostles of Jesus Christ, Luke 6:12-16.

5. The Apostle Paul, 1 Corinthians 15:8-10.

6. Jesus Christ, The Champion! Matthew 3:17, “And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

II. A MAN TO CLOSE THE GAP
A. A worker.

1. A builder, (Jesus was a carpenter, he knew the discipline of work) someone who knows how to work.

2. Someone trained for the work to be done.

3. Someone willing to labor and finish the job, John 6:38, “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.”

B. A Contractor, who will take the responsibility. Matthew 16:18, “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

III. A MAN TO STAND IN THE BREACH

A. The Man of Courage and Faith.

1. This man did not come from the outside, John 1:11, “He came unto his own, and his own received him not,”

2. Jesus was born a Jew and a part of Israel.

B. The Servant of God, Isaiah 42:1, “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.” God’s chosen man to stand in the breach.

1. The Spirit of God is upon Him.

2. God’s will was His will, Hebrews 10:7, “Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.”

C. A Great Man, Isaiah 52:13-14, “Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. 14 As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:”

D. The Alpha and Omega, Revelation 1:10-11, 17-18, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, 11Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last:… 17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: 18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”

D. He is the author and finisher of God’s work, Hebrews 12:2, “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.”

Conclusion:

The Lord did not find a man in Israel during that time that could stand in the gap.

But in time Jesus Christ was born exactly as God had planned, Galatians 4:4, “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

The Man to stand in the gap.

THE EPISTLE TO PHILEMON–BY THE APOSTLE PAUL–COLOSSIANS 4:7-9

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THE EPISTLE TO PHILEMON
COLOSSIANS 4:7-9
Introduction:

The epistle addressed to Philemon is one of the Prison Epistles probably sent about 51 AD. It is a letter of intercession written by the Apostle Paul and sent to Philemon at Colosse, Colossians 4:7-9.

Philemon was apparently a member of the church at Colosse, which seems to have held its assemblies in his house, Philemon 2. His benevolence, Philemon 5-7, and Paul’s request for him to prepare a lodging, Philemon 22, indicate that he was a man of some means. As Paul had never been in Colosse, Colossians 2:1, Philemon must have met him elsewhere, possibly in Ephesus, which was not far away. It would seem that he owed his conversion to the apostle, Philemon 19.

Onesimus was a runaway slave of Philemon. It is inferred that he robbed his master and fled to Rome, Philemon 18. Here he came under the influence of Paul and was converted, Philemon 10. He became a devoted disciple of Christ, Colossians 4:9. Paul would have chosen to have detained him in Rome as a helper, Philemon 13, but not having the consent of Philemon, Philemon 14, he felt it was his duty to send the slave back to his master. So the apostle writes this beautiful letter of intercession, pleading with Philemon to forgive and restore Onesimus to favor.

The book “is of priceless value as a teaching…

(1) In practical righteousness;

(2) In Christian brotherhood;

(3) In Christian courtesy;

(4) In the law of love.” — Scofield.

Synopsis: The divisions are four:

I. Greeting, vv. 1-3.

II. The character of Philemon, vv. 4-7.

III. Intercession for Onesimus, vv. 8-21.

IV. Salutations and conclusion, vv. 22-25.