Author: Art Davison

BELIEVING GOD’S PROMISES TO THE RIGHTEOUS–I CORINTHIANS 16:13

Art Davison I CORINTHIANS 0 Comment
BELIEVING GOD’S PROMISES TO THE RIGHTEOUS
I CORINTHIANS 16:13,
“Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.”

Romans 4:20-21, “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.”

Introduction:

There are many promises in the Word of God and time will not allow us to list all of them today. However, we can consider a few that will encourage us and manifest our need to fully trust our Lord.

The Scriptures tell us that God hears when we call, Psalm 4:3, “But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.” They tell us that God gives us protection, Psalm 5:12, “For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.” Now consider the following:

I. OUR GOD PROMISES THAT HE WILL NEVER CHANGE

Hebrews 6:18, “That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:”

A. He is the anchor of our soul, Hebrews 6:19, “Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;”

1. He is an anchor sure and steadfast, Psalm 42:5, “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.”

2. He is in the presence of the Father making intercession for us, Hebrews 7:25, “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.”

B. As for God’s mercy it will be ours for life, Psalm 23:6, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”

1. His mercy has made us glad, Psalm 30:11-12, “Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; 12- To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.”

2. We have a heavenly home, 2 Corinthians 5:1, “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”

C. He is the Lord is our strength, Psalm 28:8, “The LORD is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed.”

II. OUR GOD PROMISES TO BE OUR PROTECTION

A. God is our hiding place, Psalm 32:6-8, “For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him. 7 Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah. 8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.”

1. He is a refuge in time of trouble, Psalm 9:9, “The LORD also will be a refuge [a high place] for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.”

2. He will instruct and counsel us, Matthew 11:29, “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.”

3. He will guide us with his eye, Isaiah 49:10, “They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.”

B. The Lord blesses His people with peace, Psalm 29:11, “The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.”

C. There is no want to those who fear God, Psalm 34:9, “O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.

1. God supplies good things for those that seek Him, Psalm 34:10, “The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.

2. The Lord hears our cry and restores our peace, Psalm 34:15, 17, “The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. 17 The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.”

3. The faithful believe will live content, Psalm 25:12-13, “What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose . 13 His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.”

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

1. The Lord has made known the mystery of His will to His people, Ephesians 1:9, 18, “Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,”

2. The Lord looks on the heart and knows its secrets, 1 Samuel 16:7, “But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”

CONCLUSION

The Lord will keep His Word and fulfill His promises to His people. He has promised salvation to those who trust His Son and has fulfilled that promise and continues to save those that come to Him. The Apostle Paul wrote in Titus 1:2, “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;”

GOD’S MERCYSEAT–ROMANS 3:23-26

Art Davison ROMANS 0 Comment
GOD’S MERCYSEAT
ROMANS 3:23-26
Romans 3:25, “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;”

Introduction:

The Apostle Paul says that the God of Heaven has foreordained Jesus Christ to be the means by which every man can receive forgiveness of his sins.

The words of this verse have a tremendous message of God’s grace to man. It show how God in His wisdom set forth His plan of redemption for mankind and all of it is through faith in the righteousness of His Son, Jesus Christ.

I. CHRIST WAS “SET FORTH” TO BE

THE MERCY-SEAT OF GOD

A. God the Father foreordained Jesus to be the Mercy-seat of God, Acts 2:23, “Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:”

1. The prophets of God had written of it, Acts 3:18, “But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.”

2. God had determined it, Acts 4:28, “For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.”

B. God had foreordained that the Blood of Christ would appease His wrath, 1 Peter 1:18-20, “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,”

1. Redemption is not by corruptible things, Matthew 16:26, “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

2. Redemption is by the pure, precious blood of the Lamb of God, John 1:29, “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

C. God has determined that even Christ rejecters will ultimately worship Him, Revelation 13:8, “And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

II. GOD FOREORDAINED CHRIST “TO BE” OUR PROPITIATION

A. He alone is the propitiation for our sins, 1 John 2:2, “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

B. This looks back to the whole history of human sin before it was judged at the cross, Isaiah 53:11, “He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

C. This demonstrates God’s love for mankind, 1 John 4:10, “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

III. THROUGH FAITH IN HIS BLOOD

A. God has determined that the Blood of Christ shall be brought within the Vail of God’s presence, Leviticus 16:15, “Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat:”

IV. TO DECLARE HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS

A. David speaks of future declarations of the Lord’s righteousness, Psalms 22:31, “They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.”

B. Paul declares the Righteousness of Jesus Christ, Romans 3:26, “To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”

C. Even the heavens declare His righteous, Psalms 50:6, “And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself.”

V. FOR REMISSION (PASSING OVER) OF SINS

A. Every man is a sinner, Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”

B. But through This Man there is forgiveness of sins, Acts 13:38, “Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:”

C. Through Jesus all that believe are justified from all things, Acts 13:39, “And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.”

1. Now is the time to repent, Acts 17:30, “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:”

2. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, 1 Timothy 1:15, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”

D. Through Jesus there is peace with God, Romans 5:1, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”

CONCLUSION

The Apostle has in his mind a picture of what God has done for man in the giving of His Only Begotten Son to die on Calvary in order to pay the sin-debt of every man who will receive Him as Savior.

Are you among those who have received Jesus as your Savior?

CHANGE TO PLEASE GOD–ROMANS 6:1-13

Art Davison ROMANS 0 Comment
CHANGE TO PLEASE GOD
ROMANS 6:1-13

Introduction:


God makes it possible for you to change your life after you have received Jesus Christ as your Savior. The following Scriptures show us how the Lord works in our lives enabling us to make adjustments in our lives in order to bring honor and glory to Him.

In salvation we were separated unto Him as chosen vessels, to become instruments of righteousness instead of tools of the devil.

I. WORK OUT YOUR OWN SALVATION WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING

Philippians 2:12-13, “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

A. By obeying the Word of God.

1. Don’t let sin reign in your life, Romans 6:12, “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.”

2. You determine who you will obey, Romans 6:16, “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”
a. Choose to serve the Lord as Joshua did, Joshua 24:15, “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.’

b. You can’t straddle the fence, 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.”

3. Sin promises liberty, but delivers slavery, 2 Peter 2:18-19, “For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 19While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.”

B. By allowing the Lord to do His good pleasure [to work] in your life, Ephesians 1:5, 9, 11,

1. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children, v. 5, “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,”

2. Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, v. 9, “Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:”

3. In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, v.11, “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:”

II. I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST

Philippians 4:13-14, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. 14 Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.”

A. Through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue, 2 Peter 1:3-4,

1. He has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, v. 3, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:”

2. By His promises we might be partakers of the divine nature, v. 4, “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

B. Through the sufficiency of our God, 2 Corinthians 3:5, “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;”

CONCLUSION

The Scripture says, “Thy people shall be willing,” Psalm 110:3, “Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.” Are we willing to do God’s will in our lives?

BLESSED WITH ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS–EPHESIANS 1:1-14

Art Davison EPHESIANS 0 Comment
BLESSED WITH ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS
EPHESIANS 1:1-14


Introduction:

Key verses, 5-6, “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.”

We are surely blessed, as we shall see.

I. HE HATH CHOSEN US

v. 4, “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world.”

A. After you heard the Word, v. 13, “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth,” Romans 10:17, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

1. You were the servants of sin, Romans 6:17, “But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.”

2. You received the word of God, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.”

B. To the praise of the glory of his grace, v. 6, “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.”

1. To shew the exceeding riches of his grace, Ephesians 2:7, “That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”

a. He had mercy on us according to His loving kindness, Psalm 51:1, “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.”

b. He had mercy on us because of His great love, Romans 9:15-16, “For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 16So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.”

2. To show forth His praise, Isaiah 43:21, “This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.”

a. The Lord has set apart the godly for Himself, Psalm 4:3-5, “But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him. 4Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. 5Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.”

b. We are a peculiar people, 1 Peter 2:9, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”

II. IN HIM WE HAVE …

v. 7, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”

A. Redemption through His Blood (a releasing effected by payment of ransom), 1 Corinthians 1:30, “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:”

1. He is our righteousness, Romans 3:25, “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;”

2. He is our sanctification (to render or acknowledge to be hallowed or holy), Acts 26:18, “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”

B. Forgiveness of sins, Acts 5:31, “Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.”

C. According as he hath chosen us, v. 4, “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world.” Matthew 11:25, “At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.”

CONCLUSION

BLESSED SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS–EPHESIANS 1:1-14

Art Davison EPHESIANS 0 Comment
BLESSED SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS
EPHESIANS 1:1-14
Introduction:

The Ephesian church to which this epistle is addressed (“to the saints”) was located in a very important region of Asia Minor. Ephesus was the capital of proconsular Asia located in western Asia Minor. In the time of the Romans it bore the title of “the first and greatest metropolis of Asia.” It was colonized principally from Athens.

Ephesus was distinguished for the Temple of Diana, who there had her chief shrine; and for its theatre, which was the largest in the world, capable of containing 50,000 spectators. Here were exhibited the fights of wild beasts and of men with beasts. Compare some of Paul’s comments, 1 Corinthians 4:9, “For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.” 1 Corinthians 15:32, “If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.”

I. THE SEED WAS SOWN IN EPHESUS

A. There were many Jews in Asia Minor, Acts 2:9, “Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,” Acts 6:9, “Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.”

B. The seeds of the gospel were sown immediately after Pentecost, Acts 1:8, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

1. God had missionary plans for His first church, Matthew 28:19-20, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20-Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

2. The Christians wanted to stay in Jerusalem together, but God sent them out, Acts 8:1, 4, “And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. 4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.”

3. As results of that scattering of early Believers the Church in Antioch was established and later sent the Apostle Paul to the Gentiles in Asia Minor and Europe, Acts 13:2-4, “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 3- And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. 4- So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.”

II. GOD IS TO BE “PRAISED”

A. God the Father is to be blessed or “praised” for He is the source of our blessings, vv. 3-4; 1 Peter 1:3, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

1. He is the Father of our “blessed hope”, Titus 2:13, “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;”

2. We are protected for eternity in the Father’s hand, John 10:28-29, “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand . 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.’

3. He blesses us with His 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;”

B. Through God’s blessings we are able to comfort those who are in trouble, 2 Corinthians 1:4-5, “Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.”

1. Paul’s expresses his love for the brethren, 2 Corinthians 2:4, “For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.”

2. Our light affliction is for a moment, 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.”

3. Believers are blessed, Matthew 11:6, “And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.”

a. Whose sins are forgiven, Psalm 32:1, “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.”

b. Who keep the Word of God, Luke 11:27-28, “And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. 28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.”

CONCLUSION

God has blessed us beyond measure and we should always be aware of it. We should always have a positive testimony about our blessings instead of going around with a bad or negative attitude.

Be aware that God could take His blessings away if we do not show His praise every day.