Category: General

Bible Reading – Prov. 27:4; Acts 7:9.

Definition of “Envy” = Resentful, admiring contemplation of a more fortunate person’s advantage.

Memory Verse: “Let not thine heart envy sinners.” Proverbs 23:17.

Aim: To be aware of and to resist the sin of envy.

Question: Who in the Bible committed the sin of envy?

1. Pharisees: “He knew that for envy they had delivered him.” Matthew 27:18.

2. Patriarchs moved with envy sold Joseph into Egypt, but God was with him. Acts 7:9; Genesis 37:11.

3. Jews: When the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things . which were spoken by Paul. (Acts 17:3).

4. Philistines envied Abraham’s flocks, herds, servants. Genesis 26:14.

5. Rachel: When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister Leah. Gen. 30:1.

6. Wilderness generation envied Moses in the camp and Aaron the servant of God. Psalm 106:16.

7. One of Joshua’s servants envied Eldad and Medad prophesying in the camp. Numbers 1:28,29.

8. Saul envied David who had killed his ten thousands. I Samuel 18:7-12.

Conclusion:

i) Most envy is against the spiritual success of others.

ii) Envy leads people to hatred, violence and murder .

iii) Envy is a sin that religious unbelievers or carnal believers are most likely to fall into.

Question: What else do you notice about envy?

He came to:

1) Save sinners (I Timothy 1:15); Call sinners to repentance. (Luke 5:32).

2) Minister to serve people and give His life a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:28).

3) Get baptised and thus show us how to be baptised. (Mark 1:9).

4) Preach the Gospel of Peace (Mark 1:38,39), & give us access to the Father (Eph 2:17, 14-18)

5) Heal the broken hearted (Luke 4:18).

6) Inspect and evaluate people’s condition: Israel’s (Matthew 21:9); Disciples (Matthew 26:43); Church. (Matthew 24:42,44).

7) Do the will of Him that sent me, and to finish His work. (John 4:34; 6:38).

8) Bless us and turn us away from our iniquities. (Acts 3:26).

9) Destroy the works of the devil (I John 3:8)–all his wicked plans & control over men’s’ hearts.

10) Give eternal life, be the propitiation for our sins, be the Saviour of the world. (I John 4:9,10,14)

• Bible Reading:  Psalm 34:11; Jonah 1:9-10.
• Introduction:
  • When God describes unbelievers in Romans chapter 3, one thing He says of their life of sin is that “there is no fear of God before their eyes.” Romans 3:18.
    • Unbelievers don’t care about God or others, they mainly care about themselves.
    • They have not yet discovered that God judges their sins in this life and will judge their sins in the next life.
    • They don’t think that they’ll be cast into the lake of fire, nor do they appreciate the horrors of hell, nor the statement, “it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
    • Some questions we need to ask during the course of this study –
      • Question:      Do you truly fear God?
      • Question:      What does it mean to fear God?
      • Question:      What will we do if we fear God?
      • Question:      What benefits come to us by fearing God?
      • Question:      Who are some Bible characters that feared God?
• I.    Kinds of Fear
• Question:            What does it mean to fear God?
  • The Bible uses the word “Fear” in 7 ways:
• 1.   Holy Fear = Love and respect for the majesty and holiness of God.
  • In Genesis 20:11, Abraham said, “because I thought, surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife’s sake.”
  • Acts 9:31, “Then had the churches rest throughout all Judea, Galilee and Samaria, and were edified and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost were multiplied.”
  • Psalm 34:11, “Come ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach the fear of the Lord.”
  • David speaks of this fear as clean and pure in Psalm 19:9.
  • Proverbs 1:7 & Psalm 111:10, “The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”
  • The Fear of the Lord enables man to:
    • a) respect God’s authority (Revelation 14:9),
    • b) obey God’s commandments,
    • c) turn from evil (Jonah 1:9), and
    • d) pursue true holiness (2 Corinthians 7:1; Philippians 2:12).
  • The believer has this fear of God which is defined as ‘the proper reverence of a child of God for his Heavenly Father (2 Corinthians 6:17 – 7:1)
    • so that we obey God because we:
      • – love Him for who He is,
      • – obey Him because He is good and His plans are best for us, and
      • – respect Him because of His power to correct and discipline us.

•  2.  Fear of Unforgiven Sin.
  • Caused by the work of the law written on unbelievers hearts.
    • This is fear of the guilt of sin.
      • “which show the work of the law written on their hearts.” (Romans 2:15).
  • Examples include:
    • a) Adam’s fear of unforgiven sin when he sinned. (Genesis 3:10).
    • b) Felix’s fear of unforgiven sin as he heard Paul preach. (Acts 24:25).
    • c) Men who reject the preaching of the Gospel: “A certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries.” (Hebrews 10:27-31).
• 3.   Fear of Judgment at Christ’s Second Coming.
  • The wicked will have a fear and terror of God’s judgment at Christ’s Second Coming.
    • See Rev. 11:11.
    • See Isaiah 2:19
  • God places a fear of His people in their enemies to protect Israel:
    • a)   When God smote one million soldiers who attacked Israel during King Asa’s reign (951BC), the fear of God came upon them. II Chronicles 14:14.
    • b)   When a large army from Ammon, Moab and Mt Seir (Jordan) invaded Israel during King Jehoshaphat’s reign (896BC), God smote the invaders, and “The fear of God wasin all the kingdoms of those countries when they had heard that the Lord fought against the enemies of Israel.”(2 Chron 20:29)
    • c)   ‘The land of Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt, every one that maketh mention thereof shall be afraid in himself.’ (Isaiah 9:17).
• 4.   Fear of Man.
  • Two kinds are:
    • a) Proper respect for those in authority.
      • i) Fear to whom fear is due. “He beareth not the sword in vain”. Romans 13:4,7.
      • ii) Servants (employees) be subject to your masters with all fear. 1 Peter 2:18.
    • b) Senseless dread of man.
      • Israel was told not to fear the Canaanites, but to go and conquer the land. Numbers 14:9.
• 5.   Cowardice and Timid ness.
  • “God has not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” II Timothy 1:7.
  • “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27.
  • “The fearful, and unbelieving..” Revelation 21:8.
    • This is people afraid of receiving Christ as Saviour.
  • Jesus said to the disciples in the storm on the Sea of Galilee: “Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?” Mark 4:40.
• 6.   Fear of the Unknown.
  • “Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things that are coming on the earth.” Luke 21:26.
  • Other examples are the fear of ghosts, or of scary things. (Job 4:14-16).

• 7.   Fear for others and the danger in which they stand.
  • “I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.” 1 Corinthians 2:3.
  • “But I fear lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” 2 Corinthians 11:3.
• II.   People Who Feared The Lord
  • 1)         Godly women fear the Lord. – Proverbs 31:30.
  • 2)         Jonah said to the sailors, ”I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea.” – Jonah 1:9.
  • 3)         Joseph said to his brothers: “I fear God”. – Genesis 42:18.
  • 4)         Job was described by Satan to God as: “Doth Job fear God for naught?” – Job 1:9.
  • 5)         Repentant thief on the Cross said to the other thief, “Dost not thou fear God?” – Luke 23:40.
  • 6)         Obadiah said to Elijah: “I thy servant fear the Lord from my youth.” – I Kings 18:3,12.
  • 7)         One of the priests taught the people of Bethel how they should fear the Lord. 2 King 17:28,41.
  • 8) Abraham was told by the angel at Moriah: “Now I know that thou fearest God.” – Genesis 22:12.
• III.  What People Will Do Who Fear God
  • 1)         “Serve the Lord with fear.” Psalm 2:11.
  • 2)         “Blessed is everyone that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways.” Psalm 128:1.
  • 3)         “They that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.” Malachi 3:16.
  • 4)         “Ye that fear the Lord give audience.” Acts 13:16.
    •  Fear of The Lord = listen to preaching of God’s Word.
  • 5)         “Perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
    • Fear of The Lord = grow in holiness and love for God. 2 Cor.7:1.
  • 6)         Husband and wife will submit themselves one to another in the fear of God. Ephesians 5:21.
  • 7)         Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12), because you’ll have to give account of your service to God.
    • This means to work out the details of how to live and serve God.
• IV. Benefits and Blessings of Fearing God
  • 1)         Psalm 15:4 “He honours them that fear the Lord.”
  • 2)         Psalm 25:12 “Him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.”
  • 3)         Psalm 25:14 “The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him.”
  • 4)         Psalm 31:19 “How great is thy goodness laid up for them that fear thee.”
  • 5)         Psalm 33:18 “The eye of the Lord is on them that fear him.”
  • 6)         Psalm 34:7 “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him and delivereth them.”
  • 7)         Psalm 34:9 “There is no want to them that fear Him.”
  • 8)         Psalm 34:11 “I will teach you the fear of the Lord.”
  • 9)         Psalm 85:9 “His salvation is near them that fear him.”
  • 10)      Psalm 103:11 “So great is His mercy toward them that fear Him.”
  • 11)      Psalm 111:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”
  • 12)      Psalm 112:1-2 “His seed shall be mighty upon earth.”
  • 13)      Psalm 115:13 “He will bless them that fear the Lord.”
  • 14)      Psalm 119:63 “I am a companion of all them that fear thee.”
  • 15)      Psalm 119:74 “They that fear thee will be glad when they see me.”
  • 16)      Psalm 147:11 “The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him.”
  • 17)      Proverbs 8:13 “The fear of the Lord to hate evil.”
  • 18)      Proverbs 10:27 “The fear of the Lord prolongeth days.”
  • 19)      Proverbs 14:2 “In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence.”
  • 20)      Proverbs14:27 “The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.”
  • 21)      Proverbs 16:6 “By the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.”
  • 22)      Proverbs 19:23 “The fear of the Lord tendeth to life.”
  • 23)      Proverbs 22:4 “By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, honour and life.”
• Conclusion:

“Be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long.” Proverbs 23:17.

• Text:      I Corinthians 10:31-33
•  “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” – I Corinthians 10:31
• Intro:     The Bible commands us to “do all to the glory of God.”
  • This introduces the question:  “How can we glorify God?”
  • The Bible gives 12 main ways that we can glorify God.
    • If we focus our efforts in these 12 areas, our lives will truly bring much glory to God.
• We glorify God:
• 1.  By Preaching the Gospel.
  • See 2 Cor. 4:4 –  “the light of the glorious gospel of Christ.”
    • The gospel is glorious because it makes known our glorious God’s nature and His simple plan of salvation.
    • The gospel leads ignorant, weak, sinful, degraded men to a world of light.
    • It is glorious and enlightening because of its splendor, beauty, certainty of heaven, forgiveness, fellowship and love that it gives to men –
      • Compared with the dark, despairing and hopeless systems of philosophy and heathenism that man thinks up.
• We glorify God:
• 2.  By Offering Praise to God.
  • Psalm 50:23 – “Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me.”
    • Praise involves giving God our love, thanksgiving, worship and talents to serve Him.
    • When a sinner receives Christ as his Saviour and confesses with his mouth the Lord Jesus, he is glorfying God.
    • Do you praise God daily?
    • Jesus said – “He (the Holy Spirit) shall glorify me.” (John 16:14).
    • Do you who have the indwelling Holy Spirit, glorify Christ?
• We glorify God:
• 3.  By Bearing much fruit.
  • John 15:8 – “herein is my Father glorified that ye bear much fruit.”
  • Several different kinds of spiritual fruit are named in the Bible.
    • We bear fruit
      • When we win others to Christ (Rom. 1:13).
      • When we are a part of the harvest (John 4:35-38).
      • As we grow in holiness and obedience, we are bearing fruit (Rom. 6:22).
  • Paul considered Christian giving to be fruit from a dedicated life (Rom. 15:28).
  • “The fruit of the Spirit” (Gal. 5:22-23) is the kind of Christian character that glorifies God and makes Christ real to others.
  • Even our good works, our service, grow out of our abiding life (Col. 1:10).
  • The praise that comes from our hearts and lips is actually fruit to the glory of God (Heb. 13:15).
• We glorify God:
• 4.  By Finishing the work which God gives us to do. (
  • John 17:4
• We glorify God:
• 5.  By Keeping ourselves from evil in the world.
  • John 17:10,15
• We glorify God:
• 6.  When sinners get saved and become preachers.
  • For example, Paul.
    • Galatians1:23-24.
• We glorify God:
• 7.  When we fulfill God’s will for our life the name of our Lord Jesus
  • 2 Thess. 1:11-12
    • Christ is glorified – v. 12.
    • When we fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power.
• We glorify God:
• 8.  When the Word of God has free course – not hindered.
  • 2 Thessalonians 3:1.
• We glorify God:
• 9.  When we speak as the Oracles of God, and minister (serve) to the best of our ability that God gives us.
  • I Peter 4:11
• We glorify God:
• 10.  When we are reproached for the name of Christ, and respond cheerfully.
  • I Peter 4:14
• We glorify God:
• 11.  When God delivers us from trouble.
  • Psalm 50:15
• God will be glorified –
• 12. When all nations come and worship Christ in the Millennium at Jerusalem.
  • Psalm 86:9
• We glorify God now by studying and teaching about Jesus Christ’s second coming.
• Conclusion:
  • Are you glorifying God now in all that you do?

• Text:         III John 1-14.
• Introduction:
  • Today many churches are being destroyed from within by the sins of professing Christians.
  • One person wants the pre-eminence, so he has to put others down.
  • This results in loss of:
    • a) Love to Christ,
    • b) Peace of God,
    • c) Freedom to serve God,
    • d) Joy in service,
    • e) Soul Winning drive
  • Each Christian is a good or bad witness.
    • We are either helping or hindering the truth.
  • We need to ask ourselves: ‘Are we part of the problem or are we part of the solution?’
  • III John was addressed to Gaius, a church leader.
    • John discusses Diotrophes and Demetrius.
• Consider each man’s ways:
• 1.   GAIUS the Encourager. (v.1-8).
  • i) Gaius was well beloved (v.1) and beloved (v.5).
  • ii) Gaius was Spiritually Healthy (v.2).
  • John wished that Gaius would be as physically healthy as he was spiritually healthy.
  • Spiritual health results from:
    • a) Nourishing ourselves daily with God’s Word.
    • b) Exercising ourselves unto Godliness (I Timothy 4:6-7).
    • c) Keeping ourselves clean (II Corinthians 7:1) and avoiding contamination and pollution of world.
    • d) Resting in the Lord and renewing our strength by close personal fellowship with Him. (Matt 11:28-30)
  • iii) Gaius was a good testimony (v.3-4).
    • Why?
    • Because God’s truth was in him and he obeyed it. (v.3).
  • We must digest God’s Word and make it part of us in order to have a good testimony. (Jeremiah 15:16).
  • iv) Gaius was a soul-winner and a Disciple-maker.
  • John here gives the key to joy in the Christian life (v.4).
  • It is soul winning and disciple making.
    • “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” (v.4).
  • It is
    • a) Winning people for Christ, and b) Teaching them to walk in God’s truth.
    • Nothing else gives greater joy.
    • Gaius may have been one of John’s converts and disciples.
  • v) Gaius was a faithful man. (v.5).
    • Gaius helped both the brethren and strangers.
  • Question: What motivates us to have a practical ministry to other believers?
    • a) Desire to honour God (v.6). “after a Godly sort” means “worthy of God, as it befits God.”
  • Gaius showed hospitality to strangers who bore witness of Gaius’ charity before the church.
  • Some of these strangers may have been traveling gospel preachers.
    • b) Desire to help win the lost. This is achieved as we help God’s servants do this task. (v.7).
  • These traveling missionaries took no support from unsaved Gentiles, only from believers.
    • c) Desire to obey God. “We ought to receive such.” (v.8).
    • God wants us to help Gospel preachers who bring salvation to others.
    • Let us open our hearts to those who teach God’s truth.
• 2.   DIOTROPHES the Dictator. (v.9-11).
  • Many churches have members who insist on being boss.
    • A pastor or minister means ‘servant’.
    • Christ’s disciples argued over who would be greatest in the kingdom. (Matthew 18:1-6).
    • Jesus reminded them that their model for ministry was not government officials, but Christ who became a humble servant.
    • What are we told about Diotrophes?
  • a) He loved to have the pre-eminence. (v.9).
    • He wanted to be number one.
    • His motive was pride.
  • b) He would not receive John (v.9).
    • He could have learned so much from the Apostle John.
    • Why did he reject John?
    • Because John challenged his right to be a dictator in the church. (v.10a).
    • Diotrophes was proud and sought self-glory.
    • Diotrophes would not receive him. (v.10a).
  • c) He lied about John: ‘prating against us with malicious words,’ (v.10) means bringing false charges against us.
    • Do not believe all you are told about people.
    • Some people twist the truth.
  • d) Diotrophes rejected John’s associates. ‘neither doth he himself receive the brethren.’ (v.10).
  • e) Diotrophes disciplined those that disagreed with him by casting them out of the church.
    • He was destroying his own local church through his pride, fear and insensitivity.
    • He knew nothing of love.
• Lesson:
  • “Follow not that which is evil, but that which is good.” (v.11).
    • Follow good and you’ll follow God.
    • A test of ‘goodness’ is: ‘Is this beneficial to all’?
• 3. DEMETRIUS the Good Example (v.12-14).
  • Demetrius had a good report of:
    • a) all men;
    • b) the truth of the Bible;
    • c) John himself.
  • Demetrius was ‘an example, a model, an ideal Christian worthy to be imitated.’
• Question: Is it right to follow men?
  • Yes, only as they follow Christ.
  • The Apostle Paul wrote
    • “Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an example.” Philippians 3:17.
    • “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” I Corinthians 11:1.
    • By our good example, we will “consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works.” – Heb.10:24
• Conclusion:
  • John concludes that he would soon visit the church and speak face-to-face with the people.
    • This thought of accountability is important.
    • John wishes them peace, something that is hard to enjoy when Diotrophes wanted to be a boss and expel people.
    • In spite of trouble, we can still have the peace of God.
  • Greet the friends by name.
    • John calls them friends.
    • It’s good to be a friend-maker as well as a soul winner.
    • Diotrophes was so dictatorial that he had fewer and fewer friends.

1) Put on the whole armour of God (Ephesians 6:11-18).

2) Know Satan’s devices (II Corinthians 2:11).

3) Resist the devil (James 4:7; I Peter 5:8,9).

4) Be sober, be vigilant lest he devour us (I Peter 5:8,9).

5) Give him no place (beach head). (Ephesians 4:7).

6) Quote Scripture to refute his lies (Matthew 4:1-11; I John 2:14).

7) Overcome him by the blood of Christ and a good testimony (Revelation 12:11).

8) Be filled with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:18) & yielded to the Holy Spirit (Romans 6:1-13; 3:13)

Bible Reading: I John 2:15-17.

Aim: To not follow the temptations and traps of the world.

Memory Verse: “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. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh,the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.” I John 2:15-17.

Definition: “World” is “Kosmos” (Gk), meaning, a) The physical planet (2 Peter 2:5; 3:6), b)The world of mankind organized into nation states (John 16:21; Matthew 4:8-10), c) The fallen world of humanity who are indifferent to or in rebellion against God and destined forjudgment (ethical meaning). It is the domain of Satan (I Jn 5:19; 4:1-5; Jn 12:31; 14:30; 2 Cor.4:4). It is the object of judgment and saving mercy (John 3:16-19; 4:42; 6:33,51); Holy Spirit reproves the world (John 16:8-11); By faith believers can overcome the world (worldly thinking, opposition of worldly men and Satan). Devotion to things of the world produces a “worldly” attitude of mind which has no concern for the things of God (John 1:10; I Cor.1:20,21;3:19). It is material & passing.

Introduction:

I. We are commanded to have certain attitudes about the world system. These are:

1. Love not the world (I John 2:15-17). The world is in a state of dire moral corruption.

2. Be not conformed to this world. (Romans 12:2). The world pressures believers to conform.

3. Do not have friendship with the world. (James 4:4). The world seeks to contaminate believers.

4. Keep yourself unspotted from the world. (James 1:27).

5. Overcome the world by our faith. (I John 5:4,5).

6. Share this world’s goods with needy believers. (I John 3:17).

7. Shine as lights in the world. (Philippians 2:15). We are to dispel worldly darkness.

8. Deny ungodliness and worldly lusts. (Titus 2:12).

9. The world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. (Galatians 6:14). Be unresponsive to it.

10. Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. (Mark 16:15).

11. We are not citizens of this world. (John 17:14).

II. The Bible warns us about many bad things in the world to beware of and avoid, some being:

1) Tribulation. ‘In the world ye shall have tribulation.’ (John 16:33).

2) Conforming pressure of this world to follow evil. (Romans 12:1,2).

3) Spirit of this world: the philosophy and thinking of the world. (I Corinthians 2:12).

4) Wisdom of this world, that is, the vain, self-confident, false opinions on the subject of religion, eg: evolution, anti-God humanism. (I Corinthians 3:19; 1:20).

5) Spectacle of the world. We are like gladiators fighting many foes in an amphitheater of great height being watched by thousands of spectators, with an immense host of men and angels, watching this conflict with great interest, keenly awaiting the outcome of our spiritual warfare. (I Corinthians 4:9).

6) Filth of the world. ‘We are made as the filth of the world.’ (I Corinthians 4:13). This word ‘filth’ is the strongest expression to show the contempt and scorn which the apostles were everywhere regarded. Filth means that which is collected by sweeping a house, such as any vile, worthless, contemptible object. Among the Greeks the word ‘filth’ denoted men of ignoble, worthless, wicked character, who were kept to be offered to the gods in a time of pestilence, to appease their anger. They were regarded as the most vile and worthless men in the world. This is how the world views the apostles and God’s choicest saints.

7) Fornicators of the world (I Corinthians 5:10). Most unbelievers were of this description. Avoid pubs, nightclubs, etc where such people are found.

8) Fashion of this world passes away. (I Corinthians 7:31). ‘Fashion’ comes from the shifting scenes of a drama play, where each scene continues for a little time, then changes as we pass on to other unreal, illusive scenes. What an appropriate description of the changing, unstable, unreal play-acting of this world, which today is popular and tomorrow is gone, to be succeeded by new actors and new scenes. How little we should set our affections on this world, and how strongly we should be prepared for the real and unchanging scenes of the next world.

9) Voices in the world. (I Corinthians 14:10). As all languages in the world are for communicating ideas, and not for display, so it should be with those who speak in church. They should speak them only when and where they would be understood. This refutes tongues spoken in a church where nobody understands them.

10) Worship idols (Acts 19:27). This well describes unsaved men of this world who worship idols and the creature rather than the Creator. eg: sport, money, pleasure,

11) Corruption in the world through lust. (II Peter 1:4). The world is full of corrupting influences. God wants to rescue us from its dominion and to make us holy.

12) Pollutions of the world (II Peter 2:20). ‘Pollutions’ mean ‘foulness, contamination, defiling and tainting’ influence that the world seeks and has on those who mix with it.

13) Wickedness. ‘The whole world lieth in wickedness.’ (I John 5:19). The whole world is under the control of wickedness or the government of Satan. The word ‘lieth’ means to recline in a passive state under Satan’s dominion, making no resistance, not struggling to be free, showing no effort to throw off his reign. The dominion is complete, lying as a beast that is subdued, a body that is dead, or anything that is wholly passive, quiet and inert, body and soul, individuals and nations that are entirely subject to Satan’s will. There is no government against which sinners have so little inclination to rebel, as that of Satan. (II Timothy 2:26).

14) Many deceivers in the world (II John 7). These deny that Christ became incarnate. They deny that Christ took on human nature in permanent union with His Deity. (See I John 4:2,3 JWs). “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” (I John 4:1).

15) Cares of this world (Matthew 13:22; Mark 4:19) choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. Three competing concerns are life’s worries, deception of wealth anddesires for other things choke the word, making it unfruitful.

Q: Do you choke God’s Word by letting things of the world takeover your priorities?

16) Prince of this world (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11) is Satan. Also called ‘the god of this world’ (II Corinthians 4:4); ‘the prince of the power of the air’ (Ephesians 2:2); ‘the rulers of darkness of this world’ (Ephesians 6:12) because of his influence over men of this world.

17) Hates Christ. ‘The world cannot hate you (apostles); but me it hateth.’ (John 7:7). Why? Because Christ preached that its works were evil, and that men were sinners, so they hated Him. ‘All who live godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution.’All who preach against man’s wickedness will be opposed.

18) Hates godly Christians but loves worldly Christians. (John 15:19; 17:14). ‘The world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.’ (John 17:14). ‘If ye were of the world, the world would love his own, but because ye are not of the world . . . therefore the world hateth you.’ (John 15:19). See I John 3:13.

19) Disputers of this world (I Corinthians 1:20). What is our answer to worldly disputers who want to argue? It is that God has chosen the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe (v.21), because the gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16).

20) Sorrow of the world worketh death. (II Corinthians 7:10). This is sorrow arising from loss of property, friends or disappointment, as well as sorrow for sin when caught. It does not see itself as an offence against God. There is no looking to God for pardon and consolation. This sorrow produces distress, breaks the spirit, destroys the peace, and mars one’s happiness, causing people to suicide, fret, murmur and complain against God.

21) Lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world (I John 2:16). Lust of the flesh is indulging worldly appetites, as the purpose for living. Lust of the eyes is that which gratifies the sight, eg: jewels, clothing, houses, cars, as the chief purpose of life, without seeking Christ or His Kingdom. The pride of life is whatever tends to promote pride and boasting.

Conclusion: Which world are you living for? Which world are you setting your affections on? (Colossians 3:1,2). Get eternal values today. Layup treasures in heaven. Live for Christ, souls, His Word and His Kingdom, not the passing things of this life.

1) When we take our eyes off Jesus (Hebrews 12:2).

2) When we look back – to our unsaved habits, or to past blessings (Luke 9:57-62).

3) When we start looking around at others (John 21:15-19, II Corinthians 10:12).

Don’t worry about others business, but follow Jesus.

4) When we stop looking forward to the spiritual, eternal and heavenly (II Corinthians 4:16-18).

5) When we stop looking outward for souls (Matthew 9:36-38).

Text:      Job 9:25-26.

Aim:

To teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts to the wisdom of soul winning, to teaching others God’s word, and living like Christ.

Introduction:

The Bible compares our life to many things.

Why?

So that we may realize how short our life is, and how important it is for us to number our days (ie: to plan our life) so that we have the maximum impact on the world for Christ.

In order to show us how short our life is, God compares our life to several things:

1.  A Vapour.

See James 4:14

All our plans depend on our life continuing.

But what a frail and uncertain thing our life is.

Who can build any solid plans on the permanence of a vapour or a mist?

A vapour is a mist that is dissipated by the rising sun.

“O remember that my life is wind….As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so is he that goeth down to the grave.” Job 7:7,9.

“For he remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.”Ps.78:39

Notice that:

1) A vapour or wind passes away quickly, so does the life of man.

2) As we cannot stop a cloud or wind, so we cannot hinder the speedy motion of our days.

3) As a cloud comes to its height and then vanishes, so does our life and our full strength.

2.  A Flower.

See Job 14:1-2

See 1 Peter 1:24-25

Man’s life is compared to a fading flower.

Many things describe a flower such as having sweet smell, beauty, variety of colour, and softness to touch.

Job discusses none of these, but only of its cutting down.

Note the following truths about it’s cutting down:

a)A flower is often cut down or cropped in it’s budding.

Many people are cut off in the flower of life by i) Natural death by sickness, or ii) Accidental death by violence, murder, road accidents etc.

b) A flower if not cut off, soon withers away and is gone.

The “Queen of the Night” flower blooms in one night, gives a beautiful fragrance, and is dead and withered by morning.

c) As the owner of flowers knows best when to crop then, so God knows the best time when to crop off or take away by death any of his choice flowers.

3.  A Swift Post.

See Job 9:25

a) As a postman rides swiftly, in a hurry, so man’s life passes away swiftly.

b) A postman of years ago would

– ride on the swiftest of horses,

– he would change horses at every stage to keep up the speed,

– he would take a morsel of food at each stop, then speed on,

– he would only go to bed at the end of his journey,

– all people would give way to the post rider.

4.  A Swift Ship.

“They are passed away as the swift ships.” Job 9:26.

Watching a ship at sea, we notice how it passes very quickly, reminding us of our lives & opportunities.

5.  An Eagle.

“As the eagle that hasteth to the prey.” Job 9:26.

An eagle is a very swiftly flying bird, but when it hastens to catch its prey, it makes the greatest speed.

The life of man is compared to an eagle hurrying to catch her prey when hunger adds swiftness to her wings.

So it is with swiftness that our days pass away.

What have you done for Christ with your life?

6.  A Weaver’s Shuttle.

“My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle.” Job 7:6.

a) A weaver’s shuttle is an instrument of very swift motion.

b) When the weaver has finished his web, he cuts off the thread.

So it is that when a man has run the length of his days appointed by God, his life is cut off.

7.  A Shadow.

“He fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.” Job 14:2.

David said: “our days on the earth are as a shadow and there is none abiding.” I Chronicles 29:15.

Man’s life today is short compared to human lifespan before Noah’s flood.

Man’s life is much shorter compared to God’s eternity.

This is a great motive for us to redeem our time.

Conclusion:

a) Our days on earth are few.

b) Our days on earth are uncertain.

c) The shortness of our life shows the folly of living only for material things.

As did the rich man in Luke 12:16-21 – Read.

The word of God tells us “The fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others. Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue forever…This their way is their folly.” Psalm 49:10,11,13.

d) Our minds must be focused on eternity “knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and enduring substance.” Hebrews 10:34.

e) The shortness of life motivates us to use all our labours

to get people to heaven,

to teach the Bible,

to plant churches,

to train preachers,

be at peace among ourselves,

and live holy lives pleasing to God.

Let us be “redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:16.

Redeem the time” means “to buy it up, rescue it from loss, improve every opportunity.”

• Text: 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

• Introduction:
  • One of the greatest needs of the world is for people who are comforters.
  • The world has so much:
    • 1) wickedness and depressing things
    • 2) harsh and critical people
    • 3) difficult situations and
    • 4) disappointments and discouragements, that life’s burden can be great and difficult to bear.
  • A wonderful thing about coming to God’s house is that we can be among people:
    • – who love God and love each other.
    • – who will build each other up,
    • – who will comfort each other so we can better carry on under the trials of life.
    • – who will lift us up and cheer us, who will give us hope and joy to carry on, people
    • – who are with us when we are down, people
    • – who we can trust will not treat us badly, people
    • – who will be a blessing to us and to our family.
  • The main lesson we want to consider today is how we can:
    • a) be comforted ourselves, and
    • b) be a comforter of others.
  • Example:
    • One job of a pastor is to comfort those who need comforting.
    • Anything that hinders his ability to comfort others is an attack on those needing comforting.
  • Let’s build an atmosphere of comfort, love and encouragement where we can all grow to our maximum spiritual potential.
• Question: What Brings Comfort to us?
  • 1.      The Holy Spirit comforts us compared to the enemy who accuses us.
    • John 14:16-18.
  • When Saul’s attacks on the churches ceased at his conversion, we see these events in Acts 9:31.
    • a) the churches had rest – what a relief, what peace.
    • b) the churches were edified – they had a chance to develop, grow and build.
    • c) the people walked in the fear of God and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost.
    • d) the churches multiplied.
  • The Holy Spirit seeks to comfort believers and churches.
    • As we are filled with and led by the Holy Spirit, showing the fruit of the Spirit, we are comforted.
  • 2.      The Scriptures give us patience, comfort and hope.
    • Romans 15:4-5.
  • As we read the life stories of Bible characters, we see how;
    • i) They endured trials and God brought them through;
    • ii) They sacrificed and brought blessings to many peoples lives;
    • iii) Good came out of bad situations.
  • This gives us patience to endure trials, comfort that God is working out His plans, and hope that we will be kept safe.
  • This is one reason why we read the Bible and why it is so popular.
    • The Bible gives us patience, comfort and hope.
  • 3.      Preaching is a comfort to us.
    • “But he that prophesieth (or preaches) speaketh unto men to edification (strengthen), and exhortation (encourage), and comfort.” I Corinthians 14:3.
    • Preaching is meant to edify (strengthen), exhort (encourage) and comfort (console) believers.
  • 4.      Return of a faithful Christian friend.
  • Four men who comforted others are:
    • i)   Titus coming in II Corinthians 7:4-6. “God…comforted us by the coming of Titus.” (v.6).
    • Paul tells how in Macedonia, he and his workers had no rest, but were troubled on every side.
    • Outside were fightings. Inside were fears.
    • Paul said in v.6 that comfort came from 2 sources.
      • a) God comforts those who are cast down, and
      • b) God comforted us by the coming of Titus.
    • Titus coming to Paul was a great comfort because Titus was committed to helping build people up.
      • He was a blessing and a joy to be with. Is your coming a comfort and a blessing to others or a curse?
    • ii)  Tychichus’ arrival comforted the Ephesian’s hearts.
      • Ephesians 6:21-22.
    • iii) Timothy comforted Paul by giving a good report of the Christians at Philippi.
      • Philippians 2:19.
    • Timothy came to Thessalonica to comfort and establish them in the faith.
      • I Thess. 3:2.
    • iv) Justus, Paul’s fellow worker, comforted Paul.
      • Colossians 4:11.
  • 5.      The Return Of Christ comforts us.
    • I Thess. 4:13-18.- V.18 –  “…Comfort one another with these words.”
    • What words?
      • i)        Don’t sorrow hopelessly at the death of our loved ones. v.13.
      • ii)       The dead in Christ are with Christ in heaven. v.14.
      • iii)      The dead in Christ will rise first. v.14-16.
      • iv)      We will be caught up with them to meet the Lord in the air.
      • v)       We will ever be with the Lord. v.17.
  • 6.      Other believers Faith and Commitment to God, their local church and the work of God is a great comfort to all believers who are watching.
    • I Thessalonians 3:7-8.
    • Your faith, faithfulness and commitment to God’s work and to each other is a great comfort to other church members.
    • On the other hand, disloyalty is a discomfort to others.
    • If we stand fast and hold the traditions we’ve been taught by the Apostles in the New Testament, we will comfort others and be established in every good word and work.
      • II Thessalonians 2:15-17.
  • 7.      Thoughts of going to Heaven is a comfort.
    • Luke 16:25.
    • No matter how bad things get, we have the comfort of looking forward to joy and happiness forever in Heaven.
      • This is especially true for those who finish the work that God has given them to do.T
      • hey can look forward to receiving a crown of righteousness for faithfully serving Christ to the end. – I Timothy 4:6-8.
  • 8.      Speaking Good Words to people comforts them.
    • Rehoboam should have done this – I Kings12:1-7.
• Conclusion:
  • We are commanded to:
    • i)   Comfort the feebleminded ( little spirited, fainthearted, fretful, worried) – I Thess. 5:14.
    • ii)  Comfort those in trouble, by the comfort that we are comforted of God. II Cor. 1:3-4
    • iii) Comfort yourselves and edify one another even as ye do. – I Thessalonians 5:11.
    • iv) Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace. – II Corinthians 13:11.
  • If you do these 8 things I mentioned this morning
    • Allow the Holy Spirit to comfort you
    • Allow the Scriptures to comfort you
    • Allow Preaching comfort you
    • Allow Return of a Faithful Christ Friend comfort you
    • Allow The Return of Christ comfort you
    • Allow Other believers faith and commitment comfort you
    • Allow the Thoughts of going to heaven comfort you
    • Allow Speaking Good words to people comfort you.
  • The result –
    • You will be a true comforter.