Sacred Truth Friday: Joy; Be Christlike

Stephen is in Ohio. Rick Elms preached the sermons.

Morning Sermon

Joy

“Blessed  are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.Blessed are the meek, For  they shall inherit the  earth.Blessed are those who  hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.Blessed are the pure in heart, For  they shall see God.Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of  evil against you falsely for My sake.Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for  so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. - Matthew 5:3-12 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew5:3-12&version=NKJV

A. Living the Beatitudes key to joy

B. Persecuted. Rejoice

    1. Great reward in heaven 

Now godliness with contentment is great gain.For we brought nothing into this world, and it is  certain we can carry nothing out.And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. - 1 Timothy 6:6-10 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1Timothy6:6-10&version=NKJV

A. Be content

B.  Guard against love of money

     1. Leads to evil

     2. Leads to idolatry

     3. Leads to abandonment of Christ

     4. Leads to hell

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. - Ecclesiastes 12:13 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes12:13&version=NKJV

A. Fearing God and obeying Him key to joy

“For the kingdom of heaven is  like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one,  to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.And likewise he who had received two gained two more also.But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money.After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.“So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were  faithful over a few things,  I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into  the joy of your lord.’He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’His lord said to him,  ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into  the joy of your lord.’“Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed.And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’“But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You  wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.And cast the unprofitable servant  into the outer darkness.  There will be weeping and  gnashing of teeth.’ - Matthew 25:14-30 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew25:14-30&version=NKJV

A. Using talents for the kingdom key to joy

Then He said: “A certain man had two sons.And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them  his livelihood.And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with  prodigal living.But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want.Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the  pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father,  I have sinned against heaven and before you,and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’“And he arose and came to his father. But  when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven  and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’“But the father said to his servants,  ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry;for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.“Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’“But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him.So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends.But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’“And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.It was right that we should make merry and be glad,  for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ ” - Luke 15:11-32 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke15:11-32&version=NKJV

A. Lack of rules does not equal joy

But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. - Psalm 1:2 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm1:2&version=NKJV

A. Delighting in His law key to joy

Lesson: Jesus, living for Him brings joy. 

Afternoon Sermon

Be Christlike

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.When Christ who is  our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience,in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. - Colossians 3:1-15 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians3:1-15&version=NKJV

A. Seek heavenly treasure

B. Be renewed day by day

C. Qualities to put on

    1. Mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness

For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are,  yet without sin. - Hebrews 4:15 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews4:15&version=NKJV

A. Jesus has compassion for us

B. Have compassion for others

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. - Ephesians 4:32 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians4:32&version=NKJV

A. Be kind to others

bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. - Colossians 3:13 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians3:13&version=NKJV

A. Forgive as Christ has forgiven us

Then Jesus said, “Father,  forgive them, for  they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots. - Luke 23:34 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke23:34&version=NKJV

A. Have an attitude of forgiveness

Lesson: Have compassion, be kind, forgive. Be as Jesus.