Giving God Our Best

Sermon Notes, April 28, 2019 AM

Giving God Our Best

Steve W. Reeves

steve@wschurch.net

stevewreevessermons.blogspot.com

 

INTRODUCTION:
A. A ninety-five year old man was convicted of tax evasion. The judge ordered him to
    spend twenty years in prison. The man complained, “Judge, I’m ninety-five years old,
    I won’t live another twenty years.” The judge replied, “Just do the best you can.”
    1. I want to encourage you to do the best you can do in your faithfulness to God and
        commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ.
    2. I want to exhort you to give God your best. To do this we are going to turn to an
        example from the Old Testament.
 B. For many people the books of the Old Testament known as the “Minor Prophets” are
    the least familiar and least studied part of the Bible. These books are like a buried
    treasure that lies at our own doorstep. In today’s message we will be going to
    the very last book of the Old Testament, the prophet Malachi.
    1. Malachi, along with Haggai and Zechariah are called “post-exilic” prophets.
    2. Ancient Israel had been conquered in two stages. The first was in 722 B.C. when
        the Assyrians conquered the northern ten tribes. The remaining two tribes were
        overthrown by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. Following their years in exile the
        Israelites returned to their homeland in three stages.
       a. The first group led by Zerubbabel returned approximately 537 B.C. This group
            led the initial rebuilding of Jerusalem and the temple (516 B.C).
       b. A second group arrived under the leadership of Ezra in 458 B.C.
       c. The final group was led by Nehemiah in 445.B.C. Under his leadership the walls
            of Jerusalem were rebuilt and its gates restored.
    3. Malachi lived during this “post-exilic” period. The people of Israel had become
        complacent in their faith. They were going through the motions of worship but
        their hearts were not in it. As B.B. King used to sing, “The thrill is gone.”
    4. Kyle Yates in Preaching From The Prophets, makes this observation about the
       people of Israel during this time: “The people complained against God and
        bemoaned their sad plight, refused to pay their tithes and offerings, were guilty
       of social injustice, and had married themselves with the heathen people of the land.
       Divorce was common. YAHWEH’s covenant had been forgotten and a low type of
       behavior was the common order of the day” (p. 214).
D. In the book of Malachi there are seven discussions in which God states His case
    and the people object. God then answers their objections. It’s almost like a series of
    debates between God and the people.
. The outcome of these debates is as relevant today as it was then. God challenged the   
    “status quo.” He expressed His displeasure with their careless and calloused hearts. 
    He challenged them to do their best. This is a message we need to hear.  
 
I. DO OUR BEST IN WORSHIP
    A. In Malachi 1:6 God says, “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. Then
        if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is My respect?
        says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests who despise My name.”
        1. Twenty-four times in Malachi God calls Himself, "The Lord of Hosts” (NIV – “The
           Lord Almighty). This is the term Martin Luther referred to in his hymn, “A Mighty
           Fortress” with the lyrics, “Lord Sabbaoth His name, from age to age the same.”   
       2. God is worthy of the highest praise and best effort we can possibly extend.
    B. The people to whom God was speaking were not giving Him their best.  
       1. The people asked in verse 6, “How have we despised Your name?”
       2. God responded in verse 7 – “You are presenting defiled food upon My altar.”      
       3. Again the people ask, “‘How have we defiled you?”
       4. God replied in verses 7-8 – “In that you say, ‘The table of the Lord is to be
           despised.’ ⁸ But when you present the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? And when
           you present the lame and sick, is it not evil? Why not offer it to your governor?
           Would he be pleased with you? Or would he receive you kindly?” says the Lord
           of hosts.”
           a. The priests were not giving God the respect and reverence He was due.
           b. They were sacrificing animals that were blind, lame, and injured. These were
                the animals no one wanted (See Exodus 12:5; Leviticus 1:3, 10; 22:18-25 and
                Deuteronomy 15:21). These people were giving God the left-overs.
            c. God chides them in verse 8, “Try offering them to your governor! Would he
                be pleased with you? Would he accept you?”
    C. God wants the best we have. He will not accept left-overs.  
        1. Notice God’s desire in verse 10, “’Oh that there were one among you who would
            shut the gates, that you might not uselessly kindle fire on My altar! I am not
            pleased with you,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘nor will I accept an offering from
            you.’”
       2. God’s name will be praised according to verse 11 - “’For from the rising of the
           sun even to its setting, My name will be great among the nations, and in every
           place incense is going to be offered to My name, and a grain offering that is pure;
           for My name will be great among the nations,’ says the Lord of hosts.”
      3. At the conclusion of verse 14 God said, “For I am a great King,” says the Lord of
          hosts, “and My name is feared among the nations.”
 
II. DO OUR BEST IN MARRIAGE
    A. Beginning in chapter 2:11 God talks about Judah. This is a reference to the
        people of Israel who had returned from exile.
       1. He said, “Judah has dealt treacherously, and an abomination has been
           committed in Israel and in Jerusalem.”
       2. The word, “abomination” is translated “detestable” in some versions.
       3. What is this thing they have done? Verse 11 continues, “Judah has profaned the
           sanctuary of the Lord which He loves and has married the daughter of a foreign

          god."

    B. We often think that divorce is only a contemporary problem. This is not the case. In  
        post-exilic Israel divorce had become commonplace. Men would divorce their    
        wives and intermarry with the pagan people of the land. This gave rise to a new
        race called “Samaritans.” This had been prohibited by the Law of Moses (see 
        Exodus 34:15-18 and Deuteronomy 7:3-4
    B. In Malachi 2:15 the prophet sets the stage for what Jesus would later say when He
        was asked about divorce in Matthew 19:1-9.
        1.  “Let no one deal treacherously against the wife of your youth.”
        2. Proverbs 5:18 says, “Let your fountain be blessed, And rejoice in the wife of
            your youth.”
       3. In verse 16 Malachi said, “For I hate divorce,” says the Lord, the God of Israel.”
            a. Understand please, that God does not hate divorced people.
            b. God hated the contemptible spirit of these people who were disregarding
                their marriage vows.
    C. God’s concern for faithfulness in marriage should have a powerful impact on us.
        1. We should begin teaching our children about God’s plan for marriage when they
            are young.  
        2. We need to teach our teenagers and university students God’s desire for
            marriage and the components that produce successful marriages. We must do
            all we can to fight the communication of our culture that seeks to distort and
            defile the marriage relationship.
        3. The church should have an active ongoing plan and strategy to strengthen
            marriages and families. After all, the relationship of Christ and His church is the
            pattern upon which marriage is based (See Ephesians 5:21-33).
   
III. DO OUR BEST IN GIVING    
    A. The people of the United States are the most charitable people in the world. Giving 
        to churches exceeds 60 billion dollars each year. At the same time, however the
        percentage of our giving remains small. We spend more on luxuries and
        entertainment than we give.  
    B In Malachi 3:8 the question is raised, “Will a man rob God?”  He could have asked,
       “Will a man cheat God?”
       1. Once again the people reply, “How have we robbed you?”
       2. God responds, “In tithes and offerings.”
           a. In the Old Testament there were numerous regulations regarding tithes
               and offerings (Leviticus 27). The foundational principle to all of them was that
               God was to receive the first portion. Tithing actually predated the Law of
                Moses (Genesis 14:20).
           b. In the same manner the people had been bringing inferior sacrifices to offer at
               the altar they were not giving as they should have been giving.  
           c. According to verse 9 – “You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me,
               the whole nation of you.”
    B. At this point God sets forth a Divine principle for giving. You cannot out give God.
       Notice verse 10.  “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be
       food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open
       for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.”
       1. Is there any limit to God’s resources?
       2. Our greatest limitation is the one we impose on ourselves when we do not give
            our best with a proper attitude. Remember, in the New Testament we are not
            under a tithe but we are recipients of better promises and a better covenant
            offering better hope. God calls on us to be “cheerful givers” (2 Corinthians 9:7).
       3. A mother wanted to teach her daughter a lesson. She gave the little girl a
            quarter and a dollar for church "Put whichever one you want in the collection
            plate and keep the other for yourself," she told the girl. When they were coming
            out of church, the mother asked her daughter which amount she had given.
            "Well," said the little girl, "I was going to give the dollar, but just before the
            collection the man said that we should all be cheerful givers. I knew I'd be a lot
            more cheerful if I gave the quarter, so I did."
 
CONCLUSION:
A. Many people in our society have developed a “bare minimum” attitude. “What’s the
    bare minimum I can do and still get by?” Can you think of any area of life where that
    attitude is healthy? It certainly is not healthy when it comes to the three subjects
    addressed in Malachi; worship, marriage and giving.
B. How would your life be changed if, instead of saying, “What’s the minimum I have to
    do to get by,” you said, “What’s the best I can do?” May we invite you to give God
    your best by giving Him your heart and life today?
 

The Day Hope Was Born

 

Sermon Notes, April 21, 2019 AM

The Day Hope Was Born

Steve W. Reeves

steve@wschurch.net

stevewreevessermons.blogspot.com

 

INTRODUCTION

A. This past Thursday (April 18, 2019) an American hero turned 81 year old. It wasn’t
    a military hero or a noted politician. It wasn’t an athlete or entertainer. It wasn’t a
    financier or businessman. It wasn’t an educator or an artist. It was – “Superman.”
    1. Superman was created by Jerry Siegel (writer) and Joe Shuseter (artist).and made
        his first appearance in a comic book on April 18, 1938.
    2. He is “faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to
        leap tall buildings in a single bound. He has x-ray vision and bullets bounce off of
        him.
    3. Whenever Lois Lane or Jimmy Olsen found themselves in hopeless situations
        Superman showed up to rescue them. No matter how hopeless the situation
        Superman could step in and make it right.
    4. The problem is that Superman is a fictional character. George Reeves played
        Superman on television in the 1950’s. He died of a gunshot wound on June 16,
        1959. Christopher Reeve played Superman in the movies and died October 10,

       2004 after spending the last nine years of his life paralyzed from being thrown off a

        horse.
B. In real life people have real problems. We encounter hardships and hard times. We  
    face sin, sickness and sadness. We are confronted with difficulty, disease and death.
    In such situations a fictional super hero is of no value.
    1. God is not a fictional character. He is real. The apostle Paul wrote, “The God who
        made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not
        dwell in temples made with hands; ²⁵ nor is He served by human hands, as though
        He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all
        things” (Acts 17:24-25).  
    2. The only real hope comes from the only real God.
        a. In Romans 5:1-5 Paul wrote, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have
            peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ²through whom also we have
            obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult
            in hope of the glory of God. ³And not only this, but we also exult in our
            tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; ⁴ and
            perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; ⁵ and hope does
            not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts
            through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
        b. In Romans 15:13 we read, “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and
            peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy
            Spirit.”       
        c. Without God, Paul says in Ephesians 2:12, we are “without hope in the world.”          
        d. With God life is endless hope. Without God life is a hopeless end.
C. As we turn our attention to the resurrection of Jesus from the tomb the question we
    must ask is, “What type of hope does God offer?”
 
I. HOPE IN DIFFICULTY
    A. Can you imagine a more difficult day than the one in which Jesus died?
        1. There was the brutality of the soldiers, the officials and the crowds. There was
            the crown of thorns, the scourging, the road to Golgotha and the crucifixion.
        2. There was the heartbreak of the disciples who had come with Jesus from
            Galilee (Luke 53:49).   
        3. Can you imagine how these people felt? They had come so far with Jesus. Now
            they stood at a distance as they watched Him die.
    B. Life can be difficult, can’t it? Days are filled with stress, sadness and sorrow. We
        encounter problems, pitfalls and perplexities. It is extremely important to remember
        that even in the most difficult situation there is still hope.
        1. The Old Testament prophet Isaiah lived seven hundred years before Christ.
            Isaiah’s life was full of difficulty. He witnessed the downfall of Israel. During his
            lifetime the northern tribes of Israel were taken captive by the Assyrians. The
            southern tribes were in a downward spiral leading to their overthrow by the
            Babylonians in 586 B.C. How heartbreaking this must have been for the
            prophet. 
        2. In the midst of the heartache there was hope. In Isaiah 11:1 he prophesied,
            “Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, And a branch from his roots
            will bear fruit.”
            a. The “stem” (stump) of Jesse refers to David’s father and is a reference to the
                nation of Israel. It was being cut back to the roots. However, it was not
                destroyed. It would put forth shoots that would grow and ultimately bear great
                fruit.
            b. Isaiah was saying, “Though the situation looks bleak, don’t count God out.”
        3. It is in times of difficulty that God does His greatest work in us.
            a. Years ago we had two silver maple trees in our front year in Newport. One of
                them lost a large limb in a storm. I asked a man to bring his chain saw and
                trim the trees. When I came home he had cut the trees almost to the stump. I
                was angry and told him so. He said, “Give them a year and see what
                happens.” By the end of that summer there were new branches and the trees
                were beautiful.            
            b. Who were your best teachers? Were they the ones who let you have fun or
                the ones who challenged you? Were they the ones who let you coast along or
                were they ones who made you apply yourself?
    C. God does not take shortcuts.
        1. When he led Israel out of Egypt they had to endure difficulty. Had Moses walked
            in, demanded their release and immediately attained it he would have thought it
            was his own persuasive power. God wanted the glory.        
        2. When they came to the Red Sea God could have led them around it. Instead,
            He led them through it. Sometimes God does not lead us around trouble. He
             leads us through it so we can learn to depend on Him.
        3. God reduced Gideon’s force down to just 300 men with whom He defeated the
            Midianites (Judges 6).
    D. Though Israel was cut down God was still at work. The day Jesus died God was
         still at work. If you are having a difficult time God is still at work. You may not see
         it or feel it. Faith is believing what you do not see or feel. Let God do His hope    
         filled work.
    E.  Hard times are not punishment. They are preparation. God bounced back. 
        1. According to 1 Peter 1:4,
            Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His
            great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the
            resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
        2. The road to hope is not “Easy Street.” It is paved with difficulty.
 
II. HOPE IN DISAPPOINTMENT
    A. Imagine yourself as one of the followers of Jesus on the Friday evening after
        Jesus had died.
        1. When the soldier, who had been dispatched to break the legs of the men being
            crucified, came to Jesus he discovered that He was already dead. He thrust his
            spear into His side bringing forth blood and water.
        2. Joseph of Arimathea along with Nicodemas asked for the body of Jesus,
            anointed it with seventy pounds of fragrant ointment, wrapped it in a linen burial
            shroud, placed a kerchief over his face and laid the body in a new tomb.
        3. Can you imagine how the followers of Jesus felt? They had followed Him with
            great devotion. They thought He was the Messiah. They had seen the miracles
            and witnessed the great thrill of His teaching. Now, it had come to a screeching
            halt. He was gone.
        4. The Sabbath was even more difficult. There was no work to occupy their
            attention. On this day of rest they couldn’t get Jesus off their minds. 
    B. You may be dealing with a tremendous disappointment in your life. Remember, the
        story is not complete. The sorrow of the disciples was turned into joy. The sadness
        was transformed to joy. The fear gave way to conviction. “Why do you seek the
        living One among the dead? ⁶ He is not here, but He has risen” (Luke 24:5-6).
 
III. HOPE IN DEATH
    A. It took the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus for everything in the Bible to
        make sense.
        1. Without the death of Christ there is no way the blood of animals could have
            taken away sin (Hebrews 10:4).
        2. Paul said, “For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised;
            ¹⁷ and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your
            sins. ¹⁸ Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. ¹⁹ If we
            have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied” (1
            Corinthians 15:16-19).
    B. Some of you are preparing to have a garden. What would happen if you tilled the
        soil, fertilized it and watered it but planted no seed? You must plant. Had Jesus not
        died there could not have been a resurrection. Without a resurrection we would
        have no hope.
    C. You may live without food or water for days or weeks. No one can live without
        hope.
 
CONCLUSION:
A. The USS George H.W. Bush is the last of 10 Nimitz Class Nuclear powered aircraft
    carriers. The size of this vessel is staggering. It stands 20 stories above the waterline
    with a 4.5-acre flight deck. It is 1,092 feet long: nearly as long as the Empire State
    Building is tall. There are four bronze propellers, each 21 feet across and weighing
    more than 30 tons. Steering is accomplished by two rudders, each 29 feet by 22 feet
    and weighing 50 tons. Each of the two anchors weighs 60,000 pounds. Each link of
    anchor chain weighs 365 pounds. Each anchor and chain weighs a total of 735,000
    pounds. A large ship needs substantial anchors.
B. Thankfully, we have a hope referred to as, “an anchor of the soul, a hope both
        sure and steadfast” (Hebrews 6:19).
C. Do you have such an anchor of hope founded in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ 
    from the dead? We invite you to come to Him in faith, repentance and baptism today.
 
 
 
 

What Held Jesus to The Cross?

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Sermon Notes, April 14, 2019 AM

 What Held Jesus To The Cross?

Steve W. Reeves

steve@wschurch.net

stevewreevessermons.blogspot.com

 

INTRODUCTION:

A. As a college student I worked for one year as a youth minister for a church in west
    central Arkansas. The preacher was a man named Arlis Thomas (A.T.) Oliver. I
    learned a great deal about ministry by observing this older man. On one occasion he
    preached a sermon with an interesting title. “What Held Jesus to the Cross?”
    Although I do not remember the entire message I certainly remember its overall
    theme.
B. How would you answer the question, “What held Jesus to the Cross?”
    1. Was it the long, iron nails, five to seven inches long that were driven into His wrists
        or feet? Jesus said, “Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will
        at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels” (Matthew 26:53)?
        No, it was not the nails that held Jesus to the cross.
    2. Was it the Roman soldiers who had stripped Him of his clothes, nailed him to the
        cross and cast lots for His outer garment? No. Mathew wrote, “when they saw the
        earthquake and the things that were happening, they became very frightened and
        said, ‘Truly this was the Son of God’ (Matthew 27:54)!
    3. Was it the crowds who taunted Him with their insults and threats?
    4. It was none of these things. In a few moments I will tell you what held Jesus to the
        cross.
C. Why the cross? Wasn’t there some other way Jesus could have redeemed us?            
    Couldn’t God have devised another plan that would not have been so brutal?  Why
    did God choose the cross?
 
I. IN THE CROSS WE SEE THE SUFFERING CAUSED BY SIN
   A. Crucifixion was intended to provide a death that was particularly slow and painful
        1. The word excruciating, literally means "out of crucifying".           
        2. It was gruesome and humiliating.
   B. Crucifixion was practiced to terrorize and deter its witnesses from perpetrating
        crime. Victims were usually left on display for days as they slowly died and even
        following death as warnings to others who might attempt dissent.
   C. Why did Jesus go through such humiliation and pain?
        1. It was not something He wanted to do. As He prayed in Gethsemane,
           “Let this cup pass from me.” The humanity of Jesus dreaded the physical pain
            and suffering just as much as you would.
        2. The cross is a vivid reminder of every sinful act, every murder, every lie, every
            deceit, every immoral action, every act of unbelief and rebellion against God. If
            there had been any other way to forgive men don’t you think that God the             
            Father would have used it?  
        3. It was only at the cross that these things could be forgiven. Jesus had no sin of
            His own. His blood was the atonement for our sin.
            a. We could never be good enough ourselves. Human wisdom could never
                devise a means or method to atone for sin.
            b. All of the sacrifices under the Old Testament could not forgive sin (Hebrews
                10:4).
            c. It took the blood of Christ to make our forgiveness possible.
  
 
II. IN THE CROSS WE SEE FORGIVENESS OFFERED BY GRACE
    A. As Jesus hung on the cross the crowd of onlookers and curiosity seekers began to
        taunt him.
        1. In Luke 23:34 we read, “Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do
            not know what they do.’”
       2. Peter wrote, “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us,
            leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: ²² “Who committed no
            sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; ²³ who, when He was reviled, did not
            revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to  
            Him who judges righteously; ²⁴ who Himself bore our sins in His own body on
            the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose
            stripes you were healed” (1 Peter 2:21-24).
   B. We do not deserve forgiveness. We cannot deserve it. It is a gift. It is grace.
       1. Jesus did not die on the cross because you and I are good people or because
            He owed us something.
       2. Listen to Romans 5:6-9, “For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ
            died for the ungodly. ⁷ For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though
            perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. ⁸ But God
            demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ
            died for us. ⁹ Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall
            be saved from the wrath of God through Him.”   
    C. Suppose you received a letter from your Automobile Insurance Company stating
         that your policy is being cancelled because of your poor driving record. One   
         speeding ticket after another and careless, reckless driving habits. You call your
         agent. There is nothing they can do. You set up a meeting with the president of
         the company and offer to pay more money. He says there is not enough money to
         pay for your driving record. Then he looks at you and says, “I have the solution.”
         He calls a young man into his office. “This young man has a flawless record. He is
         willing to take your penalties and exchange His spotless record for yours.” You are
         amazed. Who would do such a thing? The president says to the young man, “Son,
         you may go.”  
         1. This sounds “too good to be true.” It is true.
         2. A woman in India, hearing a missionary tell about the death of Jesus, began
             crying. The missionary stopped and asked her if she was in pain. “I can’t
             believe he died for me,” she said. Can you believe He died for you?
 
CONCLUSION:
A. Daveon Scott, a young boy in a rough inner city, stood at the counter of his local
    McDonalds. His stomach was pained with hunger. He looked at the menu and wished
    he had enough money to buy something. Reaching into his pocket he realized he had
    no money. About this time a young police officer named Jeremy Henwood entered
    the McDonalds. He saw the young boy standing nearby and quickly guessed the
    situation. He often saw hungry children in the neighborhood. He called the child
    over and asked him if he wanted something to eat. “I have no money, sir,” Henwood
    smiled and said, ‘it’s on me today.” The boy placed his order of chocolate chip
    cookies and sat down to eat. Henwood took his order to his patrol car. As he sat in
    his car someone pulled alongside and fired a shot at the policeman shattering the
    window in his car and striking him directly in the head. He never recovered. Daveon
    Scott will never forget the man who, as his final act in this life, bought him what he
    could not afford himself.
B. What held Jesus to the cross? It wasn’t the nails. It wasn’t the soldiers or the crowd. 
     It was love. Specifically, His love for you.
C. He said, “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). Will you do that
     today as we stand and sing?