Wednesday Night Bible Study 10 March 2021
/A PLAN FOR THE FATHER’S HOUSE
We must have a plan this year. God has a plan for His people.
The people of God are called to be the head and not the tail.
Deuteronomy 28:13 King James Version
13 And the Lord shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the Lord thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:
Heb. 10:22-25 PLAN FOR THE FATHER'S HOUSE
22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
This evening, I believe that we need a plan for The Father's House. We need to rethink our priorities as they relate to the church. With that in mind, I would like for you to join me as we look into thee verses and talk about a Plan For The Father's House.
Isaiah 56:7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.
I. V. 22 THIS PLAN SHOULD INCLUDE FAITH - A true heart in full assurance of faith
HOW YOU CAN BE SAVED AND KNOW IT
Christians can know for sure that they are saved and Heaven bound! You do not have to settle for a “hope so” salvation, or a “maybe so” Christianity. You can have real assurance of heart and soul. John wrote these words so that we could know for sure that we are saved and that we might live in triumphant assurance.
A. The Lordship Test – Is Jesus the LORD of you life? Is He in control of you?1 John 2:3-4
B. The Fellowship Test – 1 John 3:14. There will be a genuine love for God and for His children!
C. The Relationship Test – 1 John 5:11-13. Salvation is a vital relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible never says to point back to some experience to determine the status of your soul, it says to look at your current relationship .
I am saved today, and I know it, because God said I am and I can. THIS PLAN SHOULD INCLUDE FAITH
Lord Jesus, I believe that You are God, that You died for my sin, and that You rose again from the dead. I know that I am a sinner, and I ask You now to be my personal Savior. I’m placing my full trust in You alone, and I now accept Your gift of eternal life. Thank you for keeping Your promise! Amen.
B. Faith Regarding Our Situation - We are to draw near to God! (Ill. James 4:8) 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. (Ill. many have been slipping farther and farther away from the Lord. This needs to be stopped and made right today!)
C. Faith Regarding Our Separation - (Ill. "True heart" - This speaks of sincerity in our walk with the Lord. Are you sincere about this thing? If so, it will be seen in 2 areas of your life.)
1. A Clean Heart - This is salvation plus a consistently clean life. It is having your sins confessed and dealt with before the Lord! It is being in a place where there is assurance and confidence within that all is well between you and the Father, 1 John 1:9 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.; 1 John 3:20. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
2. Clean Hands - This is a consistently clean walk! This is what is meant by walking in the light, 1 John 1:7. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. This is living a life that is centered in the Word of God, Psa. 119:105. 105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
(Ill. When these things are in place, then our experience in the Father's House will be much improved! Because, it is only when these things are in place in your life and mine that we can approach God in the assurance that He will hear us and help us, Psa. 66:18; 18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: Pro. 15:8; 28:9. On the other hand, when there is sin in our lives and an unclean attitude about us, it closes up Heaven and hinders the work of the church!)
II. V. 23, 25a THIS PLAN SHOULD INCLUDE FAITHFULNESS
A. V. 23 Faithfulness Regarding Our Walk - This has already been touched on, but it is so vitally important that God's children live like they are God's children! When the Bible tells us to hold fast "the profession of our faith", it is telling that we need to live like what we say we are! How, by taking heed that we avoid certain actions and attitudes as we pass through this world.
1. The believer is not to listen to the voices of the world and materialism and turn away from the Lord - 2 Pet. 3:17; 17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. 1 John 2:15. 15 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.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
2. The believer is not to doubt the great truths of the Gospel.
3. The believer is not to listen to the voices of doubt and false doctrine, Eph. 4:14. 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
4. The believer is not to allow trials, circumstances or temptations shake his faith in Christ, 1 Cor. 15:58. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
(Ill. How is this kind of resolve possible? How is it possible to walk in faith day by day? Because of the greatness of the One Who made the promises to us in the beginning! All the promises of the Christian life hinge on the power of the promise Maker. God made the promises and God will see to it that they are kept, Rom. 4:21!) 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
B. V. 25a Faithfulness Regarding Our Worship - In this verse we are told that there is a great need to be faithful to the gathering of the saints at the House of God. Let's face the fact this morning that church is viewed as optional by many. It should not be this way! There ought to be an excitement about going out to the House of God, Psa. 122:1. This is an area where Gilead Baptist could greatly improve in the coming year!
(Ill. At least be honest about not coming to church. Instead of making up excuses, just learn to tell the truth and say, "I wasn't here because I didn't want to be here!" Personally, I miss each one when they are out, but you are the one who misses when you are out. It is impossible to continue to grow in the Lord while you miss worship in His House!)
(Ill. When a pastor called on a wayward church member, he found him sitting by a fireplace. He asked about his absence from services, and the parishioner replied, "I think I can worship as well alone as at church." After reflecting a moment, the pastor took the fireplace tongs, lifted a live coal from the fire, and set it down at the side of the grate. As they watched, its color turned to gray and the heat slowly died. The church member got the point. After a pause, he said, "I'll be in church Sunday.")
Our Plan Must Include Faith