We come to church every Sunday and one of the most important reasons that we come to church is so that we can study our Bible. We promote that everyone should be reading their Bible's. It is our understanding that the Bible is God's Word, it is God's message for us. Today we are going to look to the Bible to learn the truth about suicide.

Here is my simple outline for today.

First of all we are going to look at some common lies. Today people politely say myths or misunderstandings. But if it is not the truth than it is a lie. The devil does not want you to have the truth.

Next we are going to look at some Bible verses that give us hope. This world can take you to a point where you think you have no hope, it can take you to a place where all you see is despair and I want to remind us from God's word in the worst moment, you have hope.

Finally I want to end today just by reminding us of the simple truth of the Gospel. The devil's goal is to take you as far away from God as he possible can. He does that through your circumstances, he does that through drugs and alcohol, he does that through your relationships, he does that through your family. He can do that through so many ways.

But the Good News is that God loves you!

First we will look at the lies.

We need to know the truth. When a family is facing this they need to know the truth. When a person is having these kinds of thoughts, they need to know the truth.

Proverbs 13:14 (KJV) 14 The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

Lie: Suicide is the unpardonable sin.
Suicide is the unforgivable sin
Christians who commit suicide lose their salvation

Truth is:

Below is the passage in The Gospel of Mark in which many people will claim states that there is an unforgivable sin and then they will claim that suicide is that sin.

Mark 3:29 (KJV) 29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:

Mark 3:22 (KJV) 22 And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.

What I am about to give you is the traditional understanding of this scripture within the Baptist Church.

Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, however, is something else. Nobody can commit that sin today. It was a sin peculiar to those who lived when He lived and who heard His marvelous teaching for themselves. It was a sin reserved for those who saw His many matchless miracles, those who had looked into His eyes, experienced His grace, and felt His power. It was the sin of those who then—out of sheer malice, envy, hatred, and determined wickedness—accused Him of conspiring with the Evil One. Such a sin revealed a state of soul beyond the possibility of redemption, so it was unpardonable.
That was how Caiaphas and his crowd conspired against Jesus. They bought Judas and then brought the Son of God before their judgment seat. They mocked Him, abused Him, and falsely accused Him. They hired perjurers to distort His teachings. They condemned Him to death because He claimed to be who He was. They handed Him over to the Romans to be crucified. Then Caiaphas and his cronies sealed up His tomb—just in case. Worse still, when confronted with His resurrection, they bribed the guard to lie about that monumental, historic event and persecuted His disciples for proclaiming the truth that Jesus was alive from the dead and mighty to save.
Such was the sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.
The John Phillips Commentary Series – Exploring the Gospel of Mark: An Expository Commentary.

Now let me share with you some truth about the idea of losing your salvation.

A Christian is redeemed.
1 Peter 1:18-19 (KJV) 18 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:

The word redeemed refers to a purchase being made, a price being paid. We were purchased at the cost of Christ’s death. For a Christian to lose salvation, God Himself would have to revoke His purchase of the individual for whom He paid with the precious blood of Christ.
A Christian is justified.

Romans 5:1-2 (KJV) 1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

To justify is to declare righteous. All those who receive Jesus as Savior are “declared righteous” by God. For a Christian to lose salvation, God would have to go back on His Word and “un-declare” what He had previously declared. Those absolved of guilt would have to be tried again and found guilty. God would have to reverse the sentence handed down from the divine bench.

A Christian is promised eternal life.
John 3:16 (KJV) 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Eternal life is the promise of spending forever in heaven with God. God promises, “Believe and you will have eternal life.” For a Christian to lose salvation, eternal life would have to be redefined. The Christian is promised to live forever. Does eternal not mean “eternal”?

A Christian commitment is kept by God.
2 Timothy 1:12 (KJV) 12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
I am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed. My salvation is not based on how tight I can hold His hand. My salvation is guaranteed because of how tight He can hold my hand.

Lie: A deeply committed believer would never commit suicide.

Truth is:

Job - Job 3:1-3 (KJV) 1 After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day. 2 And Job spake, and said, 3 Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived.
Jeremiah - Jeremiah 20:14-18 (KJV) 14 Cursed be the day wherein I was born: let not the day wherein my mother bare me be blessed. 15 Cursed be the man who brought tidings to my father, saying, A man child is born unto thee; making him very glad. 16 And let that man be as the cities which the LORD overthrew, and repented not: and let him hear the cry in the morning, and the shouting at noontide; 17 Because he slew me not from the womb; or that my mother might have been my grave, and her womb to be always great with me. 18 Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labour and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?
King Solomon - Ecclesiastes 2:17 (KJV) 17 Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Elijah - 1 Kings 19:4 (KJV) 4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
Jonah - Jonah 4:7-8 (KJV) 7 But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered. 8 And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live.
Paul - 2 Corinthians 1:8 (KJV) 8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:

This lie and this myth is very similar to the lie that some people claim that a strong Christian cannot be depressed.

What this lie does is it makes the person that is suffering feel alone.

I am the only one that feels this way.
I am the only one that thinks this way.
I am the only one this
I am the only one that

When the devil gets you by yourself and gets you to believing these alone thoughts then we can get into real trouble.

The truth is that you are not alone.
You are not alone in your feelings
You are not alone in your thoughts
You are not alone in your fears
You are not alone in your burdens
You are not alone in your worries
You are not alone in your struggles
You are not alone in your pressures
You are not alone in your sins
You are not alone in your failures
You are not alone in whatever you are facing.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (KJV) 13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Now I just want to give you a few more verses that will remind you, even if you think you are alone and everyone else has left you, God promises to always be there.

Deuteronomy 31:8 — And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.
Joshua 1:5 — There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
1 Samuel 12:22 — For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.
1 Chronicles 28:20 — And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.
Psalms 37:25 — I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
Psalms 37:28 — For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
Isaiah 41:10 — Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Isaiah 41:17 — When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.
Matthew 28:19-20 (KJV) 19 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.
John 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
Acts 18:9-10 (KJV) 9 Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: 10 For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.

Next we are going to look at some Bible verses that give us hope.

The truth is, life is hard.

We face all of this and anyone is capable of having moments where they lose their hope. I want to take a moment and remind us of the hope that we have as Christians.

God loves you!

Jeremiah 31:3 (KJV) 3 The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
John 3:16 (KJV) 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
1 John 4:7-10 (KJV) 7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 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.

When you get to that place where you think you have lost all hope, know that the God that created this world loves you.

When you get to the place where you think you are worthless remember you have worth just because you are loved.  God created you and He loves you!

God offers real solutions for your problems.
Sometimes when you don't know how to solve a problem, you can feel helpless because you have no direction. For example, if your wristwatch stops, you may not know how to fix it, but a skilled watchmaker would. The One who created the universe with all its intricate parts—the One who created you with all your intricate parts—knows how to fix whatever is not working. He will direct you in the way you should go.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV) 5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Psalm 119:105 (KJV) 105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

God offers the solution for your sin.
The Bible says sin separates us from God. But Jesus doesn't want you to be separated. He desires to have a meaningful relationship with you. Jesus, who is God, took on human form, came to earth, lived a sinless life and chose to pay the penalty for your sins. When He was crucified on the cross, His blood was the purchase price to pay for the full forgiveness of your sins. Today, you can receive forgiveness when you humble your heart, confess your sins and trust in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior.

1 John 1:9 (KJV) 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Finally I want to end today just by reminding us of the simple truth of the Gospel.

John 3:16 (KJV) 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 10:10 (KJV) 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 (KJV) 1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Romans 3:23 (KJV) 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 6:23 (KJV) 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 10:9-11 (KJV) 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

An article on the understanding of the “perseverance of the Saints” or as it is often referred to “once saved always saved.”

We are a Southern Baptist Church and so I will begin by looking at the Bible and some of the passages that teach us about the security of the believer. Next I will share the Baptist Faith and Message's statement concerning the endurance of the believer. Finally I will examine one of the passages of scripture that Christians with other views claim to teach that you can “lose your salvation” or “fall from grace.”

I want to begin by sharing some of God's promises given to us in His word that offer great security to the believer that they have an eternal home.

John 5:24 (KJV) 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
John 6:36-40 (KJV) 36 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. 37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 10:27-29 (KJV) 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 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.
Romans 8:28-31 (KJV) 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. 31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Ephesians 1:11-14 (KJV) 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: 12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
These passages and so many more give us a promise of eternal life, a promise of being sealed, and a promise of not being lost.

Now I want to share with you this understanding as presented in The Baptist Faith and Message 2000.

V. God's Purpose of Grace

Election is the gracious purpose of God, according to which He regenerates, justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies sinners. It is consistent with the free agency of man, and comprehends all the means in connection with the end. It is the glorious display of God's sovereign goodness, and is infinitely wise, holy, and unchangeable. It excludes boasting and promotes humility.

All true believers endure to the end. Those whom God has accepted in Christ, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never fall away from the state of grace, but shall persevere to the end. Believers may fall into sin through neglect and temptation, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, and bring reproach on the cause of Christ and temporal judgments on themselves; yet they shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.

Genesis 12:1-3; Exodus 19:5-8; 1 Samuel 8:4-7,19-22; Isaiah 5:1-7; Jeremiah 31:31ff.; Matthew 16:18-19; 21:28-45; 24:22,31; 25:34; Luke 1:68-79; 2:29-32; 19:41-44; 24:44-48; John 1:12-14; 3:16; 5:24; 6:44-45,65; 10:27-29; 15:16; 17:6,12,17-18; Acts 20:32; Romans 5:9-10; 8:28-39; 10:12-15; 11:5-7,26-36; 1 Corinthians 1:1-2; 15:24-28; Ephesians 1:4-23; 2:1-10; 3:1-11; Colossians 1:12-14; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14; 2 Timothy 1:12; 2:10,19; Hebrews 11:39–12:2; James 1:12; 1 Peter 1:2-5,13; 2:4-10; 1 John 1:7-9; 2:19; 3:2.

My summary statement is simply that salvation is a work of God not of man. We as Christians are secure, not in our work but in the work of Christ. Our belief is not that we will ever be good enough or righteous enough but that Christ was and that He offered to us a free gift of salvation and with that comes the promise of eternal life and a promise of ultimate glorification. One way to put it is that if God does not do what He promised then He has failed us. It is not a matter of whether or not we fail Him because we fail Him all the time!

I want to conclude by looking at one passage that people have questioned me about over the years. I hope to bring some clarity and understanding to these passages. I am looking at this passage particularly because I have recently been asked about it.

Exodus 32:30-35 (KJV) 30 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the LORD; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin. 31 And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. 32 Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. 33 And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book. 34 Therefore now go, lead the people unto the place of which I have spoken unto thee: behold, mine Angel shall go before thee: nevertheless in the day when I visit I will visit their sin upon them. 35 And the LORD plagued the people, because they made the calf, which Aaron made.

Psalm 69:27-29 (KJV) 27 Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into thy righteousness. 28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous. 29 But I am poor and sorrowful: let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high.

The first two texts I want to take a minute to deal with is concerning the book or the book of the living found in these two passages in the Old Testament. My first thought is that these books are God's books and not our books. In other words the Bible does not go into great detail about these books so we need to be careful and not build a theological truth from a few obscure passages that with an even more obscure book that no man has seen or read.

The second point I would like to make is that God has many books.

Revelation 20:11-12 (KJV) 11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

In Revelation God is seen as opening several books (v. 12) and another book, the book of life. I simply want to point out that in light of the promises above we cannot definitively say that the books mentioned once in Exodus and once in the Psalms is the same as the “Book of Life” mentioned in Revelation.

Within the Christian Church there are numerous interpretations and understandings of the meanings of the book of living and God's book in Exodus. Most traditional scholars equate these books with life and the living. Moses in Exodus makes a proposal to God, remove me from among the living. The Psalmist, David, is asking God to remove his enemies from the living.

As with all scripture we must read them and understand them, as best we can, within the context of the Bible as a whole.

In conclusions there are Bible verses that seem to promote the eternal security of the believer and there are passages that seem to promote a falling away. Now does this mean that God is contradicting himself? No, this means that we must examine the scriptures carefully and prayerfully and determine, with God's help, the truth.

As I read the scriptures I believe absolutely that God secures the life of the believer for all eternity. One of the arguments from scholars against this is that this becomes for many a license to sin. If I know that God will never kick me out of His family then I can just believe and then sin all I want. The Bible also addresses that argument:

1 John 2:3-4 (KJV) 3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

Romans 6:1-2 (KJV) 1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Those that have had their sins forgiven and have been given a new life will not be comfortable in their sins. It doesn't mean they won't sin, it just means that they will have the Holy Spirit convicting them and making them miserable in their sins.

I would just encourage you to read God's Word and see what saith the Lord!

Bro. Chad Higgins

Below I have some resources that have been helpful to me in answering this question.

http://www.gotquestions.org/

https://carm.org/

The Bible and Homosexuality

My purposes for this article:
1. To help Camp Creek understand what the Bible teaches us about sexuality, homosexuality in particular.
2. To help Camp Creek have an informed conversation with those that disagree with us.

Our Supreme Court just legalized same-sex marriage. This creates for Christians that rely on God's Word for our instruction, for our guidance and for our way of life a great challenge.

Before I get into the Bible's understanding of sexuality and some of the new interpretations around the passages dealing with same-sex relationships I want to make a few statements.

1. God is still in control. This ruling did not catch God off hand nor did it surprise Him!  Proverbs 19:21 There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand. 
2. We are to be Christlike in our response! When I make this statement I am talking about Jesus message to the world He was in. Yes Jesus sat with sinners, Jesus ate with sinners, Jesus lived His life in and around sinners but while He was with them He called them to repentance and change. Jesus did this with great grace and mercy, may we do the same.  Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Luke 19:10 For the Son of man (Jesus) is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
3. Our Goal is not to win an argument but to win souls! There is already much debate on the news and on FaceBook and other media outlets. We do not need to lose our testimony of forgiveness and grace. We also do not need to forget that the battle we fight is not over sexuality but it is over souls.

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

With that being said I am going to take the remainder of this article to focus on God's Word. We are going to take a look at a few passages that deal with homosexuality. I want to help us become familiar with the passages and how to properly interpret them.

In the Beginning – The Genesis Passages

Some argue that the Bible only mentions homosexuality only a few times, that is wrong. The Bible may not mention the word homosexual, that word was not a part of the Hebrew, Greek, or Aramaic language proper, but the practice was and the descriptive terms leave no room for doubt to someone who is truly trying to understand God's word.

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his [own] image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

Nowhere in these passages are the words Homosexual mentioned yet in these verses God gives the foundation for sexuality, marriage and the family. God created a man and a woman. A man and a woman then leave their (man and woman) parents to come together for the purpose of marriage and family.

The Law – The Leviticus Passages

Leviticus 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it [is] abomination.

This is as plain a statement as can be, but it is complicated by its placement in the Old Testament Law.

Leviticus 11:9 These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat. 10 And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you: 11 They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination. 12 Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you.

In these two passages you have God telling the children of Israel that homosexuality is an abomination and you have God telling the children of Israel that eating any fish without scales is also an abomination!

So is homosexuality an abomination or not? Is eating shrimp an abomination or not? How do we answer this and other questions like it from the Old Testament?

It is important to understand that there are three types of laws in the Old Testament:

1. Moral laws
2. Ceremonial laws
   
3. Civil laws

Under the New Covenant, the ceremonial laws were abolished, since Jesus Christ Himself negated the need for the sacrificial system. The Civil laws were intended for the nation of Israel in that particular time and setting. The Moral laws remain timeless and permanent.

The Moral Laws

These are the laws that were given to the nation of Israel to teach them what pleases and displeases God. The Ten Commandments are the greatest examples of them.

Now the question becomes how do we discern between the laws. How do we know if the laws given in the Old Testament were only for the nation of Israel for that period of time. The answer is simply are the laws repeated or reinforced in other areas of scripture?

For example nine of the ten commandments are restated or reaffirmed in the New Testament. The only one that is not is, keep the Sabbath!

Ceremonial Laws

When Christ came and presented Himself as the sacrifice, once and for all, for all our sins the Old Testament ceremonial laws ceased to be needed. They were there to point us to the perfect sacrifice which is Christ.

Hebrews 9:8 ...that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: 9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; 10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

The Civil Laws

God gave the nation of Israel specific laws that were for that nation and that nation alone. They were God's unique nation. These laws will be the unique dietary laws, grooming laws, civil and criminal laws that were unique to the nation of Israel for God's purpose for His people for that time. We are not the nation of Israel living in the time between slavery in Egypt and the coming of Christ.

Colossians 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. ...20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;

Sodom and Gomorrah

Genesis 18:23-33 – Abraham intercedes on the behalf of Sodom. God determines not to destroy Sodom if 10 righteous can be found.

Genesis 19:1-11 – The story of Sodom and Gomorrah's fall.

Remember, my desire as we are studying this issue is to help you discuss the Biblical truth with Christians that read the same Bible as we do yet come to a different conclusion. Christians that try to say the Bible does not speak to a homosexual lifestyle as we know it will try to say that this passage condemns the Sodomites for their inhospitable ways.

“Basically the issue lies in the meaning of the word that is translated as “know.” ‏יָדַע ‎ -yād̠aʿ: A verb meaning to know, to learn, to perceive, to discern, to experience, to confess, to consider, to know people relationally, to know how, to be skillful, to be made known, to make oneself known, to make to know.

The simple meaning, to know, is its most common translation out of the eight hundred or more uses. One of the primary uses means to know relationally and experientially: it refers to knowing or not knowing persons (Gen. 29:5; Ex. 1:8) personally or by reputation (Job 19:13). The word also refers to knowing a person sexually (Gen. 4:1; 19:5; 1 Ki. 1:4).” Complete Word Study Dictionary, The - The Complete Word Study Dictionary – Old Testament.

"God punished the people of Sodom and Gibeah for breaching the rules of hospitality, not for threatening homosexual assault."

It is true that a breach of hospitality was gravely serious in that culture, but this argument does not bear close scrutiny. Much of the discussion here centers on the exact meaning of the men's demands to bring out the visitors so they could "know" them (Gen 19:5).

D. S. Bailey, in his widely quoted book Homosexuality and the Western Christian Tradition, argues that the men of Sodom and Gibeah asked "to know" (Hebrew yād̠a) the men in the sense of "to become acquainted with." This Hebrew word occurs 943 times in the Old Testament. In only a few cases does it refer to sexual intercourse, and then always to heterosexuality.” Coming Out of Homosexuality: New Freedom for Men & Women.

There is a major problem with this argument: the response to the men's demands strongly supports a connotation of sexual violence. Lot protests,

Genesis 19:7 And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.

rāʾaʾ is a verb with the predominant sense of "to act wickedly," "be wicked, bad or evil" throughout most of its nearly one hundred occurrences, as well as associated nuances such as "harm" or "punish."

This answer seems inappropriate to protest a breach of hospitality, as opposed to rape; they certainly make no sense if the men merely wanted to become familiar with the visitors.

Furthermore, Lot uses the same word, (know), in his next statement,

Genesis 19:8 Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man.

Obviously the implication is sexual.

"Bailey's interpretations have been extremely influential... despite the fact that most biblical commentators do not agree with him," says Ronald M. Springett, professor of religion at Southern College in Collegedale, Tennessee. "Most scholars consider his interpretation to be ingenious but unconvincing since it fails to do justice to the immediate context.” Other biblical passages list the sins of Sodom, but don't mention homosexuality. Some verses mention sins like arrogance, unconcern for the poor, and encouraging evildoers, but other passages link Sodom with sexual immorality, perversion and “filthy lives of lawless men.” God judged the city for a wide variety of sins, including homosexuality.” Coming Out of Homosexuality: New Freedom for Men & Women.

Jeremiah 23:14 I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.

Ezekiel 16:49 Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. 50 And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.

2 Peter 2:6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; 7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)

“The tragic fact about many false teachers is that they are successful-people listen to them and follow them and their shameful ways (aselgeis), which Peter also used in 1 Peter 4:3 ["debauchery"]; 2 Peter 2:7 ["filthy"]; v. 18 ["lustful"]). (Cf. aselgeia in Rom. 13:13; 2 Cor. 12:21; Gal. 5:19; Eph. 4:19; Jude 4.) It refers to debased sexually immoral practices.” The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Faculty.

Lot lived in Sodom and apparently was a man of some importance there, for when the angels went to take Lot from the city, they found him sitting in the gateway of the city, where city officials met. "Licentiousness" means open and excessive indulgence in sexual sins. Licentious people have no sense of shame or restraint. Life Application Bible Commentary - Life Application Bible Commentary – 1 & 2 Peter and Jude.

Jude 1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

Fornication - ekporneuō is a rare verb found only in Jude 7, referring to the citizens of Sodom and Gomorrah who had "given themselves over to sexual immorality." Porneuō is a verb found eight times meaning "to practice, indulge in immorality" in a sexual sense... Expository Dictionary of Bible Words: Word Studies for Key English Bible Words Based on the Hebrew and Greek Texts.

Going after strange flesh, Marg., other. The reference seems to be to the peculiar sin which, from the name Sodom, has been called sodomy. Comp. Romans 1:27. The meaning of the phrase going after is, that they were greatly addicted to this vice. The word strange, or other, refers to that which is contrary to nature. Doddridge, however, explains it, "going after strange and detestable gratifications of their pampered and indulged flesh." Notes on the New Testament Explanatory and Practical.

Jesus did not mention Homosexual behavior, so therefore He must approve!


Jesus gave us His understanding of Marriage in Matthew. In this passage He refers back to Genesis and reinforces the truth of one man with one woman for life.
Matthew 19:3 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? 4 And he (Jesus) answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
Jesus is a part of the Godhead, He is eternal. When we let the world try to put more emphasis on the particular's of what Jesus says verses the rest of God's Word we lesson the eternalness of Jesus. Jesus was there when Moses wrote Leviticus. Jesus was there when Sodom and Gomorrah fell and He did not object. Jesus was there when Paul wrote Romans. The Bible is God's complete revelation and the Gospels, even though they give us the earthly life story of Jesus, are only a part of a complete revelation.


Romans

Romans 1:19-32

"Natural" is the important word here—Paul uses it in verse 27, and the opposite term, "unnatural," in verse 26—because it explains why this stage is a further step along the downward moral path.

Let me elaborate on that statement. Fornication and adultery (which are in view in verse 24) are not "unnatural" sins, for they are not against nature. Of course, they are true sins, for they break the moral law of God. They result in "impurity" and in the "degrading" of our bodies, as Paul says. But they are not unnatural. On the contrary, they are in one sense quite natural. They are accomplished by using one's body in a natural way. Not so with homosexuality! Homosexuality is "unnatural," and it is accomplished by using one's body in an unnatural way, that is, against nature. In the first case, we may well need the Bible to tell us that fornication is wrong. The popular song asks, "How can it be wrong when it seems so right?" But in the case of homosexuality we do not even need this special revelation. A look at one's sexual apparatus should convince anyone that practices of this kind are not normal. They were not meant to be. Boice Expositional Commentary - An Expositional Commentary – Romans, Volume 1: Justification by Faith (Romans 1-4).

List of Resources, Websites and that might help.

www.afa.net – This is the site for the American Family Association and they have several articles and helpful information.

www.probe.org – This is a Christian Apologetic s (Defense) site which has articles on this and other issues.

www.genesiscounseling.org – This is a counseling site that provides resources in an effort to “reclaim Godly sexuality.”

Desires in Conflict: Hope for Men Who Struggle with Sexual Identity , Joe Dallas, Harvest House Publishers, 2003.

When Homosexuality Hits Home: What to do When a Loved One Says They're Gay , Joe Dallas, Harvest House Publishers, 2004.

Can You Be Gay and Christian?: Responding With Love and Truth to Questions About Homosexuality , Micheal L. Brown, Frontline, 2014.

YouTube Video, Search for: Ravi Zacharias, Acceptance of Homosexuality in Christianity-Ravi Zacharias Answers Question:settled! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nx7ALlEtg2c

Genesis 11:27-32 (KJV) 27 Now these are the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat Lot. 28 And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees. 29 And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram's wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah. 30 But Sarai was barren; she had no child. 31 And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son's son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram's wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there. 32 And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran.

2 Peter 2:7-9 (KJV) 7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) 9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

If the Lord had not seen fit to put this little phrase in the New Testament and you and I had only the accounts in Genesis of the life of Lot we would most certainly declare Lot a lost sinner that died without hope.  But you see God chose to put into our Bible the story of Lot, in all his wickedness, in all his faults and in all his failures to give to us a warning.  Now in this warning there is also hope, but I believe the emphasis is on the warning, not the hope.

1.                  Lot had a troubled start.

We all know the story of Abraham and Sarah but have you ever thought about why their nephew Lot went with them as they left their family and followed the Lord.

Genesis 11:27-32 (KJV) 27 Now these are the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat Lot. 28 And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees. 29 And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram's wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah. 30 But Sarai was barren; she had no child. 31 And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son's son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram's wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there. 32 And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran.

Haran, Lot's father and Abraham's brother, died young.  We have no mention of Lot's mother.  At the beginning Lot's grandfather took Lot and then eventually Lot went to live with his uncle Abraham. 

2.                  Lot had a Godly influence.

Genesis 12:1-4 (KJV) 1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. 4 So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.

Romans 4:1-3 (KJV) 1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

We have little information about Lot's early life except that his parents are out of the picture and that he goes from his grandfather to finally staying with his uncle Abraham. 

It isn't long into the narrative that we see Lot beginning to make the wrong choices.

3.                  Lot separated himself from that Godly influence.

Genesis 13:5-13 (KJV) 5 And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents. 6 And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together. 7 And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land. 8 And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. 9 Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left. 10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. 11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. 12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. 13 But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.

There is a struggle, there is a feud, there is a disagreement and Abraham presents to Lot an easy solution.  You go your way and I will go mine.  Simple enough.

            First Wrong choice - Separation

This is the first wrong choice that is recorded by Lot.  He chose to leave his Godly influence.  Abraham no doubt was like a father to Lot.  Lot is now choosing to go out on his own and he is obviously not ready.

There is going to be strife in families, in churches, with friends and loved ones.  We must be careful and in our moments of strife not to disconnect ourselves from our Godly influences.

How do you think Lot's life and family would have turned out if at this critical moment instead of separating from his Godly influence Lot had said, wait a minute Abraham, let me go and sell my herds and lesson my possessions and make sacrifices to stay with you.

            Second Wrong Choice – Self Reliance

When you read the story of Abraham you see often the communication between Abraham and God.

Abraham is building and alter, Abraham is praying, God and Abraham are entering into a covenant.

When Lot separates from Abraham and looks at the green plains of Jordan we are not given any indication that Lot sought the wisdom of Abraham or of the Lord.

Don't you think if Lot had simply turned to his uncle and said, which way would you go.

Don't you think that if Lot had consulted with the Lord that the Lord would have told him to stay away from that wicked place.

            Third Wrong Choice – Satisfying Self

Green Pastures and the city life!

The more that Lot moved away from God the more comfortable he became with wickedness!

1.                  Lot Lost his belongings – would have been a good time to turn back to Abraham

Genesis 14:11-12 (KJV) 11 And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way. 12 And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.



Matthew 16:26 (KJV) 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.                 Lot Lost his influence

Genesis 18:23-33 (KJV) 23 And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? 24 Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? 25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? 26 And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes. 27 And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes: 28 Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it. 29 And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty's sake. 30 And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there. 31 And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty's sake. 32 And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake. 33 And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.

Genesis 19:1-11 (KJV) 1 And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground; 2 And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night. 3 And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat. 4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: 5 And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them. 6 And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him, 7 And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly. 8 Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof. 9 And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door. 10 But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door. 11 And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door.

Genesis 19:12-14 (KJV) 12 And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place: 13 For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it. 14 And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.

In the wicked city Lot lost his influence.  We have no record in God's word where Lot influenced one person much less won one soul to the Lord.  How many people have you influenced for the Lord?

3.                  Lot Lost his family

Genesis 19:30-38 (KJV) 30 And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters. 31 And the firstborn said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth: 32 Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. 33 And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose. 34 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. 35 And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose. 36 Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father. 37 And the firstborn bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day. 38 And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.

Lot lived like the world, died like the world. 

All of this wickedness, all of this loss, all of this chaos and the Bible says that right in the middle of it was a just man.

2 Peter 2:7-9 (KJV) 7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) 9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

After looking back at the life of Lot the only one that knew that he was a just man was God himself.  What a pitiful testimony.

Let me ask you here this morning, are you a Christian?  Does anyone besides God know it?

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. (KJV)

My purpose for preaching this message is that you will use the power given for the purpose it was given.

Today we are going to see three purposes of the power of the Holy Spirit.

The first purpose is to fill the believer with the power of the HS. 8

Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: (KJV)

Car Ill. – If you see a car going down the road you can make at least one assumption, that car has an engine or some sort of power source. One of the funniest Candid Camera shows that I saw was when they put a little lady in a car and pushed her down a hill and she turned into a service station and asked the attendant, this was a few years ago, she asked the attendant to check the oil. When he popped the hood there was no engine in the car! The look on some of those mechanics faces was great. As Christians the world looks at us and they have the right to assume a power source for us!

The first purpose mentioned in our passage today is the filling of the spirit. Notice, as I have mentioned before, this is the beginning. The filling of the Spirit happens in chapter two like never before and like never again. Now that doesn’t mean we don’t receive the same spirit, it just means we don’t receive it the same way.

Let’s say that a generous man wants to give someone 1 million dollars. They decide to have a big banquet and invite the world to show the world where the gift came from and who was getting the gift and they brought out one of those big fake checks with your name on it and everything. Now lets say this same man wants to give your friend a million dollars, but instead of all the fanfare he just walks up on the street one day and hands him a million dollar check and walks away. Both of you have a million dollars. Both of your lives will be changed by the receiving of this great gift, but in the first case everyone was witness to who had the money, who received the money.

Those disciples would be like the first man in our story, the one that the generous man gave a million dollars to, called a press conference and let the world know about it.

Each of us as believers have received a great gift from the Lord. Lets say that maybe as a child you asked your VBS teacher or you Sunday School teacher or you pastor and you realized that you were a sinner in need of a savior and you kneeled down and quietly asked Jesus to be your savior. Do you realize that you received the same power, the same gift, the same blessing and ultimately the same responsibilities as these believers in Acts 1 and 2!

I believe part of God’s particular purpose in giving the gift of the power of the Holy Spirit first, in this manner. Is so that the world would know, it is like He called His own little press conference and showed the world, where the power was coming from and who was getting it.

Acts 2:5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded …

Everyone now knows that the one giving the gift is God.

Acts 2:14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: 15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. 16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall (KJV)

In this statement also, everyone know that the gift given is the Holy Spirit. But this was not evident only by what was said, it was evident by what was done.

Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language....8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? (KJV)

There was instant change in the lives of those that were filled. Sort of like if a man were given a million dollars. He would almost immediately change what he was doing.

Now before we go one I want us to see that the ones given the gift were believers.

Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. (KJV)

1:8 ye shall receive power

They goes all the way back to the disciples that were in the upper room, those followers of Christ that believed that He was God’s Son and that He was raised from the dead and that they too were going to be a part of His heavenly kingdom. These that believed were the they.

Before I move to my next point, let me point out something. These guys had a jump start in their witnessing. It was known, it was spread abroad. The Bible speaks of these devout men, men from every nation under heaven being in Jerusalem and witnessing this great gift.

But what if you are like the rest of us, like the one that the generous man just walked up and handed a check and walked away. How does the world or anyone know where he got his money?

He has to tell them. How does anyone know where you got your gift? you have to tell them. Now just like in the day of Pentecost there should be enough evidence, like a man given a million dollars, it won’t be long till you start seeing a new house, a new car, things around him begin to change.

Has there been a change in your life since you have received the gift that far exceeds a million dollars?

The second purpose is to enable the believer to be witnesses Acts 1:8

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. (KJV)

Car – going down the road – gives witness to the power within

When you go to a football game, you can see by their actions who they support, by their witness.

ye shall be – has the idea of future but also of certainty, in other words once you have been filled with the Spirit, which to the believers is certain, you will definitely be my witnesses.

The word "witnesses" (martures) is not a command. Rather, it is a natural result of the Holy Spirit within a person. So is power. The Lord says very simply that a Spirit-filled person has power and becomes a witness for Him throughout the world. This is important, for it makes power and witnessing trademarks of Christian believers. A genuine believer possesses both the Spirit and power in his life and becomes by nature a witness for the Lord.

—Practical Word Studies in the New Testament

Etymology: Middle English witnesse, from Old English witnes knowledge, testimony, witness,

1 : attestation of a fact or event : TESTIMONY

2 : one that gives evidence;

4 : one who has personal knowledge of something

1 a : to affirm to be true or genuine; specifically : to authenticate by signing as a witness b : to authenticate officially

2 : to establish or verify the usage of

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary

I could not find an exhaustive search, but in my own limited search I never found in the New Testament where we are commanded to witness. We are commanded to teach, to go but we are not commanded to witness.

--Charles Spurgeon stated it like this: God is not telling us to do witness, he is telling us that we will be witnesses.

That simply means to tell other people about what God has done for you. To give evidence of personal knowledge of how God has worked in your lives.

You are not sent to be “an original thinker”, to make up a gospel as you go along; you are a witness, that is all, a retailer of Christ’s truth,
---Charles Spurgeon

We shall be

We shall be witnesses

We shall be witnesses unto or of Christ

There are a lot of stories that could be told, but only the story of the Cross of Christ can change lives.

Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. (KJV)

Acts 4:29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,

Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

Have you ever noticed you talk about what is on your mind or what is important to you, what have you been talking about lately?

Don’t just tell a story, tell the blessed ole’ story.

I love to tell the story; ’tis pleasant to repeat

What seems, each time I tell it, more wonderfully sweet.

I love to tell the story, for some have never heard

The message of salvation from God’s own holy Word.

I love to tell the story, for those who know it best

Seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest.

And when, in scenes of glory, I sing the new, new song,

’Twill be the old, old story that I have loved so long.

---A. Ka­ther­ine Hankey, 1866---


So we see the

The first purpose is to fill the believer with the power of the Holy Spirit Acts 1:8

The second purpose is to enable the believer to be witnesses Acts 1:8

Finally we see that the believer is to be witnesses everywhere. 8

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. (KJV)

Car – must begin where it is

They were told to go and be witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and in Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

This is the pattern that is followed in the rest of the book of Acts.

Chapters 1-7 describe events in Jerusalem and the surrounding areas

Chapter 8 mentions the scattering of disciples throughout Judea and Samaria, and also records the evangelization of a Samaritan city by Philip, and of many such cities by Peter and John

Finally we see that the believer is to be witnesses everywhere. Acts 1:8


Chapter 9 gives the account of the conversion of Saul and the Spirit reaching the Gentile nations through him

It begins close and proceeds out, broadens its scope as it moves along.

Acts 10:44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. (KJV)

In conclusion we have seen that the purpose of the Holy Spirit is to

The first purpose is to fill the believer with the power of the HS. 8

giver – God

receiver – you

gift – power of the Holy Spirit

Then we will realize the second purpose is to enable the believer to be witnesses 8

shall be

witnesses

of me

Finally we see that the believer is to be witnesses everywhere. 8

Jews

Samaritans

Gentiles

Notice that the first purpose of the Spirit is to fill the believer. Have you been filled with the Spirit, have you recognized the sinful state that you are in, realized that the penalty for that sin is death. Then have you given your heart to Christ, repented, that is to turn away from your sin and rebellion against God, surrendered to Him and let Him fill you. That is the first step which naturally leads to the next step. Being a witness for Christ.

You I have used the illustration of a car all along, looking at its power, being filled with gas, everybody seeing it ride down the road, witnessing its power and noticing that it has to start where it is.

Now I am not a mechanic, but I do know a little. The power of the car is in the motor. When you give it gas and rev it up its under the hood that holds all of that power. That power is then transferred through the transmission to the axles, releasing the power.

God is in the driver seat, he has chosen humanity to be his transmission, the means by which he shows his power. But to many of us have transmission problems.

We are connected to the greatest source of power and are not capable of allowing it to move us, in any direction.

My purpose for preaching this message is that you will use the power given for the purpose it was given.

Sometimes, just like a car, the transmission can lock up

sin – impede and separate us and deny us our usefulness for Christ

selfishness – what benefit is this to me

fear – Paul asked to pray for boldness

Are you using God’s gift of the Holy Spirit in your life to be a witness for Christ to everyone everywhere?

Colossians  1:12-29 (KJV) 12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be
partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14In whom we have redemption through his blood, eventhe forgiveness of sins: 15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in him
should all fulness dwell; 20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to
reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. 21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies inyour  mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: 23If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and benot moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, andwhich was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; 24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: 25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; 26Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: 29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily. 

Let me ask you a question this morning, what is the first?

What takes priority in your life?

What takes priority in the life of our church?

All of us know the Sunday School answer is Christ.  He is first he is prominent. He is preeminent. If we were to ask anyone who is a believer, anyone who is a member of the church, that would be the Sunday school answer.   Oh yes, Jesus is first!

Now let me ask you, honestly in your life, is He first..
in your actions
in your finances
in your talents
in your abilities and
in your resources
in all that you have is Christ first?

Let me give you a little background in the book of Colossians, that is what we will be looking at today. I want us to know little bit about what's going on in Colossians.  First of all Paul has never been there, the pastor Epaphras came and sought out Paul.  
 
The pastor comes and seeks out Paul because he has some problems. We see these problems come through in the response to almost like we have one side of a phone call. We know how the conversation of the pastor with Paul that we can infer from what Paul writes back to the pastor. Some of the things is going on, and one of the things that is going on is Christ is moved from his rightful position.

For Christians Christ must the focal point
Christ must be center
Christ must be front
Christ must be preeminent
Christ must the superior

Christ must be center our lives.  Who He is in reality is unfortunately not exactly focal or center. 

Let me share something with you say, Satan is no fool, he is real and he knows how to manipulate

One of our greatest problems that we face today is not that we ignore Christ. It's not that we have thrown him away. The devil would not be so brazen as to try to get you to throw Christ out of your life, but let me share with you what the devil will do, he will begin to push you, to prod you.  You will begin to move Christ just a little off center. He will get you to begin to move Christ just a little off point to a place where Christ is a part of your life but no longer the center, no longer preeminent. But what Paul is saying to the church at Colossi is Christ can't be a part, Christ must be all of
your life.

Colossians  1:12-29

Christ deserves first  place because:
Christ is for us the image of the invisible  God

How would you define God, how would you tell someone who had no concept of what God was of who God was. How would you explain to them, defying for them God?

God is infinite. In mathematics you have the symbol for infinity but we have no way in our limited minds to explain or understand infinity.

God is spirit. Our problem today is when we think of spirit we are almost and immediately thrown into the Hollywood experience of ghosts and spirits.

God is all powerful. Once again put that into words,  I can't!
God is everywhere
God is love
God is wrath
God is just
God is
God is
God is

Jesus is for us the definition, the manifestation, the revelation of God. He is God defined for us.

God is infinite. Christ did not begin at birth in Bethlehem. He gives us in the picture of infinity before the earth was Christ was. Christ did not end at Calvary, after that Christ is. Christ gives to us a  picture of infinity so we can say that God is Infinite. Christ shows us infinity.

God is spirit. Christ for us walked on this earth physically for a lifetime. He limited himself. The Bible says he willingly limited  himself, for our benefit we get a glimpse of Christ in spirit. There's talk of him after the resurrection with men and women in locked rooms in closed quarters without a door opening without a window opening all of a sudden in their midst is the Lord and Savior. Jesus shows us Spirit.

Christ deserves first place because:
Christ is the firstborn of every creature

Colossians 1:15 (KJV) Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 

The title "firstborn" here does not mean that He was born first or created first of all created beings. The context makes this point abundantly clear: "By him were all things created," Paul says (v. 16). No text must be divorced from its context. If verse fifteen means that the Lord was a created being (as the Arians taught), then according to verse sixteen, He must have created Himself—which is
  an absurdity. The words "the firstborn of every creature" can be rendered "the firstborn over all
creation," making Him superior to and distinct from the entire sphere of created beings and things. The title means that "Christ, existing as he did before all creation, exercises the privilege of primogeniture as Lord of all creation.... He was there when creation began." 
The John Phillips Commentary Series

Throughout the Old Testament the one who was born first was regularly set aside in favor of one who was born later. Thus, God set aside Ishmael and chose Isaac, and He set aside Esau and chose Jacob. "The elder shall serve the younger," God foretold to Rebekah before either Esau or Jacob was born. Similarly, God set aside Saul and chose David. Spiritually, He sets aside "the old man" in the  believer and chooses "the new man"—Adam is replaced by Christ, the "flesh" is replaced by the Spirit.

The "firstborn" in the Old Testament was primarily a title indicating rank and privilege. In the patriarchal family, three things accompanied the title. With the position of "firstborn" went the property; the one who inherited the title received a double portion of the inheritance. That is to say, he received twice as much as any of the others. The "firstborn" also received the priestly right, the right to lead the family in worship. And he also received the progenitor right—to be in the direct line to the birth of Christ.

In the case of Reuben, he was disinherited, and the "firstborn" rights and privileges were divided three ways. Joseph received the double portion of the inheritance—two of his sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, became tribal heads. Judah received the progenitor right because Christ was descended from his seed. And, eventually, Levi received the priestly right. All of this indicates clearly that the idea of being "the firstborn of every creature" had nothing to do with being born (or even created) first. It has to do with rank, priority, and position. God's dear Son is thus set apart from all others. He ranks first. He takes precedence over all. He is not only "[God's] dear Son" (v.
  13), He is God the Son.
The John Phillips Commentary Series – Exploring Colossians & Philemon: An Expository
Commentary.

Christ deserves first place because:
by him were all things created by him all things consist

Christ was not merely present at creation, he was the agent of creation.
 
We do well to remind ourselves, in the face of high-powered evolutionary propaganda, that science knows nothing of origins. Dr. Asa Gray, once called the greatest botanist in the history of American science, declared, "A beginning is wholly beyond the ken and scope of science which is concerned
with how things go on and has nothing to say as to how they begin."
John Phillips

Christ deserves first place because:
and he is the head of the church

Colossians 1:12-29 (KJV) 12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

Made us meet -To make sufficient, render competent or worthy 
AMG's Complete Word Study Dictionaries

1 Corinthians  15:50-54 (KJV) 50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the
kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on
immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 

Delivered us from the power of Darkness!

On one level we never really truly understand what the cross of Christ is for us in our lives.  We all have a mental picture of what it is but let me for a moment this morning give you a picture that Paul was painting with these words.

You often hear of text being in and speaking in military terms and that is exactly what Paul is doing here.  The world has been conquered by the darkness.  What Christ does is run into a dark evil world and faces all the forces of darkness and evil at Calvary and triumphs over them!

Colossians 2:13-15 (KJV) 13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your
flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way,
nailing it to his cross; 15And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 

Christ deserves first place in our life, because he chose to come into our world, to come into our darkness, and to come to were we are and bring us out!

Because of him doing that for us he deserves preeminence

Colossians 1:13-14 (KJV) 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated usinto the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 
  
"Redemption" means "to buy back" or "to save from captivity by paying a ransom." One way to buy back a slave was to offer an equivalent or superior slave in exchange. That is the way God chose to buy sinful people back—he offered his Son in exchange for us. Paul was reminding the Colossian believers that they were not saved by knowledge or by good works or by inclusion in some sort of secret religious cult; they were saved by the blood of Jesus Christ. Through him alone had they
received redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

If we want to be freed from the deadly consequences of our sins, a tremendous price must be paid. But we don't have to pay it. Jesus Christ, our substitute, has already redeemed us by his death on the cross. Our part is to trust him and accept his gift of eternal life. Our sins have been paid for, and the way has  been cleared for us to begin a relationship with God.
Life Application Bible Commentary 

He Qualified us
He Rescued us
He Redeemed us!


 

Today we are going to be looking at the story of Hosea and Gomer.  

The relationship between Hosea and Gomer are a representation of our relationship with our Lord and Savior.

1.  Hosea was sent to Gomer

Hosea 1:1 The word of the LORD that came unto Hosea, the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel. 2 The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD. 3So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; which conceived, and bare him a son. 

I want us to realize that at this point, Gomer did not know who Hosea was.  She was not looking for Hosea,  she was not searching for a savior, but He was looking for her.

The story of Hosea and Gomer is a love story, it is a one sided love story.  Hosea gives and gives.  He
sacrifices his good name, He sacrifices his pride, He sacrifices comfort.  He gives all of this to rescue, to save, to give to Gomer a life she could never get by her own work and hands.

This is also the story of Jesus in relationship to you and I.

1 John  4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 

1 John  4:19  We love him, because he first loved us. 

Jesus sought us ought when we didn't even know who He was.  You may say, well I was raised in church and I have known who Jesus is since I was a child.  Maybe that is so.  But there are more than one kind of knowing.

I know who the President is.
I know who my wife is.

Now my relationship with my wife is extremely different than it is with the President.

Churches are full of people who know who Jesus is, yet they have never known Him.
They know him like the teenage  girl knows the rock star, or the teenage boy knows the athlete.

Gomer, now we don't know much about Gomer.  But what we seem to know is that she is happy where she is.

Here is the truth that we find in this passage.  God comes to where you are!

Just like Hosea went to Gomer!
Just like God went to Moses in the burning bush!
Just like Abraham went to Lot while he was in Sodom and Gomorrah!
Just like Jesus went to the disciples!
Just like Jesus met Saul on the road to Damascus!

I have heard on several occasions, after I get things straightened out I will get right with the Lord.  No, you can't and no, you won't!  The amazing truth is that God knows more about you than you know yourself and He wants you just like you are.  He then will begin the cleaning and restoring process!

           2.  Gomer rejects Hosea

 Hosea  3:1 Then said the LORD unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of herfriend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the LORD toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine. 2 So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley: 

It is not coincidence that the value of the items that Hosea paid to regain his own wife added up to thirty shekels (cf. Zech. 11:12, 13; Matt. 26:15). The Complete Word Study Old Testament.

Matthew  26:15  And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. 

Hosea must now go and purchase that which he already owns.  Now think about that a moment.

Why is Gomer happy where she is?
We are happy in our sins!  We have a sin problem and our problem with sin is that we are too familiar with it and too comfortable with it.

We are all God's children, we are all made in His image, in His likeness.  In a sense we are already His.  Yet we rebel.  And He that has created us must now purchase us.

1 Corinthians 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. 
 
1 Corinthians 7:23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. 

1 Peter 1:18 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, 21Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. 

       3.  There is judgment

Hosea 2:6 Therefore, behold, I will hedge up thy way with thorns, and make a wall, that she shall not find her paths. 7 And she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them; and she shall seek them, but shall not find them:then shall she say, I will go and return to my first husband; for then was it better with me than now. 

God's judgment has a purpose!  The Lord wanted Gomer to return.

I look at this a little like I look at how I am with my kids sometimes.  Some of the harshest moments I have with my kids is when we are in a parking lot. I pull up in the van and all doors are thrown open and my kids bail out and run for their lives.  They are not paying attention to the dangers, they do not realize that there are cars driving all around.  It is when they are closest to danger that I am harshest with them.  Just maybe that is how God is with us!  When we are closest to danger He is
harshest with judgment, judgment with a purpose!

      4.  The book ends with a promise of restoration!

Hosea 14:1 O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. 2 Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips. 3 Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon
horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy. 4 I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him. 5 I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. 6 His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. 7 They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive asthe corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon. 8 Ephraimshall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heardhim, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found. 9 Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein. 

Revelation 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things
are passed away. 5And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 

God ends this book and our world on a note of redemption and restoration.  God can restore you!  No matter how filthy or dirty you may be.  You do not need to clean yourself to come to
God!  He has sent His only Son into this world to die for you, to die for your
sins, and to offer to you forgiveness and restoration and redemption!

Happy Resurrection!

Easter is to our faith what water is to the ocean, what stone is to the mountain, what blood is to your body. It is the unique substance of redemptive reality. It is the first and final word in the dictionary of God. It says that Christ is the Author and Finisher of our faith.
 —Raymond I. Lindquist 
Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations: Signs of the Times.

Today is the pinnacle of Christian Holidays!  For today is the day that we celebrate the victory of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  We celebrate because it was not only a victory for Him but a victory for all.  Now it is interesting that Jesus never commands us to remember, commemorate or celebrate His Resurrection, He does, through the Lord's Supper command us to remember His death.  I think He knows the Human heart enough to know that we would celebrate this event, but lest we forget that the Resurrection could not occur without the death He gave to us the Lord's
Supper.

Easter celebrates the end of the slavish reign of sin and the beginning of the free reign of righteousness.

Easter celebrates the gift of life brought through the death of Christ.

Easter is the celebration of a people wretched and full of sin who have been given hope by a Savior Holy and full of righteousness that won the victory and made it ours.

Today we are going to take a look at that first Easter morning through the story as told in Luke.  Now we have four accounts and in each account we have different facts being brought out, does this mean that we have conflicting views of the resurrection, no.  This means that we have four people giving four different accounts, two are eyewitnesses to the accounts and two are giving the accounts as reported by eyewitnesses.  And so you might ask how can they be so different, well they simply choose to include different details.  Just because one includes stories not told by the other doesn’t mean it didn’t happen, but it means that it wasn’t important to them.

If right now in this sanctuary someone would burst through that door and shout and dance and cause a commotion and run right back out you could immediately begin to question everyone here and ask what did you see and you would get as many different versions as you do people and none
of them, necessarily, would be lying, they would just be telling the story as they see it.

But for our purposes this morning I want us to focus on the account of the resurrection morning as told by Luke.  So turn with me to Luke 24.

Luke 24:1-12 (KJV)1 Now upon the first dayof the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain otherswith them. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. 3And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: 5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, 7Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. 8And they remembered his words, 9And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. 10It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. 11 And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. 12 Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass. 

Luke 24:36-53 (KJV) 36And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 37But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. 38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? 39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath
not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. 40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them hishands and his feet. 41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? 42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. 43And he took it, and did eat before them. 44 And he said unto them, These
arethe words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, andin the prophets, and inthe psalms, concerning me. 45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48And ye are witnesses of these things. 49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. 50 And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. 51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: 53And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen. 

Let us first look at the doubt of the ladies.
 
Luke 23:50 And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just: 51 (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.  52 This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. 53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid. 54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on. 55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. 56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment. 
24:1Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. (KJV)

Now what I want us to see is the heart of these ladies.  As they come to see Jesus, they are looking to prepare the body of the one that they thought would be their Savior, and as much as they had set at the feet of Jesus, as much as their families had set at the feet of Jesus, yet they did not believe.  

From Mary Magdalene Christ had cast out seven devils. Grateful for his great mercy, she was one of his firmest and most faithful followers, and was first at the sepulchre, and was first permitted to see her risen Lord. The "other Mary" was not the mother of Jesus, but the mother of James
and (Mark). Mark says that "Salome" attended them. Salome was the wife of Zebedee, and the mother of James and John. From Luke< Luke 24:10> it appears that Joanna, wife of Chuza, Herod's steward (see <Luke 8:3>), was with them. These four women, Mark says <Mark 16:1>, having
bought sweet spices, came to anoint him. 
(from Barnes' Notes)

We never speak of the doubt of these ladies, but these ladies have been with Jesus throughout His public ministry and surely they have heard Jesus speak of this day and this moment.

Matthew 27:61-63 (KJV) 61And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre. 62 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, 63Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. 

These ladies were taking to the tomb burial spices, why?  They were taking them because they believed their Lord and Savior to be dead!

The doubt of the disciples of Jesus

Now I want to turn our attention to the men.  Most of us are aware of Doubting Thomas.  You cannot mention this disciple without this disclaimer.  Yet I want to take a moment to show you this morning, Thomas was not alone in his doubting.

Luke 24:10-11 (KJV) 10 It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and otherwomen that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. 11 And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.

Mark 16:9-14 (KJV)9 Now when Jesuswas risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. 10 And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. 11And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not. 12After that he appeared in another form unto two of
them, as they walked, and went into the country. 13And they went and told it unto the residue:
neither believed they them. 

Mark 16:14  Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

But once again I want to caution you and I before we begin to be too rough on these guys for their disbelief.

First of all, remember the unbelievable death  they either witnessed or heard about and remember the man that was beaten beyond recognition now stands before them, only days after the even with mere scars.  

Medically think about this, wounds of the nature that Jesus suffered would still be gaping and open only days after, but he has, only days after the even mere scars.

After the arrest in the middle of the night, Jesus was next brought before the Sanhedrin and Caiphus, the High Priest; it is here that the first physical trauma was inflicted. A soldier struck Jesus across the face for remaining silent when questioned by Caiphus. The palace guards then blind-folded Him and mockingly taunted Him to identify them as they each passed by, spat upon Him, and struck Him in the face. 

In the early morning, battered and bruised, exhausted from a sleepless night, Jesus is taken across the Praetorium of the Fortress Antonia, the seat of government of the Procurator of Judea, Pontius
Pilate. Jesus apparently suffered no physical mistreatment at the hands of Herod and was returned to Pilate. It was in response to the cries of the mob, that Pilate ordered Barabbas released and condemned Jesus to scourging and crucifixion. 

There is much disagreement among authorities about the unusual scourging as a prelude to crucifixion. Most Roman writers from this period do not associate the two. Many scholars believe that Pilate originally ordered Jesus scourged as his full punishment and that the death sentence by crucifixion came only in response to the taunt by the mob that the Procurator was not properly defending Caesar against this pretender who allegedly claimed to be the King of the Jews. 

Preparations for the scourging were carried out when the Prisoner was stripped of His clothing and His hands tied to a post above His head. It is doubtful the Romans would have made any attempt to follow the Jewish law in this matter, but the Jews had an ancient law prohibiting more than forty lashes.

The Roman legionnaire steps forward with the flagellum in his hand. This is a short whip consisting of several heavy, leather thongs with two small balls of lead attached near the ends of each. The heavy whip is brought down with full force again and again across Jesus' shoulders, back, and legs. At first the thongs cut through the skin only. Then, as the blows continue, they cut deeper into the subcutaneous tissues, producing first an oozing of blood from the capillaries and veins of the skin, and finally spurting arterial bleeding from vessels in the underlying muscles. 

The small balls of lead first produce large, deep bruises which are broken open by subsequent blows. Finally the skin of the back is hanging in long ribbons and the entire area is an unrecognizable mass of torn, bleeding tissue. When it is determined by the centurion in charge that the prisoner is near death, the beating is finally stopped. 

The half-fainting Jesus is then untied and allowed to slump to the stone pavement, wet with His own blood. The Roman soldiers see a great joke in this provincial Jew claiming to be king. They throw
a robe across His shoulders and place a stick in His hand for a scepter. They still need a crown to make their travesty complete. Flexible branches covered with long thorns (commonly used in bundles for firewood) are plaited into the shape of a crown and this is pressed into His scalp. Again there is copious bleeding, the scalp being one of the most vascular areas of the body.

 After mocking Him and striking Him across the face, the soldiers take the stick from His hand and strike Him across the head, driving the thorns deeper into His scalp. Finally, they tire of their sadistic
sport and the robe is torn from His back. Already having adhered to the clots of blood and serum in the wounds, its removal causes excruciating pain just as in the careless removal of a surgical bandage, and almost as though He were again being whipped the wounds once more begin to bleed. 

In deference to Jewish custom, the Romans return His garments. The heavy patibulum of the cross is tied across His shoulders, and the procession of the condemned Christ, two thieves, and the execution detail of Roman soldiers headed by a centurion begins its slow journey along the Via
Dolorosa. 

In spite of His efforts to walk erect, the weight of the heavy wooden beam, together with the shock produced by copious blood loss, is too much. He stumbles and falls. The rough wood of the beam gouges into the lacerated skin and muscles of the shoulders. He tries to rise, but human muscles have been pushed beyond their endurance. 

The centurion, anxious to get on with the crucifixion, selects a stalwart North African onlooker, Simon of Cyrene, to carry the cross. Jesus follows, still bleeding and sweating the cold, clammy
sweat of shock, until the 650 yard journey from the fortress Antonia to Golgotha is finally completed. 

Jesus is offered wine mixed with myrrh, a mild analgesic mixture. He refuses to drink. Simon is ordered to place the patibulum on the ground and Jesus quickly thrown backward with His shoulders against the wood. The legionnaire feels for the depression at the front of the wrist. He
drives a heavy, square, wrought-iron nail through the wrist and deep into the wood. Quickly, he moves to the other side and repeats the action being careful not to pull the arms to tightly, but to allow some flexion and movement. The patibulum is then lifted in place at the top of the stipes and the titulus reading "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews" is nailed in place. 

The left foot is now pressed backward against the right foot, and with both feet extended, toes down, a nail is driven through the arch of each, leaving the knees moderately flexed. The Victim is now crucified. As He slowly sags down with more weight on the nails in the wrists excruciating
pain shoots along the fingers and up the arms to explode in the brain -- the nails in the writs are putting pressure on the median nerves. As He pushes Himself upward to avoid this stretching torment, He places His full weight on the nail through His feet. Again there is the searing agony of the nail tearing through the nerves between the metatarsal bones of the feet.

At this point, as the arms fatigue, great waves of cramps sweep over the muscles, knotting them in deep, relentless, throbbing pain. With these cramps comes the inability to push Himself upward. Hanging by his arms, the pectoral muscles are paralyzed and the intercostal muscles are unable to act. Air can be drawn into the lungs, but cannot be exhaled. Jesus fights to raise Himself in order to get even one short breath. Finally, carbon dioxide builds up in the lungs and in the blood stream and the cramps partially subside. Spasmodically, he is able to push Himself upward to exhale and bring in the life-giving oxygen. It was undoubtedly during these periods that He uttered the seven short sentences recorded:
Medical account of the Crucifixion.

So when we read of the doubts of the ladies or the doubts of the men, we cannot be too hard on them, they have just witnessed one of the most cruel deaths known to man, in that age or any age since or before.

I want us to see that in their disbelief they deny the Word of God
In their disbelief they despair over their circumstances

Deny the Word of God

Matthew 20:17-19 (KJV) 17 And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in
the way, and said unto them, 18 Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, 19 And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the
third day he shall rise again. 

Mark 9:30-31 (KJV)30 And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would
not that any man should know it. 31 For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.

Mark 10:32-35 (KJV) 32 And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve,
and began to tell them what things should happen unto him, 33 Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes;
and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles: 34 And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again. 35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. 

Luke 9:22-23 (KJV)22 Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day. 23And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 

Luke 18:31-33 (KJV) 31 Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. 32For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: 33And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. 

John 2:18-22 (KJV)18 Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? 19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. 20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? 21 But he spake of the temple of his body. 22When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said. 

In each and every one of these passages Jesus Christ gives to his disciples specific instructions on his death, on his burial and on his resurrection.  Where is that truth in the heart of his disciples on
the third day?

You and I, some 2000 years after the fact read the Easter story and wonder how is it that the disciples did not camp out at the grave in great hope and expectation of the Glory of the Son of God!

How can such great men of faith be so disbelieving, and mistrusting of Jesus very words.

Yet you and I that have before us this same Bible that declares to us that 

 
• All things work together for good to them that Love the Lord
  
• I can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth me
  
• Our suffering here is but light affliction and not worthy to be compared to the glory that we will have in heaven
  
•  Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved
   
• Jesus Christ says I am with you always
   

When we live our life in denial of the truth of the word of God we show to the world our disbelief

In their disbelief they despair over their circumstances

John 20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors
were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

Disbelief causes fear.  Now the reason for their fear, on one hand is credible, there leader had just been run through a mock trial and been proven innocent yet condemned to Die, now they was certain that they were next.

But their fear was grounded in disbelief.

Listen to what happens after they believed.

Acts 2:22Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: 23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: 24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

When they believed they were moved from despair to hope.

Acts 2:31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.  32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.  34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right
hand, 35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool.  36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

Let me ask you this morning has you despair been turned to hope?

What changed to give them such hope?  It wasn’t their circumstances, Peter made these bold proclamations in the same city where he feared and was is the depths of despair, so what changed, what changed was their belief.  How did they believe, they came in contact with the risen savior. 

He is Alive!

The persistence of the Savior!

This is Easter and I want to end on a happy note, I want us to see the persistence of the Savior.

We have seen the broken heartedness of the ladies that first came to the tomb
We have seen the disbelief of the disciples

Jesus accomplished exactly what He said that He would and there was initially disbelief.  Aren’t you glad this morning that He didn’t just throw His hands up and say well if they won’t believe I will just
give up myself.

Jesus appeared and He appeared and He appeared, He showed His scars, He showed them from scripture how it was and He persisted until they believed.
 
Aren’t you glad in your life that He persisted?  I can’t speak for everyone but I know for myself the first time that I heard as a boy that I could go to Jesus and he would forgive me, I wasn’t sure, I was
afraid and I was uncertain, yet He persisted.

Psalm 86:15 But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

Isaiah 30:18  And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

So today we have seen the doubt of the women
We have seen the doubt of the disciples
But praise God we have seen the persistence of the Savior

Maybe you are here this morning and the Lord is persisting in your heart, Maybe the Lord is calling to you, come bring me your sins and I will forgive them, come bring me you hurt and I will heal them, come bring me your fears and I will relieve them.

Jesus is the Son of God, He did die that cruel death, but praise God He is alive and He offers to you hope, he offers to you forgiveness and he offers to you salvation

This Easter Morning will you be like the disciples and like the women that first morning and have your disbelief changed into belief, not by the convincing of me, but by the calling of the Spirit of
God.

Give your heart, give your life, give yourself to Christ, repent of your sins and make Him the Lord of Lords the Lord of your life.

Isaiah 6:1-8 (KJV) 1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. 4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips,
and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. 6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: 7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. 8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. 

Solomon’s son Rehoboam refused to lighten the tax load on Israel, so in response the ten northern tribes pulled away and appointed Jeroboam as their king and separated from the house of David, Judah. The tribe of Benjamin remained loyal to David and many of the Levites because Jeroboam
established his own priesthood.

a. The Northern Kingdom – called Israel lasted 210 years and had only wicked kings. Isaiah prophesied during the
  Northern kingdom until it was defeated in 722 BC

b. The Southern kingdom, Judah.
The southern kingdom:
1. It began in 931 B.C. and lasted 326 years.
2. The first ruler was Rehoboam.
3. The last ruler was Zedekiah.
4. The total number of rulers was twenty: nineteen kings and one queen. Eight of the twenty were righteous.
5. It consisted of two tribes (Judah and Benjamin).
6. Its capital remained Jerusalem.
7. It was captured by the Babylonians in 606 B.C.
8. There were three separate returns from captivity.
Wilmington's Guide to the Bible.

Israel to the North was comprised of 10 of the Tribes and the Judah to the South that had two Tribes, Benjamin and Judah. If you study I and II Samuel, I and II Kings, and I and II Chronicles you find that there weren’t any good kings in the North which began with a guy by the name of Jeroboam. As a result of following their leaders’ sins, Israel was conquered by the Assyrians. The Southern Kingdom however remained by the Grace of God for many years. 
Different Perspective 
Thomas Swope

In fact, I see in the death of the prophet Isaiah, who was cut in half by king Manasseh, as a significance pointing that Isaiah’s writings will one day in the future be cut in two by heretics. 
There is a book called the‘Accession of Isaiah’ that describes his death. 
Different Perspective 
Thomas Swope

Isaiah means “Yahweh Saves” and that was Isaiah’s mission in life – to proclaim that God saves! We are also people with a mission – our message is Jesus Saves!

Camp Creek Baptist Church, you have forgotten God.
You have forsaken him, most of you have been in church all of your life and you know nothing of God!
You have been taught all of your life and you do not understand the glory of God.
You do not listen to your teachers, you rebel against those that try to help you.
You are a stubborn and proud church and the Lord will ultimately destroy you.
You speak of the sins of the world and you have become just like them!

Some of you are thinking, that’s a bit harsh.

Now I know what some of you are thinking, well probably some of you are thinking lets fire the preacher.

Don't fire me just yet!

Some of you I know felt a bit awkward.  It is never easy to hear such hard words.  I will tell you the truth. It's not easy saying them.

That is the life of a prophet, one who speaks the message of God.

Today we are going to take a brief look at Isaiah.

Now, Isaiah is not an easy read.  The book can sometimes seem almost disconnected and pieced together.

Now, before I go much further I want to take a moment to address the discussion of authorship of this book.

AUTHOR
Isaiah the prophet. Commonly acknowledged as the "Prince of the Prophets" because of his exquisite literary style, Isaiah has also been called the "St. Paul of the Old Testament" because of his methodical presentation of humankind's problem of sin and God's answer of salvation. Isaiah may have been related to Judah's royal family.

Because of the shift in mood and audience between Isaiah 1-39 and Isaiah 40-66, some have suggested separate authors for the two sections. Strong evidence points, however, to a single author:
The commonsense understanding of the statement of authorship (Isaiah 1:1) is that it applies to all 66 chapters. 

Isaiah 1:1 (KJV) 1 The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. 

The same style, vocabulary, and figures of speech occur in both sections. 

NT writers attribute both sections to Isaiah (see John 12:37-41; Matthew 3:3; Matthew 4:14-16; Romans 9:27-29; Romans 10:16). 

John 12:37-41 (KJV) 37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: 38 That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? 39 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, 40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. 41 These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him. 

Matthew 3:1-3 (KJV) 1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 

Matthew 4:13-17 (KJV) 13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: 14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, 15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the
way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; 16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of  death light is sprung up. 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 

Romans 9:27-29 (KJV) 27 Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved: 28 For he will finish the work, and cut it
short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth. 29 And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha. 

Romans 10:16-17 (KJV) 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 

One of the Dead Sea Scrolls includes the entire text of Isaiah, with no break between Isaiah 39 and Isaiah 40 (see The Dead Sea Scrolls). 
Willmington's Bible Handbook.

I believe that it is one book, written by one author.  What I also believe is that it is a book written over a lifetime.  There some that give the age of Isaiah to be as old as 90, the book of Isaiah, through the Kings listed covers a span of a little over 60 years.  One argument give is that there is a change in the style of language from one section to the next.  A simple explanation is that, for you that are in your seventies and eighties, do you use the same vocabulary that you did in your 20's, no there is a change in style over the years.  So I believe that it is one book by one man.

Another argument is simply his prophesies, when Isaiah begins to prophesy about the coming Babylonian empire, Babylon hadn't even incorporated yet, they were just a village, how could this man not only foresee that they would become a national power but that they would also take
Isaiah captive, well, Isaiah couldn't, but God could!

Now as I have said so many times, as we have begun this journey, my purpose this morning is not to try and cover all that is in this book, it would be impossible in one sermon, but I want to give you some highlights to help you read it, give you some insights to maybe get you interested, my goal is that you would go home, and as hard as it sometimes is to read the book of Isaiah.

Isaiah 1:1-9 (KJV) 1 The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. 2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. 3 The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. 4 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. 5 Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. 6 From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment. 7 Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers. 8 And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city. 9 Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto
Gomorrah. 

Isaiah is a prophet, and just as I began my message this morning, so does Isaiah.

The office of a prophet is not one that is desired.

You remember that old song, momma's don't let you babies grow up to be cowboys, well in the OT that song would have been momma's don't let your babies grow to be prophets.

Hebrews 11:36-40 (KJV) 36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. 

Prophets were often praised and placed in great places of honor, the problem was this was usually done after they were dead!

Isaiah was a prophet, he brought the message from God and that message wasn't always a pretty one.

Now the way I am going to look at Isaiah this morning is just by touching on three of the major themes that run through Isaiah.

Isaiah has a prominent place in God's word.  It has been called the fifth Gospels because outside of Matthew Mark Luke and John it tells more of Christ than any other book.

It has been called the Romans of the OT because it clearly deals so much with sin and salvation, just like Romans.

After the introduction I don't have much time so ya'll are going to have to listen faster.

The first theme I want to look at in Isaiah is Holiness.

Isaiah 6:1-8 (KJV) 1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. 4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips,
and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. 6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: 7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. 8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. 

Maybe outside of the passages prophesying of the coming of Christ this is the most familiar passage of Isaiah.

It is the call, now some argue, because it comes in chapter six and not chapter one, that this is the second call in the life of Isaiah.  And it may be so, but it is not necessarily so.  Chapters 1-5 when you read them are a lot like an overview of what follows in the book and it could be just the way Isaiah chose to arrange the book.  But whether or not it was the first or second, I do believe that it would be the most significant.

What we see in the vision that Isaiah shares with us is that Isaiah gets a glimpse of God's holiness.

Isaiah 1:4 (KJV) 4 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that
are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. 

Isaiah 12:6 (KJV) 6 Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee. 
 
Isaiah 30:15 (KJV) 15 For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not. 

Isaiah 43:3 (KJV) 3 For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. 

Isaiah 43:14 (KJV) 14 Thus saith the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships. 
 
Isaiah 47:4 (KJV) 4 As for our redeemer, the LORD of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel. 

Now here is the problem.

How does Isaiah communicate to a wicked and perverse nation, God's Holiness?

How does God communicate to Isaiah, a sinful prophet, about His Holiness?

How do we communicate today, the message of God's Holiness?

Helen Keller
In one of her letters, Helen told Bishop Brooks that she had always known about God, even before she had any words.  Even before she could call God anything, she knew God was there.  She didn't know what it was.  God had no name for her --nothing had a name for her.  She had no concept
of a name.  But in her darkness and isolation, she knew she was not alone.  Someone was with her.  She felt God's love.  And when she received the gift of language and heard about God, she said she already knew. 

In a very real sense we are like Helen Keller, even though we have the ability of sight and of sound, when we try to understand God's Holiness it would be as if we were blind and deaf in presence of an orchestra and art museum.  Their beauty would be wasted on us, it could not be consumed by us.

 A. W. Tozer, in his book Attributes of God, speaks, concerning God's attributes he speaks of the great intellectual challenge we have in understanding God.

When we speak of God's limitlessness, God is infinite. No beginning no end.  It makes for great intellectual conversation trying to grasp that truth.

Now what makes the conversation about God's Holiness more difficult is that if forces us to face our own wretchedness.

Isaiah 6:5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

This kind of world gets into our pores, into our nerves, until we have lost the ability to conceive of the holy. Still, I will endeavor to discuss the holiness of God, the Holy One. We cannot comprehend it, and we certainly cannot define it.

Holiness means purity, but "purity" doesn't describe it well enough. Purity merely means that it is unmixed, with nothing else in it. But that isn't enough. We talk of moral excellency, but that isn't
adequate. To be morally excellent is to exceed someone else in moral character. But when we say that God is morally excellent, who is it that He exceeds? The angels, the seraphim? Surely He does—but that still isn't enough. We mean honor; we mean truth and righteousness; we mean all of these—uncreated and eternal.

God is not now any holier than He ever was. For He, being unchanging and unchangeable, can never become holier than He is. And He never was holier than He is, and He'll never be any holier than now. His moral excellence implies self-existence, for He did not get His holiness from anyone nor from anywhere. He did not go off into some vast, infinitely distant realm and there absorb His holiness; He is Himself the Holiness. He is the All-Holy, the Holy One; He is holiness itself, beyond the power of thought to grasp or of word to express, beyond the power of all praise.
Language cannot express the holy...
Attributes of God, The - The Attributes of God –
Volume 1: A Journey into the Father's Heart.

One truth, one theme, given to us throughout Isaiah is God is Holy, the Holy One of Israel.
Another theme, in stark contrast to that, one we are far more able to relate to is punishment.

Isaiah 1:21-31 (KJV) 21 How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers. 22 Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water: 23 Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them. 24 Therefore saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies: 25 And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin: 26 And I will restore thy judges as at the
first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city. 27 Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness. 28 And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be together, and they that forsake the LORD shall be consumed. 29 For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have desired, and ye shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have chosen. 30 For ye shall be as an oak whose leaf fadeth, and as a garden that hath no water. 31 And the strong shall be as tow, and the maker of it as a spark, and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them. 

Why punishment, God is a God of love, yes and because as a parent you love your child you punish them.  You try and teach them right from wrong and the lessons are usually understood more through failure and punishment than positive reinforcement.

Israel has forsaken God!
Israel has breached the covenant (verses 2 and 3), 
they has refused to be God’s people (verses 4 to 9), 
they has perverted their worship (verses 10 to 20). 
Israel has forsaken the Lord, rejected the Holy One and turned their backs on the Creator of the universe. 

According to one writer it is the lowest point in the history of Israel.

Because God is Holy and because Israel is not, Israel must be punished.

But thankfully there is one more theme I want to look at this morning.

That is salvation.

Isaiah 1:17-20 (KJV) 17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. 18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: 20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. 

Isaiah 9:6-7 (KJV) 6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. 

God is Holy,
Man is not,

There is Hope and Hope is given through Jesus Christ, the one that new no sin was made a sin sacrifice for you and I.  The Holy One died for you and I!

What do we typically glory in?  What parts of our lives do we celebrate most?  We usually have a selective memory and promote and celebrate the good moments or the successes in our lives.
  Today we are going to be looking at 2 Corinthians and we are going to look at the reality of suffering in our lives.  Paul chose to celebrate the moments of suffering, the moments of loss, or the moments of hurt, now the question is why?  Well I believe that the simple reason is that it is in these moments of suffering, loss or hurt that Christ shines brightest in our lives!

 2 Corinthians 11:30 (KJV) 30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. 

Paul had founded the church at Corinth and had ministered there for a year and a half (Acts 18:1-18). When serious problems arose in the church after his departure, he sent Timothy to deal with them (1 Cor. 4:17) and then wrote the letter that we call 1 Corinthians.

Unfortunately, matters grew worse and Paul had to make a "painful visit" to Corinth to confront the troublemakers (2 Cor. 2:1ff). Still, no solution. He then wrote "a severe letter" which was delivered by his associate, Titus (2 Cor. 2:4-9; 7:8-12). After a great deal of distress, Paul finally met Titus and got the good report that the problem had been solved.

It was then that he wrote the letter we call 2 Corinthians.
Bible Exposition Commentary (BE Series)

His opponents hinted at his cowardice in not coming; 
his insincerity in changing his mind; 
the meanness of his aspect; 
the baldness and simplicity of his speech; 
the fact that he had no commendatory letters from Jerusalem; 
his dubious position as regards the Law. 
They insinuated doubts about his perfect honesty. 
They charged him with underhand guile, and fraudulent or self-interested designs with reference to the collection. 
They even ventured to hint their doubt as to his perfect sanity.  
Pulpit Commentary, The

One of the great truths that run throughout 2 Corinthians that is relevant today as it was then as it was in that portion of human history and as it will be in any portion of human history and that is
simply that people suffer.


Now the great question then becomes why?
I have been asked that questions by many of you, I have been asked that questions by strangers who learn of my profession.
Let me start by addressing some wrong answers to the question, why?

One wrong answer is that it is a failure on God's part.  I hurt because God is not caring, God is not powerful, God is not compassionate, God is not this or God is not that!

Ephesians 2:4 (KJV)4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,  Jeremiah 31:3 — The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an
everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. 
John 3:16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 

Another thing that we do is blame ourselves or in all honesty we look at other people and their trouble and say well it happened because of what they have done.

John 9:1-3 (KJV)1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? 3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. 

Some would argue that some of these bad things happen because of a lack of faith.
Some would argue that it is because of a lack of discipline.

If you are going through something in your life, some great tragedy, some great hardship, some great disappointment and you begin in your heart, in your mind, in your life to raise questions to God, I dare you to open your Bible to 2 Corinthians and begin reading!

Think about Paul?

2 Corinthians 11:21-33 (KJV) 21 I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak.
Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also. 22 Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I. 23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in
perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? 30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. 31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not. 32 In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me: 33 And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands. 

Did these things happen to Paul because God failed him?
Did these things happen to Paul because Paul was a sinner, a failure, had the wrong kind of faith or not disciplined enough.

Absolutely not.

I want to, in our time together in 2 Corinthians I want to look at glimpse of the suffering of Paul and how he explains it in his life.

One thing we always have to be careful when we are talking about suffering, is having all the answers.

What I want us to do is look a little at the heart of Paul in the matter of suffering.

One purpose is so that we can help one another face the trials of life.

 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 (KJV) 3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4 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. 

This is one point I want to be careful about, the sole reason for our suffering is not to help others.  But it is a reason.

It is part of the reason for church, for fellowship, for Christians coming together.

Romans 12:15 (KJV)15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 

It is not the sole reason, but it is a reason.

      My wife and I were expecting our fourth child.  One Friday she calls from her Dr.'s appointed and there is a problem, they cannot find a heart-beat for our child.  Danette is so far along at this point they have to induce her and she must go through the birthing process.  It is a devastating moment for our family.  As pastor, after we have called and informed our family, I immediately begin to think about my responsibilities at church Sunday and try to find someone to preach for our congregation.  It is Friday afternoon and so many of my friends are already speaking at other churches.  I finally find a pastor friend that can go and preach for me, him and his wife have 5 beautiful kids.  What I did not know at the time, and had I known I would have never asked him to preach in this situation, was that he and his wife had experienced the loss of two babies and they had a third that was born and lived for 8 days.
      That family was able to help my family and my church family go through a very difficult time in our lives.  Now I want to be clear, that family did not suffer that great loss solely to minister to my
family one day but God used their pain, their suffering, their loss to help us in our loss.

A second purpose is that we will trust in the Lord!

2 Corinthians 1:8-10 (KJV) 8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: 9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: 10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us; 

What happens when life gets out of hand, we cry out to the Lord.
Even the once a year Christian will call upon the Lord when they finally figure out they don't have it under control.

A watching nation was shocked on July 16, 1999 when another member of the Kennedy family met a tragic end. Young John Kennedy, Jr. had become a celebrate in his own right when at the age of thirty-eight years the small private plane he was piloting crashed into the waters off the coast of Massachusetts. His wife and sister both died in the crash as well.
Investigators finally concluded that while Kennedy was not necessarily at fault, he did fly into a situation for which he was not prepared or trained. Kennedy was a qualified pilot but only according VFR (visual flight regulations). He was not qualified to fly by instruments (IFR--instrument flight regulations). All was well when he took off, but as he flew along the Atlantic Coast, he was gradually surrounded by fog. Only an IFR trained pilot would be prepared to navigate his way through the confusing haze.
A professional pilot friend of mine that I flew with on occasions explained the phenomena to me. He explained that when a pilot flies into fog or through clouds blocking any visual reference points. As strange as it seems, the pilot soon looses all sense of direction, even up and down. Without a horizon or at least lights in the distance, the pilot doesn't know what direction he is heading or if he flying straight into the ground or even upside down. The only way to safely fly in such conditions, he insisted, was to keep your eye on your instruments. The electronics on a plane provide an artificial horizon, height, air speed, and whether the plane is climbing or descending. The instruments can keep things straight even when the fog blinds the eyes and brain of the pilot.
The toughest part of earning IFR certification, according to seasoned pilots, is learning to have unquestioning faith in the instruments. Even when your eyes and your head say one thing and the instruments tell you another, you must trust the instruments or face disaster.  Even those of us who will never pilot a plane must learn the same lesson.
Roger Thomas

We have all been there. The fog of grief and sorrow, doubt or disappointment can throw us into a tailspin. A loved one dies. We loose our job. A friend hurts or betrays us. Sickness or an accident knocks us off our feet. We all know the experience of confusion and spiritual disorientation that come with such experiences.  Sometimes God uses these moments in our lives to cause us to let go of all of this world and focus on Him!

The third purpose is that God may desire to make you a miracle!

2 Corinthians 8:1-3 (KJV) 1 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; 2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. 3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; 

By these we are to understand the Churches at Thessalonica, Philippi, and Beroea.
The Pulpit Commentary

The apostle told the Corinthian believers that Macedonian churches had given an offering for needy brethren in Jerusalem. They did this in spite of the great trial of affliction they themselves had
endured.

Zahniser wrote, "This region had suffered the ravages of civil war between
  Caesar and Pompey,
  between Brutus and Cassius 
  finally between Augustus and Antonius.
They actually made a petition for a surcease of their burdens of taxation in the reign of Tiberius and were granted the favor as a depleted area" (The Wesleyan Bible Commentary, 5:298).

Yet they had abundant joy despite their need. Their abundant liberality or generosity matched their joy. In their giving they followed the example of the widow who gave out of her poverty while others gave of their surplus (Mark 12:43, 44).
Complete Biblical Library Commentary

They became a testimony.

We pray God give us a miracle, when what God does is so much greater than sending us a miracle, he makes us a miracle, so that people point to us and say wow, how could that happen, which gives to us a great opportunity to point to Him and say Him.

The reality is God gives us great promises about suffering, about their purpose and about His help while we are facing them.  One thing we have to remember is that those promises are for Christians.  If you are not a Child of God the one promise you have is that if you beleive that Jesus is God's Son and repent of your sins and turn away from your wickedness, He will i