Monday Morning Rewind: The Fall of Man (Gen. 3)

What are Monday Morning Rewinds? Click here to see my original post explaining them.

Yesterday I continued my sermon series that coincides with the Truth Project material that our church’s community groups are working through.  The main text of this sermon was Genesis 3.  You can listen to the sermon and download PP materials at our church’s online audio page.

Genesis 3 describes how sin entered our world.  Being rich in truth and application, it gives us answers to questions in these areas:

1. Temptation
2. Man’s Decision to Sin
3. Man’s Response to Sin
4. God’s Response to Sin

Temptation (v.1-5)

Now the serpent. Satan takes center stage as he deceives the woman (not called Eve yet).  The Hebrew word for serpent has a meaning of enchanter, showing how this serpent was a smooth talker who proved to be manipulative with his words.  Satan uses people still today to smooth talk others, often being able to manipulate others with their crafty words, even to go against the ways of God.

Monday Morning Rewind: The Benefit of Fellowship

What are Monday Morning Rewinds?  Click here to see my original post explaining them.

Yesterday’s sermon was the continuation of the series I’m preaching through 1 Thessalonians.  This sermon taught through the text of 1 Thessalonians 2:17 through all of chapter 3.  The main emphasis was on the benefits of fellowshipping with those in Christ.

We focused first on the strong language Paul used in 2:17, that he was “torn away” from the Thessalonians.  The language is strong because the original meaning of the word is “orphaned” or “deprived of.”  Paul had been separated from the people before he desired, and he longed to see them again.  This is a longing for fellowship with them.

Paul had some often misunderstood language in verse 19 and 20.  It could be misread to think that Paul replaced the Lord as who he gloried in with the Thessalonians.  But what was pointed out yesterday was that Paul’s presentation of the Thessalonians to the Lord at the Lord’s return was how Paul glorified the Lord.  Basically, by completing the work the Lord had called him to, Paul was glorifying the Lord.  Are we completing the tasks the Lord has for us?

In verse 18, Paul mentioned that Satan had hindered his going back to the Thessalonians.  We could look in context to think that the hindrance might be the persecution Paul received in Thessalonica–the same persecution the Thessalonians were still experiencing.  In fact, Paul said regarding afflictions that they were destined for it (3:2).  Scripture is clear that we will suffer for our faith (Rom. 8:17-18, 2 Tim. 3:12, Mark 10:30, 1 Pet. 4:12-13).

In fact, Paul attributes everything that hinders him from doing the Lord’s work to Satan (2:18).  We know from elsewhere in scripture:

Eph. 6:12-  “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

So it remains true that whenever we pursue the work of the Lord in our lives, Satan will try to hinder it.

Paul’s ultimate concern for the Thessalonians was that they would be tempted to stray from the gospel that was preached (3:5).  Since he was torn away from them early, he did not have the chance to teach them all that he would have liked to.  That’s why Paul is writing back to them–to help build up what they were “lacking in faith” (3:10).  Some of the fundamental teachings, like the return of Christ, were not taught because of the premature separation.

In his closing prayer, Paul reaffirmed that he wanted to see the Thessalonians again (3:11).  This desire for fellowship, in the context of Paul’s writing to the Thessalonians, provides these benefits of fellowship:

1-     Establishment of faith (3:2) –>  teaching the gospel of Jesus

2-     Exhortation (3:2) –> a strong urge to follow that teaching

3-     Accountability to holiness, resisting the temptation to stray from the gospel (2:19-20; 3:5,8)

The truth is that we can all benefit from this. But yet many people are not committed to fellowship in a church.  Many depart from the fellowship of the church for selfish reasons, not realizing that the church was God’s design, and fellowship therein.  My prayer is that Central (and all churches) would be united in fellowship and bless each other by our fellowship.

Monday Morning Rewind- Starting With Our Guard Up

Yesterday I preached my first sermon to Central Baptist Church.  Because of this, it was directed more to those already committed to the church; not as much to those who were guests.  However, I hope the message helped all who were there see that Central is going to be moving forward to continue carrying out the Lord’s work in Marion.  For members, I hope it was encouraging and refreshing.  For guests, I hope they caught a glance of what’s coming (although exact direction is not clear yet) and have a little more of a desire to fully commit and be involved.

The sermon was title “Starting With Our Guard Up” and my main Biblical text was Matthew 3:13 – 4:11.  You can listen to it by clicking here.

At the end of Matthew 3 (starting in verse 13) we see the beautiful scene of Jesus’ baptism.  One thing I pointed out here was the evidence of the Trinity in verses 16-17 where we see Jesus the Son, the Holy Spirit descending like a dove, and God the Father’s voice coming from above.

I labeled Jesus’ baptism as a spiritually high moment, just like a baptism now would be for any Christian.  These are moments when we are so fired up for Jesus that we’ll do anything for Him and we’re often striving to commit to activities that will help us keep that fire (Bible reading, consistent prayer times, etc.).

But often our spiritually high moments are followed by a trying time where Satan comes against us.  Matthew 4 starts by telling the story of the temptation of Jesus.  Matthew, Mark, and Luke all record the temptation of Jesus directly after the baptism of Jesus (Luke puts a genealogy between the two events, though, and John does not record the temptation).  We can make the application here that after spiritual high moments, Satan will do anything he can to stop the excitement of pursuing God’s will.

I told our people that we are at a spiritually high moment right now.  Things are looking great for the church, people are considering joining, three new Sunday School teachers are stepping up to start teaching, and the church has a new pastor.  These things are exciting in ministry and is encouraging for the church right now.

But Satan will do whatever he can to stop this excitement and work for the Lord.  That’s why we must start out with our guard up- because of the spiritual warfare Paul talked about in Romans 7:21- “So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.”

Central wants to do right.  We want to serve the Lord and follow His will.  I admonish our church:  Don’t give Satan a foothold in this church.

Any questions or comments?  Discuss it by leaving comments.