PREACHED: OL,8-24-03
THINGS
THAT ABIDE
INTRODUCTION:
1þ SAD COMMENTARYMISPLACED VALUES.
A. Here and now:
1. Brawn, bread and brains -
1. I Pet
2. Prov 23:4,5. Do not toil to
acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist (stop). When your eyes light on
it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward
heaven
2. Wickedness and power -
1. Psa 37:35,36. I have seen a
wicked and ruthless man, spreading himself like a green laurel tree. But he
passed away, and behold he was no more; though I sought him, he could not be
found.
a. Can you say, Sadaam?
b. Nero, Attilla, Herod and Hitlerfading
memories!
2þ CHURCH FOLKS SOMETIMES TO THE SAME!
A. Remember Pauls ambition?
1. Gal 1:13,14. For you have heard
of my former life
I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my
people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers
a. He could have written his own book: From
B. Often in congregations there is more
emphasis on size, budgets, personalities, organization, friends, power and
influence rather than eternal matters.
1. One day this buildingeven our brand new
constructionwill crumble into dust, if Jesus stays his coming long enough!
a. And if he does come back first, this
building and all my material possessions are destined for the fire!
3þ Whereour emphasis?
A. Things that Last!!
B. Corinthian church conflict over
greatest gifts!
1. Paul: Temporaryvanish away!
a. Three things abide!!
1) I Cor
DISCUSSION:
FAITH ABIDES!
A. Psalm 37:3-7. Trust in the Lord,
and do good; dwell in the land and befriend
faithfulness. Delight yourself in
the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to
the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness
as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Be still before the Lord and
wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
over the man who carries out evil devices!
1. Faith means trust, commitment, expectation,
freedom from anxiety and confidence that God will do what is best for us!
B. Several years ago, Randy Becton had a
plaque in his office that read, The future is as bright as the promises of
God.
C. The story is told of a woman that was driving home from the optometrists where she had just replaced her glasses with contacts.
1. She wasnt quite sued to them yet, and not
concentrating, she ran a red light.
2. A motorcycle policeman pulled her over and
looked at her license and said, It says here that you are supposed to be wearing
glasses, why arent you?
3. She said enthusiastically, I have
contacts!
a. The officer angrily replied, Lady, I
dont care who your contacts are, Im still going to give you a ticket!
D. But its true, isnt it? To get anywhere in
life, youve got to have contacts!
1. Christians have the greatest contact
possible!
a. Psa 46:1-2a. God is our refuge
and our strength, a very present (or well-proved) help in trouble. Therefore we
will not fear
E. In the early days of WWII, King George of
And I said to the man who stood
at the gate of the year: Give me light that I may tread safely into the unknown.
And he replied, Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of
God; that shall be better to you, better than light, and safer than a known
way.
F. Faith abides and secures my present!
HOPE ABIDES!
A. Among the 7 foundation stones of Christian
unity listed by Paul in Ephesians 4:
1.
you were called to one hope
that belongs to your call
B. Heb 6:19. We have this as a sure
and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope, that enters into the inner
place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf
C. It is our eternal hope that cements our peace and contentment in this life in the midst of problems and stresses.
1. F.L. EILAND:
Tho
I have no earthly treasures,
Such as silver and gold;
Yet,
Ive wealth beyond their limits
Unto
which, by faith I hold.
Hope of my crown, hope of my crown!
This
is the bounty I see.
Hope of my crown, hope of my
crown!
Wealth thats sufficient for
me.
D. Hope abides and secures my future!
LOVE ABIDES!
A. The greatest of these
1. Why?
a. Faith without love becomes cold legalism
and hope with-out love becomes selfish ambition!
B. WARREN WIERSBE: But the greatest of
these graces is love; because when you love someone, you will trust him and
will always be anticipating new joys. Faith, hope and love go together, but it
is love that energizes faith and hope.
C. It is our love for God that springs from
the well of gratitude for his grace and mercy that forms the foundation of our
faith and the hope that he will take us home to heaven!
1. II Cor 5:7. So we are always of
good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from
the Lord, for we walk by faith and not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage,
and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. (Faith and Hope) V 14. For the love
of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one died for all,
therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no
longer live for themselves but for him who died for their sakes died and was
raised. (Love).
2. Paul said that one of his spiritual
ambitions for saints was to comprehend the love of Christ that surpasses
knowledge, (Eph
a. PHILLIPS:
and to know for yourselves
that love so far beyond our comprehension, that you may be filled through all
your being with God himself.
D. The love of God and Christ and my love them
forgives my past, directs my present and secures my future!
CONCLUSION:
1Ä Brothers and sisters, how strong is your
faith? How secure is your hope? How deep is your love?