SERMON SUMMARY
Sunday, May 6,
2007
The Year of the Invitation : Priesthood
Sermon given by Senior Pastor, Dan Tabolt
Continuing is
what Makes You Free.
I once heard a story about a Father who had lost his only son in the
Vietnam War. After the war, a fellow soldier who had been with the son as
he died came and visited the father. He brought with him a painting he had
done of the son. It was the look in the eyes of his son in the painting
that deeply touched the father’s heart. He loved this painting and placed
it in the most prominent place in the home. What made it even more
striking was the fact that the father was a collector of paintings and his
home was filled with paintings worth hundred of thousand of dollars. When
the father died he gave instructions for all his painting to be auctioned
off. People from all over came to the auction because of the uniqueness of
the collection. When the bidding started, to everyone’s surprise, the
first painting was the painting of his son. The crowd was taken back and
it seemed that no one wanted to waste their money on this simple painting.
Finally, a man spoke up and offered five dollars. The auctioneer waited
and finally said - going once, sold - to this man for five dollars. Then
the auctioneer announced the auction over. When everyone objected to this
they were told that the father had given instructions to auction the
picture of his son first and that whoever purchased that was to be given
the rest of the collection. So it is with receiving the Son of God into
our lives, the Father has willed it that if you receive the Son you will
receive the entire Kingdom. Today we want to look at all that we have
received by receiving Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy
nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him
who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were
not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but
now have obtained mercy. NKJV
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE QUESTION just what are we? Are we just simply
people that are forgiven and saved from hell? What have we become? What
are we becoming? Just what are we called to do and be? 1Peter 2:9 is
pregnant with job descriptions. So we begin our adventure.
The Truth Shall Make You Free.
John 8:31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you continue
in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth,
and the truth shall make you free." 33 They answered Him,"We are Abraham's
descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say,
'You will be made free'?" 34 Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say
to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not
abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the
Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
37 "I know that you are Abraham's descendants, but you seek to kill Me,
because My word has no place in you. 38 I speak what I have seen with My
Father, and you do what you have seen with your father." NKJV
Introduction: There are three things in our Bible lesson today that we
want to look into. 1. Abraham’s descendants. 2. Slave’s to sin. 3. Son
that abides forever.
I. Abraham’s Descendants?
This is the equivalent of people that claim to be a Christian because of
association. You have heard the statement, “guilty by association.” We ask
people to give a defense for themselves about their ideality as a
Christian. We hear things like, “I am a Catholic, a Methodist, and
Baptist, or yea, I go to this church or my father is a Christian. A
brother, Utica dogcatcher, or whatever; somehow believing that we are one
because we know one and what one may look like.
1. 1. Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him.
There are those times in our lives that God draws so very near to us that
we experience “BELIEVE”. We are brought into a place of faith by the grace
of God. We must understand that moment in its self is just a starting
place. Jesus said that we now have to continue in moments; by moments of
walking in God, revealed truth, and in doing this we will become free.
Just starting in the garage does not make you a car and just experiencing
God’s presence does not make you a disciple.
II. Slave’s to Sin.
34 Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin
is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever…
Before you turn me off because you are sure that you are no slave to sin,
let’s define what sin is.
“Sin is disobedience or lawlessness to the Word of God.”
37 "I know that you are Abraham's descendants, but you seek to kill Me,
because My word has no place in you. 38 I speak what I have seen with My
Father, and you do what you have seen with your father." NKJV
Heb 4:6 Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to
whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, 7 again
He designates a certain day, saying in David, "Today," after such a long
time, as it has been said:
"Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts."
1. Harden your hearts = I will not do what God says whether it is personal
or what is written. He will not be my master, the master called
disobedience, I will serve.
Where have you hidden your disobedience?
III. Sons will Abide Forever.
One of the great leaders in our times brought out a point at the end of
the first Gulf War that I thought was very telling of the trouble we now
find ourselves in. The first signing of the surrender by Iraq was done in
a tent by a bunch of generals but there was an absence of one very
important leader. Sadd-am was not forced to come to the table. His comment
was that surrender must come from the true leader of the conquered people.
To truly start your walk of freedom, you must fully renounce your life of
slavery to disobedience and desire to serve God as father.
1. The Pounding of the Water Drill.
John 8:31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you continue
in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth,
and the truth shall make you free."
Josh 1:6 Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall
divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give
them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do
according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn
from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever
you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you
shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according
to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous,
and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong
and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your
God is with you wherever you go."
2. A Royal Priesthood.
Hos 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have
rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me;
Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your
children.
A tape recording
of today’s message is available from the church. To get your cassette tape
recording of this message, just send $5 (to cover costs of tape and
postage) to:
Attn.: Tape
Ministry
Abundant Life Fellowship
P.O. Box 22
Boonville, NY 13309-0022
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