R sbc
Sunday
Oct 21st 2007
Series “Christ The Sum & Substance of The Bible”
Text: III John
Subject: “Doing What We Do For Him”
Intro: It is strange to read a book that does not mention Jesus Christ nor the LORD Jesus Christ, nor GOD the Father nor the Holy Spirit especially coming from John. But the Lord had his reasons.
But as I have told you for years now, Christ is the sum and substance of the BIBLE. Look at it...
There would be no Elder without Christ: vs 1
There would be no Gaius without Christ: vs 1
There would be no truth without Christ: vs 3
There would be no joy without Christ: vs 4
There would be no Church without Christ: vs 6 & 9 & 10
There would be no good without Christ: vs 11
There would be no men of God without Christ: vs 12
There would be no peace without Christ: vs 14
BUT THE VERSE THAT STANDS OUT TO ME THAT I KNOW IS SPEAKING OF CHRIST IN PARTICULAR IS VERSE 7 “ HIS NAMES SAKE” As we look at this message this morning let us keep that in mind... as our focus in this message:
I... UNWAVERING COMMITMENT FOR HIS NAME’S SAKE: VS 7
1Sa 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.
This is not only Israel in the Old Covenant but it also us today in the New Covenant. Paul addressed this fact.. Romans 11:1 “ I say then, Hath God cast away his people? Go forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
(1.) This commitment is unwavering because of his purpose to save a people for his name’s sake:
Joh 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
They went forth knowing that the LORD would perform his power on them and on the lost. They were ready and the harvest was ready.
Lu 10:2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.
These could be the ones that John is referring to, when we look into the book of Acts they went everywhere.
(2.) This commitment is unwavering because of their love for their saviour:
They loved him because he first loved them and called them. What we do for Christ should be out of the fact that he loves us.. Every time we go forth, every time we give, every time you pray, ever time you attend church, every time we send a missionary it should be out of our love for Christ and souls.
1Jo 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us. Joh 13:1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
Love by the Father also: John 17-23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
There can be no question as to how much this is and what kind of love this is. It is the eternal love of Christ and the eternal love of the Father and The Holy Spirit.
(3.) This commitment was unwavering because of their love for souls:
Do we love sinners, do we have compassion on them, do we go around them to keep from speaking to them of JESUS CHRIST. Luke 10-30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. 36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? 37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
This was given to the seventy who return rejoicing that demons were subject them and Jesus said don’t rejoice in this but that your names are written in heaven.
II...UNSHADOWED LEADERSHIP FOR HIS NAME’S SAKE:
This word “ unshadowed” means not darkened or gloomy but clear.. David said: Psa 23-3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
The Lord will never lead us in paths of destruction, like a good shepherd he is leading hsi sheep in paths that are good for him for his name’s sake. Our text says That they went forth for his name’s sake taking nothing of unbelievers...
It is like what Job said in Job 13:27 Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet.
Here we have the ancient being guided in paths of righteousness and as he sees it the LORD locked him up and marked him.
What are those paths:
Ps 25:10 All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.
The Lord is light so look for his light, the LORD is truth so look for his truth, the LORD is holiness so look to his holiness, the LORD is right so follow all his words, and if you do thsi you will be in the right paths.
III. UNBOUNDED GOSPEL FOR HIS NAME’S SAKE:
This is exactly what John is talking about in this text, they went out preaching the word of truth. They took nothing with them and the Lord blessed them tremendously. The word unbounded: means unlimited, unrestrained.
Mr 16:20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. The many people that have heard and it has not effected them positively, but on the other hand many have heard and believed the gospel of Christ to the saving of their lives and souls.
I saw something in the parable of the sower that I preached a few weeks ago that I did not see when I was preaching it...Mark 4 it says verse 4 fell by, verse 5 fell on, verse 7 fell among, verse on verse 8. The power of the gospel to change lives is not in the preaching itself but in the power of the HOLY SPIRIT to take the word of GOD and make it fruitful in their hearts...
(1.) The true gospel of Christ is not after men: Gal 1-11
(2.) The gospel is not preached in order to please men: I Thess 2-4
(3.) The gospel is brings about afflictions to some who preach it: 2 Tim 1-8
(4.) The gospel is always according to scriptures: I Cor 15-1-5
1. Unwavering commitment
2. Unshadowed leadership
3. Unbounded gospel.
IV.. Unnumberable reward:
Mark 10-28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. 29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, 30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
(1.) The statement Peter makes: we have left all!
(2.) The response of Jesus:
What can we take from this?
1. Strengthen our commitment to the LORD:
Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
2. Lean on his leadership and not ours: Prov 3-5-6
3. Determine to share the gospel of the kingdom with someone:
Eph 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
4. Don’t forget ...God does not forget:
Heb 6:10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
1Co 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.