This week we have been working on preparations for the new school year here at Grace Baptist Academy. It is hard to imagine that summer break is nearly over and we will soon hear the pitter patter of tiny feet throughout this building. People have different reasons for enrolling their children in GBA, but one thing holds true for all of them and that is they want their children taught what is right. If we were teaching them that 1 + 1 = 7 they would not be happy with us.
Read Text: Luke 12:54-57
Jesus scolded the people for not being able to discern what is right. They could tell about the weather and all things of this earth, but they couldn't discern what was right. If we want to know what is right we must turn our attention to His Word. It is not just the 'Good Book' but it is the 'Right Book'. Consider this morning some things that are right.
I. Obedience to God's commands is always right!
A. Don't try to bargain with God about baptism many do.
1. Baptism is for believers, and it is important.
2. It is the answer of a good conscience toward God.
(1 PET 3:21) "THE LIKE FIGURE WHEREUNTO EVEN BAPTISM DOTH ALSO NOW SAVE US (NOT THE PUTTING AWAY OF THE FILTH OF THE FLESH, BUT THE ANSWER OF A GOOD CONSCIENCE TOWARD GOD,) BY THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST:"
3. We don't need to pray about baptism - just obey God's Word.
4. When we have accepted Christ as our Savior, God desires that we publicly identify with Him and with a local church.
B. Don't try to bargain with God about prayer.
1. Some say they are too busy to pray and that God understands.
2. He sure does; He knows us perfectly well.
3. He knows the selfishness of our life and that we have never laid hold upon the great promises of God in prayer.
(JAMES 4:2) "YE LUST, AND HAVE NOT: YE KILL, AND DESIRE TO HAVE, AND CANNOT OBTAIN: YE FIGHT AND WAR, YET YE HAVE NOT, BECAUSE YE ASK NOT."
C. Don't try to bargain with God about worship.
(HEB 10:25) "NOT FORSAKING THE ASSEMBLING OF OURSELVES TOGETHER, AS THE MANNER OF SOME IS; BUT EXHORTING ONE ANOTHER: AND SO MUCH THE MORE, AS YE SEE THE DAY APPROACHING."
1. The apostle Paul was constantly exhorting and warning God's people.
2. Examples: Demas made a bad bargain when he left Paul, traded his place at the side of the world's greatest preacher for a the love of this present world.
(2 TIM 4:10) "FOR DEMAS HATH FORSAKEN ME, HAVING LOVED THIS PRESENT WORLD, AND IS DEPARTED UNTO THESSALONICA; CRESCENS TO GALATIA, TITUS UNTO DALMATIA."
3. Ananias and Sapphira tried to bargain with God.
a. While others were giving they were holding back believing God would understand.
b. God did and their bargaining led to their deaths.
4. So don't bargain with God, obey Him and the blessings of the heavenly Father will be upon us.
II. Submission to God's will is always right.
A. Selfishness is an enemy to submission.
1. God is asking for our submission to His will, but we go after the things of the world.
2. Do not think we can bargain with God and give Him our second best.
B. Stubbornness is an enemy to submission.
1 . Some people think they have DEEP CONVICTION when all it is with their own plain stubbornness.
2. Stubborn, willful self is always a hindrance in Christian service.
C. Satan is an enemy to submission.
1. The Devil will try to make us rebellious every day of our life.
2. He is always working to sift people.
3. He wants the Christian to drift away from church - neglect their Bible - quit praying - and act in a way unbecoming to a child of God and thus delay serving Christ.
III. Acceptance of God's word is always right.
A. Accept His Word on how we are to live.
1. God's Word gives us instruction on every aspect of our lives.
2. Every relationship that we have is outlined for us in the Scriptures.
3. Husband and wife; Parents and children; Employer and employees; Neighbors and friends.
(2 PET 1:3) "ACCORDING AS HIS DIVINE POWER HATH GIVEN UNTO US ALL THINGS THAT PERTAIN UNTO LIFE AND GODLINESS, THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIM THAT HATH CALLED US TO GLORY AND VIRTUE:"
B. Accept His Word on the matter of service.
1. God has revealed in His Word that He wants us to do and to be.
2. It is not..."God I will do this if you will do that"
3. Don't bargain, we need to serve Him with all our strength.
4. We should be ready to obey and serve Him with gladness because He is worthy.
(PSA 100:2) "SERVE THE LORD WITH GLADNESS: COME BEFORE HIS PRESENCE WITH SINGING."
C. Accept His Word on salvation.
1. Those who have never accepted Christ as Saviour...never had sins forgiven and name written in Lamb's book of life.
2. Quit reasoning about the matter.
3. Accept the Word of God, which says we are all sinners, condemned to eternal punishment.
(JOHN 5:24) "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 1:12-13) "BUT AS MANY AS RECEIVED HIM, TO THEM GAVE HE POWER TO BECOME THE SONS OF GOD, EVEN TO THEM THAT BELIEVE ON HIS NAME: {13} WHICH WERE BORN, NOT OF BLOOD, NOR OF THE WILL OF THE FLESH, NOR OF THE WILL OF MAN, BUT OF GOD."
This morning, are things right between you and God? If not, the invitation is for you to come and settle things with the Lord. Don't allow anything to get in the way of doing what is right. Obedience, Submission, and Acceptance. Come now.