Pastor's Sermon Outlines

 

OCTOBER 7, 2007 
“REMEMBERING WHAT GOD HATH DONE” 
 

SCRIPTURE READING: ISAIAH 43:15-26 

SCRIPTURE TEXT: Isaiah 43:25 (KJV)

    I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.  

INTRO: “Wife going for ice cream.” 

   How good is your memory? 

ILL: Light bulb. 

   Has your memory or lack of memory ever gotten you into trouble? 

   Too often we forget the things we should remember and remember the things we should forget. 

   In our Scripture reading, God’s people had forgotten all that God had done for them. 

   God had warned them that this would happen. 

Deuteronomy 8:11-17 (KJV) Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; and when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint; Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end; and thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.  

   We must never forget what God had done for us. 

I. THE DANGERS OF FORGETTING.

NOTE: When we fail to remember what God has done for us it will affect our fellowship with Him.

Isaiah 43:22-24 (KJV) But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel.  Thou hast not brought me the small cattle of thy burnt offerings; neither hast thou honoured me with thy sacrifices. I have not caused thee to serve with an offering, nor wearied thee with incense. Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices: but thou hast made me to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities.  

• We fail to seek Him for fellowship.
• We become weary and tired of serving Him.
• We fail to show Him our gratitude by failing to bring our tithe and offerings.
• The offering we bring dishonors God.

Malachi 1:12-14 (NLT) "But you dishonor my name with your actions. By bringing contemptible food, you are saying it's all right to defile the Lord's Table.  You say, 'It's too hard to serve the Lord,' and you turn up your noses at his commands," says the Lord Almighty. "Think of it! Animals that are stolen and mutilated, crippled and sick—presented as offerings! Should I accept from you such offerings as these?" asks the Lord.  "Cursed is the cheat who promises to give a fine ram from his flock but then sacrifices a defective one to the Lord. For I am a great king," says the Lord Almighty, "and my name is feared among the nations!

• We fail to repent of our sins.

NOTE: The more we fail to remember what God has done for us the more likely we will fail to obey His Word. 

• Our fellowship grows cold and stale.

Revelation 3:15-17 (KJV) I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:  

Forgetting what God has done for us in the past will keep us from trusting Him in times of need. 

II. THE BLESSINGS OF REMEMBERING. 

NOTE: As there are consequences when we forget what God has done for us, there are blessings when we remember. 

   The Communion Table is a place for remembering.

1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (KJV) For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.  After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.  For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.  

   A. REMEMBERING OUR SALVATION. 

1. Remember how God delivered us from the power of Satan and sin.

ISAIAH 51:1 (KJV) Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.  

   When we come to the Communion Table we need to remember:  

• Our sinfulness.

Romans 3:23 (KJV) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;  

• Our hopelessness.

Proverbs 20:9 (KJV) Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?  

Isaiah 26:12-14 (KJV) Lord, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us.  O Lord our God, other lords besides thee have had dominion over us: but by thee only will we make mention of thy name.  They are dead, they shall not live; they are deceased, they shall not rise: therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish.  

   Sometimes we forget and this leads to apathy. 
 

Isaiah 43:15-17 (KJV) I am the Lord, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King. Thus saith the Lord, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters; which bringeth forth the chariot and horse, the army and the power; they shall lie down together, they shall not rise: they are extinct, they are quenched as tow.  

Isaiah 43:18-19 (NLT) “But forget all that—it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.  For I am about to do a brand-new thing. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness for my people to come home. I will create rivers for them in the desert!

2. He has remover our sins forever.

Isaiah 43:25 (KJV) I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.  

Psalm 103:12 (KJV) As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.  

Romans 8:1 (KJV) There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  

Hebrews 8:12 (KJV) For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.  

Hebrews 10:17 (KJV) And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.  

CONCLUSION: When we remember all that God has done for us, this should cause us to have compassion for those who are still lost in their sins. 

Proverbs 11:30 (KJV) The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise. 
 
 

OCTOBER 14, 2007
“RETURNING TO GOD” 
 

SCRIPTURE READING: ISAIAH 44:21-28 

SCRIPTURE TEXT: Isaiah 44:22 (KJV)   
 

    I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.  

INTRO: One of the most difficult things for most of us to do is to admit we have been wrong and go and seek to make it right. 

   Someone said, “Love is not having to say you’re sorry” but I say, “Love is being able to say you’re sorry.” 

   When we are unable to admit that we have been wrong we are forced to live in our mistake the rest of our life. 

   There is a tremendous relief from guilt and anxiety when we admit our mistake and seek to make it right. 

   Sometimes we may be forgiven and other times the person we have wrong will still hold it against us. 

   But when we return to God, He always accepts us and restores us into His fellowship. 

1 John 1:9 (KJV) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  

   We must remember that this was written to God’s chosen people not to the Gentiles. 

   Judea and Israel had turned their backs on God and had gone into idolatry. 

   This speaks to those who have accepted Christ as their Savior but have drifted away from following Him. 

   All of us at one time or another has drifted away from God, some only a short distance but others have drifted far away. 

Its no far you may have drifted but what have you done once you realize that you have drifted. 

ILL: Drifting on the raft when little. 

ILL: The Prodigal Son. Luke 15:11-32 

Luke 15:17 (KJV) And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!  

ILL: Peter when he denied Jesus. 

   There are three things we wish to address this morning: 

1. Why do we drift from God?
2. The dangers of not returning.
3. The joy of returning.

I.  WHY DO WE DRIFT FROM GOD? 

NOTE: We all begin to drift away from God by failing to maintain Him first in our lives. 

Exodus 20:3 (KJV) Thou shalt have no other gods before me.  

  This is what Judea and Israel had done, Isaiah 44:9-20 

   We begin our drifting from God when we begin to put other things and other people before Him. 

   We do not drift away from God and go into deep sin overnight. 

ILL: The Pastor eating the nursing home residence’s peanuts. 

   A.  EARLY SIGNS OF DRIFTING. 

• Lack of reading God’s Word.
• Lack of prayer.
• Lack of Church attendance.
• Lack of Church involvement.

   If we continue to drift from God it will lead us into sin. 

Song of Solomon 2:15 (NLT) "Quick! Catch all the little foxes before they ruin the vineyard of your love, for the grapevines are all in blossom."  

Revelation 2:4-5 (GW) However, I have this against you: The love you had at first is gone.  Remember how far you have fallen. Return to me and change the way you think and act, and do what you did at first. I will come to you and take your lamp stand from its place if you don't change.   

II. THE DANGERS OF NOT RETURNING. 

NOTE: God wants those who have drifted away to return unto Him. 

Jeremiah 35:15 (GW) I have sent all my servants the prophets to you again and again. They said, "Turn from your evil ways, do what is right, and don't follow other gods in order to serve them. Then you will live in the land that I gave you and your ancestors." However, you refused to listen to me or obey me.  

   Sad to say, there are those who refuse to return even though God has sought them to come back to Him. 

Jeremiah 5:3 (NLT) Lord, you are searching for honesty. You struck your people, but they paid no attention. You crushed them, but they refused to turn from sin. They are determined, with faces set like stone; they have refused to repent.  

Jeremiah 5:25 (NLT) Your wickedness has deprived you of these wonderful blessings. Your sin has robbed you of all these good things.  

ILL: King Saul. 

III. THE JOY OF RETURNING. 

Hosea 6:1 (KJV) Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.  

   God will allow negative things in our lives to turn our hearts back to Him. 

NOTE: God, like the prodigal son’s father is longing for those who have drifted away to return to Him. 

Ezekiel 18:21-23, 31-32 (KJV) But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.  All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? Saith the Lord God: and not that he should return from his ways, and live? Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?  For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.  

2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV) If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.  

Isaiah 55:7 (KJV) Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.  

Psalm 130:3-4 (KJV) If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.  

   This verse is filled with both hope and a warning. 

   It is not a matter if we have sinned or not, all have sinned, but what have we done about our sin that’s what matters. 

NOTE: It does not matter how far we have drifted, how long we have been gone, God is waiting for us to return to Him. 

Jeremiah 24:4-7 (KJV) Again the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good.  For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up.  And I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.  

   When we return to God He fills our hearts and lives with joy. 

Isaiah 51:11 (KJV) Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.  
 
 

OCTOBER 21, 28 & NOVEMBER 18
This is a three part sermon. 

“THE PROMISE OF GOD’S BLESSINGS” 
 

SCRIPTURE READING: ISAIAH 44:1-8 

SCRIPTURE TEXT: Isaiah 44:3 (KJV)   
 

    For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:  

INTRO: No matter what we face, God has told us not to fear. 

    There are three reasons we have no need to fear. 

I.  WE ARE CHOSEN OF GOD. 

Isaiah 44:1-2 (NLT) "But now, listen to me, Jacob my servant, Israel my chosen one.  The LORD who made you and helps you says: O Jacob, my servant, do not be afraid. O Israel, my chosen one, do not fear.”  

NOTE: Through God’s foreknowledge He knows those who will accept Him and those who will reject Him. 

Romans 8:29-32 (NLT) For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn, with many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And he gave them right standing with himself, and he promised them his glory.  What can we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?  Since God did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won't God, who gave us Christ, also give us everything else?  

Matthew 22:14 (KJV) For many are called, but few are chosen.  

   God has called all to repentance but only a few will answer His call.

Acts 2:21 (KJV) And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.  

2 Peter 3:9 (KJV) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.  

Matthew 7:13-14 (KJV) Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.  

   For those who reject God’s call, Hell and eternity awaits. 

Romans 6:23 (KJV) For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.  

Revelation 20:11-15 (KJV) And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.  

II.  THE PROMISE OF HIS BLESSINGS. 

Isaiah 44:3 (NLT) For I will give you abundant water to quench your thirst and to moisten your parched fields. And I will pour out my Spirit and my blessings on your children.  

1. HE WILL QUENCH OUR THIRST.

Isaiah 55:1-3 (NLT)  "Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink—even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk—it's all free!  Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen, and I will tell you where to get food that is good for the soul!  "Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, for the life of your soul is at stake. I am ready to make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the mercies and unfailing love that I promised to David.  

Matthew 5:6 (KJV) Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.  

John 4:14 (KJV) But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.  

Revelation 7:16 (KJV) They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.  

Revelation 22:17 (KJV) And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.  
 

2. HE WILL PRODUCE GROWTH IN OUR SPIRITUAL LIVES.

NOTE: God wants His Church to grow. 

   Back in those days almost everything was dependent upon the weather. 

   Today’s farmers can do a lot to help but it is still God who produces life in the seed. 

1 Corinthians 3:6-7 (NLT) My job was to plant the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God, not we, who made it grow. The ones who do the planting or watering aren't important, but God is important because he is the one who makes the seed grow.  

Joel 2:23-27 (NLT) Rejoice, you people of Jerusalem! Rejoice in the Lord your God! For the rains he sends are an expression of his grace. Once more the autumn rains will come, as well as the rains of spring. The threshing floors will again be piled high with grain, and the presses will overflow with wine and olive oil. The Lord says, "I will give you back what you lost to the stripping locusts, the cutting locusts, the swarming locusts, and the hopping locusts. It was I who sent this great destroying army against you.  Once again you will have all the food you want, and you will praise the Lord your God, who does these miracles for you. Never again will my people be disgraced like this.  Then you will know that I am here among my people of Israel and that I alone am the Lord your God. My people will never again be disgraced like this. 

• Grow in fruitfulness.

John 15:1-3, 5, 8 (NLT) "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch that doesn't produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned for greater fruitfulness by the message I have given you.   "Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. My true disciples produce much fruit. This brings great glory to my Father.  

• Grow into Christ.

Ephesians 4:15 (KJV) But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:  

NOTE: There is not true growth without growing in Christ. 

• Growing in grace and knowledge.

2 Peter 3:18 (KJV) But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.  

3. HE WILL POUR OUT HIS SPIRIT.

Joel 2:28 (NLT) "Then after I have poured out my rains again, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions.  

   The Holy Spirit does many things in the life of the Believer: 

John 16:7-14 (NLT) But it is actually best for you that I go away, because if I don't, the Counselor won't come. If I do go away, he will come because I will send him to you.  And when he comes, he will convince the world of its sin, and of God's righteousness, and of the coming judgment.  The world's sin is unbelief in me.  Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more.  Judgment will come because the prince of this world has already been judged.

    "Oh, there is so much more I want to tell you, but you can't bear it now.  When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not be presenting his own ideas; he will be telling you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.  He will bring me glory by revealing to you whatever he receives from me.  

• He comforts us.
• He convicts us of sin.
• He reveals God’s Righteousness to us.
• He guides us.
• He points us to Christ.
• He helps us to pray.

Romans 8:26 (NLT) And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don't even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.  

NOTE: Defining Prayer: Don't bother to give God instructions, just report for duty.  

Prayer is not an argument with God to persuade Him to move things our way, but an exercise by which we are enabled by His Spirit to move ourselves His way. (Leonard Ravenhill) 

• He teaches us.

1 John 2:27 (NLT) But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don't need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you all things, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So continue in what he has taught you, and continue to live in Christ.  

NOTE: Man’s wisdom at best is foolishness compared to God’s. 

   Man’s wisdom is flawed because man is flawed. 

• He gives us strength to live the Christian life.

Luke 24:49 (NLT) "And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven." 

NOTE: We are incapable of defeating Satan in our own strength. 

   The Holy Spirit gives us the power and ability to live a victorious Christian life.

• He empowers us to be witness.

Acts 1:8 (KJV) But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.  

NOTE: The Holy Spirit gives us the power to witness verbally but must more by living the Christian life daily. 

• He will teach us what to say against those who would persecute us.

Luke 12:11-12 (KJV) And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:  For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.  

• He dwells within us, making us the Temple of God.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NLT) Or don't you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

III. HE IS THE ONE AND ONLY GOD. 

Isaiah 44:6-8 (NLT) "This is what the Lord, Israel's King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty, says: I am the First and the Last; there is no other God. Who else can tell you what is going to happen in the days ahead? Let them tell you if they can and thus prove their power. Let them do as I have done since ancient times.  Do not tremble; do not be afraid. Have I not proclaimed from ages past what my purposes are for you? You are my witnesses—is there any other God? No! There is no other Rock—not one!"  

Psalm 18:1-6 (NLT) For the choir director: A psalm of David, the servant of the Lord. He sang this song to the Lord on the day the Lord rescued him from all his enemies and from Saul. 

   I love you, Lord; you are my strength.  The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.  He is my shield, the strength of my salvation, and my stronghold.  I will call on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, for he saves me from my enemies.  The ropes of death surrounded me; the floods of destruction swept over me.  The grave wrapped its ropes around me; death itself stared me in the face.  But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I prayed to my God for help.  He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry reached his ears.

Jeremiah 10:1-16 (NLT) Hear the word of the Lord, O Israel!  This is what the Lord says: "Do not act like other nations who try to read their future in the stars. Do not be afraid of their predictions, even though other nations are terrified by them.  Their ways are futile and foolish. They cut down a tree and carve an idol.  They decorate it with gold and silver and then fasten it securely with hammer and nails so it won't fall over.  There stands their god like a helpless scarecrow in a garden! It cannot speak, and it needs to be carried because it cannot walk. Do not be afraid of such gods, for they can neither harm you nor do you any good."

    Lord, there is no one like you! For you are great, and your name is full of power. Who would not fear you, O King of nations? That title belongs to you alone! Among all the wise people of the earth and in all the kingdoms of the world, there is no one like you.

     The wisest of people who worship idols are stupid and foolish. The things they worship are made of wood!  They bring beaten sheets of silver from Tarshish and gold from Uphaz, and they give these materials to skillful craftsmen who make their idols. Then they dress these gods in royal purple robes made by expert tailors.  But the Lord is the only true God, the living God. He is the everlasting King! The whole earth trembles at his anger. The nations hide before his wrath.

    Say this to those who worship other gods: "Your so-called gods, who did not make the heavens and earth, will vanish from the earth."

But God made the earth by his power, and he preserves it by his wisdom.  He has stretched out the heavens by his understanding. When he speaks, there is thunder in the heavens.  He causes the clouds to rise over the earth.  He sends the lightning with the rain and releases the wind from his storehouses. Compared to him, all people are foolish and have no knowledge at all!  They make idols, but the idols will disgrace their makers, for they are frauds.  They have no life or power in them. Idols are worthless; they are lies!  The time is coming when they will all be destroyed. But the God of Israel is no idol!  He is the Creator of everything that exists, including Israel, his own special possession. The Lord Almighty is his name! 

CONCLUSION:  What a Mighty God we serve.  

   We have no need to fear: 
 

• Because He has chosen us,
• Because of the promises He has given to us,
• Because He and He alone is God.