Welcome to the Liberty Baptist sermon archives.
The message you're about to hear was preached at Liberty, Baptist
Church in Eastern Massachusetts. You can find out more about us
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message from God's word will be a blessing to you.
Pastor appreciate the opportunity to be here and have
enjoyed the weekend tremendously.
We appreciate you guys and your support for us, your prayers for
us, your partnership with us, and I won't give a whole
Ministry run down kind of like I did in Sunday school.
Other than to say it is a blessing to know that over these
last seven projects. These last eight years, that
we've been able to partner together over 75,000 John and
Romans that have gone out all over the world, really several
different places and and we Lee will assemble over half a
million John in Romans every year, as a Ministry, I'm in
churches, all up and down the east coast.
And as far west, as Buffalo New York and as far south as
Maryland, Delaware all through New England and just praise the
Lord for the opportunity that he's given us to be part of this
ministry. I believe you support brother
Dale money as well. Is that right?
Yes. He was the man that God used to
ultimately get us into the seed line Ministry Archer.
Church when we lived in Michigan for, for about a seven year
period, we lived in Michigan and due to my job that I had at the
time and our church, they're got involved with the seed line
Ministry when brother Dale was doing seed line.
They're out of Milford Ohio and he would come up during our
missions conference. And after doing that, about four
years in a row, we went forward surrender to what the Lord would
have us do and less than a year later, he opened the door to
come to Upstate New York, and having been born and raised in
Ohio and my wife from Ohio. As well and then living in
Michigan we've been in the midwest our whole lives and
never would have dreamt that the Lord would have brought us to
the east coast Upstate New York in the Northeast to to work with
seed line. But I'm so glad that the Lord
did that and we just rejoice in the last 16 and a half years now
of all that the Lord has allowed us to do and all the folks that
he's allowed us to meet through all these years at all these
churches. And so appreciate that so much.
All right. First Samuel chapter four. 14
this morning, swear, we're going to be First Samuel 14.
We're going to read some verses here out of our text here this
morning and then we will ask the Lord's blessing upon the
message. But let's start in first Samuel
chapter 14 and we will begin in verse 1.
The Bible says, now it came to pass upon a day.
That Jonathan, the son of Saul. Suddenly, the young man that
bear his armor come. Let us go over to the
Philistines Garrison that is on the other side, but he told not
his father and Saul tarried in the uttermost part of gibeah
under a pomegranate tree, which is in my grand and the people
that were with him were about 600 men down in verse 6.
It says in Jonathan said to the young man, that bears armor come
and let us go over under the Garrison of these.
Uncircumcised it may be That the Lord will work for us.
For there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few.
And his armor Bearer said unto him.
Do all that is in thine heart, turn thee behold.
I am with the according to thy heart, then said, Jonathan
behold. We will pass over unto these men
and we will discover ourselves unto them if they save us to
unto us. Terry until we come to you, then
we will stand still in our place and will not go up under them.
But if they say thus come up, Unto us.
Then we will go up for the Lord. Hath delivered them into our
hand. And this shall be a sign unto us
and both of them discovered themselves under the Garrison of
the Philistines. And the Philistine said, behold
the Hebrews come forth out of the holes, where they had hid
themselves and the men of the Garrison answer, Jonathan and
his armor Bearer and said come up to us and we will show you a
thing and Jonathan said unto his armor Bearer come up after me
for the Lord hath. Delivered them into the hand of
Israel. And Jonathan climbed up upon his
hands and upon his feet and his armor-bearer after him, and they
fell before Jonathan and his armor-bearer slew after him and
that first Slaughter which Jonathan and his armor Bearer
made was about 20 men within as it were and half acre of land,
which a yoke of oxen might plow and there was trembling in the
host in the field in among all the people The Garrison in the
spoilers, they also trembled and the Earth quaked.
So it was a very great trembling and the Watchman of Saul and
give you of Benjamin. Look Behold the multitude melted
away and they went on beating down one another down in verse
20 it says and Saul and all the people that were with him
assemble themselves and they came to the battle and behold
Every Man's sword was against his fellow and there was a very
great discomfiture, moreover, the Hebrews that were with the
Philistines before that time, which went up with them into the
camp from the country round about even.
They also turned to be with the Israelites that were with Saul
and Jonathan likewise all the men of Israel which had hid
themselves in Ephraim? When they heard that the
Philistines fled even, they also followed hard after them in the
battle. So the Lord saved Israel that
day and the battle passed over unto Bethel.
Even, let's pray. Father, we love you this
morning. We thank you for your word.
I pray now that as we look into your word this morning that
you'd speak to us, I pray that you bless the reading and the
preaching of your word. We thank you for it.
Thank you that we have it. Thank you that we can read it.
Understand it help us to be diligent students of it.
And Lord, we know that without your word, we would be lost
without hope, but because you gave your word and because you
sent your son to die on the cross for us, and because this
word is the testimony in the record of that.
We're just so thankful that we can have a relationship with
you. I pray here this morning that
you just meet here in the midst of us as, as we have gathered
together around your word and we again, just thank you for it.
We thank you for our savior. I pray that Christ would be
magnified and all that said, and done and exalted.
It in all things and and Lord. Again, we love you.
Thank you for this day in Jesus name.
Amen. Here in 1st Samuel. 14.
We have the account of this battle.
That is fought here between the Israelites and the Philistines.
And as we read through those versus the first thing that kind
of jumps out that I want you to notice is, is there's a lot of
Israelites that are gathered together.
There's a lot of Israelites that ultimately join into the battle
and fight, by the time we get down to the end of that passage.
But initially, it was only Jonathan and his armor Bearer
that had. That had begun things that had
And things up. If you will and the picture that
that I see here is this. You can identify kind of if you
will for different groups, if you will, here in this passage
and though, this is the historical account of the this
battle that the children of Israel fought, I think we can
also see types of Christians or Believers represented here.
You'll notice that as we began the passage we have Saul and the
600 with them and it's It says he tarried in the uttermost part
of gibeah. And if you study that word
tarried often times in the scriptures, that's that seen in
a negative light, tarrying. Basically, it's this that Saul
is there. There's an army of Philistines
arrayed against him. There's a battle to be fought
but yet he's just not. He's just there doing nothing.
The Bible says that he tarries there and the uttermost.
So the first group would be those that are just kind of
there and they're doing nothing and that would Representative of
Saul and those 600 that were with him.
As we read on further, we saw a couple more groups.
It says, in verse 21, the Hebrews that were with the
Philistines that they turned about or they in the country
round about, they turn to be with the Israelites, so some of
the Israelites were off living with the Philistines that would
picture. The second group, the first type
of first group of Christians is a type who are just kind of
there doing nothing. But the second group would be
those that are often the world there with the Philistines.
The Are a picture of the world and you have some Christians
that are often the world doing the things of the world living
like the world but yet they turn to join the battle.
The third group there in verse 22, the Bible tells us that the
men of Israel which had hid themselves, they came out and
began to fight. So the third group would be
those, those that are in hiding and that would picture those
today that are that are for whatever reason, just kind of in
hiding. They're not really doing
anything either. But as opposed to gather to get
gather together, And they're safe little Camp.
So to speak, they're often cave somewhere hiding from the enemy.
The Bible tells us that we have an enemy, we have a spiritual
enemy and that the weapons that we fight with are not carnal but
their spiritual. And so we are.
We engage in spiritual warfare, right?
Ephesians 6, the armor of God and all of that.
We are to fight a spiritual battle.
But of course, when you go into battle, it takes courage.
When you go into a physical battle, how many have served in
the armed forces? Anyone here, several?
I don't know if you saw any kind of battle scenario, but
obviously, you know, that to go into battle takes a great deal
of Courage, the opposite of Courage would I suppose be fear.
And some of these Israelites, they were afraid.
They saw the enemy, but they went and hid.
By the way, the enemy knew they were hitting because hiding
because when Saul and sir not Saul Jonathan and his armor
Bearer went up to confront them. What did the Philistines say?
Oh, they've come out of their dens where they've been in
hiding. So these three groups, if you
will, that probably number somewhere in the several
thousand, you have those that are just kind of sitting around
and doing nothing. You have those that are off
living in the world, those that were with the Philistines and
then you have those that are fearful they don't want to get
involved and they're just hiding but then you have a fourth group
and of course that's represented by Jonathan and his armor
Bearer. This would be the Christian or
the believer that wants to get something done for the Lord.
That basically says, look, there is a battle to fight and so
there is an enemy to engage with.
And so we are going to go and we are going to fight for the Lord,
we are going to do this and and and so they do, and the Lord
gives them that sign. This wasn't an unwise decision.
This wasn't Jonathan just blindly charging ahead, but he
says to his armor Bearer will let them know we're coming and,
and if they say, hold on will come down then.
We know that the Lord's not in it, but if they say, come on up,
if they Invite us on up, we know that the Lord is in this, so as
far as Jonathan is concerned, he's heard from the Lord, he
knows that the Lord is in what they're doing.
And so they're going to go and they're going to get something
done for the Lord and so they do they go and they begin the
battle and 20 men. It says that first Slaughter was
about 20 men. And then, of course, there's
trembling, there's the earthquake and they begin to
turn and fight and all these things.
And what's interesting is the other three groups, they all
eventually get involved. Once Jonathan and his armor
Bearer stirred, some things up those that were with Saul
tarrying in the uttermost, they joined the battle.
Those that were off living with the Philistines.
The Bible says, they turned and join the battle, so they turn
from the Philistines and they joined with Saul and the
Israelites and then those that were in hiding came out and
joined as well. And of course, the Lord then in
verse 23 saved Israel that day in the battle passed over unto
Bethel even and it brings up the question.
What made the difference in the life of Jonathan?
I mean, is there anything in this chapter in this account
that sets Jonathan apart from everybody else on that day?
And what's interesting is if you continue to read, you'll see
that and this really is the heart of the message.
What we're going to look at here.
Next starting in verse 24. The Bible says in the men of
Israel were distressed that day for Saul had a jerk to people
saying cursed, be the man that eateth any food until evening
that I may be Avenged on mine enemies.
So none of the people tasted any food and all they of the land
came to a wood and there was honey upon the ground and when
the people were come into the would behold the honey dropped
but no man put his hand to his mouth for the people, feared the
oath but Jonathan heard not when his father charged, the people
with the Yo, wherefore, he put forth the end of the rod that
was in his hand and dipped it in an honeycomb and put his hand to
his mouth and his eyes were enlightened.
Now, I want you to notice that phrase, his eyes were
enlightened Jonathan, tasted of the honey that came from the
honeycomb and the Bible tells us that his eyes were enlightened
on that day as they were fighting that battle.
Hold your finger here and turn over to Psalm 19.
Psalm 19 and I want you to see this picture.
ER, that the Bible gives us Psalm 19 starting in verse 7.
The Bible says, the law of the Lord is perfect.
Converting the soul. The testimony of the Lord is
sure making wise, the simple. The statutes of the Lord are
right rejoicing, the heart, the Commandment of the Lord is pure
enlightening. The eyes notice that phrase
there, enlightening, the eyes, the fear of the Lord is clean
enduring forever. The judgments of the Lord are
true and righteous altogether. More to be desired.
Are they than gold? Yay.
Than much fine, gold sweeter also than notice.
This honey and the honeycomb. So here in Psalm 19, what have
we just read about in these four verses?
The word of God, right? The law of the Lord.
The testimony of the Lord, the statutes of the Lord, the
Commandment of the Lord, the fear of the Lord, the judgments
of the Lord. If you ever go to Psalm 119 and
just read through all hundred and seventy six of those verses
174 of them, make a reference to the word of God and you'll find
those words over and over and over law Commandments statutes,
judgments testimonies. And so, on.
All speaking of the word of God, what is the word of God do?
Well, according to verse 7, first of all, it converts the
soul. That's where it starts, right?
When a person gets saved. And they accept Christ as
Savior. The word of God is that
Incorruptible seed by which we are what born again.
So, the word of God, it converts the soul, but it also, it makes
wise the simple. It rejoices the heart, it
enlightens the eyes, it enlightens the eyes.
It is clean enduring forever, and it's true and righteous
altogether, and then it gives a couple more comparisons more to
be desired, are they? And what is the they in verse
10? Well the statutes the laws, the
judgments, the testimonies the Commandments, the words of God,
more to be desired. Are the words of God than gold
yea than much. Fine.
Gold. What's the Bible telling?
Us these words are more valuable than gold than silver than
money. Also sweeter than honey.
And the honeycomb. The Bible is likened to honey
and honeycomb and sweeter than honey, and the honeycomb.
What did Jonathan do in first Samuel 14?
It says he dipped his rod in the honeycomb and he brought out
some honey. And what happened when he did
that, his eyes were enlightened. His eyes were enlightened.
What happens when we as Believers are in the word of God
on a daily basis? What happens when we dip into
that? That is sweeter than honey in
the honeycomb spiritually. Speaking, our eyes are
enlightened, you know, you have these, these four groups, if you
will, you have those sitting around you have those off in the
world. You have those that are afraid
and they're in hiding and and it's interesting not a single
one of Any of those three groups, tasted any honey that
day because of what Saul had said, because of the oath that
he had made. But Jonathan didn't hear when
Saul made the oath. Why?
Well, maybe, because he's already busy trying to get
something done for the Lord but he didn't hear.
He tasted of the honey, his eyes were enlightened.
In other words, he was strengthened, he was refreshed.
He was renewed when he tasted of that honey and none of the other
ones. Did he says, on in verse 98,
then answered one of the people and said, thy father, straitly,
charged the people with an oath saying cursed.
Be the man that eateth any food this day and the people were
faint. Then said Jonathan my father
hath troubled, the land. See I pray you how mine eyes
have been enlightened because I tasted a little of this honey.
How much more if haply the people had eaten freely today of
the spoil of their enemies which they found for had there.
Not been now a much greater Slaughter.
Among the Philistines. Notice that phrase in verse 30,
how much more, how much more could have been accomplished
today? Basically, from Jonathan's
perspective. He goes into the Woody taste,
the honey as eyes are enlightened now, he's been
renewed, he's got some strength. He's just expelled.
A lot of strength and energy. Starting this battle and
beginning this conflict and so he tastes this honey and renews
a strengthened but yet everybody else none of them had taken any
It says in the end of verse 28, the people were faint.
They were faint because they hadn't tasted of the honey.
And Jonathan, basically here says how much more, how much
more could have been accomplished, if y'all would
have just taken a little honey, if you all would have just had
your eyes, enlightened, by the honey, how much more could be
accomplished? Folks, how much more could we
accomplish as a local church as individual Believers?
If we would just be in this book everyday because the parallel is
very simply this as necessary, as our physical food is for our
physical health and well-being, so much more, our spiritual food
for our spiritual health and well-being.
Job. 23:12 job says, I have esteemed the words of his mouth
more than my necessary food. Jesus said to the devil, in
Matthew chapter 4, quoting from Deuteronomy chapter 8, man shall
not live by bread alone, but by what every word that proceedeth
out of the mouth of God. So we like to eat some of us
really like to eat. We eat several times a day, we
eat a variety of different things and we do it, because if
we don't, we'll get week, we'll get sickly, we'll lose our
health. But yet, we also take pleasure,
normally usually, I suppose in what we eat, we eat to survive,
but it's also enjoyable. And it's necessary.
How much more? You know, how if you, if you, if
you were to be honest, how many of you would say?
I absolutely despise eating anything at any time.
I mean, I know I have to, I know, I know I have to eat but I
absolutely cannot stand it. I mean, I don't know, maybe
there's somebody out there that would have that mindset but I
think it's fair to say that most of us we enjoy a good meal,
right? And yet, do we approach this
book as if I I don't have time for this.
I mean I'll read this morning I guess because I know I have to,
I know, I know spiritually, it's what I need but know that that
ought not be how we approach. We if we enjoy eating our
physical food because it tastes good.
You know this these words are sweeter than honey in the
honeycomb spiritually speaking. This ought to be as sweet if not
sweeter to us than whatever it is.
You're going to have for lunch today.
This is our spiritual food. It's our spiritual nourishment
and the picture here in 1st Samuel. 14 is it's what set
Jonathan apart? It's what made the difference
for him as opposed to everybody else.
He tasted of that honey, his eyes were enlightened and how
much more could have been accomplished.
How much more could we as individual Believers, or as
local New Testament Church has accomplished for the cause of
Christ. If we would just be in this book
on a daily basis all the time. I'm notice I said, at the end of
verse 28, I read there in the people were faint, you know,
they did even those that were doing nothing, those that were
living in the world, those that were Off hiding.
You could say, well, they got right?
And they joined the battle. But yet, they were faint.
And it says, in verse 31 and they smote the Philistines that
day from michmash to Agile on and the people were very faint.
So we're going to see a progression here.
Also that takes place, they join in with the battle.
Jonathan takes the honey as eyes are enlightened, but nobody else
tastes it. They keep fighting the Bible
says, they were faint. Jonathan makes his statement,
how much more could have been accomplished, but they press on
the Bible says, then that they became very faint.
So there's a downward progression, if you will a
downward trajectory, as far as their, their, their energy
there, Sustenance, if you will. Verse 32, then says this and the
people flew upon the spoil and took sheep and oxen and calves
and slew them on the ground and the people did eat them with the
blood. You see what it ultimately
deteriorated all the way to. They went from faint to very
faint to, basically kill and eat and don't even bother to cook
it. In essence is what happens here.
They took sheep oxen, calves, slew them on the ground and the
people did eat them with the In other words, they didn't even
bother to light a fire. They didn't even bother to cook
anything. They just cut them open and they
dug in and I know that's gross and I know that's disgusting.
But you know what? Sin is gross and disgusting, is
it not? And what happens when we
neglect, what is sweeter than honey in the honeycomb.
What happens when we refuse to go to the word of God, on a
regular basis and have our eyes, enlightened by the word of God,
on a regular basis. What happens to us spiritually?
We get faint, do we not? If we continue on, we get very
faint. And then ultimately, if we're
not careful, we're going to find ourselves in something.
That maybe 24 hours, 48 hours prior to that moment, we would
have thought I would never do that.
I mean, do you ever think of those quote-unquote big sins?
And think to yourself? I could never.
I would never do that. I guarantee you, if you ask
these guys, the night before is there sitting there around Camp
there with Saul and the pomegranate tree if you would
have asked them, do you think tomorrow night by this time that
you'll just you know, grab a sheet Cut it open dig in they
would have said no, absolutely not don't you know, that's
forbidden by the law. I mean it's not just forbidden
by the law. This goes all the way back to
Genesis when Noah and his sons and their wives came off the Ark
in Genesis chapter 9, God says to them, Genesis 9, 3 & 4, Every
moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you.
Even as the green herb, have I given you all things, but flesh
with the life thereof which is the blood thereof, shall ye not
eat, they were not to eat the blood.
Of course, that's given in the law in.
Leviticus chapter 17 verses 13 and 14, God gives very detailed
admonitions asked to not to eat the blood.
They are to pour out the blood Mud and they are not to eat it.
Leviticus chapter 17, 13 and 14. Also, Leviticus 19.
Verse 26. You shall not eat anything with
the blood. You'll even remember the
controversy in Acts chapter 15, when after the death burial and
resurrection of Christ, some were going around and teaching
that you couldn't be saved unless you were circumcised and
this big controversy came up. And so they sent these questions
to the apostles and, and James presiding there in Jerusalem.
And basically they they wrote back and and, and they told they
only listed a couple of things that that the Believers were to
abstain from, they were too. Staying from fornication, they
were to abstain from things that were strangled and basically
don't eat anything with the blood.
Circumcision the outward Act of circumcision had nothing to do
with whether or not a person could be saved or was saved.
There in that new testament time.
And so the point is this, that this isn't just Jewish law.
This goes before the law with Noah.
This is after the law after the death burial and resurrection of
Christ. And the book of Acts, they were
not to eat with the blood and yet they did.
And again, the picture is this, it's gross, its disgusting.
And yet it's something that they engaged in, why?
Because their eyes weren't enlightened, they were starving,
they were famished, they Were they had no energy left.
They they went and all day day, all day long, and they fought
this battle. And they kept going, and they
kept pushing, and they kept exerting.
And yet, they didn't take any nourishment, and they got faint
and then very faint. And ultimately, they ended up in
Sindh that can happen to us if we're not careful.
If we neglect the word of God, So, that's the picture that
scene here in 1st Samuel 14 and and it's just so interesting
because when you compare that with Psalm 19 and just like in
the honey and the enlightening of the eyes to what happens when
we as Believers are in the word of God, how our eyes are
enlightened. I want you to turn to one more
place as as we close this morning.
Ephesians chapter 1 Ephesians chapter 1.
As I as I study the word of God, I like to study words I like to
study phrases and then compare scripture with scripture by
using those words and phrases the way they're used in
scripture. And we certainly see that here
in in these passages that we've looked at in first Samuel and
Psalm 19. But I want you to notice here in
Ephesians chapter 1, of course Paul.
He is writing to Believers in the church, right?
So that's that's his that's the Instead, that's the recipient of
this particular epistle was sent to the church at Ephesus.
The church comprised of born-again Believers.
He says, in verse 9, having made known unto us, the mystery of
his will according to his good pleasure, which he hath purposed
in himself that in the dispensation of the fullness of
times, he might gather together in one all things in Christ,
both which are in heaven, and which are on earth, even in him
in whom also, we have obtained, an inheritance Since being
predestinated, according to the purpose of him, who worketh all
things, after the counsel of his own will that we should be to
the praise of his glory who first trusted in Christ.
So, I want you to notice that he's writing to Believers.
He's talking about things that have happened past tense.
He's talking about things that are predestined to happen future
tense. But because they are predestined
to happen. It's as if they've already
happened. In other words, those who first
trusted in Christ are predestined to be conformed, to
the the image of his son. If you're saved, you are
predestined to be glorified. And one day receive a body like
his body. I mean, it's a guarantee.
It's going to happen. Verse 13 goes on says in whom
also ye trusted past tense after that ye heard the word of Truth.
The Bible tells us that Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by
the word of God. The word of God is The
Incorruptible seed by which we are born again that liveth and
abideth forever. So again in whom also, you
trusted past tense after that, ye heard the word of Truth, The
Gospel of your salvation. In whom also after that ye
believed past tense Since you were sealed with that, Holy
Spirit of Promise, past tense there not being sealed, they
don't have to go for some special ceiling of the Holy
Spirit. They've already been sealed.
When were they sealed? When they first trusted Christ?
When they believed, after responding to the gospel, verse
14, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the Redemption
of the purchased possession unto the praise of his glory.
So they are in dwelt by the spirit, they are sealed by the
spirit. It's like a down payment.
If you will upon that, which is Promised The Inheritance, the
Redemption. Speaking of the ultimate
Redemption of not, just the spirit being born again, but the
Redemption of the body, when this corruptible body is changed
into Incorruptible, in a moment in the twinkling of an eye.
So he says all of that and he's writing to Believers and much of
what he speaks of in those verses that we just read our
past tense. These are things that have
happened, they've trusted in Christ, they've been sealed.
They've responded to the gospel. Wherefore, I also verse 15 after
I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and love unto all the
saints. Cease not to give.
Thanks for you making mention of you in my prayers that the god
of our Lord Jesus Christ. The father of Heaven, may give
unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation.
Action in the knowledge of him. So this is what Paul is praying
for that, they might receive the spirit of wisdom and the
knowledge, a revelation in the knowledge of him.
And look at Verse 18, the eyes of your understanding being
enlightened that ye may know what is the hope of his calling
and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the
Saints. What is Paul here, praying?
To happen to these. These people is he praying for
their salvation? No, we've already established.
The fact that they're saved, right?
They first trusted in Christ. They're sealed by the Holy
Spirit, but he's praying. That they will be given by the
Lord, the spirit of wisdom, the Revelation in the knowledge of
him that they may know, the hope of his calling the eyes of their
understanding being enlightened. When you compare that to First,
John 5 verse 13, these things have, I written unto you, You
that believe on the name of the son of God again, is he writing
to unbelievers know, he's writing to Believers that, ye
may know that ye have eternal life and that ye may believe on
the name of the son of God. These things are written for
that purpose and they're written for us as Believers.
Right? Why?
So our eyes would be enlightened.
It's very important that I want you to notice in verse 18, he
doesn't say the eyes of your understanding being opened.
Because their eyes have already been opened.
Their eyes were opened the moment that they trusted in
Christ which had happened before for many of them.
For really all of them that he specifically writing to these
are saved individuals. Their eyes have been opened,
they once were blind. But now they see they were
blinded by the God of this world, but now they've received
sight. They were lost in darkness, but
now they are in his light. Now, they can see their eyes
have been opened, but Paul's request is for something to
happen to them for something, to be, given to them present tense
future tense, kind of an ongoing tense if you will, that they
would be given the spirit of wisdom Revelation in the
knowledge of him. So that the eyes of their
understanding being enlightened kind of an ongoing thing.
The picture is this how many times must our eyes be
spiritually? Open.
One time, one time once your eyes are open spiritually, they
are opened. But how often do we need to have
our eyes, enlightened all the time, right every day.
I've said this before, and I'll probably say it again.
I know it sounds cliche, I grew up in a Christian home, went to
a Christian School. I've heard all my life that were
to read our Bible every day and, you know, we can make it sound
almost like a, you know, like a kid Sunday school song or a
Touche, read your Bible every day.
You know, how often we should read our Bible every day, right?
Read your Bible every day. Be in the word of God.
Why? So, our eyes can be opened.
Well, know if you're here this morning and you're saved your
eyes are open, your eyes have been open to the truth of the
word of God. But we need continual
Enlightenment from the word of God.
We need to have our eyes, enlightened by the word of God,
on a regular basis, why? Well as, as we saw in first
Samuel 14, those that did not have their eyes and light and
they got faint and but they pressed on.
Praise the Lord. Let's keep going.
Keep swinging that sword. Keep fighting that battle.
They got very faint now, can't quit.
Now, come too far to turn back. Just keep pressing.
Keep pressing. Keep pressing all the a sudden
now they're starving. They feel like they're going to
fall over dead. You know.
It's like Esau, you know, give me.
Give me a bowl of soup before I literally died.
Of course, he wasn't going to literally die, but you know,
when you're starving boy you just feel like, huh, do anything
for something to eat, whether you feel like you're starving or
literally starving the response, often times is the same, right?
It's the same thing, spiritually, Spiritually.
We get to the point where we're just starving for the word of
God and we have at that point two choices, run to the word of
God or fall into some sin, right?
And may we choose the word of God.
You know, we're going to end it, just a few moments were going to
pray over those scriptures and the John and Romans are
designed. With with an Evangelistic
purpose in mind. So folks could have that booklet
John and Romans in booklet form so that their eyes can be opened
as they read those verses. And as they go through that
marked Edition and read those highlighted verses, and come to
realize that they're a sinner in need of a savior and that Christ
came and, you know, the the gospel in a nutshell 1st
Corinthians 15. That Paul gives to that church
that Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures and
that he was buried and that he rose again.
According to the scriptures. I mean that the death burial and
resurrection of the Lord. Jesus Christ is is the gospel.
The message that we give and those John and Romans are given
for that purpose so that their eyes will be opened.
So that they come to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus
Christ. And that's so important, but
bearing precious seed they also print New Testaments and they
also print whole Why? Because when a person gets saved
though, the word of God is that Incorruptible seed by which
they're born again. The word of God is also by what
we grow. It's also, what cleanses us on a
daily basis, you know, again picture the picture of the
Tabernacle in the wilderness and you walk through that gate and
the first thing you come to is the Altar and the altar is given
very with, very specific dimensions.
But after the altar, you come to the Laver.
And it's interesting, if you study all of the furniture of
the Tabernacle, the Laver is the only thing that it doesn't give
us the size of it. Doesn't tell us how big it is.
What's the picture you first approached the Altar and for us
we go to the altar. Once we go to the Cross.
Once for salvation, how often do we though?
Go for cleansing? As often as we need it as often
as we need it. And that's what the word of God
is for us as Believers. If you're here this morning and
you're not saved your greatest need is for your eyes to be
opened. To trust Christ for salvation to
realize that he came. He died.
He was buried. He rose again, he died for our
sins. He died for my sins.
He died for your sins and through faith in the blood of
Christ faith. In the Lord.
Jesus Christ. All who call upon the name of
the Lord shall be saved. Your eyes can be opened and you
can have salvation. You can settle that today.
But if you're here this morning and you are saved and I would
say that's probably many if not most of us.
If you know Christ as Savior your eyes have been opened but
are they enlightened are your eyes and lightened to the truth
of God's word? Because folks, if we're going to
be the type of Christian that God wants us to be, if we're
going to be the type of Christian, if we're going to be
like the picture of Jonathan saying, you know what, there's a
battle to fight. Let's get something done for the
Lord. Are not going to be able to do
it under our own strength and power.
We have to have what is sweeter than honey and the honeycomb, we
have to have our eyes and light and by the word of God, Amen.
Thank you for listening to the sermon from the pulpit of
Liberty Baptist Church. If this message was a blessing
to you or if there's any way we can serve you, please let us
know by contacting us at info, at my Liberty Baptist dot org,
or you can visit us this Sunday at eight hundred Washington
Street in Eastern. Massachusetts, may the Lord
bless you as you grow in his word.