Hope

I. Hope Begins with Waiting

A. Christian faith expresses itself through hope that God will do what is in the best interest of believers and that in turn cultivates patience. “For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” (Romans 8:24-25)

B. Rejoicing in hope forms a strong cord to God when it is braided with patience and continuing prayer. “Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;” (Romans 12:12)

C. Scripture was written to comfort believers and cultivate hope. “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” (Romans 15:4)

D. Joy and peace are natural companions to hope. “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” (Romans 15:13)

II. Hope Bears Fruit

A. Hope causes people to naturally yield good fruit just as a tree planted by a stream and cultivated produces fruit. “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

B. The happiness of the hopeful invites people to investigate faith in God. “O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” (Psalm 34:8)

C. The peace which accompanies hope is perfect and eternal. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:” (Isaiah 26:3-4)

III. Hope Is the Anchor of the Soul

A. Christ causes people expect eternal substance, meaning, and joy. “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:” (Colossians 1:27)

B. The Christian hope is that Jesus will save people. “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;” (1 Timothy 1:1)

C. Hope makes life stable for believers. “That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;” (Hebrews 6:18-19)

IV. Christ’s Return Is the Blessed Hope

A. Knowledge that Christ will return and set all things in order makes it possible for believers to endure the trials and vicissitudes of life; the good times are yet to come us and for believers who have gone ahead to be with Jesus. “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

B. How far the blessing of eternity will take believers is too great to imagine but it makes Christians the most hopeful of all people. “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” (1 John 3:2-3)

Test Teachers

1 Timothy 4:1-16

I. Expect Bad Teachers

A. As time advances, some teachers will abandon the Holy Spirit for bad doctrines taught by bad sources. “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” (1 Timothy 4:1)

1. Evil will mirror mock the work of God; just as God guides into truth, evil guides into error. “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” (John 16:13)

2. Expect supernatural evil seeking to distract teachers and harm believers. “Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.” (1 John 2:18)

B. The false teachers will teach doctrines which conflict with known revelation from God; doctrine that contradicts doctrine is wrong. “Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.” (1 Timothy 4:2-3)

1. The church has experienced shadowy times in the past when people have preferred sin to truth. “I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.” (Jeremiah 23:14)

2. Sometimes only election only is strong enough to protect Christians against the power and influence of evil teachers and false doctrine. “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” (Matthew 24:24)

C. God has made everything good and made it available for use when it is received from Him with thanksgiving. “For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.” (1 Timothy 4:4-5)

D. God did not make anything which was corrupt in itself at the start. “He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.” (Deuteronomy 32:4)

E. Peter was given specific instructions making all kinds of food acceptable; to change the rule is to oppose revelation. “And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat. But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth. But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.” (Acts 11:7-9)

II. Practice Self-protection

A. Good doctrine protects against bad doctrine, so teach good doctrine in self-defense. “If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.” (1 Timothy 4:6)

B. Do not tolerate questionable teachings; concentrate on things which promote godliness. “But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.” (1 Timothy 4:7)

C. Here is a confessional testimony; exercising physically has limited application, but Bible study and the related means of grace carry eternal rewards. “For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.” (1 Timothy 4:8-9)

D. Paul and his associates endured struggles because God rewards faithfulness. “For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.” (1 Timothy 4:10)

III. Teach the Right Things

A. Paul’s doctrine is not optional. “These things command and teach.” (1 Timothy 4:11)

B. Integrity matters more than things like age; do not let minor things become distractions. “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12)

C. Concentrate on the three primary functions of Christian teachers. “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.” (1 Timothy 4:13)

D. Concentrate on the gift God gave and which the leaders of the church recognized. “Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.” (1 Timothy 4:14)

E. Think through what God is doing. “Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.” (1 Timothy 4:15)

F. Pay particular attention to mastering genuine doctrine and being mastered by it; such an attitude will benefit both the teacher and the student. “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” (1 Timothy 4:16)

The Stone Which the Builders Rejected

Psalm 80:1-19; Mark 12:1-12 / Psalm 118:1-29

I. Jesus Taught a Parable

A. Vineyard parables factor frequently into Biblical doctrine; Jesus raised a familiar theme and gave it a revelatory twist. “And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country.” (Mark 12:1) “Now will I sing to my well beloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My well beloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.” (Isaiah 5:1-2) (winefat: archaic form of winevat)

1. The owner stayed in touch with the vintners. “And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard.” (Mark 12:2)

2. The farmers intimidated the owner’s messenger. “And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty.” (Mark 12:3)

3. The bad reception did not keep the owner from trying. “And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled.” (Mark 12:4)

4. The pattern began to replay like a broken record. “And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some.” (Mark 12:5)

5. Finally, the owner sent his own son. “Having yet therefore one son, his well beloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son.” (Mark 12:6)

6. The vintners decided that killing the owner’s son would get them what they desired. “But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours.” (Mark 12:7)

B. The vintners carried out their wretched design, murdering the son. “And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.” (Mark 12:8)

C. Believers understand, but unbelievers won’t be convinced. “And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.” (Mark 4:11-12)

II. Neglected Opportunity Is Deadly

A. Destruction inevitably follows rejection; Jesus was predicting the end of the Old Jerusalem and the start of the world ministry of the church. “What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others.” (Mark 12:9)

B. Bible readers should have known where Jesus was taking them; God had warned the nation in the final song of the Passover marching music which the crowds had sung as they came into Jerusalem. “And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:” (Mark 12:10) “The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.” (Psalm 118:22-23)

C. Grace is always marvelous. “This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?” (Mark 12:11) “Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvelously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you.” (Habakkuk 1:5)

II. The Neglectors Understood What Jesus Said

A. The spiritual leaders understood what Jesus was saying, but their fear kept them from confronting Him. “And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.” (Mark 12:12)

B. The leaders who would eventually kill Jesus were not interested in listening to Him seriously; their minds were closed before Jesus even taught the parable. “And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.” (Mark 11:18)

C. These people with murderous intentions could have learned from David’s example of repentance when God exposed his conscience. “And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; And I gave thee thy master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things. Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.” (2 Samuel 12:7-9)

D. Eventually everyone will answer one simple question; the answer has eternal consequences. “And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.” (Mark 8:29)

Written with a Diamond

Jeremiah 17

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I. The Problem—Intrinsic Sin

A. Judah’s sin was as hard to hide or ignore as a monument engraving done with professional, diamond tipped instruments; the inner nature had been tattooed with sin. “The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond: it is graven upon the table of their heart, and upon the horns of your altars;” (Jeremiah 17:1)

B. Rather than remembering God and the great stories of redemption, the children remembered the pleasures of sin. “Whilst their children remember their altars and their groves by the green trees upon the high hills.” (Jeremiah 17:2)

C. Though Judah should stand out as a mountain before the world, sin has made it so corrupt that the only solution is to tear it apart until the sin is carted away. “O my mountain in the field, I will give thy substance and all thy treasures to the spoil, and thy high places for sin, throughout all thy borders.” (Jeremiah 17:3)

D. When the church refuses to serve God, it must serve infidels. “And thou, even thyself, shalt discontinue from thine heritage that I gave thee; and I will cause thee to serve thine enemies in the land which thou knowest not: for ye have kindled a fire in mine anger, which shall burn for ever.” (Jeremiah 17:4)

II. The Principles at Work—Biblical Presuppositions

A. When people substitute human wisdom for divine, the consequences are devastating. “Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.” (Jeremiah 17:5,6)

B. God arranges for the faithful to obtain what they need. “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7,8)

C. No one can grasp the full measure of evil in the human heart. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)

D. God knows the human heart without limit and fully understands the true intent of every thought; idolatry cannot be hidden or excused. “I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” (Jeremiah 17:10)

E. No matter how devious and sinful the evil heart may be, it cannot prevail against God in the end. “As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool.” (Jeremiah 17:11)

F. No matter how things seem to be developing, God is king and He is reigning right now. “A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary.” (Jeremiah 17:12)

G. There is no happy ending for people who abandon God. “O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters.” (Jeremiah 17:13)

III. The Plea for Help—Turn to God

A. The disaster can be set right by God. “Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.” (Jeremiah 17:14)

B. People want an immediate solution. “Behold, they say unto me, Where is the word of the LORD? let it come now.” (Jeremiah 17:15)

C. Jeremiah wanted to be a pastor rather than a doomsayer, but God’s servant must deliver the message God sends. “As for me, I have not hastened from being a pastor to follow thee: neither have I desired the woeful day; thou knowest: that which came out of my lips was right before thee. Be not a terror unto me: thou art my hope in the day of evil. Let them be confounded that persecute me, but let not me be confounded: let them be dismayed, but let not me be dismayed: bring upon them the day of evil, and destroy them with double destruction.” (Jeremiah 17:16-18)

IV. The Path Back to God—Observe the Sabbath

A. Start with the message of grace—rest in the Redeemer. “Thus said the LORD unto me; Go and stand in the gate of the children of the people, whereby the kings of Judah come in, and by the which they go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem; And say unto them, Hear ye the word of the LORD, ye kings of Judah, and all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, that enter in by these gates: Thus saith the LORD; Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem; Neither carry forth a burden out of your houses on the sabbath day, neither do ye any work, but hallow ye the sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers. But they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction.” (Jeremiah 17:19-23)

B. Then move on to follow the other principles of Biblical faithfulness—the culture will begin to renew itself. “And it shall come to pass, if ye diligently hearken unto me, saith the LORD, to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the sabbath day, but hallow the sabbath day, to do no work therein; Then shall there enter into the gates of this city kings and princes sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they, and their princes, the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: and this city shall remain for ever. And they shall come from the cities of Judah, and from the places about Jerusalem, and from the land of Benjamin, and from the plain, and from the mountains, and from the south, bringing burnt offerings, and sacrifices, and meat offerings, and incense, and bringing sacrifices of praise, unto the house of the LORD. But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.” (Jeremiah 17:24-27)

The Master Needs It

Zechariah 14:1-21; Mark 11:1-11 / Leviticus 23:33-44

I. It Was Time to Ride into Jerusalem

A. As Jesus finished the walk of destiny from Jericho to Jerusalem, He sent two disciples ahead on an errand. “And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage [House of Figs] and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples,” (Mark 11:1)

B. The disciples were directed to locate and bring back a colt never before used to carry a man. “And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him.” (Mark 11:2)

C. Jesus had Heaven’s business on His mind; that would be enough reason to silence anyone responsible for the animal. “And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither.” (Mark 11:3)

D. There are times to hear and obey; Christians obey because God calls them even when they do not have the answers or envision the end result. “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.” (Hebrews 11:8)

II. Prophecy Unfolded from Mystery

A. The disciples found the animal and began to do as Christ had directed; Jesus was not going to sneak into Jerusalem quietly. “And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him.” (Mark 11:4)

B. As Jesus had predicted, there was an objection and the disciples had the answer. “And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt? And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go.” (Mark 11:5-6)

C. Messiah the Prince arrived at Jerusalem according to prophecy. “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.” (Zechariah 9:9) “And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him.” (Mark 11:7)

D. The crowd gave Jesus the appropriate greeting for the king of the Jews, calling to mind the Feast of Tabernacles when people wait for and upon the Redeemer. “And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way.” (Mark 11:8)

E. The crowds were singing the messianic psalm written for the day when the Seed of David would enter His city and temple to announce the day of redemption. “And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord:” (Mark 11:9) “Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity. Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.” (Psalm 118:25-26)

F. The world rarely imagines that God can be serious and that He can accomplish what the prophets say, but here it was occurring at the gates of the Holy City just as God had said it would. “Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.” (Mark 11:10) “And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the LORD have spoken it.” (Ezekiel 34:23-24)

G. The promised revelation of David’s greater son had arrived and the prophecies were being fulfilled. “In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land. In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness. For thus saith the LORD; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel.” (Jeremiah 33:15-17)

III. The End Began

A God had promised someone would come to the Temple to finally and fully explain the covenant He had made with Abraham and the ancient people of faith; Jesus is that end time messenger. “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.” (Malachi 3:1)

B. Jesus entered the Temple and looked at all the corruption He would expose during Holy Week; the place of grace had been transformed into a market for corruption. “And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.” (Mark 11:11)

C. Jesus could have wept for what He would soon suffer, but instead He wept for the sinners who would nail Him to the cross; is today’s church ready for the day of visitation? “And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation. And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought.” (Luke 19:41-45)