Introduction

• We are all so close to eternity. We must let that weigh on us.
• We must do right now while we have opportunity and not trip at the finish line.

Israel’s sin

• Exodus 15:22-25 - Israel at Marah
• Exodus 16:1-3 - Israel demands food
• Exodus 17:1-3 - Israel demands water
• Exodus 32:1 - The Israelites sin at Mt. Sinai with the golden calf.
• Numbers 11:1, 4-6 - God sends fire when Israel complains.
• Numbers 13:1, 26-33 - The spies return from Canaan beaing a bad report.
• Numbers 14:11, 22-35 - God condemns Israel to wander in the wilderness.
• Deuteronomy 1:26-33 - Moses retells the story.
• They grumbled and complained the entire time!

The people complained

• God had it all under control.
• They missed the big picture of how close they were. They were only 30 miles from Canaan!
  • Heaven is right around the corner for us!
• They forgot what God HAD done and focused on what he HADN’T done.
  • Deuteronomy 1:29
  • Complaining is really a lack of gratitude.
  • Complaining is sinful and it’s not a minor thing!
• A lack of faith in God
  • They forgot how big their God was.
  • What are your giants?
    • Isaiah 59:1

Moses’ error

• Numbers 20:1-13 - They were back in Kadesh in the fortieth year of wandering! They were again only about thirty miles from Canaan.
• Careful what you say when you are upset.
• Obey ALL of God’s word.
• Remember … it’s all about God.
  • Deuteronomy 8:11
• Hebrews 11:13

Introduction

• Today, masculinity is considered toxic. Men are despised in some circles.
• Some even consider men and women to be the same.
• Psalms 148:2-5 - Man praises God by the way we walk and the things we do. We praise God when we carry out His design.

Act like men! (I Corinthians 16:13-14)

• In context
  • Talking about great men of faith
    • Paul (of himself)
    • Timothy
    • Apollos
  • Continues afterward of others
    • Stephanas
    • Fortunatas
    • Achaiacus
• Paul interjects this admonition
  • I Peter 5:8-9 - Be on the alert
    • Stand firm in the faith - Ephesians 4:11-16
    • Act like men
    • Be strong - Ephesians 6:10; II Corinthians 12:8
    • Do all in love

Man created in God’s image - Genesis 1:27; John 4:24

• God relates to us as a Father - Isaiah 64:8
  • Provides for us - Matthew 7:11
  • Disciplines us - Hebrews 12:5-7
  • Protects us - II Thessalonians 3:3
  • Teaches us - John 6:45
  • Warns us - Hebrews 12:25
  • Rewards us - Colossians 3:23-24
  • Loves us - Romans 8:37-39

Godly father = godly husband

• Do one and neglect the other?
• Another lesson at another time
• A few points
  • A father’s greatest gift
    • Unreservedly loving his wife
  • A father’s example
  • A father’s perseverance
  • A father’s love
• There are consequences when men do not take on the responsibilities that they should.
• Women, encourage the men in this!

I Samuel 19

• I Samuel 19:1 - This is a good summary of the rest of the chapter. Close friendship between David and Jonathan, but enmity from Saul toward David.
• I Samuel 19:6 - This is one of the times where Saul genuinely listened.
• I Samuel 19:9 - Saul seems to have been overtaken by fear. Yet David was showing love for Saul in serving by playing music.
• I Samuel 19:11 - Michal showed her love for David, saving his life. See Psalms 59:1-7. Compare how David and Saul handled fear. Saul wanted to eliminate the threat, but David cast his fear on God.
• I Samuel 19:23 - Saul refused to learn here. You cannot be successful if you try to work against God! God causing Saul to spend a day prophesying with no clothes on gave David more time to escape.

I Samuel 20

• I Samuel 20:1 - David wanted to make things right with Saul. Unfortunately, the issue could not be fixed from David’s side.

Introduction

• Acts 2:1-4, 14 - The Holy Spirit inspired these men to speak.
• The way God would change the world was through this message.
• Acts 2:37-42
• Acts 4:1-19 - They tried to limit the spread of the message. They realized that’s where the power was!

If the devil was desperately trying to suppress the gospel, what does that tell you???

• Romans 1:16
• Matthew 28:18-20
• Acts 6:9-10 - The Bible is a treasure! Steven died to give us Acts 7.
• Acts 28:8-9 - Paul was healing them even though he was still a prisoner. It was not about Paul. It was about the message.
• Acts 8:3-5 - Persecution spread the gospel even more.

If the gospel of Jesus is that important, we should …

Read it!

• Luke 4:16
• Discount for lifetime license to Dwell audio Bible: https://get.dwellbible.com/wardonwords

Read it carefully!

• Keep things in their context.
  • Psalms 14:1
  • I Corinthians 7:27
• Harmonize passages
  • Matthew 4:5-7 - The devil quoted scripture, but misapplied it. Jesus harmonized the scriptures.
• Compare translations.

Obey it!

• Acts 2:37
• James 1:22

Local churches are authorized to provide for worship and edification (continued)

Can’t the church practice FELLOWSHIP? (continued)

• Yes, a church should practice fellowship.
• But what does “fellowship” mean?
• Sharing in something (determined by the context)
  • (share, contribute, participate)
    • Philippians 4:15
    • Luke 5:10
    • I Corinthians 10:16
    • I Timothy 5:22
    • I John 1:7
  • The word fellowship is never used in the Bible in reference to a church meal.
    • Acts 2:42 - “Breaking bread” here likely means the Lord’s Supper.
  • Benchley has a fellowship hall - we’re in it studying the Bible right now!

A church should also practice EFIFICATION

• (build up, strengthen spiritually)
  • Acts 20:32
  • I Corinthians 14:26, 16, 40
  • Ephesians 4:11-12 - They were using the word of God to build up the body of Christ.
    • Pastors: Titus 1:9
    • II Timothy 2:2
    • Romans 10:17
• Think of it this way: if churches are not limited to the source of edification in the Bible—God’s word and worship—then where would the limit be (carnivals, concerts, sports, etc.)?
• Remember that there’s a difference between an individual and a church (Matthew 18:15-17; I Timothy 5:16).
  • Matthew 9:10; Acts 16:34
  • Acts 2:46
• What about the “love feasts” (Jude 1:12)?
  • II Peter 2:13; Jude 1:12
  • The Greek word behind “love feasts” is just agape.
• “What is Fellowship?” by David Smitherman