First Baptist Church Altoona, Kansas May 24, 2015

John Owen and John Bunyan Two Friends

In the 1600’s a special relationship developed between John Owen (1616-1683), and John Bunyan (1628-1688). Although they were both English Puritans, there were some striking differences between the two men. And yet they were good friends. You might call them the Puritan odd couple.

Bunyan had little education. He spent time in the army, and then worked as a tinker. A tinker was a person who mended household utensils. He learned his trade from his

father. Bunyan was also known for simplicity in his preaching.

John Owen was highly educated. He became Oliver Cromwell’s chaplain. He was Vice Chancellor of Oxford University, and Dean of Christ Church. He wrote a number of theological works.¹ You probably know his books are always original and profound.²

Bunyan spent twelve years in prison. He was released, and then spent another short period of time in jail. His time in prison was not easy. The prison conditions were not good. Besides he was separated from his wife and the people he loved.

Owen never spent time in prison. Owen was for the most part free to preach his convictions. This was probably due to Owen’s political connections. He had friends in high places. His political connections kept him safe.

Owen tried his best to win Bunyan’s release from prison. He used all his political connections to help Bunyan. But none of his political connections made a difference. Bunyan remained in prison for a long time.

I would imagine Satan and his company of demons rejoiced when they succeeded in placing Bunyan in prison. They finally silenced this simple, but effective preacher. Even the well-educated Owen loved the simplicity of Bunyan’s preaching.

But Bunyan could not, in the end, be silenced. It was during his imprisonment that Bunyan wrote his famous book The Pilgrim’s Progress.³ Today many scholars agree that Pilgrim’s Progress is the second most influential book in the English world. It is second only to the King James Bible.

It is not always easy for us to see what God is doing in our lives. We do not always understand God’s providence. But this has always been the course of church history. When it appears that Satan has won, God turns the tables on our enemies. He takes what appears to be defeat, and turns it into victory.

This of course is the story of the cross. On the day Jesus was crucified all of hell rejoiced. In their minds Satan and the demons succeeded in destroying the King of Glory. But the cross became our sign of victory. For it was on the cross Jesus won salvation for his people. And after making payment for our sins Jesus resurrected from the dead three days later.

Right now, you may not understand what God is doing in your life. But right now, you can trust God’s providential care. You can rejoice and affirm that God will use your situation to sanctify your life, and to proclaim the gospel to the people around you. And at the right time you will be able to agree with the Apostle Paul in Philippians 1:12. ‘What has happen to me, brothers, has really served to advance the gospel’ (ESV).

Thus, in the midst of our pain and hurt we sing with confidence Edward Mote’s hymn ‘On Christ the solid Rock I stand’:

1. My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

2. When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil.

3. His oath, His covenant, and blood
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.  https://banneroftruth.org/uk/

4. When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found,
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne!

Refrain
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

The Hunger After the Jesus Christ, Luke 6

WHAT IS IT TO HUNGRY AND THIRST AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS
Luke 6:21 Charles e Whisnant

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
5:6 hunger . . . for righteousness. Those who seek God’s righteousness receive what they desire, not those who are confident of their own righteousness. Reformation Study Bible

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled (Matthew 5:6).

21 “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied.“Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.

Unsaved people thirst for happiness and hunger for fulfillment, but they seek Many people have a hunger for the wrong things. And seek it in the wrong places : 2 Peter 2:22. Isaiah 55:2

Jesus knew they were hunger and offered Himself as Bread Jeremiah 2:13. John 2:15-15

WHAT ARE YOU HUNGRY FOR? ASK YOURSELF? Power? Praise? Possessions? Pleasure?

Your answer will determine whether or not you are in the kingdom.

What is interesting is people are breaking their backs to get all they can and what is cool is that Christians will get it all anyway in the Kingdom. On God’s condition we inherit.
Having the right spirit, the right heart and the the right ambition gets us into the kingdom

Which is saying: All I want, God is Your Righteousness, all I want is to be meek before you.” I Corinthians 3:22-23

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HUNGER AND THIRST? AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS?

A right kind of desire. To be needy. Idea of genuine thirst.
Examples: (1) Moses (2) David: Psalms 23; 42:12 and 63:1. (3)

Paul: Acts 9:3-9; 18:9-10; 2 Corinthians 18:9-10 Philippians 3:10
J.N. Darby said: “To be hungry is not enough, I must be really starving to know what is in God’s heart toward me.” Luke 1:53 and Psalms 107:9.

WHAT IS IT WE ARE TO HUNGER AND THIRST FOR?

The prophet Amos said Amos 2:7 That pant after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor, and turn aside the way of the meek: and a man and his father will go in unto the [same] maid, to profane my holy … Read the entire book of Amos … The people – That make a prey even of the poor afflicted ones, who walk with dust on their heads.

The church wants happiness that is earthly not necessary spiritual. A spiritual feeling. But righteousness nans to be right with God.

Means to seek salvation. Righteousness is equated with Salvation: Isaiah 45:8; 46;12-13; 51:5; 56:1; 61:10

DO YOU WANT TO BE HAPPY? Hunger and thirst after salvation. Secondly this mean an increasing in holiness which is sanctification. Philippians 1:9. Its not getting a piece here and a little there but its getting as much as we can continually. In fact we are never totally satisfied. Like David said: Psalms 17:15

HOW DO I KNOW IF I’M REALLY THIRSTING AND HUNGRY AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS?

What satisfied you? What do you think about yourself? What is your appetite about?
One a scale of 1 to 10 what is your appetite for the Word of God? Jeremiah 15:16 is this true in your heart.

WHAT IS THE RESULT OF THIS HUNGERING AND THIRSTING?
RIGHTEOUSNESS IS: Psalms 107:9; 34:10; 23; Jeremiah 34:14; John 4:14; 6:35.

John 3:16 Calvinists or Arminian?

How absolutely, radically different it is when both preacher and people are expecting the living God to speak.

The Gospel is made real to the unsaved not in how well we are able to articulate our beliefs, but in how good we can flesh out what we believe. cew

One of the most misinterpreted verse in the Bible

FOR GOD

SO LOVE

THE WORLD

THAT HE GAVE

HIS ONLY BEGOTTON SO

THAT WHOSO EVER

BELIEVE IN HIM

SHALL NOT PERISH

BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE

God’s elect, God’s choice saints, God’s bought and redeemed, by His Son Jesus Christ, who have an eternal inheritance, are those who have a strong hunger for the righteousness of Jesus Christ and His likeness. And is expressed by their love for the body of Christ in the local church.

Quotes of The Week

John Owen said  “Be Killing Sin or It will be Killing You,

Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)
That sav’d a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
––John Newton

You missed meaning of this…it is absolutely TRUE you cannot be married to Christ if you don’t first turn from sin

“The best way to prove that a stick is crooked is to set a straight one beside it. No words need to be spoken.” AW Tozer

Only Jesus can satisfy your soul and give you contentment. NO human being can do that!

“In a nutshell, abiding in Christ means allowing His Word to fill our minds, direct our wills,& transform our affections.”-Sinclair Ferguson

Rivers of Joy Baptist Ladies Group Trip 2015

 

Just What Kind of Person Do You Want To Be in Christ

Wednesday Night May 06, 2016

 

Have You Worshipped God Today

HOW DO I KNOW THAT I AM ONE WHO IS GOING TO ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD?

HOW DO I KNOW THAT I AM ONE WHO IS GOING TO ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD? God’s intended character?
Matthew 5 and Luke 6
Charles e Whisnant, Pastor/Teacher/ Supplier/Shepherd

1A THE AUDIENCE THAT JESUS WAS SPEAKING TO AND THEIR EXPECTATION OF A MESSIAH

2A THE HISTORY OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE AND THE ROMAN GOVERNMENT

3A JESUS ARRIVES ON THE SCENE: Mark 1:14-15

4A GOD’S PLAN WAS NOT WHAT THE JEWS THOUGHT IT WOULD BE, OR EVEN WANTED:Isaiah 40-66, Luke 24:25-27; I Corinthians 1:26-27

5A THE JEWS MISSED THE POINT OF WHAT JESUS CAME FOR: HUMILITY AND SELF-DENIAL.

6A THE SERMON WAS TO TELL THE JEWS HOW TO ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD

The broken, the mourning, and the meek, are those who enter the Kingdom. Broken in spirit focuses on my sinfulness. Meekness focuses on God’s Holiness My spirit is broken because I am a sinner. Meek because God is holy in comparison. Broken in spirit is negative and results in mourning. Meekness is positive and results in seeking righteousness.

7A GROUPS WANT A DIFFERENT KIND OF MESSIAH:

8A THE KIND OF MESSIAH GOD WOULD HAVE FOR US: Ephesians 4:1-2; Titus 3:2; Colossians 3:12.

9A GOD’S STANDARD HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE SAME: Psalms 22:26; Psalms 25:9a, Psalms 147:6a Isaiah 29:19; Psalms 18:21-23; Psalms 107:8-9; Psalms 17:3-5, 15.

The centrality of God’s way to the beatitudes should be readily apparant from their focus on blessedness, for blessing, in the Hebrew Bible, is intimately related to walking obediently. To translate the word “blessing,” suggests meanings akin to “on the right path” or “on the way the Creator wants us to go”

Isaiah notes a call to prepare the way (Isa 57:14) and explains that the humble (or lowly or poor) in spirit share God’s abode, i.e. the Kingdom of Heaven (Isa 57:15), cf. Matt 5:3;

The psalmist urges us to commit our ways to the Lord (Ps 37:5), and not be concerned because the way of the wicked prospers (Ps 37:7), for those who wait on the Lord will inherit the land (Ps 37:9), the wicked will soon be cut off (Ps 37:10), but the humble/meek will inherit the land (Ps 37:11) cf. Matt 5:5.

The psalmist reminds us that, hungry and thirsty, God’s people wandered in the wilderness (Ps 107:4-5). Then they cried out to God (Ps 107:6), who lead them by a straight way (Ps 107:7), so praise him because he satisfies the soul and fills the hungry (Ps 107:8-9), cf. Matt 5:6.

The psalmist has kept the ways of the Lord and resisted the temptation to stray (Ps 18:21-23), therefore God has rewarded him according to the cleanliness of his hands, for God shows himself merciful with the merciful (Ps 18:24-25), cf. Matt 5:7.

God has tried the psalmist’s heart and found it pure (Ps 17:3), for his feet have held firm to the path (Ps 17:5). After appealing to God to arise against the wicked, the psalmist reflects that in the morning he will see God’s form (Ps 17:15), cf. Matt 5:8.
The Sons of Levi, the peacemakers (see notes on Matt 5:9), once walked in peace (Mal 2:6), but they have turned aside from God’s way and corrupted the covenant of peace (Mal 2:8, cf. Num 25:11-12), if God is Heavenly Father of all (Mal 2:10), then why is there partiality in judgement, asks Malachi (Mal 2:9). It follows that returning to God’s way will stop the peacemakers corrupting the covenant of peace and ensure they act like children of God, cf. Matt 5:9.

QUESTION ONE: WHAT DOES IT MEAN REALLY TO BE MEEK?
Meek: Meekness is a gentleness, and a mildness, a subdued character, but it is not weakness. It is power under control
2 Corinthians 10:1; Matthew 21:5; Proverbs 16:32; Proverbs 25;28
Meekness is a person who has died to self. he bears no grudges, does not worry about his own injuries. Hebrews 10:34, First Peter 2:21,23

QUESTION NUMBER TWO: HOW DOES MEEKNESS MANIFEST ITSELF?
Abraham: Genesis 12; Genesis 13:7-9. Joseph. David in First Samuel 26, Moses in Numbers 12:3
2 Chronicles 26 Uzziah
When a man is meek he will defend God because he has no need to defend himself.
Paul: Philippians 3:3 and Philippians 4:13.

QUESTION NUMBER THREE: WHAT IS THE RESULT OF MEEKNESS?
Blessed and Happy.
Meek shall inherit the earth: Psalms 37:11, I Corinthians 3:21-23; Psalms 149:4

QUESTION NUMBER FOUR: WHY IS MEEKNESS NECESSARY?
Psalms 149:4; Zechariah 2:13; James 1:21; First Peter 3:15

QUESTION NUMBER FIVE: HOW DO I KNOW IF I’M MEEK?

Do I experience self control
Do you get angry only when God get’s dishonored
Do you always respond humbly and obediently to the Word?
Do I make peace?
Do you receive criticism well and love the people who give it

HOW DO I KNOW THAT I AM ONE WHO IS GOING TO ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD?

HOW DO I KNOW THAT I AM ONE WHO IS GOING TO ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD?  God’s intended character?
Matthew 5 and Luke 6
Charles e Whisnant, Pastor/Teacher/ Supplier/Shepherd

1A  THE AUDIENCE THAT JESUS WAS SPEAKING TO AND THEIR EXPECTATION OF A MESSIAH

2A  THE HISTORY OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE AND THE ROMAN GOVERNMENT

3A  JESUS ARRIVES ON THE SCENCE: Mark 1:14-15

4A  GOD’S PLAN WAS NOT WHAT THE JEWS THOUGHT THEY WOULD BE ARE EVEN WANTED:  Isaiah 40-66, Luke 24:25-27; I Corinthians 1:26-27 

5A  THE JEWS MISSED THE POINT WHAT JESUS CAME FOR:  HUMILITY AND SELF-DENIAL.

6A  THE SERMON WAS TO TELL THE JEWS HOW TO ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD? 

The broken, the mourning, and the meek, are those who enter the Kingdom.  Broken in spirit focuses on my sinfulness. Meekness focuses on God’s Holiness  My spirit is broken because I am a sinner. Meek because God is holy in comparison. Broken in spirit is negative and results in mourning. Meekness is positive and results in seeking righteousness.

7A  GROUPS WANT A DIFFERENT KIND OF MESSIAH: 

8A  THE KIND OF MESSIAH GOD HAVE US:  Ephesians 4:1-2; Titus 3:2; Colossians 3:12.

9A  GOD’S STANDARD HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE SAME: Psalms 22:26; Psalms 25:9a, Psalms 147:6a Isaiah 29:19; Psalms 18:21-23; Psalms 107:8-9;  Psalms 17:3-5, 15.

QUESTION  One:  WHAT DOES IT MEAN REALLY TO BE MEEK? 
Meek:  Meekness is a gentleness, and a mildness, a subdued character, but it is not weakness. It is power under control

2 Corinthians 10:1; Matthew 21:5;  Proverbs 16:32; Proverbs 25;28
Meekness is a person who has died to self. he bears no grudges, does not worry about his own injuries.
    Hebrews 10:34, First Peter 2:21,23

QUESTION NUMBER TWO:  HOW DOES MEEKNESS MANIFEST ITSELF?

Abraham:  Genesis 12; Genesis 13:7-9. Joseph.  David in First Samuel 26,  Moses in Humber 12:3
2 Chronicles 26  Uzziah
When a man is meek he will defend God because he has no need to defend himself.
Paul:  Philippians 3:3 and Philippians 4:13. 

QUESTION NUMBER THREE:  WHAT IS THE RESULT OF MEEKNESS?
    Blessed and Happy.
    Meek shall inherit the earth:  Psalms 37:11, I Corinthians 3:21-23; Psalms 149:4

QUESTION NUMBER FOUR:  WHY IS MEEKNESS NECESSARY?
    Psalms 149:4; Zechariah 2:13; James 1:21; First Peter 3:15

QUESTION NUMBER FIVE: HOW DO I KNOW IF I’M MEEK?
Do I experience self control
Do you get angry only when God get’s dishonored
Do you always respond humbly and obediently to the word?
Do I make peace?
Do you receive criticism well and love the people who give it