A. The evil shepherds – destroy, scatter, drive them away, do not attend to the sheep of God’s pasture
B. God’s shepherds will feed His flock, comfort them, provide for them
1. God’s shepherds in the church are called elders (Acts 14:23), pastors (Ephesians 4:11), bishops (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:7-9), overseers (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2)
2. The elders play a vital role in equipping the saints (Ephesians 4:11-13)
II. A Messianic prophecy (Jeremiah 23:5-6)
A. A descendant of David (2 Samuel 7:12-13; Matthew 1:6; Luke 3:31)
B. A Branch of righteousness (Zechariah 3:8; 6:12)
C. A King (1 Timothy 6:15)
D. Executor of righteous judgment (John 12:48)
E. The salvation of His people—the church (Ephesians 5:23)
F. His name: The LORD Our Righteousness
III. We might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21)
A. In Christ (Galatians 3:27)
B. We become a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17)
C. We are reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:18-20)
D. We become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 John 1:7; Philippians 3:8-11)
A. There is a habitation built by the living God (Ephesians 2:19-22; 1 Timothy 3:14-15; 1 Peter 2:5)
B. For all of every nation (Rev. 5:8-10; Acts 10:34-35; Is. 2:2)
C. Who seek that grand abode (Hebrews 11:6; 8-10)
II. Verse 2
A. A city with foundations, firm as the eternal throne (Revelation 21:14; 22:3)
B. No wars nor desolations shall ever move a stone (Revelation 21:27; 22:4)
III. Verse 3
A. No night is there (Revelation 22:5; 2 Corinthians 6:14; Ephesians 5:8-14; Acts 26:18)
B. No sorrow, no death and no decay (Revelation 21:3-4;
1 Corinthians 15:54-57)
C. No yesterday, no morrow, but one eternal day (1 John 2:25; Matthew 25:46)
IV. Verse 4
A. Within its pearly portals, angelic armies sing (Revelation 5:11-12)
B. With glorified immortals, the praises of its King (Hebrews 12:22-24; Matthew 8:11)
A. To the patriarchs (Genesis 15:1; 26:24; 46:3)
B. To the children of Israel in the Exodus (Exodus 14:13; 20:20; Deuteronomy 1:21)
C. To Israel upon possessing the land (Joshua 1:9)
D. Through the prophets (Isaiah 41:10-13; Jeremiah 46:27; Zephaniah 3:16)
E. To the disciples (Matthew 10:28; John 14:27)
II. Look at what God has given us! (2 Timothy 1:7)
A. A spirit of power (Romans 15:13; Ephesians 3:16)
B. A spirit of love (Mark 12:30; John 13:34-35; Matthew 5:44-45; 1 John 4:18)
C. A spirit of a sound mind (Philippians 4:6-8)
III. The victory has already been won!
A. The victory of faith in God’s power (1 John 4:4; 5:4)
B. The victory of Jesus over death (1 Corinthians 15:54-57)
C. Therefore – do not fear! (Revelation 21:5-8)
A. God is the source of righteousness (4:1a; 1 Peter 3:12)
B. God is the source of deliverance (4:1b)
C. God is the source of mercy (4:1c)
II. The enemies of David
A. Sought to bring him down (4:2a)
B. Opposing God is useless (4:2b)
C. The contrast: God will guard and keep the souls of the godly (4:3; 145:20; 2 Thessalonians 3:3; 1 Peter 1:3-5)
III. Trust in God
A. “Be angry” [NKJV] or “stand in awe” [KJV, ASV] or “tremble” [NASB] (4:4)
B. Sacrifice (4:5a; Romans 12:1-2)
C. Trust the Lord (4:5b; 27:13; Proverbs 3:5)
IV. With trust comes safety
A. God is good (4:6)
B. Our happiness is based on the hope of eternal life (4:7; Philippians 4:4)
C. We can sleep in peace (4:8)
A. God’s instruction (Genesis 22:1-2; 17:19)
B. Abraham’s submission (Gen. 22:3-10; Hebrews 11:17-19)
C. The Angel of the LORD’s intervention (Genesis 22:11-12)
D. The-LORD-Will-Provide (Genesis 22:13-14)
II. Examples of God’s provision
A. Using an evil act for a good result (Genesis 50:20; Romans 8:28)
B. Allowing “the poor and the stranger” the gleanings left behind (Deuteronomy 24:19; Ruth 2:3)
C. Feeding Elijah by way of the ravens (1 Kings 17:6)
III. How does the Lord provide for you today?
A. Physical needs (Matthew 6:25-34)
B. Spiritual needs (Eph. 2:19; Acts 2:42; Hebrews 10:24-25)
C. The ultimate, eternal need (Romans 6:3-11)
I. Christmas traditions, but not in the Scriptures
A. Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem on a donkey
B. Turned away by innkeepers; stayed in a stable outside
C. The shepherds followed the star to see the infant Jesus
D. Three kings from the Orient traveled on camels to see the baby Jesus the night He was born
II. The Biblical record of Jesus’ birth
A. Matthew 1:18-2:16
B. Mark – silent about the birth of Jesus
C. Luke 2:1-20 (cf. Luke 1:30-33; Micah 5:2; Isaiah 7:14)
D. John 1:1, 14 (cf. Philippians 2:7-8; 1 Timothy 3:16)
III. His glory does not end in Bethlehem
A. A momentous event in history
B. Jesus grew up (Luke 2:52), lived a life of perfection (Matthew 5:17; Hebrews 4:15), and shed His blood for the remission of sins (Matthew 26:28)
C. Nor does His glory end at Calvary; He was raised from the dead! (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
D. What now? (Romans 6:3-6; Luke 2:17, 20; Matthew 28:19-20; 2 Corinthians 6:2)
A. John’s opinion of him
1. “Beloved…whom I love in the truth” (1; 2 Timothy 4:11; 1 Peter 5:12; 1 Timothy 1:2; 2 Timothy 2:2)
2. Prayer for wealth and health “just as your soul prospers” (3 John 2)
B. Gaius’ faithfulness caused John’s joy (3-4; 1 Cor. 3:6)
C. Gaius’ support of missionaries (3 John 5-8)
II. Diotrephes (9-10)
A. A heart dominated by pride and love for power (9; Romans 12:3)
B. Prating with malicious words (10; Ephesians 4:29)
C. Refusing to receive traveling brethren (10)
D. Forbidding the hospitality to the point of disfellowship (10)
III. Demetrius (11-12)
A. Good testimony from all (12; Matthew 5:14-16; 1 Timothy 3:7; Proverbs 22:1)
B. Good testimony from John and his fellow workers (12)
C. Good testimony from the truth (12; Romans 12:1-2)
A. Exclusively “the doctrine about Christ”? No!
B. All that was taught by Christ? Yes! (John 12:48)
II. What does it mean to “transgress”? (2 John 9)
A. “Goes on ahead;” “goes too far;” “runs ahead”
B. Rejects, ignores, or contradicts revealed truth (Colossians 3:17; Matthew 28:19-20)
C. We need dedicated, active, soul-seeking disciples to fill this house (Romans 12:1-2; 2 John 8)
D. To be trusted with much, we must first be faithful in little (Luke 5:1-4; 16:10)
III. We must be vigilant against error (2 John 10-11)
A. Error promoted by false teachers (Matthew 7:15; 1 Timothy 4:2-3; 2 Timothy 3:2-7)
B. We must not support false teachers (Titus 1:10-11)
C. There are sound alternatives to false teachers like Joel Osteen, Benny Hinn, Franklin Graham, Joyce Meyer, etc.
1. Gospel Broadcasting Network (gbntv.org)
2. Good News Today (gnttv.org)
3. International Gospel Hour (internationalgospelhour.com)
But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. (Acts 8:12)
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