A. Deliverance does not remove all difficulties
B. The same is true spiritually – deliverance from sin does not remove temptations, persecutions, distractions (Mark 4:16-19; 2 Timothy 3:12)
II. The response (15:24)
A. Complaining, grumbling, murmuring was an oft-repeated response of Israel (Exodus 15-17; Numbers 14, 16-17)
B. When a Christian complains, he hinders the cause of Christ (Philippians 2:14-16)
III. The solution (15:25a)
A. God’s solution involved a tree and water in Moses’ day
B. God’s solution still involves a tree and water today
1. The tree – the cross (Acts 5:30-31; 10:38-39; 13:28-30; 1 Peter 2:24)
2. The water – baptism (1 Peter 3:21)
IV. The command (15:25b-26a)
A. Diligent obedience
B. God’s expectations have not changed (2 Timothy 2:15)
V. The blessing (15:26b-27)
A. Prevent and heal disease, and provision for needs
B. God still heals (James 5:14-15), and still provides (Matthew 6:25-34)
A. His mother, Mary (Luke 1:46-55; 2:51; John 19:26-27)
B. His step-father, Joseph, a carpenter (Matthew 13:55; 1:18-25; 2:13-15)
C. His brothers and sisters (John 7:5; Matthew 13:55)
II. Jesus’ spiritual family (Mark 3:33-35)
A. “Those who sat about Him” (Luke 11:27-28)
B. “Whoever does the will of God” (Matthew 7:21-23; 21:28-32; Luke 7:29-30; James 1:21-25)
A. Jesus is the Good Shepherd seeking to unite all into His one flock (John 10:11, 16)
B. Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12; 1:4, 9)
II. Hear Him
A. Jesus stood outside, knocking on the door of the church of Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22)
B. “He who has an ear, let him hear with the Spirit says to the churches” (Revelation 3:22)
III. Love Him
A. God pleads for peace and unity among His children (Luke 15:28-32)
B. If we see Him and hear Him, we cannot help but love Him (John 14:15)
IV. Obey Him
A. The longsuffering of God is not limitless (Luke 13:6-9)
B. If you love Him, you will obey Him (John 14:15; 1 John 5:3)
A. Forgiveness available for “all sins” (3:28)
B. Even blasphemy
1. “Speaking sacrilegiously about God or sacred things”
2. A capital crime under Mosaic Law (Leviticus 24:16)
3. A sin that starts in the heart (Matthew 15:18-20)
C. All sins can be forgiven except blasphemy of the Holy Spirit (3:29-30)
A. “Sin is personified as a tyrant whose sphere of influence is the human body” (Lard)
B. Lust is an intense desire for something, and in the context of temptation and sin, desire for something that is forbidden
C. The Christian has Jesus as King in his heart – don’t dethrone Him!
II. Law or grace? (6:15-16)
A. The ability to choose sin implies a law of some sort (cf. Romans 8:2)
B. We still must make the choice – obey God, or obey Satan
III. The role of the heart (6:17-19)
A. The heart affects the whole man
B. The greatest command (Mark 12:30; cf. Deut. 6:5)
C. The new covenant (Jeremiah 31:33)
D. Love for the brethren (1 Peter 1:22)
IV. The fruits of obedience (6:20-23)
A. Obedience to sin (of which we should be “now ashamed”) leads to death
B. Obedience to righteousness (holiness) leads to eternal life
A. The disciples – genuine followers (3:7a)
B. Willing to help any way they could (3:9, 13-15)
C. From all walks of life: fishermen, tax collectors, political radicals, and several others about whom we know nothing but their names (3:16-19)
II. The examiners (3:7b-8, 10-12) – these were the “great multitude” drawn by what they have heard
A. Different motivations (3:6, 7b-8, 10)
B. Others already had their chance, but rejected God during their lifetime (3:11-12; cf. Hebrews 9:27-28)
A. “Then the Lord appeared to him” (18:1)
B. Their identity is not yet known to the patriarch (18:2; cf. Hebrews 13:2)
II. Abraham’s hospitality (Genesis 18:2b-8)
A. Abraham showed respect (18:2b-3; cf. 18:12)
B. Abraham offered them rest and refreshment (18:4-5)
C. Abraham and Sarah went above and beyond in providing for these strangers (18:6-8; cf. Judges 13:15)
III. Hospitality still expected of God’s people
A. Required of overseers or elders (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:8)
B. Commanded for all Christians (Romans 12:13; 1 Peter 4:9; cf. Hebrews 13:12; Luke 6:31-36)
A. Man becomes a fault-finder (2:23-24; cf. Exodus 34:21; Deuteronomy 23:25)
B. Judgment becomes hypocritical (2:25-26; cf. 1 Samuel 21:1-6; Leviticus 24:5-9)
II. The Sabbath and its relation to man and God (2:27-28)
A. What is the Sabbath? (Exodus 20:8-11; Deuteronomy 5:15)
B. Who is “the son of Man”?
III. Truth shines through goodness (3:1-6)
A. The Lord’s location (3:1-2)
B. The Lord’s question (3:3-4)
C. The Lord’s emotions (3:5)
D. The Lord’s power (3:5)
E. The Lord’s enemies (3:6; 1 Peter 2:20-25)
A. The only fast commanded by God was the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:29-31; 23:26-32; Numbers 29:7)
B. Other reasons for fasting can be observed: war (Judges 20:26; 1 Samuel 7:6); danger (Ezra 8:21-23; Esther 4:16); illness (2 Samuel 12:16-23); death (1 Samuel 31:13; 2 Samuel 1:12); forgiveness (1 Kings 21:17-29; Jonah 3:4-10; Nehemiah 9:1-3)
C. Just as reasons varied, so did lengths of fasts – from one day (Judges 20:26) to seven days (1 Samuel 31:13)
II. New Testament
A. Many fasted for ritualism (Luke 18:12) and show (Matthew 6:16)
B. Reasons for proper fasts in the New Testament: ministry (Matthew 4:1-11; 2 Corinthians 6:4-10; 11:23-28); sending out missionaries (Acts 13:1-3); appointment of elders (Acts 14:21-23)
III. What about today?
A. Jesus expects His disciples to fast (Matthew 6:16-17)
B. First century Christians practiced fasting (Acts 13:1-3; 14:21-23; 2 Corinthians 6:4-10; 11:23-28)
C. Fasting should be done to help us focus on a specific spiritual purpose
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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