God-Breathed

Posted on by October 18, 2014

“God-Breathed”
by Pat McIntosh

The Bible is a book that has received more attention than other book in history. For some, it is
the most popular book of all-time. For others, it is the most hated and therefore the most
attacked. As of the year 2012, it has been translated into more than 500 languages. Men have lost their lives since the days after the first century simply for wanting to put the Bible in the hands of the “normal citizen.” It has comforted the hearts of the grieving, provided for the salvation of
the lost, but has also been the focal point of many jokes and much derision and sarcasm.

An aging Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy indicating that “all Scripture is inspired of God” (2
Tim. 3:16). The word “inspired” means different things to different people. Some see inspiration
as simply being motivated to do something. Poets and authors through the years have been
moved by sunsets and other beautiful scenes of nature and have been “moved” to pen great
poems are paint what are now considered to be masterpieces. But, the word Paul used has a
completely different meaning. Literally, Paul told Timothy that the Scriptures are “Godbreathed.”
In other words, the Holy Spirit “moved” men to write what God wanted written in
revealing His will to man.

We must also note that Paul told Timothy that “all” Scripture is inspired of God. Many have a
tendency to “pick and choose” the parts they like while discarding that which they don’t want to
follow or choose to believe. We do not have that freedom. It is not like the buffet at Golden
Corral.

May we be those who treasure the Scriptures as the very “breath” of God. He has revealed His
will to us for our benefit. May we lay hold of that treasure and apply it in all walks of life.

Sunday A.M. Sermon – God’s Inspired Word (2 Tim. 3:14-17)

  1. Evidence – Mk. 16:17-20; Heb. 2:4
  2. Nature – Jno. 12:48-50; Titus 2:11-12; 2 Pet. 1:3
  3. Function – 2 Tim. 2:15; 1 Cor. 2:10-13; Eph. 3:3-5; 2 Pet. 1:19-21
  4. Scope – Jno. 16:13; Acts 20:26-31; Rev. 22:19
  5. Misunderstandings – Gal. 5:3

Sunday P.M. Sermon – “There is One Hope” (2 Pet. 1:1-11)

Holiness Requirements, Part 1

Posted on by October 18, 2014

Holiness: Requirements (1)
by Pat McIntosh

Holiness is that which is exemplified and expressed in the Divine Nature of Deity. In His pre-incarnate form, Christ embodied holiness due His divine nature. In His incarnate form He CHOSE to be holy as an example for all mankind.

We are to be holy, but what does that mean? What does it involve? Is it something innate or is it something that we must exert effort to attain and maintain?

Holiness is something that God does as we meet certain conditions and requirements. Paul, when he wrote to the church at Rome, indicated that none are righteous because all have sinned (Rom. 3:10). Righteousness and holiness are both bestowed by God when preset conditions are met. This is seen initially in our conversion/baptism, but is also something that must be maintained by “talking the talk and walking the walk.” In other words, as we submit our wills to His in obedient faith, He sets us apart as His special possession. We are His children and take on numerous responsibilities as we receive that privilege.

Holiness requires us to live a sacrificial life (Rom. 12;1-2). Holiness requires that we respect and heed to God’s authority. To be seen as holy we must keep ourselves pure. We must seek forgiveness, acknowledging that we sin and fall short of His glory. We must also realize that no one can do this for us; we must make a personal effort to be made holy and to remain in that state.

God desires that all men be saved. He has made provision for us all to attain a home in heaven with Him. Will all men be there? No, only a few will inherit that eternal home. Heaven will be occupied by those who have lived a life of submission to His will.

Sunday A.M. Sermon – Holiness: What is Required of Us? (1)
Introduction – Col. 2:14; Lev. 19:2; Rom. 15:4

  1. We must make sacrifices – Jno. 4:24; Lev. 6:8-13, 24-23, 24-30; 7:1-10, 11-21; 1 Cor. 14:26, 40; Lev. 7:22-27; 1 Cor. 13:1-3
  2. We must respect divine authority – Jno. 12:48; Lev. 9:5-6; Heb. 5:8-9; Lev. 10:1-7; Heb. 7:14; Acts 15:24
  3. We must keep ourselves pure – Matt. 5:8; 1 Cor. 6:20; Rev. 2:4; Col. 3:17
  4. We must seek forgiveness – Acts 2:37-38; Heb. 7:24-27; 9:26-27; 1 Pet. 1:18-19
  5. We must make holiness personal – Lev. 18:24-30; 1 Thes. 4:3-4; Lev. 19:1-8; Mk. 12:29-31; Lev. 19:9-18; Mt. 7:12; Lev. 19:34-37; 1 Jno. 2:15-17

Sunday P.M. Sermon – The Folly of Delay (James 4:13-16)

Holy

Posted on by October 18, 2014

Holy
by Pat McIntosh

There is no other word more associated with God and Christ than the word “holy.” In Isaiah 6:3, Isaiah reported a vision in which he saw the exalted Christ pre-incarnate. He described Him with the phrase “Holy, Holy, Holy.” As Jesus came to this earth, He was divine, therefore, He was holy. He was divine as deity and then chose to live a life characterizing holiness (committed no sin).

Holiness must also characterize the children of God, but we do not have it by right of being divine. We must choose to be holy, choosing to live a life based on the principles contained in God’s word. Paul characterized this concept of holiness by indicating that we must be “crucified with Christ” (Gal. 2:20).

A phrase we hear often, especially in the realm of sports is, “If you can’t walk the walk, don’t talk the talk.” It is one thing to claim to be able to do something, but another thing entirely to actually be able to do it. It is one thing to profess Christianity; it is another thing altogether to actually live the Christian life. We must be those who can do both. We must both proclaim our faith and follow through with putting that faith into practice.

For us, holiness will be manifested in our dedication to God, His Word and the Lord’s church. We will devote our time, talents and energies for the cause of Christ. May we be those who are holy and attain that state through obedience to His word.

Sunday A.M. Sermon – Holy (Isa. 6:1-13)
In order to be holy, we must…

  1. Live a life of dedication — Lk. 2:49-52; Rev. 14:1; Psa. 96:9; Rom. 12:1-2; 1 Pet. 3:15
  2. Submit ourselves to His will – Matt. 26:39; 25:31; Acts 10:22; Matt. 6:9-11; Heb. 5:8-9; Acts 20:26-27; Mk. 6:20; Lk. 1:70; Eph. 3:5
  3. Develop Character Consistent with God’s – Mk. 1:24; Heb. 3:1; Rev. 4:8; Lk. 1:49; 2 Cor. 13:14; Acts 5:3-4; Heb. 1:1-4; Gal. 3:26-29; Col. 3:12
  4. Be morally distinctive – Heb. 7:26-27; Jno. 17:17; Rom. 1:12; 7;12 2 Pet. 2:21
  5. Be loyal to God – Lk. 1:75; Psa. 16:10; Acts 2:27; 13:35; Titus 1:8; 1 Tim. 2:8; Eph. 4:24
  6. Allow God to Prepare us for His Presence – Rev. 20:6, 11; 2 Tim. 3:15; 1 Pet. 2:5; Heb. 9:24-25; 1 Cor. 3:17; Eph. 2:21; 5:27; 1 Cor. 6:19; 2 Cor. 5:10

Sunday P.M. Sermon – Avoiding Things That Destroy the Church (Heb. 12:1-2)

I Plead For Mercy

Posted on by October 18, 2014

“I Plead for Mercy”
by Pat McIntosh

Once upon a time, Napoleon was approached by a son’s mother who asked him to pardon the
son’s crime. Napoleon indicated the heinous nature of the crime that had been committed twice,
indicating that justice demanded the death penalty. However, the mother indicated that she was
not asking for justice, she was asking for mercy. At that point Napoleon granted mercy based on
this mother’s request.

This story serves as an excellent illustration of the situation in which we all find ourselves. We
have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). Justice would indicate that we
deserve to die because of that sin. Sin, death and separation would all be due us, as it would be
our fault.

Despite the situation in which man put(s) himself, God provides mercy. Mercy can be defined as
the withholding of that which is due. In short, through His mercy, God does not give us what we
deserve. How is this possible with a just God? Justice, as it relates to God, rewards the faithful
and punishes the sinner. How can God do this and maintain the attributes that make Him God?
The answer is two-fold. First, God loves us and that love motivated Him to act on our behalf.
Then, He provided that which necessary to satisfy His wrath; He sent His Son to die in our place
(Rom. 5:6-8). In the vicarious death of Christ, God’s wrath/justice is served and mercy is
extended through that blood.

We sing a great song, “Love Lifted Me.” When we were in sin, the love of God, manifested in
His mercy, “lifted” us from the fate due our rejection of His will. May we reflect often on what
has been done on our behalf that we may enjoy a heavenly reward.

Sunday A.M. Sermon – “Mercy, Hope and Justice” (1 Pet. 1:3-5)

  1. Mercy – Rom. 11:32; Hos. 2:23; Lk. 1:76-78; Matt. 23:23; Lk. 10:37; Matt. 5:7; 2 Cor. 4:1;
    Jude 20-21
  2. Hope – Rom. 8:24-25; 1 Cor. 10:13; Rom. 4:13-19
  3. Justice – Gal. 6:7-8; Gen. 18:25; Rom. 3:24-26; Titus 3:7; 1 Jno. 1:5-10; Heb. 2:2-3; 1 Thes.
    1:6-9

Sunday P.M. Devo – Reading and briefly commenting on two prayers found in Scripture

Warning: Hell!

Posted on by October 18, 2014

Warning: Hell!
by Pat McIntosh

Warning labels are prevalent in our society. Sometimes we pay attention while at other times we
simply ignore them. Often, we ignore them to our own peril. Despite being warned of what
happens when metal comes into contact with a “hot sparkplug” I once attempted to pull a spark
plug wire off a lawnmower with a piece of wire. That got my attention! I had ignored a warning
and paid the price with a vengeance.

Hell is a real place and is described horribly in the Scriptures. It is a place of “weeping and
gnashing of teeth” where fire burns for eternity. We see it described with such phrases as “pain
and torment” and “eternal punishment.” There is simply no way to put a “positive spin” on the
language that is used to describe this horrible place.

We have been warned about this place throughout the Scriptures. Jesus had more to say about it
than any other Bible writer. Clearly God and His Son do not want us to be there and “warning
signs” have been provided. Do we take them seriously?

I know some deny that hell exists. I find it somewhat interesting that some of those same people
have no problem believing in heaven. If we are consistent, the same source provides descriptions
and gives credibility to the existence of both. Yes, heaven is described as a beautiful place. It is
my belief that it will be more beautiful than those words can express. I share the same belief
regarding the concept of hell. It will be more horrible than mere words can express.

May we choose a heavenly home with God. May we heed the many warnings provided in
Scripture. The choice is ours. Someone has well said that one can go to hell with no conscious
effort made. The same is NOT true of heaven.

Sunday A.M. Sermon – Why Preach on Hell?

  1. The Bible has much to say about it – Acts 20:27; 2 Tim. 4:2-4; Rev. 1:3; Acts 17:11; 2 Tim.
    3:16-17; Matt. 5:22, 29-30; Mk. 9:43-47; Matt. 10:28; Matt. 23:15, 33; 8:12; 13:42, 50;
    Rev. 20:10; 14:11; 2 Thes. 1:9
  2. People need be warned – Matt. 7:13; 2 Thes. 1:8; Rev. 21:8; Matt. 7:21-23; 1 Cor. 10:12; Heb.
    10:26-31; 2 Cor. 5:10-11
  3. God does not want anyone to go there – 2 Pet. 3:9

Sunday P.M. Sermon – But Now Profitable (Philemon 10-16)