This sermon explores the concept of balance in various aspects of life, emphasizing that being balanced leads to blessings. The text is divided into three main sections, each focusing on a different area where balance is essential: personal life, spiritual life, and congregational life. The sermon is supported by a range of biblical references to underscore the importance of balance in each area.
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John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory,
the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.
John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through
Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 4:7 [AMP], The end and culmination of all things is near. Therefore, be
sound-minded and self-controlled for the purpose of prayer [staying balanced
and focused on the things of God so that your communication will be clear,
reasonable, specific and pleasing to Him].
Song of Solomon 6:6 (TPT) The shining of your spirit shows how you have taken
My truth to become balanced and complete.
I. BLESSED ARE THE BALANCED IN THEIR PERSONAL LIVES.
Song of Solomon 6:6 (TPT) The shining of your spirit shows how you have taken
My truth to become balanced and complete.
1. Our Physical Health is all about Proper Balance.
2. Our Nutritional Health is all about Proper Balance.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy
Spirit…Therefore honor God with your bodies.
Philippians 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men.
3. Our Monetary Health is all about Proper Balance.
Ecclesiastes 5:10 (NIV) Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves
wealth is never satisfied with their income.
Deuteronomy 8:18 “But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you
the ability to produce wealth…”
1 Corinthians 5:7 “… What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything
you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?
4. Our Mental Health is all about Proper Balance.
2 Timothy 1:7 AMPC: “I refuse give in to my fears. For God did not give me a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind!”
II. BLESSED ARE THE BALANCED IN THEIR SPIRITUAL LIVES.
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory,
the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Grace says, “You’re forgiven.”
Truth says, “You’re guilty.”
Grace says, “I love you no matter what.”
Truth says, “You’re accountable”
Grace says, “You’re fine.”
Truth says, “You’re broken.”
Grace says, “It’s going to be okay.”
Truth says, “You’re going to have to work on it.”
John 1:16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.
Romans 5:2 “…this grace in which we now stand …”
Hebrews 4:16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence
2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you,
John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses,…”
Hebrews 10:28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy
James 2:10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point,
he is guilty of all.
John 1:17 “… but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
III. BLESSED ARE THE BALANCED IN THEIR CONGREGATIONAL LIVES.
1 Peter 4:7 [AMP], The end and culmination of all things is near. Therefore, be
sound-minded and self-controlled for the purpose of prayer [staying balanced
and focused on the things of God so that your communication will be clear,
reasonable, specific and pleasing to Him].
John 4:17 The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her,
You have well said, ‘I have no husband,’
John 4:18 for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not
your husband; in that you spoke truly.”
John 4:19 The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.
John 4:25 The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ).
When He comes, He will tell us all things.
John 4:26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”
John 8:3 Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery.
And when they had set her in the midst,
John 8:4 they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act.
John 8:5 Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned.
But what do You say?”
John 8:7 So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them,
He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.
John 8:9 Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out
one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone,
and the woman standing in the midst.
John 8:10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said
to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”
John 8:11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you;
go and sin no more.”
Job 14:1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.
1. The Casualty in Conservative Churches is Grace.
1 Corinthians 5:12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside?
Do you not judge those who are inside?
1 Corinthians 5:13 But those who are outside God judges.
John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that
the world through him might be saved.
2. The Casualty in Liberal Churches is Truth.
Jude 1:4 (NLT) I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into
your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives.
The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our
only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things,
which is the head, even Christ:
Titus 2:11 (NIV) “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.”
Welcome to Part 2 of our sermon series, “Eat This Book: At First Bite.” In this session, we explore the poignant narrative of Genesis 4—the story of Cain and Abel. This story introduces us to significant biblical firsts, such as the first mention of sin, the first murder, and the concept of personal responsibility. We’ll delve into the repercussions of Cain’s actions and the profound lessons they hold for us today about sin’s deceit and the importance of offering what is right in God’s eyes. Join us as we uncover the depths of these early biblical events and their implications for our understanding of justice, accountability, and mercy.
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Genesis 4:2 “…Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
Genesis 4:3 And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering
of the fruit of the ground to the Lord.
Genesis 4:4 Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the
Lord respected Abel and his offering,
Genesis 4:5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry,
and his countenance fell.
Genesis 4:6 So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your
countenance fallen?
Genesis 4:7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin
lies at the door. And its desire is [d]for you, but you should rule over it.”
Genesis 4:8 Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they
were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.
Genesis 4:9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not
know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”
Genesis 4:10 And He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood
cries out to Me from the ground.
Rule #13: Recognize the Law of First Mention in the Bible which means that the
first time an idea or word is introduced in the Bible is important.
I. THE FIRST MENTION OF THE WORD SIN IN SCRIPTURE.
Genesis 4:2 “…Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
Genesis 4:3 And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering
of the fruit of the ground to the Lord.
Genesis 4:4 Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the
Lord respected Abel and his offering,
Genesis 4:5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry,
and his countenance fell.
Genesis 3:21 Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and
clothed them.
The Cain Syndrome
Lord, I won’t give you what you want, I’ll give you what I want.
Genesis 4:6 So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your
countenance fallen?
Genesis 4:7 If you do well, will you not be accepted?
Genesis 4:7 (AMP) If you do well [believing Me and doing what is acceptable and
pleasing to Me], will you not be accepted?
Genesis 4:7 (VOICE) Don’t you know that as long as you do what is right, then I
accept you?
Genesis 4:7 “…. And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door.
Who is it knocks so loud?”
“A lonely little sin.”
“Slip through,” I answered.
And soon all hell was in.
Ephesians 4:27 Neither give place to the devil.
Genesis 4:7 …And its desrie is for you, but you should rule over it.”
John Owen said, “Be killing sin, or sin will be killing you.”
II. THE FIRST MURDER IN THE BIBLE.
Genesis 4:8 Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they
were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.
John 10:10 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy…
John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to
do. He was a murderer from the beginning …”
Now in the United States, there are 19 states that have no restrictions on abortion
Up until 15 minutes before birthing, you can destroy the unborn in 19 states.
14 states have intense restrictions where it is very hard to get an abortion
Missouri is one of them
17 states are in the middle, they have some restrictions but abortion is accessible.
So 36 states in the union you can get an abortion
There is no state that bans abortion completely
Joe Biden said, “The supreme was wrong. Abortion should be a constitutional right in the
federal constitution, a federal right. And it shouldn’t matter where in America you
live. This isn’t about states rights, it’s about women’s rights.”
It’s sick world when one family member gets to decide whether another family
member gets to live or die.
When sex is the God we worship, children are the demonic sacrifice we make.
Proverbs 8:36 But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; All those who hate
me love death.
Matthew 23:35 That on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from
the blood of righteous Abel …”
1 John 3:12 “…Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother.and why
did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous
1 John 3:13 Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you.
Genesis 4:9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do
not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”
I John 3:15, “Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer.”
To quote Clint Eastwood:
It’s a heck of a thing, killing a man. Take away all he’s got and all he’s ever gonna have.
III. THE FIRST MENTION OF BLOOD IN THE BIBLE.
Genesis 4:10 And He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood
cries out to Me from the ground.
Romans 3:15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:
Romans 3:16 Destruction and misery are in their ways:
Romans 3:17 And the way of peace have they not known:
Romans 3:18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
Sin can always justifies itself and we can justify anything we do, even murder.
Proverbs 21:2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,
Proverbs 26:12 Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a
fool than for him.
Numbers 32:23 “… Be sure your sin will find you out.
James 2:13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy.
1 Corinthians 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.
Proverbs 3:7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
Welcome to the first part of our sermon series, “Eat This Book: It’s Love At First Bite.” This message explores the intriguing narrative of Genesis 3, where we encounter the first mention of the serpent’s deception and the significant concept of the ‘Law of First Mention’ in the Bible. We delve into the original sin, the serpent’s cunning, and the profound consequences of disobedience and manipulation of God’s Word. Furthermore, we reflect on the foundational elements of love and worship as introduced in the Scriptures. Join us as we uncover the depth of these first mentions and their impact on our understanding of God’s love, truth, and the essence of worship.
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Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which
the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You
shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”
Genesis 3:2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees
of the garden;
Genesis 3:3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said,
‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’”
Genesis 3:4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.
Rule #13: Recognize the Law of First Mention in the Bible which means that the
first time an idea or word is introduced in the Bible is important.
You can’t really understand what is going on now, unless you understand what
went on before.
I. THE FIRST MENTION OF THE DEVIL IN SCRIPTURE.
Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which
the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You
shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”
Revelation 12:7 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with
the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought,
Revelation 12:8 but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven
any longer.
Revelation 12:9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the
Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his
angels were cast out with him.
II. THE FIRST EXAMPLE OF A LIE IN SCRIPTURE.
Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field …”
Genesis 3:1 (WoS) Now the snake was the top of the animal cunning league,
undisputed king of sly among all God’s creative work. ”
Genesis 3:1 “… And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat
of every tree of the garden’?”
Genesis 2:16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the
garden you may freely eat.
Genesis 2:17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for
in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
Genesis 3:4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.
F. LaGard Smith (quote)
“When I was young , my father came home one night to relate a bizarre experience
Over several weeks he had studied the Bible with a man in our town who had
shown interest in learning more about Christianity. With patience Dad had
carefully gone over a variety of doctrinal beliefs and shown the man biblical
passages which gave rise to those beliefs.
Dad went back to visit the man, not sure of what his reception would be.
The man was surprisingly friendly, but said that there was no need to discuss
any further the same doctrine they had discussed the week before. Dad asked
if the man now understood that the teaching was biblical, but the man said,
‘No, those passages aren’t in my Bible.’
Curious, Dad asked if he meant that they were there, but that he simply had
a different understanding of them. Again the man replied, ‘No, they’re not in
my Bible.’
Perhaps the man just couldn’t locate the right passage. Dad thought. Dad took
the man’s Bible to open it to the proper passage. What Dad saw, much to his
amazement, was that the passage was in fact not there. The man had taken
a pair of scissors and literally cut it out of his Bible.”
“The Jefferson Bible”.
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41n8sKuqEuL.jpg
Deuteronomy 4:2 You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take
from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I
command you.
The devil uses addition, subtraction, and rejection.
Genesis 3:5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened,
and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Genesis 3:6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was
pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit
and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.
John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to
do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because
there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources,
for he is a liar and the father of it.
III. THE FIRST MENTION OF LOVE IN THE BIBLE.
Genesis 22:1 Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham,
and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”
Genesis 22:2 Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you
love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of
the mountains of which I shall tell you.”
Matthew 10:37 “…. He who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
A bell’s not a bell ’til you ring it
A song’s not a song ’til you sing it
Love in your heart wasn’t put there to stay
Love isn’t love until you give it away
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Rule #5 All of the Bible is about Jesus.
Johm 5:46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.
IV. THE FIRST MENTION OF WORSHIP IN THE BIBLE.
Genesis 22:5 Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy
and I will go over there and worship and then return to you.”
* There was no assembly of people gathered in some building, yet Abraham
called it worship.
* There was no music, no singing, no praise team, no choir, no soloist.
* There was no money given.
* There was no prayer offered.
2 Samuel 24:24 “… I will not present burnt offerings to the Lord my God that have
cost me nothing.
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you
present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your
reasonable service.
Join us for our sermon titled “Eat This Book: Keep The Main Course, The Main Course,” where we dive deep into the metaphorical language used in the Bible to underscore the severe consequences of sin and the profound nature of God’s kingdom. This message will explore significant passages such as Mark 9:43-48, emphasizing the drastic measures suggested for avoiding sin and its eternal consequences. We also delve into various similes and metaphors across the Bible, from the vivid descriptions of Jesus in Revelation to the parables illustrating the kingdom of heaven. The sermon will challenge you to prioritize the essential truths of the scripture, avoiding distractions and focusing on what truly matters in our spiritual journey
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Mark 9:43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life
maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be
quenched—
Mark 9:44 where ‘Their worm does not die
And the fire is not quenched.’
Mark 9:45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter
life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall
never be quenched—
Mark 9:46 where ‘Their worm does not die
And the fire is not quenched.’
Mark 9:47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter
the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell
fire—
Mark 9:48 where ‘Their worm does not die
And the fire is not quenched.’
Rule #12: Don’t Major on the Minors or Minor on the Majors, but Keep the Main Thing,
the Main Thing and the Plain Things are the Main Things
In a CBS morning interview, Joel Osteen was asked the question:
Do you feel like you’re cheating people by not telling them about the Hell part?
Or repentance part?”
Joel Osteen answered: “No, I really don’t, because it’s a different approach.
You know, it’s not hellfire and brimstone. But I say most people are beaten down
enough by life. They already feel guilty enough … My goal is to make God good
and let them know, hey, I tell them all the time, God’s smiling down on you right now.
You’re his child. He’s got a great plan for your life. You can overcome mistakes,
and to me, that draws people to God.”
The Bible uses similes to describe Jesus
Revelation 1:14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His
eyes like a flame of fire;
Revelation 1:15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice
as the sound of many waters.
Jesus incorporated numerous similes into His parables to help us understand:
Mark 4:30 Then He said, “To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with
what parable shall we picture it?
Matthew 13:31 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven
is like a mustard seed …”
Matthew 13:33 Another parable He spoke to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like
leaven, …”
Matthew 13:44 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field …”
Matthew 13:45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful
pearls, …”
Matthew 13:47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet …”
1 Peter 1:24 “… All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass.
The grass withers, and its flower falls away,
1 Corinthians 12:12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the
members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.
Job 9:18 He would not let me catch my breath but would overwhelm me with misery.
Isaiah 40:15 “Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust
on the scales; he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.
Psalm 17:8 Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow
of Your wings,
Job 19:20 My bone clings to my skin and to my flesh, and I have escaped by the
skin of my teeth.
Daniel 5:5 In the same hour the fingers of a man’s hand appeared and wrote
opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace; and the
king saw the part of the hand that wrote.
Exodus 31:18 And when He had made an end of speaking with him on Mount Sinai,
He gave Moses two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone, written with the
finger of God.
Genesis 8:11 Then the dove came to him in the evening, and behold, a freshly
plucked olive leaf was in her mouth; and Noah knew that the waters had receded
from the earth.
Psalm 34:15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their cry.
Psalm 34:16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
Isaiah 59:1 Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither
his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
Psalm 91:4 He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
Deuteronomy 1:28 Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our
heart, saying, The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and
walled up to heaven …
Mark 9:43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life
maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be
quenched—
Mark 9:44 where ‘Their worm does not die
And the fire is not quenched.’
Mark 9:45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter
life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall
never be quenched—
Mark 9:46 where ‘Their worm does not die
And the fire is not quenched.’
Mark 9:47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter
the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell
hell fire—
Mark 9:48 where ‘Their worm does not die
And the fire is not quenched.’
The hand symbolizes what is done, the foot where one goes, and the eye what is seen.
Romans 8:13 “…by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body …”
Colossians 3:5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth:
fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
Mark 9:44 where ‘Their worm does not die.
Mark 9:46 where ‘Their worm does not die.
Mark 9:48 where ‘Their worm does not die.
Verses 44, 46, and 48 are a direct reference to Isaiah 66:24,
Isaiah 66:24 “And they shall go forth and look upon the corpses of the men who
have transgressed against Me. For their worm does not die, and their fire is not
quenched. They shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.”
The Hearse Song by Harley Poe
Don’t ever laugh as a Hearse goes by
For you may be the next to die
They wrap you up in a big white sheet
From your head down to your feet
They put you in a big black box
And cover you up with dirt and rocks
And all goes well for about a week
And then your coffin begins to leak
And the worms crawl in, the worms crawl out
The worms play pinochle on your snout
They eat your eyes, they eat your nose
They eat the jelly between your toes
A big green worm with rolling eyes
Crawls in your stomach and out your eyes
Your stomach turns a slimy green
And puss comes out like whipping cream
You spread it on a slice of bread
And that’s what you eat when your dead
And the worms crawl out and the worms crawl in
The worms that crawl in are lean and thin
The ones that crawl out are fat and stout
Your eyes fall in and your hair falls out
Your brain comes tumbling down your snout
And the worms crawl in, the worms crawl out
They crawl all over your dirty snout
Your chest caves in and your eyes pop out
And your brain turns to sauerkraut
They invite their friends, and their friends too
They all come down to chew on you
And this is what it is to die
I hope you had a nice goodbye
Did you ever think as a Hearse goes by
That you may be the next to die
And your eyes fall out and your teeth decay
And that is the end of a perfect… day
Psalm 22:6 But I am a worm, and no man; A reproach of men, and despised by the
people.
The fire that shall never be quenched, and the fire is not quenched
Lyrics “And When I Die”
Now troubles are many there’re as deep as a well
I can swear there ain’t no Heaven but I pray there ain’t no hell
But I’ll never know by livin’ only my dyin’ will tell.
Charles F. Kettering said,”We should all be concerned about future because we will
have to spend the rest of our lives there.”
Mark 9:43 “… It is better for you to enter into life maimed … than to go to hell
Mark 9:45 “…It is better for you to enter life lame, than … to be cast into hell
Mark 9:47 “…It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye …than to be
cast into hell fire
Jeremiah 4:14 O Jerusalem, wash your heart from wickedness, that you may be saved.
How long shall your evil thoughts lodge within you?
This sermon, titled “Eat This Book: But Read the Book Right,” offers an insightful exploration into the correct interpretation of Scripture, emphasizing the balance between literal and figurative meanings within the Bible. It confronts common misunderstandings about biblical texts, illustrating how to discern between literal descriptions and metaphorical language to deepen understanding and faith.
Sermon Notes
Rule #10 Scripture is to be understood in its literal, normal, and natural sense.
The literal meaning of a word is its original, basic meaning.
Man literally means man and day literally means day and devil literally means devil.
Rule #11 You take literal language as literal and figurative language as figurative.
We should take the Bible literal but there are two kinds of literal
Plain literal and figurative literal.
Any figure of speech — statement or phrase not intended to be understood
literally — is figurative.
If the plain sense of the text makes perfect sense, seek no other sense.
If the plain sense of the text doesn’t make sense, seek some other sense.
John 10:9 (AMP) I am the Door; anyone who enters through Me will be saved …
I. THIS RULE CORRECTS.
John 4:30 Then they went out of the city and came to Him.
John 4:31 In the meantime His disciples urged Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.”
John 3:32 But He said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.”
John 4:33 Therefore the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought Him anything
to eat?”
John 4:34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish
His work.
John 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of
this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which
I shall give for the life of the world.”
John 6:52 The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this
Man give us His flesh to eat?”
John 6:53 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat
the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.
John 6:54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise
him up at the last day.
John 6:55 For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed.
John 6:56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.
John 2:19 Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three
days I will raise it up.”
John 2:20 Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple,
and will You raise it up in three days?”
John 2:21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body.
John 2:22 Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered
that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which
Jesus had said.
Jesus never forced anyone to understand something He said.
II. THIS RULE CLARIFIES.
Matthew 13:36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house.
And His disciples came to Him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the tares
of the field.”
Matthew 13:37 He answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed
is the Son of Man.
Matthew 13:38 The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom,
but the tares are the sons of the wicked one.
Matthew 13:39 The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end
of the age, and the reapers are the angels.
Luke 10:29 But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
Luke 10:30 Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from
Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing,
wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
Luke 10:31 Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he
saw him, he passed by on the other side.
Luke 10:32 Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked,
and passed by on the other side.
Luke 10:33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was.
And when he saw him, he had compassion.
Luke 10:34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine;
and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
Luke 10:35 On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave
them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more
you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’
Luke 10:36 So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell
among the thieves?”
Luke 10:37 And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him,
Go and do likewise.
Origen in his Homily 34.3
“Here’s the interpretation of the story. The man who was going down is Adam.
Jerusalem is paradise. Jericho is the world. The robbers are hostile powers,
The priest is the law. The Levite is the prophets. The Samaritan is Christ.
The wounds are disobedience. The animal is the Lord’s body. The [inn] which
accepts all who wish to enter, is the Church. … The manager of the [inn] is the
head of the Church, to whom its care has been entrusted. And the fact that the
Samaritan promises he will return represents the Savior’s second coming.”
Augustine of Hippo aka Saint Augustine lived from 354-430 AD
“Augustine’s allegorisation of the Good Samaritan, in which the man is Adam,
Jerusalem the heavenly city, Jericho the moon — the symbol of immortality;
the thieves are the devil and his angels, who strip the man of immortality by
persuading him to sin and so leave him (spiritually) half dead; the priest and
levite represent the Old Testament, the Samaritan Christ, the beast his flesh
which he assumed at the Incarnation; the inn is the church and the innkeeper
the apostle Paul.”
III. THIS RULE CAUTIONS.
1. Hell will not be decided by a poll,
2. Hell will not be decided by human logic.
3. Hell will not be decided by human emotion,
4. Hell will not be decided by human reason.
5. Hell is only to be decided by Biblical revelation.
Matthew 25:41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me,
you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:
Matthew 25:46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous
into eternal life.”
Mark 9:43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter
into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that
shall never be quenched—
Mark 9:44 where ‘Their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’
Revelation 20:15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into
the lake of fire.
A figure of speech is always a pale imitation of the real thing.
Matthew 10:28 “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.
Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”
Exodus 3:2 And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the
midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the
bush was not consumed.
Exodus 3:3 Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why
the bush does not burn.”
“Abandon hope, all ye who enter here,”
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Revelation 14:10 He himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which
is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented
with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of
the Lamb.
Revelation 14:11 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and
they have no rest day or night, …”
