Sticks and Stones, Words of Criticism

by avministry | Oct 2, 2022 | Sermons

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Matthew 11:15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
Matthew 11:16 “But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children
sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions,
Matthew 11:17 and saying: “We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
We mourned to you, and you did not lament.’
Matthew 11:18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has
a demon.’
Matthew 11:19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look,
a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is
justified by her children.”

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.

Matthew 11:16 “But to what shall I liken this generation?

I. CHRISTIANS CAN’T LIVE TO PLEASE OTHERS.
Matthew 11:16 “But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children
sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions,
Matthew 11:16 (NLT) It is like children playing a game in the public square.
They complain to their friends,

Skip a rope, skip a rope
Oh, listen to the children while they play
Now ain’t it kinda funny what the children say
Daddy hates mommy, mommy hates dad
Last night you shoulda heard the fight they had
Gave little sister another bad dream
She woke us all up with a terrible scream

Matthew 11:16 “… children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions,
Matthew 11:17 and saying: “We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
We mourned to you, and you did not lament.’

Here come the sticks and stones aimed at John.
Matthew 11:18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has
a demon.’

The critics say John has a demon.
While Jesus says he’s the greatest man who’s ever lived.

Matthew 11:19 “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, …”

Matthew 9:14 Then John’s disciples approached him with the question, “Why is
it that we and the Pharisees observe the fasts, but your disciples do nothing of
the kind?”
Matthew 9:15 “Can you expect wedding-guests to mourn while they have the
bridegroom with them?” replied Jesus. “The day will come when the bridegroom
will be taken away from them—they will certainly fast then!”

Here come the sticks and stones aimed at Jesus
Matthew 11:19 “… and they say, “Look a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of
tax collectors and sinners!’

Jesus knows gluttons, and Jesus knows drunkards, but Jesus has come as
their savior, and not as their enabler.

A critic is someone who defines themselves by who or what they are against.

If Jesus could not make people happy then who could?

Galatians 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men?
For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

II. CHRISTIANS CAN’T LIVE TO PLEASE OURSELVES.
2 Corinthians 5:15 And He died for all, that those who live should live no longer
for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

Romans 14:9 “… whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.

The hymn “Have Thine Own Way, Lord” includes the line:
Mold me and make me after Thy will.

III. CHRISTIANS MUST LIVE TO PLEASE OUR LORD.
Matthew 11:19 ” … But wisdom is justified by her children.”
Matthew 11:19 (NLT) … But wisdom is shown to be right by its results.

God’s wisdom is justified in changed lives.

Galatians 1:10 (NLT) “…If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s
servant.

Vance Havner said, “If I please Him, it matters not who I displease.
But, if I don’t please Him, it matters not who I please!”

John 8:29 And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone,
for I always do those things that please Him.”

The Church On The Rock

by avministry | Sep 25, 2022 | Sermons

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Matthew 16:15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Matthew 16:16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of
the living God.”
Matthew 16:17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah,
for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 16:18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build
My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

Jesus is involved in three very important building projects.
1) He is involved in building a home for our future, a place called heaven.
John 14:2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have
told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
2) He is also interested in building a home for your family.
Psalm 127:1 Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it:
3) He is involved in building a place for our faith, the church.
Matthew 16:18 “… I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail
against it.

Matthew 18:15 “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault
between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.
Matthew 18:16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by
the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’
Matthew 18:17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses
even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.

The audience Jesus is addressing, the Apostles, they don’t know what a church is.
They’ve never seen a church because there’s never been one.
They’ve never seen a church building.
They’ve never heard of any kind of organization with a denominational label.
They’ve never met a pastor or an elder or a deacon.
They have no idea what a church.

Acts 2:47 “… And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

Ephesians 5:25 … Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

I. THE SUPERNATURAL FORMATION OF THE CHURCH.
Matthew 16:18 … I will build my church …

II. THE SWEET FELLOWSHIP OF THE CHURCH.
Matthew 16:18 “… I will build my church (Ekklesia).

1 Peter 2:5 You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house,…

III. THE SATANIC FOE OF THE CHURCH.
Matthew 16:18 “… and the gates of hell … against it. ”

The devil comes against the church from the outside through persecution
and from the inside by infiltration.

Satan came against “the church at Ephesus,” with counterfeit apostles and
false doctrine
Revelation 2:2 “… they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;
Revelation 2:6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans,
which I also hate.
Satan came against “the church at Smyrna,” with infiltration and persecution
Revelation 2:9 … are a synagogue of Satan.
Revelation 2:10 … the devil is about to throw some of you into prison,
Satan came against “the church at Pergamos,” with martyrdom and false doctrine
Revelation 2:13 … Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you,
where Satan dwells.
Revelation 2:15 ” … you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans,
which thing I hate.
Satan came against “the church in Thyatira” with a false prophetess, sexual
immorality and doctrines of demons
Revelation 2:20 ” … you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess,
to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality …
Revelation 2:24 ” … this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan,
Satan came against “the church at Sardis,” with death and destruction in the church
Revelation 3:2 “… the things which remain, that are ready to die,”
Satan came against “the church at Philadelphia,” with Satanic activity and lies
Revelation 3:9 … those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and
are not, but lie
Satan came against “the church at Philadelphia,” with Satanic activity and lies
Revelation 3:9 … those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and
are not, but lie
Satan came against ” the chuch at Laodicea ” with apathy and deception
Revelation 3:16 … thou art lukewarm,
Revelation 3:17 “… you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need
of nothing’– and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind,
and naked”

Ephesus, Perguma and Laodicea no longer exist because Jesus ” removed
their lampstand.”
Revelation 2:5 “… I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from
its place—unless you repent.

10,000 churches in America have disappeared in a five-year period.
50% of new church starts never make it to a second year
In our own association of churches since I have been a pastor
Connor Avenue Baptist church had existed since 1903 went out of business.
Zion Baptist church had existed since 1904 went out of business.
Asbury Baptist church had existed since 1905 went out of business.
Empire Baptist church had existed since 1907 went out of business.
Racine Baptist church had existed since 1916 went out of business.
Brooklyn Heights church had existed since 1945 went out of business.
Friendship Baptist church had existed since 1946 went out of business.
College View church had existed since 1976 went out of business.
Eastvue Baptist church had existed since 1980 went out of business.

IV. THE SURE FUTURE OF THE CHURCH.
Matthew 16:18 … and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Gates are a means of entrance by which you pass from one realm to another.
What’s a gate for? To keep somebody in.
All of us as lost people were kept within the gates of hell, the Bible says we were
condemned already when Christ came and rescued us and delivered us from hell
That’s the idea presented here.

We sing a hymn that includes those lines:
He cannot fail, He must prevail.
Have faith in God, have faith in God.

The church is not temporary. The church is eternal.
The church right now is found in heaven and on earth.
Ephesians 3:15 From whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

V. THE SOLID FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH.
Matthew 16:18 “… on this rock, I will build my church.

Matthew 16:15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Matthew 16:16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of
the living God.”

Matthew 16:17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah,
for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 16:18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build
My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

Ephesians 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets,
Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

The church is not built on people alone; nor is it built on a confession alone.
The church is built on people confessing together that Jesus is the Christ, the
Son of God. That is the foundation of the church.

John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the
sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
John 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will
of man, but of God.

Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

The Rock Show: God Is Able To Raise Up Children From Stones

by avministry | Sep 11, 2022 | Sermons

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Matthew 3:1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness
of Judea,
Matthew 3:2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”
Matthew 3:3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:
The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make
His paths straight.’ ”
Matthew 3:4 Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt
around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.
Matthew 3:5 Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan
went out to him
Matthew 3:6 And were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
Matthew 3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to
his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from
the wrath to come?
Matthew 3:8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,
Matthew 3:9 And do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our
father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from
these stones.

God is God so He does not need anything from us and He does not need us
for anything.

Matthew 4:3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son
of God, command that these stones become bread.”

A. W. Tozer, said, ” Were every person on earth to become an atheist, it would
not affect God in any way. ”

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Hebrews 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

I. HERE COME THE SEPARATISTS AND THE SECULARISTS.
Matthew 3:7 “But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to
his baptism,…”

2 Timothy 3:5 (NLT) They will act religious, but they will reject the power that
could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!

F.F. Bruce notes, ” A Sadducee could not become a Christian without abandoning
the distinctive theological position of his party.”
Acts 23:8 For Sadducees say that there is no resurrection–and no angel or spirit;
but the Pharisees confess both.

1 Corinthians 15:16 For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen.
1 Corinthians 15:17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in
your sins!

Matthew 22:29 Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not knowing
the Scriptures nor the power of God.

II. PREACHING TO SNAKES.
Matthew 3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming
to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! …”

Acts 28:3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire,
a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand.

Matthew 12:34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things?
Matthew 23:33 Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation
of hell?

III. A WARNING OF THE WRATH TO COME.
Matthew 3:7 “… Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

1 Corinthians 16:22 If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be
accursed…

Psalm 7:11 God is a just judge, and God is angry with the wicked every day.

Revelation 21:8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually
immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which
burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

IV. THE FRUIT OF REPENTANCE: A CHANGED LIFE.
Matthew 3:8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,

Matthew 3:2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

Luke 3:10 So the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?”
Luke 3:11 He answered and said to them, “He who has two tunics, let him give to
him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.”
Luke 3:12 Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher,
what shall we do?”
Luke 3:13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than what is appointed for you.”
Luke 3:14 Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?”
So he said to them, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content
with your wages.”

Salvation is always present tense.
It’s not past tense —-
It’s not about something we once did that has no bearing upon what we do now.

V. THE ROCK SHOW: RAISING UP CHILDREN FROM STONES.
Matthew 3:9 And do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our
father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from
these stones.

There was an old song “Hearts of stone.”
Hearts made of stone
Will never break,
And the love you give,
It just won’t take.

Acts 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being;

The Rock Concert: Before The Rocks Cry Out

by avministry | Sep 4, 2022 | Sermons

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Luke 19:37 Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives,
the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud
voice for all the mighty works they had seen,
Luke 19:38 saying: “‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!’
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
Luke 19:39 And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher,
rebuke Your disciples.”
Luke 19:40 But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep
silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”

The word “enthusiasm” comes from the Greek word “entheos” Theos meaning
“God” and “en” meaning “in” which combined means the God within.
It meant “possessed by a god, inspired.”
It was originally used in a derogatory sense to describe excessive religious zeal.
Now the happiest, most interesting people are those who have found the secret
of maintaining their enthusiasm for the presence of Jesus within.

Psalm 100:1 Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!
Psalm 100:2 Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with
singing.
Psalm 100:4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our
Lord Jesus Christ.

Now in the crowd that day, we have the typical categories of people gathered.
We have the true followers of Jesus, we have the false followers of Jesus, and
we have the complete rejectors of Jesus.
The good, the bad and the ugly.

I. HAIL, THE CONQUERING HERO!
Luke 19:37 Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives,
the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud
voice for all the mighty works they had seen,

Zechariah 9:9 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding
on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Psalm 118:26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Luke 19:38 saying: “‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!’
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

Matthew 15:7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:
Matthew 15:8 ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me
with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.

II. HERE COME THE CENSORS.
Luke 19:39 And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher,
rebuke Your disciples.”

Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled
with the Spirit;
Ephesians 5:18 (PHILLIPS) Don’t get your stimulus from wine (for there is always
the danger of excessive drinking), but let the Spirit stimulate your souls.
Ephesians 5:18 (TLB) Don’t drink too much wine, for many evils lie along that
path; be filled instead with the Holy Spirit and controlled by him.

2 Samuel 6:14 Then David danced before the Lord with all his might; and
David was wearing a linen ephod.
2 Samuel 6:15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord
with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.

2 Samuel 6:16 Now as the ark of the Lord came into the City of David, Michal,
Saul’s daughter, looked through a window and saw King David leaping and
whirling before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart.

2 Samuel 6:21 So David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me
instead of your father and all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people
of the Lord, over Israel. Therefore I will play music before the Lord.
2 Samuel 6:22 And I will be even more undignified than this, and will be
humble in my own sight …”
2 Samuel 6:23 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no children to the day
of her death.

III. LET HEAVEN AND NATURE SING.
Luke 19:40 But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep
silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”

Creation praises God by simply being itself.
Psalm 19:1 “The heavens declare the glory of God …”

Before the rocks cry out
I just have to praise Him
Just have to thank Him
For all that He’s done
Before all nature rises up to shout
Just have to thank Him
For all He’s done for me.

Romans 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth
pangs together until now.

Psalm 96:11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; Let the sea roar,
and all its fullness;
Psalm 96:12 Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the
woods will rejoice before the Lord.
Psalm 98:8 Let the rivers clap their hands; Let the hills be joyful together before
the Lord,
Isaiah 35:1 The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, and
the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose;
Isaiah 35:2 It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, even with joy and singing.
Isaiah 55:12 “… The mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before
you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let Earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And Heaven and nature sing
Joy to the Earth, the Savior reigns
Let all their songs employ
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy

Karl Barth wrote, “When man accepts again his destiny in Jesus Christ–he is only
like a late-comer slipping shamefacedly into creation’s choir in heaven and earth,
which has never ceased its praise”.

IV. WHY DID JESUS CRY?
Luke 19:41 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it,

1. Jesus wept because they had missed their opportunity.
Luke 19:42 saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the
things that make for your peace! …”

Jeremiah 9:1 Oh, that my head were waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears,
that I might weep day and night

Jeremiah 8:20 “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved!”

2 Corinthians 6:2 “…Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day
of salvation.

2. Jesus wept because of their spiritual blindness.
Luke 19:42 “… But now they are hidden from your eyes.

It’s hidden from your eyes now.
You would not believe, and now you cannot believe
There was a time for you to see and believe, now it’s not possible.

3. Jesus wept because He knows what’s coming.
Luke 19:43 For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an
around you, surround you and close you in on every side,
Luke 19:44 and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they
will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the
time of your visitation.”

There is a line by us not seen;
Which crosses every path.
It is the hidden boundry,
Between God’s mercy and God’s wrath.