In this powerful sermon, Pastor Ed Hamilton takes us through the biblical account of King Hezekiah and his interactions with the Assyrian Empire, exploring the spiritual dangers of making deals with the enemy. Drawing from 2 Kings, Ephesians, and 2 Corinthians, this message reminds us that Satan’s tactics—fear, deceit, and manipulation—are designed to lead us away from trusting God. With practical wisdom and biblical truth, Pastor Hamilton encourages believers to stand firm, put on the armor of God, and refuse to compromise with the devil. This sermon offers vital insights into spiritual warfare and how to rely on God’s strength for victory.
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2 Kings 18:5 He (Hezekiah) trusted in the Lord God of Israel, so that after him
was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor who were before him.
2 Kings 18:6 For he held fast to the Lord; he did not depart from following Him,
but kept His commandments, which the Lord had commanded Moses.
2 Kings 18:7 The Lord was with him; he prospered wherever he went. And he
rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him.
2 Corinthians 2:11 Lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant
of his devices.
Ephesians 6:11 (ESV) Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand
against the schemes of the devil.
Ephesians 4:27 And give no opportunity to the devil.
Isaiah 32:7 Also the schemes of the schemer are evil; He devises wicked plans to
destroy the poor with lying words, even when the needy speaks justice.
Sun Tzu in the ancient Chinese military manual The Art of War (quote)
“Knowing the enemy enable you to take the offensive, knowing yourself enables
you to stand on the defensive.”
I. THE DEVIL’S ADVOCATE: LET’S MAKE A DEAL.
2 Kings 18:13 And in the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Se-nnac-he-rib king of
Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them.
2 Kings 18:14 Then Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria at Lac-hish,
saying, “I have done wrong; turn away from me; whatever you impose on me
I will pay.” And the king of Assyria assessed Hezekiah king of Judah three
hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.
2 Kings 18:15 So Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house
of the Lord and in the treasuries of the king’s house.
2 Kings 18:16 At that time Hezekiah stripped the gold from the doors of the
temple of the Lord, and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had
overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria.
2 Kings 16:8 And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of
the Lord, and in the treasuries of the king’s house, and sent it as a present to
the king of Assyria.
The family patriarch grandfather J. Paul Getty refused to pay the ransom price,
famously proclaiming, “If I pay one penny now, I’ll have 14 kidnapped grandchildren.”
II. THE DEVIL’S ATTACK: SCARE TACTICS.
2 Kings 18:17 “Then the king of Assyria sent … a great army against Jerusalem,
to King Hezekiah. And they went up and came to Jerusalem.”
2 Kings 18:19 Then the Rab-sha-keh said to them, “Say now to Hezekiah, ‘Thus
says the great king, the king of Assyria: “What confidence is this in which you trust?
2 Kings 18:20 You speak of having plans and power for war; but they are mere words.
And in whom do you trust, that you rebel against me?
1. THE DEVIL ALWAYS TRIES TO MAGNIFY OUR WEAKNESSES.
2 Kings 18:22 But if you say to me, ‘We trust in the Lord our God,’ Is it not He
whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah has taken away, and said to
Judah and Jerusalem, ‘You shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem’?”
2 Kings 18:23 Now therefore, I urge you, give a pledge to my master the king
of Assyria, and I will give you two thousand horses–if you are able on your part
to put riders on them!
1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater
is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
2. THE DEVIL LIES TO TRY TO DISTORT THE LORD’S WORD.
2 Kings 18:25 Have I now come up without the Lord against this place to destroy it?
The Lord said to me, ‘Go up against this land, and destroy it.’ ”
III. THE DEVIL’S APPROACH: DIVIDE AND CONQUER.
2 Kings 18:28 Then the Rab-sha-keh stood and called out with a loud voice in
Hebrew, and spoke, saying, “Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria!
2 Kings 18:29 Thus says the king: ‘Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he shall
not be able to deliver you from his hand;
2 Kings 18:30 Nor let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord, saying, “The Lord will
surely deliver us; this city shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.” ‘
2 Kings 18:31 Do not listen to Hezekiah; for thus says the king of Assyria:
‘Make peace with me …
Isaiah 36:12 But Sennacherib’s chief of staff replied, “Do you think my master sent
this message only to you and your master? He wants all the people to hear it, for when
we put this city under siege, they will suffer along with you. They will be so hungry
and thirsty that they will eat their own dung and drink their own urine.”
IV. THE DEVIL’S APPEAL: A FALSE PEACE TREATY.
2 Kings 18:31 “…‘Make peace with me by a present and come out to me; and every
one of you eat from his own vine and every one from his own fig tree, and every one
of you drink the waters of his own cistern;
2 Kings 18:32 until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of
grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive groves and honey,
that you may live and not die. But do not listen to Hezekiah, lest he persuade you,
saying, “The Lord will deliver us.”
Jeremiah 6:13 “… And from the prophet even to the priest, everyone deals falsely.
Jeremiah 6:14 “… Saying, ‘Peace, peace!’ When there is no peace.
1 Thessalonians 5:3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction
comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.
IV. RIGHTFUL RESPONSES TO THE DEVIL’S DEALS.
1. SILENCE IS GOLDEN: REFUSE TO NEGOTIATE.
2 Kings 18:36 But the people held their peace and answered him not a word;
for the king’s commandment was, “Do not answer him.”
Proverbs 26:4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him.
2. SUBMIT TO THE LORD: HUMBLE YOURSELF IN REPENTANCE.
2 Kings 19:1 And so it was, when King Hezekiah heard it, that he tore his clothes,
covered himself with sackcloth, …
3. SEEK THE LORD: GO INTO THE HOUSE OF THE LORD.
2 KIngs 19:1 …. and went into the house of the Lord.
4. SPEAK TO THE LORD: PRAY EMPHASIZING GOD’S GLORY.
2 Kings 19:14 And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers,
and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord, and spread it before
the Lord.
2 Kings 19:15 Then Hezekiah prayed before the Lord, and said: “O Lord God of Israel,
the One who dwells between the cherubim, You are God, You alone, of all the
kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.
2 Kings 19:16 Incline Your ear, O Lord, and hear; open Your eyes, O Lord, and see;
and hear the words of Se-nnac-he-rib, which he has sent to reproach the living God.
2 Kings 19:17 Truly, Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands,
2 Kings 19:18 and have cast their gods into the fire; for they were not gods, but the
work of men’s hands—wood and stone. Therefore they destroyed them.
2 Kings 19:19 Now therefore, O Lord our God, I pray, save us from his hand, that all
the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the Lord God, You alone.”
Pastor McGee said, “Fight with us against the enemies that are killing our children.
There is a war going on in the streets of America. Well pls pray for me. Today
hopefully, I am going to rescue my daughter from where she is in Las Vegas.”
Also pray for anyone who tries to get in my way, that I would ‘lay hands suddenly
on them’ & it would [be] quick & productive. Even though I am really good at
hurting people, I do NOT like that, & I have tried to help them since I got
saved @ 17 in Teen Challenge.”
5. SELECT THE PROPER WEAPONS OF WARFARE.
Ephesians 6:12 (NLT) For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but
against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in
this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
1 Corinthians 9:26 (ESV) “… I do not box as one beating the air.
2 Corinthians 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal …
2 Corinthians 10:4 (GNT) The weapons we use in our fight are not the world’s weapons
Zechariah 4:6 …’Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts.
Ephesians 6:10 … be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
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.”
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: It’s a Literal Meal,” navigates the complex dialogue between viewing the Bible as the literal word of God versus interpreting it with a blend of literalism and symbolism. It confronts the declining belief in the Bible as the literal word of God in the U.S., presenting statistical data to frame the conversation around modern perceptions of biblical authority.
Sermon Notes:
2 Peter 1:16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known
to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of
His majesty.
1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because
when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not
as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, …
Rule #5: All of the Bible is about Jesus
Rule #6: The Bible not only has to be Read, It has to be Interpreted
Rule #7: “A Text Taken out of Context is a Con”
Rule #8: Let the Bible interpret Bible
Rule #9: There is a Progressive Revelation in the Bible
Rule #10 Scripture is to be understood in its literal, normal, and natural sense.
Headline: Fewer in U.S. Now See Bible as Literal Word of God
20% of all U.S. adults believe it is the actual word of God
25% of Christian adults believe it is the actual word of God
49% of all U.S. adults belive it is the inspired word of God
58% of Christian adults believe it is the inspired word of God
29% of all U.S. adults believe it is an ancient book of fables
16% of Christian adults believe it an ancient book of fables.
30% of Protestants say that the Bible is literally true, compared with 15% of Catholics.
A record-low 20% of Americans now say the Bible is the literal word of God,
down from 24% the last time the question was asked in 2017, and down from 30%
of what it was in 2011.
This marks the first time significantly more Americans have viewed the Bible as
not divinely inspired than as the literal word of God.
1. THE BIBLE IS NOT AN ANCIENT BOOK OF FABLES.
2 Peter 1:16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known
to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of
His majesty.
Dear Dr Gott:
An infinitely wise God placed in Adam and Eve’s environment everything that
that was needed for optimum health. Because He did not place a rifle in Adam’s
hand or teach Eve how to build a trap, how did these two people capture moving
creatures to eat? It’s highly un- likely that Adam and Eve obtained enough vitamin
B12 from their skimpy diet of fruits and vegetables, Could they have suffered
vitamin deficiences?
Dear Reader:
Sure, anybody who fails to eat a well-balanced diet can suffer malnutrition and
vitamin deficiency. But don’t you think you are carrying this Adam and Eve thing
too far? It doesn’t take a theologian to conclude that much Biblical material is
symbolic not literal. No one has the faintest idea of what Adam and Eve ate
and that information is probably not important if, as I suspect the original man
and woman are symbols of an unsophisticated and primitive tribe that existed
without sin until its numbers became more human by obtaining knowledge–
a revolutionary and dangerous turn of events for the shaman and leaders
of such a culture.
Bill O’Reilly: “If you believe in Adam and Eve, there are a number of other things you
have to believe. You have to believe in incest because the race had to procreate
off the children that Adam and Eve had. If you believe in Adam and Eve, you
have to reject the science of evolution and carbon dating.”
Matthew 19:4 And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who
made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’
1 Corinthians 15:45 And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.”
The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
1 Timothy 2:13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve.
Romans 5:14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses …”
Exodus 20:9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work,
Exodus 20:10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God …”
Exodus 20:11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea,
and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed
the Sabbath day and hallowed it
2 Peter 3:8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as
a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day
John Schneider says “It’s time to face facts: There was no historical Adam and Eve,
no serpent, no apple, no fall that toppled man from a state of innocence.
Evolution makes it pretty clear that in nature, and in the moral experience of human
beings, there never was any such paradise to be lost, so Christians, I think, have
a challenge, have a job on their hands to reformulate some of their tradition about
human beginnings.”
2 Peter 1:16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known
to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of
His majesty.
2. THE BIBLE IS THE INSPIRED WORD OF GOD, BUT NOT
EVERYTHING IN IT SHOULD BE TAKEN LITERALLY.
Revelation 12:3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a
great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon
his heads.
Revelation 12:4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did
cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready
to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
When the Bible uses the name Adam, it means a literal person named Adam and
not just a symbolic representative of the human race.
When the Bible uses the word “days” it means a literal 24-hour day and not a
symbolic representation of an era or an extended period of time.
When the Bible uses the word “devil” or “:Satan” it means a literal devil and not just
a symbolic representation of evil.
3. THE BIBLE IS THE ACTUAL WORD OF GOD AND IS TO BE
TAKEN LITERALLY, WORD FOR WORD.
1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because
when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not
as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, …
Genesis 3:1 “… the serpent said to the woman, “Has God said?”
1 Thessalonians 2:13 “… as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively
works in you who believe.
This sermon delves into the profound concept of living a resurrection life—a life transformed by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It underscores the significance of living not for ourselves, but for Jesus, who sacrificed Himself for our redemption. The message draws on various Scriptures to explore the multifaceted implications of a life lived in the light of Christ’s resurrection.
Sermon Notes:
2 Corinthians 5:9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be
well pleasing to Him.
2 Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that
if One died for all, then all died;
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.
One is to live as if Jesus died yesterday, rose this morning and is coming back tonight!
Luke 2:11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ
the Lord.
1 John 4:14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior
of the world.
Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Jesus came to save us from sin.
Matthew 1:21 NLT And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he
will save his people from their sins.”
Jesus came to save us from death.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Jesus came to save us from judgment.
1 Thessalonians 1:10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from
the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
1. RESURRECTION LIFE SAVES US FROM LIVING FOR SELF.
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.
County Common Pleas Court Judge Brendan Sheehan told Candelario (quote)
” You left your child trapped in a tiny prison for days while you were out having a good
time and you committed the ultimate betrayal by leaving your daughter alone without
food. Just as you didn’t let Jailyn out of her confinement, so too you should spend
the rest of your life in a cell without freedom. The only difference will be, the prison
will at least feed you and give you liquid that you denied her.”
At the sentencing, lead detective T.J. Powell wrote a poem he read:
J is for the justice that will be received today.
A is for the angel wings she earned on that dreadful day.
I is for the incremental repetition buildup of suspense for a … death that clearly
makes no sense.
L is for the lack of love while alone for 11 days.
Y is for a young life that was taken away.
N is for new eternal life Jailyn gained on that day. No child should ever have to die this way.
2. RESURRECTION LIFE MEANS LIVING FOR JESUS.
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.
John 10:10 “… I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more
abundantly.”
Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ
lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God,
who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Romans 6:4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that
just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also
should walk in newness of life.
3. RESURRECTION LIFE MEANS PLEASING JESUS.
2 Corinthians 5:9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be
well pleasing to Him.
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.
4. RESURRECTION LIFE EMBODIES LOVING JESUS.
2 Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ compels us …”
1 John 4:19 We love Him because He first loved us.
5. RESURRECTION LIFE SIGNALS A NEW VIEWPOINT OF OTHERS.
2 Corinthians 5:16 So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view.
At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently
we know him now!
2 Corinthians 5:17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a
new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things
have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
6. RESURRECTION LIFE EXPLAINS BEING CRAZY FOR JESUS.
2 Corinthians 5:13 (NIV) If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God;
2 Corintians 5:13 (NLT) If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God.
1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness;
Acts 26:24 (NLT) Suddenly, Festus shouted, “Paul, you are insane. Too much study
has made you crazy!”
Mark 3:21 When his family heard what was happening, they tried to take him away.
“He’s out of his mind,” they said.
John 10:’20 And many of them said, “He has a demon and is mad. Why do you listen
to Him?”
1 Peter 2:9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation,
a peculiar people;…”
A.W. Tozer writes in The Root of the Righteous (quote p.156)
” A real Christian is an odd number anyway. He feels supreme love for One whom
he has never seen, talks familiarly every day to Someone he cannot see, expects
to go to heaven on the virtue of Another, empties himself in order to be full,
admits he is wrong so he can be declared right, goes down in order to get up,
is strongest when he is weakest, richest when he is poorest, and happiest when
he feels worst. He dies so he can live, forsakes in order to have, gives away so
he can keep, sees the invisible, hears the inaudible …”
Adrian Rogers said, “I may be a nut, but I’m fastened to a good bolt, the Lord Jesus
Christ.”
Love makes people do crazy things.
William Borden, 1887-1913.
The epitaph at the bottom of William Borden’s tombstone ends with the phrase,
“Apart from faith in Christ, there is no explanation for such a life.”
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.
