Can a man die before his time? Sermon by Stephen Kennedy preached 9/29/2013

Can a man die before his time?

1 Cor. 10:1-12

Man has asked the age old question for many years; “Can a man die before his time”. All of man’s life questions are so graciously given to us by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit through God’s precious Word. The Bible does make it clear that man can die before his time.

I)                   Idolatry. Vs. 7. Exodus 32:6-8 And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play. And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves: They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

A)    They were Religious. Proverbs 16:2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.

1.      Religious only on the outside. 1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

B)    They went through the Rituals. Matthew 7:21-23 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

C)    They had a form of Righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

D)    They were quick to Relax (play). 2 Timothy 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

1.      Swift to mischief. Proverbs 6:16-19 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

II)                Fornication. Vs. 8

A)    Fornication is a sin against Christ. 1 Thessalonians 4:1-6 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.

1.      It disrupts our relationship. Matthew 12:50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

B)    Fornication is a sin against the Christian. 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

1.      It divides the home. Matthew 12:25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

C)    Fornication is a sin against the church. Ephesians 5:3-5 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

1.      It defeats the church. 2 Corinthians 12:19-21 Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying. For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults: And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.

III)             Rebellion.  Vs. 9 Numbers 21:5-7 And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.

A)    Rebellion will cause Doubt. Psalms 78:18-19 And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust. Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?

1.      Doubt His Word. Is His Word really true? Psalms 12:6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

2.      Doubt His Ways. Are His Ways really right? Psalms 145:17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.

3.      Doubt His Wisdom. Will His Wisdom help me? Proverbs 3:19 The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.

4.      Doubt His Worthiness.  Is there really a God? 2 Samuel 22:4 I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. Revelation 5:12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

B)    Rebellion will cause Destruction.  Proverbs 29:1 He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

1.      Destroys our faith. Ephesians 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

2.      Destroys our fellowship. 1 John 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

3.      Destroys our foundation. Matthew 7:24-27 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

C)    Rebellion will cause Doom. Isaiah 1:4-7 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment. Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.

1.      Doom by Sin. Sinful nation

2.      Doom by Separation. Forsaken the Lord

3.      Doom by Sickness. Sores

4.      Doom by Strangers. Overthrown by strangers

IV)             Murmur.  Vs. 10 MUR'MURING, Uttering complaints in a low voice or sullen manner; grumbling; complaining. Philippians 2:14-15 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

A)    Murmuring in the Mind. Titus 1:13-16 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

B)    Murmuring in the Mouth. Proverbs 13:3 He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction. Proverbs 21:23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

1.      Watch your tongue. Psalms 39:1 I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.

C)    Murmuring in Manner.

1.      Discontentment. Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

2.      Discord. Proverbs 6:16-19 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

3.      Discourtesy. 1 Peter 3:8-9 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

a.       Selfishness. Philippians 2:4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

b.      Self-exaltation. Proverbs 25:27 It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.

c.       Self-righteousness. Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

Conclusion: Paul doesn’t end on a bad note; for we find grace in every infirmities and despite our sinful ways, God will always give a time of mercy. 1 Corinthians 10:31-33 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

Treasures of the House of God. Sermon preached by Stephen Kennedy

Treasures of the House of God

I Chronicles 28:9-12

As stated before, through the Scriptures we should know and understand about the three homes given to man by God Himself. He gave first a family home to our first parents. God wants all to know the joy of having a family home, saved or unsaved; this is the privilege of man. Second, God will give to all who believe in His Son, Jesus Christ a future home in Heaven with Him. Third, to all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and are redeemed, He not only gives assurance of a future home in eternity but also the privilege of enjoying a fellowship home with saints here on earth, the gathering place for the family of God. Here we see this fellowship home as the local assembly or the church where we attend regularly. Also we call it "the house of God". 1 Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

I)                   The Structure for the Lord. Temple building

A)    The Preparation.  Before there has ever been any great achievement there was great planning. Many years of planning and preparing was done before the completion of the temple. So has it been with the church of our Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, He is still building or preparing it. 1 Corinthians 14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

1.      Preparation of the Christ. Isaiah 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

2.      Preparation of the Church. Revelation 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Revelation 19:6-7 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

3.      Preparation of the Christian. 2 Timothy 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

B)    The Pattern. Vs. 12

1.      By the Spirit. John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

2.      As the Shadow. Hebrews 8:5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.

C)    The Purpose. 1 Chronicles 28:9-10 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever. Take heed now; for the LORD hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.

1.      For Serving the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

2.      For Seeking the Lord. Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

3.      For Strengthening in the Lord. Hebrews 10:23-25 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

D)    The Picture. Nothing had ever been built on earth to pattern it after, and nothing would ever be built after it to compare to it. As the tabernacle would picture the Lord Jesus as Saviour and His followers as pilgrims and strangers on the earth, the temple would picture Jesus Christ the Lord and His family permanently in eternity.

1.      Christ. John 2:18-19 Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

a.       His Sacrifice. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

2.      Christians. 1 Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

a.       Our Separation. 2 Corinthians 6:16-18 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 

II)                The Subject and His Love. Treasures brought

A)    David’s Summons. 1 Chronicles 28:1 And David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies that ministered to the king by course, and the captains over the thousands, and captains over the hundreds, and the stewards over all the substance and possession of the king, and of his sons, with the officers, and with the mighty men, and with all the valiant men, unto Jerusalem. David is giving the Charge to his Son Solomon.

1.      Moses to Joshua. Deuteronomy 34:9 And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses.

2.      Joshua to his men. Joshua 24:1 And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God.  Joshua 24:14 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.

3.      Elijah to the sons of prophets. 2 Kings 2:1-3 And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel. And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.

4.      Christ to His Disciples. Mark 14

B)    David’s Spirit. 1 Chronicles 28:2 Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: As for me, I had in mine heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building: These were brethren whom he love and people whom he cared for; These are not soldiers whom he commanded or servants whom he controlled.

1.      His love for God. Psalms 18:1, A Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD, who spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul: And he said, I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. Psalms 31:23 O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.

2.      His longing for God. Psalms 27:4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.

3.      His loyalty for God. Psalms 63:1 A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

C)    David’s Sword. 1 Chronicles 28:3 But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood. David had been allowed of God to have the plans for the temple, even allowed to make preparation for its building. But he was not given permission to build it. It was not to be built by a sword or a man of war.

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.

Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

1 Peter 1:18-19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

D)    David’s  Service. 1 Chronicles 28:4 Howbeit the LORD God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath chosen Judah to be the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he liked me to make me king over all Israel: Although he was not permitted to build this temple, he was still a picture of one greater than Solomon. His kingdom here is said to be "forever." This could only be a prophecy of Jesus Christ. Only the throne of Christ could be forever. Hebrews 1:8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

E)     David’s Son. 1 Chronicles 28:5-7 And of all my sons, (for the LORD hath given me many sons,) he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel. And he said unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and my courts: for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father. Moreover I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do my commandments and my judgments, as at this day.  Here is a true picture of Sovereignty. David had many sons but God chose Solomon to build the temple and he was God's choice to sit upon the throne of Israel. God declares: "I have chosen him." "I will be his father." "I will establish his kingdom forever." Here also we see a glimpse of prophecy of one greater than Solomon. Knowing that Solomon's reign lasted only forty years, we see this had to have One greater in mind whose kingdom would be forever. This again could only be our Lord Jesus Christ whose throne is forever and ever.

III)             The Spiritual Lesson. Teachings believed. The treasures were literal in Solomon's day, and so are they today. I know the treasure then was gold and silver, precious stones and other things of great value. The treasure is different today in God's House as we know it. The House of God today may be a very small building or it could be very large. It could be in a busy city or in a small community. It may have cost much to build it or it could be very simple and in some people's eye even unattractive. Yet, still it is to us who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and worship Him in spirit and in truth, the House of God. Here in God's House are many treasures for us to enjoy. The Message of the Scriptures, the Ministry of the Spirit, the Memories of the Saints — these are things the world could never give. They are to be found only in the House of God.

A)     His Word, In which we Look. Psalms 19:10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

1.      The Worth of His Word. Psalm 119

a)      Heed to the His Word. Psalms 119:9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

b)      Hide His Word in our hearts. Psalms 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

c)      Honour His Word. Psalms 119:16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

d)     Hope in His Word. Psalms 119:114 Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.

e)      Happiness in His Word. Psalms 119:162 I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.

2.      The Wealth of His Word.

a)      Gives Sight. Psalms 119:104-105 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

b)      Gives Strength. Job 23:12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

c)      Gives Stability. Psalms 119:33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.

3.      The Wonder of His Word.

a)      Strength for the weak. 1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

b)      Sword for battle. Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

c)      Settled in Heaven. Mark 13:31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.  It can never decay, be destroyed nor defeated, for it is forever settled in Heaven! Forever, 0 God, give us this treasure!

B)    His Work, In which we Labour.  1 Thessalonians 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; We are not driven to His fields but willingly we go because there is a desire planted deep in our hearts to serve Him who loved us and gave Himself for us.

        Lord, take thy servant weak and thin,

      Move through him like a mighty wind

To spread the Seed on fertile ground,

To free the lost who are inward bound.

Anoint his eye, Lord, let him see,

How fast the night will fall,

And lips to sound the message clear, That Jesus died for all.

Two Sinners in the Service - Sermon by Stephen Kennedy

Two Sinners in the Service

Luke 18:9-14

The story of the Pharisee and the publican is the story of two great sinners. One knew that he was a sinner and acknowledged it before God. The other knew not that he was a sinner and boasted of his righteousness. It is a story of a good man who went to hell and a bad man who went to heaven.

I)                   Sinner #1 – The Pharisee.

A)    His prayer. (Self-righteous). Pharisees love to stand praying in the market place that men might hear them. Matthew 6:16-18 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. Here we see his purpose for pray is to show off before men, not to pour out his heart to God.

B)    His Proclamation. (Morality). Pharisees see their live as clean or clean living. They have never stooped to immoral things. Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Here we see his live in his eyes was good. Psalms 14:3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

C)    His Principles. (Honesty). Pharisees boast they are honest in business, they do not cheat, they pay their bills, and they are honest in all their dealings. Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

D)    His Piety. (Religious). Pharisees claim to be righteous due to their faithfulness to pray, read their bibles, fast, tithe, and faithful church attendance.          Mark 7:5-9 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

E)     His Perfection. (No flaws). Pharisees say, “Thank you Lord I am not like this man a sinner”.  Proverbs 11:2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom. Proverbs 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 21:4 An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin. This man seen himself as good and everyone else was bad. He was in one group and everyone else in the world was in the other group.

A man in a certain Scottish village owned  a curious coat. On the front of the coat there were many large patches. He said that these patches represented the sins of his neighbours, and that every patch told of some sinful deed which they had committed. On the back of the coat there was a very small patch. When someone asked him what this patch represented, he said, “That is my own sin. I cannot see it”. So it was with the Pharisee. He saw the flaws in others, but he couldn’t see any of his own.

F)     His Parting. (The same). He walked away the same man that walked into the temple. We walked away lost and not justified. For he didn’t acknowledge himself as a sinner for he trusted in his own righteousness. Nor did he cry to God for mercy.

II)                Sinner #2 – The Publican.

A)    His professing heart. (Humility). Matthew 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

1.      Humility in Spirit. Proverbs 16:19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

a.       Spirit of Man gives Learning. Job 32:8 But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.

b.      Spirit of Man gives Light. Proverbs 20:27 The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.

c.       Spirit of Man gives Liberty. 1 Corinthians 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

2.      Humility in Self. Luke 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

a.       Self Condemnation. Job 9:20 If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.

b.      Self Confidence. Proverbs 28:26 He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.

c.       Self Control. Proverbs 16:32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

Romans 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

B)    His ponderous heart. (Heaviness). Psalms 51:3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

1.      Pricking Conviction. Acts 2:36-37 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

2.      Pounding Conviction. Acts 16:29-30 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

C)    His pleading heart. (Confession). Proverbs 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

1.      Heart Confession. Romans 10:9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

2.      Help Confession. Psalms 51

3.      Healing Confession. Psalms 41:4 I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.

D)    His Parting heart. (Changed). He left as a saved man. Jesus said that he was “justified”. That means he was saved. Luke 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.  Any man in the world who comes humbly as he did, who repents of his sin and confesses to God and cries for mercy can and will be saved. But if you trust in you own goodness as did the Pharisee you will be lost forever. Why not throw all of you pride and self-righteousness away and fall at the feet of Jesus and be saved as was this Publican?