"Quit you like 'Men'." - Sermon preached by Stephen Kennedy, Sunday evening 24/11/2013

Quit you like “Men”.

1 Corinthians 16:13

The church suffers because of a lack of godly men. We need outstanding man to lead our churches, schools, and nation.

I)                   A real man Prays. 2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

A)    Pray with Pleading. Psalms 61:1-4  A Psalm of David. Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.

B)    Pray with Patience. Psalms 40:1 I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

C)    Pray with Persistence. James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

D)    Pray with Purpose. Jeremiah 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

E)     Pray with Promise. Psalms 91:15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

II)                A real man is Plain. 1 Corinthians 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

A)    God gives Preservation to the simple. Psalms 116:6 The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me.

B)    God gives Perception to the simple. Psalms 119:130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

III)             A real man is Persistent. Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. The word stayed means “fixed”.

A)    Fixed on God’s Love. 1 John 4:7-8 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

B)    Fixed on God’s Loyalty.  John 10:27-29 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.  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.

C)    Fixed on God’s Law. Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

IV)             A real man is Passionate. Matthew 25:34-36 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

A)    Compassion of the “Good Samaritan”. Luke 10:30

"Ye Which Are Spiritual" - Sermon preached by Stephen Kennedy Sunday Morning, 24/11/2013

Ye Which Are Spiritual

Gal. 6:1-6

Let a man embrace religion without Christ; let him get into the church without being born again; let him go into the baptismal waters without the Spirit of God in his heart, and it hastens him toward hell, because the shortest road to hell sometimes is through the church.

I)                   Ye which are spiritual have the Spirit’s Birth. Man cannot be or act spiritual until they have been born of the Spirit of God. John 3:5-7 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

II)                Ye which are spiritual believe the Spirit’s Book. The Spirit of God inspired the Bible so man cannot be a spiritual person and deny the Spiritual book. 2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

III)             Ye which are spiritual obey the Spirit’s Beseeching. If God has ALL of you then He has ALL your possessions. He isn’t interested in your possessions, He is interested in possessing you! Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

IV)             Ye which are spiritual walk in the Spirit’s Behaviour. Man is to behave according to what controls him or rather I should say “who” controls him. 2 Corinthians 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

V)                Ye which are spiritual experience the Spirit’s Blessings. Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Rent for Calvary; Sermon preached by Stephen Kennedy on November 17, 2013

Rent for Calvary

Luke 23:33

Matthew 27:27-49

Robert Boyd wrote this about Crucifixion: “Victims condemned to the cross first underwent the hideous torture of the scourge, and this was immediately inflicted on Jesus. He was now seized by some soldiers nearby and, after being stripped to the waist, was bound in a stooping posture, His hands being tied behind His back to a post or a block of wood near the tribunal. The Jews had a law that no person should be given more than forty stripes save one when flogged, but the Romans had no such law, so they often scourged their victims until they bled to death. Jesus was beaten at the pleasure of the soldiers with knots of rope or plaited leather thongs which were armed at the ends with acorn-shaped drops of lead or small pointed bones. In many cases, not only was the back of the person being scourged cut open in all directions, but even the eyes, the face and the breast were torn open, and the teeth seldom knocked out. Under the fury of the countless stripes, the victims sometimes shrieked amid screams, conclusive leaps and distortions into a senseless heap; sometimes died on the spot; sometimes were taken away, and unrecognizable mass of bleeding flesh, to find deliverance in death from the inflammation and fever, sickness and shame.”

I)                   The rent garments speaks of the Animosity of Calvary. Matthew 27:27-28 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.

A)    Rent garments of Sorrow. Job 1:20-21 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

B)    Rent garments of Sin. 1 Kings 21:23-27 And of Jezebel also spake the LORD, saying, The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel. Him that dieth of Ahab in the city the dogs shall eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat. But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up. And he did very abominably in following idols, according to all things as did the Amorites, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel. And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.

C)    Rent garments of Shame. Esther 4:1-2 When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry; And came even before the king's gate: for none might enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.

II)                The rent flesh speaks of the Agony of Calvary. Matthew 27:29-30 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.

A)    The agony of Persecution. Isaiah 53:7-9 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. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

B)    The agony of Punishment. Isaiah 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

C)    The agony of Payment. Isaiah 53:4-5 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

D)    The agony of Peace. Colossians 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

III)             The rent veil speaks of the Access of Calvary. Matthew 27:50-53 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

A)    Access to the Light. John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

B)    Access to the Living. Luke 20:38 For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him. John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: Romans 6:8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

C)    Access to the Lord. Romans 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Hebrews 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

Where are the Nine? Sermon preached by Stephen Kennedy on 11/10/2013, am service.

Where are the Nine?

Luke 17:11-19

I)                   The Recognition of the Lepers. (They Came to Jesus) Luke 17:12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:

A)    Coming to Jesus brought hope for Restoration. Isaiah 57:18 I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.  Psalms 51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

B)    Coming to Jesus brought hope for Recovery. 2 Corinthians 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

C)    Coming Jesus brought hope for Redemption. Romans 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Colossians 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Revelation 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

D)    Coming to Jesus brought hope for the Remedy. Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

II)                The Reaction of the Lepers. (They Cried to Jesus) Luke 17:13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.

A)    Crying to Jesus brought Help. Hebrews 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. Psalms 116:6 The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me.

B)    Crying to Jesus brought Hope. Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; Hebrews 6:18-19 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

C)    Crying to Jesus brought Healing. Psalms 147:3 He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.

D)    Crying to Jesus brings Heaven. Romans 10:9-13 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. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

III)             The Reaction of the Saviour.  (He saw their condition) Luke 17:14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.

A)    He responded by their Distress. Psalms 71:20 Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.

B)    He responded by their Distance. Ephesians 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

C)    He responded by their Damage. Romans 3:23-26 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

IV)             The Recognition of the Saviour. ( He saw their commitment) Luke 17:15-19 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

A)    Only one was Gaving to God. Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

B)    Only one was Grateful to God. 1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

C)    Only one was Glorifying God. Psalms 35:28 And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long. Psalms 51:15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

D)    Only one was Granted by God. Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole (saved).

Sudden Experiences - Sermon preached by Stephen Kennedy on 11/3/2013 in the am service.

Sudden Experiences

1 Thess. 5:1-4

INTRODUCTION: There are many sudden experiences spoken of in the Bible: sudden fear, sudden destruction, sudden calamity, sudden death, etc. The words “sudden" or "suddenly' are used 44 times in the Bible.

Let us look at three of these "sudden experiences."

I)                   A SUDDEN CALL. Proverbs 29:1 He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. God calls of Reproof and often reproved. God calls people in a number of ways.

A)    He calls by His Self. Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

B)    He calls by His Son. Matthew 11:27-30 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

C)    He calls by His Spirit. Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. 2 Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

II)                A SUDDEN CONVERSION. Acts 9:3-6 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. Paul was suddenly converted as he met Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus. There are many sudden conversions spoken of in the Word of God:

A)    The wee man. (Zacchaeus) Luke 19:1-10 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

B)    The weak man. (Thief on the cross) Luke 23:39-43 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

C)    The wanted man. (Matthew) Matthew 9:9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.

D)    The weeping man. (Philippian Jailer) Acts 16:23-34 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. 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? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.

III)             A SUDDEN COMING. Mark 13:35-37 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. Jesus Christ is going to return some day, and when He does it will be suddenly. John 14:1-6 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 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. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

A)    His coming is personal. (I) John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

B)    His coming is promised. (Will) Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

C)    His coming has a purpose. (Come again, receive you unto Myself)

Hell's Occupant - Sermon preached by Stephen Kennedy on 11/3/2013 during the pm service.

Hell’s Occupant

Luke 16:19-31

1. There is a hell.

2. Men out of Christ Are in danger of it.

3. Unless man is born again he will go there.

The sinner will:

I)                   His Recognition. Luke 16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

A)    Recognition of Misery (despair) Psalms 107:17 Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.

B)    Recognition of Mercy (regret) Luke 13:28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.

II)                His Reaction. Luke 16:24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

A)    Reaction for Compassion. (Mercy) James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

B)    Reaction of Comfort. (Water) Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

III)             His Recollection. Luke 16:25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

A)    Recollection of the privileged life. Psalms 25:8 Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way. Psalms 25:8 Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.

B)    Reality of the punishing life. Isaiah 13:11 And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.

IV)             His Realization. Luke 16:26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

V)                His Repentance. Luke 16:27-31 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.