Providence Baptist Church Burlington: Recent Episodes
The kingdom of God must not come by vengeful anger but humble trust that leaves vindication too the Lord.
The familiar story of David and Goliath is often misunderstood and improperly applied. It's not ultimately about us - we aren't the heroes. By God's design, this event is a partial, imperfect fulfillment of Genesis 3:15 and a picture of the Gospel. Though our defiant foe wants us dominated, disgraced and dead, Christ our champion will crush the serpent's head.
Saul fails to obey the Lord's command to completely annihilate the Amalekites. Since he rejected God's Word, the LORD rejects him from being king. 'To obey is better than sacrifice,' Samuel declares. A king is needed to represent God's people who will both obey and offer sacrifice. God promises such a king: one who is better than Saul and higher than Agag.
Christianity is not DIY project- we can't do it our own way, adding or subtracting from the Lord's commands as we see fit. Such self-made religion is not only legalistic and lawless but also lethal. Saul's rash vow illustrates this vividly, yet all the while the Lord advances His saving purposes for HIs people.
Saul and Jonathan become embroiled in war with an outraged Philistine army that that has them outnumbered and outgunned. Their enemies test their faith, proving one man to be fearful and the other faithful. Don't fear the foe, have faith that nothing can stop the LORD from saving.
Though the enemy wants us for blind bondservants, disarmed and disgraced, the Lord saves by His Spirit and His Anointed King. Call upon your God and submit to the Man whom He has appointed.
The Lord gives Israel what they desire- a king like the nations. Saul's outward qualities seem fitting of leadership but he lacks competency, character and conviction. Nonetheless, God's sovereignty orchestrates the appointment of Saul as both a means of judgment and a means of deliverance for His people. Men of valour do well to trust the Lord's revealed will when they man not understand His acts in history.
When sinful men reject God's reign, the Lord sometimes gives them what they desire. Yet, even this rejection is part of His plan of redemption.
A holy God cannot be worshipped according to our own ideas, innovations, or inventions- we must approach Him as He appoints in His Word, with reverence and awe.
We must be willing to lay down our rights in self denial in order to love our brother and to advance the Gospel, because Christ denied his own rights and gave Himself up for us.
The book of Ruth teaches about the need and the nature of redemption. just as Boaz redeems Ruth out of physical poverty, Jesus Christ provides sufficient redemption out of spiritual poverty through His sacrifice.
The God of Israel is not POW to be held captive, plunder to be displayed, or part of the pantheon. No, the God of Israel is Lord of All - every knee will bow and tongue will confess His Lordship. Humble yourself under His mighty hand.
As Christians, we must refocus our priorities and pursuits to heavenly things for we've died to sin, live anew in christ, and await His return.
We are cautioned about false teachers infiltrating the church, leading people astray into heresy, into rebellion, and into sexual immorality which only leads to destruction. Even still, God preserves his people and rescues them from the judgment to come.
You can't manipulate the Almighty. You can't twist the arm of God. The Lord will gain glory according to his schedule and scheme, even by judgement, tragedy, and loss.
We seek to reverently and thankfully understand the most astonoshing word spoke from the cross.
Let us seek to walk in the footsteps of the godly centurion who manifest remarkable humility, kindness and especially faith.
The command not to judge is frequently misapplied- it does not provide a shield for sin and to avoid accountability, but in context, speaks to how believers are to help one another grow in grace.
We examine our Lord's sobering words about the absolute necessity of credible profession, one that is validated by fruit.
In this turbulent world, we are called to humble ourselves before God, to remember that He is the great and powerful God and to cast our anxiety on Him knowing that He is a God of compassion and mercy.
We find comfort and encouragement in the fact that All God's Ways are Righteous, Faithful and Comforting.
As the Lord whom we love, Jesus must be obeyed in everything. We examine way we avoid this responsibility and reasons why we must not.
In this remarkable incident we see the compassion of Jesus showcased, His wonderful blessings highlighted, and the fact that He is our only hope emphasized.
Timothy was blessed with a godly witness, a gracious salvation and a glorious path to tread on his way to heaven.
We consider the astounding reality that poor sinners can be declared judicially clean before a Holy God.
In John 7-1-13 opposition to Jesus is on full display as the Jews seek to Kill Him, and His brothers patronize Him. However, Jesus will not be deterred from obeying His Father's will and timing in order to fulfill the Scriptures so that those who believe in Him will be given the right to become children of God. Verses 1 through 5 explain why people oppose Jesus and how we should respond to His opponents.
The much misunderstood words of Jesus that we should -not judge- are examined and explained.
In preparation for the Table we consider the astounding and gracious works of Jesus to the thief on the cross.
Today we consider the astounding demand off Jesus that His people practice graciousm non-retaliatory and selfless love.
Even at dark times in the history of redemption, God graciously reveals Himself to his prophets and his preachers to declare His Word without shrinking back- ultimately, the Lord reveals Himself in his own Son, bringing light to those in darkness.
We marvel at what God does in the womb in forming a child and consider what an awful thing abortion is in the light of that.
Christians experience wave upon wave of grace from the Lord and this wonderful reality has explored in this sermon.
We have reason to rejoice now in God's special deliverances in our lives, which show how God often works in our world and point forward to a final rescue and repayment through the coming Anointed King.
In this message we examine the sobering warning of Jesus about wrath to come and the fact that Jesus alone can deliver us from that wrath.
The Lord Jesus sets before us the way of happiness and declare that those trusting in Christ are truly blessed even though saddened by sin, suffering in this world and destitute in themselves.
We consider the various ways God's Word provides invaluable help for His people in this world.
We explore the blessings that come to believers once Jesus inaugurated the new covenant.
The coming Messiah would be the Prince of Peace, and He would bring to the people of God the extraordinary peace promised in this text.
All that happens at Christmas happens in fulfillment of OT prophecies and promises, this one in particular.
We examine the sobering truth of wrath deserved and grace undeserved, as described in our text.
We look at the bible's account of the terrible tragedy and learn about the perversity of sin, the presence of suffering, and the purpose of sovereignty.
The mystery of the finite and the infinite, greatness and humility, sin and grace, the human and the divine.
There are two ways people take in search of the -blessed- life, two journeys, and two destinations. While the way of the world perishes, Psalm 1 reminds us that walking in God's way by God's word is profitable both now and forever.
The riches to be found in Christ are unsearchable, varied and such as produce profound effects in our lives.
We look at and learn from Mary's visit to her cousin Elizabeth while both are miraculously pregnant.
A true and devoted clinging to God in the midst of the wilderness which is the life leads to profound blessing.
The agony in the garden sets before us the great love of Jesus and the profound weakness of His disciples.
In an introductory message we consider the nature of the gospel which Luke seeks to set forth in his book.
We examine the glorious nature of the life that awaits true Christians in the world to come.