Sermon: Daniel Part 2: Faith Under Fire

Main Point: Stand firm in the faith and expect opposition from the world. Jesus Christ is worthy of our devotion!

I. Daniel disobeyed the king. (Daniel 6:1-15) 

II. The king reluctantly exacted the penalty. (Daniel 6:16-18) 

III. The King of Kings intervened. (Daniel 6:19-28) 

Application

1.Beware of the world trying to shape your worldview.

“Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold, but let God re-mould your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity.” – J.B. Phillips Translation 

2. Know that world hates those who faithfully follow Jesus in detail because that exposes their sin. (See John 15:18-19)

3. True faith remains faithful under fire! (See Matthew 10:28-33)

4. We have the ultimate example in Jesus! (See Titus 2:11-14)

 “The sovereignty of God is the pillow upon which the child of God rests his head at night, giving perfect peace… There is no attribute of God more comforting to His children than the doctrine of Divine Sovereignty.” 

– Charles Spurgeon

Sermon: Daniel Part 1: Our Sovereign God

Main Point: Think rightly by adopting, rejoicing, and resting in God’s 

sovereignty.

I. Who was Nebuchadnezzar? 

II. What did he confess? 

See Daniel 4:34-35; Psalms 115:3, 135:6

“Divine sovereignty is not the sovereignty of a tyrannical Despot, but the exercised pleasure of One who is infinitely wise and good! Because God is infinitely wise He cannot err, and because He is infinitely righteous He will not do wrong. Here then is the preciousness of this truth. The mere fact itself that God’s will is irresistible and irreversible fills me with fear, but once I realize that God wills only that which is good, my heart is made to rejoice.” – A.W. Pink

Application

1. If we are thinking rightly, we will adopt the doctrine of God’s sovereignty. 

See Psalm 103:19, 33:10-11; Isaiah 46:8-10

2. If we are thinking rightly, we will rejoice in the doctrine of God’s sovereignty. 

3. If we are thinking rightly, we will rest in the doctrine of God’s sovereignty. 

Conclusion

“If there be a God, a King, eternal, immortal, and invisible, He cannot but be sovereign – and He cannot but do according to His own will and choose according to His own purpose. You may dislike these doctrines, but you can only get free of them by denying altogether the existence of an infinitely wise, glorious, and powerful Being. God would not be God were He not thus absolutely sovereign in His present doings and His eternal pre-arrangements.” – Horatius Bonar

Sermon: Ezekiel Part 2: God in Residence

Main Point: If you are in Christ, you are the fulfillment of Ezekiel’s vision of a new temple in which the Lord dwells permanently, so glorify Him in all that you do!

I. Ezekiel’s Vision of a New Temple of God. 

See Ezekiel 43:1-9; Revelation 21:10-11 

II. The New Testament and the New Temple of God. 

See Ezekiel 40-48; Revelation 21-22; John 2:18-22; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; Ephesians 2:19-22; 

Application

1) Ezekiel had a vision of Christ’s Bride.

2) So glorify God in all that you do.

3) Remember that the old Temple was a place of continual sacrifice for sin. But in His new Temple no more sacrifice for sin is necessary! See Hebrews 10:14

Sermon: Ezekiel (Part 1), God in Exile

Apocalyptic Texts:

Main Point: Ezekiel’s vision of God leaving His Temple should both encourage and challenge us to truly trust and live for our Lord.

I. Ezekiel Sees God in Exile – ch. 1. 

II. Ezekiel Sees Why God is in Exile – ch. 10 -11. 

See Ezekiel 8:6, 11:22-23

Application

1.We should respond like Ezekiel to the glory of God. 

See Hebrews 12:28-29

2) We should take God’s warning about idolatry seriously.

3) We should not be jealous of Ezekiel’s vision. 

See 2 Corinthians 3:18

Sermon: Jeremiah 31:31-34, A New Heart

Main Point: God promised a new and different kind of covenant, one that works front he inside out. 

I. God promised a New Covenant that is not like the old one 31:31-32. 

See Deuteronomy 10:16; Jeremiah 7:23; Jeremiah 17:9-10

II. God promised a New Covenant that works from the inside out 31:33-34. 

See Ezekiel 36:26-27; Matthew 26:28; 2 Corinthians 5:17

Application

1) Do you love God’s Law? See Psalms 119:97

2) Do you Know the LORD? See John 17:3

Sermon: Jeremiah 7:1-15, Change Your Ways

Main Point: Repent and treat God as holy by joyfully walking in His commandments.

I. What was the root issue in Jeremiah’s day? 

See Exodus 19:5

II. What was the situation in Jeremiah’s Day? 

See Jeremiah 7:30

III. What was God’s response? 

See Jeremiah 7:23, 7:25-26, 7:34; Matthew 21:13; John 4:23-24; Titus 2:11-14

Application

1. The church must understand that God is holy! 

2. The church must treat God as holy! 

3. As individuals we must be faithful to God’s covenant. 

Sermon: Isaiah Part 2: Your Kingdom Come

Main Point: God’s kingdom is found in His Son, the Messiah, and is for all nations.

I. God’s Kingdom Comes Through the Messiah. 

See Isaiah 53:5-6; 1 Corinthians 15:3-5

II. God’s Kingdom Comes To All the Nations. 

See Isaiah 49:6, 65:17-19; Rev. 21:1-4

Application

1) God’s promise of His kingdom should promote hope in the midst of the trials of this life. See James 1:2-4

2) God’s promise of His kingdom should promote growth in grace. See 2 Peter 3:13-14

3) God’s promise of His kingdom should also promote our witness to those who do not have this hope. See Acts 13:47-49

Sermon: Isaiah Part 1: A Burning Stump & A Holy Seed

Main Point: Only a repentant faith delivers from judgment.

I. Who was Isaiah? 

II. When and where did he prophesy?

III. What was his message?

See also Isaiah 6:8-13, 12:2, 1:18 

Application

1) Pray for our nation.

2) Pray for your own heart.

3) Live in great hope for the future.

Sermon: Hebrews 1:1, Speaking God’s Word

Main Point: The Old Testament Prophets were men called by God to speak His Word to His people and hold them accountable to His covenant. 

I. What was a prophet?

II. What was the standard for a prophet? 

See also Deuteronomy 18:20-22

III. What was the message of the prophets? 

See also Deuteronomy 11:26-28, Joel 2:12-13 

Application

1) To Preachers and Teachers: 

See 2 Timothy 4:2 

2) To the Congregation: 

See James 1:22-25

Conclusion: 

Jesus Christ is Lord! Let us live for Him!

Sermon: Romans 16:25-27, The Glory of Grace

Main Point: Be strengthened to give God the glory for His grace in saving a people who glorify Jesus by their growing obedience.

I. Be strengthened to give glory to God by His grace – chs 1 – 8. 

See Romans 3:20, 3:23-24

WSC Q. 33 What is Justification?

Justification is an act of God’s free grace, wherein He pardoneth all our sins, and accepteth us as righteous in His sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone.

WSC Q. 35 What is Sanctification?

Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.

II. Be strengthened to give glory to God by His purpose – chs. 9-11. 

See Ephesians 3:6

III. Be strengthened to give glory to God by your obedience – chs 12-16. 

Application

1) Give God all the glory for His gospel!

2) Give God the glory for His church!

3) Give God glory with your life! 

See John 14:15, 10:27; 1 Corinthians 10:31