Pleasant Garden Baptist Church Podcast (Sermons)

Psalm 73 

God certainly is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart! 2 But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling, My steps had almost slipped. 3 For I was envious of the arrogant As I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For there are no pains in their death, And their belly is fat.  5 They are not in trouble like other people, Nor are they tormented together with the rest of mankind.  6 Therefore arrogance is their necklace;  The garment of violence covers them.  7 Their eye bulges from fatness;  The imaginations of their heart overflow. 8 They mock and wickedly speak of oppression; They speak from on high. 9 They have set their mouth against the heavens, And their tongue parades through the earth. 10 Therefore his people return here, And abundant waters are drunk by them. 11 They say, “How does God know?  And is there knowledge with the Most High?” 12 Behold, these are the wicked;  And always at ease, they have increased in wealth. 13 Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure And washed my hands in innocence; 14 For I have been stricken all day long, And punished every morning. 15 If I had said, “I will speak this way,” Behold, I would have betrayed the generation of Your children. 16 When I thought of understanding this, It was troublesome in my sight 17 Until I entered the sanctuary of God; Then I perceived their end. 18 You indeed put them on slippery ground; You dropped them into ruin. 19 How they are destroyed in a moment! They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors! 20 Like a dream when one awakes, Lord, when stirred, You will despise their image.  21 When my heart was embittered And I was pierced within, 22 Then I was stupid and ignorant; I was like an animal before You. 23 Nevertheless I am continually with You; You have taken hold of my right hand. 24 You will guide me with Your plan, And afterward receive me to glory. 25 Whom do I have in heaven but You? And with You, I desire nothing on earth. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 27 For, behold, those who are far from You will perish; You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to You. 28 But as for me, the nearness of God is good for me; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge,  So that I may tell of all Your works.

Asaph, the Worship Leader’s Journey

•    Confession of His Journey

•    Condition of Asaph’s Heart

•    Comparison of Lifestyles   

•    Conclusion of Asaph’s inner battle. Vs. 16

•    Conviction that came in God’s Presence 

•    Confessions from Intimacy  

-Proper View of self - This is who I am, who I was

-Honest Confessions of the Holy One  - vs 23-24

-His Conclusion, His Conviction, His Clarity, His Confession

Principles to Ponder

1. Earthly Position (Worship Leader) doesn’t preclude you and I from disconnecting from God!

2. Seeing God’s creation through the eyes of the created rather than the Creator will always lead to a Worshipping of the Created!

3. What the world has to offer often brings temporary pleasure and gain but will always lead to hopelessness and despair in relation to Eternal Intimacy.

4. Nearness/Intimacy with God is initiated and established by God, it is His Grace that makes it all possible.  Vs 23-26

5. Nearness/Intimacy with God occurs on our end as we Fix/Focus on eyes solely on Jesus, surrender our very life to the Father and continually ABIDE in His Love and in His Word.  

6. The nearness of God is MY GOOD! 

Fix Your Eyes on Jesus

Hebrews 12:1 

 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow wearyand lose heart.

Romans 12:1  

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Revelation and Doctrine

Revelation 1:4-8

4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, 

5 and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 

6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 

7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. 

8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."  

While not a systematic theology, Revelation is grounded in great theological truths.

The doctrine of the Church (1:4).

The doctrine of God (1:4).

The doctrine of the Trinity (1:4-5).

The doctrine of the person and work of Jesus (1:4-5)

The doctrine of salvation (1:5-6).

The doctrine of the second coming (1:7).

Doctrine and Revelation:

Sound theology is foundational to the church's existence and mission (1:4).

Sound theology is essential to the church's response to trial and difficulty (1:4-8).

Sound theology is vital to the church's hope toward eternity (1:7)

Revelation – part 2 – Key Principles

Rev. 1:1-3

1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 

2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.

3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.

Key Principles for understanding Revelation:

1. Christians should prepare for difficulty before we win in Christ's ultimate victory.

2. Escapist eschatology lands hollow, especially in parts of the world facing persecution.

3. Revelation pleads for God’s people and God’s enemies to repent.

4. Much of revelation is symbolic, and we must recognize that when we make sense of it.

5. The readers and keepers of the book are blessed.

6. The book is far more focused on the worship and exaltation of Jesus than in showing us how to discern dates, numbers, and judgments.

7. Jesus was, is, and will be on the throne.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ

Revelation 1:1-3 

1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.  - Revelation 1:1-3 (ESV)

As we begin…

1. The Revelation reminds us that Jesus reveals what we need (1:1).

2. The Revelation beckons us to testify to Jesus and His power (1:2).

3. The Revelation assures us that Jesus controls all of time (1:3).

4. The Revelation promises us blessing for hearing and living by the book (1:3).  

Two guiding rules for the series:

1.    What’s most certain and stable in Revelation centers on Jesus. 

2.    As we hold to Jesus for what’s certain and stable, we will grow to trust Him to hold us regardless of how the end times unfold.

Pastor Cameron Dobbins preaches from Hebrews 12

Ruth in the Gospel Story

Ruth 4:17-22

Matthew 1:2-6 

17 And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David. 18 Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez fathered Hezron, 19 Hezron fathered Ram, Ram fathered Amminadab, 20 Amminadab fathered Nahshon, Nahshon fathered Salmon, 21 Salmon fathered Boaz, Boaz fathered Obed, 22 Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David.

Ruth 4:17-22 (ESV)

1.    The gospel story invites worship (4:17).  

2.    The gospel story magnifies God's sovereignty (4:18).  

3.    The gospel story celebrates God's redemptive power (4:22).  

2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3 and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, 4 and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, 5 and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, 6 and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah,  

Matthew 1:2-6 (ESV)

4.    The gospel story anticipates God's ultimate victory (4:22). 

The Gospel for Everyone

Ruth 4:13-17

13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son. 

14 Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! 

15 He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” 

16 Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse. 

17 And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.”  

The Gospel for Everyone

1. The gospel is for those who are needy (4:13).

2. The gospel is for those who are broken (4:14f).

3. The gospel is for future generations (4:17).

The Gospel and the Blessing of Ruth and Boaz

Ruth 4:11-13

 

11 Then all the people who were at the gate and the elders said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman, who is coming into your house, like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you act worthily in Ephrathah and be renowned in Bethlehem, 

12 and may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring that the Lord will give you by this young woman.” 

13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son.

 

The Gospel and the Blessing of Ruth and Boaz

 

1.    The blessing reminds us to speak up those who matter to us (4:11-12).

 

2.    The blessing reminds us that God can redeem our stories (4:12).

3.    The blessing reminds us to give more weight to those who matter most (4:11-12).

 

Applications:

1.  You disciple more than you realize through what you model.

2.  You'll never disciple your home well unless you invest intentional time to do it.

3.  Look for moments that reinforce God's character and blessings in their lives.

4.  Plan for, reflect upon, and celebrate life's milestones that mark their discipleship journey.

“The Gospel and the Blessing”

Ruth 4:11-12 (ESV)

11 Then all the people who were at the gate and the elders said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman, who is coming into your house, like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you act worthily in Ephrathah and be renowned in Bethlehem, 

12 and may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring that the Lord will give you by this young woman.”

24 The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. ---Numbers 6:24-26 (ESV)

8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” 10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. ---2 Corinthians 9:8-10 (ESV)

 

Characteristics of Biblical Blessings from The Gift of the Blessing, Smalley and Trent.

1. The blessing pictured God's original plan for mankind (Genesis 1:27-28)

2. The blessing pulled together a group of people (Deuteronomy 33:1-5).

3. The blessing called upon God for protection (Genesis 28:1).

4. The blessing marked an important rite of passage (Ruth 4:14-15).

The Gospel and the Blessing

1. Blessings guide how we pray for those close to us.

2. Blessings point our focus upon the good spiritually.

3. Blessings shape how we seek the best for those far from Christ.