South Union Sermons

Bottom line: Operating on the basis of our own strength eventually leads to our defeat. Admitting to our weaknesses leads to our victory by God’s grace.

Samson had a separation problem, a self problem, and a sin problem. Sin enticed him, controlled him, and betrayed him. Samson lived on a collision course with sin and destruction. He lost his ministry, judgeship, character, integrity, legacy, potential family, etc. Samson wound up on rock bottom blinded and imprisoned. However, even at rock bottom, it was not too late for Samson to repent and exercise faith so that God could use him to do what God had called him to do - begin to deliver the Jews from Philistine oppression.

Bottom line: Faith overcomes our fear of "giants" that cause us to unnecessarily come up short of enjoying God's blessings.

The children of Israel came up short of entering the promised land because they got their eyes focused on the giants instead of trusting in God who had promised them, was faithful to them, generous to them, and more powerful than any giant. We must keep our eyes focused on God. Let's look to his promises, faithfulness, generosity, and power.

Bottom line: The Law fits between redemption and restoration. It reveals the glory of God, the need of salvation, and the promise of the Spirit’s power.

Where does "this" fit (i.e. the Law) in terms of God's story of redemption and restoration? Theologically, this is so important to understand: the Law was given to people whom God had already redeemed. Redemption precedes Law. The Law was never a ladder for unsaved people to climb in order to reach God. The Law is a pattern of life for people saved by the Lamb of God.

Bottom line: We win the greater blessings of God by losing to God.

Jacob persevered and won the blessing of God by losing to God in a wrestling match. God honored his perseverance. Jacob's refusal to let go was has his admission of submission: "God, without you and your help, I can't move forward. I have a need, and you are the only one who can help. I won't let go. If I don't have you, I have nothing. God, You are my blessing."

Bottom line: Live for the better by not trading what you want most for what you want in the moment.

Esau's life is an example of living for the lesser things of this world. The writer of Hebrews uses Esau's example to encourage us to live for the better, i.e. don't live for worldly pursuits, don't trade what you want most for what you want in the moment, don't fail to to draw upon your spiritual inheritance now.

Bottom line: A together life is a better life.

God created man for togetherness with Him and with other people. After sin broke "togetherness" on both the vertical and horizontal planes relationally, God sought to reconcile man for "togetherness" with Him and other believers through the finished work of Jesus on the cross of Calvary.

Bottom line: The Christmas Star's message was seek Jesus, surrender to Jesus, and submit to and be saved by Jesus.

The Christmas story is explicitly seen in Revelation. John writes in Rev. 12 of signs (wonders) that take place among the stars of heaven. A woman clothed with the sun, her feet upon the moon, and crowned with 12 stars gives birth to a child. The symbols represent Israel giving rise to the Messiah and more specifically, Mary giving birth to Jesus.
These verses give us great insight with regards to the star of Bethlehem that led the wise men from the east to the west to find and worship the newborn King of Israel. What was this star? What did it do? How does it fit with Rev. 12? And who does it represent symbolically?

Bottom line: Jesus' final words are His promise to fulfill our most hope-filled prayer.

His final words - Surely, I come quickly.
Our hope-filled prayer is that of John - Even so, come Lord Jesus.

Revelation 22:6-21 gives us a series of last sayings: the final words of Jesus in Revelation, the final invitations in Revelation, and the final warning in Revelation.

Bottom line: Every believer will be a victor who lives in home sweet home.

Our new home will be in the New Jerusalem. It will be home sweet home in the new heaven and new earth. It will come with new experiences that we will enjoy to the full like no sorrow, our purpose fulfilled, an ultimate intimacy with God, and the purity and security of New Jerusalem - home sweet home.

Bottom line: How we experience life in the present is determined by our hope for the future based on our faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection.

We are hope shaped creatures. What we hope for in the future makes all the difference in the NOW! Our NOW experience is controlled by our belief about the future. Our hope is that one day we will live with God in a new heaven and new earth. Knowing this is our future we can make it through any trouble and adversity in our present.