Heritage Baptist Church of Frankfort IL

Gospel citizenship requires the believer serve and soldier. Just as Paul suffered for gospel advance, the Philippian church needed to be united in the Spirit while focused on Christ. They were not to run when faced with opposition to their gospel citizenship. They needed to recognize that suffering for the gospel is normal.

Enoch had a shortened life in comparison to those around him. However, God used him as example of faith that believes that God is and the rewarder of those that diligently seek him. His faith lays out how the just live by faith. They live this life in constant fellowship with God in preparation for constant fellowship with God in eternity.

This message was part of the Easter Sonrise service. It reminds us of the prophesied death and victory of the Messiah.

Paul's circumstances could have dictated his life. However, He had a proper perspective of life and death. His life was about Christ, and to die was eternal gain. His life was important because of his impact on others, but if he was called glory, he would not be disappointed.

Abel's story is not long in Genesis, yet God chose him as the first example of living by faith. He worshipped God with a faith that saw Him as truly existing and rewarding those that diligently seek Him. Cain, his brother, worshipped by ritual and necessity. In the end Abel's testimony has spoken through the ages, though he died young.

Paul had a view of his circumstances that helped him rejoice in the worst of circumstances. He viewed his imprisonment as an God-appointed opportunity to advance the gospel into places it had never been. Paul rejoiced when the gospel advanced even though some pushed forth the gospel for personal reasons.

This chapter gives us examples of people who lived by faith. However, it starts some characteristics of faith. Faith that holds to God even though those truths are not sight is worthy of honor from God. The first thing that all people must have faith about is creation. Faith is required to believe that the worlds were framed by God.

Paul's prayer was that believers would have a love like Christ. For it to have full impact on others it required boundaries of knowledge and discernment for it to flow in the proper direction.

In the previous section believers were warned not to give up their faith in Christ. In this passage the believers are reminded that the Christian life is not easy. It is like a marathon race with ups and downs. However, like all believers of the past, the believer runs their race by faith in Christ. "The just shall live by faith." God is delighted with those who do not turn back.

Paul's letters often start in a similar pattern. He introduces the letter and then moves into his prayer for his readers and thanksgiving for what God is doing in their lives. Paul had much to thank God for in the lives of the Philippian church. They were reflecting God in their lives.

This section of warning was important for the readers. They were being pressured to give up Christ and go back to their old life. This passage serves as a warning to not abandon Christ. The danger is that it is impossible for a person to come back from a decision like this. (Note: God can do impossible things in saving souls.) Everyone who hears this passage needs to hold the more firmly to Christ.

This letter of friendship and challenge to the Philippians has given much encouragement to believers throughout the years. However, this book is not just about joy. It emphasis Christ and the gospel as well as the way that we think. In the end this letter emphasizes that right thinking about Christ brings real joy.

This section is one of transition. For chapters Hebrews has spoken of the better high priest and the better sacrifice. Because believers have these two thing, they should do certain things in response to this knowledge.

The Corinthian church was spiritually gifted. However, they weren't using their gifts to help others but to shine glory on themselves. Paul reminds the congregation that their gifting is not important, but the focus. Love is needed to effectively impact and help the lives of others.

The Old Covenant required the giving of sacrifices again and again. The priests did the same work day in and day out. However, their work did nothing to change the heart. The work of Christ was a one-time sacrifice that could change the heart. This is the delight of the New Covenant. No more was there a need for continual sacrifices that did nothing.

David's enemies come into focus. They are plotting for a slanderous strike against David. However, they ignore the truth that God is well aware of their plans. David asks God for clear help. In the end David's cry changes from prayer to praise.

The New Covenant is the replacement for the Old Covenant under Moses. Both covenants required blood sacrifice to seal. However, the New Covenant only required one sacrifice. The death of Christ on the cross was the only sacrifice needed to open the way into the inheritance for believers. Many people today in "churches" try to re-sacrifice Christ. They misunderstand that there is no need for priests or more sacrifices. Jesus offered one sufficient sacrifice.

David is away from home and away from the tabernacle of God. He is escaping his enemies including some family members. Even though he is one of the driest climates in the world, David still pursues a personal knowledge of God. To David God is more than life itself. He wants others to have the same kind of passion for God.

The Old Covenant under Moses had a tabernacle that God instructed to be built. However, access was limited the further one got into the tabernacle. The tabernacle was a shadow or patterned after heaven. The priests were even limited in their access. However, Jesus Christ, the priest of the New Covenant has eternal access in the true tabernacle of Heaven. He has allowed access for anyone under the New Covenant of His blood. This access come with a change of heart due to the sacrifice of Christ, something the Old Covenant could never do.

The old covenant of Moses had proven ineffective. God was able to keep His side of the covenant, but the people failed again and again. A new covenant was needed that transformed the hearts of the people so that they could keep the covenant. This is why a new covenant was needed.

David once again finds himself in a situation where he needs help. He looks to God only for help. "Surely" and "only" are seen six times in this Psalm. It reminds us that men always fail, but God is a solid rock. This message should be proclaimed for all to know that God is worthy of waiting upon.

This sermon covers the theme for the year at Heritage. It goes along with our mission statement but places more emphasis on our responsibilities in the church.

This psalm was written while David was away from Jerusalem. He may have been at battle and surrounded by enemies. His desire is to find refuge in His God.

As a new year starts, it is good for us to remind ourselves that there are only two paths for our life. One is the wicked or ungodly way that tries to function without God. The other is the godly way. This way starts with a heart that listens and meditates on what God says. This leads to stability in this life and safety in eternity.

Our Bibles can be tools for us to retain some of the things that we have learned. Using the right kind of equipment will allow notes, thoughts, quotes, and applications to last for years to come.

Paul gave directions to the church on how to observe the Lord's Table. The Corinthians, however, had a bad view about the Lord's Table. They were angry about other church members or failing to see the significance of Christ and His body. This passage gives directions on a more effective observance of this memorial.

Habakkuk lived in perplexing times. God's people were wicked and unpunished. He was confused that a holy God was not judging sin. In a series of two questions Habakkuk gets answers from God that calm his fears. In the last chapter Habakkuk gives a psalm of praise to God even though the whole world collapses.

John provides the theological story of Christmas. Jesus came into this world as God in human flesh to be a light to the world. The world was not thrilled with His coming. The story of Nicodemus and the explanation afterwards is an illustration of Jesus as the light entering into the world. The world responds the way that it does because it is walking in darkness and loves its evil deeds.

The Christmas story is told with many different variations and details. However, many of those details are not found in the Scripture or are misinterpreted. The believer needs to make sure that they know the facts of the Christmas story and be careful of some of the made up details that are taken as Scriptural fact. The Christian should be one who searches the Scripture to see if these things are true.

This passage is one of controversy for multiple reasons. It sounds like the Lord is expecting Christians to be pushovers. However, the Lord is working on a mindset that demands rights and vengeance. The Christian is willing to give up certain rights for the opportunity to share Christ. It at times requires a great deal of grace and forgiveness.

David penned this psalm after a battle with Edom. However, the psalm has the perspective before the battle took place. Edom had invaded Israel will David was away and brought destruction to the region. David had been winning victories far away, but now there was an obvious lose at home. David recognized the failure as God's displeasure with the nation and with himself. David called upon God to go with the nation again. God made clear that He was in control of the nations. His nation just needed to respond in repentance for Him to help.

This section ends the writer of Hebrews exposition of Psalm 110:4 that started back in Hebrews 4:14. Jesus is the best high priest in comparison to the all of the priests in the Old Testament. He has character that is unmatched and His ministry is forever. The sacrifice He made is able to save to uttermost.

God's intention for His church and His people is to triumph. Many believers fail to recognize what God has planned for their lives.

The Pharisees attempted to come up with ways to make oaths that they could break. They would not swear by the name of the Lord, because failure to keep the oath would bring judgment. They decided that they could swear by everything else and be okay if they broke the oath. Jesus desires His followers to be so trustworthy that their speech would always be honest.

David was boxed in on all sides by his enemies. His prayer in this passage was for God to deliver him so that his enemies might know who God is. God does an excellent job in making Himself known, but David promised to be a part of the praise that makes God known.

The Levitical priests had a shelf-life. They passed away and had to be replaced. Some of the priests were openly sinful and every year they had to offer sacrifices for themselves. Jesus is a priest unlike the Levitical priests. He is better and brings in a new covenant to replace the old.

This psalm looks at the injustices of political leaders. The psalmist prayers to God for the stopping of the violence of leadership. His major illustration of these leaders is that they are snakes that kill while being deaf to to pleas of the innocents.

Melchizedek is a relatively unknown individual in the Old Testament. The details about him are found in Genesis 14. The details of that story are significant in pointing out that Melchizedek was greater than Abraham and the priests of Levi, thus he is a better priest. This is why it is important that Jesus is a priest of the order of Melchizedek. He is a better priest.

Jesus clarified the seventh commandment and made clear that the battle against immorality starts in the heart. His solutions for protection seemed radical. However, He was not promoting self-mutilation, but mortification of the flesh. The main solution in the battle is not to feed the flesh. This requires the believer to either flee when temptation comes, or remove the source of temptation.

David experienced the overshadowing wings of God as he fled his deadly enemies. The obvious working of God's steadfast love caused David to exalt God, especially through the means of song. He serves as an example for believers today.

Many believers struggle with assurance of their salvation. However, salvation does not rest on us. God has made both a promise and an oath that Jesus is our high priest. We can hold in faith to God's promise and oath that Jesus allows us to enter into the presence of God. This is an anchor, sure and steadfast.

Jesus begins to clarify what righteousness greater than the Pharisees looks like. The first issue he deals with is "Thou Shalt Not Kill." The Pharisees had a narrow understanding of the command that it it forbade physical murder. Jesus gives the intent of the law. The believer is to stop murder from coming out of the heart and being found in our speech. In fact, the Lord challenges believers as peacemakers to proactively meet warring situations and try to get them to cease before more harm occurs.