Our Great Commission
God’s Spirit
Part 13: Two Destinies
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
House of Faith – www.PS127.org www.TruthDigest.org
ANNOUNCEMENTS
6:00PM Evening Service at the church –
“Seminary Students will be preaching”
Monday 5:00PM Bible Study
Tuesday Women’s at Lori’s 5:00PM
Men’s on Friday at the church 8:00PM
WHERE WE ARE AT
† Maturing in Christ
† Understanding in Christ
† Love of God
This Series: God’s Spiritual Fruit
Previously:
The Fruit of the Spirit
The Fruit of Love
The Fruit of Joy Part I
The Fruit of Peace
The Fruit of Long Suffering (patience)
The Fruit of Kindness
The Fruit of Goodness
The Fruit of Meekness
The Fruit of Self-Control
TODAY’S SERMON: Our Great Commission
God’s Spirit
Part 13: Two Destinies
SCRIPTURE READING
Galatians 6:7-9
7Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
INTRODUCTION
I. DO NOT BE DECEIVED
1. By others
i. Have you ever been lied to?
ii. Proverbs 26:18-19 “ 18 Like a madman shooting firebrands or deadly arrows
19 is a man who deceives his neighbor and says, "I was only joking!"”
2. By devils
i. Genesis 3:13 “Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."
3. By our selves (are you?)
i. Obadiah 1:3 “ 3 The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks and make your home on the heights, you who say to yourself, 'Who can bring me down to the ground?”
ii. James 1:22 “22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
Ill. Deceiving yourself
We can deceive ourselves, as the scriptures say, even to the point of destruction.
Roofing Story – Falling through the ceiling.
II. TWO DESTINIES
1. Two paths in Deuteronomy
i. Deuteronomy 30:14-16 “14 No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.
15 See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. 16 For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.”
ii. Deuteronomy 30:19 “ 19 This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live”
2. Flesh and Spirit
i. They battle against each other, constantly
ii. Paul spoke about this
iii. We must choose daily, whom we are going to serve
3. Destruction or Eternal life (Which path are you on?)
Ill. Choosing a path
Sometimes we can have difficulties reconciling the sovereignty of God and the free will of man. How can God be in control if we can do what we want?
I believe the easiest way to understand it is to think of it like this. An ocean liner is traveling to a certain destination. It’s path is set, and the destination has been chosen. The passengers on board or not in chains, they can walk about the ship, eat and sleep when they choose, play games and visit with others. All this while the great liner travels closer and closer to its destination.
Both freedom and sovereignty are present at the same time.
So it is with God, His Kingdom has a set course. And while we are obedient to the Lord, at that same time, we have our free will.
III. DO NOT GIVE UP
1. Faithful until the end
i. 9 Let us not become weary of doing good…
2. Doing good without reward
i. 9 …at the proper time we will reap the harvest if we do not give up.
3. Building treasures in heaven (Are you storing treasures on earth or in heaven?)
Ill. Real treasures
A man was speaking with a farmer about his soybean and corn crops. Rain had been abundant, and the results were evident. But the farmer surprised the man when he said “My crops are especially vulnerable. Even a short drought could have a devastating effect.”
The man asked the farmer why, and the farmer explained that while frequent rains are a benefit, during that time the plants are not required to push roots deeper in search of water. The roots remain near the surface. A drought would find the plants unprepared and quickly kill them.
Some Christians receive abundant “rains” of worship, fellowship, and teaching. Yet when the stress enters their lives, many suddenly abandon God or think him unfaithful. Their roots have never pushed much below the surface. Only roots grown deep into God help us endure times of drought in our lives.
CLOSING
Colossians 2:6-7
6So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
So choose today whom you will serve.
Is it the path of yourself, and your sinful desires which only lead to destruction, or it is the path of the Spirit of God, which in time, if you do not give up, will lead you to eternal life in heaven, where unimaginable treasure, loved ones and the creator of heaven and earth anxiously await your arrival?
You have the power to chose your destiny.
† Do not be deceived by others, devils or yourself. You are on one path or the other.
† Which final destination are you choosing? Destruction or Eternal life?
† Do not give up!
