Welcome to Summit Theological Seminary

"Teaching God's Word to God's World"

2766 Airport Road, Peru, Indiana 46970, (765) 472-4111

 

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW BY NOW

 

George L. Faull

 

I.  A WORD OF WARNING: ALL THAT GLITTERS IS NOT GOLD.

A.    Good deeds can have impure motives.

Matthew 6:2, 5, and 16, "2 Therefore when thou doest [thine] alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites [are]: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward."

I Corinthians chapter 13:1-3, "1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become [as] sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have [the gift of] prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed [the poor], and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

 

B.  Good words can have impure motives.

Proverbs 26:23-26, "23 Burning lips and a wicked heart [are like] a potsherd covered with silver dross. 24 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; 25 When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for [there are] seven abominations in his heart. 26 [Whose] hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shown before the [whole] congregation."

 

C.  Good intentions can lead to death.

Poverbs 14:12, "There is a way which seem-eth right unto a man, but the end thereof [are]

the ways of death."

Proverbs 12:15, "The way of a fool [is] right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel [is] wise."

 

D.    Good confessors do not all know Jesus

Matthew 7:21-23, "21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of Heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? And in Thy name have cast out devils? And in Thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

 

E.   All gripers are not justified.

Proverbs 26:28, "A lying tongue hateth [those that are] afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin."

 

F.   All leaders do not lead Heavenward.

Matthew 15:14, "Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch."

 

G.  All builders are not building for God.

Matthew 7:24-27, "24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it."

 

H.  All planters are not now sowing for God.

Matthew 15:13, "But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up."

 

II.  A WORD OF ADVICE: KNOW WHERE YOU WANT TO GO.

      A.  Set your goal toward Heaven.

Philippians 3:20, " For our conversation is in Heaven, from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ."

 

      B.  Jesus did. You must.

Hebrews 12:1-2, "1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

 

C.  Do not look back.

      Luke 9:62, "And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

 

III. A WORD OF REMINDER:

A.  Micah 6:8, "He hath shown thee, O man, what [is] good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?"

 

 B. Ecclesiastes 12:1-7, and 13-14, "1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them 2 While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain: 3 In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened, 4 And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low; 5 Also [when] they shall be afraid of [that which is] high, and fears [shall be] in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets: 6 Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. 7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. 13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this [is] the whole [duty] of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether [it be] good, or whether [it be] evil."

Warning, Advice, Reminder = This is how we war.

 

CONCLUSION:

The greatest thing to cultivate is true love for God and man.