Sterling Baptist Church- Brunswick, GA

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Sterling Baptist Church- Brunswick, GA

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PASTOR RICK'S PULPIT

Profitable Meditations

 

What Were the Meditations of the Rich Man?

Verse 17… The rich man meditated on his personal problems…

Luke 12:17  And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?


Verse 18… The rich man meditated on his personal plans…

Luke 12:18  And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.


Verse 19…The rich man meditated on his personal pleasures…

Luke 12:19  And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.


What Were the Results of the Rich Man’s Meditations?

Verse 20… His personal Poverty was the results of his meditations…


Luke 12:20  But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?


FROM MAN’S VIEW THE RICH MAN WAS TO BE ENVIED, HE WAS RICH…

FROM GOD’S VIEW THE RICH MAN WAS TO BE PITIED, HE WAS SPIRITUALLY DESTITUTE..


Matthew 16:25  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

26  For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

1 Corinthians 3:15  If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.


What was wrong with the rich man’s meditations?


Verse 21… His meditations were of himself and not of God…


Luke 12:21  So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.


THE SELF-LIFE REQUIRES MEDITATION UPON SELF…


THE CHRIST LIFE REQUIRES MEDITATION UPON GOD…


Psalms 104:34  My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.

Psalms 119:97  O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.

Psalms 119:99  I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.

Psalms 19:14  Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.


This rich man’s meditations were governed by his covetousness of the things which he possessed…


Luke 12:13  And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.

14  And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?

15  And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.


The rich man’s meditations at the time seem to be profitable…


Luke 12:19  And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

Proverbs 16:25  There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Genesis 3:6  And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.


IN THE END THE RICH MAN’S MEDITATIONS PROVED TO BE VERY UNPROFITABLE…


Luke 12:20  But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

Proverbs 16:25  There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Genesis 3:6  And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.


God called the rich man a fool because he trusted in himself instead of in God…


Luke 12:20  But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?


If God calls us a fool, then we are a fool…

Proverbs 28:26  He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.


Avoid being called a fool by God…

Take heed to His Word…


1Timothy 4:15  Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

16  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.


This rich man did not know that he was a fool to God until it was too late to change…


Luke 12:20  But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?


Profitable meditation is to meditate on God…


Psalms 1:1 ¶  Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

2  But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

3  And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

1Timothy 4:15  Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.


To meditate on God we must be born again…


John 3:3  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

John 3:5  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

John 3:7  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.


We must be indwelled by the Holy Spirit to truly and properly meditate on God…


1 John 2:20  But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.

1 John 2:27  But the anointing which ye have received of him in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.


The lost man cares nothing for God…


Romans 3:10  As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

11  There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

12  They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.


Meditating on God is profitable for now and eternity…


1Timothy 4:16  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.


Meditating on God must consume the Secret life…


Psalms 1:2  But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Psalms 91:1  He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.


Meditating on God is an absolute must to be successful in God’s eyes…


Joshua 1:7  Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.

8  This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

9  Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

1 Timothy 4:15  Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

16  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.


Which “If” will we receive at the Judgment Seat of Christ?


1 Corinthians 3:14  If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

15  If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.


Which Judgment Seat will you stand at?

The Judgment Seat of Christ?

The Great White Throne Judgment?

Like the rich man, the world may consider us someone to be envied…

Bottom line is, what does God say about us?

God is the Authority on who is wise and who is a fool…


Luke 12:20  But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

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VICTIM OR CONQUEROR PART ONE

 

 

Are you living as a victim or a conqueror?


DO YOU RESPOND TO YOUR LIFE’S CIRCUMSTANCES AS A VICTIM/DEFEATIST OR AS A CONQUEROR/ACHIEVER?

DO YOU SEE YOUR LIFE’S CIRCUMSTANCES AS SOMETHING THAT WILL DEFEAT YOU OR AS SOMETHING YOU WILL CONQUER THROUGH CHRIST?


If we would only work at getting ahold of Philippians 4:13, until Philippians 4:13 gets ahold of us…

Philippians 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Philippians 3:10  That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

1 Corinthians 15:58  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.


In the wilderness, Israel, except for a few, constantly responded to their circumstances as victims instead of conquerors…


Numbers 14:1 ¶  And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. 2  And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness! 3  And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt? 4  And they said one to another, Let us make a captain,and let us return into Egypt.


PEOPLE SEE THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCE DIFFERENTLY…

The difference between living the life of a victim or a conqueror depends on what we believe…


Numbers 14:5 ¶  Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel. 6  And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes: 7  And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. 8  If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land,and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. 9  Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defense is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.


Do we believe the Word of God or not?

Are we willing to trust the LORD and take Him at His Word?


Israel’s failure as well as ours most of the time is our unbelief…

Unbelief is our sin that doth so easily beset us…

Hebrews 12:1  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,


THE MAJORITY OF ISRAEL LIVED LIFE AS VICTIMS…

UNBELIEF WAS THE SOURCE OF ISRAEL’S SINNING AGAINST THE LORD…


Numbers 14:10  But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel. 11 ¶  And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? {Victims blame the LORD}and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them?


THE FEW IN ISRAEL LIVED LIFE AS CONQUEORS…

THEY BELIEVED THE LORD AND TRUSTED IN HIS PROMISES…


Numbers 14:24  But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.

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VICTIM OR CONQUEROR PART TWO

 


Living life as a victim is costly…


Numbers 14:20 ¶  And the LORD said, I have pardoned according to thy word: 21  But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD. 22  Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times,and have not hearkened to my voice; 23  Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it:


WHEN WE ARE FEELING SORRY FOR OURSELVES WE ARE LIVING LIFE WITH A VICTIM MENTALITY…

WE BEST BE CAREFUL WHAT WE SAY WHEN WE ARE FEELING SORRY FOR OURSELVES,WE MIGHT JUST GET WHAT WE ASK…


Numbers 14:26  And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 27  How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me?I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me. {What victim mentality does} 28  Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the LORD, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you: 29  Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me, 30  Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.


WE CAN CAUSE OTHERS TO SUFFER BECAUSE OF OUR VICTIM MENTALITY…


Numbers 14:30  Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. 31  But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised. 32  But as for you, your carcases, they shall fall in this wilderness. 33  And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness. 34  After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise. 35  I the LORD have said, I will surely do it unto all this evil congregation, that are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.


THE VICTIM’S MENTALITY IS MORE CONTAGIOUS THAT THE CONQUEROR’S MENTALITY…


Numbers 14:36 ¶  And the men, {Ten of the twelve spies} which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land, 37  Even those men {The ten with the victim’s mentality} that did bring up the evil report {The results of having a victim’s mentality} upon the land, died by the plague before the LORD. 38  But Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, {“because he had another spirit with him”} which were of the men that went to search the land, lived still. {The two with the conqueror’s mentality} 39  And Moses told these sayings unto all the children of Israel: and the people mourned greatly.


JOSHUA AND CALEB, BECAUSE THEY “HAD ANOTHER SPIRIT”, WENT ON TO CONQUER THE LAND AND RECEIVE THEIR INHERITANCE IN THE LAND WHILE THOSE OF THE VICTIM MENTALITY DIED IN THE WILDERNESS…


JOSHUA AND CALEB HAD THE CONQUEROR’S MENTALITY BECAUSE THEY BELIEVED THE WORD OF THE LORD…


Joshua 14:6  ¶  Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadeshbarnea. 7  Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart. 8  Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God.9  And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children’s for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God. 10  And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old. 11  As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in. 12  Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said. 13  And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance. 14  Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day,because that he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel.

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