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Bible Basics
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2/25/2004
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Isaiah 40:26-31
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Bible Basics
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Entry Date
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2/25/2004
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Isaiah 40:26-31
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If I Had A Hammer |
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If I Had A Hammer Words
and Music by
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My message today is, "If I had a hammer."
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THE BIBLE is not silent on matters that concern the problems of humanity: |
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JESUS CHRIST BECAME THE HAMMER OF GOD
HE BECAME: |
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Your Defining Declaration |
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Historically
there have been lengthy contracts that have defined either a company
or a country, and there have been short sentences that have just as
clearly defined a man or a mission. |
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Sir Winston Churchill said, in a Radio
Broadcast on Feb. 9, 1941,"Here is the answer which I will give to
Pres. Roosevelt .... Give us the tools and we will finish the job." In a speech to the
Canadian Senate and House of Commons on Dec. 30, 1941 he said, "When I
warned the French that Britain would fight on alone whatever they
did, their generals told their prime minister and his divided
cabinet, ‘In three weeks England will have her neck wrung like a
chicken.' Some chicken; some neck." |
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F.D.R. in his first Inaugural Address on Mar. 4, 1933
said, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." |
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Patrick Henry, in a
speech on Mar. 23, 1775 said, "I know not what course others may
take; but as for me give me liberty or give me death." |
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Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "I have a
dream." |
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J.F.K. said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country."
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men have been a source of inspiration to many over the years. They
were defining declarations. |
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Clint
Eastwood's words, in Dirty Harry, "Go ahead make my day" became
his defining declaration. |
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There comes a juncture in every person's life when a decision is
made which colors everything else that person does.
Let's look at some defining moments in the lives of some Bible
characters: |
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The Prodigal Son - "I will arise and
go." |
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Isaiah - "Here am I, send me." |
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Jesus - "Stay here, I will go farther." We humans are famous for
‘one-up-manships.' But, Jesus always goes farther. Ex. - ‘Where sin did abound,
grace did much more abound.' ‘When the enemy comes in like a
flood, the Spirit of God is there to lift up a standard against it.' |
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Moses - Ex. 3:3 - "And Moses said, I
will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush is not
burnt." |
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Joshua said, - "As for me and my house, we will serve the
Lord." |
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Jacob said,- "I will not let thee go until you bless me." |
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Abraham said, - "My son, God will provide Himself a lamb for
a burnt offering." |
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Isaac - Gen. 26:22 - "For now the Lord
hath made room for us; and we shall be fruitful in the land." |
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Aaron
- is proclaimed to be the poet laureate of the O.T., but no defining
declaration is recorded.
Ex. 4:30 - And Aaron spake all the words which the Lord had spoken
unto Moses." "God said to Moses, I have
made thee a god unto Pharaoh and Aaron thy brother shall be thy
prophet." - Ex.7:1 |
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Caleb - Nu. 13:30 - "And Caleb stilled
the people before Moses and said, Let us go up at once and possess
it, for we are well able to overcome it." |
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David said, - "For who is this
uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the
living God? Is there not a cause?" |
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Solomon - 2 Chron. 1:10 - "Give me now wisdom and knowledge,
for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?" |
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Elisha - 2 Ki. 2:9 - "I pray thee, let a
double portion of thy spirit be upon me." |
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Ruth said, - "Whither thou
goest, I will go, and where thou lodgest, I will lodge; thy
people shall be my people, and thy God my God." |
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Job
- 19:25 - "For I know that my redeemer liveth." |
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Daniel - "But Daniel
purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the
portion of the king's meat nor with the wine that he drank." |
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Gideon - "The sword of the Lord and of Gideon." |
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Peter - "And Peter answered
and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God." |
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Paul said, - "Who art thou Lord?" |
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Have you
had a defining moment? Have
you attended a defining meeting? Have
you made a defining declaration? |
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But Amnon Had A Friend |
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1. And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her. 2. And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do anything to her. 3. But Amnon had a
friend... |
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Introduction: There are so many
examples in the Bible and quotes from noted writers about the importance of
choosing good friends that they would fill a book rather than a sermon; so,
I shall be compelled to forego most of them and simply amplify this short
phrase, "But Amnon had a friend." |
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Amnon's Personal Problem He lusted after his own half-sister, Tamar. He wanted to be with
her in a love relationship, but he knew it wasn't proper. |
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Amnon's Friend
Verse 2 tells us, "...it was hard for him to do anything to her!" He may not have ever touched her on his own. BUT AMNON HAD A FRIEND! |
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Consider The Jake Brake On Amnon's Wagon
Something kept this young man from completely selling out. Amnon Had a Reputation Amnon was the King's son.
When Amnon considered his reputation, it stopped him from sinning.
BUT AMNON HAD A FRIEND!
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Amnon Wasn't A
Department Store Dummy He knew the law. He knew the Word of God. His own father, King David, had penned these words, "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking thereto according to thy Word." (Ps.119:9)
Amnon had an understanding of God's Word, and it had kept him from sinning.
BUT AMNON HAD A
FRIEND! |
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Amnon Had a Conscience When verse 2 says he thought it hard to do anything to Tamar. His conscience would have stopped him this time, too. BUT AMNON HAD A FRIEND!
Due to the influence
of Amnon's friend, he raped his own sister and brought shame on himself, on
his sister, and on his whole family. |
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Look At The Aftermath Of Amnon's Sin 1.On Tamar Verse 20 tells us, "So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house."
She never had children. She was emotionally scarred for the rest of her life. Her life was ruined.
"BUT AMNON HAD A FRIEND!" 2. On Absalom Absalom was destined to ascend to the throne. Absalom was a wise judge, but his heart burned with hatred toward Amnon for sinning against his sister. Absalom had a party and invited Amnon. There he killed Amnon, then he fled from the wrath of the king. Absalom was destined for much better things.
BUT AMNON HAD A FRIEND! |
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Now, what about your friends? The Influence Of Friends Amos 3:3 "Can two walk together unless they be agreed?" NO!
Prov.13:20 "He that walketh with wise men shall be wise..." "...but a
companion of fools shall be destroyed."
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Find the average person on drugs and ask them, "When did you first start doing drugs?" Most will say, "When I
was in high school, I had this friend..." They never would have started
doing drugs, BUT THEY HAD A FRIEND! |
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They will probably say, "Well, I was back in Jr. High School, and I had this friend..." They never would have
become an alcoholic, BUT
THEY HAD A FRIEND! |
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They will say, "Back when I was 17 years old, I had a friend that I worked with..." They never would have smoked their
first cigarette, BUT THEY HAD A FRIEND! |
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Look At Your Friends, You Will See Your Future Amos 3:3 "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?"
You can't walk together with them if you don't agree. If you DO agree, then you will be just like them.
Birds Of A
Feather Flock Together. |
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Some Friends Give Poor Counsel. You would think that Jonadab would have given good counsel to Amnon, but Jonadab wasn't interested in helping Amnon to remain pure. Jonadab was more interested in pleasing him. Jonadab counseled Amnon to fulfill
the lust of the flesh when he should have been helping him control such
lust. |
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Sometimes The Best Friends Give The Worst Advice
That doesn't mean that all friends are bad. We Need Friends who
will pray for us and remind us what the Bible says, as well as live a godly
life before us. |
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We Need the Right Kind of Influence 1 Cor.15:33 “Be not
deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.”
This is one of the reasons that we need the church. We need a place to fellowship with
others who walk in truth. |
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Jesus Is Our Best Friend Matt.28:20 - ‘and, lo, I am with you always.'
We need a friend who will help us go in the right direction, regardless of the cost. And we find such a person in Jesus Christ. Reflecting what He does for us, let us MAKE GOOD FRIENDS AND BE A GOOD FRIEND. May someone say
of you; I would have gone the wrong way, BUT I HAD A
FRIEND. |
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THE RETURN OF THE DOVE |
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We have all heard stories about pets that have crossed hundreds of miles to be re-united with their human families.
Every year we marvel at the return of the swallows to Capastrano
We are aware of the migratory skills of birds
and fish. |
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The Dove is
recognized as a type of the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of God.
Early in
the account of Genesis, it is recorded “the spirit of God moved upon the
face of the waters”-Gen. 1:2 Various words are used for the word “moved”- such as hovered, fluttered, stirred, or brooded.
And just a little farther on, “And the Lord said, My Spirit shall not always strive with man”-Gen. 6:3
NEB= My
life-giving spirit shall not remain in man forever.
Eccl. 12:7= “And the
spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” |
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So let’s set up the typology for this message: “The Return of the Dove”
THE ARK= is the type of the Lord Jesus
Christ. THE DOVE= is the type of the Holy Ghost.
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The Spirit has been active in the world from the very beginning, BUT IN VARIOUS WAYS:
As a
brooding mother bird in Gen. 1,
As a cloud
and fire for direction in the wilderness,
As an
afterglow on Sinai,
As the
Shechinah glory in the Tabernacle, and
As the
rain-cloud on Carmel. BUT THE SPIRIT ALWAYS RETURNED HOME. |
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Let us consider some Dove data before we proceed any further: The dove and the pigeon are the same family. The smaller members are called doves. The larger members are called pigeons. This bird is a swift flier. They are usually gentle- but can fight viciously. The mourning dove gets it’s name from the soft, sad, cooing call of the male. It feeds on grain, grass, and weed seeds. It is a devoted mate. It builds a flimsy nest. The dove is the symbol of PEACE. In most bids the male is the most attractive. But in the dove, male and female are so much alike in color and appearance that it is hard to tell them apart. Birds, as a whole, have the best vision of all animals. Their eyes are relatively large, sometimes weighing more than the brain and have exceptionally acute resolution. Predatory species have binocular (telescoping, opera-glasses) vision. Most other birds have partially binocular vision. Color perception in birds is excellent. |
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Gen. 8:8-10, 12 This is the account of the spies which Noah sent out to bring him intelligence from abroad:
A raven and
a dove 1. Noah sent forth the Raven “which went forth to and fro” That is, “going forth and returning”
Or flying
about but returning to the Ark for rest 2. Noah sent forth the Dove
“but the
dove returned him” verse 9 7 days later: - Again he sent out the Dove
“and the
dove returned with an olive leaf” 14 days later from the first expedition “he sent forth the dove which returned not again unto him any more” |
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The dove flies low. The Ark came to rest on mountain top. The Christian is not at home in the high places of the world.
Verse 10=
“stayed-(patiently abode)- yet other 7 days” Have you noticed yourself just living from one church service to the next? |
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The Dove had something in its mouth. It had an olive leaf, which grows on lower hills and plains, but not on mountains.
The Dove
went down to where man lives. God's Spirit came down to us. |
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The Bible says the dove "Plucked off" a leaf---not a loose leaf or a floating twig, It was a living olive tree.
Olive leaves keep green under water. Peace will blossom under any circumstances. |
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When the
dove lands on you, it has something in its mouth. You will speak with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance. |
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Peace is still the music of the soul. It is the calm sunset of a summer’s Sunday. It is the olive-branch- sign of judgment abating. It is Jerusalem-i.e., vision of peace. It is Melchidezec- King of righteousness, King of peace. -G.S. Bowes |
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Psalms
55:6- “O that I had wings like a dove, for then would I fly, and be at
rest.”
The
Psalmist was so surrounded that the only way out was “on the wing.” Not the wings of an hawk- that dives upon it’s prey,
But the
wings of a dove- that flies swiftly. It doesn’t have to be a long flight,
Just as
long as I escape from my enemies. The Spirit provides that escape for us. |
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The classical writers of Greece and Rome made
frequent allusions to the speed of the dove.
Have you ever noticed how quickly the Lord
can come alongside you when you need help?
Sophocles compared her to a whirlwind. Kimchi says the reason the Psalmist prefers the dove to other birds was, that while other birds became weary while flying and land of a rock or a tree to regain their strength, The dove, when she is tired, alternately rests one wing and flies with the other, And by this means escapes from the swiftest pursuers. |
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Psalms
68:3- “Tho ye have lien among the pots yet shall ye be as the wings of a
dove covered with silver and her feathers with yellow gold.”
Silver=
redemption Gold= divinity |
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Song of Solomon 1:15- “Thou has doves’ eyes.” Seeing thru the eyes of the Spirit
What a view! See all the enemies beaten. See an immortal body.
See what “eyes cannot see.” Song of Solomon 4:1- “Thou has doves’ eyes within thy locks” |
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Song of Solomon 2:14- “Oh my dove, thou art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice: for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.”
The
invitation that Jesus gives to each of us is the communion with Him.
Christ is
the Rock. His Spirit takes us unto Him. |
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Song of Solomon 5:2- “I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.”
This is the bride speaking. She said, I went to sleep. He came to my door, But by the time I got awake, He was gone. So, she went thru the streets looking for Him.
If you lose the Spirit, you will never find a substitute. |
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Song of
Solomon 6:9- “My dove, my undefiled is but one.”
There is
only ONE CHURCH. And there is no other segment of society that compares with His church. |
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The Dove has not yet returned to The Ark in
Heaven.
God’s Spirit is in His Church. “She is the only one of her mother.” “Jerusalem which is above”
See Matthew 3:16, Mark 1:10, Luke 3:22 |
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John 1:32- “And John bare record saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven, like a dove, and it abode upon Him.”
THE SAME IS HE WHICH BAPTIZETH WITH THE HOLY GHOST. |
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Romans 8:11- “But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.”
The Spirit will RETURN to
God.
If the Spirit dwells in
me, I WILL GO ALSO. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE RETURN OF THE DOVE. |
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