[0:00] Pastor and Tammy are vacationing, and so I'm here taking his place.! I've been asked several times if I'm preaching today, and I'll say yes, and inevitably they want to know on what subject.
[0:19] ! Truthfully, I have to answer and say nothing. So, listen closely because my entire sermon is built around that one word, nothing.
[0:32] I'll be sharing a lot of verses from the Bible, so hang on, and I hope you'll learn something. Alright, so turn with me to Galatians 6, 1-5.
[0:47] Galatians 6, 1-5. And if you are able, stand with me as we read Scripture, just to honor God.
[1:01] Galatians 6, 1-5. It says, Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.
[1:22] Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
[1:36] But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone and not in another.
[1:47] For each one shall bear his own load. Alright, Father, as we open Scripture, we thank you, first and foremost, that you gave us the Word of God, that we can study, and that we can change, because we all need to become more like you.
[2:11] And there's so much change that needs to happen. So, bless this time together, in Jesus' precious name. Amen. Alright, you may be seated. So, these verses are telling me to be humble and not conceited.
[2:31] You have nothing to boast about. It's all because of God. Just do your best at whatever you're doing, and don't compare yourself to others.
[2:45] It always seems to be our first response when we are asked to teach or share a testimony or pray, to compare ourselves with others, and use that as an excuse not to accept the challenge.
[3:02] I tend to do it every time the pastor is gone, and I have to preach for him. There is nothing more God wants than to see growth in you and for you to rely on him for help.
[3:19] In 1 Corinthians 8, 1-4, Paul writes, Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.
[3:31] And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing. Yet, as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, this one is known by him.
[3:47] I know Annabelle is trying to keep track of how many times I say the word nothing, and we're not even close to the end.
[3:58] I feel like Paul is trying to say politely that there is nothing worse than somebody that thinks they know it all, especially when it comes to spiritual matters.
[4:11] Later in 1 Corinthians 9-16, Paul writes, For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of.
[4:22] For necessity is laid upon me, yes, woe is me, if I do not preach the gospel. Wow! Did you hear that?
[4:33] Did you get that? Paul is saying that there is nothing more important to Paul than preaching the gospel. How about you? Can you say the same thing?
[4:46] I don't know about you, but I know there's plenty of room for improvement for me in that category. So turn with me to Matthew 21, 18-22.
[5:05] Matthew 21, 18-22. Matthew 21, 18-22.
[5:24] Now, in the morning, as he returned to the city, he was hungry. He was talking about Christ. And seeing a fig tree by the road, he came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, Let no fruit grow on you ever again.
[5:45] Immediately, the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, How did the fig tree wither away so soon?
[5:57] So Jesus answered and said to them, Assuredly, I say to you, If you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what is done to the fig tree, but also, if you say to this mountain, Be removed and cast into the sea, it will be done.
[6:19] And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive. There's a dual lesson here in these verses.
[6:29] First, you must have faith in order for God to do marvelous things through you. And secondly, God is disappointed if there is nothing but leaves in your life.
[6:46] You say you have faith, and there's no fruit. Watch out. You're in sinking sand. If you go to church on Sundays, but you live like the rest of the world the other six days, you're in great danger.
[7:03] Christ had a one-word description for the religious leaders of his times, and it wasn't a compliment.
[7:14] He called them hypocrites. Nothing nice about that description. So in John 15, 5, it says, I am the vine, and you are the branches.
[7:27] He who abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit. For without me, you can do nothing. John makes it quite clear.
[7:38] Nothing good can happen unless you're abiding in Christ, and you're obeying his leading and direction. But let's stop here, and let's go back to the very beginning when time started.
[7:55] And what does Genesis 1, 1 say? In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. From what? From nothing.
[8:06] You're getting the hang of it. He just spoke it into existence. Everything. According to Google, there are over 2 billion billion stars in the observable universe.
[8:21] That's a 2 with 18 zeros after it. That's roughly 10 times more stars than there are grains of sand on all the beaches and deserts on the entire earth.
[8:38] He made them all out of nothing. John 1 says, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God.
[8:55] And the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him, nothing was made that was made.
[9:06] There has been over 12 million patents issued in the United States, but not a single one of them should count, because they just took what God created and rearranged it, and got the credit for it.
[9:24] Nothing they did was truly from nothing. John 3, 27 says, John answered and said, A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.
[9:40] 1 Timothy 6, 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
[9:52] And that's Scripture's way of saying, you'll never see a hearse pulling a U-Haul. Back to early mankind, when God had given them laws and ordinances to abide by, there was nothing unjust and unrighteous about them.
[10:11] But we broke God's laws, and no one could keep them, and there was nothing in us, or nothing we could do that could justify us.
[10:22] Nothing, that is, until the death of Jesus Christ and His resurrection. Hebrews 7, 19 says, For the law made nothing perfect.
[10:36] On the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.
[10:47] If nothing else, the death of Christ brought a better hope to mankind. Romans 7, 18 For I know that in me, that's in my flesh, that is, in my flesh, nothing good dwells.
[11:06] For to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good, I do not find. This was a struggle that Paul had, and Paul's struggle with sin was nothing new, and it still exists with us, where our spirit is willing, but our flesh is weak.
[11:29] But God, because of His infinite, stubborn love for us, came up with a plan to redeem His creation. We had nothing to do with it, and for sure, we didn't deserve it.
[11:44] Amen. So for by grace have you been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God.
[11:56] Not of works, lest anyone should boast. That's Ephesians 2, 8, and 9. There is nothing you can boast about in regards to your salvation.
[12:07] It was all God's doing. Luke 7, 41 and 42, it says, There was a certain creditor who had two debtors.
[12:18] One owed 500 denarii, and the other 50. And when they had nothing with which to repay, He freely forgave them both.
[12:30] Tell me, therefore, which of them would love Him more? The answer was obvious. The one that owed the most. I know I had a debt I could not pay, but now I'm debt free.
[12:46] I owe Satan nothing. How about you? Accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Savior is up to you. Nothing anyone else does or says matters.
[13:01] God will be the judge of your heart, and He doesn't make mistakes. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 4, But with me, it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court.
[13:19] In fact, I do not even judge myself, for I know nothing against myself. Yet, I am not justified by this, but he who judges me is the Lord.
[13:34] Therefore, judge nothing before the time until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts.
[13:49] So in conclusion there, nothing else but what's in your heart matters. Philippians 1, Paul also wrote, For I know this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed.
[14:15] but with all boldness, as always, so not now, also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.
[14:27] With Jesus in your heart, you have nothing to be ashamed of when you stand before God. But accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Savior is just the first step of a journey that will last the rest of your life.
[14:45] God is looking for laborers and workers and not just those that want to sit around and do nothing. Doing nothing will leave nothing but leaves on your tree.
[15:00] He tells us that you are the salt of the earth, but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?
[15:11] It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. He challenges us to love our enemies, to do good and lend, hoping for nothing in return, and your reward will be great.
[15:30] And you will be the sons of the Most High. He calls us to do all things with love, with the love of Christ. In 1 Corinthians 13, 2, the love chapter, it says, 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, but have not love, I am nothing.
[16:00] He warns us about being selfish. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in loneliness of mind, let us esteem others better than himself.
[16:17] He admonishes us about worrying. Philippians 4, 6-7, Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
[16:33] And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. He shares, It won't be easy, but it will be rewarding.
[16:46] James 1, 2-4 says, My brethren, count it all joy. My brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience, but let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
[17:07] Christ also promises to help and not just to sit around and do nothing. He is always there nearby to support us.
[17:19] John 15, 5 says, I am the vine and you are the branches. He who abides in me and I in him bears fruit. For without me you can do nothing.
[17:33] And John 6, 63 shares with us, It is the Spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit and they are life.
[17:48] But one of the most powerful verses in all scriptures from Luke 1, 37, For with God nothing is impossible. Accepting Christ doesn't require nothing special.
[18:03] And I'm sure that's not proper English. Other than acknowledging that you are a sinner and believing that Christ came to this earth and lived a sinless life, was crucified for my sin and buried and three days later rose from the grave and conquered death and is seated at the right hand of God.
[18:29] Nothing more and nothing less. But to do nothing, and I will close with this, about what you've just heard is the same thing as doing something.
[18:42] You are making your choice. The Bible actually talks about those who choose to do nothing. Luke 6, 47 through 49, Whoever comes to me and hears my sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like.
[19:00] He is like a man building a house who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose and the stream beat vehemently against that house and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock, but he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently and immediately it fell.
[19:33] And the ruin of that house was great. So eternity without Christ is nothing you want to experience. There won't be nothing fun about it.
[19:44] If you die without Christ in your heart, there will be nothing you can do to change your destination. It will be too late. So I guess there's nothing more I really can say other than if you're not sure that you have Christ in your heart, today is the day you will want to make it right.
[20:05] Don't let nothing stop you or get in the way. All right, let's close in prayer. Father, we thank you for the words that were read that came out of Scripture.
[20:22] And we thank you for your Son, Jesus Christ, because he prepared the way. He provided a way for you to redeem mankind.
[20:34] All we have to do is believe, accept the gift that you have given. You paid the price. And I just pray each and every one can be confident of that assurance.
[20:47] We thank you again for this day and for your love and the many, many good things that you give to us. In Jesus' precious name. Amen. Amen. Amen.