Shepherding the Flock Ministries
  • Home
  • Burden
  • Biography
  • Bookstore
  • Blog
    • Weekly Sermons
    • Devotional Meditations
    • Psalms & Proverbs
    • Thoughts For Meditation
    • All Categories List
  • Behavior
  • Contact

The Reputation of the Man of God – Acts 20:17-21

4/7/2014

0 Comments

 
Weekly Sermon

Acts 20:17-21 reads, “And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.  And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: and how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” 

In this passage of Scripture, we pick up the life of the apostle Paul at the end of His third missionary journey.  While going about the areas of Galatia, Asia, and Macedonia, establishing and confirming churches in the faith, Paul collected money for the financially destitute church of Jerusalem.  Here we find Paul in Miletus for a few days, as the ship on which he had booked passage is resupplied and outfitted for the journey.  The apostle Paul, never one to waste time, takes this opportunity to send for the elders of the church at Ephesus, (Ephesus being approximately thirty miles distant).  Now, as the New Testament Scriptures often use the term “elder” as a reference for the official leadership of churches, we recognize these men in our common terminology as the pastors of the church at Ephesus. 

Unto these pastors the apostle Paul spends the whole of Acts 20:18-35 in a farewell address.  Contextually, this address can be divided into four parts.  First, in verses 18-21 there is Paul’s recollection of His past ministry with these men.  Second, in verses 22-24 there is Paul’s intention to follow the Spirit’s leading.  Third, in verses 25-31 there is Paul’s exhortation to these pastors concerning their ministry.  Fourth, in verses 32-35 there is Paul’s commendation of these pastors unto God.  In this message we shall consider the first of these matters – Paul’s recollection of His past ministry with these men.  Apparently there were those in Ephesus, as was so often the case at other places in the apostle’s ministry, who were slandering His character and ministry.  Thus the apostle Paul began this farewell address with a reminder to these pastors concerning their personal knowledge of and experience with his godly character and behavior.  In so doing the apostle Paul, by the example of his own life and ministry, reveals to us the reputation of a man of God.  Even so, if we desire to be men and women of God, then we must seek these same characteristics as a part of our reputation.  So then, from Acts 20:18-21 let us consider five characteristics for the reputation of a man of God.

Read More
0 Comments

Quicken Thou Me – Psalm 119:25

3/4/2014

0 Comments

 
Weekly Sermon

In Psalm 119:25 the psalmist, this young servant of the Lord, expressed his condition and his request unto the Lord in prayer, saying, “My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.”

The request of the psalmist was presented in three words – “Quicken thou me.”  In fact, the psalmist lifted up this request unto the Lord nine times in this psalm (Psalm 119:25, 37, 40, 88, 107, 149, 154, 156, 159).  Herein the word “quicken” means “to be made alive; to be enlivened; to be revived.”  Thus the psalmist was praying that the Lord might make him alive, that the Lord might enliven him, that the Lord might revive him again.  Yet in what way did the psalmist need to be made alive?  In what way did he need such enlivening and such reviving?  Certainly in order to make this request, the psalmist was physically alive; and there is no indication that he was on his deathbed, preparing to die. 

On the other hand, the psalmist was in circumstances of great distress and affliction.  Mentally and emotionally, he was in a condition of great distress and discouragement.  In the opening portion of Psalm 119:25, he proclaimed, “My soul [that is – his inner man] cleaveth unto the dust.”  Again in Psalm 119:107-110 he proclaimed, “I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according unto thy word.  Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments.  My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law.  The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts.”  Circumstantially, the psalmist was suffering the affliction of reproach and persecution from the wicked.  In Psalm 119:29-40 he expressed his request, saying, “Turn away my reproach which I fear: for thy judgments are good.  Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.”  Again in Psalm 119:81-88 he expressed his burden, saying, “My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.  Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me?  For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes.  How many are the days of thy servant?  When wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?  The proud have digged pits for me, which are not after thy law.  All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.  They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts.  Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.”  Yet again in Psalm 119:153-157 he expressed his burden and request, saying, “Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law.  Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word.  Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes.  Great are thy tender mercies, O LORD: quicken me according to thy judgments.  Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not decline from thy testimonies.” 

However, this servant of the Lord did not make his request to be quickened, to be enlivened, to be revived, simply concerning his mental and emotional need.  Rather, he made his request concerning his deeper, spiritual need.  In Psalm 119:36-37 he expressed his request, saying, “Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.”  The psalmist, this young servant of the Lord, understood that spiritual revival was necessary for mental and emotional enlivening.  He understood that the spiritual reviving of his heart would enter him into the blessed fellowship of the Lord wherein he would experience the wonderful peace of God (Isaiah 57:15, 18-19).  Furthermore, he understood that experiencing the wonderful peace of God in his inner man would be the very means by which his mental and emotional condition might be enlivened and guarded.  Even so, Philippians 4:7 declares, “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

So then, as we consider the psalmist’s request throughout this psalm for spiritual reviving and for mental and emotional enlivening thereby, we shall encounter the Source of this reviving, the foundation for this reviving, the means of this reviving, and the purpose for this reviving.

Read More
0 Comments

Acceptable in Thy Sight, O Lord – Psalm 19:14

2/28/2014

0 Comments

 
Outlines in Psalms

Psalm 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.”

1.  The Priority for Life

“Let . . . be acceptable . . . .”

2.  The Pursuit after Righteousness

“Let the words of my mouth . . . .”

3.  The Penetration (Depth) of Submission

“. . . And the meditation of my heart . . . .”

4.  The Principle of Success

“. . . Acceptable in thy sight, O LORD . . . .”

5.  The Power for Victory

“. . . O LORD, my strength . . . .”

6.  The Provision for Failure

“. . . And my redeemer.”

Posted in Outlines in Psalms, Walk in Righteousness, Serving the Lord
Please share this post with others:
0 Comments

A Casual or a Committed Christian Life

2/25/2014

0 Comments

 
Thought for Meditation

On the one hand, 
a casual and compromised Christian life is rooted in service to the Lord 
that is motivated according to a spirit of convenience.

On the other hand,
a committed and consecrated Christian life is rooted in service to the Lord
that is motivated according to a spirit of conviction.

Read More
0 Comments

But Thy Servant – Psalm 119:23

2/17/2014

0 Comments

 
Weekly Sermon

In Psalm 119:22-23 the psalmist, this faithful servant of the Lord, stated, “Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies.  Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.”

As a whole, the theme of Psalm 119 is – The desire of the Lord’s suffering servant to seek the Lord through His holy Word.  In Psalm 119:22-23 the psalmist speaks for the first time concerning the affliction and reproach under which he was suffering.  Indeed, he was suffering reproach and contempt.  He was being slandered.  Many were speaking against him.  Yet the psalmist, as a faithful servant of the Lord, also presented his response unto that affliction and reproach.  In the closing portion of Psalm 119:23, he declared, “But thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.”  Even so, with a study throughout Psalm 119, we may learn how a faithful servant of the Lord responds in the face of affliction and reproach.

Read More
0 Comments

The Faithful Servant of the Lord – Psalm 119:23

2/10/2014

0 Comments

 
Weekly Sermon

Psalm 119:23-24 reads, “Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.  Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors.”

In Psalm 119:17-24 the psalmist referred to himself as a servant of the Lord twice.  In Psalm 119:17 he prayed unto the Lord, saying, “Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word.”  Again in Psalm 119:23 he expressed his commitment unto the Lord, saying, “Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.”  Indeed, the psalmist presented himself as a faithful servant of the Lord who had committed himself to walk in a right relationship with God’s Word.  Furthermore, the psalmist presented himself as a faithful servant of the Lord in contrast to the proud of this world, who walked in disobedience to God’s Word.  In Psalm 119:21-22 he revealed this contrast, saying, “Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments.  Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies.”  Finally, the psalmist presented himself as a faithful servant of the Lord who was suffering reproach and was responding aright to that reproach.  In Psalm 119:23 he indicated this response, saying, “Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.”  Even so, throughout this passage this faithful servant of the Lord revealed four ingredients whereby we also might walk as faithful servants of the Lord.  

Read More
0 Comments

Thou Hast Rebuked the Proud – Psalm 119:21-23

2/3/2014

0 Comments

 
 Weekly Sermon

Psalm 119:21-23 reads, “Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments.  Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies.  Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.”

As we consider the message of these three verses, a contrast is revealed to us.  In this passage we find a contrast revealed between the proud of this world and the servant of the Lord.  Psalm 119:21 speaks concerning the proud of this world, saying, “Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments.”  Whereas, the closing portion of Psalm 119:23 speaks concerning the servant of the Lord, saying, “But thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.”  First, this contrast can be seen in the definition of their character.  On the one had is the category of the proud ones; on the other hand is the category of the Lord’s servants.  Clearly there is contrast between pride and servanthood.  Second, this contrast can be seen in their relationship to God’s Word.  The closing portion of Psalm 119:21 speaks concerning the proud of this world, saying, “Which do err from thy commandments.”  Whereas, the closing portion of Psalm 119:22 speaks concerning the servant of the Lord, saying, “For I have kept thy testimonies;” and the closing portion of verse 23 adds, “But thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.”  The proud of this world err from and rebel against God’s Word; whereas, the servant of the Lord keeps and meditates in God’s Word.  Third, this contrast can be seen in their position in this world.  The opening portion of Psalm 119:23 describes the proud of this world as princes.  Whereas, the opening portion of Psalm 119:22 indicates that the servant of the Lord was under “reproach and contempt.”  So then, the proud ones are often in the position of success; whereas, the Lord’s servants are often in a position of contempt.

Yet in this passage, not only is a contrast revealed, but also a conflict is indicated.  The opening portion of Psalm 119:23 indicates that the proud of this world, who are in positions of success, are the very ones who speak against the servants of the Lord, the very ones who pour out reproach and contempt upon the servants of the Lord.  So then, there is not simply a contrast between these two categories, but also a conflict between them.  However, in this passage there is also a comfort provided unto the servants of the Lord.  Although at the present time the servants of the Lord may be in a position of reproach and contempt, spoken against by the proud of this world, yet the servants of the Lord are also in a position to call out in prayer unto the Lord for deliverance.  In Psalm 119:22 the psalmist, this servant of the Lord, did just that, praying, “Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies.”  In addition, while in the midst of reproach and contempt from the proud of this world, the servants of the Lord also possess the comforting assurance that the Lord will eventually judge the proud and will deliver His servants thereby.  Even so, in the opening portion of Psalm 119:21, the psalmist, this servant of the Lord, expressed his assurance, saying, “Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed.”

So then, for the remainder of this message, let us focus our attention upon what this passage says about the proud of this world.  In Psalm 119:21-23 we encounter the character of the proud, the conduct of the proud, the contempt of the proud, and the curse of the proud.

Read More
0 Comments

Do You Care for the Lord's Work?

1/29/2014

0 Comments

 
Thought for Meditation

Are you one who consistently cares for and is committed to doing the work of the Lord?
Or, are you one who must be constantly convinced and compelled to do the work of the Lord?
Or, are ye one who is contemptuous of and stands contrary to the work of the Lord?

Read More
0 Comments

Deal Bountifully with Thy Servant – Psalm 119:17

1/21/2014

0 Comments

 
Weekly Sermon

Psalm 119:17-24 reads, “Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word.  Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.  I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.  My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times.  Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments.  Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies.  Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.  Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors.”

The theme of Psalm 119 as a whole is – The desire of the Lord’s suffering servant to seek the Lord through His holy Word.  In verse 17 this servant of the Lord sought the Lord in prayer, saying, “Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word.”  Herein the psalmist, this servant of the Lord, expressed his desire to walk aright with the Lord his God – to live a godly life of obedience unto God’s Word.  Yet herein the psalmist, this servant of the Lord, also expressed his understanding of his need for the Lord to help him so that he might walk aright – to deal bountifully with him so that he might live a godly life.  Even so, we also should maintain a desire to walk aright with our Lord; and we should make request daily that our Lord might help us to walk aright.  In Psalm 119:17 we find four ingredients to this request by the Lord’s servant.

Read More
0 Comments

Rest for Our Souls, Peace for Our Hearts and Minds

8/13/2013

0 Comments

 
Thought for Meditation

The only way that we may obtain and experience
a rest  for our souls that will last through all the troubles of life 
and a peace for our hearts and minds that will surpass all human understanding
is by submitting to the Lord our God and Savior,
trusting in the Lord our God and Savior,
and following after the Lord our God and Savior.

Read More
0 Comments

Claiming Our Lord’s Presence – Haggai 2:1-5

8/12/2013

0 Comments

 
Weekly Sermon

This sermon is a companion to four previous sermons:  Consider Your Priorities - Haggai 1:5    
                                                                                        Consider the Lord's Pleasure - Haggai 1:8      
                                                                                        Consider Our Lord's Purpose - Haggai 2:10-19    
                                                                                        Consider Our Lord's Promise - Haggai 2:18-23    

Haggai 2:1-5 reads, “In the seventh month, in the one and twentieth day of the month, came the word of the LORD by the prophet Haggai, saying, Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and to the residue of the people, saying, Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory?  And how do ye see it now?  Is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?  Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the LORD, and work: for I am with you, saith the LORD of hosts: according to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not.”

The Book of Haggai is an Old Testament book of only two chapters.  Five times in those two chapters, our Lord instructed His people of that time to consider (in 1:5, 7; 2:15, 18).  They were to consider their self-centered priorities and to reestablish their priority on the things of the Lord.  They were to consider the Lord’s pleasure and to return unto the way of the Lord’s pleasure upon them.  They were to consider the Lord’s purpose in chastening and to receive it with meekness unto fruitfulness for the Lord.  Finally, they were to consider the Lord’s promise and to set the faith and focus of their hearts upon the Lord. 

In particular, the Lord promised that if they would reestablish their priority on His work, and would return unto the way of His pleasure, and would receive with meekness the purpose of His chastening, then He would be with them in the fellowship of His presence and would pour out upon them the enabling of His Spirit.  In fact, these very two promises are given in Haggai 2:4-5 – “Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the LORD, and work: for I am with you, saith the LORD of hosts: according to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not.”  In like manner, in the New Testament the Lord our God has also promised the fellowship of His presence and the enabling of His Spirit unto us who are His people today.

Yet these promises were not and are not to be an end in themselves.  Rather, these promises were then to move and motivate God’s people unto the work of the Lord for that time; and these promises are now to move and motivate God’s people unto the work of the Lord for this time.  Yea, in Haggai 2:4-5, on the grounds of our Lord’s promise to be with them in fellowship and to place His Spirit upon them for enabling, He gave a three-fold instruction unto His people.  Brethren, through these three things we are to be claiming our Lord’s presence.

Read More
0 Comments

More Appealing to the World, Less Useful to the Lord

5/21/2013

0 Comments

 
Thought for Meditation

Many claim that we must become more appealing to this present world,
in order that we might be more able to reach this present world.
Yet when we become more appealing to this present world,
we become less appealing to the Lord our God;
and thereby we become less useful to Him in His service for His glory.

Read More
0 Comments

Gather the Elders, and Say unto Them - Exodus 3:16-22 (Pt. 1)

5/8/2013

0 Comments

 
Meditations in Exodus

Exodus 3:16-17 reads, “Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt: and I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.”

In Exodus 3:9-10 the Lord God expressed his call upon Moses to send Moses as His instrument of deliverance for His people Israel.  In verse 11 Moses responded with the question, “Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?”  In verse 12 the Lord God answered Moses’ question by promising to be with Moses and to enable Moses in fulfilling His call.  Then in verse 13 Moses asked a second question – “Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?”  To this question the Lord God gave answer in verse 14-15, declaring – “I AM THAT I AM.”  “Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.”  “Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.”

Even so, on the ground of this declaration, the Lord God then instructed Moses to “go, and gather the elders of Israel together,” and to deliver the message of verses 16-22 unto them.  Herein it is worthy of notice that although this message certainly pertained unto the entire nation of Israel, it was to be delivered specifically unto the elders of Israel, unto the leadership of Israel.  Indeed, Exodus 3:16-22 provides encouragement and exhortation to those who serve in leadership for God’s people.

Read More
0 Comments

Coming Again – Matthew 16:27

4/29/2013

0 Comments

 
Weekly Sermon

Matthew 16:27 reads, “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.”  What a wonderful promise is given to us in this verse – Our Lord Jesus Christ is coming again.  As the song written by John W. Peterson proclaims:

     Marvelous message we bring, Glorious carol we sing, 
          Wonderful word of the King: Jesus is coming again!
     Coming again, Coming again; 
          Maybe morning, maybe noon, Maybe evening and maybe soon.
     Coming again, Coming again;
          O what a wonderful day it will be – Jesus is coming again!

Let us then consider three important truths out of Matthew 16:27 concerning this great and glorious promise of our Lord’s Second Coming.

Read More
0 Comments

The Love of Christ Constraineth Us – 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

4/22/2013

1 Comment

 
Weekly Sermon

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 reads, “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead; and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”

Again and again throughout God’s Word we are instructed to "walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing."  Yet why should we so live our lives?  What motivation is given to move us to live our lives in such a manner?  Certainly the very fact that our Lord has instructed us to so walk and to so live should be motivation enough.  Yet our Lord has also provided us with the greatest and most gracious motivation possible.  Even so, 2 Corinthians 5:14 opens with the declaration, “For the love of Christ constraineth us.”  Now, the word “constraineth” here conveys the idea of that which takes a hold of us with force and moves us with that force to act in a certain manner.  In this statement our Lord Jesus Christ”s own love for us is the very force that takes a hold of us and moves us to live as we ought to live. Even so, 1 John 4:19 proclaims, "We love him, because he first loved us.”  This is the believer's motivation – “For the love of Christ constraineth us.”  Then as 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 continues, it reveals three truths that give substance to this motivation.  Thus we find the truth concerning our need, the truth concerning Christ's provision, and the truth concerning our responsibility.

Read More
1 Comment
<<Previous
    Picture

    Follow by Feed

    Follow by Email

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    Shepherding the Flock Ministries on Facebook

    Audio Sermons
    By Pastor Scott Markle

    Picture

    Archive Listings

    Weekly Sermons    
    Devotional Meditations    
    Outlines in Psalms    
    Proverbs for Life    
    Thoughts for Meditation    
    All Categories List     
        

    RSS Feed

Introduction

Home
Information

Burden    
Biography    
Behavior
Interaction

Bookstore    
Blog    

Contact    

Intersection

Melvin Baptist Church   
God's Way of Salvation   
Audio Sermons    
 
Picture