Dedicated To The Men of God Who Preach the Word of God As It
Is To Men As They Are
"Preach The Word"
BEFORE I DIE I WILL…..
A. The story: Jacob had learned that his son, Joseph, was alive and he said, " I will go see him before I die." His intentions were good, and right, and he acted immediately to carry them through.
B. We ought to have good intentions, most of us do, but sometimes, for one reason or another, we don’t seem to carry them out.
C. Some intentions are of the little worth, and it doesn’t matter a great deal whether we get them done or not.
Illustration:
One young man told me that his ultimate goal in life was to own a Lincoln Continental and become a 33rd degree mason. He put his whole heart and life into achieving these two goals. He neglected his family, his church, his property and everything else to pursue these dreams.
D. Today, I want to talk to you about some intentions that are really worthwhile: they are the ‘majors’ of this life.
I. I Will Be Saved Before I Die
A. Perhaps you have already been saved, but if you haven’t I urge you to take care of that now and I mean right at this moment. It is the most important matter you’ll ever have to deal with. It is something that not only concerns this life, but it determines where you will spend eternity.
Matthew 16:26 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?
2Corinthians 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
B. Here is wonderful news: you can be saved now.
C. Here is bad news: you may not have another opportunity.
Proverb 27:1 Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
Luke 12:16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
Luke 12:17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
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.
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.
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.
II. I Will Obey God Before I Die
A. Again, you may be obeying God in your life, but if you are not, I urge you to do it now.
B. Some might ask, "Does God really have a plan for my life?" Yes! Indeed God has a plan for every life.
Proverb 6:6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.
C. The first thought that comes to our minds, as a general rule, when we hear the word ‘obedience’ is " I am going to have to give up something. This is going to cost me a great deal.
1. True. It does cost t o follow Jesus, but did you know the blessing one receives are far greater than the small sacrifices one is called upon to make:
2. How great the promises to those who seek to do His will.
a. Material blessings
Joshua 1:2 Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.
Joshua 1:3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.
Joshua 1:4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.
Joshua 1:5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Malachi 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
b. Physical blessings
Proverb 3:8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
Isaiah 58:10 And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday:
Isaiah 58:11 And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
c. Spiritual blessings
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.
Psalms 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
Psalms 1:3 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
Illustration:
In a revival where Dr. R. A. Torrey was preaching, a lady come to him and said, "I can no longer believe in God." Torrey inquired as to the reason she could not believe in God. She told him how she had prayed for something she wanted very much and He had not answered her prayer. He then read to her
I John 3:22 and asked her if she obeyed God, to which she relied that she did not.
He then said, "Well it was not God who failed you, but you who failed Him." With that he was able to lead her back into sweet fellowship with her heavenly Father.
III. I Will Make Things Right With Others Before I Die.
A. The Bible is clear on this matter, through it is not practiced much these days.
Matthew 5:23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
Matthew 5:24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
Matthew 5:25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
B. Sometimes it is impossible to make things right, as the ones we have hurt are already dead or they cannot be located, but at least we should make an effort.
Illustration:
E. B. Meyer tells the story of how a young girl came to him at the close of a service, and confessed to him that she had stole some money. It was a very small amount, but it was troubling her. Meyer told her that she needed to make it right. She did and the joy of the Lord flooded her life once again.
IV. I Will Seek To Win Someone Else To Christ Before I Die.
Sermon From Pastor Charles Worley
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