Midway Baptist Church Sermons Midway Baptist Church

2023.4.30 - The Mercado Missionaries by Midway Baptist Church

Text: Ruth 1:1-7
Opening Statement:
In the book of Ruth there are scenes that are tragic, domestic, romantic, dramatic, historic, and prophetic. Yet each scene is a mine filled with precious gems.
The Book of Ruth is a beautiful picture of Christ’s great love for us, and the redemption He purchased for us.
The opening scene of the book is tragic for we find three graves in Moab. Let’s notice the story behind these 3 graves. First, notice:


I) THE DEPARTURE FROM THE LORD (vs.1-4)
As we look at this departure from the Lord we see:
A) Where They Were Leaving
Their home was the town of Bethlehem in the country of Judah. The name “Bethlehem” means, “House of bread.” “Judah” means “praise.”
This was the place we find Elimelech and his family leaving. They first left the city limits of Bethlehem and then left the borders of Judah. They first got out of the House of God and then out of the will of God.
We also see:


B) Where They Went to Live
We read that they “went to sojourn in the country of Moab” (Vs.1). In Psalm 108:9, we find an interesting description of Moab. We read, “Moab is My washpot.”
Elimelech’s journey to Moab is illustrative of a Christian leaving God and going back to the old life.
We see that not only did they settle down in Moab, but their children took to themselves wives of the Moabites (Vs.4). Marriage among the pagan nations was strictly forbidden by God. The parents’ departure only led to a further departure in the children.
We see a departure from the Lord, and we also see the results of leaving God.


II) THE DISCIPLINE BY THE LORD
Just as an earthly father will discipline a disobedient child, God will discipline His disobedient and straying children (Heb.12:6). The writer of Hebrews describes both a process and a procedure of God’s discipline.
When we look at Elimelech and his family we see this process and procedure of discipline.

A) The First Acts Of Discipline (V.2)
It would appear that Elimelech and Naomi, had begun to drift from God in their hearts, before they ever left Bethlehem-judah. A departure from God always begins on the inside long before it is seen on the outside. The names of their children would seem to suggest that God had already begun a work of discipline to get their attention. These boys seem to be the first acts of discipline in their life.
Both of their children would seem to suggest that God was trying to get their attention.


B) The Fatal Acts Of Discipline (vs. 3,5)
First God chastens us, and if that does not get our attention, He scourges us. The first warnings were ignored and finally God’s discipline was drastic and fatal.
Whenever a Christian gets out of the house of God, and the will of God, God will discipline. He will deal with them patiently and lovingly. But in time, if there is no repentance and a return to God, He will deal in a more drastic measure. A departure from the Lord will always bring the discipline of the Lord.


III) THE DESIRE FOR THE LORD (vs. 6-7)
She heard of how God was blessing His people again. The famine was over at last. The people had come back to God. It was this news, coupled with all that had happened, that created in her heart a desire to return to God. In her desire we see:

A) Her Repentance
It is interesting how her actions are described. It was not just that she returned to Bethlehem-judah. She was turning her back on Moab. She was leaving Moab. That is repentance.
In her desire we also see:


B) Her Return
She returned to the place of blessing. She came back to the will of God. She is leaving the place of sin for the place of blessing.


In Closing:
Just like Naomi and the prodigal son, if you find yourself in a foreign place don’t make your home there. Come home, your Heavenly Father is waiting to receive you with open arms of forgiveness. Return to him today.

Easter is Over, Now What?

Text: Matt. 28:18-20
Opening Statement:
It's clear from all four Gospels that, after His Resurrection, Jesus is single-minded on His mission to share the good news throughout the world. Jesus fulfilled the earth-bound portion of His mission. It would soon be time for His followers to fulfill their part in the mission to take the Gospel to the nations.
That was then, and this is now! The Great Commission still stands! God still expects His people to take His message to a lost world so that they might hear the wonderful words of life.

I) WE HAVE A DIVINE MANDATE (v. 19)
The mandate of The Great Commission is to “Go”. There are two ways we can do this.

1) It involves our Lifestyle (Matt. 5:13-16)
Like salt, our life should create a thirst in people for the Lord. If He is the focus of our lives, men will see Him lived out through our lives, day by day!

2) It involves our Lips
We are told to “teach”. That word has the idea of “making disciples or to instruct”. It is not enough to just show it, we must also say it!

II) WE HAVE A DIVINE MESSAGE (v. 20)
Jesus tells His followers to share a specific message: “…to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you…” As we go and as we tell the world about Jesus, the message we are to share is very clear. We are to share the Gospel.
There is no other message that God will use to draw the sinner to Himself and there is no other message He will use to save lost souls!

III) WE HAVE A DIVINE MISSION (v. 19)
He tells us that we are to “Go…and teach all nations”.
He is telling us very clearly that our mission is to every person in the world.
If they are sinners, they are candidates to hear the message of the cross. If they are lost, they need a Savior. If they do not know Him, they need to, and we have been authorized and commanded to reach them!

IV) WE HAVE A DIVINE MENTOR (v. 20)
Jesus doesn’t send us in to the lost world without any resources.

1) We Are Promised His Presence
When you are standing there sharing the Gospel with that friend, that family member, even that total stranger, the Lord Himself is right there with you. You will never share the Gospel alone if you are a child of God!

2) We are Promised His Power
The Spirit of God will take our efforts and He will use the words we share to convict the hearts of the lost.

In Closing:
The question we need to ask, and answer is, has “The Great Commission” become “The Great Omission” in your life and mine? Are we as a church doing everything we can to find inroads of outreach into the world around us? Or are we sitting back watching the world around us slip into Hell?

2023.04.09 - The Emptiness of Easter by Midway Baptist Church

This event we are looking at today in Jesus’ life is often called the Triumphal Entry. We all know the scene well: Jesus entering Jerusalem accompanied by the waving of palm branches, the cheering of the crowds and great anticipation. If you were a visitor to Jerusalem on this day, if you were unfamiliar with Jesus’ life and teachings, you would probably be wondering what this was all about. You might even ask, “What makes Jesus worthy of worship?”

I) Jesus Reveals that He is the Messiah (28-34)
There are three ways Jesus reveals himself as Messiah.

A) He starts from the Mount of Olives (28-29)
The starting point of the Mount of Olives is important because the Mount of Olives is more than just a geographical marker here. The Mount of Olives has Messianic implications. Ezekiel 11:23 and Zechariah 14:4

B) He rides the tethered colt (30)
For the Jewish person in Jesus’ day, steeped in the Old Testament as they were, this tethered colt here in Luke’s gospel would evoke associations with this prophecy in Genesis 49:10-11 and provide yet another reason to see Jesus as the Messiah.

C) Jesus alludes to the position of “Lord” (31-34)
The name “Lord” was a title that was used for the coming Messiah. For example, Psalm 110:1 “The LORD says to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.’”

II) The People Reveal Jesus as Messiah (35-38)
We see this in a number of ways.

A) They place him on the donkey (35)
By placing him on the donkey and then going before him into the city of Jerusalem, the people clearly proclaim Jesus as Messiah and king.

B) They spread their cloaks before him (36)
The spreading of the cloaks was a sign of respect for the king. (2 Kings 9:13)

C) They shout his praises (37-38)
The word “hosanna” literally means, “Lord save us!” (Matthew 21:9)
The praises of the people are the third way that the people proclaim Jesus as Messiah as he enters Jerusalem.

III) Jesus Relishes their praise of him as Messiah (39-40)
Not everyone was happy about Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

A) The Pharisees object to the people’s praise of Jesus (39)
They understood the implications of all these things. Jesus was revealing himself as Messiah, and the people revealed Jesus as Messiah. And so, they tell Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples. Tell them to stop!”

B) Jesus relishes the people’s praise (40)
In fact, instead of rebuking them, Jesus relishes the people’s praise instead. Look at verse 40: “I tell you that, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
I love that phrase. It is wonderfully ambiguous, and yet at the same time such a clear affirmation that Jesus accepted the people’s praise of him as Messiah.

In Closing:
We started out asking the question, “What makes Jesus worthy of worship?
So, what does Jesus’ triumphal entry say to us today? Let me leave you with three words of application.

1) Believe that Jesus is the Messiah.

2) Serve him as King.

3) Proclaim his praises.

How do you respond to Jesus’ Triumphal Entry today?

Strange Fire - Leviticus 10:1-3
I. Worship Worthy of a Holy God
II. God is a Consuming Fire
III. God Will be Treated as Holy