When A Man Meets God

When A Man Meets God
Isaiah 6:1-9a

by Estelle Nazary

It's one thing to know about God. It's an entirely different thing to know God. Isaiah was writing to people who understood those symbols. It was hard to put into words an experience with God, even salvation experience.

I. When a man meets God, he sees his condition.
1. He was a sinner.
2. He was a religious and moral person. In the midst of a personal crisis, he saw God. "Woe is me, I am lost" and he saw himself as he really was. A person doesn't really know himself until he sees God. A low concept of self. Person others think we are. Person God knows we really are. He saw himself when he saw Jesus and all He is.

II. When a man meets God, he experiences salvation.
Nicodemus - "You must be born again, " said Jesus. Greatest need is need for Jesus. We can't change our heart. Man need change from the inside out, not outside in. Only God can change the heart of a person. It's being born all over.

III. When a man meets God, he receives a commission.
Uzziah had ruled 52 years and had given security and stability to the people. He had died with leprosy. In the same type of feeling in our current time, 11-22-1963 - "They shot the president"... Americans felt sick because of the death of their leader and Isaiah felt sick because of the death of his leader, Uzziah. Isaiah went to church in this sick hour. Isaiah saw himself and was converted. He realized that God needed him. When I (we) meet God, he gives us a commission for life. Critical time in which we live - God says "Who will go for me?" Crisis affords us opportunity.

Do you know the Lord? John 17:3
Eternal life is knowing the living God.

When we meet God
We see ourselves -
We cry out for His help
We say what can I do?

A Happy, Wholesome Life

A Happy, Wholesome Life
Philippians 4:4-9

Author Unknown - Too Good to Not Post!

1. Keep your emphasis upon what the Lord has done for you. Be positive!

2. Don't be insisting upon your own rights all of the time. Have a "sweet reasonableness".

3. Jesus is coming back! He'll set everything right, so let Him straighten out the inequities.

4. Stop Worrying. The things you have no control over - leave them to God.

5. Pray a lot more than you do. "When all is said and done, more said than done."

6. Fill your mind with good thoughts! Clean, beautiful, pure and sweet ought to be the things we focus our minds on.

7. Keep busy doing the things of God! Inactive church members aren't the happy ones, or the healthy ones.

Philippians 2:1-4

Philippians 2:1-4
Sermon by Jack Nazary - Calvary Baptist 1984

Philippians 1:27 is an exhortation to unity that is elaborated upon in verse 2:2. This exhortation is given in view of 4 facts that should be heeded. The word "if" refers to a fulfilled condition. "Since" or "in view of the fact".

4 Facts are mentioned:

1. Certain Consolation - a certain thing - meaning supplication, entreaty, exhortation, admonition, encouragement, consolation, comfort, solace. The meaning determined by context. Here, exhortation, in view of the lack of unity among them. "A ground of appeal that exhorts" - be likeminded.

2. Comfort of Love
A word which comes to the side of one to stimulate or comfort him. "incentive, encouragement" Comfort has an element of tenderness and persuasion. Love - God's love - John 3:16;
1 Corinthians 13 - From God's love for them - that reached down and saved them - thus urges them to unity. The divine love produced in hearts of saints by Holy Spirit should cause them to so love each other with a love that impels one to sacrifice one's self for the one loved, that their differences will be ironed out, and will live in unity.

3. Certain Fellowship of Spirit
Fellowship - common, interest and a mutual and active participation in the things of God as joint participants. This results from the Spirit's work of regeneration and His control of those subjected to Him. If the saints are interested in the things of the Spirit - thus the same things - naturally follow a unity among the Philippians. The Holy Spirit by controlling each saint produces this unity and accord. (His Control)

4. Bowels of Mercy
Bowels - tenderness
Mercies - Compassionate yearnings and actions. these graces are present in saints - produces peace with one another, difference resolved, estrangements healed, bickerings ceased.

Complete, Fill, Full

Philippians 2:2 - Be likeminded - Think the same thing - General accord should exist among them.
A. Having the same Love - Unity of affections - heart agreement
B. Being of one accord - Soul with soul - Unity of sentiment
C. Of one mind - Thinking the one thing

Philippians 2:3 - Strife - factiousness
A. Vain glory
B. Empty, vain, to no purpose, futile
C. Opinion - empty pride -
Lowliness - humble, humility, does not exalt itself
Esteem - belief that rests
Better - having above - to excel or surpass

Philippians 2:4 - Look - to fix attention upon - with desire for and interest in - "to consult one's own interest" No one having an eye for his own interests alone, but for the interests of others.

The Secret of a Great Life

The Secret of a Great Life
Philippians 3:13-14

Introduction: Someone has well said, "the greatest study of man on earth is the study of man on earth." The study of biography is a fascinating and helpful study. We are interested in lives of men who have succeeded. We would know all we can about them, their beginnings, their struggles, their habits, their viewpoints in life. Today, I would direct your attention to the most remarkable Christian of the centuries, the Apostle Paul. In a burst of confidence when writing to the Philippian Church he lets us into the secret of his great life. "This one thing I do... forgetting the things which are behind, reaching forth unto those things that are before...I press toward the mark..."

We will do well to look into that secret today.

I. The first element is whole-hearted concentration. "This one thing I do" No life can be very great, happy or useful without this element of concentration. Everyone should have his work to do, know what it is, and do it will all his might. Decision is energy and energy is power and power is confidence, and confidence to a remarkable degree contributes to success. Many have failed in life not because of lack of ability, but lack of concentration. The whole world is witness to its power.

One must be our master - Jesus. He says if you would be my disciple "I must come first", before father, mother, brother, or dearest love one. "No man can serve two masters", "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God", "Ye shall seek me and find me when ye search for me with your whole heart".... I must come before business, property, own life. "I must be Lord of all or not Lord at all"

Paul knew the 1st element of a successful life was indispensable to success.. "This one thing" Not a dozen, not two BUT ONE!

II. A second secret of his marvelous life is that he cultivated a wise forgetfulness of the past. Some things we are to remember
Some things we are to wisely forget

What are some of the things we ought to wisely forget...
1. Our blunders
2. Our losses - Losses of all kinds come to us. We need to learn how to get past them and forget them.
3. Life's injuries - In a world of competitions, frictions, and alienations it is difficult to get past the injuries that come in human life. But if you have hate in your life, you have lost the highest perspective of life as long as the poison of hate is allowed in your head and life. Big men do not cherish resentments - They put them out of their lives.
4. Our successes - More men have been spoiled by success than we can measure. There's danger in success anywhere for any man. If he can bear success he can bear anything.
5. Our sorrows - Sooner or later they come to us. We need to learn how to take these sorrows to the great refining, overruling master, and ask him to dispose, to rule and overrule in them and with them that we may come out of them all refined and disciplined, and better educated, and more useful because of such sorrows.
6. Our sins - If Paul had not learned how to forget his sins, he would have been crippled utterly to his grave. Paul consented to the death of Stephen, persecuted the church, was a ringleader in sin, and called himself the chief of sinners. If had not learned how to forget them they would have defeated him. "Where sin abounded - grace did much more", "As far as the east is from the west", "The blood of Jesus Christ cleaneth us from all sin" Jesus paid it all - All to Him I owe - Sin had left its crimson stain - He washed it white as snow.

III. Paul had a right anticipation - "reaching faith"
Paul had the right forward look - Forgetting and reaching forth
May I ask you what is your aim in life?
How are you using your life?
How are you investing your life?
What is the aim of your life?

I Met the Master

I had walked life's way with an easy tread,
Had followed where comforts and pleasures led.
Until one day in a quiet place,
I met the Master face to face.

With station and rank and wealth for my soul,
Much thought for my body but none for my soul.
I had entered to win in life's mad race,
When I met the Master face to face.

I met Him and knew Him and blushed to see
That his eyes full of sorrow were fixed on me;
And I faltered and fell at His feet that day,
While my castles melted and vanished away.

Melted and vanished and in their place
Naught else did I see but the Master's face
And I cried aloud, "Oh, make me meet
To follow the steps of Thy wounded feet."

My thought is now for the souls of men.
I have lost my life to find it again,
E'er since one day in a quiet place
I met the Master face to face.

Set Your Mind On Right Things

Set Your Mind on Right Things

For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he...

Introduction: Minds are always set on some thing. It is important what a man thinks of...He should always set his mind on fine things.

1. Things that are true - Many things in the world are deceptive. they promise what they can never perform. They offer , but do not deliver. Man should set his mind on things which he can rely, things which will not fail him or let him down.

2. Things that are honest - Honorable, venerable, worthy, that which has the dignity of holiness -
There are things in the world which are flippant and cheap - attractive to the light minded, but the Christian must set his mind on the great, serious and dignified.

3. Things that are just - The righteous or just man is the man who gives to men and to God their due. Some set minds on pleasure, comfort, easy things, and easy ways, but the Christians thoughts are on duty to God and duty to man.

4. Things that are pure - That which is morally pure, undefiled, things that have been cleansed and fit to be brought into the presence of God and used in service of God. This world is full of things that are sordid, shabby, soiled and smutty. Many men get their minds on such a state that it soils everything of which it thinks - The Christian thoughts are to be so clean that they can stand the scrutiny and observing eye of God.

5. Things which are lovely - Things that are attractive, winsome, that which calls forth love. There are those whose minds are so set on vengeance and punishment, that they call forth bitterness and fear in others. There are those whose minds are so set on criticism and rebuke that they call forth resentment in others. The mind of the Christian is set on the lovely things: kindness, sympathy, forbearance, love so that the Christian is such a winsome person that to see him is to love him.

6. Things of good report - gracious, high toned, whatever has a good name, fair speaking, the things that are fit for God to hear - There are ugly words, false words, impure words, and far too many in this world.

7. Things of Virtue - Excellence of all things - could describe the ground of a field. Excellence of a tool for its purpose. Physical excellence of an animal. Excellence of the courage of a solider - the virtue of a man = "Think of your past life at its highest" to spur you on to new heights of the Christian way of life - The world has its impurities and degradation, but it also has its nobilities and chivalrous and it is of the high things that the Christian must think.

8. Things of Praise - In a sense the Christian should never think of the praise of men, but in another sense it is true that every good man is moved and uplifted by the praise of good men. The Christian should live in such a way that he will not desire or seek the praise of men, nor will foolishly despise the praise of men whose praise is a thing to be desired. Not praise of men, but Praise of GOD!

The Christ

The Christ
Philippians 2:5-11

Sermon by Jack Nazary - Colonial Hills 1970

I. He entered the world miraculously - Matthew 1:18-23; Luke 2:1-7

II. He stayed in the world briefly

III. He died for the world willingly - Matthew 26:36-46; 27:24-38

IV. He arose from the world victoriously - Matthew 28:1-7

V. He is saving the penitent world freely

VI. He will rule the world eventually - I Timothy 6:13-16

What Christ Means to the Christian

What Christ Means to the Christian
Philippians 3:1-21

Sermon by Jack Nazary - Ebenezer Baptist 2002

"I count all things but lost for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord."

Introduction: To know Christ was Paul's determined purpose not only for his own edification, but that he might make Him known - Acts 16:10 - It could not be otherwise for those that truly know the Lord in the intimate way expressed in these verses must inevitably lead to a deep seated purpose to make him known to a needy world.

I. Christ is our confidence - Philippians 3:1-6
1. Paul repudiates sacramental efficacy - verse 2
2. Paul repudiates the religious import honored parent age - verse 5
3. Paul repudiates religious authority - verse 5b
4. Paul repudiates intense earnestness - verse 6
5. Paul repudiates the worth of ceremonial blameness - verse 6b

II. Christ is our hope - Philippians 3:7, 8
1. The paradox of losing in order to gain
2. Hope is not in things but in Christ

III. Christ is our righteousness - Philippians 3:9
1. Righteousness through Christ
2. Righteousness by faith
3. Righteousness of God

IV. Christ is our inspiration - Philippians 3:10-14
1. Inspiration of knowledge - verse 10-11
2. Inspiration of attainment - verse 12-14
a. There is obliteration of the past "forgetting"
b. There is consecration of all energies "this one thing I do"
c. There is untiring activity "I press forward toward the mark"

V. Christ is our Savior - Philippians 3:15-20
1. Salvation changes our companions - verse 15-19
2. Salvation changes our conversation - verse 20
3. Salvation changes ultimately our bodies

VI. Christ is our trust - Philippians 3:21
Trust means assured participation
1. He is our trust for Salvation
2. He is our trust for services
3. He is our trust for the second coming

Conclusion: Christ is all and in all for the Christian.

5 Signs of Salvation

5 Signs of Salvation
Philippians 2:12-16
Sermon by Jack Nazary

Calvary Baptist - 1984 West Jackson Baptist - 1987 Yockanookany Baptist - 1989
Midway Baptist - 1992 West Carthage Baptist - 1995

Introduction: Evidence of Salvation - not in you and me. We're lost or in rebellion against Laws of Christ - Ephesians 2:8-10

1. Progress - Verse 12 (growing in grace)
2. Caution - Verse 12 (afraid will grieve the Holy Spirit, afraid to hurt one of God's children) - 'with fear and trembling'
3. Harmony - Verse 14 - "do all things without grumbling or questioning"
4. Purity - Verse 15 - "be blameless and innocent without blemish"
5. Witnessing - Verse 15b - 16 - "among whom you shine as lights in the world"

Verse 13 - God is energizing in you to will and to do.

I. Progress - In: Let's talk about progress
Do you....
Love word of God?
Read word more? Regularly?

Is your ....Prayer - sweeter than it has been

Do you...- enjoy private time - as opposed to group praying

Are you .....more loving - patient - tender - gentle - more understanding - more forgiving - tolerant - kind to those who spitefully use us - good to those who are nasty to us - love the unloving - love the unlovely - feel compassion for the lost?

Are we progressing? Most are not...

People in this world are getting nastier every year...more suspicious, more envious, more prejudiced, more ignorant, more ruptured relationships, less involved in the Lord's work, are harder and harder to get along with, fight at home - on the job - at church...

II. Caution - Verse 12 "with fear and trembling"
Do we have caution in our lives?
Are we afraid we will grieve the Holy Spirit?
Are we afraid we will say something that will dishonor God?
Word of God says - not to mention evils of gentiles - not even be named among you.

Are we more concerned with Grammy Awards - Oscars - who won the ballgame - go away on the weekends - instead of faithfulness to the Lord...

Do you talk about secular things all the time - is it unusual for a Christian to talk of the Bible and Christ???

What sins grieve the Holy Spirit? Where? - Ephesians 4:24-32

God gave do's and don'ts that our lives might be fruitful and powerful. We have a choice to submit to His authority or live in rebellion against God.

Look at our relationship to one another - are you cautious about what you think and say? or do you just say what you think..

We think we have a right to our feelings, opinions.. you may say you don't like choir - choir director, pastor, deacons...you run your mouth with negative talk and cause little ones to stumble. You just simply don't give a rip. But you better not hurt one of God's children...

Do you criticize God's child? "to his own master he standeth or falleth"

III. Harmony - Verse 14 - "without grumbling or questioning" - What about it?

Do we like harmony?
Do we like it when everything is going well?
Do we like it when things are not going well? - things dragging and you "Have you heard about Sally? then everything comes alive! I just want us to pray for her you may say but you lie! I love Sally..etc... If you did love her you would keep your trap shut and go to her - Galatians 6:1 to restore.. Is everyone only interested in shady conversation?

Flesh not Godly and doesn't like harmony. Flesh thrives on disharmony and dissention = on confusion and delights in controversy.

That is why we must be on our toes! That is why Paul says "Do all things without grumbling or questioning" or KJV refers to murmuring and disputing.

Murmurers are not aware of the importance of harmony. murmuring - gossip - fuss broken fellowship - after affecting the entire body of believers.

Anything that does not have harmony is not of God. God not author of confusion. Where is the difference? Much needed prayer.
When two disagree one or both is wrong - Holy Spirit does not vote No and Yes on the same issue.

IV. Purity - Verse 15 - "blameless, harmless, and without rebuke" Moral and ethincial purity - Can anyone blame us for their stunted spiritual growth?

"I'm not going back to that church because of __________ and what he said or because so and so got on the telephone and rallied a bunch to support him on some issue. Or showed lack of self- control in front of church.

Are we blameless by way we live?
Have we harmed anybody? Do you pay your bills?
Revival would break out it in _____ if every Baptist would pay bills...
I owe you a bill and I haven't paid it. Forgive me - I'm going to do without lunch every day...

Other areas: Bull-headiness, our stubbornness, ugly spirits, our desire to take advantage of someone - get back at someone!!!

What about the smokers hardly off church grounds before "lighting up" - liquor in cabinets...Tithe in our bank account - our car...Angry to someone...Grudge against someone.

V. Witness - Verse 16 "holding forth Word of life"
Being in cafe - thanking God for food
-talking about favorite team - loved
- talking about Jesus

Conclusion: If these signs are not in our lives we are lost or in rebellion against Lordship of Christ.

Verse 13 - For it is God that worketh in you both to Will and to do of his good pleasure. Pleasure refers - Ephesians 2:10 did - God has ordained the accomplishment of his work in us - predestined!

Predetermined to occur!!

"Whosoever will" to lost
But to saved - we preach salvation by sovereign will of God.

We are God's purchased possession.

Verse 13 - teaches that God is energizing us both to will and to do. He tells us what to do and performs it in us.

No excuse to say, "I cannot help being as I am" Weakness of my flesh - God is working in us to mold and make us in energy of his Son!

Philippians 1:21 - "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain"

Your Own Salvation

Your Own Salvation
Philippians 2:12

Sermon by Jack Nazary

Colonial Hills -1967
Trinity Baptist, Carthage - 1967
Colonial Hills - 1971
Calvary Baptist - 1985

Introduction: Concern of and all important to all. Pray - Holy Spirit

I. The matter under consideration - Salvation
1. Deliverance from the guilt of past sins
2. Deliverance from the power of sin
3. Deliverance from present wrath of God. Sinners in gall of bitterness - condemned already.
4. Deliverance from future wrath of God. "Where death leaves us, there judgement finds us; where judgement finds us, eternity will hold us forever and forever."

What a comprehensive word - Salvation - triumphal deliverance from guilt of sin, from the curse of it, the punishment of it, power, and ultimately from the presence of it..

Most pressing of all subjects
God thinks highly of it - he sent his Son
Jesus thinks highly of it - he suffered, bled, etc.
Holy Spirit thinks highly of it - works continually
Church thinks highly of it
Ernest men and women praying for salvation
Angels think highly of it - "See rejoicing in heaven"
Devil thinks highly of it - "Goes about seeking whom he may devour"
Lost souls - rich man - "send someone"

Salvation more important than health, wealth, honor, reputation..

II. Whose matter is it
"Your own salvation"

1. Personal matter
sin is yours
guilt is yours
consideration is yours
need personal pardon

You must repent, believe, be washed in his blood or else there is no forgiveness, no acceptance, no adoption, no regeneration for you.

Reflect personally
- you must personally die
- tempted to forget your own salvation by thoughts of other people
- but now look at home - Yourself
- Thoughts of dead - asleep in Jesus neglect not to think of yourself.
- Death of those who lived in sin and blasphemy - think not carelessly

Some who need to think of own salvation
1. Official Christians - preacher, deacons, teachers, ...
2. Lookers for erroneous doctrines
3. Curious speculations - minimum - Antichrists - day when Jesus will return, etc.
4. Those who are always criticizing others - faultfinders, false bearers..

III. Objections concerning "own Salvation"
1. "But don't you believe in predestination"
2. Don's you believe in full assurance
3. Isn't this selfish "own salvation"

IV. Assistance to those who would be right "Have Salvation"
2 questions
1. Am I saved, if so - the subject of a work within you.
2. Does your salvation rest wholly upon Christ?
3. How can I be saved?
Repent - turn, forsake, change mind. "Repentance toward god
Faith - trust, believe, surrender, willingness to obey

You must work out, cultivate, carry out to the goal and fully complete your salvation.

With fear and trembling - reverence and awe and trembling (self distrust)

With serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ.