The Italian Memorandum

“So the king took counsel and made two calves of gold”

(1 Kings 12:28)

The story of Jeroboam’s golden calves is contained in 1 Kings 12. The Bible says that he put one of the golden calves in Bethel, and the other in Dan. 1 Kings 12:30 states that the people then went to these places to worship. The respected Hebrew scholar, F. Furman Kearley asks—“Was Jeroboam’s religion as good as the religion of God as revealed through Moses?” This question is very timely because people today are saying that one religion is as good as another; or, that one church is as good as any other (Is One Religion as Good as Another? Gospel Advocate (May, 2003): 20-21.

Jeroboam led this rebellion against Rehoboam and thereby divided the kingdom. He feared that if the people continued to worship according to the law at Jerusalem, they would leave him and go back to Rehoboam. So, he simply started a new religious practice to satisfy his own feelings.

1. He rejected the law of the Lord (from Moses’ to his own).
2. He changed the manner of worship (from Yahweh to familiar calves of Egypt).
3. He changed the place of worship (from Jerusalem to Dan and Bethel)
4. He changed the time of worship (originally the 1st, 3rd and 7th mos. to the 8th mo.)
5. He changed the people authorized to offer worship (originally Levites).

There are many today who choose the golden calves of Bethel; leave Jerusalem, and go as far as Dan to worship in the glitter of Jeroboam. This was sin then, and it is sin today.

– Robert M. Housby

“…and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe…”

(Hebrews 12:28)

Introduction: The context of Hebrews 12:28 is the book of Hebrews.

I. Clues from the text –

A. 12:28 and the five warnings of Hebrews
B. 12:28 and the “let us” admonitions
C. 12:28 definitions and emphases
D. 12:28 and OT references

II. Therefore, “acceptable worship” is…

1. Part of a ___________ from __________ (12:25)

2. _______________ based (13:20)

3. About being _____________ to God (13:16)

4. Different than _____ worship (8:9)

Conclusion: Worship has always been vital—vital to God; and vital to God’s people. But, evidently, not vital to everyone. Can you say today with candor, “Lord, I’m at your service?”

“When a man’s ways please the Lord,

he makes even his enemiesto be at peace with him”

(Proverbs 16:7)

“Now before he [Enoch] was taken he was commended as having pleased God”

(Hebrews 11:5)

Do your ways please God? The Bible is full of instances which depict: land pleasing man; woman pleasing man; man pleasing woman; servants pleasing kings; and, yes, man pleasing God (Gen. 49:15; Neh. 2:7; 1 Cor. 7:33,34; Heb. 11:5). We have noticed that there appears a rather definite theology of pleasing God in the book of Hebrews.

1. 10:6,8,38 – God determines what is pleasing, and what is not.
2. 11:5 – The example of Enoch.
3. 11:6 – The principle of faith as essential to pleasing God.
4. 12:28 – The exhortation to offer acceptable worship as pleasing.
5. 13:16 – The act of praise and doing good pleases God.
6. 13:21 – The clarification that doing his will is God pleasing when done through Jesus Christ.

Philippians 2:13 reads: “…for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” Do your ways please the Lord?

– Robert M. Housby

(Deep Vertical Cuts)

“When the house was built, it was with stone prepared at the quarry”

(1 Kings 6:7)

Introduction: A quarry is an open excavation from which stone is cut, usually for building purposes (John 2:18-22). Jesus, the Christ, is known in Scripture as, the stone. This sermon will emphasize the Messiah of the Quarry.

I. Why a Stone?

A. _________________________________

B. __________________________________

II. 4 Ideas Behind the Stone –

(1) ___________________

(2) ___________________

(3) ___________________

(4) ___________________

III. The Romans 9:32-33 Principle of ______________.

Conclusion: The Messiah of the Quarry is a highly theological message: heard by many, practiced by comparatively few (Mk. 8:27,29).

“Little children, keep yourselves from idols”

(1 John 5:21)

The New Testament scholar, Dr. Neil Lightfoot, recounts the old line of American liberal theology in 5 general observations (Notes taken September 7, 1989, RMH). Since these observations are still a part of American mentality, we make them available, as follows:

1. God is pure goodness and love. All men are his children. Sin does not separate man from his love. So, let us talk of, and emphasize, brotherhood and the Fatherhood of God.

2. Man, likewise is good; a spark of the divine. Men need only to be encouraged to express their natural goodness.

3. Jesus Christ is man’s savior in the qualified sense that he is a perfect example and teacher; though there is nothing really unique about him. He was not born of a virgin; didn’t work miracles; and, was not raised from the dead.

4. Christianity is different from other religions only in that it is the highest and best that has so far appeared.

5. The Bible is not a record of divine revelation. Bible doctrine is not necessary or normative. The essence of Christianity is ethical, not doctrinal.

The above should be carefully studied and understood, because they are where many Americans live (especially see 1 John chap. 5 and Romans chap. 3).

– Robert M. Housby

“And the LORD said to me, Go again, love a woman who is loved by anther man and is an adulteress, even as the LORD loves the children of Israel,

though they turn to other gods and love cakes of raisins”

(Hosea 3:1, ESV)

Introduction: “Sustain me with raisins; refresh me with apples, for I am sick with love” (Song of Solomon 2:5). Hosea 3 is about love. Has life ever not been about love?

I. What do cakes of raisins have to do with anything!?
Cakes of raisins are associated with…

A. Jeremiah 7:16-18 – ____________________

B. Song of Solomon 2:5 – _________________

II. 5 Lessons from Hosea 3 –

1. 3:1 presents an _____________of ________________.

2. 3:2 is a great theological concept – _______________.

3. 3:3 is about learning __________________.

4. 3:4 is about _________________________.

5. 3:5 contains _________________________.

Conclusion: The gods of the 21st century are the new cakes of raisins: familiar things; strange things; and illicit wrongs. The “latter days” of Judaism have come (Heb. 1:2). Christ now redeems, not with silver, but with blood (1 Peter 1:17-19).

“…what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?”

(1 Peter 4:17)

We have come across some information that, while we have known as much, the impact of the stats are staggering. According to the research of Dr. John Palmer—

19 out of every 20 who become a Christian do so before age 25.

After 25, only 1 in 10,000 respond
After 35, only 1 in 50,000 respond
After 45, only 1 in 200,000 respond
After 55, only 1 in 300,000 respon
After 65, only 1 in 500,000 respond
Afyter 75, only 1 in 700,000 respond
After 85, only 1 in a million.

Dr. Palmer goes on to say, “It is evident that the time to make Christians is when the mind is still plastic, and the habits are not yet fixed, and when sin has not yet fastened its death grip upon that life” (Dictionary of Prophetic Terms, Signs & Symbols, Star Bible Publications, p. 75). This data is based upon a 6 billion world-wide population (2000).

To obey the gospel is to become a Christian at the point of Christian baptism (Romans 6:3-5; 6:17). Do you know of a loved one who has put off this act of submission to the Lord Jesus? Perhaps they will realize that it won’t be long for most, and can’t be very long for any. Have you obeyed the gospel yet?

-Robert M. Housby

Driven Out But Not Forgotten

“But what does the Scripture say?  Cast out the slave woman and her son…”

                                                                         (Galatians 4:30)

 

 

Introduction:  Genesis 21 tells the story of Hagar and her son Ishmael—Driven Out But Not Forgotten

 

I.                Outline of Genesis 21

vv.  1-7             The birth of Isaac

vv.  8-10          The mocking by Ishmael

vv.  11-14         The expulsion by Sarah

vv.  15-21         The protection by God

         

 

II.            Reasons to Appreciate Genesis 21

 

A.                Life is sometimes _________________.

 

B.                 Genesis 21 forces us to _____________.

 

C.                 It is background to Galatians 4.

 

III.            Lessons Learnt –

 

            A.  _______________________________________

 

B.     _______________________________________

 

            C.  ________________________________________

 

 

Conclusion:    The “heir apparent” notion failed.  While the promise by faith still holds sway today.