GREAT MESSENGERS OF GOD
June 3, 2001 AM
Sermon Outline
Hag 1:13 and Mal 3:1
INTRO: I am glad that our vacation Bible school will be calling attention to Great Messengers Of God. The Bible calls attention to so many wonderful people whom God has chosen as messengers. Obviously, the time allotted for vacation Bible school can only refer to a few of these messengers ... and, then, only in a brief way. But it is good to remember them. This morning I would like to give emphasis to this theme by calling attention to a few names.
I. MOSES: THE GREAT LAW GIVER
A. Deut 34:10-12 No one like Moses!
1. out of the wilderness into high profile
2. deliverer - law giver - judge - leader
3. whom the Lord knew face to face - Num 12:7,8
B. Num 20:12 But one act of disobedience ...
1. Moses was deprived of his early goal by this act
2. no matter how great the man, disobedience will always have consequences and mar the memory
3. yet, the course of his life was righteous - Heb 11:24-26
II. ELIJAH: CHOOSE!
A. 1 Ki 18:21 You cannot be a fence sitter!
1. so many great things about the prophet of fire
2. Mt 17:3 he appeared with Moses at transfiguration
3. but this incident involving Israels indecision about whom they would serve is typical ... and relevant where God is concerned, you cannot sit on the fence!
B. 1 Ki 19:1-4 still, he experienced fear, despondence
1. courage is often met with threats, resistance, ugliness
2. and even the greatest of servants can be affected adversely
3. yet, he arose from despair to continue his service to God
III. ISAIAH: I WILL GO!
A. Isa 6:8-10 The willing messenger
1. the spirit of Isaiah was so ready, so willing
2. Isaiah had hard messages to deliver
3. he had to tell kings and people of Gods impending judgment for Israels faithlessness - Isa 5:4-7
B. Isa 7:14 The great good news prophet, too
1. so filled with prophecy of Christ that many refer to him as the Messianic prophet
2. and he tells us so much about God - Isa 43:10,11
3. quoted often in the New Testament
IV. JEREMIAH: NO ONE LISTENS!
A. Jer 20:7-9a They make fun of me
1. Jer 1:6-8 he has this commission/promise from God
2. but it seems that all he got for his preaching was trouble, misery, grief ... he wondered (in his humanity) if the Lord had played a cruel trick on him (20:1,2)
3. and its true - he was badly treated by his people
B. Jer 20:9b But he kept preaching
1. there arent many feelings worse than to think on one is listening
2. but Gods messengers have a great love for the word and cannot but continue to share it ... whatever the outcome!
3. Jeremiah had little worldly happiness ... but Lam 3:22-25
V. SOLOMON: DID NOT PRACTICE WHAT HE PREACHED
A. Prov 3:1-7 He left us great, good messages
1. his wisdom amazed people - 1 Ki 10:6-9
2. few have not benefitted from Proverbs, etc.
3. 1 Ki 4:29-32,34 his gift to the world
B. 1Ki 11:1-3,9,10 but ...
1. how many life stories conclude with but?
2. in short, Solomon did not practice what he preached!
3. the messenger of God must live the message
CLOSE: Heb 1:1,2 - Jesus, the greatest messenger of God! His message will take us home to heaven. Are we listening?
Cecil A. Hutson
03 June 2001