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Berry Smith Jr. 1932-2009

14-05-2009

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» Sermons 7.

The Fire and The Shadow.
Many people are walking threw this life not finding pleasure nor an open door of compassion. Many are looking for something that will take away the pain of living. We all, at one time or another have been in this state, but we have found a release from this life of misery and pain, we have found a direction and an open door.

The Fire;

Trouble; affliction.

To set on fire, to kindle; to inflame; to excite violent action.

“I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:”

This baptism spoken of in Matthew 3;11, is denoting a baptism of the spirit that is able to endure hardships and tribulation. Jesus warned us that we would be hated and tried, that being a follower would not be an easy task but that His yoke is easy and His burdens light. The burdens of mankind, without Christ are heavy, this is where we see many people walking threw this life not finding pleasure, nor an open door of compassion. This is a miserable way to live.

We all, at one time or another have been in this state, but we have found a release from this life of misery and pain, we have found a direction and an open door.

The burdens that Christ spoke of was the burdens of carrying the Gospel, living what we testify to and walk as we ask others to walk.

Barnes states of these verses; The Rivers;(High Waters.) This is a general promise, and means that whenever and wherever they should pass through water or fire, he would protect them.

“When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burnt.”

“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”

The Fire; This is expressive of calamity and danger in general like passing through fire.

Gods protection falls upon those that believe in Him and believe upon His Son Jesus. Without protection from the fires and floods, men have no recourse but to endure the best that they can. This is where many will enter into depression and even co-mitt suicide. This world brings many burdens upon mankind, job loss, family disputes, debt, even pressure from government, bosses and every wind and doctrine that others place on them.

“As the Lord states of the unbeliever; Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”

The Shadow.

Shadow; To overspread with obscurity. terrible darkness, trouble or death. (Speaking of Sin.)

Sin is an Inseparable companion to all men at one time or another. Even those who are rich are still a companion and slave to sin ans Satan. Without the Lord, all men live in a shadow, and all men live in the shadow of death, for it will come to all mankind.

Those of us who have accepted Christ as our savior, have learned, threw Him and the words of the Lord, to walk threw these shadows and even the fires of life. They are nothing but shadows, lies and ghosts of deception.

The Lord states of these shadows;

“For it is a day of trouble, and of treading down, and of perplexity by the Lord God of hosts in the valley of vision, breaking down the walls, and of crying to the mountains.”

“There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.”

“Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?”

“Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;

Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned(To despise; to consider and treat as mean and despicable; to scorn.)

the counsel of the most High:

Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.”

Mankind, even with all his troubles, still rebel against the Lord and His truth. They are prying the gates of Hell open for themselves, so they may enter. They have blinded themselves so they cannot see, and hardened their hearts so they cannot be saved. Their labour is heavy and their pleasures are an abomination. They kill each other with words and guns, not regarding life.

They despise the righteous and hate the believers.

Ars

Webster,TSK

Mat 3:11 Isa 43.Isa 43:2 Rom 9:18 Rom 9:15 Psa 107:8-12 Job 34:22 Job 38:17 Isa 22:5

The Upper Lower Middle Class.

“Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;”

Charge; To lay on, give or communicate, as an order, command or earnest request; to enjoin; to exhort.

An order, injunction, mandate, command.

^{We have seen in this last 100 years that the rich get richer and the poor suffer. The rich have taken to heart their ability to get gain from any source without regard to the hurt they deliver to the poor in this life.}

^{The Bible is clear on the state of the rich man, and their entrance into Heaven.}^{Then said Jesus unto his disciples, “Verily(Of a Truth.) I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly(}^{Scarcely; barely; almost not.}^{) enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.}^”

^{“the eye of a needle.” Being loaded down with earthly wealth disreguarding the will of God, small gate where a camel had to be unloaded to pass, or a rope trying to be threaded threw the needles eye.}

^{We, as believers, have been given charge to,}^{communicate, mandate, and or command, the rich not to trust in their uncertain riches but to put aside all reliance on their wealth, and seek out the provisioning from God.}

^{The Bible states that becoming rich in this life is not the intent of God, nor is it Godliness. For those that teach that it is godliness, we are to withdraw from them. The message of salvation is to save those that are lost and not to make them rich, this is a misunderstanding by many.}

^“But godliness with contentment is great gain.”

^{Living a life in the truth of righteousness(godliness) is greater than all riches upon this earth, but with this we also must be content with that which the Lord has delivered unto us, as it states, godliness with contentment.}

^{This is where the rich have been snared, they are never content with what they have . They always desire more and more, not considering the Lord nor His commandments.}

^{For as it is written;}

^“For we brought nothing into [this] world, [and it is] certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.”

^{Are these my words or my opinion? No. These are the words of God, who knows the heart of all men.}

^“But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and [into] many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

Can the rich be saved? Yes. But they must rely upon the Lord, and think more of the one that allowed them to prosper than they think of their prosperity. To refuse is to seal their fate.

^“^{Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;}^{For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.}^{Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and [men] will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.}^{He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light. Man [that is] in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts [that] perish.”}

Exodus 23:8; Deut 16:19; Prov 15:16;^{Mark 4:18; Luke 8:14;Prov 15:16; Heb 13:5;Job 1:21; Job 27:19; Ps 49:17, 49:20; Prov 27:26; Ps 55:22; Matt 6:25; 1Pet 5:7;Prov 11:28; Matt 13:22; Jas 5:1;}¹^st^{Timothy 1-10}^{Prov 11:28; Mark 10:23; Luke 18:24;}

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Berry Smith Jr. 1932-2009

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