Sermon Tone Analysis

Powerful Doctrine

 

I want to suggest to you today that what has made us distinct is what will maintain our strength and power and Christian experience.

But mistaken identity will destroy us.

Can I get a witness today?

Here when we think about the 15th anniversary of the Philadelphia Seventh-day Adventist Church what can we think about?

What is it that makes the Philadelphia Seventh-day Adventist church special?

What is it that makes us special?

That makes us unique?

That is my topic today!

Let’s Pray

 

What is Doctrine?

The word itself is taken from the greek word “didaskalia” or “didache” meaning teaching or instruction

* *

*Doctrine.*

[Heb.

generally /leqach/, “teaching,” “instruction”; Gr. /didaskalia/, “act of teaching,” “teaching,” or “instruction,” /di//dacheµ/, “teaching,” generally, the thing taught.]

A common NT term that may denote the act of teaching (1 Ti 4:13; 5:17) but more generally designates the content, or substance, of the information or ideas transmitted (ch 1:10; etc.).

/Didaskalia/ is used in the active sense of instructing in Rom 15:4, hence translated “instruction” (RSV), and in the passive sense of instruction in Mt 15:9.**[1]**

I remember sitting up in class what in the word do I need all this stuff for?

When we think about doctrine to some their minds foster on rules and regulations.

A canopy of terms and agreements.

I remember just the other day in the barber shop.

One woman upon learning the fact that I was a minister asked me what denomination I belonged to.

I told her I was a Seventh-day Adventist.

She said “Your church has too many rules.”

What she didn’t realize is what many fail to understand that my church is not based upon rules and regulations.

I believe my church is based upon a Rock!

 

Jesus said

“Upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it!”

Doctrine is instruction or teaching.

You see because this is a world is touched with decay, death and transition.

Every thing in it is transitory including our own existence.

Hardly anything in this life last forever.

But what does last forever is not sold in stores, it’s not received on the internet, you can’t pick it up calling a 1-800 number.

That’s why the Word pleads

 

Rev 22:17

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come.

And let him that heareth say, Come.

And let him that is athirst come.

And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

KJV

 

 

Matt 13:45-46

45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:

46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

KJV

 

The thing that last forever is Jesus!

A relationship with Jesus is what is special and priceless!

If you know God you’ve found a pearl of great price!

You go through so much pressure and hardship throughout life!

Every where you turn it seems you run up against a headache.

Doctrine is simply instruction on how to get by in this crazy world!

You see I can’t live in this world without some direction.

Because not everyone is what they claim to be.

There are some pitfalls and potholes I need to avoid so I need some instruction, I need some guidelines, I need some advice and help to live life to it’s fullest and live it safetly!

No wonder the scriptures say

 

 

 

Psalms 119:105

105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet And a light unto my path.

KJV

 

 

They used to have a commercial on TV that said E.F.

Hutton “When E.F.

Hutton speaks people listen.”

I don’t know about E.F.

Hutton but I know there’s One who I can trust and depend on for advice.

I know there’s One whose motives are true and whose intentions toward me are pure.

There’s no alternate motive, no vested subjective interest.

He’s not interested in selling me something,  He’s not interested in my money, He said “All the silver and gold is mine”  the world is mine, He’s not interested in stealing my wife’s affections, He brought us together.

He’s not here to kick me when I’m down or topple me when I’m up!

 

Unlike Santa when I’m nice, He loves me, when I’m naughty He still loves me!

 

His love for me is pure, for His marks in His hand and feet His wounded side they are proof that I know He cares!

Somebody cares!

Somebody cares!

Not only has He given me all the advice I need but the power to fulfill it!

For that reason I trust Him when through the urging of the Holy Spirit the prophet wrote *“Be Ye not unequally yoked with unbelievers”*  I don’t have to huff and puff, I don’t have to make excuses and say “ain’t no men in the church”  I don’t have to compromise and lessen my stance!

That’s why when He inspired the prophet to say

 

1 John 2:15-17

 

15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.

If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

KJV

 

It’s not for me to carry on, wine, complain and say boo woo who!

I can’t do nothing, I can’t smoke and I can’t drink, I can’t go to wild shows and

 

He knows those things will mess you up bring your defenses down!

We got folk who believe because I’m free in Jesus I can do anything I want!

 

“When once the restraints of God's word and His Spirit are rejected, no man knows to what depths of degradation he may sink.

Secret sin or master passion may hold him a captive as helpless as was the demoniac of Capernaum.

Yet his condition is not hopeless.

The means by which we can overcome the wicked one is that by which Christ overcame,--the power of the word.

God does not control our minds without our consent; but if we desire to know and to do His will, His promises are ours: "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

DA 258

 

*1 John 2:3-5*

*3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.

4 He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

5*

*NKJV*

* *

*First four relate to love for man the last six love for God!*

* *

If you love Him you’ll keep His commandments!

* *

But know that the Christian life is necessarily an ascetic one!

John 10:10

10  .   .    .

I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

NKJV

 

This life is no tedious drab one at least it’s not supposed to be.