Category Archives: Uncategorized

It is so sad to see churches no longer having the mid-week prayer meeting. Once a must have, now an expendable item. Every Bible believing, Bible preaching church needs to assemble for the mid-week prayer meeting. Listed below are some of my reasons for having it! 

Top 10 Reasons To Have A Mid-Week Prayer Meeting

(Hebrews 10:25) “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”  (KJV)

1. It is an opportunity to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.
2. It is an opportunity to share prayer requests that have come up since Sunday and have a service focused more on the activity of prayer.
3. It is an opportunity to meet corporately and have good Christian fellowship.
4. It is an opportunity to have a spiritual boost during the week.
5. It is an opportunity to share information that has changed or arisen since Sunday.
6. It is an opportunity for the community to come to church. Fewer and fewer churches are affording the community with the option of a mid-week prayer meeting.
7. It is an opportunity to take up special offerings.
8. It is an opportunity to have missionary presentations.
9. It is an opportunity to have specialized children’s programs like Master Clubs, etc.
10. It is an opportunity to let more people use their spiritual gifts.

Conclusion…

There are many more reasons why fundamental churches should have a mid-week prayer meeting. It suffices to say that they are a real blessing and provide opportunities for service that otherwise would not be available. Be sure to back the mid-week prayer meeting!

This sermon outline addresses the subject of integrity and character! Every child of God could benefit from this. May it serve to be a reminder of the great need of integrity in our lives!

Title: “Guardrails Of The Christian Life!”

Text: Proverbs 11:3

(Proverbs 11:3) “The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.”  (KJV)

Introduction:

•    Recently, in a study I was involved in, I came across the subject of integrity in relation to this verse and it helped me immensely. I thought it would help us tonight!
•    Integrity according to Webster’s Dictionary: “The entire, unimpaired state of anything, particularly of the mind; moral soundness or purity; incorruptness; uprightness; honesty. Integrity comprehends the whole moral character, but has special reference to uprightness in mutual dealings, transfers of property, and agencies for others.”

V. Gilbert Beers stated, “A person of integrity is one who has established a system of values against which all of life is judged.”

•    One man stated that “integrity is the parent of character; there is no character without integrity!”
•    Essentially, in our text verse, we find that integrity acts as guardrails for the believer!
•    I want to speak about these guardrails in this message!

 Transition:

•    The Bible teaches us that David had integrity. This is recorded as God gave a conditional promise to Solomon and instructed him to be like his father David!

(1 Kings 9:4) “And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments:”  (KJV)

•    Job is said to have had integrity!

(Job 2:3) “And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.”  (KJV)

•    Listen to these verses:

(Psalms 25:21) “Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.”  (KJV)

(Psalms 26:1) <> “Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide.”  (KJV)

•    The Bible teaches us that children are blessed because of parent with integrity!

(Proverbs 20:7) “The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.”  (KJV)

Proposition: There are three things I want us to consider about the guardrails of our life.

I.    Notice That Integrity Implies A Standard!

A.    If there is integrity, then there has to be a standard by which to judge the same.

B.    This standard is certainly that of the Word of God.

C.    Any so-called leader of people, and every Christian should derive his/her standards and principles from the Bible.

D.    One man stated that integrity is “the integration of man and the standard until they are one.” – John Pearson

E.    It is assumed, but not always correct to say that every spiritual leader and child of God uses the precepts of the Law of God for their standard.

F.    The man of God, according to the Apostle Paul under divine inspiration, is said that he could be “throughly furnished unto all good works” as a result of the maturation process of the Word of God.

(2 Timothy 3:16-17) “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”  (KJV)

G.    Many spiritual leaders of today are languishing in carnality because we do not digest the milk and meat of the precious words of God.
    
II.    Notice That Integrity Exposes Itself!

A.    The famine of God’s Word and the spiritual anorexics in our churches are a direct result of a false sense of integrity.

B.    The hurricanes of Hell, the storms of demonic spirits along with the tornadoes of trouble all hurl themselves against our lives, and we many times do not “ring true” to the test of integrity.

C.    Likewise, we have few persons of integrity because people derive their maxims, values, principles, and precepts for life from that which is not according to, or is a deviation from, or is in direct opposition to God’s infallible truth!

D.    Every child of God has some form of “integrity”. Whether is it substandard or not is yet to be seen until the trials of our faith come.

E.    God sends and allows the storms to come into our life to act as a catalyst in the crucible of suffering.

F.    As we are put to the fire, we are refined and our integrity is seen for what it is.

G.    God means for us to make changes, if needed, so when the next trial comes we can pass the test.

H.    God’s testing are sent for the purpose of showing that we CAN pass the test. Satan tries to entice us and get us to yield to him with the idea in mind that we will fail.

III.    Notice That Integrity Needs Daily Maintenance!

A.    As you travel along the highway you see crews repairing guardrails where someone has had an accident.

B.    Sometimes you see them installing new railing to prevent accidents!

C.    New roadways are built and the guardrails are in place before people can travel, because it is paramount that people have the safety net in place!

D.    Such is the Christian life! We need to build and maintain the necessary guardrails of our life if we expect to have any chance of having character becoming of a blood bought child of God!

E.    Each day that we face, we have to make the decision to do right.

F.    If we do not work on our integrity we will get away from God, loose our testimony and invite the judgment of God on our lives! We WILL be a stumbling block to those around us!

Conclusion:

To The Sinner:

•    Repent and believe the gospel!

To The Christian:

•    The integrity or guardrails of the child of God will guide us.
•    Spiritual leader, do you have your guardrails in good operating condition?
•    Are they as sure as you can make them or can you improve?

John Phillips’ Sermon Outline Pack, 2 Volumes 100 Old & 100 New Testament Sermon Outlines By Kregel Publications Whether you’re preaching from the Old Testament or the New, clear, concise outlines are the cornerstone to well-developed messages. Now you can glean insights from one of today’s most popular Bible teachers with this collection of 200 summaries. Whether short and pithy or longer and detailed, they’ll all help you deliver powerful, life-changing sermons. 112 pages each, two softcovers from Kregel.

Occasionally, I come across a great illustration or two through forwarded emails from friends of mine that encourage me. I felt like sharing this one as it is very applicable to our lives as believers and as spiritual leaders. I do not know where this originated, but whoever wrote this was certainly anointed.

This email illustration came from a friend…

 “A pastor had been on a long flight from one place to another. The first warning of the approaching problems came when the sign on the airplane flashed on: “Fasten your seat belts”. Then, after a while, a calm voice said, “We shall not be serving the beverages at this time as we are expecting a little turbulence. Please be sure your seat belt is fastened.” 

As he looked around the aircraft, it became obvious that many of the passengers were becoming apprehensive. Later, the voice of the announcer said, “We are so sorry that we are unable to serve the meal at this time. The turbulence is still ahead of us.”

And then the storm broke. The ominous cracks of thunder could be heard even above the roar of the engines. Lightning lit up the darkening skies, and within moments that great plane was like a cork tossed around on a celestial ocean. One moment the airplane was lifted on terrific currents of air; the next, it dropped as if it were about to crash.

The pastor confessed that he shared the discomfort and fear of those around him. He said, “As I looked around the plane, I could see that nearly all the passengers were upset and alarmed. Some were praying. The future seemed ominous and many were wondering if they would make it through the storm.

“Then, I suddenly saw a little girl. Apparently the storm meant nothing to her. She had tucked her feet beneath her as she sat on her seat; she was reading a book and everything within her small world was calm and orderly.

“Sometimes she closed her eyes, then she would read again; then she would straighten her legs, but worry and fear were not in her world. When the plane was being buffeted by the terrible storm when it lurched this way and that, as it rose and fell with frightening severity, when all the adults were scared half to death, that marvelous child was completely composed and unafraid.” The minister could hardly believe his eyes.

It was not surprising therefore, that when the plane finally reached its destination and all the passengers were hurrying to disembark, our pastor lingered to speak to the girl whom he had watched for such a long time. Having commented about the storm and behavior of the plane, he asked why she had not been afraid.

The child replied, “Cause my Daddy’s the pilot, and he’s taking me home.”

There are many kinds of storms that buffet us.

Physical, mental, financial, domestic, and many other storms can easily and quickly darken our skies and throw our plane into apparently uncontrollable movement. We have all known such times, and let us be honest and confess, it is much easier to be at rest when our feet are on the ground than when we are being tossed about a darkened sky.

Let us remember: Our Father is the Pilot. He is in control and taking us home.

Conclusion…

For the believer, there is no real need to worry! It is wasted effort. Consider the following…

(Philippians 4:6-9) “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”  (KJV)

Would You Consider…

Object Lessons: 100 Lessons from Everyday Life – eBook By Charles C. Ryrie / Moody Publishers What good is a broken fingernail? what can you do with a frying pan, a hammer, and an egg? How is a balloon different from a brick? The world around us is full of items useful for interesting and meaningful object lessons. Dr. Ryrie uses pencils, light bulbs, sunglasses, and even the air around us to illustrate truths about salvation and the Christian life. All of the objects are simple and easy to find, and the lessons can be used for any group of any age. Children and adults alike will enjoy learning more when you present these fascinating illustrations.