God’s purpose in using the frailty of flesh to contain the glory of the gospel is to testify to Himself, not to man. Jars of clay testify that salvation comes by the power of God, not the power of man, by the work of God, not the work of man, by the will of God, not the will of man, by the purpose of God not the purpose of man, for the glory of God not the glory of man, because of the truth of God not because of the intellect of man.

Salvation comes not through the work or might of men. Salvation comes through the power of God alone. I am just a jar of clay!

Once you have seen the light of truth, you can never again believe the lie.

A few years ago, I was in my hometown visiting family. During my visit, the subject of people driving the wrong way through a well-known one-way alleyway. As we discussed this common vexation, it became apparent that there was disagreement on the correct direction for the alley. So the next day, we went to see for ourselves which way was the right way. To my great dismay, the direction I had believed was the right direction was the wrong way.

The right and wrong way had not changed. What changed was that I had come to know the truth. I could no longer arrogantly go the wrong way, confident that I was right and indignant at others going the other direction. I had seen the light and knew the truth; from that day forward, I have only driven the right way.

Jesus is the light of truth. He gives understanding to what is right and wrong, true and false, and life and death.

It is not that a Christian no longer struggles with sin and temptation, but those who are in Christ no longer welcome, make plans for, invite, or love sin. It is impossible to love Jesus, be transformed by grace, and willfully remain in sin.

We live in a day of self-promotion and public relations. Branding used to be something that only large corporations were concerned with, but today, individuals seek to develop personal brands. In this world of self-promotion, many are seeking to draw attention to themselves and build their own realm of influence. Unfortunately, many in the church have also given unhelpful attention to promoting a brand for themselves, their ministries, or church that is more about promoting themselves than promoting Jesus.

Salvation does not come through effective branding or self-promotion. Salvation comes when the grace of God allows you to see Jesus as the Son of God who takes away the sin of the world. Those who have known this grace become servants of Christ, pointing others to Jesus.

Over twenty years ago, I purchased a Maglite flashlight. At the time, I was impressed with its ability to put out 45 lumens. However, the 45 lumens of the incandescent bulb of my Maglite loses all its charm compared to the brilliance of modern flashlights. It is not that the Maglite lost its glory; rather, something better and more powerful has overshadowed and outshined its glory.

Such it is with the law of God. When the law was given to Moses, it was glorious, but compared to the glory of Christ and the salvation He brings, it cannot compare. The glory of Christ never dims, never fades, and never ends. The glory of Christ is brighter and more glorious than anything else.

If you have been saved by the blood of Jesus, you are the aroma of Christ Jesus in this world. And being the aroma of Christ, you will bring joy to those who know Him and condemnation to those who have rejected Him.

From the sermon, Delight in God's word, Psalm 119:9-16

There was recent news coverage of the promised lottery jackpot of $1.28 billion. Thinking about how you would spend a large amount of money is easy to contemplate because money is such a dominant force in our lives. We often delight in riches and the things that riches bring. And yet, the riches of this world are fading. The gold and silver of this world will one day lose their value, but the word of God will never return void.

Discover the truth of God’s word. Find your delight in knowing God’s word. And be forever transformed by God’s word.

Putting on the right equipment requires a correct understanding of the present dangers. The right equipment does not remove the danger but allows you to endure it.

We are in a spiritual battle. Ignoring this truth will lead to forgoing the spiritual resources needed to stand firm in the Lord. But rightly recognizing the threats leads to employing the right equipment that will allow you to stand firm against the assaults of the evil one.

From the sermon Think on these things, Philippians 4:8-9

The peace of God is connected to our obedience to God. More than any previous generation in the history of the world, we have more trinkets, entertainment, and devices that vie for our attention. It seems that as the things that seek our attention have grown, so has the amount of our anxiety and worry. We live in a culture that is consumed with anxiety. The peace of God is known when you turn your attention away from the things of this world and turn to the Lord.

What motivates you to obey Jesus? Are you motivated by love for Jesus, or are you motivated by legal obligation? The freedom from the law that salvation provides sets you free to obey out of joy and not obligation.

Everything is for God's glory. The last statement of Isaiah 61:3 testifies to the unifying motivation of all that God does, that is, that He may be glorified. The literal translation is "that he may display his beauty." To glorify God is to delight in and declare His ultimate and infinite goodness and beauty. Jesus came to earth to bring salvation to man for God's glory. Sinners are transformed by the saving power of the gospel for God's glory. The vengeance of God's judgment and the goodness of heaven are all for God's glory. The saints will put on the garments of praise for the eternal glory of God.

One of the unique items that the Queen of England always travels with is mourning clothes. Knowing that the news of a death can come at any time, she is always prepared to wear the appropriate attire. The gospel promises that one-day mourning clothes will no longer be needed. By the saving grace of Jesus, we will one day trade in our mourning clothes and put on the garments of praise.

The yoke of Christ connects you to the righteousness of Jesus that lifts you up for the glory of God. The more it grows, the better it is. The more it grows, the more joy it produces. The yoke of Christ connects and makes you submissive to Jesus, who loves you, is working to provide well for you, and is preparing the glory of heaven for you.

The invitation is to exchange the yoke of sin for the yoke of Christ. One condemns and destroys the other redeems and gives life.

The work of the cross is complete and a testimony to the power of God. The work of sanctification continues in the hearts and lives of every believer. Our confidence is not in our ability or the ability of someone to help us. Our confidence is in Jesus, who completed the work of redemption on the cross and will perfectly complete the work of our faith in us.

Joyful obedience is different from obligated compliance. When you are bound to the law, you are obligated to obey its demands and suffer its judgment. When you are free in Jesus, you are free from the law, free to enjoy the righteousness of Jesus, and free to obey His commands willfully.

There are some things you have to do. Usually, these things come from the demands of the law. For example, paying your income taxes is an obligation of the law. You do not pay your income tax out of joy or desire but out of obligation. Because paying taxes is a demand of the law, you only pay what is required and nothing more.

There are some things you do out of joy. These things come from the desire of your heart. For example, spending time with your spouse, giving gifts to your children, or enjoying the company of friends are not done out of obligation but out of joyful desire. Being free from the law and bound to Jesus is not about trading one burden for another. Being free from the law and bound to Jesus is about being free from obligation and set free to enjoy a relationship that produces joyful obedience.

Before you can be obedient to the commands of Jesus, you must have faith that Jesus can accomplish His purpose and His will. When Christians have faith, they obey. Experiencing the power of God comes in the context of obeying God.

What does it mean to delight in the Lord?

Psalm 1 teaches that the righteous take pleasure in the law of God. This is the truth that gives understanding to the second part of verse 2; "but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night." (Psalm 1:2 ESV)

What we find pleasure in attracts our attention. Whatever has our attention, we will seek out. The one who delights in the law of God does not approach the law of God with dread but with joy. This pleasure is better than the world's pleasures because it satisfies, fulfills, and is never-ending.

Where the hopes and desires of the wicked are lost to the wind, the delight of the righteous is satisfied and fulfilled in the Lord. The way of sinners leads to rejecting God and scoffing. The way of righteousness leads to delighting in the Lord and meditating day and night on His word.

The work of atonement could only be accomplished by Jesus and has been accomplished by Jesus. The work is done. It is finished. You must decide to receive the gift of His atoning work by believing faith or to reject the cross. You cannot add more to what Jesus has done. You either must receive the gift or reject it.

The work of redemption is finished and offered to you today. Receive the free gift of the atonement and be saved today.

It is easy to recognize and condemn the sin we see in others. But all sin demands the sacrifice of the lamb of God. All sin is just as wicked, just as shameful, and just as costly as the vilest of sinner's sin. All sin is just as shameful as the sin of those who cried "crucify Him."

To the one who rejects Jesus, the cross remains offensive and ugly. But to the one who has been made clean by the blood of Jesus – the cross is beautiful and glorious! Come to Jesus. Bow before the King of kings. Believe in faith and be saved.

Direction is more important than location. We tend to give more importance to location, but where you are heading matters more than where you are. You may be far away from the Lord today, but God beckons you to draw near (direction language). And the beautiful promise is that no matter where you are - when your direction changes from chasing after the world to drawing near to God, God meets you where you are and exalts you to a right relationship with Him.