A Message From the Fence!

1. A Message From the Fence! Gospel Chapel November 11, 2012

2. The Fence Line! • Our family dairy farm: • The Fence was the boundary of our property. • Bad cows always tried to escape! • Repeat offenders were punished! • Creatures of Habit • Walking the Fence Line • Sitting on the Fence!

3. Where Should We Be? • Being led to the right gate leads to the right pasture!! • John 10:1-11 Jesus the Good Shepherd • v4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. • v7 Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. • Do you hear the voice of Jesus calling you? • Have you entered through Jesus’ door?

4. Spending Our Lives on the Fence! • False sense of security! • Too close for comfort! • John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. • The fence does not stop the Wolf! • Mt. 7:15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

5. Walking the Fence Line! • Partaking of both worlds – miserable existence • James 4:4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. • Vs 7-8 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

6. Am I Tempted or Deceived? • James 1:14-16 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. • 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. • Mt 24:4 “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name!

7. Flee the Fence Line! • 2 Timothy 2:15-19 Depart from iniquity! • v15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. • Separate yourself from the fence line! • 2 Cor 6:14-16 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God.

8. Make a Break From The Fence Line! • 2 Cor 6:17-18 “Come out from among themand be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.” 18 “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” • 2 Cor 7:1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

9. How can I? • John 8:34-36 “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. • Only Jesus can truly free us!!! • Gal 5:16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

10. Know Him & His Power! • Philippians 3:8-16 • that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. • I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. • I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus