Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning, September 28, 2003, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.

A MAN WITHOUT A TOMBSTONE BUT WITH A GOOD TESTIMONY

By Michael D. O’Neal (Prov. 11:30), Pastor
Gospel Light Baptist Church, P.O. Box 3071 (237 Lockett Station Road),
Albany, GA 31706
(229) 432-0039 (church) / (229) 698-2127 (parsonage)

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 11:1-5

Text: Hebrews 11:5

Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

Introduction: Enoch had a testimony!

He had a GOOD testimony.
Some people have a BAD testimony.

Testimony of salvation
Testimony of life

What is YOUR testimony?

Some people have a reputation for being

Liars

Titus 1:12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.

Lazy

Loud (brawlers, angry, given to strife)
Women should be clothed with a meek, QUIET spirit.
Christians are commanded to study to be QUIET.

Lustful

Controlled and characterized by the lusts of the flesh
Drunkenness
Thefts
Gluttony
Adultery

Enoch didn’t have an epitaph on his tombstone, because he didn’t have a tombstone. Nevertheless, he did have a good testimony.

I. HE PLEASED GOD

Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

A. He loved God

You try to please the girl you love.

You try to please the group you love.

You try to please the GOD you love.

B. He learned to please God

He found out what God liked and he liked it.

He found out what God hated and he hated it.

C. He lived to please God

It became his purpose.

It became his practice.

It became his pleasure.

II. HE PROPHESIED OF THE SECOND COMING

Jude 1:14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,

A. He preached the personal return of Christ

“the LORD cometh”

MARANATHA! – “the Lord cometh”

B. He preached the powerful return of Christ

He proclaimed the Revelation – Christ’s coming in glory to the earth to establish His kingdom.

C. He preached the punishing return of Christ

“to take vengeance”

He PICTURED the Rapture – Christ’s coming in the air before the Tribulation to catch up His saints.

III. HE PREACHED AGAINST SIN

Jude 1:15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

A. He preached against sinful character

“all that ARE ungodly”

“ungodly sinners”

Enoch had a good testimony that was the result of good CHARACTER.

B. He preached against sinful conduct

“ungodly DEEDS which they have ungodly committed

C. He preached against sinful conversation

“hard SPEECHES which ungodly sinners have SPOKEN against him”

IV. HE PRACTICED WHAT HE PREACHED

Genesis 5:24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

He not only preached righteousness; He PRACTICED it.
He not only had the talk; He had the WALK. He WALKED WITH GOD!
In order to walk with God,

A Man Without A Tombstone But With A Good Testimony