Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning and evening, Oct. 1, 2000, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.

SOME QUARTER OF A CENTURY CONSIDERATIONS

By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia

Scripture Reading: Haggai 1:1-7

Text: Haggai 1:5,7

Haggai 1:5 Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.

Haggai 1:7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.

Introduction: Today’s message is titled, “Some Quarter of a Century Considerations.” The word, “consider,” occurs, interestingly enough, in 66 verses of the Bible, one verse for each of the 66 books. The word means: To think carefully about. To think or deem to be; regard as. To form an opinion about; To take into account; bear in mind. To show consideration for. To esteem; regard. To look at thoughtfully.

GOD COMMANDS US TO CONSIDER:

Deuteronomy 32:7 Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee.

ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE, WE SHOULD CONSIDER THE THINGS THAT WE KNOW:

Deuteronomy 4:39 Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.

GOD SAYS THAT WISE PEOPLE CONSIDER:

Deuteronomy 32:29 O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!

WE SHOULD CONSIDER THE GREAT THINGS GOD HAS DONE FOR US:

1 Samuel 12:24 Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.

WICKED PEOPLE SUFFER MANY TIMES BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT CONSIDER THE WAYS OF GOD:

Job 34:26-27 He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others; 27 Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways:

Psalms 50:22 Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.

VERY FEW PEOPLE DO MUCH CONSIDERING TODAY. THAT IS BECAUSE YOU NEED TO BE STILL TO DO REAL CONSIDERING:

Job 37:14 Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.

KING DAVID CONSIDERED THE WORKS OF GOD:

Psalms 8:3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

WE ARE TO CONSIDER GOD’S WORD:

Psalms 119:95 The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies.

WE ARE TOLD TO CONSIDER THE WAYS OF THE ANT:

Proverbs 6:6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:

WE ARE TOLD TO CONSIDER THE PROSPECTS THAT MEN PUT BEFORE US:

Proverbs 23:1 When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee:

Isaiah 1:3 The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.

WE ARE COMMANDED TO CONSIDER THE RAVENS AND THE LILIES:

Luke 12:24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?

Luke 12:27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

IN THE EARLY CHURCH:

Acts 15:6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.

PAUL COMMANDED HIS PREACHER TRAINEE, TIMOTHY:

2 Timothy 2:7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT WE SHOULD CONSIDER ONE ANOTHER:

Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

AND MOST OF ALL, WE SHOULD CONSIDER JESUS:

Hebrews 3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

Hebrews 12:3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

As I begin the message, I want to thank you for celebrating with me 25 years in the pastorate. On the first Sunday of October, 1975, I had the joy of pastoring my first church. Some of the members of that first church I pastored, Faith Baptist Church in Bay Minette, Alabama, are guests with us this morning.

A bad characteristic of many old people is that they spend a lot of time thinking and talking about the past without doing anything in the present. A bad characteristic of many young people is that they are so busy doing things, that they don’t consider the past or the future. Many times they don’t even consider what they are doing in the present.

I have been doing some thinking as I have approached this moment. I ask that you be still for about the next half hour as I give you some quarter of a century considerations.

I don’t claim to know everything. So far, the largest church I have pastored only averaged a little over 200 in Sunday School in its best times. But I have been through a few things. I’ve studied the word of God over these 25 years. I’ve studied the Lord. I’ve studied people.

Not everything over these 25 years has been, shall we say, “rosy.” I’ve had eggs thrown against the front wall of my church. Late at night an arsonist burnt my car less than 10 feet from the front door of my house. I’ve had nails put in my driveway. One night I had to physically pull apart a woman and two men who were rolling on the floor in a physical fight. This was at the church, although it was not during a service. At one church, a devil-possessed deacon, full of hatred and anger, stood up in a church service and told our people concerning me, “Our problem is that we have loved TOO MUCH!” During this same time, a man I had given a full time paid position as my assistant pastor conspired with the that man and two other wicked deacons to try to get rid of me.

I’m not complaining; it has been a JOY to be a pastor for these 25 years! However, if you are going to live for Jesus for a long time, you are going to have to face and overcome some obstacles.

Today I want to bring to you some things that I have known and considered for 25 years. They are some of the most important truths I have learned. They are so much more important in their consequences to you and me than where Cain got his wife from; are UFO’s real; what about the Great Pyramid; and what the fig tree of Matt. 24 means, that they are not worthy to be compared.

Listen carefully, and I echo the words of the apostle Paul, given by inspiration of God:

2 Timothy 2:7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

and as our text says,

Haggai 1:5 Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.

First of all,

I KNOW AND HAVE CONSIDERED THAT

I. THE WAY OF SIN IS SAD

Proverbs 13:15 Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.

A. It brings ruin

James 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived,it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

B. It brings retribution

- Numbers 32:23 But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.

Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth,that shall he also reap.

C. It brings ridicule

D. It brings regret

I KNOW AND HAVE CONSIDERED THAT

II. THE WAY OF SALVATION IS SURE

Much of the uncertainty today about salvation, even among Baptist people, is due to the fact that the way of salvation is being perverted or obscured by those who profess to preach it!

1 John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

A. The requirement of God’s salvation is sure

All have sinned – Rom. 3:23.
The wages of sin is death – Rom. 6:23; Rev. 20:14-15.
Ye MUST be born again! – John 3:6.

B. The redemption of God’s salvation is sure

1 Cor. 15:3-4
Christ died for every sinner
Christ died for every sin
He paid the penalty for the sins of every man, woman, boy, or girl who had ever lived or who ever who live.

C. The reception of God’s salvation is sure

Now eternal life is offered as a GIFT – Rom. 6:23.
It is received by simple faith – Acts 16:29-31; Eph. 2:8-9
It is not faith plus or minus anything.
It is just through faith.

Terrell Stephens, in Bay Minette, AL, in the mid 70s said to me: “If I believed the way you do, I would be the happiest man in the world.” He was a longtime member of the Campbellite cult, the Church of Christ. Mr. Stephens finally got converted and became BROTHER Stephens. He often testified that he remembered what he said and that now he was indeed the happiest man in the world.

I KNOW AND HAVE CONSIDERED THAT

III. THE WAY OF STABILITY IS SIMPLE

Revelation 2:4-5 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

I wish that every church member I have ever pastored was still serving the Lord faithfully today. I can honestly say that I believe there are only two main things that are necessary for a Christian to just be a stedfast, faithful Christian all his life. Are you listening?

A. Start with the first works

Public profession, baptism, and church membership. I have never seen a Christian amount to anything for the Lord who didn’t publicly identify himself as a Christian, with the saints of God.
Attend every service of your church. Don’t miss even one! By the way, be sure it is the church of GOD’S choice, not YOUR choice! Be sure that it is a Bible-believing, fundamental, independent Baptist church!
Give tithes and offerings!
Read your Bible daily!
Pray daily!
Witness daily!

B. Stay with the first works

Stay in the church where God put you! Don’t miss a single service! I’ve never seen a Christian grow like he SHOULD grow who did not attend his church faithfully!
Don’t let your service to God slip, in regard to tithes and offerings, church attendance, Bible reading, prayer, and soul-winning.
If you are not where you should be today as a Christian, it is PROBABLY because you have quit doing one or more of these “first works.”

I KNOW AND HAVE CONSIDERED THAT

IV. THE WAY OF SERENITY IS SERVICE

Philippians 4:9 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.

A. You get the peace of heaven

B. You get peace in your heart

C. You get peace in your health –
When you live contrary to the way you
know you should, it affects your health.

I KNOW AND HAVE CONSIDERED THAT

V. THE WAY OF OUR SOCIETY IS SCARY

2 Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

It is scary in the sense that you know the society will suffer the consequences of sin and the wrath of God.

A. Our society has forgotten her God – Ps. 9:17

B. Our society has forsaken its guide – the Bible

C. Our society has fallen from its glory

I KNOW AND HAVE CONSIDERED THAT

VI. THE WAY OF THE SCRIPTURES IS SUCCESS

Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

A. This Book gives you the procedures you need

B. This Book gives you the power you need

C. This Book gives you the perseverance you need

I KNOW AND HAVE CONSIDERED THAT

VII. THE WAY THROUGH THE SKIES IS SOON

Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Hebrews 10:37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

A. The Lord’s return will be instantaneous

B. The Lord’s return will be pivotal

C. The Lord’s return is imminent