THE CALL TO ORDER IN THE BELIEVER’S LIFE
By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia
Scripture Reading: Gen. 22:1-14
Text: Genesis 22:9
Genesis 22:9 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.
Introduction: Our scripture reading is one of the greatest types, or prophetic pictures, of Christ in the book of Genesis. Abraham reminds us of God the Father, and Isaac reminds us of Jesus Christ being offered as a sacrifice for sins.
However, I want to draw your attention to one word in verse 9, which is the first occurrence of this word in the Bible. That word is
ORDER.
Abraham laid the wood on his son “in order.” That is, he had an arrangement in which he placed the wood. It was not done haphazardly but neatly and purposefully.
The word “order” is found in 59 verses of the Bible.
The opposite of order is disorder, confusion, and chaos.
The Bible says
1 Corinthians 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
Further, we have the commandment in the same chapter:
1 Corinthians 14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
Tonight I want to bring you a message called
THE CALL TO ORDER IN THE BELIEVER’S LIFE
The believer should never be guilty of “disorderly conduct.”
2 Thessalonians 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
He should always be orderly.
I. THERE IS ORDER IN HEAVEN
Judges 5:20 They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera.
Psalms 82:5 They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.
A. God has a plan for His creation
B. God has a purpose
C. God has a place for everything
1. The stars are arranged
2. Planets are arranged
God is a God of order.
Consider the genealogies of the Bible.
One book is the book of Numbers.
He has named and numbered the stars.
When Jesus fed the five thousand:
Luke 9:14 For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company.
II. THERE SHOULD BE ORDER IN THE HOUSE OF GOD
1 Corinthians 14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
2 Chronicles 29:35 And also the burnt offerings were in abundance, with the fat of the peace offerings, and the drink offerings for every burnt offering. So the service of the house of the LORD was set in order.
1 Corinthians 14:27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.
A. Stations, or offices, should be as God orders
1. Pastor (bishop)
2. Deacons
B. Services should be orderly
C. Singing should be orderly
D. Speaking should be orderly
III. THERE SHOULD BE ORDER IN THE HOUSE OF THE BELIEVER
Colossians 2:5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
Before men died in the Bible, they were to be sure that there house was “in order.”
2 Samuel 17:23 And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.
2 Kings 20:1 In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.
A. There should be order of sight
1. Balance
2. Variety
B. There should be order of sound
1. Children should not be unruly.
2. One person should talk at a time in a room (no TV and conversation at the same time)
C. There should be order of structure
1. A place for everything and everything in its place
2. Dirt should be removed
3. Trash should be removed
4. Clutter should be removed
5. Broken things should be repaired, replaced, or removed
6. Start in the yard, the entrance, the front rooms, the bedrooms, closets, and drawers
Proverbs 14:1 Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.
Ecclesiastes 10:18 By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
IV. THERE SHOULD BE ORDER IN THE HABITS OF THE BELIEVER
Acts 18:23 And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.
Daniel 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
Psalms 55:17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
A. Days should be planned
B. Duties should be performed
C. Desires should be prioritized
V. THERE SHOULD BE ORDER IN THE HEART OF THE BELIEVER
James 1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
Psalms 71:1 In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.
James 3:16-18 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
A. There should be peace, not confusion
B. There should be priorities, not impulse
1. Jesus first
2. Others next
3. Yourself last
4. Settle on some priorities and goals
The end of a believer’s life should be a completed course:
2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
Is your life a course? Does it show order? Or is your life a mess?
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Michael D. O’Neal (Proverbs 11:30), Pastor, |