When God Specifies

TEXT:  Rom. 11:33-36;  1 Cor. 2:16

INTRODUCTION:

A.      SCRIPTURES REVEAL COMPLETELY GOD'S MIND.

B.      MAN CAN STAND COMPLETE IN THAT REVELATION( 2 Tim. 3:16-17 ).

C.      TWO RULES:

          1.       "Commission to do a certain thing only authorizes the doing of that specified."

          2.       "Specifying one thing is a positive prohibition of any other!"

I.      THESE RULES EXEMPLIFIED.

A.      MOSES TOLD TO SPEAK TO THE ROCK, SPECIFICALLY( Num. 20:8 ).

          1.       Moses struck the rock, did something else( vs. 9-11 ).

          2.       Dire consequences( vs. 12 ).  Little thing, big result.

B.      NADAB AND ABIHU( Lev. 10:1-2 ).

          1.       Fire to come from the coals of previous sacrifice in the lattice work of alter.

          2.       Used another source., a substitute.

C.      DAVID'S CART

          1.       David's ignorance( 1 Chron. 13:12 ).

          2.       Law specific( 1 Chron. 15:1-2,  13 ).

D.      WHEN GOD SPECIFIES, IT EXCLUDES ANYTHING ELSE.

II.     SUBSTITUTION JOINS HANDS WITH IDOLATRY!

A.      SUBSTITUTING EXALTS MAN'S WISDOM OVER GOD'S( 1 Cor. 3:18-20 ).

B.      IT OPENS THE DOOR FOR EVERY KIND OF EVIL INVENTION.

C.      THE EXAMPLE OF SAUL:

          1.       What was he told to do?( 1 Sam. 15:1-3 ).

          2.       What did he do?( vs. 9 ).

          3.       What was God's condemnation?( vs. 22-23 ).  Witch-craft and idolatry.

III.    APPLYING THESE PRINCIPLES TODAY.

A.      JESUS AUTHORIZED ELDERS IN EVERY CHURCH( Acts. 14:23 ).

          1.       Their jurisdiction is specified( Acts 20:28;  1 Pet. 5:2-4 ).

          3.       This precludes any other organization for the church.  Autonomy.

B.      BAPTISM FOR PENITENT BELIEVERS( Acts 2:38;  Mark 16:16 ). Not babies.

          1.       Men and women( Acts 8:12 ).

          2.       Upon hearing and believing( 18:8;  2:41 ).

C.      BAPTISM FOR REMISSION OF SINS( Acts 2:38 ). Not an outward show.

D.      ELEMENTS AND TIME FOR THE SUPPER( Matt. 26:26-29;  Acts 20:7 ).

E.      GOD GLORIFIED IN THE CHURCH( Eph. 3:20-21 ). Excludes institutions.

F.      SINGING( Eph. 5:19 ).

G.      RAISING FINANCES( 1 Cor. 16:1-2 ). Excludes suppers, sales, raffles, business.

CONCLUSION:  WHAT DO THE SCRIPTURES TEACH?