A.M. Sermon

Unloaded and Unlocked (CD#1486 8/28/22 A.M. @ VWC)

Q. Do you ever feel overloaded? Are you feeling it right now? If so today we will learn from Scripture hows to "LIGHTEN your LOAD"!

In this busy world as my grandma used to say: I met myself coming as I was going"! We get hurt trying to go in 2 different directions. When fall is giving away to winter or spring to summer we can get sick because of the strange weather changes! As Christian we are "LIVING" in this world but but our "LIFE" is from another world! We must live out our citizenship rights from Heaven NOW in this earth. We must unload (or “lay aside” in KJV:

*Text:Hebrews 12:1-3 KJVS

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, [2] Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. [3] For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Note we are to "LAY ASIDE" #659  (ap-ot-eeth'-ay-mee) to put away (literally or figuratively): - cast off lay apart (aside down) put away (off)

"EVERY WEIGHT" #3591 (ong'-kos) mass (as bending or bulging by its load) that is burden (hindrance): - weight.

{These champions of yesterday testify to us today. Noah is telling every drunk you can stop. Abraham reminds every liar that you can tell the truth. Samson acknowledges that God's power can enable you to win over your passion. Rahab informs you that you can break the chains of promiscuity. Moses jogs your memory that with God's help you can control anger. Gideon testifies that you can face your fears. And, David beckons that you can overcome the worst things a human being can do.}

Notice we cast off unload "EVERY WEIGHT" first and then THE sin. Let's look to Scripture and see some things we need to unload do we can become unlocked:

#1 No Deadheading

A. Deadheading from a truckers point of view is to come back empty.

B.In gardening when you deadhead a plant, you cut off the flowers of the plant which are dying or have already died.

*Romans 13:12-14 KJVS

The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. [13] Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. [14] But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Notice the contrasts here we "UNLOAD" and we become "UNLOCKED" for a 180 degree change!

#2 No & Know Deception

Note they are 2 ways to be deceived, first way is to believe what is NOT true and the 2nd is to REFUSE to receive what is true!

*James 1:21-22 KJVS

Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. [22] But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Q. How do you know if you have "RECEIVED" a word and its thought behind it?

A. The word and thought WILL PRODUCE action!

*James 1:26-27 KJVS

If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. [27] Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

#3 New Desire

*1 Peter 2:1-5 KJVS

Wherefore laying aside all (#1) MALICE, and all (#2) GUILE, and (#3) HYPOCRISIES, and (#4) ENVIES, and all (#5) EVIL SPEAKINGS, [2] As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: [3] If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. [4] To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, [5] Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Note "MALICE" #2549 (kak-ee'-ah) badness, that is, (subjectively) depravity, or (actively) malignity, or (passively) trouble.

Close with:

*Acts 13:38-39 KJVS

Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: [39] And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Illustration: In the Civil War the most common cannonball size was 12 lbs. Imagine how armies had to carry  cannonballs with them! In terms of specific gravity, WEIGHTS we have studied today are about as heavy as cannonballs. But it makes little sense to carry them. Most likely, the “enemy” is unaware of your enmity, and surely would be surprised to learn that you’ve been stalking him with a cannonball in your pocket. By the help of the Holy Spirit today  examine your grudges. Do what armies do when hostilities are over: unload the cannonballs and stack them on the courthouse lawn. Then marvel at how much easier it is to get around.

If not it will end up killing you, just ask Sam White’s family. He was a 53 year old Civil War buff. He was killed by a 140 year old cannon ball in his own driveway, he had found on a battlefield in Virginia,