OceanSide church of Christ

 Previous Return to Sermons Next  Click to download Audio

THE THEME FOR OCEANSIDE – 2023

Lesson #2

 

Reaching In & Reaching Up

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.     OceanSide’s theme for 2023 is:  “Reaching Back, Reaching Out, Reaching In, and Reaching Up.”

 

B.      In our first lesson this morning we did three things.

1.       First, we noted that we choose the word “reach” instead of “look” because it signifies more effort on a person’s part.

a.       It is easy to look.  It takes more energy to reach.

b.      The Lord wants us working hard for His cause (Heb. 4:11).

 

Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

 

c.       The word “labor” means “to make effort” and “to exert one’s self.”

2.       Second, we looked at what it means to LOOK BACK.

a.       We must stay connected to the past.

b.      We must learn the truths of the past.

c.       We must learn from the examples of the past.

d.      We must give appreciation for those who have labored and toiled to lay down the foundation we have today.

3.       Third, we noted what it means to LOOK OUT.

a.       We are to look out and care for others.

b.      We are to seek and save the souls of the lost.

c.       Therefore, we will be engaged in three major works this year similar to the way we were in 2022.

 

C.     In this lesson, we want study the last part of our theme:  “Reaching In and Reaching Up.”

 

I.                    REACHING IN

 

A.     Reaching in involves self-examination.

 

B.      There are two way we can apply the words “self-examination.”

1.       We need to examine ourselves as individuals.

a.       2 Corinthians 13:5

 

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your ownselves.  Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

 

1)      Examine

a)      Strong (3985):  to test, scrutinize 

b)      Thayer:  to try or test, for the purpose of ascertaining something’s quality

2)      Prove

a)      Strong (1381):  to test

b)      Thayer:  to test, examine, to recognize as genuine after the examination, to deem worthy

b.      In the book of Haggai, the children of Israel turned their attention to their personal interests instead of having concern for the house of God.  Twice the Lord exhorts them to consider their ways (Hag. 1:5, 7).

 

Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts, Consider your ways.

 

1)      The word “consider” in the Hebrew is a combination of three words:  to put, the heart, and against.

2)      If a person truly considers himself, he puts his heart up against the standard of God’s word to see how closely the heart and the Word match (Ps. 119:59).

 

I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.

 

c.       2 John 8

 

Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

 

2.       Secondly, we need to do a self-examination as a congregation of the Lord’s people.

a.       This is important because the Lord is constantly evaluating His churches.  In Revelation 2 & 3, we read about the seven churches of Asia.  To everyone of them, the Lord spoke these words:  “I know thy works…”

b.      There are many things all congregations need to be doing.

1)      The church needs to be growing in grace and knowledge (2 Pet. 3:18). 

2)      The church needs to be holding fast to sound doctrine (Tit. 2:1).

3)      The church needs to be keeping itself pure (Eph. 5:27).

4)      The church needs to be laboring in good works (Rev. 2:5). 

5)      The church needs to be genuine and not hypocritical (Rev. 3:15-16).

6)      The church needs to be alive (Rev. 3:1-3).

7)      The church needs to be evangelizing the community and the world (1 Thess. 1:8).

3.       To accomplish this goal…

a.       We are asking each member to fill the volunteer sheet for the various areas of work they would be willing to participate in.

b.      We are going to hold a couple of targeted classes one month about examination.

c.       We will have a Bible Bowl.  We will divide into teams of four.  We are hoping that the men and women will compete against one another.  We will studying the book of Esther.

d.      One month, we are going to ask all of us to read through the New Testament.

e.       We are going to ask you to participate in new works such as Georgia Bible Camp and devotionals at an Assisted Living facility.

 

II.                 REACHING UP

 

A.     “Up” is where some of the most important things are. 

 

B.      Reaching up should be where most of our efforts are focused as children of God.

1.       The Savior tells us not to store up treasures here, but rather, to store up treasures in heaven (Matt. 6:20).

2.       The apostle Paul tells us to “look not on the things which are seen, but the things which are not seen” (2 Cor. 4:18).

3.       God “raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 2:6).

4.       Our conversation is in heaven according to Philippians 3:20.

5.       The apostle Paul tells us to set our affections on things above (Col. 3:1-3).

6.       In Hebrews 10:34, the inspired writer reminds us that we “have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.”

7.       As did the patriarchs, we should be desiring “a better country, that is, a heavenly” one (Heb. 11:16).

8.       The Hebrew writer tells us to look unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith (Heb. 12:2).

9.       Peter opens his first epistle reminding us that we have an inheritance that is incorruptible, undefiled, and fadeth not way, reserved in heaven” (1 Pet. 1:4).

10.   Peter reminds us that we are to be looking “for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness” (2 Peter. 3:13).

 

C.     There are several ways to reach up to the things that lie beyond our sight.

1.       By paying attention to what we pay attention to (Phil. 3:14).

 

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

 

2.       By not loving and letting go of the things of the world (1 John 2:15).

 

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world…

 

3.       By developing a serious prayer life (Luke 11:1).

 

…Teach us to pray…

 

4.       By steadfast participation in worship and Bible study (Matt. 4:10; John 4:23-24).

 

Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan:  for it is written, thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

 

a.       There we draw nigh unto God.

b.      There God enters into our midst.

c.       There we offer sacrifices that rise as a sweet-smelling savor to God.

d.      There we gather with the saints on a small scale and feel what it will be like to be with the saints of God around His throne in eternity.

5.       By laying up treasures in heaven.  Using our treasures here for the glory of God (Matt. 6:20).

 

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doeth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through and steal.

 

6.       Engaging in good works (Rev. 14:13).

 

And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth:  Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

 

 

 

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.     In 2023, we want all of the members of the OceanSide church of Christ to reach back, out, in, and up.

 

B.      We want you to really reach.  We want you to put in the time and effort to do these things.

 

C.     If we reach, we can obtain. 

 

D.     When we get to heaven, we will be glad we reached for it for sure.