Get Rid of the Nail
Notes
Transcript
Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.
Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
I. Cleaning the house!
I. Cleaning the house!
A. Lost amongst the stuff.
A. Lost amongst the stuff.
1. The coin had much value, but yet she had lost the coin.
1. The coin had much value, but yet she had lost the coin.
2. Maybe she had just stored it away and gone back for it later and then finally realized it was gone!
2. Maybe she had just stored it away and gone back for it later and then finally realized it was gone!
3. She had to clean up around the house to find, maybe that just means that the house got a bit more cluttered.
3. She had to clean up around the house to find, maybe that just means that the house got a bit more cluttered.
4. Nonetheless she lost a coin that was very valuable!
4. Nonetheless she lost a coin that was very valuable!
B. There was an urgency in her heart and mind to find that lost coin!
B. There was an urgency in her heart and mind to find that lost coin!
1. No matter what it takes I’m going to find it!
1. No matter what it takes I’m going to find it!
2. No matter how long it takes I’m going to find it!
2. No matter how long it takes I’m going to find it!
C. The Scriptures teach us that our bodies are the house/temple of the Lord!
C. The Scriptures teach us that our bodies are the house/temple of the Lord!
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
1. It is imperative that we keep this particular house clean. It is given to us and we are the stewards of this house!
1. It is imperative that we keep this particular house clean. It is given to us and we are the stewards of this house!
2. We should be sure that He feels at home in this house.
2. We should be sure that He feels at home in this house.
3. When He is at home in this house is where joy is found!
3. When He is at home in this house is where joy is found!
4. Fulfillment is found when He is at home in this house!
4. Fulfillment is found when He is at home in this house!
5. There should be no hinderances in this house that would be abhorrent to Him!
5. There should be no hinderances in this house that would be abhorrent to Him!
II. The Nail
II. The Nail
Once upon a time in a small village, there lived an old man who was known to be very wise and clever. He owned a beautiful house that everyone in the village admired. As he grew older, he decided to sell the house but with one peculiar condition. He told potential buyers that he would sell the house but would retain the rights to one specific nail that was hammered in one of the wooden beams in the living room.
After some time, a young couple decided to buy the house, agreeing to the old man's strange condition, thinking it to be harmless. They moved in and started their happy life in the beautiful home. The old man, meanwhile, would occasionally visit the house to look at the nail, but nothing more. This happened for several months, and the couple didn't mind it as it seemed to be an eccentric but harmless habit.
However, one day the old man came with a rotten fish and hung it on the nail. The fish emitted a foul smell that filled the entire house. The couple tried to remove it, but the old man reminded them of the agreement that he held the rights to the nail and could hang whatever he wished on it. Unable to bear the stench, the couple had to leave the windows open day and night, but it wasn't enough to get rid of the smell.
The couple finally realized that the seemingly harmless condition in the agreement had turned their beautiful home into an uninhabitable place. They tried to negotiate with the old man, but he insisted on exercising his right to use the nail as he pleased.
This continued for several days, with the old man hanging various unsightly and smelly items on the nail, turning the lovely house into a place of filth and stench. In the end, the couple could no longer bear it and decided to sell the house back to the old man at a much lower price than they had initially bought it for.
III. Get Rid of the Nail
III. Get Rid of the Nail
A. What is hanging on the nail in your life?
A. What is hanging on the nail in your life?
1. Is it unbelief?
1. Is it unbelief?
Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
2. Is it pride?
2. Is it pride?
Pride goeth before destruction, And an haughty spirit before a fall.
3. Is it just a small sin?
3. Is it just a small sin?
Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.
A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
B. The enemy wants to do his best to keep an in road into your temple.
B. The enemy wants to do his best to keep an in road into your temple.
1. Everything belongs to God except for this one thing.
1. Everything belongs to God except for this one thing.
2. I’ll give God everything in my life except for.
2. I’ll give God everything in my life except for.
3. I’ll go to church, but only when its convenient.
3. I’ll go to church, but only when its convenient.
4. I’ll pray, but only when its convenient.
4. I’ll pray, but only when its convenient.
5. I’ll witness to others when God speaks to me about it.
5. I’ll witness to others when God speaks to me about it.
C. I’m getting rid of the nail entirely! Sin has NO PLACE in this temple!
C. I’m getting rid of the nail entirely! Sin has NO PLACE in this temple!
1. I MUST be transformed by the renewing of my mind!
1. I MUST be transformed by the renewing of my mind!
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
2. I refuse to allow unbelief in my heart I will put ALL of my faith in God!
2. I refuse to allow unbelief in my heart I will put ALL of my faith in God!
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
3. I’m selling out to God and His purpose!
3. I’m selling out to God and His purpose!
And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Buy the truth, and sell it not; Also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
4. The only way to get the stench out is to get the nail out so that sin has no place to go in our lives!
4. The only way to get the stench out is to get the nail out so that sin has no place to go in our lives!
D. When you find what you have misplaced because of the things you’ve let into the house you will experience great joy and want to share that joy with others!
D. When you find what you have misplaced because of the things you’ve let into the house you will experience great joy and want to share that joy with others!
And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.
1. When He comes back into the house your joy will be full as long as we are abiding in His commandments!
1. When He comes back into the house your joy will be full as long as we are abiding in His commandments!
These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.