"WHAT DO YE MORE THAN OTHERS?"

MATTHEW 5:4

A. THINGS THAT ARE NATURAL TO MEN
  1. Love those that love us: Matt. 5:46; Luke 6:32
  2. Do as others do: Gen. 3:12; John 21:3
  3. Be satisfied with our personal achievements: Luke 18:11, 12; Rev. 3:17, 18
B. "WHAT DO YE MORE THAN OTHERS?"
  1. Out of love to God:
    1. The poor widow - Mark 12:43
    2. Mary Magdalene - John 12:2
    3. Abraham - Gen. 22:1-12
  2. Do more for others:
    1. Our blessed Lord - Acts 10:38
    2. Joseph in Egypt - Gen. 39:1-23; 45:8
    3. The little Hebrew maiden - 2 Ki. 5:1-3
  3. Real acts of living faith:
    1. Elijah's contest with the priests of Baal - 1 Ki. 18:32-37
    2. Elisha and Naaman the leper - 2 Ki. 5:1-14
    3. The four that carried the impotent man - Mark 2:1- 7
    4. The mother and a demon-possessed daughter - Matt. 15:28
  4. All these things are written for our admonition:
    1. We profess to be more enlightened than some other people, and it is only reasonable that we show this in our life.
    2. Here is food for much prayer and serious thoughts on our part.
    3. It is not enough for me to know the truth--I must show in my daily life that the truth has made me free.
    4. If the faith I have is real, the fruit of my life will be healthy and strong.
    5. That is what our Lord says - John 7:37, 38; Matt. 5:16-26
C. WHO DOES MORE THAN OTHERS?
  1. Men of living faith:
    1. David - 1 Sam. 17
    2. Paul - 1 Cor. 15:10
    3. Jochebed - Ex. 2:1-10
  2. Men of much prayer:
    1. Think of the words found in Jer. 33:3; in Jas. 5:16; and in Gen. 20:17
    2. People who dare for God - Helen Keller, Booker T. Washington, Gideon, Deborah and others.
  3. Some reasons why the question of our text affects us as a people:
    1. We claim more - "For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask much" - Luke 12:48
    2. We have, indeed, been entrusted with more -
      1. God has, in mercy, given us light from a chain of Bible prophecies - Dan. 2; 7; 8; Rev. 12; 13; 14; 16; 18; 20
      2. To us God has committed the proclamation of the Three Angel's Messages; which in itself is an awe-inspiring commitment to a small people.
    3. Our opportunities are much more extensive than our pioneers ever dreamed of -
      1. Scientific developments have made communication a modern miracle.
      2. That has made it possible to hasten the message of truth to the ends of the earth in short time - Rom. 9:28
    4. Never, in the history of the church, have opportunities been greater than now -
      1. There is an awakening among the nations.
      2. A great effort for more enlightenment among the backward peoples - Joel 3:9
      3. People are inquiring of the reason for the conditions in this world today. Bible prophecy has the answer.
    5. Are we ready to share our faith with others?


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