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SOUNDING OUT THE TRUMPET

PART 1--THE DANGER OF THE TRUMPET NOT BEING SOUNDED

1 CORINTHIANS 14:6-11 (Text Vs. 8)

Introduction

A good while back in our Wednesday night Bible studies, some of you may remember that we looked at the principles of “Bible Interpretation.” One of the principles we studied was this: The Bible has only one true interpretation but it may have many different applications.

The interpretation of this particular passage has to do with the tongues issue!

(Elaborate on the interpretation of what the text is about.)

But tonight (and possibly for a few more weeks) I want us to look at what Paul said in verses 7-10 and look at the subject of “Sounding the Trumpet.”

In Biblical times usually a trumpet was blown to alert people to certain things.

            Sometimes trumpets were blown on joyful occasions or to give praise to God.

Sometimes trumpets were blown to call attention to important proclamations, to call a solemn assembly, or to signal the change of camp.

Sometimes trumpets were blown by watchmen to warn of an approaching enemy or as a call to war.

Because of the importance of sounding the trumpet, it was necessary to have someone who was capable and who would faithfully fulfill the task of blowing the trumpet.

Because of what was at stake, the trumpeter needed to be a loyal, obedient, and subject to the leadership or king!

            The trumpeter needed to be someone who would sound what he was told to sound!

The trumpeter needed to understand the urgency of sounding the trumpet, (i.e. when he was commanded to sound it, it needed to be sounded without delay!)

The trumpeter needed to be brave, not cowardly, in the face of difficult and sometimes adverse circumstances!

            The trumpeter needed to be bold, not timid, so that the message might be heard by all!

God has called the Church, not just preachers, to be His trumpeters in this most important age we live in! (The Great Commission was given to the Church!)

            We will do it if we are loyal, obedient, and subject to THE KING!

            We must do it with a sense of urgency.

            We must do it with a sense of bravery.

            We must do it boldly.

The context of verse number eight shows that it is talking about making sure that the words we speak are clear and easy to be understood. Verse 10 of this passage makes it clear that there are many voices in the world today, all clamoring about various things.

But the Apostle Paul is saying here that if our voices are not clear then no one will understand what we are trying to say. The sad thing is that, in the Church, there are many voices being spoken, but so many of them are not sending out the right message. If it is the right message, many times it is not clear.

I want you to see that we, as a Church, have been given the responsibility to sound the trumpet.

Not a literal trumpet, but what I’m saying is that we are to sound out the message God has given us! We are to sound it faithfully, urgently, bravely, and boldly–(that is, loudly, and clearly):

Tonight I want to cover just one aspect of this matter of sounding the trumpet. I want to begin by us looking at “The Danger Of The Trumpet Not Being Sounded:”             

Ezekiel 33:6–“But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.”

Satan is using his tactics of obscurity and deception, while the enemies of death and judgment are approaching. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4–“ But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”

We who are saved, have the responsibility to trumpet (or sound out) the message of the Gospel to those who are lost! Mark 16:15–“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”

We also have a responsibility to trumpet (or sound out) the message to those who are saved that Jesus is coming again (at any moment) and they need to live for God! Hebrews 10:25–“. . .exhorting one another: and so much the more , as ye see the day approaching.”

I.         WHY THE TRUMPET MIGHT NOT BE SOUNDED!

The reasons why the trumpet might not be sounded back in Biblical times are some of the same reasons why those who should be sounding out the trumpet today aren’t doing it:

            A         The Watchman Might Be Deceived! (Ephesians 5:1-11; 4:11-15)

            B         The Watchman Might Be Dim-sighted! (i.e. poor vision!) (2 Peter 1:3-9)

Revelation 3:17–“Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.”

            C.        The Watchman Might Be Dim-witted! (i.e. unwise, stupid!)

                        (Ephesians 5:15-17)

Colossians 4:5–“Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.”

            D.        The Watchman Might Be Drowsy Or Daydreaming! (i.e. asleep or not alert!)

Romans 13:11– “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.”

1 Corinthians 15:34–“Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.”

1 Thessalonians 5:6-8–“Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.”

            E.        The Watchman Might Be A Dawdler! (i.e. someone who wastes time on unimportant things or is idle.) (Proverbs 24:30-34)

Proverbs 19:15–“Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.”

Ezekiel 16:49–“Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.”

                        Romans 12:11–“Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;”

                        Hebrews 6:10-12

            F.        The Watchman Might Be Distracted!

Luke 21:34–“And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.”

Luke 8:14–“And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.”

            G.       The Watchman Might Be Disabled!

1 Peter 5:8–“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”

WHY THE TRUMPET MIGHT NOT BE SOUNDED.

(Deceived, Dim-Sighted, Dim-Witted, Drowsy or Daydreaming, Dawdler, Distracted, Disabled.)

II.       WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE TRUMPET IS NOT SOUNDED. (Ezekiel 33:6)

Ezekiel 33:6–“But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.”

            A.        The People Who Need Warning Are Not Warned!

                        1.         Lost Sinners Are Not Warned To Flee From The Wrath To Come!

                        2.         Saved Sinners Are Not Directed To Live For The Lord!

            B.        The People Who Need Warning Die In Their Iniquity!

John 3:18–“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

            C.        The Watchman Bears Responsibility Before God!

1 Corinthians 9:16-17–“For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! 17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.”

1 Corinthians 4:1-2–“Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”

2 Corinthians 5:10–“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”

Conclusion

Just as the angels heralded the good news of the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, we must herald the good news of His death for our sin, of His burial, and of His resurrection!

We must warn them that death is approaching! The coming of the LORD is approaching!

Judgment is approaching!

Hebrews 9:27-28–“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”

We need to be faithful to sound the trumpet! Are you sounding the trumpet?

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NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!