OVERCOMING ADVERSITIES: THE LAW OF LAW ENFORCEMENT PASTOR ALTON TRIMBLE SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2016 The Law of Law Enforcement states that every law must have enforcement. I. PAUL S LIFE IS A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF A LIFE OF FAITH BUILT ON KNOWLEDGE OF GOD. PHILIPPIANS 4:12-13 (NKJV) I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. II CORINTHIANS 4:7-10 (NKJV) But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. II. Knowledge from God through experience prepares us for practical application of law enforcement. 1. PREPARED ISRAEL TO SYMPATHIZE WITH STRANGERS. EXODUS 23:9 (NKJV) Also you shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the heart of a stranger, because you were strangers in the land of Egypt. 2. MARK 5 HAS THREE EXAMPLES OF DIVINELY INSPIRED EXPERIENCE. a. Verse 1-20: Prepared the demoniac to witness. MARK 5:1-20 (NKJV) b. Verse 25-34: Woman with issue of blood MARK 5:25-34 (NKJV) Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, 26 and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. 28 For she said, If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well. 29 Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. 30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, Who touched My clothes? 31 But His disciples said to Him, You see the multitude thronging
You, and You say, Who touched Me? 32 And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. 33 But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. 34 And He said to her, Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction. c. Verse 21-24 and 35-43: Jarius daughter raised from the dead MARK 5:21-24; 35-43 (NKJV) Now when Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a great multitude gathered to Him; and He was by the sea. 22 And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet 23 and begged Him earnestly, saying, My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live. 24 So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him. 35 While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue s house who said, Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further? 36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, Do not be afraid; only believe. 37 And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James. 38 Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly. 39 When He came in, He said to them, Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping. 40 And they ridiculed Him. But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying. 41 Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, Talitha, cumi, which is translated, Little girl, I say to you, arise. 42 Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement. 43 But He commanded them strictly that no one should know it, and said that something should be given her to eat. 3. CHRIST S MESSAGE WAS GROUNDED IN EXPERIENCE. JOHN 3:10-11 (NKJV) Jesus answered and said to him, Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? 11 Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. 4. PREPARED THE BLIND MAN TO TESTIFY. JOHN 9:25 (NKJV) He answered and said, Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see. 5. PREPARED PAUL FOR A MINISTRY OF COMFORT. 2 P a g e
II CORINTHIANS 1:4 (NKJV) Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 6. PREPARED THE APOSTLES TO SPEAK WITH AUTHORITY. II PETER 1:16 (NKJV) For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 7. PREPARES US TO WALK IN FREEDOM. JOHN 8:31-32 (NKJV) Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. III. SO WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT CAN BE KNOWN ACCORDNG TO GOD S WORD? 1. That we will exchange our own tents for our buildings. II CORINTHIANS 5:1 (NKJV) For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2. That my Redeemer lives. JOB 19:25 (NKJV) For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; 3. That we will not be shamed. ISAIAH 50:7 (NKJV) For the Lord GOD will help Me; therefore I will not be disgraced; therefore I have set My face like a flint, and I know that I will not be ashamed. 4. That Christ is who He says He is. JOHN 4:42 (NKJV) Then they said to the woman, Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world. 5. That all things work to our good. ROMANS 8:28 (NKJV) And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 3 P a g e
6. That I have believed the right one. II TIMOTHY 1:12 (NKJV) For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. 7. That I ll be like Him. I JOHN 3:2 (NKJV) Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 8. That I ve changed. I JOHN 3:14 (NKJV) We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. 9. That He lives in me. I JOHN 3:24 (NKJV) Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. PHILIPPIANS 4:12-13 (NKJV) I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. LUKE 12:12 (NKJV) For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say. JOHN 14:26d He will teach you all things I CORINTHIANS 2:13 (NKJV) These things we also speak, not in words which man s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW OR DO TO ENFORCE SPIRITUAL LAWS? 1. Know that hyper focus of personal inventory is a cul-de-sac that takes you nowhere. PROVERBS 3:5-6 (NKJV) Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. 4 P a g e
ROMANS 12:3 (NKJV) For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 2. You must be established in the foundational biblical truths of the Bible. II PETER 1:1-21 (NKJV) a. The biblical truths related to acquiring knowledge. Verse 1-4: Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: 2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. b. The biblical truths of addition. Verse 5-10: But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; II Peter 1:8 (NKJV) For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. c. Its importance is seen in that this is among the last of Peter s instruction before his death. II Peter 1:12-15 (NKJV) For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. 13 Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, 14 knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. 15 Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease. 5 P a g e
3. You must know that you have been predestined to Christlikeness, are a brother of Christ, called of God, justified by God and glorified. ROMANS 8:28-30 (NKJV) And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. 4. You must know that enforce spiritual law is enforcing God s will and not your own. PHILIPPIANS 3:12 (NKJV) Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 6 P a g e