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TEXT: PSALMS 118:8 SLIDE #1
Introduction:
A.There is an old general truth which reads---
“Good, better, best; never let it rest till your good is better,
and your better is best.” (Read again) SLIDE #2
B.This will introduce the subject “IT IS BETTER”.
1. Definition of BETTER: “to surpass in excellence exceed
or excel.”
I. Our text this morning: Psalms 118:8 “it is better to
trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.”
A.Man is feeble, ignorant, fickle, and unpredictable; it is
better to trust in the Lord.
B.Man is sinful.
1 John 1:8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive
ourselves and the truth is not in us. SLIDE #3
C.Let’s consider these eternal truths.
SLIDE #4 (3 VERSES)
Jeremiah 10:23 23
I know, O LORD, that a man's life is not
his own; it is not for man to direct his steps.
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Proverbs 3:5 5
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and
lean not on your own understanding;
Romans 3:4 4Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a
liar. As it is written: "So that you may be proved right when
you speak and prevail when you judge."
D. We must turn to the Lord
SLIDE #5 John 6:63-68 63
It is the Spirit who gives life;
the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are
spirit, and they are life. 64
But there are some of you who
do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who
they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him.
65
And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one
can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My
Father.”
66
From that time many of His disciples went back and
walked with Him no more. 67 Then Jesus said to the twelve,
“Do you also want to go away?”
68
But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we
go? You have the words of eternal life.
II.Compliments, verses rebuke
Ecclesiastes 7:5-6 SLIDE #6
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It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise
Than for a man to hear the song of fools.
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For like the crackling of thorns under a pot,
So is the laughter of the fool.
This also is vanity.
A.We prefer compliments, but oftentimes rebuke is more
needful. “The rebuke of the wise, though it may hurt, it
can lead to moral improvement; but the song of fools,
though they may afford some passing entertainment, are
without worth.
III. Matthew 18:8 “It is better to enter into life. 8
“If your
hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it
from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or
maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to
be cast into the everlasting fire. SLIDE #7
A.Christ uses this figure of speech to show how we
must deny our selfish and proud desires.
B.Paul says :
Colossians 3:5 Therefore put to death your
members which are on the earth: fornication,
uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness,
which is idolatry. SLIDE #8
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SLIDE #9
NOTHING SHOULD TAKE THE PLACE OF GOD
“If an object as dear as the right eye, and
useful as the right hand, lead you into sin,
that object, however dear, you are to part
from it.”
C.Anything which interferes with Christ and his church.
Matthew 6:33 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His
righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
SLIDE #10
IV. Ecclesiastes 5:5 It is better to keep a vow 5
Better not to vow than to vow and not pay. SLIDE
#11 (2 VERSES)
A.Promises – either with God or Man.
B.Consider vows when you were baptized – Have you
kept those promises or your marriage vows?
C.The Bible says in:
V. Proverbs 21:19 19
Better to dwell in the
wilderness, Than with a contentious and angry
woman.
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The old saying:
IF MAMA AIN’T HAPPY NO ONES HAPPY
A.The same principle of life is also true of man.
B.The bible says-
Proverbs 19:13 13
A foolish son is the ruin of his
father, And the contentions of a wife are a continual
dripping. SLIDE #12
C.A nagging individual is like a dripping faucet.
D. A man can have no greater asset than a good wife.
Proverbs 18:22 22
He who finds a wife finds a good
thing, and obtains favor from the LORD. SLIDE #13
My wife Mary has been such a asset to me, she has always
been supportive of me no matter how dumb I got. She is
my best friend my worse critic, and a loving wife. She is the
reason I am a member of the LORDS Church. She has
always loved me even when I wasn’t very lovable even
when I didn’t deserve it.
VI. “Its better to have a good name” WHATS IN A NAME?
A. Name- The title by which any person or thing is
known.
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B. My dad died when I was 13 my sister was 8, my
mother deserted us and move in with our future
step dad. They were both alcoholics. My mother
came to the house once a week with groceries and
lunch money for school. I raised my little sister and
myself until 16 when my mother and step dad
move back in. The reason I tell this story is that my
sister and I had something instill in us that no
matter what happened we did not want to bring
shame on the family name. We made excuses for
our mother not being present.
B. Good – Possessing attractive qualities.
Ecclesiastes 7:1 1
A good name is better than
precious ointment, And the day of death than the
day of one’s birth; SLIDE #14
1. To have a good name would mean that your
name stands high- you are a person with a
good reputation.
On that snack route I do my boss told me that the manager
of the one stop call him to have him move the snack machine
so they could re wall paper that area. And she also said, by
the way, that guy you having working for you is always
friendly and courteous. Our reputation speaks volumes any
job we have if you’re a Christian you should be happy and a
good worker.
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C. The sum total of a man is found in his name- The
mention of a name immediately suggest, influence,
reputation, and character.
1. Think of an individual’s name- What comes to mind?
a. Peter, Paul, Jesus, Abe Lincoln, and George
Washington. Just to name a few.
2. Try your own name. What do people think?
E. Cicero once said “to disregard what the world
thinks of us is not only arrogant, but
shameless.”
Conclusion:
A.It will be better to be rewarded an eternity in heaven
than to suffer the horror of hell.
B.It is better to obey now and not wait until it is too
late.
SLIDE #15 (2 VERSES)
Mark 16:16- 16
He who believes and is baptized will be
saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
Revelations 2:10 10
Do not fear any of those things which
you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw
some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you
will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I
will give you the crown of life.
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INVITATION: If you are ready to change your life for the
better, and be baptized into Christ for the remission of your
sins, this morning is the time to make that decision.
Or if you have made that decision and need the prays of the
church to live better please come.