By E. L. Thornton
Sermon 22
(1 Ki 21:1) “And it came to pass after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near unto my house: and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it; or, if it seem good to thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money. And Naboth said to Ahab, The LORD forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee.”
We were riding around seeing the country, and became disoriented, somewhere between here and Oakdale. I thought that I would just keep driving and we would eventually come to something that I would recognize. We finally came out on the highway at Oakdale. But in driving in the country side we past a house that had many objects all around it. Now, I didn’t see an item that I would have wanted, but it was apparent that someone wanted the things that this family had, for in the front yard there was a large sign that read “NOTHING FOR SALE.”
This is something you don’t see very often, a sign placed in the yard, “not for sale.” As a general rule, if the price is right, we will sale.
I took this article out of a publication recently. It’s entitled “Everything Has Its Price,” and in this clipping it says that Richard Donley, author of book by same name, spent months ferreting out the cost of hundreds of everyday and extraordinary things, from a 17th century suit of armor ($80,000) to an armed body guard ($3,000 per day).
So if you’ve ever wondered what a few dollars will buy you, here’s a good list of things.
Night-vision goggles, $5,850.
Private tennis lesson with Billie Jean King, $15,000.
A roller coaster, $8 Million.
Full-page ad New York Times, $66,528.
Thirty-second commercial on prime time TV, $310,000.
Name in lights in Times Square, for 30 seconds, $350.
48-passenger submarine, $3.5 million.
One tire for a Boeing 747, $3,962.
A traffic light, $270.
Automatic teller machine, $16,000
A pebble from the moon, $147,000.
Elvis impersonator, $500.
Fire-works display by Grucci Brothers, $17,000.
I have a friend who placed an ad in the classifieds to sale his automobile. He read the ad to see if it was right. He began to think about his Buick, it was in good condition, low mileage, nice paint, loaded, air, electric windows and six way electric seat, climate control, new brake job. After reading his ad he said, “why do I want to want to sell this car,” so he called the news paper and had his ad removed.
I’ve never had anything that people wanted so bad that they would try to buy it. I’ve never had to place a sign in my yard “NOT FOR SALE.” But recently this fellow has been stopping by my house and he is becoming a nuisance, an aggravation, an irritation, to me. In fact he stops every day to see if I have placed a price on the object of his concern, and I’m not sure a “NOT FOR SALE” sign would discourage him. But I have made up my mind, I will not sale. For there are some things in my possession, that Satan just as well make up his mind to, they are not for sale. Richard Donley, author of “Everything Has It’s Price,” I beg to differ with you. There are some things that cannot be bought.
There are somethings in the text that I would like for you to notice. Naboth’s vineyard was his inheritance. It may not have been the most well groomed vineyard on the block, nor the biggest vineyard on the block. It may not have been the most productive, nor the most expensive vineyard in town. But it was his inheritance
An inheritance is a treasure, maybe to just the person that received it, but still a treasure. It was treasured by Naboth, for he said, “God forbid that I should sell my inheritance.”
Every time the devil come knocking on my door, offering me the sell-out price, I can’t help but remember my old daddy saying, while pointing to us four boys, talking to doctors and nurses, “these are my boys and they are all preachers.” Devil there’s no use you knocking on my door, you don’t have the sell-out price. It’s my inheritance and it’s a treasure.
I have, in my collection of books, an original set of “Hands Full On Purpose,” which my mother gave to me, which was my daddy’s. That set of books can be purchased for about $50.00 from a book store. But my set is invaluable, priceless, because they are a treasure, an inheritance.
But my daddy and mother help put something in me that is much more valuable than a set of books, and it is a treasure. (1 Peter 1:3-5) “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
We have some Pentecostals that will be like Esau, they will sell out for a mess. The devil comes along and offers them a little glitter and they’re gone. The indulging and the unrestrained nature of man in these last days has man in trouble with God. The church has sent the devil a strange message, and that is, that we can be bought. Because of some that failed to get a foundation under them, because of some that refused to grow in the word, because of some that wouldn’t let go of the world, Satan thinks that every one has a price. Such was the case when Satan talked to God about Job.
(Job 2:3-10) “And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause. And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life. So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes. Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.”
But when Satan started messing with Job he made the discovery that there are some that have a settled direction, that have a made up mind, that have their prerogatives straighten out, those that have the priorities of life thought through. Satan may get some to sell out but we serve notice on him we’re not for sale.
There are some properties that Ahab can buy, but not Naboth’s vineyard. He can buy Mr. Unconcern’s vineyard, but not Naboth’s vineyard. He can buy Mr. Unfaithful’s vineyard, but not Naboth’s vineyard. He can buy Mr. Slothful’s vineyard, but not Naboth’s vineyard. He can buy Mr. Insensitive’s vineyard, but not Naboth’s vineyard. He can buy Mr. Careless’ vineyard, but not Naboth’s vineyard. He can buy Mr. Faultfinder’s vineyard, but not Naboth’s vineyard.
The only way to get Naboth’s vineyard is get rid of Naboth. Some people have the tenacity, the perseverance, the resolution, the fortitude, the steadfastness, and just plain old spunk, to hold on come hell or high water. Not for sale.
I. OUR PENTECOSTAL HOLINESS IS NOT FOR SALE:
Perpetuated by the grace of God, fabricated by the love of God, directed by the will of God, and equated with God’s own blood, the church stands tall and far above the world in holiness, “which without no man shall see God.”
The church was born in the fires of persecution, tyranny, suppression, extermination, exile, and expulsion, because they were different. Different in belief, different in life styles, and beyond the suspicion of the world. They were people that left the world behind and gave all, yes I said all, to the Lord Jesus Christ. They lived Godly in this present world.
I believe there are folk in the church today, even if everybody else started doing it, they wouldn’t bend and they wouldn’t bow, their holiness is not for sale. They take the word of God at face value and believe that if God said it he meant it.
As early as I Chro. 16:29 God loved holiness. “Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.”
Ps. 93:5 “Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, for ever.”
Isa 35:8 “And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.”
Mal 2:11 “Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god.”
Heb. 12:14 “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:”
Pentecostal holiness is not for sale.
II. OUR PENTECOSTAL DOCTRINE IS NOT FOR SALE:
Our doctrine of one God is correct.
Our doctrine of Jesus name is correct.
Our doctrine of speaking with tongues is correct.
III. OUR PENTECOSTAL WORSHIP IS NOT FOR SALE:
This New Testament Church came in with a noise and a shout and I believe it’s going out with a shout.
Ted Malone, whose radio show came on early in the morning, told of the Idaho shepherd who wrote: “Will you, on your broadcast, strike the note ‘A’? I’m a sheepherder way out here on a ranch, far away from a piano. The only comfort I have is my old violin. It’s all out of tune. Would you strike ‘A’ so that I might get in tune?”
Malone honored the request. Later he received a “thank you” note from the distant shepherd saying, “Now I’m in tune.”
There a many things in life that draws us out of tune, but one of the purposes and responsibilities of personal and public worship is to enable the aspirant to keep tuned to the Great Shepherd. One of the joys of the Christian life is to help others recapture the missing note! You can recapture a missing note in your life with worship.
Satan would like nothing greater than to stop us from worshipping God. You can clap your hands at a concert until they’re blue and he don’t care, but clap your hands at church for Jesus and he’ll make you tired and unconcern. Scream and hollow at the rodeo, but scream and hollow at church and see what happens.
But I serve notice on the devil, our Pentecostal worship is not for sale.
John 4:21-24 “Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
Acts 24:12 “And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city: Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me. But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:”
You can be sure that Paul’s thoughts went to a mid-night prison cell when he and Silas sang. They worshipped and received deliverance.
(Psa 100:1-5) “Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”
Our Pentecostal worship is not for sale.
(The End)
