HE TAKETH AWAY THE FIRST, THAT HE MAY

-It has been said, that the most difficult instrument to play is "second fiddle."

-Who remembers the name of the vice-president under George Washington or Abraham Lincoln?

-Or who remembers the name of Paul Revere’s horse?

-In a world afflicted by the passion of winning, since no one remembers who finished second,

it is important to see that the Scripture abounds with truths regarding "second things."

-God used Able and not Cain.

-God used Jacob and not Esau.

-The Ten Commandments were given twice.

-The Tabernacle in Exodus was the second tent used.

-The Word of the Lord came the second time to Jonah.

-Jesus cleansed the Temple twice in His ministry during His ministry.

-God gave many a second chance in this life in order to do right, Adam and Eve, Abraham, Jacob,

Jonah, Peter and many others.

-I want to speak to you this morning on the "First Rate Importance of Second Things"

A. Our message is about The Man, the "Second Man" 1 Cor. 15:47-

47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.

1. Part of the world’s problem, is the deifying of the "first man."

2. We hear too much about the "rights of man."

B. Our message is about the "second birth", and not the first birth. Jn. 3:3-5

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

C. Our Lord gives a second chance to serve Him. 2 Tim. 4:11

11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.

A. Involvement demands relationships.

1. In order to do the Lord’s work, we will have to be involved with others, which is a

good thing.

B. Second things of social relationships include:

1. The second commandment--Matt. 22:36-39

36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

2. The second cheek--Matt. 5:39

39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

3. The second mile--Matt. 5:41

41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

A. The Second Coming--Acts 1:11

11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

B. The Second Death--Rev. 20:14

14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

--Second things are second only in terms of their occurrence and not of their importance.

--Don’t deify the first man, deify the second man, Jesus Christ.

--Have you experienced the second birth?

--Have you given up all of your rights to Jesus Christ?

--Have you failed the Lord and need a second chance?

--Do you love your neighbor as yourself?

--Do you turn the second cheek?

--Will you go the second mile?

--Will you be with Jesus at His Second Coming to this earth?

--Are you headed for that second death without Jesus as your Saviour?