• Are You Going To The Dogs?

• Usually, used as an expression of frustration and disgust.
• How about going to them for examples?

• Introduction
• What biblical principles can we learn from a dog you ask?
• Those of us who are dog “lovers”, will tell you that there are several Bible principles we can learn from our canine companions by the characteristics they display toward us humans.
• In this sermon, let us look at ten characteristics of the family dog and see what biblical principles we can learn from them.
• These are only general truths. Some dogs are abused and do not respond in the same way as those dogs that are taken care of.

• Dogs Are Faithful
• There have been dogs that have been physically (and mentally) abused and mistreated, yet remain faithful to their masters.
• We as Christians have a Master that we must be faithful to even though there will be times when we will (as the dog) have to endure physical or mental abuse from our fellow man because of Him.
• Our Master indicated such when He said, “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 10:22).
• Christ states through John that we will have to endure trials and tribulations but if we are “faithful unto death”, our Master will give us “a crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).
• Let us therefore learn from the common dog the biblical principle of faithfulness.

• Dogs Are Obedient
• When young dogs are properly trained, they are fully obedient to the commands their master gives them.
• But, honestly, some dogs behave like cats.
• In like manner Christians, when properly trained in Bible teaching, should be fully obedient to the commands of the Master.
• John 14:15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments”.
• John 15:10,14 “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love”.
• 1 John 2:3-5 “And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, ‘I have come to know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him:”
• 1 John 3:22-24 “and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. And the one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him, And we know by this that he abides in us, by the Spirit who He has given us”.

• Dogs Are Loving
• Dogs are extremely loving even to the point of giving their life in order to save their master’s life.
• Stories have been repeatedly told of loving dogs giving their lives in rescuing their masters from certain death (i.e., drowning, freezing to death in extreme temperatures, heart attacks, attacks from other animals, violent people, etc.).
• As loving servants of Christ, we have to be willing to give up our life for our Master.
• Matthew 16:24-25 “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it”.
• Because our Master was willing to give His life for ours.
• John 10:11 “I am the Good Shepherd; the Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep”.
• John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends”.
• Romans 5:7-8 “For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare event to die. But God demonstrates his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”.
• Ephesians 5:2 “and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma”.
• 1 John 3:16 “We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren”.

• Dogs Are Trusting
• Dogs trust their masters implicitly!
• They trust that they will provide for their every need.
• God’s Word teaches that our heavenly Father (our Master) will provide our every need if we will only trust Him.
• Matthew 6:24-34 Tells us that God will supply all our needs.
• Philippians 4:19 “And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus’.
• Job 13:15 “Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. Nevertheless I will argue my ways before Him”.
• Psalm 18:2 “The Lord is my Rock and my Fortress and my Deliverer, My God, my Rock, in whom I take refuge, My Shield and the Horn of my salvation, my Stronghold”.
• Isaiah 12:2 “Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For the Lord God is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation”.

• Dogs Are Helpful
• Properly trained dogs can help mentally and physically challenged people carry on normal everyday activities.
• They have a sense to know something is not right with a person or a situation.
• The Psalmist declares that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1) and because of His help “we will not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea” (Psalm 46:2).
• Because of God’s help in our troubled lives, we should be willing to help others.
• Acts 2:45 “and they began selling their property and possessions, and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need”.
• Acts 4:34-35 “For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales, and lay them at the apostles feet; and they would be distributed to each, as any had need”.
• Philippians 4:3 “Indeed true comrade, I ask you also to help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel together with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life”.

• Dogs Are Dependable
• Dogs are always there when you need them (unlike human beings!).
• In like manner, God is always there when we need Him!
• Our God is dependable!
• Genesis 28:15 “And behold, I am with you, and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you”.
• Matthew 28:20 “teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age”.
• Hebrews 13:5 “Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said ‘I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you’.”
• Are we dependable to God?

• Dogs Are Protective
• When their master is being attacked by an individual or animal bent on doing bodily harm to them, dogs are extremely protective of their master and immediately come to their aid.
• However, I must admit that some dogs fit more in the chicken family at times like this.
• As faithful followers of our Master (Christ), we should be willing to protect the truth of the gospel at any cost.
• Acts 4:18-20 “And when they had summoned them they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, ‘Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking what we have seen and heart’.”
• Acts 5:28-29 “saying, ‘We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us’. But Peter and the apostles answered and said, ‘We must obey God rather than men’.”
• Acts 7:51-60 --Stephen stoned for telling the truth.
• 1 Timothy 6:1 “Let all who are under the yoke as slaves regard their own masters as worthy of all honor so that the name of God and our doctrine may not be spoken against.”
• 2 Timothy 1:13 “Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus”.
• Titus 1:9 “holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, that he may be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.”
• Jude 1:3 “…contend earnestly for the faith once for all delivered to the saints”.

• (Most) Dogs Are Friendly
• Dogs are usually friendly toward all people unless trained otherwise.
• They display a “friendly” disposition when we arrive home from work, play with them and certainly when we feed them!
• In order for us as Christians to win others for Christ, we must demonstrate friendliness toward others.
• Our Lord was “a friend of publicans and sinners” (Matthew 11:19) because He knew they needed spiritual help and healing from sin.
• Matthew 9:10-13 “And it happened that as He was reclining at the table in the house, behold many tax-gatherers and sinners came and were dining with Jesus and ;His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples ‘Why is your Teacher eating with the tax-gatherers and sinners?’ But when He heard this, He said, ’It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick, But go and learn what this means, I desire compassion, and not sacrifice, for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners”.

• Dogs Are Gentle
• As dogs usually display the characteristic of gentleness in the demeanor toward their masters, we as Christians should display the same characteristic toward our fellow man.
• Ephesians 6:5 “Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ;”
• Titus 3:2 to malign no one, to be uncontentious, gentle, showing every consideration for all men”.
• James 3:17 “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.”
• 1 Peter 2:18 “Servants be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable”.

• Dogs Are Kind
• Well trained dogs are usually kind not only to their masters but to their whole human family and friends as well.
• In fact, these very huge dogs seem to really enjoy carrying children on their backs!
• As Christians, we are admonished to be kind to our fellow man.
• Ephesians 4:32 “And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you”.
• Luke 6:35 “But love your enemies, and do good and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men”.

• Conclusion
• Let us be found striving to possess every characteristic that “man’s best friend” possesses as we have enumerated in this sermon.
• If we will incorporate these biblical principles and characteristics into our everyday lives, we will not only win more souls for our Master, but will bring more honor and glory to Him.
• Matthew 5:14-16 So, let your light shine.
• John 15:8 Glorify our Heavenly Father.
• Philippians 1:11 All to the praise and glory of God.

By Carey Scott from an outline by unknown

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