MUST WE?

What do the Scriptures mean when they speak of things that must be done or must happen?

I. THE MUST OF PHYSICAL NECESSITY.

A. A route that must be traveled.
1. John 4:1-4 When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and
baptized more disciples than John, (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,) He left
Judaea, and departed again into Galilee. And he must needs go through Samaria.
From Judaea north, He traveled through Samaria in order to get to Galilee.

II. THE MUST OF COMMITMENT.

A. A spiritual necessity, similar to a physical necessity.
1. Acts 9:16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.
The Lord in a vision – to Ananias.

2. Acts 14:21-22 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they
returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, Confirming the souls of the disciples, and
exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the
kingdom of God.

B. Determination to do as God desires.

1. Acts 18:18-21
18 And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence
into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.
19 And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with
the Jews.
20 When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not;
21 But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will
return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.

2. Acts 19:18-21
18 And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.
19 Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men:
and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.
20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
21 After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and
Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.

3. Acts 23:10-11 And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should
have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from
among them, and to bring him into the castle. And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said,
Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at
Rome.

4. Rev 10:11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and
tongues, and kings.
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III. THE CONDITIONAL MUST.

A. That which is required in order to achieve a desired goal. (Salvation)
1. John 3:3-7
3 Jesus answered and said unto him (Nicodemus), 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.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

2. Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given
among men, whereby we must be saved.

3. Acts 9:6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord
said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
a. Acts 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on
the name of the Lord.

4. Acts 16:27-30
27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his
sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
a. Acts 16:31-33 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy
house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took
them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his,
straightway.

B. That which is required to please God.

1. Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe
that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

C. That which is required to serve God in a particular capacity.

1. 1 Tim 3:2-11
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to
hospitality, apt to teach;
3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
5(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of
the devil.
8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
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11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

2. 2 Tim 2:24-26
24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the
acknowledging of the truth;
26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

IV. THE DEFINITE MUST. IT WILL HAPPEN.

A. This is God’s plan. This is what will be.
1. Luke 2:49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my
Father's business?

2. Luke 22:37 For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was
reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.

3. John 3:14-15 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be
lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

4. John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease. (John the Baptizer)

5. Heb 9:16-17 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For
a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

6. Acts 17:2-3 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with
them out of the scriptures, Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again
from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.

7. Rev 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I
heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee
things which must be hereafter.

8. 2 Cor 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive
the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Invitation: Hear, Believe, Repent, Confess Christ as the Son of God, Be Immersed for the remission of
sins, and then grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, remaining faithful until death.
If you are a Christian and have sinned publicly, then you are invited to remove your
separation from God by public repentance so that prayers can be offered with you and for you.