INTRODUCTION: Shubal Stearns was saved under the preaching of George Whitefield and several years later became a Baptist by conviction. Stearns left Connecticut and traveled south in the 1750’s and finally settled in Sandy Creek, NC, in 1755. The church he founded there started with 16 members and quickly grew to over 600. Then, just about as quickly, the church went back down to 16 and Shubal Stearns died with a tiny congregation in 1771. Just as quickly, he was forgotten. But his deeds speak for themselves. About 125 preachers came out of the Sandy Creek Baptist Church. These men started churches that started churches. By 1800, it is estimated that approximately 1,000 churches came from Sandy Creek. Shubal Stearns did not leave behind written works or a large congregation, but his life counted for much more than is known today.

Abel lived about 6,000 years ago. He did not leave behind any books. In fact, we do not have a single quotation from his lips. Yet, God gives testimony that he being dead yet speaks.

1. DEEDS OF FAITH – “By faith Abel”
1. Required the Word of God (Romans 10:17So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
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2. Included Teaching on a Blood Sacrifice (Genesis 3:7-8 [7] And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. [8] And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
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3. Illustration: Man who preached when Spurgeon got saved
2. DEEDS OF SACRIFICE – “offered unto God a…sacrifice”
1. He Offered of His Flock of Sheep (Genesis 4:1-4 [1] And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. [2] And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. [3] And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. [4] And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
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1. He offered the life of a lamb
2. He offered the blood of a clean animal (Leviticus 17:11For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.
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2. He Pointed to the Lamb of God (John 1:29The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
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3.  DEEDS OF EXCELLENCE – “a more excellent sacrifice”
1. He Offered the Firstlings of His Flock (Genesis 4:4And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
   See All...; Matthew 6:33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
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2. He Offered the Fat of His Flock (Genesis 4:4And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
   See All...; Leviticus 3:16And the priest shall burn them upon the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire for a sweet savour: all the fat is the LORD's.
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3. Illustration: Christ did all things well (Mark 7:37And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.
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4. DEEDS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS – “obtained witness that he was righteous”
1. As From Righteous Abel (Matthew 23:35That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
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2. A Natural Outcome of Faith (Titus 3:5-8 [5] Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; [6] Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; [7] That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. [8] This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
   See All...; Galatians 5:6For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
   See All...; 1 Thessalonians 1:3Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
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3. Illustration: Job maintained his integrity (Job 2:3And 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.
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5. DEEDS APPROVED BY GOD – “God testifying of his gifts”
1. Respect to Abel and to his Offering (Genesis 4:4And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
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2. The Need to be Approved by God (2 Timothy 2:15Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
   See All...; 2 Corinthians 10:18For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.
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3. Illustration: We seek the Saviour’s “Well done” (Matthew 25:21His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
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6. DEEDS WORTH DYING FOR – “he being dead”
1. He Died Because of his Righteousness (Genesis 4:8And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
   See All...; 1 John 3:12Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
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2. We Suffer Because of our Righteousness (2 Timothy 3:12Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
   See All...; John 15:19-21 [19] If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. [20] Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. [21] But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.
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3. Illustration: David Brainard and many other missionaries
7. DEEDS THAT KEEP SPEAKING – “yet speaketh”
1. The Voice That Cries From the Ground (Genesis 4:9-10 [9] And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? [10] And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.
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2. The Dead Who Continues to Speak (Hebrews 11:4By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
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3. Illustration: Mom and Dad and their descendents

CONCLUSION: Proverbs 9:1Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:
See All... speaks of the house that wisdom builds. It is built stone upon stone over a period of time. Though changes come with decisions, it takes much more than a quick and easy commitment to live a life for Christ. What do your deeds say? What would you like them to say?