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Isaiah 9:6-7 (KJV) For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

We often read Scripture without thinking about or meditating on what we are reading. For instance, the words “unto us” are repeated twice. Who is the “US” that the text addresses? Some would be quick to say “US means US. It is for US”. Well, that is true. But when it was originally written over 2700 years ago neither you nor I were here.

The original US was a broken people. It was for a nation that God lifted up and loved, but who turned from following Him. God addressed His nation saying:

Isaiah 1:4 (KJV) Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.

Israel was broken by sin. The nation that defeated Egypt, a world power that took over Canaan, was going to be defeated by first Assyria, then Greece, and after 700 years would in the time of the virgin Mary would be under Roman bondage. Because of sin Israel’s Temple would be built not by God’s Children but by Herod, a son of Edom, descendant of Esau. Israel would be ruled not by the rightful ruler, the Descendant of King David, but by Herod the Horrible.

Why?

Because God’s people and God’s nation got away from their God. Compromise set in. Other things began to rule God’s Israel rather than God Himself. His Word was not taken seriously. The Bible says:

Psalm 33:11-12 (ESV) The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations. 12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!

Psalm 33:18-21 (ESV) Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, 19 that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine. 20 Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. 21 For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.

God preserves His people. Israel suffered through many years of bondage to sin and death. Then one day the Promise of God was fulfilled. The Messiah came to a broken people, a sinful people, a repentant people. The promise of the Messiah was fulfilled in the Coming of Jesus Christ. Eternal God was made flesh and dwelt amongst us.

Jesus Christ is the Child Who was born, but the Son Who was given. He is not the Son Who was born, for Christ is Eternal God, always existent with both Father and Spirit. John declared without apology:

John 1:1-3 (KJV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

John 1:14 (KJV) And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

“The Word was MADE FLESH and dwelt among us”. The Son of God was given, not created, but clothed in flesh in the virgin’s womb. God did a new thing in Christ. The Eternal Son of God became perfect and sinless man. God became the Son of Man, not through Joseph but through the Holy Spirit of God. The Child was born of Mary, but God was never born. The Son of God became like us, but without sin.

The Government Shall Be Upon His Shoulder

When Jesus Christ came He came preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom:

Matthew 4:23 (KJV) And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom …

Mark 1:14 (KJV) Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

Jesus did not preach a quick fix salvation, but invited people into the Kingdom of God. He called people to “Follow Me” and to submit to Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The “Gospel” literally means “Good News”. The Good News is this:

God loves you
God wants His best for you
You will find His best in loving Jesus
And living as a son of God in His Kingdom

Jesus did not merely invite His followers to “come and dine” but to “come and die”. To die to the world. To submit to Him and His Word. To live in the shadow of God. To “Take up your Cross and follow Me”. The Gospel is like a glorious pearl of great price, which Jesus said..

Matthew 13:44-46 (ESV) “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

The Kingdom of God is offered to every person who will receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The government shall be upon His shoulder. Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The day will come – and I believe it will comne sooner than later – that:

Philippians 2:9-11 (ESV) Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The Government SHALL be on HIS shoulder. He is the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, The Messiah, the Ruler of all! There is no other Savior, and all other Kingdoms will one day fall to His. He is Lord!

His Name Shall Be Called Wonderful , Counsellor

Isaiah prophesies four names by which Jesus shall be declared, or literally, a Fourfold Name. The King James translators added a comma where no comma is needed. He is, literally, the Wonderful Counselor.

The word “Wonderful” (Hebrew פֶּלֶא pele’) is one of the descriptive terms of God Himself.

“Wonderful” means “to be indescribable or marvelous”. You see the word used of God in:

Who is like You among the gods, O LORD? Who is like You, majestic in holiness,awesome in praises, working wonders? (Exodus 15:11)

I shall remember the deeds of the LORD; surely I will remember Your wonders of old.(Psalm 77:11)

You are the God who works wonders; You have made known Your strength among thepeoples. (Psalm 77:14)

He wrought wonders before their fathers in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.(Psalm 78:12)

The heavens will praise Your wonders, O LORD; Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones. (Psalm 89:5)

Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul observes them. (Psalm 119:129)

O LORD, You are my God; I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name; for You haveworked wonders, plans formed along ago, with perfect faithfulness. (Isaiah 25:1)

When Jesus came and walked among us it was clear that He was no ordinary Counselor. When just 12 years old …

Luke 2:46-47 (NIV) {Mary and Joseph}found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.

and as Jesus grew the people stayed amazed at Him. The Bible often says:

Luke 4:32 (ESV) and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority.

Matthew 7:28-29 (ESV) … And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 for He was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as the Scribes.

Jesus Christ is not just another Rabbi, Prophet, or Teacher. He is Almighty God among us. He is the Wonderful Counselor, and His Words are the Words of the Creator. To heed Him is to heed God Himself.

His Name Shall Be Called The Mighty God

Our Jesus is not only our Great Shepherd, but He is our Mighty God. As Creator He controls the world that He made. In Matthew 8 alone we see Jesus:

Touched a leper, and healed him (Matthew 8:3)
Spoke, and the Centurion’s servant was cured (Matthew 8:13)
Healed Peter’s mother-in-law of a fever (Matthew 8:15)
Commanded a thousand demons to leave a poor man (Matthew 8:32)

None of these things caused His followers to speak out in amazement. But when there was a great storm on the Sea of Galilee and they were in its midst, the Bible tells us that:

Matthew 8:25-27 (ESV) And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” 26 And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”

What sort of man is this, indeed! This is no mere man. This is the Son of God, God Almighty, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. This is Jesus Christ, the Mighty God! Our Savior!

The Apostle Paul said of Christ that:

Colossians 1:15-20 (ESV) He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

His Name Shall Be Called .. The Everlasting Father

The Disciple Philip asked Jesus one day

John 14:8 (KJV) …. Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.

Jesus told Philip:

John 14:9-10 (KJV) … Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou [then], Shew us the Father? 10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

When you see Jesus you see the Father revealed. Jesus often said “I come to do the will of Him that sent Me”:

John 4:34 (ESV) Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.

John 6:38 (ESV) For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.

Luke 2:49 (NKJV) And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”

When you see Jesus, you see the Everlasting Father revealed. God loves us in spite of our foolishness and willfulness. And God sent His Son to reach out to whosoever will. To love every person who would be loved of God. To bring as many as possible to the Kingdom of God. Jesus said:

John 10:27-30 (KJV) My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any [man] pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave [them] me, is greater than all; and no [man] is able to pluck [them] out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and [my] Father are one.

There is perfect agreement between God the Father and God the Son and God the Spirit. If you call on the name of Jesus, you shall be saved. If you repent, turn, and come to Christ, your salvation is assured. Blessed be the Name of Jesus.

His Name Shall Be Called … The Prince Of Peace

The fourth part of Christ’s fourfold name is Prince of Peace. You cannot have Peace with God unless you have an ongoing relationship with Jesus Christ. The Bible declares:

Romans 5:1 (KJV) Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ

Philippians 4:7 (KJV) … the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

and one of my favorite verses:

1 Corinthians 14:33 (KJV)  For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

Where there is turmoil and confusion, Christ is not. But where Christ is, there is peace: peace with God, peace with men. When the Angels announced the birth of Christ into this world they declared:

Luke 2:10-14 (KJV)  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  [11]  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  [12]  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  [13]  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,  [14]  Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Christ came that we might have peace with God. I pray that this Christmas that you surrender to the joy of Christ, that you accept this greatest Present of all into your life. Our text ends with:

The Zeal Of The Lord Of Hosts Will Perform This

Hebrews 12:4-13 (KJV) Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. 5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. 12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; 13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

The “Best Selling” Sermons today are those sermons that focus on “God is Love”. And “God is Love”. But we today misunderstand what “Love” is.

Love is more than a feeling.
Love is an action.
Love does good even if it hurts.

Jesus said:

Matthew 5:43-48 (ESV) You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your ENEMIES and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Love is not a puddle that we fall into and crawl out of.
Love is an action, a righteous action, regardless of feeling.

You may in your heart despise a person – have an enemy – and yet as a child of God you are to do good and right to that enemy no matter how you feel. This past week God sent the blessing of rain on the just and the unjust. There were people out there that enjoyed the blessing of rain on their yards who were living in lifestyles that God condemns as sinful. There were people out there getting the blessing of rain who use the name of “Jesus Christ” as a curse, and who mock God and His Bible. How do you think that God feels about their behavior? And yet in love He still blesses them.

We love our enemy by doing good to them
regardless as to how we feel
because our Heavenly Father said so!

God expects His Children to obey. Always. God disciplines His Children when they do not obey, and God spanks His Children when they do not heed His discipline. When you were born again by faith in Christ, entered into the Family of God by the Holy Spirit of God, you became what is known as a Child of God. We who believe are Children together in His Family. Children obey the Father. And God Treats Every One Of His Children The Same Way – Like A Good Parent. We read:

Hebrews 12:5 (KJV) And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, ..

Some translations like the New International Version mistranslate the first part of this text as “have you forgotten”. That’s wrong. The text says “you have forgotten”.

In the midst of trials and of pain we often forget what
God has told us about trials and of pain.

Trials and pain do not come on us because God doesn’t love us. Trials and pain come on us because God does love us. When Job was suffering on this earth (and Job suffered as few mortals ever suffer) his friend Eliphaz came to him and truthfully said:

Job 5:17-18 (KJV) Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty: 18 For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole.

The wisest man who ever lived was Solomon, and Solomon quoted Eliphaz then added to his statement, writing:

Proverbs 3:11-12 (KJV) My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: 12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

The writer of Hebrews quotes this same truth for the third time.

Hebrews 12:5-6 (KJV) … My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord LOVETH he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he RECEIVETH.

If you are born again into the Family of God then God is your Father. Like a good Father the Almighty does two things to every one of His Children.

God CHASTENS His Children Because He Loves Us
God SCOURGES His Children Because We Are His

The word translated “Chasten” is the Greek παιδεύω paideuō which means “to train, correct, or discipline a child”. The word translated “Scourges” is the Greek μαστιγόω mastigoō which means “to flog or paddle, to practice corporeal or bodily punishment”.

God does two things with every one of His Children. He establishes a standard, then holds them to that standard. This is called discipline. When the child of God rejects the standard that God has set then God paddles that child. THIS IS GOOD PARENTING. Parents are to establish standards for their children, then paddle the children when the standard is not met. God does the same for every child.

1 God Disciplines Or Disciples His Children. I remember the day I went into the United States Air Force. I raised my hand with 50 other men at the Induction Center and swore my allegiance to our Country. Then we got on a bus. When it stopped at Lackland Air Force Base the meanest man I ever saw got on the bus. He proceeded to tell us that he was now our momma, our daddy, our boss, and even our God. I won’t you everything he said, but suffice it to say it was a little flowery. When we got off the bus we stood at attention, standing inside of footprints painted on the asphalt. We then marched (out of step at this point) down to the Barber for our heads to be shaved. We were given uniforms, footlockers, shown how to fold and stow our clothing, and over the next 8 weeks we were DISCIPLINED until we became fit to be in the United States Air Force. We got up at three in the morning, cleaned our barracks, and did everything TOGETHER. We were forced by DISCIPLINE to do what this Drill Instructor told us to do.

DISCIPLINE is a necessity for any organization. DISCIPLINE is necessary for a family. Many Preachers today preach a Gospel far removed from the Gospel that Christ and the Apostles taught. Salvation is certainly a gift of God, freely given, and it cannot be earned by your own works. How is a person saved? The Bible is quite clear:

Romans 10:9-13 (ESV) …. if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved”.

Salvation begins when you CONFESS with your mouth JESUS IS LORD. You confess and you believe. If He is LORD then you surrender to Him. You cannot be saved if YOU ARE LORD. You can only be saved if HE IS LORD TO YOU.

This is very important, and clears up much confusion in the Family of God. HE IS LORD. You can’t be saved if He is not LORD to you. And once He is LORD to you, your actions will show it.

Several years ago I was preaching in West Tennessee and a gentleman came forward to be saved. When he came forward I asked him what I ask everyone:

“Have you received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?”

His reply was “Yes I have”. Then I asked:

“Will you allow me to Baptize you in water?”

His reply was “No, I don’t want to be baptized”. I told him “Jesus commands you to be baptized”. His response was “I don’t want to be baptized”.

This man was not saved! The Child Of God Obeys The One Who Saved Him

Now listen, Beloved. We are saved by Grace, not by keeping the Law. But once saved by Grace we enter into the Family of God. We obey God, the One Who saved us. You are not saved by being baptized, but if you are saved you will obey the Head of the Family.

The Head of the Family has rules that He expects us as His Children to follow.
This has ALWAYS been the case.
He IS Lord In Your Heart, Or You Are NOT Saved.

A Christ Follower is called “Disciple”. Read these verses:

Matthew 5:1 (KJV) And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his DISCIPLES came unto him:

Matthew 8:23 (KJV) And when {Jesus} was entered into a ship, his DISCIPLES followed him.

Matthew 9:10 (KJV) And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his DISCIPLES.

Matthew 9:11 (KJV) And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his DISCIPLES, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?

Matthew 9:19 (KJV) And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his DISCIPLES.

Matthew 9:37 (KJV) Then saith {Jesus} unto his DISCIPLES, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;

Matthew 10:1 (KJV) And when {Jesus} had called unto him his twelve DISCIPLES, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

All of these texts are taken out of Matthew. Did you know that the word DISCIPLE (μαθητής mathētēs) is found 243 times in the New Testament, each time related to a follower of Christ? I have heard preachers say that “You are saved by Grace, but once saved CHOOSE to be a Disciple”. This is hogwash! Every one of God’s Children are under His Discipline, Disciples of God. He is Lord, and He is Head of His Family.

Isaiah 64:8 (ESV) But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.

The Fatherhood of God is tied to the great truth that He is the Potter, we are the clay. Think about that analogy for a moment. The Potter takes clay from out of the world. He presses the clay into a ball, then puts it in the middle of a spinning wheel. With His hands He forces the clay, until it becomes the vessel that it should be. This is the discipline of God.

The Apostles were DISCIPLES before they ever were Apostles. Children of God follow God. God disciplines His Children as a good Father disciplines His Family. He establishes standards, then with His hand insures we meet those standards.

Salvation is a free giftEphesians 2:8-9 (KJV) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Once saved, God disciplines usEphesians 2:10 (KJV) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

2 God Chastises Or Spanks (μαστιγόω mastigoō) His Children When We Are Disobedient.

Hebrews 12:6 (KJV) For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and SCOURGETH (μαστιγόω mastigoō) every SON whom he RECEIVETH.

Those who receive Jesus Christ as Savior are God’s Children. The Bible says:

John 1:12-13 (KJV)  But as many as received {Jesus}, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:  [13]  Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Galatians 3:26 (KJV)  For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

God chastens or paddles His Children in a variety of ways. I believe God starts with the conscience. He pushes against our conscience, making us feel out of sorts when we do that which does not honor and glorify Him. God the Holy Spirit – the Indweller of every Son of God – begins to speak to our conscience.

John 16:13 (ESV) When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

God begins just as a good Parent begins by speaking to our conscience, telling us what is right and wrong, and then confirming what He has said by His Bible, the Word of God. What the Spirit says will never depart from the witness of the Scripture.

God is patient with us, calling, guiding. But at a certain point God will go beyond the warning voice. The King James say He scourges His children. This is not pleasant. God told the Corinthian Christians who had wandered far from Him and into a cesspool of sin and selfishness:

1 Corinthians 11:27-32 (KJV)  Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.  [28]  But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.  [29]  For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.  [30]  For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.  [31]  For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.  [32]  But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

The Apostle Paul told the Corinthians “for THIS CAUSE many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep”. Sickness and disease are often ways that God addresses the disobedient child.

When Israel left Egypt, God drowned the unbelieving Egyptian army in the Red Sea.
When Israel left God, God caused them to wander 40 years until the disobedient died.

Now don’t get me wrong – not every sickness is a paddling from God, but every trial is used by God to make us more His Children. The Bible says:

1 Peter 1:3-7 (KJV)3 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, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

James 1:2-3 (ESV) Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

Not all trials are paddlings from God, but all trials do shape us

• If we belong to Jesus trials cause us to look upward to Jesus when suffer.

• Trials prove our faith as to whether it is genuine or counterfeit.

• Trials show where our love lies. Job said in the midst of terrible trial, (Job 13:15 NASB) “Though He slay me, I will hope in Him…”

• Trials show us that salvation is more than just receiving Heaven. God saves us to bring Heaven to us, not just to bring us to Heaven.

Hebrews 12:9-10 (KJV) Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

Trials bring the holiness of God to us. If we are His children, we are to be holy as He is holy. The Lord says:

1 Peter 1:13-16 (KJV) Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of {living}; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

God demands that His Children be His Children. So trials come to paddle us if necessary. But God uses every trial so that we will learn that we are to be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live. Our Heavenly Father chastens us that we might be partakers or partners in His holiness.

3 God Does Not Chastise Those Who Are NOT His Children.

Hebrews 12:6-8 (KJV) For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

Like a loving Father the Lord disciplines His Children. But those who are not His He does not discipline. No person whips another person’s children. Trials fall on everyone, whether good or evil. But trials that come to the lost are not the correction of the Father. Trials may lead the unbeliever to look up. I remember the case of the Philippian Jailer who thought all his prisoners had escaped in Acts 16. He started to kill himself when the Apostle Paul cried out:

Do yourself no harm – we are all here

This frightened man ran in to Paul and Silas and cried out “What must I do to be saved?” Trials can lead the lost to Christ. If you are tried, hear the word of Christ:

Matthew 11:28-30 (NKJV) Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

If you are a Child of God, rest in Him in the midst of trials. Search your hearts. Insure that you are not in sin. If you are, CONFESS that sin before Him. Repent. Turn. If you’re running from God, Jonah, turn before the whale swallows you. And if you are not His … come to Him. Receive Christ as your Lord and Savior today, right now! May God work in your hearts

Matthew 1:1 (KJV) The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Matthew 1:18 (KJV) Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

This is the time of year that we focus on the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. We have begun what the Church calls “Advent”. An “Advent” is the arrival of an event or a person that changes human history in a significant way. We have – in my lifetime – seen ..

The ADVENT of Television
The ADVENT of Computers
The ADVENT of the Internet
The ADVENT of Social Media
The ADVENT of the Smart Phone

Each one of these things – along with their creators – made a significant contribution (for better or for worse) to humanity. But there is one Advent that we recognize every year about this time. That fallen angel Lucifer – also known as Satan (and yes, I believe there is a Satan, for I see his handiwork every day) doesn’t want you to know about this Advent. He attacks this Advent in subtle ways. But Satan cannot overpower the significance of this Advent. It is the Greatest Advent in all of human history.

It is the ADVENT of Jesus Christ.
His ADVENT changed history and humanity forever.
This is what Christmas is about.

1 We See In Matthew Chapter 1 Verses 2-17 A History We Cannot Ignore. When people read the Bible (and few read the Bible anymore – I hope you are one of the few!) they come to passages like we find at the beginning of Matthew. They start reading:

Matthew 1:2-7 (KJV) Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren; 3 And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram; 4 And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon; 5 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; 6 And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias; 7 And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa;

They get about this far and think “What in the world? Begat? This is boring!” So they skip forward, but in so doing miss something very important.

• Why did Matthew go through such a boring list of names?

• And what does “Begat” mean?

The word “Begat” (the Greek γεννάω gennaō) is used 39 times in this text. The word means “to be fathered by or to be born of”. This is an unbroken genealogy which starts with Abraham and ends at Joseph, the earthly Stepfather of Christ. This list of names is important because it established the legal, Jewish right of Jesus Christ to be the King of the Jews, the Promised Messiah. There are TWO ROOTS to this Family Tree. Those roots are found in verse 1:

Matthew 1:1 (KJV) The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

a Abraham Is A Root Because God Made A Promise To Abraham. When God met Abraham (this is recorded in the very first Book of the Bible) the Lord promised him:

Genesis 12:1-3 (ESV) “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

God promised Abraham – a childless old man – that He would “make of you a great nation”. This meant that Abraham, a man who could NOT naturally have children would SUPERNATURALLY be given a child.

His wife Sarah – well past child bearing years – would have a child, and that child would have children that would develop into “a great nation”. But this wasn’t all of God’s promise. God told Abraham

“in you ALL the FAMILIES of the earth shall be blessed”

God promised Abraham “there will be an ADVENT through you that will impact human history”. God promised Abraham that something WORLD CHANGING would happen through Abraham. God said later in

Genesis 18:18 (ESV) … Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

The Messiah – the Savior of the world – would come through Abraham. Many have come and claimed to be Messiah’s or Saviors. There have been Mohammeds, Buddhas, Hubbards, Smiths, Russels, gods and goddesses that people have followed after. But God promised the Messiah, the One and only Savior of the world would come to us through the Lineage of Abraham, And God keeps His promises. God repeated this promise in:

Genesis 22:18 (ESV).. and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.

God is “not slack in His promises”. Though this genealogy in Matthew 1 focuses on God’s promise to the Jews, it also fulfills God’s promise to the Gentiles. The Apostle Paul declared:

Galatians 3:6-9 (KJV) …. Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

We have an Amazing God Who keeps His Promises. The Messiah would come, and His lineage could be traced through Abraham. But this is not the only Root of this blessed Tree:

b David Is A root Because God Made A Promise To The Shepherd King David.

Matthew 1:1 (KJV) The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

The Messiah would not just be descendant from Abraham, but He MUST be Descendant from the Shepherd King David. I often wondered why, of all the people on the face of the earth, why it was

to shepherds who were watching their sheep by night (Luke 2:8-14)

that the Angel of the Lord went to first on the night that Jesus came into the world. When

the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14)

wasn’t there anybody else outside at night that needed that good news? I suspect that the reason God told the shepherds first is because these people were doing the lowest and the least job. I can imagine them gathering around a campfire, cold and lonely, talking among themselves how one of their own was chosen by God to be King of Israel. Oh what a rags to riches story that would be! It would be like working in a hot sweaty factory and one of those who suffered with you was suddenly promoted to President of that Company! What a great story that would be! The David that Jesus came from is King David, the King who was Shepherd, a lowly Shepherd, until God called him. God promised David:

2 Samuel 7:8-13 (ESV) … ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. 9 And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 12 … I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

The Messiah had to come from the line of David, of the house of Judah. The Messiah would be legally entitled to be King of Israel serving on an eternal Throne. The Messiah – also called “Shiloh” (Hebrew שִׁילֹה Shiyloh)

Genesis 49:10 (NASB) “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes, And to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.

“Shiloh” means “He Whose It Is”. The throne of Judah, the throne of David would be occupied by mere mortals until “He Whose it is” would come. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the King of Israel, the Savior of the world was, is, and always will be Jesus Christ. Others are faint shadows of “He Whose it is”. Jesus Christ is the Promised Messiah. He comes from both Abraham and David, and is the fulfillment of God’s Promise!

2 God’s Promise Is Always Fulfilled, Regardless As To What Man May Do. When a school bus crashed the other week and six children were killed because of human carelessness I had people ask me:

Was this God’s intent?
Did He want those children killed?
Is God really in control?

When horrible things happen we are tempted to think that God lost control of the steering wheel. But God never loses control, even when people make bad decisions.

When things happen that we don’t understand God tells us:

Psalm 46:10 (ESV) “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

Romans 8:28 (ESV) And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.

At the end of this genealogy we read:

Matthew 1:17 (KJV)17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.

Do you see what this text is telling you? Here is a bunch of names – many of which we do not know literally from Adam – but God had a plan. Read the text again:

All the generations from Abraham to David ARE FOURTEEN GENERATIONS

and from David until the carrying away in Babylon are FOURTEEN GENERATIONS

and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are FOURTEEN GENERATIONS

This is not just some random list of names. This list is precise. It goes from fourteen to fourteen to fourteen. God is specifically in control. Every name on this list is there because God allowed it to be on the list.

Are these perfect people?
Are you kidding me?

a Consider The Life Of Isaac, The Promised Child. Abraham had this child by Sarah he was a hundred years old.

Surely this Child would be phenomenal. He was.
He was a phenomenal milksop.

He let people walk all over him. When others challenged his right to his father’s wells, Isaac just moved away and let them have them. God affirms His Covenant with Isaac in

Genesis 26:4 (ESV) I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed,

and yet just two verses later we read:

Genesis 26:6-7 (ESV) .. Isaac settled in Gerar. 7 When the men of the place asked him about his wife, he said, “She is my sister,” for he feared to say, “My wife,” thinking, “lest the men of the place should kill me because of Rebekah,” because she was attractive in appearance.

The man would not even protect his wife. Isaac was a poor parent, and he ignored the directives and prophecies of God. This led to his son Jacob to deceive his older brother Esau in order to get the blessing of his father. God would keep His promise in spite of Isaac’s shortcomings.

b Consider The Life Of Jacob, Isaac’s Younger Son. Jacob is a con man. He cons his father Isaac into blessing him instead of his older brother. But God told the mother of these two children Rebekah:

Genesis 25:23 (ESV) And the Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger.”

It was God’s intent that Jacob be the one whom the lineage of Christ would go through. Yet did God ask Jacob and his mother to deceive? No. God does not appreciate lying. The Bible tells us that there will be no liars in Heaven (Revelation 21:8). God says:

Proverbs 12:22 (ESV) Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.

God does not condone sin – but Jacob was going to be the one through Whom Messiah would come. If Rebekah and Isaac had honored God’s will then it would have happened righteously. Nonetheless, God is in control.

c Consider The Lives Of Judah And Thamar (verse 3). Jacob had twelve children, but only Judah (the KJV translators here use Judas) was to rule over these twelve. Judah was to be the Tribe of Israel where the Ruler or King came. Tamar’s husband died, and the third son of Judah was supposed to marry her. He refused to do so, so Tamar committed incest with Judah (you can read about this in Genesis 38). God does not condone sexual sin, but condemns it, but

God does not condemn the innocent Child who had nothing to do with that union.

I have heard people justify abortion in the event of rape – but why penalize the child because of the evil of the parent? All life matters. All life is valuable. All are made in the image of God!

Matthew 1:3 (KJV)3 And Judas (Judah) begat Phares (Perez) and Zara (Zerah) of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;

d Consider The Lives Of Perez and Zerah (see Genesis 38:27-29) who were twins. In the case of twins the firstborn was the one who came from the womb first. Zerah stuck his hand out first and the midwife tied a scarlet thread on his hand, but then Perez was born first.

The scarlet thread of the midwife was on Zerah,
but the Scarlet Thread of the Messiah was on Perez
God is in control, no matter what man might do

e Consider These Imperfect People And How God Used Them. I’d love to go through all of these names today, but time just doesn’t permit it. But I do want to look at just a few more names in this list of forty two men and four women.

Matthew 1:5-6 (KJV) And Salmon begat Booz (Boaz) of Rachab (Rahab); and Booz (Boaz) begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; 6 And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias (Uriah);

Salmon begat (fathered) Boaz of Rahab

Rahab was a prostitute, a woman who sold herself to others. When Israel was going to go into the Promised Land Rahab hid the spies in Jericho (see Joshua 2:1ff). Rahab believed on the God of Israel, the same God Who loves us. Rahab was saved by Grace. The Old Testament doesn’t tell us all the details, but in the New Testament we see an ex-prostitute in the lineage of the Messiah.

God saves whosoever will.
God has a purpose for whosoever will.
God loves whosoever will.
God changes whosoever will come unto Him in faith.
Boaz begat (fathered) Obed of Ruth

Ruth was descended from the Moabite people, a hated people. The Moabites originated from Lot committing incest with his eldest daughter (see Genesis 19:32-27). The Moabites tried to stop Israel from going into Canaan (see Exodus 15:15), and became one of the most hated enemies of Israel. She was a Gentile, despised, but God loved her. God loves everyone. The Apostle Peter said:

Acts 10:34-35 (ESV) “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.

God does not look at your color.
God does not look at your past.
God does not care where you came from,
Nor does He care what you think you’re worth.
God loves you, and calls you to His side.
He calls you through the Messiah, Jesus Christ our Lord!

and God will forgive. He does not condone sin, but He does forgive.

Even David Himself failed.

David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias (Uriah)

David took another man’s wife, then had that man named Uriah killed. God does not condone murder. God does not condone adultery. Yet God does not punish the innocent Solomon for his parents sins. The lineage of the Messiah continued through flawed people,

Begating and begating

But I want you to notice something interesting.

3 Joseph Did Not “Begat” Jesus. The lineage of the Messiah is traced from Abraham, through David, and up to Joseph, where we read:

Matthew 1:16 (KJV) And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

The text doesn’t follow the pattern of …

Joseph begat Jesus of Mary

It doesn’t say that. The birth of Jesus is not tied to Joseph, but to Mary. The Bible goes on to say:

Matthew 1:18 (KJV) Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, BEFORE THEY CAME TOGETHER, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

Mary and Joseph were engaged to be married. Before they came together sexually, before they “slept with one another” as people so flippantly say,

She was found with Child OF THE HOLY GHOST (Spirit)

Christ was supernaturally born. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. The Bible says that the sign of the Messiah, the Savior is that He would be born of a virgin

Isaiah 7:14 (KJV) Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Matthew 1:22-23 (KJV)22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

God would enter humanity. Every birth is a miracle, but Christ’s Advent is a double miracle. He was born of a virgin. He was born of God. God became man, not through perfect man, but the perfect came through the imperfect because God is always in control.

It is this same God that calls you to salvation.

God sent His Son into this world to be our Messiah. Jesus Christ was and is without sin,

Hebrews 7:26 (ESV) …. holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.

Jesus came to this earth to pay for our sins, and to call whosoever will, whosoever broken, whosoever will believe in Him to salvation. Jesus Christ is the Greatest Gift you can receive this Christmas. Receive Him. Believe Him. Follow Him, to the glory of God in the highest!

May God lead a lost soul to Himself through His Word and Spirit!

Hebrews 12:1-2 (KJV)  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,  [2]  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

I love this time of year. I love the Christmas Carols, the Parade, the cooler air, the trees. But I particularly like Advent and Christmas itself. Not because of presents, but because it reminds us of what Jesus Christ did for us. Christmas is a reminder. December is a reminder. Look unto Jesus and see what He did for us.

I just read another news story today about another young teen, imperfect, shy and overweight, but nonetheless created in God”s image. Bullied by those in her school several arrogant and evil young people went to social media, mocked her, made her life miserable. This young girl killed herself in front of her parents. Why wasn’t she told about Jesus? Why didn’t those in her family tell her how much God wanted to be in her life?

1 We Are Compassed About With So Great A Cloud Of Witnesses. In our text today God gives us a picture of the Olympic Games. In the ancient world you didn’t have television, nor radio, nor I-Pads, Smart Phones or Social Media. That was probably better, in my opinion, than the silly stuff we fill our minds with. As a matter off fact the common man had no access to books or Libraries as the Printing Press was not invented and all books were copied by Scribes. If you wanted entertainment you didn’t stay home or go to your bedroom. For entertainment you went to the Coliseum or the Theater. You got together with a crowd of people – and got there early if you wanted a good seat. It was a great cloud of witnesses – spectators – and you were part of that crowd if you wanted to be entertained.

God now takes the image of the Coliseum and the Olympic Games and inserts those who are His Children into the picture. WE are compassed about – surrounded – with a great cloud of witnesses. We who believe in Christ. We who are saved by Him.

God saved us by His Grace, but after salvation left us on this earth to live for Him.
And we are being watched.
Who is watching us?

a Those Elders Who Have Gone Before Are Watching Us. I have often been asked if those in Heaven can see what we are doing on earth. I used to think “Probably not”. My response was based not on what Scripture said but on what I thought. I thought “This world is a veil of tears. To see earth in its sinful misery would surely bring sadness to Heaven”. But I think now I’m wrong. I think that Heaven’s Citizens could see us, and I don’t think what they see diminishes the glory of Heaven. You see, in Heaven you see Jesus Christ ruling, sitting on the right hand of God. You hear His Voice, and you are privy to the oversight that God has on everything. Most of what brings us sadness in this life is that we do not understand, and only see tragic things from the side of tragedy. But in Heaven the Bible says:

Revelation 21:4 (ESV) {Jesus} will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.

The “former things” that frightened and hurt us are passed away in Heaven because we have direct contact with God’s hands. If we see tragedy on earth (such as we saw when a school bus was mishandled and six children died in the accident) we often say “I don’t understand that, and this hurts”. But if something like this happened and we ask why, and Jesus immediately says “Rest, my Beloved, I have a purpose even in this”, then the sadness is gone. When God is that close to us we can say with Job:

Job 13:15 (KJV) Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him …

I now believe that it is possible that those who have gone before us can see what we do on this earth. Why? Because of what the Lord tells us in this beautiful letter. Look at verse 1:

Hebrews 12:1 (KJV)  WHEREFORE seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses …

Do you see that word WHEREFORE. When you see a WHEREFORE ask yourself “What is it THERE FOR?” This is the Greek τοιγαροῦν toigaroun, and means “Consequently” or “For this reason”. Chapter 12 is tied to Chapter 11 by this word, just as two train cars are hitched together. In Chapter 11 we saw faith defined –

Hebrews 11:1-2 (KJV)  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  [2]  For by it the elders obtained a good report.

Last week we saw how the elders pleased God. These elders were listed:

Abel … Enoch … Noah … Abraham
Sarah … Isaac … Jacob … Joseph … Moses
Rahab … Gideon … Sampson
David … Jephthae … Samuel

The Lord wrote Hebrews 11:33-40 (KJV)  Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,  [34]  Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.  [35]  Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:  [36]  And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:  [37]  They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;  [38]  (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.  [39]  And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:  [40]  God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

These “elders” suffered on this earth, but are now in a better place. The “Wherefore” of this chapter tells us that they are part of this “mighty cloud of witnesses”.

The Saints in Chapter 11 who have proceeded before us into Heaven are watching us. Could this also mean that a Beloved Grandmother or Grandfather who prayed for your salvation is watching from Heaven, and cheering you on? It is possible. Since Chapter 12 tells us there is a mighty cloud of witnesses and Chapter 11 lists elders who have gone on before us I see no reason why this could not be true.

The Evangelist Billy Graham wrote:

“The Bible doesn’t clearly tell us if people in heaven are able to observe what happens on earth – although THERE ARE SOME HINTS THAT THEY DO. In the book of Hebrews, for example, the writer recalls the great men and woman of faith who have gone before us and are now in heaven. Then he adds, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses … let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Hebrews 12:1). Like spectators in an arena, he seems to suggest, they are watching and cheering us on as we seek to follow Christ.”

The Elders watch us as we run our race for Christ. If they watch, let us run looking unto Jesus.

b The Lost Watch Us As We Run Our Race. We are DAILY surrounded by a mighty cloud of witnesses who watch what we do. When Jesus walked this earth those who observed Him the closest were the lost Pharisees and Scribes. Jesus told us:

Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV) You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE BEFORE OTHERS, SO THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS AND GIVE GLORY TO YOUR FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN.

People watch what we do more than listen to what we say. Our life is to be a witness to the reality of our faith in Christ. Peter told the Church:

1 Peter 2:12 (ESV) Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

Pastor Greg Laurie wrote:

“So, how do I know if you are a Christian? How do you know if I’m one? There must be evidence. Jesus said, “By their fruits you shall know them” (Matthew 7:20). If someone examined your life, would they find any spiritual fruit—hard evidence to prove that you are a true follower of Jesus Christ? Or, let me put it another way: If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? By “evidence,” I don’t mean how many Bibles you own, or how many bumper stickers you might have on your car with Christian sayings on them. I mean hard evidence. If your family members, neighbors, and coworkers were interviewed and asked the question, “Is (your name here), in your opinion, a real Christian?” we might not be happy with the response. The only way others can tell whether you are a Christian is by your works. WHILE ALL THE GOOD WORKS IN THE WORLD WON’T SAVE A PERSON (TITUS 3:5), THEY ARE REASONABLE EVIDENCE THAT SOMEONE IS SAVED.”

The unbelieving world watches what we are doing.

I have heard unbelievers say that they went to Church but found it to be an unfriendly place where no one spoke to them. Some would reply:

Well, they are just looking for a reason to not go to Church.

Perhaps. But

they had to come to Church to be repelled from Church!

I can tell you from experience that Churches can be very unfriendly places for strangers. I recently went to a Church as an invited guest. While there, no one spoke to me but the ones who invited me. I went to several people and tried to speak to them but was coldly received. I went up to one older gentleman, put out my hand, and embarrassed, had to drop it a minute later as he ignored it.

I have preached revivals in Churches, and on the first Sunday went to Sunday School. No one showed me where to go until I chased someone down and asked “Where do I go?” When I went to class it was very chilly until I told the Teacher I was their Evangelist for the week. At that point EVERYONE got very friendly.

Now you may say “Our Church is not like this”. That may be true. But let me meddle for a minute. If we are friendly why, when we have visitors, people come up to ME and ask “What was that person’s name?” Why don’t YOU ask them their name?

When visitors come to Church they are not coming because some Law made them come. They are coming because they are lonely, or bullied, or frightened. God sent them to us. They are witnesses to us. We don’t need to judge them, we need to reach out to them. Jesus said:

John 13:34-35 (ESV) A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

Just as Jesus loved, we are to love. As our text says …

Hebrews 12:1-2 (KJV)  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, …. let us run with patience the race that is set before us,  [2]  LOOKING UNTO JESUS

Jesus is walking home one day and a crowd is following Him. He stops at the base of a Sycamore Tree, looks up, and sees a hated Tax Collector called Zacchaeus sitting in that tree.

Luke 19:5-10 (ESV) … Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” 8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

What did Zacchaeus want? He wanted love. On another day Jesus was going from Judea to Galilee He met a Samaritan woman at a well. This woman wanted love. As Jesus told her, “You have had five husbands, and the man you are with now is not your husband” (John 4:18). Like the old song says, she was looking for love in all the wrong places. Most unbelievers are going through the same thing. But Jesus loved her. He reached out to her and explained that He is the Living Water of God. This unnamed woman left that place changed because she met the Savior and was loved. People need love.

2 As We Run, Let Us Keep Looking Unto Jesus.

Hebrews 12:1-2 (KJV)  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,  [2]  Looking unto Jesus …

Running is not optional. We run because we are saved. We run to please the Lord! God tells us that we were left on this earth to run with patience the race that is set before us. We were not saved to sit, to be in the stands, but to run. The Elders are in the stands – they are not in this race with us, but they watch us. The unbelievers are in the stands, watching how we run.

We Are Called By God To RUN, Not To WATCH, SIT, or SLEEP. Running is not easy. I don’t like to run. When you run you get out of breath. You get tired. Your muscles hurt.

We are called to RUN for Jesus as we are looking unto Jesus

How did Jesus run His race? When He came to this earth:

He was born of a virgin as the Father directed (Luke 1:34-35).
He was born unwanted – there was no room at the Inn (Luke 2:7).
He had no Baby Shower – only Shepherds visited Him.
Wise Men from Babylon later came to see Him,
which caused a hateful Herod to try and kill Him,
murdering many of the babies in Bethlehem.
Joseph and Mary had to flee to Egypt to protect the toddler Jesus.
He later grew up in Nazareth, the stepson of a common man,
a Carpenter, a blue collar worker.
Jesus was rejected in His hometown and even His own family did not believe Him,
Causing the adult Jesus to move to from Nazareth to Galilee.
Jesus was despised and rejected by the religious leaders
who watched and accused Him His entire ministry.
Jesus found friends in sinners, tax collectors, and fishermen who followed Him.
Jesus did good everywhere He went, offering life to all,
but ended up rejected by all, abandoned and betrayed by His few friends.
Jesus died on a Cross between two murdering thieves,
one of which mocked Him as He struggled to breath, dying for our sins.
The Father turned His back on Jesus as He paid for our sin,
Causing Him to cry out, “My God, My God, Why have You forsaken Me.
Jesus was laid to rest in a borrowed tomb,
and is despised and rejected by most of mankind today (Isaiah 53:3).

We are to run with patience the race set before us. Jesus ran with patience His race. He never gave up, but looked beyond the moment to what would one day be a reality.

Hebrews 12:2 (KJV)  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Jesus kept going for the joy that was set before Him. What was that joy? It was your salvation. Jesus went through all that He went through not for Himself, but for you and I.

He endured the Cross.
He did not give up through the pain.
He could have cried out, and I am sure ten thousand angels would have come.
But He despised the shame.
And is set down on the right hand of the Throne of God.
Jesus sits, but His race is over. Ours continues.
And Jesus is watching us.

Hebrews 12:3-4 (KJV)  For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.  [4]  Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

Consider what Jesus went through for you, for me, for the whole world. We have not resisted unto blood striving against sin. Jesus did, but we do not. Yes, we struggle. But not as Jesus struggled. We suffer, but not as Jesus suffered.

So we run. We run patient. We do not give up, but run knowing that one day we will receive a prize. Run, blessed Children of God. Keep running while you are here, for in Heaven there is no running!

May God touch your hearts with His Word!

Deuteronomy 21:22-23 (KJV)  And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree:  [23]  His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

In our day we do not believe in punishment as God believes in punishment. In the Age of Israel God told His people that there were sins worthy of death. People who broke God’s National Laws were “stoned with stones until they were dead”. The citizens of the town were brought from their homes. A person was convicted not on circumstantial evidence, but as God said just a few chapters before:

You must not convict anyone of a crime on the testimony of only one witness. The facts of the case must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. (Deuteronomy 19:15, NLT)

The witnesses were the first ones to throw the stones, then the remainder of the citizens followed suit. Justice was sure. People saw the punishment. Nothing was done in the dark. And after the stoning the dead body was hung on a tree as a deterrent to others. It was a mute sign that said:

As he is, so shall you be, if you break His Laws

Law is necessary for a nation to be stable. People cannot just make up their own laws based on what they feel is all right. A nation based on feeling leads to chaos and anarchy. God gives us Laws and Law Enforcement for our own good. The Apostle Paul testified that:

For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. (Romans 13:4, NIV)

God gives Laws to nations to insure that chaos doesn’t rule. Where ever there is stability there is Law. Without Law, people do the most awful things. The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). To break God’s Law is to find yourself face to face with death. The person spoken of in our Deuteronomy text is a person hanging on a tree.

The person violated the national Law, the Kingdom rule.
The person deserves to hang on that tree.
The person was dead on that tree, put there for others to see.
But the person was not allowed to hang on that tree all night long.
He was cursed of God.

To fail to bury the body of the convicted that same day (and the Jews considered the setting of the sun a new day) was to bring a curse on the nation. Law and order required that sin be punished. Those worthy of death were to be put to death. Sin was not winked at, but for the stability of the nation God demanded that sin be paid for.

Though sin was to be paid for, cruelty was not allowed. The Pagan world often killed those who were guilty of capital offenses, but then hung the body up to remain until it rotted and fell from the tree. In Medieval Europe people were often hung up in cages left to slowly die.

This is not the way of God. Cruelty is not allowed. Punishment is given where deserved, but grace always accompanied even the execution of even the greatest criminal.

thou shalt in any wise bury him that day;
(for he that is hanged is accursed of God;)
that thy land be not defiled

Even though a criminal, the lowest and cruelest criminal was made in the image of God. There was a limit to what punishment should do.

1 The Tree In Deuteronomy Shows We All Need A Savior. The Law of God demanded that sin be punished. There were many sins you could commit that were not worthy of death, but the intent of the Law was to show man the glory and holiness of God. Certain sins, like sexual sins, murder, kidnapping, were considered sins that are worthy of death. Any sin that devalued the human design or objectified people (again, we are made in God’s image – Genesis 1:27) could be a sin worthy of death. Yet even in death there was dignity.

You were not to rejoice when someone committed and was punished for a sin worthy of death. They were displayed, proven dead, then removed and properly interred. The Law was not cruel.

a Sin Entered The World Because Adam Ate Fruit From The Wrong Tree. The Bible tells us:

…. sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned (Romans 5:12, ESV)

…. death came into the world through a man .. (1 Corinthians 15:21, NLT)

When God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden it was a Garden filled with Trees. There were trees of every type. In the middle of the Garden – the Bible says:

The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. (Genesis 2:9, ESV)

The “Tree of Life” was not forbidden to man. He could eat of that Tree as often as he and his wife wanted. God wants us to live. He made us to live. God loved walking in the Garden with Adam in the cool of the day having a relationship with man. God is Eternal, and He wanted us to walk with Him eternally. But God wanted us to walk with Him as He is. You see,

God is God and we are not

We are made in His Image and after His Likeness, but we will never ever be God. Therefore it is important to listen to Him, and to understand that His Law is given to us because He loves us. He knows what is best for us. So we love Him and obey Him. That is what we are supposed to do.

But Adam got mixed up.

He could have all of the Tree of Life he wanted, but was NOT to eat the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. God said “In the day you eat of it, you shall die”.

God said “in the DAY” – punishment is not delayed
God said “YOU eat” – not your wife, but YOU Adam

God said “you shall DIE” – eating the right Tree brings life, but the wrong tree death

Adam ate of the wrong Tree and died. His progeny died. The Bible says that with his failure that everyone became sinners, separate from God. Hear the Witness of Scripture:

Isaiah 64:6-7 (KJV)  But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.  [7]  And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.

Ecclesiastes 7:20 (ESV)  Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.

Psalms 130:3-4 (CEV)  If you kept record of our sins, no one could last long.  [4]  But you forgive us, and so we will worship you.

All are sinners. This does not justify sin, dear ones, but is a truth of Scripture. Man sinned because Adam sinned, and we all needed a Savior. God established a Law to restrain sin, but the Law could not fix sin. Sin is in the human heart. Sin is in the heart of the soul. Sin is not overlooked by God, but sin is to be punished.

b Sin Grew Until Anarchy Reigned, But God Saved Noah By Trees. Where sin is unrestrained and lawlessness is tolerated anarchy reigns. By the time of Noah the Bible tells us that:

Genesis 6:5-8 (KJV)  And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.  [6]  And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.  [7]  And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.  [8]  But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

Unrestrained sin always leads to greater sins.
Lawlessness ruled in the days of Noah.
God made man to dominate the earth, but
He did not make man to be dominated by sin.

When the conscience is hardened, sin comes easier. Though man is a sinner God never meant sin to go unrestrained. Sin must be repented of. People must heed what God has said, and give Him the glory. King David said:

O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. (Psalm 119:97, KJV)

Man departed from God and stopped listening to Him. As a result society collapsed. I think that America came very close to a collapse of our society – and we aren’t out of the woods yet. When lawlessness reigns, and God is ignored, it isn’t long until judgment falls. The world was going to be destroyed …

But Noah found Grace in the eyes of the Lord

Where did Noah find Grace. In God’s EYES. Not in His EARS, not in His MOUTH, but in His EYES. Noah lived loving God, and his life showed it. I want to tell you, dear ones, God WATCHES you.

For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. … (2 Chronicles 16:9 NASB)

The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. (Proverbs 15:3 KJV)

For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. (1 Peter 3:12)

God is watching. When I was a young child I was told, “Santa Claus is watching you”. When I grew up I found out that Santa Claus was a fictitious person based on a real Christian – Nicolaus of Myra in Asia Minor (4^th century AD). Nicolaus gave of his substance to help those who were in need, and tried to do his giving in secret “for your Heavenly Father Who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:4). Santa Claus isn’t watching us, but God is. He saw Noah, and saw Noah’s love for Him. And God told Noah

Go build Me an Ark

An Ark is a bunch of dead trees cut down into lumber and put together to float. Salvation of humanity would come through these trees. Noah and his family would be saved, whereas the rest of the world would drown. How do I know? Because God tells us so in the Scripture.

Though mankind was saved by Noah’s obedience, humanity was still sinful. When he got off the Ark Noah planted a garden, harvested the grapes, made wine, and got drunk. His sin (see Genesis 9:21ff) brought sin and sorrow into his own family. The wages of sin is always death.

2 The Tree In Deuteronomy Was A Prophecy Of The Coming Christ. In the New Testament the Apostle Paul wrote:

Galatians 3:10-13 (KJV)  For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.  [11]  But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.  [12]  And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.  [13]  Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

As the Apostle explains, the Law proves every person to be a sinner. Though you may not commit sins worthy of death in this life (and I hope you don’t), the testimony of the Scripture is:

no man is justified by the law in the sight of God

The Law never justified anyone. That word “justified” means “to be declared right by the Judge”, and God is the Judge. When any person stands in front of the Holy and Pure God of all we immediately “come short of the glory of God”. We are all marred by sin, and the Law declares this. But God never meant us to be saved by keeping His Law. The Bible says in the Old Testament (and Paul quoted this in verse 11 above):

The just (the Justified) shall live by faith

This is a quotation from Habakkuk 2:4 (KJV)  Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

Those who are right in the eyes of God have faith in this same God.

They believe Him.
They receive Him.
They trust Him.
They hear Him.

Which brings us back to the Tree of Deuteronomy. The Tree of Deuteronomy is mentioned in Paul’s explanation of our salvation. He said:

Galatians 3:13 (KJV) Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

Man ate the wrong tree, and fell in sin. Sin reigned, so Noah had to kill a bunch of trees to save humanity. Then God established the Law and spoke of the Tree of Cursing where the Lawless hung. But that Tree in Deuteronomy looked forward prophetically to the Day that Jesus would come. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law. How did He do this? Jesus went to that Cross to pay for our sins. He was made a curse for us. He hung on that cursed Tree of Calvary. The Bible says:

Colossians 2:13-14 (KJV)  And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;  [14]  Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

Jesus died on the Tree of Calvary for us. The early Christians understood that imagery. When Peter and the Apostles were told they shouldn’t preach about Jesus, Peter quickly replied:

Acts 5:29-30 (KJV)  Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.  [30]  The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, WHOM YE SLEW AND HANGED ON A TREE.

The Pharisees and the Romans killed Jesus, hanging Him on a Tree, that Tree of Calvary. While Peter was at Cornelius’ the Centurion’s home he preached:

Acts 10:38-39 (KJV)  How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.  [39]  And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom THEY SLEW AND HANGED ON A TREE:

Calvary is the Tree that Jesus died on. His death was not a mistake, but is your redemption. The Apostle Paul preached in the Synagogue:

Acts 13:28-30 (KJV)  And though they {the Pharisees} found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain.  [29]  And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, THEY TOOK HIM DOWN FROM THE TREE, and laid him in a {tomb}.  [30]  But God raised him from the dead:

Jesus Christ went to the Tree for you and for me. He died for us on Calvary, but rose again to rule His Kingdom and His Church. Jesus is alive, and we who have believed in Him are alive from the dead. Blessed be the Name of Jesus! Jesus Christ Who is God’s Son is sinless, and He died for OUR sins. He was cursed in our place.

3 Put Christ First This Christmas. Several years ago I knew a man who was more filled with truth than he was with Grace. The Bible says:

John 1:17 (KJV)  For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Jesus gave us GRACE AND TRUTH. Grace without Truth leads to error and sinful anarchy, but Truth without Grace leads to legalism.

This man was all of truth, but none of Grace. One Christmas he began to mock and berate Christians who had Christmas Trees. He had done some research, I suppose, and found out that ancient Pagans brought trees into their homes during the Winter. Since Pagans did it he felt that to have a Christmas Tree was somehow sinful.

It’s not.

Now let me say I don’t care if you have a Christmas Tree or not, and you can do what you want. But if you have a Christmas Tree, use it to explain Christ to your Children and Grandchildren.

I am told that Martin Luther, the founder of the Protestant Reformation was walking through a pine forest near his home in Wittenberg, Germany one night. Praying and seeking a sermon from God he looked upward and saw thousands of stars glittering like diamonds through the branches of the trees. Luther later cut an Evergreen and put it in his home. He decorated the tree with candles, and lighting the candles used the tree to describe the Coming of the Savior and what He did for us to his children.

Rather than be a Scrooge. use your tree (if you have one)
to discuss Christ with your children and grandchildren.

Jesus Christ died on a tree. Out of His death came forth Light and Life for us. The glory of Christmas is NOT the presents under the Tree, but the PRESENCE of Christ in your homes. This Christmas don’t be a Scrooge, but use the Blessed Season to share Christ with your children. Tell of the Tree that Christ died on.

He is the Greatest Present of all!

Morning Communion Message

As we come to our Lord’s Table I wanted to read something to you from Hebrews chapter 10. Hebrews chapter 10 is a summary of all that we have learned in the Book up to this point. Please listen as I read and talk about the text:

Hebrews 10:1 (KJV) For the law having a SHADOW of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

The Law of Moses is a SHADOW of good things TO COME.
A SHADOW is an absence of light.

I saw a little girl the other day in the park walking with her mom. Every other step she would jump forward, straining to catch her shadow. He mother smiled. “Are you trying to catch your shadow honey? You can’t.” But the child kept trying. A shadow cannot be caught. It has no substance. It is real, but cannot be touched. The Law was a shadow of GOOD THINGS to come. As a shadow, the Law could not make those who came to it PERFECT. And you need to be PERFECT to be with God.

Hebrews 10:2-4 (KJV) For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

A SHADOW cannot make perfect. An ANIMAL cannot pay for man’s sins.

The SHADOW of the Law reminded God’s people that they were sinners. You see that word REMEMBRANCE. The Law reminded us. It reminds us still. It is a REMEMBRANCER.

Hebrews 10:5-10 (KJV) Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. 7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. 8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; 9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

The SHADOW could not save, so God the Son came to this earth to do God’s Will.
The SHADOW was the glory of God shining behind Christ. The Law was Christ’s SHADOW.

God had no pleasure in the sacrifices of the Law. An animal cannot pay for the sins of a non-animal. We are not animals. We are created in God’s image. Christ came to do the will of God, to remove the SHADOW of the Law for those who would receive the REALITY. Jesus Christ is the REALITY. We are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

In Roman times when a person was convicted of a crime their criminal act was written on a parchment and nailed to the prison door. Until that crime was paid for the sign stayed up so that all could see your punishment was just. But when the crime was completely paid for the word “Tetelestai” was written on the document by the judge. The same was true of debts owed. The Greek-English Lexicon by Moulton and Milliagan states:

“Receipts are often introduced by the phrase [sic] tetelestai, usually written in an abbreviated manner…” (p. 630). 

The day that Jesus died on the Cross on of the last words He spoke was tetelestai or “it is finished”.

John 19:30 (KJV) … Jesus … said, It is finished:
and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

The Greek tetelestai is in the Perfect Tense meaning the action was completed, and the result of that action is ongoing and with full effect. What Jesus did on Calvary was completely pay for our sins. Back to Hebrews …

Hebrews 10:11-14 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.

14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

We are set apart unto God by the Blood of Christ. When we received Christ as Lord and Savior, confessing with the mouth that Jesus is Lord and believing in our heart that God raised Him from the dead, we were saved (Romans 10:9-10). We were saved not by our actions, but by His actions.

The Law is a REMEMBRANCE of our sinfulness.
But we come to another REMEMBRANCE today.
We come to the Lord’s Table.

Luke 22:19 (KJV) …. this do in remembrance of me.

When we come to the Lord’s Table we remember that we are flawed creatures who love a flawless God. We remember that Jesus was broken for us. We remember that He suffered and died once for all to bring us to God. We remember that He rose again, and is the Master of His Church and of His people. We remember. Let us all prepare our hearts for this Table.

Will our Deacons and Assistants come forward and help with the preparation of the Lord’s Table?

Evening Message

Hebrews 10:14-20 (KJV) For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. 15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, 16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. 18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. 19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

I stood waiting in line the other day (I always pick the worst lines to wait in) trying to keep a good attitude. My turn finally came, and thankfully I was able to pay for what I had. As I got ready to leave I told the lady in line behind me “Have a blessed day”. She replied, “I will, if they ever wait on me!”

This lady was saying was that her happiness or blessedness is based on what another human agency did. Now that is strange! I cannot base my happiness on what another human agency does. We are all flawed creatures, subject to doing foolish things. I really shouldn’t base my happiness on what I MYSELF DO. My Joy should be ever focused on my God, my Savior, my Lord!

1 Our Joy Should Be In God Because God Profoundly Showed His Love For Us At The Cross. The Scripture says:

Hebrews 10:14 (KJV) For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

• By ONE Offering. God offered Himself for us. The Bible tells us that God offered Himself for us. The Perfect offered Himself for the flawed. No one made the Father do what He did. The Bible says:

John 3:16-17 (KJV)   For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.   [17]   For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

God had every right to condemn the world. In Noah’s Day God condemned the world for its corruption and sinfulness. God did not have to send His Son to pay the penalty of our sin. But He did. God sent His Son to this world so that the world MIGHT be saved. He did not force salvation on any, but offers salvation to whosoever will. This is an OFFERING. None are forced to it, but whosoever will may come unto Him.

• By ONE Offering. No one forced Jesus to come from Heaven to this earth. Jesus said:

John 6:37-40 (ESV) All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

Jesus willingly came down from Heaven on a mission from God. He came to save. No one forced Him to go to the Cross. As Max Lucado once said, and I paraphrase,

He chose the nails.

Jesus Christ chose the nails. He chose the shame. He chose being abandoned. He chose the beating. He chose the humiliation. He chose it. And if you choose to believe and receive Him, then He chooses to make you His Child.

John 10:18 (NLT) No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.

Hebrews 10:14 (KJV) For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

• He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. We do not perfect ourselves through the Cross, but God perfects us through the Cross. His sacrifice on Calvary pays for our sins. His sacrifices does not JUSTIFY sin. No, sin is wrong, and sin will always be wrong. We who are His are to run from sin, and to acknowledge and agree with God on sin. The Bible says:

Ezekiel 18:20 (KJV) The soul that sinneth, it shall die. ..

Romans 6:23 (KJV) For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Sin is to do that which God considers unnatural and ungodly. Sin always leads to death. Sexual sin leads to death, whether homosexual or heterosexual. Lying leads to death. Do you know that the Bible says there will be no liars in Heaven?

Revelation 22:15 (NAS) Outside {of Heaven} are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.

God does not justify sin, but He justifies or makes right the sinner. How does He do this? He pays for our sins on the Cross. What does our text say?

Hebrews 10:17-18 (KJV) “And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. {18} Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.”

God said “I’ll forget your sins and iniquities” like they never happened. Well now, that’s a wonderful thing. How do we reach this state, Lord? What work can I do? What thing can I achieve for you? If I can get in that state where you have, as the Greek text says, me eti, no more remembrance of me as an enemy of Yours, no more a reminder that I was not just as sinner, but I was also a law breaker – just as we all are sinners and law breakers.

The Blood of the Cross paid the penalty for our sins. Where sins are remitted – paid for – there is no more offering for sins. The Child of God born into His Kingdom by faith in Christ stands clean before God.

2 Our Joy Should Be In God Because God Profoundly Shows His Love For Us By Binding To The Believer. In the Old Testament the Law was written on tablets of stone, then later on animal skins and parchment (early paper). The Law was EXTERNAL. But God promises under the New Testament …

Hebrews 10:16 (KJV) … This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;

God puts His Laws into our hearts. God cleans us up. He starts a work in us that does not stop until the day we enter yonder Heaven. Like a Parent – or a Potter – God the Holy Spirit enters the framework of our souls and begins to change the Child of God. The Prophet said:

Isaiah 64:8 (KJV) “But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.”

I remember when I was a little boy I hated to take a bath! I just spent a long day playing in the fields and in the woods, running and climbing and jumping and climbing trees. I used to climb those pine trees and get that old pine sap all over me, on my hands and feet, on my clothes. Oh, it smelt so good! I can still smell it. I’d come in at the end of the day, tired and happy, and momma would say “You go get in the tub”. She’s run the tub full of hot, soapy water – nearly scalding, and tell me “Get in the tub and get clean”. You know what I’d do? I’d wait till momma went out of the bathroom, and I’d close the door. Then I’d get in the tub and walk around in it, splashing around, making sounds like I was getting clean. Then I’d get out, dry my feet off, splash a little of dad’s cologne on, and head to my bedroom.

And I’d run smack dab into momma!

She’s ask me, “Did you get a bath?”, to which I’d reply “Yes, momma”. She’s thump me on the top of the head and say “No you didn’t – get back in there!” Then she’d take me and wash me from head to toe, scrubbing hard until all that pine tar came off and into the water. How did momma know I wasn’t clean? I made all the sounds, I splashed the water, I used the towel and the rag. She knew because when she looked at me my head was still dirty, my hair gummed together, my upper torso was still marked by dirt. I might have done it my way, but my way didn’t clean me!

So it is with God. Once you receive Christ as Lord and Savior God Himself – the Holy Spirit – comes into your life. And He begins working with you, changing you, writing His Laws into your hearts. The Holy Spirit is the Companion and Comforter of the believer. Jesus told His disciples:

John 14:15-17 (KJV)   If ye love me, keep my commandments.   [16]   And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;   [17]   Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

The Disciples knew of the Spirit, but Jesus promised His followers a greater knowing. He promised that the Holy Spirit would come and indwell His people. He would be our Comforter. The Holy Spirit Who indwells us teaches us of Jesus:

John 15:26 (KJV)   But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

Jesus told His disciples that He had to leave so that the Comforter could come:

John 16:7-13 (KJV)   Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.   [8]   And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:   [9]   Of sin, because they believe not on me;   [10]   Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;   [11]   Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.   [12]   I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.   [13]   Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

Oh what love that God would come to dwell in imperfect vessels such as us. God comes ands makes a gift of Himself. Last Wednesday when I was reading my morning devotional (C.H. Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening) I came across these words:

“The Lord is my Portion, saith my soul” (Lamentations 3:24)

“It is not “the Lord is partly my portion” nor “the Lord is in my portion” but He Himself makes up the sum total of my sdoul’s inheritance. Within the circumference of that circle lies all that we possess or desire. The Lord is my portion. Not His grace merely, nor His love, nor His covenant, but Jehovah Himself. He has chosen us for His portion, and we have chosen Him for ours. … all that we can wish for is to be found in our divine portion. “Whom have I in Heaven but Thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee!”

What a beautiful truth. God indwells the Christ follower, and we live in Him. He lives with us now, and we will live with Him for all eternity.

We have something that no Old Testament believer had. We have BOLDNESS to enter into the Presence of God. We read:

Hebrews 10:19-22 (KJV)  Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,  [20]  By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;  [21]  And having an high priest over the house of God;  [22]  Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

We have boldness to come into God’s Presence. Not because of who WE are, but because of what GOD has done for us. WE can enter into prayer with our Heavenly Father ANYTIME. We do not have to go through an earthly High Priest or earthly religious figure, but every Child of God has access to his or her Father through Jesus Christ our High Priest. Look at verse 22:

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

We draw near to God in full assurance of faith. Not doubting, but trusting. Draw near to God claiming the Cross and the Christ. The Priests of the Old Covenant drew near to God when sprinkled with the Blood of the Sacrifice. We who are Christ’s draw near to God sprinkled with His Blood, our bodies washed with pure water (a picture of baptism).

3 As We Draw Near To God, We Will Draw Near To One Another. I have heard some say “If I have Jesus, I don’t need the Church”. But that is wrong. The Church and Christ go hand in hand. Jesus said:

I will build My Church, and the gates of hell
will not prevail against it

Jesus is the builder of His Church. The Church is not to be ignored. The Church is the Children of God gathered. And as we draw near to God, we will draw near to one another. Read with me:

Hebrews 10:23-24 (KJV)  Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)  [24]  And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 

Every believer is called to hold fast the profession of OUR faith. Faith is not held fast in a vacuum. There is no singular Christianity. Our faith relies on love, love of God for us, our love toward God, and our love toward one another.

Here I have a Cross representing what Jesus did for us. If you on the left side of this auditorium draw near to this Cross representing Christ and you on the right side of the auditorium draw near to this Cross representing Christ and you at the back of this auditorium draw near to this Cross representing Christ then as you come closer to God you would naturally draw closer to one another. Drawing near to God as a focal point draws you near to one another. You come together.

This is what God demands of us.

Coming into the Presence of God together we are not to fight and claw at one another. We are to:

let us consider one another to provoke unto love
and to good works

As we gather together under His banner of love we encourage one another. When one stumbles we lift that one up in love and encourage them to good works. The person who says:

I love God, but I hate or dislike my brother

Cannot be a Christ follower. Don’t believe me? Read the witness of

1 John 4:20 (ESV) If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.

You cannot love God and hate your brother. As you come into the Presence of God you are drawn closer to one another. And while in His Presence you realize

It is all of Grace

I have nothing in myself, and neither do you. Our position with God is all of Grace. We should not provoke one another to evil or hatred, but to love. As we all draw near to Jesus, we draw nearer to one another.

Hebrews 10:25 (KJV)   Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

We are called together in the Presence of God to exhort one another, to encourage, to lift up for Christ’s sake, to be members of God’s Kingdom on this present earth. And we are to stay focused on the Gospel. Too many Churches have forsaken the Gospel for something else. Note the warning:

Hebrews 10:26-31 (KJV)  For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,  [27]  But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.  [28]  He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:  [29]  Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?  [30]  For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.  [31]   It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

There are many different interpretations in the commentaries and in the pulpits about what these verses mean. Some believe that these verses talk of believers losing their salvation. No, that is not true. These verses are addressed to those who …

who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted

the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified,
an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace

You tread underfoot the Son of God and do despite to the Spirit of Grace (the Holy Spirit) when you reject what Jesus did for you on the Cross. There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. As Jesus told the Rabbi Nicodemus:

John 3:18 (KJV)   He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

To reject Calvary in favor of something else is to reject Grace and to reject Heaven. There is no way unto God the Father but by Christ the Son. So we preach His Gospel. We believe His Gospel. We share Him with others.

What has washed away my sin?
Nothing but the Blood of Jesus!
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the Blood of Jesus.
Oh, precious is the flow, that makes me white as snow,
No other fount I know.
Nothing but the Blood of Jesus!

May God bring His Church together through this Word!