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Mark 4:30-32 (KJV) Jesus said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? 31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: 32 But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.

A child sitting at the dinner table asked “Are caterpillars good to eat?” His mother said “No they’re not good to eat. Why ask such a silly question?” The boy replied “Well, there was one in your salad – but it’s gone now!”

Small things matter.

People often discount the small things of life, but elevate the big things. But God uses small things, and God begins all great works with small things. You might be a big person now, but you began as a small thing, a seed that was lovingly brought forth into this world by your mother. Billy Graham was a baby once. The biggest man there ever was was at one time a baby – feeble and small – held in your mother’s arms. The greatest lion – a man-eater – was at one time a kitten. If you’ve ever stepped in a fire ant bed or on a yellow jacket nest you know how the smallest of creatures can make a man several thousand times their size run and flail like a fool.

Small things matter, because God works through small things.

When Jesus came preaching the Kingdom of God and repentance a lot of people asked how can such a small person even speak of such great things. When Philip told Nathaniel about Jesus Nathaniel said:

John 1:46 (NLT) “Nazareth! …. Can anything good come from Nazareth?”

Jesus came from a nowhere little town that modern day archeologists say only had about 400 people. This was Sawdust Tennessee or Climax Georgia. Jesus’ daddy Joseph was considered no one, just a carpenter. When Jesus began to preach they scoffed:

Mark 6:3-4 (NLT) “He’s just a carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us.” They were deeply offended and refused to believe in him.

He is too small and insignificant to be the Messiah! Even His brothers and sisters did not believe Jesus when He came to preach. The Bible tells us that:

Mark 3:21 (NLT) When his family heard what was happening, they tried to take him away. “He’s out of his mind,” they said.

Jesus was the son of a carpenter, an unknown and untrained Rabbi by the world’s standards. The Scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees all discounted Him as insignificant. Yet what they failed to realize is that small things matter to God. God uses the small, the insignificant, the broken. God is in the small stuff. God uses the surrendered, the humble, that which the world considers insignificant.

A humble and obedient Moses lifted up a walking stick over the Red Sea, and a nation was saved (Exodus 4:1-9).

God’s Samson took the jawbone of an ass and killed a thousand Philistines with it (Judges 15:14-16).

A small shepherd boy named David took a small smooth stone and defeated a nine foot tall Goliath with it. (1 Samuel 17).

A poor widow told the Prophet Elisha she had only a small flask of olive oil. Elisha told her to “borrow as many empty jars as you can from your neighbors and friends, then pour from that flask until you run out of jars”. She filled jars until she ran out – and God multiplied her handful of flour through years of famine (2 Kings 4).

Jesus took five barley loaves and two little fishes and multiplied it to feed five thousand (Matthew 14:13-21).

God told a discouraged Zerubbabel as he led a small force to rebuild a destroyed Jerusalem:

Zechariah 4:10 For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice …

God uses the humble, and builds His Kingdom through His few faithful followers.

The Kingdom Of God Comes By Planting A Small Seed.

Jesus said:

Mark 4:30-31 (KJV) Jesus said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? 31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:

God Could Have Brought His Kingdom In With Majesty And Power. He could have sent angels, fierce fighters, and heralded His Kingdom with bloodshed and the sound of fury. There will be a day when Christ comes to finish His Kingdom, a day when He returns with His Church to set up His headquarters in Jerusalem. The Bible says of that day that:

Revelation 1:7 (KJV)  Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

And

Revelation 19:11-21 (KJV)  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.  [12]  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.  [13]  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.  [14]  And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.  [15]  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.  [16]  And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.  [17]  And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;  [18]  That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.  [19]  And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.  [20]  And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.  [21]  And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

There is coming a day when Jesus will return to sit on His Throne. What a terrible day that will be. The Bible calls that day “the Day of the Lord”, a time of retribution and bloodshed and forced repentance. That day is coming. Jesus is coming again. See that you are faithful –

Doing the righteous thing
Speaking the righteous word
Living and loving as He calls us to be

The Day of the Lord has not yet come, but the Kingdom of God has come. The Kingdom of God started with a man discounted, the Lord Jesus Christ. He told His disciples that the Kingdom of God – like the mustard seed – was to be sown. The Gospel of the Kingdom is to be shared by every citizen of the Kingdom.

The Kingdom Of God Grows As The Gospel Is Shared Heart To Heart

Jesus came preaching the Kingdom of God. In fact, His enemies – the Pharisees – heard Jesus preach so much about the “Kingdom of God” that they questioned Him:

Luke 17:20-21 (KJV)  And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:   [21]   Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

The Kingdom of God is within you. It is within each person that the Gospel seed has been shared. We who love Jesus are of His Kingdom, and He is our King. Do not equate God’s Kingdom with the physical things of this world. Some people – Church Hoppers – pop by this Church and look at the facilities. “Why you’ve got a pretty Church – but we wish you had a child care center and a coffee bar. If you had bigger facilities we might consider joining. But your Church building just doesn’t fit our idea of what a Church should be?”

Now I want us to build a Church building, a bigger building, but I understand and you need to understand that the bigger building does not make a bigger Church. I have been to structurally bigger Churches that should have had Frigidaire or Kenmore written on the door. There was none of the love of God in that place. The command of Christ and the mark of the Church has been and will always be:

Matthew 22:37-40 (KJV) … Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.   [38]   This is the first and great commandment.   [39]   And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.   [40]   On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

The Kingdom of God begins with the small seed of Grace planted in the ground of the heart. The knowledge that God loves you, and gave Himself for you. God saw that we were broken, and in need of salvation. God loved us in spite of ourselves. So what did God do? He came as a small child – an insignificant baby in the eyes of the world. A baby in a manger. There is no room for You in the Inn, but you can stay in the basement where the animals are normally tended. You can stay where the lambs sleep, Thou Lamb of God. The world saw an unlucky couple who came late to the Inn, but the Angel of God said:

Matthew 1:21 (KJV)  And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save HIS PEOPLE from their sins.

Who does Jesus save? His people. What does He save them from? Their sins. He gave Himself for my sins. He died in my place. He gave me Grace, and wants me to share that same Grace with others. The Bible says:

Galatians 1:4 (KJV) Jesus gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

1 Timothy 2:6 (KJV) Jesus gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

Titus 2:14 (KJV) Jesus gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Jesus gave Himself for us. He died for our sins. He paid our penalty, and took our hell upon Himself. He suffered as no one has ever suffered, so that we could be saved.

Where The Gospel Is Planted, The Kingdom Of God Grows

Mark 4:32 (KJV) But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.

Look at the first few words of this verse. “WHEN it is sown”. It doesn’t say “IF it is sown” but “WHEN it is sown”. Jesus came preaching the Gospel, but commands us all to do the same. We are to sow His seed. Once it is sown it grows up and becomes greater than all other herbs.

We MUST Share His Gospel To See His Kingdom Grow. Jesus said in this context:

Mark 4:21-25 (KJV)  And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?   [22]   For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.   [23]   If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.   [24]  And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: WITH WHAT MEASURE YE METE, IT SHALL BE MEASURED TO YOU: AND UNTO YOU THAT HEAR SHALL MORE BE GIVEN.   [25]   For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.

God gave us tongues not to gossip or to be hateful, but to speak His Word. God gave us hands to do good even to our enemies so that they might see the glorious Gospel of love at work. God gave us feet to go to others, to help lift up the downtrodden in the name of Christ. Citizens of the Kingdom do not hide their light but live for Christ. We let our light shine for Him.

Those who are born again and loved of God love God and love one another. We shine because He shines in us. We encourage one another to look to Jesus, to follow Jesus, to love as Jesus loved and do as Jesus did.

One of my favorite stories in the Scripture is in this chapter. It comes right after the parable of the Mustard Seed. The Bible tells us:

Mark 4:35 (KJV)  And the same day, when the even was come, Jesus saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.

Jesus had been preaching all day long standing on a ship on the water of the Sea of Galilee. As He finished preaching His Kingdom message He told His disciples – those who were on the ship with Him – “Let US pass over to the other side”. We’re going to take a journey. I want you to notice that Jesus didn’t tell them exactly where they were going, nor why they were going there. But that didn’t matter. The King of the Kingdom said “Let US pass over to the other side”. He was going with them. They got on the ship with Him, and He was with them all the way. The Bible says:

Mark 4:36 (KJV)  And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.

They sent away the multitude. These people came to hear Jesus, but they weren’t on the ship with Jesus. There were also other little ships with Him, but they weren’t on the ship with Jesus. There will always be those who half commit or give Jesus a hearing, but who are not on the ship with Him. They can’t go the other side with Jesus. A half commitment is the same as no commitment at all. The multitude is sent away. The crowd departs. The little ships – under their own steam – try to follow Jesus.

Mark 4:37-38 (KJV)  And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.  [38]  And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow ….

Jesus told them “Let US pass over to the other side”. In the midst of the storms of life each one on that ship – in that little Church – should have encouraged one another. Look, Jesus is asleep in the midst of this storm. He rests. He is with us, so we will rest with Him. No matter what life may toss at us if you are in the ship with the King of Kings then you are as safe in the storm as you are in your own bathtub! If Jesus is with you then He will get you to the other side.

Hebrews 13:5 (KJV)   Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Jesus is with us. He is our King, and His Kingdom is without end. He gave Himself for us. He is on the ship with us. We need not fear. He hath said “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). Jesus Christ is not the Author of confusion nor of fear, but He is ..

Hebrews 12:2 (KJV) …. 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.

Mark 4:38 (KJV) …. Jesus was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

Of course He cares. They will not perish unless Christ perish with them. But the Bible tells us:

Mark 4:39-40 (KJV)  And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.  [40]  And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

They heard Jesus preach the Kingdom of God, but still did not know Him. This is why we gather and hear His Word. You are saved the day the Gospel seed finds good soil, but we grow to know Him. Faith and fear do not belong in the same vessel. We are Children of the King. He is with us. The wind and the sea obeys Him. The Angels bow down to Him. The Father calls Him “Beloved Son”, and the Spirit comes to us at His call.

If you are in His Kingdom. If you are on the Ship with Him.

May God touch your hearts with His Word.

Wonderful article. Great word from a fellow Brother in Christ

John 12:20-26 (KJV) And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast (of the Passover): [21] The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus. [22] Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus. [23] And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. [24] Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. [25] He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. [26] If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honor. [27] Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. [28] Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. 29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him. 30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. 31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. 32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. 33 This he said, signifying what death he should die. 34 The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?

Homosexuality and sexual sin abounds throughout the nation. Bloodshed is exalted and watched as people murder one another before watching and cheering crowds. Life is cheap. Abortion is legalized and the child – a gift from God – is often thrown away by the mother for convenience sake. Prostitution is a major industry, and temples are built where people come to defile themselves and others. False prophets and false religions are not only tolerated, but mandated – and you are considered intolerant if you do not play along. God’s people are mocked, but also required to pay taxes to a government that does ungodly things with the money that is collected.

Darkness abounds. This may sound like I was describing America in 2015, but I was describing the Roman Empire’s condition as our Lord Jesus walked the earth.

French novelist Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr once said “the more things change, the more they stay the same.” God said through King Solomon in Ecclesiastes 1:9-10 :What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun. Can one say about anything, “Look, this is new”? It has already existed in the ages before us.”

That nation – like ours – was rotting from the inside out.

In the midst of this terrible, creeping darkness God sent the brilliant light that is His Son. In the midst of the darkest darkness Jesus came.

Galatians 4:4 (KJV) …. when the fulness of the time was come, GOD SENT FORTH HIS SON …

When Rome was at her worst, God sent Jesus. When Israel was at her least, God sent Jesus. Jesus and the Light that is His Church came into the midst of a piercing darkness and shining brightly outlasted the darkness.

Our Lord Jesus Did Not Come To Be Just Another Politician. On the day that Jesus spoke the words we just read, He came riding into Jerusalem at the Feast of the Passover.

John 12:12-14 (KJV) On the next day much people that were come to the feast of the Passover, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord. 14 And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon…

All Israel loved the Feast of the Passover. It was a reminder of another time when Israel was in bondage to another nation. Israel cried out to God, and God raised up Moses, and fantastic and faithful leader.

The people were tired of being in the midst of the depravity. They were tired of bad politicians who did what they could to fill their own pockets, but did nothing to fix the problems. They were tired of people who promised the world but gave an outhouse. They were tired of the godlessness. They WANTED ANOTHER MOSES, ANOTHER LEADER, ANOTHER KING THAT WOULD SAVE THE NATION AND BRING IT BACK TO BETTER TIMES.

When Jesus rode into Israel on the back of a young donkey the crowds were excited!

John 12:15 (KJV) Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass’s colt.

Isn’t this what was promised in Zechariah 9:9? Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Here comes Jesus. He’s another Moses. He will overthrow Rome.

Jesus would be the Ultimate Politician, the King we have waited for. Like Moses He will bring the plagues on the ungodly, and restore the people of God to their former glory. Like David He would lead Israel to overthrow the enemies of the nation. This is Jesus.

This is the Jesus Who caused the blind to receive their sight. Surely He can blind our enemies.

This is the Jesus Who caused the lame to walk. Cannot He cripple the opposition?

This is the Jesus Who cured lepers. Surely He can inflict debilitating diseases on Rome as Moses did on Egypt.

This is the Jesus Who gave hearing to the deaf. Surely when He speaks, the ungodly will quaver.

This is the Jesus Who raised people from the dead. Do you remember the time when the ruler of the Synagogue came to Jesus, begging Him to raise his daughter from the dead? Jesus walked in and said “The young girl is not dead – only sleeping.” Taking her by the hand he utters but two words in Aramaic – “Talitha Cumi” or “Maiden, arise!”. That young girl sat up and rose up, all at the call of Christ. But more recently Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.

John 12:9 (KJV) Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came NOT FOR JESUS’ SAKE ONLY, but that they MIGHT SEE LAZARUS ALSO, WHOM HE HAD RAISED FROM THE DEAD.

If Jesus could raise Lazarus from the dead by just crying out “Lazarus, Come Forth!”, then what an army we could have. We could fight the enemy following King Jesus. No one, no nation, no body could stand in our way!

Oh, how excited the people were!
Here is a BETTER King than Herod,
a BETTER Man than Pilate!
A MUCH BETTER man than Caesar!
Let’s make Him King!

Mark 11:9-10 …. they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: [10] Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.

The crowds tried to make Jesus Christ their King

Jesus took five barley loaves and two small fishes (John 6:9), A CHILD’S LUNCH, and turned it into enough food to feed five thousand (that’s a 5 with three zeros – 5000) men.

Taking the little biscuits, the Bread of Life multiplied. Taking the little fishes, the Master Fisher of Men multiplied.

Their bellies filled the Bible tells us that …

John 6:15 (KJV) When Jesus therefore PERCEIVED THAT THEY WOULD COME AND TAKE HIM BY FORCE, TO MAKE HIM A KING, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.

Jesus did not come to be “A King”, another in a long line of politicians. The Pharisees were beside themselves at Jesus’ popularity. They said:

John 12:19 (KJV) The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? BEHOLD, THE WORLD IS GONE AFTER HIM.

“The whole world was gone after Jesus”. He was the preferred King, the preferred Candidate. The WHOLE WORLD wanted Jesus to be the next earthly King. The Greek dignitaries came to Philip saying ….

John 12:21 (KJV)… Sir, we would see Jesus.

They wanted an appointment witrh another politician, another leader, another King. Jesus is King of Heaven, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. But this is not why He came.
2 Jesus Came To Be The Savior Of All Who Believe, The Redeemer Of The Fallen Heart.

In response to the Greek’s request we read:

John 12:22-23 (KJV) Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus. 23 and Jesus answered them saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man SHOULD BE GLORIFIED. …

How was Jesus going to be glorified?

He wasn’t going to be glorified a ticker tape parade, riding a stretch limousine while the crowds cheered. He was going to be glorified by doing what God His Father sent Him to do. Jesus was going to go to the Cross.

John 12:24 (KJV) Verily, verily, {AMEN-AMEN} I say unto you, Except a {grain} of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

Jesus Christ had come – not to cling to this life, but to “fall into the ground and die”. John said of Jesus:

Behold, the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world!

How would Jesus “take away the sin of the world”? He would come from Heaven as the Son of God, but go to the Cross as the Son of Man.

The reason why Rome was the way Rome was and America is the way America is – is because of the human heart. The wayward and Christless human heart is the source of most of the bad in the world. The Devil led Adam’s heart away from God – but Adam freely chose the path he took.

The Bible declares …

Jeremiah 17:9-10 (KJV) The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

Our Lord Jesus preached:

Mark 7:20-23 (ESV) …. What comes out of a person is what defiles him. [21] For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, [22] coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. [23] All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.

The problem is INWARD, and that moves OUTWARD. The reason our society is so uncivil and ungodly is because what you see is the fruit of the darkened heart. If the tree is corrupt, the fruit is corrupt.

We are all born with broken hearts, prone to sin. Before going to Church with grandma, the little SIX year old child was warned to be quiet during the services. The child asked “Why Grandma?” Grandma said “Because it is God’s house and we need to pay attention to God’s Word. The Lord wants us to sit and hear what He has said”. The little girl said, “But Grandpa talks! He talks so loud everybody can hear him, so why can’t I talk?” Grandma told her, “Darling, he talks because he’s the preacher, and he’s preaching God’s Word.”

We all need to vote, and vote in a prayerful and godly manner. But Beloved, we could put the best person we know in the White House – right now – and NOTHING would change. The heart must change. This is something that only God can do through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Only God can change the heart. When they wanted to make Jesus King He told them:

In Adam all died, but in Christ all can be made alive (1 Corinthians 15:22).

The crowd right now was praising God. They thought that Jesus came to fix things for them politically. But in a short while that grain of wheat would fall from the stalk. This same crowd would cry out:

“Release the murderer! Release Barabbas, and CRUCIFY JESUS!” Pilate cries out, “WHY, what evil has He done? But they cried out the more, LET HIM BE CRUCIFIED!” (Matthew 27:22-23)

If Jesus had stayed with the crowd and became their political King then He would have abided alone. He had to die. He had to fall to the ground in death. He had to go to that Hill of Calvary, had to hang on that Cruel Tree.

The forbidden tree of Eden led to the terrible tree of Calvary. Actions have consequences. The first Adam failed, but the second Adam – Jesus Christ – died. He died for us.

Philippians 2:7-8 (KJV) {Jesus} made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And BEING FOUND IN FASHION AS A MAN, HE HUMBLED HIMSELF, AND BECAME OBEDIENT UNTO DEATH, EVEN THE DEATH OF THE CROSS.

Jesus Christ fell from the head of the wheat – into the ground and died. He died for your sins and mine. His perfect heart suffered the agony of Calvary because our hearts were fallen. His Blood was shed for us. He died in agony for us. Never has a Person suffered as Jesus Christ suffered for us. The very wrath of God fell upon Him, He Who

John 1:1-3 (KJV)1 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.

He died for His creation.

Colossians 1:15-17 (KJV) Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane because Adam failed in the Garden of Eden.

Matthew 26:39 (KJV) … O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

Jesus went to that Cross. He Who was no criminal suffered like a criminal, suffering for our sins. From the sixth to the ninth hour He hung silent until, as God’s wrath was poured out on Him for us, He cried out:

Matthew 27:46 (KJV) …. Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Jesus did this – for us. Jesus died – for us. It was Jesus’ mission to:

Daniel 9:24 (KJV) …. finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

By His Blood sin would be paid for, and our redemption made sure. Those who come to Jesus broken are saved. He redeems us from this world and the evil of it. He cleanses us before God, and sends His Spirit into us to change our hearts.

Hebrews 2:9-17 (KJV) … we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. 10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. 13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me. 14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. 17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

Those who believe on Jesus go through a change of heart. God changes the redeemed from the inside out. On our hearts He writes His Law – and we are borth citizens and children of His Kingdom.

How Then Shall We Change Our Rome? By sharing His Gospel. By loving as we were loved, by reaching out as Christ reached out to us. The first century Christian was confronted with the same – or perhaps much worse – type of darkness that we believers are experience in America today. How can we fix this nation? Short answer – we cannot, but Christ can. There are no short cuts to this.

If we want to fix our culture, we must share His Kingdom Gospel.
We must preach REPENT and TURN TO CHRIST.

John 12:25 (KJV) He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that HATETH his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

As long as people love their present fallen condition they shall lose their lives. God did not make us to make our own rules, to wallow in sin as pigs wallow in the mud, to do hateful and evil things. God made us in His image and in His likeness so that we could walk with Him and glorify Him. The Gospel of the Kingdom calls people back to where God wants us to be.

John 12:26 (KJV) If any man serve me, LET HIM FOLLOW ME; AND WHERE I AM, THERE SHALL ALSO MY SERVANT BE: if any man serve me, him will my Father honor.

Where was Jesus? He was among the sinners preaching the Gospel Light. He was reaching out in love sharing the love of God. We are to call the lost to REPENT and FOLLOW CHRIST. To turn surrendered to Him, believing He died for all our sins.

Jesus Christ came to redeem people from the darkness and to bring them into His Kingdom. Once saved, we are called to serve Him. We served sin before we were saved. Now saved, we serve a Risen Savior. We serve the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We who are Heaven bound no longer serve ourselves by sin, we serve the Savior through His Spirit. We live as Light, following the Light, proclaiming His Light. Jesus said:

John 12:31-33 (KJV) NOW is the judgment of this world: NOW shall the prince of this world be cast out. 32 And I, IF I BE LIFTED UP FROM THE EARTH, WILL DRAW ALL MEN UNTO ME. 33 This he said, signifying what death he should die.

NOW is the judgment of the world. See Jesus on that Cross? He died for all.

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (ESV) For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; [15] and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

The world was judged when Jesus was put on that Cross. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. The prince of this world, Satan, was cast out when Jesus went to that Cross. And Jesus promised “If I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all unto Me”. We must tell others. We must share His Gospel. The only thing that will bring the Light to our culture is changed hearts, and only God can change hearts. This He does through the Gospel of the Kingdom.

C.H. Spurgeon said: “Brothers, if we want to have fruit in our ministry—if we want to see sinners converted—we must preach up Christ’s death! As the blacksmith strikes the hot iron upon the anvil, we must keep the hammer of the Gospel at work upon this great foundation Truth of God, “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.” It is no talking to men upon other topics in the hope that it will lead to their conversion. The great soul-quickening agency is, “Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” Whoever will come and trust in the God-appointed Substitute for sinners shall be eternally saved, for life comes only through His death! “

The Cross must be preached. We must tell them that Christ died for all, that God loves all. We cannot fix what ails us, but Christ can. God’s Gospel can – and we must keep on telling the world. Watchman Nee said:

“Everything in our service for the Lord is dependent on His blessing.”

God will always bless the sharing of Christ’s Gospel. Be a blessing to our nation. Shine for Christ. Share Christ.

Today when we travel we use computers like the GPS or Global Positioning Satellites. You punch in your address and where you’re going and – sooner or later – it will get you to your destination. It used to be when we traveled into unknown areas we’d get these big maps out and I’d highlight the route. You can’t hardly find maps anymore. The GPS tells you where to go. The GPS works by talking to a satellite in orbit in our outer atmosphere. It stays in touch with the unseen so that we can eventually get where we need to be. Whether in a car or a cruise liner that GPS insures we get to our final chosen destination.

The GPS is man made, and though it will get you to your final earthly destination it sometimes takes you the long way around. The Lord Jesus Christ is the only infallible way to insure that you get to your final Heavenly destination. Those who have believed on Him are certain of entering God’s glorious Heaven. But Christ also guides His people daily, one moment at a time, one day at a time through this life. Just as the North Star guides the explorer to the north, our Jesus guides us northward and upward to God. As long as you believe in Him and trust in Him everything will – in the end – be all right.

But if you draw away from Jesus and refuse Him as Lord and Savior you will find yourself lost, wandering forever in the darkest spiritual night. The farther you get from Jesus, the more dangerously lost life gets!

Those Who Follow And Love Jesus Are Blessed. Those Who Stand Against Jesus Are Cursed. I want you to compare two sentences in this chapter of Mark with me:

Mark 3:13 (KJV) And he {Jesus} goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him.

Mark 3:22 (KJV) And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.
Jesus goes UP – and calls people UPWARD. The self righteous fleshly Scribes go DOWN – and call people DOWNWARD.

Jesus went UP into a mountain and called whom He would. He called these common and quite ordinary men to leave their businesses, leave their lives, and follow Him. When they came they separated themselves unto Him and:

Mark 3:14 (KJV) And {Jesus} ordained twelve, that they should be with him…

Jesus called them – they came – He touched them – and they began to work for Him. These were His Apostles, messengers of the Gospel of the Kingdom. Jesus elevated them from what they were to what He wanted them to be. Jesus went into a mountain and called His people to the mountain – that mountain of God. When Moses went into the mountain of God Joshua was able to follow that wonderful man a short way, but not all the way. Moses could not bring people all the way up the mountain of God. Moses could not even himself – humble as he was – to see the face of God. God told Moses:

Exodus 33:20 (KJV) …. Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.

God hid Moses in the cleft of the rock to protect Moses from His glory, for a sinner to look on God would have died. Yet Jesus calls His people to come UP THE MOUNTAIN. Jesus is the cleft of the Rock that we hide in. Those who respond to Jesus are blessed – elevated – brought from the ordinary and made extra-ordinary by the very power of God.

The Scribes CAME DOWN from Jerusalem – DOWN from the Holy City of God – DOWN from Mount Zion. They came as critics of Christ, fools on a foolish errand. You can memorize the Book of God but if you live like you’ve never read it it doesn’t do you any good. The Scribes were DOWNERS. They were fleshly, religious, intolerant, and spiritually dead. Adrift from Christ they who should have been holy (for they were SCRIBES, COPIERS of GOD’S WORD).

Adrift from Christ the high were brought low. Following Christ the low were brought high.

What did Jesus do to these twelve ordinary people? He gave them power. We are told:

Mark 3:14-15 (KJV) …. that he might send them forth to preach, 15 And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:

Jesus gave them spiritual power to preach, to carry His Word into the world. The preaching came first. The Word of the Gospel must go forth – this is the most important thing. With that power came the power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils. Where the Light of God is the darkness falls. Where the Light of God is NOT, the darkness prevails.

The Mind Not Set On Christ And His Word Drifts Toward The Darkness. When your mind wanders away from Christ you wander into dangerous territory.

Can I tell you it is possible to follow Jesus and still be damned? You can follow Jesus physically but your mind be far from Jesus.

Judas Was With Jesus Physically But Spiritually His Mind Was On Darkness. Jesus chose twelve people, twelve ordinary men. They were given His Gospel, given power to heal sicknesses, and power to cast out devils. But look at:

Mark 3:19 (KJV) And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into a house.

There is no indication in this text that Judas was given less than the other followers. They were Apostles, he was an Apostle. How did he sneak into Jesus’ entourage? Actually the Bible tells us that Jesus knew Judas’ heart all along.

One day Jesus preached a hard sermon. If you come to Church regularly, sooner or later you will hear a hard sermon. Some people think there should be no hard sermons, but the truth is if you never hear a hard sermon – one that hurts your pride and stomps your toes – you’re listening to a false prophet! Jesus said in Revelation 3:19 “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”

The Light hurts your eyes when you come out of a dark place. Christ calls us from darkness and into His marvelous light, and yes, that hurts.

Anyway, Jesus was preaching a hard thing – and people left His Church. The Bible tells us:

John 6:66-71 (KJV) From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. [67] Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? [68] Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. [69] And WE believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. [70] Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? [71] He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.

Judas didn’t sneak into the disciples – Jesus called him knowing his heart. The Bible says “it was he that SHOULD betray Him”. Jesus knew who this man was. He brought him into this small group, this foundation of the Church, His Church. Why? Because Jesus gives every person a chance. He knew Judas would betray Him, but nonetheless reached out in love to him, calling this poor lost soul to His side.

Judas followed, but never really believed. Because his following was only outward he eventually betrayed Jesus for what he really loved the most – MONEY. Money was his god, not Jesus. Eventually the money he chased after with his heart led to his destruction.

The Scribes Followed Jesus To Stand Against Him. They Were In The Dark Both Physically And Spiritually. When the Scribes came down from Jerusalem it was not to support Jesus, but to stand against Him. They said:

Mark 3:22 (KJV) … He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.

Their statement was nonsense, as Jesus quickly said. He told them:

Mark 3:23-26 (KJV) How can Satan cast out Satan? [24] And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. [25] And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. [26] And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.

No kingdom – not even the Kingdom of Darkness – can stand against itself. If a kingdom is divided it will not stand. Churches that depart from the Light that is Christ fall apart. Families that depart from the design of God fall apart. The Modern Family not driven by the Ancient Light will not stand, for you cannot mix light and dark, fresh water and salt water, corruption and holiness. A house divided against itself will not stand. As Jesus said:

Matthew 7:17-20 (KJV) Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. [18] A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. [19] Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. [20] Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

You must be one or the other. No one rides a fence long who will not fall on one side or the other. Departing from Christ these Scribes were in dangerous territory. Jesus made an interesting statement next. He said:

Mark 3:27 (KJV) No man can enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.

I have heard this verse misapplied by many. It’s not a hard statement to understand. Jesus is the strong man. He is the Son of God and God the Son. His House is protected by Him. The Scribes and Pharisees cannot come into His House and take it without first binding Christ, the Strong Man. What Jesus is saying is that these Scribes – like Sneak Thieves – are trying to sneak in the back door to overthrow Christ’s Kingdom. They are not there to protect the Kingdom of God. They are there to DESTROY. Jesus said in another place:

John 10:10-11 (KJV) The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. [11] I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

Jesus is the Strong Man, the Good Shepherd, the Lover of God and the Lover of His people. These Scribes are of Satan not of God. These Scribes are destroyers of the Kingdom, not it’s guardians. They want to tie Jesus’ hands by poisoning the minds of the people against Him.

They are but darkness.

If you let the word of the Scribes enter the house, they will bind Christ and blind us. We are to focus on our Jesus and His Command.

Jesus Christ Our Lord Died For All Sins. He Is The Lamb Of God That Takes Away The Sin Of The World (John 1:29). Periodically people ask me this question. “Is there a sin that God will not forgive”? Is there a murder or a rape that God will not forgive? What about suicide? Will God forgive the suicide? What about genocide, the mass murder of humans? Abortion clinics are guilty of genocide. Can that be forgiven? Jesus answers that question in our text today. He says …

Mark 3:28 (KJV) Verily I say unto you, ALL SINS SHALL BE FORGIVEN unto the sons of men, and BLASPHEMIES wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:

“ALL SINS SHALL BE forgiven”. That is very definite. There is absolutely NO SIN that cannot be forgive. When Jesus entered this life the Angel of God said:

Matthew 1:21 (KJV) … thou shalt call his name JESUS: for HE SHALL SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS.

Jesus came to this earth to be the “Savior of HIS people”. “He shall save HIS people from their sins”. Jesus – precious and sinless Jesus – came to pay a debt that we could not pay. We have all sinned – and perhaps even this day have sinned – against the Holy and Just God Who made us. We are flawed creatures. We are fallen creatures. We are born sinners in need of salvation. We drift toward the darkness without Christ at the helm of our lives. The Bible tells us that …

1 Peter 3:18 (KJV) For Christ also hath ONCE SUFFERED FOR SINS, THE JUST FOR THE UNJUST, that HE MIGHT BRING US TO GOD ….

God came to earth, was born of a Virgin, lived a sinless life, and went to the Cross to make sacrifice for our sins. Jesus Christ came to bring us to God, something no one else can do. We are set apart from our sin and drawn to the mountaintop of God by Christ our Lord. We are told in …

Hebrews 10:10-12 (KJV) …. we are sanctified {set apart for God’s use} through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. …. after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever…

Jesus suffered for SINS that He might bring us to God. There were no specified sins that He did not offer Himself for. He offered ONE sacrifice for SINS forever. He paid for every sin that we would ever commit. No matter how heinous, no matter how evil, no matter how many people our sin hurt – Jesus paid for our sins on that Cross of Calvary.

But if Jesus is the only means to salvation, and we reject that only means of salvation – then can we be saved? No. No, we cannot. Jesus told these Scribes:

Mark 3:29 (KJV) … But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath NEVER FORGIVENESS, but is in danger of eternal damnation:

Those who blaspheme against the Holy Ghost cannot be forgiven. In a parallel text we read:

Matthew 12:31-32 (KJV) Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

What is “blaspheme of the Holy Spirit”? Why is this sin so unforgivable?

When Jesus came born of a virgin, He entered this world through the power of the Holy Spirit. When Jesus preached and healed He did so through the power of the Holy Spirit. One of Jesus’ first sermons was:

Luke 4:18-21 (KJV) The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, (19) To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. (20) And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. (21) And he began to say unto them, THIS DAY IS THIS SCRIPTURE FULFILLED IN YOUR EARS.

When Christ was preparing to go to the Cross of Calvary to pay for our sins He promised to send the Holy Spirit of God back to us. The Holy Spirit of God is the One Who empowers the Savior and empowers salvation. To look at the wondrous things Christ did and attribute what He did TO THE DEVIL shows a heart so dark, so hate filled, so convoluted that it can NEVER be saved.

God cannot save a heart hardened against Christ.

God cannot rescue the person that is satisfied with drowning in the darkness of selfishness.

The Bible says:

Acts 10:38 (KJV) … 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.

What makes the “unpardonable sin” unpardonable is that the person committing it will not repent and will not submit to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords Jesus Christ. If you will not come to Christ you cannot be pardoned.

He alone is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life”. He alone is the only way to come unto God.

Those Who Follow And Love Jesus Are Blessed. Those Who Love Jesus Will One Day Be With Him In His Heaven.

Right after this incident we read:

Mark 3:31-33 (KJV) There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him. (32) And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee. (33) And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren?

Jesus wasn’t being disrespectful to His earthly family, but He was making a point. Who is related to Jesus? Who is His mother and His brothers and sisters? Jesus was born into this life of the Spirit. He is God in the flesh. How do we get into God’s family? Jesus declared:

Mark 3:34-35 (KJV) And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! (35) For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.

What is the will of God that Jesus spoke of? It is to come to Jesus Christ by faith. To sit at His feet. To order your life by His will. To surrender to Him as Savior, and follow Him as Lord.

Jesus said in another place:

John 6:38-40 (KJV) For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. (39) And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. (40) And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

You fulfill the will of God when you come to Jesus Christ. He is the one and only Messiah. The writer and apologist C.S. Lewis wrote that he studied the life of Christ and eventually became a Christian, surrendering himself to the Lord Jesus Christ. Lewis wrote …

“One of three things is true {about Jesus}. He is either a lunatic on the level of somebody who thinks He’s a poached egg, or He is a liar at such a calculated and clever and extreme level as to probably be unequaled as a purveyor of deception, or He is Lord. Forget the patronizing nonsense that He’s a good teacher, that’s not an option that He has left to us.”

He is Lord. He is God Who gave Himself for you. Come to Him by faith and be saved, or reject Him and be damned forever. The choice is yours as it was with the Scribes, Pharisees, Herodians, and Sadducees. Choose Christ and choose life!

Revelation 3:1-6 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. (2) Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. (3) Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. (4) Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. (5) He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. (6) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

On Sunday, January 11 2015, over 1 million people marched in Paris in protest of the terrorist attacks on the offices of the magazine “Charlie Hebdo”. Many carried signs that said “Je Suis Charlie”, which means “I Am Charlie”. Though I despise what the Muslim extremists did, and though I support the right to free speech for every person (even if I hate the speech), I do not believe that it is appropriate for anyone who professes to be Christian to align themselves with the behavior of a magazine that profited from shock and slander. One French Lawyer named Richard Malka said “We will not give in. The spirit of ‘I am Charlie’ means the right to blaspheme”.

Having a right does not make a thing right. I have the right to free speech – but not to slander another. I have a right to free speech – but not to speak hatefully of another. I have a right to free speech – but to yell “Fire” in a crowded place inciting a riot is not my right. Words matter. Actions matter. God looks at our hearts, and what is in our hearts matters. If we are born again Children of God we should be marked not by signs that say “I Am Charlie” but rather “I Am Christ”.

Tonight we’ll be looking at Christ’s words to an end time Church called “Sardis”. The name “Sardis” literally means “Prince of Joy”. The Church in Sardis – in fact every Church – should have been a place of joy. Joy is the heritage of the Christ Follower. The Bible says that

Galatians 5:22-23 …. the fruit of the Spirit is love, JOY, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance ….

Romans 15:13 ^(ESV) May the God of hope fill you with all JOY and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Proverbs 10:28 ^(NIV) The prospect of the righteous is JOY, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing.

A Church should be a joyful place filled with joyful people. But Sardis was not joyful. Sardis had a good reputation. But Sardis had stalled – they had a bad heart problem!

1 Sardis Had A Reputation For Being Alive, But The Church Was Dead. Jesus said to them:

Revelation 3:1 … unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

This is highly symbolic, so bear with me. Jesus says that He has “the seven Spirits of God”. This is a reference to the sevenfold manifestation of the Spirit of God. The Prophet Isaiah foresaw the First Advent of Jesus Christ, and wrote of Him:

Isaiah 11:1-2 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: 2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;

The “Seven Spirits of God” is the Spirit of the LORD (the Great I AM), the Spirit of Wisdom, the Spirit of Understanding, the Spirit of Counsel, the Spirit of Might, the Spirit of Knowledge, and the Spirit of the Fear of the Lord. Jesus Christ had the Fullness of the Spirit, and His people should likewise have the Fullness of the Spirit. There is Life in Christ, and there should be Life in those who love Christ. Jesus said:

John 10:10 …. I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it MORE ABUNDANTLY.

I preached this one time and I had an old Fundamentalist come up to me. He asked, “What do you mean that we are to have ABUNDANT LIFE”? I guess he thought I was getting too Pentacostal. I did what Jesus always did, I answered his question with a question. I asked “What do you think JESUS meant when He said that He came to give us ABUNDANT LIFE?” To my knowledge, that old Fundamentalist never answered my questioned, but wandered off to afflict someone else.

The rest of the world is just existing. The Christian is to LIVE! God has given us life so we can live. He has given us light so that we can SHINE!

A Sunday School teacher was showing her young students what she had learned as a child. She took her hands and, folding them, said:

“Here is the Church, and Here is the Steeple.

Open the doors, and There’s all the people!

As she was doing this she suddenly realized she made a terrible error in judgment. One of her students was a little boy who had been born with no left hand. The other children were making their little Churches with their little hands, but this boy sat there, red faced and embarrassed. Before the teacher could say anything one of the other children scooted over where he was, saying “Here, let me help.” Putting out her hand she joined hands with the little boy, and TOGETHER they made the Church.

A Church is not one person, nor one building. A Church is a body of believers, a family, The Family of God working together, living together, being Light together in this dark world.

2 Sardis Was Dead Because It Started Much, But Finished Little. The Lord said:

Revelation 3:2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works PERFECT BEFORE GOD.

Circle the word “PERFECT” in your text. This is the Greek  πληρόω PLEROO (play-roh’-o), which means “Complete, Finished”.

The Church at Sardis STARTED a lot of things but it never FINISHED what it started. Jesus said “I’ve examined what you’ve done, but these works that you’ve done you have not finished. These works are BEFORE GOD. God sees them – and you have left them hanging.”

There is no prize for starting well, but for finishing well. Israel started well when they came out of Egypt. They did as God told them to do. They put the Blood of the Lamb that was slain on the door posts of their houses. Because the Blood was on the homes the Destroyer could not come in the house (Exodus 12:23), and Israel was released. They crossed the Red Sea as if on dry land. They should have inherited the Land, but did not. Why? They did not finish well.

Even Moses, great man that he was and is. He was the most humble of all men. God blessed Moses with a great ministry, and Moses should have went into the Promised Land, but did not. Why? Because Moses took the glory from God. Rather than speak to the Rock he smote the Rock, saying …

Numbers 20:10 …. Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?

God told Moses and Aaron:

Numbers 20:12 …. Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.

You ran a great race, but did not finish well. When you run a race, you run it for the judges. You seek to impress the judges, not the audience. You run for the prize that the Judge will award. Dear Christian, we are to run for the Audience of One. Run so that He is pleased. Run so that He – seeing us – is magnified. The Scripture says:

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

You are running a race for God. You were left on this earth to shine for Him, so that others might see Christ in us. Run! Run the race and keep on running. Keep running, though the race seems hard. Run though it may seem as if the Devil and Darkness might be winning. Run and keep on running. The Scripture tells us:

Hebrews 12:1-3 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. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

People are watching. God is watching. The angels are watching. There are so many Churches and so many Christians today that look good on the outside, but they are dead for they are not running the race for Jesus. I’ve seen a lot of STARTERS in my ministry as a Pastor, but many are not FINISHERS. Sadly this is true even of those in full time ministry. Do you know that only 1 in 10 Pastors run the race until the day Jesus calls them home? Trained and ordained, they quit too soon. If you have life keep on running, keep on going, keep on doing for Jesus. There will come a day when your body can lay down and quit, and that is the day that you are DEAD INDEED and put in a casket. Run until Jesus calls you home!

Jesus Christ kept running His Race even though their pinned His Hands and Feet to the Cross. He kept running His Race though they jammed vinegar in His mouth to quench His thirst. He kept running His Race though they mocked and spit on Him. Why? Why? IT WAS FOR THE JOY THAT WAS SET BEFORE HIM! God wins. Grace saves. The Family is born. Jesus walks out of that Tomb, and so do we who are His!

Finish what you start. YOUR FAITH IS YOUR FAITH. Live it! God is watching how we do. We must never be Sardis. There will be a harvest if we continue to follow Him in the race.

John Egglen had never preached a sermon in his life. Never! A member of a small Church in Colchester, England, it never occurred to this poor man to preach. He loved the Lord, loved His Church, and ever Sunday walked six miles to Church because this was what God called him to do. One Sunday morning he woke up and there was several feet of snow on the ground. At first John thought about staying home – after all, they would probably cancel Church anyway. But he reconsidered. As a Deacon in the Church he had a responsibility to be a good example. So John dressed warm and walked the six miles to Church. When he got to Church there was only thirteen people there counting him. Even the Pastor stayed home that day. Twelve members, and a thirteen year old boy who was a visitor was all that was there. Someone said, “Why don’t we just go home?” John was the only Deacon there. He saw the visitor, and thought “I’ve just got to share the Gospel!” So he stood up read from …

Isaiah 45:21-22 Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. 22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

John didn’t know how to preach, and so what he said lasted only about ten minutes. But as he spoke and spread the wings of his faith the Holy Spirit became the wind beneath his wings. He lifted his eyes and looked at the thirteen year old boy, challenging him. “Young man, look unto Jesus. Look! Look! Look at Him and Him alone”. That young man would be saved through this preaching, and would later preach what this man preached to him in one of his own sermons:

“It was about twenty-six years ago,—twenty-six years exactly last Thursday,—that I looked unto the Lord, and found salvation, through this text. You have often heard me tell how I had been wandering about, seeking rest, and finding none, till a plain, unlettered, lay preacher … stood up in the pulpit, and gave out this passage as his text: “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth.” … I remember how he said, “It is Christ that speaks. ‘I am in the garden in an agony, pouring out my soul unto death; I am on the tree, dying for sinners; look unto me! Look unto me!’ That is all you have to do. A child can look. One who is almost an idiot can look. However weak, or however poor, a man may be, he can look; and if he looks, the promise is that he shall live.” Then, stopping, he pointed to where I was sitting under the gallery, and he said, “That young man there looks very miserable.” I expect I did, for that is how I felt. Then he said, “There is no hope for you, young man, or any chance of getting rid of your sin, but by looking to Jesus;” and he shouted …. “Look! Look, young man! Look now!” And I did look; and when they sang a hallelujah before they went home, in their own earnest way, I am sure I joined in it. It happened to be a day when the snow was lying deep and more was falling; so, as I went home, those words of David kept ringing through my heart, “Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow;” and it seemed as if all nature was in accord with that blessed deliverance from sin which I had found in a single moment by looking to Jesus Christ.”

The young man that was saved was C.H. Spurgeon, the Prince of Preachers. Because John was faithful to the finish THOUSANDS were saved. God will not bless that which is started – however fervently – but not finished. We serve a Risen Savior, and we are called to serve Him until the day He calls us home. Jesus said to Sardis – and to every Christian

Revelation 3:3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

What God gives us – what we have received and heard – we are to hold fast, to keep on doing. We are not called to be half hearted but whole hearted in serving our Lord. Jesus said “I will come on thee as a Thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee”. The Procrastinator says “Never do today what you can put off till tomorrow”. Jesus says, “Tomorrow might not come. The finish line can be any day, any moment, any second.” Jesus can call us home anytime. Run the race until the Master says “Well done, My Child …welcome home!”

3 Those Who Start Out Like Gang Busters But Quit MAY NOT Be Saved. Jesus closes His letter to Sardis with these words:

Revelation 3:4-5 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. (5) He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Some have incorrectly taken the Biblical Doctrine of “Once Saved Always Saved” to be a covering for sin. Actually, I don’t like “Once Saved Always Saved”, but prefer “Perseverance of the Saints”. If you’re born again, God has changed you and will keep on changing you until the day you have the ultimate change in Heaven. “Perseverance of the Saints” or “Eternal Security” is not a cloak by which we sin with impunity. Those who are saved are in the Family of God. Those who are saved keep on living for God. Jesus says “there are a few in Sardis who have not soiled their garments – they shall walk with Me in white”. A saved person may sin, but a saved person does not live in sin. A saved person who sins is convicted of sin by the Spirit that indwells them, and that saved person confesses their sin to God:

1 John 1:8-9 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The Lord says to His people “he that overcometh shall be clothed in white raiment, and I WILL NOT BLOT OUT HIS NAME FROM THE BOOK OF LIFE”. Those who run the race for Jesus – loving Him – will overcome. They will keep on keeping on. Those who do not may not be saved.

Finish well.

The first Missionary from America overseas was a young man named Adoniram Judson. He was a brilliant young man. The son of a Pastor, he learned to read in one week at his mother’s knee when he was only three years old. He entered college when he was only 16 years old, and graduated at the top of his class just three years later. Judson’s parents thought that he was a Christian, and he knew the words and the ways. But he just never gave his heart to Christ. When he was in college he met a man named Jacob Eames, and fully turned from God. Judson said that he lived “a reckless, vagabond life, finding lodgings when he could, and bilking the landlord where he found opportunity”. Eames went his way and Judson his, with neither living for the Lord.

One night Judson took a room in a small village inn. The innkeeper told him “I apologize, but in the next room there’s a man critically ill. He may keep you awake tonight, but I have no other rooms.” All night long Judson heard people coming and going, and the horrible moans and cries of the man in the room next door. Judson began to think about his own life and how it might be if he ended in such a state. Early in the morning the moans ceased. When Judson got ready to leave he asked the innkeeper, “Is that man better? The moans stopped during the night.” The innkeeper said “He is dead”. Judson asked, “Do you know who he was?” The innkeeper replied, “Oh yes. He was a young man from the college in Providence. His name was EAMES, JACOB EAMES.”

The man that led Judson from Christ died a terrible death. It wasn’t long after that that Adoniram Judson gave his life to Christ. He met and married Ann Hasseltine, and he and his wife ended up as missionaries to Burma. They both ran their race in Burma, dying for the Lord in that country, leading many to Christ.

As Pastor John Piper said, “God does not call us to ease, but to faithful joy”. Run the race. Never give up. Trust the Lord, for He runs with us. Finish what you start for HIM.

May God touch your hearts with His Word.

Sometimes I wake up with a song in my head. Most times it’s a hymn, but the other day I woke up with an old song from my generation (the Baby Boomers). It was written by two men, England Dan and John Coley and is called “Love Is The Answer”. It’s a beautiful song. Listen to the lyrics:

Name your price
A ticket to paradise
I can’t stay here any more
And I’ve looked high and low
I’ve been from shore, to shore, to shore
If there’s a short cut I’d have found it
There is no easy way around it
Light of the world, shine on me
Love is the answer
Shine on us all, Set us free
Love is the answer

When I first heard the song I thought “These people are singing about Jesus”. Jesus Christ said:

John 8:12 …. I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

But when I listened to the song further I realized they weren’t talking of Christ. They sang:

Who knows why
Someday we all must die
We’re all homeless boys and girls
And we’re never heard
It’s such a lonely, lonely world
People turn their heads
And walk on by
Tell me is it worth just another try …

They were singing of love not seated in Christ but divorced from Christ. They were – like so many in this world today – elevating love as an EMOTION without reason and without basis. Two people come together and they say “Well, at least they found love”. Did they?

If God is not in the midst of it, it is not love. God is Love. God defines what love is.

God shows us love in what He did for us on the Cross. Love is not self serving and self seeking, but reaches out to lift up others even at the expense of ourselves.

Question: What Are The Characteristics Of Godly Love? ______________________________

Paul addresses this as he speaks to the Church at Philippi. This Church was a strong, mostly united Church. The Apostle writes:

Verse 8 is partially obscured by the Old English of the King James. What Paul told the Church was “God is my Witness how deeply I miss you all with the affection of Christ Jesus”. The Love that Paul had for the Church was based on the affection of Christ Jesus.

Love is the Answer, and Love has a Face and a Voice – and it is the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Love that the world – and we need – is to “abound more and more in KNOWLEDGE and in all JUDGEMENT or DISCERNMENT”. What is “Godly Love”?

Answer: Godly Love Is Marked By Both Knowledge As Well As Good Discernment. The Apostle prayed that “your love would abound (grow) in KNOWLEDGE and all JUDGMENT. Genuine Godly love is a thinking love. It is not rooted in confusion, but in God.

John 3:16 is a wonderful Bible text that promotes the Gospel, but one of my favorite Bible verses that helps me both as a believer and as a Pastor is found in:

1 Corinthians 14:33 For God is NOT the author of confusion, but OF PEACE, as in ALL churches of the saints.

I love that verse because it has cleared up so many things in my life. God is not the Author of Confusion, but of Peace. When the Apostle wrote this it was to a Church that was proud of it’s use of spiritual gifts. Paul told the Corinthians …

1 Corinthians 14:12 …. forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may EXCEL TO THE EDIFYING OF THE CHURCH.

1 Corinthians 14:26 …. How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

You can have spiritual gifts. You can do great things. But if LOVE – Godly Love – is not in the mix then God is not in it. God is NOT the Author of confusion – but of PEACE. When someone says something to confuse me I ask them to repeat the statement. If they still confuse me GOD IS NOT IN IT. Genuine Godly love edifies – it builds up – it blesses. It thinks.

Pastor Ray Stedman said  “Love acts like hate when it refuses to think”. A good thing becomes a bad thing when it does not LIFT UP to God. A good thing becomes a bad thing when it does not glorify the Master. Paul prayed for the Church that their love would grow in knowledge and discernment – that it would be SPIRIT driven and SCRIPTURE based.

After Paul expresses his heart’s desire for the Church he writes:

An ABOUNDING, EDIFYING, THINKING GOD SENT LOVE has four things true of it:

1. It “approves things that are excellent”. It magnifies things that matter most, and does not waste itself on trivia. It is not side tracked by minutia or the mundane but focuses on “What has God said”.

   Philippians 4:8-9 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
   

2. It is “sincere and without offense”. The phrase “without offense” is ἀπρόσκοπος aproskopos (ap-ros’-kop-os) meaning “not leading into sin”. Genuine love will lead people TOWARD God not AWAY from God. The congregation at Rome began to fight among themselves over MEAT and what was right to eat. The Apostle told them:

   Romans 14:13-21 (KJV)13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way. 14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. 16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of: 17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. 19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. 20 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. 21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
   

3. The Love that God wants in His Church is “filled with the fruits of righteousness” means to be filled with the Holy Spirit of God. It is Spirit driven.

   Galatians 5:22-24 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

   There is a difference between LUST and LOVE. LUST is motivated by the desire to lift up SELF. LOVE is motivated by the desire to lift up GOD and our FELLOW MAN.
   

4. The Love that God desires of us will always bring “glory and praise unto God”. We were made to give praise to Him, to honor Him, to love Him.

   Psalms 104:1-2 (ESV2011) Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty, 2 covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent.

   Psalms 86:12 (ESV2011) I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.

   Love is the answer, but that love must come from and magnify God. I have a dear friend I lost touch with over the years, but I will never forget him. His name was Ron Golder. Ron loved the Lord. He and I used to study the Bible together for hours at a time. Ron taught me Biblical Greek and mentored a young Christian boy into manhood. He made a difference in my life.

   Whose life are you making a difference in? Who are you blessing, building up, edifying? If you belong to Jesus Christ, then you are called to be discipled and to make disciples. Let’s make a difference for Him!

   May God touch your hearts with His Word.