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The Golden Petition

Posted on November 10, 2023 by bibleteacherorg

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John 12:20-25 And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast: 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.

We start out with these wonderful words:

John 12:20-21 And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast: 21 The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.

Several things are happening in this text. Our Lord Jesus came to this earth to be “The Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

A Jew would think the Lamb of God was to take away the sin of ISRAEL. This is, after all, what the Law provided in the sacrifices and Temple.

It was established in the Law of God – the Law written through Moses to Israel – that sin would be covered or atoned for by the sacrifice of a lamb without spot or blemish (Exodus 12:5; Leviticus 4:32; 9:3; 23:12; Numbers 6:14; Ezekiel 46:13). It was during the Feast of the Passover that all who were able went to Jerusalem to the Temple to sacrifice and make atonement for their sins.

As Jesus rode into Jerusalem this last time, He rode into Jerusalem on:

John 12:14-15 … Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written, 15 Fear not, daughter of Zion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass’s colt.

As Jesus came into Jerusalem this last time, crowds formed around Him. They believed that Jesus was the Miracle Worker Who would help overthrow Rome and Roman rule, and return Israel to its rightful place in the world. As these people cheered Jesus, our Lord knew their hearts, and knew that before the week was out they would be demanding His crucifixion before Pilate (Mark 15:12-13). They wanted a Jesus, a Messiah Who would conquer the enemy, which they believed was Rome.

Jesus did come to conquer the enemy called SIN.
Not just for Israel, but the whole WORLD.

As Jesus rode into Jerusalem, He rode in on a donkey, not on a stallion horse. This was a fulfillment of the Prophecy of

Zechariah 9:9 (ESV) 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.

Conquers came into a city on stallions. Jesus did not come to overthrow human government, but to overthrow our sins. The Bible says:

1 Peter 3:18 (ESV) For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us (ALL of US) to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the Spirit

Jesus was not entering Jerusalem as a Conquering King, though all Israel turned out to shout “Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord” (John 12:13). Even the Pharisees thought that Jesus might pull off a coup based on this massive crowd cheering Him on. The Pharisees said:

John 12:19 … Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.

This was not true. Though it appeared that the “world had gone after Him”, the world was actually chasing Jesus for the wrong reasons. This same world would turn against Him in just a few days. Jesus knew this, and I know His heart was breaking. But then we read:

We Would See Jesus Is A Fulfillment Of PROPHECY

The Bible tells us that Jesus “Came unto His own, but His own WOULD NOT RECEIVE HIM. But as many as received HIM, to THEM He gave POWER TO BECOME THE SONS OF GOD, even to THEM which BELIEVE on His name …” (John 1:11-13). Though all His disciples will abandon Him, and though it will seem as if the whole world, Roman and Jew would despise Him, God has always had a believing remnant who believe on Him.

So often in our world today, I feel like Elijah after his encounter with Jezebel and the false prophets of Mount Carmel. Though God did great things through Elijah, the people’s hearts were still hardened by sin and narcissim. Elijah went out into the wilderness and prayed, “Lord, take away my life – I am no better than my fathers” (1 Kings 19:4). Yet God would later remind Elijah:

1 Kings 19:18 … I have left Me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

Though it appeared to our Lord Jesus as He looked at the hardened hearts of all those cheering souls around Him that there were none who believed, yet here are these “Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast”. These are not JEWS, not PHARISEES or SADDUCEES nor even SCRIBES. These are not ROMAN citizens. These are “GREEKS”. The Grecians loved learning and philosophies. The Grecians had vast libraries, and placed a strong emphasis on philosophy, mathematics, science, and literature. The Grecians had well developed Navies, and travelled the world learning.

The most spoken language of the day was Koine or Common Greek. The Greek Pharaoh of Egypt, Ptolemy II Philadelphus, “sent seventy-two Hebrew translators—six from each of the Twelve Tribes of Israel—from Jerusalem to Alexandria to translate the Tanakh from Biblical Hebrew into Koine Greek, for inclusion in his library”. This was about 250 years BEFORE our Lord walked this earth. Called the Septuagint or The Translation Of the Seventy, the Bible made its way into Greek society. As a result there were many Greeks who worshiped the God of Scripture.

This is actually a fulfillment of Bible prophecy. The Bible said that the Messiah, Jesus Christ would be:

Isaiah 42:6 I the Lord have called Thee {the Messiah} in righteousness, and will hold Thine hand, and will keep Thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people {Israel}, for a light of the Gentiles …

Luke 2:30-32 {Simeon on seeing the baby Jesus praised God, saying} For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, 31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; 32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

Though Jesus had often gone to and blessed the Gentiles by healing them (see Matthew 8:28-34; Luke 17:12-19; John 4:5-42; Matthew 15:24, 28; Matthew 8:8, 11-12),

this was the first time the Gentiles sought out Jesus for Jesus’ sake. They did not seek healing, but Jesus!

As they sought out Christ, we are told:

John 12:22-23 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.

The Greeks come to “PHILIP” first looking for Jesus. Why Philip? Because Philip is a Greek name, and Philip will later preach in Greece, Syria, and Asia Minor. Philip and Andrew were good friends, so Philip goes to Andrew, and they both go to Jesus. When Jesus sees these Greeks, He declares “The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified”. Jesus was encouraged by these Greeks, and knew that the Cross was soon to come. “the Son of man” is a reference to the Messiah (see the prophecy of Daniel 7:13). Jesus said that “the SON OF MAN” …

“has power on earth to forgive sins” (Matthew 9:6)
“is Lord of the Sabbath” (Matthew 12:8)
“will be betrayed” (Matthew 17:22; 20:18)
“will be crucified” (Matthew 26:2)
“will be three days and nights in the earth” (Matthew 12:40)
“will rise from the dead” (Matthew 17:9)
“will sit on God’s right hand, and will come again” (Matthew 26:64)

This is the glory of the Son of Man, that He and He alone is the one and only Messiah, our Savior and Lord!

“We Would See Jesus” Is The PROGRAM
Of The Church

John 12:24 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.

As God is serious about saving whosoever will through Jesus Christ the Messiah, He calls on His Church to make “we would see Jesus” our priority. The world desperately needs Jesus. In order that others “see Jesus”, sacrifices must be made. Jesus said:

“Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die,
it abideth alone”

Let’s make this a little clearer by looking at a more modern version of Scripture like the Holman Christian Standard:

“I assure you: Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains by itself. But if it dies, it produces a large crop”.

Faith requires the surrender of and death of self. If Jesus had decided to preserve His own life, rather than surrender to the will of the Father and go to Calvary, then we would have never been the Children of God. Jesus Christ is THE Son of God. By willfully and willingly laying down His life (for He said, in John 10:18, “No one takes My life from Me, but I lay it down of My own will”), Jesus made it possible for God to bring others into the Family of God. The Scripture says:

Hebrews 2:9-11 But 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 …

Jesus Christ laid His life down to bring us into His Kingdom. Had Jesus not done so – had He held on to His life – there would be NO FAMILY OF GOD. But because He did so there are many sons of God brought to glory. Likewise, we as God’s Church must be willing to lay our own lives down – to surrender ourselves to God’s Plan – so that others might hear the Gospel and be saved. We are to “walk by FAITH, and not by SIGHT” (2 Corinthians 5:7). Let me put it bluntly:

If we as Christ’s Church will not step out in faith and follow Jesus, as a Church we will ABIDE ALONE until the last member dies.

Is that clear enough? Jesus went to the Cross in faith, committing Himself unto the Father. Jesus surrendered His life, allowing Himself to drop off of the stalk of life, to be buried for three days and nights. But in so doing He created the House of Christ, the Family of God. Jesus is the Master over His House:

Hebrews 3:6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

Jesus is a little more clear when He repeats verse 24 but in a different way in verse 25:

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

If you love your life the way it is – without Jesus leading you – you will LOSE it. The Church that will not lay its life down for Jesus will lose its place. We exist so that others might “See Jesus” in us.

That requires surrender.
Surrender of what “I” want.
Surrender of my desires.

It is the heartfelt desire of every true preacher of righteousness that we ALL be like Christ. The Apostle Paul described it thios way:

Galatians 4:19 (ESV) … my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!

“We Would See Jesus” Is The PRESCRIPTION
For The Lost World

People desperately need to see Jesus. A recent Breakpoint Article called “The Epidemic of Despair” quotes a New York Times article that said:

“Nearly three in five teenage girls felt persistent sadness in 2021 … and one in three girls seriously considered attempting suicide.”

People today are saying that they feel totally empty inside. They are looking inward for meaning and, finding none, feel adrift and hopeless. These feelings of inadequacy are not satisfied by “wokeness” or the other forms of insanity that are pushed on the internet today.

People need to see Jesus.

I recently visited my Doctor – an excellent Doctor – and shared with her how much I appreciated all she did to help me and help resolve my annoying and destructive cough. As I talked with her, she share with me how there are times she feels overwhelmed, and this in turn might make her harsher sounding to her patients. I asked permission to share with her, and I shared Jesus and love. She was willing to listen, and even allow me to pray with her and for her. People need to see Jesus. They need Him, His presence, in their lives. Let us reach out together and do all we can to share the love of Christ with others. May God the Holy Spirit guide us to do so. Amen and Amen.

Posted in John, Sermons Preached | Tagged Following Christ, gospel, love God, salvation | Leave a comment

The Righteous Scarcely Saved

Posted on November 8, 2023 by bibleteacherorg

1 Peter 4:16-19 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. 17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

Should We Judge?

People are fond of mis-quoting Jesus, saying

“Judge not, lest ye be judged”

This mis-quote is from Matthew 7:1, and it goes on to say:

Matthew 7:2-3 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

Jesus was not telling us to NOT judge, but to JUDGE RIGHTLY. We are to look at our lives BEFORE we look at the lives of others. The Pharisees were always judging others, but not themselves. They were fault finders. Jesus went on to say:

John 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

We are to be careful to judge ourselves first, then others. Our judgments are based on what God has said, not on what we feel. The Psalmist said:

Psalm 89:14 (NKJV) Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Mercy and truth go before Your face.

It is God Who establishes right and wrong, good and evil. As we as Christians follow Jesus, we often quote Him by saying “It is written”. We are to make righteous judgments based upon what God has said. The Scripture commands us to judge ourselves. We judge our walk with God before partaking of the Lord’s Table. The Apostle told the Church:

1 Corinthians 11:28-32 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.

Salvation is not just a FREE GIFT, it is a STEWARDSHIP from God. We act as good stewards by FOLLOWING JESUS, by doing the Scripture as He did the Scripture.

We who are saved are members of God’s Family.
We who are saved are members of Christ’s Kingdom.
We walk according to His rule.

Judgement Must Begin At The House Of God

1 Peter 4:16-17 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. 17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God:

Word Study: IF you are suffering because you are a Christian, THEN the Bible tells us to “not be ashamed”. This is the Greek mē aischýnomai, which means “do not be disfigured or dishonored, flooded with shame”. Christians should not be ashamed of being different. We are not of the world, though our Lord has left us in the world. The world and the devil will do all it can to shame us, to try and make us blend with it.

We should not be ashamed of the Gospel.

The Apostle said in Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

“NOT ASHAMED” here is the same Greek word aischýnomai, but strengthened with the addition of the prefix epaischýnomai, which means “to feel shame or be mortified”. The world mocks Christianity because we say that faith in Christ Jesus is the ONLY way to salvation. The world believes there are many ways to God, in fact, that there are many gods and goddesses. Yet there is only One Way, and that way is faith in Jesus! And as Christians we live by our faith. Those who are JUSTIFIED, made right before God, LIVE BY THEIR FAITH.

Those who are made right by God because of their faith in Christ will follow Christ unashamedly!

We should not be ashamed of following Jesus. Christianity is like a life long “follow the Leader”, with Jesus as your Leader. When the demons met Jesus, they cried out:

Mark 3:11 … UNCLEAN SPIRITS on seeing Jesus FELL DOWN BEFORE HIM and cried out, THOU ART THE SON OF GOD …

Luke 4:41 … and DEVILS that came out of many cried out on seeing Jesus, THOU ART CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD…

There are many who profess Christ as Savior and Lord, and yet show less evidence of salvation than the demons did. The Bible says:

James 2:17-20 (NKJV) faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

Those who are saved are indwelt by God’s Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit guides us into following Jesus daily. He guides us into all truth (John 14:26), reminding us of that which Jesus has said. The Christian, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, loves God more than we love ourselves. The Bible says:

Romans 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

We should not be ashamed of being different. When I was growing up, it was expected that we go along with the crowd. Yet Jesus calls us out of the world, out of the crowd.

The World Follows Flesh And Feeling.
The Christian Follows Faith. We Follow Christ.

1 Peter 4:16-17 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. 17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

If you are suffering as a Christian, glorify God for it. Jesus said:

John 15:18-20 (NKJV) If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

As Christians, we are to be like Christ, not like the world. We are to be friendly and loving to others, but NOT TO SIN. We are not to blend with the world, but to bind to Jesus. If we are saved, the Holy Spirit will guide us and encourage us to find ourselves in the Word of God. When we sin, the Spirit will convict us to turn from our sin, and to return to Jesus where there is safety and joy.

If we refuse to repent and return to Jesus, then one of two things is true. Either, you were not saved in the first place. Or, you will experience the discipline of God. Peter asks two questions here that are very telling.

1 Peter 4:17 … if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

Word Study: Peter asks, “If judgment BEGINS in the House of God, the Church – then what is the END or FINAL DESTINATION of those who refuse to OBEY the GOSPEL?” The day that a person hears the Gospel and OBEYS it, that person is saved by Grace. The words “OBEY NOT” is the Greek “apeithéō”, which means “to refuse to believe in, to be disobedient to”. To be saved you must OBEY the Gospel.

A person is SAVED by OBEYING the Gospel.
A person is NOT SAVED by NOT OBEYING the Gospel.

This is the mark of an unbeliever, a lost person, that they OBEY NOT the Gospel. We are told in another place:

2 Thessalonians 1:6-10 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; 7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints …

God will punish all those who harm us one day. God will “take vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord”. Those who refuse to OBEY the Gospel will be punished in flaming fire, and will be cast forever from the “presence of the Lord”.

What does it mean “obey the Gospel”? It means to REPENT, and stop being your own god. It means to TURN TO Jesus, and entrust your life to Him. Then you FOLLOW Jesus. You obey Him. Jesus said,

Luke 6:46 (NCV) Why do you call Me “Lord, Lord”, but do not do what I say? …

and again,

John 14:15-18 (NKJV) If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

Obeying the Gospel is following Jesus. Obeying the Gospel is repenting, turning to Him, and doing what Jesus says. When Peter went to the Centurion’s home to share the Gospel and he Cornelius was saved, Peter said:

Acts 10:34-36 … In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. 36 The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all

If someone comes to me vand says, “Preacher, I want to be saved. But I want to remain in my sin. I want my salvatiuon to have no impact or change on my life”. To that person I am obligated to say that they cannot be saved unless they REPENT, and TURN from their sin and to Jesus. Jesus is Lord of all. You must realize that you are a sinner in need of a Savior, and that Jesus is that Savior. You must put down your sin, and turn to Jesus, embracing His salvation. You must follow Jesus.

The Righteous Are Saved With Hard Work

1 Peter 4:18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

Word Study: The righteous are “SCARCELY” saved. What does that mean? The word translated “SCARCELY” is the Greek mólis, which means “with much difficulty, with much work, hard work”. God put a lot of effort in the salvation of this world. Though it was MAN who brought sin into the world, GOD decided that He would intervene and offer salvation to whosoever will. But God could not “wink at” sin.

God in His nature is HOLY and without sin. God is PURE and RIGHTEOUS. The Bible says of God, “You ALONE are Holy” (Revelation 15:4). When Moses sang about God, he said,

Exodus 15:11 Who among the gods is like you, O LORD? Who is like you– majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?

The Angels of Heaven continually sing “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, Who was, and is, and is to come” (Revelation 4:8). When the prophet looked into Heaven, he saw the Angels singing “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” (Isaiah 6:3).

Man brought sin into the world.
Sin brings separation from God.
Man is born in sin.
Man is born separated from God.

Adam put us all into a hopeless and helpless situation. Yet our God is faithful. Though we be faithless, He is faithful (Isaiah 25:1). So God got to work.

First, God had to show us that WE could not mend the breech our sin brought between us and Him. God gave mankind ANIMAL sacrifices. These sacrifices were TEACHING TOOLS to show us the horror of sin, that sin MUST be paid for. So God allowed us to kill animals, shedding it’s blood to give us a yearly, momentary covering for sin. Yet the Scripture says:

Hebrews 10:4 … It is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. So HE CAME INTO THE WORLD.

The sacrifice of animals in a Temple showed us that we could not make sin right. There had to be more. There had to be a Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world (John 1:29). God Himself had to come into the world. The “Seed of the woman” (Genesis 3:15) had to come. God must lower Himself into our story. He must re-create Himself. God must become Man. This is no light thing. This is difficulty. This is an exteme hardness!

God gave man a means to cover sin temporarily.
He gave animal sacrifices.
God gave man a mark to show he belonged.
He gave circumcision.
These things were just temporary.
Until God did the hard work.

When the Angel came to Mary and told her she would bear “the Son of God” (Luke 1:35), Mary asked “How can this be, as I am a virgin?”. The Angel said, “It will be a work of God … for WITH GOD NOTHING SHALL BE IMPOSSIBLE” (Luke 1:37).

So God became Man. The Impossible became Possible. Jesus Christ is “Emmanuel, God with us” (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23). Heaven gasped, amazed at this thing!

But the hard work wasn’t over. Becoming perfect and sinless Man, Christ walked on this earth for over three years. No sin was found in Him. And the Bible says,

Galatians 4:4-5 (NKJV) … when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

Jesus came, born under the Law of circumcision and animal sacrifice. And Jesus, God’s most precious and only Son, went to the Cross of Calvary to make payment for our sins. God did the hardest thing that any Parent can do. He allowed – no, He ordered His Son to the Cross. Jesus Christ shed His Blood on Calvary, making payment for our sins.

If the righteous are saved through such an impossible and difficult act, the act of Calvary – then what hope do the “ungodly and the sinner” have? None whatsoever. Where shall the “ungodly and the sinner appear”? They shall appear once in eternity before the God Who hates sin. They shall appear in eternity before a Great White Throne, as God in fury looks upon them. Then shall the Scripture be fulfilled:

Revelation 20:15 (NKJV) And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

If you suffer for your faith, dear Christian, realize that your suffering is but temporary. He tells us:

1 Peter 4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

As we suffer for Christ, let us keep DOING WELL, living in love toward God and others. No matter what you are suffering, it is nothing compared to what the lost will one day endure FOREVER. When you suffer, comfort yourselves that Jesus suffered on this earth so that you might be saved. You need to suffer IN your faith, for one day you will be IN Heaven – and your suffering will be gone.

That will not be the case for the unbeliever, for the person who refuses to obey the Gospel. Oh, that all would obey the Gospel today! For Christ’s sake. Amen and Amen.

Posted in 1 Peter, Sermons Preached | Tagged Following Christ, Jesus Christ, salvation | Leave a comment

Anointing Jesus

Posted on November 3, 2023 by bibleteacherorg

John 12:1-3 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. 2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. 3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.

The Apostle John gives us a time marker in this text. This is “six days before the passover”, the last week before Jesus will die on Calvary for our sins. Almost one half of John’s Gospel focuses on the events of this week. Matthew spends a third of his Gospel, Mark about 40%, and Luke about a quarter of their Gospels focusing on this very important week. Jesus has raised Lazarus from the Grave just prior to this. If you remember from last week

John 11:53-54 Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death. 54 Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.

As the Passover was at hand, Jesus moved from Ephraim to Bethany, about two miles from Jerusalem (John 11:18). Our Lord Jesus is the “Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29, 36). Jesus Christ, God’s Only Begotten Son, must die for our sins on Calvary. His sacrifice will make payment once for our sins:

Hebrews 9:26-28 For then must {Jesus} often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Paying for our sins, Jesus will fulfill the Law of sacrifice and circumcision (Matthew 5:17-18).

Because Jesus died FOR our sins, we do not have to die IN our sins.

Lazarus sat at the Table with Jesus as a trophy of Grace. Lazarus’ death and resurrection proved once and for all that Jesus is THE Messiah, for only God has the power to impart life to the certifiably dead. Martha as the older sister to Lazarus is waiting on Jesus, feeding Him and the other men at the table. The reason for the feast is the resurrection of Lazarus. As they are meeting, we find out from the other Gospels that Jesus is NOT at Martha’s home, but at the home of Simon the Leper. Simon was not currently a leper, or they would not have been sitting with him.

Matthew 26:6-7 Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat. (also Mark 14:3)

It is very possible that Jesus was with both Lazarus and Simon the leper because He had healed both men from death. Lazarus was actually dead for 4 days, but the leper was considered dead – the walking dead – by all who knew him. According to Dr. Bob Peterson of the Legacy Imperative,

“Even breathing the same air as a leper was thought to be dangerous. These walking dead were forced to live outside towns in wilderness colonies, caves, tents, or garbage dumps. Lepers were required to wear distinctive clothes … to warn others that they were near. The laws demanded that they keep at least twelve steps distance, put a cloth across their mouths, and loudly repeat, “Unclean! Unclean!”

Simon had suffered a fate worst than death, a living death, before he met Jesus. So both Lazarus and Simon had been raised from the dead by Jesus. As Jesus prepares Himself to go to Calvary, I am sure what is about to occur is on His mind. If you knew you were going to die a peaceful death you would worry about it. But Jesus knew that the death that was coming for Him would be horrific.

John 12:3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.

Then Mary comes in. Mary has always been at the feet of Jesus, listening and learning. She has been paying attention to what Jesus has said. Jesus had repeatedly told His listeners that He was going to die for the sins of the world. John the Baptist had also repeatedly told those who followed him that Jesus was going to die for the sins of the world.

Jesus saved Lazarus from death, and Simon the Leper from a fate worst than death. But Jesus can’t save Himself from death.

Mary uses a pound of ointment – the Roman pound was about 12 ounces – of “spikenard”. This is an oil extracted from the roots and trunk of the NARD plant, also called MYRRH, the aromatic resin of the thorny Commiphora tree. One commentary notes:

“ The name ‘myrrh’ has roots in ancient Aramaic and Arabic languages. In which the words ‘murr’ and ‘mur’, respectively, denote bitterness. These terms were appropriated by many of the great languages of the ancient and modern world. Entering English from the Hebrew Bible and even inspiring the root for the Greek general term of perfume, ‘mýron’.”

The Wise Men brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh (Matthew 2:11) to the young toddler Jesus while He was in Bethlehem. Myrrh was used in perfumes, as a sedative to calm the nerves when imbibed, and was mixed with Aloe when embalming a dead body.

The next time Myrrh will touch Jesus after Mary’s anointing will be when a Roman guard tried to get Jesus to drink it. The Roman soldiers used Myrrh to extend the time of the crucifixion. It is like drinking sea water when you are stranded on the ocean. It will give you a moment of relief, but then your suffering will intensify just as quickly. The Bible tells us that when they offered Jesus Myrrh (the mixture of Myrrh and Wine were called GALL)

Mark 15:23 (ESV) … they offered Him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. (also Matthew 27:34)

Jesus said (John 10:18) “No one takes My life, but I lay it down of my Own will”. Jesus would not be a plaything for the Roman soldiers cruelty. He refused the Myrrh that they put on His lips. But Jesus did not refuse Mary’s offering. This is, by the way, not Mary Magdalene, but Mary of Bethany, Lazarus’ other sister. As she anoints Jesus’ feet, it costs her something.

The ointment was “very costly”. Judas Iscariot said:

John 12:4-5 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him, 5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?

Spices and ointments were used in the ancient world like richer people would use gold or silver. This amount of Myrrh was valued by Judas Iscariot at “three hundred pence”, about one years wages for a blue collar worker. To put that in perspective, the average wage of a blue collar worker in Tennessee is around $50,000 per year. Mary would have had to save wages for an entire year to buy this bottle of Myrrh.

But Mary’s gift was costly in another way. In the ancient world, only mothers and servants washed people’s feet. Usually the feet were washed, and the ointment – very expensive – was dabbed on the head. Mary put this costly ointment on Jesus’ feet, saying by her actions that her gift, even though very costly, was unworthy to be placed on the Master’s head. By lowering herself down to wash the Lord’s feet, she humbled herself, saying she was in fact no better than a servant. Finally we note:

John 12:3 … {She} wiped His feet with her hair …

Jewish unmarried women did not let their hair down in public as their hair was considered “the glory of the woman” (1 Corinthians 11:15). The Bible says (NLT) “isn’t long hair a woman’s pride and joy? It has been given to her as a covering.” Mary used that which God gave her as a gift – her beautiful hair – to wipe our Lord’s feet. Morris notes in his commentary:

“The act is all the more striking in that a Jewish lady never unbound her hair in public. That apparently was a mark of loose morals. But Mary did not stop to calculate public reaction. Her heart went out to her Lord and she gave expression to something of her feelings in this beautiful and touching act.”

The Eerdman Commentary notes:

“The life of Mary is painted for us, in three memorable pictures, in each of which she is at the feet of Jesus.”

Luke 10:39: Mary sat at Jesus’ feet and learned.
John 11:32: Mary fell at Jesus’ feet and surrendered.
John 12:3: Mary anointed Jesus’ feet and honored Him.”

C.H. Spurgeon noted, “You must sit at His feet, or you will never anoint them; He must pour his divine teaching into you, or you will never pour out a precious ointment upon Him.”

Contrast Mary’s Actions To Judas Iscariot’s, The Disciple’s, And
Simon The Leper’s

As Mary humbles herself before Jesus, tending to Him, Judas Iscariot criticizes, and the other disciples will join in. When you live your life for Jesus, you may, at times, stand alone. You may be misunderstood. Yet Jesus understands. I am sure that Jesus saw inside the heart of Judas as he said,

John 12:5-6 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.

Judas did not care for Jesus. But as we study the parallel texts, we find out that Judas’ murmuring spread throughout the other disciples. We are told in:

Matthew 26:7-9 There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat. 8 But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? 9 For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.

This is the problem with murmuring among God’s people. When one murmurs, it’s like a forest fire. James, the stepbrother of Christ saw this and wrote:

James 3:5 (NIV) … the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. 6 And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.

While accusing Mary of Bethany in order to fill his own pockets, it is interesting that much of the money that was given to Jesus and His ministry came from women.

Luke 8:1-3 And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him, 2 And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, 3 And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.

It is better to MINISTER to Jesus than to MURMUR and MUTTER. To minister to Jesus aids His work. To murmur hinders His work!

We are told that

John 12:6 {Judas} was a thief, and had the bag, and BARE what was put therein.

Word Study: The word translated “BARE” is the Greek bastazo, which means “to habitually carry and carry OFF”. Though John did not know it till later, Judas had been robbing Jesus the entire time he was with the Lord. When Jesus corrected the disciples – along with Judas – it was the very next day that:

Matthew 26:14-16 (NKJV) … Judas Iscariot went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. 16 So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.

When God corrected Cain (Genesis 4:6-7) for the wrong sacrifice, rather than repent Cain murdered his brother. When Jesus corrected Judas for his lack of love toward Himself, Judas plotted to murder Jesus. Those who are saved by faith in Christ will, when corrected, repent of their sin. But those who are lost, pretenders to salvation, will not only wallow in their sin, but will seek to murder their Savior in their hearts. Oh, how horrible the unconverted heart is! “The heart is DESPERATELY WICKED, who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). Unless sin is repented of, and that right quickly, it will lead to a deeper and darker sin!

Jesus Defends True Worship

John 12:7-8 Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. 8 For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.

As Jesus said these words, we are told “the fragrance of the ointment filled the house” (verse 3). Jesus does not expect us to be FLAWLESS. Jesus expects us to be FAITHFUL.

If we are serving Jesus in love to the best of our ability, He will never criticize us. Within each one of us is the capability to be Mary or to be Judas. When Judas served the Lord, it cost him nothing. As a matter of fact, Judas gained more following Jesus than he lost – world wise. Judas is a picture of the person who “gained the whole world, but lost his own soul” (Mark 8:34-38). Sadly, there will be many who, beyond this life, will discover that Jesus “never knew you” (Matthew 25:41), and will hear Him say “depart from Me, into everlasting fire that was prepared for the devil and his angels”. These sad people will have missed heaven because they either counted on works alone to save them, or counted on a dead, workless faith to save them. Neither faith will save. That which saves is the life surrendered to Jesus. The great Old Time Preacher Alexander Maclaren said:

“Mark 14:9 says, Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her. The Evangelist who records that promise does not mention Mary’s name; John, who does mention the name {Mary of Bethany}, does not record the promise. It matters little whether our names are remembered, so long as Jesus bears them graven on His heart.”

Does Jesus know you? Oh, how I pray that He does. But only you and He can answer that question. I pray that you make your calling and election sure this very day, for we know not when our last day will come. May God help you to make the right decision! Amen and Amen.

Posted in John, Sermons Preached | Tagged Following Christ, God Is Faithful, gospel, love God, salvation | Leave a comment

Above All Things

Posted on October 31, 2023 by bibleteacherorg

1 Peter 4:7-8 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

As Peter looked at the madness of society around him, he declared “the end of all things is at hand”. Both Israel and Rome had become so decadent and divorced from the God of Scripture, that he knew it was not long before both nations would collapse. Israel would collapse in 70 AD, as Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed. Rome would fall a little over 400 years later, in 476 AD. Moral corruption, the political division of the empire, and invasions by what we would call “illegal aliens” who attacked the citizenship. The Bible tells us:

Psalm 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!

What kept the Roman Empire going for 400 years after Israel was scattered?

God’s Church, the people for whom Christ died.

Nations have come and gone since Christ walked this earth. These once great nations are now only found in history books:

Edom (Jeremiah 49:17–22)
Assyria (Zephaniah 2:13–15)
Sodom (Genesis 18:20)
Babylon (Jeremiah 51)

were all wiped out because they pursued evil and darkness. Today you will not find any:

Hittites (Exodus 23:23)
Moabites (Zephaniah 2:8–10)
Philistines (Zephaniah 2:5)

because these nations rebelled against God. These nations were all marked by homosexuality, fornication or unmarried lust, and idolatry prior to their collapse. As Peter sees the nation spinning down, he gives the Christian three things to do:

be sober
watch unto prayer
have fervent love among yourselves

Be Sober

Word Study: To “be sober” is the Greek sōphroneō means “be in the right mind”. What does it mean to “be in the right mind”? It means to have the “mind of Christ”. The world follows feelings and fads and foolishness. The world, in short, follows that which pleases the flesh. We who are saved do not follow after the world and the flesh, but we follow Christ.

We who are Christians follow Christ in this present world. The world has the mind of Satan. We have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). To be sober means that when confronted by the world, we respond as Christ did. We do not resort to the flesh, but to the Spirit Who indwells us.

1 Peter 2:21-23 (ESV) For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

Following Jesus means that we COMMIT NO SIN. We do not lower ourselves to the standard of the world. What God has said is sin, is sin, though all the world celebrate it. When Christ gave His life on Calvary to pay for our sins, He did not do so in order to allow us to sin freely. That’s nonsense. “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Around 2014 the slogan,

“Love is Love”

began to spread across America, humanizing those involved in sexual sin. Jesus said:

Matthew 16:24 … If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

“Love is Love” sounds good, but it’s wrong. True love is defined by God. True love begins in God. The very greatest Commandment as defined by Jesus is:

Matthew 22:37 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment.

We are to love God more than our fathers and mothers, more than our siblings, more than our children. Jesus said:

Matthew 10:37-39 (ESV) Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Christianity is a forsaking of the world and an embracing of Jesus Christ. We embrace Him for salvation, and we embrace Him for life. If you embrace Jesus, you embrace God. The Bible says:

1 John 4:8 God is love

but the Bible also says in 1 Corinthians 13:6, “Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth”. If you love God with your all, you put away that which God has said is abominable and sinful. As Christians we:

Romans 13:12 … cast off the works of darkness, and … put on the armour of light.

There is a scene in one episode of “The Chosen” where a man is confessing his sins to Jesus. As he tells the Lord what he did, he repents with bitter tears, declaring himself unworthy. Jesus touches him, and tells him his sins are forgiven. Then Jesus tells him, (and here I paraphrase),

“Return to synagogue, and listen to the words of the Torah, letting them change you and bring you peace.”

You will not be in your right mind unless you are hearing the Word of God, and following the Son of God. You must heed His Word, and order your life by it. The moral law of God was never repealed in Christ – just the sacrificial and ceremonial laws. The Lamb of God shed His Blood once for all to secure your salvation.

But sin is still sin, as God has defined sin in His Bible!

One of my favorite Bible stories is that of the demon possessed man “in the country of the Gadarenes” (Mark 5:1). This man was possessed with many demons, so many that this crowd of demons called themselves “Legion”. Jesus cast Legion out of the man, and into a herd of swine, which in turn killed themselves. The Bible says that when those owners of the swine came and found Jesus:

Mark 5:15 … they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: (sōphroneō) and they were afraid.

That man was sitting and talking to Jesus, no longer possessed by the darkness. Those sellers of swine demanded that Jesus leave their place of business. Jesus is bad for business if your business is evil! Christians and sin and Satan should not mix. We are to be sober, in our right mind, in the mind of Christ. For that to happen you must read and study your Scripture, your Bible. You cannot know right from wrong unless, like Jesus, you know what “it is written”. If you love Jesus, the world will not love you. Peter tells us:

1 Peter 4:14-16 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. 16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

The Christian is not to violate the moral Law of God. Neither murder nor thievery is now fine because of the Cross of Christ. Jesus died for murderers. Jesus died for thieves. As Jesus died on the Hill of Calvary, the Bible says that there were “malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left” (Luke 23:33). These were criminals who were probably murdering thieves. Christians do not follow after sin, nor are we evil doers. We are not to try to rule others lives, being busy bodies. We are to follow Christ in love.

Watch Unto Prayer

Word Study: “watch unto prayer” is the Greek nēphō eis proseuchē, which means

“guard or watch over your own life through interaction and communication with God”

The world itself is asleep in sin, but we walk with Christ. We imitate Him. We love Him. We lift Him up. As we let the Word of God flow over our lives, we like priests stay in contact with our Savior and Lord. We pray.

– Prayer will change our perspective. A great story I often go to is in 2 Kings chapter 6 in the life of Elisha. Elisha was Elijah’s successor, and he loved the Lord. And the Lord loved him. One of the prophets that followed after Elisha was cutting a tree down one day, and the ax head slipped off the handle and was lost in the water. That young man began to fret, because the ax was borrowed, and he was liable for it. Elisha cut off and threw a stick in the water, and the ax head floated to shore (2 Kings 6:6). This is a beautiful picture of the Cross of Christ. When you toss the Cross into the troubled waters of your life, God causes the iron to float, and the trouble to lighten! What a glorious picture! I could preach on just this, the Cross in the waters. Maybe I will one day.

The King of Syria was angry with Elisha, because Elisha always prophesied where that King wanted to attack Israel – and Israel, listening to the prophecy, was always ready. So the King of Syria decided to attack and capture Elisha.

The prophet who had seen the ax head float just the day before woke up the next morning, and saw “an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the {prophet} said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” (2 Kings 6:15). Elisha answered,

2 Kings 6:16-17 (ESV) … “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

Prayer opens our eyes to our God’s goodness. Saved by Grace, we need not fear – but to follow Christ. The Apostle told the young Pastor Timothy:

2 Timothy 1:6-7 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

If fear and hopelessness are taking you, you need to pray. Prayer will change your perspective, and your attitude. Fear God, but do not fear the world.

Psalm 118:6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?

– Prayer will NOT change the will of God. You can pray all you want, but if your prayers do not match the TRUTH OF SCRIPTURE, then you are praying in vain. God has said:

Isaiah 46:9-10 I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.’

If God has called you into His family by faith in Christ Jesus, He has saved you by Grace. But you MUST fulfill His purpose. The Scripture says:

Be proactive with God the Holy Spirit in shaping your life to be like Christ’s!

Ephesians 2:10 (ESV) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Romans 12:1-2 (ESV) I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

We cannot pray for God to endorse sin. We cannot pray for God to change Scripture. Jesus said, “Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35). What God has determined is right will always be right. What God has determined is wrong will always be wrong.

John Piper wrote:

“Those who believe in Christ Jesus are already blood-bought new creatures in Christ. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17). But now we must become what we are. “Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened” (1 Corinthians 5:7).”

If you are saved, it is God’s will that you be a son of God, an imitator of THE Son of God. This will not change. Your business is to be like Jesus, to think like Jesus, to act like Jesus. This is a lifetime project. As we pray, and grow closer to God through our prayers, we become more like Christ.

Sometimes our suffering is the Divine Will of God. Jesus prayed three times in Gethsemane:

Matthew 26:39 My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.

The Father loved the Son, and loves Him still. Yet even as much as He loves the Son, His Son had to suffer and die for the Plan of Salvation to go forward. God had predestined or pre-willed that Christ die for our sins (see Acts 4:27-28).

Isaiah 53:10 (ESV) … Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush Him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt …

When the Apostle Paul was afflicted by “a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited” (2 Corinthians 12:7) he said:

2 Corinthians 12:8-9 (ESV) Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

We can and should bring our infirmities to God for healing. But if the infirmity is there because it is God’s will that it be there, then no amount of prayer will remove it. Our God is in control of all things.

– Prayer restores us to a right relationship with God. When we sin, we bring a breech between us and our God. When King David had Uriah murdered and took his wife to be his own, confronted by Nathan the Prophet David repented. David did not “do penance”, but approached God in prayer, saying:

Psalm 51:1-4 (ESV) Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight,

In his prayer David acknowledged his sin before the Lord. He cast himself upon the Grace of God. He cried out:

Psalm 51:9-12 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

David did not seek to be saved again, but asked that God “Restore to me the joy of your salvation”. He had lost the joy of his faith, but Christ had not left him.

In the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32), the son that left the Father to go out into the world was still a son even at his lowest point. When he found himself in the worst of all jobs, he came back to the Father, and said:

Luke 15:21 … Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.

How did the Father respond? He celebrated His son’s return, and took him back into the household with joy, saying “my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found” (vs 24). The son reached this state of Grace by repenting, returning to the Father, and by prayer.

Have Fervent Charity Among Yourselves

1 Peter 4:8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

Word Study: The words “fervent charity” is the Greek ektenēs agapē, which means “an unceasing love”. We are to love other believers unconditionally. Now, what does this look like? This is NOT love like the world defines love, but love as GOD defines love.

Jesus loved people regardless of race. The Church is intentionally for all people, since Christ died for the whole world. The Scripture says:

1 John 2:1-2 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

If Jesus died for the sins of the whole world, then we can expect – in Heaven – there to be people from ALL NATIONS. And there are. John the Revelator looked into Heaven and saw the saints singing:

Revelation 5:9-10 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Jesus died for all, and wants all in Heaven. We must unceasingly love every person, especially those of the household of God. BUT we must be careful to love people within the parameters of what the Bible defines as sin. The Bible forbids sexual sin of every type.

To love someone unceasingly is to love them enough to tell them what the Bible says. It is not love to justify that which God has forbidden. Sin must always be placed under the Blood of Christ.

Let’s end with these words:

1 Peter 4:9-10 Use hospitality one to another without grudging. 10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

Illustrate: You are STEWARDS of Grace. A STEWARD is like a sharecropper on a field. The sharecropper does not own the field, but farms the field for the owner and master. Once the crop comes to harvest, the sharecropper is given a portion of the profit for his work.

You are STEWARDS of GRACE, if you have been saved. God has given you the free gift of eternal life, and has left you on this earth to be like Jesus to others, leading them to His Grace. You do not own Grace, God owns you. If you live as good stewards the Kingdom of God will grow in this area, and we will all benefit by it. But if you are a sloppy Steward, you hurt the cause of Christ and yourself.

You are to follow Jesus.
You are to be like Jesus.
You are to lead others to Jesus.

The strength of our nation relies on your obedience to Him. Amen and Amen.

Posted in 1 Peter, Sermons Preached | Tagged Following Christ, love, prayer, salvation | Leave a comment

How To Recognize A Religious Person

Posted on October 28, 2023 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by Chloe Amaya: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-face-in-close-up-photo-4079215/

John 11:45-57 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him. 46 But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done. 47 Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. 48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation. 49 And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, 50 Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. 51 And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; 52 And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. 53 Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death. 54 Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples. 55 And the Jews’ passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves. 56 Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast? 57 Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him.

Opening Illustration: Take three items, and put a label on them. In my case I’ll take a tube of toothpaste, and put the label “Apple” on it. I’ll take a Maracas, and put the label “Apple Phone” on it. And I’ll take a bottle of DayQuil Cough Syrup, and put the label “Coca Cola” on it. I’ll ask the children to identify the items, and each time tell them “No, look at the label!”

The point? It is not the LABEL or the OUTWARD CLOTHING that identifies the item, but what’s INSIDE. It’s not the LABEL that makes the Christian, but whether God the Holy Spirit is inside or not. And only Jesus Christ can give the Spirit. Only the Father can assign the Holy Spirit to a person’s life. Jesus said:

John 14:6, 16-17 (ESV) Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. … 16 And I will {erōtaō, pray to, beseech, ask} the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know Him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

When we REPENT and turn to Jesus, believing that He is the Messiah, the Only Way to the Father, Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to us. We then are “born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever” (1 Peter 1:23). Jesus said, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. You MUST BE BORN AGAIN” (John 3:6-7). The Holy Spirit lives inside the believer, correcting us, encouraging us to obey the Word of God.

We live in a day where there are many RELIGIOUS people, but few RIGHTEOUS people.

The two are not the same, as we’ll see today.

RELIGIOUS people are empowered by the FLESH.
RIGHTEOUS people are INDWELT of God.
RELIGIOUS people KNOW what the Bible says.
RIGHTEOUS people DO what the Bible says.
RELIGIOUS people SAY they love Jesus.
RIGHTEOUS people SHOW they love Jesus.
RELIGIOUS people love other RELIGIOUS people exclusively.
RIGHTEOUS people love ALL, just as Jesus did.
RELIGIOUS people ignore portions of the Bible that they do not like.
RIGHTEOUS people heed ALL SCRIPTURE, knowing it is of God.

Religious People Only Care About Themselves

John 11:45-48 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him. 46 But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done. 47 Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. 48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.

The last time we gathered we saw Jesus stand before an open tomb, and cry out “Lazarus, Come Forth!” (vs 43). As soon as Jesus shouted this, Lazarus came out of the grave, bound hand and foot with grave wrappings. The Living Word of God, Jesus spoke,

“Loose him, and let him go!” (vs 44)

When a person becomes saved, they leave the tomb of their old life. The tomb of sin and death no longer has a hold on them. Leaving that tomb, others who follow Jesus actively help that young believer to understand that they are NOT to follow sin and death. Death has no hold on us – Jesus has conquered that. Sin is not to be a regular part of our lives. The Apostle tells us:

Romans 6:16-18 (ESV) Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.

Called out of the Tomb by Jesus, other believers gather around us, and encourage us to follow Jesus. The Apostle says,

1 John 5:16 (ESV) If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that.

Imagine the joy that was at Lazarus’ home that night. The brother who was dead, has now been found. “For THIS MY SON WAS DEAD, and is ALIVE AGAIN; he was LOST, and is found. And THEY BEGAN TO BE MERRY” (Luke 15:24). Jesus Christ is clearly the Messiah. Only God can give LIFE. God told Israel in the TORAH, the Book of the Law:

Deuteronomy 32:39 (HCSB) See now that I alone am He; there is no God but Me. I bring death and I give life; I wound and I heal. No one can rescue anyone from My hand.

The power of life and death is in God’s hand alone. The Hebrew Hymnbook sings:

Psalm 68:20 (ESV) Our God is a God of salvation, and to God, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.

By raising Lazarus from the dead, He has proven that He is the Messiah sent from God. There is no Pharisee who studied the Scripture who could deny this. The Sadducees, who only received the first five Books of the Bible, the Books of the Law, could not deny the resurrection of Lazarus. The Scribes who copied and studied the scrolls of the Scripture could not deny it. Jesus is clearly the Messiah. Either God THROUGH Jesus brought Lazarus from the dead, or Jesus Himself as the Son of God did so with the Father’s blessing. The most ancient text of Scripture, the Book of Job, notes

Job 14:5 (NIV) A person’s days are determined; You {O God} have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed.

The Psalmist said “all the days YOU {O God} HAVE ORDAINED FOR ME are written in YOUR BOOK” (Psalm 139:16). He also wrote “MY TIMES are in YOUR HAND {O Lord}” (Psalm 31:15).

The enemies of Christ, the PHARISEES, SADDUCEES, and SCRIBES all studied the Torah and the Psalms. They KNEW Jesus raised Lazarus. They KNEW only God could do this. Nonetheless they sought to destroy Jesus. Why?

Religious people have little to no respect for the Word of God. They only cherish the portions that suit them.

John 11:47 Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.

The “chief priests” and the “Pharisees” got together because of Lazarus resurrection. This is in itself amazing because the “chief priests” in Israel at this time were, according to the Jewish historian Josephus, SADDUCEES and not Pharisees. One source notes:

“The religious responsibilities of the Sadducees included the maintenance of the Temple in Jerusalem. Their high social status was reinforced by their priestly responsibilities, as mandated in the Torah”.

Word Study: Rather than repent and come to Jesus, these two religious groups chose to ignore the clear evidence that Christ is the Messiah. They noted “this man doeth many miracles”. The word translated “miracles” is the Greek sēmeion, which means “a miracle, a sign from God, a supernatural event”. The Pharisees had often asked Jesus, “Master, we would see a sēmeion from you” (Matthew 12:38; Mark 8:11). “The PHARISEES and SADDUCEES came and asked Jesus to show them a sēmeion”(Matthew 16:1; Luke 11:16; John 2:18). Jesus told these people (John 4:48) “Unless you see sēmeion and wonders, you will not believe”. Now Jesus has shown them a clear sign from Heaven, a sēmeion, and they know it. Yet they will not believe. Why?

The only thing religious people care about is
themselves and what they think.

John 11:48 If we let Him thus alone, all men will believe on Him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.

These men did not doubt that Jesus was the Messiah, nor that He had done a miracle. What they were focused on was keeping their “place and nation”. The Christian is to be selfless, not selfish. Religious people are not Christians. God is selfless. Christ is selfless. Though we have offended God repeatedly, chasing after sin, the Scripture declares:

John 3:16-17 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.

Had God been selfish, when Adam sinned He would have destroyed the world and started over. But God promised a Redeemer, the Seed of the Woman. God loves the world so much that He comes to “seek and save that which is lost” (Luke 19:10). Jesus Christ came “that we MIGHT HAVE LIFE, and that we MIGHT HAVE IT ABUNDANTLY” (John 10:10). In order to have life, we must “BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST, the Son of God, and that believing we will have LIFE THROUGH HIS NAME” (John 20:31).

The Pharisees and Sadducees saw that Jesus was the Christ, but chose instead to keep their PLACE of elevation above the people, and their POWER in the nation of Israel. They were comfortable where they were. They were satisfied where they were. They did not want Jesus as the Messiah to save Israel from either Her SIN nor from ROME. They did not want to bring GLORY TO GOD. They wanted to maintain the status quo.

God Can Use The Religious Lost,
Whether They Like It Or Not

John 11:49-52 And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, 50 Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. 51 And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; 52 And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.

“Caiaphas”, or his full name is Joseph Caiaphas, was the son-in-law of the former High Priest, Annas. Caiaphas was also a Sadducee, and the Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection, neither angels nor spirits (Acts 23:8). Though the Book of Daniel notes

Daniel 12:2 (NIV) Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.

The Sadducees rejected all but the Torah or the first five Books of Scripture (The Law). The fact that Lazarus rose from the grave clearly showed the Sadducees that what they believed was a lie, else Lazarus would still be in the tomb. Further, the Sadducees were

“often wealthy men of high position and, as they sought to appease their Roman rulers, were heavily involved in politics. They held the majority seat in the Sanhedrin, the Jewish high court, over which Caiaphas ruled for the 18 years he served as high priest.”.

When Caiaphas called for Jesus’ death, saying:

vs 50 it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not

his fear was that Jesus as Messiah would attempt to overthrow Rome, and in so doing cause Rome to rise up and destroy the Temple and Caiaphas’ job. Though Jesus often told those who would make Him King, “My Kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36), most Jews believed He came to overturn Roman rule, just as a priestly family known as the Hasmoneans or Maccabees fought off the Syrian armies of Antiochus in 168 BC. Jesus came to this earth to conquer sin and its hold on us. The Prophet foretold that this would be the mission of the Messiah:

Isaiah 53:5-6 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Jesus came to close the door on the Temple for animal sacrifices. The purpose of the Law of the shedding of blood was to lead us to Christ. The “Law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, that we might be JUSTIFIED BY FAITH” (Galatians 3:24). We do not put the hope of our righteousness before God in our own works, such as circumcision and blood offerings and feast keeping. Our hope is in Jesus. He is the Fulfillment of the Law (Matthew 5:18).

We who are saved by faith in Christ fulfill the Law by walking in love as God has loved us in Christ (Romans 8:4; 13:8; 13:10; Galatians 5:14).

Those who are resting on their own efforts rather than on the finished Work of Christ (Hebrews 7:27; 9:26) is like the man mad with thirst who attempts to drink sand in the desert, or who lost on the ocean seeks to quench his thirst by drinking the ocean dry. Only Jesus can give living water.

And yet, Caiaphas – as lost is he is – can still be used of God. We read:

John 11:50-52 … it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. 51 And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; 52 And not for that nation only, but that also he {God} should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.

Caiaphas “prophesied”. Prophesy is a spiritual gift, given only by God the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21; 1 Corinthians 12:7-11). King David declared that “the Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, and His word was on my tongue” (2 Samuel 23:2). Ezekiel said that “the Spirit entered me when He spoke to me” (Ezekiel 2:2). God moved on Caiaphas, and Caiaphas prophesied that Jesus our Lord would indeed die for Israel, and for the Gentiles as well.

God used Caiaphas – the Sadducees, the Scribes, the Pharisees, and the Herodians in a wonderful way. We read:

Those who were at odds with Jesus all joined forces, and made a pact to kill Him. This was necessary if Jesus was going to go to the Cross for our sins. In World War II, Hitler promoted the murder of innocent Jews, though he publicly expressed favorable opinions toward Christianity. One source notes:

“Hitler biographer John Toland offers the opinion that Hitler “carried within him its teaching that the Jew was the killer of God. The extermination, therefore, could be done without a twinge of conscience since he was merely acting as the avenging hand of God …”

Jesus was not stoned to death, which was the Jewish method of execution, but was crucified, a clearly Roman method of death. The Jews were not Christ killers. We all were Christ killers. Jesus died for us all, and every one of us held the hammer that drove the nails!

Jesus stopped ministering openly in Judah, but moved to Ephraim in an attempt to spread the Gospel among the Ten Northern Tribes of Israel. Ephraim is about 15 miles north of Jerusalem, so Jesus could still travel to the required feasts of Israel.

Religious people drove Jesus from the Temple. Religious people drive Jesus from the Church.

John 11:55-57 And the Jews’ passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves. 56 Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast? 57 Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him.

The religious do not live in love with God and with one another. They love ceremony. They love doctrine. They love to look superior to others. But they do not love Jesus. Jesus told us,

Matthew 5:20 (ESV) For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

You are not RIGHTeous if you do not honor God RIGHT. You are not RIGHTeous if you mistreat others, treating them harshly. You are not RIGHTeous if you are not walking WITH and in obedience TO Jesus. This is not optional. This is Christianity. True Christianity …

“.. produces men, women, and children who, in union with Jesus and given new hearts, happily do the will of God with a new, childlike aim: to please him (2 Corinthians 5:9)”.

May God touch you with His Word! For His glory, through Christ our Savior and Lord. Amen and Amen.

Posted in John, Sermons Preached | Tagged Herodians, holier than thou, Pharisees, Sadducees, self centered, self righteous | Leave a comment

We All Shall Give An Account

Posted on October 24, 2023 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by Nico Siegl: https://www.pexels.com/photo/wiener-justizpalast-15686925/

1 Peter 4:5-7 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. 6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. 7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

Posted in 1 Peter, Sermons Preached | Tagged being judged, Following Christ, great white throne, Holiness, judgment seat, love God, salvation, stewardship | Leave a comment

Martha Faith, Mary Faith, and Religious Faith

Posted on October 24, 2023 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by Taryn Elliott: https://www.pexels.com/photo/back-view-of-a-person-standing-on-a-vast-green-grass-field-4652275/

John 11:21-27 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. 23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. 24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

There’s three kinds of faith that has always been in the world. There is Martha Faith, Mary Faith, and Religious Faith. Everybody in this room has one of these types of faith.

Martha Faith Saves, But Is Weak

Those who have Martha Faith are saved by grace.

The Pharisees that followed and persecuted Jesus were not saved by Grace. They believed that they could be saved by their works, by keeping sacraments, performing blood sacrifices, and by serving the Law faithfully. They dressed in a certain way, and faithfully attended synagogue, keeping the sabbaths that the Law established. God said through the Prophet:

Isaiah 64:6 (ESV) We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

The Bible says that, even on our best days, that

Romans 3:23 (ESV) …. all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God …

and Romans 6:23 (ESV) … For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Salvation is a FREE GIFT OF GOD that is received by faith. We believe that Jesus is THE CHRIST. The word CHRIST – the Greek CHRISTOS – means “MESSIAH, DELIVERER, SAVIOR”. Jesus and Jesus alone is THE Christ, THE Son of the Living God (Matthew 16:16).

The knowledge that Jesus is THE CHRIST only comes to a person through God (Matthew 16:17).

The person who “seeks God with all their heart” (Jeremiah 29:13) will find God. The Pharisees did not seek God, for they thought that the works of the Law saved them, that they were on good terms with God because of their religious efforts. But they did not know Jesus.

Martha knew Jesus. Rather than persecute Jesus as the Pharisees did, Martha ran to Him when hurt. We read:

John 11:20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him …

Martha took her hurt and suffering to Jesus. She tells the Lord:

John 11:27 I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world

Martha believes that Jesus is THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD. She believes Jesus is the Messiah, the Savior, the One Who came to save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). But Martha’s faith, though it has saved her, is still in a immature state. Though she is the elder sibling, Mary’s faith is much more mature than hers. Martha tells Jesus:

John 11:21 Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died

Martha thought that DISTANCE limited the power of Jesus. Yet Jesus is God. Jesus said, “I and the Father ARE ONE” (John 10:30). If the Father is everywhere, Jesus is consciously everywhere and all powerful. Jesus could have healed Lazarus from where He was camped, by just a word. Jesus is not just “my LORD”, but He is “my GOD”. We are told that we are to be …

Titus 2:13 (ESV) … waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

Jesus is not limited by distance, for He is God. He healed the Centurion’s servant (Matthew 8:13) from a distance. Jesus Christ is both Savior and Lord of All.

Martha also thought Jesus was limited by power. She said to our Lord:

John 11:22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.

There are people who think that Jesus is a little “g” god, but not GOD. Yet this is not what Jesus said, nor what the Father has said of Jesus. The Father said to Jesus in …

Hebrews 1:8 (ESV) … Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.

The Father calls the Son GOD, and says that He has an ETERNAL THRONE. Jesus has the same power that both Father and Spirit have. “In HIM was LIFE, and that LIFE was the LIGHT of man” (John 1:4). Certainly Jesus never stepped outside of the will of God, but He did not need to “ASK OF GOD”. He is God.

Finally, Martha thought Jesus was limited by TIME. When Jesus told her, “Thy brother SHALL RISE AGAIN”, she responded,

John 11:24 … I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

There is a resurrection day coming where “the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). This is the Rapture of the Church, where every believer in Christ will receive a glorified body. But Jesus has the power to raise Lazarus NOW. Jesus tells Martha:

John 11:25-26 … I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this?

With these words Jesus declares Himself Lord of both life and death. In “Him is life, life abundantly” (John 10:10).

As we look at these words, and see Martha’s faith, why is her faith less mature than Mary’s?

Mary Faith Listens To The Lord,
Waiting On Him

It is because Martha – though saved – often filled her days with important things, but not the MOST IMPORTANT thing. When Jesus visited this household, Martha ran about waiting on the Lord, while Mary sat at His feet and ABSORBED the Word of God (see Luke 10:41-42). Jesus told Martha, “Mary has chosen the GOOD PART that will not be taken away from her”. Mary gave preeminence to the Word of God in her life. She sat still and listened to Jesus. Martha knew Jesus, and was saved by Jesus. She ran to Jesus. But notice the difference in Mary.

John 11:20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.

John 11:28-29 And when {Martha} had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee. 29 As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him.

Martha ran to Jesus for comfort – but Mary waited to be called. Mary trusted that Jesus loved them, and that He had power over whatever might happen. Mary waited on the Lord, and LISTENED to His Word.

Luke 10:39 … Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.

Both Martha and Mary loved Jesus, I am certain. But Mary loved to sit at His feet, and listen to Him. Mary waited on Jesus. When she heard that Jesus called for her, then and only then did Mary(vs 29) “arise quickly, and came unto him”.

John 11:30-32 Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met Him. 31 The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there. 32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto Him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

Now Mary says exactly the same thing that Martha says:

Martha in John 11:21 said:

Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

Mary in John 11:32:

Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

Martha is limiting Jesus, but Mary is grieving, questioning why her brother died. Though they are both saying the same thing outwardly, their body position shows that Mary is grieving, but surrendered to Jesus. She falls down at Jesus’ feet. He is Lord, and Mary is submitted to whatever He says – though she grieves.

I have often wondered why these next verses are here – but Mary’s faith explains it. We read:

John 11:33-35 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled. 34 And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. 35 Jesus wept.

Jesus did not weep when Martha approached Him, but when He “SAW MARY WEEPING” along with the “JEWS WHICH CAME WITH HER”, our Lord wept.

Abraham wept when he buried Sarah.
Jacob wept after he wrestled the Angel of the Lord.
David and his friend Jonathan wept together.
Hezekiah wept when he became sick unto death.
Josiah wept over the sin of Israel.
Nehemiah wept when he heard the walls of Jerusalem were fallen.
The Prophet Jeremiah wept over his unbelieving nation.

As a weeping Jesus moved toward the tomb of Lazarus, the religious questioned Jesus.

John 11:36-37 Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him! 37 And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?

They knew that Jesus had opened the eyes of the blind. So they questioned Him. “Could not this man” have caused Lazarus to not die? Religious people often question God. “Why did God allow this? If God is a God of love, how could He have let this happen?”

John 11:38-40 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. 39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. 40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

How can the glory of God be seen? Only “if thou wouldest believe”. Jesus has the power to raise Lazarus from the grave. Jesus Christ is the Resurrection and the Life. Oh, how God delights in the life that surrenders to Him.

John 11:41-44 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. 42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. 43 And when He thus had spoken, He cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. 44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

Lazarus is a picture of what Christ does with every sinner who surrenders to Him by faith.

God is glorified in the sinner, raised by the power of Christ, who leaves the bed clothes of dead works behind in that tomb. Oh, how Christ is glorified and the Father in Him when that which was unworthy such as you and I have been raised to sit with Him by faith.

Sincere faith in Christ will draw Lazarus from the tomb.
Sincere faith in Him will cause the sinner to forsake sin’s pleasure.

A faith in Christ that does not bring an inner change in the heart, a desire to leave the crypt, is no faith at all. This Gospel we stand in is a Glorious Gospel (1 Timothy 1:11; 2 Corinthians 4:4), that is, it takes that which is unworthy and confers the worthiness of Christ on it. Because Christ has raised the believer from spiritual death, we walk in newness of life. John MacArthur said:

“… Christians love Someone they cannot see, hear, or touch. It is a supernatural, God-given love. “We love him, because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19, KJV). There is no such thing as a Christian who lacks this love. Peter is saying categorically that the essence of what it means to be a Christian is to love Jesus Christ. In fact, perhaps no better way exists to describe the essential expression of the new nature than to say it is continual love for Christ.”

Saving Grace is rooted in a love for Christ and His Word. The Scripture says:

Ephesians 6:24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

Do you love Him? Or do you just love Heaven, or Healing, or Happiness? Some do not love Jesus, but love what Jesus offers.

1 Corinthians 16:22 (ESV) If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come!

True Christians love Christ. His love for them, producing their love for Him (1 John 4:19), is one of the guarantees that they will persevere to the end (Romans 8:33-39). Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:23). “He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me” (John 14:21). Jesus also said, “He who does not love Me does not keep My words” (John 14:24).

Do you know Jesus? Are you just religious, or are you a Christian, a follower of Him? John MacArthur wrote:

“Those who are devoted to Christ long to promote His glory. They long to serve Him with heart and soul and mind and strength. They delight in His beauty. They love to talk about Him, read about Him, fellowship with Him. They desire to know Him better and to know Him deeper. They are compelled in their hearts to want to be like Him. Like Peter, they may stumble frequently and fail in pathetic ways as sinful flesh assaults holy longings. But like Peter, all true believers will persevere until the goal is ultimately reached. “Beloved, now we are the children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is” (1 John 3:2).”

If you love Jesus, you will persevere in faith. You will overcome. Salvation is all about following Jesus. Are you following Him? May God draw you to the arms of Jesus, to sit at His feet as Mary did, to adore Him both now, and forever. Amen and Amen!

Posted in John, Sermons Preached | Tagged Following Christ, God Is Faithful, gospel, Jesus Christ, love God, salvation | Leave a comment

The One God Helps Part 2

Posted on October 13, 2023 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by Brett Sayles: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-in-black-jacket-standing-in-front-of-grave-3648309/

John 11:17-22 Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already. 18 Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off: 19 And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. 20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. 21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.

Last week we started looking at one of the greatest miracles Jesus did, the resurrection of Lazarus. This is not the first time Jesus resurrected the dead. A ruler of the Synagogue named Jairus (Luke 8:41) came to Jesus because his daughter lay dying. When Jesus got to his home, the daughter was dead. But Jesus …

Luke 8:54-55 (AP) … took her by the hand, and said “maiden, rise”, and she arose and ate …

In Luke 7:12 Jesus met a funeral procession. A widow of Nain, her only son, was being carried to his tomb. The Bible says …

Luke 7:14-15 (AP) Jesus touched the funeral couch. They stopped, and Jesus said “Young man, rise up!” and he sat up and began to speak …

The Bible tells us that “it is God Who gives LIFE TO THE DEAD, and calls into existence the things that do not exist” (Romans 4:17, ESV). The devil and his fallen angels have no power to bring to life the dead. The devil has the power of death (Hebrews 2:14-15), but not of life. By raising the dead, Jesus proved that He is Messiah, the Christ, “God with us” (Matthew 1:23).

The resurrection of Lazarus is different from the resurrections of the daughter of Jairus and the son of the widow of Nain. In those two resurrections, the daughter had just died, and the son had been dead no more than a day, his body prepared for the tomb. But with Lazarus we read:

John 11:17 Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.

When someone died, the Jews would wash and prepare the body for burial. At the death of a loved one, the relatives comfort one another and mourn. The Chevra kadisha (the Holy Society) cleanse the body (tahara) and dress it for burial. The body is guarded (Shmira) until it is taken to the tomb. The cleansing and dressing takes several hours, and the body is usually entombed the day the person dies.

Decomposition begins around four minutes after a person dies. In the heat of the land where Bethany was, 24-72 hours after death internal organs decompose. Lazarus’ body would have been bloated by the fourth day, with no hope of resuscitation.

John 11:18-19 Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off: 19 And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.

Bethany wasn’t far from Jerusalem. “fifteen furlongs” is about 1.8 miles, a very short distance to walk. Lazarus was obviously well known and perhaps an influential leader, because we read “many of the Jews” came to offer condolences. Now Mary, Martha, and Lazarus were “Jews”. In fact, Bethany is a Jewish town. So why does John say “many of the Jews” came? When John uses the phrase “the Jews” it often referred to the Pharisees, the MODEL Jews of that day (John 3:1; 3:25; 7:1). It was “THE JEWS” who sought to kill Jesus (John 5:16, 18), who murmured at and mocked Jesus (John 6:41; 8:48, 52), and terrorized the populace into silence (John 7:13). These were Pharisees that came from Jerusalem to attend Lazarus’ wake. We are told that they came down …

John 11:19 to comfort them concerning their brother

Word Study: The word rendered “comfort” is the Greek paramythéomai, which means “to encourage, to calm or console by speaking to”. What they were doing was a good thing. As humans, when we mourn, we need encouragement to look beyond the tragedy we are in, and to look with hope in another direction. The Jews (the Pharisees) were encouraging Mary and Martha with what they had put their hope in, the Law of God.

The Law of God has no power to comfort, but to convict.

The LAW of God was given to us to give us knowledge of right and wrong, good and evil. We are told “by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:20). Religious Law cannot comfort the grieving. But the Promises of God, given to those who love Him, do have the power to comfort. The Psalmist wrote:

Psalm 119:49-50 Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope. 50 This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.

The Word of God does have the power to comfort and encourage the believer in God. The Law CONVICTS, but God’s promises COMFORTS and CONSOLES. The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ is the Living Word of God.

John 1:14 … 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 Pharisees are trying to comfort Mary and Martha. They are sincere in their efforts. But the Law of God cannot comfort. When we go through trials and tragedy, we need the Word of God. We need the Word made flesh. We need Jesus.

John 11:20-22 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. 21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.

Martha didn’t wait for Jesus to get to her, but instead ran to Jesus. Mary often sat at the feet of Jesus when He taught (Luke 10:38-42), but with the loss of her brother she “sat still in the house”. The trial had shaken her faith. God uses trials to shake us up, to bring us to surrender in the arms of Christ. Martha tells Jesus something interesting:

Lord, if thou hadst been here,
my brother had not died

She thought that Jesus was limited by distance, that He had to be there to heal. Yet this is not true. Distance means nothing to God, Who is everywhere. A nobleman, a royal official of Cana in Galilee asked Jesus:

John 4:49 (NIV) … come down before my child dies …

He was begging Jesus to come and heal his son (John 4:47). Jesus didn’t go, but simply said,

John 4:50 (NIV) Go … your son will live …

In another instance, a Centurion asked Jesus to heal a favorite servant who was dying. Though Jesus volunteered to go and heal the servant, the Centurion said:

Matthew 8:8 … Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed.

Jesus marveled at his faith, saying “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith”. Jesus did not need to be in proximity to Lazarus to heal him. He could have spoken the word, and he would have been healed. Why didn’t He?

Because God grows us through our trials. He strengthens our faith by testing it, by trying us. Jesus told Martha:

John 11:23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.

The believer in Christ has the absolute assurance of God that he shall rise again. As Jesus rose from the Grave, so shall we all who believe in Him rise. Death has no hold on us. We have the promise of the Living Word of God.

Thy BROTHER shall rise again.
Thy SISTER shall rise again.
Thy SON or DAUGHTER, HUSBAND or WIFE.
Thy GRANDMOTHER or GRANDFATHER.
If they have loved and believed in Jesus.
They shall rise again!
Jesus knows His sheep, His people.
He redeemed us, and we follow Him.
Both now and forever. Amen!

Posted in John, Sermons Preached | Tagged blessed hope, death, Dying, rise again, salvation | Leave a comment

The One God Helps (Part 1)

Posted on October 11, 2023 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by RDNE Stock project: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-crying-beside-a-man-in-a-cemetery-6841583/

The story that we will look at today is only found in the Gospel of John. As the other Gospels usually show a different perspective of Jesus’ teaching on the same event, many have wondered why only here do we have the recounting of the resurrection of Lazarus. Some believe it is because during the resurrection of Lazarus Peter was not present, but was in Galilee while Jesus was in Bethany. The “Synoptic Gospels” (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), so called because they can be “seen together”, that is, they tell the same stories, and the stories follow all twelve Apostles (including Peter). Others believe the reason Lazarus’ resurrection is not mentioned in the other Gospels because this event so inflamed the Pharisees.

The resurrection of Lazarus was an irrefutable proof that Jesus Christ was THE Son of God, for only God can give life from death.

The Bible says that Lazarus became hated among the Chief Priests, who plotted to put him to death (John 12:10). Lazarus was a walking advertisement for the Messiah! Let’s read some of the text:

John 11:1-3 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) 3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.

Word Study: Let’s break this down. We read first that “a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany”. There’s several things we can say about this text. First, “was sick” is the Greek Imperfect Tense of ēn with the Present Active Participle of astheneō. The Imperfect Tense implies that Lazarus had been sick for a long period of time.

What is interesting is that “Lazarus” means
“The One Whom God Helps”.

The name “Lazarus” is used by Jesus in another place, in Luke 16:20-25 when He speaks of the Rich Man and the beggar Lazarus. Lazarus, though a beggar, was loved by God, and carried to “Abraham’s Bosom” when he died, whereas the rich man “lifted up his eyes in hell”. Why did “God help” Lazarus? Because when Jesus came, He said that it was His mission to help:

Matthew 11:5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

The Lazarus of Luke 16 is a “beggar”, a very poor man. The poor and hurting often are more sensitive to the hearing of the Gospel, as the rich and comfortable have their riches and their comfort as their gods. To those in suffering, Jesus is so needed!

Why So Many Marys?: Back to our text. Lazarus is a man “of Bethany”, a town two miles southeast of Jerusalem on the same ridge as the Mount of Olives. When Jesus was in Jerusalem, He often stayed with Lazarus, and his two sisters Mary and Martha. There are a number of Marys in the ministry of Christ. Why are there so many Marys (Hebrew Miriam, Greek Maria) in the Bible? It goes back to the time of Moses. Israel knew that the Messiah was prophesied to come through Abraham’s seed (Genesis 12:1-3), and knew the history of Israel. When Israel was in bondage in Egypt the Pharaoh decreed the death of all boy children born (Exodus 1:16). If you remember last Sunday’s sermon from 1 Peter 3, this was Satan’s attempt to destroy the conduit of the seed of the woman (Genesis 3:15) that would destroy that Old Serpent, the Devil, Satan (Revelation 12:9; 20:2). When Moses’ mother Jochebed (Exodus 2:1; 6:20) had her son, she hid him until she could no longer do so. The Bible says that:

Exodus 2:3-4 … when {Jochebed} could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river’s brink. 4 And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him.

Jochebed put her child into a little Ark, a small boat, and floated him down the river Nile. His sister Miriam followed the Ark, making sure it did not tip over and drown the baby, until it found its way to the Princess of Egypt. The Princess pulled the baby out of the water, and named him Mōšê (Môsheh) which means “Drawn or rescued out of the water”. Ironically, though it was the Pharaoh who decreed male babies be killed, the Pharaoh’s daughter saved Moses from death and drowning. Yet it was Miriam who guided the baby to the Princess. Had not Miriam, Moses’ sister, watched over her brother, the Savior of Israel would have died – and Israel would have been destroyed. Because Miriam was faithful and loved her brother, she was the savior of the Savior.

Families in Israel began to name their female children Miriam or Maria (which is, in English “Mary”), believing that Miriam’s actions in saving Moses would one day lead to another Miriam (Mary) in bringing forth the “Seed of the Woman” or the Messiah. This is why I believe there are so many Mary’s in the Bible – and the reason that the actual “Seed of the Woman”, Jesus Christ, would come from another Mary, Mary of Bethlehem.

John 11:1-2Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)

Word Study: Lazarus (which means “The One Whom God Helps”) gets sick, and is sick for some time. Lazarus has two sisters, “Mary” (Miriam/ Maria) and “Martha”. Let’s look at little further at these names. “Mary” (Miriam/ Maria) in the Greek means “their rebellion”. When Pharaoh ordered males children (including Moses) to be drowned in the river, both Jochebed and Miriam rebelled against this order. They obeyed God rather than men (Acts 5:29). Believers in Christ should never obey any law of man that supersedes the Law of God. We are commanded to honor our Father and Mother (Matthew 15:4), and yet to “love Jesus more than any relative” (Luke 14:26). We are commanded to “love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might” (Deuteronomy 6:5). God is to be in our hearts first. As Miriam was rebellious against the darkness, so must we be.

Word Study: The name “Martha” (Greek Martha) doesn’t mean “THEIR rebellion”, but means “SHE was rebellious”. We are introduced to Mary and Martha in:

Luke 10:38-42 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. 40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

We see a big difference in the lives of Mary and Martha in this text. First, Martha is a very responsible person. The Bible tells us that “MARTHA received Jesus into HER HOUSE”. The home in Bethany doesn’t belong to Mary or Lazarus – they are staying with Martha. And Martha is a worker! That is not a bad thing – and Jesus does not truly rebuke Martha. We need the Marthas. We need people who are willing to wait on the Lord, to do the things that bring glory to Him. Martha was not doing a bad thing.

Martha was doing the RIGHT thing
at the WRONG time!

When Martha complains to Jesus that Mary is not helping her, Jesus tells her “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful”. Jesus calls Martha’s name TWICE. God does this sometimes in Scripture. He called “Abraham, Abraham” Genesis 22:11-13), “Jacob, Jacob” (Genesis 46:1-4), “Moses, Moses” (Exodus 3:1-10), “Samuel, Samuel” (1 Samuel 3:1-10), and here “Martha, Martha”. He is not rebuking Martha, but says “one thing is needful (Greek chreia, your business or employment)”.

While Jesus is TEACHING, Martha should have been sitting at His feet LISTENING. What HE says is important! Once the lesson was over, THEN serve.

There are many good Christians who are hard workers, very much needed in the Church. But many of these hard workers allow other things to take precedent over sitting at Jesus’ feet, hearing what Jesus has to say. It is bad to be lazy and negligent in serving God. It is bad to skip Church, to turn your back on the family of God for other things. But it is equally bad to always be busy, always be volunteering, always be doing but never hearing Christ.

We need to hear the Word of the Lord. We need to be like Mary. But when not hearing Jesus, we need to serve Jesus. We read:

John 11:2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)

I have often heard people say it was Mary Magdalene (which means Mary of the town of Magdala) that washed Jesus’ feet. That’s not true. In Luke 7:36-38 there is an unnamed “Woman of the City, who was a sinner” (vs 37) who washed Jesus feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. She was a “Woman OF THE CITY”. We are told in the context of Luke 7:11 that “Jesus went to a TOWN CALLED NAIN”. This unnamed woman is from Nain, not Magdala.

It was Mary of Bethany that anointed Jesus, and “wiped His feet with her hair”. It was at BETHANY when this happened, while Jesus was at the home of Simon the leper (see Mark 14:3; Matthew 26:6-7). As far as I can tell, there is no clear place where Mary of Magdala washed Jesus’ feet, insofar as the Scripture is concerned. We are told that Mary of Bethany anointed Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair because she was not afraid to humble herself before Him. Mary was always careful to LISTEN to Jesus when He taught, and WORK FOR Jesus when He was NOT teaching. By doing the RIGHT thing at the RIGHT time, Mary of Bethany “CHOSE THAT GOOD PART”.

Come And Help The One Whom God Helps!

John 11:3 Therefore his sisters sent unto {Jesus}, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.

The two sisters of Lazarus send a messenger to Jesus. They didn’t leave themselves because Lazarus was on the brink of death. They don’t name Lazarus, but instead say “he whom thou lovest is sick”. In the Greek language there are several words used to describe “love” in The Greek New Testament. There is:

Agape – The love of God
Phileo – The love between deep friends
Storge – The love between family members
Eros – Sexual or intimate love

When the sisters say “he whom Thou lovest is sick”, they are using the word phileō. This is someone who is a deep friend of Jesus. Our Lord Jesus said those who LISTEN to Him were HIS FRIENDS (Greek philos, Luke 12:4). Jesus said that those who OBEY Him were HIS FRIENDS (John 15:13-15). The believer, saved by Grace, both LISTENS to Jesus and OBEY Jesus. That believer is Christ’s FRIEND. When Mary and Martha sent word that “The one who is YOUR FRIEND IS SICK”, they didn’t ask Jesus to come. They didn’t mention Lazarus’ name. They just said, “Your FRIEND is sick”, expecting Jesus would hear this and come without delay. We often sing:

What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry, everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry, everything to God in prayer!

Jesus, I’m Your Friend. Come and heal me. Come and fix what is hurting me! What does Jesus do? We read:

John 11:4-6 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. 5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. 6 When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.

Often when we are sick, or in pain, in suffering, we cry out to God for relief. We beg God to fix what ails us. And yet, there are times when God delays. When God delays we begin to think that “maybe God doesn’t love me”. But that’s not true. Jesus delayed when He heard that His dear friend Lazarus was sick. Yet we are told,

vs 5 Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus

Word Study: Here we do not see the word Phileos, but the Greek Agape (actually the verb agapaō). The word AGAPE is used the describe the Love of God (see Luke 11:42; John 5:42; Romans 5:5). Lazarus is a believer that Jesus loves (Phileo), as He loves all believers. But every believer is under the LOVE OF GOD (Agape). The Bible says:

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Christians are BORN into the Kingdom of God to DO GOOD WORKS. We are GOOD trees that are to bear GOOD fruit. We are to be like Jesus. We are to reflect His LIGHT in this present darkness.

In Christianity, Jesus said “Take up YOUR CROSS and follow Me” (Mark 10:21; Matthew 16:24-26). Just as Jesus prayed “let this cup (the Cross) pass from Me (Matthew 26:39) and the Father allowed Jesus to go to it anyway, there are times of suffering that we as believers MUST go through for the glory of God. This is what Jesus said:

John 11:4 This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby

God had a GREATER GLORY He wanted to show His people. He wanted the world to see that “in Jesus is LIFE” (John 1:4). Jesus is not just a Rabbi, a Teacher of Israel. He is the Messiah. He is the One Whom God has sent to save us from sin and death. Jesus waits two days, and then says to His disciples:

John 11:7-10 Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again. 8 His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again? 9 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. 10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.

When Jesus tells His disciples it is time to go, they begin to debate Him. “Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?”. The Jews knew that Jesus loved to stay in Bethany – about 2 miles from Jerusalem – when He came into that area. Pharisee spies would be watching for Him in Bethany. The disciples were reluctant to go, afraid that Jesus would be stoned. But Jesus said, “If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him”. What is Jesus telling them? The Jews divided days into two parts, day (when the sun shined) and night (when the sun did not shine). Jesus said, “If you walk in the Light, you will not stumble”. What He means is that “God is LIGHT, and in Him is NO DARKNESS” (1 John 1:5). The reason Jesus waited two days in the same spot is because God told Him to do so. He said,

“My FOOD is to do the will of Him Who sent Me” (John 4:34)

Jesus said, “I am among you as ONE WHO SERVES” (Luke 22:27). He said, “If you have seen Me, YOU HAVE SEEN THE FATHER” (John 14:8-9). Jesus stayed where He was until the Father – through the Holy Spirit – told Him to move. Jesus was “walking in the Light” of God and was not going to stumble. He would not die until the Father said it was time, regardless of His enemies.

Beloved, if you are following God like Jesus did, you are immortal until God calls you home.

Jesus goes on to say that,

Our Friend Lazarus Sleeps

John 11:11-15 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. 12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. 13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. 14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. 15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.

When an unbeliever dies, they DIE. They go to a place of DEATH and DISMAY. But when a believer dies, the Bible says they SLEEP. For instance,

1 Kings 2:10 So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.

1 Kings 11:43 And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father …

1 Kings 22:50 Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father:

When we are told that the believer SLEEPS, this does not mean that his SOUL SLEEPS in the grave. It means that his BODY sleeps, but His SOUL stays awake, and goes to be with the Lord. The Apostle wrote:

2 Corinthians 5:6, 8 … we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

The believer never loses consciousness, but once death comes, their body sleeps but their soul goes to be with Jesus. The unbeliever, however, goes to be in torment (see Luke 16:19-31). The believer is comforted, whereas the unbeliever is tormented (Luke 16:25). If we who believe are “absent from the body” then we are “present with the Lord”. Lazarus was dead – he slept! But his soul was in another dimension. Jesus told His disciples:

John 11:14-15 Lazarus is dead. 15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe

Jesus said “I am GLAD My friend Lazarus is dead”. Why would He be GLAD of this? Jesus said, “to the intent ye may believe” Because it would give Jesus an opportunity to grow the faith of these disciples, along with Mary and Martha. God often allows trials to come to us who love Him to help us GROW in our faith. The Bible says:

1 Peter 1:7 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 honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

At this point Thomas (often called “Doubting Thomas”) speaks up, and says:

John 11:16 Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.

The disciples had already expressed concerns that Jesus was heading into a deadly place, a place where He might be stoned. Then “Thomas, which is called Didymus” speaks up. The word “Didymus” means “two fold, double, or twin”. The modern name “Thomas” is from the Aramaic tĕʾomâ which means “twin”. Though Thomas is only mentioned eight times in the Bible, he is a man who wants to see things for himself. When Jesus resurrected and the other Apostles saw Him, Thomas said:

John 20:25 Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe …

When Thomas saw Jesus face to face after the resurrection, he declared Jesus to be …

… My Lord and My God (John 20:28)

Jesus never actually rebuked Thomas, but did say “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed (John 20:29)”. Though people called him “Doubting Thomas”, other disciples also doubted Jesus’ resurrection (see Matthew 28:17; Mark 16:11, 14; Luke 24:36-43). One thing we can say about Thomas is that he wasn’t a coward. He had faith in Jesus, and was willing to go to Bethany with Him though they all expected the worst.

Thomas was willing to die with Jesus. What about you? Are you willing to die with Jesus? Yes? If so, then why do you not speak up for Him in public? Why do you not faithfully serve Him in His Church? Why do you not give of yourself sacrificially, for His glory? Dear ones, life is short, but eternity is long. Live for Jesus while you can. When you pass from this life, will you DIE or SLEEP? When you enter eternity, will you see Jesus or the rich man? May God touch your hearts to follow Him while you can. Amen and Amen.

Posted in John, Sermons Preached | Tagged Death Defeated, doubt, Following Christ, Jesus Christ, love God, Resurrection | Leave a comment

Arm Yourselves

Posted on October 11, 2023 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/soldiers-in-line-to-get-in-a-plane-54098/

Please turn with me in your Bibles to

1 Peter 4:1-2 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

Opening: Last week Andy Stanley’s Church, North Point Community, held what they called an “Unconditional” conference. Two of the speakers were men “married” to other men. During the conference, LGBTQ was recognized as legitimate categories of human identity. When criticized, Stanley replied:

“We’re dealing with real people and real relationships. … It is not political for me. … It is relational, because we are in ministry, and because we’ve learned to distinguish between theology and ministry, we can figure this out.”

What Stanley is saying is that we should unhitch ministry from theology, that is, from what the Bible says. Yet Jesus never did this. When Jesus addressed His critics, it was always with “It is written”.

Jesus quoted the Bible of that day, the Old Testament, 78 times, and the Law of God 26 times. He quoted Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy, Psalms, Proverbs, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Amos, Jonah, Micah, and Malachi.

Jesus made a profound statement when He said:

John 10:35 … Scripture cannot be broken …

Word Study: The word “broken” is the Greek lyō, which means “loosed, destroyed, put off, dissolved”. Stanley and other liberal “pastors” seek to break or destroy the Scripture – but the Scripture is the Word of God. Jesus told His disciples:

Luke 24:44-46 (ESV) … These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled. …

Luke 16:17 (ESV) … it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void.

Matthew 5:17-18 (ESV) Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

Jesus did not come to give us a workaround for the Law of God. Jesus came to fulfill the Law, to be the “Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Jesus did not come to make it easier for us to sin and disobey God. He came to free us from sin. America has entered a stage of paganism – ancient paganism – called Gnosticism. The Gnostic believed that Christ came to cover our sin. Since His Blood covers our sin, we are free to sin with impunity. This is not what the Bible teaches – and God through Peter explains that to us today.

Sin Is Never A Playground, But A Battleground

1 Peter 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind…

People think that sin is something to be winked at. Yet the Bible tells us “Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh”. Notice it does not say that “JESUS SUFFERED” (though He did), but “CHRIST SUFFERED”. What is the difference? “CHRIST” is the Greek christos, which means “The One Anointed of God, the Messiah, the Son of God”. What caused the Messiah – God Himself – to suffer? It was SIN.

God became Man because of Sin. God suffered as Man because of sin. Sin demands suffering, for sin departs from God.

Why is there suffering in the world? Because of sin. Because Adam failed to obey God. It was after Adam sinned that God told the woman:

Genesis 3:16 I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children …

Before sin entered the world, child bearing was not bad, not painful. But because Adam and Eve walked away from God and heeded Satan, “in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children”. The birth will be sorrow. The child raised will be at times rebellious and sinful. Some children reject all discipline, and end up incarcerated, diseased, drug addicted, and the parents weep. It is sin that does this. God told Adam:

Genesis 3:17-19 … cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee … 19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground …

Those evils that are in the world today are in the world because of sin. Sin brought tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, wildfires, natural disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis. Sin brings murder and death into the world, rape and racism. Sin brings sexually transmitted diseases, cancers, heart failure, leprosies and horrid pandemics. Sin is seen in massive genocides, where innocents are wiped out by military coup.

And sin is insidious. It is in the smile of the whore, the grin of the pusher. It dresses up in Las Vegas and Reno, and robs families of money they need to live in state lotteries claiming to “educate the child”. Sin encourages a far walk from God. Sin is in scientific evolution, for the Bible says:

Psalm 14:1 (53:1) The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

The more you pursue sin, the more you suffer. You may smile for a while, but in time the pain will come. “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Sin promises life, but brings death.

Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh
arm yourselves likewise with the same mind

Why did “CHRIST” come into the world? The Bible says:

1 Timothy 1:15 Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.

Illustrate: “CHRIST” did not come into the world to ENABLE sinners, but to SAVE sinners. Imagine if you will that you are at the beach, out swimming, when a riptide grabs you and begins to pull you away from shore. You cry out, drowning in the waves, for salvation. A life guard swims out. When the life guard gets to you, he begins to reason with you as to how you should not be afraid of the water. After all, humans are 60% water. The water is your friend. Before you were born, you floated in amniotic fluid, essentially water. Quit struggling. Just let the water take you! It will be all right.

Does that make sense? NO! But this is the preacher who will not warn you to run from sin and into the arms of Christ. Sin causes God suffering. Sin causes us suffering. Sin caused Christ suffering. The Bible says:

Matthew 27:28-31 {the soldiers} stripped {Jesus} and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. 31 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him.

What had Jesus done to deserve His suffering? Had He violated God’s Law? No, for the Bible says that He was “without sin” (Hebrews 4:15; 9:28). When examined of Pilate the Governor, he cried out …

Matthew 27:23 … (AP) Why should He be crucified? What evil has He done?

None could give a cause for Christ’s suffering and death. They just demanded, “Let Him be crucified!”. What evil had He done? None! What caused the Christ, this Righteous One, to be so cruelly treated and horribly executed? It was sin. The Prophet said:

Isaiah 53:5 But He {the Christ} was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

When Christ came to this earth, the Bible says in Hebrews 4:15, “The CHRIST was, in every respect tempted as we are, yet without sin”. Though Jesus never deserved what happened to Him, He bore the suffering of sin in order to save us from sin. We have previously studied:

1 Peter 3:18 (ESV) Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God …

Christ did not suffer for sin to BRING US TO SIN, but to BRING US TO GOD.

1 Peter 2:24 (ESV) {Jesus} himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

Jesus Christ, an Innocent and Perfect Man, suffered the scourge and pain of the nails in order to stand in judgment in our place. Sin brings suffering. Salvation brings relief from sin. Salvation takes us to a different mindset.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV) For our sake {God the Father} made {the Christ} to be sin who knew no sin, so that in {the Christ} we might become the righteousness of God.

Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh
arm yourselves likewise with the same mind

Word Study: The word translated “arm” is the Greek hoplizō, which means “take this up as a weapon, prepare yourself for battle with this tool”. The reason God uses this word here is because we are in a battle with forces of darkness. These forces come from all directions. Sometimes

Matthew 10:36 … a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.

When the devil attacks, he attacks from the family. There are many young people today confused because of the wide spread propaganda of evil on the internet. Many parents and grandparents have been confronted by children who are influenced into sexual evil or drugs – or worst! I know pastots who have compromised what the Scripture said because their children or grandchildren have “come out” in some sinful and evil way. Beloved, to normalize sin is to lose the battle.

1 Peter 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin…

In order to save us from sin, the Christ had to “cease from sin”. Now Jesus never sinned. We were told in:

1 Peter 2:22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.

Jesus never had to repent of sin. When Pilate ordered Him crucified, He said in

John 19:6 … I find no guilt in Him …

Jesus Christ was sinless, guiltless, the Lamb of God. So what is God telling us in this focal text. The point is,

Jesus’ suffering on the Cross would have been USELESS had He given in to sin. Those who compromise with sin only bring damnation, not salvation.

Parents and grandparents, preachers and evangelists that put whitewash on sin, and preach a dumbed down Gospel will only bring eternal condemnation to those they claim to love. The first thing that happened in Jesus’ earthly ministry was

Matthew 4:1 … (ESV) Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

Do you know how Jesus responded to each temptation that the devil threw at Him? Jesus said, “IT IS WRITTEN” (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10).

Jesus did not rely on what he thought, but on what the Scripture said. Why? Because He was teaching us to not be like Adam, but be like HIM. Sin is contrary to God. Sin brings death, disease, destruction and dismay. You will never bless anyone – least of all God – by compromise with sin.

Christians Are Called Out Of Darkness And Into Light

1 Peter 4:2-3 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revelings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:

The believer in Christ is saved by the suffering of Christ for a purpose. It is so that “he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God”.

Jesus Christ suffered in the flesh for sin so that He could not only COVER the sin of believers, but FREE us from sin’s enslavement. Before the Christian was saved, we “walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revelings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries”. In other words, as unbelievers we pursued:

lasciviousness (Greek aselgeia), wanton unbridled lust, shamelessness
lusts (Greek epithymia), desire for the forbidden
excess of wine (Greek oinophlygia), drunkenness
revelings (Greek kōmos), carousing, rioting, partying
banquetings (Greek potos), bar hopping, drinking about
abominable idolatries (Greek athemitos eidōlolatria), wokeness

Divorced from God, these things were normal to us. You may be sitting there thinking, “Well, I never did those things”. That’s true, you probably did worst things. You were probably “self righteous”, like the Pharisees that Jesus said were “white washed mausoleums, beautiful outwardly, but filled within with dead men’s bones and uncleanness” (Matthew 23:27). God said of the self righteous that they are “a smoke in My nose, a fire that burns all day long” (Isaiah 65:5). Those without Christ need Jesus, need what Jesus provides.

They must be born again, just as we as Christians were born again. (John 3:3, 7). They must be “born again, the the Word of God, which lives and abides forever”
(1 Peter 1:23).

How do these lost people see Jesus? We read:

1 Peter 4:4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:

The lost world does not understand why you do not support what it does. Why we are not “woke” along with others. Why we do not endorse drug use, communism, transgenderism, homosexuality, fornication, pornography, drunkenness, and so on. We as believers do not pursue “the lusts of men”, but “the will of God”. Why is this? Is it because we are better than others. No.

It is because we are saved by Grace. We once were enslaved to sin and the suffering that it brings, but we met Jesus Christ. We as Christians are indwelt of God’s Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9) and understand that

Romans 6:16 … to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness

We understand what the Bible says when we are told, “The Son of God appeared to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8), that Jesus came to free us from sin. For those who believe that Jesus came to save us just to enable us to freely sin, you need to read and re-read Romans chapter 6. The Apostle said:

Romans 6:1-2 … Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

When you were saved, dear Christian, you became “dead to sin”. What does that mean? It means you understand that sin is no playground, but a battleground. Sin is destructive. Sin is deadly. You were not saved to freely sin, but to live within the will of God. We are told:

Romans 6:11-18 reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

Christians are indwelt of God’s Spirit. We belong to God. We are not children of Adam, but Children of God.

What The Christian Does Has Eternal Consequence

1 Peter 4:5-6 Who shall give account to Him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. 6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

We shall all stand before God one day. We “shall give account to Him”. What does that look like for the unbeliever? They will give account at a Great White Throne (Revelation 20:11-15). As their name is NOT written in the “Book of Life”, they will depart the Presence of God into “The Lake of Fire, the Second Death” (Revelation 20:14). But what of the Christian.

Romans 14:12 … every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

What will this look like. Let’s think of it this way. You get to Heaven, and see all its splendor. You had a child, or a husband, or a wife, or a friend or co-worker that you loved who preceded you in death. So you look about Heaven. “Has anyone seen my daughter? Has anyone seen my granddaughter? I’ve looked and looked, but I can’t seem to find her”. Then you see Jesus. “Jesus, I know you know where my daughter is. I know you know where my granddaughter is, my son, my husband, my wife. Where have they gone?” Jesus looks at you, and says,

“I never knew them” (Matthew 7:23)

While you were so busy trying not to offend them, you withheld the Gospel from them. The Gospel is to REPENT and FOLLOW Jesus. You were woke. You pleased the world. And your loved one is gone forever.

Revelation 7:17 … and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

May God lead you, dear believer, to live for Christ while there is time to make a difference. May God the Holy Spirit convict and save. For the glory of God. Amen and Amen!

Posted in 1 Peter, Sermons Preached | Tagged Following Christ, God Is Faithful, gospel, Jesus Christ, salvation, sin, sin is death, sin not my master, Suffering | Leave a comment

Today The Day of Salvation
February 2026

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Jesus did come to conquer the enemy called SIN.Not just for Israel, but the whole WORLD.

We Would See Jesus Is A Fulfillment Of PROPHECY

this was the first time the Gentiles sought out Jesus for Jesus’ sake. They did not seek healing, but Jesus!

If we as Christ’s Church will not step out in faith and follow Jesus, as a Church we will ABIDE ALONE until the last member dies.

“We Would See Jesus” Is The PRESCRIPTIONFor The Lost World

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Should We Judge?

Judgement Must Begin At The House Of God

We should not be ashamed of the Gospel.

The World Follows Flesh And Feeling.The Christian Follows Faith. We Follow Christ.

A person is SAVED by OBEYING the Gospel.A person is NOT SAVED by NOT OBEYING the Gospel.

The Righteous Are Saved With Hard Work

So God became Man. The Impossible became Possible. Jesus Christ is “Emmanuel, God with us” (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23). Heaven gasped, amazed at this thing!

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Because Jesus died FOR our sins, we do not have to die IN our sins.

Jesus saved Lazarus from death, and Simon the Leper from a fate worst than death. But Jesus can’t save Himself from death.

Contrast Mary’s Actions To Judas Iscariot’s, The Disciple’s, AndSimon The Leper’s

It is better to MINISTER to Jesus than to MURMUR and MUTTER. To minister to Jesus aids His work. To murmur hinders His work!

Jesus Defends True Worship

As Jesus said these words, we are told “the fragrance of the ointment filled the house” (verse 3). Jesus does not expect us to be FLAWLESS. Jesus expects us to be FAITHFUL.

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Be Sober

“Return to synagogue, and listen to the words of the Torah, letting them change you and bring you peace.”

Watch Unto Prayer

Be proactive with God the Holy Spirit in shaping your life to be like Christ’s!

Have Fervent Charity Among Yourselves

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Religious People Only Care About Themselves

Religious people have little to no respect for the Word of God. They only cherish the portions that suit them.

The only thing religious people care about isthemselves and what they think.

John 11:48 If we let Him thus alone, all men will believe on Him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.

God Can Use The Religious Lost,Whether They Like It Or Not

We who are saved by faith in Christ fulfill the Law by walking in love as God has loved us in Christ (Romans 8:4; 13:8; 13:10; Galatians 5:14).

Religious people drove Jesus from the Temple. Religious people drive Jesus from the Church.

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Martha Faith Saves, But Is Weak

The knowledge that Jesus is THE CHRIST only comes to a person through God (Matthew 16:17).

Mary Faith Listens To The Lord,Waiting On Him

Lazarus is a picture of what Christ does with every sinner who surrenders to Him by faith.

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The Law of God has no power to comfort, but to convict.

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The resurrection of Lazarus was an irrefutable proof that Jesus Christ was THE Son of God, for only God can give life from death.

What is interesting is that “Lazarus” means“The One Whom God Helps”.

Martha was doing the RIGHT thingat the WRONG time!

While Jesus is TEACHING, Martha should have been sitting at His feet LISTENING. What HE says is important! Once the lesson was over, THEN serve.

Come And Help The One Whom God Helps!

Christians are BORN into the Kingdom of God to DO GOOD WORKS. We are GOOD trees that are to bear GOOD fruit. We are to be like Jesus. We are to reflect His LIGHT in this present darkness.

Our Friend Lazarus Sleeps

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Sin Is Never A Playground, But A Battleground

Christ hath suffered for us in the flesharm yourselves likewise with the same mind

Jesus’ suffering on the Cross would have been USELESS had He given in to sin. Those who compromise with sin only bring damnation, not salvation.

Christians Are Called Out Of Darkness And Into Light

They must be born again, just as we as Christians were born again. (John 3:3, 7). They must be “born again, the the Word of God, which lives and abides forever”(1 Peter 1:23).

What The Christian Does Has Eternal Consequence

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David Buffaloe

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Today The Day of Salvation

Jesus did come to conquer the enemy called SIN.
Not just for Israel, but the whole WORLD.

“We Would See Jesus” Is The PRESCRIPTION
For The Lost World

The World Follows Flesh And Feeling.
The Christian Follows Faith. We Follow Christ.

A person is SAVED by OBEYING the Gospel.
A person is NOT SAVED by NOT OBEYING the Gospel.

Contrast Mary’s Actions To Judas Iscariot’s, The Disciple’s, And
Simon The Leper’s

The only thing religious people care about is
themselves and what they think.

God Can Use The Religious Lost,
Whether They Like It Or Not

Mary Faith Listens To The Lord,
Waiting On Him

What is interesting is that “Lazarus” means
“The One Whom God Helps”.

Martha was doing the RIGHT thing
at the WRONG time!

Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh
arm yourselves likewise with the same mind

They must be born again, just as we as Christians were born again. (John 3:3, 7). They must be “born again, the the Word of God, which lives and abides forever”
(1 Peter 1:23).