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The MUSTS Of Christianity: #7 The Saved MUST Work For The Master

Posted on May 10, 2020 by bibleteacherorg

Matthew 25:14 For the kingdom of heaven is as

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I was reading the Baptist and Reflector when I came upon an article written by Chris Turner, the Director of Communications for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. The article was pretty good. Called “Do You Really Want To Go Back To Normal?” He said some good stuff. For instance:

“What if God’s intention in allowing the COVID-19 virus to sweep around the world, massively disrupting everyone’s “normal” lives, is so that we would turn our attention toward Him? What if the helplessness we feel is so that we will acknowledge our comprehensive dependence upon Him, seek Him for salvation, and worship Him as He deserves to be worshiped? … An idol is anything that is loved more than God; that ascribes more value to the object than to the Creator. I do not like disruption, and I’ve said numerous times: “I just want my life back!” Just claiming ownership of my life exposes my faulty thinking. … It strikes me as arrogantly presumptuous to assume God will again accommodate us with lives that really weren’t all that focused on Him to begin with. How would a return to that normal benefit us? … Let’s be honest, it’s easy to live “the Christian life” in America without God’s help. Jesus is stretched across our culture like a security blanket under which the evangelical church quietly slumbers.”

That’s pretty powerful stuff. What particularly caught my attention was the statement:

“Let’s be honest, it’s easy to live “the Christian life” in America without God’s help. Jesus is stretched across our culture like a security blanket under which the evangelical church quietly slumbers.”

Are We “Living The Christian Life”
If We Are Just Like The World?

What makes a “Christian” different from a “non-Christian”? Is there any difference?

After reading this I went outside to work on my lawn. Thursday is the day I “take off” from the Pastorate in order to take care of my wife and home. I “take off” so I can work around the house – but I never “take off” from being a Christ follower. As I am picking up blown down tree limbs the Lord begins to speak to my heart via His Scripture.

In America we have confused the FREE GIFT of salvation with the necessary FRUIT of salvation.

The statement “it’s easy to live the ‘Christian life’ in America” shows how far we have wandered from God. The offer of salvation is free, based upon faith in Christ. But once you are saved by faith in Christ God expects you to STOP working for darkness and BEGIN working for His Kingdom.

Salvation changes you. Salvation changes your fruit.
Jesus said:

You MUST be born again (John 3:7)
You MUST bring forth good fruit (Matthew 7:17; 12:33)
You SHALL BE hated of all because of Me (Matthew 10:22)

In America we wrongly teach that every Christian born into the family of God is just like the thief who died on the Cross next to Jesus (Luke 23:42). This man could not go for Jesus because his feet were nailed to cross. This man could not serve Jesus because his hands were nailed to a cross. If this man were free he would have served Jesus, for even in agony, suffering, nails rending his flesh he uttered:

“Lord, remember me when you come into Your Kingdom!”

Those who have come to Christ are more than “Facebook Friends” of God. Jesus Christ is the Mediator of the New Covenant (Hebrews 12:24). The promise of the New Covenant is a new mind and a new heart. God said:

Jeremiah 31:33-34 … I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

Forgiveness of sin comes with it a new heart and a new want to. The Christian is an essential component of both the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven.

Christians SEEK the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33)

Christians LIVE FOR the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 5:3, 10)

The Kingdom of God is within the Christian (Luke 17:21)

The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand for the Christian (Matthew 3:2; 4:17)

The Kingdom of God grows as Christians are made (Mark 4:31)

The Christian’s works will be judged in Heaven (Matthew 5:19)

The Christian receives the Kingdom of God as a little child (Mark 10:15)

Christians live for the Kingdom of God NOW, looking toward the Kingdom of Heaven LATER.

Matthew 25:14 For the kingdom of heaven is as

Our text today is on “the Kingdom of HEAVEN”. Who will go into Heaven?

Jesus Said We Are Saved To Serve

Matthew 25:14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

Jesus wants us to understand the Kingdom of Heaven. The “Man traveling in a far country” is our God and Savior. This “Man” was foretold in the prophecies of Scripture. The Prophet said:

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

“Immanuel” literally translates as “God with us”. How can God be with us? The Lord told Moses – a man He considered a friend –

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

We are so sinful, and God so holy, that for us to see Him in His purity I believe the shock would kill us. It is only “the Lord Who is my Rock, my Fortress, my Deliverer. He is my Shield, my High Tower, my Refuge, my Savior” (2 Samuel 22:2-3). God comes to us in Jesus. Jesus told Philip:

John 14:9 … Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father …

We could not see the Father’s face without dying – so Father sent His Only Begotten Son Jesus. The Apostle said:

2 Corinthians 4:5-6 … For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

We see the “glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ”. Blessed God Eternal became Man, Perfect Man without sin (Hebrews 4:15).

Jesus Christ came to this earth to establish the Kingdom of God on this earth, and to make a way to the Kingdom of Heaven for His people.

He did this by giving His life for us. Jesus Christ laid down His life for His sheep (John 10:15). Jesus laid down His life for our sins, and rose again for us (John 10:17). Oh Blessed Redeemer,

John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Though we were the enemies of God, though we have all sinned and fallen far short of God’s glory, this Man from a far country came to us. He is God, God the Son, God incarnate, God become flesh. He did what He commands us to do.

1 John 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because {God} laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

I am in love with this Man from a far country. He did not just die to take me to Heaven, but He died to relieve me from this present Hell. Oh how horrible life was before I met my Jesus! I lived in fear. Fear of death. Fear of life. Fear. I lived worrying about death, and yet in my confusion courted death. The Bible says:

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

I lived day by day bound in slavery to sin and death, doing those things that were harmful. But then this Man from a far country came to me. With His nail scarred hands He reached out to me, saying, “I died for you”.

Galatians 2:19-20 I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. 20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Jesus Christ died for me.

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15 And that {Jesus Christ} died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

Jesus did not die for me and you that we could go on serving the devil, the world, and the flesh. He died for us so that we might serve the Kingdom of God. Jesus died for us so that one day we can enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

Jesus Gave Us His Goods

Matthew 25:14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

Jesus calls His servants. We are to serve Him. If we are His sheep, and the people of His pasture (Psalm 95:7), the we are to serve Him. We are entrusted with “His goods”. What has Jesus Christ given us?

Jesus gave us His life.
Jesus gave us eternal life.

1 John 5:11-12 God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 6:19 … know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

Jesus gave us status as Children of God.

Romans 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Galatians 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

Jesus gave us commandments.

John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

John 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

Jesus gave us a duty. If you are saved you serve Him.

Matthew 25:15 … And unto one {Jesus} gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

The Man traveling into a far country gave to each servant talents. He did not give each person the same talent. The Man did not discriminate in giving the talents, but gave to every person according to his or her ability. He knew what the servant was capable of. One thing the Master did not do was give a servant nothing to do.

Every servant has something to do for the Master!

One of my favorite Scriptures is found in Ephesians chapter 2. The text says:

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

Salvation is not of works. We cannot earn, nor can we ever deserve our salvation. We are justified – made right with God freely – through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:24). He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life (John 3:36). What is the work of God we MUST do? Believe on the One Whom God hath sent (John 6:29). We preach with the Apostles of old, “Believe on the lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved (Acts 16:31). Salvation is not of works. BUT if you are saved, then you MUST read verse 10:

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.

Saved by grace, each Christian is called to GOOD WORKS for the Kingdom. Some are given five talents. What you received, you received of grace and mercy. Invest it! Live for the Master.

Matthew 25:16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.

The Apostle Paul was given five talents. Did Paul sit down and do nothing? No. He said:

1 Corinthians 15:9-10 … I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Paul took no credit for his laboring for Jesus. When Grace is bestowed the heart is changed. The greater the sinner, the greater the worker. Paul labored for Jesus because his heart was changed. God indwelt him.

2 Corinthians 6:1 … We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye RECEIVE NOT THE GRACE OF GOD IN VAIN.

We have been given the Master’s goods. Let us invest them, and God will give the increase. The talents must be planted, and you must do so. But if you do so, God will give the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6-7).

Matthew 25:17-18 17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. 18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.

The servant with two talents invested what God had given him – but the servant with one talent did absolutely nothing. He hid his Lord’s money.

The Gospel of salvation is a pearl of great price (Matthew 13:46). The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a net, when thrown, will gather in many into God’s Heaven (Matthew 13:47).

The Gospel that saved you will save others. It is to be invested in others, just as it was invested in you. It cannot be buried. If you love Jesus, you must tell others of Him. You must live your lives so others see Christ in you. You must not “hide your light under a basket” (Matthew 5:16).

A Day Of Reckoning Is Coming

Matthew 25:19 … After a LONG TIME the Lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

There is a day of reckoning coming for every person.

“We must all stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ, that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10).

We must stand before our Lord when we meet Him in Heaven – if we meet Him in Heaven. I say “if” because, dear ones, I do not believe that the Scripture says you can be saved and work NOT AT ALL for Jesus. I do not believe it. I do not believe the Scripture teaches this!

Matthew 25:20-23 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Christ commended the one who doubled his five talents equally as he did the one who doubled his two talents. If you have been given little, but have invested it for God’s glory, then God will bless you beyond measure.

Matthew 19:27 … Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?

Jesus tells us:

Matthew 19:29 …. every one that hath FORSAKEN houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

If you have served Jesus with what He gave you, if you have honored the Father Who loves you, and lived by the Spirit of God Who indwells you, when payday comes – and it will come – you will be blessed beyond anything you have given up. But what of the one who hid their talent? What of that one?

Matthew 25:24-30 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Where in the Bible do you see “the Kingdom of Heaven” having “outer darkness”? Where in the Bible is it taught that in Heaven there is “weeping and gnashing of teeth?”

I cannot find it. I have looked, but cannot find it. Heaven is pictured as a place of joy, of happiness, of peace. Who is cast into “outer darkness”? It is the one who came to the wedding feast in his street clothes (Matthew 22:12-14). No effort was made to glorify the Lord. We who are saved are overcomers:

Revelation 21:7-8 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Are you saved? Are you? I am not your judge. Jesus Christ is your judge. If you are saved, you will live for Jesus. Not just on Sunday morning, but every day. Not just while Church services are in session, but every day. Not just when the preacher visits, but every day. The Christian, saved by faith, born again of the Spirit of God, is marked by a heart that loves the Master, and therefore wants to glorify the Master. Be more than a Christian in name only. Let Christ have all of you! Let Jesus have all that you are!

May God touch your hearts through His Word and His Spirit. Amen and Amen.

Posted in MUSTS Of Christianity, Sermons Preached | Tagged God of Living, living for Jesus, stewardship | Leave a comment

The Old Paths

Posted on May 6, 2020 by bibleteacherorg

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Jeremiah 6:16 Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

There Is Rest For The Weary
Only In The God Of The Bible

Where do we find “rest for our souls”? It is in the Lord. Not the God of our imaginations, but
the God of Holy Scripture.

One of the statements I hear quite often is:

“Preacher, that Bible you have is really old and outdated. The things it addresses are outdated. We live in a new day, a new time.
It’s just not relevant anymore”.

I have a word that I like to use whenever someone says this, but it’s not a word I can use from a pulpit. I am a retired military man, Air Force. I heard a lot of rough language over my 20 years in service to our country. Sometimes a pagan word pops in my head. I won’t share it with you. So I’ll use another more sanitized word.

“Hogwash!”

The Bible is written not by man, but by

“holy men of God as they were moved by
God the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21).

God saves a people, then uses that people. Early Church Pastor Augustine said:

“”God made us for Himself, and
our hearts are restless until they rest in Him”

We cannot find rest for our souls in ourselves. God calls us to Himself. He is the Immortal and Indefatigable God. The Heavens ring with this truth:

“ Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.” (Revelation 4:8)

God is eternal, without beginning or end. The Apostle Paul wrote:

1 Timothy 1:17 … Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Notice the adjectives that describe our God. “Eternal, immortal, invisible, only wise”. God is without beginning or end. God is eternal. And in …

1 Timothy 6:14-16 … our Lord Jesus Christ: 15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; 16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen.

Our God in Christ declares of Himself that He is

Revelation 1:8 … Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

Several years ago the movie reviewer Roger Ebert began to doubt the existence of an eternal God. Raised a Catholic, he progressed in that faith to “altar boy”. Roger went to a school ministered by Nuns. I read his testimony at rogerebert.com. His testimony is – to me – rambling and restless. I am not mocking him. He is like many who have tried to understand the immensity of God, and have discounted the Creator because of it. Roger said:

“I’m still struggling with with the question of how anything could have no beginning and no end.”

Jeremiah 6:16 Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths …

In God’s command to His creation He never demands that we understand Him – just that we heed and obey Him. As a retired Airman I was commanded to do many things in the service to our country. Many of the things I was commanded to do I did not understand. My Commander never came down to my duty section and had a “town hall” meeting where he explained himself. The Commander was an a superior position to see a lot more of the picture than I was able to see. My Commander did not necessarily see the whole picture, but followed the chain of command because others higher than he had a better view of the problem and the solution.

We just did what we were told.

The God I serve is the Ultimate Commander. He is above all. He has no superior – He is the superior. The God of Scripture has no beginning nor end. As a human I may not agree with all God says, but He doesn’t ask that I agree – just believe and do. God asks that you accept Him as He is – and trust Him as God. The Prophet said:

Job 36:26 … God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.

And the Psalmist spoke “My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass. But thou, O Lord, shall endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.” (Psalm 102:11-12)

The Prophet Isaiah declared “Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.” (Isaiah 40:28)

God is infinitely above us. He does not have to explain Himself nor justify Himself. What says Paul?

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

God commands that you “believe that I AM”. God commands that – whether we understand Him or not – we “diligently SEEK Him”. Not question, but seek.

Isaiah 55:6-9 … Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

We have never experience “light years”, but scientists tell us this exists.
Few have seen “atoms”, though we know they are there.
I do not understand how the sun burns without burning up, yet it does.

God is like a circle. Draw a circle on a piece of paper. Can you point out the “corner” on this circle? No, because a circle, by definition, has no corner. Can you point out the “beginning and end” of a circle? No, you cannot. If there were a beginning and an end, then it would not be a circle but an arc. If it had a corner, it could be a triangle or a square. But it would not be a circle if it did not have no beginning and no end. God has no beginning nor end. He just is.

If we impose our human limitations on God, limitations that are NOT found in the Scripture, then that which we have made is NOT God. The God of Scripture is immutable, immortal, infinite in power and knowledge.

Whom God Calls, God Empowers

Jeremiah 6:16 Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths…

God has a way that He wants us to “stand”. We are to “stand” in His ways. He is before us, and beyond us. Our God knows what is best. A men’s journal I read daily is called WiRE had these wonderful words:

“God Almighty knows where we are. He sees us (Luke 12:6-7). He is with us (1 Corinthians 3:16). There is a plan. King David sang to God, “in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them” (Psalm 139:16). So, where we are—right now—is no accident. And until further notice (which may come), we’ve got to assume that where we are is where he wants us to be . . . for specific reasons, for his specific purposes.”

God told Jeremiah …

Jeremiah 1:5 … the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

What is harder for me to understand than the infinity of God? It is that this Infinite God of Scripture would deign to know a retch like you or I!

Just like Jeremiah, God knew you before you were ever formed in the womb. God determined that He had a purpose for your life. God saved you with a purpose. Jesus told us, His Church:

Matthew 5:14-16 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

When you humbled yourself and were saved, God called you to service. We are ambassadors for our God.

2 Corinthians 5:20 … we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

When Jeremiah heard the call of God he was frightened. He said,

Jeremiah 1:6 …. I cannot speak: for I am a child

To speak for God is an immense blessing – but also a great responsibility. When Moses was called of God from the burning bush to represent Him in Egypt, his first response was:

Exodus 3:11 Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?

“Who am I?” I am nothing. But God can work with nothing. If you think yourself unworthy to speak for God, don’t fret. You were saved because you humbled yourself and leaned into God. Throughout my life I constantly realize “I of myself an NOTHING – I am but a child”. The Bible does not teach us that:

I can do all things …

That is not a complete thought. No, it is …

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

If God has saved you, God will empower you. If you are His Child by faith in Christ, you are called to be the Light, the “salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13). Not in our power, but in His power.

The Bible warns against pride. Pride is like scales on the eyes of Saul on Damascus Road. Until the scales drop off (Acts 9:18) all that you can do is add to the darkness. The scales must come off.

Pride is a five letter word with “I” in the middle.

Pride says “I will live for ME”. God says:

Proverbs 8:13 … The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the {boasting} mouth, do I hate.

Proverbs 16:18 … Pride goeth before destruction, and an {puffed up} spirit before a fall.

God made us not for destruction, but for a purpose. “Clothe yourselves with humility” (1 Peter 5:5), not with arroganhce and pride. “God opposes the PROUD, but gives GRACE to the HUMBLE” (James 4:6).

Someone once said – and I agree with this:

“God doesn’t call the equipped. He equips His called.”

Our Minds Must Be Infused With God’s Word

Life is all about choices. Who will you listen to? How will you order your life? God offered ancient Israel a choice. He said:

Will you seek truth from God, Who alone defines truth? Or will you get your truth from other sources. Our Lord Jesus prayed for His Church before going to the Cross to die for our sins. He prayed:

John 17:11-17 … And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. 13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil {one}. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Jesus Christ gave us the Word of God. He did not give us the word of the world, or the opinion of mankind, but the message God would have us hear. The words “it is written” are repeated some sixty three times in the New Testament. Jesus quoted Scripture, sharing the Word of God with His Church. The Church and the world are to be distinctly different. The world is a fallen and confused place.

God’s Word is sure.

When Israel regarded the Word of God and applied it’s truths to their lives, they were blessed. America has a blessed history because a people called “Pilgrims” came to this land, seeking a place where they could freely worship God. The words found on the Statue of Liberty:

“Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

Used to mean something. But as we have drifted from God’s Word we have coarsened. G. K. Chesterton wrote:

“… let us say, for the sake of simplicity, (there is) a fence or gate erected across a road. The more modern type of reformer goes gaily up to it and says, ‘I don’t see the use of this; let us clear it away.’ To which the more intelligent type of reformer will do well to answer: ‘If you don’t see the use of it, I certainly won’t let you clear it away. Go away and think. Then, when you can come back and tell me that you do see the use of it, I may allow you to destroy it.’”

While Israel followed the Word of God, the nation was a blessed place.

Jeremiah 6:3 … The shepherds with their flocks shall come unto her; they shall pitch their tents against her round about; they shall feed every one in his place.

God blesses the nation, the city, the community, the church, the family that follows Him. “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.” (Psalm 33:12). As God’s people we need to heed and live by His Word. We need to tell others what God has said. We need to do what God says:

Jeremiah 6:16 … ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls

Ask of God what HE considers right and normal. Progressiveness and humanism is tearing our nation apart. We must listen to God’s Voice, His Word. We need to heed His warnings:

Jeremiah 6:7-8 … As a fountain casteth out her waters, so she casteth out her wickedness: violence and spoil is heard in her; before me continually is grief and wounds. 8 Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my soul depart from thee; lest I make thee desolate, a land not inhabited.

If we continue to chase God from our land, we shall reap what we have sown. Let us all repent, and turn to Him Who loves us so. The solution to what ails America is US, His people. Has not God promised?

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; THEN will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Oh, that God would heal His land. Let this healing begin with us, His people. May God touch your hearts with His Word and His Spirit. Amen and Amen!

Posted in Jeremiah, Sermons Preached | Tagged Back To Bible, Word of God | Leave a comment

The Amazing Love Of God (Red Letters #24)

Posted on May 4, 2020 by bibleteacherorg

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Photo by Emmanuel Phaeton on Unsplash

Matthew 9:27-35 And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us. 28 And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. 29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. 30 And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straightly charged them, saying, See that no man know it. 31 But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country. 32 As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil. 33 And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marveled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel. 34 But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils. 35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

Why Do We Have Disasters, Pandemics, Floods?

This is the question people ask every time something “bad” happens. Why? And if there is a God Who made all things, and loves all people, then why does He allow these bad things to happen? David Mathis of desiringGod.org wrote:

“Through suffering, God exposes our sin and calls us to soul-saving repentance (Romans 8:18–23; Luke 13:1–5). Through affliction, he drives us from the dangers of trust in self to the safety of trust in him (2 Corinthians 1:8–9). Through pain, he works in us hope and holiness and endurance (Hebrews 12:3–11; Romans 5:3–4; James 1:2–4; 1 Peter 1:6–8).

He makes us the hands of his comfort in the lives of others (2 Corinthians 1:3–4), emboldens fellow believers (Philippians 1:12–14), and embodies the gospel to unbelievers (Colossians 1:24; Acts 5:40–41). He uses distress and persecution to reposition his troops (Acts 8:1; 11:19–21), and he makes our sufferings into his instruments to wean us from the cheap thrills of the world, keep us from conceit, and woo us to the surpassing value and preciousness of Christ (2 Corinthians 12:9–10; Philippians 1:19–23).”

I believe it is to wake us up to our need, to make us realize we desperately need the
Love & Presence of the Lord.

The Apostle in writing to the Church at Corinth paints a picture of spiritual warfare, an on going battle between the light and the darkness. He speaks of what hides the Gospel from those who so desperately need it. As Paul went about preaching the glorious Gospel of salvation by faith in Christ he realized that another force warred against him – a force of darkness. He wrote about this force in ..

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

The world is like these blind men – it cannot see Jesus. Yet unlike these blind men, the world is comfortable in it’s blindness. It is comfortable in it’s sin. This world needs Jesus. We all need Jesus. We are not, as humanists believe, all naturally good people. No. The Bible paints another picture of humanity. The same Apostle writing to the Church at Ephesus said:

Ephesians 2:1, 4-5 And you hath {God} quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

Before a person meets Christ that person is “dead in trespasses and sins”. A dead person cannot make themselves alive. Only Christ can raise the dead. The Christian is someone who has been “quickened together with Christ”. The Greek συζωοποιέω syzōopoiéō, {pronounced sood-zo-op-oy-eh’-o} means “to be made alive with or resurrected with”. Prior to Jesus Christ we all as humans are in a state of spiritual death. We are blind to the righteousness of God. But Christ touches us. This is what happens when we meet Jesus.

Only Jesus Can Give Us Eyes To See

The unsaved soul is blind to God. He or she is spiritually blind, whereas the men in our text today are physically blind. Everyone born is born into this life spiritually blind. They cannot see God. Why? Is it because God willed this? No, it is because our forefather Adam willed it.

Adam did not heed God.
Adam brought pain & death to us all.

God has an amazing love for us. But from Adam till now, we just don’t listen to God. God told Adam in the Garden of Eden:

Genesis 2:16-17 … Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Now God did not tell Adam “If you eat that which is forbidden I WILL KILL YOU!” No, not at all. God warned Adam like a loving mother warns a child. “Johnny, that stove is hot. Don’t touch it! When you touch it, you will get burned.” God didn’t kill Adam. Adam killed Adam. Not God.

Romans 5:12 … by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned

Death is in the world because of Adam, not because of God. Sickness is in the world because of Adam, not because of God. God told Adam:

Genesis 3:17-19 … Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: 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; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

Adam took to himself something that only belonged to God. His action brought sweat, sorrow, thorns and thistles into an otherwise perfect world. Disease and suffering comes because of mankind’s sinful nature. Blindness is upon mankind because of sin in the world.

And yet God still loved us enough to send Jesus to us. What amazing love this is! We are told in:

1 John 4:7-10 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation {satisfactory covering or atonement} for our sins.

Jesus is the love of God in action. So far the day of our passage Jesus has healed a woman with an issue of blood, and raised a young 12 year old girl from the dead. As Jesus travels we read:

Matthew 9:27 (KJV) … Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying

Two blind men follow after Jesus. The Bible says they were “crying”, the Greek κράζω krázō, (pronounced krad’-zo – sounds kind of like “crazy”, doesn’t it?) which means “to croak like a raven, to scream”.

These men were not filled with pride.
They were not caring about what others thought.
They wanted Jesus’ attention.
They weren’t worried about what others might think.

When we are more concerned about what others think than we are about what Jesus thinks, then God cannot do business with us. When we let our P-R-I-D-E rule our lives rather than crying out to Jesus,
we are not blessed.

God cannot bless the pride filled.

When Naaman the General refused to dip himself in the waters of the Jordan, he remained a leper. “I’ll look foolish, crazy to others if I dip in that muddy Jordan.” But convinced of a lowly servant girl, Naaman went down to the Jordan and dipped himself seven times as God told him to do: then and only then was he healed (2 Kings 5:14).

We MUST STOP worrying about what OTHERS THINK about us, and begin to be concerned about what
OUR GOD thinks of us.

David – a man after God’s own heart – said:

Psalm 18:6 In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.

Psalm 61:1 Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.

These men cried out to Jesus. They were not concerned about what others thought. Life had gotten to the place where they needed Jesus – and didn’t care who heard about it! They screamed – CROAKED …

Matthew 9:27 … Thou son of David, have mercy on us.

The men called Jesus “the Son of David”. What is the significance of this title? In the Old Testament God promised King David that he would have a “Son” that would have a Divinely Established Kingdom. God told David:

2 Samuel 7:13-14, He shall build an house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever. 14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. … 16 ,,, thy throne shall be established for ever.

The Son of David was the Promised Messiah, Jesus Christ our Lord.

In Matthew 1:1 Jesus is proclaimed “the Son of David”.
As Jesus did miracle after miracle the people declared, “Is not this the Son of David?” (Matthew 12:23).
On Palm Sunday, the last time Jesus would enter Jerusalem prior to His crucifixion, the multitudes would cry out “Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Matthew 21:9).

The blind men stumbled after Jesus by faith, calling upon the Son of David, the Messiah, to bestow “mercy on us“.

Have you ever noticed that Jesus continued walking? This is not Jesus being heartless, but Jesus will deal with these men away from the crowd.

These men have no eyes to see, but they can hear where the Master is going. These men were tuned in to the Voice of Jesus. Their suffering opened their ears to Jesus. Our Lord said:

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

Matthew 9:28 And when {Jesus} was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.

Jesus has but one question to ask them:

“Do YOU believe I am able to do this?”

Saving faith is a very personal thing. It is not what others think, but what YOU think. Do YOU believe Jesus is able to do this? God opposes the proud, but gives Grace to the humble (James 4:6). Is Jesus “Lord” to you?

Matthew 9:29-31 Then touched {Jesus} their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. 30 And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straightly charged them, saying, See that no man know it. 31 But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.

Jesus did not ask these men if they were “worthy”. He just asked them “Do YOU believe I can do this?” None of us are worthy of Jesus – and yet He loves us so much that He wants to bless us. Consider what the Scripture says:

Romans 3:10 There is none righteous, no, not one:

1 Samuel 2:2 There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.

I am amazed at the love of God. We are so dissimilar to God, so far away from Who He is … and yet He loves us still. If we but come to Him He would touch us. Jesus said “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:32).

Jesus heals these men with but a touch.

Matthew 9:30 (KJV) … And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straightly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.

Our Lord is able! He heals these men, but then tells them “tell no one about this”. Why? Adam Clark in his commentary states that if Christ had been fully manifested as Messiah at this time the people would have tried to proclaim Him king. In John 6:15 they tried to make Jesus King by force, which caused Him to retreat into the mountains. There will come a day when Jesus will rule and reign on this earth. The time is not now.

Jesus Can Heal The Demon Possessed,
But Not The Self Righteous

Matthew 9:32-34 As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil. 33 And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marveled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel. 34 But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.

WHEN JESUS WORKS:
The DUMB SPEAK,
The MULTITUDES MARVEL, and
The SELF RIGHTEOUS MURMUR!

A “dumb” or “mute” man was brought to Jesus. His ability to speak was taken away not just by sin, but a servant of Satan. Jesus with ease cast the devil out of the man, and the man spoke, while the crowd stood amazed. “It was never so seen in Israel”. But the Pharisees indicted Jesus. They said:

{Jesus} casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.

Why would they say this? Because the Pharisees were self righteous. Jesus can cast devils out of people. In fact we are told right after Jesus cast the devil out of this poor man that:

Matthew 9:35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

Jesus healed EVERY sickness and EVERY disease among the people. There were no exceptions. Every person who humbled themselves and came to Jesus in faith were blessed. There is nothing that Jesus cannot heal …

except self righteousness. Self righteousness does not save a person, but distances them from the Savior. God prophesied through Isaiah that there would come a day when He would reach out to the Gentiles because His Israel kept rejecting Him. God said:

Isaiah 65:1-5 I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name. 2 I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; 3 A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick; 4 Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine’s flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels; 5 Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.

God loved Israel. He sent His Only Begotten Son to Israel first. What does the scripture say?

John 1:10-12 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 {Jesus} came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

When Jesus sat down to eat with tax collectors and sinners, the Pharisees asked Him “Why are You doing this?” Jesus told them:

Mark 2:17 … They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (also Luke 5:32)

Those who think they are “righteous” will not come to Jesus. But those who are suffering and sin sick, whose eyes are opened by God, will seek Jesus. The Pharisee had perfected church going. They had perfected outward righteousness. They didn’t feel that they needed Jesus. But they could not disprove Jesus’ works. It was evident that Jesus healed people.

When you cannot disprove someone’s works, attack their character. This is what the Pharisees did.

Matthew 9:34 … the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.

It is typical of the devil and his agents to attack the light. If they cannot disprove the works of Jesus and His people, the evil ones will discredit
the character of the Light.

This is the first time the Pharisees accuse Jesus of being in collusion with Satan, but it is not the only time. If you’ll turn over just a few chapters to:

Matthew 12:22-24 Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. 23 And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David? 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.

It was self righteousness and pride that caused the Pharisees to say this. But it was not true. Jesus told them:

Matthew 12:25-32 … Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: 26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? 27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. 28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. 29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. 30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. 31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. 32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

It is the Holy Spirit Who saves us. When we receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior the Spirit of God comes to us and changes us, making us born again. Self righteousness cuts a soul off from salvation. Self righteousness will not come to Jesus to be saved. And that is just a crying shame!

Thank God, though, there are many more “sinners” than there are “Pharisees”. Jesus told His disciples, and we who believe in Him are His disciples:

Matthew 9:37-38 … The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.

As a Church we do not need more members on the Church roll. We need more God sent Laborers. There are many sinners all around us. Let us bring them to Jesus. Bring Him the blind, the deaf, the spiritually dead. Take them to Jesus. Jesus is able to heal, to save, to bless. There is nothing my Jesus cannot do. In the aftermath of this Coronavirus Pandemic let us commit to take those we know to the amazing Love of God, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen and Amen. May God bless His people, and increase the harvest for His glory.

Posted in Sermon Series "Red Letters", Sermons Preached | Tagged loved of God, Red Letters, trials, Tribulation, troubles | Leave a comment

5. The MUSTS Of Christianity: we MUST Worship In Spirit and in Truth (A.K.A. “This Is That”)

Posted on May 3, 2020 by bibleteacherorg

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Photo by Kyle Johnson on Unsplash

John 4:23-24 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Acts 2:16 … But this is that …

God put two sermons on my heart for this morning. Now don’t be frightened or disturbed, for this won’t be overly long. The sermon is entitled “This is That”. You’ll understand the title in just a few moments. Let’s start in John Chapter 4.

In John 4 Jesus has been traveling. When Jesus came to this earth from Heaven, He came on a serious mission. Jesus represented the Father as He traveled. The Father had a message for all people. Not just for Israel, but for the Gentiles as well. Jesus left Judea and headed toward Galilee (John 4:4). In order to get to where the Father wanted Him to be, Jesus must needs go through Samaria. Now Samaria is a part of the Promised Land, the Land that God gave to Abraham and His children. Yet Samaria is racially hated by the Jews. The Samaritans have two strikes against them.

The people of Samaria are descended from the Ten Northern Tribes of Israel. When King Solomon died the throne of Israel passed to his son Rehoboam (1 Kings 11:43). Rehoboam was a foolish king. When the ten northern tribes asked that he lessen their tax burden, Rehoboam ignored the advise of his elder counselors, leading to civil war in Israel. The Ten Northern tribes departed from Israel, and began to worship not in the Temple (which was in Jerusalem) but in the mountains around Samaria.
The people of Samaria are of mixed heritage. When Assyria overthrew Northern Israel the invading army intermixed with the conquered Israelites. The resultant children were not considered Jews but Gentiles.

Jesus was traveling through an area considered by Israel to be a Gentile (or worse) dominated place.

When Jesus meets a woman of Samaria at Jacob’s Well, the Jews would have considered her to be a Gentile, and perhaps lower than a Gentile. Jesus and this unnamed Gentile woman are meeting at a place called Jacob’s Well. Now let me talk about Jacob’s Well for a minute. Jacob’s Well is only mentioned ONCE in the Bible, in the text we are reading today.

Jacob’s Well stands at a crossroads five miles or so outside of the town of Sychar, a suburb of Samaria.

Jacob, the patriarch of the nation Israel, is the Grandson of Abraham, his father being Isaac. Jewish tradition teaches that Jacob purchased this land and gave it to his son Joseph (Genesis 33:19; John 4:5), the son responsible for saving Israel from destruction by famine. I am sure you all remember the story of Joseph and the coat of many colors (Genesis 37-50). The Woman of Samaria tells Jesus that:

John 4:12 … our father Jacob gave us the well …

This woman that was considered a Gentile by the Jews nonetheless considered herself and her people as part of the family of Jacob. She thinks she is right with God because of her association with Jacob.

This woman did not worship in the Temple, nor did her family worship in the Temple. She worshiped where her family traditionally worshiped. The woman told Jesus:

John 4:20 Our fathers worshiped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.

The Samaritans had, from the time of Rehoboam, worshiped not in Jerusalem at the Temple, but in the mountains of Samaria. They used as their justification their revolt against a bad king Rehoboam. As this woman of Samaria stood talking with Jesus at the crossroads where Jacob’s Well is,

this is a picture of the Gentile Church.

God has an Old Testament people, and a New Testament people.
God has an Old Covenant people, and a New Covenant people.

This woman says “Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, but YOU JEWS say (for that’s what she means) in JERUSALEM is the only place you are to worship.

It Is Not Worship If It Is Not Done God’s Way

Who sets the standard as to what “Worship” is?
Do I? Do you? OR DOES GOD?

It was not the Jews who established worship of God in the Temple in Jerusalem. It was God Himself Who set that standard. God specifically told Israel under the Old Covenant:

Deuteronomy 12:1-5 … These are the statutes and judgments, which ye shall observe to do in the land {O Israel}, which the Lord God of thy fathers giveth thee to possess it, all the days that ye live upon the earth. 2 Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree: 3 And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place. 4 Ye shall not do so unto the Lord your God. 5 But UNTO THE PLACE WHICH THE LORD YOUR GOD SHALL CHOOSE OUT OF ALL YOUR TRIBES TO PUT HIS NAME THERE, EVEN UNTO HIS HABITATION SHALL YE SEEK, and thither thou shalt come:

God was very specific – in fact, God is always very specific with what He says to do. God told His Israel “you WILL NOT worship in the mountains. You WILL worship where I tell you top worship. You will go to the Temple, and the Temple is in Jerusalem. There you will worship. There you will worship.”

This woman is a perfect picture of many today who are in the Church of Christ. She is enjoying the blessings of God’s Israel. She is drinking at Jacob’s Well (you could call it “Israel’s Well). Yet she and her ancestors set about establishing what THEY thought was worship. Jesus corrected her, saying,

“Salvation is of the Jews” (vs 22)

Salvation is of the Jews. God promised salvation through Abraham, the father of faith. From Abraham would come a nation one day to be called Israel. Out of Israel the Messiah, the Savior of the world, will come. Jesus Christ would come unto Israel first, because God promised Messiah would come of the lineage of Abraham, and of the lineage of Jacob, and of the lineage of David. God had a plan, and the Messiah would come according to that plan. But God came to THE JEW FIRST. Messiah went to Israel FIRST. Jesus Christ was born to the virgin Mary, a Jew, and to a stepfather Joseph, a Jew. As the Archangel told Joseph in a dream:

Matthew 1:20-21 … Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And {Mary} shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for {Jesus} shall save HIS PEOPLE from their sins.

Jesus Christ came unto HIS PEOPLE first. What did John tell us?

John 1:11 {Jesus} came unto his OWN, and HIS OWN received Him not.

Jesus told His disciples when His ministry began,

Matthew 10:5 … GO NOT into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not, but GO RATHER TO THE LOST SHEEP OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL.

Our Lord’s ministry began with Israel. Why? “Because salvation is of the Jews”. God promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God keeps His promises. But God had not forgotten the Gentiles. The Gentiles were not worshiping God in the way He prescribed. God told Israel to worship Him not in the mountains, but in Jerusalem at the Temple. Ten tribes of Israel revolted against Rehoboam, and then used this revolt to turn against the god Who loved them. This poor woman is like so many throughout history. God has said,

“Do it this way”,

and her ancestors and she herself said,

“But we’ll do it our way!”

What does God think of this? What does our Lord Jesus say about this? He says:

John 4:22 Ye worship ye know not what: WE KNOW WHAT WE WORSHIP: for salvation is of the Jews.

Jesus knows what He worships. Jesus comes from the Father.

John 8:42 … If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but {the Father} sent me.

John 6:38-39 … I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me…

Jesus Christ came from the Father. He and the righteous Jews who believed on Him know what they worship. They worship in the right place, the place mandated by God. They may not understand that the entirety of the Old Testament scripture, including the sacrifices, the things of the Temple, and even the location of the Temple taught of Jesus. Jesus said that. He tells the Pharisees in the next chapter:

John 5:45-47 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. 46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for {Moses} wrote of me. 47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

Moses wrote of Christ. The Old Testament Scriptures speak of the Messiah Who was coming from Israel, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Luke 24:27 And beginning at MOSES AND ALL THE PROPHETS, {Jesus} expounded unto them in ALL THE SCRIPTURES the things concerning himself.

The Scriptures – the Old Testament text at this time in history – established the truths about Jesus Christ. It was NOT optional that God’s Old Covenant people worship in Jerusalem at the Temple. It was NOT optional that they keep the feasts, the Passovers, the atonements in Jerusalem at the Temple. God had a pattern, a truth that He was illustrating by the Law and the Prophets. These truths were to be upheld until the day that Christ Jesus was revealed, the Messiah, the only Savior of the world (John 3:16). Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit of God, preached this great truth that many have departed from:

Acts 4:10-12 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11 This is the stone which was set at naught of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is NONE OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN GIVEN AMONG MEN, WHEREBY WE MUST BE SAVED.

Many, like the Samaritans and this dear Samaritan woman, have departed from the revealed truths of the Bible.

2 Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy {Spirit}.

The Word of God was not optional the day that Jesus stood preaching to this Samaritan woman, and the Word of God is not optional now. You cannot rewrite the Holy Book to suit the feelings of people, nor to satisfy an unsanctioned revolt against an unwise and foolish king Rehoboam.

You cannot depart from the written Word of God and expect the Living Word of God to bless you. This Book is the Written Word of God. This Jesus Christ is the Living Word of God, the Word of God Who was
IN THE BEGINNING both WITH God and WAS God (John 1:1-3)

There can be no worship of God without what Jesus said. Look at His Words to us, dear Church.

The Father must be worshiped in Spirit and in truth. Some Churches worship in Spirit, but have departed from the Word of God. They are not worshiping Gods. Other Churches worship in truth, but have departed from the Spirit of God. They are not worshiping. Good intentions does not make it worship. God is a Spirit, high above us. If we are to worship Him, we must worship Him in Spirit and in truth. We must be Bible based, but we must be Spirit empowered. We must not operate in the realm of the flesh, or in the power of the flesh, but in the power of God’s Holy Spirit.

The woman at the well had a face to face chat with Jesus. We as Christians need to get on our knees and have a face to face chat with Jesus. We as Churches need to humble ourselves, and tell Jesus we are listening. What is Jesus telling us to do? Can we, like the little Prophet Samuel, become like that little Child and say:

1 Samuel 3:9 … Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth.

The woman didn’t just hold a conversation with Jesus – she LISTENED to Jesus. She said:

John 4:25 … I know that Messiah cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.

Jesus told this precious Gentile Woman – the forerunner of His Church in whom there …

Galatians 3:28 … is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

As soon as Jesus told her “I that speak unto thee am {the Messiah}” the woman immediately left her water pot – and Jesus – to run out and tell others about Him. Her message was based on her personal meeting with Jesus:

John 4:29 … Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?

The Church that serves Jesus must worship God in Spirit and in Truth – else it is not a Church, nor is it even worship.

Is “This”, “That”?
Is What We Are Doing “Worship”?

After Jesus Christ died for our sins on the Cross of Calvary, our Lord rose from the grave. Jesus then told His disciples:

Acts 1:4 {do not leave Jerusalem, but} “wait for the Promise of the Father, which you have heard of Me”

Jesus went on to say Acts 1:8 “You shall receive power, after that the Holy {Spirit} is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me …”

The purpose of the reception of the Holy Spirit was not just to chatter in tongues, nor to be emotionally exhilarated. The Spirit would empower the Church that Jesus died for to witness to power and light of God to a powerless and defeated world. Jesus told His people to “wait”. Not to do nothing, but to “wait”. The Bible says:

Psalm 25:20-22 O {Lord} keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in Thee. 21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on Thee. 22 Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.

Psalm 27:13-14 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. 14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

Psalm 37:34 Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.

Jesus told His disciples to W-A-I-T. To WAIT does not mean to do nothing. It means to seek God’s face, to heed His direction.

Proverbs 20:22 … Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the Lord, and he shall save thee.

The Church that Jesus died for began to wait on the Lord. They went off into an upper room, and there they waited on God.

The first Church did what God told them to do, and prayed, waiting for God to show them what to do next. They knew that God sought out a people who would worship Him in SPIRIT and in TRUTH. They waited and prayed. They heeded The Holy Spirit AND The Word. The Church DESPERATELY needs
the Holy Spirit And the Word!

The time from the Passover to the Day of Pentecost was fifty days. Jesus died for our sins on the Passover. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us (1 Corinthians 5:7). Jesus rose from the grave on the third day after Passover (Matthew 16:21; 17:23; 20:19; Acts 10:40; 1 Corinthians 15:4). The Church was not to immediately go out after Jesus rose from the dead. The Church was to wait on God. To pray. To seek God’s direction. To get into one accord.

Then Pentecost came, and God showed up! “They were all FILLED with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:4). As the disciples went out the multitude was confounded, because every man HEARD THEN SPEAK IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGE (Acts 2:6). God allowed everyone to hear the Gospel. These Galileans were speaking at least twelve different human languages … if not more. Some in the crowd mocked them.

Acts 2:13 “These men are full of new wine!”

Then Peter began to preach.

Acts 2:14-16 “Hearken to my words. These are not drunken like you suppose, but THIS IS THAT…”.

This is not drunkenness. THIS is THAT.

THIS is the fulfillment of THAT Promise God made, a promise God made in Isaiah 44:3 and

Joel 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that {God said} I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

This is that. Not drunkenness, not foolishness, but people hearing the Gospel.

Beloved, God shut down many Church buildings during the Coronavirus Pandemic. We as a Church were shut down – in compliance with the Law – for several weeks. During that time I asked our members to be in prayer, to wait on God, to seek His face. We were not supposed to be wasting this time, but were supposed to, as the first Church did, pray until the Power of God be endued on us from on high.

Is “This”, “That”? Are we the Church that Jesus Christ wants us to be? Are we relying on Him, and on the Spirit of God to do Christ’s Business, or are we doing so in our own power? Peter told the crowd that day “This is That”. This is the Church that Christ inhabits. This is the people that followed the Lord. And now we, as His people, share this message with the world.

Acts 2:16-21 this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: 19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come: 21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

And saved they were. About 3000 joined the Church that day, people of various languages and cultures. God reached them. God reached them. God will not reach the world through us if we do not worship Him in Spirit AND in truth.

God’s Word is TRUE (John 17:17).
God’s Spirit was given to guide us into God’s Truth (John 16:13).

Let us come together under God’s Word and following His Spirit so that “This” will be “That”. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen and Amen. May God touch your hearts through His Word and His Spirit.

Posted in Five MUSTS Of Faith, Sermons Preached | Tagged Back To Bible, God the Holy Spirit, musts of faith, Spirit, Spirit Led, spirituality, worship | Leave a comment

Is It True?

Posted on April 29, 2020 by bibleteacherorg

Daniel 3:13-14 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo. Then they brought these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true …

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Photo by Christopher Burns on Unsplash

God created man and woman to worship Him. We were not created so that God could serve us. We were created so that we can serve God. This is why we were made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27; 9:6). Were were made in His image – but we were NOT made gods. There is but one God (Malachi 2:10; Mark 12:32; Romans 3:30). This God made us. He is not the God of our imaginations, but the God of the Holy Bible, the Scripture written by his hand. “Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit of God” (2 Peter 1:21). We were made to worship God. God has set ETERNITY (“world” in the KJV of Ecclesiastes 3:11) in our hearts. We know there is more than we are. We know there is One greater than us. God the Father created the Angels to worship God the Son, Jesus Christ our Lord:

Hebrews 1:6 … {the Father said} And let all the angels of God worship Him.

God is God, and we are not. We are created to worship God, to love and adore Him, to serve Him, to please Him. Satan – from the Garden of Eden until now – constantly seeks ways to keep God’s creation from worshiping the Creator.

If Satan can get us to worship a thing, an idol, money, a function like sex or eating, if he can get us to worship the adoration of man or the acquisition of power, if Satan can get us to worship ANYONE outside of God our Creator then it is the same as worshiping Satan himself.

Satan uses many tactics to draw us into worship outside of God. Though he knows that at the end of time God will triumph in Christ, for our Lord has said:

Romans 14:11 … As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

Though Satan knows this he wishes to bring as many people to hell with him as he can. He and his demons – the rebellious angels – never stop offering another way of worship, another god to love, another thing to put in the Almighty God’s place. The unbeliever, just like the Samaritan woman Jesus spoke to at Jacob’s well, think that any worship or any god is acceptable to the Creator. People proudly point to their local church and say, like the Samaritan woman:

John 4:20 …Our fathers worshiped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.

“My denomination believes this, BUT YOUR denomination believes that.” Even the so called “non denominational” churches do the saDaniel 3:26-27 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo., ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo., came forth of the midst of the fire. 27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counselors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.me. But Jesus tells us:

John 4:22-24 … Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Jesus Christ defines the truth. The God of our Holy Bible defines the truth. His Word is truth (John 17:17). What has our God said? What does the Bible clearly say? What does Jesus Christ our Lord say? This is what matters. Jesus Christ. The One Who saves us is the One Who leads us. Jesus! The Jesus of the Bible. Not the Jesus of our imagination, but the Jesus of Scripture!

What Are You Going To DDaniel 3:26-27 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo., ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo., came forth of the midst of the fire. 27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counselors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.o When
You Are Given A Choice?

If you are indeed a Christian, you are going to be tried.
If are indeed a human, you are going to be tested.
The devil will put choices before you.
Will you worship the Lord, or Satan?

If you choose to worship the Lord, the God of Scripture, you will be persecuted. This is a promise from God. It will happen. Light and darkness do not mix. Good and evil cannot blend. The Apostle said:

2 Timothy 3:12-14 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

Religion has always been the tool of Satan. God calls us to a RELATIONSHIP in Him through Jesus Christ our Lord. Jesus was ALWAYS persecuted by whom? The Gentiles? No! The PHARISEES. Who else? The SCRIBES. The copiers of the Scripture, who never had a relationship with God.

King Nebuchadnezzar created a religion.
Why? Because he was lifted up with pride.

In the previous chapter the Almighty God gave Nebuchadnezzar a dream that Daniel interpreted. After the interpretation Nebuchadnezzar said:

Daniel 2:47 {Nebuchadnezzar told Daniel} … OF A TRUTH IT IS, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.Daniel 3:26-27 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo., ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo., came forth of the midst of the fire. 27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counselors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.

The same Nebuchadnezzar who asked the Hebrew Children “Is It True” just one chapter before says “OF A TRUTH IT IS”. The worldly have no true faith in God. The worldly base their lives on “feelings”.

Nebuchadnezzar previously said that our God – the God of Scripture – is a God of God, and a Lord of kings, but what he SAID was based on feelings not on faith. Nebuchadnezzar was much like the Pharisees, whom Jesus indicted saying:

Matthew 15:7-9 Ye hypocrites, well did Isaiah {in Isaiah 29:13} prophesy of you, saying, 8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

There are many who pay lip service to God, but do not truly worship Him. Nebuchadnezzar was of this sort. That is why he …

Daniel 3:1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits (90 feet tall), and the breadth thereof six cubits (9 feet wide): he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.

This was not just a statue to put in a park for the birds to sit on and the children to ooh and aah. The King James calls it “an IMAGE of gold”. The word translated IMAGE is the Hebrew צֶלֶם tselem, (pronounced tseh’-lem) which means “an IDOL”. The value of the idol is shown in it’s makeup. First of all, the idol as of GOLD. It is 90 feet tall and 9 feet wide. To put this in comparison the Statue of Liberty – from heel to top of her head – is 111 ½ feet tall, just 21 feet higher than Nebuchadnezzar’s statue. I tried to find out the value of such a statue to no avail – it appears that there has never been such a thing made before or after this creation. Considering that one pound of gold today costs $17,987.00, this statue would have been unparalleled in cost. Nebuchadnezzar had the statue set up in the capital city of Babylon.

Daniel 3:2-3 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. 3 Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

At the dedication of the gold statue Nebuchadnezzar gathered all of the politicians, all of the leaders were gathered in place. This started out as a “dedication”. When the devil wants to draw us away from God he always couches his requests in a sly way.

It is “dedication” not “desecration”.
It is “freedom of choice” not “abortion”.
It is “love” not “lasciviousness”.
It is “alternate lifestyle” not “defiance of God’s standard”.

As they stood at the proposed “dedication”, suddenly the truth was revealed.

Daniel 3:4-6 Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, 5 That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sack but, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: 6 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

Now we have a choice before us. The leaders all have heard the choice. Fall down and worship the idol. Only God shall be worshiped! Only the Creator is to be so treated.

Psalm 95:2-10 Sing unto the Lord, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day. 3 Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people. 4 For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the Lord made the heavens. 6 Honor and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. 7 Give unto the Lord, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the Lord glory and strength. 8 Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts. 9 O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth. 10 Say among the heathen that the Lord reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.

“You shall worship no other god, for the LORD, Whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God” (Exodus 34:14). Jesus told Satan “Get away from Me, Satan! You shall worship the lord your God, and Him only shall you serve” (Matthew 4:10). The devil says “Worship other than God”. Nebuchadnezzar said “worship my statue”. The world worships the wrong thing. It bows down to that which is not God.

Daniel 3:7 Therefore at that time, when ALL the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, ALL the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshiped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

ALL the people complied. The darkness was great, for ALL worshiped that image. When you compromise with the darkness, you ARE in league with the devil. When you sin without repentance, you ARE advancing the devil’s darkness. When you are quiet when evil is, then you are aiding evil!

Light MUST be light.
Be the Light!
Worship God only!
Serve the Lord.

Children Of God Must Set
The Standard And The Tone

Have you ever wondered why DANIEL
isn’t mentioned in Chapter Three?

Daniel is tested in Chapters 1 and 2, and Daniel passes the tests. Daniel is the leader and the mentor of three other young men named Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. You may better know then as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo. These three young men are hardly mentioned in Chapters 1 and 2, but are now focused on in chapter 3. Why?

I believe it is because Daniel mentored these young men. As the elder in faith he taught them the ways of the Father, and now these young men are being tested. One area that the Church is America is woefully deficient in is DISCIPLESHIP. We who are believers in Christ are to, as we grow in faith, mentor other believers in Christ. Beloved, all will be tested. All will be tried. Peter tells us:

1 Peter 5:5-9 … ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

Believers are to disciple believers, to teach one another to submit oDaniel 3:26-27 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo., ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo., came forth of the midst of the fire. 27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counselors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.urselves to God and resist the devil. You will be tried. Daniel chapter 3 is the trying of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo.

Daniel 3:8-12 Wherefore at that time certain CHALDEANS came near, and accused the Jews {Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo.}. 9 They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever. 10 Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image: 11 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo.; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

The Chaldeans were the priests of the state religion, the followers of the idol that Nebuchadnezzar set up. They came to the King and reminded him that he promised whosoever does not fall down and worship this god will be cast in a fiery furnace. They told the King “there are some Jews YOU – O King – set over the affairs of your Kingdom. They are rulers by YOUR decree – and these three – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo. – have refused YOUR command.”

The King was beyond angry. The Bible says that:

Daniel 3:13-15 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo. Then they brought these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo., do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? 15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?

Nebuchadnezzar gave these three believers a choice. “You have a choice. You can fall down and worship the image I made, or you can go into the furnace alive. And WHO is THAT God that shall deliver you out of MY hands.”

Shadrach said,

“Give us a minute to confer, O king, while we decide what to do.”

No, no he didn’t say that. All three young men were ready with an answer to the King. The reason that many young people leave the Church and never return is because they were not mentored in the faith. They were not taught the truths of Scripture by other believers. Too many people have placed the entire burden of mentoring on a select few we call “Pastors”. Pastors should mentor – but so should every elder Christian. That is why we have meetings every week. WDaniel 3:26-27 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo., ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo., came forth of the midst of the fire. 27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counselors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.e meet to encourage one another, to teach one another, to help one another grow in our faith.

Hebrews 10:23-25 … Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

We as Christians are to “provoke one another to love and good works”, to teach other believers by word and example to follow the One True God. These three young men were prepared. Notice there was no hesitation in their response:

Daniel 3:16 … O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.

ALL THREE – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo. – were UNITED in their answer. A divided Church is not a Church. We are together to serve our Lord and Savior – especially in the midst of the darkness. When we unite together Jesus promises us:

Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered TOGETHER in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

God calls us to “stand firm in one spirit, with one mind, working side by side for the faith we received by the Gospel. Do not be frightened – God will deliver you” (Philippians 1:27-28).

The Hebrew Children spoke the same thing – glorifying God – in love! They said “We’re not careful to answer you in this manner!” They were not worried about pleasing an errant king. They were more concerned with pleasing King Jesus.

Daniel 3:17-18 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

These Children of God didn’t say “God will save us”, but said “Our God is able to save us”. But they also went on to say “Even if our God does not save us, we STILL will not worship this god”. They absolutely REFUSED to compromise. Their eyes were firmly fixed on Jesus.

This is the test of genuine faith. Like Job we who believe in Christ declare:

Job 13:15 …. Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

If the believer in Christ, the Child of God passes from this life we have hope even in death (Proverbs 14:32). God is with His Children. We must never compromise with the darkness.

Daniel 3:19-23 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo.: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated. 20 And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo., and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 22 Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo. 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo., FELL DOWN BOUND into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo. FELL DOWN BOUND in the midst of the fiery furnace. They would not fall down and worship the golden idol. They would not fall down and compromise before the King and all his brainwashed leadership. You had to tie them up to get them to fall down. THEY FELL DOWN BOUND in the middle of the fiery furnace. And there they met Jesus their Lord.

Jesus Never Leaves Us Nor Forsakes Us

Daniel 3:24-25 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counselors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. 25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

Jesus Christ stays with His people. He loves us, and gave Himself for us. He stays with us in the valleys of life, and stays with us throughout our days. What Nebuchadnezzar saw so impressed him that we read:

Daniel 3:26-27 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo., ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo., came forth of the midst of the fire. 27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counselors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.

The Children of God came out of the flame unsinged, with not even the smell of smoke on them. Jesus Christ will take you through the fire of trials. Jesus Christ will lift you out of the fire of sin and hell. He will take you into the palm of His eternal hand and hold you there – forever – if you will be give yourselves to Him. May God touch your hearts with His Word and his Spirit. Amen and Amen!

Posted in Daniel, Sermons Preached | Tagged covid-19, Trusting God, truth, worship | Leave a comment

Red Letters #22: What About Fasting?

Posted on April 26, 2020 by bibleteacherorg

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Matthew 9:14-15 Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? 15 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bride chamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.

We’re continuing our sermon series called “The Red Letters”, focusing on the Words of our Lord Jesus Christ. Last week we saw that Jesus had just called Matthew – also known as Levi the son of Alphaeus- to salvation. When Jesus said “Follow Me” Matthew immediately got up from his tax table, and leaving all on the table, he began to follow Jesus. If you remember the first thing Matthew did was throw a party, and invite all his lost friends over to his house to meet Jesus. This party ruffled a bunch of feathers. First, it offended the Pharisees, who asked,

Matthew 9:11 … Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?

Jesus answered simply,

Matthew 9:12 … They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.

Mark 2:17 … I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Jesus Christ came to this earth to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15), and since we are all sinners far from the glory of God (Romans 3:23), this is not just GOOD news, but GREAT news. Jesus …

Titus 2:14 … gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

If Jesus Christ came to redeem sinners, what better way to do so than to sit down and eat with them?

This is what Jesus wants of us. He wants to be in our daily lives. Jesus told the lukewarm Church at Laodicea:

Revelation 3:20 … Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will SUP with him, and he with me.

To “SUP” is to “eat with”. Eating is the most common thing that everyone, regardless of status or race, does. We all eat. God wants to be with in our daily lives. This is why Christ came – not to exclude any, but to include whosoever will in the Messianic Gospel Call. Praise Him, Praise Him forever!

The Pharisees Exit, And John’s Disciples Enter

Right after Jesus answers this question, next comes the Disciples of John the Baptist. There is a difference between the disciples of the Pharisees and the disciples of John. The Pharisees come to Jesus to criticize His ministry. The disciples of John are followers of the greatest Prophet who ever lived. Jesus said this, so it must be true:

Luke 7:28 … I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist:

Jesus said it, and I believe it. But now the disciples of John come to Jesus to question this very same party at Matthew’s home. They ask:

Matthew 9:14 Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?

They are not being critical, but are honestly seeking to understand more about Jesus. These disciples of John were told by their leader that Jesus Christ is the Messiah. John said on seeing Jesus:

John 1:29 … Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

John was the Prophet who would herald the coming of the Messiah. John told his disciples:

Luke 3:16 … I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:

John told his disciples that “Jesus must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). John as the forerunner of Christ was the last Old Covenant Prophet. Jesus said of John:

Matthew 11:13 … all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.

The “Prophets and the Law” is the Old Testament of our Bibles. The Old Testament was written specifically to prophesy and teach about the coming Messiah. Jesus said:

John 5:46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me.

It was after His death and resurrection that Jesus had a Bible class, and …

Luke 24:27 … beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

The only “scripture” that existed at this time in human history was the Old Testament writings. Jesus Christ is the Messiah Who was prophesied in the Old Testament, the Messiah heralded by John the Baptist, the Messiah of whom the angels sang. Jesus Christ is God’s method unto salvation.

I know it seems as if I am chasing rabbits, but I’m not. John, the greatest Prophet ever, preached until Christ was revealed. After Christ was revealed at His baptism the crowds that came to John began to dwindle. Why?

Because the Herald’s job was done. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords had come, and was building a kingdom around Himself. So John’s ministry became obsolete.
Because Herod Antipas imprisoned John. It wasn’t long after Jesus’ baptism that Herod Antipas got in an argument with John the Baptist. You see, Herod (the present Governor of Israel) divorced his wife Phasaelis, a daughter of Aretas IV, an Arab leader. He then married Herodias, who was not only his niece but also his sister-in-law. John told Herod the Biblical truth. He told him…

“It is not lawful for thee to have her” (Matthew 14:4)

Herod Antipas had John thrown into prison (Matthew 4:12) just as Jesus’ ministry started.

John’s disciple, though loyal to their Leader, were like sheep without a Shepherd (Matthew 9:36).

These good, moral and upright men heard John preach on the Messiah, saw John point to Jesus as the Messiah, saw their master John baptize Jesus as the Messiah …. but they never quite understood that Jesus is the Messiah. They were not disciples of Jesus, but disciples of John. They saw Jesus as “just another Teacher” like John was a teacher. Jesus explained to them that He is more than “just another teacher”. Jesus asked them a question:

Matthew 9:14-15 Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? 15 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bride chamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.

Jesus Christ is not just another teacher (though He is Great Teacher). Jesus is the Bridegroom. John told this to these very same men. He said:

John 3:28-31 … Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. 29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease. 31 He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.

John saw himself (and rightly so) as the “friend of the Bridegroom”, the “Best Man” at the wedding. Jesus is “The Christ”, the Messiah Who was sent from God to be the Savior of His people:

Matthew 1:21 {the virgin called Mary} … shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Jesus came building a kingdom, the Kingdom of God. He is the Bridegroom. Who is the “Bride”? It is the Church of Christ. It is the people who have received Christ as Savior. The Apostle Paul uses this image when he describes what Christian marriage should be like. He says:

Ephesians 5:25-30 … Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

Though John’s disciples were still following the Old Testament sacrifices and rituals (including ritual fasting), Jesus is the Author of the New Covenant, the Husband of His Church. We who love Him are bound to Him by faith in His Blood:

Romans 3:23-28 … For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that {God the Holy Spirit} might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. 27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

The disciples of John, following their master (the last Prophet of the Old Testament), continued to do the works of the Law. They fasted WITH the Pharisees not because the Law or God said to do so, but because it was tradition.

The “Free Bible Commentary” notes:

“In the Old Testament there was only one official fast day called Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement, cf. Leviticus 16) held each year. However, the rabbis had made the second and fifth days of the week fast days also (cf. Luke 18:12), supposedly basing them on the day that Moses went up on Mt. Sinai and on the day that he came back down. Fasting had become a way to prove one’s religious commitment. Jesus does not condemn the practice, but neither does He affirm it as required.”

Jesus tells the disciples of John that He is the Bridegroom, the Husband of His Church. While Jesus is with His Church – the disciples that are at this time following Him – there is no fasting or mourning. There is only celebration! The Messiah has come! Jesus has come!

The reason the Jews fasted was to focus on the Lord, to draw nearer to God. It is like the Prophetess Anna, who “departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day” (Luke 2:36-38). Anna waited for the coming of the Messiah. But when Anna saw the Messiah, the eight day old baby of Mary’s in the Temple that day, she “gave thanks likewise unto the Lord”. Anna celebrated. I suspect that she no longer fasted or stayed in the Temple, for like Simeon her eyes saw the salvation of God, a Light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of Israel (Luke 2:30, 32).

Jesus’ disciples had no need to fast. The Bridegroom was here! Jesus is here!

Matthew 9:15 … the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.

The phrase “shall be taken” is the Greek ἀπαίρω apaírō, (pronounced ap-ah’-ee-ro), which means “to be seized violently, torn away from”. Jesus began to teach of His upcoming crucifixion. Jesus would be taken from the Garden of Gethsemane, betrayed with the kiss of a friend (Luke 22:48). The Bible says:

Luke 22:63-65 … the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him. 64 And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee? 65 And many other things blasphemously spake they against him.

The Prophet Isaiah, foreseeing the violent taking of Jesus Christ,

Isaiah 52:14 … his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:

Isaiah 50:6 I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

Jesus would be taken violently from us, so that through His suffering and death our sins would be covered, and our souls redeemed. They spat in His face, and beat Him, and struck Him with the palms of their hands (Matthew 26:67). They beat Him with a reed (Mark 15:19). Jesus Christ was violently taken from His growing Church – but He died willingly for you and I. The disciples of John needed to stop looking to John for teaching and blessing, and to look unto Jesus. Beloved, this is where our eyes go.

All eyes on You, Jesus.
All eyes are on You!

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

A Patchwork Faith Cannot Save

Jesus Christ is the Messiah, come into the world to save sinners. The disciples of John were still living under the Old Covenant, the Old Laws of animal sacrifice and ritual. Jesus came to bring to us to God the Father …

Hebrews 10:20 … By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

Jesus now explains to the disciples of John a great truth that everyone needs to understand. He says:

Matthew 9:16-17 … No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. 17 Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

This is a beautiful illustration. The disciples of John are still following John and the Law. They are living under the Old Covenant. When Jesus Christ came to this earth He did not come to put a patch on the Old Covenant. He came to bring to mankind a New Covenant, a Covenant of Grace found by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

In the first illustration Jesus speaks of patching clothes. I don’t know how many of you ever wore patched clothes, but growing up I and my brother and sister often wore patched clothes. At times daddy only made about 25$ a week. Being kids, we were rough on our clothes. We’d run, slide, and sometimes wear holes in our pants (usually on the knees or on the seat of the pants). When that happened mama would patch our clothes. The best patch to put on clothes is a patch made from older material. If you put a new patch on a pair of old jeans, then washed them, it would pucker where the patch was. This looked ugly. So you never patched old clothes with new cloth.

In the second illustration Jesus talked about new wine and old bottles. In Jesus day wine was often put into wine skins, bottles made of goat or other animal skins. “New Wine” was somewhat freshly made wine that was still in the process of fermentation. Fermentation produces alcohol in the grape juice, but this same fermentation also produces escaping gasses from the aging liquid. If you foolishly put “New Wine” in old wine skins the fermenting wine would first swell, then later burst the bottles. Your wine would be lost.

The followers of Christ are not followers of John the Baptist – they follow Jesus. Jesus Christ is the One Who brought to God’s people the New Covenant. In the Old Testament God promised His Old Covenant Israel:

Jeremiah 31:33-34 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. (see also Hebrews 10:16-17)

God gave His Old Covenant Law to Israel, a good and blessed Law that Israel could not keep. God knew that Israel wouldn’t be able to keep the Law when He gave it to them (see Deuteronomy 31:16-18, 20-21; Joshua 24:19). The Law was not given to save anyone. The Law was a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ Jesus, so that we might be justified by faith in Him (Galatians 3:24).

The just must live by faith in Him (Habakkuk 2:4)

Greg Allen, the Pastor of Bethany Bible Church, in his message “From Fasting to Feasting”, said:

“I believe that the lesson Jesus is seeking to teach us in this is that we can’t make the old patterns of the old covenant somehow become updated and relevant by simply patching new covenant realities over them. The old covenant patterns won’t hold up under the strain. We would be trying to make works support grace! New covenant realities can’t be used to simply cover over the old covenant patterns. We have to have a whole new garment, as it were; and completely trust Christ for our righteousness before God through grace.”

There is no salvation outside of Christ. We must put our faith in Him, the Bridegroom of the Church. We must receive Him as Lord and Savior. When we do so, something wonderful happens. We are no longer old clothing, nor old wine skins. We undergo a NEW BIRTH, being born again of God’s Spirit. Jesus said:

John 3:3, 7 … Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

It is Jesus Christ Who saves us from our sins. It is Jesus Christ who calls us to salvation, and it is the Holy Spirit Who comes to us at Christ’s request once we believe on Him. When we believe on Jesus we are …

1 Peter 1:23 … born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

Are you a Disciple of John or a Child of King Jesus? Where do you place your faith? My faith is in Jesus Christ, my Lord. He died for me on Calvary’s Tree, and rose again on the third day to lead me throughout this life. We are not saved by the sacrifice of goats and calves, nor by following the Aaronic Priesthood. We are saved by following Jesus. The Scripture says:

Hebrews 9:13-15 … if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this cause {Jesus} is the mediator of the New {Covenant}, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

Oh praise Him! Praise Jesus Christ our Lord! As that old song says:

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly lean on Jesus name

On Christ the solid rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand

When darkness veils His lovely face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil

On Christ the solid rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand!

His oath, His covenant, His blood
Supports me in the ‘whelming flood
When all around my soul gives way
He then is all my hope and stay

On Christ the solid rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand!

Praise Jesus Christ, for this is where our salvation lies. Receive Him as Lord and Savior. Put away all other teachers. Run to Him. Be a disciple of Christ. Here, then, is life both now and eternal. May God bless this message through His Spirit and His Word. Amen and Amen!

Posted in Sermon Series "Red Letters", Sermons Preached | Tagged Faith, New Covenant, Old Covenant, Red Letters, Redemption, salvation | Leave a comment

Red Letters #23: Look To Jesus

Posted on April 26, 2020 by bibleteacherorg

Matthew 9:18-26 (KJV) While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshiped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live. [19] And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples. [20] And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: [21] For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. [22] But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour. [23] And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, [24] He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. [25] But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose. [26] And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.

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I don’t know what is going to happen tomorrow. Going through this Coronavirus Pandemic every day some “trustworthy source” proves itself wrong. As widespread testing of the Coronavirus increases the doctors and scientists are discovering that many more people have the virus than previously reported. Many people are asymptomatic, which means they carry the virus but never suffer from it. A CNBC.com report I read had these headlines:

“Coronavirus Antibody Testing Shows LA County Outbreak Is Up To 55 Times Bigger Than Reported Cases”

One article I read noted that only about .5% of those infected would die – a much lower rate than was previously reported. Confusion abounds. Businesses are collapsing because of quarantine standards. Our economy is in tatters. What should we do?

I suggest we look unto Jesus. Jesus can fix our souls. Jesus can heal our hurts. Jesus can raise our nation out of the ashes. Let’s look unto Jesus!

Jairus Looked Unto Jesus

In today’s message two people are facing overwhelming problems. The first of these is called by Matthew simply “a ruler”, but Mark tells us that he is …

Mark 5:22-23 … there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet, 23 And besought him greatly …

Jairus is one of the rulers of the Synagogue, the local Church of Jesus’ day. His name is very interesting. The name “Jairus” means “Yahweh has enlightened”. I suspect that Jairus as a leader in the Synagogue was probably a Pharisee. The Pharisees were Jesus’ most outspoken opponents. Earlier in the day the Pharisees attacked Jesus for eating with Tax Collectors and Sinners (Matthew 9:11). But Jairus was not one of the attackers. Do you know why?

Because his little girl dying. In Mark Jairus says:

Mark 5:23 … my little daughter lieth at the point of death …

In Matthew he says:

Matthew 9:18 … My daughter is even now dead

We are told in Luke 8:42 … {Jairus} had one only daughter, about twelve years of age.

Anytime a parent loses a child it is horrible, but it is particularly painful when that child is young, with so much life left before her. One of the greatest of horrors is to have a child suffering and be unable to help that precious baby. We all believe that our children should outlive us. I don’t know why that is, for death grips both young and old. The Coronavirus is no respector of persons – it infects any who come in contact with it. Disease is not racist or particular. Did you know that every year in the US around 15,780 children between the ages of birth and 19 years old are diagnosed with cancer. Age is no protection against the corruption of life. Adam introduced sin into the world and death by sin. Medical science cannot cure sin – but Jesus can!

Jairus is a big man – an important man. But he comes to Jesus BROKEN. He came to the Master not arrogantly, but in humility. He came on bended knee worshiping Jesus Christ. The other Pharisees picked at and found flaw with the Lord.

Jairus worshiped Jesus (Matthew 9:18).
Jairus begged Jesus (Mark 5:23).
Jairus fell down at Jesus’ feet (Luke 8:41).

What humbled Jairus? It is this disease his daughter – his only daughter – has. I’m Jairus has tried everything he can to fix his daughter. I’m sure he sought out the best doctors. I’m sure he had all those of the Synagogue praying with him. Nothing worked. “My baby is so close to death, that I’ve given up. Jesus I beg of You, come!”

Why does a Loving God allow such things to happen? Though God does not invent the terrible things we face, God allows all things, controls all things. God is on His throne. Where is God in this Coronavirus Pandemic? He is where He has always been. God told the Prophet:

Isaiah 46:9-13 … I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: 11 Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it. 12 Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness: 13 I bring near my righteousness…

The God I serve and I hope you serve does all His will. There is nothing that takes His control away. The Reformer Martin Luther said:

“Even the devil is God’s devil”

Our God is in control. He loves the world, and gave His Son’s life for it. So why does this loving God – this all powerful Creator – allow the Pandemics, the Cancers, the suffering? To draw us to Jesus.

Earlier in the day Jesus spoke a parable to His disciples about a sower who sowed his seed:

Luke 8:5-8 … A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. 6 And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. 7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. 8 And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Jesus explained the parable by noting the seed sown is the Word of God.

Some of that seed “falls on the wayside – and the devil comes along and takes the word out of their hearts lest they should believe and be saved” (Luke 8:12).
Some of that seed “falls on rocky soil. They receive the Word of God with joy, but have NO ROOT, and during time of trial fall away. (Luke 8:13).
Some of that seed “falls among thorns, and is choked out with the things of this world, worries, riches, and pleasures (Luke 8:14).
But PRAISE GOD, some seed “falls on good ground”. Do you know what “good ground” is? It is broken up. It is plowed. It is a place where all weeds are removed, pulled out, or burned off. Good ground is ground that has been afflicted, turned, rowed, cleaned. Trials bring us to a place where we look to Jesus.

Beloved, we must look to Jesus. As a nation we must look to Jesus. Jesus is the One Who sits enthroned, the God Man Who says:

Revelation 21:5 (KJV) … He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new …

Jesus came to make all things new. He is the Bridegroom of His Church, a people saved by Grace, a regenerated people, a people who have a Master Who has conquered death. Jesus is not a patch, but the solution for sin. He brings in the Kingdom of God on the earth.

Suffering Makes Us SELFLESS, Whereas Prosperity Makes Us SELFISH. Jairus was selfless when He came to Jesus. He wanted relief, the healing of his daughter, and what others thought or said no longer mattered.

We each will be tried. Today we are tried by the Coronavirus. Tomorrow, there will be more trials from other sources. They come to all. Sickness comes. Disease strikes. Remember the Scripture:

Luke 14:11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

1 Peter 5:5-7 … be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Jairus put aside all pride and fell down before Jesus. The Creator says:

Isaiah 66:2 (KJV) For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but TO THIS MAN WILL I LOOK, even to him that is POOR AND OF A CONTRITE SPIRIT, AND TREMBLETH AT MY WORD.

God honors those who understand that He is God. Christ honors those who realize He is the Great I AM. We are not gods, but God is God. Jesus Christ is God in the flesh. Oh God, humble us. Teach us to rely upon Jesus. Teach us to look unto Him Who said …

Jeremiah 33:3 ^(KJV) Call unto Me, and I WILL ANSWER THEE, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

Jairus came to Jesus believing. Worshiping Jesus he said:

Matthew 9:18 (KJV) … but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.

Jairus said: “You lay hands on her Jesus and she SHALL LIVE”. That is faith. He believed Jesus was able, and would not entertain any doubt. Jairus’ daughter was at the point of death, but he wasn’t out pursuing doctors and other gods. He had his eyes only on Jesus.

When Pastor John Wesley was but 5 years old his family home caught fire. A servant named Betty went to the nursery to get the youngest children. Picking up the little ones, including Charles who was barely a year old, she called to 5-year-old Jacky (young John Wesley) and told him to follow her to safety. When she arrived in the garden, however, Jacky was missing. Seeing the flames, the young boy ran back into the room. Though his father tried to reach him, the flames prevented him. The family knelt down in the Garden and “prayed God to receive his soul”. Little John looked out the window, and yelled for help. Two neighbors – one standing on the shoulders of the other – was able to reach John and pull him to safety. God used this trial to shape John into the wonderful preacher he would one day become.

Oh America, that you would all look to Jesus in this time. He is able to bless you even in the midst of trial.

You Are Never Alone – There Is Jesus!

Listening to Jairus, our Lord Jesus heads toward his home. His twelve year old daughter is at death’s door. But something else happens. We are told in Luke’s account:

Luke 8:42-44 … {Jairus} had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as {Jesus} went the people thronged him. 43 And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, 44 Came behind {Jesus} …

Jairus’ daughter was twelve years old. But here is another woman – a woman all alone – who has had an issue of blood for twelve years – every bit as long as that little girl was alive. Is this a coincidence? I don’t think so.

Jairus has set himself apart from the other
Pharisees by approaching Jesus.
This woman has been alone – set apart because of her disease.
Both people could only look to Jesus!

Matthew 9:19 … a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:

The Law of Moses declared that women with “issues of blood” were unclean – and thus would have been quarantined from her family and friends.

Leviticus 15:25-27 And if a woman have an issue of her blood many days out of the time of her separation, or if it run beyond the time of her separation; all the days of the issue of her uncleanness shall be as the days of her separation: she shall be unclean. 26 Every bed whereon she lieth all the days of her issue shall be unto her as the bed of her separation: and whatsoever she sitteth upon shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her separation. 27 And whosoever toucheth those things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

If this woman were married her husband could not touch her. If she had children prior to this event her children could not embrace her. It was if she were a leper – anything she touched was unclean, and anyone who touched her was unclean.

Matthew 9:20 (KJV) …a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years ..

This poor woman had suffered this disease – whatever it was – for twelve years! She had tried everything to get relief. We are told in the parallel Gospel that she ….

Mark 5:26 {she} had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,

She “suffered many things from the physicians”. There are good doctors, and there are bad doctors – but Jesus Christ is the BEST Doctor. He is the Great Physician. He can do what no others can do. I respect doctors, nurses, and hospitals – but make sure you invite Jesus into the process when you are sick and go to the medical profession. Doctors do not know all things, but Christ does. This woman “spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse”. Let us look unto Jesus! He calls us,

Matthew 11:28-30 (KJV) Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (29) Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (30) For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

God does not despise the lowly, but embraces them. He lifts up the weak, and those who will come to Christ and Christ alone. The Gospel Plow we call pain has brought this woman to Jesus. We read:

Matthew 9:20-21 (KJV) … came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: [21] For SHE SAID WITHIN HERSELF, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.

She “came behind Jesus” because the Law forbade her from touching anyone, lest she make them unclean. So she quietly reached out believing that “If I can but touch His garment then I shall be made whole”. Her faith was rewarded. The Bible says in …

Mark 5:29 (KJV) And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.

Immediately the woman was healed! Mark tells us that Jesus asked “Who touched Me?” The disciples said “But Lord, there’s people all around You touching You. How can we tell who touched You?” But Jesus can tell. He looks around and sees that certain woman. Look what the Bible says:

Mark 5:33 (KJV) But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.

Saving Faith is not hidden.
Saving Faith falls down before the Savior.
If your faith lies down to hide, then your faith is a lie.

Jesus knows His Sheep! Has He not said:

2 Timothy 2:19 … The Lord knoweth them that are his.

John 10:27-28 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

If you are Christ’s then you may be saved in secret, but it will not stay a secret. There are many in our world today that think they are saved, but are ashamed to stand up for Jesus. This woman made her faith known. Our Lord has said:

Matthew 10:32-33 ^(KJV) Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. (33) But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

Jesus looked at this precious lady and said:

Matthew 9:22 (KJV) {Jesus said} DAUGHTER, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

When Jesus called her “Daughter” He was acknowledging that she is of the household of God, a child of God by faith in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:19; Galatians 3:26).

What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought
Since Jesus came into my heart;
I have light in my soul for which long I have sought,
Since Jesus came into my heart.
Since Jesus came into my heart,
Since Jesus came into my heart;
Floods of joy o’er my soul like the sea billows roll,
Since Jesus came into my heart.

Why Did God Have This Healing
Come In The Midst Of Jairus’ Need?

God is in control. Though Jesus paused to bless this woman, He was nonetheless headed toward Jairus’ home.

Matthew 9:23 (KJV) And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, 24 He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.

“Oh Jesus, you’re too late! If You had been here on time my daughter would not have died!” I can hear them now, mocking Jesus, finding fault with Jesus. But Jesus says,

She is not dead. She just sleeps!

Mark tells us in chapter 5:35-37 that Jesus sent everyone away but Peter, James, and John. These three men would be the leaders of Christ’s Church, and Jesus wanted them to know that nothing is too hard for Christ to do. Then we read:

Matthew 9:25-26 (KJV) But when the people were put forth, {Jesus} went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose. 26 And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.

The unbelievers had to get out of the room. Once they were gone, Jesus raised that child from death. Christ is able! Our God is able! He can raise the dead. He can give life to the spiritually dead. Christ is able! The great Evangelist Billy Graham once said:

“Faith literally means to give up, surrender, or commit. Faith is complete confidence. Fear can banish faith, but faith can banish fear.

Do you know Christ? Do you have faith in Him? Will you approach Him with your needs, and believe He is able to abundantly provide to those who trust in Him. There is nothing our Lord cannot do. Trust Him. Believe Him. Bring your lives to Him, and believe.

May God touch your hearts with His Word and His Spirit.

Posted in Sermon Series "Red Letters", Sermons Preached | Tagged covid-19, salvation, Suffering | Leave a comment

Fake, Fear, or Faith

Posted on April 22, 2020 by bibleteacherorg

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Daniel 2:1-6 And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him. 2 Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king. 3 And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream. 4 Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriac, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation. 5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill. 6 But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honor: therefore shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof.

When an unbeliever looks at you, O Christian, what does he or she see? If your outward actions do not reflect your profession of faith then the first person who will recognize it will be the unbeliever. This Coronavirus Pandemic has done more to test and prove the faith of professing Christians. Many who profess Christ as Savior are inordinately afraid. The Bible tells us:

2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

If you are overly fearful during this time then

(a) perhaps you are not a Child of God. God does not give us a spirit of fear. Now, I’m not saying you’re not a child of God, but I do believe you need to examine yourselves, as the Scripture commands:

2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

If you are a Christian indeed, and fear is overwhelming you, then

(b) perhaps you need to spend more time in the Christian disciplines of prayer, Bible study, and service. You must spend time with God if you are going to grow in your faith. Turn off the television, especially the mainstream media news, and turn to God. The Scripture repeatedly says:

Habakkuk 2:4 …. the just shall live by his faith.

Romans 1:17 …. The just shall live by faith.

Hebrews 10:38 … Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

A great truth we see throughout the Book of Daniel is that there is a difference between the fakes, the fearful, and the faithful. Being faithful means spending quality time with the God Who saved you. When you spend time in the Christian disciplines then rather than be fearful, you will be faithful. You will be like the Psalmist who wrote:

Psalm 16:5-9 The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot. 6 The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage. 7 I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. 8 I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.

Cast your worries and fears upon God, dear Christian, for God cares for you (1 Peter 5:6-7). As Lucy A. Bennett wrote in the poem Trust Him:

Trust Him when dark doubts assail thee,
Trust Him when thy strength is small,
Trust Him when to simply trust Him
Seems the hardest thing of all.
Trust Him, He is ever faithful,
Trust Him, for his will is best,
Trust Him, for the heart of Jesus
Is the only place of rest.
Trust Him through cloud or sunshine
All thy cares upon Him cast
Till the storms of life are over,
And the trusting days are past.

The Unbeliever Has Nowhere To Turn In Times of Trial

The Christian has a wonderful Benefit that the unbeliever does not have. The King of Babylon Nebuchadnezzar is a believer in false gods and goddesses. Though he will later become a believer because of Daniel’s testimony, at this time in his life he is still chasing after shadows. The unbeliever has no solid foundation to appeal to in times of trial. When bad things happen the unbeliever discovers how terrible it is to live a life bereft of Jesus Christ. Let’s read:

Daniel 2:1 And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him.

People think that money or beauty or power or fame or some other humanist god will hide them from trials. Some people – like the King of Babylon – think they will not be tried because of their position in life. Some unbelievers never learn. The Governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, recently held a press conference and stated:

“The number (of Covid-19 cases) is down because we brought the number down. God did not do that. Faith did not do that. Destiny did not do that. A lot of pain and suffering did that. That’s how it works. It’s math. And if you don’t continue to do that, you’re going to see that number go back up. And that will be a tragedy if that number goes back up.”

Sadly, unbelievers often fails to recognize the mercy and kindness of God. New York suffered terribly during this Pandemic. It could have been worst. The Bible says:

Proverbs 16:9 – A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.

No one is God but the God of Scripture. This God – the Creator of Heaven and earth – has made all things for Himself (Proverbs 16:4). This wonderful and loving Lord has all things in His hand. In His hands are the souls of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind (Job 12:10). I could continue with this all day long! The Bible says:

Psalms 22:28 – For the kingdom [is] the LORD’S: and he [is] the governor among the nations.

Psalms 115:3 – But our God [is] in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.

King Nebuchadnezzar is just like Governor Cuomo at this point in his life. He is in the second year of his reign and thinks that his position protects him from trials. Then God speaks to the King in a dream. The dream troubled his spirit. His spirit was troubled. So what does he do? He calls his trusted advisers.

Daniel 2:2 Then the king commanded to call the MAGICIANS, and the ASTROLOGERS, and the SORCERERS, and the CHALDEANS, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.

God sometimes speaks to unbelievers in their dreams. In Genesis 41 Pharaoh had dreams that disturbed him. Now Nebuchadnezzar is having dreams, disturbing dreams, and they are effecting his health.

I hope that during this Coronavirus Pandemic you have learned to look UPWARD. Faith looks upward. Faithlessness looks horizontally. I believe that as we have come through this Pandemic that God is trying our hearts (Proverbs 17:3). Where is your faith? Is it fake? The King called on

Magicians. Not like an “abracadabra” magician, these men were “scholars” who claimed to be able to look into the future using scientific methods.
Astrologers. These men created horoscopes that were suppose to tell your future.
Sorcerers. These men allegedly spoke to the underworld and cast spells.
Chaldeans. These were the priests of the false gods of Babylon – the televangelists, the Benny Hinns of their day.

God spoke to Nebuchadnezzar in a dream … but these so called helpers did not know the God of Scripture. It amazes me that when people have problems they go to people just as filled with problems as they are. These helpers told the King:

Daniel 2:4 ….. O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation.

These helpers didn’t want to anger the King. Nebuchadnezzar roasted two kings – Zedekiah and Ahab – in a fire (Jeremiah 29:22-23). He was brutal, demanding, tyrannical – and like a scorpion he was not to be toyed with. These men said:

Tell us your dream, O King, and we will tell you the interpretation

The King was having none of that. He told them:

Daniel 2:5-6 … The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill. 6 But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honor: therefore shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof.

“The thing is gone from me”. This is another way of saying “You heard my command. What I have commanded, I expect”. Nebuchadnezzar was not about to back down. “If you don’t tell me what I dreamed and what it means will have you cut in pieces and turn your homes into cesspools and sewers. But if you do as I ask you will receive from me gifts, rewards, and fame”. These counselors were in a quandary, so they ask again:

Daniel 2:7 …. Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it.

This was going nowhere in a hurry. I think that the King realized these people were clueless as to how to fix his problem. He was not about to be fooled. So he said:

Daniel 2:9 But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for you have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof.

The King’s Counselors protested – and they spoke the truth. They said:

Daniel 2:10 … There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king’s matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean. 11 And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.

No man can do what the King is asking – no man who is not in communion with God. The Counselors said “only the gods can help you – but they don’t come around here!”. A false god cannot give the interpretation of a dream instilled by the True God of the Bible. The idols of the unbeliever are silver and gold, created by the hands of men. These idols cannot tell you anything (Psalms 135:15-18) – they have nothing to offer.

The King is enraged. His trusted advisers. had no answers, so the King responded like a six year old. He had a tantrum.

Daniel 2:12-13 For this cause the KING WAS ANGRY AND VERY FURIOUS, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. 13 And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.

An angry ruler is just as bad as an angry peasant. Anger does nothing but cloud our judgment. Since these men couldn’t answer Nebuchadnezzar then his solution was simple:

Kill them all!

The Bible says:

Ecclesiastes 7:9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

Nebuchadnezzar had a solution that was much better than killing everyone. We were told in Chapter 1 of this book that

Daniel 1:19-20 …The king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king. 20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.

Daniel had previously helped Nebuchadnezzar, but now the King ignores them and orders the death of all wise men. Why? Because of anger. Another King by the name of Solomon wrote:

Proverbs 25:28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

The King is being driven by fear and the faithlessness of his closest advisers. He needs to find the counsel of a person of Faith.

In Times of Trial The Mature Believer Is Fully Equipped

Daniel 2:13-16 And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain. 14 Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king’s guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon: 15 He answered and said to Arioch the king’s captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel. 16 Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation.

The King is driven by FEAR and ANGER. The King’s Counselors are driven by FAITHLESSNESS. But when Daniel is approached by the King’s Guard he does not panic. His eyes are firmly focused on God His Savior.

Daniel Did Not Fear, For His Confidence Was In God.

The Executioner comes to the door with a bloody ax, ready to lop off Daniel’s head. Daniel did not fear. Daniel looked up! Where are you looking, dear Christian? Are you looking around at those who have no faith in God? How foolish! Look up. The Psalmist declared:

Psalms 118:6-14 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? 7 The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me. 8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. 9 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes. 10 All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them. 11 They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them. 12 They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them. 13 Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the LORD helped me. 14 The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.

Daniel’s faith was not in himself, but in the God Who loves him and gave His life for him. Do not have self confidence. Have GOD confidence. Self confidence leads us astray.

When Moses was self confident he killed a slave driver. When Moses was God confident the Red Sea parted.
When Saul was self confident he killed Christians and destroyed Churches. When Paul was God confident he established Churches and wrote Scripture.
When King David was self confident he killed Uriah and took his wife in adultery. But when David was God confident, that child killed a giant with a stone and a slingshot.

Daniel asked the King for a little time. What did he do with that time? The Bible says:

Daniel 2:17-18 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: 18 That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

Daniel had a prayer meeting. He got together with other like minded believers, and they sought God’s guidance. Now that makes sense, doesn’t it? God spoke to Nebuchadnezzar, so Daniel and his friends would speak to God. Didn’t Jesus tell us that:

Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

When God’s people come together in prayer, God moves. When God’s people look up in faith, God answers. Take the time to pray. Take the time to pray with other believers. God has told us in His Word:

Jeremiah 29:11-14 … For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 14 And I will be found of you, saith the Lord…

It is my prayer that – as we have come through this Pandemic – that you have sought the Lord with your whole heart. I pray that the fruit found in the aftermath of Covid-19 will be strong Christian communities, Churches more concerned about serving God and studying His Word than they are about how others “feel”. I am praying – and I pray you do, too – that we will have a revival in America. Daniel prayed.

DANIEL PRAYED, THEN …

Daniel 2:19-23 THEN was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. 20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: 21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: 22 He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him. 23 I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what WE desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto US the king’s matter.

Daniel found his three believing friends. They all prayed. THEN after they prayed, God spoke to Daniel in a night vision. What did Daniel do next?

Daniel praised God.
Daniel acknowledged the Sovereign power of God.
Daniel thanked God.
Daniel gave God the glory.
THEN Daniel went to see the King.

Daniel 2:27-28 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king; 28 But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;

Daniel took no credit to himself, but gave God the glory. God spoke to King Nebuchadnezzar through Daniel. Daniel told the King:

Daniel 2:37-38 … Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. 38 And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.

As powerful as King Nebuchadnezzar was, his Kingdom would not last forever. In the vision God foretold that all kingdoms of the earth – kingdoms that reigned because God allowed them to reign – would one day cease. There is only one Kingdom that will stand forever. Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar:

Daniel 2:44 … in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

The Kingdom of God will never end. There is coming a day when the Governor of New York will no longer govern. There is coming a day when no earthly king will govern. There is coming a day when Jesus Christ shall rule and reign forever. At this time in Biblical history Nebuchadnezzar is “king of kings” (verse 37) – but not forever. There is only one Kingdom that will last forever.

The Kingdom of Jesus Christ.

Others will resist this Kingdom, but I promise you, they shall not prevail.

Revelation 17:14 … These {other kingdoms} shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

Jesus will rule and reign. Beloved, the wicked may have their rule now, but there is coming a day when Jesus Christ shall rule everywhere. The Word of God declares:

Revelation 19:15-16 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.

Jesus Christ is building His Kingdom now. One day He shall return and reign over all peoples. Are you ready? Our Jesus is coming again. Nebuchadnezzar saw it. Daniel saw it. John the Revelator saw it. Jesus promised it. Are you ready? Are you? If not, today is the best day to give yourselves over to Jesus. Someone asked Andre Crouch one time “Why are you a Christian?” Andre wrote this song before he went to be with the Lord.

You ask me why, why do you serve the Lord?
Is it just for Heaven’s gain?
Or to walk those mighty streets of gold,
And to hear the angels sing?
Is it just to drink from the fountain,
That never shall run dry.
Or just to live forever, ever, and ever,
In that sweet, sweet bye and bye.
But if heaven never was promised to me,
Neither God’s promise to live eternally.
It’s been worth just having the Lord in my life.
Living in a world of darkness,
You came along and brought me the light.

It is worth knowing Jesus Christ to have this wonderful peace that passes all understanding in my heart. Oh Beloved, call upon the name of Jesus. Receive Him as Lord and Savior. Whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. What a joy it is to be a member of His Kingdom! May God touch your hearts with His Word and His Spirit. Amen and Amen.

Posted in Daniel, Sermons Preached | Tagged covid-19, Faith, Faithfulness of God, fake, false prophets, false religion, false witness, fear | Leave a comment

When Jesus Saw Their Faith

Posted on April 19, 2020 by bibleteacherorg

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Photo by Mads Schmidt Rasmussen on Unsplash

Matthew 9:2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.

Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

Luke 5:20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.

I rarely hear sermons on sin anymore. I hear preachers say that “Jesus saves from sin”, but no one defines sin. Years ago I went through a series of studies on Harmarteology given by Dallas Theological Seminary. Harmarteology is the Biblical study of sin. It’s part of a Systematic Theology, a study that all pastoral candidates are supposed to take. I don’t know if it’s taught in seminaries anymore, but it was very eye opening.

People don’t like to hear sermons on sin, but I think we need to go back to basics. We need to hear sermons on sin because the Bible addresses sin. If there were no sin, there would be no need of Jesus. Sin is very deceptive.

Sin Brings With It Harmful Consequences

I was watching a sitcom the other day, and the dad began to talk to his son about sex. The son had been sleeping with a woman that was not his wife, doing what the Bible calls the sin of “fornication”. Any sexual intercourse outside of marriage is defined by the Bible as sinful, defined as “fornication”. We have hardened our hearts to this sin – it is fashionable today. Anyway, the younger son felt some guilt over what he had done. Then his father told him:

“You’re both adults. What’s the harm?”

This is the attitude of many in our America today. “You’re both adults. What’s the harm?” We have been told that any action we do is absolutely fine as long as it overtly harms no one. This is the deception of sin. It says, “If it feels good, do it”. This is what the world says. Yet the Bible warns us that sin is harmful. Adrian Rogers once said:

“Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.”

Sin hurts you. Sin always hurts you. Three of the Gospel writers, the redeemed Tax Collector turned Apostle Matthew, the Evangelist Mark, and the Gentile Physician Luke all record an incident in the life of Christ regarding a paralytic, a man who was paralyzed. Let’s ask a question.

Why was this man paralyzed?

Did he suffer an industrial accident?
Was he run over by a drunk camel driver?
Did he eat some bad oysters?
Was he roofing his home, and fell off?

What caused this man to be paralyzed? We do not know the exact cause of his paralysis, but we do know that it was not a infirmity he was born with. We do know that his paralysis is the result of personal sin. How do I know this? Look at what Jesus said to the man:

Matthew 9:2 … Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.

Mark 2:5 … Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

Luke 5:20 … Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.

Jesus does not say merely “you are healed”, but “your SINS are forgiven”. This is a plural. The man had not committed just one sin, but SINS. We do not know what sins he committed, but we do know this was the primary cause of his paralysis because of Jesus’ words.

Sin can make you sick. Sin can kill you. Sin is anything abnormal that God says we should not do.

When I was in the Air Force (I am a retired E-6) I was once deployed to the Philippines. We flew over on large C130 aircraft, disembarked at the Air Base that was there, and immediately began “processing in”. Before we were allowed to go to downtown Manila we were shown a film about the dangers of unprotected sex in this area. I cannot nor will I describe all of the pictures we were shown, but I must say it turned my stomach. When two people engage in a sinful act forbidden by scripture the act can bring with it disease and misery … even death. Listen beloved:

Not all sickness occurs because of willful acts of sin. The world is a fallen place, and we are fallen creatures. But when we choose to sin and depart from God, it is like pouring gasoline on an already lit fire. When we study what God says is “sin” we need to understand He loves us, and doesn’t want us to immolate ourselves, to set ourselves on fire.

Adam’s sin brought death into our world.

Romans 5:12 … Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Sin always brings with it death. Jesus Christ saves us from sin to free us from sin so that we can do what we were made to do – live with God. The Apostle wrote:

Romans 6:20-23 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. 21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. 22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Christian, forgiven their sins by faith in Christ, is encouraged to serve God and not sin. When we served sin as unbelievers we did not understand how deadly it is. But once we were saved we saw that the wages of sin is death. When you serve sin as a master, that master will eventually repay you not with blessing, but with death. The Psalmist wrote:

Psalm 107:17 Fools {unbelievers} because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.

And again in Psalm 38:1-5 O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. 2 For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore. 3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. 4 For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. 5 My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness.

Sin is likened to a weight in the arms of a drowning man. God warned His Old Covenant people in:

Ezekiel 18:20-24 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. 21 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. 22 All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. 23 Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God: and not that he should return from his ways, and live? 24 But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.

If sin were rightly packaged it would not be beautiful, but on the package there would be a skull and crossbones, with the words
“Poison – Deadly – Corrosive”

In John chapter 5 our Lord Jesus comes upon a pool outside of the sheep market in Jerusalem, a place called Bethesda (or “House of Mercy”). For some 38 years this man had laid in this place filled with impotent folk, blind, paralyzed, withered (John 5:3). Jesus passes by all these sick people and comes directly to this man. Why this man? Jesus asks the man:

John 5:6 … Wilt thou be made whole?

The man is not “whole”. Why is he not “whole”? We know he is unable to walk, but don’t know why. Jesus Christ our Lord, the Precious Savior to all who will hear Him, tells this man …

John 5:8 … Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.

He hears the Master, and does as Jesus says.

John 5:9 … immediately the man was made whole,
and took up his bed, and walked …

The man was healed. But WHY was the man bed bound for 38 years? We do not know until later in the text, when Jesus finds this same man and says:

John 5:14 … Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.

Sin crippled this man. Sin put him in bed for 38 years. Jesus said, “Don’t do the same thing again lest a worse thing come unto thee. What’s worse than 38 years bed bound? I don’t know, but I don’t want to find out. Do you?

True Friends Do Not Justify Sin,
But Bring The Sinner To Jesus

Matthew 9:2 And, behold, THEY brought to {Jesus} a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed …

Mark 2:3 … And they come unto {Jesus}, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.

Luke 5:18 … And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before {Jesus}.

Four friends got together and brought a crippled friend to Jesus. A true friend does not encourage you to sin. A true friend does not say, “Well, what’s the harm?” There was a commercial on TV years ago that ended with:

“Friends don’t let friends drive drunk”

When I was running wild, much of my wildness and sinfulness was because my “friends” suggested evil – and I followed. The Bible tells us that “bad company corrupts good morals” (1 Corinthians 15:33). Good friends will not lead you away from Christ, but toward Jesus. This is what happened in our story today. Jesus was in Capernaum, visiting in a home and preaching the Word of God.

Mark 2:2 … straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and {Jesus} preached the Word unto them.

As Jesus preached the Word the Bible tells us

Luke 5:17 … the power of the Lord was present to heal them.

Jesus heals people. Jesus makes people whole. Jesus helps us come away from the crippling influence of sin. Jesus blesses us so we can walk with God.

Four men hear that Jesus is in town, so they go and get their friend on a stretcher. When they arrive at the place where Jesus is they could not get near Jesus because of the crowd (Mark 2:4; Luke 5:19). What could they do? Should they give up, and go home? No! True friends bring their fallen friends to Jesus. What they do next is extraordinary.

Mark 2:4 … when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.

Luke 5:19 … when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.

These men stepped outside of their comfort zone to get their friend to Jesus. In ancient times the rooftop of most homes were flat, and often had raised gardens planted there. These men took their friend to the rooftop. Sitting him down, they then removed a few panels from the roof, making a hole in the roof just above Jesus. They then lowered their friend down. They got the paralyzed man to the Lord.

The best thing we can do for anyone is to bring them to the Lord. A friend does not spend time judging a friend. Religion spends it’s time in judgment. Religion separates us from God. Friends do not spend time judging friends. We examine the Scripture, and apply that Word to our lives. We warn fellow believers when they wander into unrighteousness – not because WE think their actions are unrighteous, but because GOD SAYS in HIS WORD that it is unrighteous. God sets the standard. The Bible says:

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Jesus preached the Word of God. Let God be the judge. Bring your friends to Jesus.

There is no evidence in our text that the paralytics friends spoke even one word. They just brought him to Jesus. Friends bring friends to Jesus.

The Pharisees and Scribes were in the room, but they were not bringing people to Jesus. They were judging Jesus.

Mark 2:7-8 … Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? 8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?

Matthew 9:4 … Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?

Jesus read the minds of these self righteous people and calls them out on it. “Why do you think EVIL in your hearts?” The word translated “Evil” is the Greek πονηρός ponērós, {pronounced pon-ay-ros’}, which means “hurtful, diseased, morally grievous”. The same word is used in the Lord’s Prayer:

Matthew 6:13 … lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil …

The self righteous add nothing to others in any positive way. Jesus said “the corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit” (Matthew 7:18). These men are doing nothing to help, but instead are hindering God’s blessing. Jesus tells them:

Luke 5:23-26 Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk? 24 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house. 25 And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. 26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.

Jesus Christ alone has the power to forgive sins on the earth. That power is not given to any man, be it Pope or Preacher. Only Jesus Christ can cleanse us from sin. He proved this in a very graphic way, for the man immediately got up and glorified God.

The Way Out Of Sin Comes Only By Jesus

The only way a person can be freed from sin is to come to Jesus. Only Jesus can save a soul. The Bible says:

1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

When Jesus told this man to get up and walk – the man got up and walked. He was made whole. He was cleansed from sin. He was made new. Only Jesus can do this. Let us bring our friends, our family, the ones we love to Jesus. It was Jesus “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed” (1 Peter 2:24). We are all sinners. We are born into a world of sin. Yet Jesus Christ came to save us from sin, and to bring us to God.

Jesus Christ is able! I am not able to save anyone, and neither are you, but Jesus is able. Let us bring our friends to Jesus!

What can wash away my sins?
Nothing but the Blood of Jesus!
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the Blood of Jesus!
Oh, precious is the flow,
That makes me white as snow,
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the Blood of Jesus!

May God touch your hearts with His Word and His Spirit. Amen and Amen.

Posted in Sermon Series "Red Letters", Sermons Preached | Tagged bad behavior, christianity, foolishness, Jesus loves me, Jesus preaching, religion, salvation | Leave a comment

Jesus Saves Sinners: Red Letters Series #21

Posted on April 19, 2020 by bibleteacherorg

Matthew 9:9-13 (KJV) And as Jesus passed forth froMatthew 9:13 (KJV) BUT GO YE and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.m thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him. [10] And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. [11] And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? [12] But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. [13] But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

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Photo by Neal E. Johnson on Unsplash

An interesting truth about the Book of Matthew is that it’s writer was not called to follow Christ up until chapter 9 of the Book. His calling is in Matthew 9:9, just prior to the Pharisees first attack on Christ’s ministry.

I want you to notice the difference in what Jesus said to Matthew,
and in what He said to the Pharisees.

The Sinner Is Saved By Following Jesus

Earlier in the day Jesus saved a man “sick of the palsy”. We’ll study that text tonight. Jesus has just had a full day saving sinners and healing the sick. Matthew, Mark, and Luke all report on what comes next – and you learn a little more about the man Jesus saves by looking at the whole testimony.

Matthew 9:9 … as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.

Mark 2:14 …And as {Jesus} passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.

Luke 5:27-28 … after these things {Jesus} went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me. 28 And he left all, rose up, and followed him.

Matthew is writing about himself, but note that he refers to himself in the third person. He said “Jesus saw a man named Matthew”. It is almost as if Matthew is ashamed of himself. We have all done things that we are ashamed of. If you haven’t, then you have never really examined your life. We are all sinners. We are inherently born sinners because of what our forefather Adam did. God told Adam:

Genesis 2:16-17 … the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

God created mankind in love. God put Adam in a perfect place, and gave him a beautiful Eve. But Adam sinned. The Bible tells us that:

Romans 5:12 … by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Humanity is broken by sin. We cannot fix ourselves. We need the Lord.

Too many people think that salvation is a self help product for the religious. It is not. Jesus must save you. The manufacturer of humanity must change out our hearts – He will only do this if we will heed His call and follow Jesus!

I don’t know what my water bill is going to be this month – but I learned a lesson from it. As summertime approaches I got my old garden hose out to set up my garden. As the end with sprayer on it was broken I decided to “repair” it. I went down to Lowe’s and bought a repair couple r, came back, put it on my hose, turned on the water and watered my garden plot. Then I went inside. Guess what I forgot to do? Turn off the water. Sometime that evening the water pressure in the hose blew the couple r off, and water ran steady ALL NIGHT LONG. When I got up the next morning I could hear sounds from my bathroom water pipes. I quickly went outside, turned the water off, and hit myself in the head. I should have just bought a new hose. Too many people come to Church to put a couple r on their soul. They make the outside look good. They dress up, clean up, sing hymns. What we all need is not a man-made patch, but a new life from Jesus Christ.

We must follow Jesus to be blessed. You only get a new life when you follow Jesus. Matthew 9:13 (KJV) BUT GO YE and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.Choose life. Choose Jesus!

I believe that Jesus deliberately sought out Matthew, and called him to salvation. The Bible says:

Matthew 9:9 (KJV) … {Jesus} saw a man, named MATTHEW, …

This is not Matthew’s given name. We are told in Mark:

Mark 2:14 {Jesus} … saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom …

The man that Jesus saved was using the name “Matthew”, but he was born with the name of “Levi the son of Alphaeus”. The name “Matthew” means “a reward”. The name “Levi” means “attached to God”. Matthew underwent a name change. His father Alphaeus, on seeing the little baby born, he called him “Levi” because he wanted him to grow up and be attached to God. Every parent who loves the Lord wants their children to grow up and love the Lord. Yet at some point as he grew Levi drifted away from God. He drifted so far away that he chose to work for the Roman Empire as a “tax collector”. That’s what Matthew was doing when Jesus called him to salvation. Matthew had left his family, left his friends, left his upbringing. Matthew was seeking pleasure from money.

Money in itself is not evil, but the Bible says:

1 Timothy 6:6-10 … godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Money can be a snare, a trap. Matthew fell in love with money. He left all to seek riches – and was lost because of it. Matthew should have been Levi, but Levi traded what was best for the lesser. God should have been his reward. Instead, Matthew is off from his family. He is like the Prodigal Son who is eating the food fit only for the hogs. He is like the rich young ruler who came to Jesus saying:

Luke 18:18 (KJV)… Good Master, what shall I do to INHERIT eternal life?

His words are interesting. “How do I INHERIT eternal life?” An inheritance is only given to a relative of the deceased. Do you know how to INHERIT eternal life? You must die to self. The old man must die.
You must follow Jesus.

Jesus told the rich young ruler …

Luke 18:22 (KJV) … sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and COME, FOLLOW ME.

How do you have eternal life? You cannot let the things of this world be your reward, your gods, that which you live for. Whatever stands between you and God will damn you forever. Get rid of the gods. Get rid of anything that keeps you from your Creator. “Come, Follow Me” says Jesus.

Matthew 9:9 (KJV) … {Jesus} saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed Him.

I can only imagine how much money was on Matthew’s table. Matthew had money – but he wasn’t happy. He needed what we all need. Matthew needed Jesus. When Jesus said “Follow Me” Matthew didn’t question the command. He got up and followed Jesus. We are told in Luke’s account:

Luke 5:28 … {Matthew} left all, rose up, and followed {Jesus}.

Matthew followed Jesus. Where was Jesus going now? Jesus was going to Matthew’s home.

When you follow Jesus, Jesus comes into your home!

This is the way of salvation. Jesus tells you “follow Me”. Some of you have heard the Lord’s call and yet have never followed Him. You have let how others think of you control whether you go forward or not. You are prideful. You may not have a table filled with gold coins, but you have a table filled with pride. You cannot be half saved. You either surrender to Christ, or you don’t.

Salvation is unconditional surrender to Christ.
Salvation is unconditional surrender to Christ.
Salvation is unconditional surrender to Christ.

We are told in:

Proverbs 16:5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.

James 4:6 But {God} giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

If you would be saved you must follow Jesus. If you want to be blessed you must follow Jesus. You cannot live your life to please others, nor to please yourself. You must follow Jesus.

There is another familiar story I am sure you have all heard, the Bible story of another Tax Collector named Zacchaeus. The name “Zacchaeus” means “Clean, Pure”, but this man was anything but clean and pure. He, like Matthew, chased after the god of money.

Luke 19:2-3 … Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.

Zacchaeus went looking for Jesus by climbing a sycamore tree (Luke 19:4). As Jesus passed by He looked up, and told Zacchaeus:

Luke 19:5-6 … Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. 6 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.

Both Zacchaeus and Matthew did the same thing when they met Jesus. Neither man cared what anybody else thought. Jesus said “follow Me”, and they both followed Jesus. And Jesus went to both Matthew’s as well as Zacchaeus’ homes.

God Cannot Save Prideful Self Righteous People

God can save any sinner, no matter what sin you may have committed. There is no one Jesus cannot heal and no one Jesus cannot save – if you come to Him in faith. We are told in Matthew:

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

Why were these “publicans and sinners” at Matthew’s home? We are told in Luke’s account:

Luke 5:29 (KJV) And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a GREAT COMPANY of publicans and of others that sat down with them.

Matthew (Levi) went home with Jesus that very day and invited all of his friends over to eat with him. If you have fallen in love with Jesus, you will share the love that you have experienced with others. Matthew invited his friends over – these sinners and tax collectors – and they all came.

But the self righteous came as well. We read:

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

The only way that the Pharisees dealt with undesirables was to shun them, to walk away, to ignore them or to ostracize them. We often do this as a society. We put drug addicts in jail because we don’t know what to do with them. We should bring them to Jesus. All that self righteousness and self righteous people can do is CRITICIZE. If you want to help someone, take them to Jesus. That’s what Matthew did, and what we should do. Jesus replied to the Pharisees:

Matthew 9:12 (KJV) But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.

The Surgeon cannot stand in a room apart from the one he is operating on. The Doctor must be with the patient if there is ever going to be healing. Our Lord Jesus came to heal the sick. Our Lord Jesus came to save the lost. He said:

Luke 5:32 (KJV) I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Jesus came for the sinners. He came for those who are broken. He comes calling them, saying “Follow Me”.

Luke 19:10 (KJV) For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

If you think that you are right before God Jesus did not come for you.

If you think you’ve got it all figured out,
Jesus does not say “Come, Follow Me” to you.

What did Jesus say to these Pharisees?

Matthew 9:13 (KJV) BUT GO YE and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

To Matthew, a sinner repenting Jesus said “Come” but to the self righteous Pharisee Jesus said “Go”. Christ has nothing for you if you think you are right before God. If you read:

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

and say “Not me. I’m good. I’m ready to meet God!” then Christ has nothing in you. Your righteousnesses are as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6) but you do not see nor smell your stench. Christ has nothing in you. Jesus says to you who think you are better than others:

GO YE and LEARN what that meaneth, “I will have mercy and not sacrifice”. Pharisee, you know your Bible. Go back to your Bible. Open it up. Look what God wrote in Hosea:

Hosea 6:4-7 (KJV) O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away. 5 Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth. 6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. 7 But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me.

God wants His people to know Him. God is the Gospel. The Gospel is not about ME, but about HE. I am broken, but He is not. He was broken so that I might be healed.

Jesus told the Pharisees “Go and learn. Read the Scripture. Read what God said in the Old Testament”. God does not desire sacrifices, but gave sacrifices for sin so that He could give MERCY.

What does God want of us?

To admit that we are ALL sinners who need Jesus!
Every moment of every day.

The Pharisees – the self righteous – are the WORST sinners. Their sin is worst because they do not see it. It is like the Box Jellyfish in the ocean. They swim to it, embrace it, and die in it. What is good?

Micah 6:8 (KJV) {God} hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

Acknowledge your sin. Acknowledge you are a sinner, just as all are sinners. Acknowledge that only Christ can heal you of your sin. Then and only then will you hear Him say “Come, Follow Me”.

May God touch your hearts with His Word through His Spirit. Amen and Amen!