Christ Brings Us To God

Posted on November 19, 2018 by bibleteacherorg

ben-white-692414-unsplash.jpg

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

1 Peter 3:18 (KJV) For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

1 Peter 4:1-3 (KJV) Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revelings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:

Why did Christ die for us? Why did He suffer on Calvary being nailed to the tree? Why was He shamed as He was, mocked, and ridiculed?

Christ Died That He Might Bring Us To God

That’s what we are plainly told in our text today,

Christ also hath once suffered for sins,
the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God

Before Christ came all were far from God. We had religion, but we rarely had God. We are told in:

Ephesians 2:1-3 (KJV) And you hath he quickened (made alive), who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course (way) of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air (the devil), the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation (way of life) in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

The natural born state of every person is that we are far from God. Our walk is far from God. That which we emulate is far from God. Prior to Christ we were far from God in our minds, and were therefore far from God in our behavior. This state is what the Bible calls “unjust” or “lost”. We were not right with God. God was far from us. We were spiritually dead.

Jesus Christ suffered for sins – He is just but we were unjust – so that He might bring us to God. What separated us from God? OUR SINS. Our sins stood as a wall between us and God. The Law told us that we were sinners, but in no way could make us right with God. The Law provided a temporary covering at best, but did nothing else.

Jesus paid for our sins – a record of which God maintained – by shedding His Blood in our place. We are told:

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

No longer does our account with God say “guilty” but “forgiven” is stamped in red on it. Jesus brings us to God by taking away the guilt of our sins. He bled and died to take away my sin, and your sin.

that he might bring us to God

How else did Jesus bring us to God? Be brought about an adoption into the family of God by His Spirit. When you receive Christ as Lord and Savior submitting to Him and believing on Him the Bible declares:

Ephesians 2:19-20 (KJV) Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

Before we knew Christ we were strangers to God. Oh, we might introduce ourselves to God on special days such as Christmas or Easter. Or else we might sporadically – when forced into it by our circumstances – seek God in prayer. But to us before Christ came God was always God, but never Father. There was no familial relationship in our hearts. God was God and we were foreigners to His Kingdom, strangers to His righteousness. But after Christ what does the Scripture say? You are no more strangers and foreigners. You are citizens of the Heavenly Kingdom with the Saints of Old, FELLOW citizens with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Daniel, Ruth, Joseph, Mary, the list is long! You are not second class citizens of Heaven but because of Christ you are Children of God. Calling upon Christ for Salvation He has sent His Spirit upon you:

Romans 8:15-16 (KJV) 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. 16 The Spirit {Himself} beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Jesus Christ came …

that he might bring us to God

Galatians 4:4-7 (KJV) But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

What a dramatic thing our Lord did. Whereas before we were lost in darkness, now we have been adopted into the Family of God. What does the Bible declare?

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

Christ Died That He Might NOW Bring Us To God

Receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior we receive of His Spirit. We are brought near to God by family ties, by the Blood that was shed, by His infinite love. So many undervalue what Christ did, and therefore do not live for Him as they should. The Bible does not say that Jesus came …

that he might bring us to God one day in Heaven

Certainly we have eternal life promised to us in Heaven because of what Christ did. Jesus told Nicodemus:

John 3:36 (KJV) He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

There is coming a Judgment Day. Those who have not been brought to God by Christ will stand before a God filled with wrath. Their sins shall be judged. They are not just, not upright, for they have rejected the means by which they can be upright. Those without Christ are without God, without hope, and without Heaven. Only hell and a lake of fire awaits. Oh that everyone in this place would come to Christ so that they could receive the promise:

Titus 3:4-7 (KJV) … the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Certainly faith in Christ brings us to God to where we can be made fit for Heaven, but Jesus did much more than this for us. Our text also doesn’t say:

that he might bring us to God only in times of trial

Again, because of Christ we can lean on Jesus in our times of trial. Doesn’t God promise:

Psalms 18:2-3 (KJV) The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. 3 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

As a child calls upon a parent when in distress, God expects us to call on Him. Yet God does not want us to ignore Him at all times but in the bad times. This is not what a Child of God does. Christ suffered for sins to bring us to God at all times.

that he might bring us to God only on special days

Christ brings us into union with God not just on Sundays, or on special days, but every single day. We walk with God, and talk with God, and are watched over by God. God loves us everyday, and everyday He is our Father. What does God require of us?

Micah 6:8 (KJV) … what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

Christ Died That He Might Take Us Away From Sin

Jesus died for sin on the Cross of Calvary. He paid for sin because sin separates from God. Bringing us to God, Christ died to take us away from sin.

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

We are saved from sin so that we can live in the Will of God. What does the Scripture say?

Romans 6:9-14 (KJV) Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Christ died unto sin ONCE. He paid for sin. But now Christ LIVES UNTO GOD. We who are Christ’s are to reckon ourselves to be dead to sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. We walk apart from sin because of Christ. When we see sin in our lives we do not embrace it, but we say:

“Out, foul evil! I am dead to you because of Christ.
Christ covers you with His Blood, and I reject you as unfit
For a Child of God!”

The Christian does not let sin reign in his or her mortal body. Christ died for sin because it separates us from God. Sin is no longer my master. I will yield myself to God and His Will, not to sin nor what He condemns.

sin shall not have dominion over you:
for ye are not under the law, but under grace

This is where many denominations of Christians have gone wrong, even among those who profess to be Baptist. They have listened to the siren call of the world, and compromised with sin. Do you not know that Christ has said:

Matthew 7:16-20 (KJV) Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

If Christ has died for you then sin shall not reign over you. Jesus told the cripple:

“Take up your bed, and walk”

Jesus told the leper:

“Show yourself to the priest, and offer unto God”

Jesus told the blind man:

“Go, wash the mud from your eyes in the pool of Siloam”

And Jesus tells those whom He has saved:

“Follow God, not sin”

We are called as Christians to live according to the will of God, not according to the will of the world. There was a time when we lived according to the will of the world.

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

There was a time when we walked in the darkness along with the dead crowd. We no longer follow evil, nor the devil, but our Father to the glory of Christ. He has cleansed us from sin. He keeps on cleansing us from sin. Let us not wallow in the mud that He has died to save us from. Let us live for Him.

As we come to the Lord’s Table we are admonished by the Apostle:

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

Are you in the bondage of sin? Ask Christ to break those bonds, giving yourselves fully to Him. Receive Him as He is – your Lord and Savior. Repent of your sin, no matter how popular it may be in the world today. If you are Christ’s then you are a Child of God. You do not belong to sin, nor to this world. Love Him. Repent. Trust He has forgiven. Then partake of this Table of Life.

May God touch your hearts with His Word!

Posted in General | Leave a comment

Untroubled Hearts

Posted on November 15, 2018 by bibleteacherorg

malcolm-lightbody-1057326-unsplash.jpg

Photo by Malcolm Lightbody on Unsplash

John 14:1 (KJV)  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

Tonight we’re looking at one of the most familiar passages used in Christian funerals. This text is probably used more than Psalm 23 to comfort those who have seen a loved one depart this life. Of all the times I have preached this text or heard it preached, I don’t think I have ever heard the text carefully examined.

The focus of the text is not the Christian, but it is all about Jesus.
The focus of the text is not Heaven, but the Son of God.

In chapter Twelve Jesus was troubled over what was to come. The shadow of the Cross grew greater over His life each day. He told His disciples:

John 12:27 (KJV)  Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.

Our Lord was troubled, but He did not want His people to be troubled. He was going to lay His life down for us. So He tells us:

Let not your heart be troubled

The King James obscures what Jesus actually said. As He spoke of His coming crucifixion the disciples became more and more troubled. Other than Judas Iscariot the thief (who only wanted money) the other eleven loved Jesus and did not want Him to go. Their faces reflected what was on their hearts, so Jesus told them:

“Stop being troubled”

Do not let your worry about the Master’s impending death rob you of joy. Peter, don’t let the thought of your betrayal of Me trouble you. Disciples, do not worry about My impending death and departure. Death to Jesus was not an end but a beginning. Then Jesus says something that is radical – and insane – if it is not true. He said:

Ye believe in God, believe also in Me

We skip over this without thinking about what Jesus said. He said:

You BELIEVE IN God

The fool hath said in his heart “there is no God” (Psalm 14:1; 53:1). The atheist is a fool according to God. The evolutionist who believes nature to be God is a fool. The unbeliever who bathes in sin thinks there is no God – or hopes so – because

corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity

They will not come to the light that is Christ because …

John 3:19-20 (KJV) …. men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

Those without God love their sin. Yet those who are saved come to Christ, the Font of Salvation. They come to the Living Waters. They believe in God. Jesus said “You who are My disciples BELIEVE IN GOD” and then said the radical thing:

Believe ALSO in ME

As you believe in God, believe in Me. Have the same faith and obedience to Me that you have to the Father. With these words Jesus elevated Himself above all of the other religious leaders of the world.

Jesus raised Himself above Buddha.
Jesus raised Himself above the leaders of the Hindu faith.
Jesus raised Himself above Mohammad and Islam.
Jesus raised Himself above the Dalai Lama.
Jesus raised Himself above even Moses and Judaism.

The leaders of other world religions all had a beginning and an ending. They all had parents who came together in love to make them. The leaders of other world religions were probably moral. They most likely sought after their concept of God. But Jesus said something no other religious leader dared say. He said:

As you have believed in God, believe IN THE SAME WAY about ME

Though Jesus entered this world through a virgin woman, His Father was The Eternal Father and the Holy Spirit. The Angel told Mary:

Luke 1:35 (KJV) …. The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

The Angel called Christ “that Holy Thing”. Though born of the line of David, the inheritor of the Throne of Israel, Jesus was both Perfect Man as well as Perfect God. I would never say to you if you believe in God, believe in me in the same way. Why not? Because I know I am a sinner. All who are among mankind are sinners. I try and remind you weekly:

Romans 3:23 (KJV) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

If Jesus were mere man then to make a statement like He made would have not only been blasphemous, but misleading and dangerous. If Jesus were but man then the best thing He could say was what Paul said:

1 Corinthians 11:1 (KJV) Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

That’s the best thing any Christian can say to another – follow me as I follow Christ. But Jesus said “Just as you follow God, follow ME!”. This would be a magnificent arrogance if a lie. But it is not. Christ is God. Christ is perfect Man. Christ is always holy, and always righteous. Christ does not get better with age, but is always God.

Hebrews 13:8 (KJV) Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Jesus is going to the Father. He is going Home. He will soon die on the Cross of Calvary. He says:

“Let NOT your hearts be troubled”

Why? Because the Bible says that we are to guard our hearts:

Proverbs 4:23 (KJV) Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

What is in your heart will effect how you live your life. Judas Iscariot had money in his heart, so he is off selling Christ for thirty pieces of silver. The Pharisees – supposedly righteous men – are hiring an assassin in Judas, contrary to the Word of God that they claim to believe. Why do they think this is all right? Because they have allowed the devil to stir and trouble their hearts. Jesus wants our hearts to be filled with assurance that He is equal to God. Now He goes on to prove it.

John 14:2 (KJV) In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

The “Father’s house” is Heaven.

Isaiah 66:1 (KJV) Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool …

Some versions translate the Greek μονή (monḗ) as “rooms”. I like the King James better here. The word μονή means “a place to stay or a residence”. The same word us used in verse 23 where Jesus says:

John 14:23 (KJV) … If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode (μονή) with him.

Heaven is for those who love Jesus. If you love Jesus you will do what He says. If you love Jesus the Father will love you. And the Father and Son will make a place for you in Heaven. I have flown many times in my life, but only one time in first class accommodations. In coach you have overweight people flowing over onto you, and you are squeezed into a small space with horrible leg room. But in first class you have extra wide seats, wide aisles, and wonderful treatment. I have been in motels many times, but rarely in a first class motel. Regular motels are fine. There are stains on the floor that make you wonder, and ragged sheets on the bed. But they are fine for an overnight stay. But first class has full size bars of soap, not the slivers you get in the common. It has bathrobes, and soft towels, and a paper delivered to the door in the morning.

Heaven is first class. And there is room for everyone who loves Jesus. Heaven is a place of family. As a son of God, both the Father and the Son will come and live with you. Heaven is a mansion, not a Motel 6. And Jesus prepared that place for us by Calvary.

Jesus took the worst and lowest death upon Himself so that we can have the greatest afterlife. We will live with God in Heaven.

We will not live apart from one another in God’s Heaven. There will be room for all, but there will be no “Beacon Hill” or special accommodations for just a few. The Pope will not have a castle for us all to look up to and admire, nor will Saint Peter be guarding the entry gate. We will all be treated with love and respect. We will inherit only the best in glory because of Christ. Jesus can guarantee this because – unlike the other religious leaders – He is equal to God. Jesus plainly told the Pharisees:

John 10:30-33 (KJV) I and my Father are one. 31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? 33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

Jesus Christ made Himself equal with God. Why? Because He IS equal with God. Jesus Christ is the Co-Owner of Heaven. He said:

I go to prepare a place for you

I go. No one else goes to prepare a place. I am not one of many who are preparing a place. I GO. I AND ONLY I. It is Jesus and Jesus alone Who offered payment for our sins on Calvary. The Scripture boldly declares:

1 John 2:1-2 (KJV) …. if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And {Jesus} is the propitiation {covering} for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

As Charles Swindoll said:

Jesus was crucified in order to pay for the sins of all men … and then He was resurrected from the dead three days later. He is fully God and fully Man, the theanthropos [from the Greek for “God” (theos) and “Man” (anthropos)]; yet He is one person.

John 14:3 (KJV) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Gautama Buddha (560-480 B.C.), Mohammed (A.D. 570-632), Confucius (551-479 B.C.), and all other religious founders began their life at birth and cease their lives when they died. Christ alone rose from the grave and is alive forevermore. Jesus’ ministry did not cease when He died. He promised that He would die, go to Heaven, then return to us to take us to Heaven. Why? Because we who are saved belong to Jesus. What does the Bible say?

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (KJV)19 What? 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? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Some of you who profess Christ still think you belong to yourselves. You don’t. Jesus purchased you from damnation and the devil by shedding His Blood for you on the Cross. He willingly did this. No one made Him, but He loved you so much He was willing to pay the price.

I belong to Jesus.
You belong to Jesus.
We are to glorify Him in our lives.
Always! Always! Always!

Christ purchased you so that you can shine for Him.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (KJV) For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

You are called to be a vessel of honor. You are called to shine for God. You are called to walk upright, bring glory to His Kingdom.

Romans 14:8 (KJV) For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.

Let us live as His! For His glory. Amen!

Posted in John, Sermons Preached | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Suffering For Jesus

Posted on November 12, 2018 by bibleteacherorg

1-1233511505JFDG

1 Peter 3:12-16 (KJV)  For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.  [13]  And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?  [14]  But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;  [15]  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:  [16]  Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

Too many people think that Christianity is a belief system that can be added on to our present lives with little change. This is not what the Bible teaches about the Christian faith. In the majority of the known world to be a Christian is to suffer.

Suffering For The Genuine Christian Is Inevitable

Our Lord Jesus warned those who would follow Him that suffering was inevitable. Jesus said:

Matthew 10:34-36 (KJV) Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.

If you are following Christ and promoting Him as the only way unto God as He has said you will find yourselves at variance with not only the world, but your own family and maybe with some members of the Church. Jesus knew that the Gospel He was teaching was radical, different from what Judaism had drifted to, and certainly different from what the Roman culture believed. What did the Apostle Paul say?

1 Corinthians 1:18 (KJV) For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish FOOLISHNESS; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

Those who reject Christ’s Gospel say that what we say and teach is foolishness. It is the word of a mad people. The world does not understand living under the Lordship of Christ. The Kingdom of satan does not understand the Kingdom of God nor His righteousness. Jesus promised:

John 15:18-19 (KJV) If the WORLD HATE YOU, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

And assured us …

John 16:33 (KJV) …. In the world ye SHALL have tribulation …

Jesus Himself suffered when on this earth. He was constantly attacked by the religious crowd, the Scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees. The darkness will always push against the light. As long as the light remains light there will be a war between the two. I was watching the war movie We Were Soldiers the other day when Lt. Col Hal Moore (played by Mel Gibson) stated:

“A leader must remain cool and calm. And second, he must learn to ignore explosions… the heat and dust, the screams of the wounded. This is normal on a battlefield. Normal!”

Similarly, if you are a genuine Christian it is normal to suffer for Christ. We live insulated lives in America today, but if you study your Bibles you will know that early Christians expected to suffer. Stephen Neil wrote in his History of Christian Missions (pg 43):

“Every Christian knew that sooner or later he might have to testify to his faith at the cost of his life.”

1 Peter 4:12-14 (KJV) Beloved, think it not strange concerning the FIERY TRIAL WHICH IS TO TRY YOU, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

When Light Compromises With Darkness DESTRUCTION Comes

What happens when we compromise His message
in order to get along?

1 Peter 3:18-20 (KJV) For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

When I read this text I looked it up in the commentaries because I wondered what it meant that “Jesus went and preached to the spirits in prison”. The text then refers to Noah. The commentaries offered numerous suggestions as to what this passage meant, and some of the suggestions were just off the wall. But I want you to view the passage in the context of suffering.

You see, much of our suffering comes upon us because we ignore the command of God. When we do what God lovingly tells us not to do then we hurt ourselves or others. Many of the diseases we have in our world today that afflict us as humans are brought upon us by willfully disobeying what God has told us to do. For instance, AIDs and HIV as well as other sexually transmitted diseases are upon us because we ignore God’s admonishment against sexual sin and sexual deviation. Did not God say?

1 Corinthians 6:18 (KJV) Flee fornication (sexual sin). Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

God told us that sexual sins are against our own bodies. God furthermore said:

2 Corinthians 6:14-15 (KJV) Be ye not UNEQUALLY YOKED TOGETHER WITH UNBELIEVERS: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

The son of God by faith in Christ is forbidden to marry an unbeliever. Period. Light and dark do not mix. Sin enslaves. Darkness binds. Jesus said:

John 8:34-36 (KJV) … Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever COMMITTETH sin is the SERVANT of sin. 35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. 36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

What caused the Flood of Noah?

If you answer “God did” you would be right. But why did God cause a flood which destroyed all but eight souls? Let’s look at Genesis where the Flood Account is given (and which I believe).

Genesis 6:2 (KJV) … the SONS OF GOD SAW THE DAUGHTERS OF MEN that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which THEY chose.

Now if you read the commentaries some of them will tell you that the phrase “sons of God” refers to fallen angels that intermingled with humans. That’s nonsense. The phrase “sons of God” is no where used in Scripture for demons. It is used for angels in the Book of Job – I believe – three times (Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7). In the New Testament the phrase “sons of God” is used for those who are born again by faith in Christ who follow Jesus.

Where the phrase “sons of God” is used it denotes someone close to God – not a demon!

What does God’s Word say?

Romans 8:14 (KJV) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Sons of God follow God

Philippians 2:15 (KJV) … be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

Sons of God shine for God, standing out
from the fallen world

1 John 3:1 (KJV) Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

Sons of God are rejected by the fallen world

Sons of God are those who are supernaturally close to God. But in the time of Noah we read what?

Genesis 6:2 (KJV) … the sons of God SAW the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

The sons of God – those who were saved and should have been following God – compromised their faith. They took their eyes off of God. They SAW the daughters of men, the children of Adam. They saw their beauty, and took of them wives of all that THEY CHOSE. They went against the light and did not follow the Lord. These are not angels, but believers who compromised with the darkness. What was the result of their compromise? When light compromises with darkness it can only do so by lowering itself to darkness. James G. Murphy wrote in his commentary:

“The godly took them wives not for the godliness of their lives but for the goodliness of their looks.”

The “sons of God” in Genesis are not angelic beings. When God created He made all things to reproduce “after their own kind” (Genesis 1:11, 12, 21, 24, 25). Furthermore Jesus said that “angels do not marry nor are they given in marriage” (Matthew 22:30). In righteousness “Marriage” and “Sex” were synonymous. Not like our age of today, but the righteous Jesus saw both as one and the same.

The late Dr. R.C. Spoul stated: “the concept of divine sonship in the Scriptures is not always linked to a biological or ontological relationship (relationship of being). Rather, it is chiefly used to set forth a relationship of obedience. … Genesis 6 could simply be speaking about the intermarriage of those who manifested a pattern of obedience to God in their lives and those who were pagans in their orientation. In other words, this text likely describes marriages between believers and unbelievers.”

When the sons of God took to themselves daughters of men the righteous intermingled with the unrighteous. They violated God’s Law of the unequal yoke. They attempted to bind light with darkness. And it did not work.

The light that God placed on the earth dimmed!

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

When Light compromises with darkness we invite the destruction of God. All of creation was going to be wiped out. But the Bible tells us:

Genesis 6:8 (KJV) But Noah found grace
in the eyes of the LORD.

Praise God for those who stand for the light of God. There were other sons of God before Noah, but they compromised with the darkness. But Noah would not. The Bible says of Noah:

Genesis 6:9 (KJV) … Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.

You may ask the question “What can one man do?” One man can save the world. Noah was JUST. He was JUSTIFIED, saved by faith in God. The Scripture says:

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

Noah lived for the Lord. He was “perfect in his generations”. He walked among men not living as they lived, but lived for the Lord. To make sure we understand this the Bible tells us that Noah walked with God. He consistently did what God told him to do.

We know the story of Noah from Genesis. He built an Ark, and he and his family as well as God’s selection of animals got on that Ark. We are told in Peter that:

1 Peter 3:19 (KJV) {Jesus} went and preached unto the spirits in prison;

Pastor John Piper wrote:

“With regard to 1 Peter 3:19 I take these words to mean that Christ, through the voice of Noah, went and preached to that generation whose spirit are now “in prison”, that is, in hell. In other words, Peter does not say that Christ preached to them while they were in prison. He says He preached to them once, during the days of Noah, and now they are in prison.”

After much prayer I believe that this is a good exposition of the text. The sons of God failed to obey the Lord, and by binding with the unbeliever then unbelief grew to a horrible state. This state brought the world under the general judgment of God. But God still had a remnant – however small – in Noah. For 120 years Noah preached as Christ assisted him. God is with you when you do His will. Jesus will not abandon you while you do His will. The Father promised to guide us by His Spirit. Jesus said:

Matthew 10:19-20 (KJV)19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. 20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.

God enables His children to be light. God empowers us in the midst of darkness. For 120 years Noah preached and built an Ark. He was ridiculed, mocked, minimized. Throughout his entire ministry – day after day – week after week – month after month – year after year for 120 years Noah preached. No one came. The only ones there was his immediate family, but no others. No converts. No one saved. Yet Noah kept his eyes ever upward, knowing that the Father was looking down on him.

1 Peter 3:12-13 (KJV) For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. 13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?

Matthew 10:28 (KJV) … fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

120 years and no fruit of salvation would have discouraged many, but not Noah. He just kept on following the Lord our God. Why did God wait 120 years before destroying the world by water? Because God is patient. The Ark could have held many more than the eight humans that were on it. Many more. We are told …

2 Peter 3:9 (KJV) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

God makes no snap judgments. He is patient, and longsuffering, and loving. Yes, eventually the flood will come. Yes, eventually the Ark will be sealed. But until that time we see Christ working through Noah, encouraging him, lifting him up. We see Noah as the moon reflecting the Son of His Righteousness.

We Are Called To Be Like Noah When Suffering For God

The world hates Christianity, and hates Christians. Yet we must stand in His light, or else our nation will die under the flood of evil. How did Noah stand in this dark age?

1 Peter 3:14 (KJV) But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

First, Noah made sure that what he was doing was in accordance to the will of God. He was suffering not because of sin in his life, but for righteousness sake. He did not lower himself to compromise with evil.

Isaiah 8:12-13 (KJV) Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. 13 Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.

Noah feared God much more than he feared the darkness.

Jeremiah 1:8-9 (KJV) Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. 9 Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.

Noah let the Word of God be HIS Word. He spoke what God said. He did what God said. He did not add to nor take away from God’s revealed Word. Furthermore Noah did as Peter tells us to do:

1 Peter 3:15-16 (KJV) But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

Noah kept a good conscience before God. His heart was clean. He had no hidden sin in his life, but confessed sin as he discovered it, putting it under the covering of Christ. Hidden sin like weed seeds can spring up and destroy the garden of God. Many Christians do not speak out against evil because they themselves are guilty of the same thing. Many who profess Christ indulge in secret sins that shame their Creator. Repent! Confess your sins before God. The Calvary Road that we walk is not just one repentance unto salvation, but it is one repentance unto salvation and MANY repentances unto sanctification. We are to sanctify the Lord God in our hearts. Make your heart a good home for the Holy Spirit within you.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (KJV) What? 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? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Reject sin and darkness, and live for Jesus. Do you not remember singing?

Living for Jesus a life that is true,
Striving to please Him in all that I do;
Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free,
This is the pathway of blessing for me.
Living for Jesus who died in my place,
Bearing on Calv’ry my sin and disgrace;
Such love constrains me to answer His call,
Follow His leading and give Him my all.
O Jesus, Lord and Savior,
I give myself to Thee,
For Thou, in Thine atonement,
Didst give Thyself for me;
I own no other Master,
My heart shall be Thy throne,
My life I give, henceforth to live,
O Christ, for Thee alone.

1 Peter 3:17 (KJV) For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

1 Peter 3:18 (KJV) For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

It is the will of God that we suffer for Him. Jesus suffered for us to bring us to God. We suffer for Jesus to bring others to God. The way of compromise will save no one, but it will possibly damn all. Let us live in the light, loving one another, glorifying our Lord.

No compromise!
Christ alone!

Posted in 1 Peter, Sermons Preached | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

God My Joy

Posted on November 11, 2018 by bibleteacherorg

 yellow-autumn.jpg

image courtesy of publicdomainpictures.net

Isaiah 61:10 (KJV) I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

Last week I was sleeping peacefully when my phone started screaming at me. It wasn’t a ring, but a clarion call! I jumped up and checked the phone. The National Weather Service had just sent me a message:

Tornadoes are in your area. Take shelter now!

I knew it was raining and lightening, but it didn’t seem that bad. My heart was beating from the rude awakening. I stepped outside. Where should I take shelter?

I looked upward and realized the
best shelter I could take was my God

My God has promised to protect me where ever I go.

Isaiah 41:10-11 (KJV) Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. 11 Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish.

Praise Him! So I went back to sleep. The next morning I arose, and found not even a tree branch on the ground.

Who do you trust?
Where have you placed your faith?
Where is your joy?

I meet very few happy people in our world today. I think the reason for widespread unhappiness and sadly, misery, is because people have sought happiness in all the wrong places.

Do you know God?
Do you know the God Who created all things, including you?

I don’t mean to ask if you know Him like the History Channel knows Him, or to know Him like the encyclopedia knows Him. Are you acquainted with Him Who wrote the Bible for you? Do you know His Son, and are you indwelt by His Spirit?

Do you know that He loves you as you are, and will fill you with His joy?

The Only Permanent Place For Joy Is Our God

Where are you looking for joy and peace? I find joy in my grandchildren. But my grandchildren will grow up. Last time Sherry and I were in Valdosta we had a lot of joy with our grandchildren, playing with them, giving them gifts. But the last day we were there none of our family followed us out to the van to say goodbye. In fact, I could barely get them to acknowledge us as we left the house. What was the problem? The television was on, and their show was playing. This was more important than Pops and Gigi who had driven 8 hours to see them. Oh, we love our kids and grandkids, but any joy in them is but temporary.

Our joy is best found in God.

What about our spouses? Shall we find joy there? Absolutely! I love my wife, and she is a joy to me. If I had to do it all over again I would do exactly the same. She is the love of my life, and a joy to me. Yet one day I will lose my wife. One day either I will leave this life or she will leave this life. Jesus said that when we get to Heaven:

Matthew 22:30 (KJV) … they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

She will not be my wife in Heaven. I find joy in her now, but my joy cannot be vested in her for that is only temporary.

Our joy is best found in God.

Shall I find joy in a full bank account, or good health? Shall I find joy in my good looks or my abilities? Certainly we can find joy in these other things, but bank accounts fluctuate. Money comes and goes. The tax man cometh. Health gets weaker as we age.

Our joy is best found in God.

Isaiah 61:10 (KJV) I will greatly rejoice in the LORD …

Joy – overflowing joy – is not found in the temporary things of this world. It is found in our God. We need to resolve to find joy in our relationship with God. The Scripture says:

I WILL greatly rejoice.

Not “I am” rejoicing. We have times when life brings things our way that are not joyous. The Bible tells us that we are to resolve to keep our eyes on the Lord Who loves us. I WILL greatly rejoice. Not in what I have, but in Who has me.

I WILL greatly rejoice IN THE LORD.

The circumstances of this life should not rob me my joy. If my home were to burn to the ground – if an earthquake were to swallow this facility whole – will I despair? Where is my dwelling place? Is it a place of mortar and brick? Do I find safety like the three little pigs did, building homes of straw, wood, then brick? What keeps the wicked wolf away from grandma and grandpa? Is it a better lock on the door? Or is it God?

Deuteronomy 33:27 (KJV) The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.

If you have God, then you have enough. You may not be a very rich person, but if you have the Lord with you then you have all that you need. You may not be very strong. Your health may be declining. And yet hasn’t God promised that there is a life beyond this one?

Psalms 73:26 (KJV) My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

You may have lost the love of your life. Isaiah had been through all of those things, and yet he said I WILL rejoice in the LORD. If you are God’s, if you have received Christ as the Messiah, then God is with you. Few men suffered as Jeremiah did in ministry and yet he wrote:

Lamentations 3:24-26 (KJV) The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. 25 The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. 26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

And King David often declared:

Psalms 119:57 (KJV) … Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words.

We serve an awesome God Who has promised “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). Have you grasped how tremendous this promise is to you?

I Will GREATLY Rejoice

Those with little joy have a little god.
Our God is an AWESOME God.

How much does God love you? He loves you enough to save you, if you will hear His voice.

Isaiah 61:10 (KJV) I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation …

God placed Adam and Eve in a perfect Garden, and in it no weeds, nor poisons, nor thistles. The weather was beautiful every day, so beautiful that they needed no clothing. God gave mankind a wonderful place to be, and wonderful love. Only one thing was forbidden – only the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

And Adam disobeyed God.

Before you judge Adam harshly for disobeying God, consider how many times we have disobeyed God. And yet God in His great love would not leave Adam where he was. Having disobeyed God Adam tried to cover up his sin with fig leaves. But God said no. The Bible tells us that …

Genesis 3:7 (KJV) … the eyes of {Adam and Eve} were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

As humans we are always trying to sew
fig leaves together to make aprons.

We are trying to cover up our shortcoming and our sins. When God saw Adam and Eve in these flimsy coverings the Bible says:

Genesis 3:21 (KJV) Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

You cannot makea “coat of skins” without killing an animal. This is a beautiful picture of what God has done for us in Christ. Adam sinned, and brought in into the world.

Romans 5:12 (KJV) 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:

Adam sinned and tried to cover his sin with fig leaves. But God took away the fig leaves and replaced it with coats of skin. The innocent died to cover the sin of the guilty. We have all sinned before God.

Romans 5:18-19 (KJV) Therefore as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

Romans 3:21-25 (KJV) But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 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;

Jesus Christ is the propitiation or the covering for sin.
I will GREATLY rejoice in the LORD.
My soul shall be joyful in my God.
HE hath clothed ME with the garments of salvation.

My sin is not covered by my abilities. But He, like a great and generous Parent, took me to the storehouse and purchased what I could not purchase. He took me there, and unclothed me – taking my fig leaves. And He clothed me with Christ. Jesus Christ died for me. Jesus Christ died for you. He wraps us in His arms, and His blood provides a covering for our sins.

He has given us the best He has in Christ. He clothed me with the garments of salvation, but He also:

Hath COVERED ME with the robe of righteousness!

He has not only saved the inner man, but is working on the outer man. The overcoat or robe that God gives to His Children is righteousness, that we ACT right, that we BE right as God is right. What has the Scripture said?

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

We are saved by faith in our God. But once saved God REVEALS righteousness in us. We become HIS WORKMANSHIP:

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

Where inner salvation is, the outer robe of righteousness will always be! When the inner man is saved the outer man BEHAVES saved!

Our God clothes us completely. Everything that comes your way – not matter whether pleasant or unpleasant – is controlled by God. If you are His then He is at work in you to make a masterpiece.

Philippians 2:12-13 (KJV) Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

We do not have to work FOR our salvation, but if we are saved we will work OUT. That outer robe of righteousness is there. The Holy Spirit works in us and through us. If we are His then …

Romans 8:4 (KJV) That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

We do not become lawless, but righteous. God has covered us with the robe of righteousness. Oh, God save us from the sort of godless Christianity that has gripped the Church today! Oh, God show us that the faith which does not change the heart is no faith but farce.

I Will Rejoice In The Lord For My Life Is Secure

Isaiah 61:10 (KJV) I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

If you are born again by faith in Christ – if you are saved by believing Him and Him alone to be your Lord and Savior – then He has clothed you with the garments of salvation, and covered you with the robes of righteousness. You are not wearing street clothes, but Heaven’s clothing. He has given you wedding apparel – you are Wed to Christ. You are bound to Him with an eternal vow for His glory and honor. God has promised to you:

Isaiah 61:3 (KJV) … to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

Your very existence is assured because you are His and He is yours. You are bound to Christ by a blood oath. You belong to Him, and He will never abandon you.

Do you know Jesus? Have you been clothed upon? Has His Blood been applied to your life? Has His robe of righteousness – like Elijah’s mantle – been placed upon you? Many today in local Churches are like the Sadducees, of whom Jesus said:

Matthew 22:29 (KJV) … Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

You need Jesus. Do you have Him? Have you received Him? If you have then He has given you many great and precious promises, the greatest of these being eternal life. Do you know Him? Have you received Him? If so, you are wed to Him both now and into eternity.

May God bless your hearts with His Word!

Posted in General, Isaiah, Sermons Preached | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Eleventh Commandment

Posted on November 9, 2018 by bibleteacherorg

cz-p-07

image courtesy of publicdomainpictures.net

John 13:30-37 (KJV)  He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.  [31]  Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.  [32]  If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him.  [33]  Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.  [34]  A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.  [35]  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.  [36]  Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.  [37]  Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.

When I was in the military we often had to go out to the rifle range to “qualify” with our M16s. To those of you unfamiliar with this process it meant that we went and sat under an instructor for about 8 hours. Following training we went into the field, hung targets, then began by sighting in our weapons. I remember that we adjusted the front sights until we took center man every shot. If our sights were off we would never hit the target.

In the Old Testament God took Israel to the base of a mountain called Sinai. At the base of that mountain Israel waited until God instructed them in how He wanted them to live. The Israelite looked to the Law of Moses, adjusting their lives up or down to match that Law. The Law of God was a perfect and holy by which man was to live. But there was a problem with the Law.

That problem was US.
WE are sinners.
Our hearts are naturally corrupt.
WE in ourselves are unable to serve God.
And God wanted us to understand this.
This is why the Father sent Christ.

The Scripture says in:

Romans 8:1-5 (KJV)  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  [2]  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.  [3]  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:  [4]  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  [5]  For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

The Law by itself could not fix us, but could show us that we need to be fixed. The Law of God is not null and void, dear friend. God sent Christ to condemn sin in the flesh. He sent Christ to die for our sins. He sent Christ to rise from the grace for our continued salvation. And Christ sent us His Spirit to live within us who are saved, enabling us to fulfill the righteousness of the law in our lives.

The Christian Live Is A Supernatural Way Of Life

We live for Christ, day by day, letting the Holy Spirit guide us through His Word to follow Him. Israel was given ten laws to live by, and these ten laws were expanded into, I am told, 613 Laws or Commandments. Jesus summarized these 613 Laws into two great Commandments:

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

Love is the nail that holds up the Ten Commandments on the wall of our lives. The commandments are to be interpreted through the lens of godly love.

The first Four commandments:

1. Love God first, put God first. (Exodus 20:3)
2. Do not make any other gods to love. (Exodus 20:4-5)
3. Love God with what you say about Him. (Exodus 20:7)
4. Take a day once a week to love God. (Exodus 20:8-11)

The next six commandments emphasize loving those around you:

5. Love and honor your parents. (Exodus 20:12)
6. Love life – do not murder (Exodus 20:13)
7. Love your own spouse (Exodus 20:14)
8. Lovingly respect your neighbor’s property (Exodus 20:15)
9. Love and respect your neighbor’s reputation (Exodus 20:16)
10. Love and respect what God has given to you (Exodus 20:17)

Do you think I take liberties with the text? I do not. The Apostle Paul heeding the Lord our Christ elaborated on the Law. He said:

Romans 13:8-13 (KJV)  Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.  [9]  For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.  [10]  Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.  

Tonight we see an Eleventh Commandment that Christ gave. Jesus said:

A new commandment I give unto you

The word “NEW” is the Greek καινός kainós, (pronounced kahee-nos’) which means “recently made, fresh, new, unworn”. The word “COMMANDMENT” (ἐντολή entolḗ, (pronounced en-tol-ay’)) is the same one that Jesus used in other places for the Commandments of God (see Matthew 15:3,6; 19:17; 22:36, et al). On Mount Sinai God gave Israel Ten Commandments that emphasized love. Now Jesus as God Incarnate is giving an Eleventh Commandment.

To Whom Is The Command Given?

John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another …

Jesus said “A new commandment I give unto YOU”. Who is the YOU that Jesus is giving this commandment to? Let us first see who it is NOT.

  • It was NOT Judas Iscariot, nor to those who have the character of Judas Iscariot. Before Jesus gave the Eleventh Commandment He told His disciples:

John 13:21 (KJV) … Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.

One of the disciples had been with Christ throughout His ministry, but the betrayer’s eyes were not on Christ. This individual looked like a disciple. This individual had the high calling of an Apostle. But this individual did not love Jesus, but money and the things of this world. This individual was the son of Simon the Leper, a prominent Pharisee. This was Judas Iscariot. He loved himself and not Christ. And because Judas loved himself rather than Christ he could not fulfill nor even hear this commandment. The Bible says that …

John 13:27 (KJV) … Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.

Where the Spirit of God is not, there is no love but the devil. Satan entered Judas’ heart, and Jesus sent him away before He gave this wonderful commandment.

  • The Commandment was not given to the Scribes and Pharisees who rejected Christ. Jesus said:

John 13:33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.

Jesus said “as I SAID unto the Jews”, not “as I SAY unto the Jews”. The Jews were not with Jesus now, but were out plotting His death. The Scribes and Pharisees were people who professed to know the Lord, but only knew tradition and ritual. They didn’t love the Lord Jesus Christ nor His disciples, but constantly found fault. We are told in the Gospels:

Mark 7:2-3 And when {the Pharisees} saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault. {3} For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.

The fault finders and so called sinless ones cannot receive the Eleventh Commandment. Those who receive this Commandment have a heart that loves Jesus. The Pharisees were – from the time of Isaiah – a people far from God. Jesus said:

Mark 7:6-9 … Well hath Isaiah prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoreth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. {7} Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. {8} For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. {9} And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

To whom is this Eleventh Commandment? Hear Christ’s words:

John 13:33 LITTLE CHILDREN …

Jesus used the phrase “little children” to describe those who believed in Him.

Matthew 18:2-4 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, {3} And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. {4} Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

The whom is the Eleventh Commandment given? To the CONVERTED. To the person who stops following themselves and the world and COMES TO JESUS. The person that wants to be held by Jesus. The person that loves Jesus. On Sunday mornings I ask the little children to come forward so I can take a moment and share Christ with them. It is such a blessing to be able to do this. There is one little girl that will come up and try and crawl into my lap every Sunday – she is so precious. Her parents tell me that she is the main reason they come to Church, because each week this precious child wants to see the Pastor. Oh, how that fills my heart. If I, being evil (Matthew 7:11), have my heart filled with such a thing, can you imagine how it blesses Jesus? He wants us to come to Him. He wants us to crawl up in His lap. Jesus loves this. He loves those who, like little children, come unto Him.

A genuine Christian is a little child. I remember as a child falling and scraping my knee. When I did I didn’t try to doctor it myself. With tears streaming down my face I would run into the house calling out for momma, knowing that she would make it better. A Christian is someone with a boo boo that needs to be fixed. The whole world is in darkness, and the Bible tells us that …

John 3:19-20 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. {20} For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

Lovers of darkness are not “little children”.
They will not come to Christ as “little children”.
Christ’s little children want the Savior’s Lap.

Galatians 2:20 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.

The commandment to love comes to “little children, because your sins are forgiven for His Name’s sake” (1 John 2:12).

The commandment to love is given to “little children who abide in Him, so that when He returns for us we will not be ashamed” (1 John 2:28).

If you have been loved of Him and saved of Him then this commandment is given unto you.

The Little Child Is To Love As Christ Loved

John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

We are to love one another as Christ has loved us. This is a type of love that we cannot do in our own power. We are unable to love this way in our own power. You see the very illustration of this in our text.

Jesus told Peter:

John 13:36 (KJV) … Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.

Jesus had just told us as little children that we are to have a sacrificial love for one another. Peter heard this. But Jesus said “You can’t follow Me NOW”. Peter is the rough and tough fisherman. He quickly comes back:

John 13:37 (KJV)  Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.

I am sure that Peter meant what he said. “Love like You love, Lord. Absolutely! I will easily love sacrificially for You!”. But Jesus corrected Peter:

John 13:38 (KJV)  Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.

Dear friends, the love that Jesus commands cannot be done in your own power. The love that Christ commands us to do is SUPERNATURAL. God must enable us to do it. The Bible defines this Love in:

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Love suffereth long, and is kind; Love envieth not; Love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, {5} Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; {6} Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; {7} Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. {8} Love never faileth …

As you and I surrender your lives He teaches us this Eleventh Commandment. It is the highest standard of God. We are to love as Christ loved.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 … Love envieth not; Love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, {5} Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; {6} Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

The Spirit of God must be in it, or we cannot do it.

Why Is This Eleventh Commandment So Important?

John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. {35} By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

The love of the world is based on selfishness and feeling. What sets Christ’s children apart from the present evil world is the unique love we have for one another. It is this type of love that holds us together. We are to PROVOKE one another to this type of sacrificial love.

Hebrews 10:24-25 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.

It is sacrificial love that binds a Church together, and selfish love that tears it apart. The Church cannot operate on worldly love. The Church cannot help but win souls when it binds itself together under the Eleventh Commandment. I’ll end with the words of a stepbrother of Jesus named Jude. Jude wrote:

Jude 21-23 Keep yourselves in the love of God… making a difference: {23} And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire;

Here is how we make a difference. God must drive our love. May we all seek His face and obey the Eleventh Commandment! May God touch your hearts with His Word!

Posted in John, Sermons Preached | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Interpretations Belong To God

Posted on November 5, 2018 by bibleteacherorg

chained-a

image courtesy of publicdomainpictures.net

Genesis 40:8 (KJV) …. We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you.

What do we do when nothing seems to make sense?
What do we do when the trials keep on coming?
We rest in God, trusting in His Word.

Proverbs 3:5 Every Word of God is pure: He is a Shield unto them that put their trust in Him.

A Butler, a Baker, and a Brother named Joseph are all in prison. Two are discouraged, but Joseph is not. Why is that? Because Joseph learned a lesson that we all need to learn.

… interpretations belong to God

Our God is the God of all that occurs. He is the God of whatever may come my way. When we come to the valleys of life let us – like Brother Joseph – focus on our Lord. God says …

Isaiah 50:10 (KJV)  Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.

You Can Love God And Be In A Valley

Joseph was in a valley. He was imprisoned because of sin – not his sin – but the sin of others. He was in prison not because he did something wrong, but because he did something right. Joseph was the patriarch Israel’s favorite son. The Bible says …

Genesis 37:3 (KJV) Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children..

It is a parenting mistake to love one child more than another – particularly when you show it. Israel spoiled Joseph even to the point of giving him a coat of many colors, an expensive garment back in those days. Because of what his father did Joseph was hated by his other brothers. Hatred is sin. Pride is sin. And I’m sure their attitude hurt Joseph. Can you imagine being hated by the brothers you wanted to play with every day? Joseph probably cried himself to sleep at night. I don’t know this. The text doesn’t tell us.

But Interpretations Belong To God.

I’m just guessing. But being bullied as a child myself I can tell you that it makes you bitter and frightful and shy. I lay awake many nights fearing the sun rise, knowing that I would be punched and ridiculed in just a few hours. I could fall into despair, or look up. I could let the darkness swallow me or look up. Praise the Lord, He grabbed me before I became part of the darkness.

Psalms 34:17-18 (KJV) The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. 18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

God loves those who will love Him. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds (Psalm 147:3). If you are bullied, if you are lonely, if you are in the darkness of depression – look up. God is there. Jesus loves you!

God spoke to Joseph in the midst of his suffering.
God was going to turn a bad thing into a good thing.

Interpretations belong to God

God spoke to Joseph and told him that he was going to raise Joseph up above his brothers and even above his parents. Joseph should have cherished this Word from God. But he was an impetuous 17 year old, so he went and shared what God told him in a dream. Joseph told them …

Genesis 37:7-8 (KJV) … behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. 8 And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.

It threw gasoline on the fire for him to share this Word. His brothers threw Joseph in a pit, and sold him as a slave to a band of traders headed toward Egypt. Joseph could have drowned in despair or surrendered to bitterness, but he didn’t. He kept looking up because …

Interpretations belong to God

Sold to a high ranking official named Potiphar Joseph did not despair. He continued to walk with God throughout his enslavement. The Bible tells us that

Genesis 39:2-4 (KJV) … the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. 3 And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand. 4 And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.

Joseph did not allow his circumstances to define him.
He allowed the LORD to define him.
Joseph was with the LORD, and
The LORD was with Joseph.

Remain Faithful To God No Matter How Dark It Is

The Bible is filled with stories of people who were in darkness and yet trusted God. Job comes to mind, or the Prophets Habakkuk or Jeremiah. In the New Testament I think of John the Baptist imprisoned, waiting to be beheaded by an evil king. Trust in God no matter how dark the night, for God is in control.

Though enslaved, things are going well for Joseph. He is actually prospering and gaining ground though a servant. Joseph is prospering because he is serving God. You cannot out give God.

When times get tough, serve God.
When things are rough, serve God.
When the valley seem deepest, serve God.
Trust the Lord to do the best for you.

Joseph was not done being tested. In time his master’s wife decided that Joseph would become her sex toy. She approached Joseph and said “Lie with me”. Joseph was not tempted. The Bible tells us that Joseph told her …

Genesis 39:9-12 (KJV) … how then can I do this great wickedness, and SIN AGAINST GOD?

Some would have justified their sins. They would have said, “Well, God let me be a slave in this household … and if that’s what she wants, then fine!” Yet Joseph knew that God would never tempt him to sin. The Bible says:

James 1:13-14 (KJV) Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

God cannot look on sin, and God does not tempt us to sin. Joseph refused her advances. This woman kept tempting him daily, but the Bible says

Genesis 39:10 … as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.

Joseph wouldn’t even stay in the same room with her. One day she caught him, and demanded that he lay with her. The Bible says that Joseph …

Genesis 39:12 … left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.

Joseph did the best thing he could do. He FLED. He ran away from sin. This is the best thing we can do when confronted with sin. We should PLEAD THE BLOOD OF CHRIST and RUN AWAY. The Bible says …

2 Timothy 2:22 (KJV) Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

1 Corinthians 6:18 (KJV) Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

Interpretations belong to God
If God has said it is wrong, should we not flee it?

Joseph did the right thing and ended up in prison. If you read your Bibles you’ll see that Joseph was released from prison when he was 30 years old (Genesis 41:46), and he was 17 years old when his brothers sold him into slavery (Genesis 37:2). Joseph could have been imprisoned up to 12 years. Again, he could have become bitter over his circumstances, but he wasn’t. What kept him from bitterness is that he trusted the promise of God.

Interpretations belong to God.
God promised Joseph that his family would bow before him.

Numbers 23:19 (KJV) God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

Apply this to your life, dear Christian. Has not God promised:

Hebrews 13:5 (KJV) … I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Hasn’t God promised you eternal life?

1 John 2:25 (KJV) … this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.

Beloved of God, has not God made you exceedingly great promises? Haven’t you been promised Heaven?

Revelation 21:7 (KJV)  He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

Hasn’t God promised you that He is overlooking your lives, controlling all things for your good if you love Him?

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

Joseph had a dream that he held on to.
We have a Word from God just as sure.
God is faithful.
Like Joseph, God wants to bless you.
He wants to lift you up.
He does this in His own time and in His own way.

Romans 8:32 (KJV) He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, HOW SHALL HE NOT WITH HIM ALSO FREELY GIVE US ALL THINGS?

Interpretations belong to God!

Is He not good. Is God not gracious? Would God be so unjust as to make a promise that He would not keep. Kathy sings one of my favorite songs:

“For the God on the mountain, is the God in the valley
When things go wrong, He’ll make them right.
And the God of the good times
Is still God in the bad times
The God of the day is still God in the night”

So when Joseph is in prison he is not discouraged.

Let Us Live Our Lives CONSISTENTLY Leaning Into God

Joseph embraced the Word God gave him, and kept on leaning into God’s arms no matter what came his way.

One day two of the King’s men, the Baker and the Butler, did something to offend the King. They ended up in prison. Now Joseph is in prison with them. The Bible says:

Genesis 40:4 (KJV) And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in ward.

Joseph is a prisoner of even the prisoners. The jailer said “Now Joseph, you serve these other prisoners.” It seemed as if Joseph couldn’t even get a break in prison! Yet Joseph did not despair. He kept looking to God. He kept trusting His Savior and Lord.

One day Joseph came in and saw that the Butler and the Baker looked sad. Joseph asked them …

Genesis 40:7-8 (KJV) … Wherefore look ye so sadly to day? 8 And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. …

Joseph asks that wonderful question – one that we have repeated throughout this message:

Do not interpretations belong to God?

And then he says … “Tell me them I pray you”.

Interpretations belong to God. Joseph was not putting himself in the place of God when he told the Baker and the Butler “Tell me your dreams”. Joseph knew that interpretations belonged to God. But Joseph had spent his life listening to God, obeying God, loving God. He knew that he was loved of God. So if these men would tell their dreams, Joseph knew that God would give him the interpretation.

You gain power with God by CONSISTENCY.
You CONSISTENTLY read your Bibles.
You CONSISTENTLY pray daily.
You CONSISTENTLY adjust your behavior to please Him.
The Grand Canyon was carved by consistently dripping water.
The snail made it to the Ark by being consistent.
CONSISTENCY does not rely on feelings but on faith.
CONSISTENCY does not depend on the mountain,
Nor the valley, but
ON THE GOD WHO CREATED BOTH.

What does the Bible say?

Hebrews 11:6 (KJV) But 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.

Joseph diligently sought God in the light and in the dark.
Joseph diligently sought God in the good and in the bad.
Joseph diligently sought God in freedom and in slavery.
Joseph diligently sought God when bullied and when blessed.
Joseph trusted God so much that he knew God would tell him.

The Butler told Joseph:

Genesis 40:9-11 (KJV) … In my dream, behold, a vine was before me; 10 And in the vine were three branches: and it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth; and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes: 11 And Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand: and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand.

Interpretations belong to God. Almost without a pause Joseph shares what the Lord tells him. He says,

Genesis 40:12-13 … This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days: 13 Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh’s cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler.

You’re going to get your old job back. That was good news! Then the Baker told his dream:

Genesis 40:16-17 (KJV) … When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said unto Joseph, I also was in my dream, and, behold, I had three white baskets on my head: 17 And in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of bake meats for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head.

The baker expected to hear some good news. The Butler after all had good news. Why not the Baker. But Interpretations belong to God, not to Joseph. Again without a pause Joseph says:

Genesis 40:18-19 …. This is the interpretation thereof: The three baskets are three days: 19 Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree; and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee.

Do not interpretations belong to God?
Joseph doesn’t add to God’s Word.
He speaks the truth as God gave it.

Interpretations belong to God

It all happened exactly as Joseph said, for Joseph spoke what God told him to say. And yet the Bible says:

Genesis 40:23 (KJV)23 Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.

But God never forgot Joseph. In time God would raise Joseph up, and fulfill every promise He made to him. God is like that. God is good like that. God would use Joseph to do a great thing that would glorify the Lord. Why?

Interpretations belong to God

Oh Beloved, live your lives looking unto Jesus. Look unto Him Who loves you and gave Himself for you. Do not let your circumstances define you, but let your Savior define you. This is where life is the most blessed. Let God be God. Surrender your lives to Him, in Christ’s name I beg you!

Posted in Genesis, Sermons Preached | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Being Grace

Posted on November 5, 2018 by bibleteacherorg

sunset-man-vintage-painting.jpg

1 Peter 3:8-9 (KJV)  Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:  [9]  Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

The boss of a large company is driving to work one day when – at a stop light – a young person texting on a cell phone rear ends his car. After waiting on the police, the accident report, and the other driver who still kept on texting, the boss is filled with repressed anger. When he gets to work 2 hours late he finds that one of his junior supervisors has once more failed to leave him a morning report. Furious, he calls the man into his office and chews him out! The supervisor heads back to his office, stomps past his secretary, and slams his office door. His secretary wonders what is wrong, so she taps on his door and asks if there’s anything she can do. The supervisor – upset because he was chewed out – chews her out and slams the door in her face. At the end of the day the secretary goes home and finds dirty dishes in the sink and her husband playing video games on the television. She blisters him for his laziness, stalks out, and he angrily gets up and heads outside. As he is heading for the door the dog is quietly laying on the floor watching whatever in the world is going on. As the husband goes outside he kicks the dog …. and the dog yelps, running away and wondering what he did to make everyone so mad.

So who kicked the dog?


If you are a Christian God has not called you to kick the dog – or anyone else. Christians are not to be part of the problem, not to be part of the darkness, but we are called to be part of the Light.

How Does One Become A “Christian”?

Christians are products of G R A C E. I have heard GRACE described as:

God’s
Riches
At
Christ’s
Expense

Grace is to receive MERCY when you deserve PUNISHMENT. Grace is to not get what you deserve, but to get what you DO NOT deserve. Grace is God showing us undeserved love.

God is holy, righteous, and just.
He is the Owner of Heaven.
Heaven is therefore holy, righteous, and just.

Yet we are all – young or old, rich or poor, male or female – separated from God because we are sinners.

We were born in sin (Psalm 51:5)
We are guilty of breaking God’s laws (Romans 3:9–20, 23)

We were enemies of God (Romans 5:6, 10; 8:7; Colossians 1:21)
We deserve death and damnation (Romans 6:23a)
We once reveled in unrighteous (Romans 3:10)

And we could not save ourselves (Romans 3:20)

So God stepped in. He sent Jesus to take our sin burden on Himself so that we could stand clean before God.

Romans 8:3-4 (KJV) … God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:  [4]  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Jesus gave Himself for you and for me. The day that you realized you were a sinner destined to hell, that you were without God and without hope, that very day you cried out to Jesus the Lord saved you. You and I were saved not because we earned it, not because we deserved it, but because God gave it to us as an absolutely free gift. One of the greatest texts that explain GRACE is found in:

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

We have faith in what Christ did, not in what we do. When our faith is placed wholly in Christ then God saves us. It is a gift. It is by GRACE. But GRACE was not just given to us to save us, but if you are saved by GRACE then this GRACE should operate in you. Grace is how the Christian lives, moves, and breathes. GRACE is not the end of our faith. Many people teach GRACE as a gateway by which we are saved and then go no farther than that. That is untrue. GRACE is not a train ticket punched to get you to Heaven.

Grace is THE way of life

Grace is not just the way TO life eternal,
it is THE way of life.

In our text today we see that those who are saved by grace are to live by grace. We treat one another as Christ treated us. We treat the lost as Christ treats us. We are to love as we are loved. The first thing that the Apostle tells us is to …

be ye all of one mind

We who believe are called to “be ye ALL of ONE MIND”. Let’s examine that. What is our mind to be? We are to have the mind of Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:16 (KJV)  For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

We are to think like Jesus thought. We are not to think like the world thinks, but to be like Christ in thought and therefore in deed. The Bible says:

Romans 12:2 (KJV) … be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, …

How do we as believers become Christ-minded? Do we query the world, asking it what is politically acceptable? No! Absolutely not! We are commanded:

Colossians 2:8 (KJV) Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

The world is not our resource. The world does not have the mind of Christ. We have the mind of Christ available to us. We become united in mind and in practice by adhering firmly to both Spirit and Scripture.

The Christian has the mind of Christ. What gives us the mind of Christ? Two things – God’s written Word, and God’s indwelling Word or the Holy Spirit.

When you received Christ as Lord and Savior you also received the Holy Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit was given to you to “guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). The written Word of God is truth. Jesus in His High Priestly prayer said:

Sanctify them through Thy Truth.
Thy WORD is Truth (John 17:17)

What is the MIND we are ALL to have? Here is what God’s Word says:

Philippians 2:5-8 (KJV)  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:  [6]  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  [7]  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  [8]  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

The Mind of Christ did not puff Himself up. The Mind of Christ lowered Himself, washing the feet of the disciples:

John 13:14 (KJV) If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.

This was not meant to be a mindless ritual, but a way of life where we lovingly serve others. This is what Christ did throughout His earthly life. He gave Himself for us. He loved us, even doing the dirty tasks. In this world people elevate themselves. They put themselves first and foremost. Christ calls us to put God first, to put others before ourselves, and to do so unashamedly.

Our minds are to be grace oriented, grace filled. This is radical love.

Matthew 5:38-39 (KJV)  Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:  [39]  But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

Matthew 5:43-46 (KJV)  Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy.  [44]  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;  [45]  That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.  [46]  For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

Children imitate their parents. We are to imitate Christ. I was in a fast food restaurant the other day when someone near me made an ugly remark about a woman and her child. I will not repeat the remark, but I can honestly say it was a remark unworthy of a saint. We who are Christ’s are to have HIS mind – putting others before ourselves, loving as He loved. What has God said?

Philippians 2:3-4 (KJV)  Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.[4]  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

Hell will be filled with people who elevated themselves while deriding others. If you are Christ’s then this mind must NOT be in you. Love as Jesus loved.

Grace Puts Itself In The Place Of Others

1 Peter 3:8 (KJV)  Finally, be ye all of one mind,
having compassion one of another

The word “compassion” is a compound word which means “to suffer or be in pain with another”. It is to put yourself in the place of another, to empathize.

Grace asks itself “If I were in his place what would I feel?”

When we empathize with one another we become the unified Body of Christ with Jesus as our Head. It is Christ’s desire that …

1 Corinthians 12:25-26 (KJV) … there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. [26]  And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it.

When I was in the military the first lesson we learned was to work together, because we’re all in this together. This is why we marched. This is why we had inspections. When I ran my first 3 mile obstacle we helped the slowest member of the squad cross the finish line. Listen Beloved, we either stand together or we will fall apart. We empathize with one another as family.

1 Peter 3:8 (KJV) Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren

A Church is the Family of God.
We are not strangers with no purpose.
We are family serving our Father.
Our goal is to promote Christ.
We do this by love.

Jesus said in John 13:35:

“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. “

Not just “love” but “have love”. Jesus said we are not just to have FEELS toward one another but to actually put love into action.

Illustrate I have had people come to me and tell me “I’m cold” when in this sanctuary. When that happens I go and look at the thermostat. If the thermostat tells me the room temperature is 78 degrees then it’s not cold in here. You may feel cold because of your metabolism, but in fact the room is not cold. That’s why I bought blankets for the Church. Some of you feel cold when the rest of us are burning up. But I love you, so I tried to provide a solution that doesn’t melt the rest of us. The thermostat tells us the actual temperature, the actual fact as to whether it is cold or hot in here.

Whether you actually do love or not shows
whether you are saved or not.
Love in action is the thermostat of your soul!

Don’t believe me? See what the Scripture says:

1 John 3:14 (KJV)  We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

If you do not love your fellow believers then you are yet in the dark Kingdom of satan. Love lifts up and does not tear down.

Romans 13:10 (KJV)  Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

If we put ourselves in the place of others we will …

1 Peter 3:8 (KJV)… be pitiful,

Word Study This word – the Greek εὔσπλαγχνος eúsplanchnos – means “to be tenderhearted toward another”. We are not to harden our hearts toward others, but to be …

Ephesians 4:32 (KJV) And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

I am so glad that God didn’t harden His heart toward us, but loved us enough to reach out and lift us up from the mire of sin and darkness. As you have been loved, love one another! Do so for God’s sake.

Grace Always Responds In A Godly Way

1 Peter 3:8 (KJV) … be courteous

Treat others with the same respect you expect from them. The word rendered “courteous” (tapeinophrōn) means to be friendly and kind. The Apostle goes on to explain what he means by this. He says:

1 Peter 3:9 (KJV) Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

We are to bless others because God has promised us a blessing. We are Heaven bound creatures – let us live that way. Let us be His children, shining in the midst of this present darkness.

1 Thessalonians 5:15 (KJV) See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

There are three ways we can respond to others. We can …

Return evil for good – which is satanic
Return good for good and evil for evil – which is worldly
Return good for evil – which is godly

If we belong to God let us be godly. By our lives and how we live them we may win others to His Kingdom. Let us do so for the glory of God – in Christ’s name I pray. Amen!

Posted in 1 Peter, Sermons Preached | Tagged | Leave a comment

The Golden Prayer Of Jesus

Posted on November 1, 2018 by bibleteacherorg

John 12:27-28 KJV Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. (28) Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

prayer.jpg

image courtesy of publicdomainpictures.net

It was a beautiful day yesterday, so I took a lunch break at Woodland Park. On pretty days I love to go there to pray and praise my Lord. While I was in the park I heard two of the strangest things I think I have ever heard. As I sat there I heard the music of an ice cream truck. What made it very interesting was that it was playing Christmas songs. “Silent Night, Holy Night” and “Little Town of Bethlehem” played as the driver sold ice cream to the children at the playgound. What made it surreal was that it is October 30th, and children are eating ice cream while Christmas music plays. I thought it was interesting, and an unexpected blessing from God!

Then I heard something else that wasn’t a blessing. The ice cream truck left and a mother drove up with twin girls – beautiful little girls. They were about 30 feet away from me, and the mother was horribly cursing her children. I don’t know what they had done, but she took God’s name in vain repeatedly and tossed the “F” bomb around like a wicked witch in the Wizard of Oz. They got in their van and drove away, but my heart broke for these little girls.

God gives us life for a purpose. He gave us tongues and ears for a purpose. Our tongues were given to us to glorify the Lord, to praise Him, to pray to Him. Our tongues were meant to help one another, to communicate, to care.

Tonight I want to talk about the Golden Prayer. Jesus taught us how to pray in His model prayer of Matthew 6:9-13. But tonight Jesus shows us how to pray a Golden Prayer. There are many great prayers in the Bible. Moses prayed great prayers. So did King David, and Elijah, and Daniel. There is a prayer that is greater than all other prayers, a prayer that will be answered in the affirmative at all times. That simple prayer is the one that our Lord Jesus prayed.

John 12:28 KJV Father, glorify thy name. …

to which God immediately replied,

.. I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

This a golden prayer because, unlike the many prayers that men make for their own blessing, this prayer is going to be answered. God said “I have both glorified [my Name], and will glorify [my Name] again”. (John 12:28)

God will glorify His Name, and when we – like Jesus – pray Father, glorify Thy Name – this is a prayer that He has already promised to fulfill. He will glorify His Name.

This Prayer Is Golden Because It Chooses God Over Self

Often we pray because we are in turmoil, are worried, or are seeking relief from suffering. There is nothing wrong with praying for yourself. In fact, I know God would rather you pray than worry about something. The Bible tells us:

Psalms 55:22 (KJV)  Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

God wants you to bring your heartaches to Him. Do you not remember the sweet words of our Savior?

Matthew 11:28-30 (KJV)  Come unto me, all ye that labour 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.

The power of King David was that he knew when to bring his troubles to God. He said:

Psalms 34:17 (KJV)  The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

God wants us to pray, to take time to pray. Our Lord Jesus is facing the greatest trial He can possibly face. He is preparing to go to the Cross for you and I. As Jesus contemplates what is going to happen to Him He says:

John 12:27 (KJV)  Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.

Jesus’ soul is troubled. If I were in His place looking toward the Cross I would be in a panic. But Jesus is “troubled” (tarasso, meaning disturbed, distressed, anxious). He does not want to have to go through this terrible trial, but will do so. But anyone with human flesh would be troubled by this terror. Jesus says, “What shall I say? How shall I pray?”. How would you pray in this situation? Wouldn’t we ourselves pray “Father, save me from this hour”? If Jesus had prayed that prayer don’t you think the Father would have answered the prayer? And if the Father answered the prayer, don’t you know we would still be dead in our trespasses and in our sins?

If Jesus had prayed selfishly that the hour of the Cross pass, if He had prayed Father, save Me from this hour, the world would have died under sin!

But He didn’t. Jesus knew that He must go to the Cross if others were to be blessed. This prayer is golden because Jesus realized the primary reason He came into the world. He came to die for our sins.

for this cause came I unto this hour

The reason that God placed us on this earth is not to be all about ourselves, but to live our lives for a greater good. We – like Christ – are to live our lives to glorify God. Return to my opening story of the woman who was cursing her kids – horribly cursing them.

What seed is she planting in the lives of these children?

I am all for discipling children. The Bible commands it. Society needs it. We have too many grown up children beating on the doors of the Supreme Court because they were not disciplined when they were children. We have far too many biological adults running around in society who are psychologically no more than children because they were not disciplined when they were biological childen. Discipline is good! But to curse and blaspheme God is to plant evil, to use your lips to sow darkness. No good comes of it. These children will grow up just as their mother, for this is the seed she planted.

We need to plant godly seed.

As Jesus prayed He knew others would hear and record what He said. He wanted us to understand that our goal in life is not to be all about ourselves. Just prior to this Jesus said:

John 12:23 KJV Verily, verily, I say unto you …

Before Jesus prays this Great Prayer He begins it with His trademark verily verily or His double Amen to show that He is going to give us a great spiritual truth. Jesus now uses a wonderful illustration from the field – a grain of wheat. He says:

John 12:23 KJV … Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

When you cling to your comfort zone – selfishly staying on the stalk – you abide alone. I have read over the last couple of years obituaries of people who clung to the stalk of themselves, selfishly living out the lives God gave them just to satisfy their own whims.

They lived alone.
They died alone.

Many years ago I read the story of Frances Bavier who played Aunt Bee on the Andy Griffith Show. When the Andy Griffith Show closed, Frances retired from acting and moved to Siler City, North Carolina where she bought a home. Frances never married and never had children. Though she would have been given the key to Siler City, she withdrew in her later years. She ended up dying in her home eight days short of her 87th birthday of conjestive heart failure. She died alone.

She is not the only one.
To live for self is a lonely life.

The grain still on the stalk has absolutely no value but for the basest of uses. Certainly it can be fed to cattle and lesser creatures as fodder, but it has no higher use than that.

Jesus chose to give His life for others, not to selfishly keep it. In so doing He is celebrated forever, How horrible to live lives of selfishness! It is to be a FOOL! Jesus illustrated this by this parable.

Luke 12:16-21 (KJV) … spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? 21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

We are to live our lives as Jesus did, not for ourselves but for the glory of God. The Bible commands:

1 Corinthians 10:31 KJV Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Everything we do should glorify His Name. The Golden Prayer of Christ sought God’s will over all else. He prayed:

John 12:28 KJV Father, glorify thy name. …

As Jesus Put The Glory Of God First So Must We

John 12:26 KJV If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honor.

Jesus put all of His glory to the side in order to follow the will of God. He willingly left a palace in Heaven – a place of eternal Joy – to give Himself unselfishly for us. We are told in …

Philippians 2:6-8 KJV [Jesus] being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: (7) But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (8) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Jesus surrendered His Heavenly Home and Family to come and die for us on the Cross. He surrendered His earthly family, His earth mother and stepbrothers, in order to suffer that terrible fate for us. (Philippians 2:6-8)

If you hold to the stalk of family apart from God, God cannot bless you. Jesus told us that faith in Him could bring division in our families. We are to love Christ most. Jesus knew that this relationship would cause conflicts in the family. He said:

Matthew 10:34-38 KJV Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. (35) For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. (36) And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. (37) He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. (38) And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

Following Christ our Lord means to do as He did, to separate from the stalk that is family and surrender your life to the Family of God. (Matthew 10:34-38; Isaiah 53:2-6)

This may cause some dissension, some warring, some anger and separation between you and those you love. Jesus Christ’s own stepbrothers did not believe in Him until after His resurrection. His mother believed in Him, and was one of the few who stood at the foot of His Cross and wept instead of jeering. His disciples abandoned Him except for John. The Bible prophetically said of Jesus:

Isaiah 53:3-6 (KJV) He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

But remember the promise of God! Jesus surrendered the stalk of His family, and God honored His surrender. If you do not surrender yourself to God above the stalk of family, you may find that you have led your children down the pathway of condemnation. If you want your children, your grandchildren, your great grandchildren to be saved, then remember what Jesus said:

John 12:31-32 KJV Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. (32) And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

Do you wish to see your family blessed? Then lift up Jesus above all else! A sure way to condemn your own kin is to minimize the Lord Jesus Christ, to cling to the stalk of family above surrender to the Lord. When the corn of wheat fall into the ground and die … it bringeth forth much fruit. There can be no blessing until there is the surrender to God. But

When we surrender to God, we will see God glorify His Name. We will see our loved ones led to Jesus, saved from condemnation. We will see the Evil One cast out, just as Jesus has promised. ( John 12:31-32)

Jesus Surrendered All For Us

John 12:27 KJV Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.

This is the FIRST time Jesus expressed discomfort over the coming Cross, but it was not the last.

Jesus knew what was coming. It was like a perpetual toothache throughout His ministry.

When He went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray just hours before His trial our Lord prayed three times:

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

Not once, but THREE times. He prayed that IF IT WERE POSSIBLE that the Cup of suffering pass from Him. And yet each time He prayed Jesus said:

nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt

Jesus sought the glory of the Father above all else. But it was hard, very hard, for Him to go forward. We are told in another place that as He prayed in Gethsemane that He prayed ….

Luke 22:44 KJV …. in an agony … prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

The answer to His prayer was not that Jesus be relieved from His burden. The answer the Father gave the Son as His sweat – like great drops of blood – poured from Him was the same answer He gave before: I have glorified My Name, I will glorify it again. After the third prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus allowed Himself to fall as a grain of wheat to the ground.

He would die for us, so we could live for Him.
He would suffer death for us, so we could find eternal life in Him.

He would surrender to the Ground, to Eternal God the Father, and rise triumphant three days later because God will glorify His Name. Yes, it is outside of the comfort zone to obey God and surrender fully to Him. And yet, if you will be blessed, you must surrender. We must first of all surrender to Him for salvation. Jesus Christ

1 Peter 2:24 (KJV)  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.

God Will Be Glorified

John 12:28-29 KJV Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. (29) The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.

Tonight is what the world calls “Halloween”. Some will glorify selves tonight. Let us glorify God. It is only in glorifying God as Christ did that we will hear His Voice. Too few today hear the Voice of God.

Some heard an angel, others merely heard thunder.
Those who refuse to turn to God are in tune with this world
Hear only thunder.
Others heard an angel.
But only Jesus and His followers heard GOD.

You will not hear the voice of God unless you are willing to glorify God. When we make life about ourselves we will not hear Him. C.H. Spurgeon reminds us:

Learn hence, then, all of you who would have Christ as your Savior, that you must be willing to serve him. We are not saved by service, but we are saved to service. When we are once saved, thenceforward we live in the service of our Lord. If we refuse to be his servants, we are not saved, for we still remain evidently the servants of self, and the servants of Satan. Holiness is another name for salvation; to be delivered from the power of self-will, and the domination of evil lusts, and the tyranny of Satan,—this is salvation. Those who would be saved must know that they will have to serve Christ, and those who are saved rejoice that they are serving him, and that thus they are giving evidence of a change of heart and renewal of mind.

Posted in John, Sermons Preached | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Heaven On Earth

Posted on October 28, 2018 by bibleteacherorg

Revelation 21:1-8 (KJV)  And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.  [2]  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  [3]  And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.  [4]  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.  [5]  And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.  [6]  And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.  [7]  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.

grass-1366969817aOx

image courtesy of publicdomainpictures.net

Heaven & eternity has been on my mind
Heaven & eternity should be on your minds as well

There are two things that every adult who is an adult should come to grips with and make peace with.

You should come to grips with your MORALITY.
You must come to grips with your MORTALITY.

Do You KNOW You Are Mortal?

Too few people have examined their lives and have come to a settled mental state on these two things. Morality and Mortality. I often talk to people who groan over death, making death out to be a horrible attack from the devil.

Death is NOT an attack from the devil. Do you know who controls DEATH? It is the same One Who controls LIFE. It is God. Let me show you the Bible texts.

Psalms 68:19-20 (KJV)  Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.  [20]  He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from death.

To God – our Sovereign God – there is escape from death. Why? Because God controls life and God controls death. Righteous Job said …

Job 14:1 (KJV)  Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. … 5 … his DAYS ARE DETERMINED, THE NUMBER OF HIS MONTHS ARE WITH {GOD}, {God} hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;

The Apostle Paul preached at Mars Hill:

Acts 17:26 (KJV)  {God} hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath DETERMINED THE TIMES BEFORE APPOINTED, and the bounds of their habitation;

When King Hezekiah was told that he was going to die, the message he was given was from God, not the devil. Hezekiah prayed for more life, and God told Isaiah to tell the king:

Isaiah 38:5 (KJV)  Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.

God controls both life and death – not the devil. Your God is too small if you think the devil controls death! The devil controls nothing. God controls all. The Prophet Daniel told King Belshazzar that he did not honor …

Daniel 5:23 (KJV) … the God IN WHOSE HAND THY BREATH IS, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified:

It is God Who gives life. When John first saw Christ on Patmos Jesus told him:

Revelation 1:18 (KJV)  I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the KEYS of hell and OF DEATH.

Jesus Christ has the keys of hell and death. The One Who has the keys has the power to operate it. The Bible does say in Hebrews that Jesus Christ came to destroy the devil. We read:

Hebrews 2:14 (KJV)  Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

Satan by deceiving and leading Adam brought death into God’s creation. Satan does have the power to kill – but only at the allowance of God.
God ultimately controls all life and all death.

Hebrews 9:27 (KJV)  And as it is APPOINTED UNTO MEN ONCE TO DIE, but after this the judgment:

Death is an appointment, not made by you or I, nor even made by the devil. It is an appointment that God has made for us all. As Solomon said “there is a time to be born, and a time to die” (Ecclesiastes 3:2). We are all mortal. We all have an expiration time determined for us by our Creator. We can ignore this, or we can embrace it. We must come to grips with our MORTALITY. God controls life and God controls death.

Am I A NEW Creature?

When we read about Eternity one word keeps coming up. See if you can find that word:

Revelation 21:1-2, 5 (KJV)  And I saw a NEW heaven and a NEW earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.  [2]  And I John saw the holy city, NEW Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. … [5]  And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things NEW.

Did you see the word? Did you hear it? The word “NEW” is repeated FOUR TIMES. This is significant because in Scripture FOUR is the number of rest. The FOURTH Commandment (Exodus 20:8) is to “remember the Sabbath and keep it holy”. God set aside a day of rest for humanity, a day where we were to dwell on and magnify our Creator.

Heaven is God’s rest.
Heaven is a place now even of rest.

What we are reading about in Revelation 21 is the beginning of eternity

If you love Jesus and have received Him as your Lord and Savior the Bible says something about you. It says that …

2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a NEW creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become NEW.

The word “New” both in this text and in our focal text is the Greek KAINOS. The Christ follower is a NEW creature. The believer in Him has been born again. We are works in progress. We are different than we were. We are NEW. Distinct. Different. We belong to God. Because of Jesus when we die we do not cease to be, but go to be with our God in Heaven. The Apostle said:

2 Corinthians 5:6-8 (KJV)  Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:  [7]  (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)  [8]  We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be ABSENT FROM THE BODY, AND TO BE PRESENT WITH THE LORD.

When we leave this body we are PRESENT WITH THE LORD. Our souls do not sleep, but our bodies sleep in the ground awaiting the Rapture of the Church. There are many proofs of this consciousness after death. One of Christ’s earliest sermons was on a certain rich man and a poor believer named Lazarus. Jesus said:

Luke 16:22-23 (KJV)  And it came to pass, that the BEGGAR DIED, AND WAS CARRIED BY THE ANGELS into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;  [23]  And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

No matter how you interprete this text you cannot help but see that Jesus believed both Lazarus and the rich man were conscious after death. The rich manm suffered, but Lazarus was comforted. The New Creature who was Lazarus went to be with others of faith in a place of comfort – in short, Heaven. But the rich man went to hell and suffering. We also have the testimony of John who saw into Heaven and wrote:

Revelation 6:9 (KJV)  And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar THE SOULS OF THEM THAT WERE SLAIN for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

For the New Creature “to live is Christ, and to die is GAIN” (Philippians 1:21). Death is not a horror for the Christ follower but a doorway by which we are united with our Creator and Savior. Paul said to the Philippian Church:

Philippians 1:23-24 (KJV)  For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire TO DEPART, AND TO BE WITH CHRIST; which is far better: [24]  Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.

If you are a Christ follower – that is, trusting Jesus alone for your salvation and Lordship – the Scripture promises when you leave this life you go to Heaven. When the righteous leave this life they enter into a place of peace (Isaiah 57:1-2).

Revelation 14:13 (KJV) … Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that THEY MAY REST FROM THEIR LABOURS; and their works do follow them.

Oh, how beautiful Heaven must be. It is a prepared place for a prepared people. Oh that all would prepare their hearts for Heaven now, trusting in the Lord Jesus, receiving and believing on Him.

Just As God Brings Heaven To Us He Will Bring Heaven To Earth

We will all die, but death is no evil, but a doorway. God brought Heaven to us in Christ, and will bring us all to Heaven one day. What Revelation 21 teaches us is that God will also bring Heaven back to earth.

Revelation 21:1 (KJV)  And I saw a new heaven and a new earth:

Following the Millennial Reign of Christ on the earth God will do something extraordinary – He will recreate this earth and the heaven that is about it. The Bible teaches that there are THREE HEAVENS.

The FIRST Heaven is where the birds fly (Matthew 6:26)
The SECOND Heaven is what we call outer space (Deuteronomy 4:19)
The THIRD Heaven is where our God has His Home (2 Corinthians 12:2)

In Revelation 21 the Lord is recreating the earth and the heaven that surrounds it. Peter speaks of the destruction of this earth in:

2 Peter 3:9-10 (KJV)  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.  [10]  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

God will destroy this planet and all of its atmosphere. But once He destroys it He makes it new – both earth and the heaven that surrounds it.

Revelation 21:1 (KJV) … for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 

This new Earth will be different from the earth we are on now. About 71% of our planet is covered with water, and 96.6% of this water is in the seas. Yet the new Earth will have no seas. John was cast out onto the Island of Patmos to die, and it was the sea around this island that held him prisoner. In the new Earth there will be no separation from our loved ones. The seas will cease to be.

Revelation 21:2 (KJV) And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 

The Old Jerusalem was a fallen place. But on the new Earth God will send a New Jerusalem down from His Heaven. It will be without sin. This New Jerusalem is holy, and wed to Christ Jesus:

Revelation 21:9-10 (KJV) …. I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.  [10]  And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

Christ will reign on the earth from Jerusalem, and holy will be His reign. This Heavenly Jerusalem will maintain the purity of the new Earth. God will make it so. What a glorious day that will be! What shall govern this new Earth? Not sin, nor man, but God. We read:

Revelation 21:3 (KJV) ….Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 

Christ is the “Tabernacle of God”. John 1:14 literally states:

the Word was made flesh, and dwelt (skenoo – tabernacled) among us

Jesus will dwell with His New Creatures on this New Earth from a New Jerusalem. “They shall be His people”. We will serve Jesus on this earth – and beyond, I believe. God Himself will be with us. We shall have access to the fullness of God.

We shall have God’s Touch.

Revelation 21:4 (KJV)  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes …

We have cried rivers on this present earth. Barely a week goes by that I do not shed tears from pain and hurt. But Beloved, the New Earth that belongs to His New Creatures shall be tear free. Like the shampoo said, no more tears! God will be with us. He will touch us.

Revelation 21:4 (KJV) … and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

On this New Earth we shall know that all the horrors of this sin torn earth will have passed. There will no longer be death, but life.

Isaiah 25:8 (KJV) {God} will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.

There is no evil in all this new Earth. It is not renovated. It is not renewed. It is BRAND NEW, and belongs to our Lord and we His people.

To Whom Is The Promise Of The New Earth?

God offers this wondrous eternity to whosoever will. He says to all:

Revelation 21:6-7 (KJV) I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.  [7]  He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 

“I will give to the one that is thirsty”. If you are thirsty the Lord says to come to Him. Jesus Christ gave Himself for all. When we give ourselves to Christ He promises us a glorious eternity, one in which God will be our God and we shall be His sons. We will inherit this beautiful new Earth.

Revelation 21:23-25 (KJV)  And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.  [24]  And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.  [25]  And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.

There are kings on the new Earth, but these are the saved who followed Christ. The Scripture says:

2 Timothy 2:12 … If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him …

Those who walk on this new Earth will be the saved who walk in the light of it. It will be those who had genuine faith in Christ. What did our Lord say?

He that OVERCOMETH shall inherit all things

A genuine faith in Christ is not flighty. It remains. It stays. The New Creature has faith in the God Who makes all things new. The faith that calls on Christ and is implanted by God’s Spirit is not like a vapor or a morning fog that burns off with the sun of affliction. It looks up and trusts the Lord no matter what might come. It is not sloppy, but focused on the Sovereign Lord Jesus.

What will NOT be on this new Earth, nor in Heaven itself? The Bible tells us:

Revelation 21:8 (KJV) 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.

Those without faith in Christ – fearful, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, whoremnongers, sorcerers, idolators, liars – they shall not inherit this new Earth. They will be cast away from Christ at the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15). They will hear Christ say “Depart from Me – I never knew you!”. They have rejected the Lord Jesus. They have chosen their own path. They crucified the Lord of Glory, but would not hear His Word.

And they are cast away forever. The inheritance of the unsaved is the unparadise. The inheritance of the sinner is sizzling. Those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ and sing “I did it my way” throughout this life have no part in God’s glorious new creation. This chapter on the new Earth ends with:

Revelation 21:27 (KJV) And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Only those who’s names are entered in the Lamb’s Book of Life shall enter into this new Earth. All others are cast out. Are you in His Book? Who is the overcomer? The Scripture says:

1 John 5:5 (KJV)  Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God? Have you given your life to Him? Have you believe that He died for your sins, and rose to walk with you daily? Jesus has said:

Revelation 3:5 (KJV)  He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Let your faith be in Jesus. Hear Him. Follow Him. Learn of Him. If He is yours, yours is eternity. May God touch your heart with His Word.

Posted in Revelation, Sermons Preached | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Christ Is Our Example

Posted on October 28, 2018 by bibleteacherorg

church-mosaic-11297170211c4r

1 Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

Once more we come to a Communion Service. We gather around a table and partake of hard bread and a little grape juice. What do we commemorate when we do this which we call “The Lord’s Table”?

We have sanitized much of what Christ did in our Churches today. Look at the Cross behind me. It is a piece of craftsmanship, pretty to look at. The original Cross was not marked with wood stain and precious metals like silver and gold. It was a tree cobbled together. It was stained not with Minwax nor was it painted with Sherwin William’s. The Cross that Christ suffered on was an executioner’s chair. A raw tree stained with blood. Each criminal did not have his own Cross, but it was reused over and over again. It was horrible.

Those deemed criminals were made to carry the means of his death to an ancient landfill outside of the city gates. It was a place of death, decay, and disease. Once the criminal reached Golgotha – the “place of the skull” – he was not given the slightest comfort. His body was beaten so that his pain would be enhanced. He was forced to lay against the rough wood, and his hands and feet were nailed to the tree.

The criminal never died of blood loss. The executioners knew exactly where to drive the nails so as to avoid the major arteries of the human body.

Hanging between the heaven and the earth the criminal was literally strangled to death. If he wanted to breathe he had to pull upward so as to relax his diaphragm, tearing at the wounds in his hands and feet. When death came it was a sweet relief. If the criminal was unfortunate enough to linger beyond the setting of the sun his knees were shattered with a large wooden hammer. The Cross was the most devilish and most terrifying means by which a person could die. The French guillotine was terrible, then “Drawing and Quartering” of the Middle Ages was grisly, the American electric chair an awful means of death. But rising above all these methods of death and dying there stands the Godzilla of torture and execution, the Cross of the Roman Empire.

Jesus Christ went to that Cross for you and for me.


Jesus went to the Cross WILLINGLY.

John 10:17-18 (KJV) … I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself….

No one murdered Jesus. He was the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Jesus is the second Adam Who would obey the Father, taking our punishment on Himself (Romans 5:17-19).

Jesus went to the Cross JOYFULLY.

Hebrews 12:2 (KJV) {Jesus} … for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Jesus knew that His sacrifice would bring others into the Kingdom of God. Souls would be saved. The devil would be defeated. Jesus dreaded the suffering but did not turn away from it. “Now is My soul troubled, and what shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour? But for this purpose I came to this hour. (John 12:27). Jesus never wavered because of His great love for you.

Jesus went to the Cross KNOWINGLY.

Matthew 16:21 (KJV) … Jesus began to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

Jesus knew what was coming, but surrendered to it anyway. He did this for you and I. He did this because He wanted us to be members of God’s Heavenly Kingdom.

Now let us look at our text and read it again carefully:

1 Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

Every Christian Is CALLED To Imitate Christ In Suffering

The Apostle says:

For even hereunto were ye CALLED

Every Christian is called of God. You have heard His Gospel. You have understood that you are a sinner. You know that you can only be saved by Grace. You heard the Spirit call, and heard Jesus call. You are a CALLED person.

You are called according to God’s purposes.

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

God made you on purpose for His purpose. You have purpose in Him, in Christ. Your life revolves around Christ, not around yourself. You are CALLED.

You are called to be the children of the Living God.

Romans 9:26 (KJV) … there shall they be called the children of the living God.

As Christ died for us, we die for others. We lay our lives down to reach others for Christ. We do not consider ourselves anything, but consider others greater than ourselves. We live in opposition to this world, knowing that it will hate us – but we love all anyway. Jesus said:

John 15:18-20 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. {19} If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. {20} Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you;….

Isn’t that suffering? The world will hate the Christian. The darkness always hates the light. Love them anyway. Do good. Jesus did good no matter what the pain. Do good.

You are called to be Saints.

A “Saint” is not a statue we worship, but a person set apart to follow Jesus. We are called to be saints (1 Corinthians 1:2), set apart and distinct from the world. Let others see Christ through you.

1 Thessalonians 2:12 (KJV) …. walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

It is our Call that defines us, not the world.

1 Corinthians 7:22-24 (KJV) For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant. 23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. 24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.

We are to live for God’s glory and for Christ’s smile. We are to follow His steps. We share this Lord’s Table TOGETHER because as brothers and sisters in Him …

We are called to love our neighbor as ourself.

Galatians 5:13-16 (KJV) For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. 16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

As Christ went to the Cross loving, we too must take up His banner and follow Him. We must love others when suffering. In our suffering we are to be LIKE Christ so that others can SEE Christ in us. We are not to look at the darkness, but look to the light. Our Jesus kept His focus on God’s purpose, even when suffering,

Christ Kept His Focus On God’s Purpose

1 Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

What were the “steps” that Jesus took when suffering on Calvary. Our text tells us:

1 Peter 2:22 (KJV) Who did no sin…

When we suffer, it is easy to allow the suffering to push us toward sinful behavior. How did Jesus respond. When He suffered He kept His eyes on the Father. Jesus suffered unjustly – there was no fault in Him. The trial judge called Pilate said “I find no fault in this Man”. When pressed to crucify Jesus Pilate …

Matthew 27:24 (KJV) … saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.

Pilate did wrong for convenience sake, and murdered rather than judged. And yet Jesus kept His eyes on the Father. Jesus was betrayed by a good friend named Judas Iscariot, who declared:

Matthew 27:4 (KJV) …. I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. …

and all of Christ’s disciples save John ran away and denied Him. Yet Christ did not sin. And as Jesus hung on Calvary between two thieves even then our Lord prayed for those who wrongfully accused Him, saying:

Luke 23:34 … Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. …

1 Peter 2:22 … neither was guile found in his mouth:

Jesus did not deceive, but spoke the truth in love. When He could have recanted the truths He came to present He refused to do so. He kept His eyes on the Father. Pastor John MacArthur said,

“Forgiveness is man’s greatest need. It is the only way that we can enter into fellowship with God and avoid hell, and that’s why Jesus prayed for it”.

These people did not need the judgment of God to rain down on them, but they needed God’s forgiveness. The Christian must understand this great truth! Everyone needs the Lord!

1 Peter 2:23 (KJV) Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; 

As Jesus hung on that Cross suffering He was reviled, mocked, and purposely shamed. The Bible tells us:

Luke 23:34-37 …. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. {35} And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. {36} And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, {37} And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.

The people stood beholding but not believing.
The rulers derided and drug Him down.
The soldiers mocked Christ, offering false comfort.
And all made fun of Him.
If You are the King of the Jews, save yourself!

We would be tempted to shout out against this horror, but Christ kept His eyes on the Father. Even those who were crucified with Him made fun of Him.

Mark 15:32 … they that were crucified with Him reviled Him.

Yet Jesus did not revile those who reviled Him.

1 Peter 2:23 (KJV) …when He suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

Jesus committed Himself to the hands of the Father. In the midst of terrible suffering Jesus reached out in love to the thief. He reached out to the Apostle John and His mother Mary.

John 19:26-27 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! {27} Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

He kept doing the good that God called Him to do, ignoring His suffering, and looking to the Father. We who are His are called to do the same.

Keeping His Eyes On The Father Christ Triumphed

1 Peter 2:24 (KJV) 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.

Christ triumphed because He was not distracted from His calling. He gave Himself for you and I so that we can be the children of the Most High. We who belong to God in Christ are to have this same mindset. The Apostle says:

Philippians 2:4-9 (KJV) Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

Jesus lowered Himself in order to raise us up.
We who are His are to lower ourselves so as to raise others up.
Righteousness always brings lowering, not self exaltation.
Sin elevates self and in so doing destroys others.

Proverbs 14:34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

The Lord’s Table reminds us that Christ lowered Himself for us. We are to lower ourselves, to give ourselves to others as He did. He was broken so that I could be made whole. He bled and died so that I could be covered and live. He gave expecting only our salvation. We are to do the same. This is a Table of Love. Let us come to it.

1 Peter 2:25 (KJV) For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

Let us imitate Christ!

May God touch your hearts with His Word.

Posted in 1 Peter | Tagged | Leave a comment