Book of Luke

We Have Been Given A Work To Do

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

The Certainty Of Christ’s Commission

Luke 24:36-53

To be commissioned is to be appointed as a representative. It is like an order given from a superior and carries His authority.

We can go all the way back to the Book of Genesis and we will see that from that time of creation, God has not created anything new.

Gen 1:31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Of course this can be disputed but that does not change the facts but there is one thing that has been made new. Every time a sinner is “Born Again” they have become a new creature or a new creation!

2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

A wise man once said that there is nothing we have that God needs and that is true, but the one thing we can give to God is that we are sinners in need of being saved which He will gladly do if we come to Him with a true heart. We can give God a sinner in need of salvation!

God then takes His new creations and commissions us all for a special work.

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

An ambassador in the Old Testament meant someone who was sent on an errand:

Pro 13:17 A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health.

An ambassador was also an interpreter:

2Ch 32:31 Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart.

An ambassador was also a messenger:

Isa 33:7 Behold, their valiant ones shall cry without: the ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly.

The Apostle Paul says an ambassador for Christ must be all these things:

Sent by Christ on His errand.

Interpreters of the Scriptures or making sense of the Word as Nehemiah put it.

Bringing God’s Message of peace through His “saving grace”.

Eph 6:20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

What this world seems to forget is that to do harm to one of God’s ambassadors is an insult to our King, King Jesus.

2Sa 10:5 When they told it unto David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed: and the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.

So what is the commission given to each of us by our Lord and our tasks as ambassadors for Christ?

Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

This is the work of the Church and more important the work of each of us as individuals!

The truth is, our work is not inside the Church building, that’s the place to hone our skills, the work of the Church is outside the doors of the Church!

Let’s Begin:

In these Scriptures we will see the great statements of the Christian Faith.

1) Jesus has risen, we worship the Living God, the only One.

2) All prophecies of the Scriptures and the Promises of the Lord must be fulfilled.

3) Repentance and the forgiveness of sin is imperative.

4) We must be filled with the Holy Spirit.

*****Luk 24:36 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
Luk 24:37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
Luk 24:38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?
Luk 24:39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
Luk 24:40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.

Of the disciples we may not know who all were present but we know that Thomas was not with these others at this time.

The truth is, this was an evening service and you can miss some important things when you miss the evening service!

Many will say that this was a spirit of Jesus and He was not actually risen in a body but the first thing we see is that He can speak and He still had the same message of “Peace”.

Jesus knew their thoughts and Jesus knew they were all frightened, in fact terrified, because Jesus just appeared in the room as if He had just walked through the closed door which He had indeed.

No doubt they recognized His familiar voice!

But this was not enough for them to believe and Jesus knew this.

So besides hearing, Jesus said look upon Me!

See where the nails were driven in His feet and in His hands and Jesus showed them these places.

Along with “seeing” and “hearing” Jesus said use all your natural senses and “touch Me”.

What we know of spirits is that they do not have bodies of flesh and bones that can be touched!

Anyone that believes differently is calling Jesus a liar!

But are their then ghosts or spirits? The truth is, we know for sure the God is Spirit.

We know the truth of the Holy Ghost and we also know that Satan, the Devil is capable of doing many things.

Besides these we know of no others!

BUT, Some of these disciples still could not step over the threshold of the truth and believe even at this time.

So Jesus went one step farther.

*****Luk 24:41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
Luk 24:42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.
Luk 24:43 And he took it, and did eat before them.
Luk 24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

Jesus did not scold any of them for their doubts, Jesus patiently entered into the fullness of fellowship with them.

The Lord wants a very personal relationship with each of us and He will never ridicule us if we have questions, He will always provide the necessary proof of the truth!

There is no question to small for God, but when He exposes the truth then He ask that we believe it!

Jesus then ate of the same food that they had made available for themselves, a clear token of fellowship with them.

And then Jesus said, let’s look at the real truth and the real proof “The Scriptures”.

Peter said:

2Pe 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
2Pe 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
2Pe 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

It is the Scriptures that are our sure proof of the truth of God!

Jesus taught from the 5 Books of Moses, all the Books of the Prophets, and also in the Psalms which contain the prophecies of the Messiah.

Not one of these men who had abandoned Jesus deserved His loving patience and certainly not His “Grace” for what He was doing but not one breath of anger was in the person of Jesus Christ on this night.

We can just imagine the excitement that was in the air, the hearts beating out of those chest and those minds grasping to understand what was happening before their eyes and before their person.

God’s anger only comes when we deny Him!

AND, We just cannot interpret the Word of God in a spiritual sense, we must understand the Word of God in a literal sense!

Jesus did not have to perform one miracle to prove who He was, because He is the miracle of life!

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

The one other thing that was evident of the glorified body of Christ, was that it was not bound by this physical world and it’s natural substance, which they had first seen as He had appeared.

The glorified body of Christ, could be seen, could be touched, could do things that the average person could do, but could also pass through walls and doors without being hindered,

What is one of the promises given to every believer?

Php 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Php 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

Rom 8:28 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.
Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

In all probability this change in our bodies will take place at the “Rapture” of the church but it is also true that whenever we see Jesus we will be like Him.

1Jn 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
1Jn 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

Those that have their doubts about a glorified body, do ignore the truth of the Scriptures!

1Co 15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
1Co 15:43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
1Co 15:44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

Most of us do not realize the importance and the truth of these Scriptures!

The Greek word “soma” is used to describe the natural body and the spiritual body.

The difference in the natural and the spiritual is, that the spiritual body will be be perfected!

No longer subject to pain or illness, or aging, or death, or tears, or sorrow, or crying and many other things we experience now in our natural body.

Our natural body is sown in corruption but it will be raised in “incorruptible”
Our natural body is sown in dishonor but it will be raised in “glory”
Our natural body is sown in weakness but it will be raised in “power”
Our natural body is “sown” but our spiritual body is “raised”, what a difference that makes!

And just so we know, that same body we had on earth will be a similar body to that we will have in Heaven but perfected.

A body that is not “flesh and blood” because flesh and blood are corruptible, they age, they deteriorate, they die and then decay.

That spiritual body cannot do any of these things!

1Co 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

That glorious day lies ahead for all those that confess the truth of Jesus Christ!

Our old bodies will be radically changed!

No “body” that has been glorified will need reproduction to continue the redeemed human race.

Gen 1:28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

This law of creation will no longer be necessary!

And Jesus began to explain all these things to His disciples.

*****Luk 24:45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
Luk 24:46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
Luk 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Luk 24:48 And ye are witnesses of these things.
Luk 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

Understanding, is said to be when our minds grasp the real truth of the things presented to it.
Understanding, is when we can comprehend the idea which are expressed by another when we communicate.
Understanding, is the faculty by which we obtain our knowledge.

It was Jesus Christ who did this for His disciples:

Luk 24:45 Then opened he “their understanding”, that they might “understand” the scriptures,

It is the Holy Spirit that does that for all those that believe today:

Eph 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
Eph 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

Jesus opened the understanding of the Scripture to these disciples, because the things that happened to Him should not have been a surprise to these men.

These things were written down in the Scriptures!

Our problem is, that we simply do not have enough faith to believe what the Scriptures teach us!

The truth is, it is the Word of God that predicts most all the things that happen in this world. Notice “predicting” is not the same as “causing”!

God does not cause the evil things that happen in this world. God does not cause the catastrophes that happen in this world.

The only thing we know for sure is that God may send famine to some places for His own reasons but these people may just need to move on to some new location.

If the water is rising on our place of living maybe you need to move inland.

If the wind is blowing your home away, maybe you need to build in a place more sheltered.

The truth of us all is, that we either accept and believe, or ignore what God says to our own harm.

It is a mistake to spiritualize the prophecies of God!

It was utterly necessary for Jesus Christ to die for our sins!

It was utterly necessary for Jesus Christ to rise from that death to show the power God!

If we cannot see a victory in our Lord, how can we ever know we will have victory over death?

The Church is built on these truths, those that disagree are only trying to destroy the Church that Christ has built!

We are fools to believe that only the New Testament is relevant today, because Jesus has already said that the entire Old Testament told of His coming and most important of His salvation!

We need Jesus Christ to open our own eyes to the understanding of the entire Word of God!

1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

What is our job after salvation?

We must put forth the effort to show that Jesus Christ had to suffer and die for our salvation!

We must teach that repentance and forgiveness go together, forgiveness cannot happen without repentance!

We must teach that these things must take place before Christ will send Holy Ghost power to live with us throughout eternity!

Joh 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
Joh 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Joh 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

These things must take place before we are ever equipped to be witnesses for the Lord!

To receive the power of the Holy Spirit is to be clothed in that power!

Rom 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

The source of the Holy Spirit and that power, is God!

Jesus Christ brought this promise to us!

BUT, The promise came from God the Father!

We are to tarry until we receive this promise.

Because that promise comes from on high!

It is the Holy Trinity of God Himself that is the source of the power of evangelism!

Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

That uttermost part of the earth is our mission field!

Salvation has it’s benefits but being that witness for the Lord, is when we become capable of receiving the blessings of God.

*****Luk 24:51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.
Luk 24:52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:
Luk 24:53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

The last thing that completed the earthly work of the Lord Jesus was to bless those who would begin the Church, the Apostles and the disciples who were with Him that day but in fact every disciple of Christ has receive this blessing.

Then the Lord allowed them to witness His ascension back to Heaven,

This is another thing that a glorified body can do that could not be done other wise.

It is only a “glorified body” that can come face to face with God!

Exo 33:20 And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.

This was also important, because it gives all the disciples of Christ a vision of our own ascension into Heaven.

Heaven is not on this earth as some may say!

Heaven is where my Lord is and that is where I will be one day soon.

There was not one moment while God was on this earth, even when He was on that cross that He was not in full control of His created world, but we must recognize that Heaven is the true place of His throne.

There were 120 eyewitnesses that day that know for sure that our “God is alive”!

**We worship the Living God!

Heb 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

**The ascension of Jesus Christ is further proof of the Tri-Une God, the Holy Trinity, The Father, the Son, the Holy Ghost.

2Co 4:14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.

**It proves that Heaven, is a real place.

Php 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Php 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

**It proves that the “Gospel” of the Lord Jesus Christ, is true!

1Pe 2:24 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.
1Pe 2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

**It proves that it is now the time of the Church to carry on the work of the Lord until He returns!

Mar 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

**It proves that it is God, and God only who has the power to save and that power is through His Son!

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

**It also proves that we do indeed have a Mediator in Heaven.

Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

1Ti 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
1Ti 2:6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

Just as these who loved the Lord did next, we are now to worship our God!

A worshiper by Greek definition is a Temple Keeper.

When you ask the Lord Jesus Christ to come into your heart the Holy Spirit will move in and you become a Living Temple of the Lord and also a Temple Keeper.

1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1Co 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

**The Temple in Jerusalem was the dwelling place of the Holy Trinity.

The Holy of Holies was where the mercy seat was located, the throne of God.
The outer courts were the place of the sacrifices, a type of Christ.
The burning incense, the sweet aroma of the Holy Spirit

**The Temple was also the treasury of the sacred truth. “A type of Christian life”.

Aaron’s rod that bloomed, represents the freshness of the Gospel throughout the ages.
The manna, represents the Word of God the bread from Heaven.
The laws of Moses, are a type of the perfect law, the law of love, the commandments of Jesus.

**The Temple was also a partial reflection of Divine Glory.

Sin explains the early worship.
Sin explains the later worship.
Only when all sin is destroyed, will the Christian heart be a perfect Temple of God, the complete reflection of Divine Glory!

Jesus Christ is the center of the Heavenly Temple.
Jesus Christ must be the center of our lives to be a living Temple of God!

Are you a true Temple of God? We need to answer this question every day!

And how did the Apostles respond to the Lord’s ascension?

**They were inspired to worship.

As Christians we need to worship the Lord, “in His way”!

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

**They were filled with joy.

They were filled with joy, because they would soon be filled with the Holy Spirit.

As Christians we should have this same joy.

Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

**They found that the Temple was the center of their life and the focus of God’s presence and worship!

As Christians, we need to find a place of worship where the truth of God is preached and taught and Jesus Christ is still the center of all worship.

Heb 10:25 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.

There are a great many things that we are to learn about and from the Lord Jesus Christ!

We can learn from every step that Jesus took on this earth!

Joh 21:25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

There are a great many things that we are to learn about and from the 12 men who turned this world upside down, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Act 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Act 2:43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

We can do none of these things without the salvation that Jesus has provided us when He came to this earth to die on Calvary’s cross that we can be saved.

It is “Faith” in these things that is the true beginning of life!

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

Questions?

Let’s Pray!

We Can Be Certain That Christ Arose

/ Bobby Mayfield / 1 Comment

The Certainty of Christ Resurrection

Book of Luke 24:1-35

The truth is, the atonement of Jesus Christ did not end with His death. The atonement of Jesus Christ could not end until His resurrection.

Rom 1:4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

When John and Peter raced to the tomb of Jesus they saw grave clothes lying in the tomb still retaining their shape as though the body of Jesus was still in them but He was not there.

They realized that only one thing could have happened. The body of Jesus had passed through His burial wrapping and Jesus had risen from the grave just as He had said He would do.

It is John who later writes how Jesus had passed through the walls or the physical doors in that upper room in His resurrected body.

Joh 20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

Joh 20:26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

It was John who verified the reality of a bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord and in His final work, He had overcome death to show us all what true life is all about!

Without the resurrection of Jesus Christ what hope would we have of eternal life?

Joh 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
Joh 11:26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

Jesus Christ openly displayed this truth for all the world to see!

It must be clear to us all discovering that empty tomb was the greatest discovery in human history.

The facts remain, that many people either have not heard of the resurrection or they simply refuse to accept that Christ Jesus arose from that grave having defeated death.

Every human being must discover this fact for themselves in order to be saved from the wrath of God!

It’s called “Faith” and that faith in the Word of God and His promises.

*****Luk 24:1 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.

This first day of the week would have been on Sunday and would have begun at 6 PM the previous Sabbath evening.

This was the day after the Jewish Sabbath and the same day chosen by the early church and the modern day church to gather together to worship the Lord, the Apostle John called it the Lord’s Day.

We are to worship the Lord everyday but the Lord’s Day should always be special!

The Lord’s day should remind us all of the “Resurrection” of the Lord.

After all, Jesus Christ is the only One who said He would come back from the dead and then proved it by doing it!

That empty tomb that morning was the greatest discovery in all of human history and there is no other way to look at it.

The truth is, Jesus arose before the dawn of that day because He had made a promise to another man on a cross and we know that God will always keep His promises.

Luk 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ was His triumph over death to prove to us all that we could also triumph over death if we would place our “Faith” in the work that He did at the Cross.

Death reigns no more in the life of the believer!

The rule of death hanging over our heads has been broken forever!

1Co 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
1Co 15:56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
1Co 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The laws of the Sabbath and it’s observances no longer had any authority over the Lord nor His New Testament Church.

The New Covenant was in place for the Church!

Mat 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Because of “Resurrection Power” every believer is now dead to the law but open to the laws of Christ.

Rom 7:4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
Rom 7:5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
Rom 7:6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

Those who first witnessed that empty tomb are a strong evidence of this truth because they had also witnessed His death.

They knew He was dead. They knew He had been buried in a borrowed tomb. They had no question in their mind about His death because they had been eyewitnesses to all these things.

If it had been a stranger who found this empty tomb, it could have made all these things irrelevant and no one would have ever trusted in the resurrection.

Further proof is the fact that they had purchased spices to anoint the body of Christ in a more proper Jewish way as it had only been hastily done before.

They knew Jesus had died.

They truly cared for the Lord.

They wanted to take care of the body of Jesus just as they would have for any family member who had died.

They were also obedient to the Law because they had strictly obeyed the law of the Sabbath.

They had refused to break the Sabbath even though they certainly wanted to take care of the Lord.

They certainly would not have lied about any of these things and they had no cause to!

*****Luk 24:2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.

On the way to the grave they had discussed how they could ever roll the stone that had closed off the tomb from thieves, so we can just imagine that it was a great stone.

Mar 16:3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
Mar 16:4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.

They were perplex at what they saw, the stone was not where it had been placed as they had also witnessed.

We now know that the physically resurrected body of Jesus was was not bound by the physical laws of this earth!

Jesus did not resurrect as a spirit but His body was now obedient to the Heavenly Laws and this world we know of, had no control over Him!

So twice already we have had a glimpse of a “Glorified Body”!

*****Luk 24:3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

There was no body in that tomb.

Oh, the folded napkin was there, to serve it’s own purpose.

The wrappings that had been placed around the body of Jesus were there, still holding to the shape of the body but his body was not within those wrappings.

The body of the Lord Jesus Christ was not inside that tomb anywhere!

They were then persuaded that what Jesus had said that He would do, He had actually done!

Rom 4:21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

We must believe that God means what He says and He also says what He means!

2Ti 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

And if further proof was needed God also provided His own witnesses.

*****Luk 24:4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
Luk 24:5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
Luk 24:6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,
Luk 24:7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
Luk 24:8 And they remembered his words,

We should clearly understand that stone was not rolled back because Jesus could not have escaped without that being done.

That stone was rolled back so these ladies could enter that Garden Tomb.

AND, There was no doubt that these were angels:

Mat 28:2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
Mat 28:3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:

These women fell down in reverence but they fell down more in fear.

But these angels only had one question which really meant, “Why Did You Not Believe The Words Of Jesus”

We are fools not to believe the Word of God!

The world is full of people who honor truly dead men, who they believe to be their savior.

How can anyone honor a dead man in that way, as they certainly could not save themselves, so what power could they have over death.

I worship a Living Savior!

I worship a Living God who has power over death, the grave, and in fact over all things!

All these that worship a dead savior have no hope for any life after this life they live now!

Eph 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

To be without God, is to live all your life in the grip of death!

These angels said He is not here, because He has risen!

That evidence was very clear. Jesus was not in that tomb!

Those angels reminded these ladies that Jesus had done exactly what He said He would do.

Mat 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Joh 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

They had never accepted these words of Jesus as being true!

But now they were convicted by their own thoughts.

All the followers of Jesus had been confused about these things Jesus had said but they now realized that they had been wrong.

We should all remember these simple words of Jesus:

Mat 19:26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

We serve the God who has the power to do as He wishes to do at any moment!

There are some places we just will never find our Lord!

We will never find Him dead and in some grave!

We will never find Him in man’s law!

We will never find Him in human nature!

We will never find Him in philosophy!

Since our Lord is alive and cannot die, He certainly cannot be found among the dead!

Even though some Christians are worldly, you will never find Christ Jesus to be worldly!

Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

What we see in the Scriptures about the Lord will always hold true!

The modern day Christ is the same One who is written about by the New Testament writers!

These ladies who now knew the truth then rushed to tell the 11 remaining disciples what they had seen.

*****Luk 24:9 And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.
Luk 24:10 It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.
Luk 24:11 And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.

It seems amazing that these men who had spent so much time with the Lord and had heard the words that He had said, simply refused to believe these ladies who now knew the truth.

To these 11 men these things just seem to be too astonishing to be true and had to be ridiculous and wild imaginations.

Mat 28:8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.

It would have been hard to miss the excitement these ladies had when they were trying to convince these men of the truth and them so full of doubt.

They had a lot to tell.

The stone was rolled away, the body of Jesus was not in those grave clothes that were still laying there.

They had seen the angels and the angels had told them many things.

These 11 men really had no excuse to not believe, these were the very things that Jesus had said He would do.

Mary Magdalene was a true believer not some religious nut.

Joanna had provided finances for the ministry of Jesus and no doubt much of that had provided for the families of these men. She was a sincere Christian.

Mary was the actual mother of James the Less one of these 11 men and a mother would have never lead her son in the wrong way.

And there were other women also.

Salome the mother of James and John.

These men simply thought that the government had done something with the body of Jesus.

The government thought these disciples of Christ had stolen the body but neither of these things could have been true.

This secret could not have been hidden!

The governments persecution proves they did not have the body of Jesus.

The faith of the disciples proves they did not have the body of Jesus.

The family of Jesus became believers so they could not have stolen the body of Jesus.

There was only one alternative, Jesus had done exactly what He said He would do!

There can be no Church if this is not true!

1Co 15:12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
1Co 15:13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
1Co 15:14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
1Co 15:15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
1Co 15:16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
1Co 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

But Peter’s heart was still drawn to the Lord, even though he had failed Him!

*****Luk 24:12 Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.

Peter who had denied Jesus three times at His trial and whose heart was broken for what he had done, just could not wrap his head around the things that Jesus had told Him.

BUT, Peter was still drawn to the Lord despite his failures.

When we look down on Peter we need to take a hard look at ourselves in life’s mirror.

Peter arose.

Peter rushed to the tomb.

Peter was ready to believe what Mary and the other ladies had told him.

Peter took a close look at the evidence.

The folded napkin lying by itself. We already know that a folded napkin meant the one who folded it was not finished.

The linen clothes in which Jesus had been wrapped lying undisturbed as the body of Jesus had just passed through them.

It was plain that the body of Jesus had not been carried away or stolen because no one would have taken the time to do these things!

BUT, Peter still could not accept what he saw as many do today.

The truth is, it is very dangerous for us not to understand the Word of God.

God says:

2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2Ti 2:16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

Unless the words we read are intended to be symbolic and those places are noted, we need to accept the Word of God just as it is written!

Twisting the Word of God to mean something else is sinful.

Adding to the Word of God is sinful.

Taking away from the Word of God is damnation!

These things lead to unbelief and eternal damnation.

The evidence of the resurrection of Jesus Christ speaks for itself.

That tomb was empty!

The evidence within, revealed that no one could have stolen that body of Jesus.

Peter was so locked up in the impossibility of these things that he just could not believe at this time.

This my friends is where most of the world is today, yet they still believe in so-called gods whose bones are still within the tomb in which they were buried.

Who can figure that one out?

What other proof do we have?

The Apostle Paul wrote these words:

1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
1Co 15:5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
1Co 15:6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
1Co 15:7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
1Co 15:8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

But at this time Peter and John departed from that tomb just wondering about these things that had seen and heard.

Next we see how the Lord Jesus deals with those who have lost all hope.

*****Luk 24:13 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.
Luk 24:14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.

The first thing we see is how easily the Lord Jesus can join in communication with us.

And like Jesus has already said, where two or three are gathered He would be there with them.

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

Many have guessed who these two men are but that is not even important or the Word of God would have said.

This was simply a lonely walk by two disciples of the Lord who walked with broken hearts, their world was crushed by the death of our Savior.

This day was the same day that those women had discovered the empty tomb and reported it, so these two disciples had heard all these things.

As they made their way to Emmaus they were very sad to the point of despair.

So as they walked they hardly noticed as a stranger joined with them.

*****Luk 24:15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.
Luk 24:16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.

As these two disciples were walking and discussing all the things that they had heard that morning, Jesus did what He does for everyone of us. “He went with them”

They had been so caught up in their sorrow that they had not noticed Jesus who had joined them in their travel.

Their eyes being “holden” would be similar to not being able to see because of the glare of the Sun.

The truth is, we can become so preoccupied with our own sorrows and distress, that we do not recognize the truth of our Lord:

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

Jesus had been walking along with them for a while and they had not noticed Him.

*****Luk 24:17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?

Jesus will always show concern for our troubles and sadness as He said unto them, “why are you so sad”.

The Lord will always ask us “Why are we so sad”.

No matter what happens to God’s people, we are still saved.

The truth is, these two were trying to understand the death, the burial, and the empty tomb of out Lord.

Jesus Christ was the subject of their conversation!

They wanted answers that only God could provide!

*****Luk 24:18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?
Luk 24:19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:
Luk 24:20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.

Then Jesus ask them “what things” have cause you to be this way?

God will always want us to know exactly what is bothering us.

When we pray to God we need to give Him a good description of what our problems are!

He already knows, He just wants us to see if we know exactly what we are seeking the answers to.

At first this Cleopas attacks, saying “how could anyone in the area not know what had happened in Jerusalem”.

We need to always be aware that when we are full of doubts, that is when the Devil will launch one of his attacks.

It helps to have friends we can discuss these things with. That’s why God wants us to be like a family because we are the family of God.

Cleopas said Jesus, the Great Prophet of Israel had been condemned to death and crucified.

It had not just been the elders of Israel but also the Roman rulers, in a sense the whole world that had done this evil thing.

BUT, this was not what they had expected from Jesus, they had had higher hopes.

*****Luk 24:21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
Luk 24:22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;
Luk 24:23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.
Luk 24:24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.

You see the biggest disappointment of Cleopas and the disciples. They had expected Jesus the Messiah to over come all these enemies of the people and it had been just the opposite, He had been overcome. He had even promised to return in 3 days and they still believed He had not even done that.

The disciples could only see the end of all their hopes.

When we allow the things of this world to take us down to this level, we need to question our faith!

Jesus had told them to watch, for on the 3 day something dramatic would happen, days are still 24 hours long.

They had expected this to mean that His triumph over Rome would have taken place but they had seen no changes in these things.

Added to all this, they felt that even the body of Jesus had been stolen.

They had heard about the heavy stone that was rolled away, the women could not have done this thing.

They had heard of the empty tomb but could not understand the significance of this.

They had heard about the angels but that seemed too far fetched.

Some had felt that Jesus was alive but how could that be true.

If so, then why had Jesus not been seen.

The things of this world had robbed them of their “faith”!

Jesus Christ wants to know all the things that bother us as we go through this life down to the most minute detail.

And how did Jesus respond?

*****Luk 24:25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
Luk 24:26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
Luk 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

What’s wrong with this world? This world does not take the Word of God serious!

These disciples of Christ Jesus simply did not believe what the prophets had said and they had come up with their own plan of what the Messiah would be and would do.

The greatest sin of all is the sin of unbelief!

The world today refuses to accept the truth of a “risen Savior”.

The sin of unbelief will send them to an eternity in the “Burning Lake of Fire”!

If we have faith in our risen Savior, then we must relinquish the control of our lives to Him and obey and serve Him.

Act 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

What had been the truth of the Scriptures?

As true disciples we are to take the Word of God seriously!

We are to study the Word of God to see what it says and not so much how men interpret what it says.

God says what He means and God means what He says and we need to feel comfortable with this truth!

If we were not capable of understanding the written Word of God, God would have chosen another method to teach us.

If the death of the Messiah and then the Resurrection of the Messiah had not been necessary we can be sure God would have used some other method!

In order for our salvation, these things had to take place.

Jesus had no choice but to obey the will of His Father!

We must accept these things and also realize that we are also to obey the will of our Father who is in Heaven.

In fact to be in the will of our Heavenly Father is to be in the safest place we can be in the world!

The pure truth is, that the plan of God had not been defeated but there was actually a great victory!

1Jn 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
1Jn 5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

When our doubts over come us, then we need to return to the Word of God and begin at the beginning, the Book of Genesis and we will see that the Messiah was promised even from the words of Moses.

The Lord Jesus Christ can be found throughout all the Bible!

Unbelief will ruin our day and also our testimony and break the heart of our Lord, but He will never give up on us because His faith remains steadfast.

1Co 1:8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1Co 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Jews lived according to the Pentateuch, the 5 books of Moses so Jesus began from these books and went through the writings of all the prophets and pointed out all the places that concerned the Messiah.

We are expected to believe what the Word of God says!

If we are to slow to believe, then we may listen to what some man says that opposes the Word of God.

We are to believe what the prophets of God say. If we are to slow to believe we may miss the fulfillment of that prophesy.

The Bible plainly states that the Messiah had to die!

The Bible plainly states that the Messiah had to rise again!

The Bible plainly states that the Messiah had no choice!

These things were the will of God and had been God’s plan even before creation began.

AND, God’s plan was a complete success!

Jesus showed these two disciples “all the Scriptures” concerning these things.

We can see that “unbelief” not only destroys our testimony but it will leave us sad, perplexed, and in despair.

We simply cannot symbolize all the Scriptures.

The disciples of Jesus Christ had begun to accept a dead Savior just like the world does, and so many other men today but they had a hard time dealing with a risen Savior and most of the world has that same problem today.

We simply cannot pick and choose what we are going to believe in the Word of God. It is an all or nothing book.

This trip was about 7 miles or as much as 3 hours as they drew close to the village where they were going.

*****Luk 24:28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.
Luk 24:29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.
Luk 24:30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
Luk 24:31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.

When the truth of the Scriptures open up our eyes then we will always want to hear more.

Jesus wold have gone on further because He will never enter into any house where He is not invited, just as He will never enter into any heart unless He has been invited.

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

In order to hear the truth, we must invite Jesus into our temple to become a Temple of God!

1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1Co 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

There are 9 different occasions recorded in the Gospels where Jesus broke bread with His disciples and then blessed it.

SO, We can see why they remembered this thing but not only that, those hands still bore the scars of the nails that bound Him to the cross.

God opened their eyes to the truth and Jesus vanished out of their sight!

If they had not invited Jesus into their home they would have missed out on this great opportunity.

We miss so very much when we do not accept the Lord when we first come under Holy Ghost conviction. Even when we do later, we have already missed out on so many blessings.

It is a fact that once we are saved, the Word of God will burn within us and our need to tell others about what Jesus has done in our lives will just want to come out.

When we hear the Word of God explained and conviction comes, the only thing lacking is a response on our part.

What is Christian Heartburn?

Jer 20:9 Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.

It is a fact that once we are saved the Word of God will burn within us and our need to tell others about what Jesus has done in our lives will just want to come out.

When we sit on our hands and refuse to do the work of the Lord we not only hinder our blessings but someone in this world may have missed their own opportunity to know the Lord.

Quit having Christian heartburn and get busy serving the Lord!

That soul that is won to the Lord is the remedy to Christian Heartburn!

These two disciples of the Lord had Christian Heartburn.

They now knew the truth and they had to let it out!

*****Luk 24:32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
Luk 24:33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,
Luk 24:34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.
Luk 24:35 And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.

It was night time and night time travel was dangerous but that did not stop these two disciples. They now knew the risen Savior and not just a dead Savior.

It was a late hour when they arrived back in Jerusalem but most all the disciples were already gathered together and all the talk was about their risen Savior!

They were all bursting with excitement because the truth of the Messiah was finally sinking in!

The amazing truth about the Word of God is that there are promises that no man has ever tried to find!

There are treasures that no one has taken the time to dig up.

There are medicines that have not been uncovered.

There are truths that have not yet been exposed.

There are little golden nuggets of information that are waiting on those that are willing to search for them!

The Bible is a love letter from God, He has not left anything out that would be a help to us but we just refuse to search the Scriptures.

These disciples had been around the Scriptures all their life and the truth of a risen Savior had never been a part of their reality until now when the truth was before their eyes.

This was one of those things in the Scriptures that had eluded them but was now exposed by the Lord Himself.

One of the most beautiful sights there are is when that lost soul finally realizes the truth of the Scriptures and faith takes over.

Once we know the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, it is then time for our feet to take over and go tell someone else about it!

Our biggest mistakes are made in this life when we look at our plan for this life from ground level and not from God’s level

We can be certain that Jesus Christ arose from that grave, not because there were so many witnesses to this truth but because the Word of God has told us about our Messiah, our Savior, from the very first book of the Bible and has relayed His truth all the way to the Book of Revelation and every book in between.

Questions?

Let’s Pray!

Jesus Christ Was Crucified

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

The Certainty Of Christ’s Crucifixion

Book of Luke 23:26-56

Crucifixion was a mode of capitol punishment used by Rome in the time of Jesus but was not used by the Jews.

The Jews used capitol punishment but they used the sword and stoning for the most part.

Crucifying was regarded as the most horrible of deaths by the Jews and was a greater horror for the curse of God.

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

Notice the first rule was that they be worthy of death!

**Crucifixion always began first by a scourging.

The difference in Jesus case was that He was scourged before He was even sentenced!

**Then the condemned had to carry his own cross to the place of execution which would be outside the city but in full view of those who entered into the city.

Before they were nailed to that cross, they would be given a cup of vinegar with medication mixed of gall and myrrh to deaden the pain but we know that Jesus rejected this this cup.

God will never go against His Word about alcohol or drugs!

Mat 27:34 They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.

**It was then that the nails were driven into the body.

Jesus felt every hit of the hammer that drove those nails.

All the accounts of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ are in accordance with the customs and the practices of Rome.

**It is a fact that the Lord Jesus Christ died of a broken heart, a ruptured heart which is why we see the blood and the water from the soldiers spear.

Joh 19:33 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:
Joh 19:34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.

The truth is that the Lord Jesus Christ clearly understood from the beginning that He had come into this world to die on the cross and He was fully prepared and had joy in giving His life so that we could be saved!

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

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

Let’s begin:

*****Luk 23:26 And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.

Again we should realize that everything that Christ did had a purpose.

It was not some accident that Simon just happen to be passing Jesus at that time.

It was not some accident that Jesus felt the pressure of the cross at that time.

The truth is, that the trials of this life come when we least expect them.

The cross that we are to bear in this life is usually laid upon us at an unexpected time and in an unexpected place.

We often think of Christ bearing the cross for our sin and that is so true, but here we see a sinner bearing the cross for Jesus Christ.

It is that close personal relationship that Jesus is seeking with each and everyone of us.

It is a beautiful thought that our own cross borne for Jesus Christ is borne with Jesus Christ!

Jesus wanted us all to know He is involved with us in a very personal relationship!

The truth is, we all had have a piece of the cross of Jesus and we must help bear that cross.

Luk 14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

Nothing in this world happens by chance, not to the Christian. God will oversee the life of all His children.

Simon was just a pilgrim traveling in a foreign land.

Heb 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
Heb 11:14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
Heb 11:15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
Heb 11:16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

Many of the crosses we bear for ourselves are the ones that me make ourselves.

There was a large crowd following the procession that day but only Simon was chosen. It was not really the soldiers that chose Simon because it was the Lord.

*****Luk 23:27 And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.

In most cases it is said that the same crowd that was saying Hosanna one day were saying crucify Him the next day. That could be true, but there could also be two separate crowds. Jerusalem was full of all sorts of people in celebration of the Passover and some did actually realize that the true Passover was being crucified that day.

These were those who knew that Jesus was innocent.

These are those that knew everything about Jesus was good and He possessed no evil at all.

These are the ones that knew Jesus was the hope of all people.

This is a picture of us all, when we get to know Jesus in a personal relationship.

When we realize what great things God has done in order that we can be saved, then we to can weep and bewail and feel the pain of our Savior for what He has done for us!

These people were crying out, especially the women, because they were feeling the pain of their Savior!

Some had known Him for many years and others were mourning because they felt their pain.

Jas 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
Jas 4:9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
Jas 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

But what we see when we mourn, let it be for the right reasons.

*****Luk 23:28 But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.
Luk 23:29 For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.
Luk 23:30 Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.
Luk 23:31 For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

The women of that day were for the most part home makers and not involved in the politics of the day. To many of them, their husband was their lord.

1Pe 3:5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:
1Pe 3:6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

They knew Jesus was innocent and they had never heard unfavorable things about Him.

They knew that everywhere Jesus had traveled, He had shown only mercy and truth.

They knew Jesus was the only hope for the people, because they knew that the glory of God had departed from Israel and the land was under the curse of God.

They had been aroused by the words He had spoken and the miracles they had heard of Him.

They knew no such person as this, deserved death!

Jesus simply said “weep not for me” because it was by the cross that the prayers of these women would be answered and prophesy would be fulfilled.

Jesus was saying “trust me, this is what I came to do”!

The truth is, a natural response to the sufferings of Christ is just not enough. We must understand why Jesus suffered and feel a godly sorrow over Christ bearing the sins of the world.

We are just not ashamed of our sin!

2Co 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

Then Jesus painted a picture of Israel’s doom, which we must remember is also a “type” of the future destruction of this world.

They would be better off weeping for themselves!

There was soon coming a day when these women would wish they had been childless.

They would soon wish that they were buried alive rather than see the death of hunger.

If we realize that Jesus represents that “green tree” the “tree of life”, how will the world treat a tree of no use, with no visible life left in it.

Israel was that “dry tree” at that time with no signs of life.

We could say that “America is that dry tree” today because America is dying the death of sin.

We are witnessing that today!

Israel had rejected the invitation of God time after time and had tried God’s patience.

This time they had gone too far!

Mat 27:25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

The killing of the Lord Jesus Christ by such ruthless men was the last straw for that generation!

Just as soon as the Church was established to a point of survival, Jerusalem was judged and Israel was scattered.

Mat 3:10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

And then another prophesy must be fulfilled:

Isa 53:12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

*****Luk 23:32 And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.

As far as we know, this day may have already been set aside for execution. We already know it was a day when a criminal would be set free.

Mar 15:6 Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired.

It would be fair to say, that it was also an execution day already planned by Rome for some reason or another.

To those Jewish leaders it just added weight to their saying to the people that this was just a man like any other man and not the true Messiah.

Just another prophet like the others they had killed, but this time they were wrong.

Christ was counted with the sinner because our Father in Heaven had decided these things!

Over and over again we see God’s plan and God just wants us all to be a part of His plan because no other plan will work!

So Mount Calvary came into view.

*****Luk 23:33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
Luk 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

Every sinner has a limited view of their own sin, because we simply do not see the things we do as evil!

For this reason, sin to them is just not a big deal and Christ dying for our sin was also no big deal.

They see laws made for others than themselves because they think they have no evil intent.

What we see in our world today is that sin appears indifferent and according to the circumstances in which it is seen.

So we see that Jesus said “Father forgive them for they know not what they do”.

Here we see the power of “Grace”!

Mat 12:32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

The truth is that Christ was crucified in order to bring us back to God!

1Pe 3:18 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:

Now we also see Jesus the Mediator between God and sinful man, because remember at His death, the Veil of the Temple was ripped into.

It is very true that those leaders and politicians simply did not know what they were doing!

In order to stop God’s plan then Jesus would have had to live!

1Co 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
1Co 2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

And then another prophesy is fulfilled.

Psa 22:16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
Psa 22:17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
Psa 22:18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

God just knows every little detail of every little thing and even every big thing!

Jesus was stripped of His clothes because Jesus allowed all His mortality to be stripped from Him.

Jesus came to bring eternal life from His death, because He came to abolish death and bring immortality through the “Gospel”.

2Ti 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
2Ti 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

There is no way that this world could deny Jesus His cross and that is the same way we should all feel!

We should not allow this world to deny us our own cross in Jesus’ name!

God will have His will on this earth!

*****Luk 23:35 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.
Luk 23:36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,
Luk 23:37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.

What’s wrong with this world? Most all people do not understand the salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Those looking for a Messiah always have their preconceived notions of what a Messiah is.

Is the Messiah the anointed one of God? Yes

Is the Messiah the Savior of the world? Yes

Is the Messiah the Christ? In the Greek, Yes.

Is the Messiah the expected prince of God’s chosen people? Yes of Israel. The prince who will be King.

Is the Messiah the High Priest of the Church? Yes

Was the Messiah sent to complete God’s purpose? Yes

The Messiah was never to fulfill the will of the people!

The truth of the cross was, that since the Messiah came to save the people of this world then He certainly could not save Himself!

Did He have the power to do so? Yes

Did He have the will to do so? No, for He would have left us all to die!

You would think the people of God could better understand these things.

From the day Jesus was laid in that manger, He had not hid Himself from His message of salvation!

That cross that crucified our Lord was His message of love!

It was love that kept Jesus from coming down off that cross!

1Ti 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
1Ti 2:6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

All leaders, all those who say they have religion, and all people of all societies are only human and Jesus died to save us all!

Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

It was that generation in the time of Jesus, that should have realized the truth but they had rejected the truth and this is what is going on in our world today.

So what is the next truth?

Mat 23:38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
Mat 23:39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

This is also the truth of a world without Jesus Christ until He returns.

Those soldiers could not have understood the claim of Jesus to be King, they were only men paid to be obedient to Rome.

Jesus was first offered vinegar mixed with pain killers but He refused.

You will never see Jesus go against the Word of God.

Pro 23:29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?
Pro 23:30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
Pro 23:31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.

Those soldiers also had their own drink source that was a mixture of vinegar and water and this is what was later offered to the Lord which He did take some.

Vinegar has no alcohol content in itself!

And there was also the superscription that was misunderstood.

*****Luk 23:38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

The sign hanging above the head of Jesus was intended to mock the Jewish authorities and to reproach the claim of Jesus.

But God changed things. Pilate who was His judge had now proclaimed the glory of God.

So the cross had actually become the first throne of King Jesus!

And this was written in the known languages of that day.

Php 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Php 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
Php 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Just when this world thinks it is in control, God shows up to make a mockery of those who ridicule Him!

But still the world is full of unbelievers!

*****Luk 23:39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
Luk 23:40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
Luk 23:41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

First we have a man in the same predicament as Jesus and you would think this man would have at least shown pity.

He had probably never even seen Christ before, yet he rejected the Lord.

So even with this horrible thing he said that day, he is still less guilty that those who have known the Lord Jesus and still rejected Him.

The truth is and we all need to know, if we pray for God to show us His power to prove who He is, then God will remain silent and never answer such a prayer.

God is all about faith and not about proof!

But there is always someone on the right side!

This known criminal became humble and repented because he felt the power of the cross, maybe the very first one to do so!

In faith he found hope for his guilty soul!

The truth is, this man knew that he and his partner in crime were both guilty beyond measure but he also realized that Jesus had committed no crime at all, yet they all were together on this day, judged by an unrighteous world.

What is the truth of most all Atheist? As they see their life come to an end, the love of this world that they cherished all their days will begin to disappear and they indeed will search for something else or cry out in torment even before death finally comes.

When you are on death’s row, you may think one way but when you sit down in the electric chair life becomes real!

Every breath becomes important because you do not know which one will be your last.

When we realize we deserve death, it is at that point that Holy Ghost conviction can do it’s work!

Then can come repentance and only then!

It takes a whole hearted submission to God for salvation to take place!

And only then can we be “Born Again” into new life that last for an eternity!

And He said to Jesus:

*****Luk 23:42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

Death to the sinner is death of the body and then a living death of the soul in Hell and later the Burning Lake of Fire.

Death to the Savior, who knew no sin, but He bore all our iniquities on the cross and then rose again to “New Life”.

Death to the child of God means no death has any power over him. We may not be able to escape the death of this body because just like all the material things on this earth it was just something else on loan from God.

We have a new glorified body awaiting us and an eternal life body and soul in the glories of Heaven.

There is not one soul that has done things so bad that they cannot be forgiven by the Lord!

God must judge sin, or God could not be God!

It was at the cross where God showed the intensity of His love.

And Jesus said:

*****Luk 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Not next week, not next year, not next generation but “today”.

We know that Jesus gave up the ghost at 3 PM. The Jewish day ends at 6 PM. Jesus made an appointment which He kept before that new child of God had his legs broken before 6 PM and he died the death that we all face but he was in the arms of Jesus before they took his body off that cross and he was with Jesus before the body of Jesus was laid in that garden tomb.

Jesus was busy while that old physical body was being prepared for that borrowed tomb!

Once we realize that Christ Jesus does certainly have a Kingdom, why would we be foolish enough to not want to be with Him in that place!

What does the sinners prayer require? Lord remember me!

*****Luk 23:44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
Luk 23:45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.

Darkness is a symbol of separation and loneliness and the darkness will always speak to us in lies and broken promises.

The truth is all of mankind was separated from the light of the Lord until Jesus came the first time and one at a time, many have come to the light and out of the darkness!

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

The truth is, none of us can really see when we are in the darkness!

Without true sight we stand alone in this world solely responsible for our own behavior.

Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Heb 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

The sixth our to the Jew is the noon time hour.

When the Sun had reached it’s peak on that day the world became dark and stayed dark for three hours until 3PM or the ninth hour.

Those who have not witnessed an eclipse of the sun cannot know how this takes place. Whether eclipse or not the timing of it was in God’s hands!

We should consider that the Passover was held at the time of the full moon and it is impossible to have an eclipse of the Sun and a full Moon at the same time!

This veil that was ripped into was the veil that hid the entrance to the Holy of Holies.

This was the most sacred place in all the Temple, the place of where the presence of God was said to be at times.

The death of Jesus on the cross on Mount Calvary had rolled back the curtain to open the door to the Holiest Place of all to all who would come to worship at the feet of God!

Jesus simply said, “Father into thy hands, I commend my spirit”.

Jesus was not concerned with what was going on around Him, He just knew that His work that He had come to accomplish was finished.

John was a witness to these things and John gave us the words of Jesus.

Joh 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

When Jesus commended His soul into the hands of God, it was certainly proof that the soul still lives as the body does.

It also shows us that the true resting place for the soul is with God!

The truth is when we die we will go through a great change in true living!

But that soul cannot return to God unless we go through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

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

Jesus did not die for Himself no more than He lived for Himself!

And we must realize no matter what we are going through, somebody is always watching.

*****Luk 23:47 Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.

As we have seen throughout the New Testament, these Centurions have been thoughtful and honest men.

This is the man that had the responsibility to obey the commands of Pilate and crucify our Lord, yet He stood amazed at the man he had murdered.

This is exactly what most of our world is missing today. Certainly Jesus was a righteous man but more important He is our Savior.

This was a Gentile who is a “type” of the working of the Cross upon the human mind and the human heart once we realize what Jesus has done for us all.

Jesus had fulfilled His purpose!

This Centurion had only obeyed His orders.

But how did those that insisted He be crucified act?

*****Luk 23:48 And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.

What had God said?

Zec 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

Many had come with malice and many out of curiosity but they had been overcome by the “Grace” of God!

**It was sin that drove the “Passion” of Christ, we may not have driven those nails but He bore “our” griefs and “our” sorrows.

**Jesus did not die on the cross for all mankind as much as He died for each individual sinner.

Gal 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.

**Jesus Christ is the same in His glory as He was on that cross!

Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Oh what a Savior we have!

These people may have come for entertainment but what they saw had saddened them and brought conviction and some were now prepared in their hearts to hear the truth of the ‘Gospel”.

Hos 14:9 Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.

We are a foolish people to think that every step that Jesus took on this earth did not have a direct and profound purpose and He fulfilled everyone of them.

But there were those that loved Him there also:

*****Luk 23:49 And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.

Disciples, secret friends, and even some acquaintances who lacked the courage to get closer to the Lord not ready to pick up there own cross.

The women who had financially supported the ministry of the 12 chosen of the Lord feared to get closer but they were there never the less.

There were many who truly cared for the Lord and loved Him and there would soon be many more and Jesus said “He has not lost a single one of them”!

The three that we know who got as close as they could was His mother Mary, John, and Mary Magdalene.

We can be sure of the the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ!

We can be sure that Christ died for our sins because He had none of His own.

We can be certain of our salvation because we can be certain of our Lord!

His purpose was completed on the cross and ours just began once we realized this truth.

Questions?

Let’s Pray!

The Trial Of Jesus Christ

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

The Certainty Of Christ’s Trial

Book of Luke 23:1-25

The Jewish Sanhedrin was the supreme council of the Jewish people and consisted of 71 elders of the Jews.

As a judicial body, the Sanhedrin constituted what we would say was a supreme court.

The Sanhedrin had been hastily called at a time before the dawn of the day.

The Lord Jesus Christ was brought before this group as a false prophet.

Jesus had professed to be the Messiah and they had pronounced the death sentence upon Him even before He had a trial.

They could have put Jesus away for years in prison and nothing would have been said but they wanted Him dead.

In order to accomplish this they needed Pilate, the Roman governor to go along with their verdict and they accused Jesus of insurrection against the Roman government.

*****Luk 23:1 And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate.
Luk 23:2 And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.

The Jewish religious system was so opposed to the Lord Jesus Christ that all 71 of the Sanhedrin court arose and took Jesus to Pilate seeking for His death.

The truth is their only goal was to protect their worldly desires, their security and their position and their authority given to them by Rome and of course their riches.

They had become rich while their nation was being plundered by Rome.

Jesus was accused of “perverting the nation”.
Jesus was accused of “forbidding other Jews to give tribute to Caesar”.
Jesus was accused of “naming Himself true King of the Jews”.

If proven true, these were in fact serious crimes against the Roman government.

Pilate was a morally weak man who sinned in spite of himself.
Pilate was a worldly man who sought only his own interest.
Pilate was irreligious, he had no ties to any religion and was not guided by any and actually condemned most all religion.

It was this immoral man who began to question Jesus.

*****Luk 23:3 And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sanest it.

“thou sanest it” was in fact the most solemn mode of affirmation used by all the Jews.

The Book of John gives us greater detail into the actual things Jesus said and it is possible that John may have even been present during this time.

Jo 18:34 Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?
Jo 18:35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?
Jo 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
Jo 18:37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sanest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
Jo 18:38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.

Jesus stated that His kingdom was not of this world.

Jesus was not some political revolutionary.

Jesus was not a threat to any civil government.

(These are to be the same traits of the Church)

Jesus said at this time He ruled a spiritual kingdom!

Jesus was, is, and always will be the King of Heaven!

Jesus had first come to rule in the hearts and the minds and the lives of man!

Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

So Pilate came to his verdict.

*****Luk 23:4 Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.

This same man who would later condemn Jesus to die, acknowledged that the Lord Jesus was not guilty of any of these false charges.

Pilate knew that this Jewish court was lying about the things they were saying about Jesus.

Kind of reminds us about our own politically charged Supreme Court of today.

Not only had the Lord Jesus never committed any crime at all, He had never committed any sin at all!

If there were ever an innocent man on trial, it was the Lord Jesus Christ!

1Pe 3:18 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

We should also keep in mind that anything Pilate did was overpowered by a selfish regard for his own interest.

So when the Jews heard what he said they knew just what to do.

*****Luk 23:5 And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.

These foolish men then exerted themselves with great fury and violence.

They became even more unruly.

They increased their charges against Jesus.

They said it was not only in Judea that He stirred up treason and sedition, but also in Galilee, making Jesus a national threat.

They said that no matter where Jesus went He stirred up the people, and He did but never against the government of Rome or any other government.

Jesus stirred the people up spiritually!

Pilate knew the truth and it did not move him, so it would be impossible for him to be moved by any sense of justice toward any Jew.

There was no cause for these things to happen to Jesus, except men seeking their own material things the exact same things that cause most all the problems in our world today!

Psa 69:4 They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away.

Any so-called national leader to seeks to escape his duty is an unworthy leader and that’s what sits in our White House today.

Jas 1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

When Pilate heard Galilee, he thought he had found another way to avoid being in this Jewish mess.

*****Luk 23:6 When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilean.
Luk 23:7 And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.

Pilate never really considered to set Jesus free, but he did have a great desire to be free of Him!

If Pilate had been just at all, he would followed up on his verdict of innocence!

Pilate feared an uprising of these Jews more than he feared causing harm to one innocent man.

Pilate had made an enemy out of Herod, so it made it even easier to allow Herod to get burnt by causing harm to such an innocent man.

This Herod was Herod Antipas the son of Herod the Great.

Again Pilate was only seeking his own best interest in all these matters, he had no real concern for Jesus.

*****Luk 23:8 And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.

This was also the same Herod who had beheaded John the Baptist and thought that Jesus may have even been the resurrection of John.

Mar 6:14 And king Herod heard of him; (for his name was spread abroad:) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.
Mar 6:15 Others said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets.
Mar 6:16 But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.

It is obvious that Herod showed no concern for the truth.

It is also obvious that Herod had no concern for his own soul.

The possibility that Jesus was truly the Messiah never entered Herod’s mind.

Herod just wanted to witness an actual miracle!

Herod felt that he was high enough up on the ladder of success, that he deserved for God to just perform for him!

The truth is God will never do a miracle just for the recipient of that miracle. God does all things for His own pleasure and for the benefit of His kingdom!

We should remember, the “Gospel” had already entered into the household of Herod.

Luk 8:3 And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.

Also

Act 13:1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

And possibly

Jo 4:46 So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.

The truth is Jesus knew that it would be a waste of time to offer any words of wisdom to Herod and Jesus said nothing at all.

*****Luk 23:9 Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.

Men who get their delight from moral darkness, usually have no objection to the “Gospel” they just hate the moral requirements of the “Gospel”.

For a king such as Herod the commandments of God would have robbed him of his terrorizing power, so Jesus gave no response at all.

Isa 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

Once the “Gospel” tears away the fabric of their moral condition, it reveals just how depraved we truly are.

Once the “Gospel” shakes their soul with the promise of the judgment of God then we will become our own worst enemy.

Jo 15:22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.
Jo 15:23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also.
Jo 15:24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.
Jo 15:25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.

So Herod then listened to the false charges against Jesus.

*****Luk 23:10 And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him.
Luk 23:11 And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.
Luk 23:12 And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.

Herod had refused to listen to John the Baptist.

Herod had refused to listen to the witnessing going on in his own household.

Herod had refused to believe in the wonders that he had heard about the Lord Jesus.

But Herod listened to the government backed, politically motivated religionists of the Jewish elders of the Sanhedrin court.

Herod set Jesus aside, as just being unimportant enough for his concern for justice.

Most of this world approaches the Word of God with fore-drawn conclusions and since those conclusions cannot be verified they revolt toward humanism.

We must remember as Christians we are simply witnesses of the truth of God.

It is the Word of God itself that is God’s appointed representative.

We are responsible for the manner in which we present the Word of God

Jo 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

That word “nought” means that Herod looked upon Jesus as nothing, not even as a decent human being.

We can say what we wish, but how much of the world today and even some so-called churches look upon Jesus Christ as still being nothing.

You cannot accept the Word of God and reject Jesus Christ.

When we count our own lives as greater than that of Jesus Christ, we have then becomes failures as humans.

When we accept the ways of the world as truth then we are complete failures.

We must accept that Jesus Christ is exactly who He says He is!

Jo 8:23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.
Jo 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

Jesus Christ did not come into our lives to give a performance. Jesus came into our lives to save us!

Jesus was silent before Herod because when we continue in sin we will never get an answer from God.

Herod and Pilate became friends because all things worldly are brought closer together in their opposition to the truth!

This is what is happening in the political arena today!

Judaism and Heathenism came together to destroy Christianity and all false religions will try to do the same before the end comes.

We also see the beginning of this happening today!

Jesus went to the cross because of sin but it was hatred that put Him there!

Compromising with the world will always lead to sin and then on to trouble and tragedy.

Pilate knew the truth of Jesus innocence.

Herod knew the truth but Jesus was nothing to him.

Pilate then sought to compromise with with a group of liars which is impossible if they do not get their way.

This is what is happening in America today as our leaders compromise with the abortionist, the gay community, the LBGT movement, the BLM movement, climate change, and other foolish things that go against the Word of God and then tell Christians we must just get over it.

God says:

Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

We will see that in the end Pilate was only concerned with himself.

*****Luk 23:13 And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,
Luk 23:14 Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him:
Luk 23:15 No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him.
Luk 23:16 I will therefore chastise him, and release him.

We will see that 3 times Pilate did try to release the Lord Jesus but the Jews would not relent in their hatred for the truth.

Pilate knew this whole group was a bunch of liars and Jesus was innocent of all the things that were brought against Him.

Even Herod had found Jesus innocent of all charges.

Not one crime worthy of death had been committed by Jesus in fact no crime at all had been committed by Jesus.

What did Pilate know about these Jews?

Pilate knew these Jews would cause trouble for him in Rome and he already stood on shaky ground with Rome.

So again we see how power and money rule most all men.

Truth and justice always suffer at the hands of ruthless power hungry people!

A compromising person is always thinking only of themselves.

They will protect themselves even at the expense of truth and justice.

We need to remember all these things when we cast our votes in the coming election because these things never change.

God tells us the same thing!

Psa 82:2 How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.

Pilate was directly responsible to Rome for the administration and the finances of Judea.

To become a procurator was as much political move as it was a military success.

Even with all these things at stake it was still Pilate’s job to free those innocent of the laws of Rome.

These Jews were not about the let Jesus go free no matter what other punishment was offered.

They wanted Jesus dead!

This in turn made Pilate even more bitter with these Jews.

Pilate offered one more option.

*****Luk 23:17 (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)
Luk 23:18 And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:
Luk 23:19 (Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)
Luk 23:20 Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them.
Luk 23:21 But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.

The truth is always the truth no matter what is said to the contrary!

Here we see the Pilate is trying to compromise the truth when there can never be a compromise between justice and injustice.

We live in a world today where the innocent get the blame for what the guilty do and that is wrong. How backwards have we become?

Pilate is a picture of what this world has become!

Pilate may have wished to do right and he had it in his power to do right but he cared more for his own image and these Jews manipulated him to get what they wanted him to do.

These Jews never did want a Messiah like Jesus, they just wanted a king that they could control to do things their own way.

And the truth is any nation that could forsake Jesus for a man or woman like Barabbas deserved destruction.

Many will say the same thing if Hillary Clinton becomes the next president and it will be just as true.

Our nation will get what we deserve to get for such stupidity!

There is not a whole lot of difference between the mob that rejected Jesus and applauded Barabbas and the mobs that surround this presidential election.

They will not be satisfied until they have received Barabbas.

The truth is, this world will always cry out to get rid of Jesus!

The truth is, an immoral man will never be a good judge nor should they ever be put on a bench to judge others because the innocent will always suffer and laws will always be meaningless.

But that is exactly what we have today in many of our court rooms!

When the truth is known then it must always be proclaimed.

The opposite of that is that the guilty should never get off totally free of the wrong that they have done.

To compromise these things will bring the downfall of civil society!

When we agree to something less than the truth it will be the beginning of chaos!

The truth is and the lesson we should learn is that God will never compromise on the things that concern His Son.

Jo 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Jo 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

We either stand with Jesus Christ or we stand against Him! There is no middle ground!

Mobs are always cruel when left to there own ways!

We have certainly seen this truth in the past several months.

The truth is that this mob admired what they resembled and Barabbas was much more like them than Jesus could ever be!

This is the truth of most all mobs!

Jesus was innocent and sinless, the ideal man and it is in Him we are to trust.

The world is still struggling with this truth because the world is still more like Barabbas!

And Pilate asked one more time the question why? Because none of us really understand any more than Pilate did.

*****Luk 23:22 And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go.
Luk 23:23 And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.
Luk 23:24 And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.
Luk 23:25 And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.

It’s hard to understand exactly why these Jews insisted on the death of Jesus but to say it was written in the Old Testament that they would do so.

They could have easily just locked Him up and put Him out of reach but they were just as afraid of the people.

There was absolutely no cause for Jesus to die by worldly standards!

Pilate was never strong enough to do what was right.

Pilate could never stand up for Jesus because he did not possess moral strength.

Pilate was too weak of a man to declare the truth before such men as these Jews.

“We should clearly understand that the pressure of this world to do evil is hard to overcome”!

This is more evident today right here in America than it has ever been.

We should realize that the trial of Jesus was illegal by Jewish Law.

And the truth of any nation is, that those who are regarded as great men are not necessarily wise.

Job 32:9 Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment.

Although there has never been anyone who faced judgment who was as innocent as Jesus, He was still condemned to die on a cross.

When we are delivered to the will of our enemies we will never get fair judgment!

Psa 27:12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.

This trial lasted no more than just a few hours and the sentence was forced by an unruly crowd who were influenced by powerful men with money.

What is causing the division in America today? Powerful men with money!

The murder of an innocent man was dressed up as justice!

Why do we pray for good laws and good lawmakers, if we refuse to obey those laws.

What happened to the Lord Jesus Christ had been predetermined before the words “let there be light” were ever said.

Pilate could give many excuses of why he gave in to these Jews, but he still could have done the right thing and set Jesus free but in dooming Jesus, He also doomed himself.

The truth is every unrighteous judge will weigh every decision against their own livelihood and their own recognition rather than true justice.

Our courts are full of these people today!

Our laws were never intended to be hypocritical.

Everyday that goes by, it is so easy to see why a righteous God has no choice but to judge an unrighteous system put in place by men!

Pilate was guilty of many things but these Jews were even more guilty!

They had predetermined that Jesus would die and would accept no other verdict.

They never questioned His innocence!

The truth is, that the ruling class of every nation insist on keeping a death grip on the poor of that nation and Jesus interfered with that system just as the true church does today.

What is the truth?

Act 2:22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
Act 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
Act 2:24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

They had predetermined that Jesus would die and they killed His outer flesh but the part they hated, what Jesus was and what He stood for can never die!

The truth is, that through death, the power of God to save was released onto this world and only He will decide when it is finished!

The death of Jesus brought the “Gospel” of salvation according to the Scriptures.

1Co 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
1Co 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

The truth of our world is that most men prefer the company of evil and sinful men who can be controlled and used as pawns.

And it is also obvious that the worldly religionists prefer this world rather than the truth of God.

The truth is when we are willing to compromise the truth of God then the pressure to do evil will get to us.

2Pe 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

This world we live in will continue to try to make a mockery of God but every time the world sees victory, God has already won!

1Jn 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

The trial of Jesus Christ was a mockery of justice!

Questions?

Let’s Pray!

The Memorial To Christ

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

The Certainty Of Christ’s Memorial

Book of Luke 22

A “Memorial” is something that preserves the memory of something of great importance.

Today we will see that the Lord’s Supper is a memorial of the death and the sufferings of the Lord Jesus Christ as the sacrificial Lamb of God.

We are expected to take part in this memorial service until the Lord returns.

1Co 11:24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
1Co 11:25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
1Co 11:26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.

But we are also to be worthy to take part in this remembrance of the work of the Lord.

1Co 11:27 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.
1Co 11:28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
1Co 11:29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
1Co 11:30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

If we look back to the first Jewish Passover we can get the true meaning of all these things.

Everything about the Passover Feast was designed to teach the people of Israel and of course all those that study the Scriptures, that we all owe our lives to the protecting and guiding hand of God.

If we look back at the first Passover we should see some important things.

Exo 12:22 And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.
Exo 12:23 For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.
Exo 12:24 And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever.

If you took that blood and put in the places mentioned in this Scripture you have made the shape of a cross.

The significance is obvious. Israel was saved from the bondage of Egypt by the blood of a perfect lamb.

The world is saved from the bondage of sin by the blood that was shed on Mount Calvary by the blood of the perfect Lamb of God.

It was the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our redemption!

As Jesus peered out through blood soaked eyes, He said Father forgive them for they know not what they do.

He was looking at us through His own blood.

The Bible says:

Heb 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
Heb 9:23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

At this Passover Feast with His disciples, the Passover had now reached it’s end, and had found it’s full meaning!

The Passover, which sprinkled the blood of the covenant on those door posts in the land of Egypt, descends until it’s last victim dies beneath the shadow of the cross of Jesus Christ.

Rev 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Rev 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Let’s Begin:

*****Luk 22:14 And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.
Luk 22:15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:
Luk 22:16 For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.

Without a doubt we can see that there is a connection between the Passover and the suffering of Jesus Christ.

In “typology”, the Passover pictured the coming of Christ (a perfect lamb, the perfect Lamb of God)

The blood that was placed on the side posts and the lintel pictured the blood of Jesus (shed on the cross)

It was a sign that the life and the blood of an innocent lamb had been substituted for the sin of the first born (sin of Adam)

The eating of the lamb represents the spiritual nourishment gained by the feeding of Christ (The Bread of Life, The Lord’s Supper)

The unleavened bread is a picture of putting evil out of your life and out of your household.

The Jews used 4 foods and drink items at the Passover Meal.

1) They used a bowl of salt water to remind them of the tears shed by their forefathers, while they were in 430 years of bondage in Egypt.

2) They used a bitter salad like plate, to remind them of the bitterness of bondage and slavery.

3) They used a paste mixture of of fruit and cinnamon sticks, to remind them of the labor in making those bricks from clay and straw.

4) They used 4 cups of wine to remind them of God’s 4 promises to deliver their forefathers from bondage.

God promised Israel these 4 things.

Exo 6:6 Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:
Exo 6:7 And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
Exo 6:8 And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the LORD.

The Passover Feast was based upon historical facts.

The Lord’s Supper is a memorial to the work of the Lord much much more than just history.

The Lord’s Supper is a remembrance of the Living Christ until He returns to take us home!

The Passover Feast reached it’s end and found it’s full meaning with the Lord’s Supper!

The Passover then represents the change of slaves to servants!

The Lord’s Supper represents the change of servants into the children of God and joint heirs with Christ!

We are close to the end of the Church Age, when that last when victim will die in the shadow of the cross and is “Born Again” and then the return of Jesus Christ.

1Co 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
1Co 5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Jesus said “you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free”.

Don’t you just love the Word of God!

We should also remember our Messiah had a human side and that side needed some support for what He was about to do.

Remember Christ “gave” His life, because no man could take it from Him if He so wished not to die!

Php 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

But above all these things God’s created human beings also needed comfort. These chosen men needed reassurance for the things they were about to face!

We can be sure, that God is well aware of the painful steps that each one of us have in our daily walk with Him and all the steps we will take in our own journey in this life!

Maybe the greatest reason for the Lord’s Supper of all is, that it looked forward to the glorious future of the Church and all the people of God!

The Lord took His place in that first Communion and the end of these things is when He once again joins with us all at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb!

You know we do not have to look for great things in order to discover the great truths of God.

God will use the routines of common life to show us His deepest secrets.

The Lord Jesus Christ took a simple meal of bread and juice to show us the truth of the “Gospel”.

*****Luk 22:17 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:
Luk 22:18 For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.

We can just imagine the intense love of Christ for us as He took the time to explain to explain the truth, a communion meal of memorial for all believers, yet it was His last meal on this earth.

The Lord Jesus “desired” to spend His last free time with a simple meal and then singing and rejoicing and then prayer before His death and He even took the time to wash their feet as a slave would his master.

The Lord’s Supper is all about the death of Christ.

The Lord’s Supper is also a picture or a “type” of that Heavenly Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

This will not take place until all things are fulfilled in the kingdom of God.

The Lord’s Supper is also God’s promise of that future Marriage Feast.

Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Col 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
Col 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Jesus then took the bread.

*****Luk 22:19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
Luk 22:20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

**There is a great meaning to the bread.

Jesus took the bread and broke it:

This symbolized His broken body.

Jesus Christ sacrificed His body for our deliverance because He needed no deliverance.

Isa 53:5 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.

AND, this act of the Lord was truly significant to the early church and it should be today:

Act 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
Act 2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Under the Old Testament the broken bread signified the sufferings of the Jews.

Jesus said this was a New Testament and the bread signified the broken body of Christ.

Jesus said His body would be broken and given for us!

He suffered and died for us!

Jesus took our place on the cross of death. (The wages of sin are death)

Jesus Christ bore the “Judgment of God” for us!

**There is also great meaning in the cup.

Jesus said the cup held the blood of the New Testament.

It is the blood of Jesus Christ that established a New Covenant with God!

It is the blood of Jesus Christ that has allowed us to have a personal relationship with God as He had in the time of Adam before Adam had sinned.

It takes “faith” in these very things to have assurance of eternal life.

Joh 6:53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.

Joh 6:56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
Joh 6:57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.

The Jews had rejected this truth but the Church lives by this truth!

We can only be saved and our sins forgiven by believing that Christ’s blood was shed for our forgiveness.

1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

And Jesus said “do this in remembrance of me”.

We are to remember how God liberated Israel from the slavery of Egypt, that’s what the Passover was all about.

We are to remember how, by the blood of Christ, we are liberated for the bondage of the sin of this world.

We are to remember that this same blood will make it possible for Jesus to return and take us all into the eternal presence of God.

We should also realize that Jesus Christ used this Lord’s Supper to reach out one more time to sinners!

*****Luk 22:21 But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table.
Luk 22:22 And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!
Luk 22:23 And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing.

Jesus knew exactly what Judas would do but He also knew that we would be studying these Scriptures and Jesus wants us all to know that He will give every sinner as many opportunities as He can to repent.

Judas knew exactly what Jesus was saying even though the rest of these disciples did not.

Jesus knew what Judas had already done and He wanted Judas to know that He knew.

Jesus knows the same about all sinners.

Jesus also took the time to warn Judas.

This warning extends to all who reject Jesus Christ as their Savior.

Jesus says “woe to those who betray Him”

Judas clearly understood he would face the “judgment” of God, even though he may not have realized the severity of His actions.

The world today knows that God is all about love and through liberal theology they have forgotten about God’s “judgment”.

In fact there cannot be one without the other!

Terrible judgment is a sure thing for sinners and Judas was made well aware of that this night of the Lord’s Supper.

The wages of sin are death and redemption is only by the blood of the Lamb as proven by the Lord’s Supper.

God knows the destiny of every sinner and it is not something that makes Him happy!

Each sinner has until the day they die to repent even though just like the Lord knew Judas would not, He knows all sinners who will not ever change their mind.

We should never forget it is also God’s “Grace” that warns us of the consequences of sin!

Judas was not forced to turn away from his sin, it was his freedom of choice to decide.

It is by God’s “Grace” that He even warns us of the coming “Judgment”.

We have a God that respects our will and our desires!

God loves us enough to tell us the truth but He will never force our obedience!

We must understand that there are consequences for going against the Word of God!

So we see that it is the purpose of Lord’s Supper to cause a searching of our own hearts.

*****Luk 22:23 And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing.
Luk 22:24 And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.

We need to understand that we, especially the men have a natural desire for superiority.

We all desire recognition, prestige, position and honor.

Many even desire power and authority.

We have seen where many people in such positions try to become absolute rulers, or monarchy, as our President.

So when we hear that these disciples of Christ had such desires then we should better understand these passages.

When a group of men are together many times there are those who want the others to acknowledge them as the greatest.

That desire becomes sinful when it is of the things of this world!

If that desire is aimed at the work of the Lord it then becomes useful as long as we realize that in our person we are no better than anyone else!

What we see is that these disciples argued about these things just like most other men do!

When we try to rise, at the expense of others or the ruin of others or by trampling on others we are going against everything the Word of God stands for.

True greatness consist of a reverent fear of the Lord and our usefulness to Him and His work, that He has given us to do.

The Holy Spirit is not given to us for enjoyment, He is given to us for our “employment”!

The main ability we need in the work of the Lord is “availability”!

That word “strife” means these men were always eager to argue about who was the greatest disciple of the Lord.

Even these disciples were still thinking about an earthly kingdom where the Lord would appoint them into positions of authority, which will one day take place but that is still in ours and in their future.

Self-seeking will always blind our eyes to the true glory that is in the Lord Jesus Christ!

Even at this last meal, the Lord’s Supper, these men were trying to seat themselves in seats of honor.

On the eve of the cross, these men could still only think of worldly things!

And how did Jesus respond to these things, this is our lesson to.

*****Luk 22:25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.

A benefactor is one who is granted favors for charitable things they have done in serving others.

A worldly benefactor wants to be known recognized and honored, for what they have done but that word “called” is a great man who is “known to be” a generous man and who gives of himself simply to help others.

Those around him “know him” for what is is!

Psa 10:3 For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.

And Jesus begins to explain the difference between these two lines of thought.

*****Luk 22:26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.
Luk 22:27 For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.

We already know that there will be rewards and great benefits for serving the Lord which far out weigh and persecution in this life!

So it would pay us to listen to what Jesus says here to His disciples.

It is obvious that Jesus rejects the world’s attitude about greatness!

The world says that “he that is being served is the greatest”.

Jesus says “it is the one who serves that is greatest”.

These are on opposite ends of thought from each other!

True greatness is never a position of power over someone else!

A wise man once said “we are but waiters in the Lord’s hotel”.

When we acknowledge that we are sinners saved only by the “Grace” of God, it is easy to assume the lowest position in any room because in the end we know that is the highest position after all!

It is true that in most places, age is looked up to and honored, but Jesus says we need to honor those who are His servants no matter their age.

A truly great person will look for people to help and places to help them!

A truly great person will seek for the sake of being a minister to them.

Do we call ourselves Christian or are we known to be Christian?

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

If we are to follow in the example of the Lord, then we must realize the Lord Jesus gave up the glories of Heaven to humble Himself and make a way for our salvation.

Jesus did not ever say we are not to hold a place of authority or a place of honor!

Jesus said “we are to use any place we hold to be servants to the needs of the Church and to Him”.

In John’s Gospel we are told that it was at this time that Jesus washed the feet of each disciple to prove His point.

Joh 13:5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

In those days of the Jews, there was no less menial task than washing the feet of some one else and that was the duty of the lowest slave.

One of the happiest days of Jesus was when He took our sins to the cross.

The same one who would die for our sins would also wash our feet to clean us from the filth of this world.

Then Jesus said if we are His disciples we would continue in all these things with Him.

*****Luk 22:28 Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.
Luk 22:29 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;
Luk 22:30 That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

What is the most important quality of a servant? “That they are faithful”!

It is in our best interest to prove to be faithful servants.

We must continue with Jesus all our days.

We must stand by Him.

We must stick to Him.

We must be like Him.

What are some of the rewards that are set and promised to these disciples?

There would be 12 thrones and each disciple would sit on a throne and be judge to the 12 tribes of Israel.

This promise probably relates to the Millennial Kingdom because it is at that time that Israel will be fully restored to the Promised Land with all the tribes and all the “Resurrected Saints” of the “Church Age” which will include the 12 Apostles and will judge the world.

1Co 6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

This is what John saw in the Book of Revelation.

Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

This is also the reason that Jesus said it was not up to Him who was to sit on what throne because this is His Father’s plan and God just wants us all to be part of His plan.

Mat 20:22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.
Mat 20:23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.

This is also the promise that was made to Israel:

Isa 1:24 Therefore saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies:
Isa 1:25 And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin:
Isa 1:26 And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city.

There may be no distinction between the Jew and the Gentile in Heaven but during the Millennial Kingdom, The Lord Jesus has made this promise the Apostles.

It was these 12 men who turned the world upside down in the name of Jesus Christ and we have survived by the Doctrine of the Apostles that they gained from the Lord Jesus, why would He not honor them?

These 12 men endured things that most all others will never see in their entire lifetime and all in the name of Jesus Christ.

1Co 4:9 For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.
1Co 4:10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.
1Co 4:11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;
1Co 4:12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
1Co 4:13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.
1Co 4:14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.

But every true believer will also be rewarded!

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

But none of us should never forget that once we have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, we live in the sight of Satan who hates all things of Christ but thank goodness for the Lord.

*****Luk 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
Luk 22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

Peter was to carry the load as the leader of these 12 men and we know Peter tripped many times but it should be obvious that Satan paid a lot of attention to Peter and hindered him in every way possible.

When Satan “sifts” any believer he is trying to separate that believer from God!

We need to know and understand these facts!

That word “desired” means that Satan is actually begging God for permission to trip up the disciples of Christ.

Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
Job 1:7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
Job 1:8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
Job 1:9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
Job 1:10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
Job 1:11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
Job 1:12 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

When God allows these things to happen we must realize it is only a test of our faith!

Satan does not care at all for the believer but he will do anything he can to disgrace and cut the heart of God!

We need to make a firm stand no matter what we are going through, because it is God who is in control and not Satan.

We must be aware of the workings of Satan!

2Co 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

Jesus wanted Peter to know he had an intercessor!

We all have an intercessor between us and God and it is the Lord Jesus Christ!

It is the Lord Jesus Christ that steps in, in our defense when Satan wants to attack!

Heb 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

We will definitely suffer as Christians but don’t let anyone tell you that Satan can pluck you out of God’s hand because that is impossible!

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

No doubt we will fail and we will fall, but in every case when we return to the Lord, we will be restored!

Act 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

When we have been through these things ourselves we are then to be that added strength for those that are going through these things later in their own lives.

Gal 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
Gal 6:2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

The worst thing we can do is to become over confident in our own strength!

*****Luk 22:33 And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.
Luk 22:34 And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.

Peter was committed to Jesus but he was not considering “spiritual things” at this time.

These men could only think of the material things of this world!

When Peter saw the Lord Jesus captured and beaten his material strength faded away!

Peter’s over confidence had made him blind to the cross!

Jesus had explained all these things but these 12 men at this time had failed to believe the Word of God.

There is a great difference in knowing and no knowing the truth!

There are many problems we cause ourselves when we over estimate our own strength!

The strength of the flesh causes weakness in our faith!

It is our faith that makes us strong!

Php 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

That’s why it is called “Grace”!

The Lord’s Supper should remind us of all these things when we partake of it as a memorial to the One who died for our sins and saved us from the bondage of sin and gave us eternal life in the glories of Heaven.

Questions?

Let’s Pray!

We Can Be Certain Of The Return Of Jesus Christ

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

The Certainty Of Christ’s Return To Earth

Book of Luke 21

Although many believe in different details, the doctrine of the return of Jesus Christ is something all Christians have in common.

The return of Jesus Christ is mentioned more than 300 times in the Scriptures of the New Testament.

Entire chapters in Matthew and Mark and Luke teach us of the return of Jesus Christ.

The biggest part of First and Second Thessalonians and the Book of Revelation are all about the return of Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ taught that His return would be literal and according to the Scriptures.

Jesus Christ taught that His return would be a physical event and not some spirit happening.

In fact the Book of Acts says Jesus would return in the very same way that He departed.

Act 1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
Act 1:10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
Act 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

Those that look for Jesus to return in any other way are wrong.

Jesus’ return will first be felt by all those He has promised to take to His Father’s home, as we will meet Him in the clouds before He sets foot on Gethsemane.

All those who have been strangers and pilgrims on this earth will finally return to Heaven the place of our true citizenship with our new glorified bodies.

If we did not believe these things we could not have true peace on this earth.

Those that believe in less than this do not believe the Scriptures!

We cannot know the exact time of the Lord’s return but when He comes He will be quick to get here.

Rev 22:20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

These things should encourage us all to be busy about the work of the Lord.

2Pe 3:9 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.
2Pe 3:10 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.
2Pe 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
2Pe 3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

The passage we look at today is now known as the Olivet Discourse.

This passage deals with the destruction of Jerusalem. the return of Christ, and the end of the world.

Let’s begin:

*****Luk 21:5 And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said,
Luk 21:6 As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

As Jesus spends His last days before He faces the cross, He never stopped teaching His disciples. If these were so important then, they surely remain important now to us that know Him.

The most important job for these disciples lay ahead after Christ had given His life and after He had risen and then after He had ascended back to Heaven.

After what some would describe as a shaky start, the 12 Apostles when we include the Apostle Paul, turned this world upside down, began the Church of Jesus Christ, and this world has not been the same since.

What is the purpose of the Holy Ghost filled Church?

In the words of Jesus:

Joh 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
Joh 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
Joh 16:9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
Joh 16:10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
Joh 16:11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

We can see how far the church has drifted away from this, because the church is no longer filled with Holy Ghost power.

The Apostles of Jesus Christ faced some terrible times and many in the church still do today!

Jesus Christ gave these men a glimpse into the future.

These men would face things they never realized until they were all martyrs, except John who died of old age, the only one.

When Jesus speaks of the “last days” in most cases He speaks of the “last days of the Church”, before the rapture of the saints.

Act 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

**By explaining these certain things to these men, they would know that God is never caught off guard.

Someone uses this phrase “Has it dawned on you that nothing has ever dawned on Christ”.

Our God is still “Omniscient”, which means He has a universal knowledge of all things that have happened, that are happening, and that will happen, and He knows all these things at the same time.

Nothing happens in this world that God does not know about.

Nothing happens in this world that God could not stop if He so chose to do so.

BUT, God does not ever do evil!

EVEN, the wrath of God is justified!

God will never go against His Written Word!

By knowing all these things, these Apostles would not be caught off guard living in this cruel world.

By having the complete Word of God, we should never be caught off guard by what is happening in our world at any time.

These disciples would realize that their strength would have to come from the Lord.

They could not do as Jesus instructed, if their hope had not been in God!

Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

**Now lets see how Jesus dealt with these two questions.

We must not forget there is only one thing that brings the “judgment of God” and “it is sin”.

It is the same for every person and it is the same for every nation!

It was certain that the Temple would be destroyed. We know this as fact.

It was certain that the Jews would be dispersed throughout this world. We know this as fact.

It is certain that the Church Age will come to an end when Jesus meets the Church in the clouds.

1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

It is certain that the Tribulation period will then begin and it will come to an end seven years later at the Second Coming of Christ.

Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
Rev 19:12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
Rev 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

What will happen during that time? We get a preview of the future of our world by what happened to the Temple and to Jerusalem.

It would pay for this world to clearly understood, that the institutions and systems that govern this world, will be destroyed by the coming of the Lord.

And it should also be very clear that the institutions and the systems of religion that are opposed to the Lord Jesus Christ, no matter how splendid, nor how strong, are doomed for destruction at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The disciples really only had two concerns, WHEN, and What Will Be The Warning Signs!

*****Luk 21:7 And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?

All of Israel was expecting to see the glory of Israel when the Messiah came, yet Jesus, The Messiah was speaking of utter destruction.

They could hardly believe what they were hearing.

We to must listen carefully to the words of the Lord, because there is so much deception in this world.

Satan is dedicated to the downfall of Christianity and will use every method available to him.

*****Luk 21:8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.

The first sign will be false messiahs.

Jesus said that there would be many false messiahs who declared that they could save this world.

We should also consider that there will be many false Christians.

Jesus said they would come in His name. If you walk in the name of Christ then you are Christian.

There is a great danger in deception! Jesus said to take heed. To watch for these things very carefully.

There message would be that the end time is near.

We should consider that this is the message of all those predicting the “Climate Change” in our world today.

The wars in the Middle East have a lot to do with the promise of a false messiah.

There are those who claim to be Jesus, who has returned.

And of course there are those claiming to be Christian and are deceivers.

There may also be others.

The Lord Jesus said “go not after them”. Pay no attention to the things they say, because they are all deceivers.

Jesus was teaching His disciples and if you love the Lord, He is speaking to you!

Disciples can be misled by false preachers and false teachers and the lies of this world.

Mat 24:23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

This sign is evident in many ways in our world today, just as Jesus said, “there will be many”.

*****Luk 21:9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.
Luk 21:10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:

The next sign is the conflicts that go on between nations.

Everyone knows the meaning of wars and our world has never seen one day of world-wide peace since the days of Adam.

That word “commotions”, means these are uproars, riots, terrorism, insurrection, treasons, and confusions of governments.

If there is anyone who cannot say that these things have not increased already and continue to increase, then are already deceived.

There are uprisings within governments. Even in America we are more divided politically than we have ever been.

There are governments over thrown in our world almost everyday.

It is a fact that to see all these things on the news constantlym, even true believers can become disturbed.

The truth is Jesus said to not be terrified by these things.

We are to not let our hearts be troubled.

Joh 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

If we remain centered upon God, we can trust in His presence, trust in His care, and we certainly can trust in His eternal security.

If this world is destroyed, “it was not our home to begin with”!

We will be in our new home before this world is destroyed!

Joh 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

World wide violence must come to pass, until it reaches it’s peak.

It is not God that brings these things about though He gets most of the blame.

These things come about because they come from the hearts of evil men.

It is a fact, that we would destroy our own world if God gave us the chance.

It is passion, lust, greed, and evil that dominates this world today.

1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1Jn 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
Not only these signs but there will be great signs in nature.

*****Luk 21:11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

Most of us don’t realize it, but there may be at least 1 million earthquakes each year with 130 or more of them strong and 20 of them being called major earthquakes.

There are about 600 deaths each year attributed to earthquakes and 67,000 people were killed in China in 2014 due to just one earthquake.

Earthquakes occur along the fault lines throughout our globe constantly.

Earthquakes are one of the most feared and destructive things, in what is referred to as natural disasters.

Jesus mentions earthquakes but He also mentions 4 more disasters that happen in the natural world.

Earthquakes will occur in many places and many at the same time during the last days.

**Famines.

It could be said that famines are sometimes sent as an effect of God’s anger against a guilty people.

Jer 42:17 So shall it be with all the men that set their faces to go into Egypt to sojourn there; they shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: and none of them shall remain or escape from the evil that I will bring upon them.

Psa 105:16 Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread.

There will be terrible famine in the last days!

In fact the Black Horse of the Book of Revelation indicates terrible famine.

Terrible things happen in a time of famine.

Lam 4:9 They that be slain with the sword are better than they that be slain with hunger: for these pine away, stricken through for want of the fruits of the field.
Lam 4:10 The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children: they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people.

Even God says it is better to die by the sword, than to starve to death and who can imagine eating their own children.

The last days on this earth will be a terrible thing but these days can be missed be accepting the Lord Jesus Christ before the end of the Church Age.

But that is not all that will happen in the last days.

The result of earthquakes and famine is the onslaught of disease (pestilence).

Not only do earthquakes and famine bring disease and pestilences, but so does war.

Pestilence shows no partiality!

The rich may be able to buy food to survive a famine, but they cannot buy their way out of an epidemic of disease.

Part of the results of the Pale Horse of the Book of Revelation includes pestilences.

Rev 6:8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

But that is not all.

**There will be great astronomical happenings.

There will be fearful sights and great signs that can be seen in the skies.

There will a darkening from all the ash of volcanos, the wind storms, the smoke from the many land fires.

Whatever darkens the Sun also will also distort the night sky and the Moon will disappear or change colors.

And we should not forget the untold number of UFO sightings and things associated with those things.

Even our own government spends untold millions of dollars in search of such things.

There will be meteorites that fall to earth at an ever increasing rate.

Astronomical happenings will be world-wide.

Mar 13:24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,
Mar 13:25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.

Jesus says that these are sure signs of His return to this earth.

Mar 13:26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.

Rev 6:12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
Rev 6:13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
Rev 6:14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
Rev 6:15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
Rev 6:16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
Rev 6:17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

It is obvious that the worst lies ahead for this world.

Because man will continue to be more evil.

2Ti 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

We are still in that period that is before those days and Jesus says in this period, it is the Church that will suffer persecution.

*****Luk 21:12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake.
Luk 21:13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony.

It is obvious that Jesus was answering a direct question of those chosen disciples but many of these same things pertain to each and every disciple since that day.

It is true that Christians have been persecuted since the founding of the Church. The truth is persecution will become greatly intensified before the Church Age comes to an end.

It is obvious that Jesus has separated the Church Age from the 7 year Tribulation Period that begins at the end of the Church Age.

Persecution will not only come from the less than civil society, but also from the religious system and also the governments of this world and we have already seen these things increase dramatically in just the last few years.

It had already began in the time of Paul.

Act 28:22 But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.

And why will such persecution take place?

*****Luk 21:15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
Luk 21:16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
Luk 21:17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.

It is only those that know the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior that will be persecuted to such an extent.

This world we live in will continue to try to stamp out all references to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Why? Because Jesus Christ reminds them just how sinful they really are!

Jesus Christ is the standard of true godliness!

The Christian has Jesus as his standard.

Those that have already rejected Jesus Christ will also reject those that have accepted Jesus Christ!

Those that reject the standards of Jesus Christ and accept the standards of the world, will reject everything Christian.

God says therefore:

2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
2Co 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Why? Because Jesus lived a life of purity and those that follow the Lord Jesus Christ will seek a life of moral purity, while the world lives by immoral standards.

This world lives to fulfill all the lust of their flesh!

This world is driven to be materialistic even if that takes away from others.

There is no natural affection shown to fellow human beings!

There is no message of repentance in our world today.

There is no message of denial of the flesh in our world today.

Though there be millions of people in need throughout our world, very few people are willing to give up there own things to help them.

Therefore the Lord said He would also send a famine of the Word of God.

Rom 8:12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
Rom 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

Why? Because persecution is a glorious witness for the Lord.

There is increasing persecution as this world tries to silence the Word of God.

Even in America the Word of God is being considered to be “hate speech”.

There is hardly a day goes by, that we do not see this prophecy of the Lord being fulfilled and we wonder if we are in the “last days”.

If you take a stand on the Word of God you will suffer persecution!

Act 9:16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.

**There is one marvelous thing that Christians do not have to worry about.

*****Luk 21:18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
Luk 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls.

When the believer has to stand in defence of his or her beliefs, God will fill our hearts and our mouths with a reply.

Jesus did not promise that we would be made free.

Jesus did not even promise that we would not die, there are already many martyrs for Christ everyday.

Jesus promised we could have no fear!

Heb 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

We live in a world where all non-believers are beginning to hate the Christian.

In fact more and more of the Church are going against the Word of God, in order to please those of the world in an attempt to survive.

These things cause strife in the Church and the Church forgets it’s purpose, which is to reach out to the lost without compromising on the Word of God.

There can be only one truth!

Joh 15:20 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; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
Joh 15:21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.

If we truly trust the Lord with our eternal soul, why then do we not trust Him with our lives!

If we allow God to be in control of our lives we will certainly have “Spiritual Security”.

1Jn 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

God says we must be patient in these end times!

We must not fear persecution, we must absorb it!

When we are already in the arms of Jesus, death just puts us there a moment quicker.

Life on this earth is just too short in comparison to an eternity with the Lord Jesus Christ!

Jas 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Then Jesus returns to the coming destruction of Jerusalem of 70 AD but we should not forget that this Scripture also points toward the last days.

*****Luk 21:20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.

History tells us of the terrible destruction of Jerusalem and the scattering of God’s people Israel.

The key to understanding this passage is that we are to be prepared at all times for the judgment of God!

Except for peace with Egypt, Jerusalem is now today already surrounded by the enemy armies of evil.

When Jerusalem is totally surrounded near the very end it will be time to flee just as it was for the remaining Apostles in 70 AD.

*****Luk 21:21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.
Luk 21:22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

The truth is that most Christians did flee before Titus destroyed Jerusalem.

Many of them fled to Pelia(Pella) a city in Decapolis.

Matthew wrote to forget all the comforts of home and personal belongings, because the danger was just to close and too terrible.

We should never be so attached to our personal belongings so much that we forget about the coming judgment!

We have only one place to flee to, and that is to Jesus Christ!

We must also remember that the destruction of Jerusalem was due to sin.

The future destruction of Jerusalem will also be due to sin.

Sin results in total destruction!

The only sin that cannot be forgiven is to reject the Lord Jesus Christ, and this sin requires payment and the wages of sin is still death!

It will be a terrible time.

*****Luk 21:23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.
Luk 21:24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

Those women with young children, especially those without husbands will find it very difficult to flee.

They may even move to slow to escape.

Not only will the people be in great distress but the lands will also be in great distress.

This is the truth of 70 AD and it will be the truth in the future.

In 70 AD the wrath of Rome and the wrath of God fell on Jerusalem!

We can see the growing wrath of this world toward Israel and God will still punish sin.

Over 1 million died in Jerusalem in 70 AD and there will be even more in the judgment of God.

It is a fact that during the Tribulation Period, this world will experience great tribulations especially in the last 3 and 1/2 years of that 7 year period.

The Book of Revelation is full of this truth.

What is the “time of the Gentiles”?

We should immediately see that it is God who is in control of all the times of this earth.

God is in control of written history, but God does not cause the evil that goes on in this world, He just allows people the freedom to choose.

The time of the Gentiles means “that there will come a time when the Gentiles can no longer cause harm to Jerusalem”.

There is coming a time when the Jews will no longer be persecuted because God will simply not allow it!

There is coming a time when God will rule this world from the city of Jerusalem and there is nothing this world can do to stop these things from happening!

Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Rom 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

It’s important that we believe these things.

And yet there will be more signs of the coming judgment of God and the greatest sign of all, the appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ.

*****Luk 21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
Luk 21:26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

We have already discussed the great signs in the heavens but another thing should be considered.

Our world hovers on the brink of Nuclear War everyday.

World-wide atomic warfare could cause all this distress on this earth and completely hide the Sun for a long period of time.

These are just facts!

But even these things cannot affect the heavens.

The logical conclusion then, is that God who created all the heavenly-host will then cause these things to happen.

It is the wrath of God, that in just a moment, or just a breath, or just with His Word, He can change what goes on in His created world!

We must accept the Word of God as the literal truth!

Every part of God’s creation will be affected that day the Lord Jesus Christ appears!

Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

We can just imagine the governments of this world gathering to see if there is anything that can be done to stop the return of Our Lord.

But for the believer it will be a grand and glorious day!

*****Luk 21:27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
Luk 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

The first thing we see in the return of Christ is that it is the Son of Man who will return, “God in the flesh”.

This world will have no doubt who He is!

Next we see, that all those that have rejected the Lord Jesus Christ will see Him with their own eyes and they will acknowledge that He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings.

Then we see that the Lord Jesus is coming in the clouds in all His glory.

Once again the Shekinah Glory of God will appear on this earth.

We know that true believers know this truth of the Lord.

We also know that Hell is full of believers who now know the truth.

On that day everyone who has ever lived will know the truth of God.

There will be no more mysteries for anyone to discuss and ridicule!

So as we see, the signs that Jesus has taught us to look for, we should not discard nor devalue them, we need to look up, lift our heads, because our redemption draws nearer than it has ever been before!

Nations will be perplexed, we do not have to be.

Mankind will be full of fear, enough that many hearts will just fail, we should have no fear at all.

How should we spend our time?

Telling someone about Jesus and looking for that Blessed Hope!

Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Tit 2:15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

We are going home one day soon.

Questions?

Let’s Pray!

The Rejection Of The Lord Jesus Christ Is Certain

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

The Certainty Of Christ’s Rejection

Book of Luke 20

The meaning of rejection is the act of throwing away.

Rejection is forsaking.

Rejection is casting away something that could prove to be really important.

Again we will see that Jesus will teach with a parable.

This parable was directed at Israel but let us be thankful that God has planted His vineyard among us all!

We should all ask ourselves if we are rendering the fruit to the Lord which He expects from us.

The least He expects is the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Eph 5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
Eph 5:10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

We must certainly make sure we do not resemble these husbandmen in this parable.

The Lord must not only be our foundation in this life, He must also the our ultimate goal.

Jesus must be not only the author of our faith but He must also be the finisher of our faith.

Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Heb 12:3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Jesus who had never sinned, came to save sinners who could not be saved in any other way!

Just as God founded our world, God also founded the nation of Israel.

Just God founded Israel, God founded the Church.

In this parable we should consider those servants as God’s messengers who were sent to secure the fruit of God which is the Lord Jesus Christ.

God is the founder of this vineyard.

*****Luk 20:9 Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time.

God has leased the land Israel sits on to Israel, not any other nation nor any other people.

God has leased the remainder of the world to all other mankind none of these things happened by chance.

Act 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

We are all sheep in God’s pasture.

Psa 100:3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

It should be very clear that God has given man the highest privileges in this world, not plants and not animals, and not what we can see.

It is man that has the privilege of life here and then an opportunity for Heavenly blessings.

It is man that also has the privilege for the care of this world.

God has placed life and this earth into the care of man’s hands!

It is a privilege to a part of God’s creation but we need to understand that privileges also have obligations.

Gen 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Gen 1:28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

As we go through this parable we need to remember all these things.

*****Luk 20:10 And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty.
Luk 20:11 And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty.
Luk 20:12 And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out.

The season spoken of in this passage would be the season of harvesting.

This is the season when the fruit would be offered to the Lord.

There is a day of accounting for all of us, so God sent His servants to collect.

God expects us all to bear fruit!

We should understand that the great truths from the Old Testament were written by the prophets and not the priests even though some of them were also priests.

The true prophet is always great because the truth makes men great not falsehood and not those who twist the truth into something evil.

We see that God’s servants were rejected and sent away. God’s servants were mistreated and were refused payment.

It is a fact that this world and most all those in it are very possessive of material things.

We see that these men deliberately rebelled against God.

Man wants to forget about God the Creator and rule the vineyard themselves.

Man wants to forget God’s rules and live by his own rules!

We would be foolish if did not see how accurate this parable is when compared to the world we live in today.

Remember a parable is an earthly picture of a Heavenly truth.

In fact man wants his way so much that he is willing to slander, ridicule, persecute and even slaughter the true servants of God.

Notice the patience of God.

2Pe 3:9 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 did not immediately strike out in anger though it was His right to do so.

We should also see that the servants of God will suffer while doing the work God has assigned them to do.

So God continued to send servants giving man chance after chance.

In this picture we know that Israel is a “type” of the world we live in today.

When Israel (world) would not honor God’s servant God sent His own Son.

*****Luk 20:13 Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him.
Luk 20:14 But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.
Luk 20:15 So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?

As Christians we certainly possess a portion of God’s Kingdom.

What God has done for Israel was not because Israel was better than any other nation.

AND, What God has done for each Christian is not because we are better than anyone else.

God was making a special appeal to the tenants of this vineyard (Israel).

God sent His own Son to collect the fruit.

**When Jesus first came He claimed to be the Son of God.

Jesus was different from the servants that had come before Him.

**When the tenants of God’s vineyard saw Jesus they already had plenty of evidence that what He said was true.

In fact most of Israel agreed that Jesus was the promised Messiah.

As Christians the key to our “faith” is to believe that Jesus Christ is who he says He is!

The unbelief of these people was deliberate!

They just refused to believe!

Their unbelief was outright rejection.

**They plotted His death.

It takes a foolish people to think they can stop the Almighty God.

BUT, We know that most of those in our world think this same way today.

**Not only did they plot to kill the Son they plotted to take God’s vineyard by force.

Notice man is always seeking worldly possessions instead of the God who creates all possessions.

Remember the sin of covetousness is the sin of wanting what some one else possesses.

Notice they intentionally rejected and denied and they will lie and cheat and even steal or kill to get what they want.

There was no limit to their evilness!

**And they murdered the Son.

Though the Lord Jesus Christ came to die on the cross it was still the worst crime in human history to put Him there.

Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

There is little doubt about the “Grace” of God BUT we should understand that we can push God to far.

*****Luk 20:16 He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.

Just as everything God does is justified, then His “judgement” is also justified.

It amazes me that people who say they know God and have felt the love of God, refuse to believe our loving God will when necessary show His wrath.

We can certainly abuse the mercy of God!

It only takes a moment of God’s wrath to cause major devastation!

In fact the greatest conflicts on this earth have been between the truth of God and the personal desires of men and it will remain that way until Christ returns a second time, when the wrath of God will be exposed to this world.

What is the truth?

If the power that we have is not used to serve God, then He will take it away from us and it will be given to those who will use it the way God designed it to be used.

The stupidity of wickedness is that those who rob God are robbing themselves!

These men who had planned to steal the things of God, then lost everything including their own lives.

We must also notice that the greatest hindrance to God’s Kingdom will come from those who are in the highest administrations in the affairs of men.

We know this is happening in America today, where the Church is hindered more by our own government than from any other source!

Our own Constitution was written to try to keep this from happening but these people are above the law.

BUT, We should also understand the wrath of God is still a sign of God’s holiness.

Psa 79:6 Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.

And the element of love and compassion of God is always closely connected with God’s anger!

And God’s anger can be extremely destructive!

Jer 10:24 O LORD, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.

We should also notice that when God takes His vineyard from these evil men, it will still be cultivated and it will still be expected to bear fruit.

God will simply raise up a different people to take care of it!

**We see that when these Jews heard this statement from Jesus that they knew exactly what Jesus meant.

They could not believe any such thing could happen to them because they had justified themselves above all other Jews.

They felt that God would not allow such a thing to happen but God was standing before them in the flesh this very day.

They decided if they destroyed Jesus these things would go away by doing just what the parable of Jesus had just said.

They said “God Forbid” not accepting the truth.

What is the truth of God?

Psa 2:8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
Psa 2:9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.
Psa 2:10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
Psa 2:11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling

And how did Jesus respond?

*****Luk 20:17 And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?
Luk 20:18 Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

To those that do not believe in a coming “Judgement” what do they do with such a Scripture as this?

Jesus stared them right in their face when He said these words. To behold is to fix your eyes upon something or someone.

Kind of like that look we have all gotten from our mothers just before she reached for that hickory switch.

The truth is our world does not want to hear the truth, because the leaders of this world think they can defy the Living God and make their own truth.

How foolish have we become!

The prophet Daniel also wrote of this coming destruction.

Dan 2:45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.

We are foolish to ignore the coming wrath of God when all the governments of this world will be destroyed and King Jesus will then sit on His throne on this earth for 1000 years.

Jesus Christ is the Head and the Chief Cornerstone of His creation.

Jesus Christ is the Foundation Stone of the Church.

And He is certainly the The Foundation Stone on which we are all to build our lives.

Eph 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Eph 2:21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
Eph 2:22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

If we cannot become a habitation for God we cannot be saved.

This same Foundation for building eternal life also has destructive power!

The destructive power of a stone over flesh and blood is well known.

So most all the religious leaders of the Jews turned on Christ Jesus that very day and joined forces.

*****Luk 20:19 And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them.

**We should keep in mind that just because two or more groups of people who are really true enemies, then join forces in a common cause does not make them right, it just makes them more wrong!

We see today in our own political arena this same thing is happening.

It is just a ploy used in politics to keep power in the wrong hands.

**We also see that religionists will go to any lengths to maintain control of the church.

We also see this going on today!

Solomon wrote that there is nothing new under the Sun and these are some of the things he was writing about.

**Another thing we see is that the Lord Jesus Christ had a perfect knowledge of these people and the intentions of His enemies.

We see that the Lord has no fear of any of His enemies and will always give them plain answers that they can understand.

The Jewish religious system had become it’s own political institution.

Just as political parties of today gang up to destroy politicians, most of the priesthood, that had begun with Moses, was now joining forces to destroy Jesus Christ, the Living Breathing Son of God.

These were the people who were to be God’s testimony of righteousness but had instead become selfish, power hungry pawns of Rome.

These were men who realized that people were flocking to Jesus by droves and if He so chose to allow them to make Him their King, Rome would come in and put down any revolt and they would lose their positions they had bartered with Rome to keep.

They would not only lose their position and authority but they would lose their livelihood.

They were becoming rich while their nation was being robbed by Rome.

They began to conspire some way to cause Jesus to trap Himself.

*****Luk 20:20 And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.
Luk 20:21 And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly:

They chose to stop Jesus by posing trick questions to try to get Jesus to take some position against the people.

They thought they could then arrest Him and destroy Him and their problems would be solved.

Notice they first sent spies to watch Jesus’ every move but sadly they were not interested in the way of salvation.

They were always seeking ways to accuse Him.

If they could cause Jesus to make an error in His doctrine He would look bad before the people.

If they could get Jesus to say anything against Rome then He could be arrested for treason.

The truth is, religion will always become political in the wrong hands!

As Christians we must always be aware of these things and guard against such things as power and position and selfish loyalty.

Joh 5:44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?

Jesus said our faith is useless when we trust more in the things of this world and we do that when we trust some man more than we trust God.

Jesus also had these words:

Mat 20:25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
Mat 20:26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
Mat 20:27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:

Again Christians must realize that we have only one Master, King Jesus.

We must remember that these men with different concepts had joined forces. They had been enemies but had linked together to destroy the Lord.

**Some of these religious leaders believed that religion should be supreme. They believed strongly in the spiritual world and that all obedience and loyalty belonged to God and to God alone.

Therefore they were totally against paying the Roman taxes, considering that paying taxes infringe on God’s right to all possessions.

They insisted on these things for the people but they themselves had no problem accepting the power and prestige of Rome.

**The other side of this group was locked in on “Humanism”. They believed that the state was supreme.

They did not hold to the supernatural or a Supreme Being who was involved in the affairs of mankind.

If there were religion then it too was to be subject to government control.

We are foolish if we do not see these same two battles going on in our own political structure today!

To these people God was to be ignored, unless they could use Him to be some benefit or blame in times of tragedy.

Even insurance companies have a clause which reads “an act of God” when it comes to a tragedy.

What does God say?

Isa 5:14 Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.
Isa 5:15 And the mean man shall be brought down, and the mighty man shall be humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled:
Isa 5:16 But the LORD of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness.

The truth is when we feel like there is someway to fool God then we have become the fools ourselves!

So they asked crafty questions to try to entangle the Lord.

We should realize cowards are like cats who like to take their prey by suddenly pouncing upon it. They will rarely come face to face with their prey trusting in their own stealth to surprise their enemy.

*****Luk 20:22 Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?
Luk 20:23 But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me?
Luk 20:24 Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar’s.
Luk 20:25 And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s.

Once we are saved God puts His stamp of approval upon our heart by the Holy Spirit and becomes our owner.

All that is created by God belongs to God!

The images stamped on all coins belong to the governments that forged them.

At least in America the phrase “in God we trust” is also imprinted still on our coins but for how much longer no one knows.

When Jesus pointed to that image He did not deny that the image was Caesar’s.

Coins, roads, buildings, sewage, transportation and many other things belong to the state including the military and law enforcement.

AND We already know that we are citizens of this world as long as we are in this world.

We are subject to the powers of this world and we owe some allegiance to the state.

Tit 3:1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,

The Bible says it is God who puts leaders in place and for His own reasons!

Rom 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Rom 13:2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
Rom 13:3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

Jesus said render to the government those things that belong to the government.

This is another reason we must keep our governments as small as possible but yet with enough resources to protect us.

We are to honor the laws of the land but only in regard to the laws of God!

Ecc 8:2 I counsel thee to keep the king’s commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God.

God must also have His due as well as the king his!

When we realize that governments may create coins and some other things but it is God that created man and man is always subject to God.

We owe our allegiance to God and not to any man!

In fact we owe God our lives. Our lives were created so that we can exist with God, for His pleasure.

God also created this world and we should do our best to take care of it.

Man is also a spirit and therefore able to be “Born Again” and live being able to deny our selves and pick up our cross daily and follow the Lord.

1Pe 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
1Pe 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

Man is also a body and we owe our bodies to the Lord.

Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

It is in this fashion that we can make a difference in this world we live in.

So what happened?

*****Luk 20:26 And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace.

They were silenced!

They were unable to discredit the Lord.

They were amazed at His answers.

As long as we are upon this earth we hold a dual citizenship as described by the Lord Jesus Himself.

We are to render to the government what is owed them and we are to render to God what is owed Him.

Most people murmur and fuss about what is owed to the government but then relent but they refuse to give God what belongs to God and most of them never relent to God.

These that were amazed at the answers of Jesus this day, would still reject Him though they knew He spoke the truth.

In order for the kingdoms of this world to survive, they must become the kingdoms of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Man can only survive by having only one Master!

Man is trinity in himself and each part has it’s own purpose in the methods of God!

To disagree with these things is to reject the Lord Jesus Christ and bring eternal death!

Our secular life and our Christian life are are to be equal partners while we are on this earth so that we can be the most useful servant that God has made and fulfill the purpose for which we are called.

Questions?

Let’s Pray!

Jesus Christ The Fulfillment Of Bible Prophecy

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

The Certainty Of Christ’s Fulfillment Of Prophecy

Book of Luke 18-19

Focus Luke 19:28-44

Prophecy simply means the foretelling of future events.

It can be said that prophecy is the writing of history before it happens.

The truth is only God can write true prophecy:

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

We are to accept the prophecies in the Scriptures as they came from God, because they did:

2Pe 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
2Pe 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
2Pe 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

There are some others who make predictions of future events and it is true that some of those things may even come about but all, every last one of the prophecies of God will be fulfilled just as they are written.

A true prophet will never be wrong!

The greatest event of prophecy in the Old Testament was fulfilled with the coming of the Messiah and the use of prophecy to tell of His coming by preparing the world for this event.

Today we find Jesus returning to Jerusalem for the last time.

You can search the Scriptures but on this day as Jesus began His last week of His life we find Jesus riding a donkey rather than walking.

This is the day known as Palm Sunday.

We can be sure that in this act of the Lord, He was claiming to be King but not the type of King that the Jews expected.

On this day the Lord Jesus Christ was claiming to be the King of Peace, the King whose Kingdom is not of this Earth.

*****Luk 19:28 And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem.

Jesus had come to this earth to die on a cross and it was now time to do so.

In all the Bible we will see that God is not so much concerned with time as He is with the timing of events.

One day to the Lord is as a 1000 days to us.

It was now the fullness of times and the Lord Jesus took the lead of this multitude to make sure they moved at His pace.

Jesus was on a mission to suffer and to die, not for Himself but because of us, all mankind.

This was also was a fulfillment of prophecy:

Isa 50:7 For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.

It was the will of His Father that Jesus do all these things and He was not about to fail.

Psa 40:6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.
Psa 40:7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,
Psa 40:8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.

Psa 40:13 Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.

There was also another thing that must take place.

Zec 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

*****Luk 19:29 And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,
Luk 19:30 Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither.
Luk 19:31 And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him.

We must clearly understand that prophecy will be fulfilled by the Lord Jesus Christ in every minute detail!

Those that have already taken place are examples of those that have not yet taken place!

Even this ride into Jerusalem had a specific meaning!

The instructions Jesus gave to His disciples had to be followed precisely.

Notice there are no small task when proclaiming Christ as King!

The disciples knew what Jesus was doing even though they could not understand what His death had to do with anything.

Bethphage or (House of figs) was a suburb of Jerusalem even at that time.

In this city was home of Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha, friends who shared their home with Jesus when He was in town.

Jesus had no home of His own at this time because except for His mother Mary, none of the family of Jesus believed on Him at this time.

In those days the donkey and the mule were noble animals.

A donkey was the animal that would carry the burdens of men but this animal was also used by kings and their emissaries when they were entering a city in peace.

King David had a great warhorse but his prize animal was the King’s mule which even Solomon rode as he was crowned King.

A conquering King would ride into any city on a war horse.

The Lord Jesus Christ when He returns for a second time will ride in on a powerful white stallion.

Jesus was about to show the people of Jerusalem that He was certainly the promised King, the Messiah.

Jesus was also about to show those same people He was not coming as they expected Him to come.

Even the government of Rome should have understood these things which I believe Pilate did.

**That young colt was a sure sign of peace!
**That young colt also symbolized service, as service to mankind and to carry man’s burdens. Jesus came to carry the burdens of sin for all mankind.
**That young colt also symbolized sacredness. This colt had never been ridden before. Animals used for religious purposes must not have ever been used for any other purpose or they were not acceptable in the ministry.

Deu 21:3 And it shall be, that the city which is next unto the slain man, even the elders of that city shall take an heifer, which hath not been wrought with, and which hath not drawn in the yoke;

Everything Jesus did that day and that last week, had a specific purpose!

AND, The two disciples that went after the colt found things were just as Jesus had said.

*****Luk 19:32 And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them.
Luk 19:33 And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt?
Luk 19:34 And they said, The Lord hath need of him.

Here we have a prime example of the providence of God.

The Lord had a need for this colt that far surpassed what the owner of that colt had.

We may not understand why God seems to take some on home to Heaven in their prime but that answer is we must not question God but realize that God had a specific need for them far beyond our own needs of them to be here with us.

It is only the Lord that we worship as God, that has these powers!

We should clearly understand that if God is so careful to fulfill even the smallest detail in prophecy then just how wonderful will be that home that He has gone to prepare for us, down to the most minute detail for our home-going.

And If God is so careful to count the hairs on our head would He ever miss a bruise or a cut or a laceration, or a heart problem or a cancer?

If God is so minded of the birds in the air would God ever be careless with the lives of those He has redeemed by the blood of His own Son?

There is a purpose for all those names that are written down in the Lamb’s Book of Life and the Lord has a need for each and everyone of them!

*****Luk 19:35 And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon.
Luk 19:36 And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way.
Luk 19:37 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;
Luk 19:38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.

Christ’s triumphal entrance into Jerusalem is one of the most noted scenes in the “Gospel”.

In typology, it is but fore-gleam of that soon coming day when Jesus will be enthroned to sit as King of Kings and Lord of Lord’s, that will also take place in Jerusalem.

**We first see enthusiasm to serve Christ. We are only at our best when we are enthusiastic.

What the Church lacks today is that enthusiasm to serve the Lord!

Christians should be excited about serving the Lord!

These people praised God. In our day we would say, they rolled out the red carpet as they cast their cloaks down to to cushion the Lord’s pathway.

They had just witnessed many miracles including the blind man Bartemaus and the raising of Lazarus from the dead.

Excitement was in the air, for they knew that Jesus had the power to do anything He chose to do.

What were Jesus’ credentials? He had come in the name of the Lord.

What are the blessings that will come with our King Jesus? “Peace” in Heaven and “Glory” in the Highest.

Jesus had come to bring the Kingdom of God to this earth but not in the way that these people had expected.

**They thought that Jesus had come to free all nations from Roman domination.

This thing is still in our future!

Jesus had first come to free all nations from the bondage of sin.

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

1Jn 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil”.

**They thought that Jesus had come to set His throne in Jerusalem from which a reign of righteousness would be executed.

But Jesus had first come to rule and reign in our hearts and restore our broken relationship with God.

Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Eph 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
Eph 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
Eph 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

**They thought that Jesus had come to establish Israel as the leading nation of this earth as He removed the domination of Rome.

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

Hosanna means to “save now”.

Psa 118:24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Psa 118:25 Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.

They had failed to see that Jesus was riding a donkey colt which meant He was coming in peace.

Luk 1:78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,
Luk 1:79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

They failed to see that Jesus was riding an animal of burdens, coming as the Savior and Redeemer who would carry the burdens of all mankind.

Heb 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Heb 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

They failed to see that Jesus was riding a young colt that had never been ridden which symbolized sacredness, as Jesus came to save souls and not bodies.

Eph 1:2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

This was the hour to “save” there will be another hour for “wrath”.

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

They failed to see the Jesus was riding an animal that symbolized meekness as Jesus is King of meekness.

Mat 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Mat 11:29 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.
Mat 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

They had not taken a good look at Jesus because they could only think of their own personal problems, in which they could only see Jesus as the means to allow them to live as they wanted to, which has never been what God has commanded.

God did not save any of us so we could do what we wanted to do!

But there are always those who see the enthusiasm of Christians to serve the Lord as a threat to their own world view.

*****Luk 19:39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.
Luk 19:40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

The majority of those that followed Jesus that day could only see the end of the rule of Rome and a new world ruled by the Messiah.

They wanted Jesus to rule as King of Israel and put a stop to the tyranny of Rome and we should not be confused, Rome ruled as tyrants.

The truth is, that the religious rulers of Israel such as the Pharisees were rewarded by Rome if they could maintain the control of the people.

They had already given their word that they would hunt Jesus down and arrest Him but that would be impossible with such a great multitude surrounding Him at this time.

And,We should be very clear God will never rebuke any one that is offering Him true praise.

The Bible says “clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph”

The Bible says that “everything that has breath should praise the Lord”.

In other words if you cannot praise the Lord then die because you are breathing God’s air.

God will never go against His own Word and the praise of God should never be a solemn event.

After all, if the people will not praise the Lord, then God would get the rocks and the stones to call out His name.

To all those that say Jesus was not courageous and was not a pure Preacher of the Word of God, they certainly do not read the Word of God.

Jesus stepped on more toes than any preacher I know!

Jesus only humbled to the religious leaders when it came time for the cross and He had no fear even at that time.

Joh 10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
Joh 10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

Jesus had to be willing to lay down His life, to fulfill the will of His Father in Heaven or our sin debt could never have been paid.

No man on this earth could have taken the life of Jesus if He so wished not to give it!

Jesus explained to these Pharisees that it was not they that were in control of this situation and that it was He who ruled His own creation.

The Word of God does tell us that nature did cry out loudly when Jesus said “it is finished”.

Mat 27:50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
Mat 27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
Mat 27:52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
Mat 27:53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

Jesus came to seek and to save, and that mission is still ongoing today through the true Church but that also will soon end and the day of salvation will be over with the Church Age ending.

It was all these things that caused the Lord Jesus to weep as the city of Jerusalem came into His sight.

*****Luk 19:41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,
Luk 19:42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.

Who is the greatest Prophet in this world, the Lord Jesus Christ!

Who is also the Lord of Compassion, it is the Lord Jesus Christ!

It should be very clear, Jesus has a great love for all people but He also has a great love for the city of Jerusalem and it is a foolish world that does not acknowledge that fact!

Jesus prophesied the doom of that people in that day because they had rejected Him.

Jesus’ answer to all that refuse to believe was on full display May 14, 1948 when Israel once again became a nation and in the 6 day war when Jerusalem came back into the hands of the Jews.

Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem that day.

This weeping was in full view of all those that were with Him that day.

To weep means He burst into tears, He wept out loud, He sobbed, He wailed, and He mourned.

The Lord Jesus Christ was truly heart broken for what would soon happen to Jerusalem.

Jesus could obviously see the city as it existed that day but Jesus could also see the coming destruction and this is what caused Him to weep so much knowing He could stop it but He could not break His own Word.

On that day the city of Jerusalem was the most festive city in all the world, as Jerusalem was prepared for the Passover Feast. But while these people were celebrating the reason they were celebrating, The Lord Jesus that saved them then and could save them now, was on the adjacent hillside weeping and mourning for them all and the city.

On this day, no one in the city of Jerusalem realized, the only thing that would bring everlasting peace to this great city was weeping because they would reject Him.

They had lost their opportunity!

Our president of today had a prime opportunity to bring peace to America and to this world but He has squandered his opportunity for foolish reasons that only he knows the truth of.

It is only the “Gospel Blessings” that are conducive to true peace!

The blessings of “Grace”.
The deliverance from the bondage of sin.
The deliverance from condemnation.
The deliverance from the fears of guilt.
All the blessings of “Glory”!

Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Rom 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

And then came the terrible prophecy of Jerusalem out of the mouth of God.

Jerusalem by it’s name is to be the city of “Peace”.

Up unto this day we live, the city of Jerusalem has never known true peace.

Peace means free from troubles.

Peace means experiencing things that are good.

Peace means enjoying the very best in life.

Peace is more an internal feeling than an external reality.

There is the “Peace of God” which is a deep peace from within.

It is peace of mind that is more than feelings. More than attitude and more than thought.

Then there is the “peace of the world” which is refusing to face reality!

True peace is always hidden from the eyes of those that reject the Lord Jesus Christ!

There is no peace of assurance to those that reject the Lord Jesus Christ and the world continues to come up with it’s own methods and methods that will always fail.

*****Luk 19:43 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,
Luk 19:44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.

Jesus Christ Himself prophesied that Jerusalem would not be at peace until He returned again.

The Jerusalem of the time of Jesus would soon be destroyed!

Jerusalem had been destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar but a greater destruction than that lay ahead.

There would be a trench dug around the entire city. The trench and the dirt that was piled on the side of it would provide safety for the Roman army of Titus.

Jerusalem would feel the full might and power of the Roman army, which was relentless in war.

Jerusalem would be utterly destroyed, completely demolished not one stone was to be left upon another.

The people within the walls of Jerusalem would be personally judged by Rome.

“And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee”.

The city of Jerusalem would be judged but it was the people who were at fault.

America will one day be judged and part of that may be happening now but it is the people who are at fault.

History teaches us that Titus brought his army to Jerusalem in 70 A.D. and this prophecy of Jerusalem was fulfilled.

History teaches us that over 1 million people died within the walls of Jerusalem with another 97,000 taken captive.

Josephus the Jewish historian describes the many horrors that took place.

Josephus wrote that nothing from the beginning of creation even resembled what was done to these Jews.

This is a picture of all the nations that reject the Lord Jesus Christ but nations never learn from history.

Earthly leaders in their quest for power never look back at the past and learn from the things that lead to war.

Joh 3:36 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.

We can be sure, God does not make idle threats. God simply warns us that the decisions we make have consequences!

Rejecting the Messiah brings tragic results.

It is true that God has more love than He does wrath but we cannot ignore that just a moment of the wrath of God brings devastation like we have never seen!

Joh 8:23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.
Joh 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

God had always visited Jerusalem but they had rejected a very personal visit from the Messiah, God in human flesh.

There was no excuse for what these Jews did and they had understood the Scriptures.

The day of Israel’s salvation had come and they preferred to take their chances with the world and they lost.

Israel will get one more opportunity but God does not make this promise to any other nation that rejects Him.

Luk 13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!
Luk 13:35 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

If we believe all the Scriptures of salvation and the love of God, then we certainly cannot deny that God has a side of wrath that we simply do not want to see!

This truth is just as true as all the Word of God and cannot be denied!

Questions?

Let’s Pray!

Christ’s Practical Teachings

/ Bobby Mayfield / 1 Comment

The Certainty Of Christ’s Practical Teachings

Book of Luke Chapter 17

God’s authority over mankind is moral and this is known by anyone who possesses intelligence.

God’s authority over mankind focuses on mankind having the intellect to understand the truth.

God gave us all a mind capable of understanding the sensibility to appreciate the effect of truth on happiness and the conscience to judge right over wrong and good over evil.

Of all God’s creation, He gave mankind the ability to choose. He gave mankind a chance to take voluntary action in their eternal life.

The rest of God’s creation follows set rules. For instance God does not change the orbit of a planet just because it wants to go in a different direction.

If mankind has the opportunity to choose then mankind realizes there are penalties for making wrong choices.

God gave mankind the ability to resist temptation and persuasion!

Sin is then nothing but an act of free will committed against one’s conviction of what is right!

Sin therefore is inexcusable!

In this passage God will teach us four practical laws that could revolutionize all societies.

1) Leading another person into sin will bring the judgment of God.
2) Forgiving others of their sin against you is essential.
3) Faith is the most powerful force in this world if that faith is in the God of the Bible.
4) To obey God is a duty and not an act of servitude.

A sure sign of the great sin in our day shows us the decay of the Church. The Church has grown cold so today we see a time of abounding offenses.

Offenses are the worldliness and selfishness of those who profess to be godly but are not. No doubt we can see a world full of such people today.

2Ti 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2Ti 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2Ti 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
2Ti 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

The word practical means that the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ can be put to use in our lives daily and we will be better because of them.

*****Luk 17:1 Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that Offenses will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!

There are many today that say when we sin it is entirely our own fault and we will be held accountable for our own sin. Much of this is true and ultimately we are held responsible for our own sin. There is another lesson that Jesus taught as He was enroute to the cross.

The truth is we are held responsible if we cause another person to sin and especially if that person never recovers and and never seeks the Lord Jesus Christ for forgiveness.

In this text an offence is when we ourselves have become a stumbling-block in the path of some other lost soul!

The truth is there will always be some who stumble over some things that we have led them to.

We must always remeber that every soul is precious to the Lord!

The world is already full of stumbling-blocks, we do not to become one ourselves!

The truth is people are always placing stumbling-blocks in each other’s way and especially before our children.

We must never forget one important thing, we will all face God one day!

Rom 14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
Rom 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
Rom 14:13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling-block or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.

Now if we have faith in the “doctrine of the Lord Jesus Christ we have been forgiven of all sin but we will still be held accountable for what we do after we are saved. This does not mean we can lose our salvation but it does mean that God will certainly hold us accountable and this sermon by the Lord Jesus Christ teaches us this truth.

What does God say?

Rom 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and Offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

God is serious about these things.

*****Luk 17:2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

When we become a stumbling-block by leading another person into sin it can bring heavy judgment!

We should remember Jesus is speaking to His disciples and not to some crowd that had gathered.

We should clearly understand this message of Jesus.

People are not good by nature and occasionally sin, People Are Sinners who occasionally do good!

AND, Jesus said it is impossible that we will not sin.

No matter how wonderful we make ourselves out to be, we are just sinners saved by the “Grace” of God through “Faith”!

Sin enters the world, our places of business, our places of enjoyment, the places we shop, our places of worship and into our homes and we must accept that this is true and it is impossible for this not to be true!

No place on this earth can ever escape sin because there are no perfect people on this earth though there are those who think they are perfect.

Committing sin is already a terrible thing that is in our nature but when we choose to involve others in our sin or lead someone else into a place of sin it is even more terrible!

1) This is done when we grumble and complain and criticize the things of the Church.
2) This is done when we take sides, one brother against another brother and not settle our differences according to the Word of God.
3) This is done when we become worldly and materialistic.
4) This is done when we become conceited and prideful.
5) This is done when we become loose and immoral.
6) This is done when we curse and talk filthy.
7) This is done when we deviate from the truth of the “Doctrine of Jesus Christ”.

Jesus said it would be better if we just died than to become a stumbling block to even one soul!

1Jn 2:10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
1Jn 2:11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

A millstone is not just some small stone that you could wear as a necklace but a stone used in grinding out meal.

No one could survive such a millstone when cast into the sea.

That person would be held to the bottom of that sea until they died.

In other words when we lead others astray of the teachings of Jesus Christ in any way, we have committed the most awful of sins!

And Jesus moves on to another crime we commit on a regular basis, that of being unforgiving.

*****Luk 17:3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.

We must realize that forgiving others is essential to our own salvation.

There must never be a sense of unforgivingness among God’s people.

There are many in our world that consider the doors of the church closed to them because they feel they can never be forgiven by God’s people.

This terrible for them but it is sinful for us that know the Lord.

All those that trespass against us are those who go against the Word of God in which we are to stand!

The word “rebuke” is very important in this Scripture.

We are to confront those who go against the Word of God but we are also to lovingly do what we can to correct them in that sin against God and against the Church, the people of God.

That correction must be done in love and compassion and not in a censoring and judgmental spirit.

Pro 9:8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
Pro 9:9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
Pro 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

This never means that we are to condone any sin.

This never means we are to be weak in understanding the Word of God.

This only means that we must respond to being mistreated by being loving and compassionate.

BUT, to allow sin to continue is to indulge in that sin by giving that person a license to continue in their sin which goes against the Word of God.

Eph 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
Eph 5:12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
Eph 5:13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
Eph 5:14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
Eph 5:15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

We must always use the Word of God as our guideline!

2Ti 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

It is easy to say, “well I’m not a preacher” but God says we all are.

It’s also easy to say, well they just do the same old sin over and over again and this is getting old but God says that makes no difference to Him because we were all the same before we understood the salvation plan of the Lord Jesus Christ.

1Co 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
1Co 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
1Co 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

What did Jesus teach?

Luk 17:4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

The command to forgive is a strong command from the Lord.

To be forgiving is in fact a beautiful picture of God’s unlimited forgiveness for all His children.

Our greatest tool in witnessing for the Lord is how the lost world sees us. Our lifestyle is the greatest part of our witness for God!

BUT, we are never to take advantage of God’s forgiveness!

Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
Rom 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

The disciples that were with Jesus that day knew that they lacked in the one thing that would make all these other things possible.

*****Luk 17:5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.

We should immediately see that “faith” can be increased.

In fact we should all desire for God to increase our faith and even more as we approach these end times, if we are not already there in those end times.

The truth is, an increase in “faith” connects us to an increase in a holy lifestyle.
This being true then an increase in “faith” leads to an increase in peace and comfort.
And the result God is looking for is that an increase in “faith” leads to an increase in our usefulness.

We must first have “faith” before there can be an increase in “faith”!

We are justified by “faith”!
We are saved by “faith”!
Christ dwells in our hearts by “faith”!
We stand by “faith”!
We walk by “faith”!
We have access to God by “faith”!

SO, An increase in “faith” should be a great desire.

It is by faith that we quench the fiery darts of this evil world.

Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

And it is by “faith” that we conquer this evil world!

1Jn 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

And what did Jesus say to this request?

*****Luk 17:6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

We know that “faith” is essential.

It is also our faith that make us free from causing another person to stumble.

These disciples of Jesus Christ knew and we should also know, that greater “faith” would make us all more like Christ Jesus and this should be the goal of everyone who calls on the name of the Lord.

Jesus said: It is not necessarily more “faith” that is needed but it is “genuine faith” that is needed.

Jesus said that even even a very small amount of “genuine faith” could do great things!

Jesus said nothing is impossible to those who have “genuine faith”!

What was the sign of “genuine faith”?

Boldness!

It takes “boldness” to walk up to a tree and command it to move!

Mat 21:21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
Mat 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

SO THEN, It is “genuine faith” that can cause miracles to happen!

Psa 37:5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

We know for sure that the chosen disciples of the Lord learned this lesson very well because the Book of Acts is full of the miracles of these disciples, who became the Apostles.

It was the Apostles of Jesus Christ that turned this world upside down and this world has never been the same since.

It is the lack of “genuine faith” that has caused the weakness of the Church of today!

Just like the tiny mustard seed, a tiny amount of “genuine faith” has an enormous potential.

But Jesus did not stop there, He continued to teach practical things to these disciples.

Jesus taught that the key to all His teaching was obedience.

*****Luk 17:7 But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?
Luk 17:8 And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?

We must understand that to obey God is not our service to Him, “but it is our duty”!

Ecc 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Ecc 12:14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

There is a real danger that believers will become prideful because God gives such wonderful benefits when they live victoriously in their faith.

We must always remember we are only sinners that are saved because of God’s “Grace”!

**Jesus said once we are saved we are all His servants. To be a servant means we have a Master!

A servant is a slave bought to serve his Master!

The truth is, it is the spirit in which we serve God that is important!

We concern ourselves with what God thinks of our work rather than how we feel about the work God gives us to do.

The truth is every Christian belongs to God therefore God has every right to place us in His fields to plough.

We are the property of God!

1Co 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

When we glorify ourselves thinking we are God’s best then we do not understand what Jesus is saying.

**We must serve and obey God until all the work is done.

Ploughing and feeding the animals is tough work that requires discipline in our bodies and in our spirit and they require endurance.

Those animals require feed everyday.

Without the ploughing there can be no harvest.

Not only is the servant of God to labor hard during the day but he also labors at evening while the world eats and sleeps.

A Christian’s day is not one with set hours but he must be ready for any emergency that arises, not because it is a request but because it is our duty to God.

We are to give all the time that God demands to the Lord!

We are to be waiting and watching until our death!

These things are to be done without becoming prideful but also without murmuring and complaining.

To be honest we are all unprofitable servants because we simply cannot measure our indebtedness to the Lord for what He has done for us!

Rom 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
Rom 5:11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

**We are to always be humble in this work.

No where does God say to be a Christian will be easy.

*****Luk 17:9 Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.
Luk 17:10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

No matter what we do for Christ it is our duty to do it!

Not only are we unworthy to obtain the “Grace” of God, we are unworthy to be His servants, His slaves.

We will all come up short no matter how much we think we have done for the Lord.

In fact when we get to Heaven it may be that those tears that are wiped away are the tears we will shed when we realize that we could have done much much more than we did.

There is absolutely no room for pride, arrogance or boasting in serving the Lord!

God commands perfection but we are all imperfect so God expects humility.

For those who preach a prosperity Gospel, the truth is we have no right to any compensation at all!

God’s plan of salvation will continue without our service, God just gives us great opportunities to be a part of His plan but without a doubt to serve the Lord will bring it’s own blessings.

Luk 12:37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.

If we are satisfied with the work we are doing for the Lord then we certainly are not doing enough!.

When the Lord Jesus Christ took the time just before He went to the cross to pay our sin debt to give us such practical teachings then we know we are to serve God just as Jesus, the Son of Man, served God when He gave His life just because that is what He was sent to do!

We could say that as the slaves of the Lord we receive all the benefits because God only gets back what Adam lost to begin with, and many will still reject this plan of God!

Questions?

Let’s Pray!

We Can Be Certain Of Christ’s Warnings

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

The Certainty Of Christ Warning

Book of Luke 16

We know that a warning is a caution against danger in most cases.

Most of the time when we see Chapter 16 in the Book of Luke we concentrate on the story of Lazarus and the rich man and the truth of Hell. This story is only part of the message that Jesus was teaching.

The “theme” of Jesus message in this entire chapter is about riches.

Remember riches are not sin in themselves, riches just lead most people into sin!

1Ti 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

The love of riches is the sin of covetousness and covetousness will ruin even an honest person.

The love of riches will most always lead to deception and dishonesty.

When we use the things of this world to gain the advantage over someone else, we are not following the Word of God!

We sometimes fall into the trap of living extravagantly and move away from the simple truths of life.

If that is so then riches become our “idol” between us and God.

What does God teach us to do?

1Ti 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

Jesus Christ had a lot to say about money because most all of us feel like we just do not have enough of it!

The first warning from Jesus we see is that if we are not going to seek a close personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ,
then we had better make ourselves friends with those who are rich in the things of this world.

Luk 16:9 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.

We can see that this is the way of most people in this world we live in.

So let’s begin with verse 10:

*****Luk 16:10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
Luk 16:11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
Luk 16:12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?

The truth is, all Christians are to be faithful in their handling of the possessions that God has loaned to us because in truth all things belong to God.

As Christians we are to use our material wealth for good!

We should be clear in the eyes of God anything above our needs is material wealth!

We have the tendency to only rate things as “great” and “small” in speaking of our actions, our plans and our duties.

Though we have a tendency to linger on the “great” things it is more times than not that the “small” things that are of the greater importance!

It is a fact that the small things of life actually take most of our time and time is something that we will find that we just do not have enough of in this life.

Since our life is made up more of little things than greater things, then it is the little things in which we will be tested the most.

If we can be faithful in the least of things then we will probably be faithful in the greater things!

The Bible is clear, the Christian is to be faithful in handling his or her possessions.

It is our faithfulness in these seemingly unimportant things on earth that determine what we will trusted with throughout eternity!

There is nothing on this earth that can compare to eternal salvation!

There is nothing on this earth that can compare to the absolute assurance of eternal life!

There is nothing on this earth that can compare to the love, peace, and confidence that comes from a daily walk with the Lord Jesus Christ!

There is nothing on this earth that can compare to the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit!

There is nothing else on this earth as great as the Word of God!

You can have all the world, just give me Jesus.

Knowing God on a personal level and being adopted into the family of God, is far beyond any hope and dream of this world!

After we know the Lord on a personal level we will then also be judged as a steward of the things that God has placed into our possession.

The truth of all these things is that the only part we can take with us at the time of our death is our stewardship of those things, all earthly possessions will remain on this earth and eventually will be burned up.

In verse 12 we see the phrase “another man’s” and as far as we are concerned that other man is God because all things belong to Him!

We will never have all that we could have if we fail to walk with God and share the things that are above our needs with others!

Mar 10:29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s,
Mar 10:30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

We should remember there is no profit at all of this world if we loose our soul!

Mar 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
Mar 8:37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

There is nothing on this earth that we can exchange for our soul!

AND, Our soul is the one thing of greatest value to God!

We should not over look the importance of this next passage. In fact there are no unimportant Scriptures.

*****Luk 16:13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

As Christians we can have only one Master!

We must choose God!

If we refuse the Lord Jesus Christ we have chosen this world by default!

Joh 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
Joh 16:9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;

We will focus ourselves on the things of this world or upon God.
We will turn ourselves over to the things of this world or to God.
We will think primarily upon the things of this world or we will think of God and His ways.
We will give our time and energy to the things of this world or to God.
We will allow our pursuits to control Christ or we will allow Christ to control our pursuits.
We will struggle against God or we will give ourselves to God!

God says we will hate one and love the other, there is no middle ground!

God says we will hold to one and despise the other, again there is no middle ground!

Mat 4:10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

“Him only shalt thou serve”

There are some grave misunderstandings among those of the church that need to be clarified and Jesus will do most of that here.

*****Luk 16:14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.
Luk 16:15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

The Pharisees believed that they were so high up on God’s list, that they were guaranteed a place in Heaven.

There are many in this world that for many different reasons think the same way these Pharisees thought.

Jesus will teach about the 3 greatest misunderstandings among men in these next passages and we need to understand what He says.

**First there is grave misunderstanding of money and possessions.

Remember Jesus had just said that no one can serve 2 Masters.

These Pharisees were among that certain group who could not believe what they were hearing.

What Jesus was saying was, when we spend our time and our energy seeking the short lived wealth of this world and not better spending that time seeking the face of God and the everlasting wealth of Heaven, we do not understand the Word of God.

We absolutely cannot keep our thoughts on God when we are seeking the false riches of this world!

We cannot pick up our own cross daily and follow the Lord unless we can deny our own desires!

Self-denial and a pursuit of wealth are things that are opposite from each other!

It is a fact that most of this world highly esteem the very things that God hates!

It is a fact that most of this world judges by man-made rules and not by God’s rules!

The world allows mankind to seek their own happiness while God says to seek the happiness of others.

The Lord Jesus Christ was demanding total allegiance from these so-called religious men.

What does God say?

Mat 22:37 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.

The only way to read this passage is for us to keep all our thoughts, our mind, our energy, and our effort in seeking the ways of God, while denying ourselves.

We are never to seek our own happiness at the expense of others!

It is a fact that if we have anything at all, it came from God but it is also a fact that money and possessions that come at the expense of others are not a sign of God’s blessings.

In fact money and possessions are never really a sign of the blessings of God!

God teaches that everything we have above our own needs are given to us to help those that do not have and to aid in the spreading of the “Gospel”.

This is not to say that we are not to enjoy the blessings of God but we are to have the right attitude about the blessings of God.

What Jesus was teaching bothered these men.

What Jesus was teaching bothered those who are super religious.

It is natural for us to want possessions because this world places a high esteem on possessions.

It is natural for us to want to fit in and be acceptable in this world.

What is unnatural is, that we want to do these things and also be known that we are seeking to get closer to God.

Most all of us rebel when we are told that we are to give part of our possessions to others.

**The truth is, it is possible to be religious and still covet the things of this world yet God says, “thou shalt not covet”.

These Pharisees were the most religious men in their day and maybe the most religious men who had ever lived but they still coveted the wealth of this world!

1Ti 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

**The truth is a man of wealth will tend to use their possessions to justify themselves before other men.

They will use their wealth to seek the favor and honor of other men and women. Even when they have secured their wealth unjustly they will seek approval by being generous and giving to some need that they feel is worthy of their attention.

Some are even conscious of their need to walk closer to the Lord and they will give to that appearance by living a super religious lie while pursuing the honor of the religious world.

Mar 7:6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
Mar 7:7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Pro 30:12 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.

The sad fact is that we live in that generation today!

**The truth is that God knows what is in each man’s heart.

We are acceptable to God by what is in our heart and not what is in our bank account.

God’s blessings are not in material things!

God’s blessings are in spiritual things!

Mat 19:23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 19:24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Even the 12 disciples were caught off guard by these things that Jesus was saying.

Mat 19:25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?

The Scriptures are very clear on these things.

God places us in this world where He decides and with the benefits that He decides!
The legitimate things in this life come from being true and honest!
Living and working well are a great testimony for any man or woman.
God will provide our needs and that will come through work but we are also to work well to help others.

Each Christian should be not only a good worker and provide an honest living but we should strive to be the best at what we do to demonstrate to others that God’s people are simply the most true, the most honest, and the most lovely people on this earth!

The world looks at all those who claim to be Christian and then go against the written Word of God as models for all Christians but the world is wrong there are true Christians who do resemble the Lord Jesus Christ.

For most of us our life is our greatest testimony to this world!

**God wants His children to center their lives around the things of the heart and not on material possessions.

Material possessions will come and then pass away no matter what we do. It is the spiritual things that last forever!

Mat 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
Mat 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Mat 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

**Second, there is a misunderstanding of the New Kingdom and the New Order.

*****Luk 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

The period of Israel in the Old Testament lasted up until the preaching of John the Baptist according to the Lord Jesus Christ. It is after this that the New Testament began.

It is the Lord Jesus Christ that ushered in a new period and a new world order. All others are a figment of man’s imagination!

The Kingdom of God is now a “Spiritual Kingdom” that can only exist in the heart of man and acts on the behavior of man.

This is the Kingdom of God that is now preached which places no value on what man has, but only what a man is! (what a man is within his heart)

This message centers on each individual and their potential to serve God!

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

The Spiritual Kingdom of God comes only by the Holy Ghost living within us upon the acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord of His Kingdom!

Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Rom 14:18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.

The Kingdom of God is not for any single race of people but for all people, everywhere!

Upon recognizing this kingdom that Jesus Christ preached, an honest person no longer wants a cheap, formal, religion with an easy message.

Joh 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

**And third, there is a misunderstanding of the law.

*****Luk 16:17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.
Luk 16:18 Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.

Many people believe that since Jesus brings forth a New Testament and a New Order that the Old Testament is now irrelevant.

In fact if you have read the Books of Moses with care you may wonder why God would enact such a system of laws.

Many see these things as being unworthy of such a God as Jehovah.

When we do these things we forget that everything that God does has a purpose.

We may think we understand God’s plan of salvation but we find that we have little understanding of God’s methods.

If we understand Creation and the first 11 chapters of the Book of Genesis, we will have a better understanding of all the Word of God.

If we understand the Books of Moses and their relationship to the Jews as a separated people, then we will have an understanding of the “Gospel”, the “Good News” of Jesus Christ.

When we regard any part of the Word of God as antiquated or a useless thing, we in effect charge God with a weakness in His intellect, or a lack of understanding and that is as much sin as murder, or adultery, or any other known sin.

We need to understand phrases like “the fullness of times”, “Heaven and Earth pass away” and “he that hath an ear” and the many other Biblical truths.

God makes it plain for us all:

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

We should clearly understand that the laws that govern the universe are much more important than the universe itself!

If not for the teaching of the Old Testament we could not clearly understand the New Testament!

We must understand the Word of God in the context that it is written!

There is a wonderful beauty in every part of God’s creation when we understand it as from a Supreme Being rather than the falsehood of evolution.

How would we live and how would our universe appear without such laws as the law of gravitation?

How could we travel without knowing direction North, East, South, and West.

If God were not a God of order our world would be a world of disorder and confusion!

Heaven and Earth will pass away one day but not one jot or one tittle of God’s law will fail in it’s purpose.

Not even the most minute law should be forgotten!

If God allowed even one minute detail of creation to fail our world would be in chaos!

God gives us the example of divorce and marriage because our own failures and our own desires and our own lust, make divorce and marriage relevant in any and every age.

Every separation requires a legal divorce before the two parties resume life with another party.

As men we simply cannot just force our wives to just leave as the Pharisees did in their day where a wife could be divorced for burning the bacon.

We should also remember if the laws of reaping and sowing did not exist we would all die of starvation!

We should clearly understand, God will never modify the order He has established to accommodate any particular person or a people.

A good tree will never produce evil fruit and a corrupt tree will never produce good fruit.

The Book of Proverbs will always be true in any age because the entire Word of God will be relevant in every age until God says it is finished.

When we waste the period of time that God has given to us and the purpose that He has for each of us, we waste things that can never be replaced.

The same law that brings salvation is the same law that brings condemnation for those that ignore that law.

It is our own conscience that tells us we are all sinners!

In our best interest we need to partake of the tree of life.

To understand the Law of God is to understand that the Lord Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of “all” the Law!

Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

It is Jesus Christ and those that call Him Lord that will endure forever!

1Pe 1:25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

To be free from the penalty of sin we need the truth and not some false thing from some man, such as Muhammad, or Confucius, or Brigham Young or Buddha or any other false prophet.

Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Questions?

Let’s Pray!