Jesus Christ

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!

Jesus Christ’s Rules For Discipleship

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

The Certainty Of Christ’s Rules For Discipleship

Book of Luke 14

What is a disciple?

A disciple is a follower of the doctrine of another.

We are to be followers of the doctrine of Jesus Christ to be His disciples.

There are some things we must do to be His disciples:

1) We are to believe the doctrine of Christ.
2) We are to rest on the sacrifice of Christ.
3) We are to absorb the Spirit of Jesus to think as He thinks.
4) We are to follow in the examples that Christ has given to us.
5) We must esteem Christ above all other things.
6) We are to deny our own desires and seek the desires of Christ!
7) We must realize that if we have any questions at all, the answer is always Jesus Christ!

No one can be a disciple of Jesus Christ unless his love for Christ is greater than that of another person they love.

No one can serve two masters:

Mat 6:24 “No man 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.

It is impossible that the love of God and the love of this world to be in the same heart!

To be a disciple of Jesus Christ, we must lay all our own desires at the feet of Jesus!

In fact we must be willing to lay down our own life at the feet of Jesus!

**We must show a love for all mankind!

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

**We must cling to the Word of God!

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.

**We must bear fruit!

Joh 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
Joh 15:9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

If these things are not true, then there could be no Church.

You see God will have His Church in spite of the Devil!

God will have His Church in spite of wicked men!

Jesus Christ had certain rules for being His disciples and we should know them and allow them to rule in our own lives.

The Book of Revelation states that when Christ offers us the rewards for being His servants we will because of unworthiness place those rewards at the feet of Jesus.

Rev 4:10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and “cast their crowns before the throne, saying”,
Rev 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

If we are not willing to lay our substance in this world at the feet of Jesus, then we are unworthy to be His disciples!

In fact we should be willing to lay down our lives at the feet of Jesus because that is what He did for us that believe!

Jesus Christ is not interested in cheap imitations!

*****Luk 14:25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,

Huge crowds had been following Jesus for some time now.

The cross still lay ahead, but it would be only days before Jesus bore the cross of our salvation.

Jesus would pay an enormous cost to keep us all out of the Burning Lake of Fire, prepared for the Devil and his angels.

Jesus needed disciples who would also sacrifice themselves if the message of salvation was to be carried throughout the world.

To be second best would not be good enough!

God will only occupy the first place in our lives!

Jesus decided that it was time to make this very clear to all those who were following Him this day of these Scriptures.

*****Luk 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

This verse may sound harsh but we must consider how the word “hate” is used here.

The word hate can mean to detest, but it can also mean to “love less”, as it is used in this verse.

This can best be understood as showing preference to.

The truth is, we must put Christ Jesus first in our lives, we must show preference to the things of Christ Jesus!

Christ must be before our selves, we must deny our own flesh.

Christ must also be before our families, we must prefer the things of God more than the things of this world!

Christ was not saying we are to hate our families, in fact God says we are not to hate anyone.

We must remember the royal laws of King Jesus.

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.
Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.
Mat 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Mat 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

There is no one on this earth that we are to hate!

Mat 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
Mat 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Mat 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

We must never take the Word of God out of the context that He intends!

God will never go against His own word!

God is just saying that we must consider what it takes to be His disciples, God must come first in our lives before all things of this world.

Jesus continues:

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

We must die to ourselves and conform to the will of God that He has for our lives.

When Jesus Christ was nailed to His cross, He was completely naked, Even His garments were taken away from Him and divided among those that delivered Him to Golgotha.

If we cannot deny ourselves of the things of this world if God so demands it, then we are not worthy to bear our own cross, we are not worthy to named a Christian.

The cross means shame and reproach.

If we are not willing bear the shame and reproach of being a Christian (Christian means like Christ) then we cannot be His disciples!

We all have a tendency to fulfill our own desires but we must put them aside to fulfill the desires of the Lord Jesus Christ!

We must count the cost!

*****Luk 14:28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
Luk 14:29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
Luk 14:30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

These people that Jesus was preaching to this day knew exactly what He was talking about.

They had seen many a Jew crucified.

We should remember, Romans were never crucified. The Roman government felt that to be crucified was too harsh for the Roman people. They had no problem crucifying the Jews!

God just says for us to think about what He is asking us to do, this is why it is called “faith”.

If we cannot have “faith” that God will provide all our needs, physically and spiritually then we cannot be a disciple of Jesus Christ.

We must count the cost!

We must understand the consequences of our decision!

For instance: If we decided to build a tower, we would first sit down and plan for that project and see if we had the resources to complete the work once we had started it.

Notice that the Lord chose a tower and not just some building because a tower is always reaching toward Heaven.

A tower more closely represents the spiritual building of the believer.

We should never forget our goal is to make it to Heaven!

A tower requires a sure foundation and the sure foundation of the Christian must be the Lord Jesus Christ.

1Co 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

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:

When our “faith” is in the Lord Jesus we will build upon Him!

The difference being is that God will provide all the building materials and we provide only the vessel for those materials.

We should also consider that it can be very costly to build upon Jesus Christ.

We do not really know persecution here in America but there are those in our world that know if they accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior it will probably cost them their lives!

Their faith in the Lord will put most of us to shame.

In the least we must give up all our own desires.

We may have to lose everything that we once counted gain in this world.

In most cases we will have to part from our former companions and expect that they will mock us.

We will be under the consistent attack of the storms of Satan and we must count the damage from such storms.

BUT, if our strength remains in Christ we need not to fear any of these things!

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

A false profession of “faith” can always be readily seen by those who have already rejected the Word of God!

We also see many who have lost their zeal to serve the Lord or grow cold and fall away because they did not count the cost!

God says: Jas 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

When we submit ourselves to the Devil we have submitted to a loser!

The builder of the tower might give up when he finds that he does not have the resources to complete the project.

The wise Christian builder will discover that he never had the resources to become a disciple of the Lord.

He will discover that the work far exceeds any resources at his command and he must forsake all that he has and proceed to build trusting in the Lord to provide.

A life for Christ far exceeds anything that this world can provide!

Remember when we pick up our own cross daily we become pilgrims on the road to Heaven!

All that we have belongs to God and He will provide what we need on a daily basis!

Remember Christ will never ask us to do anything that He has not already done Himself!

If we follow in the ways of Christ, be a true Christian, no one will ever say “he began to build but he was not able to finish”.

And Jesus gives us another example:

*****Luk 14:31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
Luk 14:32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.

War:

There have been great wars in our past but in reality there has been only one time when our world was at peace and that was before sin entered into the world.

In our Scripture one king had only 10,000 men in his army while the king that was coming to attack him had a 20,000 man army.

That king with the smaller army had to sit down and do some serious thinking.

We see immediately the importance of a strong army.

This king had to look at all his resources and he had to consider the loss of life and a possible defeat.

This king had to decide if it were better to fight or to surrender and make peace before the battle started.

This king had to decide if would forsake all in the name of peace or fight a battle that he would lose.

If we consider the invading king as being Jesus Christ and the defending king has being ourselves or some individual we can see the point that Jesus was making.

We can see that we must forsake all to be at peace with God!

When we choose to follow the Lord Jesus Christ we must be willing to forsake all we have.

What is the truth? We must die to ourselves before we will ever live again in Christ!

No one can fight against God and expect to win but a fool!

In fact the greatest battle we will ever face in this life is the war we have between our body of flesh and our eternal soul.

God requires devotion and commitment!
God requires us to choose what we will look at.
God requires us to be careful of what we listen to.
God requires to be careful of what we touch and what we pick up.
God requires us to watch where we go and what we do.
God requires us to watch what we eat and what we drink.
God requires us to control our desires.
God requires us to follow in the cause of Jesus Christ!

It’s not always easy to be a Christian!

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.

If we are what we were then we are not what we need to be!

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.

If we cannot pick up our own cross and die daily for the Lord then we are not saved!

Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

To be at peace with God can cost us all we have!

We may be like the Jew or the Muslim who have to give up their own families.

We may have to give up friends we have known all our lives.

We may have to give up our homes and live in places that we never thought we would have to.

We may have to share what little we have with those that have even less than we do.

We must be willing to use all we have for the cause of Christ.

God may not ask for any of these things or He may ask for all these things, it is our willingness to obey Him that sets us apart from this world!

To reject the Lord Jesus Christ means we will never know true life!

We will never know a life of peace.
We will never feel we have a purpose in this life.
We will never be free from the reality of death.
We will never know the love of God!

Surrendering to God is an easy choice once we realize the benefits of serving a loving God!

Psa 116:12 What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?
Psa 116:13 I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.
Psa 116:14 I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people.
Psa 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

We are worthless to the Lord unless we are committed to the Lord!

*****Luk 14:34 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
Luk 14:35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

We do not give much thought to salt but salt is genuine!

Salt is an important commodity in our world today and salt preserves life.

Salt keeps our oceans from becoming polluted.

Salt adds buoyancy to the oceans making it easier for ships to travel.

In fact the Dead Sea has so much salt that even humans can float without flotation devices.

Salt aids in turning carbon dioxide back to breathable oxygen.

Salt is good for many things.

In the days of Rome, salt was even used to pay the soldiers because unlike some monies, salt was accepted in every land that soldier traveled.

But salt that has lost it’s savour is useless!

This salt represents our Christian character.

The disciples of Jesus Christ are destined to be in this moral world as salt is to the natural world.

It is the Church, the disciples of Jesus Christ, that is to keep in check the corruption of this world.

The disciples of Jesus Christ are the “good salt” in this evil world!

We see in our world today that there are many who bear the Christian name but they have lost the qualities of Christianity.

To be a Christian is to follow in the examples of Jesus Christ, those that detour from the ways of Christ have lost their saltiness and are as the sand that needs to be swept out the door and trampled upon!

Salt loses it’s savour when the Christian deviates from the truth of God and His Word.

Salt loses it’s savour when the Christian allows the world to influence his obedience to God.

Salt loses it’s savour when we have one foot in the Church and the other foot in the world.

Salt loses it’s savour when we refuse to repent of our ways before God and try to defend our character before men!

When we yield to Satan we have lost all our savour!

For the Christian it is the “Grace” of God that provides our salt and it is “Grace” that that fashions every Christian into something worth while and makes us salty!

Salt is one of the most abundant elements in our world today and so God intends for the Church.

When we have lost our saltiness, Jesus we are not even fit for the dunghill!

When we have lost our saltiness we are not fit for the land!

When we have lost our saltiness we are only fit to be trampled upon by the world!

We can see that the world is beginning to walk all over the Church and we seem not to understand why.

Maybe it’s because the Church has lost it’s saltiness!

Jesus says: “he that hath ears to hear, let him hear”.

The truth is salt this is exposed to the atmosphere will lose it’s savour and become tasteless.

The Church that allows the world inside it’s doors will also become tasteless and then useless!

We must always consider that God knows exactly what He is talking about because God always speaks the truth!

Joh 3:33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.
Joh 3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.
Joh 3:35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.

We can either accept the truth of God or reject it there is nothing that lies between the truth but for the truth!

Questions?

Let’s Pray!

The Compassion Of Christ’s Is Certain

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

The Certainty Of Christ’s Compassion

Book of Luke 13

Compassion is a warm feeling with and for other beings.

Compassion is suffering along with others who are suffering.

Compassion is a mixture of love and sorrow.

Compassion is a fundamental and a distinct conception of God.

It was God’s compassion for a small group of people that set them free from the bondage of Egypt and form them into the nation of Israel.

The Old Testament full of God’s acts of compassion, pity, and mercy.

When God made Himself known to Moses, He described Himself for the benefit of Moses.

Exo 34:6 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,
Exo 34:7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

God said He was a compassionate God and not some unloving being.

What did Moses do?

Exo 34:8 And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped.

And Moses said “I have found Grace”.

Until we have found the “Grace” of God, which is in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ we will never understand our compassionate God.

Because God is so full of compassion, then He expects those that love Him to be the same.

Mic 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

God’s greatest act of compassion was when He sent the Lord Jesus Christ to redeem His people!

God gave up His own Son, to the death of the cross, in order to release us from the bondage of sin!

Therefore all who know the God, the Father of Christ, and are filled with the Holy Spirit, and call themselves the children of God, will also show compassion and mercy to all those who do not know the Lord as their “personal” Savior!

Eph 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
Eph 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the epitome of compassion!

We begin with who can be saved:

*****Luk 13:22 And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.

The ministry of Christ Jesus was coming to an end and He was on the way to Jerusalem to Calvary’s Cross.

This did not stop Him from preaching and teaching along the way, Jesus still remembered the work He was sent to do.

Jesus reached out to as many as He physically could.

Along the way a disciple asked Jesus a question that even many of us have asked and is still asked today.

Are there many or few who will be saved?

The word saved means to participate in God’s Kingdom.

The truth is the door of “faith” has a narrow entrance.

The door of “faith” is found on our knees just as Moses found out when He fell on his face before the Lord.

The door of “faith” begins when we acknowledge God for who He is!

*****Luk 13:23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,
Luk 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

The question should never be how many will be saved but how many will be lost!

Notice the Lord Jesus did not respond to just the one who asked but took the time to teach all who were with Him.

There are so many today who think that everyone who dies goes to Heaven and they are wrong.

There are also those who think there is no place called Heaven or Hell and they are certainly more wrong.

There are also those that think only certain predetermined ones will get into Heaven and they are wrong also.

The first word Jesus uses is “STRIVE”.

The word strive means to struggle, to compete (as for a prize), to endeavor (to accomplish something).

To strive is to make an effort, to labor hard, to exert yourself, to contend.

The Jews taught that all would be saved just because they were Jews by birth and circumcised, this is not so.

The Lord Jesus Christ taught that nationality meant nothing toward entering into God’s Kingdom!

The Lord Jesus taught that religious rituals meant nothing toward entering into God’s Kingdom!

The Lord Jesus theme has always been that many are called but few are chosen!

Mat 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

**The truth is that many people are curious about Heaven but not curious enough to truly seek the Lord in a personal manner!

They will certainly discuss the issue of salvation but they are unwilling to deny themselves of their own desires.

**Birth and ritual are not enough to save anyone. Not circumcision, Not Baptism in any form nor any other religious ritual and certainly not someone wearing some explosive device to kill others.

The entrance to the place of salvation is a narrow gate!

**In other words the way through this gate is specific, very specific!

This truth always seems to drive the liberal community crazy.

**There are not many ways to get to God’s Kingdom, there is only One Way!

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.

Why is Jesus Christ hated so much in our world?

This one Scripture gives us the answer. You cannot enter into God’s Kingdom but by Jesus Christ!

We cannot pick and choose our own way to get to Heaven!

**To get into God’s Kingdom is not a cake walk!

We must all “strive” to get there!

It takes a whole-hearted dedication and effort, but let’s not confuse the issue because you cannot work your way to Heaven either.

No amount of work can pave our way into God’s Kingdom as many try and will fail.

**To “strive” means we must diligently seek God by “faith”!

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

First there must be “faith”.

Next there must be “repentance”.

Isa 55:6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
Isa 55:7 “Let the wicked forsake his way”, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and “let him return unto the LORD”, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

**This means we must deny ourselves and give ourselves to God.

In the military, to repent is to do an about face. Go 180 degrees from where you were headed,

We are our own worst enemy.

Rom 7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
Rom 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

Few are willing to pay the price of self-denial!

Most will say that self-denial is just to high a price to give up this world we live in now.

Luk 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, “let him deny himself”, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Luk 9:24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

When God closes that narrow gate, no one can open it!

*****Luk 13:25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:

What is the truth?

The truth is God will call us to salvation only so many times and some can move too late.

God says: the Holy Spirit will not always strive with man.

And we will not ever come until we are not called by the Holy Spirit!

Eph 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, “even as ye are called in one hope of your calling”;
Eph 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Eph 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

We know that God loves everyone enough to call them at least once!

We also know that God is a God of the second chance!

But we also know God can see into the heart and He knows those who will never accept Him.

1Co 1:26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

Those who “strive”, those who truly seek the Lord will find Him but the truth is, in the future many will seek the Lord but they will not find Him.

When is the proper time to seek the Lord?

2Co 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, “now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation”.)

Salvation is the thing that needs to be sought!

There is nothing to gain by delay!

In fact you lose every moment you delay!

And you may forfeit your salvation by delay!

Today is the day of salvation!

Today, all that strive to enter into God’s salvation will be accepted!

There are many who try to clean themselves up of the things they do that are not pleasing to God but they still use the world’s standards and not God standards.

When we seek the good opinion of the world, rather than the will of God who calls us out of the world, then we are not acceptable to God.

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

There is no one that meets God standards!

There is only one means to be justified in the eyes of God!

Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

That is why it is called “Grace”.

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.

There are no works that we can do ourselves to make us acceptable to God!

There is coming a day when the Master of the House “shall” rise up and shut the door to salvation.

There is a time limit to salvation!

The door to salvation will not always be opened!

Our death is certain but it is also certain that we do not know the time of our death!

We must not be fooled, the door to salvation is closed at a person’s death.

There is no such thing as praying someone out of Purgatory!

For many today, the door to salvation will be shut in the next minute or the next hour or the next day!

There will be many who will cry on the day of judgment but it will be to late.

In fact at the Second Coming of Christ it will be too late and Christ could return at any moment!

Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Mat 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

Mat 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

If you doubt the words of Jesus Christ, then you will find yourself unable to get into God’s Kingdom because the door, the gate, the entrance will be closed!

Jer 8:20 The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.

It is then that God will hear all sorts of excuses to no avail.

*****Luk 13:26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.

There will be a great many who will come up short on the day that salvation is redeemed!

They will have given up everything except that one thing that will keep them out of God’s Heaven.

They were “almost” believers.

They were “almost” through the gate.

They were “almost” guests at the marriage supper of the Lamb.

When your name is not in the Lamb’s Book of Life, Jesus will utter those terrible words “I never knew you”.

They may have attended church.

They may have fellowshipped with God’s people.

They had heard the Word of God, as it was taught.

They had actually been close enough to see the work of God.

They may have actually passed out some tracts.

They may have lived in places where they could witness for the Lord without breaking any law.

They may have freely allowed anyone to speak of Jesus Christ.

HOWEVER, they were only professing believers, they were not genuine believers!

They had accepted all the privileges of the Gospel but they had never “strived” to have a close and personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

We are to strive to have a close and a very personal relationship with our God!

Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

*****Luk 13:27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.
Luk 13:28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.

The first thing that will happen after “Judgement” is that there will be “an absence from God”.

No matter where you are located on this earth or what circumstances surround you, God does have His eyes on your situation.

After “Judgement” that will not be the case.

They may think they can just run away feeling relief that God will no longer be seeing their sinful lives but this is also a false belief.

The truth is, they will stand without the power of motion, awe-struck and chilled at the doom that they face.

To depart from God is to be doomed to a place where there is no escape!

And God says there is no one who does not know of Him.

There is no such thing as an Athiest!

Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Rom 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

On the day of “Judgement” it is God who will say He does not know those who have rejected Him!

To be without God is to be in a place of extreme sorrow!

Left behind are all things that are perfect, all things of beauty, all things of peace and tranquility and they will be replaced with all things of fear, and lonesomeness.

They will find that Christianity was not a bondage to God, but evilness and suffering will then become the bondage of those who are told to depart.

This person will feel the sting of a life time of sin upon himself, he will be helpless at that time, and be hopeless for all eternity future!

The truth is:

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

To refuse the “gift of God” is to require payment for all that sin, which is death!

There will be much weeping!

There will be the gnashing of teeth!

They will actually get to see those that they have known personally, living in Heaven’s glory, while they have been shut out!

The one thing they failed was to “strive” in seeking the Lord!

They will now be filled with rage, fury, and despair from which there is no escape!

Even on this day, God will look one more time to make sure that their name is not in the Book.

Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

BUT, they will see all those to whom the gate will be opened!

*****Luk 13:29 And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.

God could have allowed all of us die in our sin but we see that there is no one who cannot be saved!

There is no where on the face of this earth that the “Gospel” of Jesus Christ cannot reach!

Those that are saved and enter into God’s Kingdom will come from all nations!

**Those that will enter into God’s Kingdom will come from all cultures and all societies but we also know that not many will have been rich in material things.

There may still be a great Gentile revival and conversion one day.

It could happen before the rapture of the church but it could also happen during the 7 year tribulation period.

It could be that we are already near the end of this great revival today!

The truth is, that the Lord Jesus died for the sin of the whole world!

The truth is, that Jesus Christ provides the only means of entering into God’s Kingdom!

It is God who is the ultimate ruler of His entire created world!

It is only by “faith”, and by striving that we can enter into God’s Kingdom, but this is not working your way into Heaven.

This “striving” is seeking the face of God and not the arm of God!

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.

**It is only the saved who will sit down in the Kingdom of God!

Rev 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

**God is no respecter of persons, the saved will come from all classes of people!

Gal 2:6 But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: “God accepteth no man’s person”:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:

There is nothing about us that makes us beautiful before God but “our faith in the promises of Jesus Christ”!

We are to never over-rate nor under-rate the difficulties which lie in our way to Heaven.

We must view them exactly as they are!

What ever difficulties we have in obtaining the “faith” necessary to enter in God’s Heaven, God’s Kingdom will be well worth the “striving” it takes.

If we knock, it will be opened to us!

But we can wait too late to knock!

We must not trust in Church privileges because there are none. There is only the “Grace” of God which shows us His love and His compassion for us.

It is still God’s plan and we must follow God’s plan!

There will never be some man-made plan to enter into Heaven!

No matter the time or the season of the Lord, we are the disciples who have become the fishers of men at this time, and we are to be busy about the work the Lord has given us to do but this work only comes after He has saved us!

The truth of the Word of God is “that we will reap what we sow”!

No one on this earth can stop the plan of God!

*****Luk 13:31 The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee.
Luk 13:32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.

The truth is, the Lord Jesus Christ has always been rejected and opposed by the majority of people.

He was opposed by the the religionist and we can see also by the rulers.

There is not one single class of people that flock to Jesus in true belief of Him!

Most of the world just ignores the Lord Jesus Christ!

Many try to stop those who witness for Jesus.

Many just ridicule and abuse those that try to follow the Word of God.

But there are still those who persecute and kill those who know the Lord Jesus as their personal Savior.

There were a few Pharisees who were not hostile toward Jesus and they warned Him of Herod’s plot to kill Him.

But many just wanted Jesus to leave the area and go preach His message somewhere else.

Herod at one time had been fascinated with John the Baptist and wanted to meet Jesus but the politics had changed and he had changed with them.

Many of those that did not recognize Jesus as the Savior still recognized Him as a good man and they knew to murder Him was still sin.

In either case we can see Jesus was not concerned about plots to kill Him!

Jesus was actually in the area ruled by Herod at that time, which was Galilee and we know that thousands were following Jesus from place to place as He preached “the Kingdom of God”.

The whole area was aroused by the Messiah!

There had been many before that had claimed to be the Messiah but none of those spoke with the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In any case when the subject of the Messiah arose, those in power would begin to tremble.

In many cases the subject of the Jewish Messiah would cause an uproar of the people.

We can be sure that even Rome was paying attention to what was happening around Jesus Christ!

The governments of all people have a dread and a fear of all people who give their loyalty to God instead of the state!

The truth is, that the Kingdom of Christ is not of this earth and God instructs all those trust Him in “faith” to be subjects of their government “unless those governments go against the Word of God”.

If that government is truly subject to the people’s needs there should never be an uprising by the people!

The truth is, righteousness, justice, and love are not at the top of the list of what most governments truly want!

Most governments are so caught up in spending money for frivolous things that they find their resources in the taxes that sin generates!

Jesus said Herod was a “fox”.

What are the attributes of a fox?

Foxes are sly and crafty and sometimes treacherous.

Most people who attack Christianity are sly, crafty, and sometimes treacherous.

Why?

What are the attributes of the Devil?

Joh 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

The Devil is sly, crafty, and always treacherous!

Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Jesus said nothing could happen to Him until His ministry had been “perfected”!

The Greek word “teleoo” means completed or accomplished.

The pure fact is, that the “Gospel” of Jesus Christ cannot be stopped by any man!

The witness of Jesus in His person did stop but not before what He came to accomplish was finished!

Notice it was not the cross that completed the ministry of Jesus, it was His resurrection!

It was Jesus rising from the dead, having conquered death, that completed the work for man’s salvation!

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:

Rom 4:24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
Rom 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

Nevertheless the ministry of Jesus will continue because it is not in the power of man to stop the will of God!

*****Luk 13:33 Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.

That word “must” means that the work Jesus was sent to accomplish “must” take place before He could be killed!

Jesus had to die in Jerusalem and Herod had no jurisdiction there!

Jerusalem was and still is the center of the Jewish nation.

Jerusalem was and is recognized by all Jews the capitol city of Israel.

The Temple stood in Jerusalem.

The Sanhedrin Court was in Jerusalem.

If a prophet of God was to die, that decision would be made in Jerusalem.

Jesus was saying, when people kill God’s Son, it would be done under the circumstances that God had set forth in His Written Word.

Jesus was to die in Jerusalem but He was to die for the benefit of all mankind!

Many today still do not understand the death, the burial, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ but they all will one day!

And Jesus said:

*****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!

The truth is, that the sinners of that day and the sinners of our day and the sinners in the days to come cannot destroy the willingness of Jesus Christ to save them!

The soul is a precious thing to God!

When Jesus looked ahead to Jerusalem He wept!

Not for the things He was sent to accomplish but because He would be rejected.

Jesus would have saved them all but “they would not be saved”.

Today our world is filled with many who just will not be saved!

They and their homes will be forsaken by the Lord!

*****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.

That house can be just a house but it can also be a church, a local group, a city, or a nation if they reject the work of the Lord Jesus Christ to save them, they will be forsaken and God will leave them alone.

They will spend eternity away from the presence of God.

Rom 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Rom 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
Rom 1:26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
Rom 1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

All we have to do is look and see what is happening in our world today, to know that these words are true!

God is giving up on our world!

Pro 1:28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:
Pro 1:29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:
Pro 1:30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
Pro 1:31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
Pro 1:32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

Has God reached this point, only He knows but the evidence is growing that He has.

*****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.

There is still the day that the Lord will return to complete the promises He made to Israel.

The Lord will return and He will rule supremely.

Psa 118:26 Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.

The truth is that everyone who has rejected the Lord Jesus Christ will see the Lord return and it will be too late to accept Him at that time!

Those who foolishly believe that they can come to Christ at any time need to listen to what is said here.

There is a day to each of us when we will no longer see the Christ as the Savior that He is and it is too late for salvation.

God definitely has a deadline that once it has been reached none will be able to see Him until He returns and at that time all will bow the knee to the Lord of His creation!

1Co 15:25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
1Co 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

Here again it would be hard to say that most of the world has not reached this point already!

Still the fact remains that we who know the Lord must remain busy spreading the “Gospel” up until the very moment that Christ returns!

There is never a good time to quit on God!

Questions?

Let’s Pray!

Christ Preached Using Parables

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

The Certainty Of Christ’s Parables

Book of Luke 12

We already know that the Lord Jesus used many parables in His teaching.

A parable can be best described as a story of something in our earthly life or in nature, that we can compare to the truth of God’s Word, a Heavenly truth.

It is a fact that both the Created world of God and all the things in Heaven develop according to the same laws.

For instance in the spring we see the resurrection of this natural world from the dead of Winter to the new life of Spring which should remind us that to be resurrected is to be raised from death to eternal life.

Nature is a witness of the Spiritual world to come.

It could be said that a parable is the clearest illustration of God’s truth!

We can be certain that the parables that Jesus taught will clearly show us the meaning of God’s Word.

Everything that Jesus taught was in perfect harmony with the Message of His Father.

We should remember that a parable will never contradict the truth of the Scriptures, but will only point to the truth of God!

*****Luk 12:13 And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.

Here we see one of the followers of Christ asked that He be the judge between he and his brother. This man was in a dispute with his own brother over the inheritance of his fathers estate.

We already know that by the laws of Moses the elder brother would get two thirds of the estate compared to his younger brother’s one third.

We do not know if this is the problem with this man or not.

This man felt that he deserved an equal share of all the things his father had possessed.

The truth is, we never see where Jesus will ever interfere in secular matters!

At this time it was not His purpose because He came to seek and to save those who are lost!

At this time is was a common practice in the life of the Jews for the Rabbi to settle local legal disputes.

What do we know?

**This man had been listening to the Preaching message of Jesus sermons.

**This man was seeking material wealth of this world.

BUT, Jesus will never deal in matters of selfishness!

*****Luk 12:14 And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?

Jesus Christ refused this man very sternly.

This gives us an idea how the Lord would respond to any request for the material things of this world for our own use.

This man exposed a serious flaw in the spiritual life he should have been seeking.

In verses 1-12 Jesus was teaching all those who would listen to beware of the teaching of the Pharisees.

Most of the Pharisees were hypocrites who taught the Laws of Moses but they themselves lived outside those Laws.

This is something we see in our own government today. Men and women who make the laws refuse to abide by those laws.

The truth is, the disciples of the Lord are to never live in this manner and are always to be aware of hypocrisy.

We are never to get caught up in this way of thinking!

Luk 12:2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.

This was a man who had heard the message of Jesus but he was to preoccupied in his own worldliness to listen to what Jesus had really said.

The Bible says:

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.

It is obvious that this man had his mind on the things of this earth and not on Heavenly things!

There many people who sit before God’s preachers but they still refuse to hear the message he has preached.

The Bible says:

Mat 11:15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

This man had a strong desire for the things of this world and that is a sign of cold-hearted worldliness!

AND, Covetousness will lead to all manner of sin!

*****Luk 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

Each of the Ten Commandments is centered on covetousness!

The Tenth Commandment says “Thou shalt not covet”.

To covet is to have an inordinate desire to possess what belongs to someone else!

In fact as the Bible describes covetousness, it means an ungoverned and selfish desire that threatens the basic rights of others.

To covet can also mean self exertion and the Tenth Commandment forbids such a thing.

This is exactly what is being pushed on the American public by the gay movement, the students that want everything to be free, those who want to take away the rights of Christians, and those who think differently from the Democratic Party and the secular society of today.

Free speech to these people means that you can say what you want to say as long as you do not disagree with what they have to say!

They should remember the Word of God:

Eph 5:5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Eph 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

To be covetous is to not be rich toward God!

To be covetous is to deny faith and scorn the values of God!

Just as Jesus says “life does not consists of the things of this world that we have in our possession”.

Jesus says to “take heed”, “to beware”.

It was not being wronged by his brother that drove this man, it was simply greed!

This was the sin of this man and the great sin of this world we live in!

This is the sin of covetousness!

This is the sin of Socialism!

This is the sin of Communism!

These people become aggressively self-centered and this is what we see in America today!

So Jesus teaches with a parable.

*****Luk 12:16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
Luk 12:17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
Luk 12:18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
Luk 12:19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
Luk 12:20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

In this parable we have a man who is already a rich land owner.

The crops that were planted on his lands brought forth greater than average crops, so much so he did not have room to store the abundance.

He uses the word “I” six times and the word “my” five times in these passages, because we see that he could only think of himself.

The one thing we can be sure of, is that if we have anything it is something that God has provided to us for a reason.

We are all prone to take credit for the things that we have acquired when the truth is, success comes only from God!

The sin of covetousness is a craving and a desire for more.

Covetousness is the sin that is hardest to overcome!

Covetousness causes greediness.

Covetousness causes dissatisfaction with what is enough.

Covetousness causes our cravings to influence our fleshy behavior!

It is not so “much a want to have” as a “got to have” and a will to try to obtain no matter the cost.

Covetousness puts material things in the place of God!

When this man had a great opportunity to help others in need, he chose only to store it in newly built barns.

This man had become self-centered that only his perceived needs were real ti him.

And what did God say to him? “You are a fool”.

God says those that continuously lay up treasure for themselves and are not rich toward the ways of God are fools.

We already know that Jesus warned us for calling anyone a fool using the Greek word “moros” which means stupid.

But here the Holy Spirit uses a much stronger word meaning “insane”.

Covetousness is a very serious sin in the eyes of God and goes all the way back to the very first commandment.

Notice, God knew the thoughts of this man.

Notice, God knew this man would die that very night.

The soul of this man was going to cease because the soul returns to the God who gave it.

The soul simply does not cease existing when the flesh dies!

The soul returns to the spiritual world.

2Pe 2:17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.

This man will never know who ended up with his riches after his death.

Psa 39:6 Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

Pro 5:21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.
Pro 5:22 His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.
Pro 5:23 He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.

What did Jesus say before He began this parable?

Luk 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

True life is not about the material things of this world we live in!

True life is about what happens after the death of this flesh we live in. It is the soul that has eternal life!

*****Luk 12:21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

Psa 49:6 They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
Psa 49:7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:
Psa 49:8 (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)
Psa 49:9 That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.
Psa 49:10 For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.

Wealth is not a permanent possession!

Someone else will always get your wealth that you leave behind and many times not those you would prefer to have it.

The ownership of material things is really never ours to begin with, all things belong to God.

1) The riches of God are true life:

Psa 30:5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

2) The riches of God come from a life of faith:

Jas 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

3) The riches of God in this life are from our good works after our salvation.

1Ti 6:18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
1Ti 6:19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

4) The riches of God come from the wisdom of God:

Pro 8:11 For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

Those that lay up their own treasures in this world are not rich in the things of God that last forever!

*****Luk 12:22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.

Discipleship training has lost it’s importance in the modern day church.

We should be clear, Jesus is teaching His disciples here. If you are a disciple of Jesus Christ then you need some training for the tasks that He has for us all!

This message is not for the world, those that reject Jesus Christ!

Taking thought, is worrying.

Taking thought, is being overly concerned.

God says for us to not worry about the necessities of life!

King David said: Psa 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

Jesus said “I have come that you might have life”.

In other words, life is not about this life we live in the flesh that only last such a short time!

*****Luk 12:23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.

The biggest problem this world has today is that it does not believe in an ultimate provider.

In reality there are no such things as the laws of nature!

God did not create a world in which only the strong survive!

Psa 145:15 The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season.
Psa 145:16 Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.

Sure there are those that are starving in this world but if looked you would see that most people starve because some man or some men have interfered with the food process!

The truth is, that it is only those who are strong in Christ that will survive.

The life that Christ Jesus supplies is eternal!

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?

Our faith is the key to true life, if that faith is in the Lord Jesus Christ!

Who would choose a meal over such a life?

Who would choose a new wardrobe over such a life?

These things are just covetousness which leads to most all sin!

The greatest sin besides, rejecting the Lord Jesus, is the desire of mankind for bigger and better things of this world.

Life and our bodies mean much more that the food we eat and the clothes we wear, or the place we live, or the things we think we own!

We already know that a healthy lifestyle will extend our life in this world and a life in Christ will extend that life to a life eternal in the actual presence of God.

Jesus did not say we are not to think or to plan for the necessities of life, Jesus said we are not to worry about these things.

Life takes some thought and some planning but we are never to covet to the point of worrying!

We should just truly consider the ways of God!

*****Luk 12:24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?

Jesus says just consider all the birds, they are fed by God Himself.

As far as I know, the only birds who die of starvation are those who have been captured by some person and kept as pets.

Birds do not sow or reap their food, they just go to the location where food is available.

Many animals store up food for the times when it is not available but not the birds, God provides for them day by day.

Birds are willing to go to wherever their needs are met!

God says that those who have accepted His Son Jesus as their personal Savior are of much more value than the birds.

Faith that God will provide our needs comes from the faith that we have a Savior and a Redeemer.

1Pe 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1Pe 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 1Pe 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Jesus is teaching all His disciples, which includes all who have faith in Him, not to worry or be anxious in this world over food and clothing.

BUT, we should also remember that God does not put up with laziness, or a lack of initiative, and effort on our part.

God made plans ahead of time for our salvation.

Jesus planned ahead for His own funeral.

Joh 12:6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
Joh 12:7 Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.

Jesus preached and taught for us all to be industrious believers.

Luk 16:8 And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.

Jesus said we are to be more industrious than this unjust steward.

The Bible is very clear about us being faithful workers and even working to have extra that we can give to those that do not have.

Eph 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

Our faith means that we are trusting in God to meet all our needs because God says He will never forsake us.

God does not ever say that we will not suffer in this life in fact He says we will!

It is that suffering that will increase our faith!

God truly cares for those who love Him!

1Pe 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
1Pe 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Worrying about these things of God is then senseless!

*****Luk 12:25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?

The Greek word used for stature in this verse is “helikia”.

Helikia can mean age as well as size.

So this verse could read either “who can add one cubit which is about 18 inches to his stature” or it could read “who could add one minute to his life span”.

The answer to both is that none of us can do either of these things.

No two of us are alike but we are all sinners!

This world is corrupt and imperfect just as we all are.

Our only hope is in the Almighty God through the Lord Jesus Christ who makes these promises to us.

2Pe 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
2Pe 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

*****Luk 12:26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?

It is to our benefit to think that there are many things that we simply cannot do!

There are some simple things that man simply cannot do.

It would seem reasonable that we are in control of our own destiny but the truth is we are not in control at all!

God does not cause accidents yet they still happen and our lives our over before we know it.

The big thing today is climate change and with all the power of man and all the knowledge of the world’s greatest minds, it is God who controls these things and the climate has always changed.

If we would only look at a Supreme Being and not the foolishness of Evolution we would not get so caught up in these things!

When we are unable to do some of the simplest of things with human power, how could we ever believe we could do these things that foolish men say is possible.

God has promised that no matter what we see or think, God will work out all things for the good to those that truly trust Him!

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.

We know God’s plan and we may not understand His methods, but we need to just place these things in His hands because He certainly knows what is best for us.

1Co 7:17 But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.

We are challenged to trust God and leave all our worries to Him, or to be so anxious about this life that it robs us of our peace and joy.

We are to consider what God has already done.

*****Luk 12:27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Luk 12:28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?

When we see the beautiful lilies, do they not always appear contented and happy.

The lilies live on the property of man.

The same air that keeps us alive does not help the growth of the lily, because the lily requires our wasted air.

When we and also the animals breath in all the air we want, it is that air that is exhausted, though poison to us, that is life to the lily.

A lily is not concerned with popularity or of wearing the proper clothing.

A lily is not concerned with style and fashion.

A lily is not concerned with acceptability.

Flowers are grateful for the leftovers of this world and our ingratefulness shows when we simply cannot be happy with what God has provided for us.

As rich as King Solomon was, he could not purchase clothing that could come close to the beauty of the lilies!

God simply says, to get all the good out of the things He has provided before we wish for better things!

A flower has no wings and no feet and must stay exactly where it is planted.

They do not do anything that cannot be done at home.

When the Lord Jesus was asked to do wrong He said “I and my Father are one”.

Jesus was saying that this is not what happens in My Father’s House!

There are still people who talk to their flowers but flowers never talk back.

Flowers allow their silent beauty do all their talking for them!

Flowers teach us to do good without being asked to do so!

It is a fact that without the systems God has put in place we would not have flowers!

We would not have trees!

We would not have grass!

We not not have the wheat and the corn that feeds us!

God is the Creator of life, not only mankind, and all the animals but life also can be seen in all the plants that grow and many of those plants are grown for our on benefit.

We get food and shelter and many other resources from plants who survive off our waste and even if they had mouths they would never complain!

SO, What this world is suffering the most from, “is a lack of faith” and that faith in God!

*****Luk 12:29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
Luk 12:30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.

When we doubt that God cares enough for us to provide our basic needs, then we become anxious and worry to a point that we become insecure in many other things.

Jas 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
Jas 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
Jas 1:7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
Jas 1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Worldliness is being wrapped up in the things of this world and doubting God’s care!

These things will consume us if they are allowed to fester!

When life becomes food, drink and possessions, we have forgotten that life is eternal and we have forgotten life is in the soul which never dies.

As the children of God we are to different from those of this world!

God commands us to seek the Kingdom of God and all these other things will be provided.

We must understand that God knows we have personal needs!

If we cannot trust in God’s ability to provide our basic needs, how then can we be sure of our own salvation.

A God that cannot provide for His people is not much of a God!

We serve a God that not only provides our needs, but He gets great pleasure in doing so!

*****Luk 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

God has great pleasure in giving us treasures that do not age, that do not corrupt, and no one can steal them away from us!

The teaching of the Lord is this: “Once our needs have been met, we do not need more”.

We will only waste it or we will store it to deny others from having.

We live in a world that is full of needs and should be willing to help others with any excess that we have.

Not to gain a good reputation but for the purpose of seeking the Kingdom of God!

What advice does God give us?

*****Luk 12:33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
Luk 12:34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

“Gifts” of money and good deeds can never grow old.

The treasures in Heaven are built upon the fruit of the Holy Spirit and Souls led to the Lord.

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

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.

These things never age, never fail, cannot corrupt, and cannot be stolen, as all things of this earth do.

The real treasures are in Heaven!

Our hearts should be centered these things of Heaven.

If we believe our treasure is in this world then our hearts are in this world.

As this world is corrupt, then our hearts are corrupt!

1Jn 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
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.
We can be certain that the parables of the Lord Jesus Christ teach us Heavenly Truths!

Questions?

Let’s Pray!

We Can Be Certain Of Christ’s Prayer

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

The Certainty Of Christ’s Prayer

Book of Luke 11

Some people just do not understand that prayer is our means of having a conversation with God!

It was by the cross and the veil was rent into that we have direct access to the throne of God!

We waste our breath in prayer if we do not first believe, in faith, that God is who He says He is and can do what we read about in the Word of God.

If we do not believe that God will answer prayer, then why pray at all?

Our prayers must be sincere!

Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

The disciples of Jesus asked Him to teach them how to pray because prayer was a daily thing for our Lord and it can be said that Jesus truly prayed without ceasing.

It is an absolute fact, the more we pray the closer we will get to God.

Jesus said if we pray in His name, God will answer every prayer that reaches into His throne room.

Joh 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

So let’s let Jesus teach us how to pray.

*****Luk 11:1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

The Lord Jesus Christ spent much time in prayer. Prayer was not unknown to these disciples.

They had witnessed prayers at the Temple and in their own synagogues.

They had heard the long winded prayers of the Scribes and the Pharisees.

They had known the prayers of John the Baptist, who had taught his own disciples how to pray.

There was something about the way that Jesus prayed that got their attention!

**Christ Jesus prayed often and He emphasized that prayer was one of the greatest needs of each believer. Jesus insisted that His prayers were the source of His strength.

**Jesus prayed as a Son to His Father in a close and very personal relationship with Him. Jesus taught that we that believe are to have the same close and personal relationship with our Father who is in Heaven.

To be saved is to be adopted into the family of God.

**John the Baptist had taught his own disciples to pray and all these that followed the Lord Jesus knew that He was the Master teacher and could teach them also, it was a reasonable request.

Even in prayer the Lord Jesus is our example!

*****Luk 11:2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

The Lord Jesus Christ will teach anyone to pray, anyone who is sincere and anyone who wants to begin a successful prayer life.

**Jesus begins with “When we pray”.

We must accept that Jesus is teaching us a “model prayer” and not a prayer that should be repeated over and over again, even though nothing is wrong with praying this prayer as it is written.

As we all have different needs and are going through different trials, so then every prayer will be different.

This model prayer is also meant for use of all the children of God no matter their age group.

This prayer is a guide for all of us who need to have a personal relationship with our Creator and our God!

**Thank God for being “Our Father”

We are to have a close personal relationship with our God!

This relationship is to be a family relationship, the relationship of of a child to his parent.

This is the relationship we have after we have been “Born Again” into the family of God!

Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Joh 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

We must always thank God for being our Father!

We must always thank God that we are part of His family!

This is our assurance that we will spend eternity with not only all other believers but even our own earthly family if they will also trust in the Lord Jesus.

It is this model prayer that will open our eyes to the right way of looking at things.

Remember just a few lessons back, God was teaching us to have the right attitude.

Thank God we have a Father who cares about each and everyone of us!

Once God is our Father, that can never change!

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.

**Thank God for “In Heaven”

Heaven is a real place!

Heaven is the eternal real world, while this place we live now is only a temporary place.

Heaven is incorruptible and undefiled and it will never fade away!

Heaven is where God our Father resides and we will one day be with Him there in that place called Heaven.

Jesus said:

Joh 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Joh 14:2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

And God’s truth is:

1Co 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

We truly do not have a clue just how wonderful Heaven is going to be!

**We need to praise God for “His name is Hallowed”.

God’s name is to set apart from all other names.

Our God is holy, and righteous, and pure, and loving, and kind, and merciful, and gracious.

God is to be praised for who He is!

We do not hallow God, if we speak of Him in an irreverent fashion.

We do not hallow God when we take His name in vain.

In fact we do not hallow God unless we worship Him in spirit and in truth!

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.

We do not hallow God unless we honor God in our own households!

If we do not have sense of God’s majesty and God’s holiness we will never hallow God’s name!

AND, We do not hallow the Almighty God if we do not have a devout response of “faith” in Him!

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

God’s attributes are “His Name”

God has made Himself known to us by His Word but also by His Created Works!

We do not hallow the name of God if we do not trust in His power to direct and overrule all things, good and evil!

Holy is the name of God!

Isa 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

Only after we have praised God in our prayer are we to make request of Him!

**We need to pray for God’s Kingdom to come.

In this sense we are praying for the spreading of the “Gospel” of Jesus Christ throughout this world.

We are praying for God’s spiritual kingdom to come into all our lives and the “Gospel” has been spread throughout this world.

This is a prayer to personally receive the “Gospel”!

This is a prayer to personally promote the spread of the “Gospel”!

This is a prayer to persevere in prayer for the success of the “Gospel”!

God says to pray for Him to come but we must remember, when Christ returns to this earth, He will set upon His throne. He will rule and reign upon this earth for 1000 years.

This is the Kingdom that will ultimately be established in fulfillment of the covenant with the Jews.

Before that happens. His will needs to be done in all our lives just as it will be in Heaven.

There is the Spiritual Kingdom, which is God’s authority over all the souls of believers.

There is the Visible Kingdom, the Church, which is visible to all mankind.

There is the Heavenly Kingdom which comes after the rapture of the Church!

**Thy will be done as in Heaven

It should be very obvious to us all that God’s will is not done on earth as it is in Heaven.

We are all unworthy to receive the “Grace of God”!

God’s will for us all is faith and holiness.

We cannot please God without faith.

We are to live holy because our God is a Holy God.

The Lord’s Prayer indicates the right way of looking at things!

The Lord’s Prayer is a prayer that this world we now live in would be filled with the knowledge of God!

The Lord’s Prayer is a prayer that the “Grace” of God will rule in every heart!

The Lord’s Prayer is a prayer that God, by His Grace, will remove all spiritual blindness and cause us all to know His will for each of us!

It is God’s will that all the world be saved.

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.

*****Luk 11:3 Give us day by day our daily bread.

We are certainly to pray for the necessities of life and we are to do that on a daily basis.

This is food for within and without. We need to fed spiritually and physically.

The Lord’s Prayer is a prayer to be filled as much spiritually as physically!

We must learn that we are dependant on the Lord for both these things.

The needs of the body while on this earth are great, but the truth is, the needs of the soul are far more important!

God will supply our daily needs.

God will supply those needs that are necessary for us to spread the “Gospel”.

God may even sometime supply some our wants, but our needs will always supersede our wants.

There are some rewards for those who serve the Lord but the greater rewards are in Heaven.

*****Luk 11:4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

We need to spend some time discussing the forgiveness of our sins with our Father!

Our sins are a debt that we owe!

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

Our sins are the very reason God had to send His Son to pay that great debt!

Notice we are to pray specifically for the forgiveness of our own sins.

We have a debt to God that we had no means to repay.

But we are also to pray for the forgiveness of the sins of our family, our neighbors, our community, our state, our nation, and our world!

Sin is the most serious matter and the most tragic matter to ever occur in our world!

We need to pray this daily because we are still in the flesh and without a doubt, we sin daily!

Our old sins are already under the blood and it is unnecessary to continue to ask for the forgiveness of those sins!

God does not remember those sins anymore!

Jer 31:34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

God does not want us to remember those old sins anymore!

Heb 10:17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
Heb 10:18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

Jesus said that part was finished when He was on the cross!

Until we meet Jesus, we will still come up short of His glory and Jesus is teaching us to pray for this reason!

As God has forgiven our sins then we are to be forgiving of all others.

This is a condition of our own forgiveness!

Mat 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
Mat 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

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

We should realize that every confession of sin is always fulfilled with a pardon!

**Lead us not into temptation.

First, God will never tempt us!

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

We are to have a sincere belief in the providence of God!

It is when we trust in ourselves when temptation can overcome us!

We must have the faith that God is able to deliver us from all evil.

**”Deliver us from evil”

Satan the Devil is real!

We are to avoid all occasions of evil.

We are to give no place to the devil.

We should understand that “evil” is anything and everything that goes against the Word of God!

The Devil is above all, the evil one and the great opposition to the goodness of God!

Worldly afflictions come and go and are indeed grievous so long as they last and they require our prayers.

Sin is evil in it’s nature and high treason against Heaven!

Sin will enslave us!

Sin is a painful thing. Sin is its own punishment to our bodies and sin will destroy the soul!

Sin is worse than death, though death might kill us, but it could not curse us!

The sin of God’s people are even greater than the sins of the world because we sin against the “Mercy” and the “Grace” of God that He has already shown to us!

We should pray for God’s deliverance from evil because God has more “Grace” than He does “wrath”!

Rom 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
Rom 5:21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

And Jesus says we must be sincere and persistent in our prayers, we may have to make many request to fulfill the will of God.

*****Luk 11:5 And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;
Luk 11:6 For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?
Luk 11:7 And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.
Luk 11:8 I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.

What the truth of our prayers?

When we get into the throne room of God through our prayer, then we must refuse to leave until we get an answer.

How is this possible?

We must be sincere in our need, fervent in our request, constant, persistent, persevering and enduring when we are in contact with our Lord!

Micky Mouse prayers will not move the hand of God!

We need to ask until we get what we need, or that God says no.

Sometimes the greatest blessing we can get is when God says no to something we think we need!

And, Sometimes we have to be somewhat like a pest to move the hand of God!

Jesus gives us the answer to our problems in prayer.

*****Luk 11:9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
Luk 11:10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

“Ask and it shall be given” We should continue to ask until we receive, but if asking is not enough, Then

“Seek, and ye shall find”, But in seeking and we do not find what we need, Then

“Knock, and it shall be open unto us”

The words “ask, seek, and knock” are verbs which means these are things we must do in a continuous action.

We are to keep on with these things until we know for sure we have God’s answer.

God must know we are sincere!

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

The one thing we must consider is, “That God is always willing to give us the things that will fulfill the will and the purpose He has for us!

No matter the circumstances of our life, God will meet our needs!

No matter what we think sometimes, if our prayer can reach the throne room of God, we will get an answer even when it may be a “no” answer.

Deu 4:29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.

**There are other reasons that God does not answer our prayer immediately.

1) Prayer teaches us to have a close personal relationship with the Lord our God!

God loves to hear from us and He may hold back to keep us talking and sharing our needs with Him.

1Co 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

2) Prayer teaches to have patience and hope in God and His promises.

1Jn 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
1Jn 5:15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

3) Prayer demonstrates how deeply we trust God and how much we depend upon Him.

Joh 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

4) Prayer teaches us to love God as our Father.

*****Luk 11:11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
Luk 11:12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
Luk 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

Prayer teaches us that God is not evil, God is like a loving Father.

Not one man upon this earth is a righteous man.

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

But most men who are also fathers will give to their children when asked.

If all men are evil and God is “Good”, it is impossible for God not to give as our Heavenly Father.

Mar 10:18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

The greatest gift that our Father in Heaven gives us is the “Gift” of the Holy Spirit!

We have the presence of God living within our hearts and bodies.

When God dwells within those that have called on Him for salvation, then everything that is good is assured!

God is always with us and never far away and He knows us by our fruit!

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

And we can be sure that God will answer our prayers!

Jer 33:2 Thus saith the LORD the maker thereof, the LORD that formed it, to establish it; the LORD is his name;
Jer 33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

Prayer is the greatest tool in the arsenal of the Christian, yet in most cases we all lack in a proper prayer life!

The truth is our Father in Heaven is not a dead beat dad who cares very little for his children, God is a true Father who cares for His children.

1Pe 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
1Pe 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Questions?

Let’s Pray!

We Can Be Certain Of Christ’s Future Glory

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

The Certainty Of Christ’s Future Glory

Book of Luke 9

Since His days as a babe in the arms of His mother Mary, Jesus Christ knew exactly what He would go through. Jesus knew everything that lied ahead of Him in the days He would spend on this earth.

Luk 9:22 Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.

Jesus did not say He “would” suffer, He said He “must” suffer!

The suffering of Jesus Christ was a necessary to be obedient to His Father in Heaven!

The Father’s will was the Son’s law!

The entire nation of Israel had looked for the Messiah and having rejected Jesus the Messiah, many of them are still looking for the Messiah to come.

These people had not grasped the full meaning of the Messiah as written in the Old Testament Scriptures.

The work that the Lord Jesus Christ was sent to accomplish demanded the cross!

Messiah came first to redeem His people!

These Jews could only see His sovereignty, His power, and His glory!

They could only see His ruling and His reigning on this earth which will come later.

We can see that Jesus accepted the things that were about to happen to Him!

His willing acceptance of all these things were required. It was love that would be nailed to that cross along with all our sin!

There were 3 Jewish groups who would take the lead in killing Jesus.

The elders, the respected men of the community. Israel had no government of it’s own at this time.

The chief priests, the religious system that was in place.

The scribes, who made copies of the Scriptures but taught the oral law.

Men from these 3 groups made up the Sanhedrin, the Supreme Court of Jewish justice.

We can see why we must have men on our own Supreme Court who are not politically motivated even today!

Jesus Christ was to bear His cross for all mankind!

BUT, there was another cross, a cross man was to bear for the Messiah!

To be a disciple of Jesus would bring it’s own suffering!

*****Luk 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

The truth is that following the Lord Jesus Christ entails a “daily” willingness to die for Him!

We all have the tendency to indulge ourselves in our own desires.

The Lord Jesus, in His own words says that “we are to deny ourselves daily”, in order to become His disciple!

Taking up our own cross refers to a condemned man hauling his own cross to the place of execution.

Jesus Christ did this very thing and He is our example even in this thing!

Each of us must follow Jesus and not someone else of this earth!

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.

The modern day Church has forgotten that we are to be like Christ.

Jesus Christ is to be our example in everything that we face!

No doubt these Jews knew exactly what the cross stood for. They had seen many criminals bearing their cross to the place of execution!

Part of the execution by the cross was the public display in places where it was easily seen by all people.

We should understand the our own cross does not mean we are to bear life’s hardships.

It does not mean we are to bear poor health, or abuse by the government, or the abuse of our parents, or our spouse or even a wayward child!

The cross is an instrument of death! We are to die to ourselves!

We are to die mentally and actively to the things of this world and we are to do this daily!

We are to have the mind of Christ!

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.

This is not a negative behavior because it is a positive behavior!

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

When we die to ourselves we become alive to God!

Rom 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

This is when God can make a use of us!

Mat 10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

We need to understand what life really means.

*****Luk 9:24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

Life as we know it on this earth quickly passes away!

We are born as babes and then the aging process begins and we fade and decay until there is only a lifeless corpse buried in some grave.

This in itself defeats all the laws of evolution. We never evolve we only decay just as all the things in our universe are doing the same!

When we work only to please ourselves we will lose our life eternally!

Life is not something that we possess!

1Ti 5:6 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.

Life is given by the Lord Jesus Christ!

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.

God gave us this life we have now in order that we may have fellowship with Him.

1Jn 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

God gave us this life in order that we might fellowship with one another.

Psa 119:63 I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.
Psa 119:64 The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.

God gave us this life in order that we be able to help save this world that is lost in sin!

Mat 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Joh 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
Joh 20:22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
We should be able to see that life is only real when we release ourselves to serve the Triune God!

There are no advantages to a life without Christ Jesus!

*****Luk 9:25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?

If we sit down and think about these words of Jesus we can come to only one conclusion.

There are no eternal advantages of materialism!

There are actually some men who devote their time in pursuit of gaining all the riches this world, though that be impossible.

The truth of all those that reject Jesus Christ is that they will truly be cast into the Burning Lake of Fire.

Mat 25:29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
Mat 25:30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Those that live only for themselves are actually wasting their lives on themselves.

Those that deny themselves and pick up their own cross and follow Jesus make their lives count for something that is truly important!

To be castaway is to suffer loss of, or to forfeit, To Lose What Is Of A Greater Value!

*****Luk 9:26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels.
Luk 9:27 But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.

The truth is no man on the same level of man in their moral nature could ever be a Savior!

The judgment on the materialist of this world will be tragic.

Most of mankind are ashamed when they come face to face with the Word of God!

Most of mankind actually find comfort in their acceptance in a society of unbelievers.

Most of mankind find comfort in the sinful pleasures of this world.

The truth is Jesus will return to judge this world!

**Jesus will return in His own glory:

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.

**Jesus will return in the glory of God:

1Ti 6:16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

**Jesus will return in the glory of the Angels:

Luk 12:8 Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:
Luk 12:9 But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.

When Jesus Christ returns in His glory He will be ashamed of all those that have rejected Him and who showed their shame in Him!

Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Here on earth the greatest reward is salvation!

BUT, the reward to those who are saved is God’s Kingdom!

Each believer has his place reserved in the Kingdom of God as soon as he believes!

Standing before Jesus this day were some who would be eyewitness of His death and resurrection.

Standing before Jesus that day were some who would witness the coming of the Holy Spirit.

And standing before Jesus that day would be some who would be eyewitnesses to His glory!

And now we see the the certainty of Christ’s future glory.

*****Luk 9:28 And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.

Peter, James, and John could be said to be the inner circle of the 12 disciples.

They were all partners in the fishing business before coming to Christ and they would become fishers of men.

What we know is the Jesus had just announced His death on the cross it seems that God knew He needed a very special strength to face the pressure of the cross.

That added strength would come in His transfiguration and in the Garden of Gethsemane.

The disciples also would need some added strength and these three of the inner circle would witness the transfiguration, the prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, and the resurrection of Jairus’ daughter.

God gave them a glimpse of the glory of His Son!

Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
Heb 1:4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

And then Jesus began to pray.

We should know that the weight of the sin of the world, including our own sin already weighed heavy on Jesus at this time.

We should also know that the time was short before Jesus would give these disciples the keys to the Church.

*****Luk 9:29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.

Luke says His countenance was altered and His raiment was white and glistering.

Matthew said His face did shine as the Sun.

Mark wrote His raiment became shining exceeding whits as snow as no fuller could white them.

On this day was Jesus seen in all His glory and in just a few days He would be unrecognizable!

Isa 52:14 As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:

But God had a purpose for all these things.

God was showing these men that Jesus was not only the Master teacher, not only the Miracle worker, not only a great Prophet, but that Christ Jesus was indeed a third part of the Triune God!

Jesus allowed His Godly nature to shine through Him.

Even on this day these disciples had no excuse for doubting the Savior!

The needs of these disciples were met but there was also a need of Jesus Himself.

We should understand that when our needs are desperate God will meet those needs in a special way!

We have recently learned that before major decisions are made it takes intense prayer.

We see here that when there are special needs it takes intense prayer!

These things can change our own countenance!

Dan 12:3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

Peace and blessedness comes to those who know the Lord!

But God was not through yet.

*****Luk 9:30 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:
Luk 9:31 Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.

Moses the great Lawgiver appeared to Jesus and they discussed how Jesus would accomplish the fulfillment of the law on the cross in Jerusalem, which is God’s great love for us..

Heb 9:15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
Heb 9:16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
Heb 9:17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
Heb 9:18 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.

Elijah the great Prophet appeared to Jesus and they discussed how Jesus would accomplish the fulfillment of all the prophets in Jerusalem with His life, His burial, His resurrection and His return a second time.

Luk 18:31 Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.

These two great men of the Old testament were giving strength to the only One who could fulfill the New Testament.

Jesus represented the New Covenant, Moses represents the Old Covenant, Elijah represents the prophesy that would be fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Peter, James, and John represented the Jews to whom the Covenants of Abraham and of David would be fulfilled.

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.

Peter, James and John also represented the Apostles who would have the keys to building the Church!

Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Joh 6:45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

Mat 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Mat 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Mat 16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Peter was not that rock but Christ the Son of the Living God is that solid rock foundation of the Church of the Living God!

We should notice that Jesus was going to Jerusalem to accomplish the wishes of His Father in Heaven.

Jesus, the man. clearly understood the details of the great work which He and His Father were soon to accomplish in Jerusalem!

Both Moses and Elijah had trusted, and believed and hoped in this day when God would provide the means of salvation for all people, of all generations!

The truth is all our faith, and all our hope are realized and fulfilled in Christ Jesus!

That’s why it is called “Grace”!

Gal 1:3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
Gal 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

Today we truly think of death as a bad thing but in reality to the Christian, death is a good thing and we should discuss our death with other Christians.

Php 1:20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
Php 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Sharing the knowledge of our home going can be an encouragement to others!

But Peter “with the foot shaped mouth” needed to learn another lesson along with James and John.

*****Luk 9:32 But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.
Luk 9:33 And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.

The Lord Jesus had brought had brought these three chosen disciples to be witness of this event.

Luk 9:27 But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.

They all had fallen asleep again while Jesus was praying but they were suddenly awaken by the “Shekinah Glory” of God.

They were in the very presence of God Himself and they knew they were on hallowed ground!

These disciples at once saw the source of the Lord Jesus’ strength.

The throne of God is in Heaven but at this time the throne of Jesus Christ would be the cross.

It was good for them to be there on the Mount of Transfiguration!

Transfiguration is a change in form!

It is during the Church Age that we all stand on the Mount of Transfiguration and see the Glory of the Cross!

But we cannot spend the rest of our lives on the Mountain Top!

We cannot build shelter and homes and stay on the mountain top.

God calls us all down into the valley to spread the “Gospel of Jesus Christ”!

When God has revealed in us the glory of His Son then we are to consecrate our lives to the work the Lord has given us to do just as He gave to all His disciples.

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.

Just like Peter, we may not know what to say to these things but God will give us the answers!

*****Luk 9:34 While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.
Luk 9:35 And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

Most of the time God will speak to us in His still voice but but Peter, James, and John heard something else on this day.

When you are in the presence of God you will realize just how puny we human are compared to the awesomeness of the Almighty God!

**This was a bright cloud.

This cloud was bright because it contained the Shekinah Glory of God.

This was the same cloud that had guided Israel in their 40 years in the wilderness.

This was the same cloud that rested on the Tabernacle that Moses built.

This was the same cloud that rested on the Mercy Seat in the Holy of Holies.

This was the same cloud where God dwells.

1Ti 6:16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

Peter never forgot this day!

2Pe 1:16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
2Pe 1:17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
2Pe 1:18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

**This was a bright cloud that overshadowed the Lord Jesus Christ.

When God gave Moses the laws of the Old Covenant, God came in a dark and overshadowing cloud:

Exo 20:21 And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.

The point being that the Old Covenant was dark and threatening:

Gal 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

The New Covenant in the Lord Jesus Christ is bright because it is given to save and to bless and not to threaten and condemn.

Heb 12:18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
Heb 12:19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:
Heb 12:20 (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:
Heb 12:21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)

Add to this:

Heb 8:6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
Heb 8:7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
Heb 8:8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
Heb 8:9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
Heb 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
Heb 8:11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
Heb 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
Heb 8:13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

**And maybe the most important of all, the voice that came out of the cloud spoke and said “This Is My Beloved SON”!

God has given us the only means of salvation!

God has given us the only chance we will have to get to Heaven!

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Rom 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

**God’s message was very clear when He said “HEAR HIM”!

Those soon to be Apostles were to hear what Jesus had to say!

We are to listen to what Jesus has to say!

God warns and commands every living man, woman, and child to listen to Christ Jesus!

Why?

1Jn 5:9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.

Faith is the key that unlocks the Glory of God!

1Jn 5:10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
1Jn 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
1Jn 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

After God speaks He will give us some time to think about His words.

*****Luk 9:36 And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.

Quietness, Jesus was standing alone, No one said spoke the remainder of that night.

These disciples did not speak of these things until after the resurrection and the ascension of Christ back to Heaven.

Once we hear the Word of God, the things that Jesus spoke, there should be a time for silence, a time for being still, and a time for meditating on what Jesus says.

Psa 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Psa 83:16 Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD.
Psa 83:17 Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish:
Psa 83:18 That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.

Solomon wrote that there is a time for all things and now is the time for “Grace”!

Now is the time for all the servants of God to spread the “Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ”!

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:

Just as we see that these Apostles saw the glory of Christ, we can be certain of Christ future glory!

Questions?

Let’s Pray!

We Can Be Certain Of Christ’s Teaching

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

The Certainty Of Christ’s Teaching

Book of Luke 8

What is preaching in the Word of God?

Preaching is the act of proclaiming the “Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ” in a public setting.

God chose preaching as the means of reaching the lost with the “Gospel”!

Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

To be a preacher, you must be called of God and then sent:

Rom 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

Whom God sends to preach, He first converts, He will then kindle in him beyond the average man, a love for lost souls.

Jesus Christ is the “visible representation” of the Triune God and surely we make narrow God, unless we think of Him as Triune!

Surely we slander God, unless we make “atonement” as much the work of the Father and the Holy Spirit, as of the Son, Jesus.

Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

AND, Jesus Christ was a preacher!

Jesus, by this time, only had about 18 months before He would face the passion of His cross.

Jesus Christ had a preaching ministry!

Jesus Christ was sent to preach!

Luk 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
Luk 4:19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

The Book of Leviticus teaches us of the Jubilee Year when all the slaves were set free and the land returned to the owners and all debts paid.

The truth is, it is Christianity that has abolished slavery!

Jesus Christ preached the equality of all men as the children of God!

Jesus Christ preached of the eternal and everlasting Jubilee Year for all believers!

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

From this time forward Jesus left Capernaum to preach village to village and city to city.

Jesus preached in Judea, Samaria; Jerusalem and Sychar but Jesus spent most of His time in the towns and villages of Galilee.

This province was despised by most Jews.

This was the training that the 12 disciples needed in order to begin the Church after Jesus’ departure back to Heaven.

This is when these disciples would certainly learn what is later referred to as, the “Apostles Doctrine”.

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.

The Church of today needs to return to the “Apostles Doctrine”!

The Apostles Doctrine is the doctrine of Christ Jesus!

Jesus Christ was faithful and consistent in preaching and proclaiming the “Gospel”!

The truth is, every true minister, and ministry of the “Gospel” needs some help.

Luke mentions some women who devoted themselves to supporting the ministry of Christ Jesus.

We can understand this Mary, as the Mary from Magdala to distinguish her from the other Marys. It is a mistake to think of this woman as a person of bad character. She had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities and as we all are. She was just a sinner saved by the “Grace of God”.

Herod Antipas had a steward named Chuza. Chuza had a wife named Joanna who along with Mary Magdalene ministered to the Lord Jesus Christ during this time and remained a follower of Him even after His death and resurrection.

There was another precious sister named Susanna who along with these other two Mary Magdalene and Joanna ministered to Christ Jesus with their own substance.

We can also see that there were many others and it is those many other unnamed people in the background who have moved the preaching of the “Gospel” throughout this world.

In most cases, it is those many unnamed Christians behind the scenes that carry the burden of the work in every church.

We also see that the message of Christ Jesus had reached into the political structure but it had also been received by some that were rich by the standards of that day.

They supported this ministry as it reached out, for God has compassion on all and is not willing that any should perish.

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.

The truth is, that those that find the pathway to Hell will have to stumble over Jesus Christ to get there, so that His ministry can never be blamed.

These precious ladies supported a ministry of the truth!

This financial help allowed the disciples to follow the Lord Jesus Christ full time.

The “Gospel” is the truth and it is “good news”!

Jesus touched on many things but He did not preach religion and ritual, Jesus did not preach ceremony and ordinance, Jesus did not preach laws and rules, nor works and deeds.

Jesus preached the “good news” of the Word of God.

Jesus preached the message that His Father in Heaven sent Him to preach!

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Joh 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Jesus preached the “glad tidings” of His Father’s Kingdom, because He had no message of His own.

Joh 5:43 I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
Joh 5:44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?

We can see that discipleship and stewardship are the keys to moving the “Gospel” throughout this world.

The supporters of the ministry must do so out of devotion to Christ and we see that there is always a place for everyone to serve!

It not so important to have your named written down in the Word of God, as it is to have your name written down in the “Lamb’s Book Of Life”!

AND, Jesus Christ taught in a specific way.

*****Luk 8:4 And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:

We should realize that the nation of Israel was in a state of revival even though it was an occupied nation at that time.

This revival had begun with John the Baptist and now continued through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Multitudes of people were flocking to hear the preaching of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We should be able to judge the size of these multitudes by the feeding of the 5000 which only counted the men and not women and children.

Remember Jesus spoke with an authority that no one else possessed!

Jesus did things that they had only read about in the Scriptures!

BUT, Jesus also knew that most of these that came to Him were not sincere.

Joh 2:25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

It is because of this that Jesus taught with parables!

This is what the parable of the seed is all about!

This parable has a message for everyone who hears it!

The main message of this parable, is that just hearing the Word of God is not enough for salvation!

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

This seed of course represents the “Gospel Seed” the Word of God!

Notice this parable was taken from everyday happenings. Most all people are familiar with some of the things of the farmer because we all eat.

**The first thing we see is that there must be a sowing of the seed!

Not everyone will be like the farmer. Many will never sow the “Gospel Seed”.

We should also see that God does not establish things that are fully formed, like a seed they must grow into usable things.

SO, we can see that the seed is alive. “The Gospel Seed” is the “Living Word Of God”!

Jesus said:

Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

**We next see that we must be careful where we sow the seed.

*Some will always fall on the wayside!

The wayside is the pathway that passes by along side the field.

Here the soil is hard, the seed will be trodden down and the fowls of the air will devour it.

These are the hard hearts that have been trampled by years of sin and the seed cannot grow there.

*Some seed will fall on shallow soil over rock!

This seed grew quickly but having no depth of soil it soon just withered away.

These are the people who hear the Word of God but also the ones who have a form of godliness but they forsake the old paths for some modern excitement, They mistake feelings for religion and noisy display for real conviction.

*Some seed will always fall among the thorns.

It is here where the seed will grow but those thorny weeds will choke the life out of the growth making it useless.

*Seed needs to be planted in well prepared ground!

Good ground is the only place seed will grow and produce fruit.

We cannot always produce the same amount of fruit or even the the same kind of fruit but they are still God’s fields prepared for the harvest.

Notice what else Jesus says: “He that has ears to hear, let him hear”.

We should clearly understand that nothing on this earth determines the true worth of man more clearly than the way he acts in regard to the Word of God!

The Word of God must be sown in the heart and not on the heart.

Head knowledge is not the same has heart felt saving knowledge!

For the Word of God to have the proper effect it must be mixed with faith in the hearts of those who hear it.

Heb 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

We must understand that a parable is an earthly story with a Heavenly meaning.

The stories are true and the heavenly meaning is true!

*****Luk 8:9 And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?
Luk 8:10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

Before Jesus explained this parable to His chosen disciples, He first explained to them why He was teaching with parables.

Up unto this point, Jesus had been preaching and teaching with direct statements with clear illustrations.

Jesus had seen that most people were repelled by this teaching because it destroyed the Oral Laws that the Scribes and Pharisees insisted on.

Now Jesus would preach and teach using a lot of parables.

1) Jesus wanted to open the hearts of those who were truly seeking God!

To every farmer, the soil preparation is the key to a fruitful harvest!

Parables required those who heard them to think about the words that had been said.

A person who was truly seeking God would search until they could find the meaning of the words that Jesus spoke.

All those that knew farming techniques would understand about the seed and the soil.

Jesus wanted those who heard to think about the “Gospel Seed” and the condition of the “Heart”!

All those who clung to their sin would not see, nor would they understand the teaching of Jesus because it required a change to take place in their heart!

The mystery for us all to learn hear is, “how so many people who have the opportunity to enter the Kingdom of God fail to do so because of the condition of their heart”!

The Word of God leads to salvation, salvation leads to eternal life. Parables provide a vision of life!

The seed of the farmer then represents the “Gospel Seed”, the Living Word of God!

*****Luk 8:11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

**We should understand that the Sower of the “Gospel Seed” was on this day Jesus Christ.

Today all those who have been called to be ministers of the Word of God sow the “Gospel Seed”!

1Co 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.
1Co 3:10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
1Co 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

**The Seed then is the “Word of God” or the “Word of the Kingdom of God”!

The “incorruptible seed”.

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

The “Gospel Truth”.

Col 1:5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
Col 1:6 Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:

**The ground where the seed is sown is the “heart”.

Just as there is all types of ground there are all types of hearts.

Just like the ground can be prepared for the seed, the heart can be prepared for the “Gospel Seed”.

Just like this farmer sowed on all types of ground, the “Gospel Seed” is to be sown throughout the world.

Just as it is the condition of the ground that can cause it to bear fruit, it is also the condition of the heart that can cause it to bear fruit.

*****Luk 8:12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

We see this person by the wayside has heard the Word of God.

This is a person that is off to the side out of the way and does not get involved.

This is a person who sees Christ as a Prophet and a Preacher and may not even miss a Church service but doubts the promises of God.

Before this person accepts Jesus Christ as his Savior, the Devil comes and snatches the Word away!

Before this person can apply the Word of God to his life, salvation has already eluded him.

Act 28:27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

We should be clear, the success or the failure of the Word of God to bring salvation, is not due to Satan but the hardness of our own heart. Satan can only bring temptation!

*****Luk 8:13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

This is a person who hears the Word of God and becomes excited over it. He may even profess a belief in Christ Jesus and make a profession of faith before the world.

He does not count the cost!

He does not become rooted and grounded in the Word of God!

He does not apply a commitment to learn of Jesus Christ!

SO, when trials and temptations come he falls away.

His profession of faith is burned up in the heat of trials and temptations.

Luk 6:49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

Luk 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

*****Luk 8:14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

This is a person who receives the Word of God and honestly tries to live for Christ!

He may actually profess Christ as his Savior.

He still has a problem of separating himself from the world.

He tries to live a double life. He has one foot in the church and the other foot in the world.

He may even bear some fruit but it never ripens and is never able to be plucked.

The thorns of life will soon choke the message of the “Gospel” out of him!

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.

*****Luk 8:15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

These are those who have an honest and a good heart.

They have been plowed with the “Gospel Plow”.

They keep the Word of God and apply it to there lives!

**Their hearts are honest!

Act 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

1Th 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

**Their hearts are good!

They were devoted and and committed to the truth.

Rom 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

**They hold on tightly to the Word of God refusing to allow Satan snatch it away!

Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

**They bear fruit with patience!

They endure and grow in the Lord.

They constantly weed themselves so the fruit is not choked out.

They continue steadfastly in the Word of God.

They no longer even resemble who they were before Christ came into their heart.

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.

Psa 92:13 Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.
Psa 92:14 They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;

For what is the purpose of a life in Christ?

*****Luk 8:16 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.

A life in Christ is for the purpose of giving that life to others!

This candle is then a gift of God.

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.

This candle or the life in Christ cannot be purchased nor can it be earned!

This candle or the life in Christ must be used to be of any benefit!

This candle or the life in Christ must be lit, it is not fulfilling until reaches it’s primary function!

***The primary function of the candle, or the life in Christ is to glow!

Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

A candle can also decorate and beautify. A life in Christ is a beautiful thing.

The wax of a candle can plug holes and fill gaps. A life in Christ will fill the gaps in any society.

A candle can be an ornament to attract attention. A life in Christ will attract the attention of sinners.

A candle is just a piece of wax with a cord in it’s center until it is lit.

Each Christian must show enough initiative to light up their life in the ways of Jesus!

Joh 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

***A life for Christ cannot be hidden!

A life in Christ that is hidden serves no purpose at all.

Mar 8:38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

***A candle should be placed high on a candle stick. A life in Christ Jesus must burn as bright as physically possible.

Php 1:20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
Php 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

***A candle must be seen by all those that enter into the house.

Psa 66:16 Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.

We must remember, we are not that light for that light is Jesus!

Joh 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

We must also remember that no secret can be kept from our Lord!

*****Luk 8:17 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.

It is a fact that we all have some things in our past that we would rather not let the world know but nothing can be hidden from God.

We will always try to hide our sin and shame.

Much sin is done in the dark and behind closed doors.

Much sin is done when we are out and away from friends and family.

Many try to hide things in diaries and some even have secret bank accounts.

Many even try to hide abilities and talents.

And the secret Christian will even try to hide the Light and the Truth of Jesus Christ

Secrets have a tendency to make us feel safe!

Secrets have a tendency to make us feel that we have escaped punishment!

But what did Jesus say? “For nothing is secret”

There may be some things that others will not find out about us, but nothing can be hidden from God and He will make known the things that need to be made known!

Ecc 12:14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

The truth will always be the truth and no lie is of the truth!

*****Luk 8:18 Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.

Jesus has already said “he that hath ears, let him hear”.

Now Jesus warns us all how to hear.

The truth is, we must hear the Word of God and then we must use what we hear and apply it to our lives!

If we do not use what we hear to our own benefit and the benefit of the lost, then that that we have can be taken away from us!

1) We must take heed on how we hear.

We sometimes hear wrongly. We can think, we can guess, and we can suppose we understand what we hear but God says to take heed and to discern everything we hear concerning the Word of God.

We must always make sure we hear the truth.

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.

Jesus Christ is the truth!

2) We need to watch how we hear!

It is only by knowing the truth and then doing the truth can we be rewarded.

Some will say rewards are not important as long as we have salvation.

But when the Lord Jesus calls your name, not many want to be sitting in the corner twiddling their thumbs while all the others are casting their crowns at the feet of Jesus.

Mat 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Mat 7:8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

3) It is the law of God!

We must alway be moving forward trying to get even closer to God.

Standing still is always going backwards!

Heb 6:11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
Heb 6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
When we are not certain of the teachings of Jesus Christ then we are failing the Lord who has brought such a great salvation to all who will believe.

Joh 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Joh 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
Joh 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Questions?

Let’s Pray!

We Can Be Certain Of The Power Of Jesus Christ

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

The Certainty Of Christ’s Power

Book of Luke 7

What is the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ?

The answer to every question is Jesus Christ!

The answer to every need is also Jesus Christ!

Jesus Christ bridges the gaps and the differences between all of mankind!

We have only one thing to do on our part and that is we must have “Faith”!

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

In order to see the power of God the one requirement is faith!

Heb 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

Faith begins with hearing and then believing the Word of God!

*****Luk 7:1 Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.

Jesus had just finished teaching about having the right attitude.

The right attitude when attached to faith in the Lord gives God something to work with!

We know that Jesus was called a Nazarene because He was raised in Nazareth.

We know that Jesus had been rejected by His hometown of Nazareth and He had made His headquarters in Capernaum.

It can be understood that Jesus did not have a house in Capernaum but it was a place He could take shelter.

Mat 8:20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

Just as He and the disciples were returning to Capernaum, Jesus was approached by the elders of the city.

*****Luk 7:2 And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die.
Luk 7:3 And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.

The first thing we see is that having great faith and the right attitude leads to those who have great care!

A Roman Centurion would be in command of at least 100 men.

A servant to a Roman Centurion would have certainly have been his slave.

What we see in this Scripture is a Roman Centurion who had a slave that he honored and considered him to be a precious human being.

This was in all probability a Jew!

In the society of that day, a slave was not much more than a tool to be used until it was worthless and they had absolutely no rights as a human beings.

A slave could be mistreated or even killed without repercussions.

This Roman commander had a slave that he cared very much about.

Most owners of slaves would have just gotten rid of that slave and just replaced him with another but this soldier seemed to care for people.

We also see that Jesus was well known by the government officials and the elders of the synagogue.

BUT, This soldier had something that was missing from the Jewish people, it’s called “faith”.

This soldier had heard of the things that Jesus had done and he simply believed!

Jesus the “Miracle Worker”, Jesus the “Great Physician”, Jesus the “Master Teacher” was coming to town.

It does not say that these Jewish elders had any faith at all. They only thought of this Centurion as someone who did not cause harm to the Jewish people.

**A lesson we can see as Christians, is that those of “great faith” will feel unworthy to approach the Lord.

Another lesson we can see is that the government always has it’s eyes on Christians.

But we must also understand that there are even some in the government that can be reached with the “Gospel” and it will change their relationship with the people for the better.

In contrast when a man that has been trained to take lives meets the Savior who is the giver of life, it is the Lord. our Savior, who always wins.

Most soldiers truly develope a brotherhood with those who fight by their side.

AND, The Lord Jesus Christ has a message of love and brotherhood!

This soldier knew he was a terrible sinner.

This soldier knew he was unworthy.

BUT, this soldier was not too proud to ask for help!

This soldier found someone to intercede on his part!

As Christians we simply must not ever allow our unworthiness and the fear of rejection to come between us and the Lord!

The truth is:

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

Our world today is filled with people who do not even want to hear the ‘Gospel” because they know it exposes them of the truth.

AND, The truth is we must humble ourselves before the Lord if we wish the blessings of God!

Isa 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

**Next we will see that great “faith” will seek out God!

*****Luk 7:4 And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this:
Luk 7:5 For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.

A Roman soldier would have knowledge of all the pagan gods of Rome and if he sought them, which he probably did, he had found that nothing comes from false religion and hope is not a word that is used by false religion.

No doubt he had heard many times of the God of Israel and had heard of the great things He had already done and he had since heard many of the Jews speak of the Messiah who had authority over all God’s creation.

Hope will always draw us to our God!

Jer 32:27 Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?

There are several times we see the Centurion soldiers in the New Testament and every time they are seen as favorable.

The one most remembered is Cornelius who reached out to Peter.

A Centurion at the cross who was convinced that Jesus was the true Son of God.

A Centurion to took the Apostle Paul to Rome.

It can be said that the God of Israel had made a great impression upon them all.

This Centurion had actually built s synagogue for the Jews of Capernaum to worship God and may have even worshiped with them there.

We see in this man a “man of faith” who “loved God”.

What is the truth of God?

1Co 8:3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.

Those that see “typology” in the Scriptures can see this man who loved the Jewish people even though he is hated and despised by most all of them.

We see a “Gentile” who did what he could to aid in the worship of Jehovah God!

Even his Jewish enemies felt the need to intercede for him with the Lord Jesus Christ.

This Gentile, Roman Commander exhibited more faith in Christ Jesus than all those in Capernaum!

*****Luk 7:6 Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof:
Luk 7:7 Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.
Luk 7:8 For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

We must understand that “faith” is the key that unlocks all the doors of Christianity and everlasting life!

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

Faith comes from a belief in the truth and confidence in the Word of God and it’s truths.

If we cannot believe that there is a God, we have nothing to base our “faith” upon!

If we cannot believe in a Supreme Being, then we have to admit that everything we see happened by accident, which in itself is impossible!

Jesus Christ is the sovereign Lord of all creation and “ALL” power is subject to Him!

Jesus Christ is the “Rewarder” to “all” those seek Him and He will use His power in behalf of those that seek Him!

This Centurion had diligently sought our Lord.

This Centurion had believed in the power and the authority of our Lord.

This Centurion had “great faith” because he believed that Christ Jesus could just speak and things would happen!

This Centurion understood the Genesis record of creation!

Col 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Col 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

This Centurion understood the truth because he believed that the Word of Christ was all that was needed!

The Lord Jesus Christ does not have to be present for our needs to be met!

This is why our prayers are so important!

This is the reason we should ask in the name of Jesus!

Joh 14:13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Joh 14:14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

This Centurion understood what the word authority really meant!

Authority is the right to command!

This Centurion could issue an order and it would be carried out, whether he was there or not was not important.

He understood that Jesus need only to speak and whatever He said would be done.

This is the “faith” that is lacking in our prayer life today!

This is the “faith” that is lacking in our churches today!

Psa 37:5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

What could Jesus do but only do as He said He would do, by the Word of God.

*****Luk 7:9 When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
Luk 7:10 And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.

This Gentile Roman Centurion had exhibited greater “faith”in the Word of Jesus Christ, than most all the Israelites to whom He had first come.

This Gentile Roman Centurion had caused the hand of God to be moved, a great example for us all!

Notice Jesus did not embrace this man for who hew was or what he had done in his past. Jesus embraced him for His “faith”!

Even today it is hard to find the same “faith” this soldier exhibited, even in the Church.

The Lord Jesus healed this servant because He could!

The Lord Jesus is truly the Messiah!

The power of the Lord Jesus Christ has not diminished in all these years. It is our lack of “faith” that has made the church weak in this day and time!

For Jesus to meet our needs, we must believe that He can meet our needs, after all why pray if we do not believe that God is who He says He is!

AND, The power of God is in His Son Jesus!

Mar 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

There are still many doubters in the world so Jesus decided to help a mother.

*****Luk 7:11 And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people.

Nain is 6 miles from Nazareth and a day’s journey from Capernaum.

Nain is also the same area where Elisha had raised the son of a Shunammite woman.

2Ki 4:34 And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm.
2Ki 4:35 Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.

We know that the most phenomenal event in history is the resurrection of the dead.

Every believer shares this promise of God!

1Th 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
1Th 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
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.
1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Many people just have a hard time believing this thing so God, by the Holy Ghost, included this resurrection in the Word of God.

In this incident in Nain there were many eyewitnesses this day and this miracle could not be denied!

We must first understand that a widow left entirely on her own had very little chance of survival at that day and time.

The loss of this son would probably be a loss this widow would never overcome!

In the middle east today, it is only Israel that gives women the freedoms they deserve so they can in fact survive in this world.

As Jesus entered into Nain, He came upon a funeral procession.

*****Luk 7:12 Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.
Luk 7:13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.

Aren’t you glad we serve a God with compassion?

Compassion is the suffering of one for another and a sensation of sorrow for some one else’s sorrows.

Aren’t you glad we serve a God who can be touched with our own sorrows?

Jehovah God will get close and personal with those He loves!

The Lord Jesus Christ was touched by the broken heart of this mother.

She was already a widow with only one son and she had outlived her son which we all expect not to happen.

None of us want to bury our own children!

She was a woman alone in a world that was already harsh and rough on women!

The family name would die out with the death of her son but the Lord Jesus had compassion of her.

The size of the crowd told Jesus how much this mother had been loved in the community.

We can see that she had loved and cared for many of them throughout her years.

Throughout the Word of God we see our Lord who is always touched and moved to help all those who have helped others!

Psa 103:13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
Psa 103:14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

We also notice that in this case no one asked Jesus for His help.

We have a God who will at all times act on His own compassion!

After all God sent His Son to save us while we were all yet sinners!

Normally Luke used the name Jesus but on this occasion, by the Holy Ghost, Luke writes that it was the Lord who saw this woman who was so loved by this community.

It is the Lord who holds the sovereign power of the universe!

It was the Lord of compassion who had seen this woman!

It was the Lord of all power who could do something about it!

We have a God who can have compassion on a single individual, located in an unknown place, totally out of touch to the rest of the world!

Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

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.

It was the Lord who spoke to this woman and gave her assurance.

Thank goodness we have a God who is not way off but a God that is near enough to see the troubles we have!

Jer 23:23 Am I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off?
Jer 23:24 Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.

Thank goodness we serve a God of mercy!

Lam 3:21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
Lam 3:22 It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
Lam 3:23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
Lam 3:24 The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

Our Lord is also our example of the compassion we are to have for one another!

It is only this same compassionate, loving God, who holds the power of resurrection!

*****Luk 7:14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.
Luk 7:15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.

**We must clearly understand that the Lord Jesus Christ has the power to by-pass all religious beliefs without compromising on the Word of God!

Jesus has the sole power over life and death!

**We must clearly understand that Jesus has the power to stop a death processional without speaking a Word.

Jesus simply walked over and touched the bier.

Our lesson is that we to must be obedient if we wished to be raised from the dead!

Php 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Php 3:11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
Php 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

**We must clearly understand that Jesus has the power to raise the dead just by saying “Arise”.

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?
Joh 11:27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

This mother, who could already see death in her own future because of cruel world now saw life because of Christ Jesus.

*****Luk 7:16 And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.
Luk 7:17 And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about.

What is it to fear God? The truth is we should have absolute fear of the power of God but to those that know Him, our fear is coupled with love and hope.

We truly serve an awesome God!

If we have a reverent fear of the Lord it will keep us from being so careless with the Word of God but also be an incentive to live as Jesus and as an example to all others in the righteousness of Jesus.

Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Php 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Php 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

When this young man sat up, who was dead, the city of Nain saw something they had never witnessed but had only been talked about since the days of Elisha.

What is the truth? God is the giver of all life and it is only God who can restore life!

Our lesson should also be that we serve a God who is always ready to show His compassion.

Jesus was only glorified as a great prophet because Elisha had done a similar thing many years before Jesus.

BUT, more important these people realized that after more than 400 years God had again visited His people!

This is the thing that was broadcast throughout the region!

Israel might not know who Jesus is but they certainly know they have a compassionate God!

Heb 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
Heb 13:16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased

What these people missed was the “Grace” of God.

What the world of today misses is the power in the Word of God!

AND, more important when will people realize that the Lord Jesus Christ will return just as He promised!

Joh 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Joh 14:2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Joh 14:4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

We can be certain of the power of Christ Jesus!

Most of our world today question the Messiahship of Jesus Christ.

John the Baptist was locked up in prison by this time and He did not so much doubt the Lord Jesus as He wanted proof that he had not wasted his time as a preacher of the Word of God.

We will all suffer doubts from time to time.

*****Luk 7:18 And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things.
Luk 7:19 And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?
Luk 7:20 When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?

None of us will ever go through this life, even after salvation, without an occasional period of doubt.

John the Baptist was experiencing such a time.

The one thing we should always remember, when it comes to the Word of God, honest questions never disappoint God.

God only judges rebellion against His Word!

God will meet and answer every honest question from those who trust Him in “faith”!

It seems that while John was in prison some of his followers began to follow Jesus and they had returned to tell John what they had seen.

John was truly enthused about what he had heard but we must remember John was still expecting the King of Kings to restore Israel to her glory as the prophets had said.

What John heard was that when people tried to encourage Jesus to be king that He would withdraw and discourage their actions.

Luk 5:15 But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.
Luk 5:16 And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.

John needed assurance that Jesus was much more than some prophet or some healer but truly the Messiah.

John sent two of his disciples just to ask Jesus if He was the Messiah.

Just as in the temptations of Satan, Jesus answered them with the Word of God.

*****Luk 7:21 And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.
Luk 7:22 Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.
Luk 7:23 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

When we look back on the “Gospels” of the Lord Jesus Christ in faith we can see that the ministry and the message of Jesus Christ proved that He was the Messiah!

One thing should be very clear to us in the end, it is sin to question the methods God uses to accomplish His will on this earth or in this universe.

**Jesus first demonstrated His powers. Jesus cured many and restored sight to man who were blind.

Jesus was saying, “if you want to judge Me, judge Me on what I do”.

Jesus confessed to be the Messiah.

Jesus proved He was the Messiah with His actions.

Jesus demonstrated to the world that “there is a God”.

A God that is above all the natural world.

A God that could heal any and all disease.

A God that truly loves His creation and had compassion for sinful man.

A God who had the perfect plan of salvation for all those that would believe.

**Only Jesus and not some prophet could fulfill the prophesies of the Old Testament.

Jesus was saying to the disciples of John, that God’s idea of the Messiah is far different from what man had made it out to be!

Jesus said to the disciples of John, there are far greater things than the things of this earth.

Act 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

**Jesus said to John’s disciples, there far more people than just the people of Israel.

**Jesus said, before the wrath of God comes, must come the blessings of God.

Isa 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
Isa 61:2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
Isa 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

**Jesus told the disciples of John to tell him to be patient!

The personal ministry of Jesus the Savior must be complete before the political ministry of King Jesus can begin!

And Jesus ends by saying blessings comes to those that are patient waiting on the Lord to complete His ministry of salvation.

Before the Kingdom Jesus can be established, those who will live there must be established!

1Pe 2:7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
1Pe 2:8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
1Pe 2:10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

The power of God is certain through the testimony of Jesus Christ!

Questions?

Let’s Pray!