The Promises God Makes

October 29, 2024 / Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Remembering the Promise to David

Book of Psalms: Psalm 132

This is another Psalm that was sung as the Israelites traveled to Jerusalem for the Feast’s days as commanded by God.

They had begun to remember the promises of God and it brought joy to them just as it does to each of us.

If we take a look into David’s past, we will see all the pains, the trouble, and anxiety he underwent in his lifetime for the cause of God, especially in the establishing a sanctuary in Jerusalem and making preparation for the building of the Temple.

David was building God’s special dwelling place on this Earth, a place where God would meet with His people.

If you do not have a longing to meet with God, then you cannot be a Christian!

You cannot be a Christian because the Holy Spirit will not come to live within you!

Every Christian is a sanctuary for God to dwell in!

If we look at the very first word of this Psalm, we see the word LORD, this is the Almighty God Himself, Jehovah.

David had accomplished what no lowly shepherd could accomplish.

Except we do know of another man who was a shepherd who came to save His people and His name is Jesus the Christ, the Messiah.

We know that special days are set aside to honor special people and some of the heroes of our nation.

In fact, almost every nation has set days to remember their national heroes.

For the Israelites, David was a hero and in fact, David is still honored as one of the Jews greatest heroes.

The Star of David is the national flag of Israel today.

The “Sling of David” is the name of one of the air defense systems of Israel.

This Psalm was probably written for the dedication of the Temple built by Solomon.

We know that David had spent many years gathering the wealth to build a magnificent Home for God, when He would come to visit this planet, but we know that God is everywhere, and He even abides in every “Born Again” child of God.

He lives in every person who has their name written down in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

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

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

David was now dead and gone, we know He is with the Lord, but the Jews had a great fondness for King David.

By remembering the hardships David faced before he was made king, it inspired the Jews to face their own hardships!

It has never been easy to live in this world since the sin of Adam, and it is not always easy to be a Christian.

We do still live in a cursed world!

The word cursed is used seventy-two times in the Bible.

We know that the Serpent who was Satan is cursed:

Gen_3:14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:

Gen_3:17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

If you look up the word cursed in the Bible, you will see that many of our leaders of today are cursed by their actions.

Deu_27:25 Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say, Amen.

We know we have been sold out by our leaders for riches, they will never spend.

We know that every doctor who is paid to end the life of an innocent baby is also cursed.

God has also placed a curse on all those who reject any part of the Scriptures:

Deu_27:26 Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen.

And to all those so-called churches that have left the truth of the Bible, God says:

Jer_11:3 And say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant,
Jer_17:5 Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.

God is very serious about the words He has given us to live by.

Let’s begin.

*Psa 132:1 A Song of degrees. LORD, remember David, and all his afflictions:
Psa 132:2 How he sware unto the LORD, and vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob;
Psa 132:3 Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house, nor go up into my bed;
Psa 132:4 I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine eyelids,
Psa 132:5 Until I find out a place for the LORD, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob.

The Psalmist who wrote this Psalm reminded the Lord how David was devoted to Him.

We all say these things such as, “Lord remember me”.

The truth is that God only forgets when He decides to forget.

His memory is perfect!

He has forgotten our sins, and it is He that said we are covered by the blood of Jesus that has washed away our sins.

Rev_1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

We know that King David had made a vow to find a place for the Almighty God to dwell in Jerusalem.

David was determined that He was going to build a House for God for God to dwell in Jerusalem.

This was David’s vow.

David had endured much suffering at the hands of Saul.
David had endured much suffering in finding a neutral place to worship God.
David had not yet taken Jerusalem from the Jebusites so, this too had to be done.
David had to transport the “Ark of the Congregation “ to this new House of God, but it was not in his hands at this time.
David had to also defend Jerusalem from the attacks of the Philistines two times, while all these other things were going on.

These things may have hindered David in completing his vow to God, but it did not stop Him.

In fact, David said; I’m not going to rest until I build a House for the Lord.

David said it was not right that he was living in a beautiful palace and worshiping God in a tent.

We can see that David’s devotion to God provides a worthy example for us to follow.

Many missionaries today have this same vision as David, to build a house for the worship of our God.

I believe Nathan had this vision and I believe Scott David had this vision.

These were church planters as David wanted to be.

*Psa 132:6 Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah: we found it in the fields of the wood.
Psa 132:7 We will go into his tabernacles: we will worship at his footstool.
Psa 132:8 Arise, O LORD, into thy rest; thou, and the ark of thy strength.
Psa 132:9 Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy.
Psa 132:10 For thy servant David’s sake turn not away the face of thine anointed.

Though this Scripture is hard to understand, what we do know is that David found the Ark of the Covenant and moved it to Jerusalem where it would remain until 70 AD when Titus destroyed Jerusalem.

At this time nobody really knows the whereabouts of the Ark!

These people recalled the passion of David to obtain the Ark and bring it to Jerusalem where he intended to build a House for God.

The Ark had been gone so long that many people had forgotten about it.

It was David who had to remind the people:

1Ch 13:2 And David said unto all the congregation of Israel, If it seem good unto you, and that it be of the LORD our God, let us send abroad unto our brethren every where, that are left in all the land of Israel, and with them also to the priests and Levites which are in their cities and suburbs, that they may gather themselves unto us:
1Ch 13:3 And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we enquired not at it in the days of Saul.
1Ch 13:4 And all the congregation said that they would do so: for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.

The people thought the Ark was in Ephratah, but Bethlehem and Kirjath-Jearim were both known as Bethlehem at this time.

There is the city of Bethlehem but there is also the region which was called Bethlehem.

It was Bethlehem Ephratah that provided the sheep for the Temple.

Rth 4:11 And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem:

Mic 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

Kirjath-Jearim would be the place that was in the woods!

We know that David failed the in his first attempt to retrieve the Ark, but he succeeded when He retrieved it according to the Word of God.

We will always fail if we do not do things according to the proven ways of God!

It is easy to see how this Scripture can be applied to the Lord Jesus Christ.

If King David did not have the zeal for the Lord that he had, we do not know if anyone would have remembered the Ark of God.

David challenged the people to get back to the worship of Jehovah God.

David referred to the Ark as the Lord’s footstool.

1Ch 28:2 Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: As for me, I had in mine heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building:
1Ch 28:3 But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood.

Psa 99:5 Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy.

The world knows nothing about the Holiness of God and many in the Church have also.

Rom 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

David built a tent for the Ark of the Covenant, but he must have also built a place where the people could gather to worship though many of them and the priests still went to the Tabernacle that was in Gibeon, but did not have the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy Place.

The reality of these things is that God will sit on the throne of David in Jerusalem.

1) The Ark is not only a symbol of God’s presence, but it is also a symbol of God’s power!

2) The priests that serve the Lord will be godly servants and agents of righteousness!

3) The saints of God will be a happy people.

4) God would not reject David’s anointed successor. Solomon would be the next king, but these things also make reference to God’s truly anointed which is the Lord Jesus Christ.

Today we worship together in a building set up for worship.

It is the people that are the Church.

The building or the place that we worship is just that, a building or a place.

We should never defile our bodies with the sins of the flesh.

We must obey the commands of God which say we are to separate ourselves from all unrighteousness and ungodliness.

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.

Today, God is still searching for people like David who love to worship Him.

Joh 4:21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
Joh 4:22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
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 must be wholly devoted to the Lord!

Next we will see some of the promises made to David.

*Psa 132:11 The LORD hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.
Psa 132:12 If thy children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall also sit upon thy throne for evermore.

There is no greater promise of the Lord Jesus Christ than this.

This verse points to the Messiah and His Kingdom!

Psa 89:3 I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant,
Psa 89:4 Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah.

Psa 89:35 Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David.

2Sa 7:28 And now, O Lord GOD, thou art that God, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:
2Sa 7:29 Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord GOD, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.

The thing we know is true is, that a descendant of David will occupy the throne in Jerusalem.

That throne is the government, and that government will be located in Jerusalem and the Messiah will rule the world from Jerusalem.

There were some conditions to be met for each descendant of David.

We should clearly understand that our unfaithfulness cannot defeat God’s purpose and neither could those sons of David who rejected the truth of God.

We know that God will keep His oaths, and He expects us to keep ours!

It is Jehovah God who chose Jerusalem when He could have chosen anywhere.

King Jesus will rule from Jerusalem.

*Psa 132:13 For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation.
Psa 132:14 This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it.

We know that some of the descendants of David turned from God and He had to discipline them.

The Israelites would be singing this Psalm as they traveled toward Jerusalem.

We know for a time there was no son of David sitting on the throne in Jerusalem, the fulfillment of the promises had been interrupted and it will stay that way until King Jesus takes control of the governments that remain in this world from Jerusalem.

God’s promise will be fulfilled, and the world is moving toward that moment when the Messiah will return.

The promise will be fulfilled in two stages:

1) Jesus Christ returns and rules the entire earth from Jerusalem for one thousand years.

Jer 3:17 At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart.

2) When Christ Jesus takes us to New Jerusalem and reigns from there forever and ever.

Rev 22:3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
Rev 22:4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

God promises to provide abundantly for those who are now His people.

*Psa 132:15 I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread.
Psa 132:16 I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.

I believe this speaks of the point when the Jews will join the Church.

God will provide any and all needs to His children.

The poor will not lack food and necessities as they had on Earth. These are material needs.

Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Then God will supply their Spiritual needs.

In verse nine we see that it was a prayer that asked the Lord for the priests be clothed in righteousness.

Psa 132:9 Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy.

We see in verse sixteen that God has answered that prayer.

I still believe that this is the Jews as they have now joined the Church, and all the saints will shout with joy for the Church is now complete and the Bride of Christ can join with the Bridegroom.

*Psa 132:17 There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed.
Psa 132:18 His enemies will I clothe with shame: but upon himself shall his crown flourish.

The Lord promised to make the horn of David to sprout.

To sprout means to bud to spring forth and grow.

The “horn” is a symbol of power.

This phrase means that a powerful ruler will come forth from the line of David and this ruler will fulfill all the promises made to David.

He will be a lamp or a light to all the world!

The “lamp” and that “horn” mean the Messiah.

1) Zec 6:13 Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.

2) Jer 33:15 In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land.

3) Isa 49:6 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

Zacharias the father of John the Baptist said:

Luk 1:69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David.

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.

We know what is going on in Israel today is turbulent times for them.

We need to remember these promises of God to David, and they will be fulfilled.

As far as the Church, we need to pray for the peace of Jerusalem which will take place at the return of Jesus Christ.

We know that the conclusion of God’s plan may be nearing its end, and we will live forever in the presence of the Mighty God!

All evilness and wickedness will be gone, and we will finally be at peace on New Earth and the New Jerusalem.

Amen

Being Obedient to God

October 23, 2024 / Bobby Mayfield / 1 Comment

Coming to the House of the Lord

Book of Psalms 122 Verses 1-9

Up until October 7, 2023, when Israel’s war began, millions of people traveled to Israel, most of them were Christians.

Some few go now but not many.

Most Christians are headed to Jerusalem because everyone knows Jerusalem is special.

Some people say “It just feels like home” even though they had never been there before.

We know that our Messiah walked all over Israel, but He was crucified at Jerusalem.

As Christians, we know that our spiritual roots extend to Jerusalem!

We will spend a thousand years in Jerusalem serving the Lord, but we will spend eternity in New Jerusalem.

The redeemed of all the ages who will walk through those pearly gates of New Jerusalem to bask in the glorious presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
Rev 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

One day that trumpet will sound, and we will hear and heed the call to worship in God’s true House.

Let us listen to these clear instructions to all believers.

Psa 122:1 A Song of degrees of David. I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.

We know that David rejoiced to go to the house of the Lord!

There was no Temple yet in Jerusalem, but David had built a Tabernacle in which the Ark of the Covenant was placed.

2Sa_6:17 And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.

David was a man after God’s own heart.

David loved to be in the presence of God.

We know the Lord had chosen to put His name in Jerusalem many years before this.

Deu 12:11 Then there shall be a place which the LORD your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there; thither shall ye bring all that I command you; your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which ye vow unto the LORD:

Every Christian should have a great desire to go to the House of God and even go more often because of the things we see today going on in Israel.

Israel is God’s timepiece!

So, let us see if this phrase could have another meaning.

It could be describing to us the restoration of Israel when the Lord returns to restore this Earth as it was in the day of Adam.

Amo 9:11 In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:
Amo 9:12 That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the LORD that doeth this.

The phrase “that day” points toward the future.

In fact, it is probably referring to the time when the Lord Jesus will restore Israel as it was in the days of King David.

This means all the land God gave to Abraham.

So let us see which way the Scriptures go.

The Israelite men had to go to the Temple three times a year according to the Law of Moses.

For believers today, we should be in God’s House every time the doors are open to Praise our Savior!

We should know how to act in God’s House!

1Ti 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
1Ti 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

We should go to God’s House often and know that it is a command of God.

Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Those who do not go to God’s House often are sinning against the Word of God!

We ought to rejoice when the appointed time comes to go to God’s House.

The Jewish feasts were special times, the highlights of the year and they celebrated the opportunity to go to God’s House.

I live in the Bible Belt and when I meet people on the street and ask them about Church most of them will claim to be saved, but they do not attend church regularly.

Many others go to church, but it seems to be a dreadful duty to them. They just as well stay home!

It should be a joyous occasion every time we go and hear what God has to say!

We must make being at church to be joyful, but it cannot be that way unless we love the Lord.

He is always at church to worship with us and even the Holy Spirit is always there because He lives within us.

Heb_13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

God has a purpose for everything He does.

What was God’s purpose for the founding of Jerusalem?

Psa 122:2 Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.
Psa 122:3 Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together:
Psa 122:4 Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the LORD.
Psa 122:5 For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David.

***The most important reason for going to Jerusalem was the fact that God had chosen Jerusalem as the place where He would establish His name!

Deu 12:5 But unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come:
Deu 12:6 And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks:
Deu 12:7 And there ye shall eat before the LORD your God, and ye shall rejoice in all that ye put your hand unto, ye and your households, wherein the LORD thy God hath blessed thee.

Psa 87:2 The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
Psa 87:3 Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.

Heb 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
Heb 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
Heb 12:24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

There should be no doubt that God loves Jerusalem!

We can also understand that Jerusalem is a picture of the New Jerusalem, but we will not know the full picture of this until the Lord Jesus sits on the throne of David in Jerusalem.

We could also say until the Lord Jesus sits upon the throne of David to rule this world.

God will dwell among His people in the New Jerusalem!

Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
Rev 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

***There is a second reason:

Jerusalem had strong, closely guarded walls.

Jerusalem was a secure city.

2Sa 5:9 So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.

Most people felt safe when they were inside the walls of Jerusalem.

***There is yet a third reason.

The walls of Jerusalem were solid walls.

Jerusalem was without a doubt the City of God!

Psa 48:8 As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. Selah.

This same God Jehovah is the same God today, still full of power and majesty.

Psa 48:14 For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.

When the gates of the city came into view of God’s children, they knew they were almost home!

Israel was a nation of tribes, and they were all essentially one family. Their leaders were each the sons of Jacob who became Israel. They may have forgotten that for a while, but they are bound to remember when it becomes time to choose the world or time to choose God’s family.

***There is a fourth reason.

As a nation of tribes who had a common ancestor, then they needed a place to gather in the name of God.

Each tribe may operate independently but they could come together in unity because they all had the same God!

When they gathered together for the feast to give thanks to the Lord they obeyed the testimony of Israel, the laws that God had given to them.

Exo 23:14 Three times thou shalt keep a feast unto me in the year.
Exo 23:15 Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib; for in it thou camest out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty:)
Exo 23:16 And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field.
Exo 23:17 Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord GOD.

There is a great feeling of relief that comes from knowing that you have been obedient to the Almighty Living God.

Jerusalem was the appointed worship center where they came in unity.

God ordained this physical location on our planet for Israel to gather to worship Him.

The world may refuse to acknowledge this, but it does not make it any less true.

Anyone, anyone who tries to alter this ordination of God deserves the punishment that God will place on them!

***A fifth reason also comes to us.

Jerusalem was also Israel’s political center, much like Washington DC is the political center of the United States of America.

We could say the United Tribes of Israel, and this is who they are when they are obedient to God!

In Jerusalem was the location of the Throne of Judgment.

One of the King’s most important duties was to render judgment and execute justice.

The thrones of the house of David would extend until it will be the Lord Jesus Christ, King Jesus, who will sit upon that throne in Jerusalem.

2Sa 7:13 He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.

2Sa 7:16 And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.
2Sa 7:17 According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.

The Jerusalem of old is a picture of New Jerusalem to come in many ways.

When the Apostle John was on the Isle of Patmos, the Lord Jesus showed him the New Jerusalem.

John reported what he saw.

Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

God’s people will rejoice in New Jerusalem, and all the painful things of this life will have passed away.

Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

This new city will be full of God’s Glory.

Rev 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
Rev 21:11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;

We will all be secure within the walls of New Jerusalem.

Rev 21:12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
Rev 21:13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
Rev 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

All God’s people from every nation and every tribe will come together in New Jerusalem.

Rev 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
Rev 21:24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.

We see that God has a plan and those who are against Him cannot stop it!

The greatest privilege after salvation is the privilege to stand in God’s House in New Jerusalem!

There will be a gathering of family members who have gone on before us and those who will come after us.
The Word of God will be exalted because we will understand the things that God has done.
We will praise God like never before because we will truly have the mind of Christ.
We will understand that we are safe and secure throughout all eternity.

Today, especially because of what we see and what we know, we need to pray earnestly for the peace of Jerusalem.

*****Psa 122:6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.
Psa 122:7 Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.
Psa 122:8 For my brethren and companions’ sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee.
Psa 122:9 Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good.

If you are a Christian, you will love Jerusalem.
If you are a Christian, you will be on the side of Israel.
If you are a Christian, you will pray for the peace of Jerusalem and all of Israel.

To the Eastern part of the world, Jerusalem is called the Holy City and it is.

The Apostle Matthew used this phrase in Scripture and so did the Apostle John.

Mat_4:5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,

Rev_21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Nehemiah, Isaiah, and Daniel used this phrase in the Old Testament all speaking of the same Jerusalem.

Shalom is living happy, untroubled, with a sense of fulfillment.

Shalom and its related words are among the most important theological words in the Old Testament.

Jerusalem has not seen peace throughout the Bible.

The closest this city of God came to peace was in the time of King David, but Jerusalem will finally see peace in the time of King Jesus.

David prayed for peace in Jerusalem asking for peace inside the walls of his city.

David was praying that God would bless the leaders of Israel and would protect them from the wickedness of this world.

How many of us pray such prayers?

David prayed for the peace of Jerusalem for the sake of his family friends and those of all of Israel.

We should remember that King David was responsible for the peace of Jerusalem in his day.

It is one thing to look out for your own self and that of your family, but it takes a lot more to look out for each individual in an entire city.

David next prayed for peace in God’s House.

If we consider all denominations to be the Church today, we can certainly see that there is no peace in God’s House.

We may brag about the church that we attend, but the truth is many denominations are throwing the Bible away and listening to what the world has to say rather than what God has to say.

The Pope the leader of the Catholic Church is one way today and another way tomorrow.

The Wesleyans have thrown out the truth of the Gospel.

The Methodists have forgotten the methods of truth.

The Protestant church has forgotten about those who protested for the truth.

The Southern Baptists have left the truth for lies.

We could go on and on, but the truth is God’s House is not at peace and the church is no longer holding back the evilness and the wickedness in this world.

We know that Israel is at war, so we surely know we need to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and all of Israel as the world turns its back on reality.

The fact remains there will be no peace in Jerusalem until the return of Christ!
There will be no peace in the Church until the Lord Jesus returns to separate the wheat from the tares!
There will be no peace in this world until King Jesus speaks with that sword in His mouth and brings an end to the time of Satan!

Today the Temple of Jerusalem lies in ruins part of it under the Muslim Dome of the Rock.

The Jews have to pray at what is called the Wailing Wall most of them have never been able to even go upon the Temple Mount.

Even so-called Christian sects in Jerusalem haggle over shrines and the Arabs and Jews are at each other’s throats.

The world refuses to recognize that land belongs to the Jews because God gave it to them and God is going to give it back to them.

Those nations that surround God’s people trying to rid this world of them will find that the shoe is on the other foot at the appearance of King Jesus.

The fact is that the Arab nations will almost destroy this world just to annihilate all the Jews, but King Jesus will settle this issue forever before this happens.

We can be with Him, or we can burn in Hell with all other unbelievers.

I choose the Lord!

Amen

God Does Only Righteous Things

October 15, 2024 / Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

The Lord Our Help and Our Shield

Book of Psalms 115

We have just witnessed nature’s power, and those folks in Florida have seen much more of nature’s power than we have seen.

No doubt many will blame God, and most others will question God’s love and concern for people.

Some will sneer at the mention of the existence of God.

When many of our brothers and sisters are affected, the unbelievers will mock our faith.

We know our God is righteous so everything He does was the right thing to do.

Did God send these Hurricanes, my answer would be no.

Could God have stopped these mighty storms from causing devastation then certainly my answer is yes.

We know that Satan has some powers even over storms just read the Book of Job where a tornado or something similar causes all of Job’s children to die at the same time. There were ten of them.

When tragedy strikes, our first response should not be “Where is God”!

Today’s lesson will teach us that God is great in His moral excellence.

“Mercy and truth” are the foundation of moral greatness!

This was the mission of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Jhn_1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

A man may be capable of making some laws for people to live by, but most of them are seldom based upon righteousness.

Grace and truth came from the Lord Jesus Christ.

The question we should ask when tragedy comes is, how have we treated our Savior?

Have we given Him the glory that He deserves?

*Psa 115:1 Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake.

Our faith must be based upon the truth or reality.

Without love, we will live in a world of selfishness which we see today.

Selfishness is the essence of sin!

Selfishness is contrary to the law of God!

The reality is that we have no right to question God for any action He might take!

We can ask the Lord any question, but we will not always be pleased with His answers.

We must not show any lack of faith when we are talking to the Lord our God!

If the Lord does not interfere on behalf of His people, we must not think that His attributes of love and faithfulness have vanished.

No matter what is happening in our world, we must give God the glory!

Here in Anderson during the last storm, five deaths were storm related.

We must not condemn God for those deaths, we must give God the glory that there were no more than five deaths here where we live.

When Jerusalem fell to Nebuchadnezzar, we can be sure that many unbelievers were mocking God, but the truth is that God was using the Babylonians to discipline Israel.

Israel had turned to idols but after the conquest by the Babylonians, Israel never turned to idols again.

Sometimes God’s methods may be harsh, but they are effective. Harsh does not ever mean abuse!

As God’s people, we will suffer through trials and tribulations, and unbelievers will mock us, but we must never retreat from our goal of serving the Lord until we get to Heaven.

Why should anyone question our loyalty to God?

We must always do our very best to look like Jesus Christ!

*Psa 115:2 Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?
Psa 115:3 But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.

When we go about our daily routine looking defeated our enemies will ask us, “Where is your God now, when you need Him so desperately?

if we look back at the Jews, we know that they had endured the taunts of the idolatrous nations.

We do not have to go that far today as our Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ are blasphemed today.

On that day, the heathen had scoffed at the invisible God.

Keep in mind those who scoffed had to go home and wipe the dust off of some idol who could not even talk to them.

When the Jews returned to Jerusalem, they made a strong confession of their faith and even though they were far from perfect they were not called idol worshipers again.

Though they struggled to put their lives back together they knew to go to God and not go to man.

We have seen over and over again that when we pray, we need to tell God what we are going through.

Yes, He already knows, but He wants us to understand that that is nothing too hard for God!

They happily proclaimed the superiority of the Living God to all who had ears!

When we are true to the Lord, He will be true to us!

It angers the Lord for His name to be blasphemed, and He will show His power by His people much of the time.

If God does not help His children, then Satan and his children will triumph!

Where is God? He is in the Heavens in a place where He can see all His people.

The truth is God does as He pleases all the time.

There is never a time that Jehovah God is wondering what He is going to do next!

Our dearly loved Savior always, ALWAYS wants to help us through this life and He has already prepared for our future non-ending life in Glory.

God not only has the will to help those who love Him, He also has the power to make sure what He does is done right!

Mic 7:10 Then she that is mine enemy shall see it, and shame shall cover her which said unto me, Where is the LORD thy God? mine eyes shall behold her: now shall she be trodden down as the mire of the streets.

Another thing we must understand is that, if we are suffering then it is the will of God and He has a good reason for that suffering.

In most cases it is to bring us closer to Him!

God never lacks the power to end our suffering.

Isa 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

There are no gods who can hinder the work of God!

False gods are either a figment of their imagination or they are pieces of wood, gold, silver, or some other handmade object that can do nothing.

*Psa 115:4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.
Psa 115:5 They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:
Psa 115:6 They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not:
Psa 115:7 They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.
Psa 115:8 They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.

Anyone who comes to us questioning our God, we should ask them about their god!

People may scoff, which is mockery and ridicule, at Jehovah who we worship but the fact remains that He is alive, but He is invisible.

He is invisible for the reason that if He had shown Himself without His glory people would have made an idol of Him and they would have worshipped that idol instead of the invisible God just as people did the pole with a serpent of brass.

Num 21:6 And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.
Num 21:7 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.
Num 21:8 And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
Num 21:9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

What happened?

This brazen serpent known as Nehushtan, became on object of idolatry and King Hezakiah destroyed it.

2Ki 18:4 He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.

This brazen serpent upon a pole had a reality as a type of the Lord Jesus upon the cross, when He died for our salvation.

Joh 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
Joh 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Idols cannot speak, see. hear, smell, feel, or walk.

Yet even today some people still worship idols.

Psa 135:18 They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them.

An idol is anything more important to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, and anything that you seek to give you what only God can give.

Many today have made themselves to be idols such as so-called movie stars, or some sports figures, and yes, some political figures think they should be worshipped, and we certainly cannot leave out those who worship Satan.

Then there is the idol of money/material things:

We already know what God says about this.

1Ti 6:7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
1Ti 6:8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
1Ti 6:9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
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.

Money is the root of all the evil of today. Most all our politicians are bought out in one way or another.

Other modern idols include, status, physical appearance, entertainment, influence, and yes sex has become an idol which is why abortion is fought so hard along with the LBGTQ is prevalent in our nation and now sex change.

These are all idols that are worshipped by the “now” generation and God is tossed aside as irrelevant in today’s world.

All these people are in for a terrible surprise very soon.

Such gods drag down their worshippers to a level of senseless stupidity!

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,
Rom 1:23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
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:

God does not play around with idol worshippers!

We must trust in the Lord!

*Psa 115:9 O Israel, trust thou in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.
Psa 115:10 O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.
Psa 115:11 Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.

Trust means we are reliant upon God for all things including life, justice, and our love for one another.

We do not worship a god we have made, but we worship the God who has made us, our Creator, our Maker!

There is only one true God.

There are many today that say all religions worship the same God, but nothing could be further from the truth! They just do not know Jehovah.

God has revealed Himself to us through the Lord Jesus Christ and the Bible if you have a true Bible.

It is true that once we come to know Christ as our Savior, we need to constantly examine our hearts for spiritual idolatry.

Jehovah is also a jealous God! The lost do what lost people do, but anyone that claims Christ as their Savior and falls into the trap of idolatry could come under the truth of God’s jealousy.

Three times these verses say the word trust.

1) God is our help and our shield.

God is safe to depend upon for defense and for offense for all those who love the Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah.

God is also our shield to cover us from danger and to protect us from assault and injury.

2) For all those who preach the truth of the Scriptures, God is also their help and their shield.

3) The Lord has had His mind on us since our creation. The remnant of this world who love the salvation gift of God.

Mat_7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

This one verse should tell all those who think we all worship the same God that it is simply not true. By the way, this was the lord Jesus Himself that was speaking. He knows everything.

We could look at this passage as God’s invitation for Israel to join the Church because it is the Church that God is protecting in this world.

The battles of Israel will show that only the Church is on their side along with Jehovah, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Even this week our administration has sent a unit to Israel that can intercept missiles from Iran to try to keep Israel from going after the oil and nuclear sites of Iran.

This is only bribery when Israel should destroy Iran, and this world would be a little bit better because of it.

We cannot trust man, but we can trust God to do the right things.

Many scientists and archaeologists wonder what happened to many old civilizations, but they are not around, and many have no history because God knew no one needed to know how wicked they were.

We should not forget that Iran is that part of old Persia and the other part Iraq is trying its best to get away from the USA and then they will join Iran and Persia will be again and war mongering nation.

God will only bless those who trust Him!

You cannot trust idols because they cannot do anything at all!

The Holy Spirit wants us to grasp the importance of trusting God!

We will face persecution, but we must not falter in our trust for the Almighty God!

If we are worried about what is going on in our nation and in this world, then we do not trust the God of all creation and His plan which He has given us a copy of.

We must have confidence in our Holy God and His Word salvaged by the Holy Spirit and is the truth.

Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Pro 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Pro 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

We were once a part of the world but now if you love the Lord Jesus, we are part of Heaven. Ambassadors to this world.

We are always on the mind of our God!

*Psa 115:12 The LORD hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron.
Psa 115:13 He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great.
Psa 115:14 The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children.
Psa 115:15 Ye are blessed of the LORD which made heaven and earth.

Who does the Lord bless?

He blesses those who trust Him!

Even though Israel does not trust the Son of God, most of them do trust Jehovah (Yahweh).

They reject that they are the same God!

They are wrong to not accept the Messiah, but they will eventually, at least a remnant of them will.

We should keep in mind that this Psalm was probably written for the dedication of the Second Temple after the return from Babylon.

They had been released by the King of Persia who had defeated Babylon.

We could say that God would bless those who had returned with many children for only about fifty thousand had returned of those who were captured.

Israel began to see just how great their God is.

God is always, ALWAYS, working to do good to His people!

God is always, ALWAYS, mindful of the covenants He has made with all His children!

God is always, ALWAYS, mindful of the promises He has made, and He will never break a promise He has made to anyone.

Why is God able to bless so much?

It is pretty simple, God is our Creator, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, and God can do anything He wants to His creation, but He cannot go against His Word!

Notice that Israel is back in a part of the land God had given to them and God will get the remainder of that land that was promised back to Israel.

We may be seeing this today, the Lord giving Israel their entire homeland and the world cannot stop it!

No, there will never be a Palestinian nation within the boundaries of the land God gave to Abraham, the same land God gave to Israel!

When those who hate God scoff at us, we need to stand firm in our confidence in the Lord.

We may go through trials.
We may go through persecution.
We may go through attacks.
We may be oppressed.

God’s purpose for us cannot be defeated!

Nothing can separate us from the love of God!

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 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
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.

*Psa 115:16 The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.

Verse fifteen says it is our LORD who is the Creator of the heavens, and we know of three heavens.

The first heaven is the space where we get our air to breathe and the place where the birds fly.
The second heaven is what we call outer space, a place where all planets, all stars, and anything we find in outer space, and it is immense.
The third Heaven is the place where God dwells with His angels and all those souls who are in that Heaven today.

Notice the Earth is mentioned as the only place God has given mankind to live.

We know the earth is also the Lord’s:

Psa 24:1 The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

This Psalmist has said that God has given the earth to mankind to live upon.

Gen 1:28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
Gen 1:29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.
Gen 1:30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.

God has not given mankind any other planet, moon, or star to live.

This earth is where we belong, where we live and work and where our future lies unless we believe all these things and our Creator who made all these things, then our future lies in the third Heaven with our God.

We know that mankind has not cooperated with God on the development of all the resources of this Earth, but they are all gifts from God for our use.

God has given the occupants of Earth the responsibility of overseeing the resources of Earth.

This Earth is the only planet that God gave to be inhabited!

Isa 45:18 For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.

We need to be sure to know that God only declares things that are right and not wrong!

Isa 45:19 I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.

The trouble today is that a few greedy people have tried their best to gain control of the earth’s resources and for the most part they have, and the governments control the rest.

But you see God has reconciled the world back to Himself by the Lord Jesus Christ.

2Co 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
2Co 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Now I cannot explain the meaning of all these things, but I know that these words are true.

Jesus Christ (Messiah) came to this earth to establish the only means of salvation which is available to all people.

The desire to let the whole redeemed world know of its redemption should move in the heart of every man but the world is tied up with greed for the resources of our planet, corrupt governments, and immorality.

*Psa 115:17 The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence.
Psa 115:18 But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the LORD.

It should be obvious that those who are dead cannot praise anyone.

When we die our voices are silenced.

In fact, those who are dead lose all communication with the Lord who died for them.

Isa 38:18 For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.

I must never forget my job is to praise my Lord.

No matter what I’m going through, I need to praise the Lord, and I know I do not praise Him enough.

Even when the Lost World scoffs at me, I will praise the Lord!

My opportunities to praise the Lord will cease when I take my last breath, but my blessings will continue because I am a child of God!

Psa 118:17 I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.
Psa 118:18 The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death.
Psa 118:19 Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD:
Psa 118:20 This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter.
Psa 118:21 I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.

Rev 5:13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

Amen

Raptured Into the Throne Room of God

April 26, 2020 / Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

The Vision of God’s Throne

Book of Revelation Chapter 4 Verses 1 through 11

It should be very clear John is speaking the words given to Him by the Holy Spirit!

It is after the Words spoken by our Lord to the Church that the Lord will reveal the “Rapture of the Church” in this passage.

John’s job remained the same! He was to write down the things he heard and the things that he saw.

John is now writing of the things that happen immediately after the Church Age comes to an end.

Remember the purpose of our Lord Jesus in the Book of Revelation, is to reveal the truth. Our Lord Jesus will never hide things from us!

Not many places in the Scriptures have given us the privilege to see into the Throne Room of God and none have been given us the view that John saw!

John saw a door opened into Heaven while the Church was still located upon this earth.

The golden candle sticks were still upon earth.

The seven stars were still upon earth in the hand of Jesus.

Now we get a realistic view of the things in Heaven.

*****Rev 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

It is like John was saying, “I have been looking up toward Heaven all these years and all of a sudden a door was opened, and I could see inside”.

As believers we pray, we feel, we know, that we have a Heavenly Father and one day “we will see Him face to face”!

Not that we will see through some door, but we will see “because we will be at home”.

In this passage the Apostle John is in fact, a type of the Church.

The Church will see what happens immediately after the Church Age ends, with the end of the Laodicean Church Age which is the one we are in now!

We all have a tendency to say, “I know who sits on the throne”, well on this day, we will meet Him.

John did not imagine these things for John saw these things!

The Lord Jesus had been standing in the midst of the seven candlesticks holding the seven stars.

We must also remember that the Lord Jesus Christ is that “Door”, that is now opened to the Church after the end of the Church Age.

Joh 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

The truth is at the end of the Church Age, Heaven will be laid open to receive the Saints of God.

Those that are alive and remaining, and those in the graves whose souls are already with the Lord.

1Co 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

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.

How do we know?

John says: “the first voice which I heard, as it were a trumpet talking to me; which said Come up hither”

That word “Come” was a command!

When the Lord says “Come”, He has already made the pathway to Him or we could say, the Lord has already built the bridge for safe passage!

The Lord said by the Holy Spirit “Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which “must” be hereafter”.

These will be all the things that take place after the Church is in Heaven with the Lord!

Now we know that no man (or woman) can meet the Lord in the flesh as we have upon this earth, which is sinful, so the Scripture does not fail to mention, that John was in the spirit. John was not in the flesh!

*****Rev 4:2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

Immediately, as in the twinkle of the eye, as in a split second, John found himself in the throne room of God.

We know from the Scriptures that even after our salvation, we will face the Lord at His “Judgment Seat”.

Php 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Php 1:10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;
Php 1:11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

This not a “Judgment” for salvation, because once we had accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, that cannot be taken away from us.

It is a “Judgment” for what we have done after becoming a child of God, while still upon this earth.

2Co 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
2Co 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
2Co 5:9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
2Co 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

1Co 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1Co 3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
1Co 3:13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
1Co 3:14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1Co 3:15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

What we should know is at the same time we are at the “Judgment Seat of the Lamb”, the earth and those who remain have been given over to the Antichrist for seven long years of “Tribulation”!

2Th 2:5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
2Th 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
2Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
2Th 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

The Holy Spirit returned to Heaven with the Church, and is no longer a hindrance to that Wicked One, we know is Satan the Devil and his demons!

But, lets save that for later and have a look at our Savior.

Now how is the appearance of our Savior?

*****Rev 4:3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

The Jasper stone is a stone that glitters and is a stone of various colors which causes it to glitter and it is the stone most precious and it clear as crystal, as a diamond.

Rev 21:11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;

But that is not all. Another color as described by John as he looked upon our Savior was as the sardine stone.

As the Lord glittered crystal clear, He would also have that “red color” to remind us that we had been washed in the pure red “Blood of the Lamb”.

As we see a rainbow upon this earth, we can only see a half circle, but at the Judgment Seat of Christ we will get to see the whole circle of the rainbow. The glow of the Lord as Jasper and as Sardine with the glow of an emerald.

You cannot miss this “emerald glow” if you look close at a rainbow today.

Emerald is known as the glowing stone! The Greek word used here describes this glow as a live coal drawn from a furnace. Glittering and shimmering and announcing the absolute “Grace” of God which is the theme of the “Judgment Seat of the Lord Jesus Christ”.

What a site to behold! Not enough words to give us the full picture, but just enough words to show us the “Glory” of God the Son.

Round about that throne we see the Church.

*****Rev 4:4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

We all know that numbers are used in the Scriptures for specific reasons. So then is the number 24.

The number 24 is a multiple of the number 12.

The number 12 can be found in 187 places in the Word of God. The Book of Revelation alone has 22 occurrences of the number 12.

The meaning of 12, which is considered a perfect number, is that it symbolizes God’s power and authority.

The number 12 also serves as a perfect foundation of the Church!
The number 12 also symbolizes completeness!

Completeness in the Church because the Church is built upon the Apostle’s Doctrine! The Lord Jesus chose 12 Apostles when we count the Apostle Paul.

Completeness in the true Israel as Israel had 12 sons!

The number 24 is then associated with the priesthood of the believer!

1Pe 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
1Pe 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
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:

The number 24 being a multiple of 12 is then the complete Church!

Since the number 24 it is composed of a multiple of 12, it takes on some of 12’s meaning (which is God’s power and authority, as well as perfect foundation) except in a higher form.

Twenty-four, therefore, is also connected with the worship of God, especially at the Temple.

It was King David who divided those responsible for the music in the Temple services, those who served as priests, and the Levites who aided the priests, into 24 courses (1Chronicles 23 – 24).

These 24 persons are called elders. The number 24 here represents the enlargement of the Church through all the Church Age.

Jehovah is not just the God of Israel, not just the God of the Church by His Son Jesus, but He is God of this entire earth and God of all His creation!

Though saints usually stand upon earth. In Heaven these elders are a symbol of the “dignity and rest” and “Holy happiness”, having overcome the wickedness of Satan and “Redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb”.

They now possess the rewards for their work upon this earth, represented by the crowns upon their head.

Remember there are 5 crowns subject to the work of believers after our Salvation. There are no works before our salvation that account for anything to our God and our Savior, Jesus Christ.

The first crown mentioned is the “incorruptible” crown. This means it is a crown that will never be destroyed; it will never turn to dust. We will be immortal, and so will this crown.

The “crown of rejoicing” is one example of when we, as Christian believers, will be expected to loudly rejoice or exalt. When Christ comes back and we will all be together, we can let everyone else know about it. Our brothers and sisters in Christ will make up the “crown of rejoicing”.

The “crown of righteousness”. Paul says he has fought a good fight — he did not give up, lie down, or quit. He finished his race — he kept believing. Because of this, a crown of righteousness has been reserved for him, and for others who look forward to the appearing of Jesus Christ.

‘Righteousness’ means that something is just and right! How many times have we read a news story, or seen something on television that made us say, “It just isn’t right”? That will not happen even onetime once Christ returns! Paul wrote this to the church in order to exhort them (us) to stand for God in light of the hope of the return of Jesus Christ. If we look forward to our “crown of righteousness”, we can stand firm and sure right now.

Today as this Corona Virus spreads around the world, we as Christians, must stand firm on our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and the promises He has made to us. Remember Jesus said there would be days like this!

Happy is the person that endures (remains behind after others have left) trials, tribulations, and temptations. For when he is proved, he will receive (manifest) “the crown of life” (life in all its fullness, complete). This life will be our Heavenly Life!

Peter writes these lines to the elders of the church, so we see “the crown of glory” will be available to leaders in the Word of God.

They are supposed to feed the “flock” the undiluted and perfect Word of God, not for money or any personal gain, but willingly and out of love.

They are not to be “overlords” of the other believers, but should lead by example! If they do this, Peter says, when Christ (the chief Shepherd) returns, they will receive a “crown of glory” that will never fade away. It is everlasting, and the color and brilliance will abide forever.

The five crowns will be part of our reward we receive after the return of Christ. The Word of God tells us some things about the crowns, but not everything.

A big part of the reward will be the surprise of finding out everything about our new life, and the privileges and responsibilities that go with it. For now, we can do the best we can for God, and look forward to the Hope, the return of Jesus Christ.

As John writes in the Book of Revelation, these elders of the Church are wearing those crowns!

That is not all they are wearing. They are wearing “robes of pure white”!

These White robes are glorious.
These White robes are beautiful. They are white and shining.
These White robes are Heavens loveliest garments!

Then the things of the throne again catch John’s eye!

*****Rev 4:5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

This is the throne of our Creator!

Many people say that the Book of Revelation is the most mysterious book in the Bible, but we must consider that John the Apostle saw things he had never seen and many he did not know how to describe. You cannot take a man from the first century and drop him into the twenty first century and expect him to explain what he sees. It is the same for John in Heaven!

He was led by the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit and if we are filled with the Holy Spirit and understand these things of John and realize that God does not hide things from us, we can accept the Book of Revelation just as it is written!

If we picture in our own mind the words that John says about many things, we can see the many things that resemble what John is saying.

We must also know that the throne he is witnessing here is point blank exactly what John saw!

When God speaks, He will command your attention!

Psa_103:19 The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.

There is not one thing upon this earth that God is not in command of!

If God wanted to stop this virus, this plague, He could do so in the blink of an eye, so we know there is a purpose to what is happening now, and we need to seek that purpose and be busy about it.

One purpose is to realize that what the Lord says is the perfect truth and the world does not ever have perfect truth!

If we stand on the Word of God with the faith that He demands, we will see what the Lord wants us to see!

Psa 91:5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
Psa 91:6 Nor “for the pestilence that walketh in darkness”; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
Psa 91:7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
Psa 91:8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
Psa 91:9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
Psa 91:10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

Luk_21:11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

The Lord is serious about the things He says and when we do not pay attention, then He has to show us!

There is an awesomeness to the Word of God and there is an awesomeness in the throne of God!

The throne of God is a throne of “glory” and a throne of “blessedness” but also a throne of “judgment”.

Those that sat before this throne were there for rewards as every saint of God is judged and pardoned before they reach this throne in Heaven.

There were lightnings.
There were thunderings.
There were voices.

The voice of God will be an awesome thing to hear when He speaks to us and says, “have no fear”, “you are home now”.

We should also understand while the Lord welcomes His saints, His voice is also commanding the events to begin in the seven years of tribulation.

The Lord God of this world is always doing things according to His own will!

The will of God is wise, is pure and is just, and is guided by His great love for all those who have trusted Him with their souls!

This throne is a throne of Holiness!

Weak people see this place as terrible, but to the saints of God, this is a place of joy. A place of pleasure. A place to reverence our Divine Majesty.

The seven lamps of fire denoted the fulness and the perfection of the Holy Spirit. The light from those lamps show He is sufficient in His work with the Church, who He has now returned home with those saints of God.

2Th_2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

John was standing some distance from the throne and after observing the throne, John took a look at the throne room.

*****Rev 4:6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
Rev 4:7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.
Rev 4:8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
Rev 4:9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,

Many things could be said about this Sea of Glass, which in reality reads “a Glass Sea like crystal”.

This could be a Sea that is clear and calm and prepared as the Lord Jesus walked on the Sea of Galilee.

We know that the Seas upon this earth are never calm as they are driven by winds and storms.

The Scriptures tell us that wicked are like the troubled sea.

Isa_57:20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.

There is no wickedness in Heaven nor around the throne of God!

The sea before God was clear, deep, and pure!

Now we know the Seven lamps of fire and this Sea of glass and we know that the Holy Ghost, whose powers, and operations, are many times mentioned as fire and water.

Mat_3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: “he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire”:

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”.

We know that it is those who are washed and mingled with fire that have gotten victory over the beast!

Rev 15:2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: “and them that had gotten the victory over the beast”, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.

Then in the end that pure, crystal clean river of life with flow out of the New Heaven into the New Earth.

Rev 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

Then there were four beasts.

These beasts are the closest things to God in Heaven in distance.

They are Angelic beings who are posted in the middle of each side of God’s throne.

They are the guardians of God’s throne!
They are the guardians of God’s Holy Presence!

Rev 5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

They are always found near the throne.
They have six wings (3 pair) and are full of eyes.
Their function has to do with the Holiness or the Wrath of God!

Rev 6:1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.

Rev 15:7 And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.

They never cease to declare the holiness of Jehovah God!

They never leave God’s presence!

The Holy Spirit decided we did not need any more information about these four beings than what we have here in this Scripture. They belong to God for His specific purpose.

We will all have a purpose in Heaven, just as we have a purpose here upon this earth, though it will be far different then.

They are living creations of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Act_17:24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

Heb_1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Joh 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Joh 1:5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

What do we know as humans?

1)The lion denotes majesty and power among the animal world.

Pro 30:30 A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any;

2) The calf whether be calf or ox denote humility and patience.

1Co 9:9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?
1Co 9:10 Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.

3) The third beast with the face of a man is the highest of all God’s creation, denoting wisdom, reason, and intelligence.

1Co 2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
1Co 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
1Co 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

4) The fourth beast with the face of an eagle. The eagle is the wisest of all birds. He flies the highest. His eyes the keenest. He is swift to take action when it is time to take action. He does so then without hesitation.

Job 39:27 Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high?
Job 39:28 She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place.
Job 39:29 From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off.
Job 39:30 Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she.

Brother Oliver Green writes that it is these characteristics combined, that express the character of God’s Throne in relation to earth.

We can ask these things of the Lord when we meet Him for, He made them!

For what is their main purpose?

They give glory and honor to Him who sits upon the throne in the Throne Room of God!

*****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.

As those beast give glory to the Lord, those elders, who represent the redeemed children of God, who have received the rewards for the works they did after salvation and realize they are still unworthy of any rewards, fall down on their faces having casts those crowns at the feet of Jesus.

Yes, we can still come under conviction even in Heaven!

If we do not understand today that no matter what has happened in our lives, the fact that we are saved from the wrath of the Father by the actions of His Son Jesus then, we need to verify our salvation!

Our salvation is all about the actions and the love of our Lord and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ!

There certainly is no other way to reach the gates of Heaven and enter into the City of God!

The world is foolish to think anything different!

We must always be ready to acknowledge our obligation to the work of the Gospel no matter our circumstances!

If we are given anything at the “Judgment Seat of Christ” we are still unworthy to receive it!

So the object remains not to earn rewards for our own self, but to earn rewards to cast at the feet of Jesus.

It will be bad enough not to earn a reward after becoming a Christian, but it will be far worse not to have even something small to give back to the Lord for all He has done for me!

It is the Lord Jesus Christ who created all things and it is the Lord Jesus Christ who has done all these things for His own pleasure.

God did not have to save anyone!

He is God, He does not need us!

He saved us just because He wanted to!

He saved us because He loves us!

Amen

Let’s Pray!

Jesus Was Prepared For His Death

December 2, 2018 / Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Jesus Prepared for His Death

Book of John 13:31-14:6

Maybe the most important theme of this lesson is that the Lord Jesus Christ will show us His relationship to God the Father.

We will see that after Judas had left to betray the Lord Jesus and He then gets deeper in His message with those 11 who remained, who still had not realized that Judas would betray the Lord Jesus.

We see the Lord as He begins to enter into His “passion” which means the sufferings of the Lord as He begins His last few days on this earth before His resurrection and next His return.

In reality as the Son of Man, Jesus is preparing Himself to be the only sacrifice that can save all humanity!

It is through His death that He is glorified, and God the Father is glorified in Him!

By His own death the Lord has replaced our own death with His life.

Col 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

*****Joh 13:31 Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
Joh 13:32 If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him.

The other disciples may not have known who the Lord had been talking about, but Judas knew, and He left but we must understand that the Lord had sent Judas away, all he needed was to repent and these sitting with Jesus would have been the 12 Apostles and we would have never met the Apostle Paul.

As Judas set in motion the things he did, Christ set in motion His Passion, the sufferings and the death of the Lord Jesus Christ.

This day would be Thursday late in the evening.

Doctor Luke wrote of this: Luk 12:50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!

Again we will see that there is a true unity of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit!

Jesus would now begin His final steps as the Son of Man!

Even in His dying, Jesus was perfect in His obedience to His Father.

In His death Jesus would transfer His own righteousness to every believer because we had no righteousness at all to use to gain peace with God the Father.

Isa_64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

With the righteousness of the Lord we are at peace with God:

Rom_5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Some would say that Jesus was having second thoughts, but He would not be God if He was happy to see the death of anyone.

The thing that was most important was that by His death, He would triumph over Satan and break Satan’s power over death he held over the souls of mankind!

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.

This is why the Lord had come down from Heaven and had to die on the cross!

*****Joh 13:33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.
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.
Joh 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

After this meal with His disciples and Judas already gone to do His evil deed, Jesus said He only had a short time to finish the work God had given Him to do.

It would require His death. At this time these men could not grasp the resurrection of the Lord after His death.

They would not understand these things until they were filled with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost which now was only about 53 days away.

The thing that they had to understand was that Jesus demanded a new commandment and that was for them to love one another but not as they had been doing but they were to show the love Jesus had for them to each other.

All of us can say we love one another but do we have that unconditional love that our Savior had.

These disciples had just been arguing over who should receive the highest positions of authority when Jesus returned to set up His Kingdom.

To love like Jesus, is to not to be a judge but to be a witness of the love of Jesus.

Once we know the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, the Holy Spirit moves in to live within us but as human beings we also need each other which is the purpose of the Church for like-minded humans to gather together in the name of Christ and comfort and edify each other.

Mat_18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

These two or three would be the beginnings of a church!

Jesus had already given us one new commandment that extended from the Old Testament.

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.

The new commandment that Jesus was talking about this day extends these two commandments.

We are not only to love one another, we are to love like Jesus loved and like God loves.

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.

If we cannot do this one thing, then we are not disciples of God.

This means we have stopped the learning process if we cannot love as Jesus loved and still loves each of us today.

A true disciple follows his Master!

We do not just go where He goes, we do as He does! “God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knows God”.

1Jn 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
1Jn 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
1Jn 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
1Jn 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

Simon Peter always ask the questions the others were afraid to ask and most every time he would stick his foot in his own mouth.

*****Joh 13:36 Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.
Joh 13:37 Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.
Joh 13:38 Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.

We all want to be where Jesus is, but not many want to carry their own cross!

The Cross is a sign of death!

It is sure that Simon Peter was not ready for Jesus to leave them, because he had not yet accepted everything that Jesus had said.

This is where we all get in trouble. We all get over confident in our Christian strength.

It would have been great for the disciples if they went with Jesus back to Heaven just as it would be for us if Jesus took us back to Heaven when He first saves us.

If this had happened, then there would be no church today.

The Lord assures us we are going to Heaven and that we are a Temple of God, but we have work to do after we are saved.

Note after we are saved and not before we are saved!

The Lord Jesus would cause Peter to humble himself before he was ready for Pentecost!

Peter had not yet taken a good look at himself in the mirror of Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is to be our mirror to see if we are getting more like Him!

Peter would not show the proper strength of a Christian, until that cock crew and he realized he was denying the Lord whom He dearly loved!

The one sin that we as believers must not commit is to deny Jesus Christ!

Gal 6:3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
Gal 6:4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
Gal 6:5 For every man shall bear his own burden.

We should know that there are some questions we might have, we have no business asking.

For instance are there just a few who will be saved? This question does not help our ability to share the Gospel with those in need of knowing the Lord as their Savior.

Go back and check the covenants to Abraham and King David.

Jesus would pray that all who loved Him would one day be with Him in Heaven and God the Father always answers the prayers of His Son.

This would be a much better thought when we share the Gospel with anyone.

Then the Lord tells His disciples, all of us what we love to hear.

*****Joh 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

This is one of the most overlooked Scriptures in the Gospel.

Jesus says why do we worry over such trivial matters!

Even when we are in the midst of a very bad day, Jesus says don’t let it worry you.

Even when we are traveling in the valley of death, don’t worry about trivial things.

Even when politicians have gone slap crazy, don’t worry about trivial things.

Even when the world is falling apart, don’t worry about trivial things.

Why? This place we call the planet earth is not our home!

One day soon we are going to God’s House!

*****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.

The Lord Jesus Christ had to die upon this earth and then resurrect from that grave before He went back home, and He would do all these things by Himself so all we would have to do is believe on these things and our Carpenter would go back to Heaven and start building mansions in His Father’s House for us to live in!

In reality this body that we call flesh, will also die and be resurrected to fulfill God’s plans for us!

There is nothing on this earth that can stop these things from taking place!

Now to those who say God does not exist, I say, I will pray for you that maybe you will change your mind and accept the truth, before it is too late.

The Lord said, if these things were not true, He would tell us because it is impossible for the Lord to Lie!

You see Jesus is never far from us because when God leaves Heaven, God is still in Heaven and Jesus is God!

No matter how many are saved before the Lord returns, there will be enough mansions that we all can have one for ourselves.

That word “many” is a very large quantity!

**The Lord’s first step was to be lifted up upon the cross and it is all downhill from that point.

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

**The Lords next step was to arise from the death of the cross. This showed the world that He had the power of God.

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.
Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Rom 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.

**The Lords next step was to ascend into Heaven and be exalted by His Father.

Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

“Jesus said if you believe in God then believe in Me”

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.

Jesus had to return to Heaven to put these things in place and now He is waiting until that last soul is saved and he will return to take us home.

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.

In other words Jesus will return when His patience runs out and this could be any day now!

The one most important thing that the Lord did before He left, He told us how to make it to Heaven.

At the end when the Lord has brought all His children home there will not be a single empty mansion. The Lord knows exactly how many mansions to prepare.

What did the Lord tell these disciples?

1) You know where I am going.

2) You know how to get there.

These are the same things we all should know!

The Lord Jesus Christ went back to where His Father resides.

Joh 16:5 But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?

The way to get to Heaven is well known there are just many who reject what the Lord has said.

Now we can believe all these things said by the Lord and get to Heaven or we can reject these things and go to Hell.

For those who choose this when they get to Hell, they will find that everyone in Hell are now believers, but it was too late for them to decide.

Another thing we should never do is call the Lord a liar!

*****Joh 14:5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the 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.

All these disciples had been thinking that Jesus was about to lead them to the Kingdom of God on this earth.

They had been discussing who would have the greatest honor in that place.

It was now sinking in that Jesus was talking about His death.

Jesus was also talking about His resurrection but neither of these things were understood.

Jesus was also talking about going some-place that they could not go.

These things were hard for them to grasp at this time.

It is hard to forget physical things and react to Spiritual things until “faith” and the Holy Spirit can do their work.

And the Holy Spirit could not do His work until Jesus went back to Heaven.

Eph 4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
Eph 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

Those who think in worldly terms and live for the things of this earth will never understand where Jesus Christ has gone, and they will never be interested in the fact that He will return.

The world of religion refuses to accept that the only way to Heaven is by Jesus Christ but that does not make them right.

I would always want to believe the truth and my “faith” lies in the truth of God!

**The Lord Jesus Christ not only points out how to walk in this life and how to reach our Heavenly Father, but He will take us by the hand and lead us there.

Heb 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Heb 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
Heb 10:21 And having an high priest over the house of God;

**Our Heavenly Father has shown us what He is like in the “Person” of Jesus Christ

Joh 14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

**Jesus Christ reveals the truth of our beginning. Jesus Christ also reveals the truth of our ending and because He loves us, He gives us the choice to choose the truth or to choose a lie.

Joh 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
Joh 5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

**True freedom comes only by Jesus Christ.

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.

Jesus Christ is the embodiment of life:

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:

The only way to this life is the Lord Jesus Christ!

Jesus did not only go to His Father’s house, He went to the Father again giving us an example of what we are to do.

Yes, we have a mansion in Heaven but the greatest thing in Heaven is our Heavenly Father who we will finally see face to face!

Then our love ones who are already there.

And then last of all, our Mansion which will not seem more important than the family of God!

Amen

Let’s Pray!

Being Faithful is Loving the Lord Jesus Christ

February 25, 2018 / Bobby Mayfield / 2 Comments

Counted Faithful

Book of 1 Timothy 1:1-20

Paul, the ambassador for Jesus Christ our King, is writing to his dear son in the “Gospel”, Timothy.

The most important job of the Church is share the “Gospel” of Jesus Christ and to make disciples just as Paul has made a disciple of Timothy and then went further in his teaching when God called Timothy to be a Pastor.

Anything else is secondary to this function.

1) The disciple must first believe the doctrine of Jesus Christ.
2) The disciple must rest on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for all our sins.
3) The disciple must be absorbed with the Holy Spirit.
4) The disciple must imitate the example of Jesus Christ so close, that he resembles Him. (This is what Christ-Like means, a Christian)

Timothy became such a disciple and later he was called of God to become a Pastor.

*****1Ti 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;

The authority to call anyone into the service of God must come from God Himself! We cannot call ourselves to be a Pastor!

We can rest assured that Paul, then named Saul, was truly an apostle specifically called by the Lord Jesus Christ.

Also notice that Paul knew that it is the Lord Jesus Christ who is God and Savior, one person of the Holy Trinity!

Paul also new that all our hope lies in the truth of the “Gospel” and in all the Word of God!

So, we must clearly understand that Jesus Christ is our only hope for salvation!

Jesus Christ is the love of God shown to us in His Son!

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.

Jesus Christ is the author of our hope.
Jesus Christ is the object of our hope.
Jesus Christ is the foundation of our hope!

God has provided the only means of salvation to every person since the resurrection of His Dear Son.

If God had not loved us and have a plan of salvation from the beginning, then no one could be saved!

Paul spoke with such authority because these epistles to Timothy and Titus will be considered the Pastoral Epistles and this is a specific calling of God.

Paul expected young Timothy to share these epistles with all the church.

All the epistles of Paul were passed from church to church!

The question comes up many times by those who are full of pride, why should the church make disciples?

The answer lies in the truth that all the world is enslaved by sin!

These people are gripped by spiritual death and are too blind to see it.

These people are doomed to face the judgment of God and they need someone to tell them the truth!

1Ti 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Timothy needed to hear these things from Paul the Apostle of Jesus Christ, who was also the same messenger of God who had led him to the Lord.

*****1Ti 1:2 Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

Why is it so important that our children be taught the Word of God? Because on occasion you get a Timothy!

His mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois had prepared this young man in the Old Testament Word of God at a very young age as it was written in the laws of Moses. They had also been converted on Paul’s first trip to Lystra.

2Ti 1:5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

Timothy was just a child when Paul had first come to Lystra. He was probably no mare that 10 to 12 years old when Paul led him to the Lord. He was no more than 18 when Paul returned on his second missionary trip and had grown so much in the Scriptures that Paul took Timothy with him and treated him as his son.

1Co 4:17 For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.

Timothy became so likeminded in the Scriptures as Paul, that Paul said his mind was at one with Timothy.

Php 2:19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.
Php 2:20 For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.

From this point on, Timothy would travel with Paul or would be sent by Paul to other locations.

Timothy may not have reached the age 30 years old, when Paul left him at Ephesus to correct the errors in doctrine that had made their way into this church.

The problems in Ephesus was not only from the Judaizers but many of the Greeks tried to bring parts of their pagan worship into the Church

**Timothy had been saved by the “Grace” of God just like every Christian is saved.

The “Grace” of God is revealed in the death of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ died, to redeem us from all our sin.
Jesus Christ died, to raise up a peculiar people a people set apart for His use.
Jesus Christ died, to stir us into good works like the works that He did.

All these came because of the ‘”Mercy” of God.

The “mercy” of God came to us because of His compassion for us, His love for us, and His pity for us!

God has mercy for us because He truly cares about all His creation, especially we of human race..

God sees our needs and provide our needs and the greatest need we had, was to be in harmony with our God!

Because of God’s “mercy” He has withheld His judgement of us, even though we deserve His wrath.

All those who do not know the mercy of God do not know God at all!

The peace of God means, we are bound together with the Lord Jesus Christ and secure in the love of God!

If we know the peace of God, we can then be at peace with God!

Timothy knew all these things and was a willing young Pastor to serve God, wherever he was sent!

*****1Ti 1:3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
1Ti 1:4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

What was Timothy’s job at Ephesus? Timothy was charged to defend the truth of the “Gospel” of Jesus Christ.

This must be the charge of every Pastor, Missionary, and Evangelist!

This must be the same charge to every “Born Again” child of God!

It is a fact, that all false teachers teach a false doctrine because, they cannot know God. Only those filled with the Holy Spirit who will only come by acknowledging the truth of Jesus Christ that can have such knowledge

Paul had gotten the Macedonian call at this time and the Holy Spirit was at work in Paul, yet he felt Ephesus could not be abandoned at this time, so it was Timothy who had to stay there to lead this church back to the truth.

Paul had warned this church that false teachers would come, and it is also a fact that we need to understand, false teachers will make an attempt to cause problems in every church!

We simply must guard against all those who attempt to corrupt the Word of God!

We must demand that our teachers and preachers teach the truth of the Word of God and the “Gospel” of Jesus Christ!

We can see that Timothy even at this young age, was strong enough in the Word of God, that Paul trusted him to work that truth into this church.

There is also no one on the face of this earth who has the authority to change the Word of God!

In the day of Timothy there were many of the Jewish faith who made attempts to stop Christianity.

There were also many from the pagan Greeks who wanted to incorporate Christianity into their own beliefs.

Some say this was the beginning of the Catholic church.

Tit 1:10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:

There were many who taught fables rather than the truth of God.

Tit 1:14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.

There were those that wanted the Christians to abide by the Laws of Moses.

Tit 3:9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

The true Word of God, does not contain fables as some say! Fables are any fictional teaching of the Scriptures.

The Lord Jesus taught using with parables, but He never taught using fables and neither should any man of God!

There is nothing contained in the Hebrew or Greek Scriptures that suggest the use of fables!

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.

That word “genealogies” is the teaching of those who take comfort in their godly heritage.

As Christians we can look back to the faith of Abraham because the Scriptures point us to him.

The truth is, we cannot be saved just because Abraham had such a great faith.
We cannot be saved just because we have godly parents or godly grandparents.

We must accept the Lord Jesus Christ ourselves in a faith such as Abraham had in trusting God, as our personal Savior and there is no other means of salvation period! *****End of discussion!

What did Jesus say?

Luk 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

It is only because of the love of God, that we get this opportunity to be saved!

*****1Ti 1:5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
1Ti 1:6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;

Those false teachers had put empty discussions of the Law ahead of the “Love of God”!

The church is to teach love for one another, just as God loves each of us!

What had Jesus said?

When there is no love in a church, then there can be no church!

It is also a terrible sin to compromise the Word of God, just to get more members or to keep the ones you already have!

*****1Ti 1:7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.

The teacher or preacher must not allow ambition to cloud their understanding of the truth!

To make disciples as preachers and teachers, the church must focus on learning as well as teaching!

When those who do not know the Lord ask why we love the Scriptures, we should just say, “because we have a personal relationship with the Author”.

Tit 1:10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
Tit 1:11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.

Jas 1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
Jas 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

We must also understand that the Laws of Moses had their purpose in the day of Paul, just as they do today!
Those laws point out that we are all sinners who cannot measure up to our Savior!

*****1Ti 1:8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
1Ti 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
1Ti 1:10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
1Ti 1:11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

The Scriptures were not written for those who already think they know it all. Nobody can teach these people!
The Scriptures were not written for those who want to do it their own way. This what Elvis said and the theme of humanism!
The Scriptures were not written for those so full of pride, who think they are much better than all others. Pride was the downfall of Lucifer (Satan).

The Scriptures were written for those who know they are sinners in need of a Savior!

False teachers will always put pride and self-righteousness above the Word of God!

False teachers would say, to be saved required you to give yourselves to Christ, but also you needed to add to this the obedience of Judaism to be truly saved!

False teachers will always reject that salvation can come only by the free gift of the “Grace” of God alone!

False teachers will confuse everyone on the gifts of God!

The law is good if it is used properly! The law teaches us what God considers to be sin. There are 613 Jewish laws and not just those 10 commandments.

Those laws can only teach us how far short we come when compared to the goodness of God which was in the Lord Jesus Christ!

False teachers will also teach that God had a set of scales to weigh our goodness against the things we do that are bad and whichever one came out on top would determine if you went to Heaven or to Hell.

But God says we have no goodness, “which is righteousness” to put on our good side.

Isa_64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and “all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags”; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

There is nothing wrong with being good, but no amount of goodness will get you saved!

God is a perfect God and we cannot come face to face with God until we are also perfect!

God gave all those laws to show all of us, that we had a great need of a Savior!

The Law was given to all those who are lawless and disobedient.
The law was given to the ungodly and sinners.
The law was given to those who are unholy and profane.
The law was given to those murderers who are so low that they would kill their own families.
The law was given to all those who commit fornication, and adultery, and homosexuals and all immoral people.
The law was given to all those who trade in slavery, and kidnappers.
The law was given to all liars and those who commit perjury.
The law was given to anything else that goes against the truth of the Word of God.

There is no one left out of this list because we are all sinners!

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

False teachers just do not understand the truth of God or they will reject the truth of God!

God has made a way for every human being upon this earth to join Him in Heaven and that way is by the “Gospel” of the Lord Jesus Christ!

We must never be deceived. It is the truth of the “Gospel” that is the only way to become perfect enough to join God in Heaven!

1Co 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
1Co 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

The Gospel is described as “glorious”.
The Gospel is described as “everlasting”.
The “gospel” is the unchanging, perfect, Word of God!

All those who come to know the Lord Jesus Christ in a personal relationship, will tell you how great it is to know the truth of Jehovah, the saving God!

*****1Ti 1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
1Ti 1:13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

There are no true ministers of the “Gospel” unless they are called by Christ Himself!
There are no true ministers unless they came by “faith”, trusting the Lord!

It was Jesus Christ who enabled Paul to teach the truth of the “Gospel”.

Enabled means to strengthen and give power to.

The power of Paul’s ministry came from the Lord Jesus Christ.
The power of every minister of the “Gospel” comes by the Lord Jesus Christ!
The power to continue in the ministry of the “Gospel” comes by the Holy Spirit who is the only path to the Lord Jesus Christ!

Joh 15:15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
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.

There can be no self-made ministers of the “Gospel” of Jesus Christ!

Those that call themselves, can only serve to a humanistic false religion who will lead people into a false sense of security!

It is Jesus Christ who found Paul to be trustworthy, to teach the wonderful Word of God.

It is Jesus Christ who finds any of us to be trustworthy, to teach the truth of the Word of God!

If you preach or teach the truth of the Word of God, God knows those who are faithful to Him!

*****1Ti 1:14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

Paul had spent some time trying to destroy the Church but by the “Grace”, he had been forgiven.

Paul had committed blasphemy, hating even the name of Jesus Christ.
Paul was the persecutor who first set out to wipe the name of Jesus off the face of this earth.
Paul was injurious to destroy the rights of others who sought the Lord Jesus to be saved.

By God’s “Grace”, Paul was forgiven of all these things but all these things continue by others of the world today and yes, they can also be forgiven.

Paul thought he knew God and that Judaism was the true path to glorify God, but he had been wrong.

Judaism is not the way.
Islam is not the way.
Jehovah’s Witness is not the way.
Mormanism is not the way.
Religion means death.

Christianity is life and leads to eternal life because Jesus Christ is the God of the Bible and has all the authority of God because He is God!

The Lord Jesus poured out His “Grace” onto the Apostle Paul and Paul was gloriously forgiven of all his sin!

None of us are worthy of the “Grace” of God and we can thank God for giving us the Apostle Paul who remained faithful all his days.

God’s “Grace” is sufficient to cover any sin but one and that is the sin of not believeing that The Lord Jesus Christ is the God of the Bible!

We must remain faithful to the Gospel all our days to be of any use to Him!

In fact, when we remain faithful to the Lord, this is when He will pour out blessing after blessing to us all our days!

*****1Ti 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
1Ti 1:16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

Why did the Lord Jesus come to this world? Jesus Christ left Heaven to come to this world to save sinners!

**The Apostle Paul is the greatest of examples of just how far God will go to save a worthless sinner!

It is an indisputable fact, that even the worst of sinners can be saved!

Jesus Christ would save the entire human race if they would only believe that His able to do it!

It is still “faith”, not just any faith, but “faith” in the “Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ”!

Luk 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Heb 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

**The Apostle Paul is also the greatest example of God’s “mercy”!

Paul was also chosen to be the pattern of mercy to all those in sin!

It was not easy in that day to bring the “Gospel” to the gentile nations.

The truth of Paul was that if God could save Paul, then God could save anyone!

Joh 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
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.

**The Apostle Paul is our greatest proof of God’s “mercy”!

*****1Ti 1:17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

When we know of the glorious salvation that Jesus Christ has given us, we to should break forth into praise!

**Our Savior is the unchanging King of all the ages.

Psa 145:13 Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.

**Our Savior is Immortal, which means He is incorruptible, He cannot age, He cannot deteriorate, He cannot decay within His being. He absolutely cannot die! He is immortal!

Mat 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

**Our Savior is invisible! He cannot be seen by people with physical eyes in this physical dimension!

He came, He took all our sin to the lower part of the earth, and He ascended back to His throne!

Joh 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

**Our Savior is the only wise God. “Yes Jesus Christ is the God of the Bible” the stumbling block of this world!

Jud 1:25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Eph 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Eph 3:21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

**Our Savior is the only living and true God who can interact with this world!

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.

Timothy probably had not reached the age of 30 at this time and he needed to be encouraged to become the pastor at Ephesus.

*****1Ti 1:18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;
1Ti 1:19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
1Ti 1:20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

Each and every believer is called to be in the army of God, but the calling of the Pastor is to do more!

Many a believer fail to realize, that as Christians we are in a great battle, in fact a war and our job is to fight a good fight.

Paul would have had Timothy to be like himself while he was also like Jesus.

2Ti 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

Timothy was sure he was called of God into the ministry and it was now time for him to begin his ministry.

Every Pastor must be called of God. To be a Pastor is not just another profession as many see it today. It is never another place just to make a living.

Just like every new Pastor, Timothy would find himself right in the middle of spiritual warfare. He had witnessed these many times already, but the Apostle Paul and other Elders had taken charge, but now he would be on his own but not forsaken by the Lord.

The truth is when a person is called into the ministry by the Holy Spirit, he or she must not reject the call. They must jump right into the battle and fight a good warfare.

To reject the call of God is to live in misery!

Sometimes we must be stirred up to get into the battle and Paul was doing this to Timothy here in this passage.

Each ministry is a sacred trust, a sacred commitment to the Lord!

The war we fight, is for the minds and the souls of the lost, some even being of our own family. We must jump right into this conflict if we are called of God.

The Pastor, the highest calling, is God’s instrument to not only be a fisherman of men but, also God’s instrument to teach and make other disciples.

Each Pastor must be faithful to fight a good warfare!

The greatest weapon of defense is the shield of “faith”.

Good conscience is that conviction that our course of conduct is right, and it is accompanied by an obligation to the truth of God.

Conscience is our sense of right and wrong!

Conscience does not come by training, because each of us are born with a sense of right and wrong.

Rom 2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
Rom 2:15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

Though conscience does not come by training or education, it must still be developed and matured!

A good and healthy conscience comes by living a godly and righteous life before our Savior!

It is Holy Ghost conviction, that works with our conscience for us to discern right and wrong!

It is that same conscience, under conviction of the Holy Spirit, that convicts us of sin.

Rom 9:1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,
Rom 9:2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.

The word conscience is used 31 times in the New Testament.

There is the good conscience.
There is the conscience void of offense.
There is the weak conscience.
There is the pure conscience.
There is the seared conscience of which we see more of today.
There is the defiled conscience which has been around since the sin of Adam.
There is the evil conscience.

And the most frightening thing we can do with our conscience, is to put it away.

If we put away our conscience concerning our faith, we will be shipwrecked.

Shipwrecked means our faith is destroyed!

Hymenaeus put away his conscience by denying the true doctrine of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Alexander the coppersmith also rejected the truth of God.

Paul delivered them to Satan which means:

1) They were excommunicated from the Church and left out in the world with the hope that they would come to the truth of the “Gospel” of the Lord Jesus Christ. (We never read where they made a change)

2) The were given back to the world, which is under the power of Satan.

The church would then pray that some circumstance would happen to them out in the world that they might repent and return to the church and accept the truth of the “Gospel” of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The truth is, it is impossible to commit sin and escape the chastisement of the Lord!

The Lord says we will reap what we sow!

There remains also the Spiritual power that inflicts punishment for sin.

Even modern medicine agrees that misbehavior causes physical, emotional and mental punishment.

And we must always remember that church discipline is put in place, in order that those who receive the discipline may return to Jesus Christ for forgiveness.

1Jn 5:16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
1Jn 5:17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

The Lord always knows what is best for His Church!

Amen

Christ’s Divine Ability

March 20, 2016 / Bobby Mayfield / 1 Comment

The Certainty Of Christ’s Divine Ability

Book of Luke 2:39-52

We must realize that any attack on the deity of Jesus Christ is an attack on the bedrock of Christianity!

The heart of our beliefs is in recognizing that Christ Jesus died a substitutionary death to provide salvation for a lost humanity.

If Jesus Christ were only some mere man or only some prophet, He could not have died to save the world!

We can be certain of Christ’s divine ability to provide the only sacrifice that was approved of our righteous God!

Divine means, those things that pertain to the true God!

Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly,
Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Let’s begin.

*****Luk 2:39 And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.

As a babe, Jesus was led by His parents to fulfill all the law of the Jews.

We sometimes forget that we have the 10 moral laws of God but in actuality there were 613 commandments given to the Jews.

God sent the Lord Jesus Christ into this world to fulfill all the law, which included not only these 613 commandments but also all the prophesies of the Messiah!

Only by fulfilling all these 613 laws given to the Jews could Jesus become perfectly righteous, the true example for all mankind, and the acceptable sacrifice to appease the wrath of God!

Jesus Christ who is 100% God had to also be a 100% Perfect Man!

Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law and never failed in one single point.

Jesus Christ is the epitome of “perfection”.

Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Rom 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
Rom 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

In order to fulfill the Law Jesus had to keep every observance of the Jewish Law!

By His example, Jesus was showing the world what God expected from each of us!

God already knows that we as humans simply do not have it in us to be sin free!

Everyone who follows Jesus will be covered by His sinless perfection, His death, His resurrection, and His ascension.

Everyone who follows Jesus Christ by faith, will be covered by His righteousness because we simply do not have any.

Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Every religion in this world will teach that you must work your way to appease God but God says that is impossible for you to do on our own!

So for these reasons God led Joseph and Mary to fulfill all the Law for their child.

A baby dedication is always more about the parents than it is about the child!

We see that the childhood home of Jesus was in the city of Nazareth.

Luk 4:16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

It is also in Nazareth where Jesus began His public ministry.

Mat 13:54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?
Mat 13:55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
Mat 13:56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?

Nazareth was an ideal place for the Messiah to be brought up.

Nazareth was a quiet town, it was a small town, and Nazareth had a bad reputation, which kept the Jews close together.

Nazareth was a place where the Jews could meet the rest of the world.

Two major roads passed within eyesight of this little city.

One road connected the East to the West.

The other connected the North to the South.

All types of people traveled these roads.

So, Nazareth became an obscure place, despised and a reproach to most all Jews.

Joh 1:46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.

Jesus was born in a stable, the lowest of all places.

Jesus was raised in Nazareth the lowest of all places.

Jesus made Himself of no reputation!

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.

We can be sure God had His own reasons for all these things.

*****Luk 2:40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

We must have a clear understanding Jesus was 100% human and still 100% God.

As a child, Jesus was already strong in the Spirit.

As a child, Jesus was already filled with wisdom.

The idea given to us by Luke, is that Jesus the human grew as a normal child and had a vigorous growth in the Spirit.

Jesus did not just grow in wisdom, Jesus was filled with wisdom.

Jesus grew in His humanity as well as any child could grow, well and healthy.

Jesus is the only child born to this earth that was perfect in His growth at every stage of His childhood!

Jesus Christ came into this world not only to save all those that believe on Him but He also came to be our the perfect example in all things!

Jesus Christ is our example at every stage of development from child to adult.

Jesus suffered through these experiences so He could personally know how we feel in this world full of temptation and sin.

Php 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Php 2:4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

God needed to demonstrate the simple truth to all mankind!

Mat 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus Christ experienced every situation, every condition, and every trial of man in order to become the perfect Savior.

When we begin to complain about our lives we need to remember Jesus.

Jesus was born to an unwed mother.
Jesus was born in a stable.
Jesus was raised in a poor family.
The life of Jesus was threatened as a baby.
Jesus was raised in a most despicable place.
The adopted father of Jesus died while He was young.
Jesus had to help His brothers and sisters support His mother.
Jesus started His ministry without a home or a place to lay His head.
Jesus was hated and opposed fiercely but all religions.
Jesus was charged with being insane.
Jesus was charged with demon possession.
Jesus was opposed by His own family.
Jesus was rejected, opposed, and hated by many who heard Him preach.
Jesus was betrayed by a close friend.
Jesus was left alone, rejected and forsaken by all His friends.
Jesus was tried in a false court, with false witnesses, and charged with treason but was innocent of all charges.
Jesus was executed by crucifixion, the worst possible death.

The next time things are not going our way and we want to complain we should remember the things our Savior went through just so we can spend eternity with Him in Heaven!

Jesus in His person, possessed the “Grace” of God.

We should also remember Jesus was never forced to do all these things it was His choice!

Joh 3:35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
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.

Even from a child Jesus was always faithful in His worship!

*****Luk 2:41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.
Luk 2:42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.

Joseph had adopted Jesus and the parents of Jesus, Joseph and Mary were faithful in their worship because “it was their custom” to keep the Feast of the Passover.

All male Jews who lived within 20 miles of Jerusalem were required by Law to attend the Temple three times a year, at Passover, at Pentecost, and at the Feast of Tabernacles.

The women were exempt by the Law but they could attend if they so wished.

Mary chose to be with her family!

We see that they all worshiped by choice!

It was also at these times that the Word of God was read and also explained where it could be understood.

Neh 8:2 And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that “could hear with understanding”, upon the first day of the seventh month.

Jesus belonged to God but God had entrusted His keeping in the hands of Joseph and Mary.

They had the same responsibilities as any and all parents!

Jesus was just 12 years of age on this trip but when Jewish boys turn 13 they are expected to keep all the Jewish Laws by knowing them.

It was also a custom of most parents to bring the boys to the Temple a year or two early so they could become familiar with the Temple and the Feasts.

We can see that God expects all children to be taught from the very first about God and true worship.

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.

The worship of God has not changed!

Every child needs to become familiar with God and seek their own personal relationship with Him.

Psa 34:11 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

Then as the parents of Jesus reached that time to go back home, Jesus was not quite ready.

*****Luk 2:43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.
Luk 2:44 But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.
Luk 2:45 And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.

Jesus was, is, and always will be, the preeminent child of God. The relationship Jesus had with His Father could only be achieved by Him.

But even in this, Jesus is our perfect example of our own personal relationship with our Father in Heaven.

God wants each and everyone of us to have an unbroken knowledge and communion with Him.

God wants each of us to do His will He has for each of us!

Jesus social development was as any normal Jewish child of God fearing parents.

Joseph and Mary the mother of Jesus had finished their worship obligations and were returning home to Nazareth.

Without their knowledge Jesus had remained behind.

Joseph and Mary would have traveled in a large caravan along with all others who had made the same journey for the same reasons.

Many pilgrims attended the Feast in Jerusalem.

It was common for the children to gather together as the caravan began and Jesus was not missed.

Joseph and Mary were so sure of these things, that they did not look for Jesus until nightfall and they did not find Him.

When they did not find Him then at daylight they returned to Jerusalem.

It had been 3 days to find Jesus because Joseph and Mary had traveled a full day, it took a full day to return and it was on the 3rd day when they found Jesus at the Temple.

We see that even as a child, Jesus was in the midst of other people!

Jesus is in the midst wherever, 2 or 3 are gathered in His name even today.

And Jesus will stand in the midst of the redeemed when we all get to Heaven.

So, They found Jesus in the Temple, “in His Father’s house”.

*****Luk 2:46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.
Luk 2:47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.

Those “doctors” would have been the scholars of the Jewish Law. There were many in that day and time but it is very possible that Nicodemus and Gamaliel could have been among this group of men.

Joh 3:10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?

Jesus’ knowledge of the Scriptures was surprising to these men of the Jewish Law.

We should understand that it was a custom among these men to hold open classes and discussions so the public could listen and learn.

But such a young man with such knowledge and understanding would have certainly gotten their attention!

The parents of Jesus had been traveling but Jesus had been amongst these scholars for 3 days.

Jesus was making use of every opportunity He had, notice He was both “hearing and asking questions”.

The word “astonished meant that they were amazed, overwhelmed, and wondered at His understanding of the Word of God!

We talk a lot about Jesus being our example and we should consider that He was and is our example in all things.

We should understand that we need to take every opportunity to learn the truth of the Word of God!

We should seek the knowledge and understanding of God’s Word!

Pro 23:23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

Even His parents were amazed at what they saw when they found Him!

*****Luk 2:48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.

The term “parents” is an acceptable term because Joseph had adopted Jesus as his own son and had also taught Him many things. Joseph was a carpenter and Jesus was later known as a carpenter.

We should never forget who Jesus is!

Jesus said:

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.

Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, who came to save all those that believe upon Him.

But Jesus is also God and He is always about the business of meeting our needs!

To Mary, Jesus was her son and certainly she was grieving at His absence.

Even Mary had a tendency to forget what the angel Gabriel had said:

Luk 1:31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
Luk 1:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
Luk 1:33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

BUT, There is absolutely no excuse for us to deny who Jesus is!

*****Luk 2:49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?
Luk 2:50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.

As a boy, we can see that Jesus had already become a deep student of the Scriptures. Jesus had a purpose in seeing what was taught by these scholars of the Bible.

Remember how He has cautioned the world about the Scriptures:

Rev 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
Rev 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Even in His humanity at the age of 12 Jesus had already began to identify with the purpose He had come into this world!

We must never forget who Jesus is, The Lord God Almighty!

Joseph and Mary did not clearly understand what their young son was saying.

BUT, Jesus clearly understood that He was the Messiah!

Joh 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
Joh 6:39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

Jesus clearly knew who His Father was!

Jesus was always doing what His Father in Heaven wanted Him to do and His Father in Heaven was always pleased with Him!

Mat 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Jesus did not come to please mankind because we would all send ourselves to Hell as many will still do!

Jesus came to please His Father, because salvation is His Father’s plan and God wants us all to be a part of His Salvation Plan!

God has only One Son, His name is Jesus, but God is in the adoption business!

When we know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, this causes God to adopt each of us as His own child and we than are also placed into the Father’s care!

Jesus said:

Joh 5:17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.

God is in the saving business!

At this time Mary and Joseph could not understand what it is to be a true servant of God. They like most Jews were bound by the Laws of Moses but God offers true freedom from religious rituals and religious laws.

Joh 8:36 If the Son therefore shall “make” you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Then Jesus returned with His parents.

*****Luk 2:51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.

Even though Jesus is the actual Son of God in accordance with the Triune God, He still obeyed His earthly parents.

It was the will of God that He lead by example!

Jesus set the perfect example of what a child should be toward his parents!

In the Bible the phrase “subject to” is frequently translated “submit to” or “be obedient to”.

The Bible says we are to “be subject to one another”:

1Pe 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
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.

God expects us to be a humble and caring people!

No doubt that Jesus was well aware of the work He had been sent by His Father to do.

But, it was also the will of His Father to set that example for all men.

It was the will of His Father that He return to Nazareth with His parents, for now was not the time for Him to begin His ministry.

Jesus submitted Himself to His parents and for some 18 years after this incident He lived and worked as a “Carpenter” at Nazareth, with Joseph and Mary whom His Father had chosen to be His earthly parents.

We will also realize that Joseph is not heard from again after this story and it may be that Jesus with His carpentry skills sustained His own family for some period of time.

Mar 6:2 And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?
Mar 6:3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

Mary again kept all these things in her heart.

Mary never boasted about her son. Mary did not discuss these things with her relatives. Mary knew she had a unique son who was destined to do great things for the Lord.

It seems that she knew, that at the right time, God would reveal Him and His salvation plan to the world!

*****Luk 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

The truth is that Jesus is God and God is omniscient but Jesus the man increased in wisdom and stature.

God cannot increase in wisdom!

Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the God-Man.

Jesus was fully God and yet fully man “but had no sin”.

It is very hard for us to comprehend just what all this means.

The Bible explains this thing.

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.

Jesus made Himself of no reputation which means that God “emptied Himself”.

God set aside all of His “omni” attributes in order to take “the form of a servant”!

In the records of the life and the teachings of Jesus we can see with surety the evidence of His deity, including His own claims and the evidence of His humanity, including the fact that Jesus the man increased in wisdom and grew in stature!

As God:

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?

As man:

Joh 11:35 Jesus wept.

Joh 4:6 Now Jacob’s well was there. “Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey”, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.

Jesus grew in favor with God and man.

Jesus learned just as all children learn, Jesus just learned perfectly.

Jesus grew just as all children grow, Jesus was a real man, Jesus was not a wimp!

Jesus was strong in the Spirit.

Jesus had the favor of God.

Jesus looked to God in perfect obedience.

Jesus grew in favor with those around Him.

Jesus was friendly, loving, caring, helpful, unselfish, pure, honest, and still humble.

Jesus increased in these things because His goal was that the world would believe on Him and all be saved!

We must always remember God is much more about the timing of events than He is about time itself!

It was not yet time for Jesus to begin His ministry, just as it is not now quiet time for Jesus to return!

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.

We can be certain of Christ’s Divine abilities!

Questions?

Let’s Pray!

The Parables of Our Lord

October 6, 2013October 6, 2013 / Bobby Mayfield / 2 Comments

The Parables of God’s Servant

"Field, Fruit, and Light"

Book of Mark 4:1-41

Last week we saw as Jesus had taught in the synagogue at Capernaum for the last time and during His teaching, He healed the whithered hand of a man.

A whithered hand is a "type" of how sin hinders our ability to serve The Lord!

Jesus then went up upon a mountain, where he chose "His Own Creation" to continue to teach and it was "this place" where He assembled the 12 disciples.

Jesus taught in a parable about how the Pharisees, when they accused Jesus of working under the power of Satan, that they were actually "blaspheming the Holy Spirit". The "unpardonable sin"!

Jesus taught that even though our earthly families should remain important to us while we are in our flesh, we will spend eternity with our Heavenly family, who is our true family.

Today Jesus continues to teach, and this time He again chooses His own creation, the Sea of Galilee.

The Book of Matthew says He began to teach like this:

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.

The Bible says that there is "No One" that ever spoke like Jesus!

Joh 7:46 The officers answered, "Never man spake like this man".

Let’s begin:

*****Mar 4:1 And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.
Mar 4:2 And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,

It was only a short walk from Peter’s house to the shoreline of Galilee. Christ Jesus borrowed a boat, and it became His "pulpit". It would later become His bed.

This natural amphitheater was a place where the voice of Jesus was amplified to reach all that were present.

What was the Doctrine of Jesus?

"Doctrine" in it’s simplest form means "instruction".

So what were Jesus’s instructions?

Jesus chose to use parables in order to give us and the Apostles most of His instructions.

So what is a "parable"?

A parable in it’s simplest form is an "earthly story" that can be understood and actually has a "Heavenly Meaning"!

The comparing of earthly things to Heavenly things!

A parable can be a "proverb".
A parable can be a "type" or we may say "typology".
A parable can also be an "allegory".

A large portion of "the teachings" or "the doctrine" of the Lord Jesus Christ consisted of "parables".

Those that exalted themselves above God and the average man, the "human beings" on this Earth, would have trouble understanding parables that Jesus taught!

Mat 13:13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

Most of the world leaders, including those in America, have exalted themselves above "the average human being" and can no longer relate to their own people and we can see the turmoil in our nation and in our world because of this!

So Jesus begins:

*****Mar 4:3 Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:

That word "hearken" meant "listen to what I am about to say".

"He that hath ears to hear, let him hear"

The Sower:

A "sower" is a person who scatters seed for propagation.

Propagation means an act that will cause that seed to multiply.

In this parable it is the act of planting the "Gospel" among "the lost" of this world!

This is the purpose of every "born again" child of God after salvation!

So, what does Jesus want us to hear?

It is not enough just to hear the Word of God but we must accept the Word of God "in the context that it is written" and then the Word of God will bear fruit!

You see, If the "sower" cast bad seed, then the plowing, the planting, and the watering are in vain!

So what did Jesus say?

*****Mar 4:4 And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.
Mar 4:5 And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:
Mar 4:6 But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.
Mar 4:7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.
Mar 4:8 And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.
Mar 4:9 And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Everyone within the sound of the voice of Jesus heard these words.

We should understand that every parable will contain at least one central truth of God’s Word!

BUT, the interpretation of every parable must be consistent with what is taught elsewhere in the Bible!

No parable can be interpreted to go against the written Word of God!

Every "sower" must have a knowledge of the everyday life of those that receive the seed, the Word of God!

In verse 9 we again see that Jesus says "to listen", which tells us that this first parable "is the most important" of all His parables!

If we do not get this one right, we will never understand the others!

So, Jesus takes the time to teach us the interpretation of this parable.

*****Mar 4:10 And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.
Mar 4:11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:

The chosen 12 did not want the multitude to see that they did not understand the teaching of Jesus.

They understood the principles of agriculture and the act of sowing but they also realized that Jesus had said all these words for some other reason.

They needed an explanation!

What was this mystery of the kingdom of God?

Jesus will teach us many parables, most of them dealing with the Jewish rejection of Christ Jesus as Lord and Messiah.

The "mystery" is the "Church Age" and it is not a mystery today because we have the complete Bible!

The "mystery" was that the nation of Israel would be set aside temporarily and God would establish His Church!

The 12 Apostles were never about saving Israel!

Today, the Church Age has about run it’s course and soon God will again deal with Israel, "where once more the Gospel of the kingdom will be preached".

Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

We now live in the present "Age of Grace", the "mystery" that the Jews still do not understand!

What words are included in the prayers of the Church?

Mat 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

SO, Let’s listen as we have been instructed to do:

*****Mar 4:14 The sower soweth the word.

It is now the "Body of Christ" who is the "Sower".

The "Seed" is the "Word Of God"!

John wrote:

Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.

1Jn 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, "the Word", and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

The "Sower" in the first instance was God Himself, but after salvation "the servants" have become the sowers!

We are to scatter the "Good News" of Jesus far and wide. (the highways and the hedges)

BUT, We do not manufacture our own seed!

We are still to use God’s Seed!

It is God who provides this "seed" that contains the secret of "everlasting life"!

What does God’s seed do?

Here is the best example of what God’s "seed" does!

Gen 1:12 And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed [after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good].

God makes "His Own Self" responsible for how the "seed" will germinate in the soil!

Isa 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth "out of my mouth": it shall not return unto me void, "but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it".

Our only job is to be the "sower" and to "Sow The Seed"! (the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ)

*****Mar 4:15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.

Jesus said listen to what I’m telling you:

Satan will waste no time in trying to seize the seed before it can germinate!

Satan is not omnipresent and cannot be in every place, but some of his agents will always be in the places where the "Gospel" is preached!

After all Satan does not have to send his agents to the places where the truth is not taught!

Satan uses all his power to keep the "Gospel" from being preached "but when that fails", he will next seize the seed so in cannot germinate.

The "wayside" is a place where people come and go and there is constant movement.

The "wayside" is a place of business and pleasure.

That "wayside" is "that heart so hardened in sin" that the seed cannot reach the soil!

Without Holy Ghost conviction the soil goes unprepared!

SO, Satan has great success in the "wayside"!

Those "foul of the air" are not farm animals as chickens or ducks, they are birds that prey!

Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

Those "foul of the air" are Satan’s helpers!

*****Mar 4:16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
Mar 4:17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.

Here again these is no problem with the seed!

Just as stony ground is unfavorable to cultivate, a stony heart is cruel, pitiless, and unfeeling, or we can just say hard-hearted!

The seed did germinate but could not grow!

"Stony ground" in the Bible is a "type" of sin that signifies a stubborn will, an unyielding resistance to change, reluctance and even hatred.

There was just enough soil to look promising but that stoney heart will have to be broken for fruit to come forth!

Psa 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

*****Mar 4:18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
Mar 4:19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

Again there is nothing wrong with the seed!

The problem is still in the soil!

The soil is deep enough to sustain growth but the thorns will not allow growth, to the point of death.

What did God tell Adam?

Gen 3:17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: "cursed is the ground for thy sake"; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
Gen 3:18 "Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee"; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;

Jesus describes these thorns in 3 ways:

1) The "cares of this world".

We all need things just so we can live!
We all want things that we do not really need!

"Worry" is a tool of the Devil!

While worrying about this world we live in, "we will not see the future that God will provide"!

2) Deceitfulness of riches.

The Devil will use riches to keep our minds on this world.

Riches may seem like a blessing but riches cannot stop the pain of sin!
Riches can only be measured by what they can buy!
Riches seldom bring true happiness!

3) The "pleasures of this life".

The Devil uses our "lust" for other things against us.
When we obtain the thing we wanted most, we will soon see another thing we want even more.

BUT, there is nothing in this life can satisfy our need for The Lord!

The Lord does not deny us pleasure in this life, but He does prohibit any false pleasure that comes from sin, for that pleasure cannot last:

Heb 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, [than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season];

What ever focuses our attention on this world will not let us focus on the world to come!

*****Mar 4:20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

The seed that falls on this ground has the best chance of producing a crop.

Even here the results will vary!

This ground has been properly prepared to produce fruit! (Holy Ghost conviction)

BUT, to receive the Word of God means that it is mixed with "faith" because it must be accepted as "the truth"!

That word "Receive" always means "accepted"!

No pathway of human activity can trample God’s Word.
No stone can crush God’s Word.
No persecution can prevail over God’s Word.
No worldly lust can stop the growth of God’s Word.

The Word of God, will then take the shape of Jesus Christ!

1Jn 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, [we shall be like him]; for we shall see him as he is.

Then, and only then, will the Light of Jesus shine in this dark world!

*****Mar 4:21 And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?
Mar 4:22 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.

We should pay attention as these next 2 parables tie right into the parable of the sower.

It is the environmental conditions that have an effect on the yield of what the sower sows.

The yields can be 30, 60, and some 100 percent!

In the beginning God created the beautiful Garden of Eden by casting His seed on this Earth and "it was very good" but it would not have been very good if God had not said "Let there be light"!

Gen 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

When John saw the New Heaven and the New Earth coming down from Heaven, "he said" there was such a glow that no light was needed.

Rev 22:5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; [for the Lord God giveth them light]: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

It is the job of every Christian "to be that light" in this time of the Church Age!

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.

While remembering that the world will do it’s very best to dim the light of each child of God.

The Lord Jesus paid a heavy price for our salvation and He did not intend for His children to hide themselves in this dark world!

To shine the brightest we must experience the truth of God’s Word!

The "lighted lamp" must be filled with oil, SO, God’s children must be filled with His Holy Spirit!

The Christian is not to get dim over time but to actually shine brighter!

This calls for a daily filling of the Holy Spirit that we must ask for in our prayers!

We must not ever try to hide the Word of God from those we do not agree with!

God said "whosoever"!

And the Holy Spirit will endow each believer with gifts, all of which are to be used to further God’s Kingdom!

1Co 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

It is these things that allow the Christian to bring forth fruit!

A "candle" is a simple instrument that will overwhelm darkness "because darkness is no match for light"! (darkness will always flee)

But, a "candle" has to give of itself in order to produce a flame! (a candle melts as the flame burns)

The Lord Jesus is our example, as he gave Himself to the Cross BUT He is still that "Great Light" that dispells all darkness, we are to do the same!

Jesus paid it all in order for us to shine in "His" light, not our own light!

We must remember Jesus is the "Light", we can only be the "Candle"!

And Jesus kept no secrets!

But we are also always to be careful at the things that the world says!

*****Mar 4:23 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
Mar 4:24 And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.

We must always listen when God is the speaker!

We must take heed of the things we hear from all other sources!

1) We must not learn from strange voices!

Joh 10:5 "And a stranger will they not follow", but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

2) We must pay attention to what God says!

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.

3) We must make a personal application after hearing the Word of God!

Jas 1:23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
Jas 1:24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

4) We must remember what God’s says, to take a stand!

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

5) We must desire the things of God, not the things of this world!

1Co 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

6) We must be obedient to the Word of God!

Psa 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Remember! To be a "fisher of men" we must first cast the seed "or there will be no fruit".

We must next be a bright and shining Light for Jesus or "that seed will not produce".

We must take heed of what we hear from this world "as this will affect the fruit, the abundance and the quality of it".

BUT, we must realize most of all, that the seed can not even come out of the ground without the "Creator"!

It is only the Holy Spirit that can bring conviction to that lost soul!

Joh 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

*****Mar 4:25 For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.

What is the law of increase?

The more we learn and apply God’s Word to our own lives, the more God will enable us to learn!

But those that are content to just sit on the pew and do not get into the battle will eventually forget even what truth they have learned!

It is a fact in this world we live in, that a man who has made money is in a better position to make more money than those that will not invest.

So, in this time of God’s "Grace", "grace" to do one good act opens up the heart to admit more "grace" to do another good act!

As we learn these things we must apply them for the purpose God has given to us!

*****Mar 4:26 And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;
Mar 4:27 And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.
Mar 4:28 For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.

Now that we have cast the seed on the best ground, we can test the soil of "whosoever" God sends across our path and prepare our selves to shine as bright as we can in the Lord, remembering that God ask us to be patient and allow Him to do His work!

Spiritual growth has 2 parts: Our part, and God’s part!

As a "sower" we can but cast the seed!

After that, all things in this world are in the hands of 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".

There is no amount of watching that can make that seed to come forth!

It takes "faith" to be a farmer because once he plants his field, "he is at the mercy of the elements".

God has already taught us "that much of our seed" will fall on unproductive ground BUT we are to be patient and not be discouraged.

Ultimately all life comes from God!

Nothing excites the farmer more than for him to see the new sprouts come out of the ground "but he also realizes how tender and delicate they are at this time of their growth"!

Every growing stalk of corn in the farmers field is a miracle and "the farmer owes it all to God"!

But, the greatest miracle of them all is that "lost" soul that has been saved!

Everyone that is saved, also owes it all to God!

*****Mar 4:29 But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.

Now the fruit is back in the hands of the "Sower"!

Just as it is the farmer who is to nurture the crop until the time for the harvest, it is the job of the Church to try to nurture that babe in Christ.

Heb 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

We need to "know" enough of the "Gospel" to teach others!
We need to "have enough interest" in that new sprout to help them in the Word of God!
We must be "loyal enough to Christ" to help others gain the knowledge to also help others!

Joh 4:35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
Joh 4:36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.

We must always keep in mind that The Lord is still in charge of all "Spiritual Growth’!

So, what have all these things to do with the "Kingdom of God"?

*****Mar 4:30 And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?
Mar 4:31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:
Mar 4:32 But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.

The Kingdom of God is God’s Church that He has cast into the Earth.

In comparison to other religions, it was the smallest of them all!

But His Church will grow into "tree".

This tree will be great enough for all the fowls of the air to come lodge in it. (whosoever will come)

Jesus says His Kingdom will always be great enough for all to come to seek refuge!

Act 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that "whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved".

Just as the mustard seed will grow until takes over the garden, from the "Gospel" seed, God’s Kingdom will be the greatest of all kingdoms!

This all happens because of God’s life giving power!

God controls the life of the seed from it’s beginnings!

But God also controls all the processes of growth!

The "lost world" has a poor opinion of God’s work but from it’s humble beginnings of 12 Apostles it has grown to reach throughout this world. (this cannot be denied)

The Kingdom of God began with 12 Apostles and we can see how it has grown "But Even This" is like a grain of mustard seed compared to what Heaven will be!

It all began when God the Sower, sowed the Seed of Jesus!

This is the same seed we must sow daily!

But we must always fertilize that seed with "Faith"!

*****Mar 4:33 And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, [as they were able to hear it].
Mar 4:34 But without a parable spake he not unto them: and [when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples].

Jesus Christ will always come down to our level of intelligence!

BUT, when we are unwilling to apply what we learn to our lives, then we will never understand what the results of that teaching could have been!

Sin has so thoroughly blinded our minds and corrupted our hearts that we can only take a little truth at a time.

Most of the time when we witness to the lost, we find that they already have some preconceived notion of what the "Gospel" is about and are totally confused about the truth.

The Lord teaches us all a lesson here!

Jesus began with "very basic truths" and Jesus related them to things that people were aware of! (the parable)

Jesus never preached a sermon without using illustrations!

In most cases, when we can take an incident from our own lives that we can relate to the truth of God, we can get our point across much better.

Even those that were sent to arrest Jesus understood the power of His teaching!

Joh 7:46 The officers answered, "Never man spake like this man".

It is no wonder that when He was alone with the 12, He would take great pains to make sure that they understood His teaching!

After all God did not send Jesus to hide the truth!

Our Father in Heaven has only one goal!

What is the will of God for mankind?

1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

It is only after we know the truth that we can make a sure choice!

*****Mar 4:35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.

This had been a great day to learn the "Gospel" but Jesus was not through yet with the 12.

That word "even" means one day had come to the end but a new Jewish day began at this time.

We should not forget that, that body of flesh that God had poured Himself into, did require some rest!

That rest was not going to come in the midst of that multitude.

It would be at least 6 miles to where Jesus had instructed the disciples to go.

Rowing a boat six miles would take some time!

A fishing boat of this day would have been about 26 feet long and about 8 feet wide and this was the same boat from where Jesus had just preached all day. (The pulpit became a place to get rest)

*****Mar 4:36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.

There had not been time to make any preparations for sailing and they did not take the time now, they only had what they possessed on their persons.

At least seven of these 12 were experienced fishermen and they knew the Sea of Galilee better than the average man and would not attempted to sail across this lake without making preparations!

Was this a test of their "faith" after learning the truth of the "Gospel"?

The Bible teaches us:

Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Did Jesus know that a storm was approaching? Sure He did!

The Bible teaches us:

1Jn 3:20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, "and knoweth all things".

Just as these 12 had answered the call of the Lord, they proceeded to obey Him now and go to the other side!

*****Mar 4:37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

The first thing we should notice here is that, just because Jesus is with you, "it does not mean we will still not go through the storms of life"!

This one passage makes all those that teach a "prosperity gospel" out to be liars, who do not understand the truth of the Word of God!

The Sea of Galilee is notorious for sudden storms as the land cools at the end of the day.

These disciples knew this and so did Jesus!

There can be tornado type winds that developed on this lake most anytime and one did this night!

With wind comes waves and these waves were filling this little boat that had left the shore unprepared for travel!

Now the pulpit that became a place of rest was being attack by the world!

*****Mar 4:38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

It was the rear of these boats where the tiller was located.

It was Jesus who was in the position of navigator at the rear of this little ship.

Jesus will always take the position of Navigator in our lives, if we will just get out of His way!

But, after His long day, Jesus was sleeping peaceably, but the storm was having no effect on His rest.

We should notice these two extremes.

These disciples are in fear of their lives and Jesus is sleeping at total peace.

We seem to forget the Word of God in these situations:

Psa 4:8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.

Psa 3:5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.

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

These 12 thought they were just going over to the other side but The Lord Jesus was still using this time to further their training!

No matter what is happening in the life of a Christian, God will use it to train us for what is coming in the future!

It is in the valley where we learn our greatest lessons and not on the mountain top!

Does God care that we perish in the storms of life? Sure He does!

1Pe 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

The next thing we should realize in this passage is that these disciples "knew exactly who to turn to"!

But they called Him Master so they were still learning:

Mat 23:10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.

We should never give this title to Father God!

We should never give this title to the Holy Spirit!

But we must recognize that The Lord Jesus must always be both our Lord and our Master!

The Bible says:

Joh 13:13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
Joh 13:14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
Joh 13:15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

This is where we all fail!

We know Jesus is our Lord.

We know that Jesus is our Master.

BUT we seem to always forget that Jesus is also Our Example!

Any other ship on the Sea of Galilee could have sunk that night, but this one that carried Jesus and the 12 disciples would never have been one of them!

*****Mar 4:39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

Remember when Jesus rebuked the demon in that synagogue:

Mar 1:25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.

Jesus used the same Greek word here "Phimoo".

Jesus spoke with authority and rebuked this wind saying: "put a muzzle on it and get off of my lake".

This is why these 12 were so amazed.

Then Jesus said to the waves, "Be Still"

Jesus always spoke with "authority", to all, including His entire Creation, but we should always be able to see the love God has for His created "human beings"!

Now for the lesson.

*****Mar 4:40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

Faith and Fear cancel each other out!

When we are trembling with fear, then it shows that we have a lack of faith!

When we have no "faith" in the Lord, then we have no "trust" in the Lord!

It is an insult to God to say we do not trust Him!

Faith must always be in an object!

We cannot just have blind faith!

When you step onto an airplane, do you trust the pilot or that airplane?

It should be in both!

If you call yourself Christian, you better trust in Jesus!

The title Christian means "like Christ"!

So fear of life changes to a respectful fear of the Lord!

*****Mar 4:41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

These disciples who had the fear of dying in this storm, now stood in awe of the Lord Jesus Christ, who probably just laid back down and finished His nap.

After all He had said:

"Let us pass over to the other side".

Jesus knew He would get to the other side and these disciples should have known this to!

They should have known that they would make a safe trip!

But they still had doubts to who Jesus really was!

We are ignoring the Word of God when we think that God does not care for His children!

We must "trust and obey for there is no other way"!

Jesus says to His children "Let’s go over to the other side".

There is nothing on this Earth that can keep God’s children out of Heaven if we only just believe in His "truth"!

Questions?

Let’s Pray!

The Pardon Of God’s Servant

September 15, 2013 / Bobby Mayfield / 4 Comments

The Pardon Of God’s Servant

"Forgiving Sin"

Book of Mark 2:1-12

We know from last weeks lesson that the fame of Jesus had spread in such a way that it actually sometimes hindered what He had come to do.

Why had the Messiah come?

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.

Jesus was God in the flesh and He brought the power of God with Him!

Joh 5:19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: [for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise].

Paul wrote it like this:

Php 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

So just who can forgive sins?

We must forgive each other but only God can forgive us of our sins against His Word!

Let’s look to our lesson today:

*****Mar 2:1 And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.

The Book of Matthew chapter 9 tells us of many things that Jesus had done in these days since He first left Capernaum.

But, Mark begins chapter 2 by telling of Jesus’s return to Capernaum and back to the house of Peter and Andrew.

That word "noised" means the news of His return traveled very fast from house to house, throughout the city!

Wherever Our Lord traveled, great crowds would gather.

If these crowds had been interested in the "gospel message", this would have been a great encouragement to Jesus but sadly most just wanted to see the "Miracle Maker"!

And some were just spies sent from the Pharisee and Sadducees, who only wanted to see if Jesus could be caught in some sin.

*****Mar 2:2 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.

This time at Capernaum, there was no line so Jesus could lay His hands on the sick.

This time these people would have to hear the message that Jesus had, the "Gospel" message.

"It is always more important to deal with the soul of man than it is to deal with the body"!

"The word" that Jesus preached is best describe by the Apostle John:

Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

In this chapter of the Book of Mark we will see 3 things that Jesus brings to all who will believe on Him.

1) Forgiveness

2) Fulfillment

3) Freedom

Jesus will always begin with "forgiveness" to those that are sincere!

None of these people had been invited to the house of Peter and his family, they just came!

People were pushing and shoving their way into that house "but" Jesus just keeps on preaching.

And, as always there will be some truly needy people who cannot get close enough to Jesus to get the help they truly need.

*****Mar 2:3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.

There are 5 men coming "as one" to this place where Jesus is located.

What ever this thing that is carried by these 4 men it must be light enough for this man to carry himself because he would soon be carrying his own bed.

BUT, it must also be strong enough for these men to carry this one that is paralyzed.

The man himself was at least heavy enough so that it required 4 men to carry him.

BUT, these men also carried more than this one thing that were not shown by this unruly crowd!

They had "Faith"!

They also had a "caring love" for the one that they carried!

It was this mans "suffering and misery" that had brought this group in search of Christ Jesus.

These are the things that every "lost soul" must realize, so this message is directed at all disciples of Christ or Christians.

1.) The "lost" are living a life of misery and suffering.

2.) Some one must have a love and care enough about them to lead them to Jesus.

3.) It then takes "Faith"!

4.) We need to be "determined" that everyone we love will be led to Jesus and we are commanded to even love our enemies.

5.) Jesus Christ, Our Lord, will do the rest because He is Savior and then Healer.

6.) These "fishers of men" would soon cast the "Gospel Net", but only the Lord can sort the catch!

Most of the people of Capernaum may have only seen Jesus one time but they knew "who to come to" because living in Capernaum was a life of misery and suffering for most all of them!

James says:

Jas 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

These four men had all the right things and they also had one more important thing.

They had "determination"!

They were determined to get this lost soul in need of healing to Jesus!

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

The Jewish home in 1st century Capernaum was made with mud brick and basalt stone, which is lava rock.

A composition of mortar, tar, ashes and sand were spread upon the roofs to keep out the rain and even grass could grow on these flat roofs.

There would be a battlement installed for safety as God had commanded.

Deu 22:8 When thou buildest a new house, then thou shalt make a battlement for thy roof, that thou bring not blood upon thine house, if any man fall from thence.

It would not even be odd to see a goat eating on the roof of these homes.

In most cases their was also a trap door to get into the house from the roof but even that would not have been big enough to let down this carried man.

[Get picture].

There was almost always access to the roof by an outside stairway.

These four men had carried this paralyzed man as far as they could and because of the crowd they could not get to Jesus.

Jesus could not get out of the house because of the crowd nor could Peter get out of the house to stop what was going on on his roof, so Jesus just continued to preach while He had their attention.

These men then overcame every obstacle in their path, to get this lame man to Jesus.

Luke wrote it like this:

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

There are some great spiritual lessons that can be learned from this passage.

1.) In most every case before a lost soul is saved, there have been one or more faithful workers who have attempted to lead this soul to the Lord.

This is our main job after we are saved!

1Co 3:8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

2.) As these four men had to over come every obstacle before them to get this soul to Jesus, the Church must overcome every obstacle to reach out to the "lost".

We must be determined that our families and our friends and those that cross our paths are led to Jesus Christ, then it’s their own choice.

3.) We must understand that spiritual paralysis lies in the unpardoned sin.

That lost soul must realize that he is a sinner in need of forgiveness and that pardon can only come from Jesus Christ.

Sin paralyzes with despair and this brings with it unbelief!

4.) Christ Jesus can remove the sin and the paralysis at the same time and He does so for "whosoever" calls upon His Name.

Jesus removes the sin that separates us from God, and Jesus removes that "want to" sin from the conscience!

Rom 7:5 For when we were in the flesh, "the motions of sins", which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.

Jesus changes a "used to be" into "a somebody", a child of the Living God!

5.) The change will be noticeable.

If there is no change, then there has been no "rebirth"!

Let’s watch as these things take place.

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

We can see here one of the reasons why Jesus had a healing ministry!

By showing He had the power to heal any and all disease then we can trust Him when He says we are forgiven and saved, because only Our Lord can have such power.

Only God can forgive sin and only God can perform miracles!

Jesus says we must have "faith" but He does not expect us to base that "faith" on nothing.

"Justification" is a gift given through the "Grace" of God:

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

That "lost one" can be anywhere on this Earth when this takes place!

Salvation comes at the very moment a lost soul places his "faith" in Christ Jesus:

Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

BUT, Our "faith" must be based on the fact that our "justification" came through the death of Our Savior:

Rom 5:9 Much more then, "being now justified by his blood", we shall be saved from wrath "through him".

AND, we are save because He Lives Eternally!

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".

Jesus had to die in His "body of flesh".

Jesus also had to resurrect in His "Glorified Body"!

These things are tied together!

That title "Son" means "welcome to the family of God".

Just as the prodigal son, none us are worthy to be called "Son" but when our sin debt is paid and we recognize it was by our Savior we are welcomed openly back into the family of God.

This is why it is called "Pardoned"!

And there will always those that are watching, listening, waiting and disapproving!

For every child of God, there is a set of eyes looking to see if we will make mistakes and who doubt Salvation!

*****Mar 2:6 But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,

Mar 2:7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?

These scribes were educated men and scribes played a great role in the Old Testament.

Many of them were leaders of the Jewish nation after the Babylonian captivity.

We should remember Ezra who was called a ready "scribe".

But by the time of Jesus, scribes were considered professional interpreters of the Mosaic Law and a great many of them were also Pharisees.

It was the scribes that determined how the Law was to be applied to the everyday life of the Jew and to all Jewish proselytes.

They were also the authority on historical and doctrinal matters and they became the custodians of the "Oral Law" which was used to add to or sometimes to replace the written Word of God in the days of Jesus.

What a shame!

They had not come to Peter’s house for the right reasons and they did not have physical ailments.

Why had they come?

Luk 20:20 And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, "that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor".

You see, when Jesus is "in the House", Satan will come himself or send some of his own children!

Was Jesus speaking blasphemies?

Blasphemy in many languages means different things but in English, means "the speaking evil of God"!

Blasphemy was punished by stoning, and it would be the charge of "Blasphemy" that would be used to sentence Jesus to death.

Jesus never spoke one blasphemous word!

**This lame man had done nothing to deserve any kind of forgiveness from anyone.

In most all religions only a god had the power to forgive sins but only after some act of repentance or some ritual service had been performed.

The "Gospel Message" is to only have "Faith" in the Lord Jesus Christ!

SO, what is the "omniscience" of God?

Jesus knew what was in the heart of man!

Joh 2:24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, "because he knew all men",

Joh 2:25 And needed not that any should testify of man: "for he knew what was in man".

Omniscience means that God has all knowledge!

God knows all things actual, possible, past, present, and future and He knows all these things all at the same time!

There has never been one moment in time that God did not know what is going on everywhere in His Creation!

There has never been one thing that went on on this Earth that God could not have stopped if He had chosen to do so!

Psa 147:5 Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.

So Christ Jesus responds like this:

*****Mar 2:8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?

We may have secrets that we do not share with others but there is nothing that can be kept from God!

Most of the things in our minds are sin, when our hearts are not right with God.

Act 8:21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

Act 8:22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, [if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee].

AND, whatever comes into our minds begin inside our hearts!

Mat 15:18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

Mat 15:19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

We can only get a new heart when we are saved and filled with the Holy Spirit:

Eze 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

Eze 36:27 And I will put my spirit within you, [and cause you to walk in my statutes], and [ye shall] keep my judgments, and do them.

Those that say they are saved but there has been no change from their old ways and they do not walk obedient to God’s Word as best they can, should question their salvation!

*****Mar 2:9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?

1.) First, Jesus ask which one is easier to say?

That answer should have been, they are both easy to say, if you just want to say these things.

It was not in the saying, it is in the doing!

It was just as impossible for men to heal this paralyzed man as it was to forgive him his sin!

There was not one man present, except Jesus, that could do these things!

It is impossible to forgive sin, unless your are God!

We can forgive the things that happen between ourselves and are commanded to do so, but only God can forgive the sin that keeps us separated from Him:

Mat 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

If we are not forgiving to all others, then God will not forgive our own sin!

2) Second, only God can do both, heal this paralyzed man and forgive him his sin!

To Our Lord, in both these things, all He needed to do was just speak.

God spoke this entire cosmos into existence:

Heb 11:3 Through faith we understand that [the worlds were framed by the word of God], so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

Healing a human being is no harder for God than to create this place we call Earth.

SO, Only God can forgive sin!

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.

BUT, God has always done all things through His Son Jesus:

Heb 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, [by whom also he made the worlds;]

This is where we must base our "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.

To these unbelieving scribes Jesus just says "the proof that I can heal, is the same proof that I can forgive sins".

These scribes had witnessed the "faith" of these 4 men as they had carried this man a great distance to get to Christ Jesus.

They had not only carried this man but they had carried him up a stairway and tore up a roof just so they let him down at the feet of Jesus.

They had witnessed the "faith" of this man that Jesus could heal him.

They had witnessed a large crowd that had gathered in the house of Peter, most of them came because of "faith" that Jesus would do something for them.

None of these things had moved these scribes toward "faith" because "they had rejected" that Jesus was The Christ!

So Jesus just proves He is what He says He is:

*****Mar 2:10 [But that ye may know] that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)

Mar 2:11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.

In this verse we see the first time that Jesus calls Himself, "the Son of Man" in the New Testament.

All four of the "Gospels" emphasize the human side of Jesus.

Jesus says He is the Son of God and the Son of Man:

Joh 5:26 For as [the Father] hath life in himself; so hath he given [to the Son] to have life in himself;

Joh 5:27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, [because he is the Son of man].

Daniel prophesied that the Son of Man is from Heaven, Heaven is His Kingdom:

Dan 7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like [the Son of man] came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.

And, it is this human side of God that will suffer and pay our sin debt:

Joh 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

Joh 12:34 The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?

It is the Son of Man that receives the Heavenly Glory:

Joh 1:51 And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter "ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man".

It is the Son of Man that brings everlasting life:

Joh 6:27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, "but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life", which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed

Jesus Christ applied this term to Himself because He had a Heavenly origin, and He possessed all of Heavens Glory!

But at the same time it points us to His, lowliness and His suffering for all mankind.

Jesus is God In The Flesh!

Jesus was saying to these scribes, that if this paralyzed man does not get up and walk away carrying his own bed then "I am not God"!

We can be sure that all eyes, including those of the future Apostles, but especially these scribes were focused on Our Lord.

Many may claim to be Christ Jesus but there is only one!

*****Mar 2:12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, "We never saw it on this fashion".

As Jesus had the power to heal, He has the power to forgive sin!

The reality of that is that if our sins are to be forgiven, it must be while we are yet alive and on this Earth we live on!

It will be too late once we are dead!

The proof:

We can see that this once paralyzed man realized the importance of the situation.

1.) He immediately arose having never walked, a great miracle.

2.) He had been helped all his life by those that had carried his bed, but he now took up his own bed.

3.) All of a sudden a pathway was made and there was room enough for him to walk out of that house, while toting his own bed.

The World had never seen anything like Jesus!

The people glorified God, but these scribes just shook their heads in disgust!

The truth is that every time we question our salvation we should look back to the Word of God, which says when God speaks, things happen!

And, He that has the power to forgive and to save, has the same power to keep us saved!

We can never measure our salvation on what we think Our Lord can do:

**Luk 18:26 And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?

Luk 18:27 And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

Sin is like a sickness, so forgiveness is like having our health restored!

David wrote these words that were to be sung in the House of God:

Psa 103:1 Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

Psa 103:2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

Psa 103:3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

Psa 103:4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

Psa 103:5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Psa 103:6 The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.

All those that could get near Peter’s house this day had witnessed this happening right before their own eyes!

And they had never seen anything like ever before!

Questions?

Let’s Pray!

The Pardon Of God’s Servant

September 15, 2013September 16, 2013 / Bobby Mayfield / 4 Comments