Jesus Instructs the Church

 Instructions For Subjects of King Jesus

Book of Matthew Chapter 18

As "Born Again" Christians the greatest asset we have is our "faith". Hebrews 11:6 says without "faith" it is impossible to please Jehovah God!

You might be able to please the false gods of this world because they do not exist, but you will never please our Righteous Living God without faith!

Remember the Holy Spirit provides "saving faith" so here we are talking about faith above and beyond this "saving faith" that is freely given.

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 

Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast. 

We did not have to work for it, nor could we earn it, all the things of salvation are freely given to us by our Merciful God!

This faith must remain with us all our lives and it must grow, it is our shield against the evil of this world!

Eph 6:16  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 

In the first part of this chapter Jesus teaches us we must become as little children in order to enter the kingdom of Heaven.

The disciples were consumed about who would be the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven and Jesus said you must humble yourself as a child.

Most children are not trying to get to the front of the line they are simply excited to be in the line and not be left out!

They will take the back of the line if that is all that is available.

Mat 5:5  Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

There must be some modesty along with that faith.

A little child knows nothing about ambition.

Jas 4:10  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. 

In this context, every Christian, even "babes in Christ" must be allowed access to the things of God!

Mar 10:15  Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. 

Then we must realize that these children, "babes in Christ" and those who have been led away from Christ, are the same ones the Lord Jesus is referring to in our lesson today.

*****Mat 18:11  For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. 

Mat 18:12  How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? 

Why did the Living God pour Himself into a body of flesh? He came to save that which was lost, which is all of His creation. 

How will He do this?

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

Rev 21:5  And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

Then Jesus uses another parable to explain these things. The Parable of the Lost Sheep.

Jesus is very serious about all those with "childlike" faith who have received Him as their Savior!

Mat 18:6  But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 

Mat 18:7  Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! 

We should clearly understand that the Lord Jesus Christ, the God of the Bible, Jehovah, takes His stand with those who love Him and believe in Him.

The Lord Jesus Christ says: "I Am Your Father"!

The Lord Jesus Christ is our Lord!

What did Isaiah write of our Savior?

Isa 63:9  In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old. 

The Lord Jesus was afflicted on the cross, but every time one of His children is afflicted today, He suffers with them.

We should keep this in mind as we witness all the suffering in our world especially the persecution of the Church.

As we honor those who love the Lord, we do honor unto our Lord!

If we have a hand in any persecution of the Church, then we are persecuting our Lord and our Savior over and over again!

We should allow this to sink in to teach us how to behave one toward another!

Jesus came to save those who are lost, He certainly will not lose any of them!

The Lord Jesus Christ left Heaven with a purpose!

The world is full of those who have strayed from our Creator.

Those that remain astray are doomed to be destroyed unless they are reached and saved by the Lord Jesus Christ!

Rom 3:11  There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 

Rom 3:12  They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 

Rom 3:13  Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 

Rom 3:14  Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 

Rom 3:15  Their feet are swift to shed blood: 

Rom 3:16  Destruction and misery are in their ways: 

Rom 3:17  And the way of peace have they not known: 

Rom 3:18  There is no fear of God before their eyes.

There is no one outside the scope of God's love, but we must come when He calls us to return to Him!

So Jesus teaches these disciples so that they clearly understand their purpose and the purpose of each disciple today.

Jesus said: think like, I think.

We should understand this "certain man" as our Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ.

He has gathered a 100 sheep, but one is gone astray before it reaches the safety of the truth of salvation.

I do not like the term "once saved always saved' because it suggests that we can do as we please after we are saved, and God does not care, and this is very wrong.

The fact is that once we have given our heart to the Lord Jesus Christ, our goal is to be like Him which is the reason of the term Christian, (Like Christ).

There were 99 of these sheep safe in the hands of the Lord and one who was lost and had not found its way to the Lord.

The Lord Jesus has done everything He can to insure our salvation for, whosoever will come to Him, and it can be said that He is actively seeking all those who are lost.

Why?

1Pe 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 

1Pe 1:4  To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 

1Pe 1:5  Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 

1Pe 1:6  Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 

1Pe 1:7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 

1Pe 1:8  Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 

1Pe 1:9  Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. 

The Lord rejoices at the salvation of every soul!

*****Mat 18:13  And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.

We must never think that these lost sheep mean more to Jesus than those who are safe in the sheepfold!

We must understand that this parable is about Jesus building onto His Church.

The Apostle Paul got it right:

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.  

We already know the Lord Jesus is the "Good Shepherd"!

Joh 10:11  I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 

We should know the Jesus is talking about His Sheep, the Church and then later on He will deal with Israel.

1Pe 2:24  Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 

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

All of Heaven rejoices over every soul that is saved.

Luk 15:7  I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. 

Here in the Book of Luke, Jesus uses a similar parable to teach us about those who justify themselves, but there is joy in Heaven over every sinner that is saved.

We always ask about the will of God.

*****Mat 18:14  Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. 

God has provided the only means there is for us to be saved.

God poured Himself into a human body just to die for our sins!

Php 2:5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 

Php 2:6  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 

Php 2:7  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 

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

Once the Lord finds us lost and rambling through this lost world and we see the truth of the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ and believe, we become a member of His family.

He becomes "Our Father"!

He then expects our help to reach out to other "lost sheep"! 

Keep in mind He does not need us, but He promises rewards for becoming employed by the Holy Spirit.

We are also expected to help care for the flock by helping them to be witnesses of the "Gospel" and fishers of men!

What we refuse to do someone else will be sure to do!

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. 

Jesus Christ died for those weak in their faith just as He died for those who are strong in faith!

1Co 8:9  But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. 

1Co 8:10  For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; 

1Co 8:11  And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 

1Co 8:12  But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. 

1Co 8:13  Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend. 

When we do things that are offensive to those, weak in their faith, we may cause them to stray. 

These things must be avoided!

We are to be as forgiving as Christ Jesus, but the Lord Jesus also gives us some guidelines on how to deal with them.

*****Mat 18:15  Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 

Mat 18:16  But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 

Mat 18:17  And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. 

Again we see Jesus teaching us about the Church.

If the Lord Jesus is teaching us then, He is teaching us how to be more like He is!

A brother would be a brother in Christ, a member of those who assemble for Christ, the Church.

We see the Church in this world, all those who go through the Door, which is Christ, have become enemies of each other, rather than unified in defense of the Gospel!

We still live in these bodies of flesh so we will be at odds with each other from time to time, but that is no reason for these things to cause us to be enemies.

If we go in good faith to that one and explain how we feel about what that person has done to us, we may actually make a better friend.

If we have not already forgiven them prior to confronting them, then we will not help the matter come to a good conclusion.

***There is no need to broadcast these things to any others until this first step has been taken.

We are to confess our faults to one another and pray to the Lord before we confront each other.

Jas 5:16  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Jesus admitted that this will not always work.

Sin is not always easy to get away from, and it cannot happen without the Lord!

The next step is to take one or two more who were witnesses to this trespass. 

What one may deny in front of one may not be so easy to deny because of others who witnessed this sin.

Still, do not resort to making this thing known to others or to the assembly of other Christians.

Mistakes are made in our lives and can be forgiven, but a ruined reputation may not ever be overcome.

We must keep in mind the purpose of these things is gain a brother and not to lose a brother.

Gal 6:1  Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 

Gal 6:2  Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 

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.

If this does not work restore this brother, then it is time to go before the assembly, all those who assemble in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We must remember all God's Children are already "justified" so this assembly is not set in place to judge this person.

Only the question of Christlike behavior is to be considered, knowing we all fail from time to time.

We simply cannot live in denial of the truth of God! 

The sin that occurred is now to be made public to the Church and it is the assembly that is to seek to restore this brother or sister.

Again, keeping in mind the Lord Jesus is teaching us how to build on to the Church and not to tear down the Church.

We cannot rate the growth of any assembly by numbers. 

The rate of the growth of any Church should be how well we adapt to the truth of the Scriptures and to be more like Christ Jesus!

We must understand that the Church did not exist at this time, so the Lord Jesus is teaching these things for future use.

There will still be those who will not listen to the assembly of God's people and then, it is time to ask them to leave that assembly.

Remember these are Holy Ghost filled people who are trying to obey the complete Word of God and we cannot allow any one person to deny the truth of God because, one bad apple can certainly ruin the whole bunch.

This person has forfeited the right to assemble with God's people, but it does mean we should not continue to seek to restore this person as the opportunity arises.

*****Mat 18:18  Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 

We should clearly understand that the Body of Christ has every right to discipline in their assemblies, but the one caution needs to be observed is that only the Word of God should be used.

Those who break man's laws will be disciplined by those laws without Church interference, except for the times when man's laws conflict the Word of God.

The Word of God is always right, rightly divided!

We should understand that personal matters are not up for discussion in the Church unless that person causes it to happen and not many will.

This is not a testimony unless that person causes it to be a part of their testimony.

We should clearly understand that no one but God can forgive sin!

We should clearly understand that no one but God can doom anyone to Hell!

We should understand that no one but God can make us free!

When that person refuses to reconcile their sin with the Church, then he is lost to that group of believers!

This means, the Church has failed to reach him or her and they are bound to earth, their business between them and a Holy God.

If this person ever comes to their senses and reconciles with the Church, they can be received as a redeemed brother or sister.

Those who attempt to divide the Church must be dealt with!

Mat 12:25  And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

Divisiveness causes the Church to look corrupt and weak, it must be put down immediately!

Divisiveness threatens all the ministries of the Church that first one being making disciples to witness the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Notice that it is the Lord Jesus, upon which the Church is founded, that gives these instructions or better said, commandments!

The Church must always stand on the Word of God!

Php 1:27  Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

What is a true Church? Those who are gathered in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ!

No other group who gathers in assembly are part of God's Church!

*****Mat 18:19  Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 

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

Nothing in the Church is ever over until it has been bathed in prayer!

***Nothing in the Church is ever over until it has been bathed in prayer!

You see the Church must be united in this prayer and all divisiveness put down.

We are ambassadors for Christ, and we need to act like we are!

When a local assembly comes together in agreement with the Word of God, in prayer in the name of Christ Jesus, then and only then will that body of believers know how to handle that one who has divided himself or herself from the Church.

We must seek God's will and God's approval before we close the doors to anyone!

We must be unified in the name of Jesus Christ!

Notice this is not seeking the arm of God, it is seeking the face of God that many of us have forgotten to do.

1Ch 16:10  Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD. 

1Ch 16:11  Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually. 

The greatest truth here is, that how can we ever attempt to correct a brother or sister if we do not have a close relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ ourselves?

Then Peter asked another question.

*****Mat 18:21  Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 

Mat 18:22  Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. 

Again this is a fair question when we think like humans. There must be some limit to our forgiveness.

But with the mind of Christ, then there can be no limit to our forgiveness. 

Think back to just how sinful we have been and continue to be, yet the Lord continues to forgive us our sin.

In fact, it should be harder for the Lord to forgive our sin since we have made a promise to follow Him in His ways.

I cannot help but to remember the Apostle Paul.

Rom 7:13  Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

Rom 7:14  For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 

Rom 7:15  For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 

Rom 7:16  If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 

Rom 7:17  Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 

Rom 7:18  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing:for

to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 

Rom 7:19  For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 

Rom 7:20  Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 

Rom 7:21  I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 

Rom 7:22  For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 

Rom 7:23  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 

Rom 7:24  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 

Rom 7:25  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. 

A good study of Romans Chapter 7 will help us all in this matter of living in this body of flesh!

I know we find it difficult, but in all things, we are to have the mind of Jesus Christ this means, we need to think as He says and as He does.

He has given us multiple examples when He was upon this earth.

He has shown us time after time how He reacts to sin, to abuse, to government, and to the Church and we know He will never change.

There is no way to improve on the "Goodness of God"!

There is no way to improve on the "Mercy of God"!

Because there is no way to improve on the "Love of God"!

God can save anybody anywhere at any time!

Rom 10:13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

There is always another side to what God says and far too many travel this path to destruction!

Rom 13:2  Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

Amen

God Confirmed His Son Jesus

 God Affirmed That Jesus Is King

Book of Matthew Chapter 17

Today we look at the transfiguration of the Lord Jesus Christ. We can just imagine what was in the minds of the three men who were with Jesus.

The Lord Jesus allowed Peter, James, and John to be with Him as this great event took place.

I think it would be good if we just took a look at what Peter has written to us by the Holy Spirit much time after this event:

2Pe 1:16  For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 

2Pe 1:17  For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 

2Pe 1:18  And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. 

2Pe 1:19  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 

2Pe 1:20  Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 

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

There were certainly fables being taught to the Jews at this time. Peter said the "transfiguration" of Christ was not a fable but an event that took place and was true.

Peter was not alone but with James and John making 3 eyewitnesses with the exact same story of truth.

There was a fourth witness, that being the voice of God who spoke in an audible voice.

No doubt that the disciples needed unusual strength for the task that Jesus was giving them, and they needed strength to face the future.

The cross was just a few days away and the hopes of the disciples would be tested, but the resurrection of Jesus Christ according to the Scriptures, would convince these men of the sure truth.

Then Peter said even as true as this event was, the greatest truth we have is the written Word of God which means what it says, and it says what it means.

*****Mat 17:1  And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, 

Mat 17:2  And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. 

It had been six days since Peter had claimed that the Lord Jesus was indeed the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.

Luke wrote that it was eight days, but this was the way the Jews counted days with any part of a day counting as a whole day.

In numerology 6 being the number of man and 8 being the number of the resurrection.

The Lord Jesus took Peter, James, and John with Him as witnesses to tell the other disciples but also seal up their doubts.

Many believe that this mountain was Mount Hermon because it was near Caesarea Philippi their last recorded location.

Mount Hermon is a natural landmark that can be seen from the plains of Moab and from the Dead Sea.

It was probably on one of the southern peaks of Mount Hermon where Jesus transfigured before these 3 men.

No other mountain was more appropriate than Hermon with its snowcapped peaks.

Our Lord and his disciples climbed this “high mountain at least a part of it” one day, and remained on its summit all night, “weary after their long and toilsome ascent.” 

During the night “He was transfigured before them; and His face did shine as the sun.” 

The next day they descended to Caesarea Philippi.

The word "transfigured" means Jesus was changed in form.

Matthew wrote: "His face did shine as the Sun" "His clothes were as white as sunlight".

He is the Sun, the Sun of Righteousness.

Mal 4:2  But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. 

Mark wrote:

Mar 9:3  And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them. 

This gives us an idea for Mount Hermon with its year round snow covered peaks.

Luke wrote:

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

It was the Holy Spirit who gave these words to Mark and Luke so there were 6 witnesses on Mount Hermon.

Peter, James, John, The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit!

One day every child of God will witness the glory of the Lord and obtain a similar glorified body!

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.

I also like this one:

Pro 4:18  But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. 

We should also understand that when the Lord returns, the Sun as we see it will be pale in comparison to our glorified Savior:

Rev 2:28  And I will give him the morning star. 

The Lord Jesus had gone to pray to His Heavenly Father and all these other things happened for the benefit of Peter, James, and John and for all those who study to show themselves approved of God.

But these disciples saw some other men.

*****Mat 17:3  And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. 

These are two of the departed Saints of God that were revealed.

They came to talk with the Lord Jesus about His death:

Luk 9:30  And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: 

Luk 9:31  Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. 

They came to show that the Lord Jesus Christ is superior to the Law and all the Prophets!

Moses represents the Law. The ones who had passed through death by the Law.

Elijah represents the Prophets and those who will never see death.

They came to show that the Lord Jesus is indeed the true Messiah!

It is Jesus Christ that all the Law pointed to!

It is Jesus Christ that all the prophets spoke of!

It is Jesus Christ that has fulfilled the Old Covenant and is the beginning and end of the New Covenant!

2Co 3:2  Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: 

2Co 3:3  Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. 

2Co 3:4  And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: 

2Co 3:5  Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; 

2Co 3:6  Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. 

One thing we should clearly see is that all believers who are now in Heaven are more alive than they ever were upon this earth.

Moses and Elijah are proof of this truth!

They live in a dimension that is not of this world!

If we look from a standpoint of the Lord's coming Kingdom, Moses would, represent in type those saints who died in Christ who are said to be asleep through Jesus and will return with the Lord when He returns.

Elijah then in type would represent the "Raptured Saints" who are alive through Christ and will be changed in a twinkling of an eye.

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.

Then our favorite Apostle speaks up again.

*****Mat 17:4  Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. 

Mat 17:5  While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. 

It appears that Peter had no idea what was taking place and he was right, it was good for Peter, James, and John to be there.

It was an amazing sight by our Amazing God!

In reality this event in typology represents the remnant of Israel looking up to see the Lord return as He promised to end the time of Jacob's Trouble, the Second Coming of the Messiah.

Rev 19:11  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

We can be sure the Lord Jesus has met His Church in the clouds because He will bring His Church with Him before this take place.

Peter did not realize what any of these things meant until he had been filled with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, after the Lords' resurrection from His death and His ascension back to Heaven.

By these words that Peter spoke, he lowered the dignity of the Lord down to the same level of Moses and Elijah who were surely great men of the Bibles, but they were just men.

Peter was not alone in his thinking process as he says "let us make here three tabernacles" as if he had talked these things over with James and John.

This is the same thing that is happening to the Lord Jesus today.

Much of corrupt so-called Christianity have placed the Lord Jesus alongside men such as the Pope who is considered the only one who can decide what God has said and there are many others who claim to these things attempting to rob the Lord Jesus Christ of His glory.

When the Lord Jesus is not first in our lives, we are robbing Him of His glory!

Peter was still babbling away when God the Father spoke up.

The bright light of God's Glory suddenly appeared in the in the heavens and these three men knew what this cloud meant.

This is the same cloud which had been withdrawn from Israel for centuries and had now appeared again.

These three men knew they were in the presence of Jehovah God.

God directs there attention away from Moses and Elijah because neither the Law nor the Prophets can make you acceptable to be in the presence of a Holy God.

Only the Lord Jesus Christ can do this thing!

The truth is God must be heard and He will be heard!

If Jehovah God said this is my Son, a third part of the Holy Trinity, then who are we to challenge Him!

Peter, James, and John could not hide their fear!

*****Mat 17:6  And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. 

Mat 17:7  And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. 

Mat 17:8  And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only. 

Jesus touched them, just as He will near the end of the Great Tribulation!

Jesus touched them, just as He will touch anyone who calls upon Him!

Just by the words of our Heavenly Father, we know that Jesus Christ is truly the Messiah come down from Heaven.

Just by the words of our Heavenly Father we know that the Lord Jesus is the Anointed One of God.

Then the Lord Jesus stood there alone because He alone is responsible for the Church.

Jesus came to die which was the discussion He had with Moses and Elijah.

As Christians we will experience the full Glory of God called the Shekinah Glory.

We will clearly hear the voice of God we can read what He has said now!

We will fall upon our faces in fear just as these disciples because we will realize just how unworthy we really are.

We will feel the Lord's hand along with His personal touch and we will then live in His Glory all throughout eternity.

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.

We should realize by now that though prayer, we can experience the presence of God today!

There was another lesson to be learned.

*****Mat 17:9  And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead. 

We must understand these disciples did not yet have a clear meaning as to what the resurrection Jesus was talking about, they did not yet understand what Jesus meant and they would not until it happened.

Mar 9:10  And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean. 

We are never clear on Godly things until we have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior and been filled with the Holy Spirit!

We must understand the response Jesus gave them.

What did the resurrection prove?

The resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ proved without a doubt that Jesus was indeed the Messiah the Son of God!

The resurrection of the Lord proved that the "transfiguration" actually happened and foreshadowed the beginning of the New Covenant!

It is not the Law that will get you Heaven.

It is not any prophet that will get you to Heaven.

It is only the Lord Jesus Christ who can get you to Heaven!

God said this is my Son!

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

Joh 14:7  If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. 

So why must Elijah first come before the return of Christ Jesus?

*****Mat 17:11  And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. 

Mat 17:12  But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. 

Mat 17:13  Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.

Just what did the prophecy of Elijah say?

Mal 4:5  Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: 

Mal 4:6  And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. 

These disciples had just seen Elijah in glory.

Certainly, their question was fair.

The land of Israel was still in darkness ruled by the tyrannical government of Rome.

There was no restoration, there was no turning of the hearts of the fathers nor the children.

The only thing they had seen was the rejection of God's Messiah!

Joh 1:10  He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 

Joh 1:11  He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 

John the Baptist had surely come in the power and the spirit of Elijah.

John was that loud voice in the wilderness.

Reminds us that no matter what we do, one thing is sure we do not speak loud enough for the things of God.

The rejection of John the Baptist was the preclude to the rejection of the Lord Jesus Christ!

This still does not fulfill the prophecy of Malachi!

God's Word must be accurate, and God's prophets must speak of things to come.

Before the Lord returns in Glory, another forerunner, an Elijah, or the Elijah, will come and his testimony will not be rejected.

He will restore all things and he will be followed by King Jesus to set up His Kingdom!

He will come near the end of the Great Tribulation, the time of Jacob's Trouble.

It is at this time that any Jewish believer and any stranger among them that believe are to reject all deceivers, and join the family of God.

Elijah will return to Israel because this prophecy is aimed at Israel!

Elijah will witness only to the remnant of the Children of Israel!

What is going on in the world at that time will be of no concern to Elijah!

He will accomplish what is written by the prophet Malachi!

The Church will already be in Heaven before this takes place!

Amen

Jesus Defined the Church

 Jesus Defined His Kingdom

Book of Matthew Chapter 16

There is no doubt that the greatest thing the Lord Jesus Christ did for us was to die for our sins! 

Our sin debt has been paid and we stand on Holy ground before our Heavenly father.

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

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

Rom 3:25  Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 

Rom 3:26  To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. 

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. 

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

What a blessing that has been bestowed upon us!

The greatest thing that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for this world is the formation and the leadership of the Church!

We must know that every building with a steeple is not a church.

Every group of people claiming religion is not a church.

Every time a news source claims a church did this or a church did that, does not mean they are talking about the true church.

Only those who gather in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ where the Lord Jesus is the Head of the Church are the true Church.

Only those who gather in the power of the Holy Spirit are the true Church.

Joh 14:9  Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? 

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. 

Joh 14:11  Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. 

Joh 14:12  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. 

Joh 14:13  And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 

Joh 14:14  If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. 

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

Joh 14:16  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 

Joh 14:17  Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 

It is the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth who powers the true Church in this world!

Saying all this, we must know that the Church has tares within the congregation, and they are hard to find but the Lord said He would remove them.

This includes such people as the Pharisees of the Old Testament.

Mat 13:29  But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.

Mat 13:30  Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

This does not mean we cannot stop someone in the Church from doing wrong and stop them from attending with us in fellowship. 

We must be Holy in the House of God!

So Jesus has a little test for His disciples.

*****Mat 16:13  When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 

We could ask this same question today? Whom does the world think that Jesus is?

Even today, it is important for the Church to know what the world thinks about the Lord Jesus Christ.

The message of the Church is the Gospel, and this will always be true, but the way the "Gospel" is presented is determined by what the world thinks about our Lord.

We may have to think back when we were lost in this dying world, what did we think about Jesus?

When our Lord was asking these questions, He knew it was but a short time until He faced the death of the Cross.

We already know that the greatest sin in this world is to be ignorant of the Lord Jesus Christ!

To the average man Jesus was highly esteemed and respected.

When Jesus asked this question, that word "men" was not intended to be the Jews only but all the people in and about that part of the world.

We see what the world thinks of Jesus today, but the Lord Jesus Christ changed this world when He walked upon this earth!

We know that an opinion is a "judgment" of someone without having much knowledge of that person.

What do we know about the world today?

Joh 7:7  The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.

Joh 15:18  If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

The world hates the Lord Jesus Christ!

What did the world say then?

*****Mat 16:14  And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 

Remember King Herod thought that Jesus was a resurrection of John the Baptist and John the Baptist was the Messiah.

The Bible states in so many words that the Prophet Elijah will return, and some thought Jesus was he.

There was at that time a current tradition among the Jews, that either Jeremiah, or some other of the ancient prophets would rise again before the Messiah came.

We see what happens when we try to interpret the Bible and not study to see what God has said while rightly dividing the Bible.

We know for certain that the Lord Jesus Christ is indeed the Messiah, God in the flesh!

What had God told Moses?

Deu 18:15  The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; 

Deu 18:16  According to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not. 

Deu 18:17  And the LORD said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken. 

Deu 18:18  I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. 

Deu 18:19  And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him. 

The biggest problem we see is that no one actually took the time to see what God actually said and they depended upon men to tell them what God had said.

Every true prophet spoke the words God had told them to say, even the Lord Jesus Christ.

Joh 12:49  For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

Joh 12:50  And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.

Then Jesus asked his chosen disciples, what did they think.

*****Mat 16:15  He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 

Mat 16:16  And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 

We know the "Gospel of Matthew" is not written in chronological order but as far as we know, how could Peter or any of these disciples believe that the Lord Jesus was not the Messiah.

How long had it been since Jesus walked upon the Sea of Galilee and saved Peter from drowning?

How long had it been since the Lord Jesus fed the 5000 plus?

They had seen the Lord Jesus heal person after person, continuously?

They had to see the Lord Jesus just speak and calm the seas and the winds?

How could they not believe that Jesus was the Messiah?

They had rested their beliefs on one thing, and it was their stumbling block.

They wanted another King David for their Messiah!

Jesus came as a Savior, which was far more important!

It was critical that these men knew the truth before Jesus went back to Heaven!

If they could not believe then, how could they continue to learn from Him.

Let us be honest we will never learn from those we do not trust!

We have to answer this same question today in faith or we cannot be saved!

Do we know the Anointed of God sent to this earth to provide a means of salvation?

Listen in as Jesus prays:

Joh 17:1  These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 

Joh 17:2  As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 

Joh 17:3  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 

Joh 17:4  I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. 

Joh 17:5  And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. 

It is a fact Jesus did not come to convince us He was the Messiah. Jesus came to do the will of His Father!

Our Heavenly Father has provided us with His Holy Word, and it is up to us to believe Him or not!

It is not that God does not care, for He does, but God has humbled Himself one time and died upon a cruel cross. 

God will never humble Himself in that manner ever again.

He humbles Himself every time He listens to what we have to say!

Why should He do anything else? He has provided all we need to spend eternity with Him!

We can ask too much from Him!

I believe the Lord Jesus is exactly who He said He is, and I believe the Word of God came to us from Heaven!

Then Jesus teaches these disciples the platform of the Church.

*****Mat 16:17  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 

Mat 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 

Who are all those who will become the church? All those who agree with Peter that the Lord Jesus is the Messiah, the anointed One of God!

It was the Holy Spirit that revealed this to Peter.

Joh 16:7  Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 

Joh 16:8  And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 

Joh 16:9  Of sin, because they believe not on me; 

Joh 16:10  Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 

Joh 16:11  Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. 

The natural man cannot receive the Holy Spirit!

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

1Co 2:15  But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 

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

If you cannot think like Jesus Christ, you cannot be like Jesus Christ, and this is what being a Christian is all about!

Rom 1:3  Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 

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

Rom 1:5  By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: 

Rom 1:6  Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:

Jesus came to inform the world a Church is a gathering of those who have the mind of Christ, so therefore He cannot be guilty of all those things He is being accused of doing.

It was the Apostle Peter who led 10 of those other men in the Doctrine of the Messiah to build the early Church and there were 12 again when the Lord called the Apostle Paul.

We see that when the Messiah returns to Heaven, something new "ecclesia" a community of others who believe as stated by the Apostle Peter.

"Thou art the Son of the Living God".

This is how the Church began and continues to thrive today!

To those who say they do not have saving faith, they should realize that no one had saving faith until they came under the conviction of the Holy Spirit just as the Lord Jesus said to Peter.

Peter would become that stone, a living stone, who would reveal the "Rock" of our salvation, the Living God, the Lord Jesus Christ.

This is not hard to understand, really it is very simple.

2Co_11:3  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

The Lord Jesus Christ did all the work, the Holy Spirit provides the conviction "and that first bit of faith" and just a call upon our Heavenly Father will get salvation for eternity.

Remembering that there is no other way! And there was no Church in existence at this time on earth!

The Church is not built upon the Apostle Peter even though he was instrumental in the beginning of the New Testament Church.

Peter had these words:

1Pe 2:3  If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 

1Pe 2:4  To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 

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. 

Peter was one of those lively stones for his lifetime just as every believer is to be a "lively stone" today until our death!

We should keep in mind this was a New Covenant (New Testament) for the children of Israel, it is the only Covenant made to the Church!

*****Mat 16:19  And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 

1) Peter is not guarding the entrance into Heaven with the keys to allow those he has chosen to enter!

2) The Lord Jesus did not mean for us to understand that Peter holds the keys to Heaven!

3) The Lord did not say Peter is holding the keys to the Church!

4) The Lord did not mean that the eternal destiny of our souls depended upon Peter!

What the Lord Jesus meant was that to Peter was given the administration of the of the "kingdom of heavens" here on earth.

Peter was designated the first appointed witness to the "Gospel of Jesus Christ" after the Lord returned to Heaven and after Pentecost when, each of the Apostle were filled with the Holy Spirit along with more than a hundred more.

Let us see this again in the context Jesus intended:

Mat 18:12  How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? 

Mat 18:13  And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. 

Mat 18:14  Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. 

Mat 18:15  Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 

Mat 18:16  But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 

Mat 18:17  And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. 

Mat 18:18  Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 

Mat 18:19  Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 

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

The keys to the Kingdom then, is being a witness of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Having the keys to the kingdom is having the "Gospel Message"!

We open the door to Heaven when we are witnesses for the Lord!

We close the door to Heaven when we refuse to be witnesses of the truth of the "Gospel"!

But it was not yet time.

*****Mat 16:20  Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ. 

Mat 16:21  From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. 

Why did Jesus say this?

These 12 men were not ready to be true witnesses of the Gospel, because they did not yet have the faith and they did not yet have all the truth.

1) They needed more preparation. 

2) The death, the burial, and the resurrection had not yet taken place.

3) The disciples needed the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, this would take place at Pentecost after the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

4) Most all the people did not understand the First Coming of the Messiah.

These things were to be clearly understood!

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: 

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

Peter then shows us why he was not ready:

Peter did not have the Holy Spirit with in him, so Satan made an attempt to use him.

*****Mat 16:22  Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. 

You see the most important thing for us all is to believe what Jesus says!

Verse 21 said: "from that time forth Jesus began to show His disciples what was going to happen".

Jesus knows our future long before it happens!

Then Peter, who thought he understood it all, decided he knew more than his Master.

The Lord Jesus was using direct words and not symbols and parables.

The entire known world was fixing to change because of the knowledge given to these disciples.

Jesus was about to usher in the Kingdom of God making it possible for all believers to live eternally in the presence of God Himself.

These disciples needed to pay attention to what Jesus was saying.

The Lord Jesus Christ our God was totally committed to die for us!

Luk 24:46  And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 

Luk 24:47  And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 

God gave us the Bible so we could understand what and why He does what He does, and especially so we can understand what is in our near future.

We could say that Peter just was not paying attention, but the Lord Jesus leads us to the truth.

*****Mat 16:23  But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. 

Notice just after Jesus had appointed Peter to lead the soon to be Apostles, Satan sticks his ugly head in to again try to stop the Church before it begins.

You see Satan can enter anyone who does not have indwelling of the Holy Spirit!

2Ti_2:26  And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

This world either does not understand this or they reject it saying, the Satan does not exist, but it is still the whole complete truth.

It is by the Lord Jesus Christ that we break the bondage of Satan.

Notice the Lord Jesus did not speak to Peter, Jesus spoke directly to Satan!

As for Peter, he had to keep his mind on the things the that were important.

The Lord Jesus came to die, but that death must remain His choice and not something Satan was involved in!

Joh 6:51  I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

Mar 10:45  For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

We just cannot allow ourselves to be used by Satan!

Then Jesus explains what He means by being His disciples.

*****Mat 16:24  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 

Mat 16:25  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 

Mat 16:26  For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 

If we are to be disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, we must deny ourselves.

The Apostle Paul wrote:

Rom 8:13  For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

Because the Lord Jesus gave all He had even His life, then who are we if we are unwilling to do the same.

It must be our will to follow the Lord Jesus Christ!

This means it must be our desire, our wish, our purpose, our determination be as much like the Lord Jesus as we can!

It is hard to deny one’s self, but it is a necessary thing to be a servant of the Lord and to be in the family of God!

We must say no to the world and yes to our Heavenly Father!

We must take up our own cross and follow the Lord, if for no other reason than because the Lord said so!

We must be a companion, a disciple, of the Lord Jesus Christ!

This body of flesh has no value, after all it was made from the materials of this world, but that soul is Heaven made and more valuable that all the materials upon this earth.

We must understand that once this union of life and soul is created, it will exist forever.

It is just a matter of where we go at the end of this world.

One will be in torment forever.

The other will be glorified and live with the Heavenly Father forever.

We have it in our ability to choose where we will spend eternity, it just takes faith.

1Co 1:18  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

The Lord Jesus is praying that we will choose right.

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.

Amen

Living Amongst the Enemy

 The Enemies Reaction to Jesus' Kingdom

Book of Matthew Chapter 15

As we go further into the Book of Matthew, we see more and more of Satan inspired hatred for the Messiah. If we want to ask ourselves what is wrong with America today, America is suffering heavily from Satan inspired hatred and it is only going to get worse.

Rev_12:12  Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

2Ti 3:12  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 

2Ti 3:13  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 

The Lord knows what is going on in all His creation at all times!

We must know we live amongst our enemy!

We can also realize that this place is not our home, Heaven is our home we are only pilgrims passing through.

Heb_11:13  These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

As Jesus goes about the things He came to do, the super religious crowd from Jerusalem approaches Him to try in any way possible to make Him look bad before the people who were following Him.

*****Mat 15:1  Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, 

Mat 15:2  Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. 

If we think about it these disciples of Jesus Christ were beginning to see the power in the truth of God.

They were also seeing things that none other than our Creator and our Messiah could be doing.

There was nothing magical about what the Lord Jesus was doing!

Jesus was just being who He is and who He is the Almighty Living God!

We see the Word of God is not questioned by these hypocrites sent from Jerusalem, it was man's laws that are brought into question.

What are traditions?

The Jews were pretending that, besides their written law contained in the Pentateuch, God delivered to Moses an oral law, which was handed down from generation to generation.

Which is not true!

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. 

Rev 22:20  He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

The question is not that we should eat with clean hands which we should when we can.

Many a construction worker will eat their lunch with the same hands they work with.

This is where that prayer to the Lord thanking Him for our meal is so important. This prayer will protect us while we eat.

It is the ritual cleansing of the hands that is brought into question here.

A ritual cleansing is not intended to truly clean it is only symbolic of God's cleansing and a prayer is much better than anything symbolic.

The Lord Jesus, God in the flesh just tells them, how can you judge someone else when you are also a sinner?

Jesus tells us the same thing today!

In fact Jesus says, "you will know them by their actions". It is called discernment.

*****Mat 15:3  But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? 

The Lord Jesus ask them a serious question. Jesus said: how can you use your man-made laws to overrule God's Law?

This is what traditions will do in most cases!

The Lord Jesus is not just wise, He is Wisdom Himself!

Mat 22:29  Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

You cannot defeat the Lord by asking Him questions!

Mat 22:46  And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions. 

Anything that goes against the written Word of God is false!

We should understand that every question asked by these hypocrites was designed to cause the Lord to fail in front of the people who were following Him.

What had God told Moses?

*****Mat 15:4  For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. 

Mat 15:5  But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; 

Mat 15:6  And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. 

What are the faults of religionist? Religionist set aside the Word of God for tradition.

What had God said?

Deu 5:7  Thou shalt have none other gods before me. 

Mat 4:10  Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 

We are guilty of sin if we put anything in the place of God. 

If we put some manmade tradition in front of the Word of God, we have placed God second when He must remain first in our lives, and this includes all His written Word rightly divided!

We all know that when our parents get pass the age where they can take care of themselves, they may need our help.

This was even worse in the time of Jesus.

Many who had been misled by these hypocrites would tell their parents when they asked for help that they had dedicated any extra they had to the Temple and could not help them.

We do not know if this was done for spite or other reasons, but this allowed for a manmade tradition to supersede the written Word of God that they were so proud to claim. They had a name for this they called it Corban.

Jesus rebuke them for this thing:

Mar 7:9  And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. 

Mar 7:10  For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: 

Mar 7:11  But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. 

Mar 7:12  And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; 

Mar 7:13  Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. 

What name did Jesus use for those who did such things?

*****Mat 15:7  Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 

Mat 15:8  This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 

Now I did not say this. These are the words that our Lord Jesus Christ used for all those who put man made laws and traditions before the Word of God.

God is not happy with such people who claim to be true to the Word of God.

Isa 9:17  Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. 

Isa 9:18  For wickedness burneth as the fire: it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall mount up like the lifting up of smoke. 

Isa 9:19  Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts is the land darkened, and the people shall be as the fuel of the fire: no man shall spare his brother. 

We have a bundle of these who have become politicians who claim that Jesus as their Savior yet write laws that go against the Word of God.

They should understand they cannot come before a righteous God and survive!

Job 13:16  He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him. 

The Lord says they are willfully blind to the truth of God:

Job 20:5  That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment? 

Job 20:6  Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds; 

Job 20:7  Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he? 

What are some things that are used today?

Church Attendance becomes greater than the Word of God.

Rituals become greater than the Word of God.

Ceremonies become greater than the Word of God.

Some use manmade objects to keep them religiously saved become greater than the Word of God.

Some actually believe that prayers could come before the truth of God.

The Word of God rightly divided is our guide to a personal relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ!

Nothing can be substituted for the truth of God!

Again what words did our Lord Jesus use?

*****Mat 15:7  Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 

Mat 15:8  This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

The Lord Jesus Himself teaches us how we are to worship our Heavenly Father:

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.

A hypocrite is not then a true worshiper!

All those in this entire world who reject the Lord Jesus Christ cannot truly worship our Heavenly Father!

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

Joh 14:7  If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. 

We cannot know God if we reject Jesus Christ!

We will never see God if we reject the Lord Jesus Christ!

1Jn 3:23  And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. 

1Jn 3:24  And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. 

We cannot worship God without the Holy Spirit living within us!

Traditions have no place in the worship of our Heavenly Father!

Hypocrites do not have the Holy Spirit living within them, no matter what they say!

*****Mat 15:9  But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 

Mat 15:10  And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: 

Mat 15:11  Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.

If there is anything that is false in our worship, then we worship the Lord in vain!

We should understand that ritualistic and tradition filled religion is the same as what these Pharisees had.

Traditions, rituals, holidays, manmade ministries, invented ceremonies, all supersede the Word of God.

 This is the reason most holidays have become no more than commercial days set aside to keep people from giving to the Church.

 We cannot set aside our own inventions and traditions as part of the Word of God.

We know that these Pharisees had no room for Christ, and it is the same for the false Church where we can no longer find Christ.

 We should remember what Age we live in!

We live in the Laodicean Church Age!

Rev 3:17  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 

Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 

Rev 3:19  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 

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

Jesus immediately called to the multitude and said, "hear and understand".

Jesus Christ never knew fear and He has told us to do the same!

If there is no Holy Spirit within then only evil will dwell.

It is evil within, that defiles us!

These Pharisee looked upon themselves as the leaders and religious leaders, but Jesus said they were leading all the Jews to Hell!

Mat 15:13  But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. 

Mat 15:14  Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

It did not matter to Jesus that He offended these men. 

They were of no use to the Kingdom of God!

Then Peter said explain this to me because all Jews looked up to the Pharisees.

When we do not understand we need to go directly to the Lord!

*****Mat 15:15  Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable. 

Mat 15:16  And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding? 

Mat 15:17  Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? 

It is a simple bodily function. Anything that goes in our mouth finds its way into our bellies and the unneeded things go out our bottoms.

It is the process of nourishment.

All things that go out of the mouth come from the heart.

It is the things in our heart that make us good or bad!

The true source of defilement comes from within us, and our Lord looks into our heart to know the real person.

A corrupt heart is the true source of our misery in this life!

Jer 17:9  The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 

Jer 17:10  I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. 

Why did Jesus scold the disciples?

Because it was easily seen that these Pharisee had their own religion, and it did not include the Messiah because it did not include Jehovah God.

*****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: 

Mat 15:20  These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man. 

The Lord Jesus Christ came to deliver us from evil and this certainly includes every false religion where the Lord Jesus Christ is not the Messiah!

In fact Jesus is that Messiah as taught to the Jews by Moses:

Deu 18:18  I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. 

Deu 18:19  And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him. 

Deu 18:20  But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. 

This Prophet's name is Jesus!

1Jn 3:23  And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. 

1Jn 3:24  And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. 

What comes from the heart of those who are lost?

Evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.

Even when we are saved some of these same thoughts will be used by Satan against us, but having the Holy Spirit within us gives us the power to overcome these things.

Depravity is what we see throughout our world today!

We live in a sin filled world!

All depravity comes from the heart.

It gets into our minds until we act upon them, and this is where sin comes from.

If good comes from us, then our heart is shown to be good!

If evil and wickedness come from us, then our heart is shown to be bad.

Jas_2:24  Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

You see it is our works after we are saved, that show the world that we belong to Jesus.

There should be evidence of a new life a life that resembles that of the Lord Jesus Christ!

This is why Jesus says we must be Born Again!

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

1Pe 1:24  For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 

1Pe 1:25  But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

We must have a renewed mind!

Eph 4:23  And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 

Eph 4:24  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 

There is more to it, than just saying "I'm saved"!

Amen