God's New Covenant

 The Ministry of the New Covenant

 Book of 2 Corinthians Chapter 3 

 

A covenant is a binding agreement between two or more parties.

 In the ancient days, covenants, would be sealed by each party by swallowing a drop of each other's blood.

 This soon became distasteful, and they began the sacrifice of animals.

 Jehovah settled His covenants with an oath.

Many settled agreements with a handshake.

 Pro 6:1  My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger, 

Pro 6:2  Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.

 Pro 17:18  A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend. 

 God does not like for His children to become a surety; God says Do not sign your name to another person's debt. 

Pro 22:26  Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts. 

Pro 22:27  If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee? 

 In our Bible we read of covenants made between men.

 A marriage is a covenant between two people.

 We can make a covenant with ourselves, and we should: Job 31:1  I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid? 

 We can even make a covenant with animals and with the land we live on: Job 5:23  For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field: and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee.

 The most important covenants we can make are those we make with God, and those God makes with us.

 Before we were found by Jesus Christ and adopted into the family of God, we were not a part of the covenants of God.

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

Eph 2:13  But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 

 It is only by the Lord Jesus Christ that we are part of the New Covenant!

 The Old Covenant was a covenant of "works": Gen 2:17  But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. 

 The New Covenant is the covenant of "Grace": 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:

 Rom 5:12  Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 

Rom 5:13  (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 

Rom 5:14  Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. 

Rom 5:15  But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 

Rom 5:16  And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. 

Rom 5:17  For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) 

Rom 5:18  Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 

Rom 5:19  For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. 

Rom 5:20  Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 

Rom 5:21  That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

 *****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. 

 We must clearly understand the differences between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant.

 A covenant is an agreement made between two parties, a contract drawn between two people.

 God first made a covenant of works with Adam, promising eternal life for obedience and death for disobedience.

 Adam failed, and death entered the human race!

 Then God made a covenant with Abraham, also a covenant of works.

 Gen 12:1  Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 

Gen 12:2  And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 

Gen 12:3  And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Then there was a covenant called the Palestinian Covenant, also a covenant of works.

Remember this area was named Palestine by the Romans just to slander the Jews.

 Deu 30:1  And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath driven thee, 

Deu 30:2  And shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul; 

 Then there was what is called the Davidic Covenant, the promise of the true Messiah.

 2Sa 7:12  And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. 

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

2Sa 7:14  I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: 

2Sa 7:15  But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. 

2Sa 7:16  And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.

 The main Old Covenant was between God and His earthly people Israel.

 Both parties took upon themselves certain obligations.

 Israel vowed to be obedient to the law, and God in His turn should bless them if they were obedient.

 This, too, was a covenant of works, which they failed to keep.

 God first dealt with His special people, Israel.

God then promised them a land.

God then promised a posterity, the Messiah.

God promised He would be their true King.

God is still working on Israel to bring them to a true blessing.

 No human can live by a covenant of works, because we are born sinners; it is in our bloodline that we inherited from Adam.

 There would have to be a New Covenant.

 Jer 31:31  Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 

Jer 31:32  Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: 

Jer 31:33  But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. 

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

 God had given Israel a conditional covenant we call the Mosaic Covenant, which we can call God's standard for righteous living.

 This covenant in the Book of Jeremiah has not happened yet, because they rejected the Messiah God gave to them.

 God gives the world His Covenant of Grace!

 God turned His attention to the Gentile world!

 The Covenant of Grace is the covenant made by God, which He offers salvation to those who have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as the true Messiah.

 To the believer: 2Co 6:14  Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 

2Co 6:15  And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 

2Co 6:16  And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 

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. 

 To Israel: Heb 8:7  For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. 

Heb 8:8  For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: 

Heb 8:9  Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. 

Heb 8:10  For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: 

Heb 8:11  And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. 

 God said He would give us His own Son in payment for all the sin of the world and a guarantee for our salvation.

 God said by His Grace, His gift of Jesus Christ, He would give the Holy Spirit to live within us.

 This is a Trinitarian Covenant:

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

Eph 1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 

Eph 1:5  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 

Eph 1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 

Eph 1:7  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 

Eph 1:8  Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 

Eph 1:9  Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 

Eph 1:10  That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 

Eph 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 

Eph 1:12  That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 

Eph 1:13  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 

Eph 1:14  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. 

 1) This is an eternal and unbreakable covenant.

2) This covenant only extends to those, the elect of God. The elect are all those who have accepted this gift of God's "Grace".

These are the same ones who have answered the call of the Holy Spirit in faith.

3) This is the "Good News" from Heaven and the one Gospel by which souls can be saved.

 Gal 1:8  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 

Gal 1:9  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

 The Apostle Paul was very careful to bring this good news to the Gentile world, knowing that there is a limited time for the Gentiles to come to Christ, and God again begins dealing with Israel with this same New Covenant.

 The New Covenant not only introduces us to God's Messiah, but we can have a personal relationship with God through the Holy Spirit who has sealed us until our Redeemer comes to take us home.

 God has called us and equipped us to be ministers of this New Covenant to the world!

 *****2Co 3:7  But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: 

2Co 3:8  How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? 

How can the law be said to be glorious when, if you broke the law, your punishment was death?

There is no glory in eternal death.

The only thing the Laws of Moses did for the children of Israel was to bring them close enough to God where they could get a glimpse of His glory.

The Laws of Moses were glorious only because it was Jehovah, the Almighty, glorious God who gave those laws to Moses face to face.

This is the place we all want to meet God, face to face.

The laws of Moses, including the Ten Commandments, give us a picture of the of the righteousness of our God.

He is Holy, and He is Righteous above His creation.

Those laws have accomplished one thing if we try to live by them. They show us we have need of a Savior!

Those laws prove to us that we are sinners and come far short of the Glory of the Living God.

This is why the world hates the Ten Commandments; they remind them they are sinners.

Moses experienced God's glory, and it could be seen on his face.

The face of Moses shined with the glory of God.

In fact, the glory of God was so bright that the people could not continuously look upon his face, and he had to cover it with a veil to speak to the people of Israel.

Exo 34:30  And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him. 

What does Paul say? But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: 

God has taken His glory away from that Old Covenant! Why? Because no one could keep all those laws, and we know Israel had 613 laws and not just the 10 commandments we are so familiar with.

They had a law for every aspect of their life.

Before you get to asking why God would do this, you must first know that the Muslims have a law for every aspect of their lives, as do the Hindus, and almost every nation, including our own, has laws for every aspect of our lives.

If we could keep all the laws of our nation, there would be no place for courts or lawyers or any so-called legal documents.

God knew these things, but God had also made some promises that He could not keep if there was no one to give those blessings to.

The New Covenant of God came about because of this, and this Covenant of Grace shows that God demands nothing anymore from His people, as He will fulfill all the conditions of this covenant Himself.

Grace means that the Lord Jesus Christ came to fulfill all the obligations that God had first given to His people.

Only the Lord Jesus could keep all those old laws, and therefore He took all the sin of the world upon Himself and died in our place.

God the Father did this on His own terms, and He explains that to us:

Heb 8:8  For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: 

Heb 8:9  Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. 

Heb 8:10  For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: 

Heb 8:11  And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. 

Heb 8:12  For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. 

Heb 8:13  In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away. 

Just notice the "I wills" in this passage of Scripture. There is no contribution expected from these people. 

This is Grace brought about by the Mercy of God and the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Luk 22:20  Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. 

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

The Lord Jesus Christ has done all the work to get us into Heaven as His bride and then wife.

We as the Church are to be servants of this New Covenant just as Apostle Paul was.

The New Covenant is related to the work of the Holy Spirit in our Hearts.

The Old Covenant consisted of letters and stones.

How can the ministry of the Holy Spirit not be glorious when the Holy Spirit is God, and salvation can only come by the Tri-unity of God?

God the Father made the covenant.

The Lord Jesus Christ paid the price with His blood.

The Holy Spirit comes into our hearts to make it all work toward our salvation.

*****2Co 3:9  For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. 

2Co 3:10  For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.

That Old Covenant brought condemnation. Anyone who broke the law was condemned and had a broken and severed relationship with the Triune God.

With the New Covenant, and the Holy Spirit, comes righteousness, and the nature of God to us.

2Pe 1:4  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 

The glory of the New Covenant is permanent because the Holy Spirit will never leave us!

*****2Co 3:11  For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. 

The Old Covenant is fading away with Israel the last holdout after the Church Age.

The Lost must believe that the Lord Jesus completed the work God required for the Holy Spirit to move into our hearts and begin His work.

It is really not that hard to understand except for one thing, and it is the Devil.

The Lord Jesus said these “end days” will be full of deception. We are already finding this to be true.

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.

There is no other way to live with God, and these are His rules and not mine!

Rom 8:9  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 

The knowledge of these things should settle every Christian and bring hope to those who have yet to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as the only Savior.

*****2Co 3:12  Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: 

2Co 3:13  And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: 

2Co 3:14  But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. 

Our hope is not just in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ for our salvation, but our hope is in this New Covenant of God, and God does not lie, and God does not break covenants.

The ministry of God's people is built upon the truth of God and not some fairy tale or some false doctrine.

The language God uses is plain, and it is simple.

Remember the same Holy Spirit who comes to live in the believer is the same Holy Spirit who gives us the Word 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. 

We know that in the time of Moses, Israel withdrew from the veiled glory of God.

The veil would not allow people to see the glory on Moses' face fading away.

Moses was saying that he was just the messenger and the true glory of the Lord would come later.

Rom 10:4  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. 

Rom 10:5  For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. 

Rom 10:6  But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) 

Rom 10:7  Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) 

Rom 10:8  But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 

Rom 10:9  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

The world hates the Ten Commandments because they feel bound by them in order to please God, when the Ten Commandments just give us an idea of the righteousness of God.

Honoring those commandments and all the laws of this world does please God!

What truly pleases God is the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ has paid that sin debt and we are to see Him as our Savior.

Now this does not mean we are not to live as close to those commands as we possibly can; it means that if we fail, it is not the thing that brings death and a separation from our Heavenly Father.

We are not to continue in sin at any time!

The lost do not see the real meaning of those laws which were given to reveal the nature of God's glory and perfection.

The lost do not see that those laws show us that no one can keep all those laws.

The lost do not see that those laws show us the need of a Savior.

2Co 4:4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 

Even today the children of Israel remain blinded to the truth of the New Covenant of God.

*****2Co 3:15  But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. 

2Co 3:16  Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. 

2Co 3:17  Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

Today Moses is already in Heaven, but the veil he put upon his face is now upon the hearts of God's people.

Acts 15:21  For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

That veil over their heart prevents them from seeing the disappearance of the Old Covenant.

That old veil will never be removed unless the children of Israel turn to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Only then will they be able to see as a nation that the Old Testament was written in view of the Lord Jesus Christ, the true Messiah.

This is what the Apostles discovered and every true Christian since that day, and we know that the children of Israel will soon see this truth at or just before the Rapture of the Church and the end of the Church Age.

Luk 24:44  And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. 

All types and all prophecies of the law will be fully accomplished in the Lord Jesus Christ!

Amen

From Jericho to Jerusalem

 

Zacchaeus and the Triumphal Entry

 Book of Luke Chapter 19

 

The Lord Jesus Christ was making His way to Jerusalem because He had an appointment with a cross and He intended to keep it.

 It had been only an hour or so that He had restored sight to a blind beggar from Jericho.

 This man, being blind, still recognized the Lord Jesus as the Messiah.

 Luk 18:38 And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

 As the Lord comes to the streets of Jericho, He comes to a short man named Zacchaeus.

 Zacchaeus was a Jew, but he was also a very rich man.

 Zacchaeus was so short that he had to climb up into a tree to see over the crowded streets as the Lord Jesus was coming into view as He entered Jericho.

 Being chief among the publicans meant that he was superintendent of customs and tribute in the district of Jericho.

 He would have been especially hated by the Jews and considered a traitor to Israel.

 Something had been bothering Zacchaeus for a long time.

 Zacchaeus was a dissatisfied man. His dishonest acquisitions had made him rich but had subtracted him from his peace of mind.

 He knew that the least he could do would be to repay those whom he had robbed. But his soul required more, and longed for salvation, such as only Jesus Christ could give.

 We call this Holy Ghost conviction.

 Here we see that the Lord Jesus knew what was going on with Zacchaeus before He met him.

 The Lord Jesus stopped under the tree where Zacchaeus was located and invited Himself to the home of Zacchaeus.

 Let's read:

 *****Luk 19:1 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.

 We know that the walls of Jericho had fallen by a miracle of God in the time of Joshua, and he captured that city.

 Joshua also put a curse on this city; Jos 6:26 And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before the LORD, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it.

 The city of Jericho had been re-founded by a man named Hiel, a Bethelite who did exactly what Joshua had said.

 1Ki 16:34 In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun.

 Not too long into the future, there was a college of prophets founded at Jericho, if we remember Elisha.

 2Ki 2:4 And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho.

 Jericho is no more than a collection of mounds today.

 *****Luk 19:2 And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.

Luk 19:3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.

Luk 19:4 And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.

Luk 19:5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.

 That word “chief” tells us that Zacchaeus was a very rich man.

 Zacchaeus had one problem, and it was that his wickedness was starting to bother him.

 This was Holy Ghost conviction.

 The Holy Spirit was very busy during the time of Jesus, but He was not yet given to fill the believer.

 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_16:13  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

 Zacchaeus could not understand it, but he knew he wanted to see Jesus.

 He knew it was more than curiosity; he just had to see the Lord.                            

Personal taxes and property taxes were collected by the Roman government, but the customs on goods were farmed out.

 This created a system that could be easily exploited.

 Zacchaeus had exploited this system until he was rich and probably caused the customs collectors under him to contribute to his wealth.

 There was a huge crowd waiting for the arrival of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 The streets were already crowded because of pilgrims going to Jerusalem for the Passover.

 Zacchaeus then climbed a sycamore tree to increase his chances of seeing Jesus.

 We should understand that if you are truly seeking the Lord Jesus, He will find you!

 This is how faith begins its work in us.

 We may not understand it at first, but we just know that once we meet Jesus, things will get better.

 He may not have been sure if Jesus would come that way, but something told him that He would.

 Zacchaeus was hated by those on the ground under him, but he was not ashamed to seek the Lord Jesus.

 We must never be ashamed of our Lord Jesus!

 All of a sudden, the Lord was there, and He already knew the name of Zacchaeus.

 *****Luk 19:5  And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.

Luk 19:6  And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.

 The Lord Jesus invited Himself to the home of Zacchaeus.

 The Lord Jesus does not just want us to turn to Him, but He wants all those in our homes to turn to Him.

 This was more than Zacchaeus expected, but he became excited and he welcomed this opportunity to meet the Lord.

 Jericho was a city full of priests.

 Jericho was the summer home of the Herods.

 The Herods were the last of the Edomites and not Jews.

Jericho had a city government.

 All the religious world hated all publicans, and Zachaeus was chief of the publicans.

 The Lord Jesus set public opinion aside and chose the home of the most hated man in that city to dine with and lodge with.

 We should also understand that the Lord Jesus was going to Jerusalem to die.

This would be Zacchaeus's only chance to repent and accept the Lord Jesus for who He is. Our Savior!

 It was the same for all those lined up to meet Jesus; that day was the day of salvation for them all.

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

 Zacchaeus obeyed the Lord and made haste, and joyfully received the Lord Jesus Christ.

 The naysayers, the mumblers, and the murmurers began to do what they do best.

 *****Luk 19:7  And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.

Luk 19:8  And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. x

 By saying that Zachaeus was a sinner, they were also saying that they were not sinners.

 We know better!

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

 Zachaeus realized that all those around him were staring at him, and most of them were not pleased with him or with Jesus.

 This crowd had nothing but contempt for Zachaeus.

 The world does not understand the love of God!

 A transformation is taking place in the life of this little man.

 The Lord Jesus had not told Zachaeus as he had told the rich young ruler.

 Zacchaeus came up with these things himself. He knew he was a sinner, and he knew his sins.

 Zacchaeus was experiencing a radical change in his life.

 Zacchaeus had a new attitude about his wealth. It just did not mean the same to him any longer.

 He would give it back to those who were poor.

 Luk 12:33  Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.

Luk 12:34  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

 The rest of his wealth would be used to correct the wrongs he had done as a tax collector.

 Zacchaeus said, "In all those cases where he had defrauded others,” he would obey the Word of God.

 Zacchaeus knew the Scriptures; this was his sin.

 Lev 6:4  Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he found,

Lev 6:5  Or all that about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering.

 He goes even further. Exo 22:1  If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.

 This law applied to sheep, but Zacchaeus applied it to anything he had taken from anyone.

 This also seems to say that Zacchaeus knew those he had caused the most harm.

 This is what the Holy Spirit does: He will remind us of those we have harmed the most.

 How did the Lord Jesus respond?

 *****Luk 19:9  And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.

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

 The Lord Jesus was speaking more to that crowd than He was to Zacchaeus when He said these words.

 Zacchaeus had been converted from Judaism to Christianity in a big way.

 Sadly, many more did not respond to the truth they had just seen and heard.

 Zacchaeus repented and changed his whole life.

 Zacchaeus was serious about giving his life to the Lord Jesus.

 Life has more meaning once you meet the Savior.

 It was the Lord Jesus Himself who proclaimed Zacchaeus to be saved.

 Jesus said it was repentance that saved Zacchaeus, but Zacchaeus would bring the message of salvation to his household.

 Zacchaeus met the Lord Jesus and brought Him into his heart and then took Him into his house.

Zachaeus now had peace in his soul.

 The Lord Jesus tells this entire crowd why He came to this earth: He came to seek and to save all who are lost!

 Rom 3:28  Therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

 Zacchaeus put himself in a position to be saved by seeking Jesus, but the Lord Jesus did the speaking to the heart of Zacchaeus, and that heart was torn out, and a new heart was put in.

 Ezk_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.

 The Lord Jesus, on leaving Jericho, told the people another parable.

 After this, Jesus entered Jerusalem for the last time.

 *****Luk 19:28  And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem.

Luk 19:29  And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,

Luk 19:30  Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither.

Luk 19:31  And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him.

Luk 19:32  And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them.

Luk 19:33  And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt?

Luk 19:34  And they said, The Lord hath need of him.

Luk 19:35  And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon. 

Luk 19:36  And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way.

 Before we get to this portion of our lesson, the Lord Jesus gives us another parable which relates to His servants while He is gone back to Heaven.

 Jesus makes it very clear that many of His servants actually hate Him.

 Many of these servants expected the Lord Jesus to take the throne of King David and run the Romans out of Israel and Jerusalem.

 Had the Lord Jesus claimed to be King?

 Jesus claimed to be King of a place not on this earth.

Jesus claimed to be the King of Peace.

 We know when He returns, He will become King of this earth for one thousand years.

 There is a three-thousand-foot rise in elevation from Jericho to Jerusalem.

 Going to Jerusalem was an uphill walk all the way from Jericho.

 The Lord Jesus knew it was time to fulfill His destiny as told by the prophets.

 His purpose was to suffer and die for all mankind.

 He would enter Jerusalem as the King Messiah in peace.

 Zec 9:9  Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

 It was the providence of God that the Lord Jesus would enter Jerusalem in such a dramatic fashion.

 The whole scene was centered around Him riding into the city of Jerusalem on this colt, which had never been broken.

 If that colt had spoken, it would have said it was happy to carry the burden of the Lord, for His burden is light.

 The Lord Jesus had come to Jerusalem as the Prince of Peace.

 Isa_9:6  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

 The Lord Jesus had claimed the right to use this colt because He is Lord of all creation.

 The Greek word “kurios” is used here, which means the One with Supreme Authority.

 In the New Testament that word Lord carries the same meaning as Jehovah in the Old Testament.

 I have often felt like I was that colt tied to sin and only Jesus could make me free.

 Exo 13:13  And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck: and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem.

 If the Lord Jesus had not caused me to be made free, then I would have died because He would not have redeemed me.

 Fetching this colt was extremely important if the Lord Jesus was to proclaim He was indeed King.

 When we are delivered from the bondage of sin, we are servants who carry the Lord around in our hearts and on our feet.

 This is our duty as the servants of God.

 Rom_12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

 When the Lord Jesus gives us specific instructions, and we follow them exactly, things will go just as He said.

 We are not to add to or take away from His Word!

 Bethany was a suburb of Jerusalem, only two miles from Jerusalem.

 When the Lord Jesus was in Jerusalem, He stayed with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus in their home in Bethany.

 The message of Jesus was very clear:

 1) He was the promised King the prophets had talked about.

2) He was not coming as a conquering King or as any world leader at this time.

3) He was coming as Savior with Peace.

4) Jesus came to show the world that God is first the God of Love and Reconciliation.

 This colt was a symbol of Peace.

This colt was a symbol of service.

This colt was a symbol of sacredness because it had never been ridden by any man, woman, or child.

 1Sa 6:7  Now therefore make a new cart, and take two milch kine, on which there hath come no yoke, and tie the kine to the cart, and bring their calves home from them:

 The Lord Jesus wanted the world to know that He indeed is that sacred hope promised in the Scriptures.

 Tit_2:13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

 The Apostles threw their coats upon the colt to form a saddle to protect the colt.

 The rest of their coats they threw upon the road.

 You see, not only our deeds but also our walk should be subject to the Lord Jesus.

 There were thousands of pilgrims along the road to Jerusalem, and they threw their coats or palm limbs on the roadway.

 Many of them had seen the miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead and many other miracles.

 This crowd that would be in Jerusalem was probably the largest crowd to have ever assembled in Jerusalem.

 They clearly saw that the Lord Jesus was coming in peace.

 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.

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.

 These people praised God for His truth.

 *****Luk 19:37  And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;

Luk 19:38  Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.

 Most of the people in the area of Judah and Galilee had heard of the things that the Lord Jesus had done, and most of these same people had come to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast with great hope.

 They truly hated Rome.

 Many of them realized that the Lord Jesus Christ had the power to do anything He chose to do.

 Act 10:36  The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)

Act 10:37  That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;

Act 10:38  How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

 They thought the hour of freedom from the tyranny of Rome had come.

They thought that God was going to free all the nations of the earth from Roman domination.

They thought that Jesus would set up His throne in Jerusalem to rule and reign over the righteous.

They thought Jesus would establish Israel as the leading nation of the world.

 They had failed to see many things.

 They failed to see that Jesus was riding a colt of a donkey, which was a sign of peace.

They failed to see that Jesus was riding an animal of burden, to carry the burdens of all mankind.

They failed to see that Jesus was riding an animal of Sacredness.

They failed to see that Jesus was riding a humble animal that symbolized meekness.

 1Pe 2:23  Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

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.

 And then the Pharisees speak.

 *****Luk 19:39  And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.

Luk 19:40  And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

 No one was going to get a Pharisee to praise the Lord Jesus.

 The Pharisees are the enemies of the Lord, and they were disturbed at what was happening around Him.

 What they see is unacceptable in their eyes and must be stopped.

 These same ones had already given the order to hunt Jesus down and murder Him.

 To them, Jesus was no more than a teacher and not a very good one.

 They considered the Lord Jesus to be an insurrectionist.

 Those stones would have been very happy to sing out in praise of our Savior!

 We know that the Sun hid its face when the Lord was crucified.

 Mat 27:45  Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.

 We also know that the earth cried out in pain at the death of our Savior.

 Mat 27:51  And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

 Yes, those stones would have certainly cried if the Lord Jesus had told them to.

 *****Luk 19:41  And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,

Luk 19:42  Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.

Luk 19:43  For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,

Luk 19:44  And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.

 It should be obvious to us that God has a true love for the City of Jerusalem.

 It really hurt the Lord to allow Jerusalem to be destroyed and the nation to cease to exist for over nineteen hundred years.

 God has a plan, and nothing will change Him from completing His plan.

 Psa 81:11  But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.

Psa 81:12  So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels.

Psa 81:13  Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!

Psa 81:14  I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.

 The Greek word "klaio" means more than wept it means the Lord Jesus burst out in tears and wailed over Jerusalem.

 The Lord Jesus weeps for all the lost.

 Peace was actually within reach for Israel and Jerusalem, and they wanted no part of it.

 How many wars have been fought after the Lord Jesus offered peace, but the world wants no part of it?

 The people of the world will believe anything but the Word of God.

 This world is doomed to destruction because there is no faith!

 The word "shalom" means freedom from trouble, but it means much, much more than this.

 Jerusalem had only one day left to accept the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ, but we know their answer.

 1) There is peace of the world. This is a peace of escapism, of avoiding trouble, refusing to face reality.

2) There is the "Peace of God". A peace that comes from deep within us, a tranquility of the mind, a peace that settles and strengthens through terrible trials.

 The source of true peace is the Lord Jesus Christ!

 Jerusalem fell because they could not see that in Jesus Christ, God had visited His people, and they had rejected Him.

 There is much greater devastation coming to this world for the same reason, and it is not far off.

 Amen

The Healer Must Be Our Teacher

 Jesus Continued to Heal and to Teach

 Book of Luke Chapter 9 Verses 37-42, 57-62

 

 There is a lot of great material between verse 22 and verse 37, but let's keep to our lesson plan.

 Our lesson begins the next day after the Transfiguration of the Lord.

 We could say that on the Day of Transfiguration, the glory of the Lord Jesus broke out in the presence of His disciples.

 The transfiguration of the Lord Jesus is hard to describe accurately, so it is best to read the Scriptures in the Gospels.

 What is recorded as a record was an absolute historical reality, and not a mere vision.

 Joh 1:14  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 

 Peter never forgot this day: 2Pe 1:16  For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 

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

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

 Many today worship the Devil, who is Satan, but I wonder if they realize how the devil treats all our children.

 *****Luk 9:37  And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him. 

Luk 9:38  And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child. 

Luk 9:39  And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him. 

Luk 9:40  And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not.

This is an epileptic seizure.

This does not mean that everyone who has seizures are caused by the Satan but if they do not know the Lord Jesus they need to have faith in Him.

He is still the Healer!

 On the mountain top, there was the glory of the Lord, showing God’s power, but in the valley, Satan was showing the people his power.

 This is the difference between Heaven and Earth.

 We can see a father who has seen his only son, who was tormented by an evil spirit.

 He was begging the Lord Jesus to have pity on him.

 We should ask ourselves why more parents do not see this today and beg for the help of our Savior for their own children.

 We all should know that the Lord Jesus has great compassion for all people.

 This man had lost all control over his son because he was a victim of Satan's power.

 1Pe_5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

 This father had no choice but to stand by helplessly and watch the Devil destroy his son.

 We can see this in our lost children today, and we need to go to the Lord Jesus for His help.

 This man had already approached the nine disciples of Christ for their help, and they could not help him for some reason.

 The Lord had given them the power over demons, and they had used it, but for some reason, their faith was not as it should have been.

We saw this in an earlier lesson, and we saw it again in this lesson.

 The Lord Jesus later told them that they had not been praying and fasting as they should have.

 The Lord Jesus gives us many gifts today, but if we will not fellowship with Him daily, that gift will have no power.

 We must never forget who the Lord is! He is the Almighty God!

 Many times, as Christians, we are a disappointment to the people around us who could use our help.

 Only the Lord Jesus knows how many times we have been a disappointment to Him.

 We may not have the powers of Jesus Christ, but we can be attentive and sympathetic to their needs.

 We can certainly begin with prayer at that very moment if we have compassion on them.

 Fortunately for us all, the Lord Jesus is always on time.

 *****Luk 9:41  And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither.

 After all the disciples of Christ had seen of the miracles of Jesus, we could ask ourselves how they could have a lack of faith?

 We can also see that the Lord Jesus spoke to the whole generation of Jews and not just to His chosen disciples.

 Where was this father's faith?

Where was the faith of all those who were present?

 The chosen disciples of Christ did not have the power, even though the Lord Jesus had given them that power when He sent them out earlier as evangelists.

 Notice all those present just stood around when the disciples of Christ tried to heal this son, having no concern for the life of this boy, when they too could have been praying.

 What do we do when the Lord is not physically present as He is today?

 Surely, we can all pray!

 Surely, we can all show faith!

 This father could have shown faith after all these were God's people. They could go to the priests. They could make sacrifices.

 This child continued to suffer because no one had enough compassion to seek God for him.

 Jesus said they all were faithless and perverse. Perverse here means morally corrupt.

 The Holy Spirit says: Tit 1:15  Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. 

Tit 1:16  They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. 

 When God's people act this way, there will be no power in the Church.

 Guess what, we see very little power in the Church today!

 It is not our duty to judge other places of worship; it is our job to make sure our own place of worship is following the Word of God by being obedient in our worship and in our lives.

 *****Luk 9:42  And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father. 

 The Devil tried to show his power over the boy, but the Lord just spoke the word, and the Devil had to leave.

 If the chosen disciples of Christ had been following Christ as closely as they should, they would have been able rid this boy of this demon.

 Jesus broke the power of this demon the same way He broke Satan's power; He just spoke with the Sword of His Mouth.

 Rev_2:16  Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

 Rev_19:15  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

 Rev_19:21  And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

 The people who were observing what the Lord did were amazed at the mighty power of God!

 Once more, all those who were observing could only think about the great power of God.

 They marveled at the Majesty of God's Messiah, but we should also understand there is a cost for every disciple of Jesus Christ.

 *****Luk 9:57  And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. 

Luk 9:58  And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. 

 When someone tells the Lord Jesus, "I will follow you wherever you go", it sounds good, but it has to be made very clear why anyone makes such a claim.

 No one can follow the Lord who has not been called!

 A self-commitment is nothing like a Jesus Christ-centered commitment.

 If there is a real calling of "Grace," then that person must let go of all things that might hinder their walk with Christ.

 Rom 1:1  Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, "separated" unto the gospel of God, 

 Rom 1:7  To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, "called to be saints": Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 

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

 It is only the call of God that enables us to believe.

 God's purposes in Himself sum up all things in Jesus Christ!

 Eph 1:9  Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure "which he hath purposed in himself": 

Eph 1:10  That in the dispensation of the fulness of times "he might gather together in one all things in Christ", both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 

 The Lord Jesus Christ must become our Lord of life!

 The Lord Jesus Christ gave up all of Heaven and all of Himself to meet the needs of this dying world we live in.

 A profession of faith is not enough.

Saying, "I am willing to follow" is not enough.Mrk_14:38  Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.

We must deny ourselves completely!

We must accept the Lord Jesus as the Servant of mankind and become such a servant ourselves.

 There is nothing in our old life that will help us achieve the call of Christ!

 The Lord Jesus led a perfect life, and it must be our goal to do the same, even if we cannot be perfect while we remain in these sinful bodies of flesh.

 We must accept the pattern of life that the Lord Jesus had as our own.

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

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

 The Lord Jesus Christ had no home on this earth because His home is in Heaven. As His disciples, we must share His homelessness in this world because our home is now in Heaven, and we have no attachment to this world to bind us.

 Jesus Christ is the perfect picture of what God wants to see in each of us.

 *****Luk 9:59  And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 

Luk 9:60  Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. 

 In many cases, it is the son who will take care of his father in their old age.

 The Lord Jesus had invited this man to become one of His disciples, to even become a preacher to preach the Kingdom of God.

 When we decide to follow the Lord Jesus, it means we have decided that this is the most important decision we will ever make, and nothing on this earth is more important.

 We must give up everything in this world for a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

 It was not a bad thing for this man to bury his father, but the message of salvation is far more important.

This father died lost, rejecting the Lord Jesus as the Messiah.

 Those who are spiritually dead because they have rejected the Lord Jesus are not as important as those who have never had that opportunity, at least to our Savior.

 This is the truth of being loyal to Jesus Christ.

 We must consider that when the Jews rejected the Lord Jesus, it was more important for the Apostle Paul to go to the Gentiles.

 Even those who have rejected the Lord one time are not as important as those who have never heard of the Kingdom of God.

 God has already decided to meet the needs of these in the work of the Sower when one plants, another waters, and another reaps the harvest of the soul for Christ to save.

 Every person is of extreme value to the Lord, and we should know that the Holy Spirit was working hard to bring this man to conviction.

 Those whom God has called to preach need to respond as quickly as possible.

 Mat_9:37  Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;

Mat_9:38  Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

 The Lord Jesus knew that this man was hesitating to answer Him, and he just used the burying of his father as an excuse.

 What was the message of Christ? Luke 14:26  If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 

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

It is a hard message, but it is a necessary truth to serve the Lord.

We cannot allow Satan's children to drag us down, even if they are family members.

 The word hate means "to love less". We must love the Lord with all our heart, all our body, and all our soul!

 *****Luk 9:61  And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. 

Luk 9:62  And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. 

Following the Lord Jesus Christ is a lifelong commitment!

Here is a man who offered "on his own" to become a follower of Jesus Christ. He was not called.

Looking ahead to the Rapture of the Church is the most important event that we are looking forward to.

To the Jew, the return of Jesus Christ is the most important event they have to look forward to.

These are two separate events!

If we look at those two words "but and first", we see that this man saw something more important that he should do before committing to the Lord, which he said he had already made such a commitment.

Maybe he needed the advice of his family before he made a final commitment.

Maybe he needed someone else's approval before a full commitment to the Lord.

As we saw in the Book of Luke, Chapter fourteen, maybe he was putting his love for his family ahead of his love for Jesus Christ.

Either way, the Lord Jesus knew what was going on in this man's life; he was unwilling to cut the ties of this life and give all of himself to the Lord.

Jesus Christ is the "first" and the "last," and He must be everything to us!

Looking back can be fatal.

Just ask Lot's wife.

Gen 19:17  And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.

Gen 19:26  But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. 

The word commitment fits in right here.

It is true that in order to plough a straight furrow, the farmer must concentrate on a certain point in front of him.

He must keep his eyes fixed upon the goal.

As we serve the Lord, we must know that our work is not done until the Rapture of the Church on a day of the Lord's choosing.

It may be close, but it is not here yet!

It is not the time to quit on God!

We are just too close to going home.

Amen

John the Baptist is Born

 The Birth of John the Baptist

 Book of Luke Chapter 1 Verses 57 through 80

 Elisabeth's pregnancy goes full term without complications, naturally.

 John's life began to develop in his mother's womb, just as all babies do.

 Elisabeth already knew that she would have a son because the angel Gabriel had said that God had decided.

 God had decided the name for this son would be John and not Zacharias or another name from the family of Zacharias.

 The birth of John the Baptist brought great joy to this family because they had recognized that the birth of John was due to the mercy of God.

 The birth of John the Baptist was a significant event for every generation, including today.

 *****Luk 1:57  Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. 

Luk 1:58  And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. 

 Elisabeth had forgotten her baroness because it had been replaced with joy.

 We too can have joy because we live in a time when the Lord Jesus Christ could return in the clouds at any moment.

 The Lord Jesus Christ said His return could be somewhat compared to the birth of a child.

 Joh 16:21  A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. 

Joh 16:22  And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. 

Because the birth of John was a miraculous birth, many people wondered what manner of child he would be.

 Elisabeth had forgotten all those years she could not have a child.

 She was ready to give her love to this child of God.

 Her friends and family had come by to rejoice with her.

 The birth of John the Baptist was proof again that God will do what He says He will do.

 The birth of John was of God's power over nature.

 The birth of John was evidence that God is the God of life.

 Nothing is impossible for God.

 Luk 1:37  For with God nothing shall be impossible. 

 Psa 115:3  But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. 

 Prophecy was fulfilled.

 Isa 40:3  The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 

 Mal 3:1  Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. 

 The Lord Jesus said that John was the fulfillment of these prophecies: Mat 11:10  For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 

 The birth of every child is an awesome miracle of life.

 The birth of John showed us a merciful God who so loves us.

 The birth of John the Baptist is not much different from our own birth.

 It is our job to prepare those we meet to meet the Lord Jesus Christ.

 John was used in God's plan of salvation, and we have the same job on a smaller scale than John had.

 God allowed John the privilege of being the forerunner for the Messiah.

 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. 

1Ti 2:5  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 

1Ti 2:6  Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

 All of the family and friends of Elisabeth rejoiced with her.

 The mercy of God was not just for Elisabeth but was for the entire world!

 God always does exactly what He says He will do!

 *****Luk 1:59  And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. 

Luk 1:60  And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. 

Luk 1:61  And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. 

Luk 1:62  And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. 

Luk 1:63  And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all. 

 It was on the day of circumcision, the eighth day after the birth, when a Jewish child was named, and most names came in relation to the father and the father's family.

 John was named by God Himself, and some of these friends of Elisabeth were confused.

 We should know that it is on the eighth day that the blood of a newborn will clot to stop the bleeding, naturally.

 This is why God chose the eighth day.

 Lev_12:3  And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.

 Circumcision was the sign of the covenant God made with Abraham.

 Gen 17:9  And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations. 

Gen 17:10  This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.

 We should also understand that circumcision is also a type of Christ.

 Col 2:9  For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 

Col 2:10  And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: 

Col 2:11  In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 

Col 2:12  Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

 Those friends and family of Elisabeth and Zacharias could not grasp that something new was at hand, a New Covenant.

 John was circumcised as a sign of the New Covenant that God was about to make for His people.

 Most of the Jews have not accepted the New Covenant even today, but they will while going through the tribulation period of seven years.

 Rom_11:11  I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

 The Jews did not stumble to be rejected but once they stumbled, God offered His "grace" to the Gentile world with the purpose of provoking Israel to jealousy.

 The fact that this son was named John is enough proof that this whole event was true!

 Zacharias confirmed it by naming the child John.

 Immediately, the chastening of Zacharias ended, and his voice returned to him.

 *****Luk 1:64  And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God. 

Luk 1:65  And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea. 

Luk 1:66  And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.

 Zacharias knows that John will be his only son, but he does not give him his own name, which was tradition.

 By doing so, he renounces his rights to John and acknowledges that he is giving him to God.

 He originated from God; he therefore belonged to God!

 Zacharias had a baby dedication by dedicating him to God.

 Unbelief had closed the mouth of Zacharias, but faith had made him free!

 Jhn_8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

 Zacharias had not spoken in nine months, but the first words he had were to praise God.

 All those who were there did not understand what was going on.

 They could not explain it, nor could they deny it.

 They could not understand because they had no faith.

 The one thing they knew was that John was something special because they could tell the hand of the Lord was involved in these things.

 They went about all Judaea telling them what had happened on that day of John's circumcision.

 They would not forget what they had seen and heard but kept them in their hearts.

 After our salvation, we should be praising God continuously.

We should be amazed that the Lord would do such a thing as die for our sins.

We should be spreading this "Good News" everywhere we go.

We should see that our destiny lies in the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 1Pe 1:17  And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: 

1Pe 1:18  Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 

1Pe 1:19  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 

1Pe 1:20  Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 

 Psa 111:9  He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name. 

Psa 111:10  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever. 

 Psa 89:7  God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him. 

 *****Luk 1:67  And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,

 There is one thing we know for sure, and it is that God will never go against His own words.

 God will never break a covenant that He has with us as a group or that He has made with us individually.

 No sooner than when his tongue was loosed, Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit.

 Once Zacharias obeyed God, God removed His chastisement from him, and he was healed of his dumbness, and he could speak again.

 1) Zacharias was forgiven for his sin of unbelief.

 We must be aware that every time we question the Word of God, we are committing the sin of doubt, doubting God, doubting our Lord Jesus Christ.

 Remember, it is by faith we are saved! 

 2) Zacharias being filled with the Holy Spirit is a great picture of what happens to every child of God who accepts the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior.

 We believe and obey God, then and only then, are we filled with God the Holy Spirit.

 Act 2:38  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 

Act 2:39  For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 

 *****Luk 1:68  Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, 

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

Luk 1:70  As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: 

Luk 1:71  That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; 

Luk 1:72  To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; 

Luk 1:73  The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, 

Luk 1:74  That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, 

Luk 1:75  In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. 

 The birth of John is the reason for this song of prophecy by Zacharias, but this song is about the yet unborn Jesus Christ.

 This is the fruit of the Holy Spirit at work.

 The Holy Spirit will always, ALWAYS, lead us to the Lord Jesus Christ!

 It is this same God of Israel who is God the Father of Christianity!

 Just as Jehovah will stand up for Israel as He has done many times already, He is now standing up for Christians throughout this world.

 Notice an important thing here: Zacharias is speaking as if these events are already fulfilled, while they are still in the future.

 Why, because God's promises are guaranteed. God will do just as He says He will do!

 It is God Himself who visited this earth in the person of the Messiah.

 God will not neglect this earth until He has taken all His children to our new home on the New Earth.

 Why has the Messiah come first?

 1) He came to redeem His children.

2) He came to rescue His children from sin

3) He came to save His children.

 Though it is wonderful for those who have faith and accept the Gospel, God paid a tremendous price.

 He paid a life for a life!

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

Eph 1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 

Eph 1:5  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 

Eph 1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 

Eph 1:7  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Eph 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 

Eph 1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 

Eph 1:5  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 

Eph 1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 

Eph 1:7  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 

 Just as promised, the Messiah would come from the House of David.

 Isa 9:6  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 

Isa 9:7  Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. 

 That word "horn" is always a symbol of strength, power, and might.

 The Lord Jesus, the "Horn," is the Mighty One of salvation because He alone possessed the might, the strength, and the power to save.

 We should also add that He is willing.

 These are acts of "mercy and grace".

 These acts prove that God remembers His covenants.

 Every prophet of the Old Testament is proven to have told the truth, and they were murdered just because they spoke the truth of God, just as many are murdered today just because we believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 God is working on His plan for this world at all times; He never rests from looking out for His children.

 Jesus is the same Messiah named in the Book of Genesis.

 Gen 3:15  And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. 

 The world may have driven a nail through the feet of Jesus, but He still walks through the lives of Christians, and He will walk again upon this earth.

 Satan will not overcome that blow to His head.

 God will remember the promises made to Abraham.

 Gen 26:3  Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father; 

Gen 26:4  And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; 

Gen 26:5  Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws. 

 We may think there is turmoil in and around Israel now, but things are going to get worse until the Lord sits upon the throne of David.

 God saves us so that we might serve Him and fulfill the purpose He has for each of us upon this earth.

God saves us so that we can live righteously and serve Him forever.

 We can be at peace knowing that we do not have to fear what the world can do to us because the worst thing the world can do to us is the best thing that can happen to us.

 We must have a clear understanding that we do not need to fear our enemies; we have been saved from them!

We will stand one day in the presence of our Holy God in a new world designed especially for us.

 1Jn 4:17  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 

1Jn 4:18  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 

1Jn 4:19  We love him, because he first loved us. 

 Now back to John the Baptist.

 *****Luk 1:76  And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; 

Luk 1:77  To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, 

Luk 1:78  Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, 

Luk 1:79  To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. 

Luk 1:80  And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel. 

 John would be a prophet of God.

 There had been no prophets for four hundred years, and John would be the first prophet since the prophet Malachi.

 Here in this same verse, it is the Lord Jesus Christ who is the Highest.

 Jhn_10:30  I and my Father are one.

 Highest means the Supreme God, just so no one gets confused.

John was to prepare the way for the Lord Jesus.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the "Dayspring from on high". The morning light, the rising sun.

The Messiah, Our Lord Jesus, was sent to give light to those who had been in darkness.

The Messiah was sent to those who are in the shadow of death.

The Messiah was sent to guide our feet through this sinful world.

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. 

The only place in Scripture we see anything about the childhood of John the Baptist is in verse eighty.

He was a boy with a strong heart and commitment.

He had a strong will and decisiveness.

He was strong in his convictions.

He was a servant of the Most High God!

He was committed to follow, obey, and serve God.

He separated himself from the world until it was time for him to preach.

John stayed in the desert till the day of his showing.

John is not told to form a political party.

John is not told to make known God's thoughts to His people.

John is not taught all the fighting methods of his day.

John is not told to form an army.

John is told to trust the Lord!

Our one greatest test is, "do we have faith in the truth of God"?

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. 

Amen