Making Preparations for the Cross

 Preparation For the Cross

Book of Matthew Chapter 21

We should understand that everything that our Lord Jesus Christ did while He was upon this earth was done in preparation for His death on that cruel Cross!

From this lesson till the end of the Book of Matthew we will witness the death, the burial, and the resurrection of our Lord and Savior.

In this chapter Matthew begins to record the last week in the life of our Redeemer.

We should understand that Jehovah made a literal and political covenant with David and the fulfillment of this covenant will also be literal and political, but it will also have a spiritual fulfillment.

Psa 89:2  For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens. 

Psa 89:3  I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant, 

Psa 89:4  Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah. 

All the Old Testament prophets expected a literal fulfillment of all the things written of the Messiah.

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. 

Isa 11:4  But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. 

Isa 11:5  And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. 

We know the Jews expected such a fulfillment of these things.

While the Jews craved a King David, God first sent a Savior.

Isa 7:14  Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 

In our lesson today we will see our Messiah be welcomed as this promised King on one day and a few days later He is crucified.

*****Mat 21:1  And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,

Bethphage was the name of a small village on the Mount of Olives and was situated at a fork in the road from Jerusalem to Jericho.

Bethphage was also close to Bethany.

It is at this fork in the road where Jesus sent two of the disciples to fetch a year-old donkey and its mother.

*****Mat 21:2  Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. 

Mat 21:3  And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. 

We might ask ourselves, why would the Lord need this colt?

A year-old colt had reached his full strength, but it would have to be broken before it could be ridden or before it could be used to carry supplies.

This colt would do these things for Jesus, but it would also fulfill prophecy.

By riding this colt through the streets of Jerusalem, the Lord Jesus Christ would be proclaiming He was a King.

Many have had different thoughts as to why the Lord Jesus did this thing but there is only one reason, to fulfill prophecy!

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. 

Some would say that the Lord Jesus made prior arrangements to get these animals but that is not necessary for God or why would two of the Lord's disciples be questioned.

We should believe that the Lord demonstrated His omniscience as further proof to these 12 disciples.

God knows everything that is happening, all the time.

The Lord was saying to these 12 and to all that knew Him that He was certainly the Messiah.

He was not proclaiming to be the physical King of Israel at this time.

He was proclaiming to be the Spiritual King at this time as Jesus said to Pilate.

Joh 18:33  Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews? 

Joh 18:34  Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me? 

Joh 18:35  Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? 

Joh 18:36  Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. 

The Lord Jesus will return to be not only King of Israel but King of all this world for 1000 years.

*****Mat 21:4  All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, 

Mat 21:5  Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. 

Everything that the Lord Jesus did while He walked upon this earth was a fulfillment of prophecy!

Had the Messiah not come to save, we could toss the entire Bible out as false, but He did, just as He will return.

You see the Lord had a purpose behind such detailed preparations!

Zechariah said to tell Jerusalem and this telling was a warning.

He said the King in the line of David was coming just as written in the Scriptures.

He was coming in meekness not as the reigning King.

He would be sitting upon a donkey not as a conqueror.

The Lord Jesus made sure this prophecy was completed just as written so there would be no misunderstanding.

The Lord did not come to execute "judgment", this would take place at His Second Coming.

The Lord did come to provide a means of salvation to whosoever would believe all these things.

Col 1:19  For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 

Col 1:20  And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. 

Col 1:21  And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 

The Lord Jesus the Christ will return!

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

Heb 9:28  So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. 

*****Mat 21:6  And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, 

Mat 21:7  And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. 

Mat 21:8  And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. 

These two disciples found these things to be just as the Lord had said.

There was no saddle for this animal because it had never been ridden so they placed their own robes upon this animal.

Then they helped the Lord to sit upon this animal.

Jesus Christ rode this animal into Jerusalem as a King but not as the King of Israel and He explains this later.

Jesus was deliberately accepting this homage from the disciples and all the multitudes that had gathered.

All the multitude showed homage by placing their clothing and palm branches and other branches from trees along His pathway even straw in some places.

We are to always obey the Lord without asking questions!

As our Spiritual King entered into Jerusalem, He rode to the Temple and not to the palace.

All these things mean, as we make a way for Jesus Christ to enter the hearts of the lost, we need to give Our Lord the very best that we can!

Php 3:7  But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 

Php 3:8  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 

Php 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 

Php 3:10  That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 

Php 3:11  If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 

Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the Highest!

*****Mat 21:10  And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? 

Mat 21:11  And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee. 

We should understand that at the time of the Passover there would be over 2 million Jews in Jerusalem even in the day of Jesus and many of those did not know anything about what the Lord Jesus had been doing.

Certainly, they would want to know, just who was this man called Jesus as He rode in as a King.

Those multitudes that had been following Him gave them the answer, but in reality, it was the wrong answer.

Jesus was in fact the Son of David as prophesied!

Many of the local Jews had heard how Lazarus had been resurrected from the dead and that news had spread fast.

Thousands had gone forth to welcome this future King of the Jews.

Palm branches were waved by those traveling with Jesus and those that were welcoming Jesus.

"Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord".

Hosanna was shouted everywhere, and Hosanna means "save now".

Psa 118:25  Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity. 

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

Psa 118:27  God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar. 

Psa 118:28  Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee. 

Psa 118:29  O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. 

Sadly all the enemies of Jesus could think of only one thing.

Joh 12:15  Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt. 

Joh 12:16  These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him. 

Joh 12:17  The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record. 

Joh 12:18  For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle. 

Joh 12:19  The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him. 

We know that the Lord Jesus had taken a moment to weep for those who were in Jerusalem on this day because the Lord knew what awaited Him.

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. 

Jesus did not go to the palace of the king but instead He went to the Temple.

Jesus had not come to be King of Israel at this time!

*****Mat 21:12  And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, 

Mat 21:13  And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. 

This is the second time the Lord Jesus had cleansed the Temple.

Joh 2:13  And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, 

Joh 2:14  And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: 

Joh 2:15  And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; 

Joh 2:16  And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. 

There were always money changers because only true Temple Coins could be used, so there was the weighing of coins, deductions for out of area coins, arguing, disputing, and bargaining.

Lambs for sacrifice and many others who bought and sold. 

The Temple was nothing more than a bazaar during the days of the festivals.

It seemed so easy to buy a lamb to be sacrificed so your sins could be forgiven for one year.

The Lord's House of Prayer had become worthless as the High Priestly family earned riches from these things that were taking place.

Jesus made no whip this time, the King needed no whip.

Jesus just overturned all the tables and ran those away who brought condemnation to the House of God.

The modern Church had better think on all these things as they have also become just dens of robbers.

Isa 56:7  Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. 

The messenger had come to Israel, and he had been beheaded but the Lord had suddenly come to the Temple.

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. 

Mal 3:2  But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: 

Mal 3:3  And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. 

The Lord will return and who then may abide the day of His coming.

There are those who refuse to believe that a third Temple will be built but they are wrong.

Not in the Church Age but surely during the time of Jacob's Trouble.

2Th 2:1  Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 

2Th 2:2  That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 

2Th 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 

2Th 2:4  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 

It is the enemies of God who will build this third Temple just as the money for building of every Temple has come from the enemies of God.

The Temple is cleansed. Noise and confusion have ended.

During this confusion some of those who were not allowed inside the Temple came to be healed.

*****Mat 21:14  And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.

Those with infirmaries were not allowed inside the Temple but in the confusion, they ran to Jesus.

Those who had suffered the most came to see Jesus, the true Messiah.

There is no medical situation that the Lord Jesus Christ did not heal on this day!

Every Church, those that gather in the name of the Lord Jesus, are to be places for the ministries of Jesus Christ. 

The Church is to be a place to find healing for your soul.

No matter what ails us, the Lord Jesus Christ can heal us!

Mat_15:31  Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.

These are things that the world could not do at the time of Jesus, and no one can heal like Jesus did  this day!

There were some enemies who were eyewitnesses to these things, yet their hearts were so hardened the only thing they saw was an enemy to their pocketbooks and their prestige.

*****Mat 21:15  And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased, 

Mat 21:16  And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise? 

Who were these chief priest and scribes that saw these wonderful things? They were the same ones who yelled "Crucify Him"!

Mat 26:3  Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, 

Mat 26:4  And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him. 

The Temple was full of visitors from many nations, and they witnessed the Messiah.

They had not seen as our Lord road in on the donkey, but they saw the power of God right before their eyes.

You know there is nothing you can say or do to convince a religionist that they are wrong in their beliefs.

They have no faith in the words they uphold and certainly no faith in the truth of God.

They have made religion their God and they change it to suit any situation they do not agree with.

They also believe that they must destroy all those who oppose them!

Children believe what they see.

Children believe what they hear from adults.

Children can easily be taken away from the truth by those who reject the truth.

Children are capable of knowing the truth of Jesus Christ and be saved!

The Lord Jesus teaches us to have child-like faith in His truth.

These same children also witnessed the hatred for the truth from so-called respectable adults.

We should always offer praise to our Lord when we gather in His house, but also wherever we are and encourage our children to join in.

Jesus Christ always welcomed the children!

Notice how the Lord Jesus defended these children who offered perfect praise. 

Some places of worship do not allow children to be in the audience while the preaching takes place, they are foolish. These places worship a false god because they do not obey what Jesus said to do.

Some places of worship till this day reject the Jesus the Christ, the Messiah. These places worship a false god!

Some places of worship reject the Jesus is the Savior of this entire world. These places worship a false god.

Some places of worship object to the public praising of our Lord and Savior. These places are centers for false teaching and blasphemy.

We should understand that is our Heavenly Father who raised up children to offer praise inside and outside the Church.

Psa 8:1  O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.

Psa 8:2  Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. 

It is foolish adults who take these things away from their children!

If a Church ceases to praise the Lord, in all likelihood God will raise up some child or some young adult to voice their own praise for the truth of God!

Are you a child of God?

Heb 2:13  And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me. 

Heb 2:14  Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 

Heb 2:15  And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 

Then you are one of His children!

Amen

Not a Gospel of Works

 The Cost of being a Part of the Kingdom

Book of Matthew Chapter 19

Today we see the story of a rich young ruler and this rich young ruler should also give us a picture of those in America today who do not know the Lord Jesus Christ.

This lesson is not about riches. 

There were no rulers that were not appointed by Rome or through Rome.

This person in all likely hood was a young ruler of a synagogue.

This man would have at least been 30 years old.

Most the rulers of the synagogues were chosen because they were free from the need to work for a living.

They could devote themselves full time to the duties of the synagogue.

Most of them of course, were Pharisees and they followed all the traditions of the Pharisees, the "oral law".

What are some questions that will be answered as we go through this lesson?

1) Christ denied that He was good. Was this true? He did not deny that He was the Master!

2) Christ taught this man nothing of believing but told him to keep the law. Jesus Christ is the only One who kept all the Law!

3) Christ told this man to sell all he had. Does God really require this of us to be saved?

This passage of Scripture is used by many to do away with "Grace" and keep to the "Law", but those who do this miss the whole point of the message of Jesus.

This passage also teaches us, those who think that they have goodness within themselves, when as the Lord says, there are none good but God! 

This is typical of religionist!

The main question they all have is: how do I obtain eternal life?

Mar 10:17  And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? 

Luk 18:18  And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 

He is saying: what work can I do to gain eternal life?

Just as he had inherited his riches he asked: how do I inherit eternal life? To inherit the things of God is impossible though we will share in the inheritance of the Lord Jesus Christ!

We cannot inherit what God gives as gifts to those who love Him!

How did Matthew see it? Remember Matthew was an eyewitness to this event.

*****Mat 19:16  And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 

The first thing we notice is that this young man, probably a ruler of a local synagogue, was ignorant of eternal life.

We should understand that there are only two groups of people in the world and they both already have the promise of eternal life.

Life with the Lord will be wonderful, but life in the pits of Hell will be so horrible it will be as eternal damnation.

Many people do not believe in a Hell, but you cannot believe in Heaven and reject that there is a place called Hell.

This young man should have known this.

Dan 12:1  And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. 

Dan 12:2  And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 

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

We need some of the wisdom of our Heavenly Father to avoid that damnation!

This young man went to the right source in seeking the wisdom of the Lord Jesus.

This is the most important information that we must seek as humans, but the mistake that is made the most is that we may be able to do some work to obtain this eternal life which is impossible.

The "Gospel of Grace" is not a "Gospel of Works"!

This young man who had tried his best to be obedient to the Laws of Moses had realized he had no assurance of eternal life with Jehovah God.

What was his problem? There were some things he was not going to give up even for Jehovah God!

The one fact we had better understand is, that we can have all the religion in the world and put on top of that all the goodness in the world, and yet without the Lord Jesus Christ we cannot know how to obtain eternal life. We can only obtain eternal death!

Eternal life is not some reward we can earn!

Eternal life is a gift for acknowledging the truth of God's Messiah!

2Jn_1:7  For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

1Jn_4:3  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

1Jn 2:22  Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 

1Jn 2:23  Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. 

How did the Lord Jesus respond to this question?

*****Mat 19:17  And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 

Mat 19:18  He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 

Mat 19:19  Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 

The one thing this young ruler got right is the fact that there is life in another world.

Every individual who lives needs to understand this truth!

Very few of those who are rich will ever admit that there is something this important that they cannot purchase with this world's riches.

Many people, especially the young and add to those the rich, just do not realize the peace of mind and the sense of completeness that comes from knowing these things are forever settled while we live in this natural world. 

Yes, there is the natural world and there is the spiritual world.

We are born sinners into this material world, and we have the ability to make choices, but we will live and die by our choices.

The Lord Jesus made this truly clear to this young man, "there is none good but God".

This young man looked upon the Lord Jesus as a good man, not as the Messiah.

This young man was ignorant of who he was speaking to, in fact rejecting Him as the Messiah.

God had given the children of Israel the Laws of Moses and also the sacrifices that were to be made yearly in order for them to be received into Paradise.

The New Covenant had not yet begun so this young man was still under the Old Covenant which would soon be done away with, but not on this day he was with our Lord.

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. 

These are things that only God can do, and His name is Jehovah.

Only Jehovah is good! The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit!

The Lord Jesus Christ is certainly much more than a "good teacher" yet He is the only One who can teach us the "Good Things" of God!

Note: the Lord Jesus tells each of us the same thing today.

He would tell each of us to keep the Commandments.

Mat 22:37  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 

Mat 22:38  This is the first and great commandment. 

Mat 22:39  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 

Mat 22:40  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. 

We might ask ourselves what is our greatest hindrance in getting to to Heaven? Self-righteousness.

*****Mat 19:20  The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?

As far as this young man was concerned, he was perfect.

If he had kept all of the Laws of Moses as He had said, then he already knew he had eternal life according to the Old Covenant with God.

In reality we already know that only the Lord Jesus Christ was able to keep all the Laws of Moses.

The real truth is that the Lord Jesus looks into the heart as we have said many times.

There is one law that we all break routinely.

It was first in the Old Covenant and first in the New Covenant.

Old Covenant:

Exo 20:2  I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 

Exo 20:3  Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Deu 6:4  Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: 

Deu 6:5  And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 

New Covenant:

Mar 12:30  And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 

Over and over again the Lord Jesus had proved He was the Anointed One sent from God, but to this young man the Lord Jesus was just a good teacher.

The first need for any of us is, to realize that we are just lost sinners in need of a Savior.

This young man felt that he was perfect and without sin.

So what did this young man lack as he felt he must have some work to do?

*****Mat 19:21  Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 

Instead of trying to accumulate more riches, the Lord Jesus said you must "repent", change direction, change the way you think, give your riches to the poor those riches will just weigh you down if you give your heart to the Lord.

If we love our neighbors, we will help them in their hour of need!

We should understand that this was a test for this rich young ruler, and we cannot apply this to everyone who is rich.

We are all rich compared to what our parents had as far as material things.

I have said that the greatest sin is the ignorance of the Lord Jesus Christ, and this is still true.

In reality, until we realize that we are just sinners in a lost and dying world, we will never realize that we are ignorant of our own selves.

He had boasted that his obedience to those old laws was exact.

In truth he needed a new heart.

In truth he needed a new sense of guilt.

In truth he needed to know the reality of sin.

We get hung up on what the Lord Jesus said about those riches, and we forget what Jesus actually said.

The Lord Jesus said "if you want to be perfect then follow Me"!

When the Lord says to "Come", then it is time to Come!

This young man with such riches had to expose his true god, riches.

*****Mat 19:22  But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. 

Mat 19:23  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. 

Mat 19:24  And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 

When the Lord says to come then it is time to drop everything and go to Him!

The very first thing we all must do is to go to the Lord when He calls!

Today the Lord calls through the Holy Spirit and we must not be fooled; the Holy Spirit may one day quit calling us.

Gen 6:3  And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man,

We must walk by the Holy Spirit who will never lead us astray but will always lead us to the Lord Jesus Christ!

Rom 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 

Rom 8:2  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 

Rom 8:3  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 

Rom 8:4  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 

Rom 8:5  For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 

Rom 8:6  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 

Rom 8:7  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 

Rom 8:8  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 

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. 

Rom 8:10  And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 

Self-Righteousness has no place in the New Covenant, just as it had no place in the Old Covenant.

This young man probably at least 30 years old could not depart from his worldly things, therefore he could not accept Spiritual things.

Riches are a great obstacle for those who are rich to overcome!

Wealth, materialism and pride have taken many a person to Hell and they will many more.

There are many interpretations for that phrase "eye of a needle".

This is a lesson for another time.

If we take what Jesus said literally and we should, then we can say without a doubt that a rich man unwilling to part with his worldly goods will never make it into Heaven.

A camel cannot pass through any needle.

A camel in the time of Jesus was the largest of the animals Israel.

If there was a small door called the "needle's eye", then it was certainly impossible for a fully loaded camel to go through that door or that gate that was made for humans.

Camels cannot get into Heaven and humans unwilling to part with their worldly goods will certainly not get into Heaven.

Only those who have repented and followed the Lord Jesus Christ and who come when He calls, can get into God's New Heaven!

The disciples were astonished at these words of the Lord!

*****Mat 19:25  When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? 

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

Just who can be saved? 

Act 8:37  And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 

Pretty simple!

Did Jesus just teach these things as fact?

What had these disciples been taught?

What has been taught throughout all generations?

What has much of the Church been taught?

1) That prosperity is God's blessing.

2) That prosperity is the reward for righteousness and obedience.

3) That earthly treasures come to those who are obedient to the Lord.

Jesus Christ just burst that bubble right here in this passage!

We must clearly understand that salvation is of Jehovah God!

With men salvation is impossible!

Salvation is by "Grace" and only by the "Grace" of God.

Prosperity is no more a sign of obedience than being poor is a sign of disobedience!

God promises to meet our needs.

God is concerned for our Spiritual blessings.

Righteousness and prosperity have nothing to do with each other!

Wealth is seldom a good thing for anyone!

Wealth in many cases bring worldly difficulties.

The goal of most every poor man is to be rich.

Why is having wealth such a problem?

Mat 6:21  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 

God does choose to bless some more than others, but this is just what God does and we can be sure He has His own reasons.

In fact we must consider just what are true blessings and not many of us would say money.

For instance it would be a great blessing to me if I knew all my family here on earth would also be in Heaven.

What do we know for sure?

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

We must not forget our purpose; our purpose must match God's purpose!

If God allows us to have more, it may be because there are those who have a need.

God also expects us to enjoy life, but He does not necessarily allow for us to live extravagantly.

Man was not made for worldly things; worldly things were made for man.

The problem is, we allow ourselves to become slaves to these things and with this slavery we lust for more and more in a never-ending cycle.

If we use any wealth that God gives us for promoting the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ, then we see what God expected us to do with it.

Anything that takes our heart away from the Lord is then an abomination!

Jer 17:5  Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.

It seems that no one upon this earth has the know-how to break the power of lust for riches.

From the time we are born until the time we die we seem to want more and more!

Just as the Lord Jesus Christ is our only hope, He is the only hope for the rich.

It is only the Lord Jesus who can break all chains of bondage!

Our desire for Heaven must outweigh any desires we may have for the things of this earth!

We must also remember there is nothing too hard for God!

He is in the business of saving lost souls!

To be saved is to be a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Again Peter steps in with a response.

*****Mat 19:27  Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? 

Mat 19:28  And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 

What had Jesus said to that rich young ruler to do? "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me".

It is those treasures in Heaven, no matter what they are, that are far more important than anything of this world!

As hard as it sounds, to be saved it is really quite simple, it is all about Jesus Christ!

The Lord Jesus Christ is the stumbling block for all unbelievers!

It is not about being poor any more than it is about being rich!

Peter was just wondering if he had done enough.

Had these disciples done enough? We know that one never did.

In fact none ever did enough because it is not about works.

We will find that the Lord Jesus Christ has done all the works and the key to salvation is simply, do we have faith in the work that the Lord Jesus has done?

We must forsake this world for the privilege of living in the Glory World!

Forsaking all does not mean we are to not support our families and it takes worldly riches to get those things.

Peter still had a home.

Mat 8:14  And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever.

Serving the Lord means we put the Lord first even above our families, but it does relieve us the duty to provide for our families.

We are to follow the Lord Jesus Christ and if our family chooses not to then we are to continue with Christ.

The truth is when we put the Lord Jesus first in our lives, we find that life becomes more balanced!

Luk 18:29  And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, 

Luk 18:30  Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting. 

The Lord Jesus also said these words.

When we follow the Lord Jesus Christ we will never regret having done so!

We will find that we have changed the way we think.

2Co 5:16  Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 

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. 

How do we lose our rewards?

1) Not forsaking all for Christ Jesus.

2) Thinking we have given up more than some others give.

We are never to attempt to bargain with God!

1Jn 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 

1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 

1Jn 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

If it is in this world, it is worthless in Heaven!

Amen

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