The Messenger Of The King

The Messenger Of The King

Our Text: Matthew Chapter 11:1-30

We have a time line from the information of verse one. When Christ Jesus had sent out the Apostles then these things of chapter eleven take place:

Mat 10:1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

Mat 11:1 And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, [he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities].

We are never alone. If by God's will you are called to do something for God, you must realize that Christ Himself is also out working and if He is working then God is working.

There is no work yet to be done in the means of salvation, Christ finished that work on the Cross. There is only the work given to every one that calls on the name of Jesus to be fulfilled:

Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Christ Jesus, is the Lord of the Harvest, as He sent forth laborers, He also enters into the Harvest Himself.

What we will see in these scriptures is more of the fading of John the Baptist and also more of the rejection of the King as we proceed.

While Christ Jesus was ministering around Galilee, John the Baptist had preached boldly to all that would listen and he had gotten the attention of government. It is a shame that the people that make the laws are usually more guilty of breaking the laws they have put in place. Just as in our day the government of Herod was corrupt and immoral and when God's people point these things out then, God's Children and God's Ministers are treated like the bad guys. The hate crimes legislation that is coming more and more into this world is centered against the Word of God.

We cannot allow this to stop the preaching of the truth of the Gospel.

Jesus said:

Joh 15:22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.

The government of Herod had put John the Baptist behind bars but the world would see that though they reject the truth of the Word of God, the world cannot stop the Word of God.

Luk 3:19 But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,

Luk 3:20 Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.

It amazes me when I see day by day what our government does in the name "of the good of the people" but no matter, by that same Word of God, I must pray for them.

The Word of God will bring change to the individual and it takes individuals to make families, and communities and nations. Sadly the world and it's governments are on their way to destruction and do not want to see change. They see themselves above the law!

John the Baptist was locked up because he preached the truth of God's Holy Word!

*****Our Text:

Mat 11:2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,

Mat 11:3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?

Mat 11:4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:

Mat 11:5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

Mat 11:6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

We will see in this passage:

1.) A disheartened John the Baptist.

2.) The assurance given by the Lord Jesus.

3.) A commendation given by the Lord Jesus.

You know it should have been that the religious leaders should have come to the defence of John the Baptist, for John preach the truth of the Word of God but instead they remained quiet or they sided with government.

This is just a taste of how religion and government will work together in the coming years and during the first part of the tribulation period after the Church is called out. This "sign" we can see now in the very day we live in.

Religion will send you to hell. Only Jesus Christ, "the Rejected One", can save us.

Sure John got impatient. John was a man of the wild and now he was locked in a dungeon behind four walls. John was a preacher with the Word of God burning in his heart, yet government had silenced him. John had preached judgment yet that judgment had not yet come.

Once Christ had sent the Apostles out to preach and He also, many good reports were being heard and some had reached John in prison. John knew that the Messiah was to put down oppression and deliver Israel. John was ready to see these things happen.

The miracles that Christ did were supernatural, not natural and they conformed to the Old Testament concept of the Messiah. The only evidence Christ Jesus would send back to John was this same evidence given to the nation of Israel everywhere Christ preached.

The Bible says:

Isa 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

Isa 61:2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

Isa 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

Isa 42:6 I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;

Isa 42:7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

Isa 35:4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.

Isa 35:5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

Isa 35:6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.

John the Baptist knew all these things but he showed impatience and wanted some reassurance from the Lord Jesus.

John had come in the in the spirit and the power of Elijah, but remember even Elijah had had his days of discouragement.

We get our assurance from the Bible knowing that Christ Jesus has fulfilled and will fulfill all prophesy. We know He died on the Cross and was raised from that dead. That tomb is still empty! We know of all the great things our Lord did while on this earth and we know He is coming back to get us.

John's faith was in the Old Testament, he believed Christ was the Messiah but he had only heard of the works of Christ for a few months. We may see doubt in John but we need to look at our own selves for do we even have the faith that John had?

Jesus adds:

"And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me"

When things do not go the way we expect them to go, do we let our guard down and start blaming God for our sorrows. We are wrong when we do!

John reached out for answers and he reached out to Christ Jesus for it is He that has all the answers. John knew if Jesus could fulfill what was written in Isaiah then He truly was the Messiah.

*****Our Text:

Mat 11:7 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?

Mat 11:8 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.

Mat 11:9 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.

Mat 11:10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

Mat 11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Mat 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

Mat 11:13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.

Mat 11:14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.

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

Christ Jesus then turned to the multitudes, many of whom had heard the preaching of John the Baptist and had believed. John stood before all that came and John preached the truth of God's Word. He didn't bend or yield to the majority, He spoke the truth and the One God, who over rules all earthly authority. John preached the same message to Herod that he would preach to you or to I.

The Bible says:

1Co 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1Co 15:58 Therefore, [my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord], forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

We must resist any attempt to change to God's Word, knowing that such change is of the Devil:

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

1Pe 5:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

We must help each other so we can all stand on God's Word:

Heb 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Heb 3:14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

John was not a reed that swayed in the breeze. John also did not seek physical comforts. You see there is comfort in this world for only a season. The comforts and the things of God are eternal. John was not perfect nor was he infallible.

Jesus declared John to be a "prophet", that is a messenger from God who declared that message. John himself was actually a fulfillment of prophesy:

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.

John's message was one of repentance! John the Baptist was greater than any of the prophets for he was the prophet that introduced the Messiah to Israel. The others had only foretold of His coming. The ministry of John the Baptist marked the climax of the Law and the Prophets.

John had actually come in the spirit and power of Elijah:

Luk 1:17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

John had even dressed like Elijah:

2Ki 1:7 And he said unto them, What manner of man was he which came up to meet you, and told you these words?

2Ki 1:8 And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite.

Like Elijah, John had a message of judgment for an apostate nation:

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

We should not get confused because the Bible still states that Elijah will come but that will be in the tribulation period:

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.

This will be just before the second coming of Christ and is most probably during the time of the two witnesses:

Rev 11:3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

Rev 11:4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

Mat 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

We know in history no such judgments followed this time of John the Baptist.

John had one ministry. He was to prepare the nation of Israel to receive the Lord Jesus Christ and to present Jesus to this nation:

Joh 1:30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.

Joh 1:31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.

Joh 1:32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.

Joh 1:33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

Joh 1:34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

*****Our Text:

The leaders of Israel refused to honor John and the Word he spoke:

Mat 11:16 But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,

Mat 11:17 And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.

Mat 11:18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.

Mat 11:19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. [But wisdom is justified of her children].

We can see that Jesus Christ was dealing with the rejection in this little parable. The religious and the government of the nation of Israel were going to have their own way no matter what the cost. Just as children at play reject the ideas of others and insist on their own way so when John came fasting the Jews rejected him. When Christ came and did not fast He also was rejected. This generation found fault no matter what was done.

We can see this continuing in our day as the Word of God is rejected by those that have their own humanistic way and cannot be changed.

The Bible says:

Pro 17:24 Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.

Wisdom is an Old Testament name of Our Lord. In fact in Proverbs 8 it says that Wisdom is a person and that person is Our Lord:

Pro 8:32 Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.

Pro 8:33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.

Pro 8:34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

Pro 8:35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.

Pro 8:36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

Those that believe are the children of Wisdom thus the children of God!

It is now after these words that we see our first mention of the word "woe" the "judgment of God". Christ now pronounced judgment on those that reject His Works, His Miracles. Christ explains that the Gentiles would have believed had they witnessed such glorious works and would have received His message.

In other words there is a separation of His Word and of the His Kingdom.

In other words there will be degrees of punishment.

Those that have witnessed the power of God and rejected that power will suffer more than those that have not seen Jesus and the Works that He did while He was on this Earth.

Similarly this will hold true in our day. Those that witnessed the life changing of those that have received the Lord Jesus and still reject His Gospel will suffer more than those that have never heard the Word of God.

Why did the Jews, who knew and had the Old Testament at this time, reject Christ Jesus. Some will say that Jesus did not fulfill the Messianic prophesies. Some will say that Jesus could not fulfill His claims. Christ Jesus will now give us the real reason.

Jesus said this nation, His own people, were blind and unable to see until this blindness was removed:

The Bible says:

Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

Rom 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

Rom 11:27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

We can know that they will get another opportunity during the tribulation period after the Church has been called out.

We can also see that during the Church Age that their are many Gentiles that walk that same path but they will not get another chance during the tribulation period after the Church is called out:

Eph 4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

Eph 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

Eph 4:19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

The religious leaders of Israel considered themselves to be wise and learned because they were students of the scriptures. They thought of themselves as already having the right relationship with God so they rejected the words of Jesus Christ.

Christ said if you did not have child like faith you would never accept His Words.

The only way to know the Father is to know His Son. If men will not accept this simple statement they will never know the Father who is in Heaven:

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.

Jesus Christ will readily reveal the Father to all that call on His name.

Even in the middle of all this rejection, Christ Jesus extended His hand in mercy. He invited them to receive His "yoke".

The "yoke" is a symbol of submission. Not only to submit to Him but to learn from Him. True salvation is found only in a person, it is not found in traditions. That person is Jesus Christ. To "come" means to trust Him.

These people were burdened down by the traditions of the Pharisees.

To "take" that yoke upon yourself is a deeper relationship with Christ Jesus. It is He that will give us rest.

We will have peace with God:

Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Rom 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

We will have the peace of God:

Php 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Php 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

To take the "yoke" of Christ is to be His disciple. That word "easy" means that the yoke will fit us well. That yoke is made for our lives and it will not be heavy:

1Jn 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

To "learn": To learn of Christ Jesus is to make life simple!

The Lord Jesus Christ sends this invitation out to "all", not just to the Nation of Israel.

Mat 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

That "ROCK" is Jesus Christ Our Lord.

Let's Pray!

The Apostles Of The King

THE APOSTLES OF THE KING

　

Our Text: Matthew 10:1-42

The work of salvation was accomplished by Jesus "alone", at the Cross. The witness of His testimony and His resurrection can only be done by God's Word and by His "disciples". To be a disciple of Jesus Christ one must first accept and trust Him as Lord and as Savior.

The King needed ambassadors to carry His message and He still needs them.

An "ambassador" is: As an ambassador is sent to a foreign court to declare the will of the king, so every Christian, is Christ's ambassador sent to wherever He may send to declare the will of his King.

Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

We will now learn how our Lord, who is truly the Lord of the Harvest, sends forth His laborers. He does it here as the King, who came to offer the Kingdom to Israel.

These first ones sent forth, the Apostles, would announce the same message Jesus had just preached, the sermon on the mount and the same message of repentance of John the Baptist. This message was altogether in connection to the Kingdom and ended with the full rejection of the Kingdom by the nation of Israel:

The Apostle John says it best:

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].

Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Jesus Christ was a Jew, of Judea. People could tell just by looking at Him that He was a Jew and He was rejected by His people the Jews.

Joh 4:9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, [How is it that thou, being a Jew], askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.

After the "Rapture of the Church" this same message will be preached again by 144,000 Jews during the great tribulation.

Rev 7:3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, [till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads].

We cannot ignore any of the Word of God, but this Chapter 10 of the book of Matthew is not the same commandment given to the Christian disciple which is:

Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

This chapter 10 is devoted to the twelve apostles:

1.) We will see their names.

2.) We will see their "first" commission.

3.) We will see their provisions.

4,) We will see their opposition.

5.) We will see their assistant.

6.) We will see some reaction to their ministry.

7.) We will see some rewards of their ministry.

*****Our Text:

Mat 10:1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

Mat 10:2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;

Mat 10:3 Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;

Mat 10:4 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

Mat 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:

Mat 10:6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Mat 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Mat 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

Mat 10:9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,

Mat 10:10 Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.

***What is an "Apostle"?

The term "apostle" comes from the Greek word "apostolosos" and it basically [means one who is sent]. In a sense it is the same as the Latin word "missionary" or one who is sent forth for a specific purpose.

These chosen disciples, "Apostles", were empowered (not brute force but by authority from God) with many abilities, among those were the power to heal all disease and cleanse all manner evilness.

Notice:

1.) They received a personal calling.

2.) They were discipled by the Lord Jesus Himself.

3.) They were sent out as "ambassadors" to the King, (King Jesus).

These things are similar to the calling to those of the Church:

A.) It will always be personal calling from Our Lord.

B.) The Church is discipled by the Word Of God, which are the Words of Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

C.) The Church is sent out to Witness to all we come in contact with.

Each one showed a love and loyalty to Christ at this time.

D.) Each Christian must be loyal Christ Jesus also. (faith)

Each Apostle had to meet certain requirements:

E.) Each Christian must meet certain requirements:

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

*****To be an Apostle:

1.) They had to have seen Jesus:

1Co 9:1 Am I not an apostle? am I not free? [have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord]? are not ye my work in the Lord?

2.) They would have had to fellowship with Jesus:

Act 1:21 Wherefore of these men [which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,

Act 1:22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection].

3.) They had to be chosen by Jesus:

Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

4.) It is these Apostles that laid the foundation, which is of Christ Jesus Our Lord, of the Church:

Eph 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

Eph 2:17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

Eph 2:18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

Eph 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

Eph 2:20 [And are built upon the foundation of the apostles] and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

Eph 2:21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

Eph 2:22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

The names of the Apostles:

1.) Simon Peter *****[who hears and obeys, the "rock"]

2.) Andrew*****(brother of Simon Peter)[a strong man, manly]

3.) James***** (The son of Zebedee)[supplanter, with an abundant portion)

4.) John*****(Brother of James and son of Zebedee)[Jehovah is gracious]

5.) Philip***** [lover of horses, warlike]

6.) Bartholomew***** [son that suspends the waters]

7.) Thomas***** [a twin]

8.) Matthew***** [gift of Jehovah, a reward]

9.) James*****(the son of Alphaeus) [supplanter that changes]

10.) Lebbaeus Thaddaeus***** [man of heart, large hearted, courageous]

11.) Simon***** (the Canaanite, Simon Zelotes) [the zealous rock]

12.) Judas Iscariot***** (the betrayer)[man of murder, a hireling]

Judas Iscariot was replaced with Matthias, by the Word of God.

Matthias means [a gift of God]

These twelve apostles have a definite relation with Israel:

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].

The New Jerusalem:

Rev 21:12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, [and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel]:

Rev 21:13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.

Rev 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

We can be sure that it is Matthias and not Paul that will judge the nation of Israel, and his name will be on one of those gates.

The Holy Spirit, guided this selection of Matthias by the Word of God.

The Scriptures had said:

Psa 109:8 Let his days be few; and let another take his office.

Act 1:20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.

Act 1:22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.

Act 1:23 And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.

Act 1:26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

We can see that the Apostle Paul recognized Mathias as an apostle:

1Co 15:5 And that he was seen of Cephas, [then of the twelve]:

Paul goes on to say:

1Co 15:8 And last of all he was seen of me also, [as of one born out of due time].

Paul separates himself from them as being different from these twelve:

Gal 1:1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)

Paul said he was specially chosen by the Lord for a specific purpose.

It is through Paul who had no earthly connections but chosen by the God of Glory after His resurrection, that the Gospel of Grace and the mystery that was formally hidden might be made known. To the Church, Jesus Christ is not King as such, but He is the Lord of Glory. It is from His Glory as the Head of the Body of Christ that He gives His gifts to the Church.

Eph 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

Eph 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

Eph 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Eph 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

Eph 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

Eph 4:9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

Eph 4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

IT IS EASY TO SEE THAT THERE CAN BE NO APOSTLES TODAY!

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:

We have yet to see Him but we will see Him one day and one day soon:

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].

*****In verse 6 we can see the first commission of these Apostles. They were to go only to the lost sheep of Israel. Not to the Gentiles, nor to any mixed race of the Jews.

It would be after the resurrection of Christ that these things would change:

The second commission of the Apostles:

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].

In this commandment of the Lord, these Apostles were to preach that the promised Kingdom for Israel, and through Israel to all the nations, was about to come. This is not the message of the Church but this will be the message preached again after the Rapture of the Church.

If not for the God of the second chance how many of us could be saved! I would burn in Hell if not for the God of mercy and grace and the God of the second and even third chance.

There are at least two principles that we can observe that do not change in the Church age:

1.) The Gospel is to be free!

The Church is not a business to make money.

2.) The Lord will provide for those He chooses!

We must have faith in God's providing power before we take it on our own to step out. Mankind will let the missionary down, and the preacher down, and the Church down. It is our faith in the providing power of God that will keep us going.

Jesus ask later:

Luk 22:35 And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.

These Apostles depended on the hospitality of others as they ministered the Word given to them by Jesus. They could only stay with believers!

The Apostles were not to compromise the message given to them of Christ Jesus. There is no compromising the Gospel. God says what He means and God means what He says.

*****Our Text:

Mat 10:14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.

Mat 10:15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

Mat 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

Mat 10:17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;

In this time of Jesus, the refusal to show hospitality was equal to a refusal to hear one's message. If you shook the dust off your feet that would tell those around you that you considered their place to be unclean. This was a sign that they had rejected the kingdom of heaven while Jesus was still on this earth in the flesh!

The Bible says:

Act 13:49 And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.

Act 13:50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.

Act 13:51 But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.

When we study our Bible we know that the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah was a complete destruction and their location never found, yet Jesus says:

"It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city".

Of course the judgment mentioned here is the "Great White Throne Judgment" of the Book of Revelation:

Rev 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

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

Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Rev 20:15 And [whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire].

Are there different degrees of judgment? This verse could indicate that this is true but there is no doubt that they all will be cast into that burning lake of fire.

*****Verse 16 gives another principle that we know to be true in all ages:

The instructions of Jesus at this point are instructions to all that are sent forth in the name of Jesus but these instruction will meet there fulfillment at the time of the great tribulation:

1.) Notice most of the opposition will come from organized religion:

Vs 17) "for they will deliver you up to the councils"

2.) And from governments:

Vs 18.) "ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake"

3.) And "All" must be saved to deliver this message:

Vs. 20) "For it is not ye that speak, [but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you]"

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.

4.) There will be "Worldwide" persecution:

Vs 22.) "And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake"

5.) Then, The Second coming of the Lord;

Vs 23.) "Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come"

We know that some of these things took place in the Book of Acts and the Pauline Epistles. We know that some of these things take place in the day we live but we can see that the fulfillment of all these things will be in the time of the Great Tribulation. (Matthew 24-25)

The tribulation period will be a time of great opposition. Remember the Church will already be in Heaven.

The opposition will come from:

1.) Organized religion.

2.) Organized governments

3.) From ones own family.

All these things happen to some extent in our day but we will see this greatly increase as time goes by. At the time of tribulation these things will be worldwide, even in our own families.

God's people will need to be tough, tough-minded and still tender hearted.

At some point during the tribulation period Religion and Government will join hands: Rev 13.

The Antichrist will force the world to worship him and his false prophets.

Rev 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

There will be no natural affection:

2Ti 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

2Ti 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

As Christians we must trust the Spirit of God to help us remember what the Lord has taught us. We must study to show ourselves worthy of His leadership:

Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

The Bible we have been given "is" the "Word that Christ Jesus has said to us"!

We should not flee when persecution comes upon us!

*****Our Text:

Mat 10:24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.

Mat 10:25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?

Mat 10:26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.

The emphasis on this section of scripture is Vs 26, "Fear Not".

When we have a fear of confessing Christ openly, and many of us do, we are not fulfilling our obligation of confession to the Lord!

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

Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and [with the mouth confession is made unto salvation].

The world has it's CIA, FBI, Massad, Interpol and others BUT:

God does not have a Secret Service!

Christ was persecuted, we will also be persecuted. However:

1Pe 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

1Pe 3:13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?

1Pe 3:14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and [be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

1Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear]:

1Pe 3:16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

Why?

1.) God will bring everything to the light (Vs 26-27).

2.) We are to fear only God Himself (Vs 28).

For God will not condemn His children:

Joh 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

3.) God cares for His children (Vs 29-31).

A farthing would be about a half a penny in our money. You could get two sparrows for a half cent. To humans a sparrow was worthless but to God, He kept up with every life of this worthless bird. If God does that for this birds then He will do even more for His chosen children.

More and more in our age [the human life becomes more and more worthless to the societies we live in] but God will always be there for us:

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

4.) God honor's those that confess Him (Vs 32-33)

a.) Jesus is our High Priest in Heaven.

b.) Jesus is our Advocate in Heaven.

1Jn 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

1Jn 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

5.) A Christian will always have conflict around them (Vs 34-39)

Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

If you put on armor you are preparing for war.

2Ti 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

2Ti 2:4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

THERE IS NO MIDDLE GROUND IN THIS WAR!

6.) We can be a blessing to others (Vs 40-42)

When we become the children of God through faith in Christ:

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

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

We become disciples when we follow in the footsteps of Christ Jesus:

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

This is a daily walk and not a part time walk.

Let's Pray!

The Power Of The King

THE POWER OF THE KING

Text: Matthew Chapters 8-9

Our Focus Text: Matthew 8:1-17

As we have proceeded into the Book of Matthew we have seen:

1.) The Person of the King (Chapters 1-4)

2.) The Principles of the King (Chapters 5-7)

3.) We will now see the Powers of the King (Chapters 8-12)

If a King has no "Power" to accomplish His Will, what good are His Principles?

There are ten miracles mentioned in Chapters 8-9 but they are not in chronological order.

Matthew was led by the Holy Spirit to present Jesus as the King. Matthew uses these words to present Jesus Christ as the "Divine" King, the Jehovah of the Old Testament who had truly come to His own. To them He offers the kingdom and as we will soon see, they will reject Him and receive Him not. They actually say that these miracles were done through Beelzebub, the prince of the demons.

"THIS IS THE SIN OF BLASPHEMING THE HOLY SPIRIT"!

Christ will then break off His relationship with "His Own". We will talk more of this later.

We should ask our own selves, Why did our Lord perform miracles? If we look at our own Pastors we should see that they minister to the whole person. God is concerned about our temporal well being as well as our eternal happiness.

This not to say that our Pastors do miracles because that ended with the Apostles!

Christ Jesus ministered to the individual, a one on one relationship, that should be learned by all His followers.

Christ Jesus performed miracles to prove His claim of being the Messiah of Israel.

It makes me wonder what these false healers are trying to prove in our day.

The Bible says:

1Co 1:22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

1Co 1:23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

1Co 1:24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

1Co 1:25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Christ Jesus said he would fulfill everything written about Him:

Isa 29:18 And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness.

Isa 29:19 The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

Isa 35:4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.

Isa 35:5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

Isa 35:6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.

We can see that we are also foolish to not believe in the miracles of Jesus Christ our Lord:

Heb 2:1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

Heb 2:2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;

Heb 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

Heb 2:4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

Christ Jesus also presented a saving truth to the people with His miracles. These miracles were "Sermons in Action".

What Christ did not do.

Jesus did not do a miracle to draw a crowd. Faith cannot be based on miracles.

OUR FAITH MUST BE BASED ON THE WORD OF GOD!

Jesus Christ exercised great power. His power is not limited.

Jesus had the power to change this world and he showed that power when He walked on this earth. The Healing power of Jesus is greater than any disease, but in each case if "faith" was not shown there would have been no healing.

It is a misinterpretation of scripture to teach that spiritual salvation will always result in the reversal of physical disease!

*****Our Text:

Mat 8:1 When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.

Mat 8:2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

Mat 8:3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

Mat 8:4 And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

Matthew was a publican, a tax collector. He was hated by all Jews. Can it be by chance that he begins with a miracle of Jesus to the outcast of society. Lepers, Gentiles and women were considered out cast by many Jewish people.

The women of the middle east still suffer unduly in our day.

Many Pharisees would begin their day praying "I give thanks that I am a man not a woman, a Jew not a Gentile, a free man and not a slave."

They used that word "I" much to often. There is only one "I" and that the great "I Am" of the Bible.

The term "leprosy" (including leper, lepers, leprosy, leprous) occurs 68 times in the Bible—55 times in the Old Testament (Hebrew = tsara’ath) and 13 times in the New Testament (Greek = lepros, lepra).

In the Old Testament, the instances of leprosy most likely meant a variety of infectious skin diseases, and even mold and mildew on clothing and walls. The precise meaning of the leprosy in both the Old and New Testaments is still in dispute, but it probably includes the modern Hansen’s disease (especially in the New Testament) and most all infectious skin diseases.

References to leprosy have a different emphasis in the New Testament.

They stress God’s desire to heal. Jesus freely touched people with leprosy. While people with leprosy traditionally suffered banishment from family and neighbors, Jesus broke from the tradition. He treated the leper with compassion, touching and healing them.

We also know that leprosy is in "type" and a description of sin:

Isa 1:5 Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.

Isa 1:6 From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.

Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Those filthy rags would be rags used to wrap up the leper!

By understanding the leper we can understand more how God sees sin:

Lev 13:3 And the priest shall look on the plague in the skin of the flesh: and when the hair in the plague is turned white, and the plague in sight be deeper than the skin of his flesh, it is a plague of leprosy: and the priest shall look on him, and pronounce him unclean.

Sin is deeper than the outward skin!

Lev 13:18 The flesh also, in which, even in the skin thereof, was a boil, and is healed,

Sin spreads!

Lev 13:45 And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean.

Lev 13:46 All the days wherein the plague shall be in him he shall be defiled; he is unclean: he shall dwell alone; without the camp shall his habitation be.

Sin defiles!

Lev 13:52 He shall therefore burn that garment, whether warp or woof, in woollen or in linen, or any thing of skin, wherein the plague is: for it is a fretting leprosy; it shall be burnt in the fire.

Sin is fit only for the fire!

When Christ Jesus touched this leper, He took his leprosy away but in "type" it is a picture of how He takes our sin away:

2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

We can also notice that the ability of Christ to heal was not questioned but only Was He Willing To Heal?

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.

2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

We can tell that Lord Jesus was willing and still is!

Christ Jesus commanded this man not to tell other but to go to the priests. (Levitcus 14). We find that this man did not obey the Lord but he told everyone what the Lord had done.

Mar 1:45 But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.

There is another way to look at this healing in typology:

Leprosy was the most hated disease in the Bible! It had no remedy. The Holy Spirit has made leprosy a "type" of sin as we have shown. Only Jehovah could heal this disease.

Num 12:10 And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.

Num 12:11 And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned.

Num 12:12 Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother's womb.

Num 12:13 And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee.

We know that leprosy represents sin but here it represents Israel.

The Bible says:

Isa 1:4 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.

Isa 1:5 Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.

Isa 1:6 From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.

So in "type" we see Israel's Messiah, Jehovah-Jesus

Exo 6:3 And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.

As Christ Jesus cleansed this leper He would have also cleansed Israel at this time had they not rejected Him.

The Lord sends this leper to the priests by the law of Moses but this was proper until the death, the burial and resurrection of our Lord, when all believers are delivered from the law.

This day will come again to the nation of Israel when the King will ask His remnant to come unto Him:

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.

*****Our Text:

Mat 8:5 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,

Mat 8:6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.

Mat 8:7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.

Mat 8:8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.

Mat 8:9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

Mat 8:10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

Mat 8:11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.

Mat 8:12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Mat 8:13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.

We have previously discussed that Capernaum was a military town so it would not be unusual to see a Roman centurion. A centurion was an officer over a group up one hundred men. We do not find any centurion mentioned in the Bible that was not a gentleman or a man of high character.

This is the very first time we see a centurion in the Bible. They had a great sense of duty to Rome and to those that served under them. This particular centurion had learned to love Israel and the God of Israel. He had built a Synagogue for the people of this area. He evidently had a high regard for Christ Jesus and believed in His divine authority. It was not that Christ could heal his servant but rather would Christ heal this servant. Once he realized that Christ Jesus was willing to heal this man with the palsy (paralysis), then it was not neccessary for Jesus to travel to his home but to only say the word.

This centurion realized that Christ Jesus had the power of God and therefore all He had to do was say it was so and it would happen!

This is what the God of creation can do and no one else!

Look at this centurion:

1.) He was a man of war.

2.) He was a Gentile.

3.) He was a man of limited authority.

4.) But He was a man of great faith.

It was his great faith in Christ Jesus that allowed this miracle to happen.

This is an early indication that the Jews would not believe but that the Gentiles would believe on Christ Jesus.

What was the greatest statement of the centurion?

"I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only"

He understood that Jesus Christ was indeed God in the flesh. The Jews till this day have not come to this conclusion along with most others of this world.

When we read verse 11 it can be said that Jesus was referring to the fact that many Gentiles would join with"Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven" but without faith in the saving power of Christ none of their physical descendants would join them. Those that heard the kingdom offered by Christ and then rejected it would exclude themselves from this new kingdom.

They would forever live in the darkness of hell (the outer darkness, out side the light of the Lord God Jehovah)

Remember in the first miracle, the cleansing of the leper, stands for Jehovah among His people Israel.

Here now we see Christ who is absent and heals not by His touch but by His Word. This was a reminder that the spiritual position of the Gentiles "were far off".

Eph 2:11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

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

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

In this next miracle we will see that Christ will enter back into the house of Israel.

*****Our Text:

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

Mat 8:15 And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.

Mat 8:16 When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:

Mat 8:17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

In the healing of Peter's mother-in-law, we see a type of what will happen on the Second coming of Christ after the fulness of the Gentiles come in.

This sick mother is a type of Israel.

It would be good to point out that Jesus Christ knew Peter was a married man yet he still was chosen as an Apostle. The sanctity of marriage was approved by Christ even to the ministers of God. Some religions do not allow the minister to marry. We can see that this did not come from Jesus Christ nor the Bible.

Women did not hold a high position in Israel at this time of Jesus. Though this seems a minor miracle we can see that a blessing in the home can lead to a blessing in the entire community.

Mar 1:30 But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her.

Mar 1:31 And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.

Mar 1:32 And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.

Mar 1:33 And all the city was gathered together at the door.

Matthew said that this time in the life of Jesus was a fulfillment of the prophet Isaiah:

Isa 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

We can see that Jesus fulfilled this prophecy in His life and not with His death.

We can also see Jesus did not give His life for our sickness nor our griefs.

He did give His life for our "SIN"!

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.

Sin and sickness may go together at times, since sickness is a consequence of Adam's sin:

Gen 3:17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

Gen 3:18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;

Gen 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

The Bible says:

Psa 103:2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

Psa 103:3 [Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases];

Psa 103:4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

Psa 103:5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

God has not obligated Himself to heal all disease BUT He has said He will forgive all sin and to save all that will believe on Him.

*****Again this closes out our lesson but we will try to highlight the remaining of chapters 8 and chapter nine:

(Verses 18-22)

We see the first time the phrase "Son of Man" is used in the Bible.

Because the opposition to the message of Jesus was low at this time, there were many who wanted to be His disciples.

They would not pay the price!

Jesus Christ was saying to this scribe to let the spiritually dead bury the physical dead.

In other words it is much better to preach the Gospel of Jesus in hope of salvation for the spiritually dead than to wait on you earthly father to die and to bury him.

This was not disrespectful and we must have our priorities right in the work of the Lord.

(Verses 23-27)

We will see that Christ Jesus never missed an opportunity to train His disciples.

Jesus was asleep because He was at perfect peace in the will of the Father. This is a lesson for all of us for this is exactly what the disciples should have done. They should have been in perfect peace, they had the Lord Jesus right in the boat with them.

They did not but chose instead to question if God really cares for us. Matthew shows in these verses the little faith of the Jew as compared to the great faith of the Gentile centurion.

(Verse 28-34)

In these verses we see what Satan can do for a man. He robs man of his sanity and his self control, fills him with fears, and robs a man of his family and friends.

We can see what society does for this man in Satan's control. Society can restrain him, isolate him, and threaten him but society cannot change this man.

Only Jesus can set us free!

Notice the prayers:

1.) The demons prayed to Jesus to allow them to go into the swine, which they also drove crazy.

2.) The citizens prayed for Christ Jesus to leave them alone.

3.) One of these that was possessed by these devils after being saved by Jesus, prayed to be allowed to be a disciple, but Jesus knew that he had such a great testimony and needed for him to be a witness in his home town.

This is what we are asked to do upon being saved, be a witness first to our family and friends!

We can also see that the demon world has faith in Christ and is well aware of their future:

Jas 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

We can see that the souls of these two men were much more important that the lives of those two thousand pigs!

(verse chapter 9:1-8)

What we see here is not only the faith of friends but we see that in the eyes of God sin is the greater evil to a man. This scripture does not say that all sickness is caused by sin nor does it say that forgiveness of sin will bring about physical healing also!

We already know God will sometimes heal every sickness except the last sickness or injury that takes us home to Heaven.

(Verse 9:9-17)

The call of Matthew:

Because Matthew was a tax collector, he was considered unclean and unfit to fellowship in Jewish society. He was under great financial obligation to Rome but we can see that he considered the authority of Jesus Christ to be greater than that of Rome. We can see he immediatly made a public showing of his relationship with Christ by having public feast.

Jesus came to save sinners and He made Himself available to them all (whosoever)!

If you are righteous in your own eyes, you will never accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior!

We see a picture of the ministry of Jesus:

1.) The Physician: to bring Spiritual healing to the sinner.

2.) The Bridegroom: to bring Spiritual joy to the lost.

3.) Christ Jesus did not come to patch us up but to make something new!

4.) Christ came to give Spiritual fulness.

Judaism cannot be filled with the New Wine of the Gospel.

Law and Grace will not mix!

(Verse 9:18-19, 23-26)

Jarius was a devout Jew, a leader of the synagogue, but he knew none of his faith in those things could help him. Even though Satan tried one more time to kill her, Jesus has the power over all life. We must learn to trust Jesus no matter our circumstances.

(Verse 9:20-22)

This woman had spent all the living she had on the doctors of her time. She was in despair and had no hope. By Jewish law her disease made her unable to be cleansed.

She was hopeless in this world!

We are all hopeless, with out the Lord Jesus Christ!

That hem referred to the tassels on the prayer shawl of Christ. By Jewish tradition a prayer shawl had 613 tassels around it's hem. One tassel for ever law given to them by Moses. This reminded them that they were God's people.

We can see that Jarius may have lacked faith so Jesus gave him the example of this woman who knew she only needed to touch the Hem of this garment.

It is not how strong our faith is that counts, IT IS TO WHOM THAT FAITH IS IN, THAT REALLY COUNTS!

Our faith must be in Jesus Christ Our Lord and in His Word!

(Verse 9:27-34)

Blindness is a "type" of Spiritual ignorance and unbelief:

Isa 6:10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; [lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed].

Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

Every sinner must be "born again" before he can see the things of God:

Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

There is a difference in sickness and the work of Satan and his demon world:

Mat 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Mat 10:8 [Heal the sick], cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, [cast out devils]: freely ye have received, freely give.

Every believer must be careful to grow spiritually or he can damage his spiritual vision:

2Pe 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

2Pe 1:6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

2Pe 1:7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

2Pe 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2Pe 1:9 [But he that lacketh these things is blind], and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

We see that the religious leaders of that time could not explain all the miracles of Jesus the Messiah, so they said His power came from Satan:

This is the Sin of Blaspheming the Holy Spirit!

We know that God had given His Spirit freely to Christ Jesus:

Mat 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

Mat 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

All people had witnessed the miracle healing power of Christ. They had rejected not only the testimony of Christ but also the testimony of the Holy Spirit.

This the unpardonable sin! We will discuss this further in chapter 12.

(Verse 9:35-38)

We have seen that not only was Christ Jesus a healer but He preached the Word of God and taught the Old Testament as truth as He went. He was in the flesh so He could not do all the work alone. He needs others to help Him.

This is why the time was spent training disciples. Christ Jesus expects each and everyone of us to be His disciple and be busy about the Master's Business.

Joh 4:37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.

Joh 4:38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.

Let's Pray!

The King Instructs

The King Instructs

Text: Matthew 7:1-29

Focus: Matthew 7:1-14

No matter what other people think about what is called "The Sermon On The Mount", it has not been hard to see that the purpose of this message has been to instruct the disciples of the Lord. These chapters have not been a plan of salvation but instruction to the disciple, to the believer, to the follower of Christ Jesus. If we toss aside these words of Jesus Christ Our Lord then we have missed a pure training program for those of us who love Our Lord Jesus. It is only after salvation that we can begin in the work that God has called us to do.

Rom 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

Rom 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

Rom 12:7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

Rom 12:8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

Rom 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

Rom 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

Rom 12:11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

Rom 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

Rom 12:13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

We will learn in chapter seven how we should love our fellow disciples.

The scribes and Pharisees were guilty of exercising a false judgment about themselves, other people and even the Lord Jesus Christ. Their false judgment was an extension of their false righteousness.

These Pharisees made it a practice of setting themselves up as judges of all men and measuring others using themselves as the example.

We cannot forget the theme of this sermon of Christ Jesus:

Mat 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

*****Our Text:

Mat 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.

Mat 7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

Mat 7:3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

Mat 7:4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

Mat 7:5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

Mat 7:6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

Jesus Christ was not forbidding His disciples nor any that believe on Him to distinguish between "good and evil". He was not forbidding the believer to distinguish between truth and error in doctrine. Christ was not dealing with actions as much as He was dealing with the motives behind those actions.

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Church these words:

Php 1:9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge [and in all judgment];

Php 1:10 [That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence] till the day of Christ;

Php 1:11 [Being filled with the fruits] of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

Those fruit are listed as:

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Eph 5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

Eph 5:10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

There is no doubt in my mind that the Holy Spirit led Paul to this example of the preaching of Jesus Christ.

The person who believes every preacher without judging his sermon by God's Word, or the person who accepts everyone that say they are spiritual but their works show that not to be true by the Word of God, will suffer from confusion and great spiritual loss.

If we accept the fact that we all will stand before Jesus at the Judgment Seat of Christ:

2Co 5:10 [For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ]; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

This is the judgment for the saved. You have to be saved to be here!

We will receive the things done in the body we call flesh. We will be judged by the work we have done for Christ since our salvation. If we accept the Lord Jesus as our Savour then we know this to be true.

Knowing this then we should judge our own selves and know that we abide by God's Word before we can discern between good and evil of others.

Heb 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

Heb 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, [even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil].

The Pharisees "played God" in their judgment of others and gave no thought that they would be judged of God.

We are being judged as Christians as we walk the walk of Christ Jesus:

Luk 6:37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

Luk 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

People judge us in our walk and we will receive exactly what we give. We will reap what we have sown:

Rom 2:1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.

When we judge our selves by God's Word we can then be prepared to serve others. Every Christian is obligated to help each other grow in "Grace".

Only God has true judgment:

Rom 2:2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.

Rom 2:3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?

These Pharisees criticized others to make there own selves look good, not before God, but before man.

Luk 18:10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

Luk 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

Luk 18:12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

Luk 18:13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

Luk 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

There is a difference when we help our brothers to look good and not our own self.

If we cannot honestly face up to our own sin then while we are trying to get a piece of dust out of another one's eye, then that two by four in our own eye will not allow us to see properly. We can be of no help to anyone, the lost nor the saved.

God can see all the way into the heart, we cannot, no secret can be withheld from Him:

Rom 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

So we have learned:

1.) Before we can even try to help our brothers and sisters in Christ we must self examine ourselves.

Jas 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Jas 1:23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

Jas 1:24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

Jas 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

Jas 1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

2.) We must also realize that as long as we are in this body of flesh we will have some sin. It is our faith in Jesus Christ that allows His forgiveness and He will restore us.

1Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1Jn 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

*****A restored child of God can then be a help to his brothers and sisters in Christ.

As far as the lost, it is God that will judge the lost, our job is only to witness to them. Christians must realize that not everyone is a sheep.

Some people are dogs, or hogs, and some people are wolves in sheep's clothing.

This is the judgment that we have to make. We cannot allow the liberal church to pull the wool over our eyes.

God has given us some tools that we must use:

2Co 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

2Co 4:7 [But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God], and not of us.

We must not cheapen the Gospel of Jesus Christ by lacking discernment of good and evil.

We must be able to discern the liberal movement of the Church as wrong and as evil. We must stand up for the truth of the Gospel and in doing so we must judge those who teach such nonsense.

We must stand up for the Blood of the Cross.

We must stand up for the Virgin birth.

We must stand up for the Resurrection of Our Lord.

We must stand up for the Truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We must stand on the Whole Truth of the Bible and not just the parts we like.

We cannot allow these pearls of the Gospel to be trampled on by anyone.

2Pe 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

2Pe 2:21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

2Pe 2:22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

We cannot abuse the "Grace" of God.

We are to present the truth of the Gospel, judge among ourselves as believers and correct each other in love and also realize that to argue with an unbeliever will lessen our own testimony in most cases.

Even Jesus never spoke to Herod:

Luk 23:8 And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.

Luk 23:9 Then he questioned with him in many words; [but he answered him nothing].

And the Apostle Paul would not argue with unbelievers:

Act 13:45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.

Act 13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, [we turn to the Gentiles].

Act 13:47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.

Act 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

*****Our Text:

Mat 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

Mat 7:8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Mat 7:9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?

Mat 7:10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

Mat 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Christ knew that there will always be those that will not receive the Word of God so He returns to some additional teaching on prayer, and our prayer life.

We must remember this sermon was preached to the saved, it is not a sermon for salvation, but a sermon of instruction to disciples.

Our Lord had rejected the practice of prayer that the Pharisee used. Jesus now instructed on the true nature of prayer.

1.) If we keep on asking, He will keep on giving!

2.) If we keep seeking, we will find!

3.) If we keep knocking, He will continue to open the doors to allow His will to be done!

You know not everyone is called to be a preacher, or a teacher, or for some special office in the Church but everyone has been given this instruction in doing the will that God has for each and every one of us.

4.) We must all be persistent in our prayer life!

The reason for answered prayer lies in the attributes of the true Father, Our Father that is in Heaven.

He will never mock His children!

It is the Father's responsibility to provide!

God would never teach us these things if He was not willing to do them Himself!

God's faithfulness as a Father will not permit Him to deny the request of His children!

We must first pray to seek His direction and His wisdom for our lives and His will for each of us!

Jas 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Jas 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

Jas 1:7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

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

*****Our Text:

Mat 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

Mat 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Some people call this the "Golden Rule" but in reality it is really the basis of our attitude toward others. This principle only applies to believers! When we judge others this is the principle we should follow. A person who would project righteousness must do for others what that person would want someone to do for him if he was in the same situation.

If people would treat every neighbor as themselves, no neighbor would be mistreated!

Christ would never demand the righteousness of the Pharisees to enter the kingdom of heaven but He would demand the righteousness of the Law to enter in. To the believer, his righteousness must equal the righteousness of Christ. This can happen only one way!

The Bible says:

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

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

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

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

Rom 8:9 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].

Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Gal 5:5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

Eph 4:21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:

Eph 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

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

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

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.

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.

If we want God's best for ourselves and for others for there will those that will resist God's Word.

A couple of things we need to remember:

1.) We are the salt of the earth. Salt is a preservative but we also know salt will burn and sting when it is poured on an open wound. There will be those that will oppose us.

2.) We are to be a bright and shining light for God and Christ but we must realize a bright light will expose the dirt of evil living and some will always want to stay in darkness so their dirt will be hid.

We will always have Pharisees in our world. These false prophets are still trying to deceive God's children. They will still teach a self-righteousness. They have fooled themselves into believing that they are righteous and all others are sinful in the eyes of God. We must remember what God says:

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

Christ gave us to more pictures for explanation:

There are only two roads to travel in this life. The road to Heaven and the road to Hell.

1.) The Broad way: (that leads to Hell)

This is the easy way, this is also the most popular way. Every religion seems to have this in mind when they tell us of their way to Heaven. Just because every one says they can follow their own path and that every road will lead to Heaven is simply not true. Just because they say this does not make it true.

God's people have always been a remnant. The Church will always be a small minority.

2.) The Narrow way: (that leads to Heaven)

The way to everlasting life is sometimes narrow, lonely, and costly.

We can walk on the broad path keeping our baggage of sin but to travel the narrow path we must give up all those things.

Jesus said the Christian walk would be a hard one.

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].

The cross we bare will be painful at times!

Before we close let's high light the remaining chapter:

(Vs 15-20)

Since the beginning of creation every plant and every animal will reproduce it self after it's kind. In other words an apple tree will not produce bananas, and two cats will not produce a dog. I know what evolution says, but remember they have never found anything that has changed this basic law of God.

We know that good fruit comes from a good tree, but bad fruit comes from a bad tree. Those that have bad trees usually cut down the bad tree so it will not spoil the good tree. It is easy to see if you have a good fruit tree, wait till it produces fruit and you can tell from that point.

In a spiritual sense it is easily seen if a child of God has accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his or her Savior by the fruit they bare. If you do not have a noticeably changed life then the fruit is bad.

False Prophets, false preachers, who teach a false doctrine will have this affect on those that sit in the pews. The fruit, (the results of their ministry) is false and cannot last.

The Apostle Paul had these words:

Act 20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

Act 20:30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

You can still tell them by their fruit!

The person that believes a false doctrine will also never produce good fruit.

(Vs 21-29)

It does not matter what we think of our selves or really what others think of us, the final test of the child of God is what God thinks of us. What will God say when we stand before Him? The only way to prepare for God's judgment is to be in the will of God. Obedience to God is the true test of "faith"!

When a person is truly born again, that person will have the Holy Spirit living within them:

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.

That same Spirit enables every child of God to know His will:

Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; [because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us].

If you have the "love of God" within you, you will obey God and you will serve others! A light on a hill cannot be hid.

The words we say are not enough. Many preachers are not saved. Even Judas Iscariot was sent out to preach. Even miracles do not make you a child of God. Satan will use lying wonders to deceive the people during the tribulation period:

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

2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

2Th 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

We are commanded, with love, to hear God's Word and then, be a doer of that Word:

Jas 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Jas 1:23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

Jas 1:24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

Jas 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

That carries with it a knowledge of God's Word. If you do not know God's Word how can you know if the preacher knows God's Word.

If our faith in the Word of God does not lead us to good works after we are saved then we are as salt that has lost it's flavor:

Jas 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

We have built on the wrong foundation!

Luk 6:47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:

Luk 6:48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.

Luk 6:49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

Your false profession of faith will not hold up at the judgment seat!

How can we judge ourselves?

1.) Have we paid the price, do we have a changed life?

2.) Does our faith hold up through the storms of life and will it still stand the test of God's judgment.

These are questions we must answer for ourselves. We must look into that mirror and judge our own selves and this by the Holy Word of God.

Let's Pray!