FACTIONS IN THE CHURCH
The second epistle to the Corinthians has been deemed “the most difficult to translate.” The reason being that there was much that was said between Paul, Titus, Timothy and the Corinthians, that is not revealed to us but understood by them.
However, when you read this epistle you find it the most personal and the most passionate of Paul’s letters.
He was dealing with two different groups within the church at Corinth. The majority at Corinth were on Paul’s side, seeking to do right. We will call them the majority party.
There was also a vocal, aggressive and dangerous minority which didn’t hesitate to condemn and gossip, criticize and slander. We will call them the minority party.
Paul had dealt with problems for fifteen chapters in First Corinthians.
1) They had Divisions in the Church (1:10-4:21). They were worshipping preachers when they should have been worshipping God.
2) They had Discipline issues in the Church (5-6). Paul told them they needed to discipline the outward sin of fornication.
3) There were Difficulties problems in the Church (7-14). They had many problems that stemmed from their carnal life.
4) They had Disbelief in the Church (15). Some in the church was teaching that Christ did not rise from the dead.
Paul addresses all of these issues, praying and hoping that those in the Corinthians church would make the right changes.
But news came to Paul, through Titus and Timothy, that the minority party (Judaizers) were still stirring up trouble.
Paul’s first letter had not accomplished its purpose. He knew that a bad testimony at church would lead to a bad testimony in the community, so Paul writes another letter… out of much affliction and anguish of heart… with many tears. He wants them to know that his reason for writing was not to bring them grief… but that… they …might know the love which Paul had …more abundantly for them.
We see Paul’s heart in Second Corinthians 2:1-4:
2:1 But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness. 2 For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?
3 And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.
4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.
Outline:
I – PAUL REVEALS HIS COMMISSIONS 1-5
II – PAUL REVEALS HIS CONVERTS 6-9
III – PAUL REVEALS HIS CRITICS 10-13
I – PAUL REVEALS HIS COMMISSIONS 1-5
Keep in mind that Paul’s heart is broken over the condition of the Corinthian church. His concern is not for “one group or another.” Paul’s concern is for 1) what is right; 2) what is Godly; 3) what is doctrinal.
A – We see Paul’s Motives (chapter 1-2)
1 - Paul’s Comfort: In verse one Paul lets the Corinthians know that he is an Apostle. The carnal folks at Corinth questioned Paul’s calling and apostleship (v 1-2). The application today is the same: Many carnal folks in churches today question the pastor’s authority.
Not only was Paul troubled by the trouble makers, but the majority party at Corinth was troubled. That is why Paul gives them a number of verses of comfort in this first chapter.
1: 3 …and the God of all comfort; 4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
Paul gives the majority party encouragement and comfort. He tells them that he has felt the same pain and concern that they feel from those who are causing problems. The minority party cares more about their self, then unity and glory being brought to God.
But, let it be known that we go through what we go through so we might be able to comfort others that will experience the same trials.
2 – Paul’s Condition: Because of the constant trouble and backbiting Paul became severely depressed.
1:8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:
Have you ever known preachers to quit? Have you ever been in a situation where it seemed everything was OK, and then the preacher announces his resignation? So, often it is a minority party in the church that gossips, criticizes and lives to satisfy self, rather than the Lord and yet they believe they are right. So Christian, pray for unity all the time!
B – We see Paul’s Message (chapter 3-5)
With great concern and compassion, Paul gives some notable points in the spiritual message to the Corinthian. He addresses many of the fleshly problems with his message. Look at a few points:
A – He reminds them “People read you like a book every day.”
3:2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
B – He says, “Don’t trust in your ability.” 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
C – “Understand the spirit of love is greater than the spirit of the law.” 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. The Judaizers were trying to put the church back under the law.
D – “We that walk in the spirit don’t go behind other people’s back to speak evil of them or to hurt them.” 4:2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
E – “The lost can’t see the spiritual truths we preach.” 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
F – Paul stresses the resurrection which many in the minority party opposed 4:14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
G – Paul, who had been beaten with rods three time and scourged five times says, 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
H – Paul then reveals what should be the desire of a believer’s heart. He should be clothed with heavenly garments (5:1-3).
I - Finally, Paul reveals that one day we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ where are motives will be exposed and rewards and losses will be revealed.
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.
5:11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
II – PAUL REVEALS HIS CONVERTS 6-9
A – Paul speaks of their Faithful partnership (chapter 6-7)
1 -- Paul Praises the majority party for their faithfulness.
Paul acknowledges that this group within the church was blameless…. II Cor 6:3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
Every church has the majority party and the minority party. You have those that want to stand for doctrine and truth and those who want to lift up the Lord and worship and bring glory to the Lord.
And you have those who seek their own interest.
Join the Majority Party who bases their beliefs on the Scriptures!
2 – Paul Presents their good testimony. He recognizes their many trials and reveals that they have been faithful servants through it all.
II Corinthians 6: 4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;
9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; 10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
11 O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.
12 Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.
You will find in the majority party that God’s children often go through much conflict but stay faithful and you hear very little complaining.
And you find that the minority party complains over silly issues that are opinions and has nothing to do with doctrine. They know they can’t argue with doctrine so they nit-pick over the pastor’s decisions.
3 - Then Paul pushes them to Perfection. II Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
God’s Spirit always encourages His children to shoot for the best. God’s Spirit never says be mediocre. He says, “Be the best.”
4 – Paul Pricks their hearts with truth:
8 For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.
9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
His letter caused the majority party to search their hearts and repent for they were sorry for their sins.
Paul reveals a very interesting truth here: There are people who weep and cry and howl over trials and difficulties and Paul says their weeping and repentance is worthless because it is worldly sorrow. Some folks weep because their focus is on self.
The true repentance is called godly sorrow. It is when a person is broken and weeps because they know their actions have dishonored God. This is true and real repentance. Judas repented and wept but to no avail. Esau repented also but to no avail. Their repentance was worldly repentance.
B – Paul speaks of their Financial partnership (chapter 8-9)
Paul reveals the financial support of the churches on Macedonia. He then acknowledges many good attributes of the Corinthian Church and then admonishes them to give financial support. Again, you see that fleshly party did not want to support missionaries. They wanted to hold onto their money and Paul now encourages them to give to God’s work.
Paul gives two principles:
1 – Don’t live to be rich in this life. Live to be rich in the next.
He first says look at our LORD’S example: II Corinthians 8: 9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
Paul reminds them of the Lord’s riches and encourages them to give out of their much (v 14-15).
Many people give this way. They give because they recognize that God has given to them. They could have more of this world’s good but choose to have less so they might give to help the needy and the lost to hear the gospel of Christ.
2 – You gain by giving away, you lose by keeping what you have.
II Corinthians 9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
What a great truth. Paul tells the Corinthians if you give little you will receive little. If you give much, you will receive much. A man can’t out give God. We receive as we give.
III – PAUL REVEALS HIS CRITICS 10-13
When we enter chapters 10-13, it seems that something has happened to stir Paul up. Titus may have come back with a bad report of the minority party causing trouble and so Paul writes to his critics.
It seems that Titus told Paul, “They say you are pretty bold in what you write it in a letter. They say when you show up you won’t speak with so much authority for they know physically you are not much.
Paul responds:
1 - Paul’s Appearance:10: 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Paul tells the Corinthians that their battle is spiritual, not physical. It should never come to verbal arguments or physical activity. We win and lose our battles in the spirit world.
8 For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed: They continued to question Paul’s authority. Paul reaffirms that God had called him to preach to them for edification whether they like the sermons or not.
9 That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.
10 For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.
11 Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present. Godly Paul says, “When I come to you I will preach to your face, what I write in these letters.”
Next Paul reveals one of the great sins of the minority party.
10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
They compared their lives by the lives of each other and they thought themselves to be pretty good, whereas there is only one measuring stick and that is the life of Jesus Christ of which we all fall very short.
His Apostleship: Paul shows not just his heart but God’s heart in chapter 11. 2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
God desire is for His Church to be virtuous and like a chaste virgin, God desires that we live for one person and that is Him.
Paul knew the strength of Satan and warns the Corinthians. 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
He knew that the Judaizers were preaching another Jesus so he warns them (v 4).
4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
Paul knew there were false teachers in Corinth and he addresses that. There were people within the church that look like, talked liked and acted like Christ but taught false doctrines. To that Paul warns (13-15).
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
In hoping to encourage the Corinthians Paul reveals his trials and thorns:
1 – Trials (11:21-27)
Paul reminds them of his heritage because it was his people, the Judaizers causing trouble. 22 Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.
He then reveals his sufferings for Christ, of which the judaizers had suffered little. 23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
2 – Thorn (12:7-10)
Paul reveals another principle or prayer and trust.
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
God sometimes says “No” to our prayers so we might give greater glory to Him as we walk in our infirmities. Our trails and thorns are placed in our life to bring glory to the Lord. Pray for grace and for God’s will to be done.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
THE PARABLES OF OUR LORD
THE PARABLE OF THE TEN VIRGINS
The parables of our Lord are beautiful stories of truths revealed to those who truly want to know the Lord. Many are filled with mysteries that neither the natural man nor the carnal man can comprehend or enjoy.
To the hungry soul a parable would be compared to the most exquisite meal or the most fascinating trip one could take.
Matthew 25 gives us three parables. They cover three divisions of the human race: the Jews, the Gentiles and the Church.
In this message we will look at the Parable of the Ten Virgins. Over the years many theologians have related this to the Church, but it actually is a parable which relate to the Jewish nation.
Matthew 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Many people read this parable and they see ten virgins and say, “Ok these ten virgins represent those who have kept themselves from the wicked ways of the world. Therefore they must be believers. Then they really get confused. They noticed that only five of them go to heaven and five do not. So what is the true meaning of this story?
THE NATION OF ISRAEL: PARABLES OF THE VIRGINS
A – THE MARRIAGE CALL
Matthew 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
“The kingdom of heaven…” You must recall that the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven represent two different places. All people in the kingdom of God are birth into that kingdom by the Holy Spirit and all in that kingdom are eternally saved.
“The kingdom of heaven” is composed of all of Christendom, saved and lost. Only Matthew talks about the kingdom of heaven and his gospel is written to the Jews in hope of converting them to Christ.
“Ten virgins” -- The Church was characterized by two or three meeting together (Matt 18:20) whereas, the Church is called the “bride of Christ.”
The scene here pictures Israel, immediately following the rapture making their decision to accept the Lord.
“Ten” is the number of testimony and testing.
The Ten virgins represent Israel for in the tribulation they will be tested for their testimony.
To properly interpret this passage your focus must be on Israel even though you can draw a very interesting comparison to the Church.
-The time of Israel ran from Abraham to Nebuchadnezzar.
-The time of the Gentile will run from Nebuchadnezzar to the revelation.
-The Church Age runs from Pentecost to the rapture.
-Then God will introduce Israel again in the Millennial Kingdom.
-These ten virgins are friends of the bridegroom that go forth to meet the bridegroom. They are not to marry the bridegroom.
“…which took their lamps;;;”
Psalms 119:105, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
God’s Word is like a beautiful lamp. It is magnificent in every way.
It is historically and prophetically amazing.
It is poetically and doctrinally beautifully.
But, to know the word without having the oil (Holy Spirit) that gives forth light is to be but a beautiful vessel with no light, yea still lost.
“…and went forth to meet the bridegroom.”
Let’s talk about the Heavenly Groom and the Holy Ghost.
1 – The Heavenly Groom v 1
In Bible times a bridegroom would return to his bride’s house, after he had betrothed her and gone away to build his house.
As they left for their life together, along the way various friends would join the procession and then they would all go to the wedding feast.
The call now is for Israel to join the procession of Christ and His Bride.
They will have seven years to make up their mind during the tribulation period, the time of testing.
So when Israel learns that the Messiah has come and redeemed His Church, His Bride, millions upon millions will accept Christ as Savior.
Romans 11:11 “…salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them (the Jews) to jealousy.”
2 – The Holy Ghost v 2-4
Think; we have ten virgins that are in many ways alike. They have lamps; they all set out to meet the Bridegroom; they all fall asleep.
Outwardly all ten virgins are the same. You can’t tell one from the other.
But the Lord says, (2) And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
It is simple to see the fact that five took oil with them. The oil is a picture of God’s Spirit. Oil keeps a car running cool. Without oil the engine will lock up and quit. Outwardly these ten virgins looked the same, but inwardly they were different.
The lamp represents that each had the word of God and evidently knew that it was necessarily to use it to as a guide in a dark world.
Oil in the lamp fuels the wick or life of the believer that shows forth God’s light in this dark world and displays the fruit of the Spirit.
(This truth is true for the Church today and for Israel yet in the future).
Listen: The reason many vessels have not God’s fruit is because they have not God’s spirit.
So, 1 – Five of the virgins neglected salvation (2-4).
2 –But, all ten of the virgins neglect God’s son (5).
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
The reason many preachers put the Church in this passage is because the Church historically fell asleep and even today most people in the Church, though saved are asleep spiritually. What I mean by that is they are spiritually unconcern about the things of God. Thank God for the Wednesday night prayer crowd and the Sunday night faithfuls.
Paul cried in Ephesians 5: 14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
Just like today, because it has been nearly 2,000 years since our Lord left, many just don’t really believe He could come back today, so they eat, drink and live for now. Yet, this passage even pictures the same attitude of these ten virgins during the seven year tribulation.
Let me give you a picture of the historical asleep church:
The first three to five hundred years after Calvary, the Church was awake and alive for Jesus Christ.
-They longed for and looked for His return.
-Then The State-Church took over. The conviction of the Holy Spirit gave way to the command of the State-Church.
-Within a few hundred years the Dark Ages began.
-It was a time the Church began to slumber and sleep.
-The organized wealthy state church began to pervert the Scriptures.
-They kept the original Scriptures from the common man.
-They told the common man that they could not understand them.
Heresies began to be preached.
-By the twelfth century they changed worship to a Mass.
-They taught that the elements of communion literally became the body and blood of Christ.
-They taught man could not know for sure that he would go to heaven but had to go to purgatory until his family paid the church for masses and prayers till their sins could be forgiven.
That brought to pass what we call the “Dark Ages.”
Stop! Now there has always been the true blood washed church.
We learned of Peter Waldo and the Waldensians that stood true in the eleventh-twelfth century. They hand printed the gospels of John and gave them out around France. They were condemned and put to death by the State Church.
Then there was John Wycliffe, an Oxford professor, scholar, and theologian. He was the first to hand-write in the English language the entire New Testament . They were produced in 1380 AD. He died 1384.
Wycliffe was well-known throughout Europe for his opposition to the teaching of the organized Church, which he believed to be contrary to the Bible. With the help of his followers, called the Lollards and many other faithful scribes he produced many English copies of the scriptures.
The Pope was so infuriated by his teachings and his translation of the Bible into English, that 44 years after Wycliffe had died, he ordered his bones to be dug-up, crushed, and scattered in the river Swiff!
One of Wycliffe’s followers, John Hus, actively promoted Wycliffe’s ideas: that people should be permitted to read the Bible in their own language, and they should oppose the tyranny of the Roman church that threatened death to anyone possessing a non-Latin Bible.
John Hus was captured by the Papacy and was burned at the stake in 1415, with Wycliffe’s manuscript Bibles used as kindling for the fire.
The last words of John Hus were that, “in 100 years, God will raise up a man whose calls for reform cannot be suppressed.”
Almost exactly 100 years later, in 1517, Martin Luther nailed his famous 95 Theses of Contention on the church door at Wittenberg.
As Martin Luther studied the Bible he listed 95 heretical theological errors of the Roman Catholic Church, which was sending people to hell. The prophecy of Hus came true.
Yet the persecutions and dark ages continued. Men and women were strangled, tortured, burned and drown for not agreeing with the state-church. Their bodies were put on racks and stretched till their arms and legs were pulled out of join and they died from eternal bleeding.
And I could tell you more horrible stories, but you get the picture.
True Christianity does not kill someone because someone does not believe as we do. We witness to them. We plead with them. We love them. But, we don’t kill them.
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
This passage actually deals with Israel waiting the coming of the Lord in what we call “The Revelation” not the rapture but there is a very good application here to the Church.
There was no preaching on the Lord’s second coming during the dark ages when the church slumber and slept.
But, our Lord tells us in the last days, at the midnight hour the cry will come again – Get Ready! Prepare! Behold the bridegroom cometh!
Men like John Wycliff and John Huss got the word into the hands of the common man.
Then came Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox and others that began the reformation.
But, not till the 1800’s did the preachers begin to preach of the second coming beginning with men like J.M Darby.
David Livingston took it to Africa.
Adorinam Judson took the message to Asia.
Dwight L. Moody took the message to America.
Hudson Taylor took the message to China
Charles Spurgeon took the message to England.
The Truth today is this: The Lord is coming and tens of thousands of preachers are preaching the Lord is coming all over the world.
I believe we are living in the last days prior to the coming of the Lord.
Look at some of the proofs of the Lord’s coming:
1-The fulfillment of the prophecy of Matthew 24 of Israel becoming nation took place in 1948.
2-The prophecy of the Jews going back into their land has been going on for over fifty years.
3-Daniel’s (Dan 12:4) prophecy of knowledge increasing began at the turn of the 1900’s. Man has invented more things in the past 100 years that man invented the first 5900 years.
4-Wars and rumor of wars have begun. Up till the 20th century you did not have nations against nations but with WWI and WWII we did.
5- Famine and pestilence is on a worldwide scale and it is only the shadow of things to come. Philosophies are everywhere.
A - We saw a “MARRIAGE CALL…”
B - THE MIDNIGHT CRY 6-10
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
1 – The Guests are aroused 6-9
At Midnight something happens to awake the nation of Israel. Exactly what we are not told, but suddenly it is clear that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and Savior of the world.
It is clear that there is only a short time to hurry and meet the Lord.
Note this: To believe the Lord is coming back is not the same as being God’s child. 7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
Understand a truth here:
-You can’t go to heaven because you are a member of the Church.
-You don’t go to heaven because you are an Israelite.
-You don’t go to heaven because you are good or the best in your class.
-And you don’t go to heaven on another person’s religion.
Ill. I’ve heard people talk about how mama and daddy worshipped and how grandpa and grandma believed and that is good.
But every person must answer this question:
“Do you go to church on Sunday’s for mama and papa or for Jesus Christ?”
“Do you do what you do because you don’t want to disgrace mom and dad or grandpa and grandma or does the spirit of God actually live in you?
And if God’s spirit lives in you, is the light of God evident in your life?
2 – The Groom Arrives v 10
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
The foolish virgins and foolish church members not only miss the rapture, but they miss the reception as well.
Learn this and warn people: One of the greatest deceptions of Satan is procrastination. He says over and over, just wait one more day to get saved. And he says to the believer wait another day to get dedicated.
A - We saw THE “MARRIAGE CALL 1-5
B – We saw THE MIDNIGHT CRY 6-10
C –Now, we see THE MISTAKEN CLAIM 11-13
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
In verses 11-12 the five foolish virgins make an appeal.
They have the language of the believer (Lord, Lord), but they don’t have the life of a believer.
They find themselves on the wrong side of the door.
They are rejected by the Lord whom they seem to be so sincerely seeking because they waited to long.
D – Lastly, we see THE MASTER’S CAUTION
13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
If you think the power of Satan to make people procrastinate is powerful today, wait until the Tribulation period when the world is dominated by this Satan.
The midnight hour is closer than ever yet, so many are asleep, so in the tribulation many will even slumber and sleep then.
The talk of Israel will be “The Rapture”, “Kingdom Truth,” “The Messiah has come” and “He is coming again with in seven years.” And yet many will neglect the all-important step of accepting Christ personally as Savior and Lord.
Just like in Noah’s day, though the Ark was there, no body repented.
Just like in Lot’s day, though the signs were there, no body repented.
Even today, with the signs of the times so evident, yet the many in the Church sleep to prayer, to seeking God, to witnessing, to worship and many sleep to salvation, thinking, another day another time.
I say as Jesus said, “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.”
The parables of our Lord are beautiful stories of truths revealed to those who truly want to know the Lord. Many are filled with mysteries that neither the natural man nor the carnal man can comprehend or enjoy.
To the hungry soul a parable would be compared to the most exquisite meal or the most fascinating trip one could take.
Matthew 25 gives us three parables. They cover three divisions of the human race: the Jews, the Gentiles and the Church.
In this message we will look at the Parable of the Ten Virgins. Over the years many theologians have related this to the Church, but it actually is a parable which relate to the Jewish nation.
Matthew 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Many people read this parable and they see ten virgins and say, “Ok these ten virgins represent those who have kept themselves from the wicked ways of the world. Therefore they must be believers. Then they really get confused. They noticed that only five of them go to heaven and five do not. So what is the true meaning of this story?
THE NATION OF ISRAEL: PARABLES OF THE VIRGINS
A – THE MARRIAGE CALL
Matthew 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
“The kingdom of heaven…” You must recall that the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven represent two different places. All people in the kingdom of God are birth into that kingdom by the Holy Spirit and all in that kingdom are eternally saved.
“The kingdom of heaven” is composed of all of Christendom, saved and lost. Only Matthew talks about the kingdom of heaven and his gospel is written to the Jews in hope of converting them to Christ.
“Ten virgins” -- The Church was characterized by two or three meeting together (Matt 18:20) whereas, the Church is called the “bride of Christ.”
The scene here pictures Israel, immediately following the rapture making their decision to accept the Lord.
“Ten” is the number of testimony and testing.
The Ten virgins represent Israel for in the tribulation they will be tested for their testimony.
To properly interpret this passage your focus must be on Israel even though you can draw a very interesting comparison to the Church.
-The time of Israel ran from Abraham to Nebuchadnezzar.
-The time of the Gentile will run from Nebuchadnezzar to the revelation.
-The Church Age runs from Pentecost to the rapture.
-Then God will introduce Israel again in the Millennial Kingdom.
-These ten virgins are friends of the bridegroom that go forth to meet the bridegroom. They are not to marry the bridegroom.
“…which took their lamps;;;”
Psalms 119:105, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
God’s Word is like a beautiful lamp. It is magnificent in every way.
It is historically and prophetically amazing.
It is poetically and doctrinally beautifully.
But, to know the word without having the oil (Holy Spirit) that gives forth light is to be but a beautiful vessel with no light, yea still lost.
“…and went forth to meet the bridegroom.”
Let’s talk about the Heavenly Groom and the Holy Ghost.
1 – The Heavenly Groom v 1
In Bible times a bridegroom would return to his bride’s house, after he had betrothed her and gone away to build his house.
As they left for their life together, along the way various friends would join the procession and then they would all go to the wedding feast.
The call now is for Israel to join the procession of Christ and His Bride.
They will have seven years to make up their mind during the tribulation period, the time of testing.
So when Israel learns that the Messiah has come and redeemed His Church, His Bride, millions upon millions will accept Christ as Savior.
Romans 11:11 “…salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them (the Jews) to jealousy.”
2 – The Holy Ghost v 2-4
Think; we have ten virgins that are in many ways alike. They have lamps; they all set out to meet the Bridegroom; they all fall asleep.
Outwardly all ten virgins are the same. You can’t tell one from the other.
But the Lord says, (2) And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
It is simple to see the fact that five took oil with them. The oil is a picture of God’s Spirit. Oil keeps a car running cool. Without oil the engine will lock up and quit. Outwardly these ten virgins looked the same, but inwardly they were different.
The lamp represents that each had the word of God and evidently knew that it was necessarily to use it to as a guide in a dark world.
Oil in the lamp fuels the wick or life of the believer that shows forth God’s light in this dark world and displays the fruit of the Spirit.
(This truth is true for the Church today and for Israel yet in the future).
Listen: The reason many vessels have not God’s fruit is because they have not God’s spirit.
So, 1 – Five of the virgins neglected salvation (2-4).
2 –But, all ten of the virgins neglect God’s son (5).
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
The reason many preachers put the Church in this passage is because the Church historically fell asleep and even today most people in the Church, though saved are asleep spiritually. What I mean by that is they are spiritually unconcern about the things of God. Thank God for the Wednesday night prayer crowd and the Sunday night faithfuls.
Paul cried in Ephesians 5: 14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
Just like today, because it has been nearly 2,000 years since our Lord left, many just don’t really believe He could come back today, so they eat, drink and live for now. Yet, this passage even pictures the same attitude of these ten virgins during the seven year tribulation.
Let me give you a picture of the historical asleep church:
The first three to five hundred years after Calvary, the Church was awake and alive for Jesus Christ.
-They longed for and looked for His return.
-Then The State-Church took over. The conviction of the Holy Spirit gave way to the command of the State-Church.
-Within a few hundred years the Dark Ages began.
-It was a time the Church began to slumber and sleep.
-The organized wealthy state church began to pervert the Scriptures.
-They kept the original Scriptures from the common man.
-They told the common man that they could not understand them.
Heresies began to be preached.
-By the twelfth century they changed worship to a Mass.
-They taught that the elements of communion literally became the body and blood of Christ.
-They taught man could not know for sure that he would go to heaven but had to go to purgatory until his family paid the church for masses and prayers till their sins could be forgiven.
That brought to pass what we call the “Dark Ages.”
Stop! Now there has always been the true blood washed church.
We learned of Peter Waldo and the Waldensians that stood true in the eleventh-twelfth century. They hand printed the gospels of John and gave them out around France. They were condemned and put to death by the State Church.
Then there was John Wycliffe, an Oxford professor, scholar, and theologian. He was the first to hand-write in the English language the entire New Testament . They were produced in 1380 AD. He died 1384.
Wycliffe was well-known throughout Europe for his opposition to the teaching of the organized Church, which he believed to be contrary to the Bible. With the help of his followers, called the Lollards and many other faithful scribes he produced many English copies of the scriptures.
The Pope was so infuriated by his teachings and his translation of the Bible into English, that 44 years after Wycliffe had died, he ordered his bones to be dug-up, crushed, and scattered in the river Swiff!
One of Wycliffe’s followers, John Hus, actively promoted Wycliffe’s ideas: that people should be permitted to read the Bible in their own language, and they should oppose the tyranny of the Roman church that threatened death to anyone possessing a non-Latin Bible.
John Hus was captured by the Papacy and was burned at the stake in 1415, with Wycliffe’s manuscript Bibles used as kindling for the fire.
The last words of John Hus were that, “in 100 years, God will raise up a man whose calls for reform cannot be suppressed.”
Almost exactly 100 years later, in 1517, Martin Luther nailed his famous 95 Theses of Contention on the church door at Wittenberg.
As Martin Luther studied the Bible he listed 95 heretical theological errors of the Roman Catholic Church, which was sending people to hell. The prophecy of Hus came true.
Yet the persecutions and dark ages continued. Men and women were strangled, tortured, burned and drown for not agreeing with the state-church. Their bodies were put on racks and stretched till their arms and legs were pulled out of join and they died from eternal bleeding.
And I could tell you more horrible stories, but you get the picture.
True Christianity does not kill someone because someone does not believe as we do. We witness to them. We plead with them. We love them. But, we don’t kill them.
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
This passage actually deals with Israel waiting the coming of the Lord in what we call “The Revelation” not the rapture but there is a very good application here to the Church.
There was no preaching on the Lord’s second coming during the dark ages when the church slumber and slept.
But, our Lord tells us in the last days, at the midnight hour the cry will come again – Get Ready! Prepare! Behold the bridegroom cometh!
Men like John Wycliff and John Huss got the word into the hands of the common man.
Then came Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox and others that began the reformation.
But, not till the 1800’s did the preachers begin to preach of the second coming beginning with men like J.M Darby.
David Livingston took it to Africa.
Adorinam Judson took the message to Asia.
Dwight L. Moody took the message to America.
Hudson Taylor took the message to China
Charles Spurgeon took the message to England.
The Truth today is this: The Lord is coming and tens of thousands of preachers are preaching the Lord is coming all over the world.
I believe we are living in the last days prior to the coming of the Lord.
Look at some of the proofs of the Lord’s coming:
1-The fulfillment of the prophecy of Matthew 24 of Israel becoming nation took place in 1948.
2-The prophecy of the Jews going back into their land has been going on for over fifty years.
3-Daniel’s (Dan 12:4) prophecy of knowledge increasing began at the turn of the 1900’s. Man has invented more things in the past 100 years that man invented the first 5900 years.
4-Wars and rumor of wars have begun. Up till the 20th century you did not have nations against nations but with WWI and WWII we did.
5- Famine and pestilence is on a worldwide scale and it is only the shadow of things to come. Philosophies are everywhere.
A - We saw a “MARRIAGE CALL…”
B - THE MIDNIGHT CRY 6-10
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
1 – The Guests are aroused 6-9
At Midnight something happens to awake the nation of Israel. Exactly what we are not told, but suddenly it is clear that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and Savior of the world.
It is clear that there is only a short time to hurry and meet the Lord.
Note this: To believe the Lord is coming back is not the same as being God’s child. 7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
Understand a truth here:
-You can’t go to heaven because you are a member of the Church.
-You don’t go to heaven because you are an Israelite.
-You don’t go to heaven because you are good or the best in your class.
-And you don’t go to heaven on another person’s religion.
Ill. I’ve heard people talk about how mama and daddy worshipped and how grandpa and grandma believed and that is good.
But every person must answer this question:
“Do you go to church on Sunday’s for mama and papa or for Jesus Christ?”
“Do you do what you do because you don’t want to disgrace mom and dad or grandpa and grandma or does the spirit of God actually live in you?
And if God’s spirit lives in you, is the light of God evident in your life?
2 – The Groom Arrives v 10
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
The foolish virgins and foolish church members not only miss the rapture, but they miss the reception as well.
Learn this and warn people: One of the greatest deceptions of Satan is procrastination. He says over and over, just wait one more day to get saved. And he says to the believer wait another day to get dedicated.
A - We saw THE “MARRIAGE CALL 1-5
B – We saw THE MIDNIGHT CRY 6-10
C –Now, we see THE MISTAKEN CLAIM 11-13
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
In verses 11-12 the five foolish virgins make an appeal.
They have the language of the believer (Lord, Lord), but they don’t have the life of a believer.
They find themselves on the wrong side of the door.
They are rejected by the Lord whom they seem to be so sincerely seeking because they waited to long.
D – Lastly, we see THE MASTER’S CAUTION
13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
If you think the power of Satan to make people procrastinate is powerful today, wait until the Tribulation period when the world is dominated by this Satan.
The midnight hour is closer than ever yet, so many are asleep, so in the tribulation many will even slumber and sleep then.
The talk of Israel will be “The Rapture”, “Kingdom Truth,” “The Messiah has come” and “He is coming again with in seven years.” And yet many will neglect the all-important step of accepting Christ personally as Savior and Lord.
Just like in Noah’s day, though the Ark was there, no body repented.
Just like in Lot’s day, though the signs were there, no body repented.
Even today, with the signs of the times so evident, yet the many in the Church sleep to prayer, to seeking God, to witnessing, to worship and many sleep to salvation, thinking, another day another time.
I say as Jesus said, “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.”
Thursday, January 3, 2008
WONDERFUL COUNSELOR
“WONDERFUL”
Isaiah has revealed to us in chapter nine that God gave us the gift of Sight, yea spiritual sight. He gave us (V 2), a Song, a joyful song. He gave us (V 3), a Savior, not just a Savior, the only Savior. He gave us (V 6), a Sovereign or King. One day the whole world will bow before Him, day and night and praise Him for His glory and grace and goodness.
Now Isaiah reveals a Secret to those who will take time to know this very special person.
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
Isaiah says, “His name shall be called …
This phrase “…His name will be called… is not telling us of our Lord’s literal name or names that the Messiah will be called.
Instead, these are aspects of His character; they describe who He is and what He has come to do.
“In Jewish literature, a name does not just identify or distinguish a person; it expresses the very nature of that person.”
The idea is Jesus Christ is more than what His earthy name means.
The Angel said, “His earthly shall be Jesus for he shall save his people from their sin.”
Even though being our Savior would be more than enough; Jesus is much more than a Savior and He is more that the Messiah.
He is the Wonder of wonders, Counselor of counselors, the only true God, the everlasting Father and the Prince that will make peace on this earth.
In knowing His character you discover His power, His energy, His secrets that satisfies the hearts of all men, rich or poor, presidential or pauper.
I - Stupendous - Our Savior and Sovereign is called Wonderful. That is something that is stupendous. The word Stupendous speaks of that which that takes our breath away. It may be a sight or a story or a song that is absolutely astounding or astonishing.
It is something that words cannot describe. We as human use words like fantastic, terrific, marvelous, stunning, awesome and wonderful.
The glory of who He is and what He has done for the world is all of that and should fill our lives with absolute amazement.
You can never really look at Jesus and really know Him, and be bored.
Why? He is too wonderful. He will fill your heart and mind with amazement as you spend time reading His Word.
At times He is as stunning as a beautiful golden sunset.
Sometimes His beauty is as deep as the deep blue ocean stretching beyond the horizon.
Still at other times you discover He is like the majestic snow-capped mountains reaching high in the sky.
Then you see Him as a mighty hurricane sweeping in to destroy His enemies.
And the next moment He is like a gentle breeze on a warm day and like the fragrance of the air after an afternoon rain.
David said, even if I could speak of all God’s wonderful works there are not enough numbers on the numerical scale to count them all: Psalms 40: 5 Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.
Psalms 78:4 says to tell your children of God’s wonderful works.
Four times the Psalmist writes in Psalms 107: “Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! (v 8, 15, 21, 31)
Oh that men would praise the LORD for His goodness and for His wonderful works to the children of men.
1 – God should be praised for Creation.
God took nothing and made everything. He made matter and energy. He made the stars and the moons. He made the plants and the animals. He made a man to marry a woman so they would reproduce and make children.
God didn’t make Adam and Steve, but Adam and Eve.
God didn’t over billions of years evolve the earth. He spoke it into existence at His word immediately.
A horse was made a horse. It wasn’t one time a dragon fly that evolved over millions of years into a horse.
God should be praised for His intellect in creation and his beauty in creation.
2 – God should be praised for His Ordination.
He ordained the home and set up a structure whereby it is to function and operate. Any home that obeys God structure is a happy home.
God ordained the government. Any government that sought God and wrote their constitution and laws after God’s word became the head of the nations and not the tail.
God ordained the Church. Any group of people that will seek God, pray to God, put God first, worship God and love the Lord will be a blessed Church. God should be praised for His ordination.
3 – God should be praised for His Salvation.
God painted picture after picture in the Old Testament:
A – When Israel was in bondage, yea captives in Egypt, a picture of the world, God told Moses to take a lamb and kill it and shed its blood and place that blood like a cross over their dwelling to stop death from coming into their dwellings. The next day, the entire nation was set free from bondage. What a picture of Salvation!
B – He told the priest to take a lamb on the Day of Atonement and kill it and offer it as a sacrifice. Then take the blood and present it by faith to the Holy God of Israel in the Holy of holies to satisfy God’s righteousness for the nation of Israel for another year.
C – In the New Testament, God’s lamb came and offered himself as a sacrifice on Calvary. He shed His blood for the sins of the world to satisfy the Father.
Isaiah 25:1 O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.
Sleep is a wonderful thing. Quiet is a wonderful thing. A Smile is a wonderful thing. Love is a wonderful thing. Joy is a wonderful thing. Light is a wonderful thing. Water is a wonderful thing. The Four seasons are a wonderful thing. These bodies and the way they function are wonderful things. We could go on and on praising the Lord Jesus Christ for being wonderful, but I believe we know He is wonderful, amazing and awesome in His nature and Character. Not only is He stupendous but He is…
II – Superior - Jesus is the Superior Counselor:
A counselor today is one people look to that has wisdom to give proper direction in life in how to handle life’s situation.
And I will say Christ gives emphatic, perfect and superior counsel to all. The problem is not with Christ’s Word. It is that most people won’t obey His direction.
God told Adam and Eve what to do to live forever and they disobeyed.
God told Israel what to do to be the head of the nations and they disobeyed and became the tail.
And God tells man today through His word how to have joy and peace and an enjoyable and long life, but sadly people reject the counsel of the Superior Counselor.
Jesus is not a therapist, a psychoanalyst; He is the Counselor who gives perfect information. And all who listen and obey will find perfect peace on earth.
Jesus can and will help you with your problems. But you say, “I can’t schedule an appointment with Jesus.” Yes you can! Let me give you two scenarios:
Scenario I -- Now consider a scenario. Here is a family having marital problems and those problems are mounting. If they don’t correct them, they may cost them their marriage. It will also cost lawyer fees, settlements, two houses rather than one, a divided income, mental, emotional and domestic stress for the rest of their life.
It will literally cost a couple tens of thousands of dollars from an economic standpoint and it will cost hundreds and hundreds of hours of down time over the next many years.
Now stop and think for a few minutes. If they would give their heart and mind to the counsel of God’s word half as much as they give time to sports and television, making money, God’s counsel would solve their every problem, save them tens of thousands of dollars, and it would mend their marriage.
Scenario II – If the governments of the world would use God’s Word as their blue print – God would bless every government. Within a short amount of years, there would be no poverty and very little crime. Our prisons would be nearly empty and our police forces would become skeletons.
There is no counsel like what the Lord offers man, but man in his pride and evil life chooses to rebel and do what is right in his own heart and that breeds sorrow and sadness.
A billion people follow the counsel of the Muslim religion. Another half a billion follow eastern gurus and people like Confusion, Buddha and others.
Another billion plus fall under the belief of Karl Marx with his socialistic and communistic ideologies. And more people than ever in America do so.
Still billions of others believe in spirits and gods and ideas so very strange and this world gropes in darkness not knowing where to turn, when the truth of God’s Word will set any man free.
If man only knew that 2700 years ago a prophet of God said, “There is coming one with all the wisdom and counsel anyone would ever need to be happy and joyful and his name is Immanuel. His name is Wonderful. His name is Counselor for that is his nature. That is his character.
Remember I told you that Isaiah is expressing the character or very nature of one by giving these names. Now Isaiah writes that Jesus is the Mighty God.
III - Superlative – (The Mighty God) Jesus is the mighty God. He is excellent, unmatched, unbeatable, untouchable, the best, outstanding, exceptional, without equal, incomparable and unrivaled.
Who created the World? Jesus Christ did!
Who divided the light from the darkness? Jesus Christ did.
Who measured the universe in the span of his hand, yea between his pinky and thumb, Jesus Christ; the one who wrapped himself in human flesh and was born of a virgin in Bethlehem’s stall 2,000 years ago.
He was and is and will always be the mighty God.
You ask me, “Preacher, are you saying Jesus is God?” Now you are starting to get it. Jesus is God. He is Immanuel. He is the God-man.
Jesus said in Revelation 1:8 these words, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”
Look at Isaiah 10: 21 “The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God.”
The Almighty God of Israel is the Almighty God of the Church. Jehovah is Jesus and Jesus is Jehovah.
Charles Spurgeon said, “We extend the right hand of fellowship to all those who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity and truth; but we cannot exchange our Christian greetings with those who deny him to be ‘very God of very God.’
When you declare yourselves to believe that Christ is not the Son of God, you are charged with one of the blackest sins in the entire catalogue of crime.’
The Unitarians (and all who deny that Jesus is God) are therefore idolaters. Now idolatry is a sin of the most heinous character; it is not an offense against men, but it is an intolerable offense against the majesty of God.”
So you say to me, Preacher why are you so hard on the Jehovah Witness and Mormons and seventh Day Adventist? Because they do not believe in the deity of Jesus Christ and my Bible says He is Almighty God!
IV - Supreme – (The Everlasting Father) Jesus is called the everlasting Father. He is the highest, ultimate, utmost, absolute and greatest of all.
Isaiah declares Jesus Christ to be the Everlasting Father:
The word “everlasting” is an eternal phrase that means, “He always has been and always will be.”
He is the provider and protector of those who walk with Him.
He has fed us and loves us and has given light and joy and direction and yet man has rebelled.
And still for 6,000 years as a loving Father, He graciously and mercifully raises up preachers all over the world to remind people of His love. Seek Him. Come to Him. Accept Jesus Christ as Savior and as Lord of your life.
Show Jesus Christ the same respect and honor that any descent son would show his father.
As Father, you must be reminded that God gave you life. God sustains you from day to day. God allows you to live. He holds your breath in his hand. He allows your heart to beat. He is the everlasting father.
V - Satisfying – As, Prince of peace, Jesus is satisfying, rewarding, enjoyable, gratifying, sustaining, nourishing and sufficient.
He is the One who makes peace, especially between God and man.
He alone can make peace in a family, among friends, and among enemies.
The world looks for gratification in a bottle, in a one night stand, in a perverted lifestyle, in things and thrills and treasures.
Isaiah declares, “Jesus Christ will satisfy your soul.”
Then Isaiah claims that His kingdom will not be only for 1,000 years but it will be forever. It will be an eternal kingdom of Peace. There will be no end to the reign of the Lord Jesus Christ. It will be a peaceful order established through eternity.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
The great song writer, Handel had spend days fasting and praying when he wrote the Messiah. In the Hallelujah Chorus he had it right: When the Choir sings again and again “And He shall reign forever and ever,” for He shall reign forever and ever and ever and ever.
b. Upon the throne of David: Jesus will rule on David’s throne, and over his kingdom (that is, David’s kingdom - Israel). This is a fulfillment of God’s great covenant with David in 2 Samuel 7.
That kingdom of beauty and glory and power and wonder will picture to all alive what eternity will be like. And Isaiah concludes, “The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”
One day sooner than we can imagine the whole world, yea every nation and every person on the earth will daily and hourly praise Jesus Christ as Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace forever and ever.
Isaiah has revealed to us in chapter nine that God gave us the gift of Sight, yea spiritual sight. He gave us (V 2), a Song, a joyful song. He gave us (V 3), a Savior, not just a Savior, the only Savior. He gave us (V 6), a Sovereign or King. One day the whole world will bow before Him, day and night and praise Him for His glory and grace and goodness.
Now Isaiah reveals a Secret to those who will take time to know this very special person.
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
Isaiah says, “His name shall be called …
This phrase “…His name will be called… is not telling us of our Lord’s literal name or names that the Messiah will be called.
Instead, these are aspects of His character; they describe who He is and what He has come to do.
“In Jewish literature, a name does not just identify or distinguish a person; it expresses the very nature of that person.”
The idea is Jesus Christ is more than what His earthy name means.
The Angel said, “His earthly shall be Jesus for he shall save his people from their sin.”
Even though being our Savior would be more than enough; Jesus is much more than a Savior and He is more that the Messiah.
He is the Wonder of wonders, Counselor of counselors, the only true God, the everlasting Father and the Prince that will make peace on this earth.
In knowing His character you discover His power, His energy, His secrets that satisfies the hearts of all men, rich or poor, presidential or pauper.
I - Stupendous - Our Savior and Sovereign is called Wonderful. That is something that is stupendous. The word Stupendous speaks of that which that takes our breath away. It may be a sight or a story or a song that is absolutely astounding or astonishing.
It is something that words cannot describe. We as human use words like fantastic, terrific, marvelous, stunning, awesome and wonderful.
The glory of who He is and what He has done for the world is all of that and should fill our lives with absolute amazement.
You can never really look at Jesus and really know Him, and be bored.
Why? He is too wonderful. He will fill your heart and mind with amazement as you spend time reading His Word.
At times He is as stunning as a beautiful golden sunset.
Sometimes His beauty is as deep as the deep blue ocean stretching beyond the horizon.
Still at other times you discover He is like the majestic snow-capped mountains reaching high in the sky.
Then you see Him as a mighty hurricane sweeping in to destroy His enemies.
And the next moment He is like a gentle breeze on a warm day and like the fragrance of the air after an afternoon rain.
David said, even if I could speak of all God’s wonderful works there are not enough numbers on the numerical scale to count them all: Psalms 40: 5 Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.
Psalms 78:4 says to tell your children of God’s wonderful works.
Four times the Psalmist writes in Psalms 107: “Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! (v 8, 15, 21, 31)
Oh that men would praise the LORD for His goodness and for His wonderful works to the children of men.
1 – God should be praised for Creation.
God took nothing and made everything. He made matter and energy. He made the stars and the moons. He made the plants and the animals. He made a man to marry a woman so they would reproduce and make children.
God didn’t make Adam and Steve, but Adam and Eve.
God didn’t over billions of years evolve the earth. He spoke it into existence at His word immediately.
A horse was made a horse. It wasn’t one time a dragon fly that evolved over millions of years into a horse.
God should be praised for His intellect in creation and his beauty in creation.
2 – God should be praised for His Ordination.
He ordained the home and set up a structure whereby it is to function and operate. Any home that obeys God structure is a happy home.
God ordained the government. Any government that sought God and wrote their constitution and laws after God’s word became the head of the nations and not the tail.
God ordained the Church. Any group of people that will seek God, pray to God, put God first, worship God and love the Lord will be a blessed Church. God should be praised for His ordination.
3 – God should be praised for His Salvation.
God painted picture after picture in the Old Testament:
A – When Israel was in bondage, yea captives in Egypt, a picture of the world, God told Moses to take a lamb and kill it and shed its blood and place that blood like a cross over their dwelling to stop death from coming into their dwellings. The next day, the entire nation was set free from bondage. What a picture of Salvation!
B – He told the priest to take a lamb on the Day of Atonement and kill it and offer it as a sacrifice. Then take the blood and present it by faith to the Holy God of Israel in the Holy of holies to satisfy God’s righteousness for the nation of Israel for another year.
C – In the New Testament, God’s lamb came and offered himself as a sacrifice on Calvary. He shed His blood for the sins of the world to satisfy the Father.
Isaiah 25:1 O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.
Sleep is a wonderful thing. Quiet is a wonderful thing. A Smile is a wonderful thing. Love is a wonderful thing. Joy is a wonderful thing. Light is a wonderful thing. Water is a wonderful thing. The Four seasons are a wonderful thing. These bodies and the way they function are wonderful things. We could go on and on praising the Lord Jesus Christ for being wonderful, but I believe we know He is wonderful, amazing and awesome in His nature and Character. Not only is He stupendous but He is…
II – Superior - Jesus is the Superior Counselor:
A counselor today is one people look to that has wisdom to give proper direction in life in how to handle life’s situation.
And I will say Christ gives emphatic, perfect and superior counsel to all. The problem is not with Christ’s Word. It is that most people won’t obey His direction.
God told Adam and Eve what to do to live forever and they disobeyed.
God told Israel what to do to be the head of the nations and they disobeyed and became the tail.
And God tells man today through His word how to have joy and peace and an enjoyable and long life, but sadly people reject the counsel of the Superior Counselor.
Jesus is not a therapist, a psychoanalyst; He is the Counselor who gives perfect information. And all who listen and obey will find perfect peace on earth.
Jesus can and will help you with your problems. But you say, “I can’t schedule an appointment with Jesus.” Yes you can! Let me give you two scenarios:
Scenario I -- Now consider a scenario. Here is a family having marital problems and those problems are mounting. If they don’t correct them, they may cost them their marriage. It will also cost lawyer fees, settlements, two houses rather than one, a divided income, mental, emotional and domestic stress for the rest of their life.
It will literally cost a couple tens of thousands of dollars from an economic standpoint and it will cost hundreds and hundreds of hours of down time over the next many years.
Now stop and think for a few minutes. If they would give their heart and mind to the counsel of God’s word half as much as they give time to sports and television, making money, God’s counsel would solve their every problem, save them tens of thousands of dollars, and it would mend their marriage.
Scenario II – If the governments of the world would use God’s Word as their blue print – God would bless every government. Within a short amount of years, there would be no poverty and very little crime. Our prisons would be nearly empty and our police forces would become skeletons.
There is no counsel like what the Lord offers man, but man in his pride and evil life chooses to rebel and do what is right in his own heart and that breeds sorrow and sadness.
A billion people follow the counsel of the Muslim religion. Another half a billion follow eastern gurus and people like Confusion, Buddha and others.
Another billion plus fall under the belief of Karl Marx with his socialistic and communistic ideologies. And more people than ever in America do so.
Still billions of others believe in spirits and gods and ideas so very strange and this world gropes in darkness not knowing where to turn, when the truth of God’s Word will set any man free.
If man only knew that 2700 years ago a prophet of God said, “There is coming one with all the wisdom and counsel anyone would ever need to be happy and joyful and his name is Immanuel. His name is Wonderful. His name is Counselor for that is his nature. That is his character.
Remember I told you that Isaiah is expressing the character or very nature of one by giving these names. Now Isaiah writes that Jesus is the Mighty God.
III - Superlative – (The Mighty God) Jesus is the mighty God. He is excellent, unmatched, unbeatable, untouchable, the best, outstanding, exceptional, without equal, incomparable and unrivaled.
Who created the World? Jesus Christ did!
Who divided the light from the darkness? Jesus Christ did.
Who measured the universe in the span of his hand, yea between his pinky and thumb, Jesus Christ; the one who wrapped himself in human flesh and was born of a virgin in Bethlehem’s stall 2,000 years ago.
He was and is and will always be the mighty God.
You ask me, “Preacher, are you saying Jesus is God?” Now you are starting to get it. Jesus is God. He is Immanuel. He is the God-man.
Jesus said in Revelation 1:8 these words, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”
Look at Isaiah 10: 21 “The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God.”
The Almighty God of Israel is the Almighty God of the Church. Jehovah is Jesus and Jesus is Jehovah.
Charles Spurgeon said, “We extend the right hand of fellowship to all those who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity and truth; but we cannot exchange our Christian greetings with those who deny him to be ‘very God of very God.’
When you declare yourselves to believe that Christ is not the Son of God, you are charged with one of the blackest sins in the entire catalogue of crime.’
The Unitarians (and all who deny that Jesus is God) are therefore idolaters. Now idolatry is a sin of the most heinous character; it is not an offense against men, but it is an intolerable offense against the majesty of God.”
So you say to me, Preacher why are you so hard on the Jehovah Witness and Mormons and seventh Day Adventist? Because they do not believe in the deity of Jesus Christ and my Bible says He is Almighty God!
IV - Supreme – (The Everlasting Father) Jesus is called the everlasting Father. He is the highest, ultimate, utmost, absolute and greatest of all.
Isaiah declares Jesus Christ to be the Everlasting Father:
The word “everlasting” is an eternal phrase that means, “He always has been and always will be.”
He is the provider and protector of those who walk with Him.
He has fed us and loves us and has given light and joy and direction and yet man has rebelled.
And still for 6,000 years as a loving Father, He graciously and mercifully raises up preachers all over the world to remind people of His love. Seek Him. Come to Him. Accept Jesus Christ as Savior and as Lord of your life.
Show Jesus Christ the same respect and honor that any descent son would show his father.
As Father, you must be reminded that God gave you life. God sustains you from day to day. God allows you to live. He holds your breath in his hand. He allows your heart to beat. He is the everlasting father.
V - Satisfying – As, Prince of peace, Jesus is satisfying, rewarding, enjoyable, gratifying, sustaining, nourishing and sufficient.
He is the One who makes peace, especially between God and man.
He alone can make peace in a family, among friends, and among enemies.
The world looks for gratification in a bottle, in a one night stand, in a perverted lifestyle, in things and thrills and treasures.
Isaiah declares, “Jesus Christ will satisfy your soul.”
Then Isaiah claims that His kingdom will not be only for 1,000 years but it will be forever. It will be an eternal kingdom of Peace. There will be no end to the reign of the Lord Jesus Christ. It will be a peaceful order established through eternity.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
The great song writer, Handel had spend days fasting and praying when he wrote the Messiah. In the Hallelujah Chorus he had it right: When the Choir sings again and again “And He shall reign forever and ever,” for He shall reign forever and ever and ever and ever.
b. Upon the throne of David: Jesus will rule on David’s throne, and over his kingdom (that is, David’s kingdom - Israel). This is a fulfillment of God’s great covenant with David in 2 Samuel 7.
That kingdom of beauty and glory and power and wonder will picture to all alive what eternity will be like. And Isaiah concludes, “The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”
One day sooner than we can imagine the whole world, yea every nation and every person on the earth will daily and hourly praise Jesus Christ as Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace forever and ever.
HAVE A GREAT NEW YEAR IN 2008
Dear Friends and Family of Charity,
I hope you have a great New Year. I know that if you honor God, He will honor you. Some things should never change. Sunshine and rain, love and laughter, God and His Word are a few things that should never change. And if you want 2008 to be a great year keep reading God's Word and spending time with Him in prayer. Be faithful to Church. When you come, come to worship and honor the Lord.
Remember our College kids that are heading back to school and all our youth. Keep them in your prayers.
Remember that this Sunday we will have a "Double Service." At lunch we will have a "Chili Cook off." So brings your best tasting chili.
If you would like to join us for "Master's Men" this Saturday at 9:00, come and be with us. Some of the good men in our Church gather for a great breakfast, prayer and a time to serve the widows and needy in our church and area.
Again, I hope you have a great New Year!
Pastor Shepley
I hope you have a great New Year. I know that if you honor God, He will honor you. Some things should never change. Sunshine and rain, love and laughter, God and His Word are a few things that should never change. And if you want 2008 to be a great year keep reading God's Word and spending time with Him in prayer. Be faithful to Church. When you come, come to worship and honor the Lord.
Remember our College kids that are heading back to school and all our youth. Keep them in your prayers.
Remember that this Sunday we will have a "Double Service." At lunch we will have a "Chili Cook off." So brings your best tasting chili.
If you would like to join us for "Master's Men" this Saturday at 9:00, come and be with us. Some of the good men in our Church gather for a great breakfast, prayer and a time to serve the widows and needy in our church and area.
Again, I hope you have a great New Year!
Pastor Shepley
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