Tuesday, February 12, 2013
OUR MARCHING ORDERS
Matthew 28:20-21
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”
(Mark 16:15,16, and this they did, Acts 2:39, Acts 8:28ff)
Paul in writing to his frequent associate and fellow worker Timothy, gave what could be called his last marching orders. (2 Timothy 1:13) These instructions were appropriate not only for Timothy, , but for all of us. . We are fighting the same battle against Satan. Our task is the same, no matter how intense the battle should become. As God told Noah to preach a message of repentance, during the one hundred years it took him to construct the ark, he knew that the only ones who would believe would be Noah’s own family. Still he gave the opportunity to all who lived then to be saved when the earth was destroyed by water in the Great flood.
Today we are living in the days when, “they shall not endure sound doctrine,” and we face the final destruction of the earth, not by flood, but by fire. I recall the statement of a charismatic Pentecostal preacher, several years ago, who told me, “I don’t preach doctrine.” He might just as well have said, “I don’t preach what the Lord has sent me to preach, I preach what the people want to hear.” The, almost annually occuring horrific wild fires in our country should open our eyes to that last event to come. They are certainly a very graphic warning, yet one seldom hears anyone making the comparison at all.
Paul, in writing to his frequent associate and fellow worker, gave what could be called his last marching orders. These were appropriate not only for Timothy, but for all of us. We are fighting the same battle against Satan. Our task is the same, no matter how intense the battle should become. God told Noah to preach a
message of repentance for a hundred years to all who would listen, while he was building the ark. God knew that the only ones who would believe would be Noah’s own family, but he gave the opportunity to all The earth was to be destroyed by the flood then. Today we are living in days when "they shall not endure sound doctrine", and we face the final destruction of the earth, not by gradual warming and melting of the ice caps, but by fire. I recall the statement of a Charismatic Pentecostal evangelist, several years ago, who said "I don’t preach doctrine". This year’s horrific wild fires in California should open our eyes of that event to come, certainly they are a graphic warning, yet I have not heard one word of that fact. As Jesus said to the apostles, "teaching them all things whatsoever I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:20), so we must also do. Jesus said, "teach them," and Paul "preach the word." It is the same command passed on to a new generation."
Jesus said to the apostles, “teaching hem all things whatsoever I have commanded you.” (Matthew 29:20) We must do this as well. Paul passed along the message when he said, preach the word.” It is the same admonition passed on by every generation.
"I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; preach the word: be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." 2 Timothy 4:1-8
The quick, the dead, and his Kingdom. Notice that he separates those of his kingdom, from those who are living, and not living at the time of his coming to judge. Why is it that those of his kingdom are separated from the others? Is it not perhaps because they have been caught up to meet him in the air? These are the ones who have heeded the charge and have been preaching the word. In John 1:1 we have noted that the "Word" was with God and the Word was God and the Word had a part in the creation of all things. The word was Christ. We are to be preaching Christ and what he has taught us. Whether people believe it or not, is not the question. In fact, we know that most will reject it, but that is not our basis for preaching, just as it was not with Noah. We are told that they will not endure sound doctrine, and will prefer little stories instead. Paul calls them fables. A fable can be an illustration but not the content of the whole message as is
sometimes heard.
Not everyone is going to like the evangelist, especially if he is the bearer of bad news. Read the prophets of the Old Testament days. Sometimes the kings they were told to carry a message to, were violent in their rejection. One had his scroll cut into pieces and thrown into the fire as it was being read, Jeremiah was thrown into an abandoned cistern, Elijah fled for his life from Jezebel. I, myself, was cautious as I collected my mail at my post office box after I received a threatening letter in response to tracts I had distributed in the Oriental Plaza of Johannesburg. The box could easily have been watched. Christians can "endure afflictions" in any period of history.
Paul was able to say of himself, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." Are we able to say the same? If we are, we are also able to say with confidence, "there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day, and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." Let us look forward to that day with confidence.
Monday, February 11, 2013
HE IS NOT HERE - HE IS RISEN
Matthew 28:1-10
No, this is not an Easter message. But, it is a vital part of the message Christ wants us to spread to the world. From the time of his birth in Bethlehem, this was his destination. He came because the “wages of sin is death.” Don’t be confused, yes our material bodies grow old and in time we will die, but Christ came to die in our place so that our Spiritual, new bodies might be enabled to enter heaven and live for ever. Years ago, when I stooped and walked in the door of the grave in the picture above and placed my hands on the places prepared for three bodies there, one not quite finished, I knew that this might not be the actual grave when my Savior laid for three days, but it was very like that described in scripture. It is certainly one of the places where Jesus walked. The angels expressed it for us. “He is not here. He is risen.” That is also our message for the world. He died for us that we might also live, and arose from the grave that we might know that there is truly life beyond the grave.
THE ANGEL’S TESTIMONY
The Jewish day begins at the crack of dawn, so at that time, two women came to see the grave of Jesus. What they found was an open grave. The Roman seal was broken, the giant stone was rolled back, and all was open, and empty! What was there were the grave clothes, the folded cloth that had covered the face, and an angel who told them to go tell the apostles what they saw. They ran.
1 In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher.
(Matthew 28:1-8, Mark 16:1-8, Luke 24:1-10, JOHN 20:1-8, Matthew 27:56, Matthew 27:61)
2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
(Luke 24:4, John 20:12, Matthew 27:66, Mark 16:4)
They must have wondered when the earth had shaken so violently in that earthquake. At that very time the heavy curtain that separated the temple into the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies was torn from the top to the bottom. Imagine the shock of the priests as they opened the door and prepared to start the new week to find that the two rooms had become one! The Ark of the Covenant with the mercy seat, and the cherubim were all exposed. They had never seen them before. The resurrection of the Lord had opened what had been hidden before. This angel did not appear as an ordinary mortal; this one appeared in all his heavenly glory. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow.
(Daniel 7:9, Daniel 10:6, Mark 9:3, John 20:12, Acts 1:10)
4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. 5 And the angel answered and said to the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
(Mathew 14:27, Matthew 28:10, Revelation 1:17)
6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
(Matthew 12:40, Matthew 16:21. Matthew 27:63)
7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
(Matthew 26:32, Matthew 28:10, Matthew 28:16, Mark 16:7)
8 And they departed quickly from the sepulcher with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
JESUS APPEARS TO THE WOMEN
These two had just seen the glory of the angel, now they saw the risen Lord himself.
9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
10 Then Jesus said to them, Be not afraid: go to tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.
(Matthew 14:27, Matthew 28:5, John 20:17, Romans 8:29, Hebrews 2:11, Hebrews 2:17, Matthew 26:32, Matthew 28:7, Matthew 28:17)
This Matthew account does not refer to Peter and John’s rush to the tomb and how Peter dashed right in. John, who arrived first, had hesitated, but Peter did not pause, he went right in. Neither should we hesitate to share the good news. The grave is empty, Our Lord died for us, he was buried, and he arose on the third day. “He lives for ever, and so can you!” That is the gospel message He sent us to share.
THE GUARD’S CONFESSION OF GUILT
The guards had a different message. Under Roman law they had permitted the Roman seal to be broken. They deserved to die, and they had to go report what had happened to the authorities. They had to claim to be asleep, though in reality, they probably had not been. Instead the authorities bribed them to spread the Story that they slept on the post.
11. Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed the chief priests all the things that were done.
(Matthew 27:65, Matthew 27:66)
12 And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,
13 Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.
14 And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him and secure you.
(Matthew 27:2)
THE EMPTY TOMB EXPLAINED
15 So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day. The “until this day” phrase probably meant until the time of whiting of the gospel of Matthew, but the same is true still until this day in which we live now. The Jews, as a nation, still reject the Lord Jesus who died that they might live.
(Matthew 9:31, Mark 1:45, Matthew 27:8)
__________
No, this is not an Easter message. But, it is a vital part of the message Christ wants us to spread to the world. From the time of his birth in Bethlehem, this was his destination. He came because the “wages of sin is death.” Don’t be confused, yes our material bodies grow old and in time we will die, but Christ came to die in our place so that our Spiritual, new bodies might be enabled to enter heaven and live for ever. Years ago, when I stooped and walked in the door of the grave in the picture above and placed my hands on the places prepared for three bodies there, one not quite finished, I knew that this might not be the actual grave when my Savior laid for three days, but it was very like that described in scripture. It is certainly one of the places where Jesus walked. The angels expressed it for us. “He is not here. He is risen.” That is also our message for the world. He died for us that we might also live, and arose from the grave that we might know that there is truly life beyond the grave.
THE ANGEL’S TESTIMONY
The Jewish day begins at the crack of dawn, so at that time, two women came to see the grave of Jesus. What they found was an open grave. The Roman seal was broken, the giant stone was rolled back, and all was open, and empty! What was there were the grave clothes, the folded cloth that had covered the face, and an angel who told them to go tell the apostles what they saw. They ran.
1 In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher.
(Matthew 28:1-8, Mark 16:1-8, Luke 24:1-10, JOHN 20:1-8, Matthew 27:56, Matthew 27:61)
2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
(Luke 24:4, John 20:12, Matthew 27:66, Mark 16:4)
They must have wondered when the earth had shaken so violently in that earthquake. At that very time the heavy curtain that separated the temple into the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies was torn from the top to the bottom. Imagine the shock of the priests as they opened the door and prepared to start the new week to find that the two rooms had become one! The Ark of the Covenant with the mercy seat, and the cherubim were all exposed. They had never seen them before. The resurrection of the Lord had opened what had been hidden before. This angel did not appear as an ordinary mortal; this one appeared in all his heavenly glory. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow.
(Daniel 7:9, Daniel 10:6, Mark 9:3, John 20:12, Acts 1:10)
4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. 5 And the angel answered and said to the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
(Mathew 14:27, Matthew 28:10, Revelation 1:17)
6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
(Matthew 12:40, Matthew 16:21. Matthew 27:63)
7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
(Matthew 26:32, Matthew 28:10, Matthew 28:16, Mark 16:7)
8 And they departed quickly from the sepulcher with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
JESUS APPEARS TO THE WOMEN
These two had just seen the glory of the angel, now they saw the risen Lord himself.
9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
10 Then Jesus said to them, Be not afraid: go to tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.
(Matthew 14:27, Matthew 28:5, John 20:17, Romans 8:29, Hebrews 2:11, Hebrews 2:17, Matthew 26:32, Matthew 28:7, Matthew 28:17)
This Matthew account does not refer to Peter and John’s rush to the tomb and how Peter dashed right in. John, who arrived first, had hesitated, but Peter did not pause, he went right in. Neither should we hesitate to share the good news. The grave is empty, Our Lord died for us, he was buried, and he arose on the third day. “He lives for ever, and so can you!” That is the gospel message He sent us to share.
THE GUARD’S CONFESSION OF GUILT
The guards had a different message. Under Roman law they had permitted the Roman seal to be broken. They deserved to die, and they had to go report what had happened to the authorities. They had to claim to be asleep, though in reality, they probably had not been. Instead the authorities bribed them to spread the Story that they slept on the post.
11. Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed the chief priests all the things that were done.
(Matthew 27:65, Matthew 27:66)
12 And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,
13 Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.
14 And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him and secure you.
(Matthew 27:2)
THE EMPTY TOMB EXPLAINED
15 So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day. The “until this day” phrase probably meant until the time of whiting of the gospel of Matthew, but the same is true still until this day in which we live now. The Jews, as a nation, still reject the Lord Jesus who died that they might live.
(Matthew 9:31, Mark 1:45, Matthew 27:8)
__________
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