Sunday, March 16, 2008

Your King is Coming to you - Matthew 21:1-11

Title: Your King is Coming to You
Date: March 16, 2008
Text: Zechariah 9:9, Matthew 21:1-11

Introduction

- today is one week before Easter, Palm Sunday
- on this day, 1,977 years ago, Jesus fulfilled a prophecy
- Zech 9:9-" Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation,
Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey."
- this was a prophecy of the King, the Messiah, coming on a donkey
- Mat 21:1-11
- he was a king, yet riding a lowly donkey
- he even told the disciples to ask for permission to use the donkey
- this symbolized Jesus coming in humility and meekness
- not as a conqueror, but as the Lamb ready to be slain
- later, when Messiah comes again, he will come as a conquering king
- but at this time, the King comes on a donkey

The people's perspective

- the people welcomed their Messiah
- they wanted to be rid of their Roman conquerors
- they were looking for someone to solve their problems and bring healing to their wounds
- they saw that Jesus had the power and the integrity to bring change into their situation
- but they were fickle
- just one week later they were crying out, "Crucify him, crucify him!"
- popular opinion changes from moment to moment
- most people are looking for a quick fix, an easy solution
- they would like someone to step in and bring instant healing in their lives
- they want a king but on their own terms
- they do not look forward to a lifetime of discipleship, learning to be obedient
- many of the Jews were not ready for life-change
- towards the end of Jesus' ministry, many forsook him
- the words he spoke were too radical
- he said to them, eat of my body, it is the bread of life

The leaders' perspective

- the leaders of the Jews did not want Jesus around
- they were not a part of the throhgs that welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem
- they were too busy trying to maintain their positions as rulers under the Romans
- they did not want an upstart prophet to upset their applecart
- they felt they had it all together
- they did not need someone to show them their sins and require them to change
- they instead wanted stability, they wanted to maintain the status quo
- they were happy enough that the Romans were there, it gave them power
- they could not handle an upstart Jew from Galilee
- one who dared to step in and rid the temple of money changers and businessmen
- 5 days later they crucified him

Jesus' perspective

- God knows what is in man's heart
- God knew how the people were thinking
- He knew that they were not yet ready for life-change
- that is why Jesus spoke in parables to them, they were not ready to change
- if they had fully understood what he was saying, they would be accountable
- so he veiled the meaning in stories, so they would later have the chance to turn around
- he knew what their hearts were like
- that is why Jesus came
- he came to be a sacrificial lamb, to pay for their sins
- he did this so that the way would be open for them to change their ways
- he wanted so badly to give people a fresh start
- the people are shouting Hosannah, which means "the one who comes to save or liberate"
- they are looking for a deliverer who will set their nation free
- but Jesus knows that true freedom starts within
- true freedom comes when past guilt is washed away, and people can start afresh
- in just five days, he would be paying the price to make that possible

What is our perspective?

- are we looking for a Savior who will take care of our physical needs?
- one who will heal us of our sicknesses?
- who will take care of our addictions?
- who will provide for our needs?
- who will get us a job, or send us the perfect wife or husband?
- while we continue to live our old ways
- while we refuse to forgive those who have sinned against us
- while we hang onto that bitterness about something that happened long ago
- or are we looking for a Savior who paid the price to forgive us of our sins?
- One who gives us a fresh start, so we can live life the way it was intended?
- One who sends us the Holy Spirit so that we can do battle against our old ways?
- One who gives us the power to be able to reach others with the good news?
- One who teaches us by his example to live for others and not for ourselves?
- what is our perspective?

Conclusion

- Jesus offers us a choice
- on the one hand, he offers us a fresh start, clean and pure
- on the other hand, we can hang onto our old ways, do the same things, and reap the same consequences
- choosing the one means we will be embarking on a journey of life-change
- choosing the other is easier, but will result in the misery that brought us here
- he says to us, "Choose life!"

Monday, March 10, 2008

Jesus the Messiah - Mark 8:27-33

Title: Jesus the Messiah
Date: March 10, 2008
Text: Mark 8:27-33

INTRODUCTION
- Why has it been so difficult for the Jews to receive Christ?
- Why have the Jews had the Old Testament and yet have generally been unable to accept that Jesus was the expected Messiah?
- There are many reasons
- But God has not given up on the Jews
- Paul in his ministry never disowns his own heritage as a Jew
- Paul explains that a day will come when their eyes will be opened
- Romans 11:1-23
- Today we will look at some of the prophecies re the coming Messiah

Prophecies re 1st coming of Jesus
- Old Testament (written between 1450 BC and 430BC)
- Jesus’ fulfillment in the New Testament (written between 45 and 95 AD)
- The Messiah will be the offspring (descendant) of the woman (Eve) - Genesis 3:15, Galatians 4:4
- The Messiah will be a descendant of Abraham, through whom everyone on earth will be blessed - Genesis 12:3; 18:18, Acts 3:25,26
- The Messiah will be a descendant of Judah - Genesis 49:10, Matthew 1:2 and Luke 3:33
- The Messiah will be a prophet like Moses - Deuteronomy 18:15-19, Acts 3:22,23
- The Messiah will be the Son of God - Psalm 2:7, Matthew 3:17; Mark 1:11; Luke 3:22
- The Messiah will be raised from the dead (resurrected) - Psalm 16:10,11, Matthew 28:5-9; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:4-7; John 20:11-16; Acts 1:3 and 2:32
- The Messiah crucifixion experience - Psalm 22 (contains 11 prophecies—not all listed here), Matthew 27:34-50 and John 19:17-30
- The Messiah will be sneered at and mocked - Psalm 22:7, Luke 23:11,35-39
- The Messiah will be pierced through hands and feet - Psalm 22:16, Luke 23:33 and 24:36-39;John 19:18 and 20:19-20,24-27
- The Messiah’s bones will not be broken (a person’s legs were usually broken after being crucified to speed up their death) - Psalm 22:17 and 34:20, John 19:31-33,36
- Men Will Gamble for the Messiah’s clothing - Psalm 22:18, Matthew 27:35; Mark 15:24; Luke 23:34; John 19:23,24
- The Messiah will accused by false witnesses - Psalm 35:11, Matthew 26:59,60 and Mark 14:56,57
- The Messiah will be hated without a cause - Psalm 35:19 and 69:4, John 15:23-25
- The Messiah will be betrayed by a friend - Psalm 41:9, John 13:18,21
- The Messiah will ascend to heaven (at the right hand of God) - Psalm 68:18, Luke 24:51; Acts 1:9; 2:33-35; 3:20-21; 5:31,32; 7:55-56; Romans 8:34; Ephesians 1:20,21; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 1:3; 8:1; 10:12; 12:2; 1 Pet 3:22
- The Messiah will be given vinegar and gall to drink - Psalm 69:21, Matthew 27:34; Mark 15:23; John 19:29,30
- Great kings will pay homage and tribute to the Messiah - Psalm 72:10,11, Matthew 2:1-11 - The Messiah is a “stone the builders rejected” who will become the “head cornerstone” - Psalm 118:22,23 and Isaiah 28:16, Matthew 21:42,43; Acts 4:11; Ephesians 2:20; 1 Peter 2:6-8
- The Messiah will be a descendant of David - Psalm 132:11 and Jeremiah 23:5,6; 33:15,16, Luke 1:32,33
- The Messiah will be a born of a virgin - Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 1:26-35
- The Messiah’s first spiritual work will be in Galilee - Isaiah 9:1-7, Matthew 4:12-16
- The Messiah will make the blind see, the deaf hear, etc. - Isaiah 35:5-6, Many places. Also see Matthew 11:3-6 and John 11:47
- The Messiah will be beaten, mocked, and spat upon - Isaiah 50:6, Matthew 26:67 and 27:26-31
- The “Gospel according to Isaiah” - Isaiah 52:13-53:12, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
- People will hear and not believe the “arm of the LORD” (Messiah) - Isaiah 53:1, John 12:37,38
- The Messiah will be rejected - Isaiah 53:3, Matthew 27:20-25; Mark 15:8-14; Luke 23:18-23; John 19:14,15
- The Messiah will be killed - Isaiah 53:5-9, Matthew 27:50; Mark 15:37-39; Luke 23:46; John 19:30
- The Messiah will be silent in front of his accusers - Isaiah 53:7, Matthew 26:62,63 and 27:12-14
- The Messiah will be buried with the rich - Isaiah 53:9, Matthew 27:59,60; Mark 15:46; Luke 23:52,53; John 19:38-42
- The Messiah will be crucified with criminals - Isaiah 53:12, Matthew 27:38; Mark 15:27; Luke 23:32,33
- The Messiah is part of the new and everlasting covenant - Isaiah 55:3-4 and Jeremiah 31:31-34, Matthew 26:28; Mark 14:24; Luke 22:20; Hebrews 8:6-13
- The Messiah will be our intercessor (intervene for us and plead on our behalf) - Isaiah 59:16, Hebrews 9:15
- The Messiah has two missions - Isaiah 61:1-3 (first mission ends at “. . . year of the LORD’s favor”) - First mission: Luke 4:16-21; Second mission: to be fulfilled at the end of the world
- The Messiah will come at a specific time - Daniel 9:25-26, Galatians 4:4 and Ephesians 1:10
- The Messiah will be born in Bethlehem - Micah 5:2, Matthew 2:1 and Luke 2:4-7
- The Messiah will enter Jerusalem riding a donkey - Zechariah 9:9, Matthew 21:1-11
- The Messiah will be sold for 30 pieces of silver - Zechariah 11:12,13, Matthew 26:15 with Matthew 27:3-10
- The Messiah will forsaken by His disciples - Zechariah 13:7, Matthew 26:31,56
- The Messiah will enter the Temple with authority - Malachi 3:1, Matthew 21:12 and Luke 19:45
(adapted from http://www.clarifyingchristianity.com/m_prophecies.shtml )

Prophecies re 2nd coming of Jesus
- Shiloh will come and people will be gathered to him - Gen. 49:10
- God will set a King in Zion, begotten by God - Psalm 2:6-9
- A future righteous King will reign, the nature of animals will change -Isaiah 11:1-6
- A King will execute judgment and justice in the earth - Jer. 23:5
- A future kingdom will be set up which will stand for ever - Daniel 2:44
- Second coming prophesied - Zech 14:3-19
- The Lord will return to Jerusalem, it will be called the city of truth - Zech 8:3
- A future repentance of the Jews - Zech 12:9-10

Jews did not understand
- John 1:9-14
- The Jews were in bondage to the Romans,
- Everywhere they looked, Roman soldiers were there
- They wanted freedom from the Romans
- They wanted Messiah to come and wipe out the Roman legions
- But they forgot that Messiah had a tender part to him
- Isa 42:3
- His first coming was with compassion, bringing healing to the people, and dying for their sins
- His second coming will be as a conquering King, restoring order into the chaos Satan has caused in this world
- The New Testament gives extensive prophecies about the second coming

CONCLUSION
- The Jews are not lost as a people
- Today, however, their eyes are still blinded to the Messiah
- One day, their eyes will be opened and we will see hundreds of thousands of Jews coming to Jesus
- Jesus Kingdom will start at Jerusalem and then extend to the rest of the world
- That mission has started in us
- Jesus has made Himself known to us and has conscripted us into his service

Sunday, March 9, 2008

Don't Be Afraid, Only Believe - March 9, 2008

Title: Do Not Be Afraid, Only Believe
Date: March 9, 2008
Text: Mark 5:21-24, 35-43

INTRODUCTION
- We are all faced by trials and difficulties
- Part of the reason we were brought to our knees was probably some circumstance that we could not possibly deal with
- Today we will look at an example of how we should face impossible circumstances

BACKGROUND
- The background to the story starts with Jesus
- He and the disciples had sailed across the sea of Galilee to Decapolis on the east side of Galilee
- There they ran into a demonized individual, who remains nameless in the story
- Jesus casts out the demon, and the demon went into a herd of pigs, which then commit suicide by drowning
- Jesus then returns to Capernaum, where he is met by Jairus, one of the rulers of the synagogue
- Jairus would have been a very respected member of his community, was probably well off, was responsible for the smooth running of meetings in the synagogue
- The synagogue had been built by the Roman garrison commander (Luke 7:5) probably because it was a poor town
- There were probably only around 1000 to 1500 inhabitants
- The town had around 1600 feet of shoreline, or 1/3 mile
- So it was not very large
- It was finally destroyed by the Arabic invasion in 640 AD
- Mark 5:21-24
- Jesus is at the seafront, then starts walking through town with Jairus, to minister to his daughter
- A lady who had been bleeding for 12 years came up to Jesus, touched his cloak, and was instantly healed.
- Jesus stopped and talked with her
- Jairus is probably biting his fingernails, because he knows the urgency of his daughter’s situation
- Then they hear that the daughter has died
- Jairus’ heart sinks

Don’t be afraid
- V. 35 - Jairus was afraid – the situation had gone from bad to worst – his daughter was now dead
- He had had a little faith, now it dropped through the floor
- Our situation may not be good
- We may have prayed about it and done all we could
- But things have only gotten worse
- We may owe money but have no way to repay it
- We may have relationship issues with our family, and have just about given up trying to find reconciliation
- We may have come here looking for recovery and yet we fear relapse
- V. 36 - Jesus tells Jairus “Do not be afraid”
- Capernaum was a town where Jesus had spent a lot of time
- Many miracles had been done there, and Jairus would have seen many of them, it was not a big place
- He says, don’t be afraid, even if the problem seems hopeless
- He says to us, Don’t give up, I am here, let me deal with it

Ignore what things look like
- V. 36 - Jesus ignored what had been said, and told Jairus, “Don’t be afraid, only believe”
- We so often focus our anxiety and fears on the problem, rather than looking at the One who can fix the problem
- Our natural tendency is to focus on the obvious situation, what we can see, feel, hear or touch
- But there is more to life than meets the eye
- 2 Kings 6:17
- This room is filled with angels who are listening to the words that are being spoken here
- We are not alone, or left to our own devices
- Heb 13:5 NIV “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you”

Trust God
- V.36 - Jesus says “Only believe”
- God does ask of us to trust him
- There is the kind of faith to trust that God wants relationship with us and then acts on that faith
- There is the kind of faith which refers to believing what God has said in his Word
- And there is the faith that says, “I am trusting you, God, with this situation. I am placing it in your hands to take care of. I believe that you are able to deal with it, and I believe that you love me enough that you will do what is best for me. I ask you to change this situation. Thank you for what you are about to do”
- Jesus says, only believe, he says, trust me
- Trust him for dealing with your illness
- Trust him for helping you pay your debts
- Trust him for staying clean and sober
- Trust him for helping you pay your back child support
- Trust him for reconciliation in your family

God does things His way
- Notice that Jesus did not tell Jairus to go home, that his daughter was healed
- Jairus would have liked the answer straight away
- He did not like his faith sinking through the floorboards
- Jesus had a bigger purpose, which Jairus did not see
- Jesus allowed his daughter to die, so that a greater miracle would happen, so that Jairus’ faith would be strengthened even more
- God does not always give us what we want
- Sometimes we want something immediately, but God does not respond when we want
- Sometimes we have to wait a long time before we see the answer
- Sometimes the answer will not come in our lifetime
- When my wife died, that is when she was healed of her cancer
- She now lives in a healthy body, in Jesus’ presence, with no pain or suffering. I am glad for her.
- We would like things now
- But God’s answer may be later, or maybe not at all
- Trust him that he will do what is right and best for you
- He said he would never leave us
- He walks through our storms with us
- And ultimately he will work all things out
- What he asks of us is “Do not be afraid, only believe”

Sunday, March 2, 2008

Leaving Ur - Genesis 12:1-4

Title: Leaving Ur
Date: March 2, 2008
Text: Genesis 12:1-4, Hebrews 11:8

INTRODUCTION
- When I was 12 I once read through the life of Abraham, in one sitting
- I found it an interesting read, it grabbed my attention
- In some way it spoke to my heart, and suddenly I knew that I wanted to be like Abraham
- I wanted to be obedient to God, I wanted to have that closeness of relationship with God, that I can speak to God and that he replies to me
- Today I am going to start a series about the life of Abraham, examining incidents in his life and showing their relevance to each of us

Abraham was faithful
- Gen 12:1-3 – Abraham had previously heard from God, to leave his father’s house and go to another land
- His father’s house was in Ur of the Chaldeas – that is where Abraham was born
- The bible does not say when God spoke this to Abram – reading the story it sounds as though this happened while they were still in Ur
- In response to this word to Abram, Terah, Abram’s dad, took Abram, his wife Sarah and his grandson Lot, to a place called Haran, a place where Lot had probably grown up
- This was on the way to the land of Canaan
- It seems that Nahor, Abram’s brother together with his wife milcah, later also followed them to go settle in Haran
- Haran was a nice town, at the middle of the Fertile Crescent
- There were family there – Haran had probably established this village, before he died while on a trip back to Ur – the town Haran was named after him
- There is a lesson in this – Haran left Ur and settled in Haran – then he turned back to Ur – he died there
- There is death in Ur
- Maybe the lesson for us is that when we embark on a journey with God that we do not turn back
- Hebrews 10:38
- But there came a point when Abraham realized that he had not yet completely fulfilled the word from God
- It was time to resume the journey
- This took a step of faith
- Heb 11:8-10

God is faithful
- God goes on our journey with us
- Heb 13:5 He promised never to leave or forsake us
- Numbers 23:19 He is not a man that he should lie
- Whatever he has promised will be done
- No matter if we go through hard time or smooth, he is there
- Psalm 23 – when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we will fear no evil because God is with us
- Phil 1:6 the work he has started in us he will complete
- He does not stop halfway, he completes the project

God expects us to be faithful
- Abraham got stuck in Haran
- He had left Ur in obedience and then settled down in Haran
- It was comfortable to be in Haran
- There was plenty of room, there was family around, no need to feel lonely
- But it was not the place where God had sent him
- When Terah died, Abraham realized it was time to move on, in obedience
- This was a step f faith
- Luke 19:17 God has called us to be faithful too
- Like Abraham, we have started on a journey
- When we accepted Jesus into our life, we took step one of the journey
- We have left all kinds of things behind us
- We have left behind our family of origin, the place where we may have learned a lot of our bad ways
- We have left behind our old way of life, and been raised a new creation
- It may be comfortable for us to rest there
- We have been saved and we are able to pray and communicate with God – awesome
- But God has called us on a journey
- We learn more about that journey in the coming weeks
- Step 2 is to continue the journey
- Not being satisfied with just being saved, but wanting to be the best we can be for God
- We have not yet reached the city that Abraham was looking for
- We too are on a pilgrimage, a journey
- But God is faithful, and as we follow him we will be living and walking with God
- We will have relationship with him, and he with us!
- One day he will say to us, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”
- Because we have been faithful, we have stayed on the journey
- Now, that is awesome!