OUR ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN OUR WORDS

PROCLAMATION

“What do you think?  There was a man who had two sons.  He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’  ‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.  Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing.  He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.  Which of the two did what his father wanted?”  Matthew 21:28-29 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

These words are from the gospel, the good news regarding Jesus, The Christ, which were spoken by Christ according to the Apostle Matthew.  As Jesus and His disciples approached Jerusalem, they stopped in the town of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives.  Jesus sent two of his disciples to find a donkey and her young colt and bring them to Him. (Matthew 21:1-7)  Jesus sat on the donkey and her colt and rode them into town.  A very large crowd had followed them, and the people placed their cloaks and palm leaves on the road in front of them as they went into town.  As they went, the people shouted “Hosanna!” (Matthew 21:7-9)  When they entered Jerusalem, Jesus went to the temple and drove out the money changers and the sellers of doves. (Matthew 21:10-13)  The blind and the lame came to Him while He was in the temple and He healed them.  When the chief priests and the teachers of the law heard the shouts and saw the things that He did, they were displeased. (Matthew 21:14-15)  He taught the people the parable of the Two Sons (Matthew 21:28-32) and the parable of The Tenants. (Matthew 21:33-40)  Then He quoted the Scriptures to them regarding the stone which the builders rejected becoming the cornerstone. (Psalm 118:22 and Matthew 21:42)

APPLICATION

“Our actions speak louder than our words.”  People frequently say one thing and then do another.  In this case it is better to say, “I will not” and then do it, than to say, “I will do it” and then don’t.  Here the rebel is brought to repentance and becomes the servant, while the formal one who agreed grows hard-hearted and rebels.  Unfortunately, many people today are like the second son, they join the church and observe religious rituals, but they are not Christ-like.  Our  words count but our behavior is more important.  It is better to stand up for, and to do that which is right.  Don’t be like one in the fickle crowd, who are shouting “Hosanna!” one day, (Matthew 21:9) and then the next week are shouting “Crucify Him!” (Matthew 27:22-23)  We will be judged by the words that we speak, (Matthew 12:36) but we will be rewarded or punished by our works. (2 Corinthians 11:15 and Revelation 22:12)

THE SIN-SICK PEOPLE OF THE WORLD NEED THE WORD OF GOD

Proclamation:

“Jesus answered them, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.’”  Luke 5:31-32 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Luke, the physician and frequent travelling companion of the Apostle Paul.  In this chapter he begins by presenting the events around the calling of the first disciples of Jesus, The Christ.  After He had finished teaching the people while sitting in Simon Peter’s boat at the edge of the lake, He told him to push out into the deep water and cast his nets.  Although he was reluctant, Simon Peter did as he was instructed and caught such a large load of fish that his nets broke and he had to get help from his partners. (Luke 5:1-7)  Seeing this, he worshiped Jesus, who told him that He would make him fishers of men. (Luke 5:8-11)  After this Jesus healed a man with leprosy (Luke 5:12-14) and a paralyzed man (Luke 5:17-25) before He saw Levi, the tax collector, and told him, “Follow me.” (Luke 5:27-28)  It was at a banquet at Levi’s house that the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to question Jesus about the company that He was keeping.  Jesus defended Himself and His disciples and told them that the sick people need a doctor, not the healthy. (Luke 5:29-39)

Application:

Jesus, The Christ, spent time with outcasts and sinners because they were the people who needed to be saved.  He changed them, they did not change Him.  If we are going to spend time with the unsaved people of this world, then we need to be strong enough in The Lord and The Word of God that we can help them out and not get pulled down into their sins.  If our purpose is not to take The Word of God to them, then we do not need to be where they are.  However, if the sinners are in our homes or our place of employment, then we need to stay “prayed up” and walk and talk in such a way that they can see The Christ in us.  Remember, only those who recognize that they have a problem will seek assistance.

REPENT THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND

Proclamation:

"From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."  Matthew 4:17 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are the words which were spoken by Jesus, The Christ, as He began His earthly ministry, after being baptized by John, the baptizer, but before He called His first disciple.  As recorded by the Apostle Matthew, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, Jesus preached and His message was "Repent".  Repent because judgement day in coming. 

Application:

Repentance from sin is very important.  It was the message of John, the baptizer. (Matthew 3:1-2)  It was also the message in the first sermons of Jesus, The Christ.  We need to repent from our sins.  This is the gospel, the good news about the coming kingdom. (Matthew 4:23)  We need to repent from our sins because judgement day in coming.  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us of our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)  However, not only do we need to confess our sins, but we need to turn away from them.  The Apostle Paul said that The Lord God will hear the prayers of believers and forgive their sins if they humble themselves, and seek His face, and turn from their wicked ways. (2 Chronicles 7:14)  According to the Apostle John, by repentance we give honor to God. (Revelation 14:6-7)  So, let us repent and turn to God so that our sins will be wiped out, and so that we may enjoy the blessings of The Lord God. (Acts 3:19)

Repent And Turn To God

"Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from The Lord ..."  Acts 3:19 (NIV)

These are the words of the Apostle Peter, as recorded by Luke, the physician, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  After he healed the man by the temple gate who had been born crippled, Peter spoke to the crowd which had gathered.  His message was the same as that of John, the baptizer (Matthew 3:2), and the same as the initial messages of Jesus, The Christ, (Matthew 4:17), repent.   

If we do not believe and repent, then our sins will not be forgiven, and salvation will not be ours.  We need to turn to God instead of continuing to turn away from Him.  Only those who pray, and sincerely seek His face, and turn from their wicked ways, will God hear and forgive. (2 Chronicles 7:14)  Those who confess their sins and believe will be saved. (Romans 10:9)  Heaven rejoices every time one sinner repents. (Luke 15:7)  However, those non-believers who do not repent, will endure a second death and then eternal damnation. (Revelation 21:8)  Those who think that they can do "good deeds" and be saved without repenting and believing in Jesus, The Christ, will call on Him on judgment day, and will hear Him say, "Depart from me, I know you not." (Luke 13:27)  So, repent, the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matthew 10:7)

Repentance Of Sin And Faith In Christ

"I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus."  Acts 20:21 (NIV)

Luke, the physician travelling companion of the Apostle Paul, recorded these words which Paul spoke to the elders of the church at Ephesus.  Paul told them that he had preached to both the Jews and to the Greeks, that they all must repent of their sins, and turn to God, and have faith in The Lord Jesus.  Paul was on his way to Jerusalem where, as The Holy Spirit had warned him, he knew that prison and hardship awaited him. (Acts 20:23)  However, he wanted to warn the elders that after he left, men would come and distort the truth which he had preached. (Acts 20:29-30)

Today, we need to be mindful of the fact that as Christians, repentance of sin and faith in Jesus Christ are our sacred duties.  That was the point that Paul was making, we must turn from sin and turn to God, and have faith in Christ. (Acts 20:21)  If we do not repent of our sins, then sin will be our downfall when we are judged by The Lord. (Ezekiel 18:30)  Because we are believers, it is by our faith in Jesus that we have a relationship with God. (Galatians 3:26)  Repentance is an importance part of the gospel, it is the message which Jesus preached. (Matthew 4:17, Luke 5:32, and Luke 24:46-47)  Belief and faith in Jesus, The Christ, is essential for our salvation.  We must accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, for only through Him is it possible to gain access to God and heaven. (John 14:6)  Jesus is The Way, The Truth, and The Life.  For this reason we should give Him all glory, honor, and praise.  He is worthy of our worship.

Repent The Kingdom Of Heaven Is At Hand

"From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."  Matthew 4:17  (NIV)

As He began His earthly ministry, after being baptized by John the baptizer, but before He called His first disciple, Jesus preached.  His message was "Repent".  Repent because judgement day in coming.

Repentance from sin is very important.  It was the message of John, the baptizer.  (Matthew 3:1-2)  It was also the message in the first sermons of Jesus, The Christ.  We need to repent from our sins.  This is the gospel, the good news about the coming kingdom.  (Matthew 4:23)   We need to repent from our sins because judgement day in coming.  Not only do we need to confess our sins, but we need to turn away from them.  According to the disciple John, by repentance we give honor to God.  (Revelation 14:6-7) 

Salvation After Repentance

“ ‘But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to You. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from The Lord.’ And The Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.” (AND) “ ‘Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from His fierce anger so that we will not perish.’ When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, He had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction He had threatened.” Jonah 2:9-10 & 3:8-10 (NIV)
After the prophet Jonah prayed and repented in the belly of the great fish, God commanded the fish to vomit Jonah up on dry land. Jonah went to Nineveh and told them that God was going to destroy them in forty days because of their sinful ways. (Jonah 3:4) They believed, repented, and turned from their evil ways, and God spared them.

Because of God’s goodness and mercy, we do not always get the punishment that we deserve for our sins. This is especially true when we pray, ask for forgiveness, repent, turn from our sinful ways, and seek His face.