WE SHOULD WATCH WHAT WE SAY

Proclamation:

"But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the Day of Judgment for every empty word they have spoken.  For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”  Matthew 12:36-37 (NIV)

Explanation:

As witnessed and recorded by the Apostle Matthew, these are the words spoken by Jesus, The Christ, as He defended Himself to the Pharisees after He had healed a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute. (Matthew 12:22)  Jesus knew their thoughts and presented several examples to them to explain the error in their thinking. (Matthew 12:25)  Then He went on to say that a man will be judged by what he does and what he says.

Application:

We often talk too much. We say a lot of words without really saying anything significant. Some of us seem to just talk to hear ourselves talk. Some people talk so much that it is hard for others to get a word into the conversation. However, idle conversation is also bad.  While this might seem like an insignificant "little thing", there is no such thing as a little sin; every sin is a sin against God. (Psalm 51:4)  Whatever we do, say or think that does not give God glory is unrighteous and the Bible says, "All unrighteousness is sin." (1 John 5:17)  We should therefore be very careful with respect to our actions and our speech because we will be held accountable for both.

ASK AND YOU WILL RECEIVE

Proclamation

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; the one who seek finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are the words of our Lord and Savior Jesus, The Christ, which He spoke to His disciples and to the surrounding crowd during His Sermon on the Mount as recorded by the apostle Matthew.  Jesus told them that whatever they asked Him for would be given to them.  This is clarified in another Bible verse, “And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that The Father may be glorified in The Son.  You may ask Me for anything in My name, and I will do it.  If you love Me, keep My commands.” (John 14:13-15)

Application:

Jesus said that we can have what we ask Him for.  He also said that we will find what we seek and opportunities will be opened up to us.  We do not have what we want because we have not asked The Lord God for it. (James 4:2)  If we pray for it and if we believe that He will give it to us, then we will receive it. (Matthew 21:22)  There are, however, some underlying conditions to this.  First, this only applies to believers.  If He is not your Father, do not expect that He will give you what you ask for.  If you do not believe in Him, don't waste your time asking Him for things.  Secondly, this only applies to things that will help us to give God Glory, not things to glorify or pacify or pleasure ourselves.  If we ask for something that is inappropriate it will not be granted. (James 4:3)  Thirdly, in order to get the "... any thing ..." we want from Him we must keep His commandments.  By keeping His commandments we show Him that we love Him. (John 14:21)  If we love Him and truly want to please and glorify Him then we will get what we ask Him for.

STORE UP TREASURES IN HEAVEN

Proclamation:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."  Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)

Explanation:

The Apostle Matthew recorded these words, which were part of The Sermon on The Mount which Jesus spoke to His disciples, and to the surrounding crowd.  Jesus said that man should not store up treasures here on earth, but rather he should store up treasures in heaven.  Then He told them that their heart and focus will be where ever their treasure is located.

Application:

Our treasures are the things that we value, cherish, esteem, desire, love, and delight in having.  Earthly treasures are only ours temporarily.  It does not matter how we protect them or how much we amass and store up, they will not last and they are not secure.  If our purpose for storing up treasures on earth is to prepare for our future benefit and enjoyment, then we ought to be smart enough to prepare for our eternal future.  The point of these verses is that we should not put our faith in money and things that are here on earth.  We are to use our time, talents, and treasure in kingdom building efforts, which have eternal implications.  Believers do not earn their salvation, but by their behavior they can earn heavenly rewards. (Matthew 5:11-12, 10:41 and 16:27; 1 Corinthians 3:13-14, and Revelation 22:12)  Where our treasure is, that is where our focus is also.  We should focus on that which is Christ-like and heavenly. (Philippians 4:8)  If we focus only on earthly things, at the end of our lives all will be lost.  We need to focus on our eternal life and store up treasures for ourselves in heaven.

THE POST RESURRECTION BREAKFAST MESSAGE

Proclamation:

“Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them.… When Peter saw him, he asked, ‘Lord, what about him?’  Jesus answered, ‘If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is it to you?  You must follow me.’” John 21:20-22 (NIV)

Explanation:

After the resurrection of Jesus, The Christ, Peter and four of the other disciples went fishing but did not catch anything. (John 21:3-5)  Jesus appeared on the shore and told them to cast their nets on the other side. (John 21:6)  They did as He said and they caught so many fish that the boat almost sank.  Jesus told them to bring some of the fish which they had just caught and He prepared a meal for them. (John 21:12)  After they had eaten, Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved Him and then three times He told him to “Feed My sheep.” (John 21:15-17)  Then He told Peter to follow Him and Peter noticed that John was following them.  When Peter asked Jesus about John, He replied, “What is it to you?”  Then Jesus told him you just follow me.

Application:

The disciples who saw Jesus after the resurrection then went back to doing what they were doing before they met Him.  Jesus again appeared and gave these experienced fishermen instructions on how to catch fish.  When they followed His directions they caught more fish than they ever had before.  Jesus fed them with some of the fish which they had just caught then He told them to feed His sheep.  Jesus also made it clear that they were to follow Him and do as He had told them.  They were not to worry about what the others were doing.  The first point here is, after we accept Jesus as our Savior we are not to return to doing the same exact things that we used to do.  Second point, even experienced, knowledgeable, successful people can do better by following the instructions of Jesus.  Third point, ghosts, visions, and aberrations do not eat.  This is proof that Jesus did physically appear to them after the resurrection.  Fourth point, Jesus has work assignments for each of us to do with respect to kingdom building.  Fifth and final point, we are not to worry about what others are doing because that is not our business.  We are to mind our own business and to make sure that we follow Jesus.

HE IS RISEN

Proclamation:

“On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.  They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of The Lord Jesus.  While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them.  In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead?  He is not here; He has risen!  Remember how He told you, while He was still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'"  Then they remembered His words." Luke 24:1-8 (NIV)

Explanation:

After His death by crucifixion, the body of Jesus was taken down from the cross, wrapped in a clean linen cloth and placed in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathema.  The entrance to the sepulcher was closed with a large stone and a Roman guard was posted there as ordered by Pilate, to prevent the disciples from stealing the body of Christ. (Matthew 27:57-66)  When the women came with spices to anoint the body of Jesus, He was not there, for He had risen.  His earthly body had been resurrected.

Application:

"Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He is risen!" (Luke 24:5-6)  The only thing for us to do today is to accept or reject the account of the resurrection as presented in The Bible, The Holy Word of God.  The crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, The Christ, is recorded in all four of the gospels. (Matthew 27:26 to 28:8; Mark 15:15 to 15:8; Luke 23:23 to 24:9 and John 19:16 to 20:10)  It was predicted more than four hundred years earlier by the prophet Isaiah. (Isaiah 53:5-6)  After His resurrection He appeared for man to see Him on more than forty different times before He ascended to heaven. (Matthew 28:9-10 and 28:11-20; Mark 16:9-20; Luke 24:13-50; and John 20:11-29 and 21:1-23)  His ascension to heaven was witnessed by the disciples. (Acts 1:9)  The Word of God says it and that settles it.  He is risen.

"FATHER INTO YOUR HANDS I COMMIT MY SPIRIT"

Proclamation:

“Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit.’  When He had said this, He breathed His last.” Luke 23:46 (NIV)  In The King James version of The Bible it reads “And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, He said, ‘Father, into Thy hands I commend My Spirit; and having said thus, He gave up The Ghost.”

Explanation:

Under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God Luke, the physician and traveling companion of the Apostle Paul, recorded these words which are considered to be the seventh and final of the last seven saying of Christ that He spoke while on the cross.  Normally death by crucifixion on the cross is a long, slow, painful process.  However, Jesus was only on the cross for a little over three hours before He died. (Luke 23:44)  Jesus was in control of the situation and ended His own life by quoting a verse from the Old Testament. (Psalm 31:5)  He had already told His disciples beforehand that no man could take His life, He had the power to lay down His life and to pick it back up again. (John 10:18)  Jesus ended His own earthly life after He had all that had to be done for the redemptive process of man. (Matthew 20:28)

Application:

When we die, the soul and the body separate, (James 2:26) the soul returns to God created it and gave it to us. (Genesis 2:7)  The body remains on earth to be buried, cremated, or disposed of in some manner prior to it returning to the dust of the earth. (Ecclesiastes 3:20 and 12:7)  When Jesus died His soul went to paradise and on that third day morning His earthly body was resurrected.  (Luke 23:43 and 24:6-7)  Now He sits at the right hand of The Father making intercessions for us. (Romans 8:34)  In order for us to be saved we must confess and believe that God raised Jesus, The Christ, from the dead. (Romans 10:9)  We can entrust our soul to the hands of God knowing that there is no place which is more secure.

JESUS SAID "IT IS FINISHED"

Proclamation:

"When He had received the drink, Jesus said, 'It is finished.'  With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit."  John 19:30 (NIV) 

Explanation:

The Apostle John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, records that one of the last words that Jesus said while He was on the cross before He died was "It is finished."  These three words are considered to be the sixth of the last seven saying of Christ on the cross.  This was a reference to having finished the work that God, The Father, had assigned for Him to do for the redemption of mankind.

Application:

Early in His life on earth Jesus said that He must be about His Father's business and He must work the work of Him that sent Him. (Luke 2:49 and John 9:4)  He knew from the very beginning that He came into this world to teach, suffer, and die, so that we could have the choice of salvation. (John 18:37)  Because of His love for us, Christ died for us. (John 15:13-14 and Romans 5:8)  He could have saved Himself or called for legions of angels to do whatever He wanted, but He knew that his death on the cross was the only way that we could be saved and that the scriptures could be fulfilled. (Matthew 26:53-54)  When Jesus said "It is finished" He knew that He had done all that needed to be done in the redemptive process for the salvation of man.  He could now give up His earthly life because His earthly body had served its purpose.  Thankfully, He completed His work and He did not come down off of that cross. (Philippians 2:8)  He paid the price for our salvation.  All we have to do to be saved is believe in Him. (John 3:16)