Emory Baptist Church

Four of a Kind Beats a Full House!

I want to share a message with you entitled, “Four of a Kind Beats a Full House!”  I wish I could take credit for that sermon title, but I actually heard it from Steve Stroop, pastor of Lakepointe Church in Rockwall.

 

I must confess to you that I don’t know much about poker.  I have probably only played five or ten times in my life and then only for fun or goldfish crackers or Oreo’s. 

 

However, I do know a little about how certain hands rank.  I know that the best hand possible is a Royal Flush.  That is a ten, a jack, a queen, a king, and an ace all in the same suit.  The next best hand is the Straight Flush.  That is something like 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 in the same suit. 

 

Just under a Straight Flush is four of a kind.  That could be four 2’s or four 7’s or four 10’s.  And just under four of a kind is a full house, which is three of a kind and one pair.  Four of a kind beats a full house.  Four of a kind beats a full house in poker and in today’s story from Mark 2.

 

This story of Jesus healing a paralytic is found here in Mark 2 but also in Matthew 9 and Luke 5. 

 

In the recent weeks, we have seen Jesus demonstrate His authority in doctrine as He taught, over demons and disease, and today, we will see that Jesus had authority over death, and that is spiritual death.  Make three observations with me.

 

 

1. A Unified Minority, Mark 2:1-4

1 And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. 2 Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. 3 Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. 4 And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. 

 

In verse 1, you see that this story took place in Capernaum, and Jesus was in a local house preaching to the people.  More than likely, this was Peter’s house.

 

By the way, this is the way it should always be.  When there is preaching, the house should always be full, and that should be true regardless of the preacher.  Why?  Because the preaching of God’s Word is more important than your day off.  The preaching of God’s Word is more important than your “honey-do’s.”  The preaching of God’s Word is more important than your hunting, fishing, or golfing, and the preaching of God’s Word is more important than your child’s extracurricular activities.

 

The house was full for Jesus’ preaching.  It was so full that the crowd began to spill over outside the house.   You couldn’t get anywhere near Jesus because of the full house. 

 

In verse 3, we see the unified minority.  We think there were four because it stands to reason that these four men brought their friend or loved one to be healed by Jesus, and each carried a corner of his bed.

First, they were unified in their initiation.  They came to Jesus.  They brought him to Jesus.  They didn’t wait for Jesus to come to them.  The picked up their friend on his bed and took him to Jesus.

 

Second, they were unified in their cooperation.  When was the last time you picked up 175 pounds of dead weight?  It’s not easy. The cooperated together and carried this man who was otherwise helpless.

 

Third, they were unified in their determination.  They couldn’t get him into the house.  Did they give up?  Did they wait?  Did ask Jesus to come outside?  No, they made their way to the roof, dug a hole, and lowered him down and placed him at the feet of Jesus. 

 

Brothers and Sisters, Emory and Rains County needs a unified minority to bring their friends to Jesus. 

 

 

1. An Unmistakable Message, Mark 2:5-11

5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”  6 And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”  8 But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, 11 “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”

 

What is the unmistakable message that these four friends believed?  They believed that only Jesus could heal or save their friend.

 

Why was that true?  That was true because Jesus is God.  Only God can forgive sins, and Jesus proved that He was God and could forgive sins by healing this paralytic and enabling him to walk again. 

 

What does it mean when God forgives your sin?  Forgive means to send away your sin or drive your sin away.  Here are some word pictures regarding forgiveness that I want you to see.

 

Psalm 103:12, As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

 

Isaiah 38:17, Indeed it was for my own peace That I had great bitterness; But You have lovingly delivered my soul from the pit of corruption, For You have cast all my sins behind Your back.

 

Jeremiah 31:34, No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”

 

Micah 7:19, He will again have compassion on us, And will subdue our iniquities.  You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea.

 

Colossians 2:13-14, And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

 

Brothers and sisters, a unified minority needs an unmistakable message, and that is only Jesus saves.

 

 

• Unimaginable Ministry, Mark 2:12

12 Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

 

What happens when you put a unified minority together with an unmistakable message?  There is the potential for unimaginable ministry here at EBC.

 

I long for the day when people say, “Have you heard what’s going on at EBC?”  Jesus is doing miraculous things there.”

 

 

Conclusion

So allow me to wrap up like this.  This story teaches that undoubtedly that Jesus is God, and only God can save.  Only Jesus can forgive sins and save souls.

However, it also teaches us that God rewards our work.  Remember in verse 5 that Jesus saw their faith.  Whose faith?  It was the faith of the four friends.  Don’t get me wrong, each individual will be held accountable by God for what he or she has done with Jesus, but let’s get busy bringing our sick or lost family and friends to Jesus.

 

On April 7, we are going to have Friend Day at EBC, and I am going to challenge you to invite one person to come with you to Sunday School and church that day.  Who will be your one?

 

On April 14, we will celebrate Palm Sunday, and our choir will be sharing their Easter Music Presentation.

 

Easter Sunday will be April 21.  In 2015, we had 360 on Easter Sunday.  In 2016, we had 446 on Easter Sunday.  In 2017, we had 483 on Easter Sunday. In 2018, we had 566 on Easter Sunday. 

 

In 2019, I am challenging you know to have 600 at EBC divided in two morning services on Easter Sunday.  We will have one at 8 AM, and the second at 10:30 with Sunday School in the middle. 

 

A unified minority with an unmistakable message will translate into unimaginable ministry, and don’t forget, “Four of a kind beats a full house every time.”

Is Jesus Willing to Touch You?

This morning, I invite you to take your Bible and find Mark 1:40-45.  I want to share a message with you entitled, “Is Jesus Willing to Touch You?”  If you are visiting with us this morning, we are in a verse-by-verse study of the Gospel of Mark. 

 

In 1998, I went on my very first international mission trip to Romania, and the goal of our mission team was to hand out gospel tracts and share our personal testimonies to Romanians who waited in line to see the American doctor who was a part of our team.  For that week, our team was in at least two different Romanian villages offering simple medical services and sharing the message of Christ with anyone who would listen. 

 

One of the more common conditions that Romanian women suffered from was Varicose ulcers.  You say, “Don’t you mean Varicose veins?”   No, I mean Varicose ulcers.  Most of have seen Varicose veins or “spider veins” on a woman’s or man’s leg.  The condition I am speaking about is when the Varicose veins get so bad that they bust and become ulcers or open sores filled with pus and blood. 

 

Leprosy has similar effects.  Leprosy is an infectious skin disease that can result in the loss of feeling in your extremities and the paralysis or loss of hands and feet.  There is no cure for leprosy.  Therefore, it certainly and always ends in death.  Lepers often suffer from a loss of feeling in their fingers and hands which might result in not feeling a burn or a cut.  Those who are infected with leprosy die a slow and painful death.

 

I say all that this morning to magnify the extraordinary event here in Mark 1:40-45.  In God’s Word, which covers approximately 6,000-10,000 years, there are only three times when leprosy is cured. 

 

Moses’ sister Miriam contracted leprosy and was cured in Numbers 12.  Namaan contracted leprosy and was cured in 2 Kings 5, and here in Mark 1, we see this leper cured from this terrible disease.  Leprosy was a serious condition.

 

In today’s text, we are going to make three observations and then concluded with one major application from this story that is included also in Matthew and Luke and has only two characters: the leper and Jesus.

 

 

40. Notice the Leper’s Request for Cleanness, Mark 1:40.

40 Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” 

 

In verse 40, this leper came to Jesus.  For this man to make his way to Jesus is saying a lot.  Luke’s gospel (5:12) tells us that he was full or covered with leprosy.  His body was covered with these ulcer-like open sores oozing with bodily fluids. 

 

Leprosy was so disgusting that the Mosaic Law of the OT required lepers to live alone.  See Leviticus 13:45-46.

 

Leviticus 13:45-46, 45 “Now the leper on whom the sore is, his clothes shall be torn and his head bare; and he shall cover his mustache, and cry, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ 46 He shall be unclean. All the days he has the sore he shall be unclean. He is unclean, and he shall dwell alone; his dwelling shall be outside the camp.

 

So you can see that not only were the lepers to live alone, they were to wear certain cloths and have certain grooming habits.  When they got close to any healthy person, they were to cry out “Unclean!  Unclean!” 

 

Lepers were physical and social outcasts.  Therefore, again, this leper coming to Jesus, fighting his way through crowds, was demonstrating resolve and extreme courage indicative of his desperate need and desire for healing.  Certainly, he had heard about Jesus healing others, and now he wanted the same. 

 

Not only was he resolved, but his request was repeated.  He was imploring of Jesus again and again and again.  He requested and didn’t stop.

 

Thirdly, he came to Jesus and fell on his knees, possibly lying prostrate before him demonstrating his respect for Jesus, and notice what he said.  He never had any doubt of Jesus’ power, but he was concerned about Jesus’ willingness, and said to him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”  If you are willing Jesus, you can heal this most dreadful disease that has ruined my life.  What would you expect Jesus to do?  This leper made a request for cleanness, and we will come back to this idea of cleanness at the end of our time together.  Some form of that word is used four times in our text: 40, 41, 42, and 44.

 

 

42. Notice the Lord’s Response of Compassion, Mark 1:41-42.

41 Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” 42 As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed.

 

That first phrase in verse 41 deserves much of our attention.  It says, “moved with compassion.”  It could also be translated “gripped with compassion,” and it has the idea of having a feeling deep in your gut.  In other words, Jesus was overwhelmed with compassion seeing the need and hurt of this man.  The fact of the matter is that Jesus hated to see human suffering.  As a result, he did something about it.

 

Notice that Jesus did the unthinkable.  He did that which was out of the ordinary.  He touched the leper.  The crowded undoubtedly gasped.  He did that which was forbidden.  No Jew ever touched a leper.  Otherwise, he would be unclean as well.  Jesus defied culture.  Jesus defied tradition.  Jesus defied the norm.  He reached out and touched that which was supposed to be untouchable.  Certainly, this is the first time in a very, very long time that this leper had someone normal and healthy touch him. 

 

When Jesus stretched out His hand and touched the raw, open flesh and oozing sores and said, “I am willing; be cleansed,” this man was cured and it wasn’t just for the moment but for the rest of his life.  His healing was ongoing.  Jesus’ words deserve just a moment’s notice. 

When Jesus said He was willing, He was literally saying, “I am willing, have been willing, and always will be willing to heal those who are sick.”  Therefore, be cleansed!

 

Notice what happened.  Immediately, the leprosy was gone.  No more sores.  No more rotting flesh.  No more oozing pus.  No more “hell on earth.”  This man was instantaneously and completely and fully healed at the touch of the Master’s hand.

 

 

• Notice a Lesson about Rebellion against Commands, Mark 1:43-45.

43 And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once, 44 and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”  45 However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction.

 

In the final verses of today’s text, we see a lesson about rebellion or disobedience against commands, and in this instance, it was the Lord’s command. 

 

Verse 43 says that Jesus warned the leper about saying anything to anyone else but to show himself to the priest.  This was to be a testimony to the priest of Jesus’ authority over disease.

 

However, even though the text isn’t clear as to whether he went to the priest, it is clear that he didn’t keep quiet about what Jesus had done.  So here’s the lesson.  We may not always understand Jesus’ ways or timing, but His commands are expected to be followed if He is Lord of your life.

 

Because the leper was rebellious or disobedient in verse 45, we see that the circus had begun as Jesus wasn’t even able to go into the city because of all of the people coming to Him from every direction to be healed.

 

 

Conclusion and Application

Let me conclude this morning with the one major application of this story.  In the OT, leprosy was seen as an outward sign of sin.  Even though you and I know that is not always true, that was the Jewish mindset.  They thought leprosy was a sign of sin.  However, Jesus healed this man of an awful, dreadful, physical disease, and He did it by touching him and his leprosy.

 

Sin is our spiritual leprosy, and all of us have been infected at one time or another.  Left to ourselves, we will die a slow and painful death.  However, allow me to answer my question this morning.  Yes, Jesus is willing to touch you and your sin and cure your spiritual leprosy.  See 2 Corinthians 5:21.

 

2 Corinthians 5:21, 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

 

When Jesus touches you and your sin by becoming our sin on the cross, He cures you completely.  It matters not what your past includes. 

 

He cures you immediately.  No conditions are necessary on your part except belief and repentance. 

 

He cures you eternally.  That is forever. 

 

Will you come this morning to be cured or saved like this leper because Jesus is willing to touch you today? 

His Purpose...Our Purpose

I want you to take your Bibles and find Mark 1.  This morning I want us to look closely at verses 29-39, and I invite you to stand in honor of God’s Word as I read beginning in verse 29.  God bless you, and you may be seated.

 

I want to share with you a message entitled, “His Purpose…Our Purpose.”  Last Sunday, Bro. Ronnie showed us in Mark 1:21-28 how Jesus had gone to Capernaum and was preaching and teaching with authority like no one that these first-century hearers had ever heard.  He was different, and not only was He preaching and teaching with authority, but He was also casting out demons with authority.

 

In verse 29, it is still Saturday, and Jesus and His first disciples are still in Capernaum. They are now headed to eat after church.

 

 

 

1. The Pressures that Jesus Encountered, Mark 1:29-34

29 Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. 31 So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them.  32 At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed. 33 And the whole city was gathered together at the door. 34 Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him. 

 

Again, it is Saturday afternoon, and Jesus has gone with Peter and Andrew and James and John to Peter’s house.  When they arrived, they found out that Peter’s mother-in-law was sick with a fever.

 

Just a little side note here…why do our Catholic friends require their priests to be single if Peter was married?  We don’t know the reason for this fever, but these folks took this fever seriously as they understood that it could have been discipline for disobedience.

 

Deuteronomy 28:22, 22 The Lord will strike you with consumption, with fever, with inflammation, with severe burning fever, with the sword, with scorching, and with mildew; they shall pursue you until you perish.

 

Regardless, Jesus had already demonstrated his authority earlier in the day over demons.  He now demonstrated His authority over disease.  He stood over her and took her hand, and the fever left her. 

 

Notice her response, which is actually a second miracle.  The first miracle was the fever leaving.  The second miracle was her immediate strength to serve Jesus and her family. 

 

Brother and sisters, Jesus didn’t heal you for you to sit and soak.  He healed you to serve Him by serving this body of believers.  We could always use more help in our children’s ministry.  We could always use help in Back Pack Buddies.  We can use more help as a greeter or usher or singing in the choir.  Jesus saved you for you to serve Him by serving others.

 

In verse 32, it is now Saturday night, and the Sabbath is officially over, and the people have now heard all that Jesus had been doing, and they were bringing to Him all who were sick and all who were demon-possessed. 

I believe this is a great picture of what you and I should be doing.  We should be bringing our spiritually and emotionally and socially sick friends and family to Jesus, but for whatever reason we don’t.  We’re ok with continuing to see them sick and hurting and struggling when we have the cure right here. 

 

They were bringing people to Jesus in a steady stream.  They kept coming.  Notice the two groups that were identified.  It was those who were sick and those who are demon-possessed.  It is important to notice that these are two mutually exclusive groups.  Being sick or ill didn’t automatically mean that you were demon-possessed.  These two groups represent the physically sick and the spiritually sick. 

 

Verses 33 and 34 give us more insight into the pressures Jesus encountered.  Verse 33 speaks of the whole city gathering at Peter’s door.  Even though this is hyperbole, the number was probably in the thousands.  The word had spread, and all the sick and all the demon-possessed were on a bee line straight to where Jesus was staying. 

 

We see in verse 34 that Jesus was healing them.  Mark says he healed many, but Luke says He healed all of them by laying hands on each one.  You have the picture of Jesus standing in the doorway and the people passing by in single file, and He healed them all. 

 

Maybe He touched them.  Maybe he spoke to them, but whatever He was doing, it worked.  The people were healed by the hundreds and the thousands.

 

Can you imagine the scene?  The blind could now see.  The lame could now walk.  The deaf could now hear and speak.  Those who were bleeders, were now clean.  Those who were lepers, were now clean.  There must have been singing and shouting and celebration because of all that Jesus was doing.    He was healing physical conditions, and He was healing spiritual conditions. 

 

 

1. The Prayer that Jesus Extended, Mark 1:35

35 Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.

 

Verse 35 now takes us to Sunday morning and where do we find Jesus?  After a long day of teaching and preaching and healing person after person after person, Jesus slept in and took it easy.  No, in the early morning, He got up and left the house and found a secluded place and spent a fairly long time in prayer.

The text actually indicates that this was in the last watch of the night.  That means between 3 and 6 AM.  Jesus didn’t have an alarm clock, but the Holy Spirit woke Him up and led Him into a secluded place or a solitary place to pray.  The text also indicates that Jesus prayed for an extended period time like several hours.

 

What did he pray?  He prayed to God to give Him direction about future ministry.  All of the healing was so good, and there was so much excitement, and so many people were benefiting, but was that what God wanted from him? 

 

Incidentally, if Jesus needed to get alone to extend prayers to the Father, what does that mean for me and you?  We need to pray.  We need get alone with God on a daily basis and ask for direction.  We need to ask for guidance.  Jesus encountered pressures, and Jesus extended prayers.

 

 

• The Priorities that Jesus Embraced, Mark 1:36-39

36 And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him. 37 When they found Him, they said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.”  38 But He said to them, “Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth.”  39 And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons.

 

We see in verses 36 and 37 that the disciples didn’t understand Jesus’ actions.  They came looking for Him.  They literally “were hunting Him down.”  They even rebuked Him and said, “Everyone is looking for you.”  In other words, “Jesus what are you doing here wasting time praying?  There are a lot of people to heal.” 

 

In verse 38, and we see Jesus’ response to the disciples’ plans of going back to Capernaum to do more ministry or more healing.  Jesus said in verse 38, “Let’s go somewhere else.  I want to preach more.”  Do what?  You mean Jesus would rather preach than do ministry?  You mean Jesus would rather preach than see more hundreds and thousands physically healed? 

 

Jesus even told them and us what His priority or purpose was at the end of verse 38.  Here’s what I mean.  I mean spiritual healing is more important than physical healing.  It great to minister to someone’s physical needs, but more important is his or her spiritual needs. 

 

 

Conclusion

So here are three applications.  First, there is an application for me.  If I am going to follow Jesus the best I can, my first priority must be preaching.  Don’t get me wrong.  I have other priorities that include ministering to this body and praying with my sheep and encouraging and counseling them in times of need and sickness and deaths of family members.  However, my first priority is preaching.

 

Second, there is an application for our members.  Our first priority must be to share the gospel and then minister to people.  If we give to them food and water and financial assistance, but we don’t give Jesus to them, we have made them comfortable before the spend an eternity in hell separated from God.  Evangelism must take be our first priority and ministry our second priority.

 

Finally, if you here today and you’re sick or diseased, I believe that Jesus wants to heal you.  However, before He wants to heal you, He wants to save you.

 

Finally Some Good Teaching...

Jesus is Calling; Are You Answering?

I want you to take your Bibles and turn to Mark 1.  This morning we will be looking at verses 14-20 of this first chapter and the beginning of Jesus’ earthly ministry.  I invite you stand for the reading of God’s Word.  God bless you, and you may be seated.

 

This morning I want to share a message with you entitled Jesus is Calling; Are You Answering?  I can’t remember when caller ID began, but it can be a great resource whether you are using it on your home phone or on your mobile phone.  You know what I mean right?  You get a call.  You wait to see who it is.  Then you decide whether or not you want to take the call.  If yes, you answer it.  If not, you wait to see if they leave a voicemail.  We all do it.  If it is Christy, I always answer.  If it is anybody else, I probably will answer, but maybe not.

 

What about when Jesus is calling?  Do you always answer?  Or, do you see if he leaves a voicemail?  Today, Jesus is calling.  He is calling some to be saved, and he is calling others to be disciples. 

 

 

Exposition

Take your Bibles and look at verse 14.  We see that after John the Baptist had been arrested and thrown in jail, Jesus went to Galilee preaching the gospel of God.  So we know that Jesus’ earthly ministry was first of all composed of preaching.  What did He preach?  He preached the gospel of God.  What does that mean?  It means He was issuing the call of salvation. 

 

You can see in verse 15 that the word “saying” is used in place of “preaching” that was used in the previous verse.  Jesus is preaching or saying, and His message is made up of two parts.  The first part of His message is that “the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand.”  What does that mean?  It means that the promised Messiah is here.  He has arrived.  You have been waiting for Him and looking for Him, and now He is finally here.  It is also means that your opportunity to respond is now.  Time is running out, and you don’t want to be left behind.

 

As a result, the second part of Jesus’ message is repent and believe.  For simplicity sake, let’s break this message down into two parts even though they actually are one.  The only requirement for salvation is belief in Jesus Christ, but it must be a belief in Jesus Christ that changes your life.  In other words, salvation requires repentance and belief.  These two cannot be separated.  They are different sides of the same coin. 

 

When you talk about repent, many people immediately turn off their ears, because their experience with repentance has to do with a holier than thou hypocrite telling them they need to turn or burn.  How dare anyone tell you you need to change?  Well, from my lips to your ears, Jesus said you need to change!

 

Another reason we shut down when someone talks about repentance is because we have a shallow view of sin.  We don’t really believe that God hates any and every sin. 

 

Finally, we shut down when someone talks about repentance because we have a shallow view of repentance.  We have heard it so many times, we have become callused to it, and it doesn’t mean anything to us anymore.

 

I want you to understand this morning that repentance does not mean the changing of some external characteristics or actions, but it means a change of everything on the inside and outside.  It is a change of life.  Furthermore, it is essential to the gospel and essential to salvation. 

 

I want to take just a moment and remind you of prominence of repentance in the New Testament.  The following are those who preached repentance:

 

 

• John the Baptist, Matthew 3:2, 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”
• Jesus Christ, Luke 13:3, 3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.
• Twelve disciples, Mark 6:12, 12 So they went out and preached that people should repent.
• Peter, Acts 3:19, 19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.
• Paul/God, Acts 26:20, 20 but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.

 

As you can see, repentance is essential to the gospel of God and the New Testament.

 

Of what are to repent?  If you have never received Jesus Christ, you are to repent of your rejection of the Messiah.  You are to repent of your sin of trying to get to heaven on your own. 

 

If you are saved, we must repent of our materialism, and our adulteries, and our pride, and our gossip, and our envy, and our jealousy, and our lying.  We too must repent of our sin.

 

The other part of this second aspect of Jesus’ message is belief.  We usually don’t find this to be too difficult.  We must believe that we are sinners.  We must believe that Jesus died on the cross for our sins.  We must believe that Jesus is the only way to heaven. 

 

Therefore, again, salvation is belief in Jesus that changes your life.  In other words, salvation is repentance and belief in the Messiah who has come. 

 

There are those of you here this morning, whose lives have never changed.  You may have believed, but it wasn’t life-changing belief.  If I were a betting man, I would bet that you don’t have a place in heaven as we speak.  Jesus is calling today with the call of salvation.  Will you answer the call?

 

 

The second call that Jesus is issuing is the call to discipleship.  We see that in verses 16-20.  In verse 16, Jesus encountered Simon or Peter and Andrew, his brother.  They were fishermen and fishing at the time.  Jesus called them to discipleship.  He said to them, “Follow Me.” 

 

Now I want you to see something very interesting.  The call to be a disciple of Christ means that you will be a fisher of men.  There are no two ways about it.  It doesn’t have anything to do with the type of personality you have or what you are comfortable with or about your amount of courage.  Inherent in the call of discipleship is the act of becoming a fisher of men.

 

Brothers and sisters, if God has saved you, He has also equipped you to share the gospel.  It may take the form of sharing a certain presentation or your salvation testimony or a gospel tract.  That process may start by you inviting someone to church or praying with a waiter or waitress as a restaurant.  Regardless, to be saved includes being fishers of men.

 

Let me now go back to the text and give you three characteristics of discipleship.  First of all, it means immediately.  Notice that Mark used that word twice to describe the reaction of these two sets of brothers.  Peter and Andrew immediately left their nets and followed him.  James and John immediately left their father and fishing and followed him. 

 

In the OT, we see this with Abraham.  Turn to Genesis 22:1-3.  God called Abraham to sacrifice his only son.  If Abraham was like Christians today, he would have told God that he needed to pray about it and get back with him.  You don’t need to pray about being obedient.  Just do it, and that is what Abraham did.  He got up first thing the next morning and off he went doing exactly what God told him to do.  It has been well said that delayed obedience is disobedience.  Discipleship means acting just as soon as Jesus calls.

 

Secondly, discipleship might mean leaving your present circumstances.  For Peter and Andrew, it meant leaving their job.  Notice that we don’t any record of them asking a lot of questions or lining up stuff for their future.  They just left.  They trusted Jesus and honored His authority in their lives and answered the call lock, stock and barrel. 

 

Some of you are saying that is not realistic and wouldn’t happen today.  You are right, and is it any wonder that our churches and our country are in the shape we are in?  I would suggest it is because all to often Christians are issued a call for discipleship and they simply look at the caller ID and let it go to voicemail. 

 

In Luke 9:57-62, we see Jesus issuing a call to discipleship, and notice His words to those who don’t come immediately leaving their present circumstances. 

 

Luke 9:57-62, 57 Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.”  58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”  59 Then He said to another, “Follow Me.”  But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”  60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.”  61 And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.”  62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

 

Is Jesus calling you to discipleship this morning?  Is he calling you to leave your present situation?  That may mean leaving a lifestyle situation or a work situation or whatever.  When He calls, won’t you answer?

 

The final aspect of answering the call to discipleship might be the most difficult.  It involves leaving family or friends or any relationship.  You see in verse 20, James and John left their father.  They left the family business.  They left their security.

 

In your relationship with Jesus Christ, your family can so many times make you.  However, so many times they can also break you.  I’m going to make a pretty strong statement and some of you aren’t going to like, but here goes.  It is a sin to be more loyal to your family than to the Lord Jesus Christ.  Heaven help us! 

 

Listen to the words of Christ in Matthew 10:34-39:

 

Matthew 10:34-39, 34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; 36 and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ 37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

There is only one person who is worthy of your worship and it isn’t your spouse or your son or your daughter or your parents.  It is the Lord Jesus.  What this means is that some of husbands need to say some difficult things to your wives, and some of you parents need to say some difficult things to your children, and just remember, the call to discipleship is to the call to put your relationship with Christ above your relationship with any other human being.

 

 

Conclusion

So what about you this morning?  Is Jesus calling you to salvation?  Is He calling you to repent and believe for the very first time? 

 

Is He calling you to discipleship?  I challenge you to respond immediately to change a lifestyle situation, to change a relationship, to follow through with believer’s baptism, to join this church, to rededicate your life or whatever He is calling you to do. 

 

Jesus is calling. Are you answering?

 

 

The Temptation of Christ...

I want you to take your Bibles this morning and find two passages of Scripture.  The first is Mark 1:12-13, and the second is Matthew 4:1-11.  Our main text is this Mark passage as we continue in our new study that we began last Sunday.  However, we find a fuller version of this experience in Jesus’ life from Matthew’s gospel.  Now, I invite you to stand for the reading of God’s word.

 

 

Exposition

As I mentioned earlier, our original text comes from Mark 1.  However, Mark doesn’t provide as many details for this event or experience as Matthew or Luke does.  Therefore, we will turn to Matthew’s gospel in just a minute. 

 

In Mark’s text, I want you to see three application points from this text for our lives, and here is the first:

 

1. As with Jesus, God allows temptations in our lives to grow us.

 

Notice that verse 12 says that the Holy Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness.  However, in verse 13, we see that it was Satan who tempted Jesus. 

 

This word for “drove” means that it was “divine necessity.”  In other words, it was part of God’s plan for His Son.  The NASB uses the impelled Jesus to go into the wilderness or the desert.  The KJV says driveth.  The NIV says sent.  The NLT says compelled. 

 

How do we explain this reality that God drove Jesus by divine necessity but it was Satan who did the tempting? The best explanation that I can give you is that when it comes to temptation, God allows Satan to tempt us. 

Satan has limited power and limited control.  The devil only does what he has been given permission to do.  We see this in the book of Job when Satan came to God looking for someone to tempt.  God doesn’t tempt.  Satan tempts.

 

Also, please understand and remember that in the midst of EVERY temptation, there is an opportunity for you to grow and your faith strengthened and an opportunity for you to fail and your faith weakened. 

 

1 Corinthians 10:13, 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

 

Regardless of what your temptation is, there is always the opportunity to be obedient.  Yours maybe alcohol or food or materialism or pornography or cigarettes or gossip or whatever.  There is ALWAYS an escape.

 

 

2. Satan is a real adversary who is daily opposing every believer.

 

Another truth from this Mark text is that Satan or the devil is a real person.  Unfortunately, there are many professing Christians who don’t believe in a real, literal, personal devil.  If you say you believe the Bible, you must believe in a real devil.  And if you say you’ve never seen Satan, it might be that you are walking the same direction he is.  In Isaiah 14:12-15, we a brief OT commentary on how Satan came to be.

 

Isaiah 14:12-15, 12 “How you are fallen from heaven,

O Lucifer, son of the morning!  How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations!  13 For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’  15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit.

 

Now let’s go the Matthew text.  We see again from Matthew 4:1 that Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness or the desert and was tempted by Satan or the devil. 

 

Matthew 4:1-11, Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. 3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”  4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”  5 Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’”  7 Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’”  8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” 11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

 

In verse 2, we see another dynamic to the temptation of Christ.  He fasted for forty days and forty nights.  That is almost incomprehensible, and there is no reason to believe that this was anything other than a complete fast meaning no food and no water.  Therefore, and obviously, Jesus became extremely hungry.

 

In verse 3, Satan entered the picture, and he came to tempt Jesus.  The first temptation that we see is the temptation of provision.  As I said earlier, Jesus was extremely hungry.  Therefore, Satan propositioned Him to turn some stones or rocks into bread and feed Himself.  Jesus refused.  He responded to Satan by quoting Deuteronomy 8:3, Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. 

 

Has Satan ever presented you with the temptation of provision?  Maybe he did it with food or finances or intimacy with your spouse.  Regardless, has Satan ever tempted you to satisfy your human desires rather than be obedient to God?  I want you to hear me this morning.  God’s way is always better than Satan’s way regardless of how painful it is for you at the time. 

 

God has told us that he will meet all of our needs according to his riches in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).  You don’t ever have to give in to the temptation of provision.

 

In verses 5-7, we see the second temptation.  Satan took Jesus from the wilderness into Jerusalem and had Him stand on the pinnacle or top of the temple.  He then presented Him with the temptation of protection.  He, as the Son of God, was to throw Himself down and see if the angels wouldn’t catch and rescue Him just before He hit the ground keeping Him completely safe. 

 

In response, He responded to Satan by quoting from Deuteronomy 6:16, Do not put the Lord your God to the test. 

 

Has Satan ever tempted you with temptation of protection?  Don’t be bold with your faith.  God won’t protect you.  Don’t live according to the Bible.  God won’t protect you.  God has promised never to leave or forsake those that are His.

 

The final temptation that we see is the temptation of prestige.  Satan presented Jesus with the opportunity to have all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, but Jesus said, “Go, Satan.”  He then quoted Deuteronomy 6:13, You shall worship the Lord God, and serve him only.” 

 

Like Jesus, I know Satan has presented many of you with this third temptation as well.  You can have all this money or all this fame or all this fortune or all these luxuries if you will just sell your soul to the devil.  Hear me this morning.  Nothing the devil has to offer is worth the hell that it will cost you. 

 

The Scripture then tells us that the devil left Jesus, and the angels came to minister to him. 

 

 

3. Angels are ministers to the body of Christ.

 

They ministered to Jesus, and they will minister to us perhaps without even us knowing it. 

 

Hebrews 1:14, 14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?

 

Before I close, I want you to think back just a minute in looking at these temptations in another perspective. 

 

Have you ever noticed the similarities between the temptation in the wilderness and the temptation in the garden?  Satan said to Eve that you may eat of any tree.  He said to Jesus that you may eat by changing stones to bread.  He said to Eve that you will not die.  He said to Jesus that you will not hurt your foot.  He said to Eve that you will be like God.  He said to Jesus that you will have all the world’s kingdoms.  I say all that to say that Satan is usually up to his same old tricks.

 

 

Conclusion

The main point of this text is that Jesus was victorious over temptation, and for those who are in Christ, we can be victorious as well. The keys are God’s presence, God’s Word, and God’s church. 

 

As for God’s presence, the German Reformer, Martin Luther, was asked how to overcome the devil.  “Well, when he comes knocking upon the door of my heart, and asks, ‘Who lives here?’ the dear Lord Jesus goes to the door says, ‘Martin Luther used to live here, but he has moved out. Now I live here.’”  Where God is present, Satan cannot be.

 

Second is God’s Word. On three different occasions, Satan presented Jesus with a temptation, and on three different occasions, Jesus responded by quoting the Word of God from Deuteronomy.  Do you remember what the Psalmist said in Psalm 119:11?  Your word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you. 

 

Know God’s Word and use it when the devil accuses and opposes you.

 

Finally, don’t divorce yourself from God’s Church.  The devil will always try to isolate you, but when you stay connected to God’s Church and your brothers and sisters in God’s Church, it is much harder for him to do.  That is why it is important to surround yourself with God’s people on Sundays and Wednesdays, but also through the week. 

 

My invitation this morning has two parts.  Make sure Jesus is living in your heart by calling on Him to save you and surrendering your life to Him. 

 

Secondly, if you are struggling with nagging sins or habitual sins like cigarettes or alcohol or pornography or cussing or anger.  the power of Jesus Christ is available to you if you know him as Lord and Savior.  My encouragement to you is to start new today.  Go to God confessing any known sin, and then take a long serious look at your life and make sure you are taking in God’s Word and connected to God’s Church.

The Baptizer and Baptism...

This morning, I want you to take your Bibles and find the second book in our New Testament, the gospel of Mark.  I will be reading Mark 1:1-11, and I invite you to stand for the reading of God’s word.  God bless you, and you may be seated.

 

Well, we have begun a new year, and on Sunday mornings, we are beginning a new book of the Bible.  I want to give you some brief introductory comments about Mark’s gospel and then share with you a message entitled The Baptizer and Baptism. 

 

Mark’s gospel is obviously second in our New Testaments.  However, it actually might be the first gospel that was written.  Regardless, it was one of the earlier ones written possibly being dated in the 50’s AD.  It was penned by John Mark. 

 

John Mark is probably best remembered, outside of a gospel writer, as having a sharp disagreement with Paul.  As a result, Paul refused to take him on his second missionary journey. 

Even though John Mark penned this gospel account, it was more than likely dictated to him or at least the experiences of Peter.  If John Mark did not actually write down exactly what Peter told him, he at least remembered well what Peter had told him.  Therefore, even though the second gospel bears Mark’s name, it is from Peter’s vantage point. 

 

The final truth that I want to share with you is that Mark was written primarily to Gentiles, specifically Roman readers.  Whereas, Matthew’s gospel was written for a Jewish Audience, Mark wrote for a Gentile audience of which you and I would be included.

 

 

1. The Baptizer who was John

 

Now, let us consider the Baptizer and baptism.  Actually, before we get there, consider verse 1.  It is interesting to note that Mark began his gospel without including any details or mention about Jesus before His baptism.  He doesn’t mention His parents or His birth or His childhood or anything else.  That doesn’t mean all those truths aren’t important.  It simply means that Mark and Peter chose to include other vital and important truths.

 

John the Baptist or John the Baptizer is the focal point beginning verse 2, and we see that his life and ministry are fulfillments of OT prophecy.  Marked quoted from Malachi 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3 in confirming that John the Baptizer was the messenger to come before the Messiah, and he will prepare his way.  His message will be one of repentance and straight paths and clean living.

 

Let’s look more in depth at John the Baptizer, the messenger, his message, and his method.  First, who was this messenger?  By modern accounts, we would consider the Baptizer a strange and peculiar fellow.  Verse 6 tells us that he wore camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist.  Mark also told us that his diet consisted of locusts or grasshoppers and wild honey.  Again, to us, John the Baptist would have been a bird of a different feather, but remember he was the God-ordained messenger preparing the way for the Messiah.

 

John the Baptist is often seen or pictured as this hard-nosed crazy guy who preached against sin but didn’t have any compassion.  Actually, the Baptizer was a very humble man, and you see his humility in verse 7 as he always remembered his condition in light of Christ. 

 

Mark 1:7, 7 And he preached, saying, “There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose.

 

He said that he was not even worthy to bend down and untie Jesus’ sandal.  It was also John the Baptist who spoke in John 3:30.

 

John 3:30,   30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

 

Secondly, what was his message?  Simply put, his message was repentance.  Repentance is a word that means to change direction or change your mind or change your life. 

 

That was also the message of Jesus Christ.  The very first instance that we have of Jesus preaching is in Matthew 4:17, and what was his message?  Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 

 

Matthew 4:17, 17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

 

Repentance is a great message here at the beginning of 2019.  For those who are lost, repent, and turn your life toward Christ and receiving him as Lord and Savior.  For those who are saved, repent, and turn from your sins and the ways of the world and more toward the ways of God.  Again, John’s message and Jesus’ message and my message for today is repentance.

 

Thirdly, what was his method or methods?  I first want you to see that the Baptizer was a preacher.  In verse 4, he was preaching, and in verse 7, he was preaching.  Matthew’s gospel tells us that he preached to anyone who would listen, and he didn’t waver in his preaching regardless of who was in the congregation.  He didn’t mind preaching to the Pharisees.  He didn’t mind preaching to the Sadducees. 

 

However, not only was John a preacher, he perhaps is better knowing for being the Baptist or the Baptizer, and his preaching and his baptism are directly related.  John preached a baptism of repentance according to verse 4.  We see from verses 5 and 8 that in response to John’s preaching, that many (all the county of Judea…and all the people of Jerusalem) were coming to him to hear him preach and then be baptized in the water of the Jordan River as they confessed their sins. 

 

Now, I need to try to answer some questions regarding John’s theology and John’s baptism.  Did John believe that baptism could save?  No, he did not.  Look at verse 4.  It wasn’t the baptism of verse 4 that resulted in the forgiveness of sins.  It was the repentance, and that message is the message that I am preaching today. 

 

It isn’t saying a sinner’s prayer that saves you or walking an isle that saves you or being baptized that saves you or joining a church that saves you.  It is repentance and faith in Christ alone that saves you, and if you have never repented of your sins and turned to the ways of Christ, you are not saved and can’t be saved until you do just that.  

 

Another question that often comes up is how is John’s baptism different from Jesus’ baptism.  First of all, John’s baptism was physical with water.  Jesus’ baptism was and is spiritual with the Holy Spirit and your heart. 

 

John’s baptism looked forward.  Jesus’ baptism looks back to the life of Christ and the coming of the Holy Spirit.

 

One final question is how is John’s baptism different from believer’s baptism?  Again, John’s baptism looked forward to the Messiah.  Believer’s baptism looks back to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the spiritual death, burial, and resurrection of the individual being baptized, and that is the Baptizer: the messenger, his message, and his methods.

 

 

1. Baptism of Jesus.

 

Now, we turn our attention to verses 9-11 and to baptism and specifically the baptism of Jesus Christ.  We see in verse 9 that Jesus was baptized by John even though according to Matthew’s gospel that John originally rejected this idea.  In verse 10 as Jesus came up out of the water, the Holy Spirit descended upon him, and in verse 11, God the Father announced that this Jesus was and is God’s beloved son in which he is well-pleased.  In these three verses, you a see another great picture of tri-unity or Trinity of God.  There is one God in three persons.  There are three persons in one God.

 

The next question that is on many minds is why was Jesus baptized.  Let me suggest at least three reasons.  First, Jesus was baptized out of obedience to God’s complete plan and the part that John the Baptist played in it.  Second, it was an act of identification with the nation of Israel and humanity as sinners.  He would be the one to offer salvation to Israel and the world through his death and resurrection, and therefore, he would leave an example for sinful man to follow in his steps.  Finally, it was act of initiation into his gospel ministry.  He accepted his roles as Messiah and Savior and Lord, and he would fulfill them. 

 

I now want to look at the issue of baptism and answer three questions.  First of all, when is a person to be baptized?  Many churches today baptize individuals as infants.  However, is that the pattern of the New Testament? 

 

What about Acts 8:34-38? 

 

34 So the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. 36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?”  37 Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.”  And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”  38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.

 

According to verse 37, the Ethiopian Eunuch believed and then was baptized. 

 

In Acts 9:18, Paul first believed and then was baptized. 

 

18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.

 

In Acts 16:31-34, the Philippian jailer believed and then was baptized. 

 

31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34 Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.

 

Finally, in Acts 18:8, we have the example of a Jew named Crispus who believed and then was baptized. 

 

8 Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized.

 

My point is this.  There is a biblical order that is set forth, and that order is belief, which includes repentance and faith, then baptism.  In the New Testament, you don’t ever see baptism then belief.  Therefore, the pattern of the Bible is believer’s baptism not infant baptism or another baptism.

 

The second question answers why should believers be baptized.  First and foremost is because Jesus himself was baptized.  He wasn’t baptized because he believed, but he was baptized nonetheless.  Secondly, Jesus commands it according to Matthew 28:19.  The Great Commission means baptizing them or converts in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

 

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

 

The final question is how should a believer be baptized.  Is pouring the biblical model?  Is sprinkling the biblical model?  Is immersion the biblical model? 

 

Consider the evidence.  The word baptize literally means to plunge or immerse.  Again, notice the description of Jesus’ baptism.  Mark 1:10 speaks of him coming up out of the water.  That is not possible with pouring or sprinkling. 

 

In Acts 8:38, Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch both went down into the water and both came up out of the water.  The biblical mode of baptism is immersion.

 

 

Conclusion

My invitation this morning is two-fold.  First of all, I am issuing a call for repentance.  If you have never received Christ as your Lord and Savior and do not have assurance of where you will spend an eternity when you die, God, through His word, is calling you to repent and believe and be saved this morning for the very first time. 

 

Secondly, if you are here this morning and are a believer already, but you are living in sin, God is calling you to repentance, turning from your sin and to Him and His ways.  On the first Sunday of a New Year, He wants a new you! 

 

The second part of my invitation is for you to examine your own baptism experience.  Does it follow the biblical model?  Were you baptized after salvation as a believer by immersion to demonstrate your new life?  If not, I am calling you today to come forward and begin the process of making that right. 

 

Make sure that you were baptized as a believer after salvation by immersion.  That is the biblical way.  That is God way. 

 

If your baptism experience is right and God is leading you to join this church, today’s invitation is for you as well.  The doors of church membership are open this morning.  If God is leading you this morning to make a public decision with your life, you come during this time of response.

 

What is a Daughter-In-Law Worth?

Hope for the Hopeless...

Introduction

This morning, I want to share a message with you entitled, “Hope for the Hopeless.”  Many folks in our world today and maybe even in our church this morning feel like their situation is hopeless.  Your situation may be health related or loved-ones related or job related.  Regardless, you feel hopeless.

 

Where do we look for hope?  Some look to family, but family will disappoint.  Some look to finances, but finances will discourage.  Some look to favor.  Our hope today is often tied up in likes and retweets and followers.  However, favor will disappear. 

 

As we continue in our study of Ruth, I want to show you a picture of hope for the hopeless.  In Ruth 1, Naomi and Ruth could be seen as hopeless.  Evil was dominating because there was no king in Israel.  Nature was destroying in the form of a 10-year famine, and loved ones were dying.  Naomi lost her husband and her two sons of which one was married to Ruth.  Therefore, Ruth lost her husband too. 

 

At the end of chapter 1, God brought Naomi back to Bethlehem, and Ruth went with her, and it was the beginning of barley harvest.  That lets us know that good is coming.  There is hope for the hopeless.

 

In chapter 2, Ruth met Boaz, and hope for hopeless begins to materialize.  The grace and favor that Boaz gave to Ruth and Naomi foreshadowed and was symbolic of the grace and favor that God gives to anyone who receives His Son, Jesus Christ, as Lord and Savior. 

 

 

1. A Certain Plan: Ruth 3:1-4

 

In these first two verses, we see that Naomi recognized a need that Ruth had.  Ruth had the need of a husband.  Ruth had the need to be cared for and loved.  Naomi described this need as “security.” 

 

Related to this need of a husband is Ruth’s deceased husband’s need.  Mahlon had a need for someone to carry on his legacy since he and Ruth didn’t have a son.  He had a need for a relative to father a son with Ruth to carry on his name and family history.

 

Another need we see from the text is Ruth’s need for happiness or sense of wellness.  Most certainly this would come with a new husband and parenting an heir to her family name. 

 

Beginning in verse three, Naomi outlined a certain plan that would bring hope to the hopeless so Ruth and Boaz’s relationship could continue to progress.  She was to take a bath, anoint herself, put on her best clothes and go find Boaz.  She was to wait for him to finish eating and drinking and after he goes to sleep, lay down beside him. 

 

Naomi outlined a certain plan to bring hope to the hopeless, and God has outlined a certain plan for you to bring hope to the hopeless, and it is called the Bible. 

 

Yes, the Bible can give hope to your hopeless family situation.  The Bible can give hope to your hopeless financial situation.  The Bible can give hope to your hopeless favor situation.

 

And hope for the hopeless begins with a certain plan.

 

 

1. A Submissive Posture, Ruth 3:5-8

 

Beginning in verse 5, Ruth’s response is worth noting.  Remember that Ruth had every reason to feel hopeless, but with Naomi’s plan, she began to have hope for her situation. 

 

Consequently, notice Ruth’s posture started with obedience.  In verse 5, she told Naomi that she would do all of her certain plan, and in verse 6, we see that Ruth did all of her certain plan.  Ruth was obedient. 

 

Brothers and sisters, make sure that in the midst of your hopelessness that you don’t walk away from God’s plan but remain committed to obeying God and His Word.  Obedience and bearing fruit as a follower of Christ must be at the top of our priority list if we are going to find hope for the hopeless.

 

Notice also that Ruth’s posture included making herself vulnerable to Boaz in verse 7.  In this text, according to what goes on in our world in the 21^st century, this may all sound somewhat suspect, but bear with me.  Ruth waited for Boaz to go to sleep and then went to lie down at his feet.  This verse says she came softly.  She didn’t come demanding or announcing her entitlement.  She came vulnerable because she trusted Naomi’s plan.

 

Thirdly, as a part of her submissive posture, Ruth not only was obedient and vulnerable, but she was surrendered.  Verses 7-8 tell us that Ruth lay down at Boaz’s feet.  She wasn’t standing, but she got low.  She had surrendered to Boaz and whatever he might do to her and for her.

 

Even though all of this interaction might sound strange to our 21^st century ears, you can’t point to any place in this text and find immorality.  However, Ruth’s submissive posture was one of obedience, vulnerability, and surrender as she sought to follow Naomi’s certain plan.

 

 

• A Specific Provider, Ruth 3:9-17

 

In verse 9, Ruth indirectly proposed marriage to Boaz, and Boaz agreed so that he was willing to become her kinsman-redeemer or her special provider. 

 

“Kinsman” meant relative or family member.  “Redeemer” meant to buy or purchase or pay for or provide.  Boaz would be Ruth’s kinsman-redeemer or her special provider which brings us to the topic of levirate marriage. 

 

In the Old Testament, levirate marriage took place when a man died with no male children like Mahlon and Chilion did.  As a result, his brother or another relative was to marry his widow and father a son for the deceased brother.  In short, it was the practice of raising up a son for a deceased relative.  This is exactly the context when Jesus was questioned in Matthew 22:23-28.

 

23 The same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, 24 saying: “Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. 25 Now there were with us seven brothers. The first died after he had married, and having no offspring, left his wife to his brother. 26 Likewise the second also, and the third, even to the seventh. 27 Last of all the woman died also. 28 Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had her.”

 

The kinsman-redeemer had specific responsibilities.  He was to redeem property: the kinsman acted on behalf of an impoverished relative to purchase and return the land the poor man or woman was forced to sell. 

 

He was to redeem persons: the kinsman redeemed a relative who was forced to sell herself into slavery.

 

He was to redeem blood or justice: the kinsman acted as an avenger.  When a relative of his was murdered, as the kinsman-redeemer, he was to avenge the death.  It was his duty to protect the honor of the family and exact vengeance.

 

The kinsman-redeemer also needed specific qualifications.    He must be related by blood.  He must be able to pay the price.  He must be willing to redeem.  Boaz would become Ruth’s kinsman-redeemer. 

 

Brothers and sisters, we have a kinsman-redeemer today, and his name is Jesus Christ.  His is related to us by blood because he was not only the Son of God but also the Son of man.  He is able to pay the price because of His sinless life.  He was willing to redeem as evidenced by His voluntary death on the cross.

 

 

Conclusion

If the hopeless is going to find hope, and we have a certain plan and a submissive posture and a specific provider, what else do we need?

 

We need a special patience.  After the arrangement of levirate marriage was set in motion, Boaz gave Ruth a large quantity of barley for her and her mother-in-law to last them some time, and Ruth returned to Naomi in verses 14-17.

 

Verse 18 shows us the need for special patience.  Naomi told Ruth to sit still or wait or be patient.

 

Brothers and sisters, when we are hopeless, it is not in our nature to sit still or wait or be patient, but we must and as we wait, trust God to provide through His Son, our specific provider. 

 

Where are looking for hope this morning?  My invitation is for you to look to Jesus Christ, who is the hope for whatever is your hopelessness this morning. 

 

What Does That Church Believe: Catholics?

Where did they come from?

• Roman Catholics believe in an unbroken continuity from the early New Testament church to modern Catholicism.  Peter is believed to be the first Pope of Rome (Matthew 16:18).  However, there is no historical evidence to this assertion as well as no evidence of Peter ever having been to Rome.
• Roman Catholic belief about the unbroken continuity is very similar to historic and traditional Churches of Christ and Landmark Baptists. 

 

Where did the Pope come from?

• In its beginnings, individual churches were led by elders.  Bishops were in authority over a particular city and all of the elders in that city.  A bishop became prominent when his city became prominent such as Alexandria, Antioch, Rome, and Carthage. 
• Leo the Great (440-461) perfected the theory of papal power over other churches.
• Gregory the Great (590-604) may be considered the first of the absolute popes.
• The Roman Catholic hierarchy includes: pope, members of the college of cardinals (70), archbishops presiding over one or more dioceses, bishops, and priests.
• As successor to the apostle Peter, the pope exercises authority over the 3200+ bishops in the church.  When he speaks ex cathedra on issues pertaining to faith and morals, he is believed to be infallible (Romans 3:23) and considered as the third source of authority with the Bible and tradition (teachings of the apostles apart from the Bible).

 

What are their significant historical events?

• 4^th century: authority of the bishop of Rome increased.
• 5^th century: Pope Leo I (Leo the Great as mentioned above) claimed authority over all other churches.
• 1054: Eastern and Western churches split.
• 1517: Martin Luther calls for reform regarding power of the pope, the sale of indulgences, and the doctrine of purgatory. 
• 1545-1563: The Council of Trent defined many Roman Catholic doctrines for the first time.
• 1565: First Catholic parish began in what is now St. Augustine, FL. 
• 1869: The Vatican Council I met in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and formulated the supremacy and infallibility of the pope.
• 1962-1965: The Vatican Council II met in Rome and decided that all who are named “Christian” are a part of God’s family regardless of membership in the Catholic Church.

 

What do they believe?

1. Word of God: includes the Bible and oral tradition; the Roman Catholic Bible includes the 66 books from Genesis to Revelation plus the apocryphal books including 7 complete books and 4 partial books that were written in the inter-testamental period.  However, the Jews of Palestine never accepted the inspiration of these books, and Jesus never quoted from them.  The Apocrypha teaches that salvation depends on deeds of virtue.  See Deuteronomy 4:2, Revelation 22:18-19.
2. Salvation: all humans are born with original sin of Adam and Eve; salvation comes through sanctifying grace; God reaches out to individuals and gives them the grace to seek him; individuals must respond to this grace that is given by performing certain acts that prepare his/her soul for baptism and justification; salvation is further realized through the administration of the 7 sacraments (see below).
3. Sin: Catholics distinguish between two types of sin. The two types of sin are mortal and venial, CCC #1854. Mortal sin destroys the sanctifying grace of God within the individual and necessitates forgiveness through a sacrament of reconciliation, CCC #1856. It causes exclusion from heaven and results in "the eternal death of hell," CCC #1861. Catholics classify a sin as mortal when it meets the following conditions: the sin is serious or "grave" (murder, adultery, stealing, bearing false witness, etc.), is committed with "full knowledge and complete consent," CCC #1857-59. A venial sin is a sin that either is not serious or grave, or does not involve full knowledge or complete consent, CCC #1862. Unlike mortal sin, venial sin does not destroy the saving grace of God in the individual. "Venial sin does not deprive the sinner of sanctifying grace, friendship with God, charity, and consequently eternal happiness," CCC #1863.
4. Veneration of Mary: viewed as “immaculately conceived” and therefore sinless; is a co-redeemer and mediatrix of grace (Luke 1:46-47).  She is also considered to have remained a virgin throughout her life (Matthew 12:46, Matthew 13:55).  However, she is not considered to be part of the Trinity. 
5. Purgatory: exists for those who die in God’s friendship but are still imperfectly purified, so that, following a time of purging, they can finally enter the joys of heaven (2 Corinthians 5:8).
6. Baptism: removes original sin and infuses sanctifying grace; performed on infants as well as adults and the person baptized experiences “initial justification”; immersion was practiced until the twelfth century.
7. Church: up until the Vatican Council II, believed that salvation was not available outside of the Catholic Church.
8. Eucharist/Mass: it is believed that during the Mass, the bread and wine miraculously turn into the actual body and blood of Christ called transubstantiation (John 6:52-58). By receiving the Eucharist, Catholics believe they are receiving Christ.
9. Sacraments: a visible sign instituted by Christ, by which grace is conveyed or dispensed to souls; the Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “The Church affirms that for believers the sacraments of the New Covenant are necessary for salvation (Catechism of the Catholic Church, New York: Doubleday, 1994) page 249.
   1. Baptism: all sins are forgiven, original sin and personal sins, as well as all punishment for sin, CCC #1263.
   2. Confirmation: completes baptismal grace by increasing the gifts and strengths of the Holy Spirit in the recipient, CCC #1303.
   3. Eucharist/Mass: see above.
   4. Penance: confession of sin and sorrow for failure; assigned acts of penance for all mortal sins and instructed to say an Act of Contrition; the priest then extends his right hand toward the parishioner and absolves him of his sins (Hebrews 10:19-25; 1 Peter 2:9; 1 John 1:9).
   5. Holy Orders: Catholics believe this sacrament confers sacred power of service, CCC #1592.
   6. Anointing the Sick: may be given when a Catholic is in danger of death because of illness or old age, CCC #1592.
   7. Marriage: remarriage by a divorced Catholic while the lawful spouse is alive is not allowed, CCC #1665.

 

Name	Founded	Members	Congregations	Website
Roman Catholic Church	1st century	More than 62,000,000	More than 19,000	www.vatican.va
Eastern Rite Catholic Church	1500-1700	500,000	Unknown	Unknown
Old Catholic Church	1871	More than 600,000	Unknown	www.oldcatholic.org
Polish National Catholic Church of America	1897	270,000	More than 150	www.PNCC.org