Keep Going
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Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.
Topic: Keep Going
I. Jesus Gives His Word.
I. Jesus Gives His Word.
The scripture said in verse 17 “but some doubted”.
There is a lot of theological conversation revolving around this verse. I’d already received a revelation of what the verse truly means. There are actually two levels of understanding this verse.
You take it as is, meaning you read it and you assume that when they seen Jesus, they doubted it was him.
Jesus had been building their faith and telling them what was going to happen, he told them he was going to die and that he would be resurrected.
Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.
We know the story, or at least if you haven’t let me tell you real quick.....the good news.
Matthew chapter 27 Jesus dies, an innocent man who did no wrong, a man who performed signs and miracles, a man in who John in his gospel calls the “word of God” who was in the beginning with God, and all things were made by him; and without him (Christ) was not anything made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
They did not know who Jesus really was, because Paul records in 1 Cor 2:8
Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
They comprehended not the light that came into the world.
John then says in 1:14 “And the Word, the same word that was God, it became incarnate, the word which was God became flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory.....because he couldn’t come in his fulness because no man can look upon the entire deity of God and live Moses wrote, but Hebrews records:
Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
John said we beheld his glory, the glory as of the.....did you notice those words. “AS OF” or “Like unto” the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
When did they see this?
And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
So let’s break this down:
Jesus is transfigured. Transfigured means a change of appearance. In many instances in scripture Jesus is described as light. See all this time they had been walking with Jesus for 3 years, but he gives Peter, James, and John a glimpse of who he really is! He reveals his true identity to them! That’s why John said “WE BEHELD, WE SAW HIS GLORY.....COME ON CHURCH!!!”
They saw his glory before the cross.
Chapter 20 he tells his disciples that he would be betrayed by the religious leaders, condemned to death, die, but will rise again on the 3rd day.
LET ME STOP FOR A MOMENT BECAUSE THIS SOUNDS LIKE A RESURRECTION DAY MESSAGE, BUT THE GOSPEL SHOULD BE PREACHED PAUL SAID “IN SEASON” AND “OUT OF SEASON”.
4. Both in the synoptic gospels and in John’s gospel Jesus tells his disciples he was going to die and rise again on the 3rd day.
Give you another instance:
A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.
Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father? They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith. Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me? Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.
Jesus is giving his word! He is telling them what is going to happen and what he was going to do. ALL THEY HAD TO DO IS BELIEVE!!! APPARENTLY THEY HEAR....BUT THEY AREN’T LISTENING. A LOT OF TIMES WE HEAR BUT WE DON’T LISTEN. WE HEAR....BUT WE DON’T BELIEVE.....IF GOD SAYS HE’S GOING TO DO SOMETHING YOU’VE GOT TO TAKE HIM AT HIS WORD AND BELIEVE HIM!!!!
II. Still dealing with doubt.
II. Still dealing with doubt.
So the scriptures then declare that Jesus is arrested Matt 26 & 27 and Jesus is condemned to death, scourged, and crucified. They choose a murderer an insurrection over someone who did no wrong, someone who healed the sick and raised the dead, that fed them, and taught them.
But watch this, I’m going to pull something from this that you might not have thought of. All because of Jesus, a man who did not deserve freedom, a person who did not deserve forgiveness, received pardon of his crimes, his slate wiped clean, and received freedom and HE DID NOTHING TO DESERVE IT!!!
EVERY BELIEVER TESTIFY TO THREE PEOPLE AND TELL THEM THAT SOUNDS LIKE ME!!!
So while all of this is going on, his disciples are in shambles, they ran when Jesus got arrested, they are in hiding, they are discouraged, they are sad, they are afraid, they have no hope.
WHY ARE YOU DISCOURAGED DISCIPLE? WHY ARE YOU SAD AND WALKING AROUND WITH NO HOPE.....DON’T YOU BELIEVE WHAT JESUS TOLD YOU!!! WHY DO YOU DOUBT HIM?
Even the unbelievers remember that Jesus said he would rise again.
But on the third day!!! Jesus rose, just like He said he would. Is there anybody in here that The Lord ever told you he was going to do something and He DID IT.....JUST LIKE HE SAID HE WOULD!?!?
When the women came to tend to Jesus’ body (because they had to get him in the tomb quickly before sundown, they didn’t have time to give him a proper burial). They saw the tomb open and an angel at the tomb told them Jesus is not here, for he is risen as he said. COME, SEE THE PLACE WHERE THE LORD LAY........IT WAS EMPTY!!!
Go tell his disciples he is risen from the dead, and behold he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. They departed with fear and great joy and Jesus met them on the way to tell the disciples the good news!!! Jesus encourages them to “tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.”
BUT WHEN THEY GOT THERE AND TOLD THEM....THERE WAS A PROBLEM. THEY WERE SO DEVASTATED THAT THEY WERE PARALYZED WITH FEAR AND UNBELIEF. AND FEAR AND UNBELIEF WILL PREVENT YOU FROM GETTING TO THE PLACE WHERE GOD WANTS YOU TO BE!!!!
Now Matthew’s gospel leaves out an important detail that is mention in the other gospels.
And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not. After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.
Luke gospel says:
And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.
And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them. And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
All I’m trying to say is that they had somewhere they needed to be, and because of their doubt, unbelief, and fear they were paralyzed locked in a room.
The original plan was to meet up at Galilee, but Jesus had to alter the plan, he showed up in their darkest hour, HE SHOWED UP WHEN THERE WAS NO HOPE, HE SHOWED UP WHEN THEY WERE AFRAID AND JOHN’S GOSPEL RECORDS JESUS SAYING “PEACE BE UNTO YOU!”
I don’t know who I’m talking to, but the LORD told me to tell you this morning “PEACE BE UNTO YOU!” You have turmoil in your spirit, you have anger, you have fear, you have uncertainty, but if you believe the word of the Lord and not doubt.....THE LORD IS SAYING PEACE BE UNTO YOU HE CAN GIVE YOU PEACE RIGHT NOW.....HE IS GIVING YOU PEACE RIGHT NOW!
JESUS CAME AND PULLED THEM OUT, JESUS CAME AND PULLED THEM THROUGH, AND I KNOW YOU MAY FEEL STUCK RIGHT NOW....BUT GET READY I BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS GETTING READY TO SHOW UP AND HE’S GOING TO PULL YOU THROUGH THIS!!!
CLOSE:
So now, they have the courage to make the journey. They are on their way, but Jesus gives them one last lesson. They are out fishing, they toiled all night long and haven’t caught a thing. In the morning Jesus is walking along the shore but they don’t know that it is him. He hollers out (John 21:5) “Children, have ye any meat?” They reply “no” Jesus said “Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find.”
They didn’t know it was Jesus but they obeyed. The voice sounded familiar but they wasn’t sure. So they cast their net on the right side and the Bible says they had so many fish they were not able to draw it in the boat.....AND THEY KNEW THAT IT WAS NOBODY BUT JESUS!!!
SAINTS OF GOD, IF YOU HEAR, LISTEN, AND OBEY GOD.....YOU WILL FIND THE THING THAT HAS BEEN EVADING YOU!!! YOU’RE GOING TO PULL IN A MIRACLE CATCH!
Let’s end with our text:
So they are on a mountain in Galilee. And when Jesus appears, they worship him the scriptures says, BUT SOME DOUBTED.
HOW CAN YOU DOUBT THE LORD AFTER ALL THE THINGS THAT HE HAS DONE FOR YOU. HOW CAN YOU NOT TAKE HIM AT HIS WORK WHEN HE HAS MADE WAYS OUT OF NO WAYS, WHEN HE HAS KEPT YOU, WHEN HE HAS PROVIDED FOR YOU.
AFTER ALL THEY HAD WITNESS JESUS DO, HE HEALED THE SICK, RAISED THE DEAD, OPEN BLIND EYES, CASTED OUT DEVILS, WALKED ON WATER, COMMANDED THE ELEMENTS TO OBEY HIS COMMAND, BROUGHT A MAN BACK FROM THE DEAD WHO HAD BEEN DEAD FOR 4 DAYS, COMES BACK FROM THE DEAD HIMSELF, APPEARS IN THE MIDDLE OF A ROOM WITHOUT OPENING A DOOR.....AND YOU STILL DOUBTING!?!?
THINK ABOUT YOURSELF, DON’T BE CRITICAL OF THEM BECAUSE WE ARE AS BOUT AS BAD OFF AS THEY WERE EVEN WORSE.
BUT WATCH THIS, EVEN THOUGH THEY MAY HAVE DOUBTED. THEY KEEP GOING!
THEY WENT TO JERUSALEM AND WAITED FOR THE PROMISE OF THE HOLY GHOST. WHEN THEY RECEIVED THE HOLY GHOST....THERE WAS NO DOUBT. FEAR WAS GONE, DOUBT WAS GONE THEY WENT FROM DOUBTING DISCIPLES TO BELIEVING DISCIPLES.....SO MUCH SO THAT GOD DID A 360 ON THEM AND THEY WOULD END UP DYING FOR THEIR FAITH!!!
IS YOUR FAITH ON 100?
When the disciples doubted in the mountain on Galilee, the text suggests to us that none of what happened made sense. It was illogical. Spock is my boy....love Star Trek. But even when it doesn’t make sense....you’ve got to keep going!
Before I take my seat encourage 3 people and tell them “Keep Going in God”, “Keep Doing for God”, “Keep Living for God”, “Keep Praising God”, “Keep Telling People About God”.
Don’t you stop, you got somewhere God wants you to be. Don’t you stop, you won’t receive the power that you need. If you stop, you’ll abort your blessing, if you stop you’ll give up and backslide, if you stop now your children won’t be saved, if you stop now.....you’ll abort healing in your body!!! KEEP GOING!!!! I KNOW YOUR TIRED.....BUT KEEP GOING.......I KNOW IT’S HARD.....BUT KEEP GOING!!!