Behold The King: It’s A Hard Knocks Harvest (Part 3)
Notes
Transcript
Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
In building their unwavering commitment to spreading the Gospel, Jesus enables the disciples to courageously place their trust in the boundless power and wisdom of God, ensuring that they would refuse to be swayed by the limited strength and knowledge of mere mortals.
Dedicated in Heart Before Being Dedicated with Action
Dedicated in Heart Before Being Dedicated with Action
Christ teaches three determining truths that will guide us to be dedicated to God in our innermost being.
God’s Prominence
God’s Prominence
Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
God is the originator of everything! The uncaused cause. He has the power to sustain you or take you out. And yet he is merciful.
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Say ye not, A confederacy,
To all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy;
Neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.
Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself;
And let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?
God’s Providence
God’s Providence
Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
God is transcendent! But what God reveals about himself that no other deity has ever claimed is that he is also actively and passionately involved in every detail of our lives.
Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
God’s Precious Creation
God’s Precious Creation
Matthew constantly looks at the value of humanity to God.
Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
You are the most precious commodity in the created world.
You are so precious, God created a universe so He would have a relationship with you. You are so precious that God revealed Himself to you supernaturally, perfectly, and completely through His Word, so you might know about Him. You are so valuable to Him that God sent His Son to take your sin (rebellion against Him) and nail it to the cross and have it buried. You are so precious to Him that Jesus rose again on the third day, defeating sin, hell, and death so you could spend an eternity with Him.
L. R. Scarborough, the fearless former president of Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, stood tall as a beacon of faith and determination. His preaching prowess and unwavering commitment to spreading the gospel were renowned throughout the land. One fateful day, he found himself amidst a revival meeting, brimming with cowboys from the vast landscapes of Texas.
Driven by a burning desire to connect with these rugged souls, Dr. Scarborough spent the day immersed in their world, seeking common ground and seeking to win them over with the message of Christ. As night fell, a lone cowboy entered the meeting, dressed in rugged attire, a testament to his untamed spirit. He quietly took his seat at the back, seemingly detached from the proceedings.
Undeterred, Dr. Scarborough delivered his sermon that evening, pouring his heart and soul into every word. He preached fervently, with an unwavering conviction, for the salvation of that cowboy's soul. Yet, when the invitation was given, the cowboy remained motionless, his heart seemingly unmoved.
Determined to reach him, Dr. Scarborough approached the cowboy, grasping his right arm firmly, and spoke with unwavering conviction, "Cowboy, I implore you to embrace Christ. I beg you to be saved."
In an unexpected turn of events, the cowboy violently jerked his arm away, stormed out of the humble church, and disappeared into the night. His rejection pierced the air, leaving a somber heaviness in the room.
The following morning, the cowboy mounted his loyal steed and set off on his journey. However, fate had a different plan in store for him. In a tragic twist of events, his horse stumbled, trapping his right arm beneath its massive weight, shattering it in an instant.
That night, the cowboy returned to the very place he had defiantly abandoned. Clutching his broken arm, wrapped in a makeshift sling, he made his way down the aisle. The pain etched on his face was a stark reminder of the consequences of his actions.
With a voice filled with remorse, he addressed Dr. Scarborough, "Preacher, last night, I callously tore my arm from your grasp, turning my back on Jesus Christ and the salvation He offers. But today, I stand before you broken and humbled. Under the weight of that horse, with my shattered arm, God's voice spoke to me. In that moment, I made a solemn vow. If He would grant me a second chance, if He would spare my life, I promised to surrender my heart to Him tonight."
Tears streamed down the cowboy's face as he continued, "Although I can no longer offer you my right arm, I willingly offer you my left. I long to be saved, to be embraced by the love and grace of our Savior."
Silent tears flowed from Dr. Scarborough's eyes as he witnessed the transformative power of God's mercy. With compassion in his voice, he assured the cowboy, "Your repentance and surrender do not go unnoticed. Tonight, we stand as witnesses to the triumph of redemption. May your testimony serve as a warning to all who deny Christ before men."
And so, in that humble church, amidst brokenness and healing, a victorious tale of redemption unfolded. The cowboy, once defiant, now embraced the salvation that he had so callously rejected. His brokenness became a testament to the unyielding love and forgiveness of Christ, a beacon of hope for those who dare to deny Him.
Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
True disciples of Jesus are driven by a deep conviction and passion to bring the transformative power of the Gospel to all people, leaving no stone unturned in their mission is to glorify the one true God. This is due to the revealed promise of Jesus that God knows each of us intimately, is actively involved in our daily life, and that each individual is extremely valuable to God.
Jesus Enables Dedication.
Jesus Enables Dedication.
Matt 10:27
What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.
The reason followers of Christ can consistently persist through any obstacle is due to these five truths.
God’s Sovereignty
God’s Sovereignty
God’s knowledge is infinite, “there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed.” God is all knowing. He knows the secret whisper. He knows the actions done in dark. And He still knows how to control the entire world in order to fulfill His ultimate will.
He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: But whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
No matter what the world throughs at God’s children, he knew what it would be before they did. The heartbreaking news you receive, He knew it before you did. He knew it before the people involved were a twinkle in the eyes of their great grandparents eyes.
Jesus uses the word fear four times in this text.
Three times Jesus tells us what not to fear.
“Fear them not”
“Fear not them”
“Do not fear because God values you.”
Only once is it used to teach us Who we should fear and why.
Fear him!!!!
Fear him, which is able to destroy the soul and body in hell.
Prayer
Prayer
This whole conversation started with “Pray ye therefore.”
Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)
And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
Brethren, pray for us.
Persistence
Persistence
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.
For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.
For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.
And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.
And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:
Sylvester Stallone’s Insta post
Unity and support
Unity and support
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
If you are saved but not a member of Faithway, you are missing out on this aspect of the Christian life. Jesus does not have out of body experience.
Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.
For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.
Adaptation and flexibility
Adaptation and flexibility
To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
All the first century had was new. New Covenant, New meeting places, new songs! Why are we so opposed to the new today?
The disciples faced the obstacles with prayer, persistence, unity and support, trust in God’s sovereignty, and adaptation and flexibility. Ultimately, the disciples’ response to resistance and rejection was characterized by perseverance, reliance on God, and a commitment to faithfully proclaim the message of salvation, regardless of the challenges they faced.
Like the disciples, when you embrace the triumph of Christ, you will see Him fulfill your God given mission
Like the disciples, when you embrace the triumph of Christ, you will see Him fulfill your God given mission
God is glorified wether or not you praise Him. So why not strive to glorify God with your life?
The Gospel is the power of God whether you live it out or not. So why not strive to live out the Gospel?
People are starving for someone to come along and help them in their Faithway Journey. So why not become vulnerable with someone in order to help them with their Faithway journey?
And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
You are more valuable than many sparrows! You are precious to God!
Ultimately, the disciples’ ministry aimed to glorify God, live out the Gospel, and help people in their Faithway journey. They sought to bring about the expansion of God’s kingdom on earth, as more and more people responded to the message of the Gospel, surrendered their lives to Jesus and become part of the body of Christ. They sought to fulfill the Great commission.
