I Must

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New Years Eve service at SBC.

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Text: Luke 4:43 “43 And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.”
Introduction - Would you take your Bibles this evening and turn to the book of Luke. We will be in the fourth chapter of Luke.
As you turn there, we come to this very important moment in the life of a New Testament church.
We are entering into a New Year. This presents new opportunity for you and I.
It causes us to think about the passage of time and this precious commodity that God has given to us.
We may be thinking, this could be the year that the Lord Jesus Christ returns and catches us away.
It is in this new year that we will be able to take a breath and reset.
Would you first notice with me in verse 1 the Bible says,
Luke 4:1 “1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,”
We see in these verses the Lord’s wilderness temptation. — This chapter contains the beginning part of the ministry of the Lord. Look down at verses 13 and 14.
Luke 4:13–14 “13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season. 14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.”
The Bible tells us in verses 15 and 16, Luke 4:15–16 “15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all. 16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.”
Many of us have just returned from being around family during this Christmas season and perhaps for some they have experienced the difficulty of being a testimony for Christ to family members.
Notice verses 28-31. Luke 4:28–31 “28 And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, 29 And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong. 30 But he passing through the midst of them went his way, 31 And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days.”
Now the Lord settles in His Galilean headquarters in Capernaum.
The Bible says in verse 32, Luke 4:32 “32 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.”
Look now at verse 38. Luke 4:38 “38 And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon’s house. And Simon’s wife’s mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her.”
Verse 40 tells us Luke 4:40 “40 Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.”
Now notice our text verse. Look at verses 42 and 43.
Luke 4:42–43 “42 And when it was day, he departed and went into a desert place: and the people sought him, and came unto him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from them. 43 And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.”
I would encourage you perhaps to underline these two words in your Bible.
The Lord Jesus Christ says, “I must”
Let’s pray
We see in out text a record of the beginning part of the earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ.
In my Bible, there are sections of Scripture set in different color to signify words specifically spoken by the Lord.
Here we see some of those recorded words.
We read at the beginning of the Lord’s earthly journey, His temptation in the wilderness by Satan.
We next see that Luke records for His preaching and teaching in His hometown of Nazareth.
From there we find the Lord in Capernaum. And we are told in the Gospel records that much of what the Lord did up in this northern area of Galilee occured from His base of operations there in Capernaum.
But we see something peculiar right from the beginning of the Lord’s preaching and teaching work.
In the wilderness of Judea He was tempted.
In His hometown of Nazareth, He was quickly rejected.
But here in Capernaum, it seems that His message was popular and the folks compelled the Lord to stay where He was.
The temptation of the world was to become complacent. Stay where you are comfortable… Remain where you are popular… Speak to those only who are willing to receive you!
Oh my friend we are reminded of how Philip the evangelist so emulated the Lord Jesus Christ in that He was obedient to God’s call upon His life.
Philip the evangelist, was a leader. He struck out from Jersualem and the Bible tells us that some had got the idea that they were to do what the Lor had commanded, when God allowed Saul to persecute the followers of Christ. We read in the eighth chapter of Acts,
Acts 8:3–4 “3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. 4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.”
In verse 5 the Bible says, Acts 8:5 “5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.”
Listen, Philip got the message. He understood. He went to those who despised and rejected, the Samaritans.
In verse 6 we read these words, Acts 8:6 “6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.”
Can you imagine how it was for Philip?
Much like the Lord in Capernaum, Philip experienced the great privilege and joy of seeing people turn to the Lord!
Acts 8:8 tells us, “8 And there was great joy in that city.”
The Bible tells us in this account, that so much had taken place, that word got back to Jerusalem of all that was going on and the apostles Peter and John were sent to see what was taking place.
In verse 26, however we read, in spite of all the work no doubt was present there in Samaria… the Bible says, “And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.”
God’s says in effect, ‘Hey Philip, I want you to go to the desert… There is a single soul that needs to hear the gospel…’
In fact, I am adding to what is being said here. The Holy Spirit does not tell Philip who is in the desert, He simply says arise and go.
And like we see in that passage in Acts… A movement in the life of an individual based on the will of the Lord.
What are you trying to say Pastor James? I am simply try to show you the power of these two words.
You and I this evening need to Christians with character who are willing to say, “I must…” follow the Lord.
I want you to understand first of that this “I must” by the Lord is a declaration that must be made

I. A Declaration

We see in our text here in Luke 4, that the people (vs. 42) “sought him, and came unto him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from them. “
But the Lord in response, makes a declaration as to what moves Him.
The Lord was not interested in the popular vote.
The Lord was not interested in the comfortable surroundings.
The Lord was not interested in what was just convenient.
The Lord made a declaration of loyalty to the will of the Father.
Some of us this night, as we consider the New Year, need to express a declaration of commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ for this New Year.
My friend, this is not some religious exercise that we go through every New Year. This is a commitment to our awesome God, as long as He would have us to be on this side of eternity.
I am reminded of some earlier words of the Lord, before we see Him in this moment.
You will remember the scene in Luke chapter 2.
We are told how Mary and Joseph came to Jersualem to celebrate the Passover.
There they were having travelled in with a caravan of relatives. They went through the weeks festivities, no doubt tired from all of the weeks events were headed back home to their home and Nazareth.
As they travelled along, they noticed, they had to seen their little boy Jesus.
The Bible tells us that they thought He had been with some of the other family.
They went back to Jersualem and having sought Him find the young Lord of glory sitting in the Temple speaking with the doctors of the law.
When asked the Lord made this direct statement in Luke 2:49 “49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?”
What a declaration!
Secondly, this statement “I must” is not only a declaration, but it determines a direction.

II. A Direction

My friend every decision you make for the Lord ought to result in a direction for your life.
It is a James, the half brother of our Lord, stated by inspiration of the Holy Ghost, James 2:17 “17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”
My friend, are you willing to make a decision that results in a definite direction for your life.
Many times, decision and declarations are made, but the following through with that decision—- the direction of our lives does not occur.
In Luke chapter 24 beginning in verse 3, we read about the angels reminded those who had come to the tomb of the Lord’s words.
Luke 24:3–7 “3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: 5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, 7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.”
The declaration, I must—- leads to a definite direction in the life of a believer. The Lord Jesus Christ knew, being God in the flesh, that He must be delivered.
Not only do we see a declaration in this phrase, a direction having made this decision, but thirdly, I want you to consider that the Lord’s statement “I must” showed:

III. A Determination

There is no way to walk in this life without determining that you are going to follow the Lord.
There is no way to be right with God without determining in your heart that your life is about Him.
I am reminded of the statement by John the Baptist—- He declared with determination that His life was about the Lord.
Imagine the temptation that he went through with the religious rulers coming and tempting him to be jealous or take upon Himself some glory that was not his.
In John 3:26 we read, “26 And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.”
Some of the worst pride I’ve seen is centered around ministry jealousy.
Think of the disciples jockeying for position on several occasions recorded for us in the gospel records.
But John the Baptist says in John 3:30 “30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”
Lastly, I think we must note this, If we will tonight declare, “I must…” follow the Lord… it will result in a destination.

IV. A Destination

In John 9:4 “4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
As long as the Lord has you to serve Him my friend you are bulletproof. In Luke 13:33 “33 Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.”
For the child of God your destination is determined my friend.
Acts 19:21 we see a shining example in the life of Paul how he determined to see those in Rome. Regardless of the chains that were before him, regardless of the suffering that was before Him He states, Acts 19:21 “21 After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.”
Let me help you He was not going there on a vacation.
I would like to just leave you with one last “I must” found in the Scriptures. Would you look at 2 Peter chapter 1 with me.
2 Peter 1:14
2 Peter 1:14 KJV 1900
14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.
All of us have an unevitable appointment with God. Peter in penning these two short epistles — tells the Christians, I must shortly put off this my tabernacle.
Paul said it this way 2 Timothy 4:5–8 “5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”
Romans 13:12 “12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.”
My friend this is one thing you can count on, we are all headed somewhere—- and secondly, all of us have an inevitable meeting with God.
In this little phrase we learn so much — for the Savior declared I must preach to other cities also…
In this he made a declaration.
Secondly, we see that decision results—-or should result in a direction.
Thirdly, we understand that the Lord determined to follow the will of the Father…You and I likewise if we are going to commit to follow the Lord, if we are going to declare “I must”— we must be determined.
Lastly, as we close all of this leads us to a destination—- I am so glad that God’s Word says that He will finish that which He has begun in us..
But my friend our destination is an inevitable meeting with God.
Let me ask the question, are you prepared tonight to meet God— face to face?
Are you prepared to stand before His bar?
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