Sermon for Oakdale June 7, 2020

Good morning everyone,,, watching by video.

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Before I begin with my sermon,,, I wanted to begin this morning with an opening prayer and lead into the Lord's prayer like we usually begin our worship service. That way if you like,,, you can join me in saying the Lord's prayer.

Invocation and Lord's prayer

Dear Lord, I thank you for your continued presence among us today and every day. I thank you for those that are listening and watching by video. I ask for continued guidance for them and others. So we ask for healing for all of those that are sick this morning,,, we ask for safety and guidance for our healthcare workers and all others that must work during this time. Lord,,, I pray for all of those that are still working on clearing storm damage and helping others. We ask for comfort and rest for each of them. We also ask for comfort and healing for all that are struggling with the coronavirus pandemic feelings of isolation and for all of us effected by the death of George Floyd. We ask for healing from all these events for our great nation,,, and

We ask these things in Jesus's name who taught us to pray, by saying:

Our Father, which art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name;

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever.

Amen.

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This morning I'll be reading Matthew chapter 28 verses 16 through 20.

I'll be reading from the Holman Christian Standard Bible.

Matthew 28:16–20

The book of Matthew was written to the Jews to convince them that Jesus was the promised Messiah from the Old Testament. These verses,,, that we read this morning,,, are words from Jesus and they are where we get our Great Commission.

Matthew 28:16–20

16 The 11 disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped, but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

God bless the reading and the hearing of your word this morning.

Let us pray:

Dear Lord,,, as we begin this morning,,, with everyone listening and watching by video,,, we ask that you open our ears to hear and our hearts and minds to receive the message that you have for us today,,, In Jesus' name I pray,,, Amen

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I am so glad that just maybe we are beginning to get things closer to a regular service again.

I have been looking forward to this day for several weeks.

The joy has been stained a little bit by the problems caused from George Floyd's death.

No matter what you see when you watch the video with the officer's knee on his neck,,, you can't help but agree that change is needed.

Change is desperately needed because we have lost our focus on what's important!

We have pushed God out of this country so far that we are almost left on our own.

But,,, we have no chance of bringing this country together,,, without God's help.

Lets look at these scriptures again and spend time reviewing our call from Jesus.

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In the verses just before these scriptures,,, Matthew has just revealed that the tomb was opened by an angel and he has told them that Jesus has risen and the women were told to go and tell the disciples to meet Jesus in Galilee.

On their way to tell the disciples,,, Jesus appeared to them and also told them to tell the disciples to meet Him in Galilee.

At the same time that the women were going to see the disciples,,, the guards had gone to tell their superiors that they had failed,,, the tomb was empty,,, and Jesus was not there.

The religious leaders decided to bribe the soldiers to tell everyone that the disciples had stolen Jesus' body while they were sleeping.

This story brings up more questions but we will deal with them at a later time.

Now that we know a little bit more about what happened before the verses we are studying,,, we will begin looking at them now.

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Verse 16 says: 16 The 11 disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them.

Matthew did not record the meeting of Jesus with any of the disciples that same day or the appearance 8 days later to the 11 disciples.

Matthew had recorded Jesus telling them on the night when He was arrested that He would meet them in Galilee after He was resurrected.

In Matthew 26:32 it says: 32 But after I have been resurrected, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”

Where they were going to meet is unknown but apparently the disciples knew even though it wasn't written down for us to read today.

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Verse 17 says: 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped, but some doubted.

My Bible Knowledge Commentary says that Jesus had appeared to them earlier and they knew that it was Him,,, so they weren't doubting the Resurrection.

This was probably just a question of identity since the other appearances had involved Him appearing without warning or a miraculous appearance.

My Faithlife Study Bible says "the Greek verb used here implies hesitation or indecision, rather than unbelief".

It says "the disciples are struggling to comprehend what they are witnessing".

John Wesley says "The various accounts suggest that Jesus’ appearance was in some way different after His resurrection,,, because there was several times that people fail to recognize Him at first.

Remember Mary from John's account in John 20:15,,, the two disciples on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24:16,,, and in Luke 24:37 where Jesus appeared to the 11 disciples that evening.

Jesus wasn’t recognized during any of these appearances.

He says the exact nature of Christ’s resurrection body is a matter of sheer speculation.

We just aren't told exactly how Jesus' body actually looked.

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Verse 18 says: 18 Then Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

My Wesleyan Bible Commentary says Jesus was given “All authority in heaven": So that He can make use of all the resources of heaven.

And He was given "All authority upon earth": So that He can turn every institution and power and person on earth to account.”

My Faithlife Study Bible says: The resurrection is the ultimate proof of Jesus’ divine authority.

And this authority is extended to His disciples to continue the work of the kingdom of heaven.

My Bible Knowledge Commentary says: This authority had been given to Jesus by the Father and now He was instructing the disciples to go on the basis of that authority.

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Verse 19 and the first part of verse 20 says: 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you.

This command to Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations,,, was to include all nations now,,, not just Israel.

If you remember in Matthew 10 Jesus had sent the disciples only to the lost of Israel,,, they were told,,, by Jesus,,, not to go anywhere else.

In Matthew 10:5-6 it says: 5 Jesus sent out these 12 after giving them instructions: “Don’t take the road leading to other nations, and don’t enter any Samaritan town. 6 Instead, go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Now the disciples were to go to all nations,,, not just the Israelites,,, and they were to make disciples by telling them about Jesus and making them understand that they needed Jesus as their Savior.

Those who believed were to be baptized in water in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Such an act would associate a believer with the person of Jesus Christ and with the Triune God.

The God whom they served is one God and yet is three Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Those who respond are also to be taught the truths Jesus had specifically communicated to the disciples.

Jesus’ commission,,, which applied to all of His followers,,, involved one command,,, “Make disciples,,,” which is accompanied by three participles in the Greek: “going",,, "baptizing",,, and "teaching".

In other words,,, they are to "make disciples" by "going",,, "baptizing",,, and "teaching"!

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The last part of verse 20 says: And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

The final words of Jesus,,, recorded by Matthew,,, were a promise that He would be with them always until the very end of the Age.

Even though Jesus did not remain physically with the disciples,,, His spiritual presence,,, was with them until their tasks on earth were finished.

Jesus promised the disciples in John 14:26 - 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit —the Father will send Him in My name—will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.

Once the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples,,, they were able to begin immediately to do the job that Jesus had left for them to do.

The Holy Spirit is also with us today,,, guiding us in ever part of our life if we are paying attention and listening as He tries to show us the way.

These final words of Jesus Christ our Lord,,, were carried out by the apostles as they went everywhere,,, proclaiming the story of their Messiah,,, Jesus Christ,,, the King of the Jews.

My Faithlife Study Bible says that the reference: to the end of the age refers to the second coming of Jesus.

We are to continue working,,, all the way up to,,, either our leaving this earth,,, or,,, Jesus' return!

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As I said at the very beginning,,, these verses are where we get,,, what we call,,, "Our Great Commission".

These are the last words of Jesus to the disciples and consequently,,, the last words or command,,, to us as well.

If we as a church,,, were obeying this command the way that we should be,,, this world would be in a lot better shape.

I say that because that's what is needed in this country to stop all of the violence and hatred on both sides.

This country needs Christians to step up and truly show the world what "love" really is!

And what greater love can you show for someone than to help them to become disciples of Jesus Christ!

If everyone loved others as we are commanded to "love",,, we wouldn't have this trouble!

No matter which side you are looking at,,, if one or both of the sides,,, truly,,, had love for others like they should,,, this could be fixed quickly.

And the blame lies with the church because apparently we haven't done the job that we should have or this wouldn't be such a big problem.

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This past Saturday,,, at Chace and Stephanie's wedding,,, during my reading,,, I made reference to Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 which says: 9 Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. 10 For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up. 11 Also, if two lie down together, they can keep warm; but how can one person alone keep warm? 12 And if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.

What I told them was,,, that if they,,, Chace and Stephanie,,, would be sure that they had their personal "love for God" first in their life,,, then if they would combine that love they have for each other,,, twist or braid,,, their love for God and their love for each other into 3 strands together,,, that would make a strand that couldn't be broken by anyone!

We can use that same illustration to see how the love of God can help us fix the problems that we have in this country.

In the same way,,, if we take the love of God that we have,,, as a church,,, if it was spread the way that we have been commanded to do,,, and others understood as we teach them,,, and they began to have that love for God first in their life,,, then it was combined with the love that we should have for one another,,, again,,, as we have been commanded to do,,, if all of that love was combined or braided together,,, with the love of God reigning first in everyone's life,,, then it becomes a strand that cannot be broken,,, and nothing can separate us from the love of God!

Through that bond that we have for God,,, first in our life,,, then love for others,,, all combined together,,, all of our problems will be solved.

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Jim Denison writes a "Daily Article" for the Denison Forum that I receive email articles of.

In the email I received yesterday he wrote,,, "I have never felt less qualified to write a Daily Article than I do this morning".

I am a white person who has never faced a single moment of racial discrimination in my sixty-one years of life. As a result, I cannot pretend to understand what it is like to be unfairly treated because of the color of my skin.

I grew up in a middle-class community. As a result, I cannot understand what it is like to despair of a better financial future.

I have never been treated unfairly by the criminal justice system. As a result, I cannot understand what it is like to fear the police and the courts.

I do not own or work at a business affected by the violence of recent days. As a result, I cannot understand what it is like to see my dreams and future destroyed in response to a tragic death in Minneapolis for which I am not at fault.

Fortunately, I do not write the Daily Article to offer my personal opinions. My mission is to help us interpret the news of the day in cultural and biblical context. This morning, I will draw on expert guides to help us do both.

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In the discussion,,, he talks about some of the problems that are going on today with the death of George Floyd and the riots,,, and he ends his article this way.

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I began today’s Daily Article by admitting that I do not know what it is like to experience racial discrimination, face systemic poverty, encounter injustice, or suffer as an innocent victim of violence.

But Jesus does.

He lived his life as a Jew under Roman occupation. He was so impoverished that he had “nowhere to lay his head” (Luke 9:58). After his arrest, he was subjected to what has been called “the most unjust trial in human history.” He suffered and died in innocence (Isaiah 53:9; Hebrews 4:15), atoning for sins he did not commit to purchase our salvation (Romans 5:8).

As a result, Jesus has the moral authority to speak to this crisis in a way I do not. For the next few days, we’ll discuss his example and teachings as we seek his guidance together.

For today, let’s consider the single sentence that is often considered his foundational ethical principle: “Whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12). This one maxim provides a way forward through the scourge of racism and violence in our day. And it reconciles the utilitarian, communitarian, and libertarian conflicts so endemic to our culture.

Consider: If every person did to others what they would want to be done to them, would racial prejudice exist? Or police brutality? Or violent responses?

Would a single person have ever been enslaved in this land or any other? Would even one of the 40.3 million people enslaved in the world today be victims?

Would the majority oppress the minority? Would members of one community oppress members of another? Would a single individual be left to face our fallen world alone?

My commitment

I cannot force another person to choose Jesus’ rule for living, but I can choose it for myself. I can seek the most strategic, significant ways to use my influence in its service. I can pray for divine help as I love every person I meet as I want them to love me, modeling Jesus’ transformational love for us all.

This is my commitment today. Will you join me?

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This is the way that Jim ended his article yesterday and it's a good way to end this sermon as well.

It will take commitment from all of us to change the attitudes of many in this country.

We must make an extra effort to obey the command of Jesus and make disciples of all nations and that will help to bring healing to our great nation that we all love so much!

It's God's love that can unite all of us together and stop injustice all throughout our land.

And it's up to us to spread the love of God and let everyone know that God's love is available to all,,, as we were told to do,,, many years ago!

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