Crossing God’s Deadlines

Good morning everyone!

I hope and pray you all had a great week. Being here today, I believe we could say that God has been good to us all week, in fact we are blessed.

Do you fill blessed today?

Today my friends is a good day, it is a good day because we get to be here,, we have the joy to worship and to fellowship with each other. What a blessing my friends.

I want to encourage you as school starts to please pray for our schools, our teachers and all the support staff that make the schools work. Aides, food service workers, bus drivers…etc..... Pray for them as they get classes under way and pray for their students.

We have several school teachers here in our church, they need our prayers.

Today we come back to Matthew chapter 12.

And with this section, we come across a very important topic.

And that topic is crossing God’s deadlines. This text mentions one of 3 times in Scriptures that a deadline is mentioned that we need to pay attention too. So we will cover the one in this text, but we will also while on the topic jump forward and cover all three of them.

Why is this important… it is important that we know and understand how to live in front of God. Understand as a child of God we are saved and we are secured. The first two deadlines we will talk about today effects only the lost or unregenerate person. But the last deadline applies to a born again child of God.

So lets open our Bibles and lets look at Matthew 12, verses 22-32

Matthew 12:22–32 (ESV)

22 Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. 23 And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?” 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.” 25 Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26 And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. 30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

So there is a lot happening here in this passage as the religious leaders spoke evil against Jesus and the work He was doing in their midst.

Remember last week He was just in the synagogue, and the religious leaders were challenging Him over it was right to do good on the Sabbath, like healing the man with the withered hand.

And Jesus tried to plainly teach them that it was OK to do what was right, necessary on the Sabbath. But they could not comprehend his teaching and as it stepped on their toes, they sought to destroy Jesus.

And in our text today Jesu has left there and is moving on and other miracles take place as Jesus ministers to those in need.

It is here that the religious leaders accuse Jesus of doing this work buy the power of the devil and not the power of God.

And it is here that Jesus respond to their accusations with a powerful rebuke to them. So lets open the text...

The first deadline is this...

1. Blaspheming the Holy Ghost....

Now this action is also known as the unpardonable sin. It is where make a accusation that the work God is doing by the work and power of the Holy Spirit is attributed to the work of Satan.

And this is exactly what is happening in our text today. It is important that we understand the issues happening right here.

Look back at verses 22-24

Matthew 12:22–24 ESV

22 Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. 23 And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?” 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.”

As Jesus is going along his journey the people bring to him a man who was blind and mute, who was demon oppressed.

So I would contend to you that this man was most likely one who saw and spoke previous to this encounter. Now we are not exactly sure why this has happened to this man, but a demon, a minion of Satan has invaded this man’s life and body.

So the man is brought to Jesus and Jesus casts out the demon and it does not return to him and the man is completely delivered from that oppression. and the people were astonished.

There was a great awe among the people that Jesus not only could heal the sick, raise the dead, give sight to the blind and so forth, but they recognise that Jesus has power over the spiritual as well.

The people asked, could this person be the “Son of David?” Meaning of course could this be the long awaited air of David’s throne, the Messiah.

Now when Pharisees heard this they rebuked this thought.... and in doing so they made this accusation.

Matthew 12:24 ESV

24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.”

Man that is a terrible thing to say, essentially they are saying that Jesus isn’t the son of God and isn’t working by the power of God, instead He is working with and in league with the devil....

Wow, their hearts are so evil....

Upon hearing this Jesus responds with a stern rebuke. Listen to the text.

Matthew 12:25–32 ESV

25 Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26 And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. 30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

Now I love this in that it says that Jesus knowing their thoughts and honestly with that Jesus knew their hearts...

A. Divided opinion ruins every country, town and even families. Their opinion that Jesus was in league with the devil just promotes the agenda of Satan himself. Satan seeks to kill, steal and destroy. If Satan can divide a nation it will fall, it he can divide a church, it will be useless.... and if he can divide a family… it is broken.

Jesus uses the word Ruined… meaning it is laid waste, it is made like a desert without living plants and such.

This truth reminds us how we must pray for our country, our homes and families, our towns and over course all those in authority above us.

B. Exorcism was a common practice.. Jesus wasn’t the only one who cast our demons, the Jews themselves practiced exorcism at times in needed cases. Jesus says If I cast them out by the power of Beelzebub, who do you sons cast them out by?

Jesus goes on to say, Your own sons, people will be your own judges. Those who have been set free, those whose families have been reunited after their deliverance will judge the religious leaders on that day. For they know the truth that the power of God set them free.

C. Every sin can be forgiven but One.... Jesus says the commission of blasphemy against the holy Spirit cannot be forgiven...

You can speak an evil word against Jesus, You can be angry with God, but to sit by and accuse the work of God in our midst as something other than the work of God’s own Spirit who is at work in us, our lives and this world will bring condemnation upon you life.

Now please understand this isn’t some poorly spoken word in a moment of anger or frustration or because of the lack of understanding and someone speaks a foolish word.

No my friends is this a literal pattern of thinking, a hardening of one’s heart to the Work of the Spirit in this world and peoples lives.

Consider the Pharisees, this isn’t the first time they have spoke these types of condemnation. In Matthew 9:24 they did the same thing., Matthew 9:34 says

Matthew 9:34 ESV

34 But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the prince of demons.”

Jesus held the religious leaders to a high standard. Christ expected them to know the Scriptures, so well that they could rightly identify God’s work . So, the blasphemy of the Spirit does not arise from mere ignorance. When people know the Scriptures well and yet not only fail to recognize Jesus as Messiah but also openly reject Him, they are standing on perilous ground.

My friends murder can be forgiven, criminal activity can be forgiven, adultery can be forgiven, poor thoughts at a moment can be forgiven. But to harden your heart and reject the work of God by the Spirit over and over again and accuse the Spirit of being in league with the devil, literally committing Blasphemy cannot be forgiven.

That person stand condemned to hell...

This is the first deadline that God has established and to cross it will leave a person in Spiritual peril.

So how do you look at the work of God?

2. The Second Deadline is Sinning Away your day of Grace..

My friends, we must be careful for the world around us desperately needs Jesus. The truth of the matter is time is running out for each person.

Each day, the clock ticks, the moment of our departure draws closer whether it be by death or by the rapture of the church into heaven. Time is running out and I think you all would agree with that.

Jesus in John chapter 12 speaks of the necessity of being lifted up for all to see. Jesus said these things to testify as to the type of death He would die. He would be crucified, lifted up on the cross for the redemption of the world.

Just as Moses lifted up the brazen serpent in the OT.... do you remember. in Numbers 21 the people (children of Israel) had sinned against God. And in response God sent fiery serpents to them, and if bit they would die. But if they would look by faith to the bronze (brazen) serpent that Moses placed on a pole under God’s direction.

If they would look by faith to that serpent, they would not die… Just as Moses lifted up the serpent, Jesus says this in John 3, verses 14-15

John 3:14–15 ESV

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

My friends the world needs to see Jesus and they need to hear the word of God and they need to be given the opportunity to respond to the message. But if they reject the message of the cross they stand in Judgement.

Our nation is the most preached to nation in the world, we were once listed as a Christian nation but we have become so poly theistic in what people are willing to accept into their lives that has changed.

But my friends this is why we pray for people.

They have heard the message of God and his glorious cross over and over again and they have hardened their heart.

People in our churches, people in our families, people in our communities have heard but not believed and the time is coming when the Spirit of God will not dwell with them forever and they will sin away their day of grace.

I never will forget witnessing to an older man many years ago who told us I cannot be saved. I used to feel the Spirit of God tug at my heart but I dont anymore, I know longer sense god speaking to me and calling me to repent. I dont think I can be saved.

Let me share with you John 12, verses 38-40 as Jesus prepares for the cross and He speaks of the unbelief of the Son even though they had seen the work and power of God.

John 12:38–40 ESV

38 so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” 39 Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said, 40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.”

And then listen to the words of Solomon as God spoke to him in Proverbs 29, verse 1

Proverbs 29:1 ESV

1 He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing.

My friends there will be a day will people who have heard the word of God, who have been given the opportunity to come but because of their hardness of Heart they will say no, I am ok...

They will sin away their day of grace… what a sad place to be my friends.

We must be careful.... why?

Because while these first two deadlines speak more to the lost world, to the unbelievers my friends… there is one deadline that effects the church.

The last deadline that effects the church, the born again believer is the sin unto death

3. The Sin unto Death.....

My friends do not think that your life is safe i just because you are a born again believer , not understand I am in no way says a person could loose their salvation. I believe once saved always saved.

I believe a person who falls away can come back just like the prodigal son, who repented of their sinful ways and returned to the Father

My friends we must not be deceived , God knows everything about each of us, He knows our thoughts, our cravings, our desires good and bad and He will judge us accordingly.

As such, there is a sin unto death, that can apply to the believer.

So what are we talking about… Christian’s who practice pet sins, habitual sins sins that are wrong and we know it and we continue to practice it, a person make excuses for it, they say God knows my heart and He is OK with this sin.

My friends please understand God is never OK with sin! God hates sin...

And as His child please know He stands ready to rebuke and chastise us for our sin in hopes that we might repent and turn from it.

But what if we are a born again believer, but fall into sin and refuse to turn from it? What happens to us????

Lets begin in the old Testament today....

Amos chapter 4, verses 6-12

Amos 4:6–12 ESV

6 “I gave you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and lack of bread in all your places, yet you did not return to me,” declares the Lord. 7 “I also withheld the rain from you when there were yet three months to the harvest; I would send rain on one city, and send no rain on another city; one field would have rain, and the field on which it did not rain would wither; 8 so two or three cities would wander to another city to drink water, and would not be satisfied; yet you did not return to me,” declares the Lord. 9 “I struck you with blight and mildew; your many gardens and your vineyards, your fig trees and your olive trees the locust devoured; yet you did not return to me,” declares the Lord. 10 “I sent among you a pestilence after the manner of Egypt; I killed your young men with the sword, and carried away your horses, and I made the stench of your camp go up into your nostrils; yet you did not return to me,” declares the Lord. 11 “I overthrew some of you, as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and you were as a brand plucked out of the burning; yet you did not return to me,” declares the Lord. 12 “Therefore thus I will do to you, O Israel; because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel!”

The children of Isreal had sinned against God and God has punished them, He tried to bring they back but they would not return to him with their whole heart.

God even overthrew some of them like He did Sodom and Gomorrah yet they would not believe, and because of their continued sin - He stands ready to judge them.

IN fact verse 12, God says prepare to meet “...your God. “

Friends, that is not the terms with which they want to meet God.

Now some might say that is the OT, God wouldn’t judge us. Friends God hates sin regardless if it is OT or NT, sin is an offense to Him.

My friends I believe if a person continues to practice sin in their lives even though we say they are the children of God, if they hold sin in our heart and life I think we grieve the Holy Spirit.

And grieving the Holy Spirit could lead us toward judgment.

Listen to Paul in Ephesians 4:30

Ephesians 4:30 ESV

30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

So what is grieving the Holy Spirit, it is the means to cause the Holy Spirit sorrow, grief because of a person’s sin.

Understand the Holy Spirit is the one who called you to salvation, He made the ways of God evident in your life and enabled you to see and understand the gospel. He has a very personal part in your salvation.

IN loving us, in caring for us it grieves the Holy Spirit when He sees us stumbling through sin

Think in way like parents, parents hurt when they see their children fall into bad living, it breaks their heart because they taught them right from wrong. So to fall into error is heart breaking.

God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit hurt when we fall into that which we know as wrong.

According it can lead us to judgment. a Sin unto death.

Lets pop over to I Corinthians 5:5

1 Corinthians 5:5 ESV

5 you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.

There is a man who is practicing sexual immorality in the church, the church is called to remove him from the church and leave him, his life in the hands of Satan.

What doe this mean?

It says that God may allow a person who is a born again believer who falls into sin and when corrected, rebuked will not turn from it. They are removed from the fellowship and thus outside of the church they are in the realm of Satan who is the prince and ruler of the air.

Like I said before, God knows everything about us, every good and bad thing. And those pets sins we hang onto… if we refuse to confess it and continue to hide and practice it..

God may allow Satan to take our very life so that while the flesh is burned up, destroyed, the soul is saved and kept safe.

I believe my friends that habitual sin, knowing it is wrong and refusing to turn form it could place us in judgment of death. I think God would take us home so we do not stain the work and reputation of the church.

I never want to do anything to stain, to hurt to leave a poor light on the church.. Instead I want to live for God in all that I do and say...

Let me ask you a question today?

Are you saved? You are sure and confident in that… if not… don’t hesitate in making sure.

If you are a born again believer and feel like you are away from God, draw close to him now, don’t hesitate.

Confess that sin and turn from it and walk in the ways of the Lord fully and freely.

God’s deadlines are established and certain. We must be careful in how we live, walk, speak in this world.

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