Author: Art Davison

WHILE THEY WERE EATING–MATTHEW 26:26-30

Art Davison MATTHEW 0 Comment
WHILE THEY WERE EATING
MATTHEW 26:26-30
Introduction:

The Lord had just observed the Passover with His disciple, the members of the first church. Now He takes the elements of that Passover and gives them new meaning and established the ordinance of The Lord’s Supper.

I. JESUS TOOK BREAD AND GAVE IT A NEW MEANING

A. Jesus had said, “I AM the Bread of Life, John 6:48, “I am that bread of life.”

1. This is the Bread of God, John 6:33-34, “For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. 34- Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.”

2. This was the “living bread,” John 6:51, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

B. Now He says of the bread, “This is my body,” v. 26; 1 Corinthians 10:17, “For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.”

1. The bread represents His body, our Passover, 1 Corinthians 5:7, “Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.”

2. When we eat this bread we are testifying that we belong to Him and have eternal life, John 6:53-54, “Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

II. JESUS TAKES THE CUP OF WINE AND GAVES IT A SPECIAL MEANING

A. The wine represents His blood, the blood of the New Covenant, v. 28.

1. This is the OLD covenant, the Mosaic Covenant, Exodus 24:7-8, “And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient. 8 And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words.”

2. His blood is the blood of the New Testament, Hebrews 9:14-15, “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.”

B. Here we see a visible reminder of an event about to take place, Matthew 20:28, “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

1. He ransomed us by shedding His own blood, Colossians 1:14, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”

2. We have been justified by His blood, Romans 3:24, “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:”

CONCLUSION

The Lord put a new meaning to the elements of the Passover. The Bread represented His body that became the sacrifice for sin. The wine represented His blood that was shed for our redemption and justification.

WHERE IS YOUR TREASURE?–MATTHEW 6: 19-34

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WHERE IS YOUR TREASURE?
MATTHEW 6: 19-34
Key verse: v. 21, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

Introduction:

Note that the verb in v. 21 is in the PRESENT TENSE. Our future depends on where we have our treasure.

In these verses Christ gives us the SECRET to the blessings of God, that is, the secret to a happy and productive future. Happiness is not in the things of the world, but rather in the things of God.

Consider these thoughts:

I. OUR TREASURE IS THAT IN WHICH WE PUT OUR CONFIDENCE.

Proverbs 18:10-11, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous run into it and are safe. The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as a high wall in his own conceit.”

A. The Name of the Lord

1. STRONG DEFENSE, my high tower, Psalms 62:2, “He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved.” Note v. 6, “He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.”

2. A place of SAFETY, Psalms 62:8, “Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us.” Psalms 37:39, “But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time of trouble.”

B. The money of the wealthy,… Deuteronomy 8:11-14, 17-18.

1. Is his strong city.

2. Is a high wall in his imagination.

a. The rich man of Luke 16:19-31.

b. The rich young ruler of Luke 18:18-27.

c. Zaccheus made the right choice,

Lucas 19:1-10

II. OUR TREASURE IS IN WHOM WE SERVE.

Matthew 6:24, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

A. He will HATE the one {God}, John 15:23-25, 23-He that hateth me hateth my Father also.  24- If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.B. And LOVE the other {the world} — I John 2:15, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

25-But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.

C. He will DEDICATE HIMSELF to one, Galatians 5:16-17, “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17-For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.”

D. And DESPISE the other. That is what we are seeing today! Man has dedicated himself to his own interests and despises the things of God, especially God’s people!!!

III. OUR TREASURE IS IN THE THINGS OF GOD.

Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

A. First the Kingdom of God.

1. The things of God.

a. His will in our lives.

1) Seek God’s will.

2) Do God’s will.

b. His blessings in our lives.

2. The things of man.

b. The Promise of God. Our Father knows that we need all these things, v. 32-b.

c. The promise is: “and all this things shall be added unto you.”

d. What we need to do is put things into the proper perspective–GOD FIRST!!!!!!

B. The Blessings of God Depend on US! Matthew 6:21, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

1. The Lord honors those who serve Him with a perfect heart. 2 Chronicles 25:2, “And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart.” That was Amaziah, king of Judah.

2. God blesses those who faithfully serve Him.

CONCLUSION

WHERE IS YOUR TREASURE???!!!

IS YOUR TREASURE IN THE LORD OR IN THE WORLD?

The Bible says you cannot serve TWO MASTERS.

WHO IS YOUR MASTER TODAY?

Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

THY KINGDOM COME–MATTHEW 6:9-10

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THY KINGDOM COME
MATTHEW 6:9-10

Introduction:
There are six petitions in the Lord’s prayer. The first three relating more immediately to God and his honour, the last three to our own needs. We will concern ourselves to the first three petitions: “Hallowed be thy name. 10-Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth.” While this passage is a discussion about prayer, we will concern ourselves with the specifics of the first three petitions.

I. THE NAME OF GOD WILL BE HALLOWED

A. Jesus has taught us to pray, v. 9a, “After this manner therefore pray ye:..”

1. The Lord corrected his disciples in the manner of prayer, v. 5, “And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.”

2. “But when ye pray, use not…” vs. 7-8, “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8-Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.”

a. …vain repetitions.

b. …much speaking to be heard.

3. Don’t be like the Pharisees.

B. Jesus has taught us to pray that God’s name would be “hollowed,” that is, to be…

1. Exalted, Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”

2. Reverenced, Exodus 20:7, “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.”

3. Glorified, 2 Thessalonians 1:12, “That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

II. THY KINGDOM COME

A. Jesus is coming again and His Coming will be…

1. Literal, that is, He is actually, physically coming again, Acts 1:11, “Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

2. He is coming to rapture out His people, 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52- In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

a. The Resurrection and the Rapture happen at the same time, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

b. “We shall all be changed” refers to our glorified bodies, 1 John 3:2, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

C. His Second Advent will be…

1. Visible, every eye shall see Him, Revelation 1:7, “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. Matthew 24:30, “And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”

2. Bodily, this will not be a spirit, but the God of Heaven, Matthew 16:27, “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.”

a. His millennial kingdom shall be set up.

b. He will rule in righteousness.

III. THE WILL OF GOD WILL BE DONE

A. Let the Lord do what he will with me, 1 Samuel 3:18, “And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.”

1. Let us live within the will of God, 1 Peter 4:2, “That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

2. The alternative is the will of Satan, John 8:44, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” Matthew 12:30, “He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.”

B. The Pattern is God’s will as done in Heaven, Psalm 40:7-10, “Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, 8- I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. 9-I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest. 10-I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.”

1. Not forced, but willingly, “I delight to do thy will, O my God.” John 4:34, “Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.”

2. God’s law rules in my heart, “yea, thy law is within my heart.” Psalm 119:34, “Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.”

3. The breaking of God’s law horrifies the faithful, Psalm 119:53, “Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law.”

CONCLUSION

Do you believe that prayer? Do you think that Jesus Christ would have taught us to pray this prayer if it would not have been answered? His kingdom has not come yet on earth. His will is not being done on earth. But it shall be, it will be because our Lord taught us to pray for that outcome.

THINGS KEPT SECRET FROM “ANTIQUITY”–MATTHEW 13:34-35

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THINGS KEPT SECRET FROM “ANTIQUITY”
MATTHEW 13:34-35

Introduction:
The Lord was teaching the multitudes, Matthew 13:2, “And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.” He was speaking in parables fulfilling David’s prophecy. Luke declares that David was a prophet, Acts 2:30, “Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne.”

These were things alluded to by David and others in the Old Testament which the Lord was bringing to their understanding, Psalms 78:2-3, “I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: 3 Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.”

Since these things have been kept secret or as David called them, “dark sayings,” what were they?

I. A SAVIOR THAT WAS PROMISED

1 Peter 1:20, “Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

A. Salvation is not by corruptible things, 1 Peter 1:18, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;”

B. Salvation is by the blood of the Lamb, 1 Peter 1:19-21, “But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.”

II. A CHURCH THAT JESUS HIMSELF BUILT

Matthew 16:18, “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

A. It is the Church of the Firstborn, Hebrews 12:23, “To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,”

1. This is the Church for which Jesus shed His blood, Acts 20:28, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”

2. This is the church that will continue because He will continue, Matthew 16:21, “From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.”

3. This is the church that He protects from extinction until He returns, Matthew 16:18, “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

III. A KINGDOM PREPARED BY GOD

Matthew 25:34, “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

A. A Place prepared for God’s people, John 14:3, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

B. A Place where we will witness and share the Lord’s glory, John 17:24, “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.”

C. A Place of rest where we will know all of His works from the foundation of the world, Hebrews 4:3, “For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

1. Where we will understand fully the great doctrines of His Word, Ephesians 1:4, “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:”

2. Where we will learn to appreciate just what the Lord has done for us, Hebrews 9:26, “For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.”

1) A place where there is not death nor sorrow or any such thing, Revelation 21:4, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”

2) A place where we will ever be with the Lord, 1 Thessalonians 4:17, “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

CONCLUSION

Many of these things were alluded to in the Old Testament, but were not fully understood until the Lord Jesus came and began to unveil them. Oh, how we have been blessed by the Lord to be a part of these great blessings.

Regrettably many people have rejected all of this and will die without Christ and spend eternity in hell simply because they would not believe the truth.

THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH–MATTHEW 1:16, 20-23

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THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH
MATTHEW 1:16, 20-23

John 1:14, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

Introduction:

This is the time of the year when many people go to church or at least think about Jesus Christ. Gifts are given at this time for reasons that many will not connect to Him. Most people today are ignorant of who Jesus is. Most do not think of Him as the Son of God. God the Father sent Jesus, His only-begotten Son, at a time that God had planned before the world began.

Many do not know who the Son of God is. He is a very special person as we will see.

I. GOD’S SON IS SENT FORTH

A. In the fullness of time, Galatians 4:4, “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,”

1. Made of a woman, Genesis 3:15, “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”

2. Made under the Law, Isaiah 9:6-7, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”

B. He became a man, John 1:14, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

1. His name is Emmanuel, “God with us,” Matthew 1:23, “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”

a. He was born of a virgin, Isaiah 7:14, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

b. He is the God of Heaven, John 1:1-3, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

2. His name is Jesus, Matthew 1:21, “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS [that is, Saviour]: for he shall save his people from their sins.”

3. His name is “The Word of God,” Revelation 19:13, “And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God”

II. JESUS DWELT AMONG US

A. At twelve years of age He amazed the doctors of the Law, Luke 2:42, 46-47, “And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. 46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. 47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.”

B. At the age of 30 He began His ministry.

1. He participated in our life as a man, Hebrews 2:14, “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;”

2. He preached the same message as John the Baptist, Matthew 4:17, “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

3. He performed miracles, Matthew 4:23, “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.”

4. He suffered and died for our sins, Galatians 1:4, “Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:”

a. He gave Himself as a ransom, 1 Timothy 2:6, “Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.”

b. He suffered the Just for the unjust, 1 Peter 3:18, “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:”

c. He died for us of His own free will, John 10:17-18, “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.”

d. He died to put away sin, Hebrews 9:26, For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.”

e. He was raised for our justification, Romans 4:25, “Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.”

CONCLUSION

The God of Heaven has accomplished redemption for us through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ. He is not a babe in a manger, nor is He on the Cross of Calvary today, but in the very presence of God the Father. He is seated at the right hand of the throne of God making intercession for you and I who know Jesus as our Savior.

He is coming again very soon. Are you ready if He should come today?