MATTHEW

MY LORD DELAYETH HIS COMING–MATTHEW 24:32-51

Art Davison MATTHEW 0 Comment
MY LORD DELAYETH HIS COMING

MATTHEW 24:32-51

Key verse: v. 48, “But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;”

Introduction:

The Lord is coming again soon. However, there are skeptics among those who profess to be born again Christians who do not believe that the Lord is coming soon. They are those who have fallen away from serving the Lord in His churches.

The Scriptures speak of two types of servants. One, the true believer and the other is a professed believer whose life does not show his faith.

I. THE TRUE SERVANT IS…

A. Listening to God’s admonition, Proverbs 8:6-8, “Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things. 7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips. 8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.”

B. Watching for the Lord’s return, Luke 12:37, “Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.

1. Watching the sky, Matthew 24:27, “For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”

a. The world will have become Satan’s domain, 2 Thessalonians 2:8, “And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:”

b. Many people will have been corrupted by false prophets, Matthew 24:24, “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”

2. Listening for the sound of the trump of God, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 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.”

II. THE EVIL SERVANT IS…

A. Taking note of other things, Matthew 16:3, “And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?”

1. They see what we see, but without understanding, 1 Corinthians 2:14, “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

2. The Lord spoke in parables many times to reveal things to His people only, Matthew 13:10-11, 13, “And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.”

3. Their heart has become hard, Matthew 13:15, “For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.”

B. Thinking, “My Lord is delaying his return,” vs. 48-49; Ezekiel 12:27, “Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, The vision that he seeth is for many days to come, and he prophesieth of the times that are far off.”

1. He does not believe the Lord is coming and is set to do evil, Ecclesiastes 8:11, “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

2. Like Israel thought of Moses on the mount, many professed “Christians” do not know what has happened to Jesus, Exodus 32:1, “And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.”

3. “I will take advantage of his delay,”

a. He begins to smite his fellow servants, 2 Timothy 3:12,“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”

b. His real nature comes out, 2 Peter 2:13-14, “And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; 14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:”

CONCLUSION

The Lord is coming back very soon. Don’t be among those that doubt and have fallen into sin because of their unbelief.

God’s people are looking. They are waiting patiently for His coming knowing that it will bring great blessings and rewards for faithful service to our King.

LIGHTS IN THE WORLD–MATTHEW 5:14-16,

Art Davison MATTHEW 0 Comment
LIGHTS IN THE WORLD
MATTHEW  5:14-16,
“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15-Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16-Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Philippians 2:15, “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.”
Introduction:
Jesus said in John 9:5, “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” For more than three years the Lord walked among men spreading the Light of the Gospel. Upon his leaving this earth He gave that light to His Churches in order to continue His work.
Let us consider that light that He has left. Consider some of its characteristics:
I. LIGHT MAKES MANIFEST…
A. The TRUTH, John 3:21 “But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.”
1. The truth will set you FREE, John 8:32, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
a. Free from CONDEMNATION, John 5:24, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
b. Free from the law of sin and death, Romans 8:2 “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”
c. You are TRULY Free, John 8:36, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”
2. The Truth is the WAY of Salvation, John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
3. The LIFE of Jesus Christ in us, 2 Corinthians 4:11 “For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.”
II. LIGHT IS INTENDED FOR GUIDANCE.
A. We are to hold forth to them the Word of life as our REFERENCE POINT.
1. It is our guide in life, Acts 8:30-31, “And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 31And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.”
2. It gives the right perspective in our lives, Colossians 3:2, “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”
It is a BEACON as it was for Philip leading him to instruct an inquirer…
1. In the way of salvation, Acts 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
2. In the meaning of God’s Word, Acts 8:30, “And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?”
3. In the life of godliness, 2 Timothy 3:16 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”
III. LIGHT IS ALSO USED FOR WARNING.
A. The RIGHT LIGHT is needed to shine in the world, Matthew 5:14-15, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
1. The YELLOW light of caution due to condemnation, John 3:18, “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
2. The RED light of danger of Hell, Matthew 10:28, “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.”
B. Satan puts up the WRONG light:
1. The GREEN light of disobedience, Genesis 3:4-5, “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.”
2. The WHITE light of lying, 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.”
IV. LIGHT HAS A CHEERING INFLUENCE
A. A Christian ought to be a humble comforter,
1. With kind words on his lips, Colossians 3:12-13, “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13-Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”
2. Esteeming others better, Philippians 2:3, “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”
B. Carry the light of His love everywhere you go.
1. Don’t mention a transgression, Proverbs 17:9, “He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.”
2. Pray for one another as Paul prayed,
a. “That your love may abound yet more,” Philippians 1:9, “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;”
b. That they “might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding,” Colossians 1:9-11, “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10-That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11-Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;”
CONCLUSION:
“Gracious Spirit dwell with me;
I myself would gracious be,
And with words that help and heal
Would thy life in mine reveal,
And with actions bold and meek
Would for Christ my Saviour speak.”

LET THERE BE LIGHT–MATTHEW 5:14-16

Art Davison MATTHEW 0 Comment
LET THERE BE LIGHT
MATTHEW 5:14-16
Genesis 1:4, “And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.” MATTHEW 5:14-16, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15-Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16-Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
Introduction:

Solomon said that the physical light is said to be sweet: Ecclesiastes 11:7, “Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:” It is a pleasant thing to see the sun.

I believe there is something much more pleasant to feast our eyes upon and that is the Light of Gospel of Jesus Christ. What a privilege we have to share that LIGHT with others.

I. THE GOSPEL LIGHT IS INFINITELY MORE PRECIOUS

A. For the Gospel Light reveals eternal things…
1. The deep things of God, 1 Corinthians 2:10, “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.”

2. His everlasting mercy, Psalm 100:5, “For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”

3. Everlasting life, John 3:36, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

B. The Gospel Light ministers to our need of the Saviour.

1. The sick need a physician, Mark 2:17, “When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

2. It tells us where we can find help, Hebrews 4:16, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

II. THE HOLY SPIRIT GIVES US SPIRITUAL LIGHT

A. He reveals the Saviour, Galatians 1:15, “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, 16To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:”

1. That He is the Son of God, Matthew 16:16-17, “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.”

2. To give knowledge of the Glory of God, 2 Corinthians 4:6, “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

B. He sets forth the plan of mercy.

1. “Come unto me,” Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

2. Come with your heavy burden…

a. Of sin, Psalm 38:4, “For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.”

b. Put that burden on Him and He will give you rest…

1) For the penitent sinner, Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
2) For the burden believer, Psalm 55:22, “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”
c. His burden is light, Matthew 11:29-30, “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. 30-For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

III. THIS GOSPEL LIGHT IS…

A. The light of Wonderful knowledge, Psalm 139:4-6, “For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. 5Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. 6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.”

IV. THE LIGHT IS JOY
 Psalm 5:11, “But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.”

C. The light of Holiness, Ephesians 4:10, “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”

1. Established in true holiness, 1 Thessalonians 3:13, “To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.”
2. You are called unto holiness, 1 Thessalonians 4:7, “For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.” 1 Peter 1:15-16, “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16-Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
D. The light of Life, Colossians 3:3, “For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4-When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.”
CONCLUSION
Satan is doing everything he can to see that the light of the Gospel does not reach the lost. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:4, “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” We need to do everything possible to see that the Light of the Gospel shines through us.

JOHN THE BAPTIST, WAS JOHN’S BAPTISM CHRISTIAN?–MATTHEW 3:1-6,11

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JOHN THE BAPTIST, WAS JOHN’S BAPTISM CHRISTIAN?
MATTHEW 3:1-6,11
“In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
11- I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:”
Introduction:
Was John’s baptism Christian baptism? According to my understanding of the Scriptures it has to be.
Was John a part of the Old Testament economy or the New Testament economy?
He was of the New Testament.
Matthew 11:13, “For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.” His ministry, of which his baptism was a part, opened the new era of the Word of God. The Protestants relegate John to the Old Testament along with his baptism saying that his baptism was not Christian because the Church had not been founded yet. Let’s look at what the Scriptures say and draw our own conclusions.
I. Sent from God, John 1:6,
“There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.”
II. To bare witness of Christ, John 1:15.
“John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.”
III. John’s record, John 1:19-23.
19- And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? 20- And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. 21- And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. 22- Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? 23- He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.”
IV. John’s baptism, Matthew 3:6, 11.
A. Ordained in Heaven, Matthew 3:1-11.
a. To repentance, vs. 1-6. “The sum of his preaching was the necessity of repentance.” (Eaton’s Bible Dictionary).
b. By implication, to faith in Christ, v. 11. John was the forerunner of Christ, therefore his whole ministry was centered around introducing Jesus Christ to Israel. Therefore his preaching was not limited to repentance only.
c. All of the Apostles had John’s baptism, Acts 1:16-24.
1) The qualifications to fill the place of Judas Iscariot was: to be one of John’s disciples since the beginning; to have John’s baptism.
2) The other Apostles insisted on those requirements.
B. Were the Apostles ever rebaptized? If so, by whom? By what authority?
V. The baptism with which Jesus baptized.
A. Not in water,
John 4:1-2, “When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)”
B. In the Holy Spirit, Matthew 3:11;
Acts 1:5, “For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.”
C. On the Day of Pentecost Jesus baptized His Church in the Holy Spirit empowering them to realize the work that God had commanded it to do in Matthew 28:19-20.
Conclusion:
John’s baptism was Christian baptism according to the Apostles. They had only John’s baptism and the Lord never mentioned any need of rebaptizing them and there is no record of their being rebaptized. It was good enough for the Lord and it is good enough for me.

JESUS THE SAVIOUR–MATTHEW 1:18-25

Art Davison MATTHEW 0 Comment
JESUS THE SAVIOUR
MATTHEW 1:18-25
Introduction:

In two weeks the world will celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. However, the world does not know Jesus Christ. All of this is just religion that has nothing to do with Jesus Christ. Mardi Gras and Carnaval in Latin America has taken place in the Catholic world and man has sinned in all of his festivities in the name of Christ. Now he abstains from meat during Lent and yet non of this will bring men to Christ because it is not about the Savior.

Let us look to the true story of Jesus Christ found in the Word of God, the Bible.

I. Jesus, The Baby, Is Not The Savior.

A. It is true that Jesus 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. It is true that Jesus is the promised Savior.

C. It is true that Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judah, Micah 5:2, “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”

D. But Jesus as the Baby cannot save anyone.

II. Jesus, The Good Teacher, Is Not The Savior.

A. The One who taught the truth in the Temple, Mark 14:49, “I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled.”

B. The One who fed the multitudes, Matthew 14:14-21.

C. The One who calmed the waters of the sea, Mark 4:36-41.

D. All of this is part of His history.

III. Jesus On The Cross Is Not The Savior.

A. The Crucifix is a symbol of SIN, 2 Corinthians 5:21 ” For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

B. The Crucifix is a symbol of JUDGEMENT.

C. The Crucifix is a symbol of SUFFERING.

D. The Crucifix IS NOT a symbol of SALVATION.

IV. Jesus, The One Who Rose From The Dead, Is The Savior.

A. Jesus was born exactly as it was stated earlier in the message, Galatians 4:4, “But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,”

1. He was born of a virgin.

2. He was born in Bethlehem.

3. He was the promised Savior.

B. He was the good teacher of the truth.

1. He taught all of the truth.

2. He fed the multitudes as the Bible says.

3. He healed the sick and raised the dead.

C. Jesus died on the cross according to the Scriptures.

1. He suffered for our sins on the cross.

2. He died for our sins.

3. He paid the debt of our sins.

D. But HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD!!

1. He has WON over death.

2. He SAVES those who trust Him.

3. He JUSTIFIES those who believe in Him, Romans 3:24, “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:”

Conclusion:

Jesus invites the sinner to trust Him, to come to Him for salvation. Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
See John 10:28-30