The Lord of the lords

16 October 2016 (11.30am service, New Creation Church at Star Vista)

- Sermon delivered by Pastor Joseph Prince

 

I.           Focus on the Lord

If we look at the media today, it’s enough to stress everybody.

For instance, now if we look at the news channel, many of the people are stressed about the coming USA presidential election. A research shows that almost half of the Americans who follow the election are stressed. So, what does it tell us?

Men’s heart will fail them for fear of things coming to the earth.

Luke 21:26
men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken.

While there is fear that the world may end in a nuclear holocaust, Pastor reminded us that we have the assurance from God’s word- “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (Matthew 24:35).

The world will not be lost to the nuclear bombs. The true King will come again as the Lord of lords.  The kind will set this world right. However, according to the bible, there will be wars, and Russia will have a place coming down from north to Israel.

Israel (Ezekiel 38:5-9)
Persia, Cush and Put will be with them, all with shields and helmets, also Gomer with all its troops, and Beth Togarmah from the far north with all its troops—the many nations with you.  “‘Get ready; be prepared, you and all the hordes gathered about you, and take command of them. After many days you will be called to arms. In future years you will invade a land that has recovered from war, whose people were gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate. They had been brought out from the nations, and now all of them live in safety. You and all your troops and the many nations with you will go up, advancing like a storm; you will be like a cloud covering the land.”

Nevertheless, God will protect Israel.

God wants you to prosper. Prosperity is prosperity for a purpose—to help others. Pastor doesn’t preach prosperity. He preaches that Jesus brings prosperity, which brings blessings to people.

We should start to look at incidents of healings and miracles in the bible, till we are lost in the story. We should see ourselves in the stories as the characters. An example is the woman with disease for 18 years:

Luke 13:11
and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all.

In Hebrew, the meaning evil spirit is known as “wind” (Hebrew: ruach)

“Breath”, “wind” and “spirit” are all known as ruach in Hebrew.

However, in this case of the woman, Jesus did not address the spirit, but addressed the woman:

Luke 13:12-13
When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.

In the four gospels, only five out of 89 chapters deal with Jesus’ birth. 84 chapters deal with the last three and a half years of His life.

Turning water into wine was the first miracle Jesus performed. Do not put your belief in the other speculations of other miracles that Jesus performed before that; do not allow devil to mar the beauty of our Lord, for instance, don’t think about things such as Jesus had married Mary Magdalene as speculated by some.

Thirty Five per cent of John’s gospel was on three hours of the life of Jesus- in the upper room.

One gospel is not enough. We need four gospels to typify the glory of Jesus and know what Jesus did.

There were more miracles that Jesus performed than what was recorded in the bible:

John 20:30-31
Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

“These are written that you may believe”- only the gospels will impart faith. Thus, the purpose of gospels is to impart faith. Get into the word. Read the word, and you will believe.

Veil was torn in the temple when Jesus died, and the veil was represented by his flesh).

 

II.        Jesus the King

Matthew portrays Jesus as the King of the Jews, represented by the symbol of a  lion. The genealogy of Matthew started with Jesus as the Son of David (book of the King). The emphasis is on the throne and the man.

The four women (Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba) mentioned by Matthew do not have good repute. However, we are like Ruth, we inherit everything that Christ has.

David has many sons and many wives. God chose the son of Bathsheba, Solomon, to be the first successor to King David.

Sin destroys. Sin always destroys if we indulge in our own sins. God hates sin because he loves me. How much do you hate the cancer in your child? However, the cancer is not your child. You love the child but not the cancer. God hates sin as much as God loves you.

God can bring good/provision. Jesus is our trespass offering. If you have been deceived or robbed, and if you know how to bring Jesus into the picture, you get 120% more.

Jesus came to die on the cross because he loves you.

Sarah or Rebekah, Isaac’s wife, was not mentioned here in the genealogy of Matthew.

Matthew mentioned these four women to inform us the King is the king of grace. All words are God breathed. Matthew wrote about Jesus the King, and His gospel is different from Mark’s who wrote about Jesus, the servant.

Jesus is given the power to forgive sins:

Matthew 9: 6-8
But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins"--then He said to the paralytic, "Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." And he arose and departed to his house. Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.

Jesus healed the man. His sin is forgiven, before he is healed.

However, many people are sin conscious and thus they cannot be healed.

Gospel of grace is to assure people that their sins are forgiven. Focus on Jesus, the goodness of God. Emphasize on Jesus to freely receive.

God sent his son to the Earth when Israel was ruled by the Roman Empire. Matthew was working for the Roman Empire as a tax collector. Tax collectors are people denounced God. They are seen to be outcast of Israel, and not seen as the same people. God chose a man who serves another kingdom to write about His Kingdom.

Matthew 9:9
As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, "Follow Me." So he arose and followed Him.

“Follow me” is a call of grace. There is something very magnetic about Jesus, who with a simple gesture, has the ability to call upon the tax collectors and fishermen to follow him.

Matthew 9: 10-13

Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, "Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" When Jesus heard that, He said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice.' For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."

 
Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, where other tax collectors and sinners came.

The Pharisees asked, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

Jesus answered that the Gospel is for people who are sick. Thus, your disqualification is qualification for admission.

If you say you are fine and very well, you are disqualified. People come to Jesus when they are sick, because there is a great physician here. Your disqualification is your qualification.

“I desire mercy and not sacrifice” – mercy means grace or compassion.

God gives the law so that men can see how sinful they are. However, Pharisees want to put the law outside to govern external actions. However, law is internal and governs what is inside too—even the thoughts of desiring the pretty woman are considered sinful.

 

III.      The Transfiguration

Matthew 17:1-8

Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. But Jesus came and touched them and said, "Arise, and do not be afraid." When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

Pastor believes that “a high mountain” refers to Mount Hermon, the highest mountain in Israel. When you behold Jesus in His glory, you metamorphosed (transfigured), like a butterfly. The more you see Him, the more you are transformed from glory to glory.

When Jesus was crucified, he died on Mount Calvary, which is not even considered a mountain but a “hill”. He died for all our sins on a hill and transfigured on the highest mountain of Israel. 

God will restore.

When you look to Jesus (look away from everything that distracts, which includes everyone that seems nice and good), and glorify him; when you look at Jesus, you change.

Jesus was not taken by force. He gave his life. The soldiers fell, and Jesus waited for them to get up to arrest him:

John 18:6
Now when He said to them, "I am He," they drew back and fell to the ground.

None of the soldiers could bind Jesus without His consent. They all move backwards and fell to the ground. Jesus gave himself to the soldiers.

Before Jesus was crucified, the soldiers played a Roman game, whereby they spit on Him and beat Him at the praetorium, as well as stripping Him with humiliation:

Matthew 27:26-31

Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him. And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head. And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified.

Matthew 26:67
Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their hands,

Jesus Scourged at the Pillar

Source: THE SCHOOL OF JESUS CRUCIFIED, Fr. Ignatius of the Side of Jesus, TAN BOOKS, with Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur, 1895

All clothing of the creation has come from within. Men were clothed with glory. However, men forfeit the glory of God.

“when he had scourged Jesus”

The soldiers hit Him and beat Him, with his feet hardly touching the floor, and the back was stretched. Leather whip was made with broken glass, bones, nails and hooks attached, causing the whip to cut deep into His flesh. The scourging was carried out, and that His stripes are we healed. We therefore declare, “by his stripes, the condition is no more” or “by his stripes, I am healed”.

 

Jesus was naked on the cross, so that we can be clothed. Matthew saw the king of Jews who came down for the people. He came to cleanse us. He used his power as a king to heal and to deliver. Now we can approach him.

Next time the world will see Him in glory, appearing in the clouds. He will destroy the antichrist.

In His second coming, He will come to judge the world. However, rapture will happen before the second coming of Christ.

Rapture will be in the twinkling of an eye. After that, we will never feel bored and there are no more diseases.

When Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." (Matthew 17:4), he put Jesus on the same level as law, till God speaks to remind that we are now living in grace, and not in the era of law:

Matthew 17:5-8
a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. But Jesus came and touched them and said, "Arise, and do not be afraid." When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

Jesus always lifts us up. When the disciples lifted their eyes, there are no Moses, no Elijah, but only Jesus.

Jesus said “don’t be afraid”, and we look up into his face.

At the end time, people will preach another Jesus. We have to be careful of that.

God uses Matthew because he was serving another kingdom.

Matthew 1:17
So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations.

Matthew wrote like how a tax collector counts his money, where equal amounts were stacked together. It is amazing how God uses one’s personality and personality of each evangelist was shown in the gospel.

IV.       The Servant who Never Fails

Paul said, “Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.” (2 Timothy 4:11). Mark is a servant who failed, and yet God chose the servant who failed to write about the servant who never fails.

God doesn’t bypass your personality. When God uses you, God uses your personality too.

In the gospel of Mark, there is no genealogy, as you don’t ask the servant where he comes from.

We often hear people ask the following:

“Why people are not healed?”

[“Because they don’t receive.”]

“But they pray all the time.”

[“But praying is not receiving.”]

Mark 11:24

Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

How much you receive is also literally how you see the Lord Jesus.
 
Mark 6:1-6

Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him. And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, "Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?" And they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house." Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.

“A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.” :

It’s easier for people to accept those from other homes other than their own homes. They didn’t honour Jesus. Their dishonour cost them, and thus only a few sick people were healed. When there is no revelation of who He is, you cannot receive.

Often, our family or relatives tend to be last to believe God will use you and are cynical about God using you. When people misjudged you, what you can do at times is to turn and go on with life.

We can lay hands on Jesus to receive the righteousness of God in Christ:

Leviticus 1:1-9

Now the Lord called to Moses, and spoke to him from the tabernacle of meeting, saying, "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'When any one of you brings an offering to the Lord, you shall bring your offering of the livestock--of the herd and of the flock. 'If his offering is a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish; he shall offer it of his own free will at the door of the tabernacle of meeting before the Lord. Then he shall put his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him. He shall kill the bull before the Lord; and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall bring the blood and sprinkle the blood all around on the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of meeting. And he shall skin the burnt offering and cut it into its pieces. The sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire on the altar, and lay the wood in order on the fire. Then the priests, Aaron's sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat in order on the wood that is on the fire upon the altar; but he shall wash its entrails and its legs with water. And the priest shall burn all on the altar as a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord.

There are three types of burnt offerings: A bullock, a lamb or a bird. When we offer a bullock, it means we bring a “rich” offering and we have a large revelation of Jesus. As we lay hand on the bullock, the righteousness of Christ is transferred to us.

However, there is no laying of hands on the bird, which represents lesser faith and lesser revelation.  A bird which has lesser blood than a bullock also represents a smaller revelation of Jesus.

The blood of the bullock will be scattered around the altar. Blood is sprinkled. Only the blood of Jesus can fully meet all the requirements in your life.

The animals at burnt offerings were cut into three parts– head, inwards, legs, and washed with water.

Head: Jesus is sinless. He is the only man who walks on earth without sin. He knew no sin.
Legs: Actions based. He did no sin.
Inwards: In Him is no sin.

All that He is, is imparted to you during the burnt offering.
 

V.          Conclusion

By laying hands on Christ, we are saying that “I am the righteousness of God in Christ”.

To pray in Jesus name, you are loved as he is loved, you are righteous as he is righteous.

The four gospels ended with the following:

Matthew- Resurrection

Mark- Ascension
Luke- The Day of Pentecost
John- Rapture

The differences of the four gospels at a glance: