Author: GinoCascieri

^“And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.” Revelation 5:5

• Text:      Revelation 5:5
• Introduction:
  • The lion has long been recognized as “The King of the Beast.”
    • A male lion can weigh any where from 350 to 600 pounds.
    • Most males are about nine feet long from the nose to the end of the tail.
    • They are about 3 1/2 feet tall at the shoulder.
    • Male lions are the only cats with manes.
    • This collar of long thick hair covers their head, except the face, and the neck down to the shoulders and chest.
    • As well as providing a majestic appearance, it also protects him during a fight.
  • If God has compared His Son to a Lion there are undoubtedly some necessary applications that can be made.
    • The lion is known for several things:
• I.   HIS STRENGTH (Prov. 30:30)
  • Lions are built for strength.
    • They have been observed dragging 600 pound animals that they have killed considerable distances.
    • The strength of a lion has long been the standard by which to judge real strength.
    • “Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.” (2 Sam. 1:23)
  • Often people make the mistake of supposing Jesus’ compassion and love is a sign of weakness.
    • Please consider:
  • A.      Jesus driving the money changers from the temple – (Matt. 21:12,13)
  • B.      The officers sent to arrest Jesus came back empty handed because of His words – (Jn. 7:32, 45-47)
  • C.      The angry mob parted as Jesus passed through – (Lk. 4:28-30)
  • D.      The ability to carry a cross after being scourged – (Matt. 27:26)
  • E.      The Second Coming of Christ – (Rev. 19:11-21)
• II. HIS ROAR
  • “The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord God hath spoken, who can but prophesy?” (Amos 3:8)
  • The roar of a lion has been compared to the voice of God.
    • “They shall walk after the Lord: he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west.” (Hos. 11:10)
    • (See also Rev. 10:3)
  • According to National Geographic, April 1969, the roar of a lion has more than one function:
  • A.      A soft moaning sound – a roar of low intensity – a lioness call’s her cubs from the hiding place, generally for food.
    • “The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.” (Ps. 104:21)
  • B.      When a member of the pride (family) is looking for others, it will roar loudly, then listen attentively for an answer. (Job 38:1-3,18; 40:1-7)
• NOTE:
  • Lions usually live and travel in family groups called “prides”.
    • There may be as few as 4-6 or as many as 30.
    • The family setup seems to be some what symbolical of the local church.
  • According to the same article in National Geographic: “Although some members of the pride, especially the males, may roam widely, the lions usually confine themselves to a definite territory.”
  • Another interesting note is, “Pride members are affectionate among themselves.
    • They rub cheeks when they meet.
    • They rest and hunt together, but strangers or members of a neighboring pride are not usually accepted.” (Jer. 31:3; Eze. 16:6-14)
  • Lions never kill unnecessarily but only when there is a need.
    • A lion seldom eats everything, but leaves some for the scavengers.
    • God’s blessings overflow to the bystanders. (Matt. 15:21-28, Gen. 30:27)
  • C.      The roar strikes fear because of its deafening, ferocious sound.
    • Of course in the case of the “Lion of the tribe of Juda”, there is good cause for fear.
• III.          AN INSTRUMENT OF JUDGMENT
  • There have been a variety of occasions where lions have been used by God as an instrument of judgment.
  • A.      Judgment upon the Assyrians – (2 Kings 17:24-26)
  • B.      The young prophet who disobeyed God – (1 Kings 13:24-26)
  • C.      The man who ignored the prophet – (1 Kings 20:35-36)
• Note:
  • According to Encyclopedia Americana, “Lions after the kill usually rip the carcass open and commence eating the entrails, heart and liver.”
  • Jesus Christ exposes with one motion our inner most being. “Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.” (Ps. 7:2)
  • D.      Lions are known for their powerful teeth.
    • They do not have teeth to chew, but only to tear, swallowing large chunks of meat. (Rev. 9:8; Joel 1:6)
  • Even the Devil, also pictured as a lion (1 Pet. 5:8), will be used as an instrument of judgment upon Israel. (Hos. 13:8)
• Conclusion:
  • Today the Sons of God ought to have the boldness of a lion.
    • “The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.” (Prov. 28:1)
    • The question may well be asked as Nahum did, “Where is the dwelling of the lions, and the feeding place of the young lions, where the lion, even the old lion, walked, and the lions whelp, and none made them afraid?” (Nah. 2:11)

Today Christianity has a lot more pussy cats than lions.

“I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters. As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.” (Song of Songs 2:1-3)

• Text:      Song Solomon 2:1-3
• Introduction:
  • The Lily of the Valley is found practically world wide in temperate and tropical regions.
    • The flowers are very fragrant, white, bell shaped on slender stems about 9 inches tall.
    • The stem rises between two shiny leaves.
    • With the white fragrant flowers in the center the plant reminds us of the Trinity.
    • Jesus Christ is the focal point of attention (Phil. 2:5-11).
    • Not only are these plants perfectly hardy, but they thrive in spots where most things balk, even in dense shade under trees. (Matt. 28:20)
    • According to Encyclopedia International, 1979, they do very well along the north side of a wall (Lev. 1:11), the lily flowers in May (Solomon’s Song 2:8-13) and the blossoms produce scarlet berries. (Isa. 1:18).
  • However, there are several other things that need to be noted about this incredible flower:
• I.   THE ROOT SYSTEM – (Rev. 22:16)
  • The Lily of the Valley has a creeping root system from which the flower actually springs forth at close intervals.
    • Because of the persistent root the plant persists with great tenacity.
  • When the icy blast of winter (persecution) comes the top part of the plant withers away but the root thrives underground!
    • The religion of Jesus often does best in the face of persecution.
  • Christians in modern-day Chad, Africa, were being persecuted for refusing to participate in old tribal initiation rites they say are pagan.
    • Reliable sources reported the torture deaths of pastors, evangelists, and other church leaders who declined to commit acts counter to their faith:
      • drinking chicken blood offered to idols,
      • handling fetishes, and the like.
    • The accounts told of persons buried alive with just part of a leg left above ground or – for slower death – with only the head exposed, a terrifying warning to others who resist.
  • The persecution originated when President Francois N’garta Tombalbaye launched a cultural revolution assertedly to rid the nation and its four million inhabitants of unwanted foreign influences and to establish an identity with the country’s past.
    • But church leaders reportedly met and agreed to oppose the rites, and some church groups say they would not readmit members who take part.
    • The evangelical churches in Chad number more than 1,500 congregations with tens of thousands of members.
• II. THE CHEMICAL SUBSTANCE
  • According to students Encyclopedia 1977 “All parts of the plant contain a chemical substance called convallatoxin, which is similar to the drug digitalis and may be used as a heart stimulant.”
    • Nothing has the ability to stimulate and change the heart like the Lord Jesus Christ.
  • He has the ability to:
    • A. Prick men’s hearts – (Acts 2:37; 7:54)
    • B. Dwell in your heart – (Eph. 3:17)
    • C. Bring joy to the heart – (Jn. 16:22)
    • D. Comfort your hearts – (Eph. 6:22)
    • E. Keep your hearts – (Phil. 4:7)
• III.          THE FRAGRANCE (Solomon’s Song 5:13)
  • Because of its fragrance the Lily of the Valley is used in the manufacture of perfume.
    • A highly esteemed perfume, eau d’or, is made in France from the flowers.
    • The ancients were fond of sweet perfumes of all kinds (Prov. 27:9; Ps. 45:8)
  • The Old Testament tabernacle contained an altar of incense (Ex. 30:1-10; 30:34-38) that stood before the veil.
    • A special incense that was to be mixed for God alone (Ex. 30:37) finds a very significant New Testament application in (Eph. 5:2 and Phil. 4:18).
  • The idea is that God delights in appropriate sacrifices.
• IV. THE FALSE LILY OF THE VALLEY
  • According to Concise Encyclopedia of Favorite Wild Flowers, 1965, there is a flower that imitates the Lily of the Valley but under close examination fails the test.
    • Jesus told us there would be a variety of false Christs (Matt. 24:24) who would attempt to deceive.
  • One afternoon in 1965, Daniel Waswa, a citizen of Kenya, struggled up a hill and was crucified by his wife at his own direction.
    • As he hung on the cross, he told the gathered crowd. “I am dying for the sins of all Kenyans.”
    • After nailing her husband to the cross, the woman collapsed on the ground and died, apparently from shock.
    • Waswa’s neighbors knew this was no spur-of-the moment act.
    • He had talked about it for a year and had told them he had been called by God for this purpose.
  • They begged him to let them take him down.
    • He refused all requests.
    • Finally he was taken down still alive, but he soon died from the nail wounds which had become infected.
    • Superstitious people now make pilgrimage to the spot where Daniel Waswa died and pray for him to forgive their sins.
  • Hitler was the most evident type of Antichrist in the twentieth century.
    • He coerced, forced, and misled millions to accept him as God’s messiah.
      • Helmut Thielicke wrote of Hitler: “He made free use of the Christian vocabulary, talked about the blessing of the Almighty … he showed his tattered Bible and declared he drew the strength for his great work from the Word of God … he caused many religious people to welcome him as a man sent from God.”

^“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

 ^“As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (John 9:5)

• Text:      John 8:12; John 9:5
• Introduction:
  • One of the most famous illustrations that the word of God uses to show the difference between righteousness and unrighteousness, between good and evil, between truth and error, is the difference between light and darkness.
    • The Gospel of John especially uses this picture.
    • In it, Christ’s life is called “the light of men” (1:4), and His light is said to have shined “in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not” (vs. 5).
    • The Lord Jesus Christ is called “the Light,” (vs. 7,8,9) who “lighteth every man that cometh into the world” (vs. 9).
    • He didn’t come just to enlighten the elect.
    • In (Jn. 8:12 and 9:5), Jesus calls Himself “The light of the world.”
  • Whenever the Bible uses any illustration, and particularly an illustration such as this one that is used so often, we’d better expect it to say a lot more than can be gleaned from just the casual glance.
  • There are several things that we can learn about the Lord Jesus Christ through studying something about the thing that He called Himself – light.
• I.   THE POWER OF LIGHT
  • A.      Light is a powerful provider
    • Light is energy-pure energy.
      • The greatest natural source of light is the sun.
      • Jesus Christ is called “the Sun of righteousness” (Mal. 4:2), and just as the sun’s light is the physical source of our energy, Jesus Christ is the true source of our spiritual energy.
    • Whatever we eat ultimately comes from the energy of the sun’s light.
      • Green plants, through photosynthesis, convert light energy into stored energy.
      • When we eat the plant, we are consuming energy that was once light.
    • We cannot escape the power and energy of light, just as the power of Jesus Christ is the thing which keeps all things together (Col. 1:17; Rom. 11:36) and the power that gives us the ability to be what we spiritually can be (Eph. 3:16, 6:10; Phil. 4:19; Col. 1:11).
  • B.      Light is powerful in its speed
    • Light travels at approximately 186,282 miles per second.
      • Nothing in our experience can move faster.
      • It is the universal, absolute standard of speed.
      • Einstein, in fact, postulated that everything-even time itself – is relative to only one existing constant: the speed of light.
    • Jesus Christ is the absolute standard by which all other things are measured (Acts 17:31).
      • He never changes His character (Heb. 13:8).
      • It is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for anything that comes from His mouth to be annulled, changed, or altered (Matt. 5:18, 24:35) – and even time itself is subject to Jesus
      • Christ, He was alive before there was time (John 1:1), and He will be alive when the new heavens and new earth are made (Rev. 21:6).
    • When Jesus wants something done, nothing can slow Him down; nothing can hinder Him from the execution of His plan (Matt. 28:18).
• II. THE “PROBLEM” OF LIGHT
  • It is very difficult to explain or fully understand exactly what light is.
    • This is because light has a dual nature.
      • For 300 years, there have been fierce arguments in the scientific community whether light was a particle or a wave.
      • Presently, scientific dogma says that is both – even though scientists readily admit that this is “impossible.”
      • They shrug their shoulders and call it a “wave” when it does what a wave is expected to do, and they call it a “particle” when it does what a particle is expected to do.
      • According to all the present evidence, light is not part particle and part wave (or a particle moving in a wave like pattern, as many falsely imagine), but it is all wave and all particle, all at the same time.
    • Jesus Christ is all God and all man.
      • He is proclaimed to be God (Isa. 9:6; Jn. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:16; Tit. 1:3; Heb. 1:8), and yet we know that He is all man (I Tim. 2:4).
      • He tired (Jn. 4:6), He wept (Jn. 11:35), He thirsted (Jn. 19:28), and He was “in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15).
• III.          THE PURPOSE OF LIGHT
  • Light is that which makes manifest.
    • Obviously, if it were not for light, nothing could be seen.
      • Light shows things for what they really are.
      • Light never lies.
      • If there is a scratch in the paint, light will show it.
      • If there is an imperfection in a diamond, light will manifest it.
  • A.      Light manifests sin for what it is
    • “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light”
      • WHY?
      • “because their deeds were evil” (Jn. 3:19).
    • One reason that the world doesn’t love Jesus Christ is because He, as the Light, shows people that their sin is hopeless, wicked, and unprofitable.
      • The “angel of light,” the devil (2 Cor. 11:14) tries to glorify sin, but this is a counterfeit light.
      • The true Light tells the truth about sin.
  • B.      Light manifests God for Who He is
    • Jesus bore witness of the Father (Jn. 1:18; 148,9; 17:26) and Himself (Jn 8:18).
      • He manifested God and God’s character to us.
  • C.      Light, because it manifests, dissolves our unfounded fears.
    • There is nothing more terrifying than not knowing what is scaring you.
      • Being in the dark is the worst.
      • If you see something fearful, at least you know how to deal with it.
      • But when you are in darkness, that is fear.
    • Jesus Christ scatters all of our illegitimate fears with His glorious light.
      • He tells us that we do need to fear-we need to fear God (Luke 12:5), but if we have that mastered, we will fear very little else, and will live a joyful life (Rom. 14:17; Gal. 5:22; Phil. 1:4,25; 1 Pet. 5:7- 1 Jn. 4:18).
  • D.      Light makes it possible to work
    • In the context of Jesus’ proclamation that He is the light of the world (Jn. 9:5) comes the statement, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is yet day: the night cometh, when no man can work” (vs. 4).
    • Without Light, it is virtually impossible to do any kind of profitable work.
      • Without Christ, service to God is meaningless, and in vain (2 Cor. 13:5).
      • Works without Jesus Christ is as much vanity and worthlessness as trying to paint a picture in absolute darkness.
      • With the light, however, all labor is worthwhile.
      • You can see what you are doing.
      • You can work what God has asked you to work without frustration, knowing “that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58).

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29)

• Text:      John 1:29
• Introduction:
  • Since the dawn of creation man has sought to worship by offering sacrifice to his deity.
    • From the Moabites in the Middle East, to the Aztecs in South America, man has sacrificed to placate the gods he served in hope that he might produce a good crop, prosper throughout the year, enjoy health, and be victorious over hostile peoples living around him.
    • In 2 Kings 3:26,27, when the battle went against the King of Moab, he offered his eldest son for a burnt offering upon the wall of his city.
  • Why do men sacrifice?
    • There are a number of answers that we could suggest:
      • First, as already pointed out, men seek to obtain divine favors;
      • Second, sacrifices are offered to demons to drive the spirit out of a sick person into the sacrificial victim that would then be destroyed;
      • A third possibility, a sacrificial meal is offered to establish fellowship and communion with his god;
      • Lastly, sacrifices are offered by man to show dependence and homage to deity.
    • All of these overlook God’s primary intent in the concept of sacrifice, that is God intended sacrifice to provide an atonement for man’s sin so that man could ‘draw nigh’ to a holy God.
• I.   The Lamb Of God Typified By The Patriarchs And By Old

Testament Law

• “…God will provide himself a lamb… ” (Gen. 22:8)
  • A.      (Gen. 3:21) God provided Adam and Eve with coats of skins to clothe them from their nakedness.
    • “…it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.” – (Lev. 17:11)
  • B.      (Gen. 4:3-5) Abel brought of the firstlings of his flock…”
    • “…a more excellent sacrifice…” (Heb. 11:4).
  • C.      (Gen. 8:20-22) – “…Noah builded an altar … and offered burnt offerings…“
  • D.      (Job 1:5) – The patriarch Job offered sacrifice on behalf of his children.
• II.The Lamb Of God Personified In The Prophets
  • “…he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter…” (Isa. 53:7)
  • A.      Israel’s response to the lamb, (Isa. 52:13-53:3).
    • 1.  -Many were astonied at thee”… (Isa. 52:14)
    • 2.  The Kings shut their mouths at him… ” (Isa. 52:15)
    • 3.  “there is no beauty that we should desire him…” (Isa. 53:2)
    • 4.  “…despised and rejected … we hid our faces from him … we esteemed him not…” (Isa. 53:3)
  • B.      The substitutionary death of the Lamb, (Isa. 53:4-9).
    • 1.  “wounded for our transgressions” (53:5)
    • 2.  “bruised for our iniquities” (53:5)
    • 3.  “the chastisement of our peace was upon him with his stripes we are healed…” (53:5)
    • 4.  “…the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all” (53:6)
    • 5.  “he was cut off for the transgression of my people” (53:8)
  • C.      The triumphant resurrection of the Lamb, (Isa. 53:10-12).
    • 1.  “he shall prolong his days. ” (53:10)
    • 2.  “…he shall divide the spoil…” (53:12)
• III.          The Lamb Of God Identified In The Gospel
  • “…Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world…” (Jn. 1:29)
  • A.      The Lamb is God Incarnate.
    • The Old Testament sacrifices could never take away sin.
      • Only God can forgive sin; forgiveness of sin must be accomplished in harmony with the nature of God.
      • A holy, righteous and perfect God demands a sacrifice, which is holy, righteous and perfect.
    • The Redeemer must have the redemptive price to perform the task of redemption; he must be willing to redeem; he must be related to mankind as a kinsman.
      • It was man who lost man’s inheritance, and only man could redeem it back.
      • Yet only God could pay the price.
      • Man’s sin brought eternal consequences,
      • God’s blood was required for an eternal remedy.
      • In the final analysis, it is the God-man who is the perfect Lamb; Son of God, Son of Man. (Jn. 3:16; Gal. 4:4)
    • “…God would provide himself a Lamb…” (Gen. 22:8. 1 Pet. 1:18,19; 2:24,25)
  • B.      Jesus is the Lamb, the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy.
    • The Lamb’s place of birth, (Mic. 5:2);
    • The Lamb’s unique birth, (Isa. 7:14);
    • The Lamb’s time of birth, (Dan. 9:24-26);
    • The Lamb’s suffering, (Isa. 53);
    • The Lamb’s death, (Isa. 53);
    • The Lamb’s resurrection, (Ps. 16:10) and 300 other prophecies fulfilled in one person, the Lord Jesus Christ.
    • “…the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanseth from all sin.” (1 Jn. 1:7)
• IV. The Lamb Of God Glorified In The Revelation
  • “…Worthy is the Lamb that was slain…” (Rev. 5:12).
  • A.      The Worship of the Lamb, (Rev. 4,5).
    • “Who is worthy … ?” (5:2) – no man was found worthy…” (5:4)
      • “…Behold the Lion…the Root … hath prevailed…” (5:5).
    • He is “a Lamb” (5:6).
      • “…for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood…” (5:9).
      • (See Acts 20:28).
      • “… And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him…” “…Worthy is the Lamb “(5:8,12)
  • B.      The Wrath of the Lamb, (Rev. 6-18).
    • The Lamb offers His love to all who will receive it.
    • Those who spurn His love must face His wrath.
    • Have you received the Lamb as your sacrifice for sins???
      • Or will you experience His wrath? (Rev. 6:16; 17:14)
  • C.      The wedding of the Lamb, (Rev. 19-20)
    • 1.  Bridegroom and bride are betrothed at a formal ceremony. (2 Cor. 11:2) – Salvation or New Birth.
    • 2.  The bridegroom arrives for his bride at a set time to take her away to his father’s house. (1 Thess. 4:13-18) – The Rapture
    • 3.  The bridegroom takes the bride to his father’s house where the marriage is consummated.
      • We’ll go to the Father’s house and remain in seclusion for the honeymoon. (Rev. 4:1)
    • 4.  The bridegroom publicly presents his new bride, (Rev. 19:14), at his second coming.
  • D.      The Wife of the Lamb, (Rev. 21,22).
    • The New Jerusalem is the dwelling place of the Lamb’s bride (21:9).
    • It is as a “bride adorned for her husband” (21:2).
    • The Church, the body of believers in Christ, is the bride. (Rom. 7:4; Eph. 5:22-31; 2 Cor. 11:2; Gal. 4:19-31)
  • E.      Abraham offered many sacrifices to God.
    • In chapters 12, 13, &15, God personally instructed Abraham to sacrifice in connection with the covenant which God made with him. (Gen. 12:7,8; 13:4,18; 15:7-21)
  • F.      (Gen. 22:8) “…God will provide himself as lamb…”
    • He provided a ram … then! (vs. 13).
  • G. (Ex. 12:12,13) The Passover Lamb …
    • Teaches us that:
      • 1.       Israel must atone for their sins before entering into the covenant.
      • 2.       The covenant was a covenant of pure grace.
      • 3.       God promised to deal graciously with Israel if they endeavored to follow Him in obedience.
    • See I Cor. 5:7
• H. The Levitical Offerings, (Lev. 1:1; 6:6).
  • 1.       Prophesied the suffering and death of Christ.
  • 2.       The animals portray the work of Christ in His earthly ministry.
    • “…these sacrifices were but a shadow of good things to come … for it is not possible that they should take away sins…” – (Heb. 10:1,4)
  • Why did God demand such an elaborate system?
    • First, acknowledgment was made that an atonement was necessary for sin;
    • Second, admission was made that another must make substitutionary atonement for him;
    • Third, the blood covered the sin to make it possible for God to withhold judgment;
    • Fourth, it made possible the communion of sinful man with a holy God; lastly, his sacrifice pointed to a day when Christ would once and for all atone for sin. (Heb. 9:26-28)

“And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.” (Acts 10:42)

• Introduction:
  • Very early in the Word of God the fact is established that God will judge all the earth.
    • “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” – Gen. 18:25.
    • “The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: The Lord shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.” – I Sam. 2: 10.
  • One does not have to go as far as the New Testament to determine that the person of the Godhead who will be the Righteous Judge will be none other than Jesus Christ – Ps. 110.
• I.   THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF A JUDGE
  • A.      To be righteous – (Ps. 96:10,13; 97:2)
    • Two things may be said in the consideration of the Righteousness and Justice of God:
      • First, there is the imposing of righteousness laws and demands, which may be called legislative holiness, and may be known as the Righteousness of God;
      • Second, there is the executing of the penalties attached to those laws, which may be called judicial holiness.
      • So that in the Righteousness of God we have His love of holiness, and in the Justice of God, His hatred of sin.
  • B.      To determine the truth–
    • -The Old Testament judge was to “make diligent inquisition” to find the truth (Deut. 19:16-21)
    • -The truth finding process is laid down wonderfully in type in (1 Kings 3:16-28), when Solomon exercised the wisdom of God (I Kings 3:28).
    • – See also (Jn. 8:16,26)
  • C.      To be compassionate-
    • “Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful” (Ps. 116:5).
    • Nowhere has the righteous mercy of Jesus been better displayed than when He dealt with the adulterous woman in (Jn. 8:1-11).
  • D.      To listen to the defendant-
    • “Righteous art thou, 0 Lord, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of Judgments:” (Jer. 12:1).
    • In (Lk. 19:20-22) the Lord judged the man based on the testimony of his own mouth.
      • “And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth wit! I judge thee, thou wicked servant.”
  • E.      To determine motives-
    • -The rich young man cloaked impure motives with spiritual language (Matt. 19:16-22).
    • -All of (Matt. 23) is a dissertation of Jesus exposing the impure motives of religious Pharisees.
  • F.      To be fair in judgment-
    • -The widow was poor, but judged fairly by Jesus (Luke 21:1-4).
    • -(See also Isa. 11:4)
  • G.      To reward righteousness-
    • “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day, and not me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” (2 Tim. 4:8)
    • -(See also Heb. 6:10)
• II. HOW THE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUSTICE OF GOD IS

REVEALED

• A.      In the punishment of the wicked.
  • -David reminds his timid advisers, who encourage him to flee, that there is a God who will judge the acts of the wicked men who seek his life. (Ps. 11)
  • -Pharaoh even recognized his wickedness and stated the plague of hail was justly sent (Ex. 9:22-27).
    • See also (Dan. 9:12-14; Rev. 16:5,6)
  • How careful sinners ought to be not to fall into the hands of the righteous Judge!
  • No sinner at last will be able to say, “I did not deserve this punishment.”
  • B.      In forgiving the sins of the penitent. (1 Jn. 1:7-9)
    • Forgiveness is based first upon a confession of what we are (Mk. 7:25-30).
    • Secondly, it is based upon the blood of Christ who was judged on our behalf (2 Cor. 5:21).
    • (See also Mk. 2:1-11)
  • C.      In keeping His word and promise to His children – Neh. 9:7,8
    • All of (Heb. 11) is a reminder to us of the faithfulness of God to perform according to His Word.
  • D.      In showing Himself to be the vindicator of His people from all their enemies (Ps. 129:1-4).
  • E.      In judging the works of the saints.
    • Even salvation does not exempt a person from judgment – (Heb. 9:27)
    • It simply determines which judgment seat they will stand before.
      • The lost will stand before the Great White Throne of judgment (Rev. 20:11-15).
      • The saved will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ (Rom. 14:10; 2 Cor. 5:10).
    • Truly “God is no respecter of persons”, for everyone will be judged of Him.

“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.” Matthew 1:23

• Introduction:
  • The name Emmanuel finds its origin in (Isa. 7:14) when the Lord said in a prophetic voice, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
  • The Holy Spirit interprets the name for us when He says it means “God with us.”
    • There are other passages in the “Word of God which are God interpreted so that there would be no chance of man’s misinterpreting or abusing those passages with religious slants.
    • A look at a few of them will give us a greater impact of the verse at hand.
  • A.      “He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is being interpreted the Christ.” (John 1:41)
  • B.      “And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is being interpreted, The place of a skull.” (Mk. 15:22)
  • C.      “And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Mk. 15:34)
  • It is obvious that when God interprets something it is of grave importance.
    • God desperately wants man to know that He is a God of infinite concern for He came to be with us!
• I.   HOW IS GOD WITH US
  • The very reason God tells us Emmanuel means “God With us” is suggestive of the fact that there would be those who would question the incarnation of Jesus Christ.
  • A.      God was with man in the flesh –
    • Phil. 2:6-8; 1 Tim. 3:16
  • B.      By being omnipresent –
    • Matt. 18:20; 28:20; Jn. 3:13
  • C.      As God the Word –
    • Jn. 1:1,14
  • D.      The Holy spirit –
    • Jn. 14:16; 15:26
• II. WHEN IS GOD WITH US
  • God recognized that man should not be alone – (Gen. 2:18),
  • When Moses carried the burdens of Israel alone God provided a remedy – (Num. 11:14-17).
  • Jesus stated that even He was not alone – (Jn 8:16; 16:32).
  • A.      In the darkest hour.
    • 1.  In the valley of the shadow of death – (Ps. 23:4)
  • B.      In Victory
    • 1.  Victory over the grave – (1 Cor. 15:55,56)
    • 2.  In overcoming the world – (1 Jn. 5:4,5)
    • 3.  Victory over old nature – (Col. 2:13-15)
  • C.      In Prayer – (Jn. 17:1)
    • 1.  Spirit prays for us – (Rom. 8:26)
    • 2.  Father hears in secret – (Matt. 6:6)
    • 3.  Christ wants to respond – (Jn. 14:13)
  • D.      Even in Sin – (Standing by ready to forgive).
    • 1.  Standing at the door – (Rev. 3:20)
    • 2.  Faithful to forgive – (1 Jn. 1:9)
    • 3.  Stands ready with a gift – (Rom. 3:23)
    • 4.  Jonah in the belly of the whale – (Jonah 2:1,2)
    • 5.  (Isa. 1:18; Col. 1:14; Eph. 1:7)
• III.          WHERE IS GOD WITH US
  • A.      In the furthest place.
    • 1.  Philip in the desert – (Acts 8:26-40)
    • 2.  Elijah on the mountain – (1 Kings 18)
    • 3.  Daniel in the lions den – (Dan. 6)
    • 4.  Jeremiah in prison – (Jer. 37)
  • B.      In the assembly of the saints – (1 Tim. 3:15; Heb. 10:25)
• IV. WHY IS GOD WITH US
  • A.      Because of His promise – (Matt. 28:20)
  • B.      Because of the love that is part of His character – (2 Cor. 13:11; 1 Jn. 4:8)
  • C.      Because of our great need – (Rom. 8:31-39)
• Father With Son In Attic
  • A father had told his son he would send him to sleep in the attic, with only bread and water for his supper, if he broke the laws of the home once more.
  • The child disobeyed again and was sent to the attic:
    • The father could not eat. He had the boy on his mind and his heart.
    • His wife said: “I know what you are thinking. But you must not bring the boy from the attic.
    • It would cause him to disobey again. He would have no respect for your word.
    • You must not cheapen your relation as his father by failing to keep your promise.”
  • To which her husband replied: “Your are right. I will not break my word.
    • To do so would cause my son to lose his respect for my word.
    • But he is so lonely up there.”
    • He kissed his wife good night, entered the attic, ate bread and water with the boy, and when the child went to sleep on the hard boards, his father’s arm was his pillow.
    • He who knew no sin suffered for the sinner.

“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:” Ephesians 4:11-12

In Ephesians 4:11, the words of God state clearly that the Lord Jesus Christ gave His church, the body of Christ specific individual positions to be filled by persons God has called, enabled, and equipped with the spiritual abilities to fulfill and perform the functions required by each position. In Ephesians 4:12, the words of God provides the purpose for why the Lord gave His church these individual positions.

The reason that I have entitled my post Pastor or Evangelist is because within the positions the Lord gave to His church is a specific and separate positions of evangelist and pastor.

It seems that some pastors not all are having a difficult time making up their minds whether they are an evangelist or a pastor even though the words of God clearly state that evangelist and pastor are two separate specific individual positions. The reason that I say this is that there many pastors who are absent from their church’s pulpit on a Sunday or absent for a week at a time preaching at another church’s pulpit.

So, I ask how a man who is called, enabled, and equipped to pastor a church be absent from his pulpit not just occasionally by several times a year. Who is caring for his flock? He is the one that is suppose to be ministering the words of God to his people. He is the one that his people look up to and go for counsel when needed. He is the one who is to protect his flock from the wolves without and within the church.

We have too many delinquent pastors who are not fulfilling their God called position in the body of Christ. The people suffer and the church overall as well.

What can be the motivation for a pastor to leave his pulpit and go to another church to administer the words of God. The Lord gave the church the position of evangelist to fulfill this function and equipped that individual with the gifts to go from church to church administering the words of God to the body of Christ.

So, what motivates a pastor to be absent from his pulpit that God has given him to go to another church to preach while his people are left without their spiritual protection. Could it be ego? Could it be that he thinks has insight into God’s words no one else has? Could be that he is a show pony and needs more than one stage to perform on? Could it be he loves the praises of men more than the praises of God?

My prayer is that a man called by God to be a pastor would do what God has called, enabled and equipped him to do. Let the evangelists do what they are called to do and be content with what the Lord has given you.

^“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.” Isaiah 9:6

• Introduction:
  • It is no secret that the human race is in constant search of counsel. Psychiatrist, Physiologist, marriage counselors, Astrologist, Spiritualist and a variety of other listeners are doing a booming business.
  • The Bible tells us “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the Multitude of counsellors there is safety.” (Prov. 11: 14).
  • God provides excellent counsel (Prov. 22:20), but all too often people opt for the counsel of the wicked (Prov. 12:5).
  • Jesus Christ, the Wonderful Counsellor, provides excellent advice to the subjects that are the most addressed, even today!
• I.   PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
  • A.      Family problems
    • Jesus recognized that people would have family problems –
      • He even indicated that some of these problems would be a result of Christ’s rule in a person’s life.
    • Jesus also was keenly aware of the divorce problem (Matt. 19:1-9), and went immediately to the root of it by describing it as selfishness.
      • The word hardness indicates a spiritual problem (See Mk. 16:14; 3:5).
    • Jesus not only went right to the root of the problem but provided solutions.
      • 1.       He indicated the children would need extra help (Matt. 19:13-15).
      • 2.       He stated that mutual honor was necessary (Matt. 19:19).
  • B.      Other Personal Relationship
    • 1.  Jesus gave up all His rights to come to earth to die for sinners.
    • 2.  This is applied to the church age saint in (Rom. 12:10-21).
• II. FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
  • Jesus gave sound principles for finances.
    • A.  Do not let money rule your life (Matt. 19:16-26).
    • B. Be accountable and responsible for all that you do have (Luke 19:12-27).
    • C. Trust God for your provisions (Matt. 6:30).
• III.          HOW TO KNOW THE WELL OF GOD
  • Jesus seemed to spend more time concentrating on doing the already revealed will of God than worrying about the yet unrevealed (Matt. 22:36-40).
    • A.  Jesus said the will of God was to do good (Lk. 635; Acts 10:38).
    • B. The will of God is to be obedient ‘in the day to day things (Matt. 21:28-32).
• IV. STRUGGLES OF THE FLESH
  • Jesus was not nearly as condemning as some Christians are concerning struggles of the flesh, and yet He was very demanding when it came to repentance (Jn. 8:1-11).
  • Jesus’ solutions are:
    • A.  Stay in the Word (John 8:31).
    • B. Set spiritual goals (Matt. 6:33)
    • C. Remove yourself from evil influences (Matt. 15:14; 16:11,12).
• WONDERFUL, COUNSELLOR:
  • He is a Wonderful, Counsellor.
  • Justly is He called Wonderful, for He is both God and man.
  • His love is the wonder of angels and glorified saints; in His birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension, He was wonderful.
  • A constant series of wonders attended Him, and without controversy, great was the mystery of godliness concerning Him.
  • He is the Counsellor, for He was intimately acquainted with the counsels of God from eternity, and He gives counsel to the children of men, in which He consults our welfare.
  • It is by Him that God has given us counsel.
  • He is made of God to us wisdom. He spoke of His own authority:
    • “Verily, I say unto you.”
  • Other teachers explained the law; He is the lawgiver.
  • Others drew more or less pure waters from cisterns:
    • He is in Himself a well of water, from which all may draw.
  • He alone is sufficient for us.
  • He not only speaks the truth, which needs no other confirmation than His own lips, but He is the truth.
  • We may canvass other men’s teachings and distinguish their insight from their errors; we have but to accept His.
  • The world outgrows all others; it can only grow up toward the fullness of His.
  • Us and all the ages He teaches with authority, and the guarantee for the truth of His teaching is Himself “Verily, verily, I say unto you.”
  • No other man has a right to say that to me.
  • But Christ dominates the race, and the strong Son of God is the world’s teacher.

“Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.  But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” Hebrews 2:8-10

• Introduction:
  • The term “captain” is familiar to Bible readers because it is used often to describe a variety of positions.
  • For Example:
    • 1.  Kings were captains of their nation.
      • a.       Jephthah – (Judges 11: 6-11)
      • b.       Saul – (1 Sam. 9:16; 10:1)
      • c.       David – (2 Sam. 5:2)
      • d.       Hezekiah – (2 Kings 20:5)
    • 2.  Every king had a captain of the host (army).
      • (Gen. 21:22,32; 26:26; Judg. 4:2,7; 1 Sam. 14:50; 17:55; 26:5; 2 Sam. 2:18; 1 Kings 2:32 etc.)
    • 3.  In Israel, there was a captain over each tribe (Numbers 2:3-29)
      • a.       Amasa, captain of Judah – (1 Kings 2:32)
      • b.       Adina, captain of Reuben – (1 Chron. 11:42)
      • Note: (I Chron. 27:1-5) seems to indicate that each captain and his tribe served one month active duty a year.
    • 4.  Captains over smaller ranks.
      • a.       Captain of one thousand – (1 Sam. 17:15)
      • b.       Captain of one hundred – (Num. 31:14,48,52,54)
      • c.       Captain of fifty – (2 Kings 1:9-13; 15:23-25)
  • The title “captain” in what ever context used is obviously a military term.
    • The plain and necessary implication of this title is that we are passing through a country full of difficulties, dangers, oppositions, like Israel with the wilderness on their way to the promised inheritance; so that we need a Captain, Guide, Leader, to carry us safely through.
    • The responsibilities of a captain would then be to do the following.
• I.   THE CAPTAIN MUST LEAD
  • A.      He leads us into the battle (Josh. 5:13-15) –
    • The most common battle of the 20th Century Christian is the one of personal sanctification.
    • Joshua 6 gives us several key points of strategy to remember.
      • 1.       If the battle is won, it will be given by the Lord – (Josh. 6:2; Eph. 6:10; 1 Timothy 6:12)
      • 2.       It may require a great deal of patience – (Josh. 6:3; Rom. 5:3; Heb. 12:1)
      • 3.       It may require a great deal of perseverance – (Josh. 6:4; Eph. 6:18)
      • 4.       We need to avail ourselves of the psychology of the “shout” – (Josh. 6:5; Ezra 3:11-13; Ps. 5:11; 32:11; 35:27 47:1)
      • 5.       We must realize that there is also an individual battle – (Josh. 6:5; Jam. 1:14; Rom. 14:12; Eph. 6:13)
      • 6.       It will require complete obedience – (Josh. 6:10; Rom. 16:19; Lk. 9:62)
      • 7.       It will require personal sacrifice – (Josh. 6:12, 15; Phil 2:5-8; 3:7,8; Heb. 13:16)
      • 8.       Paying close attention will help us keep from the accursed thing – (Josh. 6:18; 2 Cor. 2:11; 1 Pet. 5:8; 1 Tim. 3:7; Prov. 4:23; 2 Cor. 8:7; Heb. 12:15; 2 Pet. 1:5)
  • B.      He leads in suffering
    • (Hebrews 2:10) says, Christ was made perfect through suffering.
    • This does not mean that he was sinful before and was made holy by his sufferings.
    • Christ was not made better, for he was before perfectly holy, but he was completely endowed for the work which he came to do.
    • He, through sufferings was rendered complete because of:
      • 1.       His sufferings made Him an example to all His people who shall pass through trials.
      • 2.       He is able to sympathize with them, and to succor them in their temptations – (Heb. 2:18)
      • 3.       By His sufferings an atonement was made for all sin.
        • He was made perfect, in that His death provided a finished work. – (Heb. 5:8,9)
  • C.      He leads into glory
    • It would be impossible for any of Christ’s soldiers to go into glory, had He not gone first as the firstfruits (1 Cor. 15:23)
• II. THE CAPTAIN MUST ENCOURAGE
  • The best way is by example – (Jn. 13:14,15)
  • In order to properly encourage the captain he must be a man of Character.
    • A.  He must be a man after God’s heart – (1 Sam. 13:14)
    • B. A man who overcomes all for his goal – (2 Sam. 5:8)
    • C. A man who is the most honorable ; (2 Sam. 23:19)
    • D. A man who can listen to proper request – (2 Kings 4:13)
    • E.  A man who gives words of praise when they are deserved – (Lk. 19:17)

“I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.” (Revelation 22:16)

• Introduction:
  • Venus has often been called the Earth’s sister world because it is approximately the same size.
    • When Venus is moving toward the earth, the planet can be seen in the evening sky, thus it is called the Evening Star.
    • When moving away from earth, it is visible in the early morning sky and called the Morning star.
    • When viewed through a telescope, Venus can be seen going through “changes” in shape and size.
    • These apparent changes are called phases, and they resemble those of the moon.
    • They result from different parts of Venus! Sunlit areas being visible from the earth at different times.
  • Venus never really changes but only appears to.
    • And so it is with the Lord Jesus Christ – He never really changes, but His appearance depends upon where you are in proximity to Him.
    • When Venus is closest to the earth in its orbit it is only 26,000,000 miles away (right next door as far as space is concerned) – closer to the earth than any other planet.
    • At its closest point the apparent diameter is six times greater than when it is at its farthest point.
  • There are several things about Venus that we need to consider:
• I.   ITS BRIGHTNESS
  • Venus is the third brightest object in the sky as seen from earth – the sun being the brightest (Matt. 4:2) and the moon the next brightest.
    • The only reason the moon appears brighter to the world is because it is so much closer to the earth than Venus.
      • Actually the moon only reflects 7 percent of the light it receives.
      • By comparison Venus reflects 59 percent of the light it receives from the sun.
  • The church is compared to the moon (Sol. Song 6:10) and is obviously negligent in its responsibility to cast light upon the world.
    • According to astronomers, Venus, at its brightest, may be seen in the daytime if one knows just where to look for it.
    • At night, it often casts a long path of light across a body of water. (See also, Ps. 19:12; Isa. 60:1-3; Hab. 3:4; Acts 26:13; Heb. 1:3)
• II. ITS CLOUDS
  • Venus is shrouded by a perpetual layer of dense clouds that make it impossible for astronomers to actually see the planet itself (Jn. 1:5)
    • When Jesus ascended into heaven He was received up into a cloud (Acts 1:9).
    • After that He could no longer be seen but there was plenty of bright evidence of His existence (Acts 1:3).
  • The clouds accomplish at least two things of interest:
    • A.  According to National Geographic, June 1975; “If a man could stand on Venus on a clear day the observer would enjoy one of the strangest experiences of a life time.
    • Because of super refractivity, the acute bending of light rays by the ultra dense atmosphere, one could in theory see all the way around the planet.
    • In effect he would seem to be standing at the bottom of a bowl with the entire planet stretching up endlessly on every side.
    • “It would be,” says Dr. Bradford A. Smith of the University of Arizona, “like looking through a fishbowl of clear water.”
      • See (Prov. 15:3; 5:21; 2 Chron. 16:9; Job 34:21,22; Jer. 16:17; Zech. 4:10; Heb. 4:13).
  • B.      The thick atmosphere of clouds that reach astonishing altitudes of over 35 miles (on earth, even the highest clouds seldom go above ten miles) traps the suns energy and helps build up the most furnace like heat yet to be found on any planet.
    • The constant temperature of Venus runs between 800 degrees and 1000 degrees F.
    • At such temperatures lead, tin, and zinc will melt, and any number of compounds vaporize.
    • This kind of intense heat is always characterized by judgment in the Bible,
      • (See Mic. 1:3,4 Isa. 64:1-3 ; Ps. 68:1,2; 97:1-5; Nah. 1:5).
  • C.      In the Old Testament the cloud was representative of the power and presence of the Lord.
    • (I Kings 8:10,11; Ex. 40:34,3 5 Eze. 10:3,4)
• III.          ITS ROTATION
  • Venus is the exception of all the planets in our solar system in that it rotates from east to west whereas others rotate from west to east.
    • Of course this is no surprise to a Bible student even though it may be to a scientist.
  • WEST TO EAST
    • (Gen. 3:24) Adam and Eve driven out of the garden to the East.
    • (Gen. 4:16) When Cain left God’s presence he went out to the East.
    • (Gen. 28:10) When Jacob got backslidden and ran from Esau, he went eastward.
    • (Num. 32) The first tribes to go into captivity settled East of Jordan.
    • (Jer. 52) When the Jews were taken captive they went Eastward.
    • (I Sam. 16:18) David ran from Absolom, Eastward.
      • West to East is the rotation of the world against the sun.
  • EAST TO WEST
    • (Gen. 12:1-6) Abraham called out of Ur of Chaldees, East to West.
    • (Gen. 32-35) When Jacob got his life right he traveled Westward.
    • (Num. 19:25) The Jews entered the land East to West (they traversed the Dead Sea).
    • (Ezra-Neh.) When the Jews returned from captivity, they went Westward.
      • East to West movement of the Sun (Type of Christ) in opposition to the world.
    • Entering the tabernacle you move East to West.
      • This is the direction of Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem at the 2nd coming.
    • (Matt. 1) The wise men came from the East, The gospel has traveled from east to west.
      • In other words Jesus Christ runs in opposition to the rest of the world. (See Jn. 8:23; 1:10; 17:14,16; 1 Jn. 2:15,16; 4:4-6)
• IV. ITS REVOLUTION
  • While earth turns on its axis once a day, Venus turns slowly – and in the opposite direction – once every 243 earth days.
    • At the same time, it revolves about the sun once every 225 earth days.
    • The combination gives the planet a solar day (that is, from one sunrise to the next) of 117 days.
    • The idea of the slow revolution is that time is fairly irrelevant to God.
      • He is patient, He has a plan, and it will not be hurried by anyone. (2 Pet. 3:8; Ps. 90:1-4; Rev. 1:8; 21:6; 22:13; Isa. 57:15).