Travel with me in your imagination...

Travel with me in your imagination for a few moments. You just heard that one of the greatest preachers, not only in our era, but possibly of all time would be preaching and presenting the gospel at Dodger Stadium. You are asked to bring your friends and family to hear the gospel from this man.

Many from your church and community are driving to the stadium. When you arrive at the parking lot you see that many people are already there. There are many busses and vans. You know that not only will there be thousands of non-believers in attendance, but there’s also thousands of Christians from many different churches and denominations. There will be many very well known Christian leaders in attendance. All desire to hear this man in person. They all want to know just how this man of God is so successful.

The stadium is packed. And after some great singing this man of God walks up to the podium and microphone. There’s a giant screen in left-center field for all to be able to see this man up close. The first thing you notice is that he’s not very tall. As a matter of fact, he’s not impressive looking at all. But most know it’s not how a person looks, but rather, what he says that’s important. As he begins to address this huge crowd, you quickly have a sense of uneasiness. It’s not long before you realize he’s not all that great of a speaker either. But you think to yourself, “Well, he’s not impressive looking, not a dynamic speaker, it must be what he says that makes him one of the greatest preachers.”

As you listen, question marks are forming in your mind, as he teaches the following.
“There is no one here who is righteous.
There’s no one here who understands God’s truth.
Not one of you seeks after God.
There is not one of you here today that is good, not even one.”

You are thinking, “What?” At the same time you begin to hear a noise of rumbling across this great crowd. It’s the sound of thousands of people talking, looking at each other…question marks. As he continues to speak, you begin to see people rising from their seats and actually leaving the stadium. Those who teach the health and wealth gospel are almost sprinting out of the stadium. They’re saying, “What kind of positive confession is this? Doesn’t he
know you receive what you sow, what you say?

Many unbelievers are now out of their seats and also heading for the stadium gates. They have been taught on TV and elsewhere that God is love. They’ve heard that God has a wonderful plan for their lives. God is supposed to build you up, not tear you down. He’s suppose to make you feel good about yourself, to build up your self-esteem, not make you feel so bad about yourself.

He continues...
Your words are rotten.
Your heart is deceitful.
Your mouths are full of bitterness, void of peace…”

The church growth experts were found walking up the isles shaking their heads. It was certain they were not going to find anything here to help them attract unbelievers into their churches. Let’s face it, every student of “The Basic Principles of Church Growth” knows you don’t invite unbelievers in and then tell them how sinful and horrible they are. The church must become relevant, and meet their needs. It must never offend, or condemn.

Many post-modernists and other pastors were out of there. They know that the
church only properly functions when it’s tolerant, loving, and inclusive. All this emphasis on sin, and unrighteousness will not draw people to God’s love. And it will certainly not keep people in the church. People need to feel accepted, not rejected and condemned.

Many of the best-known and successful pastors were seen leaving the stadium.

Well, as unbelievable as it sounds, there was now only a small group of people left sitting in the stands listening to this preacher. And as you look more closely at this small number, you see that most of them do not appear to be numbered among the upper crust of society. And as you continue to look at them, you can’t believe what you are seeing. Most are crying…sobbing. Some actually on their hands and knees with faces to the ground.

Then the Apostle Paul walks down from the platform, down to this little group of men and women, and he shares with them the incredibly good news of Jesus Christ. That He died, taking upon Himself God’s wrath that you deserved. He was buried, and rose again from the dead. All who believe in Him are forgiven of their sin because Jesus bore their sin and it’s penalty on the cross.

Matthew 5:3-4
3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Of course, the points of Paul’s message are taken from Romans chapter 3. What do you think? Might the list of responses be similar in “Christendom” today?

What Defiles A Man?

I'm now at that age when I must be very careful what I eat. The three C's - Calories, Carbs, and Cholesterol, are now on my radar, and I try to keep much of them from entering into my stomach. Why? For very real physical reasons. Do you know that's hard to do as a pastor? There are so many great cooks in this church. And most of them specialize in deserts. UG! But even though our physical bodies will become physically defiled, I'm excited about what Jesus said.

Mark 7:18-23
Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him,
19 because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?" (Thus He declared all foods clean.)

Food is physical. I'm glad eating food, (though the 3 C's may hurt the body), does not defile the heart, which is spiritual. But keep reading. Then I have a question.

20 And He was saying, "That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man.
21 "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries,
22 deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness.
23 "All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man."


According to verse 20 and 23 the works, deeds (sins) that come from within defile the man. This then raises the following question: Which of the following statements is more accurate?
1. A person is sinful because he sins. Or
2. A person sins because he is sinful.

Or stated another way:
1. A person’s heart is defiled because he sins. (v. 20, 23) Or
2. A person sins because his heart is defiled.

Number 2 is the more accurate statement. So here's a multiple choice question.

What then will God judge mankind by on judgment day?
a. Whether he believed in Jesus from his heart, or not.
b. Whether he accepted Jesus into his heart, or not.
c. Whether his works, deeds were good, or not.
d. Whether he was baptized, or not.


Correct answer: Read the following verses.
2 Corinthians 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

John 5:28-29
“do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; those who did the good deeds, to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.”

Matthew 16:23
“For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of his Father with His angels; and will then recompense every man according to his deeds.”

Romans 2:5-8.
“But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to every man according to his deeds: to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation”


Q. What will God look at on judgment day?
Yes, our deeds, our works, actions. It reveals the spiritual condition of our hearts.

In that courtroom, standing before the Judge, your heart will be on trial.

Prov 27:19
As water reflects a face,
so a man's heart reflects the man. (NIV)

And deeds reveal the heart.
answer (C)

Theological and Logical

Is the Covenant God made with Abraham conditional, or unconditional? Most will answer, and rightly so, that the Abrahamic Covenant is completely unconditional. God will accomplish and fulfill His covenant apart from any works or preset conditions upon mankind. If one answers unconditional, it will have theological, and logical conclusions. Here they are.

The unconditional fulfillment of God’s covenant with Abraham is fulfilled in the church, as all families of the earth are blessed by the seed of Abraham...Jesus. It is literally fulfilled by people believing the gospel, people from every nation. The unconditional aspect comes right back to the question of how do people become saved? Is it their choice, or God’s choice? The answer is both theological and logical. If the fulfillment of God’s Covenant with Abraham is God’s predetermined, unconditional, sovereign will and it is fulfilled by people from every nation believing the gospel, then a person’s belief in the gospel is God’s predetermined, unconditional, sovereign will. It’s not left to chance, or to the choice of man.

This is what’s known as a syllogism. A syllogism is a formal deductive argument made up of a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion. If the major, or minor premise is untrue, the conclusion will be untrue. If both the major and minor premise are true, the conclusion will always be true. Here’s an example:


Major premise: All birds have feathers.
Minor premise: Penguins are birds.
Conclusion: Penguins have feathers.

Let’s look at another syllogism:
Major premise: The Abrahamic Covenant is fulfilled by God’s unconditional, predetermined, sovereign will.
Minor premise: Individual belief in the gospel results in the fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant.
Conclusion: Individual belief in the gospel is God’s unconditional, predetermined, sovereign will for the individual.

God has not left the fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant into the hands of man’s choice, or into the hands of chance, or into the hands of God’s passive foreknowledge. God has not called His unconditional covenant conditional. If the fulfillment of the covenant is all His work (major premise), and the covenant is fulfilled by people being saved (minor premise), then people being saved is all His work (conclusion). Therefore, the gospel is impossible for a man, women, or child apart from a miraculous move of God’s grace to that individual.

Storms

Q. Did Jesus deliberately send His friends into that storm? YES

The excitement of this miraculous multiplication of food (Mark 6:32-44) was a lesson for the 12 disciples. The storm was the test, the exam after the lesson.

Q. How often does the Lord teach us something and then test us to see if we learned it? That has often been the case in my Christian life.

1 Peter 4:12
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;

Be discerning. Sometimes we are caught in a storm because we have disobeyed the Lord. Jonah is a good example of that. But sometimes the storm comes because we have obeyed the Lord. Because we are learning and growing in our faith.

Jesus had the 12 feed the thousands...He would supply the miraculous, they would supply the feet. Possibly up to 15,000 men, women and children were fed. He told them to get into groups of 50, and groups of 100. That would have been 75 groups of 100 people, and 150 groups of 50 people. 225 groups of people spread out over the grassy hills. The 12 disciples carried baskets full of food to each of these groups. Then they collected 12 baskets full of leftovers. It's getting late...dark...and after eating yourself, what's the last thing you want to do? Ya, row across the sea again. That's probably why the Scripture says Jesus, "made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side" (Mark 6:45).

Well, that evening, He brought the wind against His disciples, and they're struggling out there. It's after 3 am before Jesus walks by them...on the water. THEY DO NOT PASS THE TEST.

Jesus gets into the boat...calms the sea, and gives them an "F" for failure...and fear.

After they see that He calms the wind, Scripture says, "And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled. For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened" (Mark 6:51-52).

Their hearts are hard. They cannot grasp who Jesus is in their everyday life. They can't simply trust Him in the storm.

THEY MUST LEARN AND PASS THIS TEST...SO MUST WE.