How to Have a Happy New Year

                                                    New Year Message

                                                             Psalm 16

 

Mikhtam of David.

Preserve me, O God, for I take refuge in You.
² I said to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
I have no good besides You.”
³ As for the saints who are in the earth,
They are the majestic ones in whom is all my delight.
⁴ The sorrows of those who have bartered for another god will be multiplied;
I shall not pour out their drink offerings of blood,
Nor will I take their names upon my lips.

⁵ The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup;
You support my lot.
⁶ The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;
Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me.

⁷ I will bless the Lord who has counseled me;
Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night.
⁸ I have set the Lord continually before me;
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
⁹ Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will dwell securely.
¹⁰ For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol;
Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.
¹¹ You will make known to me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

 

INTRODUCTION

   If you look at the heading of this chapter you will notice the words "Mikhtam of David."  "Mikhtam" means "poem."  This is poem written by David.  Psalm 16 (our text) and Psalms 56-60 all have the heading "Mikhtam of David."

   The psalms were poems meant to be sung.  Thus, David was not only a ruler and king, a warrior, a musician who played the harp, but  also a poet.

   As we enter the New Year, we often greet one another with the words, "Happy New Year."

   But how can we truly experience a Happy New Year. 

   This Psalm explains to us how to have a happy new year.

   v. 11, "In Your presence is fullness of joy."

   How can we experience this "fullness of joy" as we enter 2016? 

   The word "fullness" in Hebrew is also translated "abundant."  How can we can experience this abundant joy in 2016.

   Ps. 122:1 says, “I was glad when they said unto me, let us go to the house of the Lord!” 

   When you woke up this morning what did you say to yourself?  Did you say, “Oh no! It’s another Sunday morning and I have to go to church!”

   Or did you say, “I am so glad today is Sunday.  I get to go to the house of the Lord, worship Him, meet Him in the sanctuary, and have the wonderful privilege to meet God's people.”

   But you might say, "But Pastor, my joy is in the inside."  That is good.  But let it out.  Don’t keep the joy inside only for you to enjoy; let it out for others to also enjoy. 

   By the way, the words "joy, rejoice, rejoicing glad, gladness and delight" appear over 650x. 

   Now in Gal. 5:22 we read that joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. 

   I once read of a little boy who used to escape his bedroom after being punished.  He would crawl out of his bedroom window down a tree near his window to the ground. One day, his father told the family  that he was going to chop down the tree because it hadn’t borne fruit for many years. That afternoon the boy and his friend bought a bushel of apples, and during the night, tied those apples on the barren branches. The next morning, the man could not believe his eyes.  He hollered to his wife, "Honey, I can’t believe it! That old tree has apple fruit.  But the most amazing thing is that it’s a pear tree!"

   Apples don’t belong to a pear tree.  Neither does true joy belong to the unbeliever.  As it is unnatural for a pear tree to bear apple fruits, it is unnatural for a Christian to be grumpy and grouchy. 

   The unbeliever may be joyful outside but inside he is hurting.

   Prov. 14:13, "Even in laughter the heart is sad."

   God alone can bring true joy inside and outside.

   Joy is not from the pleasures of the world, but in knowing Jesus.  As the hymn says, "Happiness is to  know the Savior."

  In the OT joy is expressed in many ways: dancing, singing, leaping, praising, and even shouting.  Joy is expressed outwardly.  Yes, joy is inward, in your heart; but also outward, displayed in dancing, praising, singing and leaping.  In the Bible joy is a celebration.

  And that is the way this church service should be - a celebration.  God is with us!  Hence, we need to celebrate in church. 

   God says joy is in Him. The devil says that joy is in sin.  The joy of the Lord is real; the joy of sin is counterfeit.  I prefer the real thing.

   Yes, the joy the world offers can be a pleasure for a season, for a while; but it leads to death.  "The wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:23).

   Yes, there will come sorrow and pain for the Christian.  But that sorrow and pain is temporary.  As the Bible says, "Weeping may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning" (Ps. 30:5).

   How to experience this "fullness of joy?"

 

1.  PICK THE PATH OF LIFE

2.  PICK THE INHERITANCE THAT LASTS

3.  PICK THE COUNSEL OF GOD

 

1.  PICK THE PATH OF LIFE

   v. 11, " You will make known to me the path of life;"

   Where is the path of life?

   The path of life is found in Jesus.

   John 10:10 (end), "I am come that they may have life and have it more abundantly."

  You have an enemy, the devil, who will prevent you to come to Christ, so that you might experience this abundant joy.

   That is why at the end of each service I close with an invitation for you to come to Jesus to be saved in order that you might realize the wonderful joy God has in store for you.

   I close each service with the invitation that you might pick the path of life.

   However, in my invitations you will notice that I no longer give the "Sinner's Prayer" at the altar call.  I have a reason for this.  I don’t want people to repeat this prayer with me and assume to be saved.  I don’t want to give a false assurance.  Many pray the Sinner's Prayer and are not truly born again.  And if I tell them that they are now saved and on the way to heaven I have given them a false hope. 

   This is not to say that some are not saved.  Yes, some are indeed saved repeating the sinner's prayer.  But not all. 

   The only one who can give the assurance of salvation is the Holy Spirit; after all, He alone can see the heart.  It is God who gives assurance.  Rom. 8:16 says.  "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God."  Only the Spirit can say that you are a child of God by faith because He alone knows if your faith is a saving faith.

  I cannot see what is in the heart.  Therefore, I should never given someone the assurance of salvation after they pray the Sinner Prayer, for perhaps they are not saved.

   Deut. 30:19, "I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live."

   God invites you to come to Jesus and live.

   Living a life of obedience to Christ brings joy.

   Living a life of disobedience to Christ brings sorrow.

  God is teaching me to live a life of discipline.  I had a very strict teacher in post-graduate school.  She was very strict and demanding.  I am now praying that God will be 100 times more strict to me that my most strict teacher so that I will be disciplined and grow. 

   The rich man in Mark 10 who came to Jesus left sorrowful because did not obey Jesus.

 

2.  PICK THE INHERITANCE THAT LASTS

   v. 5, "The Lord is the portion of my inheritance."

   When Israel finally possessed the land of Canaan, Joshua gave each tribe their portion, their territory.  Joshua may have said, "Ruben, this is your territory; Issachar, this is your territory; Simeon, this is your territory; Dan, this is your territory," and so forth.  But when it came to the tribe of Levi, there was no land or territory for them.  The tribe of Levi was the only tribe that did not receive their real estate.

   Num. 18:20, "Then the Lord said to Aaron, 'You shall have no inheritance in their land nor own any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance.'"

   The Levites did not receive any inheritance or land, but they had the best inheritance of all, God Himself.

   My wife and I have a house nearby.  It is real estate.  But better than than real estate is Jesus.

   The Bible says, "I am His and He is mine."

   Song of Solomon 6:3, "I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine."

   Paradox: I belong to God and God belongs to me.

   I possess God and God possesses me.

   No matter how what I do or what sin I commit God will continually possesses me.

   Rom. 8:38-39, "For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God. "

   God will not stop from possessing me no matter what I do.

   But how do we possess God? 

   One way is by meditation

   We possess God by meditating on Him and thinking of Him often.

   A Christian who does not think of God all day long is an absurdity. 

   Imagine you a parent not thinking of your child in school.  How absurd.

   God cannot be yours if He is never in your mind.

   v. 8, "I have set the Lord continually before me."

   David was saying God was in His mind continually.

   The 3 things that describe our society today are: hurry, noise, and crowd.

   When we are in a hurry, in a noisy place, and in a crowd we cannot meditate upon God. 

   Carl Jung, the well-known Swiss phychotherapist, said, "Hurry is not of the devil; it is the devil."

   Hurry, noise and crowds prevent us from contemplating about God.

 

3.  PICK THE COUSEL OF GOD

   v. 7, "I will bless the Lord who has counseled me."

   The counsel of God is good, and His counsel will lead you to the fullness of joy.

   God's counsel will lead you to make the right choices.

   But listening to God's counsel demands an obligation.  You cannot listen to God's good counsel and deviate from it; you have an obligation to obey it.

   God is all wise, therefore, He can offer you the best counsel ever.

   God in this psalm is pictured as a wise counselor - He offers wise advice and we accept it.

   God also offers you "round-the-clock" counsel.  Not simply 9 am to 5 pm counsel, but counsel regardless of day or time.

   And one counsel God offers you is for you to come to Jesus, live, have salvation, and receive the joyful life as we enter the

New Year.

 

INVITATION

   V. 11, "You will make known to me the path of life."  Do you yearn for this "path of life."  Come to Jesus.  He is the Savior of the world; and He can be your Savior if you invite Him into your life.

The Sin God Cannot Forgive

                                     THE SIN GOD CANNOT FORGIVE

                                                          MARK 3:22-30

 

TEXT:
     ²² The scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons.” ²³ And He called them to Himself and began speaking to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? ²⁴ If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. ²⁵ If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. ²⁶ If Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but he is finished! ²⁷ But no one can enter the strong man’s house and plunder his property unless he first binds the strong man, and then he will plunder his house.
   ²⁸ “Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; ²⁹ but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— ³⁰ because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”

 INTRODUCTION

  Note v. 28, "Truly, I say to you."  This phrase was only spoken by the Lord Jesus.  No  person in the Bible, Paul, Peter, James, or anyone else, used this phrase. 
   This phrase has two teachings:
   a)  what Jesus is about to say is so important, so listen carefully.  Take heed to these words.
   b)  only God can speak truth.  So if Jesus speaks truth ("Truly I say to you"), then Jesus must be God.  This is a good text confirming Jesus' deity.

 THE MESSAGE

  Title:  The Only Sin God Cannot Forgive
   We have all felt the need for forgiveness at one time or other.  Forgiveness is a universal need.
   God is a forgiving God.  He suffered and died on the cross to bring forgiveness.  He shed His blood on Calvary to bring forgiveness.   God did all He can to bring forgiveness.
   We serve a forgiving God.
   While God wants to forgive you, there is one sin He cannot forgive.
   v. 29, "but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin,"
   There is a sin that cannot be forgiven.  And the person who has committed this sin cannot enter heaven. 
   Matthew 12:32 is even more poignant.  "Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come."
   You might say, "Jesus paid for all sin at the cross."  Yes, Jesus paid for all sin at the cross, except this one sin.
   v. 29b - "an eternal sin".  Eternal sin because it is never forgiven. 
   Yes, God is a forgiving God; a pardoning God, a merciful God, and wants to forgive you.
   But the sad thing is that there are so many people who have committed this unpardonable sin and don’t know it, and are headed to an eternal hell.
   There are also people who think they have committed this unpardonable sin and have not.  They mistakenly think that these sins cannot be forgiven.

a.       Murder

b.      Genocide

c.       abortion

d.      domestic abuse or child molestation

While these sins are terrible, they are not unforgivable.

e.       Selling your soul to the devil.  Some make a pact with Satan: they sell their soul for fame, riches, or pleasure.  But they cannot sell their soul to the devil because each man's soul belongs to God (Eze. 18:4).  You cannot sell your soul to Satan because it does not belong to you.

    To understand what the unforgivable sin is, we must first understand how we are saved.

  To be saved we believe that Jesus is God, who became man, died at the cross in my place, rose again the third day, and receiving Him as Lord and Savior will save us.  Salvation is by faith in Jesus.
   Acts 15:9b, "cleansing their hearts by faith.”
   God has a huge eraser to erase all our sins no matter how rotten, wicked, awful they may be.
   So, if salvation is by faith in Jesus, then being lost is not believing in Jesus.
   Romans 1:16, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes."        
   So when preachers say that Jesus died for all sin, this is a general statement. 
   Jesus died for every sin; except one.  It is this sin that He cannot forgive.
   The Jewish leaders witnessed so many proofs that Jesus is God, yet they denied His deity.  Just in the first three chapters of Mark are seven proofs of Jesus' deity.

1.           Mark 1:23-25, healed a man with an unclean spirit.

2.           Mark 1:30-31, healed Peter's mother -in-law.

3.           Mark 1:40-43, healed a man with leprosy.

4.           Mark 2:1-12, healed the paralytic man carried by four friends.

5.           Mark 3:1-5, healed a ma with a withered hand.

6.           Mark 3:10, healed many

7.           Mark 3:11, healed those with unclean spirits.

   So Pharisees and Sadducees witnessed so many miracles validating Jesus is God.  Yet they refused to believe in Jesus

   Their attitude was:
   a)  I don’t care what you say, I still won't believe.
   b)  I don’t care what proofs you present, I still won't believe.
   The demons believed, but not the Pharisees and Sadducees.
   In Mark 1:24 we read what the demons believed Jesus was from God, "I know who you are - the Holy One of God."
   Still true today.  There are so many proof of Jesus' deity, yet many deny it. 
   Many say: He is a good teacher, a moral teacher, a healer, a reformer, a visionary, a propjet.  But they fall short by not saying that He is God.
   Why do people deny Jesus is God? So they can be their own god.  They want to be the god of their lives, so they deny Jesus is God.
   C.S. Lewis, the famous English author, said, "When Jesus claimed to be God, there were only three options. Either He is God or He is a lunatic, or He is a liar.”
   We too are left with these three options.
   If you believe Jesus is God, can have a personal relationship with Him.
   If believe He is a liar or lunatic, you cannot have a personal relationship with Him.
   Now let us look at the context.
   v. 22, "The scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, 'He is possessed by Beelzebub,' and 'He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons.'"
    The scribes, the theologians in Israel, Bible scholars, the preserver of Judaism.  And they did not believe in Jesus; instead they said He came from Satan (Beelzebub). 
   This is the unforgivable sin: not to believe Jesus is from God.  This is the context of the unforgivable sin.  So, anyone who does not believe Jesus is God has committed the unpardonable sin.
   Note in v. 22 it was the scribes who spoke these words. 
   But in Matthew 9:34 it was another group who spoke these same words, "But the Pharisees were saying, “He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons.”  
   So it was not only the scribes, but also the Pharisees who said Jesus' power came from the ruler of demons.  In this context Jesus mentions the unforgivable sin.
   So Jesus was saying that these scribes, Sadducees and Jewish leaders who deny that Jesus came from God have committed the unforgiveable sin.
   To the Pharisees and scribes His power to heal was from Satan.
   Now look at v. 30, "because they were saying, 'He has an unclean spirit."  They believed Jesus was demon-possessed and His power came from Satan; this is the unforgiveable sin.
   The first rule of Biblical interpretation is "Context Rules."   Always examine the context to discover the correct interpretation of Scripture. 
   Incidentally, another name for Satan is Beelzebub.
   Mark 3:22 (end) in reference to Beelzebub, "the ruler of the demons.”
   Luke 11:15, "But some of them said, 'He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of te demons.'”  How clear, Beelzebub is Satan the ruler of demons. 
   So these Pharisees and scribes were saying that Jesus served the ruler of the demons.
   Fortunately, Jesus disproved the Scribes and Pharisees in v. 23-26, "How can Satan cast out Satan? ²⁴ If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. ²⁵ If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. ²⁶ If Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but he is finished!"
   Jesus was saying: Why would Satan go against Satan? Why would darkness fight against darkness?  Your reasoning is nonsensical or ridiculous.
   So if the power of Jesus did ot come from Satan, then we are left with only one other option: God.  If Jesus' power did not come from Satan, then it must come from above.. 
   To repeat, this unforgiveable sin is not believing who Jesus is: Son of God, Lord and Savior. who came to save sinners.     
   v. 29 - " but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness,"
   The unpardonable sin is also referred to as "blasphemes against the Holy Spirit."
   The function of the Holy Spirit is to lead sinners to Christ.  The blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is not to listen to the Holy Spirit's appeal to come to Jesus.  
   If you believe Jesus came from the Father, in order to be saved you must commit to these three things.

 INVITATION:  The ABC of Salvation

   A - Acknowledge you are a sinner.
    B - Believe in Jesus as God who became man and died for you, and rose on the third day.
    C - Confess Him as your personal Lord ad Savior.
    Rom. 10:9, "That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;"

The Benefits of the New Covenant

                                  THE BENEFITS OF THE NEW COVENANT
    During the Last Supper Jesus declared, "This is the new covenant in my blood" (Luke 22:20).  He repeated these words in 1 Corinthians 11:25, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood." 
   We will see today what the benefits are of the new covenant which Jesus established during the Last Supper.  Hence, I entitled this sermon, The Benefits of the New Covenant. 

 I.  Covenant Defined

  A covenant is an agreement between two parties:
   a)  husband and wife (how to raise their child)
   b)  between two people (a friendship pact)
   c)  between two nations (an alliance)
   d)  between God and man.

   According to the Bible, in the covenant between God and man, God sets the terms or conditions.  God is pure and perfect.  Therefore, He alone is in the position to set the terms and conditions of the covenant.

   Sinful man is not in a position to set the terms of the covenant because we have sinned against God.  God is the offended, innocent party; He sets the terms.
   The result of the new covenant is friendship with God.  But this friendship with God is not something that we deserve or earn; it is a gift. 
   This is good news: we do not have to be enemies with God.  Through Christ we become His friends. 
   If I was to define the New Covenant in two words, what would that be?  Jesus Christ.
   Jesus Christ is the embodiment, the essence of the New Covenant.  Without Jesus, there would be no New Covenant.

 II.  The New Covenant Was Prophesied

    Jer. 31:31, "'Behold, days are coming,'” declares the Lord, 'when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah,'"
    Mal. 3:1, "“Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,' says the Lord of hosts."
   But why do we need a new covenant?
   Heb 8:13, "When He said, 'A new covenant,'  He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear." (Note "obsolete" appears twice in this verse).  Therefore, a New Covenant was needed to replace what has become obsolete. 

 III.  The New Covenant Was Established by Jesus Christ

    Heb 7:22, "So much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant."
   Jesus established a better covenant, better than the first.
   Heb. 8:6, "But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant." 
   Yes, the new covenant is better than the previous one. 

 IV. The New Covenant Was Established by the Blood of Jesus Christ

    Luke 22:20, "And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.."
    1 Cor. 11:24-25, "And when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, 'This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.'  In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.'”
    By the way, only God can establish a covenant.  Since Christ established this covenant, therefore, Jesus must be God.   This is a good proof-text of Jesus' deity.

V.  The Five Benefits of the New Covenant

A.  Forgiveness of Sins
   The Old Covenant could not forgive sins because it was based on the blood of rams, goats, sheep and lambs.  Only the blood of Jesus can wash away our sin.
   In the Old Covenant, sins were not blotted out, because Jesus had not yet died.  So, sins in Old Testament were simply covered.  But when Jesus died and established the New Covenant, sins were completed removed; not simply coverefd.
   Eph. 1:7, "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses,"  Forgiveness is based on the blood of Jesus poured out at the cross.
   If there could have been forgiveness of sin in Old Covenant, then Jesus would not have had to die. 
   As Christians, all our sins - past, present, future - have been paid for and dealt with once and for all at the cross.  There is no more God can do to bring forgiveness; it has all been done once and for all at Calvary. 
   1 John 1:7b, "and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin."  Cleanses us from past sins, cleanses us from present sins, and cleanses us from future sins.
   At the cross God has dealt with sin finally and absolutely, perfectly and completely. 
  Forgiveness is not because of our merit, our righteousness, or our goodness; but by the blood of Jesus.

 2.  Access to the Father

    Heb. 10:22, "Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith. "
    Let us look at the contrast between the Old and New Covenant.
   In the Old Covenant only the High Priest was able to enter the Holy of Holies, and only once a year (during Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement).  The Holy of Holies represented God's Presence.  No one else was allowed to enter. 
   The waist of the High Priest would be tied with a rope just in case of an emergency.  For example, if the High Priest collapsed, had a stroke, a heart attack, or suddenly died, no one was allowed to enter to rescue him.  So the priests who waited outside  had to pull him by the rope.  The key point is that only the High Priest could enter God's very Presence, and only once a year.
   But in the New Testament every believer in Jesus can enter God's presence, not just once a year, but as often as one desired. 
   Heb 10:19, "Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus,"
   Yes, as believers, we have the confidence to enter God's presence daily; and many times daily.

 3.  Delivered Us From the Law

    The Old Covenant was built upon the Law; the New Covenant was built upon Grace. 
   John 1:17, " For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ."
   The Old Covenant, called the Law, came from Moses; the New Covenant came from Jesus Christ.
   Rom. 6:14b, "For you are not under law but under grace."
   Rom. 7:4, "Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead."
   Gal. 4:4-5, "But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, ⁵ so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons."
   We were delivered from the Law because the Law kills.
   Rom. 8:3, "For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh,"
   We see here two facts.
   First, notice the phrase "what the Law could not do."  The Law could not save us.  Therefore, God sent His Son to save us by "an offering of sin."  That is the crux of the gospel. 
   Secondly, notice the phrase "weak as it was."  The Law was weak to save and redeem us.  Thus we needed the New Covenant that can save.

 4. Saves and Keeps Us Saved

    The Old Covenant cannot save.  The New Covenant saves can keeps us saved.
   Heb. 7:25, "Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them."
   In the Old Testament the High Priest would die, and be replaced with another High Priest who would later die and be replaced again with another High Priest, and so on.  The High Priest would die, and a dead High Priest cannot give Life.
   But this verse says that "He always lives."  Jesus lives forever; therefore, He can give Life. 
   A dead person cannot give Life.  Jesus can give Life because He lives forever.
   But in our verse, Heb  7:25, "He is able also to save forever."  Why save forever?  Because He lives forever. 
   Notice the phrase "save forever."  This is the clearest verse in Scripture on the security of the believer. 
   In other words, our salvation is certain and secure.    
   Christ died to save us, and now lives forever to keep us saved forever.
   The Romans would shake hands forearm to forearm.  This was their handshake.  One forearm is mine, the other is Christ.  While I may let go of Christ, He never lets go of me.  Thus, I am safe and secure in His strong arms.
   1 Peter 1:5 KJV, "Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation."  It is God's power that keeps me saved.  If it depended on my power, I would lose my salvation.   

5.  Established a New Priesthood

    Only priests could enter the temple, which represented the presence of God.  Only a few, the descendants of Levi, were permitted to enter the temple, God's dwelling place on earth.
   But today all believers everywhere are priests; therefore, all believers worldwide  have the privilege to enter God's presence..
   This doctrine is called, "The Priesthood of the Believer."
   1 Peter 2:9, "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession."
   Rev. 1:6,  "And He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father."

 INVITATION

  If the Old Covenant, the Law, could not save, why then did God give us the Law?
   Gal. 3:24, "Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith."
   Notice here two facts:
   First, the Law was given "to lead us to Christ."  The Law was like a signboard pointing to Jesus.
   Second, this verse says we are "justified by faith."
   It is faith on Him who died for you that saves you.  And because He lives, you live.

The Man God Chooses

                                    THE MAN GOD CHOOSES

                                                   MARK 3:13-19

                       

TEXT
   ¹³ And He went up on the mountain and summoned those whom He Himself wanted, and they came to Him. ¹⁴ And He appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach, ¹⁵ and to have authority to cast out the demons. ¹⁶ And He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom He gave the name Peter), ¹⁷ and James, the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James (to them He gave the name Boanerges, which means, “Sons of Thunder”); ¹⁸ and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot; ¹⁹ and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him."

    Premise:  Jesus needs humble disciples to continue His earthly ministry. 

    With: a) so many sick to be healed; b) so many demon-possessed  to be set free c) so much preaching still needed; d) so many worshippers of false gods and false idols; d) so many sinners in need of the gospel, Jesus needed disciples to share in His work.
   And His work is still not finished.  There are still countless millions outside the fold.
   Thus, Jesus chose twelve to continue and share in His work.
   According to Luke 6:12 Jesus prayed all night, and then chose 12.  Luke 6:12, "It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God."
   He prayed all night so that He would sclect the right people.
  Was choosing Judas a mistake?  No.  Prophecy predicted that Jesus would be betrayed, so one of the twelve had to betray Him.
   Zechariah lived in the 6th century BC, over 500 years before Christ,  He predicted in Zech 11:12-13 that Jesus would be betrayed, and even gave the exact amount, 30 pieces of silver.  And then prophesied that he would cast it back into the temple,.  This prophecy was fFulfilled by Judas to the tiniest detail.
   No, Jesus did not make a mistake by choosing Judas.. 
   v. 13, "And He went up on the mountain."
   In the mountain Jesus withdrew from the crowd.
   There is a time to minister; and a time to withdrew to be alone with God.
   A.T. Robertson says that Jesus went to a mountain alone for four reasons:
   a)  to escape His enemies.  Did not want to be arrested and crucified before His time.
   b)  to pray
   c)  to rest His weary body
   d)  to teach His disciples privately without interruption.

    v. 13. "And He went up on the mountain and summoned those whom He Himself wanted."

  God did not have to save you, but He did.
   He did not have to choose you, but He did.
   God does the choosing for salvation, God does the choosing for discipleship.
   You might say that the 12 chose to follow Christ.
   Yes, they chose to follow Christ, because before the foundation of the world God already chose them.
   So the ones God chose to follow Christ were the very ones Jesus chose.
   John 15:16, "You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you."
   Because the Father chose them, they came to Jesus.
   v. 14,15, "And He appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach, ¹⁵ and to have authority to cast out the demons."
   v. 14, "And He appointed twelve."
   According to Matthew Henry, "He appointed them" means He laid hands on them like an ordination service..  Perhaps, but not in Bible.
    "And He appointed twelve."
   These twelve were ordinary people
  1 Cor. 1:26, "For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble."
   1 Cor. 1:27, "But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong,"
   To the world these 12 were insignificant & unimportant.
   But not to Jesus.
   Look at our church:  any here rich and famous, any mighty, any of high social standing, any of nobility?
   The 12, were not known for their education, wisdom, intelligence or nobility.  They were men without distinction.
   When we choose leaders, we look for the most talented, gifted, experienced, educated.  But not Jesus.
   He chose ordinary, unimportant, insignificant  men.
   2 Cor. 12:11 (at end of verse, Paul referring to himself ), "Even though I am a nobody."
   Are you a nobody? There's hope for you. 
   Btw, Jesus had no plan B.  If these 12 failed to continue Christ's work, Christendom would have ended in the first century.
   And if we do not proclaim the gospel to the next generation, Christendom will end in our generation.

    They were slow-learners. 

   Matt. 15:16 NASB, "Jesus said, 'Are you still lacking in understanding?'"
   Matt. 15:16 NIV, "Are you still so dull?"
   Matt. 15:16 Living Bible, "Don’t you understand?"

   See Jesus 5 task for the twelve:

I.  ASSOCIATION
   14, "so that they would be with Him."
   Not weekly, but constantly, but 24/7. 
   Our power as we abide in Him constantly. 
   Power from above as we walk with the Lord.
   Acts 4:13, " Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus."
   Disciples not educated, not learned people, but powerful.  Powerful because they rccognized they has "been with Jesus."
   Their power not from themselves, but from Jesus.
   "they might be with" in Greek is one word, "Osin."  It is present, active.  They are to be with Jesus present tense, always, continually.  And active voice, they must make every effort to be with, walk with and fellowship with Jesus.

 2.  EDUCATION

  Jesus would leave the planet earth soon, return to the Father shortly, and He needed men and women who would spread His message after He was gone.  Thus, Jesus needed to teach them all they needed to know before His departure. And they learned from the Master Teacher, they learned by His example, and they learned by doing what Jesus did.
   Initially, they were untrained and uneducated and unusable.  But by th end of the third year they were trained, educated and usable.
   FAT was a quality these twelve men had: Faithful, Available, Teachable.
   God will only use FAT believers: faithful, available, and teachable.

 3.  PROCLAMATION

  V. 14, "send them out to preach"
  Remember that in those days there were no newspapers, printing press, internet, TV, Radio, Social Media to disseminate His Word.  Only had people to rely on.
   Receivers must be Givers.  As the Twelve received the Good News of eternal life in Christ, they were to share that Good News of eternal life through Jesus Christ.
   They preached salvation thru grace alone, faith alone, Christ alone: based on the Christ's death and resurrection alone.
   John 20:21, "So Jesus said to them again, 'Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”
   The Twelve may have said, "I can't share the Gospel."
   They were empowered by the Holy Spirit.
   You too may say, "I can't share the Gospel."
   You too are empowered by the Holy Spirit.
   We can go and tell because we are empowered by the Holy Spirit. 
    Never say you cannot. 
   You have power because you have the Holy Spirit.
   But that power inside you must be released.
   Power as we abide in Jesus.
   William Fitch:  "What I give, God takes; what God takes, He cleanses; what He cleanses, He fills; and what He fills He uses."
   We release that power in us as we seek His holiness.
   "Take time to be holy, Speak oft with the Lord Abide in Him always. And feed on His Word."
   That is our source of power.
   Jesus did not only give them a message to proclaim, but also the power to proclaim that message.

 4.  DEMON-EXPULSION

    v. 15, "and to have authority to cast out the demons."     
   Casting our demons authenticated Jesus was from God.  Casting our demons authenticated that Jesus' message was also from God.
   Only God can cast our demons; and if Jesus cast out demons, He must be God.
   That is authority that the scribes, Pharisees, rabbis did not have.

 5.  HEALING

  Difference between KJV and NASB in Mark 3:15.
   NASB - "and to have authority to cast out the demons.."
   KJV - "And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:"
   Part of the ministry of the twelve was to heal the sick.  We see this confirmed in Matthew 10:8, "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons."
   Their power came not from them, but from Jesus.  Therefore, Jesus receives the glory for healing.

 INVITATION

  This Labor day weekend we are blessed to live in a free country.  We are blessed to have freedom. 
   And we have the freedom to choose hell following our own way; or freedom to choose heaven following God's way.
   And God's way is through Jesus Christ.
   John 14:6, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me."

The Three Responses Towards Christ

                    THE THREE RESPONSES TOWARDS CHRIST

                                                   MARK 3:7-12

 

Text:

   Jesus withdrew to the sea with His disciples; and a great multitude from Galilee followed; and also from Judea, ⁸ and from Jerusalem, and from Idumea, and beyond the Jordan, and the vicinity of Tyre and Sidon, a great number of people heard of all that He was doing and came to Him. ⁹ And He told His disciples that a boat should stand ready for Him because of the crowd, so that they would not crowd Him; ¹⁰ for He had healed many, with the result that all those who had afflictions pressed around Him in order to touch Him. ¹¹ Whenever the unclean spirits saw Him, they would fall down before Him and shout, “You are the Son of God!” ¹² And He earnestly warned them not to tell who He was.

INTRODUCTION

   When Jesus began His ministry, He faced many pressures of life. 

   A) The Religious Leaders who sought to find fault in Him and later to kill Him.

   B)  The Crowds who were constantly coming to Him to be healed, day and night.

   C)  His Disciples who needed to be mentored and trained properyly.

   D)  His Family, including His mother and earthly brothers and sisters who wanted to visit with Him.

   E)  The Devil who opposed and hindered His work.

    Thus, in v. 7 we read, "Jesus withdrew to the sea with His disciples."  There is a time to work and a time for leisure.  A time for feasting and a time for fasting.

    So here Jesus retreats to be alone with His disciples, for R&R, rest and recreation, to feed his soul, focus on His Father, and regain a prespective of what things are important and what things are not important.

   Every believer needs to find time alone with God to find nourishment for his soul and to discover power from above.

   Every believer needs a Quiet Time (QT) wih God.

   Elijah by the Brook Cherish for quiet meditation.  

TITLE OF MESSAGE

THE THREE RESPONSES TTOWARDS JESUS

   In our passage we see three kinds of people: the Committed, the Curious, and the Condemned - the 3 C's.

 1.  The Committed

    v. 7, "Jesus withdrew to the sea with His disciples."

    Exccpt fo Judas Iscariot, the disciples were committed to the cause of Christ.  They followed Christ for three years and were by His side the whole time.  They were not just believers, they were followers.

   The need today is for Christians not only to believe in Him, which is a good start, but to commit to Him.

   God is Lord and Master.  He has the right to demand your commitment to Him.  Nothing less will please Him.

   The Lord demands commitment to personal holiness.

   Be holy as God is holy.

   Be holy as Christ is pure.

   Be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect.

   Commitment to holiness without which no man will see the Lord.

   In the days of Cavalry soldiers had to have clean swords.  Remove every blemish, spot, dirt, grim, filth. 

   We are a sword, and a clean sword is mighty before God.

2.  The Curious

   v. 7, "and a great multitude from Galilee followed." 

   They came from all over:

     v. 8, "from Jerusalem, and from Idumea, and beyond the Jordan, and the vicinity of Tyre and Sidon,"

   They did not come to follow Christ.  They came either to be healed.

      v. 10, "for He had healed many."  They came far and wide just to be healed; not to know the truth, to be saved, or to follow the Master.  They came for healing.

   I like what B.B. Warfield, Professor of Princeton Seminary commented:  Jesus made His home at Capernaum, so many healed in His hometown.  Word spread, so people from all over, travelling hundreds of miles would come to be healed, as He was known as a Healer.  That is why people came from Idumea, Tyre and Sidon.

   I remember a time there was a famous and colorful faith-healer in Baguio City, Philippines, named Jun Labo.  Many foreigners came to see him in Baugio to be healed.  In our account, many came as well from far lands to be healed in Capernaum. 

   Jesus healed all kinds of sicknesses to show His power over sicknesses. 

   Here we see Christ's power over the natural world; in the next section we will see His power over the supernatural world.

   v. 7, "and a great multitude followed."  Crowds do not prove an effective ministry.  Many cults and false religions can draw crowds, but their ministry before God is not effective. 

   Jesus healed them to show He is God. 

   Man could not heal in those days with primitive medicine, primitive instruments, and primitive knowledge.  So if a man healed had to be God.

   Today, many say, "In the name of the Lord I heal you."  Jesus never had to say this becaue He is Lord.  . 

 3.  The Condemned

  v. 11, "Whenever the unclean spirits saw Him, they would fall down before Him and shout, “You are the Son of God!”

   In the audience were unclean spirits.  Jesus cast them out to show His power over demons and the power of darkness.

   Jesus has power over the physical and spiritual world, the natural and the supernatural world.

   Notice tha the demons declared to Jesus, "You are the Son of God!”  The demons knew who Jesus is. 

   John MacArthur makes a comment that in his study of the book of Mark, no Jew ever called Jesus "Son of God."

   John MacArthur observed that in three occasions Jesus is called the "Son of God."

   A).  Mark 1:11.  At Jesus' baptism God the Father says, "You are my Beloved Son, in You I am well ;pleased."

   B)  Mark 3:11 (our text).  The demons cry out to Jesus, "You  are the Son of God."

   C)  Mark 15:39, "When the centurion, who was standing right in front of Him, saw the way He breathed His last, he said, 'Truly this man was the Son of God!'”

   No Jew confessed Jesus was the Son of God in the book of Mark.  This is paramount to saying that in general, the Jewish nation rejected Jesus as God, Messiah, and Savior.  There were few exceptions, but in general, a great majority rejected Jesus Messiahship and Lordship.

   Why?  What I believe.  Jews try to obtain righteousness by adherence to the Law.  Jesus said righteousness is by faith in Him. 

   Jews sought human righteousness; God demands Christ's righteousness.

   The same is true today.  Few Jews saved because they seek salvation by human righteousness.

   Future of Satan? 

   Rev. 20:10, "And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever."

 A Word About Healing

  v. 10, "for He had healed many, with the result that all those who had afflictions pressed around Him in order to touch Him."

   Many healed.  Many touched Him and were healed.

   As a pastor, many come to me to ask for prayer for healing.

   There are two kinds of healing prayer: selfish, man-focused prayer; and Kingdom-focused, God-centered prayer.  What is the difference?

   If you are sick and simply want to be healed, that is selfish, man-focused prayer.  I refuse to pray that prayer.  All they want is to be healed; nothing more.  I will nolt pray healing for them.

   The prayer I pray for the sick is Kingdom prayer.  In this prayer there are three requirements:

   A)  The sick person (or his/her family) must admit they want healing.  Some do not want healing.  No need to pray for healing if they do not desire it.

   B)  The sick perosn (or his/her family) must have "faith in God" (Mark 11:22), and continue to have faith in God for healing.

   C)  After the healing the sick person with his or her family must: a) thank God for healing; b) tell others how that sick person was healed (testifying); and c) follow Christ.  If the sick person and his/her family is not willing to thank God for healing, testify to others of God's healing power; and follow the Lord, then the healing prayer is selfish and man-centered. 

 INVITATION

    Last invitation in Bible found in last chapter.

   Rev. 22:17b (KJV), "And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."

   Come to Him, drink of Him. 

   He alone can quench your thirst.

  He alone is the anchor for your perishing soul.