Monthly Archives: June 2022

Matthew 17- Passion of The Christ Part 2

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And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry. Matthew 17:22-23

Today’s scripture reading is only two scriptures, however it’s the core to the entire Bible. The gospel of Jesus Christ, is the foundation for our faith, it’s the only reason we have any hope in this world, that Christ died, Christ is Risen, and Christ will come again! As the Apostle Paul said “If Christ is not Risen, then our faith is useless” (1 Corinthians 15:14)

Now the amazing thing is Christ foretold about his death and resurrection multiple times to his disciples, however when it happened, they still didn’t understand it. Even today many people still don’t understand the gospel, they don’t understand why Christ had to die on the cross, they don’t understand why Christ rose on the 3rd day, and they forget that Christ is coming back again to establish Gods eternal Kingdom

Notice the response of the disciples “they were exceeding sorry or deeply grieved” why? Because they thought the Kingdom of God was being established at that moment, they believed Jesus Christ would take his Earthly throne in Jerusalem and wipe out the Romans , and they would be ruling with The Messiah. They were not far off, but there timing was wrong. Christ didn’t come first to establish his Earthly Kingdom, but to first save people from their sins

The problem of sin, was overlooked during that day as it’s overlooked this day. We have all fallen short and are sinners (Romans 3:23) God can’t be reconciled with his people until they become Born Again (John 3) we need to be cleansed of our sin and justified before God. This is why Jesus Christ had to die on the cross, and this is why we all need to Repent and be filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38-39)

Now I grieve the death of Christ just as I’m sure all of us do and should, and the disciples were exceedingly sorry or deeply grieved. However because God so loved the world that Christ willingly laid down his life for you to pay the penalty of your sins. Jesus Christ knew his mission was to be the Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world, this is why he foretold his disciples multiple times that he would be killed. Just as the prophet Isaiah foretold throughout Chapter 53, Christ is the suffering servant, despised and rejected, for our sins. This should make you love The Lord even more, that he loved you enough to lay down his life for yours!

And on the 3rd Day, Christ rose from the dead, defeating sin and death forever. The curse that is upon us all is death from the wages of our sins. But Jesus Christ became our curse to remove the curse from us (Galatians 3:13) The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the Good News for a reason, because Christ paid the penalty for your sins, and defeated sin and death, so that you may inherit eternal life and live with God , Amen!

Matthew 17- Power of Faith

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And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. Matthew 17:14-16

Here we see an example, where a man brought his son to the disciples to be healed, and they couldn’t cure him. Now this brings up some questions, why did the disciples fail to heal this boy? Was it due to their lack of faith? Was it due to the boy’s lack of faith? Was it not God’s will for the boy to be healed? Now first we see the demonstration of faith by the Father, as he took his son to Christ and said “Lord , have mercy on my son”

Another thing we need to acknowledge here, is this is not just an illness or medical issue, this was a demonic force that had a grasp on the boy. Meaning , the disciples were not just fighting against flesh and blood here, they were fighting against spiritual demonic forces. Were they prepared spiritually to fight this battle? Are we prepared to fight the spiritual warfare around us? (Ephesians 6)

Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Matthew 17:17-20

Jesus answers all our questions here, first he calls them all a “Faithless and Perverse Generation” doesn’t sound like the cuddly Jesus they teach in Sunday School. Christ rebukes the disciples for having no faith, this is why they couldn’t cast out the demon. This brings up a good point, not only does the person, who needs to be healed needs faith, but the one praying for them needs faith also. Asking for faithless people to pray for you is useless, faith is the foundation of our salvation. Without faith you can’t please God (Hebrews 11:6) and you can’t be saved (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Christ rebuked the demon and cast them out immediately, the disciples’ response was “Why could we not cast them out”? Jesus said “Because of your unbelief” , you need to have true faith in Christ! Most people hope and wish God would do something, this doesn’t impress God, you need faith, total assurance that Christ is able!

Jesus said with faith the size of a mustard seed, you can move mountains. All it takes is faith in Christ! Surrender yourself to The Lord, put your faith in Jesus Amen!

Matthew 17- Transfiguration Of Christ

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And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only. Matthew 17:1-8

Today we look at an event, where Jesus gives some of his disciples a revelation on the future of his glorification, but also demonstrates the New Covenant. When The Lord Jesus appeared to Peter, James, and John, his face shined like the sun. This is the same way , the Apostle John of Revelation described Christ, The Lord was showing them his future glorification after the cross and empty tomb

But also we see Moses and Elijah here on the mountain with Jesus. Now the first thought is these men are supposed to be dead, but they are alive and well in Heaven. Those people who support the concept of “soul sleep” would have a hard time explaining how Moses and Elijah are alive and standing with Jesus. But more importantly, it’s what these men represent. Moses represents The Law and Elijah represents The Prophets. As Jesus said “I did not come to abolish the Law and Prophets but to Fulfill “ (Matthew 5:17) This is a representation of the New Covenant of Christ. 

And more importantly we hear the voice of God the Father affirming who Christ is “This is my beloved Son, whom I am well pleased, listen to him” The Father also affirmed Christ at his baptism. But it also reminds you of Mt. Sinai when Moses stood before God in the cloud and was delivered The Law. Now the Church is receiving the Living Word of God, Jesus Christ, the chief cornerstone

And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead. And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist. Matthew 17:9-13

Now notice Jesus didn’t want his disciples to tell anyone what they saw, until the Son of Man is glorified, why? Because Jesus wanted people to come to Christ in faith, we see this over and over again throughout his ministry. Then once Christ rose from the dead on the 3rd day, the gospel was and still is preached everywhere to everyone.

Another thing is the fulfillment of John the Baptist is revealed, it was prophesied the Elijah must come before the Messiah (Malachi 4:5-6) Christ reveals this was fulfilled by John the Baptist, the Messenger of The Lord

The Transfiguration of Christ, gives some disciples a future glimpse and revelation of who Jesus is, and about the New Covenant has come, Amen!

Matthew 16- Carry Your Cross

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Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Matthew 16:24-26

So you think it’s easy to be a Christian? Listen to the words of The Lord Jesus Christ “Deny yourself, carry your cross, and follow me” These are initial commands given by Christ if you want to be His disciple. These commands are in complete opposition to today’s “Christianity”. The false religion of today tells us “Jesus loves you just as you are” while Jesus said “Deny Yourself” meaning repent! Today’s Christianity teaches “health, wealth, and prosperity” but Christ taught “Carry Your Cross”, meaning your life isn’t going to be an easy walk, it’s going to be a walk of persecution, sacrifice, and service for God’s Kingdom

Today’s false religion tells you to “Follow your Heart” but Jesus said to “Follow Him”, if your going to be a Christian, then you need to be a servant of Christ! Jesus said “Whoever will save his life, will lose it, whoever will lose his life, shall find it” These words of Christ tear apart the foundation of false Christianity today. While the Church today worries more about the budget than they care about saving souls!

What does it profit you to gain the whole world and lose your soul? While we live in a world focused on making money and buying possessions, these things will not save your soul from Hell. Most people today don’t even believe in Hell, because their Pastors don’t preach about it and modern day theologians have watered down the concept, but the majority of civilization is headed for eternal torment! Jesus Christ is the only cure, focus on The Lord and not of this world

For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom. Matthew 16:27-28

When Christ returns , he shall reward everyone according to their works, many today would say you’re a “legalist” or this is “works based salvation”, but these are the words of Jesus Christ. You can’t be a Born Again Christian and just sit on your couch watching people go to Hell, you need to preach the gospel as commanded to us by Christ himself (Matthew 28:19)

Secondly, your “works” doesn’t determine your salvation, it’s the works of Christ that saved you. However if you are Born Again and filled with the Holy Spirit, then there should be fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5, Matthew 7) or evidence of your conversion. Your “works” don’t make you saved but are evidence that you are saved

If you think being a Christians is an easy walk, look at the life of Jesus, look at the life of the Apostles, look at the life of the early Church, our hope and promise is in the resurrection of Christ and God’s eternal Kingdom, Amen!