Monthly Archives: August 2022

Matthew 26- Never ReBorn

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Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him. Matthew 26:14-16

When you try to think of the most evil names in human history, Judas is on the top of the list. Even people who are not Christians, can associate the name of Judas, with being a great villain. Probably one of the most hated people in history is Judas Iscariot, so how did this man become an Apostle? Was Judas ever really saved? Why did Christ allow Judas in his inner circle, when he knew Judas was going to betray him?

Whenever you talk about Judas, many thoughts and theological conversations are sparked. As we often hear “God works in mysterious ways” , God actually fulfilled His will by using the evil of Judas that was meant for Christ’s harm. It’s amazing how even when Satan thinks he’s won a battle, God is always in complete control. 

And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. Zechariah 11:12

Judas loved money more than he loved God, this is why Jesus warned about the love of money through his ministry (Matthew 19:24) Money has become Judas’ god, and when the opportunity came to make 30 pieces of silver, Judas chose his god, money. The amazing thing is God already knew this was going to happen, as prophesied by Zechariah

In the gospel of Luke it says “Satan entered Judas, then he discussed ways to betray Jesus” (Luke 22:3-4) So we see a storm brewing here, Judas love for money , then Satan uses that lust to betray Christ. It’s clear that Judas had a heart issue, he didn’t love The Lord God with all his heart, mind, soul, and strength. In the gospel of Mark it says “Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus” (Mark 14:11) So this was a premeditated crime, this was not a spontaneous act by Judas, he planned this out driven by his lust for money

 Then Jesus made the statement at the Last Supper “It would be better for him if he not been born” (Matt. 26:24) ,Christ revealed someone would betray him and there would be eternal damnation.  Judas replied was “Surely, not I Rabbi” and Christ replied “ You have said it yourself” (Matthew 26:25) Jesus called Judas out on his sin , before he even committed it, and Judas still denied it, like the devil he is

Reminds me of a quote from JC Ryle “Except a man be Born Again, he will wish he was never born at all”  Judas clearly wasn’t Born Again and He now probably wishes he was never born , as he’s most likely in Hell

Even though Judas Iscariot, was one of the original Apostles, he was never saved, he never loved Christ. He attended all the meetings, even broke bread with The Lord, but he never became Born Again!

Matthew 26- The Anointing

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Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table. But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. Matthew 26:6-9

The first shocking part of this story , is a Leper named Simon was hosting a dinner, as we know from the Old Covenant, people with leprosy were outcasts and not allowed to associate with “clean” people in society. (Leviticus 13:46) However it’s clear, the former Leper named Simon was healed by Christ! This story is an indication of the New Covenant, this story demonstrates who Jesus truly is, The Christ, the Son of God, The Lord in the flesh

The woman is identified in the gospel of John, as Mary, the sister of Lazarus (John 12) So not only did Jesus heal Simon the Leper, who may have been the father of Mary, but Christ also raised Lazarus from the dead. It’s very clear to this family who Jesus is, they know He is the Son of God, and they are honoring him with the praise Christ is worthy of receiving.

The ointment or perfume was worth alot of money, it was estimated to be worth almost a year’s salary. (John 12:5) Judas , who Jesus called a devil (John 6:70)obviously cared more about money than he did about honoring Christ. The heart issue of Judas was revealed, even though he had seen the same miracles this family witnessed, he rejected Christ and loved the world more!

But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me. For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her. Matthew 26:10-13

Jesus openly rebukes Judas for picking on Mary, this had to really bruise Judas ego. Women in the first Century were looked down upon in society, so for Christ to rebuke Judas to defend Mary, was a culture shock at the moment!

Jesus makes a profound statement “She has poured the ointment on my body for my burial” Christ was once again prophesying about his death as the Lamb of God (Isaiah 53) Mary’s act of worship and obedience will be remembered forever, strive to live from an eternal perspective and not for this dying world, Amen!

Matthew 26- The Lamb of God

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And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples, Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified. Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him. But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people. Matthew 26:1-5

When the prophet Isaiah described the Messiah, he called him “The Suffering Servant” (Isaiah 53) When John the Baptist saw Jesus coming towards him he said “Behold The Lamb of God , who will take away the sin of the world “ ( John 1:29) Christ came to die for our sins, this is what Jesus explained to his apostles, over and over again. As Jesus said “The Son of Man is betrayed and to be crucified” 

It’s important to understand that Jesus willingly came to lay down his life for us, as Jesus said  “ No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” (John 10:18) Jesus wasn’t defeated at the cross, Jesus defeated sin, death, and Satan at the cross! 

Think about the love God demonstrated for us , that Christ willingly laid down his life because Christ loves us (Romans 5:8)  This is the power of the gospel, this is why Jesus is the good news to the world, because without Christ going to the cross, we are spiritually dead in our sins and are headed to eternal Hell. It’s only because of the loving action of Christ, that we can inherit eternal life, without Christ there is absolutely no hope for humanity

Why did Jesus have to die? Well first because we are all sinners, we have all fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) and The wages or penalty of sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23) Therefore because Jesus Christ is God in human flesh (John 1:14, Isaiah 9:6) Christ is the only one who can be the atonement for our sin, Christ is the only One who can bear the penalty of our sin for us. He who knew no sin, became our sin, so we can become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

When Jesus told the apostles he was going to die for them, Peter responded “Lord this shall not happen to You” and Jesus responded “Get behind me Satan” (Matthew 16:22-23) Why? Because the only way for our salvation is through Christ going to the cross for us! Amen!

Matthew 25- Least of These

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For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Matthew 25:35-40

Jesus said “ The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few” (Matthew 9:37) What work is Christ talking about? We know that we are commanded by the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19) To share the good news of Christ to everyone, but what other work is there? Well Jesus lists alot of work we should be doing feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, visiting the sick in the hospitals, mentoring the prisoners in jail

This is why the Church has so many ministries, we as the Body of Christ are to be the hands and feet of Christ, we are the light of the world and the salt of the Earth. You are not fulfilling the role of the Church sitting on your coach, there is work to do! You might ask, why should I do any of this work? Because you are doing it for your Master, and if you truly love Jesus , then you would do what he commands you to do. (John 14:15)

Jesus said “Whatever you did for the least of these, you did it for me” Think about it every time you helped someone, you are actually serving The Lord himself. The homeless person or the prisoner, imagine Christ standing next to you saying “Help that person”!

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. Matthew 25:41-46

What does the world say about all this? “Dog Eat Dog” “Take Care of Number One”, “Only the strong Survive” , what does Jesus say about this “Everyone of these people you rejected, you reject Christ” Every Church should be involved in these ministries, otherwise they are going to give an account to Jesus on the day of judgment!

Jesus made it very simple, Everlasting Punishment (Hell) or Eternal Life (Heaven) (v46) Its the same Greek word aionion meaning eternal. If you believe in eternal life, then you have to believe in eternal punishment, the only way to salvation is Jesus Christ (John 14:6) ,

You are the Church, You are the Salt and Light, You are the hands and feet of Christ, take care of the Least of These in Jesus Name, Amen!

Matthew 25- The Sheep and The Goats

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When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:  Matthew 25:31-34

While Christians anxiously await for the return of Christ, the world will mourn when The Lord returns, (Rev. 1:7, Matt 24:29) why? Because Jesus is coming to separate the Sheep and the goats, the wheat and the tares, the saints and the sinners. The question is, which one are you? Are you a Born Again Sheep of Christ? Or are you dead in your sins?

It’s interesting how the world has turned the term GOAT (Greatest of All Time) into a desired title, while they also look down upon the term Sheep , as weak and stupid. Do you think that is a coincidence? Of course not, Satan has blinded the entire world to lead them to the broad way to Hell. The Sheep hear the voice of The Great Shepherd, the know  and follow Christ. There is nothing shameful about being a Sheep, it’s the greatest title and honor that a person can achieve. I don’t think the world will have many “TEDTalks” about that!

Some might say “I’m not either, because I don’t believe in God” Don’t be deceived, Jesus Christ is King of Kings and Lord of Lords , every knee will bow to Jesus, did you catch that “EVERY”, that includes Atheists, Muslims, demons, angels, ect, there will be no exceptions when Christ returns and takes His throne. You will either be a Sheep or a Goat, you will either inherit eternal life or eternal damnation.

This is why the world will mourn the return of Christ, because when Jesus comes then comes judgment. Many people don’t understand this, that’s why it’s your job as a Sheep to preach the gospel of the Great Shepherd! Satan will keep the world distracted and blinded about The Kings return, because Satan knows his days are numbered, and Satan wants to take as many with him to the Lake of Fire

Jesus said to the Sheep “Come inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” Everything that Christ has done for us, leads up to this moment, to enter into God’s eternal Kingdom with immortal bodies, free from sin and death, to reign with God forevermore! (Rev.21, Isaiah 66) This Victory is already won, it’s just a matter of when! Satan is already defeated, his time is running out, The Lord will return at a day or hour we least expect him

The judgment of God is coming! This is not just a message for Christians, but for everyone, because Jesus Christ is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Great Shepherd coming for his Sheep , Amen!