Sunday Morning Service

Matthew 16:28-Matthew 17:13 (Click title for audio access)

"Unveiling The Kingdom" • 10.31.10 • Sunday Morning Service, Colton Christian Fellowship

Intro

- The disciples have been with Jesus for over two years. This is the home stretch. Jesus is now months from His crucifixion.

- They have been in the northern parts of Israel, doing ministry among the Gentiles in the Northern Galilee region when they came to Caesarea Philippi.

- While there, Jesus asks HIs disciples the question of all time: "Who do you say that I am?" Peter has confessed what the entire group had been thinking: Jesus was the Christ!

- To these who believed, Jesus was now about to give more. He unveiled His plan and made a stunning promise to them.

• Matthew 16:28 : " Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.'" : Some were about to have the preview of a lifetime. They would see Jesus in His majesty. This was Jesus as He really was.

- There is no coincidence that this occurs after their confession had been given. I believe that Jesus was more excited about this than they were.

- This leads us to chapter 17. Let's break this section down into these parts.

I. The Ultimate Unveiling (v.1-4)

II. The Ultimate Endorsement (v.5-8)

III. The Ultimate Foreshadowing (v.9-13)

Text

I. The Ultimate Unveiling (v.1-4)

• Matthew 17:1 : " Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves;" : Jesus chose Peter, James and John from among the disciples to come away with Him.

- I wonder if they had any idea what was about to happen to them! Jesus knew that He was going to give them just a glimpse of their future.

- Many have called these three men, "Christ's Inner Circle," for Jesus had called them to observe on another occasion.

- These three had gone to the ruler's house when Jesus raised his daughter from death.

- Later in the gospel account, they accompany Him at the Garden of Gethsemane on the night of His trial. We'll discuss what these three had in common in a moment.

- Why did Jesus choose these particular disciples? There are several reasons. I might first say that these guys needed the most help!

- Peter was Peter. He never said the right thing! James and John were called the Sons Of Thunder because they asked the Lord if He wanted them to call down fire upon some people!

- These were not the disciples that He could leave alone!

- While they were works in progress, they would be instrumental in the founding of the early church, in under a year from now! Jesus had plans for these men.

- This is always the case: Jesus knows what He wants to do in your life, even when nobody, yourself included, would guess at it! Their testimony would prove to be of vital importance.

- Matthew does not give us the precise location of this mountain. Why not tell us?

- Most likely, this was a deterrant to idolatrous notions. Wherever they went, the point was it was isolating and a scene of great importance.

- In Jewish thinking, mountains were special places. They had received the law on Mt. Sinai. Some mountains were associated with blessings and others cursings.

- It was on Sinai that God appeared to Moses and let him view the back of His glory from behind a rock! It's no coincidence that what is about to happen, happened there on a mountain.

- By the way, God hasn't changed. He wants to show you more than He is given time to reveal!

- Go away with Him and ask Him what He wants to show you.

• Matthew 17:2,3 : "and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him." : While they were standing there on the mountain with Jesus, something marvelous took place. Right before their eyes, He was transfigured.

- He did not change into something that He was not; He revealed what He had always been!

- One commentator mentioned that the real miracle was not that He revealed His true nature, but that He was able to hide it the rest of the time!

- He metamorphosized in front of them. One second, He was their Master, plain and ordinary. Then, His face shone.

- Matthew would only describe it second hand, as "powerful as the sun." His whole appearance radiated glimmering, glaring light. Jesus was the source of this light. It was coming from Him!

- Then to top it off, Moses and Elijah showed up! It's not clear how they knew them. That's not as important as the fact that they have been gone for a long time!

- Moses had been gone over a thousand years and Elijah, some 600 years! Yet here there were, alive and recognized as the same people that they had been!

- Death has been redefined by God, as His saints are not gone when they die. They just move!

- Matthew tells us that they came and were talking with Him. What could they have been talking about? What could be so important.

- Luke 9:31 tells us that they were speaking about His "decease that He was about to accomplish in Jerusalem." The word translated "decease" is literally "Exodus."

- Jesus in His death, was going to lead the real Exodus, whereby His people would be freed from the slavery of sin and freed from the bondage of death!

- He led US, those who have confessed Him as Christ, from the slavery that we were born into! He delivered you and I from an otherwise miserable existence, enslaved to Satan and lost forever!

- How important was this information to these men? Peter had said "No way! You are not going to die." Here, Moses and Elijah had come to talk with Him about His death!

- I had mentioned to you earlier that there was a commonality for Peter, James and John in these events. All of their special instruction came around the subject of death.

- The girl that was raised showed Christ's power over death. The transfiguration shows Christ's purpose in death. You'll have to wait for the third one.

- This was incredibly important for those who would live in the first century of the church.

• Matthew 17:4 : "Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, 'Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.'" : Peter is not sure exactly what to say here. Mark tells us that Moses and Elijah were parting and Luke tells us that Peter spoke out of fear!

- Regardless, it was good for them to be there. That was actually correct.

- What a vision to have seen! Jesus alone, being altered before their eyes, would have been enough, but to actually be there to see Moses and Elijah as well? What a moment!

- That's where it stops. To add what he does just doesn't make any sense. What are tabernacles? These were portable shrines that Peter offered to build. There are two problems here.

- First, Jesus has begun talking about the cross. It may be that his comment was motivated out of a desire to keep Moses and Eljah there and avoid the cross all together!

- If Jesus had accepted this, there would have been no redemption. It would be just another religious experience, localized on a mountain range in Israel.

- Second, Moses and Elijah are not on the level of the Messiah. They are subject to the Messiah. Their ministry led to and found their fulfillment in Jesus.

- In fact, there is an interesting thing that happens linguistically here. Moses and Elijah represent the law and the prophets.

- One died, the other was translated, but neither finished their ministry. Moses led the people to the borders of Israel, but not all the way in. Elijah left in a chariot of fire before the job was done.

- Both men had successors: Moses' successor was Joshua, Elijah's was Elisha. Both names mean "God is salvation."

- The name "Jesus" is a Greek transliteration of the name "Yeshua," which means "God is salvation!" For all intents and purposes, it's the same name as Joshua and Elisha!

- Jesus is the successor to the law and the prophets! He has come to fulfill the redemptive mission that began in them, just as Joshua and Elisha had done before!

- Jesus is Moses' Passover lamb and the embodiment of the law. He is the righteousness that Elijah and every prophet called for!

- Therefore, to make a booth for all three would not be incorrect. Jesus is greater than Moses and the Prophets. He is in a category all by Himself! There is no one equal to Him.

II. The Ultimate Endorsement (v.5-8)

• Matthew 17:5 : "While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!'" : Peter had barely finished his sentence when the presence of God came and overshadowed them.

- These themes, mountains, Moses and clouds, all awakened the consciousness of the early church, most of whom were Jewish, to the significance of this event.

- In Exodus, the presence of God, the Shekinah glory, had come to rest upon the children of Israel in the form of a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.

- That same eternal presence of Father God now covered them on the mountain!

- He is addressing Peter, James and John, affirming the nature of Jesus! Who is He? By God's account, Jesus is His beloved Son. This is what Peter had exclaimed a week earlier.

- God is affirming Peter's statement, and their beliefs about Jesus. He is also repeating a statement that He Himself had made at Christ's baptism.

- Twice, God the Father has confirmed the deity of His Son. Being a "Son" makes Jesus unique from the Father but one in essence as God the Father!

- God the Father is calling the Son, God! Do not miss this!

- What does He think of Him? He is well pleased! Literally, He is fully pleased. God the Father loves God the Son completely.

- When did God say this? First, when Jesus submitted to baptism, a type of death, burial and resurrection. Here, God says it again, as Jesus discusses His exodus with Moses and Elijah!

- God is well pleased in His Son because of His faithful obedience to His redemptive plan!

- What shall we do with Him? Hear Him! Listen to Him. He is their authority and ours as well!

- Consider the context. Here are these Jewish men in the presence of their Master Jesus, and their heroes, Moses and Elijah.

- God the Father visibly manifests Himself, separate from Jesus, and tells them to hear Him!

• Matthew 17:6-8 : "And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. But Jesus came and touched them and said, 'Arise, and do not be afraid.' When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only." : God's voice caused the men to reverently fall to their faces. They automatically prostrated themselves. That is the natural response to the presence of the Lord.

- His Holiness, HIs power, His majesty forces those in His presence to their knees. In our minds, we feel that we can stand before God. I beg to differ!

- Those who are rebellious against Him, feel that they will be able to stand there and "give Him a piece of their minds." I don't think so!

- Anyone who has ever been in the presence of God has fallen straight to the ground! Men have fallen at the sight of angels, how much more God? These disciples were afraid for their lives.

- In the midst of that fear came Jesus. He touched them and told them to stand. They didn't know that they were alone, but it was the voice and touch of Christ, that alone could move them.

- The picture here is awesome: The presence of Moses and Elijah intimidated them, the fear of God floored them, but the voice and touch of Christ gave them freedom to stand.

- This is how we will one day come into eternity, at the call and friendly touch of our Savior, whose presence gives us confidence to stand in that holy place!

- In the same way that the Father endorses the Son, the Son endorses you and I before the Father, because we are in Him!

- Who knows how long that they laid there, but when they finally did lift up their eyes, Moses, Elijah and Father God were gone and the only one left was Jesus.

- He was their all. He was the One that they were to look to. God was telling them what He tells you and I today: Jesus is the focal point! He must have our attention and allegiance.

III. The Ultimate Foreshadowing (v.9-13)

• Matthew 17:9 : “Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, ‘Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead.’” : It is vitally important to recall this in context: Redemption from sins was the mission of the Messiah.

- He was not looking to be their King politically. He was looking first to reign in their hearts. His Kingdom begins with our receiving Him as King.

- He tells them to avoid telling of this episode for that reason. Fervor for His Kingdom had begun to give way to persecution and rejection, but this story would have revived it.

- To set up an Earthly kingdom would have forfeited everything that Christ came to accomplish.

- There is something very important to recognize here. The Romans were an oppressive regime. They made the lives of the Hebrews miserable.

- It would have been a good and righteous thing for Christ to assume His throne at that time. But He did not because it was not a good and righteous thing for ALL time.

- Christ's path involved suffering a death that would once and for all settle the issue of our sin. The cross was necessary, so discretion was necessary.

- That being said, this episode would need to be reported after Jesus had risen. It had a major impact upon each of these men. James calls Jesus, "the Lord of glory" in James 2:1.

- Listen to John's words in the prologue to his gospel.

• John 1:1,12 : "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."

- Turn over to I Peter 1. Peter's words provide the most full synopsis of how he used this information.

• I Peter 1:16-18 : "For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.' And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain."

• Matthew 17:10-13 : “And His disciples asked Him, saying, ‘Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?’ Jesus answered and said to them, 'Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.’ Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.” : The disciples were confused. They had heard that Elijah was to come prior to the Messiah's coming.

- This was prophesied in Malachi 4:5,6.

• Malachi 4:5,6 : "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.'"

- The disciples ask a legitimate question. Elijah will come before that day of the Lord. But if His day has come, why hasn't he come as well?

- Jesus makes a statement here that at first confuses us. Elijah is coming, but he has already come!? Whoa! What's going on here?

- Two things need to be taken into account. First, Malachi's words are specifically speaking about a day of wrath. "The day of the Lord" is the day of His wrath upon those who do not believe.

- Revelation tells us about what we call, "The Great Tribulation." This will be a time when God finally has enough of man's rebeliion, and does something about it.

- Who shows up on the scene during that time? Two witnesses who, "have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire." (Revelation 11:6)

- Boy, that sounds familiar. Moses and Elijah did these exact works when they were here.

- What follows will be terrible for those on the earth.

- Now, this brings us to the second thing. Jesus says Elijah has already come, which the disciples deduced was John the Baptist.

- What did Jesus refer to? He was saying that if He had been accepted as the King, then John would have fulfilled the role of Elijah.

- Jesus was not accepted as King, so John's role provides a foreshadowing of things to come.

- John had come in the spirit and power of Elijah, but one day, Elijah himself will come.

- The point here is this: Christ's Kingdom is celebrated at Christ's first coming. His Kingdom will be inaugurated at His second coming!

- The first coming was a foreshadow of what is to come. One day, He will deal with unrighteousness and wickedness and Jesus will take His rightful place upon His throne forever!

Conclusion

- Jesus is God and King. He demonstrates this in His transfiguration. The presence of Moses and Elijah testifies and God the Father confirms this.

- For that reason, He is worthy of our trust. That He can make us stand in holiness before the Father, makes Him worthy of our love and allegiance forever.

Thursday Night Bible Study

Exodus 9:13-Exodus 11

"7,8,9" • 10.28.10 • Thursday Night Bible Study, Colton Christian Fellowship

Intro

- We left off in our study of Exodus on the 6th plague plague of boils. These plagues represent God's defeat of Egyptian deities and His war against the Pharaoh.

- The plagues come in sets of three. The pattern has followed in this manner: The first is announced, the second comes shortly after, and the third is a surprise.

- Pharaoh has been hardening his heart, strengthening his resolve against the Lord. The Lord finally began to firm up his convictions at the 6th plague.

- We'll be examining the last of these sets tonight, beginning with the plague of hail.

Text

• Exodus 9:13-19 : "Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Rise early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God of the Hebrews: 'Let My people go, that they may serve Me, for at this time I will send all My plagues to your very heart, and on your servants and on your people, that you may know that there is none like Me in all the earth. " : God wants Moses to make sure that he is the first of Pharaoh's appointments. Each time, God has kept His demands high.

- He is in no mood to negotiate. He will have Pharaoh see that this is a decree.

- This prelude is interesting, in that God is most forthcoming with the Pharaoh about His purpose. These next plagues would work on the very heart, the psyche of the Egyptians.

- God was going to do some core work on the Egyptians. He was going to have His place in their minds, to show them that there was no comparison between Him and their gods.

- God is breaking the children of Israel free, but is also breaking the bonds of Egyptian idolatry!

- He is revealing Himself to these pagans, that they might turn to Him as well.

• Exodus 9:15-19 : "Now if I had stretched out My hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, then you would have been cut off from the earth. But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth. As yet you exalt yourself against My people in that you will not let them go. Behold, tomorrow about this time I will cause very heavy hail to rain down, such as has not been in Egypt since its founding until now. Therefore send now and gather your livestock and all that you have in the field, for the hail shall come down on every man and every animal which is found in the field and is not brought home; and they shall die.'" : The sense here is that God has been measuring His judgments. He has been using 'kid gloves.'

- He could have just wiped them off the face of the planet, but that would not have accomplished His goals, the first being to show His power to the Pharaoh.

- The Pharaoh was thought to be divine. He represented massive world dominating power. Egypt's advancements and politcal dominance was attributed to their gods.

- God is bringing them to their knees, revealing their impotence and His omnipotence!

- Second, these episodes would enhance God's reputation in the world. What God did in Egypt did not stay in Egypt. From there, God's reputation would precede Him.

- The nations which surrounded Egypt would be aware that the God of the Hebrews was worthy of their respect. Pharaoh would not willingly respect the Lord and Egypt would continue to pay.

- In spite of this, God continually extends mercy over and above His obstinance.

- God assumes that He will continue to ignore His warnings, so He warns Him to bring in His cattle because the hail will be deadly! God’s mercy still prevails over His judgment.

• Exodus 9:20,21 : "He who feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his livestock flee to the houses. But he who did not regard the word of the Lord left his servants and his livestock in the field." : This is exactly how the world is divided up today: Those who fear God and those who do not! Those who fear the Lord and show this in their actions.

- Some Egyptians took the opportunity to barn their animals. You have to visualize how this must have looked. "Oh, I always barn Betsy" as they snuck in their cows!

- At the same time, there are those who do not regard the word of the Lord and continue on as if nothing will affect their lives.

- These left their animals right out in the open, not thinking that God would make good on His word. It's sad, but it shows you just how foolish people can be.

• Exodus 9:22-26 : "Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt—on man, on beast, and on every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt.' And Moses stretched out his rod toward heaven; and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and fire darted to the ground. And the Lord rained hail on the land of Egypt. So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, so very heavy that there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. And the hail struck throughout the whole land of Egypt, all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail struck every herb of the field and broke every tree of the field. Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, there was no hail." : God had said that this hail would be unique and it was! It was hail, mixed with fire. This was a strange sight indeed.

- The Egyptian sky goddess Nut, was powerless against this hailstorm and the Lord.

- Hail alone can be the cause of tremendous damage. Here in SoCal, we have little to worry about. As a matter of fact, hail is sort of fun. But to our East, hail is a tremendous problem.

- In 2004, damages from hail cost the state of Colorado $200 million dollars![i] In 1990, one hailstorm was so severe that it cost Denver $625 million dollars![ii]

- The largest hailstone ever recorded fell in Nebraska in 2003. It was 7 inches in diameter. The heaviest hailstone fell in Kansas and weighed 2 pounds![iii]

- One is tempted to think, "Big deal!" Yeah, until that 2 pound monster comes at you at the speed of 100 miles per hour!

- Now, this hail in Exodus was of a special, miraculous variety. It was mingled with fire and exceptionally heavy. It came over all the land of Egyptians, but not in the land of Goshen.

- God has set up a line of demarcation and His people are spared from this entirely.

• Exodus 9:27-30 : "And Pharaoh sent and called for Moses and Aaron, and said to them, 'I have sinned this time. The Lord is righteous, and my people and I are wicked. Entreat the Lord, that there may be no more mighty thundering and hail, for it is enough. I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer.'
So Moses said to him, 'As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will spread out my hands to the Lord; the thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail, that you may know that the earth is the Lord’s. But as for you and your servants, I know that you will not yet fear the Lord God.'" : Pharaoh says all the right things. Moses knows better. "I know that you will not yet fear the Lord God."

- Pharaoh represents a heart that wants to be relieved, but does not want to repent! There is a big difference. One heart deals with the consequences, the other deals with the causes.

- Pharaoh's words are so shallow, Moses doesn't even need to think about what will happen!

- He can hear in Pharaoh's voice a ceremony that is divorced from a right heart.

• Exodus 9:31-35 : "Now the flax and the barley were struck, for the barley was in the head and the flax was in bud. But the wheat and the spelt were not struck, for they are late crops. So Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh and spread out his hands to the Lord; then the thunder and the hail ceased, and the rain was not poured on the earth. And when Pharaoh saw that the rain, the hail, and the thunder had ceased, he sinned yet more; and he hardened his heart, he and his servants. So the heart of Pharaoh was hard; neither would he let the children of Israel go, as the Lord had spoken by Moses." : Verse 31 is a beautiful picture of God’s grace. Much of their cash crop was destroyed.

- The barley was gone, but the wheat was untouched. God had picked the perfect time to allow this hail to fall. His judgment fell upon the Egyptians, but still they had hope. Wheat was coming!

- God could have left them with nothing, destroying their hopes outright. He did not!

- The Pharaoh on the other hand played his part as written. He kept on fulfilling prophecy!

• Exodus 10:1,2 : "Now the Lord said to Moses, 'Go in to Pharaoh; for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his servants, that I may show these signs of Mine before him, and that you may tell in the hearing of your son and your son’s son the mighty things I have done in Egypt, and My signs which I have done among them, that you may know that I am the Lord.'" : The sad part about this passage is the truth of one's effect upon another.

- Pharaoh had hardened his heart. Many of his servants followed suit. They followed their leader, valiantly, into a hardened position before the Lord.

- What God had done for Pharaoh, He had done for many of His servants as well.

- On the other hand, the belief that was being built in Moses and the children of Israel was being built up day by day. God was giving them acts of power to tell their children about.

- How vitally important is it to testify to our children of God's works in our lives? What has He delivered you from? How has He saved you? Our heritage is incredibly important!

• Exodus 10:3-6 : "So Moses and Aaron came in to Pharaoh and said to him, 'Thus says the Lord God of the Hebrews: ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let My people go, that they may serve Me. Or else, if you refuse to let My people go, behold, tomorrow I will bring locusts into your territory. And they shall cover the face of the earth, so that no one will be able to see the earth; and they shall eat the residue of what is left, which remains to you from the hail, and they shall eat every tree which grows up for you out of the field. They shall fill your houses, the houses of all your servants, and the houses of all the Egyptians—which neither your fathers nor your fathers’ fathers have seen, since the day that they were on the earth to this day.’ And he turned and went out from Pharaoh." : These men have grown increasingly bold over this period of time. There was a time when they stuttered and dreaded being in the Pharaoh's presence.

- Now, they are openly challenging Him and pleading with him to change his ways. They began with no experience in diplomacy. They started with no experience in God's work.

- They have gone in and said what God told them to say and then God worked. With every new experience, their confidence grew. That is the only way it happens folks!

- This new plague would be locusts who would feed on all that had been left from the hail.

- Locusts are just as much a problem today as back then. Today, Africa is fighting it's largest swarm in over a decade. The rain has produced great crops and a great breeding season for locusts.

- What is so bad about locust swarms? One locust can eat it's own body weight in 24 hours time. Big deal right?

˚ "A ton of locusts, which is a tiny part of the average swarm, eats the same amount of food in a single day as 10 elephants, 25 camels or 2,500 people."[iv]

- God was going to make sure that this locust swarm would be profound.

• Exodus 10:7-11 : "Then Pharaoh’s servants said to him, 'How long shall this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve the Lord their God. Do you not yet know that Egypt is destroyed?' So Moses and Aaron were brought again to Pharaoh, and he said to them, 'Go, serve the Lord your God. Who are the ones that are going?' And Moses said, 'We will go with our young and our old; with our sons and our daughters, with our flocks and our herds we will go, for we must hold a feast to the Lord.' Then he said to them, 'The Lord had better be with you when I let you and your little ones go! Beware, for evil is ahead of you. Not so! Go now, you who are men, and serve the Lord, for that is what you desired.’ And they were driven out from Pharaoh’s presence." : Some of the servants of Pharaoh have seen enough. They are frustrated and scared enough to question the Pharaoh.

- They say, "Do you not know that Egypt is destroyed?" I don't know how it is in the palace, but the people in the streets know what kind of damage they have on their hands.

- Pharaoh listened to his servants and offered Moses this compromise: Let the men go. It's interesting that Pharaoh still believes that he has some bargaining power.

- Here again, this illustrates the compromise that the world and enemy want us to embrace. Go and worship God. Just don’t involve your kids!

- Pharaoh wants an insurance policy that they will return. If they have something of value left in the land, they won’t leave it far behind.

- The principle here though is simple: The enemy and the world will always want you to settle! Settle for less than God's best and you'll find yourself in a miserable place!

- In the end, Pharaoh resorted to threats and physically sent them out from his presence.

• Exodus 10:12-15 : "Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come upon the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of the land—all that the hail has left.' So Moses stretched out his rod over the land of Egypt, and the Lord brought an east wind on the land all that day and all that night. When it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts. And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt and rested on all the territory of Egypt. They were very severe; previously there had been no such locusts as they, nor shall there be such after them. For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they ate every herb of the land and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left. So there remained nothing green on the trees or on the plants of the field throughout all the land of Egypt." : This was nothing short of devastation. "All that was left." There remained nothing green on the trees. A swarm that darkens the entire sky would have no problem creating this type of havoc.

- The Egyptian god Seth, god of storms and disorder, was obviously sleeping on this one!

• Exodus 10:16-20 : "Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste, and said, 'I have sinned against the Lord your God and against you. Now therefore, please forgive my sin only this once, and entreat the Lord your God, that He may take away from me this death only.' So he went out from Pharaoh and entreated the Lord. And the Lord turned a very strong west wind, which took the locusts away and blew them into the Red Sea. There remained not one locust in all the territory of Egypt. But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the children of Israel go." : Pharaoh was panicked. The locusts devastated what was left and he sees that there was little time to act. He impetuously calls for Moses and Aaron.

- Pharaoh says, "Forgive me just once more! Take away this devastation."

- Each time that he has been asked, Moses does this for him. Each time, God responds to the prayers of Moses. God is showing the Pharaoh His power in turning it on and off.

- He is in complete control and Moses is His man. In this instance, God allows the wind to blow the locusts out of the area, just as He had to bring them in.

- Not one locust remained! The land was emptied of them. But the Lord again hardened Pharaoh's heart and he held his ground.

• Exodus 10:21-23 : "Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, darkness which may even be felt.' So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. They did not see one another; nor did anyone rise from his place for three days. But all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings." : As per policy, this 9th plague comes with no warning. This darkness lasted for three days.

- The important factors were that it could be "felt," and "it was thick." This represents the physical and mental aspects of this judgment.

- The word "felt" comes from a word that means "to grope." They had to feel their way around. If you have ever been in a cave and the lights are turned off, it’s that feeling.

- I have been in a few caves, but once with a minute of silence. It was disturbing!

- The word "thick" points to the feeling of calamity that came from the darkness. Three days of darkness, nobody to share it with and nobody left their homes.

- The light was fine though in Goshen. Go figure! The sun god Ra had no power either.

• Exodus 10:24-26 : "Then Pharaoh called to Moses and said, 'Go, serve the Lord; only let your flocks and your herds be kept back. Let your little ones also go with you.' But Moses said, 'You must also give us sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God. Our livestock also shall go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind. For we must take some of them to serve the Lord our God, and even we do not know with what we must serve the Lord until we arrive there.'" : This is Pharaoh's final compromise. Go, but leave the animals here. What did animals represent? Their livelihood. Their riches!

- The enemy's final compromise in our lives is to separate our worship from our finances. "Go worship the Lord, but leave your finances out of it!"

- Moses knew, something we should also know, that worshipping God is an "all or nothing" prospect. He explains that the animals were necessary for sacrifice to the Lord.

- He did not know how man would be necessary for that purpose. He just knew that it required everything. Moses holds firm to his conviction and will not budge any longer.

- This series of engagements has made him a great leader by virtue of practice!

• Exodus 10:27-29 : "But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let them go. Then Pharaoh said to him, 'Get away from me! Take heed to yourself and see my face no more! For in the day you see my face you shall die!' So Moses said, 'You have spoken well. I will never see your face again.'" : Pharaoh's thin veil of disgust is finally ripped away, as he shows his true hatred for Moses and ultimately God. He finally threatens to kill Moses! Moses knows that the time is ticking away.

- Pharaoh's days are numbered. God is going to end this His way.

• Exodus 11:1-3 : "And the Lord said to Moses, 'I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt. Afterward he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will surely drive you out of here altogether. Speak now in the hearing of the people, and let every man ask from his neighbor and every woman from her neighbor, articles of silver and articles of gold.' And the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants and in the sight of the people." : The common Egyptians have much more sense than the Pharaoah. They see Moses with great admiration. In their eyes, he was a great man.

- His relationship with the Lord, the one who has brought all of this calamity upon Egypt, has given him certain credibility.

- The people are beginning to bless the people of Israel with their gifts, which will give the people their backwages, as well as a healthy start as they leave the nation of Egypt.

• Exodus 11:4-8 : "Then Moses said, 'Thus says the Lord: ‘About midnight I will go out into the midst of Egypt; and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the female servant who is behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the animals. Then there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as was not like it before, nor shall be like it again. But against none of the children of Israel shall a dog move its tongue, against man or beast, that you may know that the Lord does make a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.’ And all these your servants shall come down to me and bow down to me, saying, ‘Get out, and all the people who follow you!’ After that I will go out.' Then he went out from Pharaoh in great anger." : God announces the final plague, which will be the most severe of them all. It will be the back breaker. From here, Moses left the presence of Pharaoh.

- It will be indiscriminate, as the Pharaoah and the pauper will share in this misery.

- God has given grace upon grace and when that wears out, justice will be served. Pharaoh had enslaved God's firstborn, Israel. Now God will require that in return.

• Exodus 11:9,10 : "But the Lord said to Moses, 'Pharaoh will not heed you, so that My wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.' So Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh; and the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the children of Israel go out of his land." : Pharaoh, even upon threat of death, holds his hardened course.

Conclusion

- In summary, we want to note that God's demands have remained the same from the beginning. He has fought for complete deliverance for His people.

- He has done the same for us today. He has redeemed us, having given all to do so.

- The world has resisted God, even unto death. God's graces are wasted, as the world stubbornly refuses His warnings.

- Along the way, the enemy attempts to get us to settle for less by offering compromise: worship here in the land, go out but not far, go without your family, and go without your money.

- God's deliverance was an all out proposition for Him. It's an all out proposition for us as well!

---

[i] http://dola.colorado.gov/dem/public_information/hail.htm

[ii] http://www.how-to-paintless-dent-repair.com/hail-facts.html

[iii] ibid

[iv] http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/04/africa_desert_locusts/html/3.stm

Sunday Morning Service

Matthew 16 (Click title for audio access)

“The Funnel Effect” • 10.24.10 • Calvary Christian Fellowship, Sunday Morning Service

Intro.

- During these last few chapters, the disciples have been privy to an awesome display of Christ's miraculous power. They have been tested and drawn in deeper and deeper in.

- Chapter 16 represents a distinct climax in their life. They are about to come to a place of no return. All that they have seen and heard is funneling them toward this inevitable chapter

- Truthfully, it has been or will be the case with each of us: God is moving each person on Earth to the same exact place.

- As we examine this chapter, I pray that we'll have the grace to answer the challenges it presents to us.

Text

• Matthew 16:1-4 : "Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven. He answered and said to them, 'When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.' And He left them and departed." : We haven’t seen Pharisees with the Sadducees since the third chapter where John the Baptist referred to them as a “brood of vipers!”

- It's of little consequence to us, but a major detail to those who first read this report. The Pharisees and Sadducees were hardly friendly toward each other.

- There are ancient writings where the Pharisees assert that a group of heretics founded the Sadducees. Sadducees were illustrations of how good people can become evil!

- This was the usual tenor of their relationship. What made them so hostile toward each other?

- The Pharisees, as we have seen, were open minded, holding traditions on the same level as the actual law, the Torah. The Sadducees confined themselves to the Torah alone.

- The Pharisees believed in the supernatural realm. Sadducees believed in what they could experience, in what they collective mind could understand.

- Aside from their differences theologically, there was also a difference socially. The Pharisees were the blue collar religious leaders. The Sadducees were represented the rich aristocrats.

- They seemed to oppose one another on every point. Except for Jesus! Jesus unified these two groups, as both had a common hatred for Him.

- They came to Jesus to test Him. They want a celestial event. "Move the sun over." They act like children, saying, "I bet you can't" hoping that Jesus will say, "uh huh!"

- These Pharisees and Sadducee were watching scripture happen before their eyes. The natural conclusion was that this Man was God in the flesh!

- Their hypocrisy was simple to deduce: They were willing to account for signs in every arena of life, except when looking at Jesus! They would not apply their logic toward Him

- In the same way that the sky tells all you what you need to know about the weather, so also, Jesus had shown all that any rational person all that they would need to know about Him!

- They refused to believe. This is the case with most unbelievers. They ignore everything that has been said about Christ, saying that they'd believe if He granted them a special sign.

- Jesus tells them, "You've got one more sign coming: My Resurrection!" With that He abandoned them.

• Matthew 16:5-7 : "Now when His disciples had come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. Then Jesus said to them, 'Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.' And they reasoned among themselves, saying, 'It is because we have taken no bread.'" : In apparent haste, the disciples got on the boat to travel back to the other side of the Galilee without provisions.

- They were realizing this when Jesus spoke out to them. The tension was growing and when they saw these groups together, it jarred them. Maybe they wondered, "Why not give a sign?"

- Jesus speaks out to them. "Be careful about the influence of the religious leaders."

- Remember that the idea of leaven is permeation. It happens silently, under the surface, but it's influence is seen on the outside. Their influence was dangerous.

- The disciples didn't understand. They thought it was about the bread!

• Matthew 16:8-10 : "But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, 'O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread? Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up? Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up?" : The disciples have seen Him on the sea, healing the sick, feeding at will.

- These were signs! It wasn't just about bread. It wasn't about feeding. It was about answering "Who could do these things!?"

- They had visual reminders, 12 personal baskets for the one occasion and 7 laundry baskets on the other occasion. Jesus wasn't giving them a free lunch! He was showing them who He was!

• Matthew 16:11,12 : "How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?—but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.' Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees." : It was the beliefs of the religious leaders that Jesus was warning about.

- They believed that they could be right with God through external actions.

- They believed that their Messiah would free them politically. They believed that Jesus could not have been their Messiah! Their doctrine, belief about the person of Christ was all wrong!

- They were all wrong when it came to who Jesus was and that, we will see, is the only doctrine that you and I NEED to get absolutely right!

• Matthew 16:13,14 : "When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, 'Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?' So they said, 'Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.'" : The disciples are now up in northern Israel. Jesus asks His disciples to give Him some of the word on the street about Him.

- "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" Opinions about Jesus were widespread and varied. The Jewish people expected several people to return prior to Christ's first coming.

- Biblically, one in the spirit and power of Elijah was predicted to come to prepare the way.

- His teachings about righteousness reminded people of John the Baptist.

- His miracles reminded them of Elijah. His compassion reminded them of the weeping prophet, Jeremiah. This represented the popular thinking about Jesus.

- Today, there are myriads of beliefs regarding Jesus. The Hindu believes that Jesus was an incarnation of God, on the same level as Krishna.

- Bahai believes that Jesus was a manifestation of God, but is now superceded by Bahaulah!

- Islam calls Jesus a prophet, whose revelation from God ended with Muhammed.

- Jehovah's Witnesses call Jesus God's first creation, Michael the Archangel.

- Mormons teach that He was one of the original spirit beings. Each religion gives Jesus high marks, but none are willing to honor His claim.

• Matthew 16:15 : "He said to them, 'But who do you say that I am?'" : All of this time, Jesus has been leading them and us to this very question.

- It is not just a question for a time. It is THE question of all time! It doesn't matter that we know what others believe about Christ. It's not enough to know what our church knows about Christ!

- Jesus says, to them and us: "YOU, who do YOU say that He is!"

• Matthew 16:16 : "Simon Peter answered and said, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.'" : The word "Christ" means "annointed one" which is the same term as the term "Messiah." Peter affirms His mission and His deity, being the Son of the living God.

• Matthew 16:17,18 : "Jesus answered and said to him, 'Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." : Congratulations Simon! This confession comes straight from God Himself! The word "revealed" comes from the Greek word "apocalypto." It means to unveil or to show!

- This statement has been uncovered by God Himself. This is an interesting statement. Flesh and blood did not reveal this, but God did.

- The idea here is that nobody on earth would be able to come to this conclusion: I need to be saved and it can only come through this man Jesus, who is the Christ!

- We require special revelation for that! It must be revealed by God to man. How does He do that? Through the scriptures, which testify to Man's need and God's gift of Christ.

- Peter's confession was rock solid, so Jesus tells Him that. His name, which has long been known as Simon, which means 'sand,' will now be called Peter, which means 'rock.'

- He went from being Sandy to Rocky! This leads us to one of the most misunderstood passages in scripture. Peter is now called "the Rock."

- Jesus says, "On this rock I will build my church!" The Catholic church interprets this verse around the person of Peter, who they say, was God's choice as first pope.

- The classic protestant interpretation is that the rock that Jesus refers to is not Peter, but His confession. Jesus would build His Church upon the confession that Peter spoke.

- I believe that Peter answers this for us when he calls Jesus the "stone, the chief cornerstone, that the builders rejected!" Jesus is the Rock that our confession points too!

- Notice that it is His church. The church belongs to Christ. It's not mine or yours, it's His!

- This is the first time that we see this word church in the Bible, so it's worth taking some time to consider it. The word Jesus employs is "ekklesia."

- The word refers to a called out assembly of believers, people who confess the truth about Christ. We join in that line today! We are called out from the world and are joined by this confession.

- His church is an assembly that the gates of hades shall not prevail against. Hades is translated hell, but is better understood as the 'grave.' In fact, the RSV translates it this way:

• Matthew 16:18 (RSV) : "And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it."

- The idea is that even death will not defeat the church! The church will grow, even beyond the death of it's adherents. Jesus' resurrection will have defeated death once and for all!

• Matthew 16:19,20 : "And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.' Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ." : Keys speak of access and authority.

- The disciples would be the ones who would initiate the process of setting up local churches.

- In those places of assembly, the apostles would be asked to govern and establish ceremony and leadership. Whatever was bound here would be considered bound there.

- I believe that this refers to the writing of scripture that many of these Apostles would be responsible for.

- After this, He told them to keep this conversation to themselves for the time being.

• Matthew 16:21 : "From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day." : God has revealed who Jesus is, now Jesus reveals what He will do!

- He must go to Jerusalem. He must suffer many things. He must die. All three of these things had to be shocking to hear. The Messiah can't die?

- You have to also remember that the first century church is listening to these words. Their contemporaries likely pointed to Christ's death as a point against the Lord.

- Matthew is telling them that Jesus was talking about this long before it actually happened and that it was part of the plan. The final part was completely unbelieveable: Jesus would rise from death!

- Jonah experienced in type, what Christ would experience in life!

• Matthew 16:22,23 : "Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, 'Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!' But He turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.'" : If Peter was the first pope, his campaign got off to a very bad start! Jesus calls him Satan!

- What was Peter thinking!? He was giving Jesus a piece of his mind! He was rebuking Jesus! He was contradicting what Jesus was saying!

- If one finds themselves in this kind of position, you need to recognize right away that you are in the wrong!

- Peter's words earlier, had been inspired by the Lord. This time, his words were inspired by Satan himself, who used the opportunity to again tempt the Lord to avoid the cross!

- The cross would be Satan's final defeat. No wonder he wanted Jesus to avoid it!

- Peter, speaking for the disciples, wanted to avoid it because they knew what that would spell for them. It would mean "guilt by association."

- They were thinking of their reputation and their very lives. Jesus says, "You are not thinking about what God wants. You are thinking of what Man wants."

- We want to be comfortable. We want prestige. We want honor. The cross was exactly the opposite of those tenets!

• Matthew 16:24 : "Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." : His word is all encompassing: If ANYONE! He gives us three demanding phrases that define our lives.

- Listen to these words: Deny yourself! This is a highly unpopular message. Many hold to the exact opposite message: Indulge yourself! This is not His message!

- What does it mean to deny yourself? Listen to this definition: to forget one's self, lose sight of one's self and one's own interests.

- The demands of following Christ are to be our highest priority, even above that which would originate within ourselves. This does not mean that we neglect mortgages or employment.

- Rather, it means that we view our house payments, employments, finances, time, talent and treasure through the lens of submission to Christ!

- It gets worse: take up his cross. We point to our jewelry, our bum of a spouse or our personal trials as our cross. THESE ARE NOT THE CROSSES THAT HE’S TALKING ABOUT!

- They symbol of a cross was an instrument of pure torture, which also carried such stigma, that if a relative was crucified, he was not talked of again!

- Those who carried a cross were thought to be the literal walking dead! Their life was over!

- When you come to Christ, your life as you have known it, ceases to exist. You are living a life that exists to bring expression to what it means to be a Kingdom citizen!

- Finally, Jesus says “follow me!” He does not want you to follow His followers. He is calling them and consequently, you and I, to put ourselves in a position to respond directly to Him!

• Matthew 16:25-27 : “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.” : These verses provide us with a fascinating paradox. If you want to save your life, you need to lose it!

- You need to lose it in Him, meaning that you become so engaged in what Christ wants for and from your life, that you do not know where He ends and you begin!

- Those who surrender themselves seem to be losing it all, but only they discover the truth: They have found a life, a treasure that will reap greater rewards than than what was invested.

- Jesus gives us these words, and I will not seek to improve or even comment upon them. Except to say this: To gain the whole world is to do so at the expense of your very own soul.

- Sadly, the world is never the offer. People sell their souls for a lot less!

- Jesus promises that for anything ventured and "lost," a reward will be his! He will never miss an opportunity to reward His people for anything they have done for Him.

Conclusion

- All of it hinges on one question: "Who do you say that He is?" If He is your entire confidence for salvation, then He is also Your life! If He is worth trusting, He is worth living for!