2021-06-06
Pastor Jonathan Falwell
Today, we move from the Old Testament to the New. And while this might seem like a major shift from what was, to what now is; it is exactly as predicted in the Old Testament.
What happened during the 400 silent years? God fulfilling His prophecy and setting the stage for the messenger and the Messiah.
Greece came to power as predicted in Daniel 2:39 and Daniel 7. Later defeated by the Romans in 146 BC and then again when Rome conquered Egypt in 31bc. All predicted in the Old Testament. Daniel 2 predicts in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream – Babylonians, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome. All happened just as predicted.
Malachi 3:1; Malachi 4:4-6 – God uses the prophet Malachi to predict the coming of the next prophet who would prepare the way for the Messiah.
Matthew 1-2 – Jesus arrives just as promised, in the way promised.
Matthew 3:1-3 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near!” 3 For he is the one spoken of through the prophet Isaiah, who said: A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way for the Lord; make his paths straight!
Matthew 3-4 – Jesus baptized, Jesus tempted, Jesus begins His ministry.
Matthew 5-7 – Sermon on the Mount
Matthew 8 – Jesus heals, preaches, calms the storm.
Matthew 9:9-13 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, “Follow me,” and he got up and followed him. 10 While he was reclining at the table in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came to eat with Jesus and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 Now when he heard this, he said, “It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice., For I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
1. God wants to use all of us
vs 9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, “Follow me,” and he got up and followed him
- No one is too far from Him to be used by Him
2. God cares about all of us
Vs 10 While he was reclining at the table in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came to eat with Jesus and his disciples
- Jesus met with the group called “sinners” because He truly loved them
- How does this line up with your own outreach efforts?
3. God wants to reach more of us
Vs 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
- The answer is clear: Jesus came to seek and save that which is lost (Luke 19:10)
- While none of us are too far from Him to be used by Him; it is also true that none of us are too far from Him to be SAVED by Him (Romans 10:13)
4. God expects more from us
Vs 12-13 Now when he heard this, he said, “It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice., For I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
- Jesus rebuked the “religious leaders” with the idea that it is far more important to point people to Christ than it is to tell people why they don’t deserve to be near Christ