You’re Invited

Everyone needs the message of the gospel of the good news of Jesus the Christ, the son of the living God. In Matthew 22, Jesus confronted the Pharisees and told them a parable about a wedding feast. The Pharisee’s were the religious leaders who did not believe that Jesus Christ was the Messiah. In the previous chapter Jesus had said that he was the chief cornerstone which the builders had rejected. The Pharisee’s perceived that he was talking about them when he said that they would break themselves by opposing the cornerstone. A parable is an earthly story that illustrates a spiritual truth.

In Matthew 22:2-14 Jesus said: 2. The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, 3. And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. 4. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. 5. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:”“And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. 7. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 8. Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. 9. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. 10. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. 11. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: 12. And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 13. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 14. For many are called, but few are chosen.”

The people of this culture were familiar with wedding feasts. The wedding celebration of a prince could last as long as a week. According to verse 3, the king invited many to come to the wedding feast of his son. However those who were invited were unwilling to come. God originally called his people, the children of Israel to hear the word of God and God’s message of salvation. In verse 4, he sent his servants to tell those who were invited. However, some of them seized the king’s slaves, arrested them, and killed them.

Today’s culture has evolved from a nation that considered itself one nation under God to a culture where many Americans think that quoting scripture is an example of “hate speech.” Many in today’s culture believe that eternal life is on their own terms instead of God’s terms. They reject the truth of the Word of God that salvation is by grace alone thought faith alone in Christ alone.

Ezekiel 33:11 says that God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. However, God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved. The context of John 3:16 says that Even though the son came into the world to show them the light of the truth, they who loved evil hated the light because they preferred the darkness rather than the light.

A diagnostic question for husbands and wives is, “if I could change anything about myself that would meet your needs, what would it be?” One guy said, I hate to ask my wife that question because she’ll tell me things that she’s already told me to change.

Repentance is the first requirement to salvation. Repentance means to change my mind… It means to turn from my own way and unto the Lord Jesus Christ. The world calls evil good and good evil. Turning to the Lord is the meaning of repentance. Lord means owner. I’m no longer my own Lord, he is. Christianity is not who we are but whose we are.

To approach our Heavenly Father, we must be clothed in the righteousness of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is our righteousness and our redemption. He is the perfect sacrifice for sin on our behalf that we may be the righteousness of God in him. There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit. We’re forgiven not because of who we are but because of who God made us through his son Jesus Christ when we were born again of God’s spirit.

The Pharisees and devout Jews were called to the king’s son’s wedding. However, they rejected the invitation. The Gentiles were the ones in the highways and byways that were called to the wedding feast when the Jews rejected the king’s invitation.

Jesus said, whosoever will may come. The bible says that all scripture is God-breathed and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. Those whom God has called are eager to forsake their own way and turn to God’s way when they hear the truth of the Word of God. Godly correction means to return to an upright position.

God is faithful to his Word. Philippians 2 says that even though we were saved by grace, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling…with awe, respect, and reverence for God. Our responsibility is our response to his ability. Our ability is the Holy Spirit…Christ in us the hope of glory that we received when we were born again. When we delight ourselves in the Lord, when we make his delight our delight and his will our will, then according to Philippians 2:13, it is God who works in you to will and to do of His good pleasure. His good pleasure is that we should be without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation among whom we shine as lights in a world of darkness holding forth the word of life.

God asks, “despite the troubles of this world, will you praise me anyway?” If the gospel is everything, then our assurance is that he works all things for his own good and for our own good to those who love him and are called according to his purpose. Our purpose is to share the gospel of Christ and to use words where necessary. We are the only bible some people will ever read. He has called us as his living epistles, his love letters known and read of all men.

Jesus said, whosoever will may come. Our Heavenly Father has given us an engraved invitation. How we RSVP to his invitation will determine our eternal destiny.

May we ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

Work It Out

Jesus returned to Jerusalem to finish the work for which he had been called. When he met with his twelve disciples in the upper room, they were not prepared for the events that would unfold in the next few days. In John 13, Jesus instituted the memorial of the Lord’s Supper. He said in John 16:7, I need to leave so that I can leave you the comforter of the Holy Spirit. In the upper room, he washed their feet and showed them what it means to be a servant leader…for he that is chiefest among you must be servant of all. Then he predicted his betrayal. He said to Judas, “whatsoever thou doest, do quickly.” Jesus told them, “where I’m going you cannot come.” Peter objected to this and said, I’ll go wherever you go.” Then Jesus reminded him of the weakness of the flesh, “before the cock crows twice you shall deny me thrice.”

John 14 starts with Jesus quoting from a wedding ceremony: “LET not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

Jesus had told his disciples that he is the good shepherd, the bread of life and the light of the world. He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the father except by me.” Everything other than Jesus Christ is a false religion. The truth of Jesus Christ is a gospel of “exclusiveness.” He is the only way to God.

People often ask, “If God is love, then why would he allow condemnation to those who never accepted the gospel of Christ?” Those who ask this question often want to justify following their own will instead of God’s will. Holiness starts with exclusion. It means to “set apart for the purpose intended by the designer.”

Inclusiveness means all-embracing or universal. There is a broad way that leads to destruction. However there is a narrow way through the narrow gate. According to John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” He is both the narrow gate and the narrow way. Jesus Christ is the only way to approach a holy God. He said, “apart from me you can do nothing.” For there is one God and one mediator between man and God, the man Christ Jesus.

The world teaches men to be “self sufficient.” However, as Oswald Chambers said, “when the crisis comes and courage is required, God expects his men to have such confidence in him that they will be the reliable ones.” Through the power of Christ we are confident and rely on God’s promise that he will keep within us his gift of the Holy Spirit whereby we have been sealed for the day of redemption…for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that (holy spirt) which he’s committed to me against that day of righteous judgement.

Jesus said, I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly. The abundance of life is in the spirit of God in Christ in you the hope of glory. Those who are born again of God’s spirt have life more abundantly. When confronted about his faith, Paul said, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. For it is the power of God unto salvation for all who believe.”

As individual fittings within the body of Christ, we’re harmoniously fitted together as individual parts of God’s greater plan. In whom the whole body fitly framed together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth according to the effectual working of every part to the edifying of itself in love. Even though in this life we can not understand God’s plan for our lives because his ways are higher than our ways and his thoughts higher than our thoughts, when that which is perfect is come at Christ’s return, then face to face we shall know even also as we are known.

In the meantime, he has called believers as watchmen on the wall to spread the gospel of the good news of salvation. Repentance unto salvation is about being born again, not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible seed by the word of God which liveth and abideth forever…for he who was without sin became the perfect sin sacrifice on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in him.

He made a way where there was no way. We could not approach a holy God because we were spiritually dead. The man of body and soul cannot inherit eternal life. However, God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. He came that we could be born again of the spirit of life in Christ…that we may be holy and without blame before him in love. This is amazing grace! For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not of works lest any man should boast.”

Having received the gift of the holy spirt of Christ in us the hope of glory, what shall we do? The answer is in Philippians 2:12-13. Even though we were saved by grace and not of works, this verse says “work out your own salvation with awe, respect and reverence.” We work out our salvation as we make God’s will our will and his good pleasure our good pleasure. Then it is God who worketh in you to will and to do of his good pleasure. Ephesians 2:9 says that even though we are saved by grace and not of works, We are God’s workmanship, his great work, his masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus unto good works wherein he has foreordained that we should walk. The out-working of the Holy Spirit is Christ’s eyes behind our eyes, his hands behind our hands, his heart behind our heart, and his tongue behind our tongue. When we follow in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are God’s living epistles, His love letters known and read of all men.

May we ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

Fair Warning

God disciplines those he loves. The Word of God is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. Correction is to restore to an upright position. God makes a way where there is no way. In Ezekiel 33, the nation of Israel had turned its back on God. God is faithful to warn his people to repent, to turn from their wicked ways and to return to the Lord to walk in the path of righteousness.

According to Ezekiel 33:1-6 “AGAIN the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 2. Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman: 3. If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; 4. Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. 5. He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.

Ezekiel told the people to appoint watchmen to warn the people of the enemy’s approach. Israel understood what it meant to live in a walled city. The watchman’s call was to sound the alarm. In years gone by, many American preachers encouraged their congregations to keep a record of everyone with whom they shared the gospel of salvation. What is the application in today’s church? Bill Graham had said, “If God doesn’t judge the United States, then he will have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah.” God’s warning is to restore America to an upright position as one nation under God. Whom the lord loves he chastises.

In a culture that honors God, the land will prosper. There was an American counter-cultural revolution against godly traditional values in the 60’s. The culture began to emphasize the “rights of the individual” and self actualization with the emphasis on self. As a result families, communities, and churches began to atomize and fly apart. “Human Rights” are often “godly wrongs” according to the standard of the Word of God. The world teaches that good is evil and evil is good. Godly Men who used to be honored as heads of their families and pillars of their communities were instead marginalized and labeled as “male chauvinists.” They were admonished to subjugate themselves to women in general and their wives in particular. Men were relegated to a place of dishonor and irreverence in the culture.

God said to Ezekiel, When I bring a sword upon the land, if the people set a man upon the wall to sound the alarm, when he blows the horn, if the people don’t heed the warning, then their blood will be upon their own heads.

Some say that a culture has never survived “multiculturalism.” Factions, strife, contentions and insurrection are characteristics of the wisdom of this world. This type of wisdom is earthly, sensual, and devilish. According to James 3:16, Where there is envying, strife, and division, there is confusion and every evil work. Factions and divisions are contrary to the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. The good news of the gospel of salvation is the solution to the problem of division. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. Peace is only available through the Prince of peace. Peace is the result of reconciliation. To reconcile means to unify…to bring together that which has been separated. According to Ephesians 2:14-16, “For he (Jesus Christ) is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15. Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of (Old Testament) commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16. And that he might reconcile both (Jew and Gentile) unto God in one body by the cross”…

Ezekiel’s admonition to Israel continues in verses 6-7: But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.”
“So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.

God always gives fair warning and a way of salvation. The context of John 3:16 says that Jesus Christ came not into the world to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved.

God has called his people to sound the warning and to spread the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. Jesus said, the works that I do shall they do and greater works shall they do because I go unto my father. The greater works is salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. For we preach not ourselves but Jesus Christ and him crucified. To those who receive the message of the cross of Christ we preach the resurrection and the righteousness of God through the atoning sacrifice of his son our Lord Jesus Christ.

God calls nations and individuals to repent. There’s a difference between regret, remorse, and true repentance. Repentance means to change direction. It is the inflection point where we turn from ourselves and unto the Lord Jesus Christ. A broken and a contrite heart God will not forsake. It’s not turning from sin that saves a man but rather turning to the Saviour from sin, the Lord Jesus Christ. The message of salvation is to heed the watchman’s warning.

That I may know him and the power of his resurrection…for I was crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ liveth in me, and the life that I now live I live by faith in the one who loved me and gave himself for me. This is the testimony of Christ in us the hope of glory. We have been called as watchmen on the wall to share the gospel of the good news of God’s salvation. Therefore sanctify the lord God in your hearts and be ready always to give an answer to every man who asks you a reason for the hope (of Christ’s return) that is in you with meekness and reverence and respect for God.

May we ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

The Watchman’s Call

Each year we must decide what’s important. What is non-negotiable in the coming year? Wisdom is having God’s point of view, not mine. May our prayer be, not my will but thine be done. God has entrusted us with the most important thing in the world…the good news of the gospel of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

In Ezekiel 33, Jerusalem had been destroyed by the Babylonians. Israel had strayed from God’s precepts and commandments. The choice is either truth or consequences. Israel was suffering the consequences of their unbelief. The imperative is always the integrity of the Word of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

According to Ezekiel 33, God’s prophet had been a faithful and obedient man of God. A prophet speaks on behalf of God to God’s people. The word of the lord came unto Ezekiel: “AGAIN the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 2. Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:”

God often needs to bring the sword of the spirt which is the word of Truth. A sword will separate truth from error. God said when I bring a sword upon the land, the people should choose a man as their watchman. These people knew what it meant to live in a walled city. According to verses 3 and 4: “If when he (the watchman) seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; 4. Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.”

The job of the watchman on the wall is to sound the alarm so that God’s people will be prepared when the “big one” hits. Then when the people don’t give heed to the watchman’s warning, their blood will be on their own heads. Many men say upon their death beds after hearing the gospel, “it’s too late.”

The sword of the spirit is a sword of love to separate the thoughts and the intentions of the heart. The sword divides asunder believing faith from unbelief.

Verses 5 and 6 continue: Had the citizens taken heed of the watchman’s warning, then they would have been prepared for the onslaught of the enemy.
“He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul. 6. But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.”

The watchman on the wall has been called to warn the citizens of the approaching danger. Those born again of God’s spirit have been given the ministry of reconciliation and have been committed the word of reconciliation. Our charge is to sound the alarm and to preach the gospel message of deliverance from sin, death, and God’s righteous judgement for sin. Jesus said, the works that I do shall they do and greater works shall they do because I go unto my Father. The greater works is the Gospel of salvation… God’s good news of salvation by grace alone though faith alone in Christ alone.

The word “turn” is used eight times in Ezekiel 33. To turn means to “repent.” Repent is to change your mind and to change direction. It means to forsake the broad way that leads to destruction and turn unto the narrow way through the narrow gate, Jesus Christ. He is the way, the truth and the life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Jesus Christ was the propitiation, the full payment and the never ending sacrifice for our sin. For he who was without sin became the perfect sacrifice for sin on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in Him.

Therefore, preach the gospel of salvation through the perfect sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ. Speak forth the Word boldly and in love. Then let the chips fall where they may. As Paul said, “I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.” The Word of God never returns void. In Isaiah 55, God said though his prophet, “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth. It shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please and it will prosper in the purpose for which I sent it.”

Paul said, “we preach not ourselves but Jesus Christ and him crucified.” Unto the Jews the preaching of the cross of Christ was a stumbling block and unto the Greeks foolishness. But unto those who have been called, the cross of Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God unto salvation.

The credibility is in the Word of God to those whom God has called. We have been given God’s great co-mission. For we are fellow-laborers with God. He calls us not to argue but to be kind to all, gently correcting those who oppose themselves. 2 Timothy 2:24 says, “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25. In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26. And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”

There is a difference between regret and repentance. It’s one thing to feel disgust and pain for our sin and iniquity. However, repentance means to change direction. Repentance is the inflection point where we agree with God’s will about Jesus Christ the Saviour from sin. Repentance is to change direction from following our own will to following his will. Repentance unto salvation is by confessing “Jesus is Lord” and believing in our hearts that God has raised him from the dead. Turning from our sin and unto the truth of the Word of God through the Lord Jesus Christ is the meaning of repentance.

As watchmen on the wall, our commission and our mission is to spread the alarm: the good news of God’s gospel message of salvation. For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast.

It’s not about us…it’s about him. Jesus Christ is the “hound of heaven” who pursues those whom God has called to his saving grace. The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few. May our prayer be that he will lead us to some soul today and teach us Lord just what to say, as fellow Laborers to God’s harvest….that we may ever live to the praise of the glory of God’s grace through the power of his holy spirit of Christ in us the hope of glory.

Your brother in Christ,
Michael