The Gospels in Harmony
We will be re-posting this series, so no one gets left behind. Look for a new posts every week.
The Gospels in Harmony is a Sermon Series that was begun in 2016. To date Pastor Freede has written over 350 sermons in this series and has many more to go. Enjoy our Pastors heart!
The Gospels in Harmony
The Gospels in Harmony Sermon #1-102316
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the Good News of the Promised Savior. The life, death and resurrection of the Son of God for our sin. The living Promise of salvation is through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. The shed blood of a sinless man for our sin as men that we may live sinless in faith with Him in Spirit forever.
It is most important we stay focused on the Living Promise of salvation through faith.
First our Promised savior is alive and is seated at the right hand of God, interceding for all who put their faith in Him.
Second your faith must be just as alive as our Savior and just as active in coming to Him continuously as our High Priest.
Faith is not something you get from going to church or changing a few bad habits or claiming to be a religious person. Faith is the resurrection of your soul. It is casting off the sin you were chained to by inheritance.
That is what all men are born into. The bondage of sin which leads to death. The sin of unbelief in Jesus Christ is what keeps us there.
Let’s get something straight here. Faith is not the opposite of unbelief. Or vice versa.
Faith can be measured and applied and grown. Unbelief is the result of little or no faith.
Faith is alive and is life.
Unbelief is dead and death. It is the result of no faith.
Faith is life eternal because it is of God.
Unbelief is death eternal because it is the result of the absence of God.
Just as darkness is the result of no light, unbelief is the result of no faith.
Did you know that light can be measured? Light is energy. Darkness is a word used to describe the absence of light. Even on the darkest night light can still be measured. But when there is no more energy to measure the darkness doesn’t get darker.
It’s the same with hot and cold. Heat is energy. Molecular activity can be measured. Cold is a word used to describe the lack of that energy or activity. At -273 Degrees Celsius all molecular activity ceases. It can’t get colder, it just ends because there is no energy, no activity, no life.
Faith is the spec of energy that God gives to everyone. It is life.
The Bible says (ref John 3:16) Whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Faith is necessary for one to believe in the manner the Bible speaks. You see you can believe almost anything. Most people do! Especially the latest gossip! But we are talking about life and death here folks! And it takes faith to truly believe you are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ! James 2:19
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
They believe but they don’t believe through faith. They believe through fear and that’s not going to save them or you.
Faith is given to all men that they may believe in Him. But the sin of unbelief will condemn the soul forever.
How much faith does it take?
The tiniest speck of faith.
But it must be faith without doubt!
Why?
Because faith with doubt is no faith at all.
James 1:6-8
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
You may question the amount of faith someone has but you cannot question the faith that someone does have.
Let me explain this.
Faith without doubt is pour faith no matter what size.
It always starts out a tiny speck in size, but it is the application and testing and use that makes it grow.
It does not become pourer, but greater, stronger and more visible along with more powerful and God glorifying. Faith in the saving grace of God is pour, and holy and sanctified by God through Jesus Christ.
No matter what size it is found in.
However, faith that does not grow is the result of doubt.
Some would say it is the result of fear. But fear is nothing more than doubt in action.
Doubt is in one’s mind which controls the body. Fear is exhibiting in the flesh what the mind controls.
Think about it. What is fear? It is the absence of faith. It is the doubting of the power of God to, and in and through you.
I can remember the first time I was asked to preach a sermon. Actually, stand behind the sacred desk at the head of the congregation and speak the word of God. Faith in my calling by God through this congregation led me do what I feared in the flesh. Speaking in front of a crowd was one of my greatest fears. Yet faith without doubt lead me to rise and answer that call and after a year of preaching in that church, I was ordained and have not stopped preaching in person and through this website.
I have faced many challenges that could have turned me from that calling and service to God but in faith I have remained true and stand on the promise of faith without doubt in Jesus Christ, that He will and has lifted me to a life that is real. A life I would have never known without faith in Him. A life that would never have grown without faith in Jesus Christ and a life of faith, without doubt in Jesus Christ, will increase forever.
This is why I preach the Gospel.
I know what faith in my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, has done in and for me.
It is because that faith in me continues to grow. It has become greater in me than I can hold in.
You see, by faith without doubt, God lives in me.
1 John 4:4
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Faith without doubt is not a faith that can be hidden or disguised or shelved.
It cannot be pulled out and applied when one thinks it is needed most nor can it be taken for granted or with arrogance..
Hiding your faith is fear, which is the acting out of doubt in one’s mind. But if you are saved, you no longer have a spirit of fear.
2 Timothy 1:7
7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Disguising your faith is still acting out doubt, which is fear. It is not wanting the world to know you desire to be a child of God. It is being unsure of your standing in Christ.
I believe this is the correct way to state this point. It's time to take the hard line with salvation.
If you are intentionally hiding Jesus from the world, YOU ARE NOT SAVED!
Get it figured out! You are not hiding your religion. You are hiding Christ and if you were truly saved that would not be possible!
Shelving your faith is to assume you are saved and you can put that much of your life on hold until you die. It's being like so many today who think they can say a prayer and get fireproofed instantly.
It's like so many today who say they believe in God but they, in reality, just believe there is a god. Shelving your faith is fooling yourself. You really have no faith in Jesus Christ, or you would be humbling yourself in conviction of your conscience.
Faith cannot be pulled out like a pocketknife to whittle away at your problems or carve out something you think you need at the time. Nor can it be taken for granted that just because you say you have faith, God will solve all your problems without any further commitment and of course arrogance will make God your servant by faith.
Faith is putting your trust in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is knowing beyond a shadow of doubt that He died in your place as a penalty for all your sin. Past, present and future. It is standing on the promise that a sinless man cannot die, and Christ rose to eternal life having taken captivity captive. By Grace you are saved through faith. By His finished work of love unto death you may live eternally in Christ because your sin was laid on His back. He died for you, and He rose for you, and you are seated with Him at the right hand of God, even now, in faith without doubt.
If that is not Good News, I will eat my hat!
That is the Gospel of Jesus Christ! He shed His blood for you and Rose for You that You may live eternally with Him in Heaven with the Father. Praised the Lord!
Now, in beginning this new Sermon series I must explain or define a few things.
The synoptic Books of the New Testament are Matthew, Mark and Luke.
Within them you will find many of the same events and teachings of Jesus. This is why they are called the Synoptics. They describe similar events but are presented by different authors. Even so there are no discrepancies. They are synonymous with each other, saying the same thing sometimes in different ways. But the same nun the less.
The fourth book in the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the Book of John.
John takes on a different task in presenting the Good News.
He does not ignore the synoptic writings of Matthew, Mark and Luke. He instead verifies them with added information and at the same time brings a most powerful, spiritual understanding into his writing.
He not only comes across as a great evangelist but fills his gospel with apologetics. Eyewitness and Spiritual proof of Christ our savior.
So with much prayer, and devotion to my Lord Jesus Christ and you. I will begin a new Sermon Series. I believe the best title is simply "The Gospels in Harmony"
Instead of teaching and preaching through each Book on it's own, I believe the task of preaching and teaching through all four at the same time will help us to cement the truth of our one and only Savior.
The living Word of God. Jesus Christ.
I will attempt to keep all events in Chronological order, which will lead us to jump back and forth from Book to Book but remember it's all about Jesus. In studying the Gospels all together we will have a much better understanding of the harmony of the whole Bible.
Remember it is the Old Testament that points to the New. And the New Testament that proves the Old.
They are only separated by the coming of Jesus Christ. The Promised Messiah.
Which brings us to the opening of this Sermon Series----:>)
Yes, I know, you are all thinking to yourselves "If that wasn't the opening, what was it?"
Well, it was the introduction to the opening. How's That? It's Ok to laugh at me. I do it all the time!
I am most excited about this new series and expect it to take several years to complete. I sincerely hope and pray you will all continue to join us as we study the Word of God together.
Please pray for this ministry. Our goals and purposes are to study and grow together in the Word of God.
The Sermons that are posted each week are meant to be informative, thought provoking and challenging. It is the seed of faith that must grow into a mighty tree for the world to see and come to know. That seed is given to each one of us by God, but we must be faithful in planting it in the good soil of our hearts that it may grow with the watering of the Word.
It is the Word of God that cuts away all doubt. It is the Holy Spirit that works with us to nurture and care for that seed. And it is God that makes it grow.
And what is your part in growing your faith?
Humble yourself before God. On your knees, with your head bowed in reverence to our Father who art in Heaven. Hallow His glorious name and you will be lifted in the name of Jesus to stand against anything that is not of God. You will be lifted to serve in the strength of faith in our omnipotent Father and guided by His Spirit who lives in us.
Knowing God, is living in the Word; Jesus Christ.
Serving God, is Walking in the Spirit that the world may see and know Jesus Christ.
Remember faith without works is dead.
The only work that is of God and for God is the work done by God, through you in faith.
It's not what you can do for Him, it's what He can do through you.
In faith God will lift you to do and be, far and beyond what you would ever ask or think.
That is the faith that cannot be hidden or disguised or shelved.
Praise the Lord for this time we have together to grow and glorify Him.
AMEN!
Pastor Steven Freede
Down Home Preaching Ministry
Original Sermon Date
10/23/16
The Gospels in Harmony Sermon #2-11616
The Gospels in Harmony Sermon #2-11616
John 1:1-5
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
Our most Gracious Heavenly Father, as we begin this study together, open our hearts to receive the truth in every word. Your Word! Open our eyes to see and our ears to hear. Lift us as we grow with the filling and the watering of your Word. But most of all, guide and strengthen us to walk in your Word. Bless this study and all who choose to come and participate. In the name of Jesus, your living Word, we pray. AMEN!
In the beginning, is always the best place to start. So, as we begin our study in the Gospels of Jesus Christ, it is best to start at the beginning of existence as we know it.
There are two words in the opening of John 1:1.
The words In and was.
In-- is referring to all of Creation from the moment it began to be made.
Was--refers to God in His entirety before the time of His creation of the world and all that is in it.
It is clear from the narration of The Beginning, in Genesis 1 and 2, God in His Triune self was and is the creator of all things throughout all time.
Before we proceed, I believe it is necessary to give a simple example or defining description of the word triune.
First, we know our one and only God as a Triune God. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
What? How can God be Three separate entities and yet one God? Three Persons yet one?
Here is the best way to understand Triune as a person.
Using myself as an example I can tell you I have parents, a wife and a daughter.
My relationship with my parents is far different than my relationship with my daughter and wife.
My relationship with my daughter is far different than my relationship with my parents and wife.
And my relationship with my wife is far different than my relationship with my parents and my daughter.
Yet in all three relationships I am the same. I am the same person not three. I have three different living and active relationships, with different responsibilities to each, all culminating from love for all as a whole.
In love, I care for all who I have been given as mine. I care for all of them in different ways but all in love from the same person. I am a different person with a different purpose and function to each of them, but I am still the same person. I myself am one.
So, when we see John writing; verse 1. In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God; ---we can clearly understand that God has personal relations with all things He has created. Those relations are personified in different ways, but God never changes or becomes or shares His Glory. God is one in three different living and active relationships, with different works in love through each one, but still all from one.
God is the designer of all creation. It is through His spoken Word that all things were and are created.
God’s word is God. It is not separate from God.
When you speak, everyone knows what you are. Your words describe what you really are.
If you lie, you are a liar and you will be found out. If you swear, if you bless, if you preach, if you encourage, if you pray; no matter what, you will be known by what comes from your mouth and how you present things verbally. Why because a righteous man speaks from a clean heart.
What comes out of a man's mouth is from his heart.
Luke 6:45
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
In God there is no evil. So, through His perfect Word all things were created for the Good!
God's Word is living.
His word goes out and does not come back void.
The Word of God is God because it always was with God and never ends.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
God's Word was not created. God's Word as well as His Holy Spirit are God.
Now before we get any further, for the sake of clarity for them who are new to the Gospel. I would like to jump ahead to verse 14 so we may, without doubt, know who we are talking about when we say "the Word"
John 1:14
And the Word was made 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.
The Word is the exact and full representation of God because He is God. The Word became flesh that We would know God as He knows us. God expressed Himself to us in the person of Jesus Christ. His Son, His Living Word.
Was Jesus Created by God? No!
Jesus always was, is and forever will be God. He became flesh for our sake. He took on the body of a man to lower Himself as an obedient servant to the Father, that we might believe on Him and be saved. When His sinless flesh was crucified by sin filled men, He returned to the Father having fulfilled the law of the flesh for all mankind and took captivity captive.
Isaiah 55:11
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 shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it
Why is the Word of God the Son of God?
Because He became flesh as a child of God and not of man. Children of men are born into sin, but only Jesus is born of God by the Holy Spirit. Born without sin and remained sinless. God is Holy and cannot even look upon sin, so He had to become the appearance of sinful flesh just to satisfy the penalty for sin through a sinless being. His living Word.
God allowed sinful men to crucify the exact sinless representation of Himself that the enmity between man and Himself may be forever removed. God revealed Himself to us through His Spoken Word, His written Word and His Living Word. All, nothing less than God Himself.
It is so important that we understand Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are God. No less in anyway. The only difference is the functional relationship.
God gave us life for His Glory. He gave His Word that if we believed in Him we would live with Him forever. He gave His Spirit that we would be sealed as a child of God, free from all condemnation.
Romans 8:1-4
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
So, as we begin our study in the Harmony of the Gospels, we must understand Jesus was, is and always will be God. The Sons relationship with us is different than that of the Holy Spirit and of the Father, yet He is still God.
The Holy Spirits relationship with us is different than the Fathers and the Sons, yet He is still God.
His relationship with us is triune. Three in one.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
All things were made by God's Word.
God the Father is the designer, God the Son, the Word of God is the creator and God the Holy Spirit is the finisher.
Because all things were created by God's Word they are made through His Son.
How wonderful it is to be commanded and strengthened to be Christ like. We are called to become like our creator.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Because He gave us life, we live.
Because He gave us light, we see.
Because He gave His life for us, we may live our lives for Him in the light of faith and obedience.
Satan could not tempt Jesus to sin, nor could he destroy Him on the cross. The Word humbled Himself to become the Son of God in the flesh of men. But even then, the darkness did not know Him. Did not comprehend faith and obedience as the light. Darkness and sin can overcome the flesh, but faith and obedience are of the Spirit and in the Spirit of God there is only the light of righteous.
Humbling oneself in faithful obedience to God will cast all darkness into the shadows. We are called to be a light in the darkness. To live a life that shines and shows and reflects the light of the life of Jesus in a world of darkness and death.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
The word comprehended, in the KJV, is also translated as overcome.
The world of darkness did not nor ever will overcome the light.
Even science has proven, light is positive energy. The greater the energy the greater the light.
The lower the energy the lower the light. Darkness is the result of no light.
Sin is darkness in the world. It is present because of the absence of the Light.
I want every professing Christian to think about this, long and hard.
Far too many people in this day and age are more concerned with getting even more people to be professing Christians like them. They want people to claim to be Christians without being Christians.
They want to be a disciple of Jesus without the risk of persecution or even the obedience that comes from true conversion through faith.
Oh, what a darkness the worldly church lives in. Darkness is filling the hearts and minds of so many church goers today. Are you hearing this alarm! Are you looking at yourself and your fellow church attendees as a whole? Professing Christianity is only fooling yourself! Calling others to profess Christianity with you is pulling them into the same darkness of false salvation you live in. There is no Light in professing to be a child of God! There is no light in hiding Jesus from the world so you will not be persecuted! There is no light in claiming to know someone who does not know you!
CONFESS Jesus in Your Life! Show the Light that lives in You! Live the life that was given for you!
Professing to be something you are not, is a lie from a heart that does not know the truth.
Confessing is the truth from the heart.
If you are saved you will not be able to hide Jesus in you. His light will be in you because in you there is no more darkness. Your sin is forgiven. The Old has become New. You have been raised with Jesus in the righteousness of eternal life in Christ.
1 John 4:4
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Greater is He that is in you.
If you are a child of God, confessing the blood of Christ and sealed with the Holy Spirit you will not be able to hide that much light. The overwhelming joy of salvation. The life giving and life sustaining faith in our Father, Creator and Sustainer brings about a change that cannot be hidden and through a willing desire to be with our Father, even as we live for Him, the world will see Christ is alive and powerfully walking as He still walks in the darkness of this world in and through you.
The Good News of the Gospel is that Christ is alive because darkness cannot overcome the light.
And He is still alive and well, even in us, as we are in Him, in Faith.
Matthew 5:14-15
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a close vessel, but on a candlestick: and it giveth light to all that are in the house.
It is the Light of the Righteousness of the Word of God that is in you, and it will shine for the world to see.
It is that Light that draws the lost from the darkness.
The Light that shines in and out of a CONFESSING Christian. The Light shines in a confessing disciple’s heart and not through a professing hypocrite's lips. The world sees through the hypocrite but the real Christian shines in a way that darkness must hide or show itself in confession and repentance.
Since the Beginning, Jesus Christ, the Word, was, is and always will be. He is our creator and savior and Lord forever! The Good news is, He can and will live in and through anyone who calls on His name, believes in their heart and confesses with their mouth, their faith in His obedient finished work of shedding His blood for their sin and then rising once again to be the firstborn among all faithfully obedient children of God.
The Gospel begins with the knowledge of who Jesus is.
This is why John begins His Gospel in the beginning.
Our beginning. Our creation by our pre-existing God, His living Word and His Holy Spirit.
Oh, Praise the Lord all you Saints!
Amen!
Pastor Steven Freede
Down Home Preaching
Original Sermon Date
11/6/16
The Gospels in Harmony
Sermon #3
The Gospels in Harmony Sermon #3-111316
Matthew 1:1-17
1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
2 Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judah and his brethren;
3 And Judah begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;
4 And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon;
5 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;
6 And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Uriah;
7 And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa;
8 And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias;
9 And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias;
10 And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias;
11 And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon:
12 And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel;
13 And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor;
14 And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud;
15 And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob;
16 And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon to Christ are fourteen generations.
Matthew 1 or at least the first half of Matthew 1, is probably the most passed over portion of the New Testament there is. How sad we as Christians view one part of the Bible less important as the rest.
Matthew has much to say with the names he brought forth in the genealogy of our Lord and Savior.
Unlike Luke in his recording of the lineage of Jesus, Matthew only goes back to Abraham. Luke chose to follow the line back to Adam and God Himself.
Not all of the names have been recorded as many may have been lost in wars and destruction of cities and temple records. However, Matthew is still able to compile an accurate list according to times, places and events throughout the history of Israel.
So as we look at this list, we will be examining each name and what they tell us by their lives and events that brought them into the planned line of Jesus.
Matthew starts with Abraham. Right away we must look at the Abrahamic covenant.
Over and over God promises Abram he will make and keep a covenant that He alone will make with him. You see this was not a deal formed from both sides. God chose Abram. Why? Because God sees what we are and what we are to be. How God sees you is not how we look at ourselves. What God knows we will do is beyond our comprehension, but God knows and will work all things for the good.
Romans 8:28
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
God called Abram because He knew Abram’s heart. Even before Abram knew his own heart.
God made a covenant with Abram. He told Abram what He would do for and through Him and He swore it by Himself, for there is no greater than Himself.
Genesis 12:1-3
1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
Genesis 17:6-8
6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.
7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.
8 And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.
Each one of the persons in the line of Christ. The genealogy, as we say, of our Lord, has something to teach us and this is why Matthew goes to such lengths to not only proclaim the direct line but also mentions pertinent people involved with them. As we continue through this list, I will be able to show and explain why Matthew provides this information.
There are four points that I believe Matthew wants us to recognize and hold onto with the first person named.
1. God knows our hearts and sees us as He knows us.
Jeremiah 29;11
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
2. Faith. Faith is counted to us as righteousness.
Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness.
Genesis 15:6
6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
3. Obedience in faith.
Genesis 22:16-18
16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son :
17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
Oh my Beloved Brethren.
4. The fourth point we see come to light in Abraham, is his devotion.
It is one thing to be a Christian, but a far greater thing to be a devout Christian. Giving your all for God as He gave His all for us. This is why God proclaims; "By Myself I have sworn"---Because there is no greater to swear by--- and "Because thou hast done this thing"---because you have held nothing back to obey My command
17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heavens and the sand which is upon the sea shore"
Oh how great God is toward the violently faithful and obedient.
Nothing stops them from faithful obedience even when it tears at every fiber in their flesh.
Even before God promised Abraham, he would have a son and be the father of many nations and kings,
God had a purpose for Abraham and knew His heart. Even before Abraham was born. God knew he was the foundation for the nation of Israel in which the promised Seed would come.
Faith is the first step in being a child of God. The second step is obedience in faith.
It can be and should be noted. Obedience is for God. It is to God for His Glory.
James says it with clarity! Faith without works is dead. Showing your faith in action by the guidance of God through His Holy Spirit is obedience.
God's abundance is already promised through His promise to Abraham.
It doesn't stop unless you stop it. Faith alone is not enough!
Oh it may get you into heaven, but your clothes may be smoking when you get there!
God's blessings are for you and I and everyone who will devote themselves to obedience to the Word.
That's not being a little church mouse! It is being a devoted disciple of Jesus Christ. Not stopping for anything that may appear to be a hindrance or an end. Why live a normal life when we are born unto a superfluous God!
Blessing, I will bless thee and multiplying I will multiply--- These are the words of God to Abraham. They are the words God swore by Himself to keep, and they are available to all who devote themselves in FAITH and OBEDIENCE!
Once again being a church mouse is not being obedient.
Living abundantly for Jesus brings the abundance of God, for God, through Jesus, by the Holy Spirit in us!
So in Abraham we see,
1. God sees us as He created us to be, not what we see in ourselves.
2. Faith is righteousness before God.
3. Obedience opens the door to all the promises God has for us.
4. devotion brings the abundance God has in store for us.
I can testify, God's abundance is never ending toward me, when my devotion to proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ through my love for Him, is not stopped or hindered even by the smallest or greatest challenges.
As we study each of these people in the book of the generation of Jesus Christ we can draw a lesson or a teaching that will be fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
At the end I will recap each that we will be able to see that fulfillment in Christ.
Isaac is our next in line.
Verse 1 says: 1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Now at first glance many newcomers to the Word think this is a misprint or a contradiction because verse 2 starts with --2 Abraham begat Isaac;
One thing we must grasp in our minds. sons are eternal. By the Word of God, a grandson as we would call the son of a son, is still the grandfather's son. and so, it is as we know it by our terminology for each generation following. Great grandson, great great grandson and so on. But God does not separate Himself from us by generations. In Christ we are His sons and His daughters. Not a thousand generations removed. We are born again as new children, of the first and only generation. There is nothing separating us from the Father. Jesus Christ is the first risen from the dead and we all follow in His steps in Him to be among many to join Him in relationship with our Father who art in Heaven.
God does not sort us out and assign us a closer or more distant relationship with Him if we come early or late or we are the first among our earthly family or from a long line of faithful servants. We are all sons. And so, we must look at verse 1 in this holy and inclusive manner. Abraham is the beginning of the promise of Jesus Christ as savior for all nations. Each generation is as close to God as the next. His promise to Abraham is never ending especially to Israel but to all nations and nationalities because of Israel.
Verse 1 says Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Yes! This is the abridged version because all Jews would know the Abrahamic and the Davidic covenants that led to the coming of the Messiah.
But Matthew chose to expound on the major characters in between each of them that we may see how God works to make all things work for the good.
Romans 8:28
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
I believe we will stop there for this Sermon and continue with Isaac when we meet again.
Our most gracious Heavenly Father. Open the eyes of our hearts to see things as you see them. Open our hearts to accept the truth that we are Your chosen and can and will walk in Your promises when we rise above our flesh in Spiritual faith and obedience. It is not what we can do or even think we do in our fleshly efforts to obey, but it is what You do through us when we give ourselves totally to you. When we die to the flesh and rise in the Spirit of our Lord and Savior in devoted faith and obedience.
Faith that seeks the face of God and obedience that shows His hand in our lives.
Shout in Praise all ye saints! In the righteousness of Jesus Christ we pray. AMEN!
Pastor Steven Freede
Down Home Preaching Ministry
Original Sermon Date 11/13/16
The Gospels in Harmony Sermon #4-111616
The Gospels in Harmony Sermon #4-111616
Matthew 1:2-17
2 Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judah and his brethren;
3 And Judah begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;
4 And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon;
5 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;
6 And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Uriah;
7 And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa;
8 And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias;
9 And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias;
10 And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias;
11 And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon:
12 And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel;
13 And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor;
14 And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud;
15 And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob;
16 And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon to Christ are fourteen generations.
As we pick up in Matthew in verse 2, we begin with the second in line to receive the promises God made to and through Abraham.
2 Abraham begat Isaac-----
Isaac; the son of promise! God promised a son to Abraham through his wife Sarah. Ishmael was not the son of promise although the son of Abraham. Ishmael was the son of Abraham's efforts with a woman that could bare him a child. Isaac was the son of Abraham through a woman that had to receive the grace of God to conceive. The blessing of God toward Abraham continued to be all of God! This is also the beginning of the doctrine of the elect. God knows His purpose for each one of us. All things work for the good, but it is always for the glory of God.
Think about. How would it glorify God to just make an offer to several so-called God-fearing men. Let them proceed to raise children and see which one would appear to be the most God glorifying in the eyes of the world. A worldly view of righteous person doing Gods work. Let me assure you the world is fooled daily by such nonsense.
No, God knows who He will call to do His work, and He knows how to show it can only be Him making it happen. A man and woman past the age of child being chosen to have a son for Gods glory is for them to know. But a barren woman past the age of child baring being with child can only be viewed by the world as a miracle of God.
God is in control of all things as our designer, creator, and sustainer. Here once again we will have people reading this and thinking to themselves, "what if I am not one of God's elect?"
Well stay with us in this series and I will clear up a few things for you.
But for now, if you are deeply concerned then perhaps you should take a long hard look at yourself, your actions and thoughts, your relationship with Jesus Christ and the brethren, then be honest with yourself and confess and repent at every feeling and remembrance of wrongdoing. Oh, my beloved, if you are that concerned, that willing, that fearful of not being a child of God, then you will be saved! You would not fear being without Jesus or sinning against God if you were not being called to salvation by the Holy Spirit. Believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord and savior, and you will know what salvation really is.
The child of promise came to Abraham and Sarah at a time when both were passed the age of procreation. The child grew and lived under the promise of blessing toward his father. When Abraham died, all the blessings of God's promises came directly to Isaac. How were they poured out on him?
Through faith and obedience just as they were for his father.
Genesis 25:11
11 And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahairoi.
Genesis 25:21
21 And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
Genesis 26:1-6
1 And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar.
2 And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of:
3 Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;
4 And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;
5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
6 And Isaac dwelt in Gerar:
Gerar was in the land of Canaan which God had promised Abraham would be given to his descendants.
It was later in the land of the tribe of Judah.
So, Isaac was faithful and obedient in the land of King Abimelek of the Philistines. Now this was ninety years after Abrahams visit and original covenant of peace in this same land. So, this was not the same Abimelek. However, Isaac knew to fear them for their practices of taking what they wanted, by force if necessary and he applied the same ploy that His father had to save himself from them killing him to take his beautiful wife, Rebecca.
I find it noteworthy. Because of their faith and obedience, these two men were blessed with women so beautiful, that even kings desired them.
Now I understand why my wife is so beautiful!
Wow! Thank You Jesus!
But God put fear in the hearts of the Philistine leaders, and they proclaimed that Isaac and Rebecca not be harmed.
Isaac planted and God made his labors produce 100-fold.
He prospered so much the people of that land became envious and Isaac was told to leave because they feared him, for he had become so great in strength and number. So, he moved eastward but every time he dug a well the herdsmen of that area claimed it for themselves. So instead of fighting he would pack up and move. Here is another feature of faith and obedience in the son of Abraham. God did not tell him to make a stand or fight or take anything that was not his. God said (paraphrase)--do not go into the land of Egypt. Go where I tell you and you will be blessed.
Now sometimes we are moved and things change around us so we must deal with current events, but that does not mean God is not there the whole time with a watchful eye and a helpful hand. When God is ready to move you on to the next step in His plan, He will tell you. Isaac moved from place to place but was forced to move over and over because of the herdsmen in the area. Peacefully he would move and God would continue to bless and guide and provide for him.
2-------and Isaac begat Jacob-----
Matthew was writing to confirm the lineage of Jesus through the promise made to Abraham.
But in stating each one of these people he was bringing the remembrance of the presence of God in the lives of them all to our attention. Throughout time God has made Himself manifest in the lives of all men for His purpose.
As we continue looking into the lives of each one on Matthews list, we will begin to see the character of God. Each one is a stone in the architects finished work which comes to a head in Jesus Christ.
Let's continue.
Jacob the second born of twins. It is hardly possible to mention Jacob without thinking of Esau also.
Here I will expound on the doctrine of election.
Before Jacob and Esau were ever born God knew them.
Genesis 25:21-23
21 And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
22 And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD.
23 And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.
Romans 9:10-18
9 For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son.
10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;
11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)
12 It was said to her, The elder shall serve the younger.
13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy.
17 For the scripture saith to Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
Now, many would say Esau didn't have a chance.
Oh, but he did! He was raised in the same God-fearing household as Jacob, but God knew his heart before the world was formed. God knew he would not fear Him nor follow his commands.
Many would say Esau was treated like a pagan, like Pharaoh himself, yet even Pharaoh saw the greatness of God firsthand and would not believe. There are them who only get one opportunity to come to God and others are called for many years. Jacob by no means was sinless in thought or action many times in his life, yet he believed God was with him and it was counted to him as righteousness as it was with his father and grandfather.
We must understand, God is sovereign. It is His perfect will for all things to work for the good. God's mercy is on them he knows will come and compassion on them that do. But them who will not, He knows, and even hardens their hearts so they cannot come to Him and be saved.
2 Thessalonians 2:10-12
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
I would like everyone to notice verse 11 of 2 Thessalonians 2 says----that they should believe a lie:
This is a choice made by the unbeliever. A choice to ignore everything else and in doing so God does not hinder them but makes the lie more than believable. It is what their hearts desire.
This is why Scripture says: Esau have I hated.
In the same sense He says: ---Jacob have I loved. God knew Jacobs heart and He never left Him.
Is God unrighteous for giving us what our hearts desire? Not at all!
One thing we must all remember. God gave us free will! And we are free to accept or deny the truth of even His existence. But God already knows and to them that will desire Him, He has mercy and to them who will not, His mercy is withheld to the point of total blindness toward Him.
You cannot blame God for your sinful refusal to come before His Son in confession and repentance. If you choose a hard heart, a hard heart is what you will receive.
Everyone has been given a seed of faith. It is what you put that seed in to grow that will be for your eternal glory with God or your eternal damnation. Faith grows in lies as quick as it does the truth!
So as Matthew lists the names of all who came in line to Jesus Christ, Jacob is remembered for many things in his life.
He bartered with Esau for His birthright which Esau willingly gave up to satisfy his stomach.
He followed his mother's plan to deceive Isaac for the blessing that Esau had already willingly given up.
He did not always follow God's directions to the fullest or the quickest but nun the less, he was faithful and even though Laban used and abused him for his services Jacob dealt honestly with him.
Jacob had 12 sons through his obedience and faith to his father and God. Jacob was blessed because of his persistence in believing God would be with Him and his willingness to set his face like flint on God blessing him to continue, without harm, to walk the path God had set before him.
Dedication and devotion to even wrestle against his fears to serve our almighty God.
And oh, was he blessed!
It would do us all good to open our Bibles and read once again from Genesis Chapters 24-33.
Are we beginning to see the importance of the naming of the earthly descendants of Jesus? As we read this list, instead of skipping over it to get on with the Book of Matthew, we can begin to see the character in each of them that God has used to show us Himself in Jesus Christ.
Each one has something to teach us about what God looks for and uses in each of His servants and as we will soon see, what God will use to achieve His purpose.
Romans 9:13
As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
Genesis 26:34-35
34 And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite:
35 Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah.
How do you live?
Are you like Jacob, who admits and faces his fears, and cries out for God to be with him?
Or are you like Esau who credits his own hands for his prosperity?
Are you a blessing to your parents or a grief of mind to them?
Are you persistent in your desire to come closer to and honor and glorify God?
Or are you high and mighty all by yourself?
It is by these very people that we can see and know what is righteous in the sight of God and what is not. By the time we get to Jesus we will know Him by His righteousness.
Open our eyes to the truth in your Word, Father, that we would not believe the lies of the world.
In Jesus' name we pray, AMEN!
Pastor Steven Freede
Down Home Preaching Ministry
Original sermon date---11/16/16
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