25-0921p Transcript

Preacher: Mike Mathis

(0:32) This is part two of what I started. (0:36) My lesson is part two of what I started this morning in finding things.

(0:46) But it’s not accidental finding that was talked about. (0:56) But it’s things that we may have misplaced. (1:04) And the effort and the time spent on looking for that (1:15) is reflective of how much value we place on that item.

(1:24) And we can spend a lot of time searching for an object (1:34) and that determines how much value we place on that object. (1:40) We can ask ourselves, what do I search for? (1:45) And we learn that we can seek glory, honor, and immortality. (1:59) We can seek things that are glorious in Romans 2, 5 through 10.

(2:09) And then there are times when we are selfish (2:14) The things that we may go after just is self-gratifying. (2:25) And then God searches for us in seeking the lost. (2:36) Jesus in Luke 19, verse 10 said that (2:45) for the Son of Man has come to seek and save that which was lost.

(2:54) So God is seeking that which is lost, us. (3:03) When we turn away from Him and we become lost or we sin (3:09) and we need to be reconciled to Him (3:16) then we need to look and search for God for ourselves.

(3:27) Now, in John 5, John is talking to people, he’s talking to the Jews (3:41) and he’s telling them things and they seemingly do not accept things that he says (3:53) and he knows it.

(3:56) And he tells them that they are not accepting his truth (4:06) that they are not accepting him for who he is (4:12) and he says in verse 37 (4:19) And the Father himself who sent me has testified of me. (4:25) You have neither heard his voice at any time nor seen his form (4:32) but you do not have his word abiding in you (4:38) because whom he sent in you do not believe. (4:46) And he’s speaking of himself when he says that.

(4:51) Christ, or God sent Christ into the world (4:55) and they wouldn’t believe in him. (5:00) And he says, but you do not have his word abiding in you (5:08) because whom he sent in you do not believe. (5:11) You search the scriptures for in them you think you have eternal life (5:19) and these are they which testify of me.

(5:27) But you are not willing to come to me that you may have life. (5:34) I do not receive honor from men (5:40) but I know you do not have the love of God in you. (5:46) I have come in my Father’s name (5:49) and you do not receive me.

(5:54) If another comes in his own name (5:57) him you will receive. (6:12) How can you believe who receive honor from another (6:19) and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God? (6:26) Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father. (6:32) There is one who accuses you, Moses, in whom you trust.

(6:38) For if you believed Moses you would believe me (6:44) for he wrote about me. (6:51) But if you do not believe his writings (6:54) how will you believe my words? (7:00) Sometimes people will say (7:05) I read my Bible and these people here (7:13) they may have somehow portions of the scriptures (7:21) but they have a hard time connecting him (7:27) with what is said in the scriptures of the Old Testament (7:33) especially of Moses. (7:38) But Jesus says then (7:43) that they search the scriptures (7:47) and when people say that they read their Bible and such (7:57) but when they are really told things within the scripture (8:07) they seem not to accept them as wholeheartedly as they should.

(8:17) And that is what these people seem to not grasp. (8:29) They have Moses read to them (8:37) and seemingly they don’t grasp the things that they need to know. (8:52) Now I’m going to turn to John 7 and verse 52.

(9:10) Now before this verse (9:17) a little of some background (9:19) I’m not going to read the verses (9:22) but I’m going to just give the highlights. (9:29) Jesus as he is speaking to these people (9:36) the Jews seem to ask him questions (9:43) and he’s telling them these things. (9:51) Verse 31 in this says (9:53) as many of the people believed in him and said (9:59) when the Christ comes (10:01) will he do more signs than these (10:05) which this man has done? (10:11) So some of them seem to believe that Jesus is the Christ (10:20) and they’re believing that Christ will come (10:29) and when the Christ comes (10:34) will he do more signs than these (10:37) which this man has done? (10:39) It seems like they can’t get a good grasp on it.

(10:44) But in the meantime (10:46) the Pharisees heard the crowd murmuring these things concerning him (10:54) and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take him. (11:01) So the officers are going (11:07) and they are there in order to take him. (11:15) And then in verse 45 (11:21) the officers come to the chief priests and Pharisees (11:29) who said to them (11:30) why have you not brought him? (11:35) The officers answered (11:37) no man ever spoke like this man.

(11:42) Then the Pharisees answered them (11:45) are you also deceived? (11:50) Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in him? (11:56) But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed (12:03) because some of them are accepting what Christ is speaking of. (12:13) Then in verse 30 Nicodemus (12:17) he who came to Jesus by night (12:19) then one of them said to them (12:22) does our Lord judge a man before he hears him (12:27) and knows what he is doing? (12:31) They answered and said to him (12:34) are you also from Galilee? (12:39) Search and look (12:42) for no prophet has arisen out of Galilee. (12:51) Now think about that.

(12:54) These are leaders (12:59) and they should know the scriptures. (13:04) And they said search and look (13:07) for no prophet has arisen out of Galilee. (13:13) Well you know it would have been good (13:17) if they would have followed their own advice (13:21) and did their search.

(13:24) Because in Isaiah 9 (13:36) verses 1 and 2 (13:39) Isaiah 9 verses 1 and 2 (13:49) Isaiah is (13:55) through his prophecy (13:58) is giving them this prophecy (14:08) and it’s beginning in the first verse. (14:12) Nevertheless the gloom (14:15) will not be upon her who is distressed (14:20) as when at birth she likely esteemed (14:24) the land of Zebulun (14:27) and the land of Naphtali (14:31) and afterward (14:34) more heavily oppressed her (14:39) by the way of the sea beyond Jordan (14:43) in Galilee of the Gentiles (14:46) the people who walked in darkness

(14:50) have seen a great light (14:54) those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death (15:02) upon them a light has shined. (15:10) Now in Matthew 4, 16 (15:15) Jesus has learned that John the Baptist (15:18) has been taken prisoner (15:20) and John is in prison (15:26) he’s locked up (15:28) and Jesus is said (15:38) now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison (15:42) he departed to Galilee (15:44) and leaving Nazareth (15:47) he came and dwelt in Capernaum

(15:50) which is by the sea (15:52) in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali (15:57) that it might be fulfilled which was spoken (16:01) by Isaiah the prophet saying (16:06) a land of Zebulun and a land of Naphtali (16:10) by the way of the sea beyond the Jordan (16:15) Galilee of the Gentiles (16:18) the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light (16:22) and upon those who sat in the region (16:26) and shadow of death (16:28) light has dawned (16:31) and this is exactly what Isaiah 9, 1 and 2 says (16:40) and Matthew is saying that (16:43) Jesus has gone in to Galilee of the Gentiles (16:52) and that these people that sat in darkness

(16:57) have seen a great light (17:00) and this is then Jesus that is talking about (17:11) and also in verse 6 (17:17) it says for unto us a child is born (17:20) unto us a son is given (17:23) and the government will be upon his shoulder (17:27) and his name will be called Wonderful (17:32) Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (17:39) of the increase of his government and peace (17:46) there will be no end (17:49) upon the throne of David (17:52) and over his kingdom (17:54) to order it and establish it with judgment and justice

(18:00) from that time forward (18:03) even forever (18:05) the zeal of the Lord of hosts (18:07) will perform this (18:10) see this is speaking of Jesus (18:13) and we see that Jesus did go in to Galilee of the Gentiles (18:28) and of course in this text is what Isaiah 9, 6 and 7 are talking about (18:45) Jesus' government and peace (18:52) there will be no end (18:56) and it will be established (18:59) from that time forward (19:05) even forever (19:06) and we learn that Jesus (19:10) when the angel talked to Mary (19:17) and told her that she was (19:21) about a child (19:25) telling her that you shall call his name Jesus (19:30) told her that

(19:33) his kingdom shall be forever (19:38) it shall not end (19:43) that is paraphrasing (19:45) there will be no end to his kingdom (19:49) and his government (19:52) and so we have these scriptures that tell of Jesus (20:02) and one of Moses (20:06) if they would have listened to this (20:10) now these people have (20:13) had the Old Testament scriptures (20:15) and certainly they have what Moses (20:19) spoke in Deuteronomy 18 (20:29) that Moses was telling the people that

(20:34) there would come a prophet like him (20:45) and he said in verse 15 of Deuteronomy 18 (20:51) the Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me (20:59) from your midst, from your brethren (21:02) him you shall hear (21:05) according to all you desire (21:08) of the Lord your God in earth (21:12) and the day of the assembly saying (21:16) let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God (21:23) nor let me see this great fire any more lest I die (21:32) and the Lord said to me (21:35) what they have spoken is good (21:37) I will raise up for them a prophet like you (21:41) from among their brethren (21:43) and will put my words in his mouth (21:47) and he shall speak to them all that I command (21:52) now Peter in Acts 3 (21:59) applies that to Jesus

(22:03) now the people in Jesus' day (22:11) and the people that are hearing Peter (22:15) do not have Matthew, Mark, Luke and John (22:20) nor do they have the book of Acts (22:23) at that moment (22:25) they have what Peter says (22:27) they are listening to Peter in person (22:32) but they have what Moses said (22:40) and Peter is telling the people (22:47) repent therefore and be converted (22:50) that your sins may be blotted out (22:53) so that times of refreshing may come (22:56) from the presence of the Lord (22:58) and that he may send Jesus Christ (23:02) who was preached to you before (23:05) whom heaven must receive

(23:09) until the times of restoration of all things (23:13) which God has spoken (23:15) by the mouth of all his holy prophets (23:19) since the world began (23:21) for Moses truly said to the fathers (23:26) the Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me (23:31) from your brethren (23:33) you shall hear in all things (23:37) and whatever he says to you (23:39) that it shall be (23:41) that every soul who will not hear that prophet (23:45) shall be utterly destroyed (23:49) from among the people (23:52) yes and all the prophets from Samuel

(23:56) and those who followed (23:58) as many as have spoken (24:01) have also foretold these days (24:04) you are the sons of the prophets (24:08) and of the covenant which God made (24:11) with our father Saint Abraham (24:13) and in your seed (24:15) all families of the earth shall be blessed (24:20) to you first (24:22) God having raised up his servant Jesus (24:27) sent him to bless you (24:30) in turning away every one of you (24:34) from your iniquities

(24:36) here Peter is saying (24:40) that what Moses spoke (24:43) in Deuteronomy 18 (24:47) is applied to Jesus Christ (24:51) he’s the prophet (24:53) that was raised up (24:56) that was like Moses (25:00) but he was the one to be listened to (25:07) now just as (25:10) Jesus told these people (25:15) that would not believe him (25:18) he said that they searched the scriptures (25:22) because they thought they had eternal life (25:33) he said these are they which testify of me

(25:37) now we looked at (25:39) we looked at a few of these scriptures (25:42) but Jesus even went (25:45) much farther than that (25:48) as a newt (25:51) he expounds of them (25:53) from the law (25:56) the Psalms (25:57) and the prophets (26:00) the scriptures (26:03) that speak of him (26:07) and that they speak concerning him (26:11) and told them that (26:16) he is the one that these (26:20) scriptures testify of him (26:26) but in their minds (26:28) they didn’t think Jesus (26:31) meant what the scriptures said (26:37) to them he just didn’t fit the picture (26:43) they were looking for

(26:46) an earthly king and an earthly kingdom (26:49) and someone else that (26:52) that would come (26:54) free them from Roman domination (26:59) and such (27:01) that was their expectation (27:05) but Jesus said the scriptures (27:08) testify of me (27:13) they tell of me (27:14) and yet they would not believe me

(27:18) now we have (27:21) what these people did not have (27:24) we have (27:28) Matthew, Mark, Luke and John (27:31) Acts (27:32) and the letters (27:35) that Paul and Peter and John (27:40) and these letters that were written (27:44) we have them (27:49) now some do not (27:53) seem to want to (27:57) search (27:59) diligently (28:02) what the scriptures say (28:07) that is (28:10) the finding of things that (28:14) we need to (28:17) look into (28:19) now we (28:21) we read the scriptures (28:24) sometimes we don’t (28:27) know that these scriptures are for correction

(28:33) some people just don’t like it when (28:36) when they are corrected (28:39) their thinking isn’t (28:42) according to what the scriptures say (28:45) and these, just like these Jews (28:49) but (28:51) they had those scriptures (28:54) and they’re listening to (28:57) Jesus (28:59) later the apostles (29:02) through the Holy Spirit (29:05) are preaching the gospel to (29:09) the people, they hear it (29:12) in the meantime (29:15) these men write (29:19) and we have what they wrote

(29:22) so (29:23) we ought to search (29:26) and we ought to look (29:30) our things that (29:32) we don’t know everything (29:37) but the scriptures will tell us (29:40) and if we search the scriptures (29:43) we may be surprised what the scriptures do tell us (29:49) if we let the scriptures tell us (29:53) so that is (29:56) the things that (29:58) we may find (30:01) if we search for them (30:06) now (30:07) I know there (30:10) the ones that are present (30:12) are (30:14) Christians and members (30:16) hopefully (30:20) and we’re true (30:23)

but (30:24) if there’s something that is on our minds (30:28) we make it known (30:29) church will pray for you and (30:32) whatever it is (30:35) we urge you to do so (30:37) while we stand (30:39) and while we sing