JSM | Uprightness.2 | Jesus Fulfills (8/18/2024) Mission's Sunday

 JSM Uprightness.2 | Jesus Fulfills
By Rev. Nicholas Sybrowsky
Heb. (נּט רּקהץ מּןביםךשד דּטנרם'דלט)
Gk. (Βψ Ρεω. Νιξηολασ Σψβροωσκψ)

Invocation:

Father, we thank you that we are able to come before you today and worship [in person together as one assembly].  [Despite the challenges of water availability in our town this week,] we thank you for the way you have provided for us throughout this week.  We thank you for the way you have comforted us in our sorrow and rejoiced with us in our times of happiness.  Open our hearts and minds to worship you in this time.  We love you.  [Our mighty Redeemer Lord Jesus Christ] ~Christian Minister’s Manual (Cite 1)

Opening Word & Reading for Worship:

Hero & Redeemer.  As a veteran Sailor being called “hero” makes me cringe and usually when called this I do my best to be merciful and polite.  Most of the hero’s I know or knew are dead.  But my Hero is alive and on the throne of God our Creator.  In the words of Job 

“I know my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth.”(Job 19:25 NIV) 

Again.

The Evangelical Prophet Isaiah prophesied that Jesus the Messiah would come to earth and deliver us from evil.  The Prophet Isaiah is recognized as referring to Jesus more than any other prophet of the OT, hence the title rendered by scholar’s Evangelical Prophet.  Of the Old Testament Prophecies Fulfilled in Christ (Cite 2) by my count I see some 117 OT Prophecies fulfilled in Christ’s earthly visitation.  Of the said 117, Isaiah is quoted 34 times and second to this count are the Psalms of David and the bronze goes to Jeremiah.  These Heroes of the old testament pointed to their trust being in the One True God.  These men of old were encouragers and by most human standards leading protagonist’s in their day.  

How about a few words about & from David himself?

(1Sa 17:51 NIV) "(51) David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine's sword and drew it from the sheath. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran."

(2Sa 23:1 NIV) "(1) These are the last words of David: "The inspired utterance of David son of Jesse, the utterance of the man exalted by the Most High, the man anointed by the God of Jacob, the hero of Israel's songs:" ~{Reference}

The Anonymous author of 2 Samuel goes on to describe David’s Mighty Warriors.  Rendering honor to the many other heroes that supported David’s Dynasty.

In Ps. 78:2 the Messiah is prophesied to speak in parables, and we know Jesus did teach with this method very often.  There appear to be some forty parables of Jesus within scripture.  David in this Ps. 78 shares in reference to the Israelites wanderings in the desert David wrote that in their cycle of sinning and their lack of trust in the wonderous God.

 (Psa 78:35 NIV) "(35) They remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer."

Then he wrote about their cheap talk and flattering words to their God.  In Ps. 19 the son of Jesse wrote about

“the law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul…”(:7)

 {(19:10-11)} Ye to be desired are they than gold ye than much fine gold, sweeter also than honey, honey and the honey comb” {insert YouTube song}

David ends Ps. 19 with 

(Psa 19:14 NIV) "(14) May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer."

Pray this prayer:  Replace “my mouth” with “our mouths” and  “my heart” with “our hearts” etc.  

Let us worship the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph.  Let’s worship the God of David, Isaiah and of Jeremiah.  Let us worship the God of Jesus our Lord and Savior.

The law of the Old-Testament and the New Testament are in alignment with the precepts or principles of God.  Jesus completes and compliments our ability to execute the practice of these moral absolutes.  The Royal Law (Js 2:8 Rm 13:10 Law of Love) are more reliable than the north star in the little dipper used in our northern hemisphere navigation.

Main Text:

(Mat 5:17-20 KJV) "(17) Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. (18) For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. (19) Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach [them], the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (20) For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed [the righteousness] of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven."  ~Jesus the Christ our Lord & Savior

Intro:

“Where have all the good men gone

And where are all the gods?

Where's the streetwise Hercules

To fight the rising odds?

Isn't there a white knight upon a fiery steed?

Late at night, I toss and I turn

And I dream of what I need

I need a hero

I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night

He's gotta be strong, and he's gotta be fast

And he's gotta be fresh from the fight

I need a hero

I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light

He's gotta be sure, and it's gotta be soon

And he's gotta be larger than life

Larger than life” ~Holding Out for a Hero Song by Bonnie Tyler (Cite 3)

 

1.  You need a rescuer.  You need a hero.  We need a Hero.

Rescue from what?  This burden of mine to be relieved.  Take this from me that I might live.  Heroic measure is always attractive to us at the greatest depths of human despair.  Who is your Hero?  We are all inclined to worshipping hero’s but what happens when your hero tells you that the thing, you’re burdened by is actually good?  That’s what Jesus tells His disciples right after inspiring them with their true identity we witness in this passage of scripture Jesus gives honor to the burdensome commandments of God.  Our sitting hero; Jesus proceeds to teach anyone desiring to follow.  What does the prophesied Messiah teach?  He teaches the very Law & the Prophets that have been shared from the beginning.  “He opens his mouth in parables” Ps 78:2). The main problem people of piety or rather practitioners of religion had with him, in my opinion is that he gave people permission to rely on his coming personal sacrifice as a substitute to animal sacrifice for the atonement of sin (See Hebrews).  

2.  Jesus Christ Honored the law and pointed to the rescuer and redeemer.

He didn’t disrespect or dishonor the moral practices of their religion, but he put an end to the cycle of ceremonial law and arguably their civil law.  In Mt 15 & Mk 7 we see that the Pharisees and scribes had allowed people to not Honor their father and mother pointing out that they were teaching people to honor God with lip service.  He didn’t tell them to stop practicing the law but invited them to have a more perfect opportunity and unity with the moral law by obedience to the Creator’s appointed task revealing Himself to them and now us.  The parables of Jesus enhance our view of the Old Covenant and by His revelation and help we are able to practice the law perfectly.  Sin and Sacrifice by this time in antiquity had become a system of Jewish commerce.  The priestly service was the priest’s livelihood.  The priests were relying on the incoming sacrifices to produce a life of their own.  They were waiting on another Kingly Dynasty similar to King David.  They hoped the Messiah would provide them more places of honor, privilege and prosperity on earth.  The Creator has always had a different plan than this, not suggesting God’s will isn’t to prosper you.  But I am suggesting that what God considers prosperity for you isn’t always in alignment with what you consider prosperity.  We are expected to get in alignment with God’s standard instead of making our own way and commanding God to get in line with us.  Our practice of the coming teachings in this sermon series are an enhanced view of the moral law here in this Gospel according to Matthew.  Our practice of these teachings have eternal impact.  

3.  Jesus became our Savior and Hero the new High Priest who grants us access to the Father.

Jesus is the new High Priest through his substitutionary work upon the cross.  Only God could pull this action off.  God is the hero that we need.  If we fail to recognize that God is real, we may commit idolatry by worshipping heroes.  Hero worship is as old as time.  We see this practice scattered throughout Greek Mythology.  Jesus can empower each of us to be hero like.  But real hero’s give God the glory because they know that they can do nothing without God.  Whenever people attempted to worship an Angel in scripture they were told to stand up and worship God, not them.  Jesus the Messiah who deserved our admiration as is commanded in the 1st commandment.  What did Jesus do when worshipped?  In Mt 28:9 the resurrected Jesus according to Matthew is described here in (Mat 28:8-10 ASV) The disciples witnessing an “angel” observed the empty tomb 

"(8) And they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring his disciples word. (9) And behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and took hold of his feet, and worshipped him. (10) Then saith Jesus unto them, Fear not: go tell my brethren that they depart into Galilee, and there shall they see me."  ~Mt 28:8-10 ASV  

He basically said, ‘stop’ and refocused their attention where it mattered most.

Another place in scripture where Jesus was worshipped is in Mk. 5:6 where the Gerasene Demoniac was delivered of a “Legion” of unclean spirits.  In response to the worship and in the Legion’s own words they begged to not be tormented “What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the Most High God?” (Mk 5:7)  In this case Jesus casted the unclean spirit out of the man who worshipped him.  Later on, the man wanted to join Jesus in the boat but was instructed to stay and speak about how the Lord delivered him of the Legion.

These situations where people worshipped were stimulated by there fear of God and the supernatural appearance expressed by the subject of their observation.  I imagine we may react in similar manner.

Jesus in the time of fasting and temptation by the devil instead of worshipping the Satan he quoted scripture and worshipped God.  

(Mat 4:9-10 ASV) "(9) and he said unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. (10) Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve."

Of the four promises Paul refers to in 2 Cor. 7:1 there is one about ‘reception’ by God.  Jesus is the perfect substitute preordained by God for repairing communion of created and Creator.

In the Revelation to John chapter 19:10 John wrote 

“(Rev 19:10 ASV) "(10) And I fell down before his feet to worship him. And he saith unto me, See thou do it not: I am a fellow-servant with thee and with thy brethren that hold the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." 

“True prophecy is using one’s voice or communication to deliver a message from God something that honors him and often reveals something of his plans and purposes.  Prophecy can inform, challenge, predict, warn or encourage people regarding those purposes.  Ultimately, all true, godly prophecy is related to Jesus and his work of restoring people to a personal and eternal relationship with God.  As such, all true prophecy honors Christ and calls us to be in right relationship with him." ~Donald C. Stamps (Cite 4)

Our ability to worship the one true God comes from Jesus.  Because of Jesus our worship is complete.  Because of Jesus we have access to the Promises of God.  His promise to be our God and we be his people.  To walk in us and live in us.  To be a Father to us and for us to be His children.

4. JSM | Uprightness.3 | Anger

Conclusion:

You need a rescuer.  You need a hero.  We need a hero.  Jesus Christ Honored the law and pointed to the rescuer and redeemer.  Jesus became our Savior and Hero the new High Priest who grants us access to the Father.  Where would we be without his resurrection?  May I suggest that Jesus would be like the many heroes of old.  Jesus would be a mythological character.  But HE IS NOT a myth.  Jesus is very real and very alive.  

 (Heb 9:15 ESV) "(15) Therefore [Jesus] is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant."

Exhortation:

(Heb 5:1, 4-7 ESV) "(1) For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. ... [These were the duties of the High Priest] (4) And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was. (5) So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, "You are my Son, today I have begotten you"; (6) as he says also in another place, "You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek." (7) In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence."

Notice that Jesus didn’t pray to himself to be saved.  Jesus requested saving from the one who created him.  True humanity in our deity (God-man).

Altar Call to Action/Suggested Response:

Rescue from what?  Eternal punishment.  Self-destruction.  Drug addiction.  Other controlling activities.  Rescue from sin.  Sin is anything that hinders or blocks your access to God or any ideas that keep you from having communion with your Creator.  Rescue from constant despair.  Rescue from chronic depression or sorrow.  How about a cycle of insanity?  How about deliverance from the spirit of unforgiveness that causes destructive anger such as Rage or resentment.  Maybe you don’t need rescue from these, but you need help from the hero to get better at discerning righteous indignation from unjust anger.  Perhaps you’ve been saved but you lack concern for the salvation of others.  You could ask for rescue from the pride of life, the lust of the eyes and the lust of the flesh.

This month of August our four-letter word of the month is “keep” and as most of you know, we have been praying an outline of prayer for our country published by AG US Missions (Cite 5).  We’ve been keeping our country in prayer.  Praying for the wellbeing of our neighbors.  For five days we prayed for Unity in our country.  Day six through ten we prayed for Healing.  The next five days we prayed for Deliverance.  Friday we started praying for freedom and today is:

Sunday August 18th- let us take a moment to pray for

 “freedom from addiction to and improper use of social media.  Pray that people will guard their hearts against the negative influences of social media (Pr. 4:23)." 

(Pro 4:23 ESV) "(23) Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life." And replace [negative influences of social media] with real and godly relationships.

 (Pro 4:23 NLT) "(23) Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life." 

(Pro 4:23 TLB) “Above all else, guard your affections.  For they influence everything else in your life.”

To join us in praying this outline visit this link for "Prayer Book" Go to LINK.

Prayer & song.  (For possible detail See Live Feed URL: YouTube@DoveCreekAGTV.com)

Benediction:

The Lord bless you and keep you, make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you.  The lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.  Amen.

Source Citations:

1 Christian Minister's Manual Dr. Guthrie Veech

2 Fire Bible pg 815 MEV (Zondervan)

3 Musixmatch | Songwriters: Jim Steinman / Dean Pitchford | Holding Out for a Hero lyrics © Sony/atv Melody

4 Donald C. Stamps Full Life Study Bible/Fire Bible Rev. 19:10 

5 Assembly of God US Missions

Source of Bible Translations:

NIV, KJV, ASV, ESV, NLT & TLB.