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14 March 2022

Should We Look for Another

 


Should We Look for Another

Stephen Kuntzman (3/1/2022, ALC)

 

 

 

Text: Matthew 11:1-6  

(1) And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.  (2)  Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,  (3)  And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?  (4)  Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:  (5)  The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.  (6)  And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

 

We call him “John the Baptist.” He was the cousin of our Lord Jesus Christ, a man of passion and fervor who preached the message of baptism for repentance. 

 

He even preached of the soon coming Messiah who preparing the people to receive.

Malachi 3:1, “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me:…” – That’s John

This is Jesus – “…and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

 

He was a man on a mission, unafraid of the faces of others who would try to block and diminish the message he preached. 

Nobody could buy his silence, distract him from his duty, or sidetrack him from his purpose.

 

He preached fervently a message that identified Sin and called sinners to Repent:

Matthew 3:4-12, “(4) And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.  (5)  Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,  (6)  And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.  (7)  But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  (8)  Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:  (9)  And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.  (10)  And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.  (11)  I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:  (12)  Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

 

And when he recognized the One who was mightier than he, with upraised hand on banks of the Jordan River, he focused the crowd’s attention on the Lord Jesus Christ walking down to the water saying:

John 1:29-34, “(29)…Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.  (30)  This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.  (31)  And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.  (32)  And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.  (33)  And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Uponwhom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.  (34)  And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.”

 

John was a man, a prophet of God, stuck between to covenants, wedged (if you will) between two biblical ages. 

He was caught in a time of transition.

And finally, his prophetic ministry got him in trouble and now He’s in a prison for doing what he’s called to do. Naming sin(regardless of who it is, or how powerful they might be), and calling sinners to repentance.

Herod was guilty of adultery and incest with Herodias.

Herod, because of the fury of his guilty wife Herodias, had John throne into prison.

 

Have you ever been in a traffic jam? Felt the frustration of knowing that you can’t go backwards, and there’s a blockage forward, but your irritation is really because you have a vision of where you’re going and you just want to get there.

Johnhad a moment of frustration and he sent men to ask Jesus, “Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? (Luke 7:20).

 

Jesus’ response to the frustration of John was simply to tell him the fruit of His ministry: “And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight. Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me” (Luke 7:21-23).

 

Herodias had a daughter. 

She was a damsel. 

Certain writers identify her by the name “Salome,” which means “peaceful.”

She was supposed to be a peaceful, calm, moderate, modest individual, but her example was her mother who was none of those things.

Herodias had a flesh problem…her flesh was out of control. 

She allowed her daughter to dance before Herod a sensual seductive dance that so impressed his own flesh to the point that he promised her anything she wanted

 

Out of control flesh saw the opportunity and said, “I want to silence that prophetic voice in my life. I want to sever that message to such a degree that I’ll never hear it again.”

 

So, Herod listened to the damsel, who was instructed in her godless way by her mother, and rather than face the confrontation that would be difficult, but right, he gave in. 

 

A friend told me that “when you disobey the messenger, don’t be surprised when God goes silent.”

No more words came from the lips of the last prophet of the Old Testament. 

No more anointed heaven sent messages would be heard from the mouth of one who Jesus said, “Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist:…” (Matthew 11:11). 

Jesus did go on to say, “…Notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”

 

It is imperative that we recognize that we are the Children of God. 

As great as John the Baptist was he was not able to be in the kingdom of heaven. 

As great as his message of repentance was it is inadequate when compared to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We are all, every born again saint and minister of gospel in here, greater in understanding of the New Birth.

 

So, we all have a responsibility to not only obey the gospel and share the gospel, but to take on the characteristics of this gospel message that placed us into this Kingdom of Heaven, which is the Church and is identified by Paul as Wisdom from the Spirit: 

(6) Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:  (7)  But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:  (8)  Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.  (9)  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.  (10)  But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.  (11)  For what man knoweththe things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.  (12)  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.  (13)  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth;comparing spiritual things with spiritual.  (14)  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.  (15)  But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.  (16)  For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

 

James identified this mind of Christ as “wisdom that is from above.” 

(17)  But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.  (18)  And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

 

James also identified the wisdom of this sinful world: 

But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.  (15)  This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.  (16)  For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

 

So, we go to our text, “Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?

 

It is plain to see that we are engaged in a spiritual battle between to different governing spiritual systems:

1. Wisdom from Above = Kingdom of Heaven
2. Wisdom of this earth = Kingdom of this world

23 September 2021

Living the Prophet's Creed

 Living the Prophet's Creed

6/22/2021

 

Text: Micah 6:1-8

(1)  Hear ye now what the LORD saith; Arise, contend thou before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice.

(2)  Hear ye, O mountains, the LORD'S controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the LORD hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel.

(3)  O my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me.

(4)  For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of servants; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.

(5)  O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the LORD.

(6)  Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?

(7)  Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

(8)  He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

 

Creed[1]

1.    A brief authoritative formula of religious belief

   the Nicene Creed

2.    A set of fundamental beliefs

   also : a guiding principle

   “Never settle for mediocrity is his creed.” -Jill Lieber

 

There are principles in God’s Word that when lived out, or violated, lead to a life blessing or cursing.

 

Tonight, we will take a look at what the late Rev. James Lumpkin, Sr. called, “The Prophet’s Creed,” and I take as a title this thought:

Living the Prophet’s Creed

 

A creed, a set of fundamental beliefs, a collection of guiding principles, are only as effective as your desire and determination to live them out.

 

It is a good practice for children to have memorized all the books of the Bible by the time they leave Sunday School and graduate to the Adult Bible Class.

Many children are taught to memorize the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:3-17):

  I.    Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

  II.    Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image

  III.    Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain

  IV.    Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy

  V.    Honour thy father and thy mother

  VI.    Thou shalt not kill

  VII.    Thou shalt not commit adultery

  VIII.    Thou shalt not steal

  IX.    Thou shalt not bear false witness

  X.    Thou shalt not covet

And, there are two passage in the Bible that every saint in an Apostolic Oneness Pentecostal should have total recall on:

·       Deuteronomy 6:4-5, “(4) Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:  (5) And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.”

·       Acts 2:38, “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

 

These all serve to pass on to the next generation a set of Basic Bible Principles, that when lived out produce a godly and sanctified life.

 

Living the Prophet’s Creed consists of three principles that we all need to apply to our lives:

1.    To do justly 

2.    To love mercy

3.    To walk humbly with thy God

 

In verse 2, of our text, the LORD has a controversy, a complaint, with Israel, and He is pleading with them:

“O my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me. For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of servants [slaves]; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.

 

In an attempt to call them back to a right relationship with Him, He reminded them of Egypt – the place God delivered them, and redeemed them.

 

He sent servants, you might even identify them as prophets:

·       Moses = Lawgiver, to deliver and instruct.

·       Aaron = The High Priest, to atone.

·       Miriam = Prophetess & Praiser, and to teach the women.

 

The Lord is pleading with His people to remember all that He did for them.

Reminding them the He turned Baalam’s curse into a blessing proving His faithfulness to Israel.

They were perhaps sincere in their desire to keep the commandments of the Law, but misguided seekers

The laws were there not to be followed in some type of burdensone manner, but to establish principles, which had been forgotten.

Sometimes a law can be made that is still kept but nobody remembers the purpose. <ham, Vevay>

 

When you live The Prophet’s Creed you will automatically live by the principles that the Law was formed to teach you.

 

The Prophet’s Creed:

To Do Justly

1.    Do right by God:

Mark 12:29-30, “And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:  And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.”

·       Love God

·       Heart = Are your affections solely on Jesus?

·       Soul = Would you give up your life for Jesus?

·       Mind = Will you lay aside what you think for what God’s Word tells you?

·       Strength = Will you give all the strength and effort of your life to His will?

 

2.    Do right by your neighbor:

Mark 12:31, “And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor…”

·       Prefer your fellow

·       Never work to harm another

·       Treat people right

·       Love people

 

3.    Do right by yourself:

“…as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.”

·       Do you like yourself?

·       Don’t deprive yourself of all that God has richly provided.

4.    We live by the justness and truth of the Word of God and we are judged by it.

 

To Love Mercy

1.    It is necessary that we not only live by the justice and judgment of the Law, but to also give to mercy what it requires – LOVE MERCY.

·       The Law came by Moses buy grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

·       2 Corinthians 3:5-6, “…our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.”

·       Psalms 85:10, “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.”

·       Psalms 25:10, “All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.”

·       The mercy you show is the mercy you’ll  know.

·       God is not in the business of stopping people from receiving mercy: “The God of my mercy shall prevent me…” (Ps. 59:10).

o   Prevent = “project oneself, precede, go before.”

o   God’s mercy goes before us

 

To Walk Humbly with Thy God

1.    1 Peter 5:6-7, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

·       Acknowledge God’s Sovereignty

o   There is One God and you are not Him!

·       Beware, Humility Required:

o   Confess and forsake your sin

o   Submit to the ordinance of water baptism

o   Yield to the Holy Ghost.

·       Accept God’s Mercy

·       Walk in God’s Grace

·       Is the Lord Jesus Christ truly your God?

·       Walk humbly before others as well

o   God isn’t the only one who hates a proud, haughty or arrogant attitude.

·       Submission is the hallmark of humility.

·       James 4:5-12, “(5) Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?  (6)  But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.  (7)  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  (8)  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.  (9)  Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.  (10)  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.  (11)  Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.  (12)  There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?”

·       Galatians 6:1-3, “(1) Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.  (2) Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.  (3) For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.”

 

Each of the three people Micah records as being sent to His people were at one point violators of The Prophet’s Creed, but one they learned the necessity of Living the Prophet’s Creed they became examples for us to follow:

Moses – The great lawgiver, did justly as he operated in his role as both deliverer and the giver of the Law

·       A murderer, disobeyed God in a moment of rage

Aaron – The High Priest, loved mercy and as a priest stood as a bridge between God and Man making atonement for sin.

·       An idolater, excused his sin

Miriam – The prophetess of praise and instructor of women, learned humility.

·       Jealousy, envy, rebellion

 

It’s a question: “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Micah 6:8).

 

I want everyone to come forward tonight to the altar, and I’m going to give you some basic instructions:

·       Close your eyes

·       Lift your head up. Look up.

·       Raise both hands. Pray. Surrender. Worship.

·       Lift voice.

·       Commit to Living The Prophet’s Creed: to do justly, to love mercy, to walk humbly with your God.



[1] “Creed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/creed. Accessed 22 Jun. 2021.