Matthew chapter 12 verse 39 the Bible says, but he answered and said unto them an evil and adulterous generation
Seeketh after a sign the title of sermon tonight is an evil and adulterous generation
Alright, let's pick it up from verse number one then Matthew 12 verse 1 the Bible reads at that time
Jesus went on the Sabbath day through the corn and I'll just quickly tell you that the corn here is like wheat
Okay, it's not like corn like we think of corn
okay, it's it's a corner of the wheat and his disciples were and hungered and began to pluck the ears of the corn and
To eat so of course if you know how wheat works you can take the ear of a corn
You can rub it in your hands and and the chaff will blow away and you'll be left with the kernel and you can eat
That so of course they were hungered they'll pass it through somebody's field they and they ate of that wheat
And then it says there in verse number two, but when the Pharisees saw it
They said unto him behold thy disciples that do that which is not lawful to do upon the Sabbath day
Now, of course you guys are familiar with the day of Sabbath the Sabbath day where God commands his rights not to work on that day
And so the Pharisees are here accusing Jesus and his disciples of working on the Sabbath day now
Let's just quickly keep your finger there. Let's go to the book of Deuteronomy, please
Deuteronomy chapter 23
Because I remember when I used to read this as a child I used to read that go
Jesus who are you to go through someone's field and just start eating?
What is this? So yeah, you are you like is this wrong?
You know the Pharisees seem to have a problem with it, but we do see that what Jesus did was lawful
Okay, look at Deuteronomy chapter 23 verse 24
Deuteronomy chapter 23 verse 24
It says this is the command given when thou comest into thy neighbor's vineyard
Then thou mayest eat grapes thy fill at thine own pleasure
But thou shall not put any in any sorry, let me read again, but thou shall not put any in thy vessel
So here God is telling the Israelites
Look, if you just happen to part be passing through your neighbor's vineyard and you're hungry you're permitted
It's lawful for you to take a couple of grapes and eat of that
Okay to satisfy your hunger as long as you're not putting it in a vessel, you know
You're not getting some big bucket and just filling that bucket full of grapes, you know stealing the livelihood of your neighbor
No, but just as you need you can do that. Let's keep looking at that in verse number 25
It says when thou comest into the standing corn of thy neighbor
That's what we just Jesus read did then thou mayest pluck the ears with thine hand
But thou shall not move a sickle unto thy neighbor's standing corn
So you see even when you're passing through fields of wheat, you're allowed to take a little to satisfy your hungry hunger
But you're not allowed to take a sickle that's that's to harvest a great amount of wheat
You know not being a farmer not taking you know
Being you know gluttonous and and taking to fill up your whole week and stealing from your neighbor
No, you weren't allowed to do that. You were allowed to satisfy your immediate hunger
Okay, and of course, you know the principle there would be let's say we have homeless people, you know
In our nation people that are going without people that are going through a hard time, you know that they were hungry
You know, they wouldn't need to beg on the street corner
They could pass through the neighbor's house and pluck
Let's say the neighbor has a few oranges grab a few oranges grab a few figs
You know feel yourself and and you know, that was a way for God to sustain those that were struggling
You know until they get back on their feet. So what we see with Jesus
No, we know in full will that you know, they're not working a full-time ministry. We know full well
They're traveling from town to town, you know preaching the gospel
They got to a point where they ran out of food
They you know, and they follow the command that we saw there in the book of Deuteronomy
Let's go back to Matthew chapter 12 now Matthew chapter 12
How does Jesus respond to the Pharisees chapter number 12 verse 3 and he said unto them unto who the Pharisees, right?
Have you not read what David did when he was unhungred and they that were with him?
so this is a time when when David is being persecuted by King Saul and
King David had his soldiers had his little men with him. They were on the run and they were without food
So what did he do?
What did King David do when he was hungered it said in verse number four how he entered into the house of God
Of course the Old Testament house of God is the Old Testament temple how he entered into the temple and did shut eat the show
Bread which was not lawful for him to eat neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests
Says look, you know that the show bread the sacrifices these things were permitted by the brother by the
Levites by the priests to eat of but the average
Israelite was not allowed to eat of those things and yet King David when he was hungered he ate from the food
That was in the temple, you know, so what's Jesus saying? He's trying to show the Pharisees
Hey, you haven't got a problem with King David going to the temple. You don't say that he was being unlawful
You don't criticize King David for going in and eating something that was not lawful him to eat and you know
Of course the ex, you know
The understanding there is that Jesus saying well neither am I if you're not going to accuse David for breaking the law
Then why do you accuse me of breaking the law? Let's keep reading there in verse number five
You know if Kings David's actions were acceptable to the Pharisees, so should be Jesus Christ
It says universe number five or have you not read in the law how that on the Sabbath days the priests in the temple
Profane the Sabbath and a blameless. So of course wasn't me to profane to kind of break the Sabbath
Okay, of course the Israelites at large were not allowed to work on the Sabbath
But the priests because they had to do the service of the temple
They were permitted to do works on the Sabbath, but were as far as God was concerned. They were blameless
They were just carrying out the work that God had established them to do and then he says there in verse number six
But I say unto you that in this place is one greater than the temple
Wow, I mean what a call by Jesus to say to the Pharisees that he knows they want to kill him
They know he knows that they hate him. He says look at me. Hey, it's it's me. I'm greater than the temple
There's one here. That is greater. Who do you think? That's what what is Jesus saying there?
If you're saying I'm greater than temple he's saying he's God, you know, he's saying that he's God Almighty
You know, and then he says this in verse number seven
But if he had known what this meaneth, did they know what he meant by that?
No, all right, if you knew what this means if you knew that I'm God
I'm the Son of God says I will have mercy and not sacrifice that you would not have
Condemned the guiltless for the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath day
See Jesus Christ says I am the Lord of the Sabbath day
You know Son of Man is the Lord and here you are condemning the guiltless
Here I condemn in my disciples for being hungry and eating what they needed to sustain themselves
You know, he says he's greater than all of these things
You know, what's more important than sacrifice is for God to be merciful
Hey when you realize that you're a sinner lost in the sight of God does God want you to sacrifice?
No, he wants you to appeal to his mercy
Okay to appeal to the mercy of his forgiveness through the Lord Jesus Christ, you know, that's how we get say
That's how we made right with God. And once we made right with God, that's when we come in
We can come and bring our sacrifice
Yeah, that's when we can come and bring our service to God the Pharisees had it the other way around
let's keep reading there in verse number nine and
when he was departed thence
He went into the synagogue and
behold there was a man which had his hand withered and
They asked him saying is it lawful to heal in the Sabbath days that they might accuse him now
I want you to think about this story Jesus now goes into the synagogue
Okay, and there's a man that that's had that has his hand withered. Okay, he his hand doesn't function
There's some sort of defect there with his hand. Okay. Now Jesus does not just go up to this man and heal him
Okay
Because if Jesus just went up to the man and healed him on the Sabbath day, you could almost conclude
Jesus are you trying to like rile up these Pharisees? Are you really are you trying to get these guys upset?
It's not happening like that
The it's the Pharisees that asked Jesus about this man they say to him is it lawful to heal in the Sabbath days?
That they might accuse him
Hey that they brought this this man with the withered hand before Jesus
Are you gonna heal him Jesus because if you do we will have something to accuse you of we'll have you know
This is you working on the Sabbath, which is ungodly as far as what the Pharisees were concerned
It's like they didn't learn their lesson. It's like the Sabbath is fine. If if you're hungry you need to eat. It's fine
You know God would rather his people be filled, you know, then then keeping some type of sacrament
Oh God wants to look after the needs of his people and yet here we have a man with a withered hand
Do you think God would want him healed?
Of course you'd say that but what about in the Sabbath? Maybe God doesn't want him healed
Of course, you know if he can be healed on the Sabbath day
Of course, Jesus Christ will heal this man and and the Pharisees know this but they do it to accuse him
Let's keep reading verse number 11 and he said unto them. How does Jesus respond? Does he just heal the guy?
No
He says what man shall there be among you that shall have one sheep and if it fall into a pit on the Sabbath day
Will he not lay hold on it and lift it out?
He says look you Pharisees you and your animals you and your pets look if your own animal
Was in distress if your own animal fell into a pit even on a Sabbath day
You would go and pull that animal out of the pit. Come on, that's common sense
It's common sense. You would help an animal
Look, I think if I was just walking along and I saw even a stray dog that was
Stark was in pain. I think I might even try to help that dog if I could it's not even my pets
You know, it's just just the you know, just the caring for living creatures, you know, you know
You'd have that of course you will do that for your animals. You will do that for your pets
Let's keep reading verse number 12. How much then is a man better than a sheep?
Hey this man with a withered hand is better than your sheep is better than your oxen is better than your pets
So if you guys are willing to help your animal, you know, then why wouldn't you help your fellow man?
Now Jesus basically tell them look you love your animals more than you love the human beings, you know
You love animals more than humans
Of course humans are much more valuable in the eyes of God if you would help the animals
Of course, you would help your fellow man, even if it's on a Sabbath day and look at the question Jesus asked them
Wherefore it is lawful. Sorry how much I'll just read verse 10 again the 12
But how much then is a man better than a sheep?
Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath day it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath day
Okay
verse 13 then say if he to the man
Stretch forth thine hand and he stretched it forth and it was restored whole like as the other
Okay, so Jesus heals this man on the Sabbath now
You know, this reminds me a lot of Seventh-day Adventists. Have you guys come across Seventh-day Adventists much?
Just
Just in the last fortnight, you know
I came across the Seventh-day Adventists knocked on the door trying to give him the gospel and he kept going back to this
Saturday kept going back to the Sabbath day, but do you guys keep the Sabbath and I said to him?
Yes, I do, but it's not the way you think I do
Okay, and we started talking started to tell me things
I'm agreeing with him the references he's turned to I'm agreeing with him that the Sabbath was holy
You know that was set aside, you know, what was not to be worked on
I agreed with him all these things and then I said to him, but what is the Sabbath representative of?
That he didn't understand what I was asking. What is what did it represent and I
Didn't take him to Hebrews 4 because you know, but I explained to him that Hebrews 4 explains that the Sabbath day rest
Represented the rest in our salvation when we rest in Christ that hey salvation is not by works
Okay, that's why Sabbath was not by works. You were not to work on the Sabbath. That was
Representation of Jesus Christ and and the free gift of salvation that he would offer us by faith without works
You know and he kind of agreed with me
But he's still stuck on the Sabbath and he and I said to him look the Sabbath was symbolic of what Jesus will do
What you're saying to me and this is what he said to me. He said these exact words these guys know
Jesus was symbolic of the Sabbath
It's like to him the Sabbath day was more valuable was more important than Jesus Christ himself now
I don't know if all seventh-day Adventists are like this, but this guy definitely was and I just said to him look
I'm trusting in Jesus to go to heaven. You're trusting in a day of the week to go to heaven, you know
And we left it at that
Yeah, I mean the seventh-day Adventists remind me a lot of the Pharisees how they speak and then look at verse number 14
It says then the Pharisees went out and held our counsel against him how they might destroy him
Hey, they wanted to kill him Luke chapter 6 puts it this way. It says they were filled with madness
Hey, you know what? It means to be mad. It means to be insane. Okay, they went crazy
They went insane what Jesus had done before their eyes. They could not accept they could not take it in they went crazy
Okay, verse number 15 and when Jesus knew it he knew that these Pharisees now were determined to kill him
It says he withdrew himself from thence and great multitudes followed him and he healed them all
Do you notice that Jesus?
Picks the battles to which battles to fight. Okay, these guys wanted to kill him
Now could Jesus have stood up against them with his multitudes and fight against them
Absolutely, okay
And when we see the Bible many times with Jesus interacts with the Pharisees calls them out and criticizes them
but here Jesus realized it's more important that he withdraws himself and
Has the most which is followed him follow him and it says and he healed them
Okay verse 16 and charged them that they should not make him known that he might be fulfilled
Which was spoken by si is the prophet that's Isaiah the prophet
Saying and then verse 18 prior explains what Isaiah wrote about that's found in Isaiah 42 verse 1
You don't need to turn there. I just want you to know that Jesus Christ here is is quoting a scripture
But I want you to understand guys is that in the life of as a Christian you're going to come across different battles
You're going to come across different heresies
There are going to be different things that will come your way and you need to make sure that the battles you fight
The reason you fight that battle is to further the gospel
Okay, because sometimes and I see this a lot I see Christians getting involved in doctrinal fights doctrinal debates
But there's no value in them. There's no value. They're wasting their time
Okay, it's better. Hey, is this something we're fighting these Pharisees want to kill me
I think it's better if I just move on with these multitudes and continue teaching these multitudes
Okay, it's not about running away from the fights, you know, God has given us victory
There's there's always victory to be found in Jesus Christ
It's just you got to make sure you choose the battles that will further the kingdom of God not fight every person that crosses your path
You know not fight every false doctrine that crosses your path
You know, it's like so when you go so winning the person at your door may have many questions
They have may have be stuck on many false doctrines. They might be asking you about evolution
They might be asking you, you know who created God all these things, you know
What sometimes yeah, it's okay as long as you're making headway, but sometimes it's best. Well, let me just stick to the gospel here
Let me just finish what we're teaching here
Then we can go back and look at those questions, you know
Make sure you choose which battles to fight in this case
Jesus did decide not to fight the Pharisees but to go and teach the multitudes
All right. Now what did the prophet Isaiah write about Jesus? What was prophesied and
It's a little tricky verse especially verse number 20, but I'll do my best to explain it. Let's have a look at this verse 18
It says behold my servants whom I have chosen my beloved in whom my soul is well pleased
Hey, what did God the Father say of Jesus when he when he was baptized? He said this is my beloved son
That's what it says there in verse 18 my beloved in whom I am well pleased. Okay, so we see here in verse 18
This is God the Father speaking of the Son and then it says I will put my spirit upon him and he will show
Judgment to the Gentiles now notice this in verse 19. He shall not strive. Okay, so it's not um
Disputing, okay, and we saw that that's the prophecy
We saw that Jesus instead of fighting the Pharisees moved on moved on to further the work
He will not strive nor cry
Neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets
You know what if you were walking down the street you would and you were lived in this time
You would not see Jesus Christ debating fighting arguing about doctrines
No, you'd see Jesus Christ teaching the gospel to the multitudes. You'd see him having mercy on the brokenhearted
You'd see you'd see that in Jesus Christ. Okay, Jesus Christ was not a debater
Let's keep reading
verse 20 a
Bruised read now. This is the tricky bit a rude a bruised read shall he not break and
Smoking flax shall he not quench till he send forth judgment unto victory and in his name shall the Gentiles
Trust now verse 20. I've never really heard anyone expound on this, but let's just let's just read it as it is
Okay, let's have a look at this a bruised read now. What is a read?
You guys might be familiar with plants plants known as reads, you know quite often in swamp areas, you know lakes
You have you know plants plant life and and then known as as reads
Okay, so a bruised read shall he not break
So here we have a read and it says that Jesus will not break that read
Even if it's already bruised, even if it's already damaged
Jesus was not the type to go along and just be like that's a damaged read. I'll just break that now
Let's keep reading. This is obviously symbolic or figurative teach
You know lessons about Christ and then it says and smoking flax. What's flax? It's another type of plants
Okay a smoking flax
This is a flax that's kind of burning up and a smoke coming out of it says shall he not quench
So if there's a there's a there's a flax flax
Plant on fire. He's not going to quench that fire. It says till
He will till okay, so he's not done it, but he will he will do it till he sent forth judgment
unto victory and in his name shall the Gentiles
Trust so here we see the difference between
Jesus first coming and
Jesus's second coming hey in the second coming of Christ
He will send forth judgment unto victory. Hey in his second coming. He will break that bruised read
He will put out that smoking flax. Okay, so we see the difference here
We know that when Jesus Christ came he came as the Lamb of God, you know, he came in peace
He did not come to seek and to destroy he came into safe sinners
He came to further the work of the ministry the work of the gospel. That's how Jesus came the first time
But when he comes the second time he's going to come as that line of Judah
He's gonna come with that rod of iron. He's gonna bring judgment upon the earth
Okay
So both of these elements is something that Jesus does
But his focus on his first coming was to be mild to be meek lowly
Mild and and not to be debating amongst the streets
Hey, he had a mission at hand to to show judgment and salvation amongst the Gentiles as well as the Jews
I hope that makes sense. If you have any questions, please ask me let's keep reading verse number 22
verse number 22
Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil blind and dumb and by the way
I had two people possessed with devils today like on the plane from the Sunshine Coast to here
There was this woman just screeching just screaming out on the plane and and her I think I don't know if it's her parents
I'm two guys like trying to hold her back and she's just kicking and screaming yelling and then on the train
I'm on the train like a few got off that yelling, you know
It's really annoying and then there's this guy like just having a full conversation to himself, you know
Just speaking to someone. No one's there, you know at first I thought he was talking on the phone, but he's talking nonsense
What's he doing about and realize he's just talking to himself
So there's definitely two devil possessed people on the way to Sydney
today, but here we have a man possessed with a devil that was blind and dumb and then he says here that Jesus and he
Healed him in so much that the blind and dumb both spake and saw and the people were amazed and said
Is not this the son of David now? I've already covered this
I don't go over this all over again by referring this is this is the son of David. What are they saying?
Hey, this is the Messiah. This is the anointed one
We can see by his works that this is the promised one that God said will come and deliver
He's the you know, the Israelites and the Gentiles that he would be a light to the nations
verse 24
Do you think the Pharisees will like it when people are saying this is the Messiah?
This is the son of David. Of course not verse 24 and when the Pharisees heard it
They said this fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils
So it says look he the way he cast
The reason he's casting out devils is by Beelzebub by Satan by the prince of the devils
He's using the power of the devil to cast out devils
They're basically saying verse 25 and Jesus knew their thoughts and said unto them
Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation and every city or house divided against itself
Shall not stand and if Satan cast out Satan he is divided against himself. How shall then his kingdom stand?
So here we have Jesus teaching about the kingdom of the devil
The kingdom of Beelzebub the kingdom of Satan you see Satan has a kingdom
Satan is organized. He has an authority structure within his you know
The demons and the fallen angels that that do his bidding, you know, Satan has a kingdom has a power has authority on this earth
But even here even Satan even Jesus say look even Satan's not stupid enough to cast out Satan
Otherwise, how will his kingdom stand? I mean if his kingdoms fighting against each other. How's it going to stand?
No, what he's saying is the king of Satan stands strong. It's united. They're against the Lord
Okay, then in other words, there's no way he could possibly be casting out Satan or a devil by the power of Satan
It doesn't fit the kingdom. Okay. Now, let's think about it. Let's just apply this to the kingdom of God
All right. Now if you've been born again, if you're a child of God you have entered into that kingdom
Okay, Jesus says the kingdom is within you and we know there's yes
There's future kingdoms to come the millennium the new heavens and new earth. We know that okay
But if if the kingdom of Satan is organized and standing united
How much more than brethren should we be, you know have a love for one another?
How much more should we be organized how much more should we be doing the works that the kingdom of God, you know
You know bringing people into the kingdom of God how much more should we be doing this work look Satan's organized
He knows what he's doing. We need to make sure that we know what we're doing. Okay, whether whether representation of that kingdom
You know right now
So, you know, it's not you know, we are truly fighting against
Principalities and powers and and the and the forces of darkness and Satan and all these things
We need to be aware that there is a true kingdom of Satan on this earth. Let's keep reading verse number 27
And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils by whom do your children cast them out therefore they shall be your judges
Now this is another challenging verse took me a little while to think about what this means
Okay, but again, I'm just gonna take this at face value. Okay, if you guys have your thoughts, let me know
Okay, so Jesus says look if I cast out Beelzebub devils by Beelzebub by whom do your children cast them out again?
Who is Jesus speaking to to the Pharisees now are the children of the Pharisees casting out Devils?
Sounds like they may very well be it
Sounds like if I just take this at face value just that just literally as it is
Okay, it sounds like there were children of the Pharisees that believed on Christ
It sounds like there were children of the Pharisees that potentially made up those 70 that Jesus sent out
You know casting out devils and preaching the gospel
It sounds to me that some of these just children of the Pharisees actually believed on Christ
When their own parents did not if I just take it at the literal reading that like that
Okay, and then it says there therefore they shall be your judges
Hey, if you're fine your children casting out devils
Then I'm doing it by the same power as your children and your children will be your judge
I'm not gonna judge you of this your children. Okay, your children who are saved you have been given this power by by me
They're going to judge you they're going to be the ones that raise up against you
The other way I've heard this in separate city. I don't think it's correct
But I'll just let you guys know that they say that Jesus has been sarcastic here. Jesus has been sarcastic in the sense that
That the children of the Pharisees were unable to cast out devils they were unable to cast out devils
Therefore the judges here. Therefore they shall be your judges. They say the judges here are the devil's
Meaning and I don't think this is right because I don't think the devil's are gonna judge man
But that's that's kind of the idea that I've heard
I've heard preached a couple times is that the devil's will judge was I cast out by Jesus or was I cast out by your children?
That that's that's the other way but I don't think that's correct
I think the first one that I mentioned there is the correct interpretation
I appreciate your thoughts if you guys have some thoughts about verse 27, let me know but let's keep reading
that's 28
But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God notice the next words guys
Then the kingdom of God is come unto you now the Jesus cast out devils by the Spirit of God
Absolutely. Amen. He says that if I did that he says then the kingdom of God is come unto you
What does this mean? The kingdom of God is here. It's come it's right here. Okay. Here's the king
Is the king these people that I say these people that are believing on him they are entering into the kingdom
Okay, so the king of God was actually there in place again in the spiritual sense. Okay when you're born again
That's when you can enter and see the kingdom of God
You know
The new man in you has already entered that kingdom the flesh will not the flesh will never enter that kingdom until we have our
New resurrected bodies, but the new man that's inside you
That's why God's Jesus says the king of God is within you that new man is part of that kingdom already
It's already here verse 29
Or else how can one enter into strong man's house and spoil his goods?
Except he first bind the strong man, and then he will spoil his house
Now this is a picture of salvation. Okay, so let's just get the let's get the picture here
So if I go into a man's house and the man's a strong man, okay
How am I going to spoil his goods in other words? How am I going to attain those goods for myself?
Okay, you know when when nations go to war against nations they take the spoil
Okay, the victor takes the spoil of the of the defeated nation
All right, so if I'm going to go into someone's house and it's a strong man
What do I need to do to what to take his possessions it says here what I would need to do
It says except he first bind the strong man. I've got a time up. Okay. I've got to make him
If you know, you know prevent him from stopping me and then it says and then he will spoil his house
Okay, first you've got to defeat that strong man, then you can take that's the spoils of that house
Okay. Now the picture of salvation is this
You know that a man that's been possessed by Devils
Okay, a man that's been possessed by Devils is like a man that has a strong man in his house. Okay, he's possessed
There is a strong
Evil spirit in that person
But the only way that God can can get the spoil of that man's soul if you want to put it that way
the only way God can win that man, you know and and set him free is that he first bind the strong man and
Then he will spoil his house and then he can attain that man's soul as it as he were
Okay
So Jesus saying look I got a first cast out the devil which just did in the example and then I can spoil his house
Then I can take over, you know and and deliver this man's soul from Satan
All right. Now, let me just say this very quickly if you're saved you cannot be possessed by them
Okay, you cannot I'll just reach you very quickly first John 4 4
It says 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
Hey when you're saved when you're born again, the Holy Spirit comes and indwells the believer and that your whole spirit is God
Okay, it says here great is he that is in you God then he that is in the world. Who's that?
Satan you see there's no way like God can come and bind the strong man
Of course, God is more powerful than the devil
But the devil cannot come into your house and bind the Holy Spirit the devil cannot come in and bind, you know, God
Okay, so, you know if you're saved you're safe you're not going to be possessed by devils
That doesn't mean that you cannot be tempted by devils
Okay, that doesn't mean that the devil cannot put you know thoughts into your mind
But at the end of the of the dates you you know
If you commit sin if you pursue those thoughts of the devil and you commit sin, that's on you
You can't blame the devil. Okay, but you can't be possessed by the devil. Let's keep reading verse number 30 and
He that is not with me is
Against me and he that gathers not with me scattered abroad
Okay, so if you're not with Christ, he says you're against me and he that gathers not with me
scattered abroad
Now this is a hard saying okay, and I just want to put this down. I mean what gathering do you think?
We're talking about here. What did Jesus come to do? He came to seek and to save that which was lost
He came to win souls
Okay, and when we when we go out we preach the gospel we're gathering people into his kingdom
Are we not that's what we're doing. We're gathering people you might say, okay, but that's not for me. That's not for me
Hey, there's there's no middle ground
You know, you're either gathering or you're scattering abroad, you know, you're doing one or the other
It's black and white as far as Jesus Christ is concerned
You're either with him or you're against him and if you're not gathering people to his kingdom then Jesus says you're against me
Let's say you're not saying it's just that you're against the work that God has left us to do
Okay, so, you know if you've not gone soul winning for a while you think that's just not for me
I'm not necessarily talking about the weekly soul win if you can't make that that's fine
But you know what efforts are you making to preach the gospel to your family and friends the people that you cross paths with?
Pathways in your daily life. Okay, you know
I don't think of so in as this hour or two hours a week now think about sewing in that's that's my life
You know if I'm with Christ
That's just what I have to do when I get the opportunity when I to be with somebody I'm gonna give them the gospel
You know, please be with Christ not against him
Let's keep reading verse 31 verse 31
Wherefore I say unto you all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men
but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men another
Another hard saying, you know, there's a sin you can commit that you will not be forgiven by God
I mean most people do not want to believe this
Okay
Most people think surely everybody has till the day they die the last breath that they breathe to be saved surely
That's not true. Okay, let's keep reading here
It says that it's so it said in verse 31 shall not be forgiven unto men you say but maybe maybe they can repent and then
God will forgive them. Let's keep reading verse number 32
And
Whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of Man it shall be forgiven him
So you can't speak against Jesus and that will be forgiven of you
Okay, but then it says this but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven him
But if he repents now look neither in this world neither in the world to come
Wow, I mean there is a sin you can commit where God will just not forgive you
You're it's done. You know, you're not going to believe you're not going to receive Christ as your Savior
God is done with you
He would not forgive you in this world
Neither in the world to come and this is not confusing people people try to come up with ways to explain this away
There's no need to explain away. What's the sin? It's blaspheming or speaking against the Holy Ghost
What do these Pharisees do they said Jesus was casting out Jesus the works of Jesus was of the devil
They were saying that Jesus cast out devils by the power of Satan
Hey, if you're making those bold statements in life, then you will be someone that will not be forgiven unto men
Okay, this is a hard saying, you know, this is where the idea of a reprobate comes from
you know the teaching of a reprobate where where there are literally people that can be walking this earth and
I'm not saying they can never be saved. It's not that Jesus did not die for them
It's not that Jesus not pay for the sins. Of course, we believe that Jesus paid for the sins of the whole world
It's just that these people have gone to a point where they rejected God they rejected Christ
They rejected the gospel and God comes to a point where says well, I'm just rejecting you you will not be forgiven
Okay, you will not believe
And quite often when you preach these things there's always someone that's wondering could that be me, you know
Could it cry be a reprobate cry be someone look here's the thing the people that will not be forgiven
The reason they're not going to be forgiven is because God will take away their ability to believe
They will not be able to believe the gospel. Okay, so if you're concerned
I wonder if I you're one of these people look if you are able if you have believed the gospel, you're fine
You're safe. Okay. Otherwise God would have taken that ability away from you
Okay, I haven't got time to go through this doctrine in full
But I just want to show you there are people walking this earth that unfortunately cannot be saved unfortunately for them
Okay, of course we know in the Bible
There are other people people that make to take the mark of the beast once they've taken the mark of the beast
It's too late for them. They can still be walking the earth, but they will have their part the name
They're part of the name removed out of the book of life. Okay, remove that of the book of life
There are many people like this, you know people that that remove take away things from the Bible add things to the Bible
These people will also will not be able to be forgiven
Let's keep reading now in verse number 33
Either make the tree good and his fruit good or else make the tree corrupt and his fruit corrupt for the tree is known
By his fruits hey here the fruit is what someone says or teachers these Pharisees were saying Jesus of the devil
Do you think this these teachers were a good tree or a bad tree a corrupt tree?
Definitely a corrupt tree these Pharisees that was speaking against Christ speaking against his power
These were a corrupt tree be careful of the trees that you listen to the brethren be careful
You know the the preachers you listen to the books you read make sure that the tree is good
Okay
Now let's keep reading there in verse number number. That's number 34 old generation of vipers
How can you be an evil speak good things for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaker?
Now I remember being given I've been given books by by different passes, you know
Can you read this book and and I look at the book?
I look at the offer and I read it
This guy's not a this guy doesn't believe the King James Bible this guy
Uses the IV and I look and I keep reading this guy's not even saved and I go to my pastor
Why do you want me to read this because but there's still good things in there. No, what did it say?
Okay, but it says it says um, how can you be an evil speak good things?
I'm not gonna get anything good out of an evil tree
And that's why you got to be careful about who you listen to. Okay verse 35
Look every evil person every false prophet has some truth. That's how they get a following. Okay, there must be some truth
I mean if they were just outright obviously lying and telling but no one will follow him
Yeah, the false prophets get followers because there's still some truth mixed in with their lies
Let's keep reading verse 35 a good man out of the good treasure over the heart
Bring forth good things and an evil man out of the evil treasure bring forth evil things
But I say unto you that every idle word that men shall speak
They shall give account thereof in the day of judgment for by thy words thou shalt be judged for by thy words
Thou shalt be condemned
Hey, how would you like God to judge you on Judgment Day because he can be judged by your words. Say what words?
Well Romans 10 13 for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved
Hey, if you've called upon the name of the Lord, then I'll be like, yeah God just judge me by those words
Okay
I would rather God judge me by those words that I've called upon his son that I've called upon him for salvation
Then then my words of hey man, look look at my reformed life. Look how much better life I'm living
Of course, I'm saved not only be judged by that because God's you know, next to God's perfection
Definitely come short even as a saved man. This flesh will always come short. This flesh will never be saved
Let's keep reading verse 38
Verse 38 then certain of the scribes and all the Pharisees answered saying master mass master. These guys don't even like Christ
There's a master we would see a sign from thee
What in the world is wrong these people?
Jesus has just cast out a devil and they criticized him and say now we want to see a sign
Didn't you just see a sign then you just say a great work of God and you're still looking for a sign
What do you want?
this 39 and he answered and but he answered and said unto them an
Evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign
But there shall no sign be given it but the sign of the Prophet Jonas
so you see when you go and you preach the gospel and people say to you but you can't prove God to me if
God just appeared before me if Jesus stood just in front of me. I will believe him. No, they won't
Okay, if they saw Jesus casting out a devil, they still won't believe
Okay, why because they're an adulterous generation they're an
Evil and adulterous generation. Okay. Now they will get a sign
Okay, it says there shall no sign be given to it
But so there is a but the sign of the Prophet Jonas
This 44 as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly
So shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth
What is the sign people say show me a sign? What's the sign we give them?
Three night three days and three nights. What are we teaching them the death burial and resurrection of Christ?
What was the science of the Ninevites that Jonas came out of a whale's belly three days later?
Okay, what's the sign that we give to the lost that Jesus Christ rose from the dead three days later?
That's the sign the resurrection the death burial and resurrection of Christ
That's the only sign that this evil and wicked and adulterous generation will get hey, but we've been commissioned
That's that sign, you know, we've been given that task to go and give that sign to this lost and dying world
verse 41
The men of Nineveh these are the men that that heard the preaching of Jonas of Jonah
the men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation and shall condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonas and
Behold a greater than Jonas is here. Jesus is hey, I'm a I'm even a greater prophet than Jonas
We know he already had admitted to being God God Almighty greater than temple
It's a look even the Ninevites as wicked as they were but they repented they got saved
Hey, they're gonna be raised in judgment against this wicked generation
verse number 42
the Queen of the South
Shall rise up in the judgment with this generation
If you don't know who the Queen of the South is that's um, you find that in first Kings chapter 10 the Queen of Sheba
Okay, the Queen of Sheba came
Seeking the wisdom of Solomon, you know hearing the great news about the kingdom of Israel
Now Solomon did all those things he bestowed much wisdom to her showed her the temple showed her the riches
She was very impressed
But what we get here in verse 42 is that's not all Solomon spoke to her about let's read
the Queen of the South shall rise up in judgment with this generation and
Shall condemn it for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon and behold a greater
Than Solomon is here. So we have Jesus. He's a greater prophet than Jonas now
It says hey, he's a greater king than Solomon. Of course. We know that Jesus Christ is the king of kings and
but notice here that um
The reason she will rise up in judgment is that she got saved. She got saved at the preaching of Solomon
She went there to check out the city
She went there to see how powerful and mighty Israel was to hear some wisdom, but Solomon preached her the gospel
Solomon got the Queen of Sheba saved. That's why she will rise up in judgment against the wicked generation
Now it's interesting that both these examples Nineveh and the Queen of Sheba the Queen of the South both of these are Gentiles
You know Nineveh was a gentle nation. The Queen of Sheba was not a Jew
It's you know, what Jesus saying here is look the Gentiles are going to rise up and judge against the unbelieving Israelites
Okay. Now let's keep reading verse number 43
Oh
Good. We're near the end now verse 43
It says when the unclean spirit now, let me just before I read this a lot of people make the mistake to think this is
about
Jesus casting out devils
All right. Now, let's read it carefully
Because this is a new teaching now. This is something new
It's not a continuation of what's come before. It's just something new
It says here when the unclean spirit is gone out of a man. He walketh through dry places
Seek in rest and findeth none
So we have a man that's possessed by an unclean spirit
Okay, and then it says when the unclean spirit of it is gone out of the man. So some people have missed miss miss
You know
That's what I'm looking for
Understood that this is about Jesus casting out a devil now, of course
Well, if Jesus cast out a devil, of course a devil will leave a man
Okay, but that's not what this is about
You see when people were possessed by unclean spirits, it's not like they were possessed 24-7
Okay, it's not like this. It was always the case
These unclean spirits have the ability to enter and exit man as they will okay
This is an example of an unclean spirit
That was just in a man but has just gone gone out of the man for whatever reason we don't know the reason why he
Just did that. Okay
Now it says in verse 44 and then he saith this is the devil. I
Will return into my house from whence I came out now
Let me explain this to you
If if somebody has been saved
Especially in some of these examples in the Bible where an unclean spirit was cast out of them, then they believed on Christ
Then of course, they have the Holy Ghost, of course great is he that is in you than he that is in the world
So, of course an unclean spirit will not be able to return
Okay, but in this story the unclean spirit does return look at this verse 44
Then he saith I will return into my house from whence I came out and when he is come he find that empty
Swept and garnished so when he goes back to the man that he possessed he finds that this man's life
Has been fixed has been improved. Okay
Now what does he do that's 45 then go here he and take it with himself
seven other spirits more wicked than himself and they enter in and dwell there and the last state of that man is
Worse than the first even so shall it be unto this wicked generation notice that the wicked generation
I like this man the wicked generation that does not believe on Jesus Christ
They're like these people that this state and later in life by rejecting Jesus Christ will be worse than it was before
Okay. Now let me explain this a little bit to you. This is an example someone that has an unclean spirit then
That spirit leaves him for whatever reason not said
Then he sweeps and garnishes his house
Meaning this person tries to get right with God
By living a righteous life, you know, he tries to be right with God by living a good life
This is someone that thinks he will be saved. He will be made right with God if he keeps the commandments
He goes for self-reformation, you know, there's a man
I was a drunken man and I need to now get rid of that alcohol and you know
I've been living these things. I need to clean up my life
And this is this this person without Christ thinks he's gonna make his life right before God by cleaning up his life
But he never received Christ. Okay. This is why the unclean spirit will bring seven other spirits eight spirits all together
That will come and make the state of that man worse than before
Okay
You see people that are trying to live righteously for salvation
People that are trying to keep the commandments of God to be saved people that are trying to do good works to be saved
They may very well end up worse later in the life than they were when they started. Okay, because
They've made their house nice and clean for evil spirits to come in and and ruin that person from within
Let's keep reading verse number 46
verse number 46
While he yet talked to the people behold his mother and his brethren stood without
Desiring to speak with him then one said unto him behold thy mother and thy brethren stand without
Desiring to speak with thee
So, of course as a false doctrine, especially by the Roman Catholics that say that Mary was a you know, perpetual virgin
You know, she she she never knew a man. She never had other kids, you know besides Jesus
And she gave birth to Jesus as a virgin. She remained a virgin. But of course we read here in the Bible
It says that his mother and his brethren
Okay, obviously
Mary and Joseph knew one another obviously Mary and Joseph had a normal marital relationship and had other children
okay, Jesus had half brothers and half sisters and
Then it says here in verse 50
Sorry verse 48 verse 48 and he answered and said unto him that told him who is my mother and who are my brethren?
And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples
Remember, what are the disciples those that were following after Christ?
Okay, and said behold my mother and my brethren
For whosoever shall do the will of my father which is in heaven the same is my brother and sister and mother
You see we're just concluding now, but we can see immediately in the eyes of Jesus. He wasn't having a go at his family
He wasn't attacking his mother and his brother and sisters. No, he was just showing his disciples
He was showing the multitudes who the most important people to God are who are the most important people?
Okay. Now the most important people to Jesus
Were his disciples the most important people were the children of God
Hey his spiritual brothers and sisters his spiritual mother as it were
Okay, it wasn't so much the the physical mother brothers and sisters you see brethren
You know, you may not feel this way and I know it's maybe it's a little bit awkward
You know, you grow up in your house. You grew up with your family your parents. Nothing wrong with loving your family
I think that's the right thing to do. Okay, but you know, you ought to have at least that same love
If not more for the brethren in this church, okay, because we're also related by blood
Except that relation by blood is the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ
Okay, we're brothers and sisters in the Lord and it's hard up because we didn't grow up with one another
You know, we all you know, I'm sure you know when you spend time in church
There are certain things that people do that you don't like and you know
You might not necessarily get along with everybody in the church
Hey, but we should strive to be people that have a love for the brethren, you know
That's that's what we're commanded to do. I love the example that Jesus lives us there
You know that he has a greater love, you know, he refers to at least you know
His disciples as his spiritual brothers and sisters and mother. Let's leave it there guys
I hope that's been beneficial to you. You know, we live in a wicked and adulterous generation right now
Okay, you say how do we fix it?
You know, do we need to get into Parliament and change the laws and no, you know
We need to give them the sign of Jonas three days and three nights Jesus Christ came back rose again paid for your sins
It's all been done down for just believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Let's pray