Amen. Right, we're up to Matthew 16, and just to give you a recap, as usual, of chapter
15, if you remember, we looked at those crazy OCD hand-washing of the Scribes and Pharisees
type stuff, which we were saying all the Jews did then, it seemed, it did say, talked about,
and all the Jews, and it seems many still do until this day now, and probably have added
a load more to that as well. So, there's some crazy stuff you see out there, it's pretty
remarkable really, and we saw how, basically, they just discarded parts of the law, hadn't
they, and were teaching for doctrines of commandments of men, so they had basically, you know, taken
some bits out, added their own bits, just made it up as they went along. No, these people,
it seems, don't believe the Torah, that being the first five books of the Bible, they just
kind of believe their own sort of, their own commandments of men. Jesus said of them,
though, in verse 14, let them alone, they be blind leaders of the blind, and if the
blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. He didn't say, we just got to find
a way to reach them, send more and more missionaries out there to get arrested, send more missionaries
out there to spend years out there, and maybe, hopefully, get in a conversation about Jesus
as one of these people. No, he said, let them alone, they be blind leaders of the blind,
okay, that is a really unreceptive place of the Gospel. If you're going to go out and
spend your time preaching the Gospel, you might want to go somewhere receptive, you'd think.
Anyway, unless you've been conned into thinking that there's some sort of holy special people
that are more worthy than other people. Anyway, we spoke about our evil hearts as well, and
how it needs washing, you know, our hearts need washing with the Word of God. We saw
the woman of Canaan, with great faith, getting her daughter healed, and she was persistent
in asking him, and he answered her prayer, didn't he, after that persistence. Then we
looked at the feeding of the 4,000 men, which was beside women and children, I mean, who
knows how many people there were there, but there was 4,000 men, and we saw the seven
baskets remaining, how the previous 5,000 men had had 12 baskets left over, and was
the same number being fed the Word of God by the 12 in Acts 4, Judas having been obviously
subbed off, and how soon after we see then the seven deacons, we see in Acts included
in the early church, how the feeding of the 4,000 could be seen as a picture of that,
how it's important to have people willing to help feed God's sheep, we spoke about that.
The overall goal being what? Because it just gets the Gospel out even more, and that's
what it's all about, isn't it? And it's not just the soul winning, it's the other things
which help a church function, because a proper church just ends up, you know, making sure
that the Gospel gets out, doesn't it? And that's why we need people helping and doing
stuff around a church, because it's not just the going out preaching Gospel, it's all the
other things as well, and we need people to be able to do that in the future obviously,
and all churches need that. Now we're up to Matthew chapter 16 now, and verse number one,
which starts with this, the Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired
him that he would show them a sign from heaven. I'd like to pray before we continue. Father,
thank you, thank you for this great chapter of the Bible, thank you for the topics and
teachings that I want to talk about today, Lord, that we get from this chapter. Please
help me to just preach them just boldly now, and clearly, and accurately, and help everyone
here to just be able to pay attention, and to focus on what your Word's got to say to
them, Lord. Please fill me with your Spirit, and all these things to be done in Jesus Christ's
Holy Name. Amen. Right, so up until this point in the Gospel and the others, we've only had
the Sadducees mentioned once, I don't know if you're aware of that, only once, and that
was in this Gospel, in Matthew chapter three, and if you'd like to turn there to Matthew
chapter three quickly, where John the Baptist gave the Sadducees a very, was it a warm smile
and greeting as they turned up to his baptisms, that old, you know, Church of England smile.
Lovely to have you. You know, it wasn't, was it? Look at Matthew three and verse seven,
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? Not quite
the warm smile of greeting, was it? Bring forth therefore fruits, meat for repentance.
So he said, let's hear what you really believe, and then he goes on to preach at them of Jesus
also baptising with fire, doesn't he? And he's basically saying, look, some people are
going to get saved, some people are going to go and burn, Sadducees. Well, that was
John's greeting. Now, they're grouped together with these Pharisees there as vipers. So who
are they then? Who are the Sadducees? Well, jump forward to Acts chapter 23. And obviously
we'll be going back to Matthew 16, Acts 23, where Paul is in front of the chief priests
and the council in Jerusalem. So he's in front of the, you know, this council, he's got the
chief priests there, the rulers. And it says in Acts 23 and verse six, Acts 23, six, but
when Paul perceived that the one part was Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried
out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee of the hope
and resurrection of the dead I am called in question. And when he had so said, there arose
a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the multitude was divided.
For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel nor spirit, but the Pharisees
confess both. So the Sadducees deny the resurrection. Yeah. Angels, spirits, they're probably what
we would call probably deus or deus, however you want to pronounce it. Basically they believe
in a God, yeah, a creator, but that's kind of about it. Okay. They believe, well, there
must be a God in creator because look, the, the, the extreme nonsense of, of atheism,
I doubt really ever got much traction without the mainstream media that we have of today
and the nonsense being peddled en masse. And even so, how often do you even find someone
on the door that really believes it? With all of that, you expect, don't you, when you
first got someone, you expect, I'm going to have all these atheist debate. You hardly
have one because most people just accept there's a God because it's so ridiculous. It's such
nonsense. These are kind of like the version of them, I believe, because these guys that
they're not that ridiculous, they haven't quite done enough kind of fake big bang type,
you know, documentaries and stuff to, to come away with that nonsense. So instead they're
kind of like, well, there's a God, obviously, clearly I don't, you know, it's, it's ridiculous
to deny there is, however, we kind of don't believe anything else. That's about it. Yeah.
It's just, there is a God. And these are like the sort of self-styled intellectual rationalist
types, yeah. The ones who are kind of like, you know, well, we just kind of rationalize
everything into our kind of like non, where we basically take out any sort of spiritual
world, any sort of, you know, miracles or anything else. The Bible correcting, the ones
who are deniers of literal interpretation, the ones who are like, well, you can't literally
interpret the Bible. Obviously this is just a picture or analogy because they don't want
to believe that there is such thing as a miracle. The types of people that basically doctor
the maps in the back of Bibles to, to not show them crossing over, you know, the Red
Sea or any of the other many, you know, many things like that. They'll be able to deny
all of that. The deniers of basically any, any of the miracles of the Bible. There are
people out there like that. Okay. They'll laugh. They'll mock at you. You talk about
the Bible. You'll have people who say, oh, you believe someone got swallowed by a fish?
You believe in a flood? You know, and everything else. They're just mocking. Yeah. They're
mocking any sort, anything miraculous or anything like that. And that's what these, I believe,
were. They're just really mockers because if you remember in Matthew 22, when they asked
Jesus this sort of hypothetical question, they go, oh, so, you know, obviously you believe
in the resurrection. So they go, yeah. So say, you know, this, this lady, she's, she's,
you know, because obviously we're told by Moses law that if a guy dies, his brother
should take her up in, in marriage. So there are seven brothers. Yeah. And then they start,
and they're just mocking, aren't they? And if you remember the story, they just kind
of go through. So whose wife is she in the resurrection? You know, it's these types of
people, but there are a lot of these around still aren't there. And, and I've noticed
that a lot of these people, they don't really have a clear set of beliefs. So they, they,
they basically just mock the Bible. So they'll mock the Bible and they'll mock things and
obviously they're drawn towards mocking the Bible, the truth, yet they don't really have
anything to defend because it's much easier to attack than defend. Isn't it? So I've come
across these people before in life where they just, they'll attack your beliefs, but they
never really stand firm on any belief of their own. So you can't have it. And it's very easy
to just attack, attack, attack. If you don't really have anything to defend, isn't it?
And I remember this old, a guy I used to know many years ago and he, he used to, and
I know this is a bit of a kind of worldly analogy, but he would just be like, so what
football team do you support? And then just start hammering the football team. He'd go,
well, who do you support? No one, you know, and it was just such an easy thing for him.
It's like, and he was the same with religion as well. It's just like, Oh, what a joke.
You know, if you believe anything you believe he had attacked, but he never really seemed
to have any firm beliefs of his own. And, and this is what I see with these sort of
the Sadducee types. They're just kind of, they just believe in a God and that's about
it really. And just, just argue and deny anything else. Right. Well, here in Acts 23, what's
interesting is it looks like they make up half of the council. So he said sort of the
one part and the other part, and I don't know what the exact numbers were, but I reckon
there's probably quite a sizable amount here that are Pharisees. And the point with this
is that I believe these types have been in the upper echelons of Jewish and inverted
common society ever since really. I mean, these people are, I mean, there are a lot
of these people about where does so much of the Bible mocking, I believe in science type
nonsense come from? Where does so much of the atheist propaganda come from? Hollywood.
And if it's not Hollywood, it's so often it comes from these so-called what the Bible
says are fake Jews. Okay. And it's a very, it's a weird situation because obviously we
talked about the Pharisees and we talked about this false religion, this joke religion,
you know, teaching for, for doctrines and commandments of men type, this Babylonian
Talmud religion. However, there are a lot of these atheist type ones as well. And they
kind of, they claim to be a race, don't they? Yet they seem to push and promote and are
constantly trying to encourage people into kind of not believing in anything. And you're
going, well, who are you talking about? Well, for example, here's one that we talked about
last week, Jeffrey Epstein. And did anyone know that Jeffrey Epstein, his, his biggest
philanthropy work, so what he funded on like the most of his money went to in terms of
charitable funding was some sort of evolutionist organization, which was promoting evolution
around, you know, universities and everything else. So this guy, this mega rich in inverted
commas Jew, because they claim to be a race, don't they, was funding kind of atheist studies
and atheist propaganda to the multi, multi millions. So he's kind of getting these millions
for whatever, who knows what was going on, who he's working with and everything else.
And then putting it towards brainwashing people with the nonsense of atheism. And there are
a lot of these people around, aren't there? Think about, think about the amount of movies
that constantly trying to push and promote that junk. And so they're not all the kind
of banging your head and washing your hands three times, this one behind the back. They're
not all that. A lot of them are people that are claiming to be atheist, or at least deus
or whatever, they just kind of just deny everything and mock everything, and especially Christianity,
obviously. Yeah, at the same time, they're trying to push and promote what is absolute
nonsense, isn't it? And, okay, so you've got, you know, like I said, you've got the religious
Jewish types, then you've got these types. And they are strangely nationalistic still,
aren't they? And the interesting point with it is that here, if you go back to Matthew
16, and back to Matthew 16, but they're claiming genetic Jewishness, they're promoting atheism,
etc. You would think, you would think that these people are basically, must be at odds
with the Pharisees. I mean, they must hate each other. I mean, you've got one side, you
know, who are teaching all these strict commandments and make it up as they go along and teaching
their own stuff. And then you've got these other guys who are just like, well, there's
a gobble. We don't believe in any of that stuff. I don't believe in most of it. We're
going to mock most of it. Yeah. First one says the Pharisees also with the Sadducees
came and tempting desired him that you would show them a sign from heaven. Both groups
are tempting him. Both groups are almost working together to attack the truth. And how often
do we see that now? Yeah, because it doesn't matter. You've got one side, you've got one
side who are banging their heads against walls and doing the most bizarre rituals all day
every day. You've got the other side who are like, there's no such thing as a God or any
of that stuff. Yet they all work together in their hatred of Christianity. They all
mock Christianity. They all attack Christianity. And I mean, these guys, these guys, for me,
I believe, you know, the spiritual Sadducees of our day are these types, like I say, that
atheist, deist type that we see around a lot. However, they're working together. And
look, it's not just, you know, those types in the world now. Gospel haters just work
together, don't they? They're happy with each other. They don't. Look, you go knock on someone's
door, you say you're a church. Not fussed at all. You know, oh, yeah, yeah. Well, I'm
actually a Catholic or I'm a this or I'm a that. And then you try and talk about the
Gospel and then the eyes narrow so often, don't they? Not all the time, but so often.
So often it's like, well, wait a second. That sort of church, you know, because really
it's the truth, isn't it? They're happy with each other. And we talked about this many
times before. These God hating types, these stalkers, these weirdos, it doesn't matter.
They'll believe some kooky weirdness, some difference. But they all will happily form
together. Once they get kicked out of churches, once whatever happens, they'll all team up
and all be friends and all just because it doesn't matter as long as you hate the truth
and as long as you hate the real Gospel. Well, here he said, it says, a tempting him that
he would show them a sign from heaven. And they're basically just saying, show us a miracle,
aren't they? The types that say, well, if I saw Jesus come down, then I'd believe. Yeah.
And how many times you hear this? Well, if I saw God, well, if you know, it's about,
well, you know, you just believe so. I need to see evidence. Would they really believe?
I mean, I didn't hear, did they? So many of them didn't. You know, they still reject because
they might go, OK, well, yeah, no, there is some miraculous stuff. Yeah. They're still
going to reject salvation because that's a heart issue, isn't it? It's not an evidence
issue. It's a heart issue of accepting that you need a saviour. That's what it comes down
to. Verse two says, he answered and said unto them, when it is evening, you say it will
be fair weather for the skies red. In the morning, it will be foul weather today for
the skies red and low ring. Oh, you hypocrites, you can discern the face of the sky, but can
ye not discern the signs of the times? Now, low ring is gloomy, overcast, cloudy. It sounds
to me like they're blagging it a bit here. That's what I see from this. I think he's
kind of like pointing out they're blagging it. You know, again, the science types who
claim to have all the answers, they're always blagging it, aren't they? When you talk to
these guys, they're always just blagging it. Oh, yes, yes. And they always start then trying
to like, and I've talked about this many times as well, because it always amuses me, to disqualify
your argument by using terms and subjects that you shouldn't know about or might not
know about. But then when you really dig deep, you see, they don't even know what they're
talking about most of the time. They just try and sound like they know. It sounds like
they see it. They're like, oh, yeah, yeah, well, oh, yeah, the sky's red. It's going
to be fair weather. And then in the morning, it's like, oh, yeah, but it's red, but it's
low ring as well. It's going to be foul weather. It's just like kind of they just make it up
as they go along. So he's saying, well, you claim to be able to work out the weather,
but not that the Christ is here. Jesus Christ is here, the anointed one. You can't even
work that out. He then says, a wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign.
There shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the Prophet Jonas. And he left
them and departed. They go, oh, just got to show them something. Well, I'm not willing
for the sign, but maybe if I just preach a bit more to them, encourage them to come a
bit, you know, follow me a bit more. No, he just leaves them. He says, you're wicked and
adulterous. He said it how it was, didn't he, Jesus? Jesus offended. Yeah, Jesus offended
people. He offended them. He stood there and he said, no, you're a wicked and adulterous
generation. And he left them. Good on him. What was the sign of the Prophet Jonas? Well,
Matthew 12 40 says for his Jonas was three days of three nights in the world's belly.
So shall the son of man be three days of three nights in the heart of the earth. So that's
the sign, the death, burial and resurrection after three days. Okay. And we obviously looked
at that in depth in Matthew 12. So I'm not going to go into that in depth again. Okay.
So that's the sign is it? Death, burial and resurrection. Three days he was again. And
when his disciples would come to the other side, they're forgotten to take bread. Okay.
So basically they'd forgotten to bring food with them. He's not saying they'd forgotten
to eat. Okay. So, oh man, I just forgot to eat again. No, they'd forgotten to bring food
with them. Okay. Then Jesus said unto them, take heed and beware of the leaven of the
Pharisees and of the Sadducees. And they reasoned among themselves saying it is because we have
taken no bread. So they think he's saying, don't have any of that Pharisee and Sadducee
bread. Yeah. Just be aware you haven't bought any bread. Don't go and get any off them.
Yeah. Cause it's going to be like, it's going to have all that salt of Sodom in it or something,
you know? So just be careful. Right. Well, he says in verse eight, which it says, which
when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, so they're saying, you know, they're reasoning
among themselves. He perceives what they're saying. He is God in the flesh, isn't he?
Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, oh, you have little faith. Why reason you
among yourselves? Because you brought no bread. Do you not yet understand neither remember
the five loaves of the 5,000 and how many baskets took you up? You took up, sorry. Neither
the seven loaves of the 4,000. How many baskets you took up? So we say, look, I provided for
you. You don't have to worry about where your next meal is coming from. Okay. Don't you
remember? Are you going, oh yeah, he must be talking about getting like going and getting
bread off the Pharisees and Sadducees. What are you talking about? You remember what happened?
He said, how is it that you do not understand? I spake it not to you concerning bread, that
you should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. Then understood they
how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees
and of the Sadducees. So why? Why beware? Because a little leaven leaven of the whole
lump. Paul says that twice, isn't he? I think in Galatians and in 1 Corinthians 5. And the
thing with that is it goes for all of the false doctrine these guys were teaching. Because
I think often we think about that, we're like, oh yeah, yeah, it's talking about like damnable
heresy or something. But it's not just a damnable heresy, it's a smaller false doctrine
as well. I mean, he said it in 1 Corinthians 5 about the fornication, wasn't it? But because
they were all, as well, they were almost encouraging it. He said, you're puffed up about it. You
know, for whatever reason they thought, oh, look how liberal we are or something else.
We're so kind of, we're so modern, we're so like Greek culture here or whatever it was.
But it's all false doctrine. All false doctrine is something to beware of, isn't it? From
the small stuff to the big stuff. Because it can have such an effect, can't it? When
people are teaching and trying to encourage people into whatever it is, some sort of lie,
some sort of sin, and it can be subtle, it's something to beware of. These guys said beware
of their doctrine. Okay, beware of their doctrine. Okay, we're going to continue though because
there's some other points I want to hear. So verse 13 says, when Jesus came into the
coast of Caesar, Rheophilius, his disciples saying, whom do men say that I the Son of
Man am? And they said, some say that thou art John the Baptist, some Elias, and others
Jeremiah, so one of the prophets. He says unto them, but whom say ye that I am? And
Simon Peter answers said, thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. A great statement
that isn't it? Verse 17, and Jesus answers said unto him, blessed art thou Simon Barjona,
for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father, which is in heaven. So
Barjona is the son of Jonah or Jonas, okay? He's saying Peter, Peter, someone didn't figure
this out and tell you. That's what I think he's saying. You didn't work it out for yourself.
It was revealed to you by God. And that is, by the way, exactly what happens when someone
gets saved, isn't it? It's a word of God and the Holy Spirit indwelt believer that basically
reveals it. Okay, because it is, it's not, some people can get a bit carried away, can't
they? And think, well, you know, I managed to do this and I did this. No, really, it
was God and the Holy, if you didn't have God, if you didn't have the word of God, you wouldn't
have got him saved. If you didn't have the Holy Spirit in you, you wouldn't have got
him saved. It's impossible. So, and really, it's God revealing to people. God reveals
the Gospel through you, the messenger. You're just a messenger. You're the vessel. You're
going forward. Yeah, you need to explain it, yes, but it all comes if you, and that's why
it's important, isn't it, if we're going to be effective solely, effective giving out
the Gospel. Effective, and that might be to just sow good seeds and things. Sometimes
you go somewhere unaccepted. It's not about the numbers, is it? The numbers of people
that pray. However, you're going to be most effective in the Spirit, aren't you? Yes,
of course, go out sowing anyway, and it's a good way to get in the Spirit as well. However,
to be the most effective, we want to be walking in the Spirit, we want to be living in the
Spirit, we want to be going out sowing in the Spirit, yeah? Because that's ultimately
what's getting people saved. That's what's revealing it to people. We don't want to get
puffed up, do we, and think that it's all about, ah, just have the, you know, this great
new analogy and this great new way and this great, no, just go and preach the Gospel.
It's God, it's God and, you know, the Word of God, it's the Holy Spirit which reveals
it. Verse 18, he says, And I say also unto thee that thou art Peter, and upon this rock
I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Now, there's
two ways of looking at this verse. You've got number one, the more traditional Baptist
view, which is that the rock is Jesus speaking about himself, okay? Now, this is obviously
true in terms of Jesus Christ being the rock, and we'll just look at that briefly in a minute,
but I think if you've read the Bible, you're going to see time and time again the Lord
is a rock, yeah? He's a rock of, in many different ways we see that mentioned in the Bible. And
number two way is that Jesus is referring to Peter as a rock, and you've got to bear
in mind with this, because obviously it's, you know, the Catholics have run with this,
okay, and just, you know, and gone on to all these false doctrines of popes, which basically
papa, you know, it's Latin for papa, which is father, and just in direct contradiction
to Matthew 23.9, and call no man father upon your earth, for one is your father which is
in heaven. Now, but, you know, some have argued, and I've heard this more recently from people
that are good, you know, good pastors and good studies of the word of God, that, you
know, still believe though that Jesus is referring to Peter as a rock, bearing in mind that cephas
means stone or rock, okay? And just obviously because the Catholics have just taken this
completely in some bizarre direction, look, the Catholics believe in the Trinity, okay?
Well, that doesn't mean the Trinity is wrong, does it? Okay, so, okay, so just a point to
make there. So, now, away from the silly pope nonsense, like I said, both of these could
be true, okay, and it could be true together. I mean, obviously Jesus crosses the rock,
1 Corinthians 10, one of many places which refers to Jesus Christ as a rock. Well, I
read Romans 9.33, which says, as it is written, behold, I lay in sin a stumbling stone and
rock of offense, and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. Clearly Jesus Christ,
right? 1 Corinthians 10 and verse 1 says, Moreover, brethren, this is 1 Corinthians
chapter 10 and verse 1, Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how
that all our fathers were under the cloud and all passed through the sea, and were all
baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and did all eat the same spiritual meat,
and did all drink the same spiritual drink, for they drank of that spiritual rock that
followed them, and that rock was Christ. Okay, pretty clear, isn't it? Right, so Jesus Christ,
that spiritual rock, and obviously the church has to be built upon him, doesn't it? Okay,
the church has to be built upon the rock. There is no church if it's not built upon
the rock, yeah? And obviously you could think of so many analogies of that and why that
works, why that's the truth, and the many pictures you could get from that, and I'm
sure there are many sermons that have been preached and will be preached in the future
about building your church on the rock, building your house on the rock as well. And it's not
talking, you know, because really it's not about the building, is it really? Okay, it
doesn't matter if you're not on the rock, the building doesn't matter, it's not, you
don't want to build the church, because people do do this, you know, like that's our whole
goal, that's the whole focus is a huge beautiful building. Or maybe, and look, Baptists do
that as well, there's some Baptist palaces out there in case you're unaware, okay? It's
not the preacher, the church isn't built on the preacher, the pastor, you know, that's
not what it's about, and many people will kind of, that's all they care about, that's
all it's about, is who that preacher is, if it's someone, you know, they like or feel
charismatic or whatever it is. It's not the band, look, many churches are built on the
band, aren't they? You know, many churches, it's about the band, it's about, you know,
how great the music is, and look, you know, we want to make a Mary's, you know, song,
we want to make a, you know, something that God's going to enjoy and want to listen to
as well, however, that's not what the church is built on. And it's also not the most prominent
members of the church, because many churches are built upon the membership, aren't they?
That's kind of who the main people are, that's what it's all about, keeping them happy, keeping
those prominent people, those bigger families, the big tithe payers or whatever it is, right?
But no, because all of those things can change, can't they? All of those things can change
and do change and will change and will sway with the times and change, but Jesus Christ
doesn't change, does he? Jesus Christ doesn't change, it has to be built upon Jesus Christ,
it has to be built upon the rock, and that's why it's so important that we judge everything
by the Word of God, isn't it? That's why we have to judge everything in our church
by the Word of God, that's why I preach a whole sermon series on church discipline all
by the Word of God, not us making it up as we go along, not us going, well, yeah, but
I also think we should kick them out for this, or that maybe we shouldn't kick them out for
that, because that's a bit more commonplace in the world right now. No, it all has to
be built upon the rock, the Word, Jesus Christ, the Word of God, and not just any old Word
of God either. It can't just be any old Word of God. It can't be, oh, well, yeah, the Word
of God, but, you know, I like this version now, because you're not building, what sort
of rock is that? What sort of rock is that, which changes every 10 years or something?
It's not a rock. A rock seems, like, what do you think of when you think of a rock?
You think of something that's not going to be moved, right? Can't be moved. A rock. And
all of these false Bible versions change, keep changing. Their new update, their new
additions change too. That's sinking sand. You're building your rock and sinking, yeah,
so your church on sinking sand, aren't you? Not on a rock. The rock is the Word of God,
and there's only one Word of God, which is a rock, isn't it? And in English, that's King
James Bible. Yeah, churches have been built on this Bible, in this nation, other English-speaking
nations now, for over 400 years. And it hasn't changed, has it? Oh, but there are, you know,
all these changes, no, spelling changes aren't changes, okay? And that's the preserved Word
of God, and that's what that rock is built upon. Okay, so, however, Peter, Peter did
seem to be the main man at the beginning of Acts when the first church was formed, wasn't
he? Okay, you can't deny that, Peter was the main man. And I know, like, people went
so far the other direction, went almost like, oh, you know, no, no, no, Peter was just,
look, Peter was the main man, okay? Just because the Catholics kind of went mental with it,
we don't have to deny that. If you remember, he stands up and calls for the selecting of
Judas' replacement in Acts 1, preaches at the day of Pentecost, getting 3,000 saved
in Acts 2, heals the lame guy outside the temple in Acts 3, preaches to the people in
Solomon's porch, preaches to the rulers in Acts 4, the church starts. In Acts 5, he's
the one dealing with Ananias and Sapphira, and he is a boss there. They lay him, they
bring him to Peter, don't they? Okay, Peter is the main man. He continues to be the main
man in the book of Acts, really, until the focus shifts to Paul around chapter 13. So
it's all kind of, it's Peter who seems to be the man at the front of the church. And
I can understand why some people would say, look, maybe he's talking about that. However,
I still believe that the rock is Jesus Christ for this reason. Because look, some people
look at the wording, and I don't think that's that clear. Some people, you know, I know
this has been preached before, where he says, thou art Peter upon this rock, and people
kind of maybe even do the hand movement to show and disprove the Catholic thing. But
I don't think, for me, there's something more clear for me. And it's verse 18, where he
says, and I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock, I will build
my church. And look at the end of verse 18. And the gates of hell shall not prevail against
it. So this verse is, like I said, you know, been used and preached many, many times, but
I think many times probably to say that God protects his church. I'm sure everyone has
probably heard sermons, or at least heard of sermons, where they've used this verse
to go, look, you know, the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I think, like
the image being formed, and maybe some of you get this, maybe still get this image where
there's like this sort of image of just all these kind of hellish creatures, you know,
coming out of the gates of hell, and it's like opening up and all these bats are flying
out and whatever other weird creepy things and devils are just like charging out and
flying out, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. But is that really what
it means? Is that what this verse means? How would the gates of hell prevail or not prevail
against the church? I mean, what do, are we getting attacked by some set of gates? Is
that what it's talking about? See, I don't think so. And look, any devils that are in
hell are in there for good, aren't they? Yeah. Satan obviously isn't there yet. Okay, so
Satan's not like hanging around hell and kind of coming in and out of hell and, you know,
flying out, you know, looking like some sort of ghoul, and then somehow he ends up back
there. He's hanging out there again because he loves it there. No, like, Satan doesn't
want to be in hell. And when he goes to hell, he's there for a thousand years, yeah, until
he's released, not he breaks out or decides, okay, I'm getting a bit sick, it's getting
a bit warm down there and it's time to come out. No, he gets released just for a season
before he then is cast into like fire, yeah? Okay, so, so what's it about then? What's
it about? I believe that it's the gates of hell shall not prevail against the rock. It's
about the rock, Jesus Christ, because he's going to rise again. He's going to conquer
death. That's what it says there in verse 18, it says, and I sound also unto thee that
thou art petered upon this rock, talking about himself, I will build my church and the gates
of hell shall not prevail against it. I think he's talking about a rock, that's what I believe,
the gates of hell shall not prevail against it, the rock, him, why does the gates of hell
not prevail against him? Because he defeats death, because he wins, because he rises from
the dead, the only one that comes out of hell, that's why. But without hell, without the
doctrine of hell, with Jesus Christ going to hell, they don't understand this verse.
So they're like, oh yeah, yeah, the gates of hell are attacking churches. What are you
talking about? The gates of hell attack churches, it doesn't make any sense. No, it's because
Jesus Christ was in hell, the gates of hell did not prevail against him. That's what it's
about because he rose again, he conquered it. You have to turn to Revelation 1.18, it
says what? I am he that liveth and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, amen,
and have the keys of hell and of death. The gates of hell did not prevail against him,
because he had the keys of hell and of death, because he defeated it, he rose again. That's
why they will not prevail against it, the rock, it's referring to him, the rock, that's
why he goes on to say in verse 19, and I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of
heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever
thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. So the keys of the kingdom of heaven
come from what? From him, Jesus Christ, the rock, conquering death, and the gates of hell
not prevail against him. That's why he has the keys of the kingdom of heaven, because
he conquered hell, because the gates of hell did not prevail against him. And with that,
with that, he's saying to Peter, it's a responsibility to preach the gospel, and look, I even used
this verse recently talking about things being bound, you know, in terms of churches, with
things like, you know, I was looking at this again, I was thinking, that's not really it,
is it? Because what he's really saying here is that, look, you either bind those to eternal
life or loosen those that reject, that's really what he's talking about, he's going
to give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt bind
on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed
in heaven. And really, it's talking about the gospel, isn't it? It's binding those to
eternal life or loosing those from the book of life, having rejected the gospel and ending
up in hell. It all comes from him, doesn't it? It all comes from the rock, it all comes
from Jesus Christ, ultimately from him, from him basically for the gates of hell not prevail
really against him. However, the responsibility, the keys, are passed on to Peter and onwards
through subsequent churches, because it all comes from churches. Because people love to
believe like, yeah, yeah, you know, I'll just be a believer outside and soul winning. I
had someone recently, I'm sure, probably a good guy, you know, everything, I just want
to come soul winning with you guys from wherever he lived and just want to get back into soul
winning. It's like, you know, get into church. You will never soul win for the rest of your
life unless you're in church. It's not going to happen. Look, you'll do a good time and
there's some great people out there, don't get me wrong, we're in places without churches
and they're going out and they're getting together and doing a bit of soul winning,
but it starts to dwindle. It does. And you see, because I speak to these people and it
starts to dwindle and dwindle and dwindle. And look, if they're meeting up and they're
kind of trying to get to a point of maybe being part of the church, great. If there's
no churches, great. Okay. But you have to be in, like it all comes from the church really.
And there are people that even were soul winning and went to churches which don't send them
out soul winning. And where are they now? Not even soul winning anymore. Going to church
once a fortnight, once a month, tick the box, at least they're still going, barely, because
they're not being sent out solely because they're not going to really a proper church
that send them out and going out and preach the gospel. And that's what it all comes from.
And he's going, I'm giving you the keys. Yeah. He's basically saying, look, Jesus, like upon
this rock, I'm going to build my church for me. I've defeated death. I'm giving you the
keys because it comes from the church and the church then go, you know, will eventually
that church, what do we see more and more churches coming from that? And it all comes
from churches, doesn't it? And it continues then with the gospel being preached on mass.
But it all comes back to the church. And I know like some people maybe listen to me preach
this and what this sort of thing. And I'm obviously preaching a lot just because I'm
so aware there's still so many people in our nation, so many believers, so many people
that believe in someone, you just don't don't attend the church. And it doesn't have to
be our church, but go to a church or come to our church. If we're so far, come once
a month, whatever you can do. And you and really, you should find a way of being a regular
part of a church, because as everyone who's here knows, once a month ain't the same as
being free to thrive, is it? It is a different game, a different ball game altogether. And
look, you know, and I'm going to keep preaching it because and also for the people here to
just understand what they've got here and what I want people to keep to that, because
it's such a different to your life, isn't it? Here, and regardless of any of that here,
that's what it says. He said, I'll give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and
whatsoever thou shalt bind on there shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt
loosen there shall be loosed in heaven, having just said about building his church, OK? Right,
so verse 20 says, Then charged he his disciples, they should tell no man that he was Jesus
the Christ. From that time, and I think from that time being the conversation we've just
seen onwards, because he has just been talking about his conquering of death, from that time
forth, began Jesus to show unto his disciples so that he must go unto Jerusalem, excuse
me, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed and
be raised again the third day. So and he has this conversation obviously after, but it's
from that time, this is the topic he's talking about here, isn't it? That was the whole point.
OK, he continues to explain what has to happen, OK? So verse 22 then says, And Peter took
him and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord, this shall not be unto
thee. So what on earth it just happened to Peter here, yeah? He's rebuking the Lord Jesus
Christ, and he calls him Lord while rebuking him, which is a bit ironic as well, isn't
it? But he turned and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan, thou art an offence
unto me, for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
So Peter's just gone from being told he's being given the keys of heaven to getting
called Satan. I mean, that was a bit of a fall from grace here, wasn't it? And look,
you could all look at this and say, well, Peter was just concerned, you know, just not
wanting Jesus to suffer these things, feel a bit sorry for him here, you know, it's just
kind of his love for the Lord. Oh, come on, Lord. But, you know, however, Jesus explains
why he's an offence to him here, doesn't he? Because he savours or likes or favours the
things of men rather than of God. Now, perhaps it's just that Peter is looking at it from
a worldly view, rejecting the need for Christ to die. But considering that Jesus just said
upon this rock, I'll build my church, the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Then he says, he's all about building his church. He says, And I will give unto thee
thee, okay, singular to Peter he's talking to here, the keys of the kingdom of heaven.
And then he says, And whatsoever thou shalt, thou, singular, shalt bind on earth shall
be bound in heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven.
It could be more that Peter is rejecting the responsibility that's been given to him. Isn't
it? He's like, he's been told all these things. He's been, then Jesus is explaining to them
what he's going to do, then Peter's like, albeit far from thee, Lord, you know, don't
do this. And he's like, he's being told, look, I'm giving you the keys. He's going,
I'm, you know, the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Then he goes from that
time forth. He's explained to them what he's going to have to suffer, what he's going to
do. He's going to die. He's going to rise again in peace. Forget that. He's just being
told you're going to get the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And look, yeah, I'm not saying
that it was, had nothing to do at all with what Jesus Christ might suffer, but he ultimately
he's rejecting, he's basically trying to reject the responsibilities about to be given by
the Lord. He's saying like, no, no, I prefer things how they are. I prefer things how they
are now, not how God, how you, Lord, yeah, God in the flesh, the son of God, not how
you're telling me you want things to be and how things are going to be. So he's rejecting
the will of God. He's ultimately rejecting the responsibility he's being given, at least
trying to, yeah. He's like, oh no, I'm a bit far from thee. And that's something we can
all do, isn't it? God gives us responsibilities. God has given everyone here as believers responsibilities.
We have responsibilities in life, ways for us to live. God's made it clear how he wants
us living, hasn't he? Yeah, he's made it clear. He's given us responsibilities, things we
should all be doing. From the youngest child here to the oldest adult here, we all have
responsibilities, yeah. The things that be of God. Yeah, there are many things that are
of God, but instead, what do we do? We savour the things that be of men. That's what he
said to Peter here, for thou savour us not the things that be of God, but those that
be of men. And we do the same. We know what God expects of us. We know what God's telling
us how we should live. We know all these things, but then we just reject that and start savouring
the things of men instead. And often when we do that, instead of just accepting that
we're weak, that our priorities are off, it's what we should do, just going, yeah God, I
know I'm weak, I need you to help me with this, I want to do this, etc. What do we do?
We end up rebuking Jesus. No, I want you to talk about it, brother Ian, I'd never rebuke
Jesus. Well, how many people will criticise church attendance? Criticise the need to be
at church. Well, you don't, do we have to be there twice a day on a Sunday? Do we really
have to give up? Do we really? He said not to forsake the assembly of ourselves together
as a matter of summaries, but exhorting one another and so much the more as you see the
day approaching. But how many people like to just push, oh yeah, yeah, but we don't
need to do that. Oh, midweek service, I only have to have a midweek service. But really
they're just rebuking the word, really. I mean, they were meeting daily in the temple
in the book of Acts. We're only doing, we're doing two days a week. And how many people,
that's too much for them. No, no, you know, not forsaking the assembly, well not, you
know, yeah, but come on, I live so far. Well, find a way to be closer then, or find a way
to get here. Because that's what God said to do. Or are you just going to basically
rebuke him? Because they won't just go, okay, well, quiet, yeah, I'm getting it wrong. So
many people will just want to criticise them. They'll criticise the doctrines of the Bible
and they'll criticise the way that maybe the church does things, but we're just trying
to do things biblically. Criticise soul winning. They have to go soul winning, you know. It's
a bit, you know, knocking on people's stories like Jehovah's Witness. There'll be people
in our church that probably go away and maybe in their heart or maybe to other people criticise
it. Well, they've gone to a bit of it, I suppose, you know, or something else. But we're told,
Jesus Christ said, go ye into the world and preach the gospel to every creature, didn't
it? Made it clear. Yet how many people will criticise that and really they're rebuking
Jesus or criticise the holy separated life? How about that one? I bet people here, people
watching, people in our church have done that or continue to do that. The bits they don't
like, the bits they can't do, instead of going, look, I'm just not very good. Yeah, I'm weak.
Yeah, I'm not getting it right, Lord, help me. Instead, they criticise it. They'll be
moaning to someone else, maybe a family member, someone outside the church, something, I've
got to do this. You know, I've expected not to, you know, not to drink. Well, the Bible
says not to even look at it, not to look at it. So, you know, why are you going to criticise?
What, who are you rebuking? You're rebuking the Lord. Or maybe the lady's like, I've got
to wear a dress. Well, the Bible said it's an abomination to dress in that which pertaineth
unto a man. So who are you rebuking? You're not rebuking your husband. You're not rebuking
your, you know, whoever it is that you're complaining to the preacher from the church,
one of those churches where they expect you, look, we don't expect, you can come in here
in a pair of trousers if you want, come in here cross-dressing. We don't have a cross-dressing
rule here. We can't do it with the men. You come in and the skirt will kick you out. That's
creepy. But maybe, maybe, maybe we're being a bit, kind of, a bit partial there. Maybe
we're getting things wrong there. I don't want, I'm not going to suddenly introduce
a rule, all right, because people will be spitting all sorts at me, yeah. However, just
because the world says it's all right, doesn't mean it is, does it? Maybe in Scotland, we
just have to accept it. No, maybe we go, okay, well, if it's a kilt, because it's more run
of the mill, maybe, you know, I don't know. But however, we don't have a rule here. But
how many people will, I bet there are people on the outside of this church that have moaned
about the fact that, that we've said, if you want to preach the gospel representing our
church, we would like you not to cross dress. Oh, shock, horror. And we tell the men, we
like them to have a collar. And I know people, hey, is that the word? Well, look, we're ambassadors
for Christ. That's how we interpret it, that we want to maybe look presentable, respectable
when we preach the gospel. If you're preaching the gospel and you're representing our church,
we want you to, to at least look like we believe a Christian should be trying to look at the
outside appearance. Well, yeah, because people look at the outside appearance. How hard is
it? How hard is it to put on a dress or skirt? Yet there are women who won't even come to
our church. Because we've said that if you want, and I'll tell you what, by the way,
when people come to our church, they're not our church, we don't expect them to preach
the gospel anyway. They could be a silent partner and learn how we do it here. Because
I'm sick of people that, oh, well, they've listened to pastor whoever. Oh, that must
mean that they can preach the gospel. It doesn't mean that at all. Because so many of them
can't. So many of them don't do it how we want them to do it. And they're representing
our church. Oh, well, I've turned up. Well, I used to soul win back wherever. So that's
all. I'll take some invites and go and preach the gospel now representing your church. No,
no, that's not how it works. Come and learn how to preach your gospel. And I know people
get upset about that. But look, what is there something wrong with being a silent partner
now? There's something wrong with learning and listening and being being a silent partner
at church. Look, if I know you and I know you well, and I know you preach the gospel,
or I know someone else who can vouch for you and everything else, then maybe we'll be like,
look, it's a team effort anyway, isn't it? Anyway, back to the point, point being, look,
what is it when people rebuke? What are they really? Who are they really rebuking the Lord?
Because he said it was an abomination. Oh, well, you should just send us out as an abomination.
Why? Why should we? Yeah, you're representing our church. Where were we? Yeah, so, trying
to remember where we were. Now, right. Okay, so, yeah, criticise the holy life, criticise
the holy separation. And again, criticise the word of God. You get that as well, don't
you? People who start to criticise things in the Bible, and the Bible corrects it. Look,
you know, it's hard, it's rare, isn't it? You don't come across that many that are saved,
really, do you? Those that are still into false Bibles. Look, there are some, I'm sure
there are people that have been conned by it at church, where they use it or something
else like that. But again, those people, they want to start criticising what the King
James says, criticising what the word of God says. When God promised to preserve his word,
and we've had this word of God in English for hundreds of years, you want to start criticising
that. For me, you're rebuking Jesus Christ. You're rebuking the word. Anyway, and then
what are you doing then? Suddenly, you're doing the work of Satan. You say, get thee
behind me, Satan. Why? Thou art an offence unto me, for thou savourest not the things
that be of God, but those that be of men. People that savour not the things that are
God, but those that be of men, and are rebuking Jesus Christ in one way or another, are doing
the work of Satan. No, they're not possessed. No, you can't be possessed if you're saved.
Great is he that is in you than he that is in the world, okay? You're not going to get
possessed. However, you can do the work of Satan. Now, it's not that you're intending
to do that necessarily, but you end up doing that anyway. Was Peter being influenced by
Satan somehow? I don't know, and I'm sure many people would say, well, maybe like he's
being influenced, Satan's got some sort of foothold, you know, from his sin, from him
kind of trying to reject the responsibility of Christ, whatever it was, rejecting the
will of God. However, I just think it's more likely he's just showing him that his attitude
is of the world. So I think, but maybe I'm wrong. Maybe he is, maybe there is, look,
he's not possessed, is he? Okay, he's not possessed. Okay, we don't see any anyone being
possessed by the devil who's saved in the Bible. So therefore, what's the point there?
Yeah, maybe he's being influenced. I think it's more like he's just basically going,
get behind me, Satan. You know, like your attitude is that of the devil, it's of the
world. That's what I believe he's probably saying there. Okay, verse 24 then says, Then
said Jesus unto his disciples, if any man will come after me, sorry, if any man will
come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Now, Jesus is
talking about discipleship here following him. Yeah. This is on the back of Peter, not
wanting these things. Yeah. He's saying you've got to deny yourself and take up your cross.
Okay, that's to do God's will, isn't it? This is a daily thing. You have to turn to Luke
chapter 9 and verse 23, the parallel passage in Luke says, And he said to them all, If
any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
So point being that, look, if today you had a bad day, start afresh tomorrow. Start afresh
tomorrow. Take up your cross. It's a daily thing to do the will of God and to deny the
flesh. Don't dwell on past failures. Think about it. How did I do today? If you've like,
you might have had a bad week, you might have had a bad month. You might have had a bad
year. You might have been like, man, I messed up this month. I messed up this week. I messed
up this year. Okay, but how did you do today? It's a daily thing. Every day, morning by
morning your mercies I see. Yeah. When you get up in the morning, right, now I'm going
to live a good day. Now I'm going to do things right. Forget what happened. Obviously, pray
to God, ask for forgiveness as well. It's not like, right, new day, all wiped off. Yeah,
pray to God, ask for forgiveness. If we confess our sins, it's faithful and just to forgive
us our sins and to cleanse us from all our righteous and move on and start your new day
afresh. How did we do today? It's to take up his cross daily and follow him. And if
you had a bad day, you're like, well, brother Ian, but today wasn't a good one. Well, have
a better one tomorrow. Have a better one tomorrow. That's a daily thing, taking up our cross,
following the Lord Jesus Christ. You're in, sorry, Matthew 16. Look at verse 25. He said,
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it, and whosoever will lose his life for my
sake shall find it. For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose
his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Now, obviously, this
isn't talking about salvation. I'm sure there's many work salvationists that would love to
try and take a verse like this or something else and run with it, because salvation is
clearly a free gift. You just believe. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be
saved. Whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. Very rarely
I say unto you, he that believeth in me hath everlasting life. Time and time again we see
it's just belief. It's just faith. It's faith in Christ. It's not of works, lest any man
should boast. Now, turn to Luke chapter 9. The word soul here is referring to the person,
to his being, to his life. Luke chapter 9, like I said, is a parallel passage. I did
just, maybe I should have got you to turn there earlier when we read verse 23. We're
going to look at verse 24. Luke 9, 24 says this, for whosoever will save his life, this
is Luke chapter 9 and verse 24, for whosoever will save his life shall lose it, but whosoever
will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. For what is a man advantaged if he
gain the whole world and lose himself or be cast away? So, basically, Jesus is saying
that if you focus on keeping your worldly life, that's what he's talking about, the
top career, the popularity, the stuff, the things, the old friends, etc., etc., all that
sort of stuff, you're only going to feel that loss, aren't you? You're going to feel that.
If that's what you're focusing on, if you're trying to keep your old life, you're going
to feel that. If you're trying to follow Christ, yet you're trying to keep all of that junk,
you're going to feel like you're losing it, aren't you? And you're going to feel like
you're going to be mourning that loss, if you're trying, if your focus is on the things
of the world, on that old life and everything else. But when you're happy to leave that
stuff behind, and we should be, shouldn't we? Look, I know that's not easy for many,
but we should be happy to leave that stuff behind. When you willingly discard that old
life, you feel like you've found or saved the real life, the real purpose, don't you?
When you willingly put away that stuff, look, you are content with your life serving the
Lord, aren't you? But it's where's your heart? Where's your heart? Because what's our innate
purpose in life? All we're made to do to worship and serve the Lord. That's why we're here,
that's like, that's an innate purpose within us. And that's real life, isn't it? Because
that's the real life, is worshipping and serving God. Now, few people in the world worship
and serve God, but how many people are just so empty, such empty lives? I mean, some of
the richest, whatever people, the people that you think, oh, they've got it all, they've
got it made, they've got whatever it is that you think is someone achieving, you know,
in life, so many of them just are empty, depressed, have, you know, have all these issues and
problems, because that's where, because it's not really what they're made for, that's not
their purpose. Our innate purpose is to serve God, and look, you could gain all the world
has to offer, it's not going to advantage you, you lose the real you, don't you? Because
the real you, the innate you, the person that was created in God's image, was created to
serve and worship and live for God, is not happy and content doing anything but that,
really. Yeah, there's the pleasures of sin for a season, yeah, you're going to have,
you know, the odd little bit of excitement for a bit and some wickedness, but it's always
just going to come back to bite you, isn't it? And you're ultimately not going to be
happy, you're just papering over these cracks, papering over these cracks, you know, during
the old cliche, and there is some truth in it, isn't there, that that person's got a
God-shaped hole in them. Now, everyone's got a God-shaped hole in them, right? Okay, everyone
who's unsaved has, for sure, and those people that saved a lot of the time do, really, as
well, because they're not living for God. But there is some truth to that, isn't there?
And you see all these people where they're just so lost, aren't they? So lost. And it
all comes from serving the Lord, doesn't it? And he says here, he says, look, for what
is a man advantage if he gain the whole world and lose himself or be cast away? Because
you lose the real you, your true purpose, and you can even end up being discarded by
God, can't you, and sent home early. And that does happen to Christians, okay? It does happen,
and they do end up just, okay, enough's enough, they're done. Go back to Matthew 16, where
he said it this way in Matthew 16 and verse 25, for whosoever will save his life shall
lose it, and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man
profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man
give in exchange for his soul? So we should want to give it all to live a real life, pleasing
to God, let alone the fact that there are eternal rewards too. So don't forget that.
There are eternal rewards, right? Look at verse 27, for the Son of Man shall come in
the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he shall reward every man according to
his works. And look, that judgment seat of Christ is real. It's real. The Bible is constantly
telling us, constantly reminding us that there are rewards to be earned, there are
rewards to get, there are things that we can achieve, there are crowns we were talking
about last week. We don't really know. We're talking about, well, what do you think? We
don't really know. The Bible doesn't really reveal to us exactly how it is. And maybe
because, look, there's a couple of ways to look at it. Maybe it's just so hard to even
get our head around how that will work and how amazing it will be. Or maybe it's because
in our current fleshly sinful states, maybe we won't quite appreciate what it is that's
waiting for us in heaven. Maybe right now we'd be like, well, I don't know. But once
we get rid of this whole flesh, once it's either our soul or when we eventually get
our glorified bodies, we'll be like, yes, this is amazing. Whatever those rewards are,
yeah? Well, you have to turn to 1 Corinthians 3, it says, if any man's work abide which
he has built thereon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall
suffer loss, but he himself shall be saved, yet so is by fire. Look, he's not talking
about here, he's not rewarding every man according to, not talking about hell, OK? It's not of
work. Salvation is not of works, lest any man should boast. The Bible is clear about
that, OK? It's not of works. However, however, there are some things we can earn with by
our works. If you're saved, you can earn some great rewards in heaven, OK? And look, if
any man's work abide, which he has built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. It's talking about
eternal things that you do. And obviously, soul winning is one, OK? Soul winning is one
of those things. And it's not, look, and for those people that are like, well, I don't
get so many salvations, it's not about the salvations, OK? It's about the time and effort
you put in for the Lord. That's what I believe, OK? It's about going out and preaching the
Gospel. It's about sowing seeds. It's about going and doing a diligent job. It's, oh,
it's not about salvations. Hey, I'll just go and kind of have a little crack at it.
As long as I put the footwork, you know, as long as I put the time in and I just kind
of just give a couple of verses. No, no, look, obviously we should be diligent when working
for the Lord, yeah? However, they're not the only rewards. There are many other rewards
to be earned, aren't there? So many things have eternal value. Jobs done in this church
have eternal value. Jobs like raising your family, right, has eternal value, because
then hopefully they're going to raise their family right, etc., doing all these different
things in our lives. The thing about things which have eternal value, they earn eternal
rewards, don't they? Because they're the things which will abide. They will, if any man's
work abide which he has built thereupon, he shall receive reward, OK? We're in Matthew
16, verse 28, that says, Verily I say unto you, there be some standing here which shall
not taste of death till they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom. Right, so that
must be the Apostle John, right? Yeah, I see. He's still alive. He's out there somewhere
on the Isle of Patmos, you know, hiding out some sort of like caveman somewhere. No, of
course not. There's a chapter division here, but in Mark 9, the chapter, Mark 9 actually
begins there. Luke 9, it's the middle of the chapter, and it just, and obviously they didn't
have chapter divisions at the beginning, but we like chapter divisions. It's quite easy
to find things, isn't it? And I think God obviously in his providence, you know, as
he preserved his word, it did chapters and verses. However, Matthew chapter 17, and we'll
be looking at it next week, but verse 1 says, straight after this, where he says there shall,
he says there be some standing here which shall not taste of death till they see the
Son of Man coming in his kingdom. Then verse 1 says, And after six days Jesus taketh Peter,
James and John, his brother, that's the son, and bringeth them up into an high mountain
apart, and was transfigured before them, and his face did shine as the sun, and his
raiment was white as the light. And behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking
with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here,
if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles, one for thee and one for Moses, and one for
Elias. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice
out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear ye him.
And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. And Jesus
came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. And when they had lifted up
their eyes, they saw no man save Jesus only. There are the some standing here which did
not taste of death till they saw the Son of Man coming in his kingdom. That's what I believe
it's talking about there. We're going to look at that next week. And on that, let's go to
the Lord in the word of prayer.
Father, thank you. Thank you for a great chapter of the Bible there. Thank you for the many
truths that are in your word there. Help us to just appreciate those truths. Help us to
appreciate that we have that responsibility. We have the keys to the kingdom of heaven,
Lord. That's the gospel. That's going out and preaching the gospel, that we can bind
those here to be bound in heaven. And sadly, there'll be those that will be loosed here
as well, who have rejected your word. Help us to go out and want to do that. Help us
to want to serve you, Lord. Help us to want to preach just loud and clear. Help us to
just keep persevering, keep, you know, just keep following you to also, Lord, start, you
know, not want to rebuke you, not want to rebuke your word, not want to be fighting
against you. We're just accepting what it is that you want us to do, how you want us
to live. Help us to do that. Help us to, you know, if we haven't done that today, to do
that tomorrow, Lord, and to just keep persevering, keep plugging away to serve you in the way
that you want us to do that, Lord. And that way is according to your word. And Lord, help
us to just have a great week now, the rest of the week, having been refreshed by another
day here, another evening in your house. Help us to return on Sunday. In Jesus' name for
all of this. Amen.