October 13
Jer 22:1-23:20 | PS 83:1-18 | Prov 25:11-14 | 2 Thes 1:1-12
We are commanded by our King, the Lord Jesus, to go out into all the world and to proclaim His name. This is the Great Commission given to all believers in Matthew 28:18-20. This is not a gift given to a few who have the boldness to do so. If you are in Christ, if you have repented and accepted His free gift of salvation, then you have become a citizen of heaven and have become His ambassador. We have been given a manual, the Bible, which consists of sixty six books. We would be wise to be in His manual daily and frequently so as to prepare ourselves. Though our message is clear, our audience differs greatly. Objections to Him will differ among atheists, those who are simply apathetic, those who were raised in some Christian denomination but have simply accepted religion without ever embarking on a true relationship, those who are Jewish, those from other religions, etc. It's not that you have to have every answer at your fingertips for each individual. There is nothing wrong with telling someone that you will get back to them if asked something that you don't know how to answer. But how important are the souls to you who have yet to accept Him. Heaven and Hell are real destinations for real people. We also never know when that decision will become a reality for others. Since we are such fortunate recipients of so precious a gift from Jesus, shouldn't' we take seriously His commission for us?
When embarking on conversations about Jesus to Jewish people, their objections differ depending upon whether they are religious or secular. Many who are secular will see the Crusades, the Holocaust, etc. as objections to Christianity. First it needs to be explained that Christianity, did not arise de novo, but Jesus, the Apostles, in fact, for the first fifteen years after Jesus ascended into heaven, was an entirely Jewish movement. Gentiles did not enter the ranks largely until Paul was sent out. Also, many of the atrocities which the Jewish people have had to withstand, were by individuals who might have been raised under some Christian denomination, but certainly were not Christ's representatives, as Christian behavior is clearly spelled out in Scripture. Those who are Jewish and religious will struggle along different lines. Some will claim we are polytheistic, believing in more than one God. We read in Jeremiah 23:5-6, "“Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS." This is a title for God: Jehovah Tsidkenu. This portion of Scripture was considered Messianic according to all of the Jewish sources: the Targum, Talmud, and Midrash. In the Targum of Jeremiah, it reads, "I will raise up for David the Messiah the just". That all the genealogies were lost in the Temple destruction in 70 A.D., no candidate after this time will fit. Jesus' genealogy is clearly written in Matthew 1, and Luke 3. Also, as in Isaiah 9:6, where we read, "For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.", the coming Messiah would indeed be God. This really should not shock the Jewish individual, as the creation account in Genesis 1, along with the Shema in Deuteronomy 6:4, “ “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!”, the most prayed portion of Scripture, distinctly uses the plural noun for God, “Elohim", which indicates three or more, rather than "El" which is singular, or "Ela" which signifies two. Additionally in the Shema , the word for one used is "echad" which signifies compound unity, as in Genesis 2:24, when a man and woman become one flesh, rather than "Yacheim", which denotes singularity.
There is so much more, such as Abraham's offer of Isaac at Mount Moriah being fulfilled by Jesus in the exact same location, the fulfillment of their spring feasts in the first coming of Jesus, the continuation of the requirement of a blood sacrifice (Leviticus 17:11), only possible in the absence of the temple in the Person of Jesus Christ and what He offered us on the cross. We must realize that God never asked us to be uniform, only to move forward in unity. Our distinct differences are on purpose. God has assembled an army of Christians, in that, our differences render us available to convey the gospel message to a varied audience. Our pasts and our present circumstances will resonate with different people. That is why it is so wrong for us to despise our Commission. Now, despise, biblically, does not mean to hate, but to take lightly. So, the question is, have you taken your commission lightly. Are you reaching out to a world in desperate need for Jesus or not? Are you reaching out daily, weekly, monthly, or if honest, never. We have not been called to keep our faith in Jesus to ourselves. Prayer is crucial, but this does not take the place of true evangelism. We read in James 2:15-17, "If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." Yes, it is good and right to pray for those who are unsaved, but now is also the time to open our mouths and convey the only message that saves. Jesus prayed, but He also spoke forth His message. The writers of the New Testament, also prayed, and also moved forward with the gospel message. Lastly, many state, that others will see it in their actions and behavior, and that will be enough. There are many benevolent atheists and non believers. Jesus called us for more than "being a nice person". So your challenge for today, is pray about someone, and reach out in boldness with the message of salvation.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: