Saturday 5:00 PM service
Enter the Dragon
Mark 14:3-11
And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came
having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it
on His head.
4 But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant
oil wasted? 5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the
poor.” And they criticized her sharply.
6 But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me.
7 For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but
Me you do not have always.
8 She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial.
9 Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman
has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”
10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Him to them.
11 And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money.
John 13:2
And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son,
to betray him.
The gospels mention the name of Judas’ dad 7 times.
He betrayed Jesus with a kiss.
GREEK WORDS
- “put into” — βάλλω (ballo): to throw, cast, thrust, or inject; carries the idea of a very fast action
of throwing, thrusting, or injecting some- thing, such as the throwing of a ball or rock, or the
forward thrusting of a sharp knife
Judas was identified way before the time of Jesus’ ministry. Almost 1000 years before Judas
was born, he was prophesied by King Solomon, who called him “The Wicked Man.”
Proverbs 6:12-19
A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with a perverse mouth; 13 He winks with his eyes, he
shuffles his feet, he points with his fingers; 14 Perversity is in his heart, he devises evil
continually, he sows discord. 15 Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly; Suddenly he shall
be broken without remedy. 16 These six things the Lord hates. Yes, seven are an abomination
to Him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises
wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 a false witness who speaks lies, and one
who sows discord among brethren.
Matthew 27:3-5
Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought
back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 saying, “I have sinned by
betraying innocent blood.” And they said, “What is that to us? You see to it!” 5 Then he threw
down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself.
He felt bad about what he had done but he did not repent.
Regret and repentance are not the same thing.
You can feel bad, feel confused and hate the mess you are in but that is not the same as
repentance. Repentance literally means “turning away from” or “changing your direction 180
degrees.”
In Zechariah 11, there is this big prophetic act that the prophet does. He takes 30 pieces of
silver and throws them into the temple.
Matthew 27:4-8
…saying: “I have sinned in betraying innocent blood.” But they said: “What is that to us? Look
thou to it.” And casting down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed, and went and
hanged himself with a halter.
But the chief priests, having taken the pieces of silver, said: “It is not lawful to put them into the
corbona, because it is the price of blood.” And after they had consulted together, they bought
with them the potter’s field, to be a burying place for strangers. For this the field was called
Haceldama, that is, the field of blood, even to this day.
Acts 1:15-20
And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names
was about a hundred and twenty), and said, 16 “Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be
fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who
became a guide to those who arrested Jesus; 17 for he was numbered with us and obtained a
part in this ministry.”
18 Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst
open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out. 19 And it became known to all those dwelling
in Jerusalem; so that field is called in their own language, Akel Dama, that is, Field of Blood.
20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms: ‘Let his dwelling place be desolate, And let no one
live in it’; and, ‘Let another take his office.’”
Jesus is a friend to you.
John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends
Be the friend of Jesus.
Saturday 7:00 PM
A Walk in the Park: A Study on What Happened in the Garden of Gethsemane
For three years, Jesus was readily available to His disciples. He provided all their needs,
protected them from every enemy, made them partners in ministry, and answered their
questions. There is no record in Scripture of Him ever needing their support, except for the night
He was betrayed.
Jesus knew what lay before Him — the beatings, the ridicule, the cross, and the grave. In His
humanity, He needed the emotional, mental, and spiritual support of His friends. So He took
Peter, James, and John — the three closest to Him — and pulled them away asking them to
pray. But they fell asleep on the job. When Jesus needed them most, He was left alone in great
agony.
Rick Renner
Unknown Facts About the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial:
Luke 22:31-38
And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as
wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned
to Me, strengthen your brethren.”
33 But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.”
34 Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three
times that you know Me.”
“LET’S GEAR UP AND ROLL!”
35 And He said to them, “When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you
lack anything?”
So they said, “Nothing.”
36 Then He said to them, “But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a
knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. 37 For I say to you
that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the
transgressors.’ For the things concerning Me have an end.”
38 So they said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.”
And He said to them, “It is enough.”
There’s a time of going on faith and exploring God’s goodness. There is a another time of
arming to the teeth and going to fight battles.
A COMBINED READING OF JESUS IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE IN ALL
4 GOSPELS:
Matthew 26:36-42 NIV
(combined with Mark and Luke and John)
Then Jesus went out across the Kidron valley as usual to the Mount of Olives with his
disciples following Him to a place called Gethsemane where there was a garden, and he said to
them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray,” and “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.”
He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, James and John, along with him and he began to
be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the
point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
Going a little farther, he withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them fell with his face to the
ground and prayed, “My Father Abba Father, everything is possible for you. If it is possible, may
this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.
And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to
the ground.
Then he rose from prayer and returned to his disciples and found them
sleeping. “Simon, Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch
and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
He went away a second time and prayed the same thing, “My Father, if it is not possible for this
cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”
When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did
not know what to say to him. So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third
time, saying the same thing.
Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and
resting? Enough! Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of
sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!” Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the
place, because Jesus often met there with his disciples.
I don’t think Jesus took on sin at the cross. I think He took it on in the garden. He punished and
killed sin at the cross
Luke 22:41
“And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed.”
On the surface, this verse sounds like Jesus calmly and reverently kneeled down, and a “holy
hush” came over Him. But that is not what happened. In the original Greek, the verse says,
“He collapsed.” Jesus probably intended to go farther away from Peter, James, and John.
However, He was already feeling the pressure and weight of sin and what was about to take
place. Unable to take another step, He collapsed. He fell on His hands and knees and began to
cry out, “…Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but
thine, be done” (Luke 22:42).
Luke 22:44
And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of
blood falling down to the ground.
“agony” — α
γωνία (agonia): an intense conflict or contest; a strug- gle; a fight; great exertion or
effort; often used to convey the ideas of anguish, pain, distress, or conflict; comes from the word
α
γών (agon), which depicted the athletic conflicts and competitions that were so famous in the
ancient world; frequently pictured wrestlers in a match, with each wrestler struggling with all his
might to overcome his opponent in an effort to hurl him to the ground in a fight to the finish; used
figuratively to describe a struggle of the human will
“earnestly” — ε
κτενής (ektenes): extended or stretched out; a person in this kind of agony might
drop to the ground, writhing in pain, rolling this way and that way; pictures a person who is
pushed to the limit and can’t be stretched much more; a person on the brink of all he can
possibly endure “drops” — θρόμβος (thrombos): a medical word that points to blood that is
unusually thickly clotted
REPEATED FROM EARLIER IN THE SERMON. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO REPLACE IT
WITH??: For three years, Jesus was readily available to His disciples. He provided for all their
needs, protected them from every enemy, made them partners in ministry, and answered their
questions. There is no record in Scripture of Him ever needing their support, except for on the
night He was betrayed.
Jesus knew what lie before Him — the beatings, the ridicule, the cross, and the grave. In His
humanity, He needed the emotional, mental, and spiritual support of His friends. So He took
Peter, James, and John — the three closest to Him — and pulled away, asking them to pray.
But they fell asleep on the job. When Jesus needed them most, He was left alone in great
agony.
Our sin hurt King Jesus.
He was there for all of us and none of us were there for Him
He still chose not to be offended at our failure!
He is our greatest friend!
HE WILL NEVER LEAVE US NOR FORSAKE US.
JESUS IS A FRIEND TO YOU.
John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends
Be the friend of Jesus.
SUNDAY 9:00 AM SERVICE
SUPERNATURAL SOLDIER
Luke 22:39-53
Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also
followed Him. 40 When He came to the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter
into temptation.”
41 And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed,
42 saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but
Yours, be done.” 43 Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. 44 And
being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood
falling down to the ground.
45 When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from
sorrow. 46 Then He said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into
temptation.”
Betrayal and Arrest in Gethsemane
47 And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of
the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him. 48 But Jesus said to him,
“Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
49 When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they said to Him, “Lord, shall we
strike with the sword?” 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his
right ear.
51 But Jesus answered and said, “Permit even this.” And He touched his ear and healed him.
52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and the elders who had come to
Him, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs? 53 When I was with you
daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me. But this is your hour, and the power of
darkness.”
(RICK RENNER)
Although the disciples didn’t understand what Jesus was going through, God did. And He
provided Him divine assistance right in the midst of His suffering.
As Jesus was crying out in agony to the Father, the Scripture says,
Luke 22:43
“And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.”
The word “strengthened” is the Greek word enischuo, which means to impart strength or to
empower someone. It signifies filling a person with hardiness, giving them a renewed vitality.
This person may have been feeling exhausted and depleted, but when he is “strengthened,” he
suddenly gets a blast of energy so robust that he is instantly recharged and ready to face the
test or assignment before him.
God the Father provided this kind of supernatural strength for Jesus in Gethsemane that night.
In Christ’s time of intense struggle, divine assistance was imparted, renewing His strength and
giving Him the energy and courage He needed to victoriously face the suffering that awaited
Him.
Immediately after Christ was strengthened by the angel, He got up from that place and woke up
the disciples and said:
Mark 14:42
“Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”
When you’re in the midst of severe trouble or temptation and you cry out to Jesus, He will
immediately come to your aid! He is the Soldier of all soldiers who knows what it feels like to be
abandoned in your hour of greatest need (see Hebrews 2:18).
Hebrews 2:18
For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
God may send an angel to strengthen you, or He may impart power to you through His Holy
Spirit. Whatever the case, once He touches you, you will have what you need to handle the task
in front of you!
God is for you, not against you. He is on your side! He stands ready to give you the divine
assistance you need to tackle the assignment He has asked you to do. If you ask Him, He will
energize you with His strength so that you can embrace the assignment victoriously. What He
did for Jesus, He will do for you!
God’s supernatural strength — His grace — is available to you. You have His Word on it.
Isaiah 40:28-31
28 Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
31 But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.
James 4:6
But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:
“God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
You may think, Well, that was Jesus. Surely God would strengthen Him. But how can I know
that He will strengthen me? God answers this question in Deuteronomy 10:17; Romans 2:11;
and Acts 10:34, 35. Carefully read these verses and write what He shows you.
SUNDAY 11:00 SERVICE
THE FIGHT OF YOUR LIFE
John 18:1-11
When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron,
where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered. 2 And Judas, who betrayed
Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples. 3 Then Judas, having
received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there
with lanterns, torches, and weapons. 4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come
upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?”
5 They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.”
Jesus said to them, “I am He.” And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. 6 Now
when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
7 Then He asked them again, “Whom are you seeking?”
And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”
8 Jesus answered, “I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their
way,” 9 that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, “Of those whom You gave Me I have
lost none.”
10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off
his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.
11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My
Father has given Me?”
In Matthew 26:47, we are told that “a great multitude” of soldiers came with Judas. This phrase
is taken from the Greek words “ochlos polus,” which describe a huge or massive multitude.
Similarly,
Mark 14:43 also says “a great multitude” with swords accompanied Judas. The phrase “a great
multitude” is the Greek word “ochlos,” meaning a massive crowd. Once more, in Luke 22:47 it
says “a multitude” accompanied the betrayer, which again is the Greek word ochlos, indicating
that the band of soldiers who came that night was enormous.
Just how many soldiers were there?
We find the answer in John 18:3. It says, “Judas then, having received a band of men and
officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and
weapons.” The phrase “a band of men” is the Greek military word speira. It describes a military
cohort, which is one-tenth of a legion, or approximately 600 soldiers. These were well-trained
fighters who were equipped with the finest weaponry of the day and who reported to the chief
priest.
Exodus 3:13-14
And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto
them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his
name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said,
Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
Unknown Facts About the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ by RICK RENNER
John 8:58
Jesus said unto them, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, before Abraham was, I am.”
What happened when Jesus answered “I AM” is astounding. In John 18:6, it says, “As soon
then as he had said unto them, ‘I am he,’ they went backward and fell to the ground.” The
phrase “went backward” is the Greek word “aperchomai,” which depicts the soldiers and temple
police staggering and stumbling backward, as if some force had hit them and was pushing them
back and down.
Not only does the Scripture say they “went backward,” it also says they “fell to the ground.” The
word “fell” is the Greek word “pipto,” which means to fall. However, this isn’t an ordinary fall.
This fall depicts a person who falls so hard that it appears he has fallen dead or has fallen like a
corpse. And the phrase “to the ground” is the Greek word “chamai,” which depicts falling
abruptly and hitting the ground hard.
When Jesus answered and said, “I am” (Ego eimi), there was a blast of supernatural power
released. It hit the hundreds of soldiers and temple police that were present, causing them to
stumble, stagger, and eventually fall to the ground as if they were dead. It was like an invisible
“bomb” had been detonated the instant Jesus uttered the words “I AM,” causing every- one
present to fall down hard, completely involuntarily and unexpectedly. (AT THE NAME OF
JESUS EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW ANY EVERY TONGUE CONFESS. – PHILIPPIANS 2:10)
Luke 22:49
When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we
smite with the sword?
John 18:10
“Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his
right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.”
The word “smote” is the Greek word “paio,” which means to strike, as a person who viciously
strikes someone with a dangerous tool, weapon, or instrument. It can also be translated to sting,
like a scorpion that injects its stinger into a victim or to beat with the fist. In this verse, it pictures
the full force of Peter’s swinging action.
HE IS TAKING ON 600 SOLDIERS!
BUT HE IS NOT A SWINGER OF A SWORD, HE IS A CATSER OF A NET. HE IS A
FISHERMAN NOT A SOLDIER.
Malchus was the servant of the high priest Caiaphas. He was his public spokesman. Caiaphas
was the leader of the Sadducees who didn’t believe in supernatural occurrences. They
dismissed all the miraculous events of the Old Testament as being myths or legends. They
didn’t believe in or embrace the idea of anything supernatural, including the resurrection.
Matthew 26:53
Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than
twelve legions of angels?
Jesus said He had “more than twelve legions of angels” available to Him instantly, in that
present moment. Since a legion of angels is at least 6,000, 12 legions would be 12 multiplied by
6,000. That’s 72,000 angels that were on standby ready to help the Master. At any moment,
Jesus could have prayed to the Father, and He would have dispatched all those angels to assist
Jesus in whatever way He needed.
Interestingly, at the beginning of Jesus’ life, there was a multitude of angels present at His birth
(see Luke 2:13, 14). They filled the sky and gave God glory and praise for His miraculous
incarnation. Angels were also present throughout Jesus’ ministry, and at the end of His life, a
multitude of angels were on call to assist Him — all He had to do was say the word.
What Was the Combined Power of Twelve Legions?
Angels are extremely powerful beings. The Bible records an account in Isaiah 37:36 in which
one angel killed 185,000 men in the enemy’s camp. Since one angel could destroy 185,000, the
combined strength in a legion of angels, which is 6,000, could wipe out 1,110,000,000 men (that
is, 1 bil- lion, 110 million men) — and that’s just the combined power of one legion of angels!
Since one legion of angels can destroy 1 billion, 110 million men, how many men can 12 legions
of angels kill? By doing the math, we see 72,000 angels multiplied by 185,000 equals
13,320,000,000 men! Therefore, the combined strength of 12 legions of angels (72,000 angels)
that were at Jesus’ disposal was enough to destroy at least 13 billion, 320 million men —
By healing Malchus, Jesus destroyed any incriminating evidence against Peter, effectively
freeing him from the consequences of his actions–WHICH WAS DEATH! He has done the
same for us! What mistakes in your life are you especially grateful Jesus took care of for you?
After Peter made a mess of things, he was a bruised and broken man. Yet even in the midst of
Peter’s brokenness, Jesus reached out in love and restored him — which is exactly what He
wants to do for us. Regardless of what you’ve done or how you feel, Jesus is waiting with arms
open wide for you. What has He promised to do for those who are broken?
Psalm 34:17-18
The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. 18 The
Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.
Psalm 147:3
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds
Isaiah 66:2
“For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exist,” says the Lord. “But on this
one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word.”
JESUS WILL CLEAN UP YOUR MESS AND REMOVE THE EVIDENCE OF WHAT YOU HAVE
DONE!
SUNDAY 1:00 PM SERVICE
“He’s Alive!”
The gift of realness.
I only want to believe what is true.
“Whatsoever things are true.”
Even the people who rose from the dead died again.
Not Jesus. It’s true that Jesus Christ defeated death.
WHY I BELIEVE THE RESURRECTION STORY
WHY DO I NEED TO DEFEND MY FAITH?
GOD COMMANDS IT
1 Peter 3:15
…and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope
that is in you.
The devil is always trying to build a case against Christ. It’s up to us–the people of God–to
always have a strong case for Christ ready.
YOUR CASE FOR CHRIST HAS TO DO WITH YOUR TESTIMONY
Psalms 119:46
I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.
If you know the facts you can defend your faith with confidence
Romans 1:16-17
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every
one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of
God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Seeing the evidence of God is a choice every person makes.
Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Since seeing the evidence of God is choice made in the heart of every living person,
IT IS A SINFUL AND POINTLESS EXERCISE OF FUTILITY TO ARGUE THE EXISTENCE OF
GOD. GOD UNDERSTANDS THAT FACT AND HE DOES NOT WASTE HIS BREATH
ARGUING HIS EXISTENCE. HIS VERY NAME IS “I AM THAT I AM.”
HE HAS PROGRAMMED YOUR HEART TO LONG FOR HIM.
HE HAS PROGRAMMED YOUR MIND TO SEARCH FOR HIM.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NKJV)
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that
no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.
HE HAS PROGRAMMED YOUR BODY TO SENSE HIS PRESENCE.
HE HAS PROGRAMMED ALL CREATION AROUND YOU TO TESTIFY OF HIM.
That’s why out of 31,170 verses in the written testimony that He has given us called the Bible,
there is only one verse dedicated as explanation to the agnostic.
Psalm 53:1
The Fool has said in his heart there is no God!
31,169 verses are given as explanation to those who want to know who God is.
So, when you ask me why I believe in God, I tell you, “Because.” That’s the same answer as
those who don’t believe choose not to believe. I have chosen to see the evidence and know
THAT MY REDEEMER LIVES!
I can look around and, with barely enough sense to add two one-digit numbers, see the design
in the perfect order around us. From the complexity of our bodies, to the ecosystem–from the
seasons to the solar system–I don’t see the random chaos and decay that just happens when
you leave things alone. I see the super intelligent design in the systematic pattern of perfect
order.
IF THERE IS A DESIGN, THERE IS A DESIGNER.
IF THERE IS A THOUGHT, THERE IS A THINKER.
IF THERE IS PLAN, THERE IS A PLANNER.
And that not only tells me there is a God but that this God is a God of purpose–a God of
destiny–a God who wants to give His power for the benefit of others.
In the midst of all the gods imagined by man, there one GOD who fits this description and one
God who has been revealing a plan throughout the centuries–and it’s in print, written down for
anyone to read.
When Buddha came, there were no prophesies fulfilled that had been spoken for centuries
because Buddha was not a part of God’s plan.
Muhammad fulfilled no prophesies of old because there had never been a revelation from God
that he was part of His plan.
During their lifetimes, they didn’t prophecy about their own lives and deaths, and they never
fulfilled any prophecy made about or by them because, quite simply, they don’t know the future.
The reason they didn’t know the future is BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT GOD OR PART OF AN
ETERNAL PLAN.
THEY DID WHAT THEY DID OUT OF PERSONAL GAIN.
BUT JESUS CHRIST, WHEN HE CAME, HE FULFILLED 4,000 YEARS OF PROPHECY.
HE HIMSELF PROPHESIED EXACTLY HOW HE WOULD LIVE AND HOW HE WOULD DIE,
AND HE GAINED ABSOLUTELY NOTHING BUT GAVE AWAY EVERYTHING TO FULFILL
HIS PART OF AN ETERNAL PLAN.
AGAIN…
IF THERE IS A DESIGN, THERE IS A DESIGNER.
IF THERE IS A THOUGHT, THERE IS A THINKER.
IF THERE IS PLAN, THERE IS A PLANNER.
JESUS TOLD THE WORLD THAT HE DIDN’T COME TO REVEAL HIMSELF BUT HE CAME
TO REVEAL THE FATHER WHO SENT HIM.
HE CAME SAYING, “YOU HAVE SEEN THE DESIGN. LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO THE
DESIGNER.”
WHY I BELIEVE JESUS IS GOD AND IS SENT FROM GOD.
When you are asked to believe that Jesus is Christ, you are not asked to check your brain at the
door. You are asked to check your pride. You are asked to check your dignity. You are asked to
check your own prejudices and preconceived ideas at the door. That’s what the world is not able
to do.
God is looking for a people that will choose DEITY OVER DIGNITY.
The Plan
If Jesus is the messiah, the anointed one, God made to be a man sent here to complete a
perfect task, then the time and place of his appearing must show some evidence of intelligent
planning. People do not have any control over when they are born, to whom they are born to or
to the local, national or worldwide environment that they are born in. BUT JESUS IS THE
EXCEPTION.
The Timing of Jesus is perfect. The location of Jesus is perfect but…
About 350 years before Jesus was born, King Philip of Macedonia paced the corridors of his
castle as his young bride, Olympus, a princes of epirus gave birth to his first Son. Philip named
him Alexander and the world would later add “the great.”
In the spring of 334 BC, Alexander the Great took his army south and began to take over the
world one little war at a time. Now every country that Alexander conquered he “hellenized.” That
means he caused every civilized nation to learn to read and write in Greek.
He completed his final conquest and subdued the entire known world, then was himself
conquered and subdued by a single mosquito. He died of malaria in the spring of 323 BC.
There was a struggle for world power and this led to the rise of Rome. Not only did they take
over all of Alexander’s territory, they discovered new lands and pillaged them as well.
Alexander was used by a God he did not know to prepare the way for the messiah.
Romans legions were everywhere. They built roads between all the countries they conquered.
The Mediterranean Sea became a great big Roman lake for trade and transport.
Now communication was safe, fast and sure, and the legions kept peace through out the
empire.
By 5 BC, we have the world prepared for the messiah and for the deliverance of the Good
News throughout the world.
The whole world speaks the same language.
There are good roads and mapped territories.
There is world peace.
Had the timing of his appearance happened just a few years earlier, the world would have never
heard of this Jesus Christ.
Had the timing of His appearance happened just a few years later, Jerusalem was destroyed.
The people were slaughtered and scattered, and the world would have never heard of this
Jesus Christ.
He planned when he would be here and his timing was perfect.
Most people don’t have any control over when they are born.
Where the messiah would be born was strategic. Israel is the only natural land bridge in the
world that unites three continents: Europe, Asia and Africa.
From there, the news of the Gospel, the teachings of Jesus and the new and unusual message
of Christianity could be taken quickly to the uttermost parts of the earth.
The geographical location of where he appeared shows evidence of a plan, and I want to
remind you that most people don’t have any control over where they are born.
THERE IS A PLAN AND A FULFILLMENT OF THE PLAN THROUGH JESUS.
That’s not all of the evidence that we have of a plan.
JESUS FULFILLED 72 SPECIFIC BIBLE PROPHESIES
WHO HE WOULD BE
HOW HE WOULD LIVE
WHERE HE WOULD COME FROM
HOW HE WOULD BE BORN
HOW HE WOULD DIE
HEALING MINISTRY
A TEACHING MINISTRY
THAT HE WOULD BE CRUCIFIED
THAT HE WOULD BE CRUCIFIED WITH THIEVES
HIS CLOTHES WOULD BE GAMBLED OVER
HE WOULD BE BURIED WITH THE RICH
MANY OF THESE PROPHECIES SEEMED TO CONTRADICT ONE ANOTHER
HE WOULD BE BORN IN BETHLEHEM.
HE WOULD BE CALLED A NAZARENE.
HE WOULD “COME UP FROM OUT OF EGYPT.”
Though this was thought to be a type-o by the scribes or an ignorant contradiction by the
critics…
Though this was thought to be an impossibility for more than 1500 years, Jesus Christ fulfilled it
when his Mother gave birth to him in Bethlehem, his earthly father moved him to Egypt when
Herod sought to Kill him, and his family raised him in Nazareth where he became a man.
THOUGH THIS WAS IMPOSSIBLE, JESUS FULFILLED IT ALL.
Most Babies have no control over were his parents live
OTHER SEEMINGLY CONTRADICTIONS AND DISCREPANCIES:
HE WOULD BE HATED, DESPISED AND REJECTED
HE WOULD BE BURIED AND HONORED WITH THE RICH
HE WOULD BE COUNTED AMONG THIEVES AND MURDERERS
YET ANOTHER SAID HE WOULD BE HAILED AS A KING
THESE THINGS SEEM IMPOSSIBLE, BUT AS GABRIEL TOLD MARY WHEN HE
ANNOUNCED THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, “NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD.” – LUKE
1:37.
JESUS CAME TO PROVE THAT, WITH GOD, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.
THAT’S NOT ALL.
IN PSALMS 22, THERE ARE 12 EXACT PROPHECIES CONCERNING HIS DEATH.
These things were written 1,000 years before Christ was hanging on the cross.
- HANDS AND FEET WOULD BE PIERCED
- THAT HE WOULD CRY OUT FOR THIRST
- WHAT HE WOULD SAY ON THE CROSS
- WHAT THE PEOPLE AROUND WOULD SAY AS HE WAS ON THE CROSS
(SPECIFICALLY “IF HE TRUSTS GOD, LET’S SEE IF GOD WILL DELIVER HIM”)
A NORMAL PERSON DOES NOT HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER THE EVENTS OF HIS
DEATH.
A NORMAL PERSON IS NOT FULFILLING PROPHECY WHEN HE CRYS OUT FOR HELP.
A NORMAL PERSON DOES NOT HAVE ANY CONTROL WHAT THE PEOPLE AROUND HIM
ARE SAYING AT THE TIME OF HIS DEATH.
BUT THIS WAS NO NORMAL DEATH. THIS WAS AN ETERNAL SACRIFICE PLANNED
BEFORE TIME BEGAN.
AND THIS WAS NO NORMAL MAN. THIS WAS GOD MADE FLESH.
PROVING ONCE AND FOR ALL THAT, YES THERE IS A GOD WHO SITS ON A VERY REAL
THRONE WHO KNOWS AND CONTROLS THE FUTURE
THATS NOT ALL the evidence we have:
IN THE EARLY PART OF THE LAST CENTURY, THERE WAS AN INCREDIBLE BASEBALL
PLAYER KNOWN THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AS BABE RUTH.
BABE RUTH IS NOT JUST FAMOUS FOR PLAYING GREAT BASEBALL. HE’S FAMOUS
BECAUSE HE SAID HE COULD DO SOMETHING THAT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO
DO, AND HE SAID WHEN HE WOULD DO IT .
HE “CALLED THE SHOT”
PEOPLE WERE AMAZED AT THE CONCEPT OF A MAN BEING ABLE TO DECLARE HIS
ABILITY TO DO SOMETHING THAT WAS SO DIFFICULT TO DO.
JESUS CHRIST PREDICTED THAT HE WOULD DO SOMETHING IMPOSSIBLE TO DO. HE
PREDICTED THAT HE WOULD RAISE HIMSELF FROM THE DEAD AND HE CALLED THE
SHOT BY SAYING HE WOULD DO IT IN THREE DAYS.
So, what’s the big deal?
The fact that he became a man proves he is God.
The fact that he fulfilled the prophecy that everybody said could not be fulfilled proves that he is
God.
The fact of when he was born proves that he is God.
the fact of where he was born proves he was God.
The fact of what he did proved he was God.
The fact of what he said proves he was God.
The fact of how he died and the events surrounding his death proves he is God.
The fact that he rose from the dead absolutely proves he is God.
The fact of the matter is that he is real and he is the “fixer of the problem.”
He’s a deliverer, a savior, rescuer, emancipator, the ransom,
the Lamb that takes away the sins of the world!
A GOD OF POWE. A GOD OF PURPOSE. A GOD OF DESTINY!
IF THERE IS A DESIGN, THERE IS A DESIGNER.
IF THERE IS A THOUGHT, THERE IS A THINKER.
IF THERE IS PLAN, THERE IS A PLANNER.
AND YOU DON’T HAVE TO TRY AND GUESS WHAT HE’S LIKE. HE CAN BE SEEN IN THE
FACE OF MAN NAMED JESUS.
2 PETER 1:19 says the prophetic word was confirmed because they saw him:
2 Peter 1:16
For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power
and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
WHY SHOULD YOU BELIEVE PETER OR ANY OF THE DISCIPLES WHEN THEY SAY THEY
ARE EYEWITNESSES TO JESUS RESURRECTION?
WHY I BELIEVE THE DISCIPLES SAW JESUS RESURRECTED:
This dirty dozen that Jesus had picked up and chosen to carry his Gospel were men of no
notoriety before Jesus recruited them. They were all different ages from different walks of life.
Most were uneducated. They were only together in the ministry of Christ for three and half
years.
After Jesus was crucified, these guys did the only things they could do. First, they hid for a
couple of days until things died down. Then they went back home to their JOBS, disgraced and
feeling like the biggest failures in the world.
Thomas told John, “Unless I put my hand up in the wound of his side, I want nothing to do with
Jesus again.”
In John 21:3, Peter told everybody else, “I’m going fishing.”
But a month later, these same people were turning the world upside DOWN. A month later on
the day of Pentecost, the same Peter who had been too scared to let people know that he was
associated with Jesus, stood up and preached at a street outreach in downtown Jerusalem. He
was so convincing that 3,000 people were saved in one day!
And all 12 of these guys went throughout the whole world and there was nothing you could do to
stop them or to shut them up. Do you know what they were saying?
HE’S ALIVE.
HE’S RESURRECTED.
HE’S NOT JUST A MAN, HE’S GOD!
WE SAW HIM.
WE ATE WITH HIM.
WE SAW HIM ASCEND INTO HEAVEN.
EVERY ONE OF THEM–NOT JUST SOME OF THEM– STUCK TO THE STORY
THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES.
AND EVERY ONE OF THEM–NOT JUST SOME OF THEM–STUCK TO THEIR STORIES AS
THEY WERE BEING PUT TO DEATH COMPLETELY BY THEMSELVES, THOUSANDS OF
MILES APART FROM EACH OTHER, YEARS INTO THE FUTURE.
“HE’S ALIVE!”
James was beheaded by Herod in Jerusalem.
Peter went to Asia minor, the British isles and to Spain. He was crucified in Rome, upside down.
Andrew (Peter’s brother) went to Greece and southern Russia. He was also crucified on the
cross known as Andrew’s cross.
Philip went to Gaul, which is modern-day France. Stoned, drawn and quartered, his remains
were hung up in Hierapolis.
Bartholomew went to Armenia and was skinned alive.
Thomas went to Persia and to India. He was killed with a spear while he was preaching.
Matthew went to Ethiopia and was attacked and killed by sword wile visiting Egypt.
James the lesser, preached right there in Palestine and later went to Egypt where he was killed.
Jude preached in Assyria and in Persia. He was killed in Persia which is modern-day Iran.
Simon the Cananite went to Egypt, Africa and later went to Britain where he was crucified.
Mathias preached and was martyred in Ethiopia.
John lived to be very old, spending his latter years a prisoner on the island of Patmos. He died a
free man in Ephesus nearly 70 years after the resurrection of Christ.
Mark was dragged by horses through the streets of Alexandria, Egypt.
Luke was hanged in Greece.
James the just was thrown off of the pinnacle of the temple, the very same temple that the devil
took Jesus to in Matthew 4:5 (if your God, cast yourself down and the angels will catch you).
Jude, the half brother of Christ, was killed by arrows in Jerusalem.
Mathias, the apostle that took the place of Judas Iscariot, was stoned and then beheaded in
Jerusalem.
Paul was tortured and then behead by Nero in Rome.
HAD ANY OF THESE NOT SEEN JESUS RESURRECTED, THEY WOULD OF SAID
SO.
THAT’S WHY I BELIEVE THE DISCIPLES WHEN THEY SAY THEY SAW HIM
RESURRECTED.
John 20:29
Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who
have not seen and yet have believed.”
The conversion of Paul records the most drastically changed life in the Bible. As Saul of Tarsus,
he was an aggressive persecutor of the early church. When the risen Christ appeared to Paul
on the Damascus Road, Paul became Christianity’s most determined missionary. He endured
five floggings, three beatings, three shipwrecks, a stoning, poverty, and years of ridicule. Finally
the Roman emperor Nero had Paul beheaded because the apostle refused to deny his faith in
Jesus. What could make a person willingly accept—even welcome—such hardships? Christians
believe the conversion of Paul came about because he encountered Jesus Christ who had risen
from the dead.
1 Corinthians 15:17
And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; you are yet in your sins.