(Through the Bible) Matthew 10-11 — Chuck Smith

Through the Bible: Matthew 10–11

So we turn now in our Bibles to the 10th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew. In the beginning of the 10th chapter, we find Christ sending his disciples out, telling them to go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Prayer Leads to the Call to Serve

But in the fact that he is sending them to go in the first part of chapter 10, makes the last verse of chapter 9 quite significant. For in the last verse of chapter 9, Jesus said to his disciples, Pray ye therefore the Lord of harvest that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.

And having told them to pray that the Lord will send workers into the harvest, the next thing he says is go. So many times as we pray, the Lord speaks to our own hearts. So many times we see a need, and we think, oh, what a need.

You know, the church really should be trying to fulfill that need. And we become all concerned with the need, and the Lord says, well, pray about it. And as we pray about it, suddenly we realize that God has called us.

He has shown us the need because he wants us to plug ourselves into the filling of that particular need. Many times, the very fact that God has made you conscious and aware of that particular thing is the beginning of the call of God upon your own life for that particular field of service.

So the Lord says, pray, because the harvest is plenteous, the labors are few. Pray that the Lord of harvest will send forth laborers into the harvest. And then in the very next section, the Lord says, now you go out into this harvest.

And so praying so often prepares us for going. It is while I am praying that the Spirit of God can really get hold of my heart. As I've said, I do believe that prayer changes things, mainly me. I don't think that prayer changes God.

I wouldn't really want prayer to change God. I think it would be extremely dangerous if prayer could change God. I think that God knows best in every situation. And I would not want to convince God, if I could, I can't.

But if I could, I would not want to convince him to see things my way. I would rather that through prayer, the Spirit of God be able to get hold of my own heart and mold me and shape me into that which God has purposed and that which God has designed.

So that so often as I say, oh Lord, send forth workers into the harvest. And then I hear the call of God, who will go? And I answer, oh Lord, here am I, send me. And so Jesus said, pray the Lord of harvest.

And then he says, now you go. So when he had called unto him the twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits to cast them out and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

Jesus Sends and Empowers the Twelve Apostles

So Jesus is, first of all, empowering his disciples for that work before he sends them out to do the work. Empowering them against unclean spirits. Giving them the power to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

Now, the names of the twelve apostles, and here they are first called apostles, because of the fact that he is sending them out. And the word apostle means one who is sent. So up to this point, they have been disciples.

They have been learning of him. They have been following him and learning as he taught. But now the time has come for them to go out and they are now being sent by him. And thus the change from disciple, a follower, to an apostle, one who has been sent.

And so the names of them, first of all, was Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, James, the son of Zebedee, and John his brother. And then Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew the publican, or the tax collector, James, the son of Alphaeus, and Levius, whose surname was Thaddeus.

And Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. Simon the Canaanite, that word translated Canaanite, is actually Canaan in, and we are told in Luke's gospel that he was Simon the Zealot.

Now, Josephus tells us that the Zealots were the extreme patriots. These were men who valued freedom above life itself. These were men who were willing to sacrifice their own lives or even see their own families martyred in order that they might be free.

They preferred freedom to life. And they were willing to do whatever is necessary to obtain freedom. They were the ones who rebelled constantly against the Roman government. Simon the Zealot. Matthew, a publican, was considered a quisling by the Jews.

He was one that had more or less sold out to the enemy because he was collecting taxes for the hated Roman government. Now, had Simon and Matthew met under any other circumstances, Simon would have done Matthew in.

I mean, here you've got a Zealot, one who hates the Roman yoke, one who is willing to fight to overthrow it. And you have another one who was almost in league with Rome. A turncoat, so to speak. It's interesting, though, how that Christ takes people from many different backgrounds, even adverse backgrounds, and brings us together in a loving fellowship.

Now, it is also interesting to me that as the Lord names these apostles, there aren't really any great, marvelous people among them as far as the world is concerned. None of them are highly educated. None of them are prominent or wealthy.

In fact, they're just common, ordinary people. Four of them were fishermen. One was a tax collector. We're not really given much of a background on the others, but they were just plain, common people.

And that always interests me because these men that God is preparing to send out to do his work are just plain, common people like you. And when God has a work to be done, he doesn't really go to the universities to select those with the highest grades and IQs and all.

But God chooses and calls just plain, ordinary people like you. It is wrong for any of us to excuse ourselves from serving the Lord because of the fact that we are just so ordinary. Because that's the kind of person God seeks to use for his glory.

If God used the highly talented, highly developed kind of an individual, then we would all be saying, Oh, but don't you know he's got his doctorate? Don't you know he was so brilliant? Don't you know he...

And we would be putting the emphasis upon the ability of the instrument rather than upon the one who has used the instrument. We would have a tendency then to glory in man or man's educational processes.

So the Lord has chosen the simple things to confound the wise and the foolish things to put to naught the wisdom of this world. And God uses just plain, common, ordinary people like Raoul Ries and Greg Laurie and Mike McIntosh and Chuck Smith just the plain, ordinary people to do his work.

I love to hear Raoul on the radio. I have to sacrifice listening to myself because I'm on at KYMS at that hour. I heard Raoul this week as he was describing his condition when he was in the Marine Corps.

He had been such a vicious killer and had killed so many people that he was brought back and put in the hospital in Vallejo for the mentally deficient. And he said, the psychiatrist said, Man, I was far and above beyond gone.

That's a typical Raoulism. Ordinary and yet anointed by the Spirit of God and used by God to do his work. So not many wise, not many great, not many notable of the world but just those plain, ordinary people who he sent out as apostles to represent him.

The Restricted Mission to Israel

These twelve Jesus sent forth. That's what made them apostles. And he commanded them saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles or into any city of the Samaritans. Do not enter. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

So, by telling them not to go into the way of the Gentiles, he was restricting their area of ministry. They were not to go south into Samaria. They were not to go west over to Tyre and Sidon. They were not to go as far north as Damascus.

But they were to go only around the region of the Galilee. Not even to the cities of the Decapolis. But only to those Jewish communities around the Galilee. So in the first sending out of the disciples, it was a very restricted area that he gave them to work in.

And they were to be forerunners of his coming. For he was going to follow up and to go into each of these villages. And they were more or less the forerunners of his own coming to these villages. So they were sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Paul the apostle said, I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. It is the power of God unto salvation to those that believe. To the Jew first. And so Jesus came to the Jew first. And as he was sending them forth now, it was very limited.

Only to the Jews. Not to be going to the Gentiles or to the Samaritans. However, he himself later was to reveal himself to that Samaritan woman. He was to heal the daughter of this Seraphim nation. And finally he was to tell his disciples, Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

But it was important in God's plan that the gospel come first to the Jew. And so there was first of all that restricted ministry of the disciples. When he was first sending them forth, it was not to the world at this time.

It was just among the Jews. Not even into the Samaritans. But only to the Jews at this point. Later he said, when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will be witnesses unto me. Not only in Judea, but also in Samaria.

And unto the uttermost parts of the earth. But now restricted to the Galilee region. Only to those Jewish communities. The lost sheep of the house of Israel. Notice it doesn't say the ten lost tribes of the house of Israel.

Ten lost tribes is not a biblical term. There are not ten lost tribes. God knows exactly where they are and who they are. He's never lost them. And when the time comes, he's going to seal ten thousand from each of the tribes.

Or twelve thousand from each of the tribes to be preserved during the great tribulation period. And I discount the attempt to make a Jew out of me. Because of my English heritage. The business of Denmark being the tribe of Dan.

And Dan-mark. And so they are called the Danish people. And English. The word I-S-H in Hebrew is man. So Dan's man. Danish. British. English. Foolish. Just because it has an ish on the end. Doesn't make it Jewish.

The Kingdom of Heaven and Its Authority

Now as Jesus sent them forth. He said go and preach. Saying the kingdom of heaven is at hand. What is the kingdom of heaven? This glorious phrase. Jesus will be getting parables about the kingdom. In our next study as we get into Matthew 13 and 14.

These parables of the kingdom. What is the kingdom of heaven? Jesus said when you pray say thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. What are we praying for when we pray for the kingdom of heaven?

Now Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is among you. Rather than in you. But in reality God's kingdom has come to every man. Who has acknowledged Jesus Christ as his lord and king.

And if you tonight have acknowledged the lordship of Jesus Christ. If he is the king of your life. You are already a citizen of the kingdom. And the kingdom of heaven has come to you. And as a citizen of the kingdom.

There are many tremendous benefits. For the citizens of that kingdom. As a citizen of the United States. I have many benefits. Even when I travel in a foreign country. There are certain protections that I have.

As a citizen of the United States. Should I get into trouble. There are always those embassies to which I can turn. Who are there to help the citizens of the United States. Out of whatever difficulty they might find themselves in.

And those within the embassies in these foreign countries. Will seek to help those citizens of the United States. That's just one of the benefits of citizenship. Just because I'm a citizen. They'll go to bat for me.

And they'll speak up for me. And they will pull strings for me. Because I'm a citizen of the United States. And the United States has an obligation. To guarantee its citizens certain rights. Certain privileges.

So, I enjoy being a citizen of the United States. Because of those rights and privileges that I have. As a citizen. But I'm also a citizen. Of a kingdom. The kingdom of God. The kingdom of heaven. And I'll tell you.

The rights and the privileges that I have. As a citizen of the kingdom of heaven. Far exceed the rights that I have. And the privileges as a citizen of the United States. Wherever I go, I have protection.

I have authority. The authority of the kingdom of heaven behind me. And Jesus is saying. Now you go out. And preach. Saying. The kingdom heralded. The kingdom of heaven is at hand. And they were to demonstrate.

The aspects of the kingdom of heaven. By healing the sick. Cleansing the lepers. And raising the dead. And casting out the devils. We read in the prophecy of Isaiah. Chapter 35. Some of the aspects of that kingdom age.

Where the lame will leap for joy. The dumb will sing praises unto God. And the blind will behold the glory of the Lord. And the gospel will be preached unto the meek. To the poor. And so Jesus is telling them to demonstrate.

The aspects of the kingdom. By setting men free from the kingdom of darkness. I love the commission that the Lord gave to Paul the apostle. When he called him on the Damascus road. And when Paul was talking to King Agrippa.

And relating to Agrippa. That calling of God on the Damascus road. Paul said that the Lord spoke to him. To go to the Gentiles. To open their eyes. And to turn them from darkness to light. From the power of Satan unto God.

That they may receive the forgiveness of sins. And inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith. That is in me. So Paul's commission as he went to the Gentiles. Was to deliver them. From the power of Satan unto God.

From the power of darkness to light. And as a kingdom. A citizen of God's kingdom. I've been delivered. From the power of darkness. And I am to bring deliverance to those to whom I come. To those who will heed the message.

And receive Jesus Christ as king. That is the effect. They are delivered from the power of darkness. And brought into the light. From the power of Satan. And made a part of the kingdom of God. There are people today who are living in the kingdom of darkness.

The Two Kingdoms and Humanity’s Fall

There are two basic kingdoms in the universe. In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth. There was only one kingdom in the universe. The kingdom of God. The kingdom of light and life.

But God in his kingdom created these beings we call angels. And he endowed them with the capacity of choice. And one of the choicest of the angels. The anointed cherub that covered. Perfect in beauty.

Perfect in wisdom. Was lifted up by pride. And decided to exalt himself. And be as God. First Mormon. And the inspiration behind the Mormons today. To be as God. What was it? Shakespeare has the statement in one of his plays.

Oh Cromwell flee ambition. For by this sin the angels fell. What was the temptation that. Satan offered to Eve in the garden. Eat of it because you will be as God. Knowing good from evil. That bait still works.

And there are those who are attempting to be as God. Still. Tragic. Now in his rebellion against God. In his pride being lifted up to be as God. He formed a second kingdom in the universe. A kingdom that was an antithesis to the first kingdom.

A kingdom that was in rebellion to the first kingdom. The kingdom of death and darkness. So now in the universe there are two opposing kingdoms. The kingdom of God. The kingdom of light and life ruled by God.

But now a sub kingdom. In antagonism to the first. Rebelling against the first. The kingdom of death and darkness. Now when God created man. And placed him here upon the planet earth. He placed man here in the kingdom of God.

And Adam had fellowship with God. God came down and he communed with Adam there in the garden. And there was this beautiful fellowship with man. And God. In the kingdom of light. And life. But Satan the ruler of the kingdom of death and darkness came to Eve.

And said did God say you can eat of all the trees. Yes all but the one in the middle. He told us if we ate of that tree we would die. Satan said oh you really won't die. Really that's the finest tree in the garden.

God isn't really being fair to you Eve. He's trying to hold back something good. You see that tree holds the key to knowledge. And God doesn't want you to eat that tree. Because he knows that when you eat of it.

You'll be wise as he is knowing good from evil. And so he's trying to hold that back. You really ought to try it. How do you know unless you've tried it. And so Eve being deceived ate of it. And her eyes were open.

And she gave to her husband Adam. And he did eat. But in that act of disobedience to God. Which was a double act. Because it was an act of obedience to Satan. They left the kingdom of light and life. And they were drawn into the kingdom of death and darkness.

And they drew all mankind into the kingdom of death and darkness. Because they could not pass on something they did not have. They had lost that place in the kingdom of God. The kingdom of light and life.

And so by one man sin entered the world. And death by sin. For death passed unto all men for all sinned. So each of us born of Adam. Were born in sin and shapen in iniquity. Born sinners by nature. And we were all by nature children of wrath.

Even as others. Born into the kingdom of death and darkness. But there is another tree. The tree of life is still available. It is through Jesus Christ. And if you choose to come into the kingdom of light and life.

You can come by the cross of Jesus Christ. Using that same exercise of free choice. That Adam used in leaving the kingdom of God. You can use that to come back into the kingdom of God. Since Jesus Christ made provision.

And so the duty of the apostles. Was to preach the kingdom. It's possible for a man to now again have fellowship with God. You can come out of the kingdom of darkness. You can come into the kingdom of light.

You can have deliverance from the power of Satan. And you can know fellowship with God. And that's the glorious gospel that we herald today. That's the glorious gospel we still preach. That it's possible for that man.

Who has been bound in the kingdom of darkness and death. That man who has been alienated by God. Because of his life after the flesh. It's possible for him to know the power of God's spirit in his life.

And he can come from that kingdom of darkness. Into the glorious light and liberty of the sons of God. Through faith in Jesus Christ. Through the tree. The cross. And so a lot of people blame Adam today for their problems.

And they feel that it is quite unfair. That they have to suffer for Adam's mistake. I was hiking a group of kids from the Haiwai camp. There in Arizona. Coming down the back side of Mount Lemmon from an old mine.

And as I was leading them down this trail. I heard this yell back the line. And so I went back to see what this horrible scream was about. And this one little guy had brushed too close to an Ochoa cactus.

Now the Ochoa is called the jumping cactus. And if you just barely touch it. It will break off and just glom on to you. And he had one really glom down to him. But good. And he was really yelling. So I got back there and I took a couple of sticks.

And I carefully worked the sticks in between the thorns. And then I flipped that Ochoa cactus off of him. And as he was shaking his hand and all. He said, that darn guy Adam. And I said, where do you go to Sunday school?

He said, I go to the First Baptist Church. I said, well they're teaching you correct doctrine anyhow. You know that the thorns and the thistles resulted from the curse. Curse will be the ground. Thorn shall it bring forth.

But so many times we're looking at the miseries that we're facing. We say, that darn guy Adam. You know. Got us into this mess. Made such a horrible choice. When he had the choice of the tree of life.

Or the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Why couldn't he have chosen the tree of life? Why would he eat of the other tree first? That tree of life in the midst of God. Why didn't he eat of it? How foolish.

And we're prone to really come down on Adam for the foolish choice. But in reality. There are still two trees today. And you have the choice. You can choose. To eat of the tree of life today. For God has given to you that choice.

By believing and receiving in Jesus Christ. You can have eternal life. Or you can choose. To disobey God. To rebel. To eat of the fruit of the world. And abide in death. So you really can't blame Adam for your condition.

You can only blame yourself. Because you. Many. Are following Adam's folly. Not choosing to eat of the tree of life. That God has made available to all men. Through Jesus Christ. Now Jesus said to his disciples.

Freely Received and Freely Given

Freely you have received. Freely give. I wonder how that fits with these modern evangelists today. I've got on my desk a letter. I wish I had it here right now before me. If Romaine is around maybe you can go get it.

It's classic. We have these Jewish friends in Israel. That we have been. Seeking to. Share the truths of Jesus Christ with. But it's a difficult task. Sharing. With them because he is a guide. And he guides a lot of Christian tours.

And as a guide he sees a lot of the. Inner workings and the background. And a lot of the rip offs. And when I go over. He'll start telling me about these. Rip offs that he sees. Where these. Tour guides get the people over there.

The famous evangelist. And then they'll really. Rip the people off. And he'll tell me of these things. And then. Somehow he's gotten on the mailing list. Of some of these evangelists. And he gets these computerized.

Letters dear brother. You know. And and all of this junk. You know have you been bothered with an. Ear problem lately or maybe it's the eyes. Or the nose or. A knee or. Hepatitis I mean you know. Guy goes down a long list.

And you're bound to hit something. Somehow I've been. Impressed to pray for you. Lately you know. And I think there might be something wrong. And. Why don't you write me and share with me. Now please don't send me any money for my birthday.

But you know I've been laboring for the Lord. Three hundred forty one nights a year. And I'm really tired. And I'm going to take a vacation. And we could use a little extra money. You know and our organ blew up.

And and all this kind of stuff. And here this guy's getting these computerized. Letters. And he's smart enough to see through them. And to him. The ministry is a sham. He sees the rip offs. Jesus said to his disciples.

Freely you have received. Freely give. They weren't to demand fees for their services. They weren't to be taking offerings for themselves. They had received freely from God. And they were to give freely.

I could spend the rest of the evening on that verse. But we need to get on. I promised you we're going to go three chapters. Now the Lord said. Don't provide. Don't provide gold or silver nor brass in your purses.

Don't take any coins in your purses. Nor script for your journey. Don't even take two coats. Nor an extra pair of shoes. Nor yet staves. For the workman is worthy of his meat. Now you can go. And it's proper that the people support you.

Don't take. You don't have to take a lot of money with you. It's proper that the people support you. The workman is worthy of his hire. However. You're not to go in and make yourself a burden. Or lay yourself upon people.

Now into whatsoever city or town you shall enter. Inquire who is worthy and stay there. Until you leave. And when you come into a house. Greeted. And if the house is worthy. Let your peace come upon it.

But if it is not worthy. Let your peace return to you. Now. In those days. They really thought quite a bit about. Giving a person a blessing. If they would greet you. They would often greet you with a blessing of the Lord.

The blessings of the Lord be upon you and your seed. Thank you. But then if they get down the road. Think. Oh. He wasn't worthy. You know. That was a Gentile or something. Come back. And he said. I take that blessing back.

You know. They felt that they had to remove the blessings that they gave. If the person was undeserving or unworthy. So. Jesus is pretty much saying that. If the house is worthy. Let your peace abide.

If it's not. Take your peace with you. And whosoever shall not receive you. Nor hear your words. When you depart out of that. House or city. Just shake the dust off your feet. Verily I say unto you. It will be more tolerable.

For the land of Sodom and Gomorrah. In the day of judgment. For that. Then for that city. Behold. I'm sending you forth. As sheep in the midst of wolves. Be ye therefore as wise as serpents. And harmless as doves.

Persevering Through Opposition and Persecution

Now. Someone said. Well. Serpents. Aren't really noted. To be very wise. They're. They're not. Considered. To be a wise. Kind of a creature. And I heard. A. Professor. In. Biology. Making fun. Of the knowledge.

Of Christ. By. Pointing out. To the class. That. Serpents. Really weren't wise. And so. For the Lord to say. Be as wise. As serpents. Was. A rather stupid thing. And showed. That he had. A really very little.

Knowledge of biology. One of the students. Spoke up in class. And said. How long do you think. You would survive. Without any arms. Or legs. And you had to take care. Of yourself. Out in the desert. So.

You have to give him. Some credit. At least they survive. There's more than we could do. The servant of the Lord. Harmless as doves. But beware of men. For they will deliver you up. To their councils.

They will scourge you. In their synagogues. That is they will beat you. You will be brought before. Governors. And kings. For my sake. For a testimony against them. And the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up.

Do not. Take forethought. On how. Or what you're going to say. For it will be given to you. In the same hour. What you shall speak. For it is not you. That speak. But the spirit of your father. Which speaks.

In you. So you don't have to make up. Little. Speeches in advance. Just. Let the Lord. Anoint you by. His spirit. The brother shall deliver up. Brother to death. The father. The child. The children. Shall rise up against.

Their parents. And cause them to be. Put to death. And you shall be hated. Of all men. For my name's sake. But he. That endure. To the end. Shall be saved. So. Here we have. That. Basis. For the doctrine.

Of the perseverance. Of the saints. Which is. Often times. Used. As a. Contrast. To. Those. Who would. Go to. Antinomianism. To the extremes. Of. The security. Of the believer. And. There are those who.

Press. This side of the coin. He that endures. To the end. And the. Perseverance. Of the saints. Truth lies. Somewhere in the middle. But when they persecute you in this city. Flee to another. For verily I say unto you.

Ye shall not have gone. Over the cities of Israel. Till the son of man become. Now Jesus is referring. To his. Journey. That he's going to be taking. Among these cities. And so if they persecute you. In one city and all.

Just go to the next. You'll not. Actually go through. All of these cities. Before. I'll be right behind you. I'll be coming behind you. And I'll be ministering. In these cities. He's not. Really referring. To his second.

Coming at all. But just. To his ministry. In these cities. Of the Galilee. Now. Jesus said. The disciple. Is not. Above his. Master. Nor the servant. Above his. Lord. It is enough. For the disciple. That he be. As his. Master.

Oh. What a. That's. Enough. You bet. It is. That's. That's. That's. Great. If we could. Only be. As our. Lord. And. He said. You're not. Greater than. The Lord. Is just. Enough. That you be. As the. Lord. God. Help us. To be. As the. Lord.

John the Baptist Questions Jesus’ Mission

If. They have. Called. Master. Of the house. Bells. Above. Or the. Lord. Of flies. How. Much. More. So. They. Call. Them. Of his. Household. They. Call. Me. Names. Are going. To call. You. Names. Now. Is. Nothing. Covered. That. Shall. Not. Be. Revealed. And. Hid. That. Shall. Not. Be. Known. And. What. I am. Telling. You. In. Darkness. That. Speak. In. The. Light. And. What. Hear. Sort. Of. Whispered. In. The. Ear. That. Preach. From. The. House. Now. I've. Been. Teaching. You. I've. Been. Training. You. I've. Been. Telling. You. In. These. Inner. Sessions. That. Have. Now. You. Go. Out. And. Proclaim. These. Truths. Openly. That. Which. You've. Heard. In. These. Little. Sessions. That. We've. Had. Go. Out. And. Proclaim. And. Don't. Fear. Them. Which. Kill. The. Body. But. Are. Not. Able. To. Kill. The. Soul. But. Rather. Fear. Him. Which. Is. Able. To. Destroy. Both. Soul. And. Body. In. Hell. So. He's. Not. Saying. To. Fear. Satan. Satan. Has. No. Capacity. Of. Destroying. Your. Soul. In. Hell. He's. Saying. Fear. God. Don't. Fear. Man. The. Worst. Thing. Man. Can. Do. Is. Kill. You. So. Why. Should. You. Fear. Man. To. Be. Absent. From. This. Body. Is. To. Be. Present. With. The. Lord. You. One. Them. Shall. Not. Fall. To. The. Ground. Without. Your. Father. Taking. Note. Again. Your. Father. And. Again. Your. Father. Oversees. His. Creation. And. One. Of. The. Common. Things. God's. Creation. Are. The. Little. Sparrows. They. Are. So. Common. As. To. Be. Almost. Worthless. You. Can. Buy. Four. Of. Them. For. A. Penny. In. Those. Days. Two. Sparrows. Sold. For. A. Half. Of. Farthing. And. Yet. Not. A. Little. Sparrow. Falls. But. What. Your. Father. Doesn't. Know. It. Doesn't. Make. Note. Of. It. Again. How. Detailed. Is. God's. Knowledge. Of. You. The. Very. Hairs. Of. Your. Head. Are. All. Numbered. Now. Just. Look. At. All. Of. Us. Here. Tonight. Some. Make. It. Easy. On. The. But. Isn't. Interesting. The. Trivia. That. God. Knows. About. Us. And. He. Knows. More. About. Us. And. We. Know. About. Ourselves. God. Knows. Even. Trivia. About. You. That's. Concerned. Your. Father. Is. With. You. All. If. We. Would. Only. Be. Aware. Of. The. Tremendous. Concern. That. Our. Father. Has. With. Us. His. Children. For. Jesus. Said. You. Are. Worth. More. Than. Many. Sparrows. If. God. Takes. Note. Of. The. Sparrows. And. He's. Been. Saying. Don't. Worry. About. You. Know. They. Kill. You. There's. Not. Even. Sparrow. Falls. The. Ground. But. What. Your. Father. Knows. It. If. You. Fall. To. The. Ground. In. The. Proclaiming. Of. The. Gospel. If. You. Be. Killed. In. Endeavor. To. Reach. Others. With. The. Glorious. Love. Of. Christ. How. Much. More. Your. Father. Take. Note. Be. Aware. So. You. Really. Have. Nothing. To. Fear. Not. Man. The. Worst. They. Can. Do. Is. Kill. You. Whosoever. Therefore. Shall. Confess. Me. Before. Men. Him. Will. I. Confess. Also. Before. My. Father. Which. Is. In. Heaven. But. Whosoever. Shall. Deny. Me. Before. Men. Him. Will. I. Also. Deny. Before. My. Father. Which. Is. In. Heaven. Heavy. Heavy. Verse. Because. We. Must. All. Stand. Before. God. One. Day. Stand. Before. The. Creator. Of. The. Universe. Now. If. I. Have. Confessed. Jesus. Christ. Before. Men. When. My. Name. Is. Called. And. I. Have. To. Stand. Before. God. Jesus. Step. For. And. Confess. Me. Before. The. Father. This. Is. Chuck. He's. Perfect. And. That. Would. Jude. Said. Now. Unto. Him. Who. Is. Able. To. Keep. You. From. Falling. And. To. Present. You. Faultless. Why. Should. You. Laugh. When. I. Say. I'm. Perfect. Because. You. Know. The. Truth. And. I. Know. The. Truth. But. I. Also. Know. The. Power. My. Redeemer. And. When. He. Confesses. Me. Before. The. Father. And. When. He. Presents. Me. Before. The. Father. I. Will. Be. Complete. In. Him. Faultless. Before. The. Presence. Of. His. Glory. With. Exceeding. Joy. But. If. A. Person. Has. Denied. Jesus. Before. Men. You're. Gonna. Stand. All. Alone. Before. God. The. Books. Will. Be. Open. And. He. Who. Knows. All. Things. He. Who. Knows. The. Secrets. Of. The. Heart. He. Who. Can. Probe. He. Is. Actually. The. Bible. Says. Everything. Is. Naked. And. Open. Before. Him. With. Whom. We. Have. To. Do. And. There. In. The. Embarrassment. Of. Your. Own. Bare. Being. And. Everything. Exposed. And. You. Might. Turn. Furtively. To. Jesus. Christ. Lord. Shake. His. Head. I. Never. Knew. You. Who. What. A. Heavy. Thing. If. You. Deny. Me. Before. Men. I. Also. Will. Deny. You. Before. My. Father. Don't. Think. I'm. Come. To. Send. Peace. On. The. Earth. I. Came. Not. To. Send. Peace. But. A. Sword. The. Gospel. Of. Jesus. Christ. Unifies. Men. It. Brings. Together. Tax. Collector. And. Lot. But. The. Gospel. Of. Jesus. Christ. Also. Divides. Men. It. Divides. Men. Into. Two. Categories. Those. Who. Are. A. Part. Of. The. Kingdom. Of. God. And. Those. Who. Are. A. Part. Of. The. Kingdom. Of. Darkness. But. Jesus. Divides. Men. As. Well. As. Unifies. Men. And. Many. Times. Jesus. Divides. Those. Within. Household. A. Child. Comes. Into. The. Kingdom. Of. Light. But. The. Father. Continues. To. Rebel. In. The. Kingdom. Of. Darkness. And. So. A. Division. Comes. And. A. Contention. Often. Times. Arises. Over. The. Differences. Of. Being. In. The. Kingdom. Of. Light. In. The. Kingdom. Of. Darkness. So. I'm. Come. To. Set. A. Man. At. Variance. Against. His. Father. And. Daughter. Against. Her. Mother. And. The. Daughter-in-law. Against. Her. Mother-in-law. And. A. Man's. Foes. Will. Often. Be. Those. Of. His. Own. Household. Jesus. Was. Speaking. Out. Of. Experience. For. At. This. Particular. Time. His. Brothers. Were. Against. Him. He. That. Loves. His. Father. Or. Mother. More. Than. He. Loves. Me. Is. Not. Worthy. Of. Me. And. Who. Loves. The. Son. Or. Daughter. More. Than. Me. Is. Not. Worthy. Of. Me. Our. Love. For. Christ. Has. To. Be. Supreme. Even. Above. Those. Of. Our. Family. Members. If. They. Are. Not. United. With. Us. In. The. Faith. If. They. Are. Not. A. Part. Of. That. Kingdom. Of. Light. Our. Love. For. Christ. Must. Exceed. Even. Love. For. Those. In. Our. Own. Family. And. He. That. Does. Not. Take. His. Cross. And. Follow. After. Me. Is. Not. Worthy. Of. Me. When. He. Who. Loses. Life. For. My. Sake. Shall. Find. It. That. We. Will. Also. Take. Up. In. Chapter. Sixteen. He. That. Receives. You. Now. You. See. The. Authority. That. Jesus. Gives. His. Disciples. I mean. Are. There. Representing. The. Lord. You. Should. Be. As. Your. Lord. And. Those. That. Receive. You. Receive. Me. And. He. That. Receives. Me. Receives. The. Father. Sent. Me. And. He. Who. Receives. A. Prophet. In. The. Name. Of. A. Prophet. Shall. Receive. A. Prophet. Reward. And. He. That. Receives. A. Righteous. Man. In. Name. Of. A. Righteous. Man. Shall. Receive. A. Righteous. Man's. Reward. And. Whosoever. Shall. Give. To. Drink. Unto. One. Of. These. Little. Ones. Even. A. Cup. Of. Cold. Water. Only. In. The. Name. Of. A. Disciple. Verily. I. Say. Unto. You. He. Shall. In. No. Wise. Lose. His. Reward. So. You're. Doing. It. As. Unto. Lord. Giving. As. Unto. The. Lord. Giving. Unto. A. Servant. Of. The. Lord. You. Receive. Him. As. You. Receive. The. Lord. And. As. You. Give. To. Him. It. As. Giving. Unto. The. Lord. And. You. Will. Receive. Your. Reward. For. It. Now. The. Thought. Blue. So. Forget. But. Giving. A. Cup. Of. Cold. Water. In. Name. Of. A. Disciple. Very. Nice. Into. You. You. Shall. In. No. Wise. Lose. Your. Reward. Now. Came. To. Pass. When. Jesus. Had. Made. An. End. Of. These. Commandments. Departed. From. There. To. Teach. To. Preach. In. Their. City. So. He. Sent. Them. Out. In. Front. Of. Them. And. Then. He. Departed. And. Was. Following. Up. Now. And. Coming. Into. The. Cities. They. Were. Sort. Of. Advance. Men. For. Him. To. Go. Out. In. Advance. Now. When. John. Had. Heard. In. Prison. The. Works. Of. He. Sent. Two. Of. His. Disciples. And. He. Said. Unto. Him. Art. Thou. He. That. Should. Come. Or. Do. We. Look. For. Another. Now. John. Had. Been. Placed. Prison. By. Herod. And. John. Had. Been. Preaching. The. Kingdom. Of. Heaven. Is. At. Hand. And. He. Said. There's. One. Who. Is. Coming. After. Me. He's. Mightier. Than. Am. I'm. Not. Worthy. To. Untie. His. Shoes. But. Here. Is. John. Still. In. Herod's. Prison. And. He's. Saying. To. Lord. Hey. Let's. Get. The. Show. On. Road. For. Even. John. Did. Not. Fully. Understand. The. Mission. Of. Christ. In. His. First. Coming. But. Was. Anticipating. The. Immediate. Establishment. Of. The. Kingdom. Of. God. As. Promised. The. Old. Testament. Scriptures. And. So. The. Fact. That. Jesus. Had. Not. Yet. Proclaimed. His. Power. And. Overthrown. The. Roman. Yoke. And. John. Was. Still. In. Was. Getting. Impatient. And. He. Sends. His. Disciples. Did. Jesus. Say. Hey. Are. You. The. One. Or. Shall. We. Start. Looking. For. Someone. Else. Which. He. Says. One. We. Should. Look. For. So. We. Start. Looking. For. Someone. Else. Now. Jesus. Answered. And. Said. To. Them. Go. And. Show. John. Those. Things. Which. You. Hear. And. See. The. Blind. Receive. Their. Sight. The. Lame. Walk. The. Lepers. Are. Cleansed. The. Deaf. Hear. The. Dead. Are. Raised. Up. And. The. Poor. Have. The. Gospel. Preached. To. Them. And. Blessed. Is. He. Whoever. Is. Not. Offended. In. Me. Now. Jesus. Rather. Than. Answering. John. Directly. Points. To. His. Ministry. The. Works. That. He. Doing. You. Remember. On. Night. That. Jesus. Was. Betrayed. As. He. Was. Talking. To. His. Disciples. And. John. Records. It. Saw. So. Faithfully. There. In. The. Fourteenth. Chapter. Where. Jesus. Been. Saying. Oh. Look. I'm. Going. To. The. Father. And. If. I. Go. I'm. Going. To. Come. Again. And. Receive. You. Into. Myself. That. Where. Am. There. May. Be. Also. In. Where. I. Go. You. Know. In. The. Way. You. Know. And. Thomas. And. Lord. We. Really. Don't. Know. Where. You're. Also. Philip said. Lord. If. You'll. Just. Show. Us. The. Father. It. Will. Suffice. Us. Jesus. Said. Have. I. Been. So. Long. At. Time. With. You. And. Haven't. You. Seen. Me. He. That. Has. Seen. Me. Have. Seen. The. Father. Why. Do. You. Say. Then. Show. Us. The. Father. Don't. You. Believe. That. The. Father. Is. In. Me. And. Works. That. Do. I. Don't. Really. Do. Of. Myself. But. The. Father. That. Dwelleth. In. Me. He. Doeth. The. Works. Believe. Me. That. I. Am. In. Father. Or. Else. Believe. For. The. Very. Works. Say. In. Other. Words. Jesus. Was. Pointing. To. The. Works. As. The. Evidence. Of. His. Commission. Of. His. Person. Of. Authority. Pointing. To. The. Works. He. Also. Said. The. Works. That. I. Do. They. Do. Testify. Of. Me. They. Were. The. Evidence. He. Was. Fulfilling. The. Promises. Of. Kingdom. In. The. Old. Testament. As. Far. As. The. Lame. Walking. The. Blind. Seeing. The. Dumb. Speaking. The. Deaf. Hearing. He. Was. Fulfilling. The. Dead. Were. Being. Raised. Poor. Had. The. Gospel. Preach. And. He. Was. Fulfilling. Those. Aspects. Of. The. Kingdom. And. So. His. Works. Were. A. Witness. And. A. Testimony. So. All. He. Did. Was. Heal. A. Few. Of. The. Sick. That. Were. Around. There. Open. The. Eyes. Of. The. Blind. And. All. And. He. Said. Now. You. Just. Go. Back. And. Tell. John. What. Say. And. Just. Tell. Him. Blessed. Is. The. One. Who. Doesn't. Get. Offended. Because. Of. My. Not. Really. Establishing. The. Kingdom. Immediately. In overthrowing. The. Roman. Kingdom. Now. Departed. And. Jesus. Began. Talk. To. The. Multitudes. Concerning. John. The. Baptist. And. He. Said. What. Did. You. Go. Out. In. The. Wilderness. To. See. A. Read. Shaken. In. The. Wind. John. Was. Preaching. Down. At. The. Jordan River. A. Lot. Of. Reads. Down. At. The. Jordan River. To. Go. Down. The. Jordan River. Just. To. Watch. The. Reads. Being. Blown. By. The. Wind. How. Come. You. Went. Out. Of. The. Cities. And. Down. To. The. Jordan. What. Did. You. Go. Out. To. See. Obviously. You. Didn't. To. See. The. Reads. Being. Blown. In. The. Wind. What. Did. You. Go. Out. To. See. A. Man. Clothed. In. Soft. Raymond. A. Man. Who. Was. Wearing. Fancy. Clothes. Behold. Those. That. Wear. The. Soft. Clothing. Are. In. The. King's. Houses. They're. Not. In. The. King's. Prisons. John. Was. In. The. King's. Prison. At. That. Time. And. Wear. That. Kind. Of. Clothes. Are. In. The. King's. Houses. Palaces.