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Source: https://www.sermonindex.net/speakers/jim-beattie/knowing-him/
Let's see in the Gospel of Matthew in chapter, let's start in chapter 1, chapter 1 verse 1. I just want to point out one thing here, and that is the four Gospels relate to the four first books of our Bible.
And that's all I'm going to say about that, something that will encourage our younger believers to begin to get into the Gospels like we've been hearing. They're almost 40 of our New Testament. And if you put Acts with them, you have over half of our New Testament.
The rest of the New Testament takes less than 50%. Notice with me verse 1, the book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Now you brethren who have a Vines Dictionary or some other dictionary, when you look up the word Genesis in the Greek, it is spelt G-E-N-E-S-I-S Genesis, the Genesis of Jesus Christ.
So this is the book Genesis. That's not my subject, just a passing interesting thing that I hope will stir some curiosity. Chapter 2 and reading at verse 1. Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, where is he that is born King of the Jews?
For we have seen a star in the east and are come to worship him. Now after they had been informed, verse 9, when they had heard the king, they departed and lo, the star which they saw in the east went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were coming to the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down and worshiped him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts gold and frankincense and myrrh.
Now let's go over to the end of the of Matthew to chapter 28. Chapter 28 and verse 16. Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshiped him, but some doubted.
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Let's go over to Mark chapter 1, verse 1. The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as it is written in the prophets, behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
Let's go over to Mark chapter 16 and verse 19. So then, after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word with signs, following.
Amen. Now Luke chapter 1, verse 5. There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias of the course of Abiah and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron and her name was Elizabeth.
Verse 7, and they had no child because that Elizabeth was barren and they both were now well stricken in years. And it came to pass that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course, according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord and the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.
And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And of course, the angel begins to speak to him in verse 12. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled and fear fell upon him.
But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias, for thy prayer is heard and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son and thou shalt call his name John. Verse 18, and Zacharias said unto him, unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this?
For I am an old man and my wife well stricken in years. And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel that stand in the presence of God and am sent to speak unto thee and to show thee these glad tidings.
And behold, thou shalt be dumb and not able to speak unto the day that these things shall be performed because thou believest not my words which shall be fulfilled in their season. Verse 22, and when he came out he could not speak unto them and he perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple for he beckoned unto them and remained speechless.
I mentioned this yesterday in passing in ministry. Go over with me to chapter 24 of Luke. Luke 24, the Lord Jesus speaks to the disciples and in verse 50 of chapter 24 he led them out as far as to Bethany and he lifted up his hands and blessed them and it came to pass while he blessed them he was parted from them and carried up into heaven and they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God.
Amen. Now chapter 1 of John and verse 1. In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. Now over to the last chapter, chapter 21 and verse 24. This is the disciple which testified of these things and wrote these things and we know that his testimony is true and there are also many other things which Jesus did to which if they should be written everyone I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written.
Amen. Now when we spend time with the Lord Jesus and there's been a great emphasis on that this weekend and I'm thankful for it because for to me and to you to live is Christ and you take the Lord Jesus out of our life and life is not worth living.
We must have him as the center of our life and as we do we will grow. Growth is produced not by determining we're going to be different but occupation with the Lord Jesus. 2nd Corinthians chapter 3 at the end it says we beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory.
The change comes by occupation with him. Joyce and I will be married 53 years in October 1st of this year and it amazes me as time goes by that when I say something she is already thinking the same thing and sometimes I'm about to say something and she will say I know what you're going to say and I said well tell me what I'm going to say and she tells me and she's right because our occupation of being together makes it that you think alike and God wants us to think alike with him and with the Lord Jesus Christ.
That's the goal. I was mentioning something along this line in Phoenix area years ago and a sister who used to live in Connecticut she was living in Arizona now she worked in a some kind of business and there was another brother in the assembly also worked in the same business and there was a lady who knew both of them and you know like a lot of souls that are not saved they say when I get to heaven because they're expecting that's where they're going to be even if they haven't thought much about how to get there and this lady came up to this sister and said, you know that man that goes to the same church you go to?
I think when I get to heaven God is going to just be like him. Isn't that nice? I wonder what they would think about you and me. I heard about one woman and she said my husband's a Sunday angel and a Monday devil.
Well what we're like in the home the reality, you know, people have asked me What's the most important thing in your life? I want to tell you it's not preaching. I want when my life is over I hope that people can say that there's a little bit like the Lord Jesus.
That's what really matters. Now what we have in the four Gospels and I said I'm going to be brief and I am Matthew chapter 2. You have a young child by this time. I believe the Lord Jesus was a little child.
But a little child normally speaking who's a king. Doesn't have much power and so Matthew's gospel begins with a child a king with little power. How does it end? All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth and as we walk through Matthew's gospel and get to know the Lord Jesus Christ and Fall in love with him again as we do.
We should be giving him more control in our experience. When we're first saved, of course, we'll do anything for him. But as time goes by sometimes we find there are places we really don't want him to be in charge but the goal of Matthew is to present to us the King and as we go through the gospel.
Our love for the one who's going to be the ultimate ruler should so grow that we should say He can be everything to me and whatever he wants me to do and be. That's what I will want. I think of when we were young people.
I Remember we used to have this chorus. That we used to sing when the young people would get together in one of the Christians homes and it was only to be What he wants me to be every moment of every day.
Just to be clay in the potter's hands. Just to do what he commands only to be what he wants me to be Every moment of every day. And can I speak to young believers? You likely have that in your heart or you wouldn't be here today.
You'd be somewhere else. Don't lose it. Don't ever lose it. Let him have control and every new phase of your life. Where something new comes up that you haven't thought of before when there's a choice between his will and your will.
Say to the Lord all power is given unto you in my life. You may begin with a little but let it grow. So that he has complete control. You never lose when you let him be all power in your life. When you come to Mark's gospel, you have it begin with a single servant.
How does it end it ends that they were all serving? The service Increases now. I'm not suggesting we get busier all the time. But our service for the Lord should be more and more. I am impressed back at home and I'm not going to name a name.
But there's a brother and he's in a way off and on close to dying. We were surprised that he revived once again and Every day that he has he's out there helping God's people and he's not as we say a kid.
He would be older than me and that's getting a bit old he would be maybe over 80, but the only thing that matters to him is Serving God and sometimes he can hardly stand. But when they had the plowing match last year.
Which is a big event back in Ontario. Where there's all kinds of booths and the brethren go and give out tracks. Sure enough. There is Service for God. I want to tell you there is no greater joy than serving the Lord.
And that's what Mark is presenting to us begins with one service a little service and it ends with all service. Then when we come to Luke, which is the priestly gospel as I mentioned yesterday, it begins.
How does it begin? With a man who has nothing to say because of unbelief and when you and I are not in the Phase of trusting God we won't be talking much. But how does it end? They couldn't stop talking talking all the time and Continually talking as time goes by brethren sisters.
I hope we praise more. My wife and I were in Cracker Barrel and that's not a kind of an advertisement for them but they've got these new spring cups out and My wife just loved them. She said can we buy them?
Well, she doesn't have to ask me she can buy whatever she wants. But she did and it's the cup says rejoice in each new day. So go out and buy some if you're a bit down. You'll really like the nice 16 ounces by the way of coffee in the morning gives you a good start.
But it says rejoice in each new day. And so when we get up in the morning I point my cup toward her and she points hers toward me and we smile together. Rejoice in each new day and we try to make it a day of praise.
Praise every day and I hope you're praising the Lord more than when you were first saved praise every day. What do you have in John's gospel? In the beginning was a word. The smallest part of human language.
How does it end? I don't think even the books could contain the things we should know more about him and be able to say more about him. Not just a word maybe but more and more our knowledge of him should grow.
And so we have the Lord getting more control. We haven't getting more service. We haven't getting and getting more worship and our enjoyment of knowing him should increase. May we leave this conference?
With a longing to know him in a way that we have never Known him before I would suggest when you open your Bible say Lord Teach me something that will thrill my heart about the Lord Jesus Christ and that will make the day worthwhile.