I Am - Do Not Doubt — Erlo Stegen

Let's stand and pray. O Lord, we pray that as you promised that you will be with us, that you will be in our midst now and speak to us. That each one will experience your voice, your word reaching deep into his and her heart.

Amen. Our text we find in Matthew 28, starting from verse 16. Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw him, they worshipped him, but some doubted.

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All authority has been given me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Ask in the love. We'll stop reading there. Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them.

Judas's Desertion and the Warning of Falling Away

This breaks your heart. Eleven disciples. There had been twelve. Where's the twelfth one? Where's the one that had been there and was no longer with them? That's the tragedy. There had been twelve and now there were only eleven.

Where was the other one? One of the twelve was missing. The mathematicians can work out what percentage that is. One out of twelve. It's a great percentage. We are among the number, but it would be sad if after a while, if there's a head count and you'd be found missing.

In fact at the time he was burning in hell and that's where he still is and will still be for all eternity. Throughout the history of the church there have been those deserters who have left the number and gone away like demons.

In Paul's time, who left him because he loved the world and they will regret it. The Lord Jesus had chosen the twelve disciples and later one day he gathered them and he told them about his kingdom and he said in his kingdom there are twelve thrones, one for each of them and they were very happy about this.

Even Judas Iscariot had his throne, but he chose to forsake the Lord, to turn his back on that which the Lord had offered him. He deserted him. So Judas will have to look up from hell and see that position which the Lord had created for him.

Obeying the Place Jesus Appoints

Let's continue. The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. Remember the women had gone to the tomb. They went to the tomb and didn't find the Lord there.

But then the Lord appeared to them and the angel said he's not here, he's risen. Then the Lord said go, tell my brothers to go to Galilee where I will meet with them. Can you fathom that? Can you understand that?

That he calls his disciples his brothers. He calls you his brother. And if you don't live accordingly and behave accordingly, shame upon you. What a dishonor you bring on the Lord's name. What a dishonor you bring on the Lord's name.

Do we live and act as his brothers? But we can't dwell on that too long. Time is too short. So the disciples went to that mountain which Jesus had appointed. They went to that mountain. It was a far distance and they weren't travelling by bus or by motorbike.

They had to walk there to that specific mountain. And they got tired on the way. They were tired when they got to the foot of the mountain and then they slid to climb to the top. The Bible doesn't say specifically which mountain it was because there were different mountains, Tabor and Hermon.

Some question whether it may have been the Mount of Transfiguration where the Lord appeared to them in his glory in those dazzling clothes. And where Moses and Elijah came there to have fellowship. Or whether it was another mountain.

The Bible is not specific and the Lord probably knew exactly why it's not specific. Because maybe everyone would go there and make a pilgrimage now to that mountain. Because we people are like that. We like to imitate and copy things and make something out of something in such a situation.

And so they went to that mountain. And I can only say, well Peter, John, Andrew, you did the right thing. It's good that you went to that mountain which the Lord appointed. They weren't confused. They knew exactly and they went straight to that mountain which the Lord appointed.

They were not like many people who hear what they should do but they don't do what they are told. Some people are just like road signs. Where you see a road sign that points to Stanga or Great Town or Durban.

That road sign has no life in it and it's stationary. It stays in that one spot even though it's pointing the direction to Durban but it never actually gets to Durban itself. In fact that board will tell you the direction to Durban, tell you how many kilometers it is to Durban but it never goes there itself.

The Wise Men Who Knew Scripture but Did Not Go

There were many sign boards in the time of the Lord Jesus in Jerusalem. When the wise men came from the east they asked, they said, we've seen the star of the king that's born and where is he that is born, the king of the Jews?

The king is born and they were upset and said, what? A king is born and we know nothing about it? And then King Herod summons the chief priests or the scribes and the Pharisees and said, where do the scriptures say the Messiah will be born?

They didn't say, well we don't know. And then they answered, they knew exactly, they said no, the prophet Micah prophesied and said that the Messiah will be born in Bethlehem. And they knew exactly, they had the facts, they were just like a road sign though, they didn't ever go there themselves.

You don't get up and go to the place which Jesus has pointed out to you. We are lousy clinicians, we are as wrong as the clinicians, we know who you are. So Herod got together the wise men of the east.

And Herod said to the wise men, now you go, it's said that he will be born in Bethlehem, go then and inquire and if you find him, come back and tell me, report back to me that I can also go and worship him.

And the wise men of the east said to the wise men, you need to be watchful and discern because you could be deceived by someone like that and think, wow, God is really at work, something is happening, all the time this person is like a snake, he's deceitful.

And the wise men of the east said to the wise men, you need to be watchful and discern because you could be deceived by someone like that and think, wow, God is really at work, something is happening, all the time this person is like a snake, he's deceitful.

God then appeared to the wise men and warned them not to go back to Herod but to go back another way. But of course the authorities in Jerusalem were highly upset that they had been deceived in that way and they went on a rampage and killed many, all those children, innocent children.

There's nothing like God's word but you must now excuse me because so much comes to one as one speaks that one can't cover everything. So they went to that place that had been appointed, as the wise men did so also the disciples went to that place that had been appointed by the Lord.

Moving From Discouragement to the High Place of Obedience

And Jesus points to the mountain top, that high place, that's where He wants to meet them. And they didn't complain and say, oh my, it's so difficult, it's tough, it's going to be very difficult. No, where there's a will, there's also a way.

So it teaches you as well, when God speaks, you need to obey. God is calling us to a high place, not just a low down standard and place. There was somebody who was always depressed. And that person always went back to the counselors and to the preachers and it was the same story over and over and over again.

Came for prayer, always in tears. They are such people. In fact, sometimes when I meet such people, I don't even ask them anymore how they are. I just come from another angle and I ask them, how is the Lord?

And then they say, oh no, the Lord is probably well. Then I say, well then it should be well with you too. Such people can be a burden. A person who comes and it's the same story every time. Oh, please pray for me.

I'm down in the dumps. I just don't see the light. I'm getting nowhere. You give them advice, but they don't accept the advice. And so one day this person came along very happy. This person said, you know, it's so wonderful.

I read a word and it's lifted me out of my hole. I said, oh God, thank you that it's just come to pass. Not to stay. And so that person then understood that God didn't meant it to stay. It just came to pass.

So learn from that, that when God points in a direction, make sure you go there. Many years ago in Germany, before there were cars, a Christian was making his way home from work. As he was walking along, he saw someone walking in front of him.

Responding When God Sends You to Someone in Need

He looked closely and then he noticed that that was a doctor. Now this was a very famous doctor. And he heard a still voice speaking to him saying, go to him and speak to him about the Lord. And the person said, but Lord, who am I that I should go to speak to such a famous doctor?

I don't think I'm worthy. He was afraid. And so they went along and then they got to a crossing in the road and the doctor turned right. And this man turned left to go home. The next morning, the story went around that this doctor had died during the night.

And this person was convicted. He cried out. He said, Oh Lord, you had spoken to me to speak about his soul to him and I didn't do it. And now he's dead. But there was another person who went home after work.

He got home totally exhausted. He heard that voice. And he heard this voice saying to him, go to Mr. Berger, who's on the other side of the town. And he said, Oh, I'm so tired. It's a long way. I can hardly walk anymore.

And the voice came again, clearly pointing him to this Mr. Berger. This Mr. Berger had been a Christian, but he turned his back on the Lord and he became a very difficult person. He went against the Lord.

He went against the church. Eventually the congregation had to ask him to leave. So when the Lord said to him, go to him, he said, it's late. I'm tired. I don't know whether I'll still make it tonight.

But the voice came even stronger after that. Eventually he said, he got up, got dressed and he started this long walk to the other side of the town. By God's grace, he got there. When he got there, he knocked.

There was silence. He knocked again. After a long time, he heard that there was a noise inside the house and he noticed someone was coming towards the door. Eventually the door opened and it was this Mr. Berger.

And Mr. Berger said to him, what do you want? He said, well, I don't know myself. I just felt I had to come and see you. And Mr. Berger said, God has sent you. He said, when you knocked on the door, I was standing on a high chair with a rope around my neck, ready to hang myself.

And then I heard you knocking. He knocked again. He said, when you knocked again, I said, let me rather go and see who this is coming so late in the night to see me. So he had to undo the rope, get down from his chair and went to the door and found this man there.

He says, look, I don't know why I'm here. Mr. Berger said, God has sent you here. And it touched him deeply. And he said, I'm repenting. And he repented that night. Go to that place which the Lord has appointed.

Seeking the Place and People God Has Appointed

Go to that high place where you'll be able to see the Lord's finger and see which way it's pointing you. They went to Galilee, to the mountain Jesus had appointed for them. Now, God's word doesn't say that we now all must go to Galilee and go up a mountain.

We'd be fools to do that. But there are places the Lord is pointing us to go to. The Lord says, do not fear. Do not fear. In God's word in the Bible, it says those words 366 times. Do not fear. The Bible says, seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.

That's where he's pointing us. Seek first the kingdom of God. Is that where you are? And then the Lord says, be strong in the strength of the Lord. Are you in that strength? And then the Lord's word says, be filled with the Spirit, God's Holy Spirit, not with wine.

Are you there where God has pointed you to? We could say much more. You can go home, study God's word, but God wants you to be at that place he's pointed you to go to, and that's a high place. My question to you today, each one, are you at that place the Lord Jesus has appointed you for?

Worship, Doubt, and Christ's Authority

And two, so we'll leave that point now, I'm just touching on a few points. They went up that mountain. The Lord says, I will meet you there. On their way they probably spoke to each other and wondered what the Lord would speak to them about when he meets them.

When they got to that mountain, the Lord was there and they fell before him and worshipped him. In German it says, they fell down before him and worshipped him. But some doubted. Some of them doubted.

What did they doubt? Did they doubt that this was truly the Lord Jesus? I doubt that. Because he had told them that he would meet them there. Did they perhaps doubt that it was truly him and that it wasn't just a ghost?

I don't think so. Did they doubt whether it was truly the one that they had got to know? I don't think so. Remember Thomas had doubted and he said, I won't believe that he's risen until I see those nail marks in his hands and his feet and put my hand in his side.

And then the Lord suddenly appeared and everything had been locked. He just went straight through the wall. It's impossible that they doubted whether it was Jesus Christ. They knew it. And the Bible even says, they saw him.

They saw him. The Jews don't just bow down before any person. They only bow down before God. It's only other people who bow down before idols, not the Jews. It's clear that they recognized this as the Lord Jesus because he had told them to go there.

They knew him. They saw him. But why then were some doubting? The answer I think we find in the Lord's words. Whenever the Lord Jesus met up with the Pharisees and Sadducees, scribes, and even with Simeon when he was in his home and that prostitute came and wept and wiped his feet with her hair and Simeon said, can he truly be a prophet if he doesn't realize what type of a girl this is?

Jesus always knew what they were thinking and even here he saw their doubt and he approached them and he said, All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. That's what they had been doubting about.

See they recognized him that it was the Lord, but they weren't sure whether really all power had been given to him and everything had been subjected to him. So the Lord hit the nail on the head and then the Lord said to them, You who are doubting, all authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.

This is the truth that you're experiencing. And that's the problem among the Christians even today. Among God's people there are those that doubt. A wife can say, I'm not sure that my husband can get converted.

Maybe you doubt as a husband whether your wife can ever get converted. And maybe your child is sick and you think it's impossible, can't happen, the Lord can't help you. Is there some doubt in your heart?

Maybe you doubt, you have fear, you fear the communists, you fear the terrorists. You fear your enemies. And Jesus says, but all power has been given to me. All authority, all power has been given to me.

Jesus recognized that they doubted his power, his authority, and that's why he emphasized that point. He said all power, all authority has been given to me. Has God been able to deliver you from your doubt?

He says all power has been given to me. Not just here in this world, but in heaven as well. Then he goes on to say, go therefore, as a result of that, now go and make disciples of all the nations. Make disciples of all nations.

The Great Commission: Making Disciples Who Obey

Baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. It's a pity sometimes with translation. In the Greek it doesn't just say to baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

In the Greek it says and implies that you baptize the person who is baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In the Greek it says and implies that you baptize the person into the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

So that he can be a disciple and keep all that he has instructed us. So God has commissioned you to go to the Muslims, to the whites, the blacks, the Indians, and you go. And make disciples of them and baptize them into the name, into God's very character.

You blacks, have you won some whites for the Lord? Are you not busy with what the Lord has commissioned you to do? And he didn't just say go and teach them to know what I have commanded you but you must teach them to keep it.

Have you won some Indians to the Lord? Have you won some Muslims to the Lord? Have you won some coloreds to the Lord? How many have you led to the Lord? I don't speak of your own race. Jesus says go to the other nations.

There are some stupid people that say I'm just called to my people. I don't know what kind of a Bible he reads. Jesus says to all the nations. Go to all the people, not just to the Africans. That's not what the Bible says.

I'm not where God wants me to be. And that's the reason why I'm on the wrong path. So go to that place Jesus has appointed for you. Go to those people, to those nations. You may say well to the Muslims that's tough.

They are so difficult. They won't get converted. You see your doubt. Maybe you say how can I go to those people? They are sorcerers. I can't go to them. You say how can I go to those people? They worship the devil.

That's too risky. You see you are doubting that the Lord has been given all power in heaven and on earth. And dear friends, he never commissioned us to teach people to know, but to keep. Not just to teach them to know that you shouldn't commit murder or adultery, be immoral or to steal.

It's not enough just to know that you must honor father and mother. Love your neighbor and your enemies and you should forgive. And it's not enough that you just teach him that he knows it. That he mustn't murder, he mustn't commit adultery, he mustn't live immorally, he mustn't steal.

You must teach him to keep it. And you say oh that's difficult. You see you are doubting. And he says it's because I've been given all power and authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore go. Now I'm sorry that we don't have a German Bible here or read it in German.

The Great I AM and Christ's Eternal Identity

But even here it says and lo I am with you always even to the end of the age. I am. Who is the great I am? God. When Moses was at the burning bush and the Lord spoke to him and said take off your sandals from your feet for this ground you're standing on is holy.

The Lord said I'm sending you. And then Moses said but if they ask me who sent me what must I say to them? And then the Lord said to him Moses you will tell them that I am who I am has sent you. I am the way the truth and the life.

I am the living bread. I am the eternal God. The Lord often introduced himself as the I am. Food to my 18. Oh yeah. Oh my 18. Good. Good. Good. Good. Good. Good. Good. Good. Good. Good. Good. Good. Jesus spoke to the Pharisees and scribes when they went against him.

And he said, Abraham saw my day and he rejoiced and they said, but you are not even 50 years old and you say Abraham saw you. So Jesus must have not looked as young as he was, being between 30 and 33 and they judged that he couldn't be over 50.

And he said when Abraham saw me he rejoiced. I am. Before Abraham, I am. Then I picked up stones and wanted to kill him. They say that's blasphemy. He said I am and the I am referring to his eternal nature.

He has no beginning and no end. If Jesus says I am, he doesn't just mean he exists, he is dead. It means he is incomprehensible. So if he says he is the I am, it's more than just the existence. His name indicates unsearchableness.

He is unsearchable. You cannot comprehend him and he will be with you always. He is unsearchable. He is incomprehensible. He is unsearchable. He is incomprehensible. He is unsearchable. He is unsearchable.

He is incomprehensible. He is incomprehensible. He is unsearchable. He is I was happy in Switzerland at the conference there when one of the preachers there, a gypsy, came and said, can I, at the next conference in two years' time, bring ten others along?

And I'd like to bring the leader of our congregation as well. I'd like to bring ten preachers, including our bishop, at the next minister's conference. Not next year, the year after, because next year, God willing, if we're still alive, we'll be here.

Tell us then, what is the proof, what proof is there in your heart, that you are what you say you are, with what you think you are, what kind of person do you want to be, and what is it? Just the black parade you will have, that's the place where he wants you.

As a school child, are you winning other children for the Lord, and to the Lord? Is it obvious that the I am is with you? Jesus is with me, and you haven't gone to the other nations? You haven't won other nations?

You're playing the fool. It's a lie, and watch that that lie won't shut you up in hell, and close you up there. Let's stand and pray. Oh Lord, may your word be revealed to us, that we would have an ear to hear.

Lord, may your grace be with us all, that we may be found in that place that you have appointed for us. Amen.