Allen Jackson - God's Plan, God's Promises and God's People - Part 2
In the New Testament, the New Covenant, it also requires a conquest, not of physical territory but of spiritual. I can easily substantiate this for you in the scripture and we will to an extent, but bear with me just a moment because we have lived with such stability, such prosperity and a culture with a biblical worldview that really hasn’t required us to rely upon God until there was some personal crisis. A family crisis, a health crisis, some natural disaster that would bring some unwanted thing to us and then we would press in on the Lord a bit to cry out to him. Maybe he is a healer, maybe he is a deliverer, maybe he is a restorer, but we really haven’t had to live that way because we’ve had such abundance, so many freedoms, and so many liberties.
But I’m sure you’ve noticed our world is rapidly changing. And I believe we’re gonna have to grow up in our faith and our responses to God. But we shouldn’t act like this is something about just the end of the age. This isn’t about just a rapidly approaching rapture. That may be, I’m not saying it isn’t, but that’s not exactly, I believe, the best way to understand. I would submit to you that what we’re experiencing is the challenge to the kingdom of God. I put a list of bullets in your note, I’m not gonna… notes, I’m not gonna take the time to read all the scriptures. I think you’ll recognize the narrative.
You see, the New Testament narrative is about our king. Remember his name? He’s Jesus, the one that came from Nazareth. There were many Jesuses. This is the Nazareth one. Our king was falsely accused. He became the object of irrational hatred. I mean, he fed multitudes, he made wine out of water, he healed the sick, he raised the dead. You wouldn’t imagine that that would elicit great hatred and murderous rage, but it did. It was illogical, and irrational, and ultimately he was tortured to death. And under the pressure of an angry mob and brutal Roman soldiers, his closest friends and followers abandoned him. Because they recognized the imminent personal threat. «Too much pressure to be identified with Jesus. We’ll go hide».
And then, in spite of Jesus telling them it would happen, much to the surprise of his closest friends and followers, God raised Jesus back to life. You may or may not have noticed that Jesus only appeared after the resurrection to his followers. He only spent time with his friends, those who had believed in him prior to his crucifixion. His enemies, they imagined they’d had a great victory. Oh, they celebrated. The last image that’s presented to the non-believers is Jesus on the cross, naked, hungry, and thirsty in one of all things—suffocating to death. And then we read that the Spirit of God is poured out upon Jesus’s friends. And there’s some transformation that takes place.
It’s difficult to explain the ones who have been like Keystone Cops, and cowardly lions, and bumbling. They have a new purpose, a new authority, a new boldness, a new clarity. And they begin to tell their personal stories of knowing Jesus. And there are tremendous responses that begin to emerge. There are miracles, crowds of people gather. Growing pains, the systems for interacting with one another are stretched because of the new people coming. Well, it used to be counted in handfuls or counted in thousands. And there’s a very predictable response to that. The same people that hated Jesus now hate Jesus’s friends, they’re jealous of them.
And the same hatred pointed at Jesus is pointed at them. They’re arrested, they’re threatened. Violence in Jerusalem begins again. Murders of Jesus’s friends in Jerusalem again. The persecution intensifies to the point that Jesus’s friends are scattered. They can’t stay in a centralized place anymore to survive. I don’t like that. To be completely candid, that part of the narrative always makes me uncomfortable. How about a line of angels around Jesus’s friend. And the first person or the pirst ferson, whichever works. The first person to touch one of the angels just melts, next. But that’s not what God did. He sends angels to get Peter out of a prison. And he goes where there’s a group of people praying through the night. And he said, «I’m okay, but tell the brothers I’m leaving for a while».
Ah, it’s an amazing narrative, persecution results in dispersion. There are remarkable results. All over the Roman Empire, people are accepting the Jesus story. There’s miracles, extraordinary miracles, healings, deliverance, and everywhere the message goes, there’s hatred, and accusations, and arrest, and violence, and riots. From a prison cell in Rome, Paul writes letters to churches that he helped bring into existence, that he helped birth in Ephesus, and Colossae. I gave you just a sampling of the tone of the New Testament.
Folks, we’ve missed this. Just listen to the tone of Romans 8:35, «Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword»? What’s being implied is that trouble, and hardship, and persecution, and famine, and nakedness for the sake of the gospel is a part of the package. And the answer in verse 37, «No, in all of these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us». What does it mean to be more than a conqueror? That’s an interesting phrase to me. I mean, I’m pretty happy. You know, just being a conqueror is not bad. We came, we saw, we conquered. I’m all right with that little paradigm. What’s it mean to be more than a conqueror?
Well, obviously there’s some opinion in this, but it seems to me that it means after you’ve conquered, then you plunder. And you’re not only victorious, you leave with all the spoils. In spite of all these expressions of resistance and opposition, we are more than conquerors through him. 1 Corinthians 15, «And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour»? Romans 16, «Greet Andronicus and Junias». This is the conclusion to the letter of the church at Rome. «Greet Andronicus and Junius, they’re my relatives who’ve been in prison with me. They’re outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ Jesus before I was». Put that on your resume. Felon, multiple prison sentences.
2 Timothy 2:3, «Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus». This isn’t some random verse peeled out of a context. We’re talking about physical suffering, abuse, imprisonment, hardship, persecution, suffering for the sake of the gospel. That is the story of the gospels. It’s Jesus’s story. It’s the story of his closest friends in the book of Acts. It’s the story of the people of God, you’re reading it, you have been reading it. Through Exodus, and Leviticus, and Numbers, and Deuteronomy, and Joshua, and Judges, and it’s gonna persevere right through the balance of the story, and it’s gonna flow right into the new covenant.
There’s a spiritual conflict in the earth. And to be a participant in the kingdom of God means you inherit an adversary. We don’t have to be frightened by that. I don’t think we have to be threatened or intimidated. We just need to be aware. It’s like driving through Alabama, you don’t expect to see orange and white flags. You don’t have to be frightened or threatened. The wicked coach is gone. There’s hope again. If you’re from Alabama, I repent, it’s just. Such a useful analogy. God’s plan in 2 Peter 1. Remember I said that we have a land defined by the promises of God, not a territory, not a region.
Peter understood this. «His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he’s given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires». Before you turn the page, there’s two statements in that passage that are made in the perfect tense. Which means it’s been completely accomplished. It’s happened, it’s done. It’s already accomplished. It says, «He has given us everything we need for life and godliness». It’s been provided. Everything you and I need for life and godliness, God has provided. «Well, I don’t have it yet».
That’s that timing question we were talking about a minute ago. It was funny when I didn’t like God’s timing, it’s not so funny when you don’t. He has given us everything. You see, the Promised Land belonged to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob long before they moved into it. It had very little to do with God’s will. It had very little to do with God’s intent. He said, «That land belongs to you. I’m gonna give you a land that flows with milk and honey, and this is where the land is. This is your land». But multiple generations said, «No, too hard, too difficult, too inconvenient. We’d like an easier way».
What I’m pointing out to you is that occupying who God created you to be is not a passive response, it’s more than enduring sermons and singing a little chorus. We’ve got this weak version of the church that’s not adequate to bring about the culmination of the age. It’s gonna take a church with courage and boldness. What did God say to Joshua multiple times? We just read it—half a dozen times in one chapter, «Be strong and courageous; don’t be afraid or discouraged».
If God had to say to Joshua multiple times, «Don’t be afraid or discouraged,» what was Joshua? Frightened and discouraged, Moses is gone. «Dude talked with God, his face glowed in the dark, he hung out with the boss so much. And he couldn’t get us across the finish line. And now you hand me the baton? I don’t think so». And God is saying, «Joshua, don’t be afraid». «But I am afraid. But I will trust in you». Isn’t that what the Psalm says? «When I’m afraid, I will trust in you».
In the Old Testament under a leader named Joshua, God led his people into a Promised Land. In the New Testament under the leadership of Jesus, God leads his people into a land of his promises. In Joshua 1:8, you get the ultimate promise God made to Joshua, «Don’t let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you’ll be careful to do everything written in it». Imagine that, being careful to do what you read. What a thought. «Then you’ll be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous». God commanded it. Said, «Look, I know you don’t feel strong and courageous, shut up»! Can’t say shut up. «I commanded you, be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid; don’t be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go».
I had a friend, he was a minister, he’s in heaven now. But I remember him saying years ago, he said, «God», he was complaining to the Lord about something the Lord was asking him to do. And he said God said to him, «Didn’t I tell you to do it»? He said, «You sure did, but on Monday morning when my enemies are looking, they can’t find you and they know my address». I know that feeling sometimes. The promise God made to Joshua is the then part. He said, «If you will do this, if you will meditate on my Word and put it in your mouth, you’ll be prosperous and successful».
I can tell you the Bible teaches that God is no respecter of persons—what he’ll do for one, he’ll do for another. If you meet the conditions, God will do for you what he did for any of his servants. They don’t get, you can’t take it and use it for selfish carnal, but nobody really wants to fail. Each of us is born with a deep desire to succeed. We fail not because of desire, we fail because of a lack of understanding. Or we fail because we pursue ungodly things. We pursue ungodly agendas, and we have ungodly goals, and we don’t get God’s help to be ungodly. You can’t behave in an ungodly way, and say Jesus every once in a while, and expect all of heaven to support you. He told Joshua not to let this book depart out of you.
«Keep it in front of you, keep it in your heart, keep it in your mouth». The summary of the conditions—it said, «Think God’s law, speak God’s law, and act God’s law». Rightness in this world is established by God’s law, not by governments, not by a constitution, not by a Supreme Court. The church has a message for our world. There is a right way to be on your journey through time, and it’s derived from an understanding of who God is. And we’re gonna have the courage to deliver that message. We have to have the courage to believe that message.
Now our revelation in the New Covenant is larger. There’s more of… the story’s been filled out, but the principles are the same. There’s a New Testament passage with the requirements for entering God’s kingdom. Send your notes, it’s Romans 10. Romans is the greatest theological treatise I believe that’s ever been penned. It’s a masterful presentation of the gospel. And in Romans 10, it says, «What does it say? 'The word is near you; it’s in your mouth and in your heart.'» Sounds a lot like Joshua, doesn’t it? «That is, the word of faith we’re proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord, ' and you believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you’ll be,» what? «Saved,» saved from what? From this present evil age.
And you’ll become a part of God’s eternal kingdom. We’re not just saved from sin, we’re delivered out of this present evil age. We change kingdoms. There was a physical kingdom, you’d have to get a different passport. There’ll be no illegal immigrants in the kingdom of heaven. «If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord, '» and I don’t mean that as a national thing, it’s a spiritual thing. Don’t send me an email. «If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord, ' and believe in your heart that God raised with the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it’s with your mouth that you confessed and are saved».
It’s with our heart that we believe and with our mouth that we confess. It takes both parts. It’s what God said to Joshua. Meditate on this, keep it in your heart, and keep it in your mouth. Let it be the words you speak. Confess—it has something of a specific meaning, I suppose, in scripture—is to say the same as. When we confess what God’s Word says, we’re saying the same with our mouth that God says in his Word. We’re giving an application in our lives. It’s like repeat after me. It’s like, salvation is an all inclusive word. It includes all the benefits of Jesus’s redemptive work, everything accomplished through Jesus’s death, burial, and resurrection. It isn’t just a ticket to heaven.
We may do the Word study before we’re done with this. But the relationship between our mouth and our heart is highlighted here. The way to become convinced of God’s truth is to begin to make the right confession. You believe God’s Word is true, you humble yourself, and you begin to say what God has said. «I’m a child of the king. Well, I don’t feel like a child of the king. A lot of times I wanna act like the devil. But my Bible said if I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that I could be saved, and I have done that. And I’m a citizen of the eternal kingdom of God. God has given me everything I need for life and godliness. I haven’t unpacked it all yet, but he’s given me everything I need. He’s given me his eternal promises to help me accomplish the assignment for which I was created».
That is my confession. «Yeah, but I knew you». I understand you knew me in another day. But I believe what God has said. It’s the way we establish ourselves in the truths of God’s Word. Now, you can say whatever you want to, if you’re living like the devil, your words aren’t gonna undo it. We said that our rightness is established by what God said, not our declarations. So, we have this huge problem with sin. And we’re gonna talk about it in the next session. But I’m gonna give you an opportunity to practice what I preached. I’m gonna practice with you. We have mistakenly imagined that sitting in church makes you a Christ follower.
Folks, it’ll be a great shock when we get to the end of the age and we have to face judgment. There are many, there’ll be many people who sat in church with some regularity. Jesus already told us what he’ll say. He’ll say, «I don’t know you». And they’ll say, «But wait a minute, Lord, we’ve even done miracles in your name». And he’ll say, «Depart from me».
Now, I don’t say that as an accusation, I say that because it sobers me a great deal. I don’t wanna take anything for granted. I don’t wanna live presumptively. I don’t want you to live in great fear of your salvation. But I do not want you to live with an indulgent arrogance. So, I’m gonna invite you in just a moment to take those first steps with me. We’re gonna believe in our heart and confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord. Sitting in church isn’t what qualifies you as a Christ follower, it’s what you believe in your heart and what you’re willing to say, what you’re willing to own. See, you can’t deny Jesus. You can’t have a group of friends with whom you deny Jesus. Can’t have a group of people where you maintain your own ungodliness, and you roll up with them, and you act like you don’t know where church is. You can’t do business like a pagan and then run to church.
I understand we struggle with sin. But there’s a difference in the struggle with sin, wrestling with sin, and practicing sin. We have to hold the heart of being a Christ follower. We don’t earn it, but there’s the desire to honor Jesus as Lord. We do it imperfectly. Think of children pleasing their parents. Not a perfect experiment. But there is a desire to do so that enables a relationship to grow and flourish. And what we want to initiate in our lives by acknowledging Jesus is Lord, is a relationship where we say, «As halting as it may be and as imperfect as I may be, my intent is to honor you. Now help me».
If you don’t intend that, if that’s not your intent. You shouldn’t imagine you’re a part of the kingdom. You can be an inquirer, you can be curious, those are all good places, they’re better than having no interest. But I don’t want you to confuse the points. Be a Christ follower, says, «I believe in my heart that Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of God». And I will say it out of my mouth, not just in church. And you see, if you make that connection, then the next logical statement is, «Well, how could I please him»?
Lord, help me know how to do that. So, I wanna invite you towards that step with me. If you’ve prayed, if you’ve done it a thousand times, a thousand and one won’t hurt you. But you need to know how to help somebody else. We need the power of God in our lives. Darkness is more bold, more brazen, more intrusive than I’ve ever seen it in my lifetime. We have to meet that with our own determination to honor the Lord. Joshua couldn’t lead his friends across the Jordan River, and go knock on the doors of Jericho, and say, «God said we’re supposed to live here. We have a deed».
It required more than that. And it will require more than us having a theoretical faith, in order for the kingdom of God to be expressed through our lives. Will you stand with me? I’m gonna lead you in a prayer. I put it in your notes so you wouldn’t have to ask me later, but I’m not gonna read it to you. I’m gonna let you repeat it after me. And if what I pray is not exactly like the one in your notes, the one in your notes is right. Take a picture of it, put it in your phone. Whatever you do to keep something with you. Know how to help somebody into the kingdom of God. Okay, just repeat this prayer with me:
Almighty God, I’m a sinner and I need to savior. I believe Jesus is your Son, that he died on a cross for my sin and that you raised him to life again that I might be justified. Forgive me of my sins. I forgive all those who’ve sinned against me. Jesus, I choose You as Lord. Lord of all that I am. All that I have. All that I’ll ever be. I wanna honor You with my life. I want to serve You with my days. May You be pleased with me, amen.