APRIL 16, 2024

“And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off.” (I Kings 20:11)

This was King Ahab’s response to a threatening message from the Syrian King Benhadad. These two kings were on the verge of going to war. It was the custom of combatants in those times to send stinging, insulting messages, exciting each other’s worst passions before they commenced the battle. Benhadad’s last message to Ahab was quite boastful: “The gods do so unto me, and more also, if the dust of the Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people that follow me.” Ahab countered with the words of our text: “Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off.” Ahab was a wicked man, and certainly not known for his great wisdom, but here, in an attempt at sarcasm, he inadvertently uttered a proverb of the wise.

It is safe to say that most people find braggarts to be very off-putting, especially so when their boasting comes before the fact. Once, in defense of a certain self-aggrandizing baseball player, Yogi Berra famously said, “It ain’t braggin’ if you can do it.” No, Yogi, it is still braggin’ and it is still obnoxious. My dad offered much better counsel to his basketball team: “You boys just play the game; if you do something worth talking about, other people will take care of that for you.” The legendary coach of the Dallas Cowboys, Tom Landry, must have been of the same mind, saying to his players, “When you make it into the endzone, act like you’ve been there before.” It is refreshing these days to see outstanding athletes who are willing to display their amazing skills, leaving it for others to extoll their greatness.

However insultingly intended, our text contains a great deal of common sense. This is one of those cases in which we can learn something very worthwhile from the mouth of a very wicked and foolish man. Though this may not be exactly what Jesus had in mind when He suggested that we might learn from children of darkness who are wiser in their generation, than the children of light, we do well to heed what Ahab here said.

The text is peculiarly adapted to those who are commencing the battle of the Christian life. The new believer is just girding on the harness. He or she does not yet realize the intense battles that are coming. It is easy to allow youthful zeal to underestimate the forces of the enemy, and the difficulties that lie ahead. We have known of newlyweds who talk about successful marriage as if they were coming upon their golden anniversary. Sometimes new parents consider themselves authorities on child rearing having not yet dealt with any of the inevitable struggles of parenthood. Young ministerial students arrive on campus already having all the answers before even attending a class. Young ministers enter the pastorate as if they have been in the harness for many decades, even though it has not a single dent in it.“Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off.”

There is within those who newly put on their harness a tendency to boast. They are more apt to be proud and to think of their intentions as accomplishments. Human nature is both poor and proud. It is so poor that it is naked and miserable, and yet it is so proud that it will claim to be rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing. The Pharisee, while he gorges on what he has robbed from widows, opens his mouth and cries, “God, I thank Thee that I am not as other men.” Let not any who gird on thewhole armour of God be so proud as to boast of anything. Let us remember that we are what we are by the grace of God and we have nothing, including this harness, that we did not receive.

Those who put on the harness have good reason to refrain from boasting. The very reason that we have been issued a harness should prevent any boasting. Without the helmet of salvation, how easily the fatal blow would be struck. Remove our breastplate of righteousness; our poor hearts would be wounded with mortal sins. If we weren’t properly shod, just one thorn would render us lame. Consider each piece of the armour, though it glistens like burnished silver, it affords no grounds for boasting, for it reminds us of how frail and weak we are. Let us therefore put on the whole armour of God, but let us wear it in the utmost humility.

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APRIL 11, 2024

 “And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God.” (Mark 12:34)

This was Jesus’ answer to a certain scribe who was the last in a string of scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees who were intent upon catching Him in His words, in an all-out effort to expose Him as a fraud. Jesus had just spoken to them a parable in which a householder had let his vineyard out to some evil husbandmen who plotted the death of his son in order that they might have the vineyard for themselves. The Jewish religious leaders correctly perceived that our Lord was talking about them. After word reached them that Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11:43-46), they called a meeting and concluded that if they did not get rid of Him, they would end up losing their place and nation. (John 11:47, 48) The parable of the wicked husbandmen made clear that He knew exactly what they were up to. They would have laid hold on Him then and there, but they feared the people. (Mark 12:12)

The only thing they felt they could do was to try to entangle Him in His talk, and thus, discredit Him in the eyes of the people. First, they sent a group made up of Pharisees and Herodians with a question about paying tribute to Caesar – whether it was lawful to do so. This He easily answered, and they marveled at Him. (Verses 13-17)

Next came some representatives of the sect of the Sadducees. They did not believe in the resurrection, so they took an example from the writings of Moses regarding a brother’s responsibility to marry a deceased brother’s wife to raise up seed to his brother. And what if the same scenario was repeated until seven brothers had taken the same woman to wife? Whose wife would she be in the resurrection? How embarrassing for the Sadducees to see how easily He solved the problem, while at the same time, exposing their ignorance of the Scriptures and the power of God. (Verses 24, 25) As a bonus, Jesus proved from Exodus 3:6 the absolute, undeniable truth of the resurrection. (Verses 26, 27) This is noteworthy because the Sadducees, who rejected much Old Testament Scripture as uninspired, did believe the Book of Moses to be God’s Word.

Finally, a scribe came with his question. But, having heard the former exchange between Christ and his interrogators, he “perceived that He had answered well.” He asked a good question, inquiring as to which commandment was the greatest of all. (Vs. 28) Jesus felt that the question was good and sincere, and He answered it in truth: “The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength…And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” (Verses 29-31) The scribe said to our Lord, and before all his fellow religious leaders who sent him to try and catch Jesus in His words, “Well, Master, thou hast said the truth.” They must have been furious! What a traitor! They sent him to expose Jesus as a fraud, and what does he do but affirm that Jesus spoke the truth. This reminds us of the band of soldiers in John chapter seven who were sent by this same bunch to arrest Jesus. When they returned empty-handed, and the angry council demanded an account, they simply answered “Never man spoke as this man.”

Clearly, the scribe was moved by what he heard and by the One who spoke. As the man expressed his agreement, Jesus saw in him a spirit of true understanding, noting that he had answered discretely (with understanding). “Thou,” said Jesus, “art not far from the Kingdom of God.”

What did he lack? What must one who is so near to the Kingdom do? He must “press into it.” Luke says, “The Kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.” He would surely meet with opposition, so press, he must!

“I am resolved to enter the Kingdom.

Leaving the paths of sin,

Friends may oppose me, foes may beset me,

Still will I enter in.”

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APRIL 9, 2024

 “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” (Romans 15:4)

Paul seems to deviate slightly from his main point with these words. In the previous verse, he quoted Psalm 69 to support the idea that because Christ did not please Himself in this life, self-gratification should not be the main priority of Christ-followers.

Now Paul, as he so often does, goes to the Scriptures to support his teaching about Christ. Of course, the Scriptures of which we speak are the Old Testament Scriptures. While it is true that, as Christians, we are not under the Old Covenant, that does not mean that the Old Testament is a dead book to us. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness…” (II Tim. 3:16) While “by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified,” that does not mean that we are released from any obligation to obey the righteous precepts of the Moral Law. In addition to the Moral Law itself, the Holy Spirit has through the inspired Scriptures set forth numerous righteous principles, all of which reveal the mind of God and answer to a good conscience.

Paul insists that those older Scriptures were written to teach all of God’s people, not just those who read them at the time. Those Scriptures are meant to bring encouragement and hope to God’s people in every generation. They help us to endure, even in and through suffering.

This verse answers modern Christians who ask why they should bother to read the Old Testament. Regardless of age, those writings remain the revelation of God’s heart. Though we have been freed in Christ from the Law, those 39 books are nonetheless the Word of God, full of truth, wisdom, history, and great encouragement for believers. Paul insists that we value those Scriptures; seeking encouragement and hope from them.

Paul’s simple point in this verse is that the Old Testament was admirably written and divinely inspired to express Christian duties and doctrine. Paul, therefore, turned aside from his direct argument to express this sentiment. These writings are for our teaching and instruction, that all the Old Testament might be applicable now in illustrating and enforcing the doctrines and duties of believers toward God and man.

By the example of the saints of old, who expressed their confidence in God and showed patience, we may learn to suffer and not only be instructed but also find comfort in our trials.

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APRIL 4, 2024

 “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:21-23)

Someone claiming to be a believer might appear respectable and wise, but you must look at the fruit of his life to know if he genuinely represents God. In the same way, it’s possible for a person to claim to follow Jesus, referring to Him as “Lord,” when they are not faithful followers of Christ. Only those who do the will of the Father will be allowed into the kingdom of heaven. Our good works might fool other people and even ourselves, but they cannot fool God.

Scripture is clear that salvation is entirely by grace through faith and not earned by good deeds. The Bible also strongly reminds believers that all people have sin, which must be addressed. However, God’s Word also indicates that those genuinely born again will see salvation reflected in their attitudes and actions. A similar tension exists in this passage, which emphasizes that Christ, not deeds, is what saves; yet, submission to Christ is an expected result of salvation.

Those who primarily define their faith by what they’ve done for God have placed their trust in something other than Christ. In these few verses, Jesus explicitly explains that to do God’s will requires genuine faith.

Having warned His listeners to beware of false prophets, Jesus clarified that others can show faith and fool us. Christians should be aware of false leaders and others who claim to represent God when they do not. He warns us to beware of false followers. Specifically, Christ is warning those who hear Him not to fool themselves into thinking they are true believers when they are not.

Jesus declares that not everyone who refers to Him as “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven. The title of “Lord” implies a master, a leader, and someone to whom the speaker submits. In prior teaching, Jesus indicated that mere words and actions are not enough; they must be motivated by sincerity and truth. In that same way, Jesus states in no uncertain terms that merely referring to Him as Lord is not enough. Neither are acts of supposed righteousness. Entrance to the kingdom of heaven is limited to those who thoroughly do His Father’s will in heaven. Paul writes, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” (2 Cor 13:5)

For the first time in this sermon, Jesus refers to God as “my Father.” Jesus Himself did the will of His Father in heaven. Those who truly follow Him will do the same lest they be told, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

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