show us a sign

Matt 16: 1 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.

2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.

3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?

4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.

Now the Pharisees and the Sadducees – were the ruling class of Jesus’ day . . . they were not really interested in finding out what was “right or

wrong” . . . but they were interested in the power which their current positions provided to them as the religious leaders of the children of Abraham . .

The motive behind their request “shew us a sign” was not a desire to know the Truth . . . but rather it was a desire to discredit Jesus in an attempt to

remove a threat to the power which they enjoyed “over the people” as the religious leaders of The Jewish nation . . .

Notice what we read of such men in II Peter 2: 1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

A false teacher is one who pretends . . . a false teacher is a fake or a person that is playing a part . . . these actors were doing things in secret . . .

While they pretended to be ministering to the people . . . they were in fact in the process of betraying the people in plain sight . . . they carried

out this pretense of being a Christian minister by secretly introducing heresy (which refer to teachings that are simply not true) . . . a heresy in

the church refers to teachings which are not healthy . . . or to teachings that are of a destructive nature to the love and the unity of God’s people . . .

The phrase “even denying the Lord that bought them . . .” refers to how these actors repeatedly deny their savior . . . Now obviously – the false

teacher is not going to stand up before the congregation and say something to the effect . . . I deny the God that saved my soul . . . but we

should understand that The WORD IS God . . . and the WORD was God . . . the same was in the beginning with GOD . . .

Our attitude toward the WORD is in all respects our attitude toward God HIMSELF . . . if we respect the WORD then we also respect GOD . . .

If we deny the WORD – then we also deny the God of that WORD . . .

Titus 1: 16 They profess that they know God; BUT IN WORKS they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.  

The works which denied “the Lord that bought them . . .” was the repeated introduction of “heresy” into the church for the purpose of making

themselves more appealing (more attractive) to the people . . .

II Peter 2: 2 And many shall follow their pernicious (malicious or harmful) ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of . . . to speak evil of the Truth is to DENY the God of that truth . . .

3 And through covetousness (greed) shall they with feigned (artificial) words make merchandise of you (they will take advantage of you) whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

Shew me a sign and I will believe . . . shew me a sign

and I will change my way of teaching – I will go back to the OLD way and start following you . . .

I have a hold over the people . . . I have deceived them – they like me - they have made my life easy and do not intend to take my mask off . . .

Jesus could see into the hearts of these false prophets and His reply to them is . . .

Matt 16: 2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.

3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?

Now what “signs of the times” do you suppose Jesus was referring to . . .

2Pe 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

II Tim 4: 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables (referring to the heresy that the false prophet repeatedly introduces).   

Now we cannot lay the blame for such a condition solely at the feet of the pretenders . . . an actor has to have

an audience . . . you see birds of a feather flock together . . . if our love for the truth has begun to wax cold – and if in its place we have fallen in love

with religion . . . we will turn aside from those who teach the TRUTH  – and we will seek in their place a pretender . . . 2Ti 2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

The idea of “suffering” so that we might also reign with Him refers to how “we suffer” when we deny what we are by nature . . .

The man who denies the natural tendency which we all have to “overlook” the truth when it is to our advantage to do so . . . the man who denies the

greed in his heart that leads him to take advantage of the trust that others have placed in him – the man who denies the desire to be in charge – the

man who denies the desire to teach only what others want to hear . . . this is the man who will reign with God in the heavenly kingdom of Jesus

Christ . . . but the man who refuses this type of self-denial as he “denies” the truth in order to gain

popularity . . . he may be popular in church – he may be popular in the community . . . but he will NOT be popular in heaven . . . he may be saved –

but to deny our saviour in this manner – is to guarantee that when we go to heaven – we will go there in shame - with empty hands – having forsaken the reward of the righteous . . .

II Cor 3: 14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Matt 16: 4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.

Jesus left these whose only interest in their religion was how to make themselves popular with the people . . . we did not say that these pretenders

were sent to hell . . . but having denied Jesus by their works – Jesus will deny them rewards in the day of judgment . . . has Jesus left you to find 

your own reward in success and popularity . . . or is Jesus standing beside you – and giving you comfort as you deny the world in order to follow His Truth?

Cry out to God

Cry out to God. 

-Statement:  Ps 84: 1 . . . How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!

The Lord of hosts is a phrase that refers to how ALL men are under the subjection of God.  He is the God of the multitudes – as well as the God of each individual.

“The Lord” is the God of all creation – but He is also MY own personal God.  Jesus died for me personally.

John 20: 27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

Jesus is truly the God and the Lord of ALL creation – but He is also the God and the Lord of each individual in that creation.

“How amiable are thy tabernacles” simply refers to how well thought of God’s House is or how

well God’s house is loved . . . not only by the multitudes – but also by each individual for whom He died to bring unto Christ.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

It is in God’s House – that the sinner learns about the sacrifice that Jesus made on their behalf – so as a man loves the truth – he will also love the house where that truth is taught.

Supporting Statement:  2.  My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.

My soul desires to be with God, I waste away “looking forward” to being located (placed) in the village of God: my whole man shouts for joy when I consider My God.

Our attitude toward statement:  If we consider the idea of looking forward to an event – how often do we actually (honestly) look forward to church time?

We often hear those who testify – that they are looking forward to The Lord coming back. 

And I suppose that this is something that we are all looking forward too . . .

But I just want to point out – that we cannot honestly be looking forward to the Lord’s return at the end of the age – IF we are not also

Looking forward to visiting His “House of Worship” each Sunday.  So the Psalmist has told us in this Psalm – that God’s house is well

loved . . . He more or less repeats this same thing when He tells us in the next verse . . . that he has a yearning – he has a desire – he has a

hunger – he has a thirst – a craving – to be where God is . . . So after hearing this Psalm – after learning of the Psalmist’s desire . . . Are you and I able to say the same thing?

Our practice of statement:  YES, I love The Lord, I love His house and I love the idea of His soon return.

Well, what I want us to do here briefly – is to test this statement . . . Do we really love the Lord – Do we honestly love His “House of Worship” – and Do we sincerely look forward to His return

In John 14: 15 Jesus says, If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Can we keep His commandments when the church has gathered together in worship to honor God – but WE have chosen to gather with the Razorback fans to honor a football team?

Heb.10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Do we honestly love His House of Worship if we CAN attend – but just choose to be somewhere else . . .

Depending upon how we were able to answer these last two questions – we should be able to properly judge the real answer to this.

Detailed expl. of statement:  Have you ever looked forward to a distant time/day so much so – that you just couldn’t wait for it to arrive?

We are all anxious for Christmas – Why is that?

We are anxious for Christmas because we like getting presents – we like seeing friends and family . . . and when we think about Christmas

We look forward to it because in our minds

Christmas is “well thought of” – Christmas is something that we love because of what it represents – and because of how “it’s celebration” effects our lives . . .

But to counter this – let’s think of “tax day” – April 15^th . . . how many of us look forward to this – well why not?

We are not anxious for April 15^th because we do not like having to pay taxes . . . we do not like to be reminded that we can’t afford what we

want/need because we have to let the politicians have too much of our hard earned money.

We do not look forward to this because in our minds - it is NOT well thought of – IT IS NOT something that we love . . .

Example to prove statement:  If we assemble with a ball team instead of attending worship services at God’s House – then we love something else instead of God.

This does not mean that we do not have ANY love for God at all – but what it does mean is that we obviously love something else MORE than we love God.

The world is in competition with God – some type of “entertainment” is literally in competition with the dull – narrow minded

teachings – that we hear expressed “in God’s House” every week.  So when we let the competition win – we lose our commitment to God and to that which is spiritual.

We cannot be (keeping or) safeguarding His commandments of true worship on a ball field or in the deer woods – these commandments of

proper worship can only be protected as they are practiced IN HIS HOUSE.

Summary: God has told us . . . The Psalmist has mentioned to us - how much he loves God – and how much that he desires to be with God

We have either accepted or rejected:  Now You and I have the same opportunity to develop this kind of attitude toward God and toward proper worship.

Come unto me . . . and learn how to love me and learn how to love My house of worship – like the Psalmist has done . . .

The way that we come to Jesus – is to turn away from what the competition is offering – and to turn toward “The Truth” that Jesus is offering.

If we leave the same as we entered then we do not believe.  If we leave this service with the same attitude as we possessed when we entered . . . do you think that God’s will has been accomplished in our heart?

Why worship?

Matt 16: 1 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.

“The Pharisees and the Sadducees” were religious leaders with much “political influence” during the time in which Jesus lived . . . Jesus was 

perceived by these political/religious groups “as a threat” to their brand of religion . . . In today's society - it would be like the Presidential 

candidates endorsing a particular religion . . . And as their “religion” increased – their “power base” would also increase . . . in the days of Jesus – because of the way in which religion and politics were 

intertwined – the religious views of “The Jew” were also his political views and the “Pharisees and the Sadducees” basically served as

opposing “party platforms” similar to the Democrat and Republican “platforms” which today allow each of us to identify ourselves with a particular “ideology” - which contain elements of political as well as religious concepts  . . . 

Well Jesus represented what amounted to (in His day) a THIRD party . . . Jesus was not a political activist at all – He repeatedly said and taught “render unto Caesar the things that are Caesars ’ and render unto 

God the things that are God’s . . . So the reality of it was - that Jesus was not a threat to the political climate of the day but He was a threat to the religion of the day . . . Jesus 

never once attempted to revolutionize the Roman government – but He did come to reform the Jewish way of “worship”.

Matt 22: 17 Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?

The question here is . . . Is it lawful for a disciple of Jesus (a Christian) to pay taxes to the Roman Government?

 18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?

 19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.

 20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?

 21 They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.

 22 When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.

Now this would have been a perfect opportunity for Jesus to have begun His political reform – The Roman government was one of the most corrupt institutions man has ever been a part of . . . there was graft – there was 

greed – taxes were high –and TAX MONEY was used to support this corrupt institution . . . but rather than resist (we find that as our example) Jesus paid His taxes to support a government that certainly did not spend that money in the pursuit of righteousness . . .

Matt 17: 24 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?

 25 He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?

 26 Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.

 27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

So Jesus was not interested in politics – and Jesus was not interested in changing the tax code to ensure that tax money was not used for things that He did not agree with  . . .  

We know this to be true or else He would not have paid taxes Himself – and He would have surely encouraged all of His disciples not to pay taxes either . . . but Jesus followed the law of the land . . . and until the law of 

the land opposes God’s law - so that like Daniel we must perform “one” at the expense of “the other” . . . we should follow Jesus’ example . . . and be good citizens of what is often a corrupt system . . . 

Like Jesus our purpose is not to reform our government . . . but rather “as God’s people” our purpose is to sustain (maintain) a particular way of worship (often in the midst of much corruption) by “making disciples” and teaching those disciples what Jesus has taught us. 

Matthew 28: 19 (To the church – to the true worshipers) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Jesus was not a politician . . . Jesus did not come to this earth to establish a new form of government – Jesus came to this earth for TWO reasons only

1)  To seek and to save that which was lost . . . by giving Himself a ransom for many and

2)  To fulfill the Old Testament pattern of worship (under the Law of Moses) and to put in its’ place The New Testament pattern of worship

(which He did through the New Testament Church).  All of the rules – all of the sacrifices – all of the things which defined the Old Testament way of

worship were replaced by a New Testament (by a New commandment) or a new law . . . that no longer required all of the symbols – and all of the

sacrifices which the worshiper under the Law of Moses was obligated to offer/perform . . .

Mt 5:17 (Jesus said) Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.

Jesus came to fulfill “God’s will” in regard to teaching His people the method and the meaning of proper worship . . . Jesus was not a politician

Jesus was a teacher of righteousness . . . And in the society of His day - everything was OK until Jesus begin to show how God’s definition of

righteousness – was very "different" compared to how the Pharisees and the Sadducees had defined righteousness.  Righteousness that is defined by good works (worshiper centered) . . . defines a system of worship that is 

based upon how good a person the worshiper is . . . while righteousness that is defined by humility and submission . . . defines a system of worship that is based upon how good GOD is . . .

Pr 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

And this difference of attitude is what The New Testament system of worship is designed to teach us . . . Not how good WE are . . . but rather how good GOD is.