WHAT DID JESUS LEAVE FOR US?
By Pastor Jim May
I was somewhat amused this week with so many people who were concerned about the passing of the date 6/6/06. It never ceases to amaze me that people, who are supposed to know and understand the Word of God, are so superstitious, and so afraid, of that number, 666. Anytime there is an occurrence where these numbers come together in some sort of configuration, there are always those who become fearful. How foolish can we be? How little we really know of God’s Word! Even worse, we don’t seem to understand what Jesus did for us and what He has left for us.
Paul wrote these words to Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:6-7, "Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
Every time I hear this scripture I wonder just how many of those claim to be God’s people really have the right spirit in them. How can people, who are supposed to have the Spirit of God in them, be so fearful and superstitious of everything? The Spirit of God is not a spirit of fear nor is He a spirit of superstition. If these things are a part of us, then we need to check our selves and make sure that we have the right spirit. I fear that many of those who think they have the Spirit of God in them, are deceived because it’s really the spirit of the antichrist that has them bound.
Jesus did not leave this world and ascend to the right hand of the Father in Heaven and leave us at the mercy of the devil. When He ascended back to Glory, with a finished work of redemption, Jesus left us with some great and powerful gifts. He left us with everything we would need to be victorious over the world, to defeat Satan and to drive back the powers of hell. He left us with everything we need to be the victorious church, the Bride of Christ, without spot, wrinkly or blemish, that He is coming back for some day soon.
Read with me, the very words of Jesus as He spoke to His disciples in Mark 13:34-37, "For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch."
As I read these verses it struck me that when Jesus left this world to make His journey to that far country of Heaven, that He left us with some things that will help us to fulfill the call that He has place upon us to spread the gospel and to be over comers.
What are those things that Jesus left for us?
1) Jesus left us “His house”.
By leaving His house, Jesus gives us the call to stewardship. But this just isn’t stewardship over finances alone. He left us with a stewardship over every facet of the Christian life.
What does that term “house” mean to you? Is it simply a dwelling place, or is there more to it than that?
Certainly a house is a dwelling place for a family. In that house we find shelter from the storms, a place of safety from the elements of the world and a place of solitude and peace from the rat race of life. Sadly, there are a lot of houses today where peace is not found and where safety no longer exists. The abuse of children, spousal abuse, and Satan’s influence has turned many of our homes in battlegrounds where each member of the family is fighting for survival.
Surely we see before our very eyes the fulfillment of Matthew 24:12, "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold." Is there any doubt that love has grown cold in the hearts of many people? Mother’s are casting their own babies into the garbage dumpsters, many of our youth are roaming the streets in search of answers that they think will be found in a pill or a needle, moms and dads think that showing love means giving a child whatever that child wants, except for their time, and even the church has been deceived into believing that the spiritual needs of the family can be met by “ministering to the needs of the flesh”. Why has all this happened? It happened because the Love of God and His Word has grown cold in the hearts of God’s own people!
We have come to the place where we look good, smell good and act good, but no souls are being saved, no sin is being cleansed and no spiritual power is made manifest in us, because the Word of God isn’t being preached, and isn’t loved, as it should be.
Paul also wrote these words to Timothy instructing him, and us by proxy. 2 Timothy 3:1-5, "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."
There is a perfect description of the modern day “House of God”. Each church is only for itself. So many congregations look at the buildings, programs and works of the church next door, and they covet what that church has, forgetting that God is the head of the church and is He alone that determines what His house is supposed to be. Who can doubt the bragging of “successful ministers” and “successful churches” as they let their pride show before the whole world, lifting themselves as something better than their “less successful” brothers and sisters in the Lord?
I don’t need to go on here. You get the picture. I just think that it’s a sad thing to realize that the church has grown so worldly that Paul’s description of the sin that grips the world also describes most of the church world too.
But that’s not all there is to the House. Yes, the House of Jesus Christ is a dwelling place. Let me read you are few scriptures and show you what the “House of God” really means.
In Psalms 91:1 David said, "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty."
So we see that the “House of God” is really a place where God keeps us; a secret place in Him, where we are safe from the powers of darkness. There we dwell, under His wings, under His shadow, where we are never far from the very presence of God’s protection and power.
John 6:56 says, "He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him." Here Jesus is talking about our communion, or fellowship, with Him. Jesus’ house that he left for us is a place of close fellowship; a place where we can feel welcomed and be a part of His own body.
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 says, "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are."
Yes, the Son of Man left this world, took his journey to a far country, and left us with His House by making us a part of His house. We are part of Jesus’ own body, accepted in Him by the power of his blood that was shed for us. We have become the embodiment of His House.
That word “House” encompasses all that Jesus is. His house represents his power, his majesty, his glory, his mercy and his grace. Jesus left His house in us that we can invite others into His house, and so that the world can see Him in us.
Aren’t you glad that Jesus left us His House!
2) Looking back at Mark 13:34, you will also see that Jesus left us with “Authority”.
What does it mean when it says that the Son of Man left his servants with authority?
It simply means that whatever authority the Son of Man had to carry out his mission in the hearts of men, has now been handed down to you and I who are his servants. We have the power, the right and the responsibility to continue to build His House!
We can see that authority in the ministry of Jesus.
When Jesus cast out the demon in Mark 1:27 we see that authority in action. "And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him."
Even while Jesus was still on this earth we can see Him imparting, or giving, His authority to His disciples. Luke 9:1, "Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases."
Jesus told us about the authority he would leave to us in John 14:12-14, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it."
The only question then, is not whether we have the authority to cast out demons, the authority to cure diseases, and the authority to build His house. The only question is whether we will use that authority left for us, or will we allow that authority to lie dormant while Satan has his way.
I do not preach by my own authority. I preach by the authority of the Word of God. I do not pray by my own authority. I pray by the authority of the Holy Spirit. I do not claim salvation by my own authority, but the authority of the Blood of Jesus Christ. All that we are is by the Authority given to us by the Son of God. Let’s use that authority that has been given to us by the Lord Jesus Christ and don’t allow the devil to run roughshod over us.
You can resist Satan and by the authority of God’s Word, He will have to flee. You can pray over the sick, and by the authority of God’s Word, they shall recover. You can pray for souls to be saved, and by the authority of the Blood of the Lamb, they will be saved. You can, and you will be victorious, and you will inherit eternal life, by the authority of the promises of God. The Son of Man left this world, and went on his far journey, but He has left us all with great authority in His name because we are his house and He dwells in us.
3) The third thing that the Son of Man has left for us is a work that we must do.
When Jesus was 12 years old, he got left behind when Joseph and Mary left Jerusalem in a “Dodge Caravan” and headed home. They had not gone very far when they noticed that Jesus wasn’t with them, so they turned around to go and find him. Where did they find him? In His Father’s House, taking care of business.
He wasn’t out running with the other kids, playing games, or skipping rocks in the Jordan River. He wasn’t out on the golf course, playing baseball, running track, or watching the sporting events. He wasn’t playing a computer game, watching a soap opera, or cruising the streets looking for a good time. He was taking care of business.
When Joseph and Mary found him, Jesus was in the Temple, teaching the teachers the Word of God. I’m sure that his parents were upset because he didn’t go with them, and no doubt they didn’t like the idea of searching the city of Jerusalem for a long time trying to find Jesus, but that didn’t seem to bother Jesus at all, because He was on a mission.
Luke 2:49, "And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?"
Does that sound like the church of today? Are you all about doing your Father’s business? The answer to that is “Yes, You are!” The only question is which “father” are you working for? Are your works building the Kingdom of God, or are they contributing to the household of Satan? There is no in-between. There is no gray area. You’re either working for the House of the Lord Jesus Christ, or for the House of Satan.
We must be good stewards and be about our Father’s business, working in the ministry and the place to which we are called by God. We must be fulfilling the call of God in our lives, or else we simply living in rebellion, and serving the devil.
The most dangerous place to be is to think, and be convinced that we are in the House of God, while we are really serving the devil by fulfilling our own desires and not the will of God. How terrible it will be in that Judgment Day, when many of those who thought they were in God’s House, suddenly find out that they are really of the Household of Satan!
When the Son of Man left this world to go to a far country, he left His House for you and I to be a part of; His authority to carry on and do even greater works than He did while he walked the earth; and He called us to do a work for him that would give our lives greater meaning and fulfillment than anything the world could offer.
But he gave us one more thing that I want to show you.
4) He gave us a command to watch, or be on guard.
Don’t ever forget that command given by the Lord with all of His authority. Don’t drop your guard, or you might get a knockout punch from the devil. He is the heavyweight champ of the world. He never sleeps and he is a very powerful enemy. He is always looking for a way to get a punch in and he won’t miss a single opportunity to deliver a right upper cut or a left or right, and it doesn’t bother Satan one bit to hit below the belt. His sole purpose is to utterly destroy you. So don’t drop your guard and watch for his tricks.
Cassius Clay, who changed his name to Muhammad Ali when he converted to Islam, used a tactic in the boxing ring that he called “Rope-A-Dope”. He would dance around the ring, ever circling, letting his opponent do the work, wearing him out, and when the other boxer was spent, Ali would move in for the “kill”. Do let the devil “rope-a-dope” you. Be on guard and watch for his every move. You can overcome him if you will just watch out.
Secondly, watching means that you must be ever vigilant and ready for the return of the Master. The Son of Man left this world to take a far journey, but He is coming back soon, we just don’t know the exact time.
Jesus words are stated emphatically to His disciples in Mark 13:35-37, "Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch."
We can’t afford to fall asleep like the five foolish virgins who let their lamps go out. We can’t afford to be the one left in the bed, or left on the rooftop or left in the field. There is only one chance, one opportunity, to go to be with the Lord when He comes again. Once the Master has come, it’s too late then to try to be a good steward. That’s when the rewards will be given and the punishments received as well.
If the servant of the master’s house had been faithful during the master’s absence, he would receive a reward and a bonus, or maybe even a promotion. But unfaithful servants who had been deceptive in their behavior and disobedient in their attitudes, and who had not contributed to the increase of the master’s house, would not be tolerated at all. They would be whipped, beaten, punished, cast into prison, and chased from the household, no longer to be a part of the master’s house. No amount of repentance and, no amount of promises to do better would change the master’s mind now. The time for obedience was over and now it was only time for judgment.
That’s the way it will be when Jesus Comes again too! In a moment, in the twinkling of eye, the fate of everyone who is in the master’s house will be sealed. Don’t count on getting saved after the Rapture, because God will send a great delusion and allow Satan to deceive people as never before. If you can’t be an obedient servant now, under the Age of Grace, how will you do so then, when temptations and sin will be so vastly increased?
2 Corinthians 6:1-2 says, "We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation)"
Those who are obeying the command of Jesus to watch and stay on guard, keeping their hearts ready for His return, will go to meet Jesus in the air and we will leave this world behind to face the dark days of judgment that will begin quickly.
But there are those who appear to be workers together with us, who may have even received the grace of God, but it has all been in vain, for they have ceased to watch. Today is the only day you have. There is no promise of tomorrow for any of us. Right now is the time when you will be accepted into the Household of God. Tomorrow may never come for you, and even if it does, there is no promise that God will call you to come to Him tomorrow.
Jesus said in John 6:44,"No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day."
The Son of Man, Jesus Christ, has gone on a far journey. He has been gone from this earth a long time, and His return is imminent. He left us with His House to build and care for. He left us with authority, in the Name of Jesus, to do great and might works. He left us with a duty to serve Him and build His kingdom. And finally He left us with the command to stay on Watch.
Are you ready for the Master’s return? If so, then praise God and stay on guard. But if you aren’t ready and you have allowed your guard to drop, then Jesus is calling to you right now. Come while it is the accepted time for you. Come while Jesus is calling and you can hear His voice. Come now and rejoin the Household of God because Jesus is coming soon.
