Summary: Sermon warns us that if we forsake Christ we forsake our only hope to save us from our deserving judgment.

WHY DO YOU SMITE ME NOW?

Heb 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

Heb 6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

Heb 6:3 And this will we do, if God permit.

Heb 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

Heb 6:5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

Heb 6:6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

I do not wish to direct anyone into a place of condemnation and hand them over to Satan, but I do want you to realize one important part of this scripture tells us one important principal, that we should consider , God is not pleased does not want us to take his mercy and grace for granted and lightly.

Christ has suffered for you and I once and it was enough. If we will not except him and his gift his eternal sacrifice then friend there remained no more of a sacrifice, there is nothing more that God can do for you, it is like I once heard a wise preacher say one time, the only time that a preacher is without a message is when there is not a open ear to receive it, in other words if you wont receive it then there is not any message that could ever help you. One must want to change, one must desire repentance.

ENLIGHTENED

To come to the knowledge of or to see it for what it is. The scripture says in:

Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

WE are without excuse , church we have seen it and handled it and now to say I didn’t know is a lie.

TASTED OF THE HEAVENLY GIFT

To feel your sins washed away and to know true redemption. To know the only True God and walk with him in understanding.

PARTAKERS OF THE HOLY GHOST

To experience the amazing heavenly touch of Gods spirit in your soul. To walk in demonstration of the Holy Ghost to see miracles and to experience what the world says is impossible.

To know all these things and to cast it all aside as if it were trash, friend what else can be done for us, what more can God do for you and I.

I thought about Judas Iscariout, the deciple that walked with God and seen and experienced all of Jesus Christ and then betrayed him. Time and time again I believe Judas must have wrestled with Christ in his heart. Christ said, “ Judas betray the Son of Man with a kiss” , I believe he was saying , “ don’t do this Judas. I believe God will chase us until that final moment of judgment comes hoping to persuade us , to change our course to pull us from the fire.

Numbers 20:7-12

Moses stands before the Lord with the children of Israiel in need of nourishment and God tells him to speak to the rock but in his anger for the people he smote the rock.

Many say that the reason the Lord was angry for Moses smiting the rock was because he would be smote once for our redemption once, and the rock was a type and shadow of Christ, and to smite him is as the scripture says putting Christ to an a open shame.

Many people get frustrated with the church people and will rather than giving it to Christ they will quiet church all together. Who are we punishing the people or Christ? We get angry at them and smite the Lord and walk away, and I believe Christ must ask WHY DO YOU SMITE ME NOW? I KNOW WHY THE CROSS, BUT THAT HAS BEEN FINISHED SO WHY DO YOU SMITE ME FOR NOW?

Num 22:22-31

Balem was on a path of disobediance and sin , and the only thing that saved him from the wrath of God was the donkey he was riding on.

Num 22:27 And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.

Num 22:28 And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?

Num 22:29 And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.

Num 22:30 And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay.

Num 22:31 Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.

This donkey was a type of Christ to Balem. Just as Christ saw the judgment that would be upon mankind for their sin and rebellion, he took the punishment for you and I and just as the donkey asked Balem WHY DO YOU SMITE ME NOW? I AM THE ONLY THING SAVING YOU RIGHT NOW FROM JUDGMENT.

What path are we taking right now in our walk, and are we smiting the and killing our very defence and help?

St. John 18:22-23

Jesus is being tried for doing nothing but preaching the truth and upsetting the peoples comfort zone. The High Priest servant strikes him,

Joh 18:23 Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?

If what Christ is telling us about our lives , our situation is true, if the word ,the preacher, is telling us the truth Christ ask you today WHY DO YOU SMITE ME NOW? I AM TRYING TO HELP YOU, TO RESCUE YOU, I WAS SMOTE FOR YOU ONCE. WHY DO YOU SMITE ME NOW?

Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

Rev 19:12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.

Rev 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

Rev 19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

Rev 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

Rev 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

DON’T PUSH YOUR SAVIOUR AWAY, DON’T SMITE HIM AGAIN, BUT RECEIVE HIM. DO NOT SMITE HIM LEST WHEN HE COMES YOU ARE SMITTEN.