ONE MAN – ONE GOD

One Man

Israel, during the period of 63 B.C. and 135 A.D. described in the simplest of forms, was ruled over by Rome and ruled internally by the Sanhedrin, which the supreme court of ancient Israel. Both Rome and the Sanhedrin were powerful and influential and dangerous groups to cross.

Rome would use lethal means to rule over Israel if they deemed it necessary, and the Sanhedrin were directly responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus, His disciples and many thousands of His followers.

Still, one man, without any visible means of financial or political support, stood in the face of Jewish custom, Roman law and the Sanhedrin to proclaim a long prophesied and radical notion that He was the anticipated Messiah. His name is Jesus.

There are many who choose to build grand churches and make millions of dollars to ‘spread the Gospel’.

Stand With The ONE

But “Jesus was going about in all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people.” Matthew 4:23.

Jesus taught His disciples to be like Him and to do like Him.

For example, in Matthew 10:5 tells us that, “These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them, saying, “Do not go on a road to Gentiles, and do not enter a city of Samaritans; but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near. ’Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, or a bag for your journey, or even two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is deserving of his support.

“And whatever city or village you enter, inquire who is worthy in it, and stay at his house until you leave that city. As you enter the house, give it your greeting. If the house is worthy, see that your blessing of peace comes upon it. But if it is not worthy, take back your blessing of peace. And whoever does not receive you nor listen to your words, as you leave that house or city, shake the dust off your feet. Truly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment, than for that city.

“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be as wary as serpents, and as innocent as doves. But be on guard against people, for they will hand you over to the courts and flog you in their synagogues; and you will even be brought before governors and kings on My account, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given you in that hour. For it is not you who are speaking, but it is the Spirit of your Father who is speaking in you.”

“Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.

“But whenever they persecute you in one city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes.”

Grafted into the Olive Tree

Later, after Jesus was crucified, died, then rose to life and ascended to heaven to reside at the Right Hand of the Father, another man named Saul of Tarsus, later renamed as Paul the Apostle, was commissioned by Jesus to take the Good News (The Gospel of Jesus the Christ) to the entire Gentile world.

Now, by God’s grace and through faith in Jesus and His finished work on the cross, those who were not Jewish by birth could be ‘grafted into the Olive Tree’ and be made part of God’s Elect and become disciples, friends and joint heirs with Christ.

The Meaning of Discipleship

Jesus explains, in Matthew 10, that, “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. It is enough for the disciple that he may become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they insult the members of his household!

 “So do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the darkness, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim on the housetops. And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are two sparrows not sold for a penny? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not fear; you are more valuable than a great number of sparrows.

 “Therefore, everyone who confesses Me before people, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before people, I will also deny him before My Father, who is in heaven.”

Peace on Earth?

 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to TURN A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW; and A PERSON’S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD.

(Note: The idea that Jesus was to bring peace on earth has been lifted from Luke 2:8-14 when the Angels proclaimed at Jesus birth, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” It is for those with whom He is pleased – i.e., those who come to Him through faith in His Son, but a sword for the world at large!)

“The one who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and the one who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And the one who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. The one who has found his life will lose it, and the one who has lost his life on My account will find it.

“The one who receives you receives Me, and the one who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. The one who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and the one who receives a righteous person in the name of a righteous person shall receive a righteous person’s reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones just a cup of cold water to drink in the name of a disciple, truly I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”

“When Jesus had finished giving instructions to His twelve disciples, He went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.”

And Jesus leads by example. We have no excuse if we are His disciples.

Now That You Know

Why, would God send His only Son to a world that had become hostile toward Him, to be killed? So that the world through Him could be saved from eternal damnation and destruction? Is that the whole story? It is true, but it is by no means the whole story.

Jesus came to seek and save the lost SO THEY WOULD

1. 1. Have the same mind which is in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 2:5)
   2. Do the works that Jesus has done, and even greater works. (John 14:12)
   3. Go into all the world and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:18-21)

Jesus came to earth to do the Works of the Father, show the Wonders of His Kingdom and to send His Workers, His disciples into this world so Him might finish His Works through us.

• • We are kept weak in our own flesh for this very reason: When we are weak, He is strong!
  • We are destined to struggle in this world so we do not become self-reliant, but that we remain completely dependent on Him.
  • We are commanded to endure our present sufferings to the end, so that we might be saved by the word of our testimony and by the blood of the Lamb!

If your experience is ‘greater than this’ in terms of possessions, money, recognition, influence, power or fame, you might ask why. Why did are your methods different from Jesus’ methods? Are you comfortable in your ministry? Why is that? Why is your experience different from His? Are you wiser and greater? Or are you bringing worldly results? And, what does that say?

If you consider yourself a Christian, a follower of Jesus, and have no experience to relate to others, why is that? Are you not engaged in the Spiritual war that rages? Have you not put on the mantle of a disciple of Jesus? And what does that say?

When He returns as the Lion of Judah, the conquering ruler, we will be with Him. But for now, Jesus is the suffering Servant. We are to be likewise. Let’s put aside our pride, ego, the parading of our possession, our wealth and our abilities and serve Him. Anything less is failure.

Scriptures tell us to “test ourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?” (2 Corinthians 13:5)

Stand With The One. Be The One.

We are entering and have entered the End of Days and the time is short. Let’s be found doing what He has told us – prepared for His Return.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PS: Please. Let’s pray for one another. We are living in treacherous and dangerous days. Let’s hold one another up as these days progress.