THE MAN WHO WAS A LUNATIC

 

“And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, ^{Mt 15}  Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. ^{Mt 16}  And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. ^{Mt 17}  Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. ^{Mt 18}  And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. ^{Mt 19}  Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? ^{Mt 20}  And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. ^{Mt 21} Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.”Matthew 17:14-21.

 

We have moved into a new section of Matthew’s gospel. The two outstanding figures in the genealogy of Christ  are Abraham and David. In the first section He is presented as the Son of David, and the Kingdom of Heaven was preached. “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:17. In the second section He is presented as the suffering son of Abraham, as seen in Isaac. “From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.  Matthew 16:21. He will travel from the mount of transfiguration to Mount Calvary.

Things had not change below the mountain. A young man is designated as a “lunatic.” He would respond as an epileptic. Some believed that the symptoms were greatest when there was a full moon. In reality, a devil took full control of him at those times to make the people believe it was the moon.

Under the Kingdom ministry personal faith will have a like effect on the sick, and the possessed. This was true in the gospels and early acts, and will be so again in the Tribulation and the Kingdom. The unbelief of the nine rendered them helpless in this special case. However, Jesus had told them, after His departing, they would do greater miracles than these.  Nevertheless, verse 20 and many similar passages in the Kingdom gospels speak of spectacular miracles by those with spectacular faith. For example, (Mt. 21:22; Mk. 9:23; 11:22-24; Jn. 14:12-15; 15:7,16; Heb. 11:6; Jas. 1:5-8). Nothing like this is promised in the church epistles. Thus, these are Kingdom ministry promises, in some cases are a hyperbole.

ARE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS APPROPRIATE IN CHURCH?

It is obvious when pastors claim their church is biblical and not contemporary they have one thing in mind. They are speaking of musical instruments and any song not in the hymnal. Now, there are many types of music I personally do not like, but that is my preference.  However, for any pastor to condemn another, or suggest that they themselves do things as intended in Scripture, may indicate they know little about church history, and less about Scripture. If we reckon time from the cross, much of what we do is contemporary. My argument is not the rightness or wrongness of instruments or songs recently written. My point is to show that we do not follow the faith of our fathers, whose tombs we whitewash, while condemning others who do not do as we do.

Historical Quotations:

These historical quotations are enlightening about church history – musical instruments in public worship were rejected from the apostolic era to the 19th century. Such references to history do not prove musical instruments wrong in public worship, for only the Bible can do that, but they illustrate that what is now universally assumed and taken for granted was once rejected.

Justin Martyr (139 A.D.), an early church Father

“The use of [instrumental] music was not received in the Christian churches, as it was among the Jews, in their infant state, but only the use of plain song…. Simply singing is not agreeable to children [the aforementioned Jews], but singing with lifeless instruments and with dancing and clapping is. On this account the use of this kind of instruments and of others agreeable to children is removed from the songs of the churches, and there is left remaining simply singing.”

Tertullian (200 A.D.), an early church Father

“Musical concerts with viol and lute belong to Apollo, to the Muses, to Minerva and Mercury who invented them; ye who are Christians, hate and abhor these things whose very authors themselves must be the object of loathing and aversion.”

Eusebius (260-340), an early church Father

“Of old at the time those of the circumcision were worshiping with symbols and types it was not inappropriate to send up hymns to God with the psalterion and kithara…. But we in an inward manner keep the part of the Jew, according to the saying of the apostle…. [Romans 2:28f]. We render our hymns with a living psalterion and a living kithara, with spiritual songs. The unison voices of Christians would be more acceptable to God than any musical instrument.”

Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), one of the greatest Catholics

“Our church does not use musical instruments, as harps and psalteries, to praise God withal, that she may not seem to Judaize.”

The Catholic Encyclopedia

“The first Christians were of too spiritual a fibre to substitute lifeless instruments for or use them to accompany the human voice. Clement of Alexandria severely condemns the use of instruments even at Christian banquets … For almost a thousand years, Gregorian chant without any instrumental or harmonic addition, was the only music used in connection with the liturgy.”

The New Catholic Encyclopedia

“The rejection of all musical instruments for Christian worship is consistent among the Fathers [early Christian writers]. They were associated with pagan, orgiastic rites.”

Martin Luther (1483-1546), the father of Lutheranism

“The organ in the worship is the insignia of Baal… The Roman Catholics borrowed it from the Jews.”

John Calvin (1509-1564), a father of Presbyterianism

“Musical instruments in celebrating the praises of God would be no more suitable than the burning of incense, the lighting of lamps, and the restoration of the other shadows of the law. The Papists therefore, have foolishly borrowed, this, as well as many other things, from the Jews. Men who are fond of outward pomp may delight in that noise; but the simplicity which God recommends to us by the apostles is far more pleasing to him.”

Theodore Beza (1519-1605), the successor to John Calvin

“If the apostle justly prohibits the use of unknown tongues in the church, much less would he have tolerated these artificial musical performances which are addressed to the ear alone, and seldom strike the understanding even of the performers themselves.”

John Wesley (1703-1791), a father of Methodism

“I have no objection to instruments of music in our worship, provided they are neither seen nor heard.”

Adam Clarke (1760-1832), one of the greatest Methodists

“I am an old man, and I here declare that I never knew them to be productive of any good in the worship of God, and have reason to believe that they are productive of much evil. Music as a science I esteem and admire, but instrumental music in the house of God I abominate and abhor. This is the abuse of music, and I here register my protest against all such corruption of the worship of the author of Christianity. The late and venerable and most eminent divine, the Rev. John Wesley, who was a lover of music, and an elegant poet, when asked his opinion of instruments of music being introduced into the chapels of the Methodists, said in his terse and powerful manner, ‘I have no objections to instruments of music in our chapels, provided they are neither heard nor seen.’ I say the same.”

“But were it even evident, which it is not, either from this or any other place in the sacred writings, that instruments of music were prescribed by divine authority under the law, could this be adduced with any semblance of reason, that they ought to be used in Christian worship? No; the whole spirit, soul, and genius of the Christian religion are against this; and those who know the Church of God best, and what constitutes its genuine spiritual state, know that these things have been introduced as a substitute for the life and power of religion; and that where they prevail most, there is least of the power of Christianity. Away with such portentous baubles from the worship of that infinite Spirit who requires His followers to worship Him in spirit and truth, for to no such worship are these instruments friendly.”

Presbyterian Catechism of 1842

“Question 6. Is there any authority for instrumental music in the worship of God under the present dispensation? Answer. Not the least, only the singing of psalms and hymns and spiritual songs was appointed by the apostles; not a syllable is said in the New Testament in favor of instrumental music nor was it ever introduced into the Church until after the eighth century, after the Catholics had corrupted the simplicity of the gospel by their carnal inventions. It was not allowed in the Synagogues, the parish churches of the Jews, but was confined to the Temple service and was abolished with the rites of that dispensation.”

Philip Schaff (1819-1893), wrote History of the Christian Church

“It is questionable whether, as used in the New Testament, ‘psallo’ means more than to sing…. The absence of instrumental music from the church for some centuries after the apostles and the sentiment regarding it which pervades the writing of the fathers are unaccountable, if in the apostolic church such music was used.”

“The custom of organ accompaniment did not become general among Protestants until the eighteenth century.”

Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892), one of the greatest Baptists

“Praise the Lord with the harp. Israel was at school, and used childish things to help her to learn; but in these days when Jesus gives us spiritual food, one can make melody without strings and pipes. We do not need them. They would hinder rather than help our praise. Sing unto him. This is the sweetest and best music. No instrument like the human voice…. David appears to have had a peculiarly tender remembrance of the singing of the pilgrims, and assuredly it is the most delightful part of worship and that which comes nearest to the adoration of heaven. What a degradation to supplant the intelligent song of the whole congregation by the theatrical prettiness of a quartet, bellows, and pipes! We might as well pray by machinery as praise by it.”

Spurgeon preached to 6,000 people every Sunday for 20 years in the Metropolitan Baptist Tabernacle and never were mechanical instruments of music used in his services. When asked why, he quoted 1st Corinthians 14:15. “I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the understanding also; I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.” He then declared: “I would as soon pray to God with machinery as to sing to God with machinery.”

David Benedict (1779-1874), Baptist Historian

“In my earliest intercourse among this people, congregational singing generally prevailed among them…. The Introduction Of The Organ Among The Baptists. This instrument, which from time immemorial has been associated with cathedral pomp and prelatical power, and has always been the peculiar favorite of great national churches, at length found its way into Baptist sanctuaries, and the first one ever employed by the denomination in this country, and probably in any other, might have been standing in the singing gallery of the Old Baptist meeting house in Pawtucket, about forty years ago, where I then officiated as pastor (1840)…. Staunch old Baptists in former times would as soon have tolerated the Pope of Rome in their pulpits as an organ in their galleries, and yet the instrument has gradually found its way among them…. How far this modern organ fever will extend among our people, and whether it will on the whole work a RE-formation or DE-formation in their singing service, time will more fully develop.”

Albert Henry Newman (1852-1933), Baptist Historian

“In 1699 the Baptists received an invitation from Thomas Clayton, rector of Christ Church, to unite with the Church of England. They replied in a dignified manner, declining to do so unless he could prove, ‘that the Church of Christ under the New Testament may consist of … a mixed multitude and their seed, even all the members of a nation … whether they are godly or ungodly,’ that ‘lords, archbishops, etc., … are of divine institution and appointment,’ and that their vestments, liturgical services, use of mechanical instruments, infant baptism, sprinkling, ‘signing with the cross in baptism,’ etc., are warranted by Scripture.”

“It may be interesting to note that this church (First Baptist Church of Newport, organized in 1644) was one of the first to introduce instrumental music. The instrument was a bass viol and caused considerable commotion. This occurred early in the nineteenth century.”

(http://www.letgodbetrue.com/bible/church/musical-instruments-in-the-church.php)

 

https://youtu.be/E62VNI5q8e0   (SERMON)

 

THE TRANSFIGURATION OF CHRIST

In the previous chapter, the Lord had assured His Disciples that the gates of hell would not prevail against His church. He also reminded them of the suffering one must endure to enter that Kingdom of Heaven Church. He promised them a preview of the Kingdom, and they would see it in seven days. This would be a source of hope and encouragement to them.

Peter and the eleven were promised final authority as judges in the coming Kingdom, and is noteworthy that Peter is always mentioned first. This does not suggest that he had more authority than the eleven. However, Peter is given a special place of leadership in the early Acts period. God had a distinctive reason for recording the ministry of Peter more than that of others.

Paul identifies Peter as the apostle to the Jews, in contrast to his own ministry to the gentiles. “ But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;” Galatians 2:7. The book of Acts has 28 chapters; however, Peter disappears from the book at chapter 15. He is not mentioned again. There is a great dispensational reason for this, and Luke, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, lays it out in Acts in a way that 99% of Christians never see it.

We are not told which mountain this was. Nevertheless, the experience was not forgotten. Peter, James, and John go with Christ to the mountain. There, they behold a site that overwhelms them. Jesus was transfigured above the brightness of the sun. That was a glimpse of His full splendor and glory. Two Old Testament saints appear with Him. One was Moses, who had died a 1000 years earlier, and the other was Elijah, who never died. These two were with Him on the mountain.

Moses was not in a resurrected body. His spirit was clothed by the Lord. However, Elijah was flesh and bone, and had been preserved in heaven since he was taken up in a chariot of fire! These three talked about the upcoming death of Jesus, and of the Kingdom of Heaven to follow. His suffering must precede His glory.  In addition, Moses represented the saints who will be resurrected at the Second Advent, and Elijah represented those who will be raptured, and will go into the Kingdom without dying. This event has nothing to do with the present Church, which was a mystery.

There can be no doubt that Peter believed this was the beginning of the Kingdom. He is willing to make tabernacles for the three so they could behold the full establishment of the Kingdom. “Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken.” Isaiah 33:20.  “And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.” Zechariah 14:16. Peter was overcome with glory and expectation. Luke said Peter did not know what he said. “ And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said. Luke 9:33.

The experience was similar to that of Moses on Sinai at the founding of the nation of Israel. The three were sore afraid, and fell on their faces. However, a reassuring voice came from heaven validation all they saw and heard. Jesus charged them tell no one until He was resurrected out from among the dead. They did not have clue as to this saying, as all the gospels demonstrate.

They had just witnessed the coming of Elijah. Now he was gone. This prompted the question, why the scribes said Elijah must come prior to the Kingdom. Jesus assured them that Elijah would certainly come before the Kingdom was established. John the Baptist came as a forerunner, and in the spirit of Elijah, but Israel’s leaders rejected and killed him. This they will also do to Elijah in the Tribulation. “⁶ These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. ⁷  And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. ⁸  And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. ⁹  And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. ¹⁰  And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. ¹¹  And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. ¹²  And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. ¹³  And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.” Revelation 11:6-13.

 

 

I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH…WHICH ONE?

 

The offer of the King and His kingdom is now in the process of being rejected by Israel, and the King is in the process of rejecting them. He has given an overview of how their offer of the Kingdom would be infiltrated by wickedness. This is the purpose of the parables in chapter 13. As he teaches His Disciples, He expounds more clearly some of the details.

 Verses 1-4.

The religious leader keep up the pressure, tempting Him to give them a direct sigh from heaven. His answer was that they were able discern the approaching weather, but were completely blind to their own Scriptures, and the prophesied signs of their Messiah. The one sign that would validate all He taught and did will be validated by His resurrection out from among the dead. Paul quotes this as a proof text of His deity. “…Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; ⁴  And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:” Romans 1:3-4.

 Verses 5-12

As they departed and sailed across the lake, Jesus still has His mind on the Pharisees and Sadducees. He warns His Disciples to take heed of the teaching of these groups. The Disciples are confused because He used the word “leaven” instead of the word doctrine. Leaven, in many ways, and in most cases, is a type of evil in some form. Here, He warns them of their doctrine.  “Of the hypocrisy of the Pharisees Mat 16:6-12Mark 8:15Luke 12:1 Of other evils 1Co 5:6-8Gal 5:9 Parable of Mat 13:33Luke 13:21.” Nave’s Topical Bible:

 As the Lord continues the training of the Twelve, He must be sure that they are convinced as to His person. When the question is asked “whom do men say I am?” Their answer was, John the Baptist, Elias, Jeremiah, and other of the prophets. In other words, the multitudes were not sure. It was not imperative that they know, but His Disciples must be sure if they are to preach to others.

 The question gets more direct, and Jesus asks the Twelve whom do you say I am? With limited understanding of Christ’s mission, Peter gives the right answer. “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” The Lord told Peter that he was blessed to know that, and He would build His Kingdom of Heaven church on that truth.

 It is at this point the Baptist brethren make their greatest error. They assume the church Jesus speaks of is the church which was the mystery church revealed to Paul. They appear to be ignorant of the church that existed in the Old Testament, and during the transition period. Stephen speaks of this church. “This is he that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:” Acts 7:38. That church was called out of Egypt. It consisted of the nation of Israel. Although in apostasy, it existed during the earthly ministry of Christ and His Apostles. However, most of that church had died and were in Paradise. This is the church that the “gates of hell” would not keep. They would be resurrected, and join with others who accepted Him as their Messiah, the Son of God. “Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.” Hebrews 2:12. “²² I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. ²³ Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.” Psalm 22:22-23.

 The “keys” given to Peter and all the Disciples is the knowledge and understanding of who Jesus Christ is. John sums it up. “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” John 20:31. Now, one should read this text without attempting to read the writings of Paul back into it.

 The Disciples will be seated on twelve thrones judging the nation of Israel. They will have the delegated power and wisdom of Christ so that the decisions in all matters of judgment will be final and have the approval of the Father and the Son.

 Verse 21-16.

NOW, I hope I can get your attention for a few minutes. Verse 21 says it was at this point that Jesus BEGAN        to inform of His Disciples of His upcoming rejection and death at Jerusalem. If pastors could grasp the implications of this truth, it would revolution their theology. At this point, it is but a few days until His crucifixion. NO ONE knew of His predestined death. However, He and the Twelve have been preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven to Israel for three years! Now, it is obvious that none preached His death, burial, and resurrection in any manner for salvation. John tells us that they did not know that He was to be resurrected. “For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.” John 20:9. The Disciples had much to learn. I have tried for years to get a Baptist to tell me the content of their gospel, and in what way Johns baptism related to their gospel. I have not had a straight answer yet…wonder why.

 In light of His death, He tells them they must be willing to lose their life, if they hope to save it. Although every Christian should be willing to follow Christ to the death, the context is still part of the Kingdom Gospel. The promise of a view of the Kingdom would encourage them. We know the story, but one can only imagine what went through their mind.