NOTE: The following is a message prepared to be delivered on Radio Panorama in South African by a good friend, Cornelius Claassen. Cornelius and his family minister in Welcomen, South Africa, a gold fields Township.
TOPIC: The Second Coming
TITLE: THE ONE -
Just Another SenatorTEXT: Luke 9:18-20 [KJV]
And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, "Whom say the people that I am?" They answering said, "John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again."
He said unto them, "But whom say ye that I am"? Peter answering said, "The Christ of God."
TRUTH CLAIM/CONTEXT: November 2008 and the American Nation has elected a new President – Senator Barack Hussein Obama – an historical event – the first American of African decent to be elected to the highest office in their democratic government.
A little known fact is that Senator Barack Obama visited South Africa two years ago.
The American Embassy informed the South African Government before hand of his proposed visit. They even warned the South African Government that the Senator had Presidential aspirations.
Senator Barack Obama visited many of the Townships in our country – places that the average visitor to South Africa never visits.
There was hardly any newspaper or TV coverage of his visit. Only one South African Government Official was prepared to meet with the Senator from Illinois.
Our Leaders were just too busy! Too many other important people to be met! Too many other important things to do! This was just another American Senator visiting South Africa!
Little did they realize that this man was to become the next freely elected leader of the most powerful nation on earth.
They were warned but they chose to ignore the possibility that he might become President of his country!
Today, many regret the decision they made two years back to ignore the Senator from Illinois:
"If only – if only we had known who it was that was visiting South Africa – things would have been done differently!"
FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: How does our text compare the opinion of man versus the opinion of a believer?Should Barack Obama decide to visit South Africa again, I am convinced that things would be different, much different – he will receive red carpet treatment!
But it is too late now – the damage is done!
We thought that he was just another Senator from America!
So many regrets: "If only we had acted differently ... if only we had not ignored him!"
There are some important Spiritual lessons that we can learn from this event and what happened two years ago!
2000 years ago Jesus came to this earth.
Nearby the city of Bethsaida Jesus spoke to a multitude of about 5000 men about the Kingdom of God
Matthew tells us in his Gospel account – there were about 5000 hungry men, besides women and children!
Jesus took five loaves and two fishes and blessed them and broke them and gave them to His disciples to set before this multitude.
What a miracle:
And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets.
Luke 9:17 KJV
Friend I want to remind you:
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Hebrews 13:8 KJV
What Jesus did 2000 years ago – He is still able to do today!
Please don’t lose hope! Whatever your need or problem may be today – Jesus is able to help you!
Put your trust in Him! Prayer moves the hand of Him through whom all things are possible!
I. WHO MEN SAY HE IS!Jesus leaves behind the crowd!
While He was alone praying, His disciples with Him He asked them:
"Who do men say that I am?"
They answered and said:
"Some say – John the Baptist!"
"Some say – Elijah!"
"Others say – One of the old prophets who has risen again!"
If I ask you today: Who do men say Jesus is? What answer would you receive?
If we ask our Muslim friends they will answer: He was a prophet! They will acknowledge that Jesus was born of a virgin! The only person ever known to be born of a virgin!
And she (Mary) who guarded her virginity. We breathed into her of Our spirit (Gabriel), and made her and her son a sign for the worlds.
Sura 21:91
They acknowledge that Jesus was a sign for the worlds! They even acknowledge that Jesus preformed many miracles! They will acknowledge that He was preferred above other Messengers of God -
Of these Messengers, We have preferred some above others. To some Allah spoke; and some He raised in rank. We gave (Prophet) Jesus, the son of Mary, clear signs and strengthened him with the Spirit of Purity (Gabriel). Had Allah willed, those who succeeded them would not have fought against one another after the clear verses came to them. But they differed among themselves; some believed, and others disbelieved. Yet had Allah willed, they would not have fought against one another. Allah does whatever He will.
Sura 2: 253
BUT they will insist – He was nothing more than a prophet!
Who do men say that Jesus is?
Some will tell you that Jesus was a good Teacher!
His teaching are worth following!
But that is as far as they will go – a good Man – a good teacher!
II. WHO BELIEVERS SAY HE IS!Jesus then asks:
He said unto them, "But whom say ye that I am?" Peter answering said, "The Christ of God."
Luke 9:20 KJV
I want you to notice something very carefully:
But who do you say I am?
We need to answer this question!
Friend, what is important is not -
Who your parents say Jesus is!
Who you family say Jesus is!
Who your friends say Jesus is!
Or even Who your Church says Jesus is!
The question is Who do you say – Jesus is?
Peter answered: "The Christ of God!"
John the Baptist called out:
The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."
John 1:29 KJV
Remember when Jesus was baptised:
And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
Matthew 3:16-17 KJV
Jesus told His disciples during the night that He was betrayed:
Jesus saith unto him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
John 14:6 KJV
The only way to the Father!
The only way to enter the Kingdom of God is by going through the door, into the Lord's sheep pen, and enter into Jesus!
APPLICATION/CHALLENGE: To leaders of South Africa, Obama was a mere human being, just another Senator from America; little did they know that the Senator from Illinois would become the next President of the most powerful nation in the World!
If they had only known!
Friend I want to remind you of something in closing -
The Bible says:
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10
In that day will you call out: If only I realized Who Jesus was!
Today, I was fulfilled my duty as a Preacher of the Gospel!
Jesus is the Son of God – the Saviour of the World!
Listen to the words of Scripture:
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9 KJV
What must we do?
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Romans 10:9
Then Peter said unto them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call."Acts 2:38-39 KJV
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Acts 4:12 KJV
Dear friend, do not hesitate to go out to see Him for yourself, do not hesitate one microsecond - seek Him, ask Him to be your Savior and your Lord, seek His forgiveness and live for all eternity with Him.
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