Upper Room Christian Assembly

Matthew 10 - Twelve On A Trial Trip - 04

A Tricky Text - Part 4

Jesus’ description of Missionary Conflict, as recorded in Matthew 10:17-23, clearly exceeded the actual experiences that the Twelve encountered on this their first Apostolic Trial Trip.  Obviously, Jesus knew this was the case.  Albert Schweitzer’s interpretation makes a mockery of Jesus’ mind; but John Calvin correctly observes, “the contests of which Christ forewarns the apostles must not be limited to the first journey, in which they met nothing of this description.”

The Great Master of all ministerial students, the Lord of the Harvest, has established the principles of Place, Provision, Persecution and Power as a paradigm for all who respond to the Great Commission and proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom. 

We thank God for the Ministerial Manual authored by the Faithful and True Witness Himself and detailed in the 10th chapters of Matthew and Luke. The details of this Manual are not to be ditched.  Mark 16:14-20, among other passage (including the entire book of Acts), stands in opposition to the arguments of Cessationism by confirming that Kingdom Power should continue to attend the preaching of the Gospel.

Matthew 10 - Twelve On A Trial Trip - 03

A Tricky Text - Part 3

This study drives a wedge between Albert Schweitzer's cynical “literal” lid, which restricts the meaning of Jesus' words into a shallow box, and the genuine meaning of the text. 

What Schweitzer claims is nothing more than "plain words" is actually a profound discourse weaving together wisdom for Witnessers with promises of proleptic displays Jesus' power.

They who preach the Gospel of the Kingdom faithfully in their assigned field of labor will not only experience persecution; they will also see the Son of Man come with power as He confirms the Word with Signs following.

Matthew 10 - Twelve On A Trial Trip - 02

A Tricky Text - Part 2

Albert Schweitzer, Johannes Weiss, and others of the Consistent Eschatology School seize on Jesus’ statement recorded in Matthew 10:23 and argue that Jesus thought the dawn of the Kingdom would come before the Twelve finished a hasty journey through the cities of Israel in AD 29.

Preterists argue that the Son of Man came in the power of the Kingdom when the Roman legions under Titus destroyed the Jewish temple in AD 70.

This study interrogates these interpretations and argues that while there was a true sense in which the Son of Man came in AD 29 during the ministry of the Twelve, and at the destruction of the Temple in AD 70, these comings were proleptic foretastes of the future and final Coming of the Son of Man predicted in Daniel 7:13-14.

Matthew 10 - Twelve On A Trial Trip - 01

A Tricky Text - Part 1

Jesus calls twelve men from among His disciples and commissions them into a training exercise — a Trial Trip — in order to prepare them for their apostolic labors, which will be entered into in earnest following Jesus' ascension. 

Some of what Jesus said on that occasion applied only to the Twelve. But much of what Jesus said on that occasion was spoken through the Twelve as representing Believers of all time.  Comprehending where the emphasis lies in terms of what was limited to the Persons before Jesus over against what was spoken as a Principle applicable to all Believers, has proven to be a tricky task to accomplish.

Matthew 10:23 is at the heart of this challenge. This study begins to wrestle through the various views of this passage in order to pin down the errant ideas and submit them to the strength of the correct understanding.

Content To Be A Christian - 03

Content To Be A Christian - Part 3 - Final Exhortations

Four key considerations conclude this study of 1 Tim 6. 

1. Contentment Comes Through Crucifying Cravings - 1 Tim 6:9-10
2. Be Content To Contend For The Faith - 1 Tim 6:11-12
3. Be Content To Confess Christ - 1 Tim 6:13-16
4. Be Content To Be Charged and Chastened - 1 Tim 6:17-21

Content To Be A Christian - 02

Content To Be A Christian - Part 2

The Lord of Glory set the standard of Christian godliness when He released His rights to the riches of His regal standing. In His commitment to faithful Sonship, Jesus allowed Himself to be stripped of virtually every external indication of Divine favor to the point of being esteemed “smitten of God, and afflicted” (Isa 53:4). 

He went to the cross with nothing but His Father’s approval and was required to endure the sense of losing even this, the only thing He owned.  But in the end Jesus could say, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46), knowing that He was soon to be in paradise.

Jesus gives His peace to His followers (John 14:27), a peace that the money-centered, gain-driven, number-focused, world cannot give.  His is the peace that passes this understanding.  His is the peace that believes that godliness with contentment is great gain.

Content To Be A Christian - 01

Content To Be A Christian - Part 1

Among the riches of wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, which Paul directs Timothy to defend, is the peaceful truth that godliness with contentment is true wealth (1 Tim 6:6).  This value stands in opposition to the epistemologically greedy worldly-wise who hold that gain is proof of God's favor (1 Tim 6:5).

This study is the first installment of an investigation into the principles Paul promotes in the sixth chapter of his pastoral epistle to Timothy, which lead the Believer into the wealth of Christian Contentment, regardless of one's temporal circumstances.

Joining Joseph’s Journey – 005

Facing Fear and Standing Firm

We rejoice to behold God’s grace developing devotion in Abraham’s life as God draws him into deeper divinity.  Prov 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: And the knowledge of the holy is understanding. 

Clearly a deeper “knowledge of the Holy” was deployed by Abraham when he replaced the worry that once restricted his faith with worship from a well-wrought heart.  The man who fled to Egypt when facing famine in the womb of the earth and in the womb of his wife, walked in the worship of El Shaddai as he ascended Mount Moriah with steps of faith.

God had begun a good work in Abram’s life from the moment he was called out of Ur of the Chaldees.  His journey had its jitters; but, ultimately, through difficulty and divine disclosure, God worked a strong faith into Abraham’s soul that believed that God IS and that He is a rewarder of them that (rather than fleeing) diligently seek Him – Heb 11:6.

Joining Joseph’s Journey – 004

Facing Famine and Fleeing – Part 2

This study continues the investigation we began in last Sunday's teaching: Facing Famine and Fleeing - Part 1

Abraham's response to the initial trial of his faith upon entering the Promise Land initiates an impulse which will plague the history of Israel: Fleeing to Egypt in Time of Trail.  Facing famine in the desert region of a strange land is no small test; but nor was the command to sacrifice Isaac.

By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac (Heb 11:6).  In fear Abraham, when he faced famine, fled to Egypt.  His remarkable journey of faith from Ur to Haran and into the Promise Land was commended by God through a more intimate theophany experienced at Shechem.  Even so, Abraham had yet to develop the roots of a deeper spirituality (Matt 13:20-21) which would keep him planted in the Promise Land through all the perplexities of his pilgrimage.

Joining Joseph’s Journey – 003

Facing Famine and Fleeing – Part 1

Abraham, the great grandfather of Joseph, lived a remarkable life. Indeed, the apostle Paul exhorts the believer to walk in the steps of the faith of Abraham (Rom 4:12). But were all of Abraham’s steps clearly steps of faith? Did Abraham ever fumble, fail, or fear? This study presents a reverent reading of Abraham’s reaction to the experience of Famine in the Promise Land and finds fault with his steps into Egypt.

Remarkably, the first four generations of the Patriarchal Family face Famine in the Promise Land. This trial serves as a hermeneutical motif by which to measure the spiritual health of the family of God. Ultimately, Joseph alone renders the right reaction. His ability to do so has everything to do with his journey – a journey which this series of studies seeks to set forth.

[Our apologies for the relatively poor quality of this episode. The original recording was faulty and had to be remastered.]