Speaker: Dr Chan Ah Kee
Text: Matthew 11: 11-19
John the Baptist was praised by Jesus as the greatest "among those born of women", yet Jesus said, "he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he."
How can it be? "Among those born of women" refers to the Old Testament saints, while those in the kingdom of heaven are those who have been born of the spirit and have been given new natures and become new creations. Only in Christ is there new birth.
In other words, each of us who have been born again by the Spirit is greater than all the OT saints! They did not have the privilege of new birth. Hebrews 11:13 says of them: "All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth."
Peter wrote: "Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things." (1 Peter 1: 10-12)
We have the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in us, as we live in these last days where the Holy Spirit has been poured out on all flesh as prophesied by Joel (2: 28,29):
"And afterward,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams,
your young men will see visions.
Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days."
The Gospel is marching on throughout the world, and the church will always be victorious. There are revivals and fervent prayer all over the world (S Korea, S America, India). To enter into the kingdom of life, there needs to be repentance and change of lifestyle on our part (Matt 3: 8 - John the Baptist preached: "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.")
The Kingdom lifestyle is one of warfare, not a passive but an active life. Paul taught about discipline and hard work like a soldier, an athlete, and a farmer, about being deliberate, diligent and focussed.
"Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer. Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops." (2 Timothy 2: 3-6)
Peter, after describing the great salvation that God has given us, then tells us: "Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy.""Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him." (Matthew 13: 12, 25:29)
We need to respond rightly to God's grace: with goodness and faithfulness, as we can see in the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25: 14-30).
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