Is it I
jmicha...@juno.com
LORD, IS IT I?
Mark 14:10,11; 17-21; 43-45
Introduction: Judas Iscariot was a part of an elite group of men. He was a disciple of the Lord Jesus. He spent 3 1/2 years with the Lord Jesus. Think about what he saw in those years. He had witnessed Jesus raising people from the dead, the blind receiving sight, lepers made clean and whole, demon possessed people set free and the deaf beginning to hear. Think about all those great words that he heard our Lord speak both publicly and privately. Even with everything that he saw and heard, he still turned to the world to increase his "wealth". Look at the sad words that our Lord uttered in verse 21 The son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never born. Judas is in Hell today because of the wrong choice he made on that fateful day. If he had not been born, then he would not be in Hell today.
On the night of Christ's betrayal, Satan completely took over Judas' body. Judas allowed this event to happen. (John 13:27 “And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.”) But he could have chosen to do what was right and not Satan wanted him to do. Think about what torments Judas is going thru at this very moment. I am sure he has been going around for the past two thousand years recalling those fateful events that lead up to his death. He can feel the coins in the palms of his hand. He sees the glimmer of the silver. Greedy probably made him think that he should have asked for more. If he had asked for more, he would have gotten more. But then the Scriptures would not be fulfilled. Zechariah 11:12-13 tells us “And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.”
Let’s get some quick background on Judas first. Judas was chosen at the same time as the rest of the apostles. He is always the last on every list. He was the treasurer of the group. He was the one who got upset when the alabaster box was broken. Instead of seeing the beauty of the situation, greed ruined his heart.
Today I want to explore what the conspiracy that Judas entered into with Satan and his crowd, the cost that was given and the conclusion of this conspiracy and how it relates to our lives today.
I. THE CONSPIRACY Vs. 10-11
“And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them. And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.”
A. It was involved with personal gain. He was all excited that he was going to get thirty pieces of silver. That was the price of a full growth slave. He was willing to betray our Lord who came to set men free from their sin.
1. What is your price? Satan knows your price. He knows how to put that price in front of you.
2. What you will sell out for? We have one of the greatest examples in the Bible.
Gen. 25:29-34
“And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom. And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.”
ESAU SOLD OUT FOR JUST A BOWL OF CHILI.
Men and women have sold out for far less. Men have sold out their families for a short period of pleasure. Women have sold out their children for a few moments of fun and pleasure. As I was typing up this message, I was thinking of a young man who is a crack addict. Had everything at one time. He had a family, a great job, a home and so much more. Now he works for a faction of what he could be earning. He does not come to work all the time. He gets high on the weekends many times and does not come to work on Mondays. He is always sick with stomach problems from his crack addiction. All for just that moment of pleasure is his philosophy of life now. Does the Bible address this? Hebrews 11:25
“Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season”
3. What is Satan tempting you with?
Some he uses power. Others it will be prosperity. That is a dangerous tool. Many love popularity and praise. They will do anything for the popularity and praise of and from man. It may be possessions or position. Whatever it is, the price is always and I repeat always too high and great. All Satan’s apples have worms.
B. You will always be involved with profane men. Profane means unholy. As a child of the King, you are not to be involved with profane me. Why? Romans 12:2
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
1 John 2:15-17
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”
James 4:4
“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”
1. Profane men can ruin your testimony. Be careful who you spend time with or associate with. You will be seen as that type of person.
2. Profane men can run your time.
Ephesians 5:16
“Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”
Judas was using his time to find ways to betray Christ. He was not interested in the mission that Christ had called him.
3. Profane men can rule your thoughts.
4. Profane men can rust your talents.
C. It was involved with Pious Acts.
Vs. 43-45
“And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely. And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, master; and kissed him.”
I do not know what Judas really thought he was doing. Did he really think that he was doing what was best for the nation? Was he thinking of what he was doing for the Lord? That is what Paul thought he was doing. He thought he was helping the Lord by persecuting the believers.
Are you a kisser or clinger?
Ruth 1:12-17
“Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons; Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me. And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her. And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law. And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.”
Every believer will go through the crisises in life. No one is immune from them. But your reaction is one or the other. You will either kiss your Lord and leave Him or you will cling onto Him.
I have seen people do some dumb stuff in the disguise of a pious act. They try to make people think it was for the Lord when in actuality it is going against the Lord.
II. THE COST
Many people look at the cost. All they see is the now. What will the cost? Galatians 6:7
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”
Hosea 8:7
“For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.”
Numbers 32:23
“But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.”
A. It cost him immediately. Matthew 27:3,4
“Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.”
1. He realized that he had betrayed the very Son of God.
2. He realized that he had been the one who was really sold out.
3. He knew he had sinned but that confession was not repentance but regret. He really regretted he was caught. His act of sin did not allow room for repentance. He had crossed the line. It was the point of no return. How many others said those words?
Pharaoh said those words on several occasions. But he not repenting. He was regretting that he was caught. Saul said those words on several occasions. He was regretting of being caught in his sin.
Regrets but no repentance.
B. It cost him physically. Mt. 27:5
“And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.”
Depending upon how well he did up the knot really depends upon how much suffering he did. But the anguish of hanging would have worked on his mind. When he jumped off the thing holding him, the pain would have been immediate. He would have felt his neck broke and death would had come almost instantly. But if his rope were not knotted right, he would have suffocated very slowly. What a painfully death!
C. It cost him eternally. Rev. 21:8
“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
For all eternity, he will see that deed that he did. He will see the deal. He will see the money. He will see him kissing the Lord and them taking him away. He will remember the moment that he said he had sinned. But he will know that he is being tormented for eternity for his sin of rejecting the Lord.
III. THE CONCLUSION
A. What does it cost you when you sell out?
B. What will it cost your family when you sell out?
C. What will it cost your friends when you sell out?
D. What will it cost your church when you sell out?
Conclusion: Today ask the Lord this question Is it I, Lord?
Pastor Mike Walls
Freedom Baptist Church Smithfield, NC
jmicha...@juno.com
Isaiah 41:10
http://freedombaptistchurchnc.wordpress.com