THIS
GENERATION
Everyone has to prove to his
generation that God is wonderful "in our day." Moses had to prove to the people
that God was not only a great God in Adam’s day, but He was alive in his day also.
Elijah proved to the false prophets that God was wonderful in his day. Elisha showed the
people that God did not die when Elijah was translated. Jesus was continually proving to
the Pharisees that God was still alive in His day. Peter and John were faced with the same
job. The religious people were willing to believe that Jesus could perform miracles back
in A.D. 30, but they wanted to stop Peter and John if they preached that He was still
merciful. They proved that "His mercy endureth to all generations." They showed
the sick and suffering people that God was still mindful of them, that He was still
truthful and compassionate. Paul, as one born out of due season, was constantly on the
alert, trying to break down the tradition of the elders that made the Word of God of none
effect in men’s lives. He showed that the power of God did not pass away with Jesus
and the Twelve.
Stephen proved to his
generation that the mercy of Jesus did not die with the apostles. He was not an apostle.
Yet signs and wonders followed his preaching. Ananias, who was only an obscure saint,
proved to his hearers that God could still open blind eyes. Luke, who wrote one of the
main Gospels, was not an apostle. James, who was inspired to tell the people to call for
the preacher when they were sick, was not an apostle.
Religious leaders of today
justify themselves by saying, "I know He was wonderful when He was on earth. He will
be wonderful during the millennial reign. But at the present time, do not expect Him to do
anything for you."
People are looking for Him
Now. They will not come to a Christ Who had power at one time, but lost it. They are not
interested in a Christ that will be wonderful in the "Kingdom Age," but is not
mindful of them now - today in the day when we are living, People will not stop for
deliverance. Their feet will go "pity, pat, pity, pat," right on down to the
clubs, unions and lodges. They will consider your church on the level with any other
organization. They have no time for a dead Christ who could help at one time, but who
can’t offer any assistance for our present distress.
The people need to be taught
that Jesus died on the cross for more than our preaching pretty sermons and singing
beautiful songs of a Christ of the "good old days." He died on the cross for
people’s deliverance. He is mindful. He cares more for you than a mother does for her
baby, Isaiah 49:15. He is ready to help you.
God’s time is now. He is
ready now. You are not waiting for Him. He is waiting for you to get ready. You say,
"I will be healed when He gets ready." But you will be healed when you get
ready.
Jesus is the Great I Am. In
the midst of His greatest opposition, Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you,
before Abraham was, I am."
The religious group organized
against Him. They gave Him some trouble. The devil does not like for you to say that God
can do anything now.
In John 8, Jesus embarrassed
some religious leaders who were a holy sect of their day. He told them that the one who
was without sin should cast the first stone at a sinful woman. They quietly stole away.
Then He got their member saved, which always makes certain nominal leaders angry.
They did not believe that one
could live without sin. Jesus showed them that they were sinners. Then He forgave their
member’s sin.
Jesus claimed something more
than church membership. He told the Jews that God was His Father. He told them that they
were children of the devil.
These religious leaders waxed
bold and told Jesus that He was an illegitimate child and a false prophet. They said He
had a devil and was not even a Jew. All this made them very angry, but when He told them
that His name was "I Am," they picked up stones and tried to kill Him.
He is "I Am." All
the people who are not Pharisees believed that. His name is not the "Great I can
be." He is not the "Great I use to be." He is not the "Great I am able
to be." He is not the "Great I am if I take a notion." He is not "The
Great I will be someday." He is the Great I Am!. He is the same yesterday, today and
forever, Hebrews 13:8. He has never lost any of His power. He said, I’m the Lord that
healeth thee, Exodus 15:26.
When Jesus said, "Before
Abraham was I am," He was actually saying, "I am the Lord that healeth
thee." He was saying, "I am the Great Physician." That is what showed the
religious leaders up. That is why they got murder in their hearts That is why they were
overcome with anger and prejudice. That is why they tried to kill Him.
God has no use for a
pussyfooting preacher that soft-soaps the gospel. No preacher is called to sugar-coat the
gospel. If you sugar-coat the gospel, they will off the sugar and spit out the part that
would do them good.
Jesus taught to preach the
gospel. Then after people are converted, we are to teach them even to the ends of the
world, Matt. 28:19, 20. He set teachers in the church, Eph. 4:11. All of us should be
teachers, Heb. 5:12. Faith comes by hearing, Rom. 10:17. Faith leaves by hearing the
tradition of the elders, Matt. 15:6.
Jesus is alive and well,
today!
Write me right now and tell
me that you accepted Jesus and I will answer you personally. God bless you and your walk
with Him.
Dr. J. Gardner
DRJ@ordination.org