Fitting Together

Acts 13:23-26

Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus: When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

Now I know some of you might be wary of where I am going with this. It is okay to be afraid; but trust the process here. Such teaching was new to those of Paul's day also. For had they not been through much more generational trauma than some of us will ever know. See, God promised to bring a Savior even from King David's mess and distress. How many of you know that in all his wanderings, God was working. No matter if he went to, fro, backwards, forwards, upside-down or right-side-up, God had him covered. The Savior was not coming because of who King David was. Look at him, all nicely dressed and sitting pretty over there. But look, God has his children covered also. For their sakes as well as the Lord's, there would be a Savior. Now maybe some of you do not yet know his name. If you have not, it is about time you met this strange priest of a Messiah. Say it with me now, Jesus. See, God promised by himself to redeem them and to gather them back home again. Nor was his coming without warning. Even the prophet John was sent to speak the Word before the Christ.

Deuteronomy 17:5 speaks of the witnesses that establish this Word. See, the preaching came before the coming. As in everything, the Word came with power. Oh, what a Word it was. It is even the Word spoken of by Hebrews 4. Jesus, our great high priest appointed forever, entered fully into his office at this time. See, God came into the house of Abraham's seed. But wait, there seems to be some mess and disorder inside. Those who believed him not showed it by their lives. That is why John came and preached repentance. See, you cannot repent if you know not what you did wrong. But the question through all their history was, 'could God really be taken at his Word.' Every fresh scrape they got into spoke to this lack of belief. This is why the leaders of what used to be Esther's land, asked expecting to receive somewhat of a blessing. Nor is it for no reason that they celebrate the faith of just one woman even until this day. Now I know that some of you might be saying, 'where on earth do you get that.' Remember the story told every Purim of Esther, Mordecai, Naman, and a lofty king among the Jewish people.

And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose. Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.

Now we see that John also had a similar calling from God. Unlike the man Haman from legends of Esther, John had a course set before him. Even so it was his duty to fulfill this just as Paul also must do his. See, there is a danger found here in the ones being sent getting mixed up with the sender. The not he of the text refers also to the one Paul, who like John, served. See, neither the master nor the servant of John 10:24 are above their Lord. This is why John was not worthy to even touch the Christ because of the exalted office given him. See, you would dare not waltz into some presidential or kingly office and begin untying their shoelaces for them. Nor would you presume to chase them around like a rabid animal. But now, say the king is enraptured by your beauty as in Psalm 45:11. Suppose he comes after you both for your devotion and your service as in Daniel 10:12. Jesus has been given the office of the great high priest. He came even as the "word of salvation" spoken of here. This has always been his place, appointed from the beginning of time. Now he has been sent unto some fear God people and some Abraham's seed people. Now, it should be seen that these all have some faith in them having received the promise. It does me no good to say, 'I am child of God' yet live like the devil all week. Nor should I behave as one that has no Father. See, there is a right response and a wrong response to these things shown in Hebrews 4. It is even that of entering his rest. God never intended us all to work our way into glory; he has already done it all. We like to sing about his payment in church on Sundays. Yet how many of us owe him just a little faith. Oh, to trust God just a little bit more. Then we would find some rest and peace for ourselves up in his house. Yes, the mansions sure are nice and wonderful. But how many of us know simply to be still and let God fulfill his office.