Today's message is about the four types of church members in the garden of Gethsemane. Pictured above you can count 8 of the 12 disciples who Jesus told to sit at the gate of the garden that represent one type of church member. We will discuss these 8 out of 12 church members who are in the church, saved, just inside the gate, but at the same time can reach out, touch, and enjoy the world. These 8 out of 12 church members play with the world a little bit, then get back to church, then play with the world again, and then get back to church again. Peter, James, and John represent the second type of church member and were the three disciples that went a little farther with Jesus into the garden of Gethsemane.
John represents the third type of church member that was the closest to Jesus and heard the heartbeat of God when he laid his head on Jesus' breast. John was the only apostle to stay with Jesus at the cross of Calvary along with the three Marys (mother Mary, Mary the sister of mother Mary married to Cleophas whose son was James the Lesser or James of Alphaeus, and Mary Magdalene). I pray in Jesus name we can all be like John and always be close to Jesus, hearing the heartbeat of God. Finally Judas represents the fourth type of church member who never even got saved but yet is in the church. Take time to meditate on Revelation 3:15 that says I know thy works, that thou art neither cold not hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold not hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Let's go all the way with Jesus and not be lukewarm, totally leaving and denying this wicked world. Jesus showed Brother Bob that when anyone goes deep sea fishing, when the boat leaves the shore for deep waters, the beach slowly disappears and eventually can not be seen. The beach represents the fading world and when we totally deny this world and launch out into the deep with Jesus, we walk in places where the world can not be seen any more. May we all be at the place of the safe deep waters with Jesus where we could not even remember, see, or think about going back to this fading world.
The scripture that discusses these four types of church members in the garden of Gethsemane is Matthew 26:36: Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here (note that this is 8 disciples), while I go and pray yonder. And he took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee (James and John called Boanerges or the sons of thunder at Mark 3:17), and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith He unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. Note that there were only 8 disciples left just inside the gate because Judas left and went to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver from the chief priests and elders. Peter, James, and John left the gate and went a little farther with Jesus into the garden.
Matthew 26:39 goes on to say And He went a little farther (Luke 22:41 says Jesus went a stone's cast farther into the garden), and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. Are you willing to go a stone's throw farther into the garden with Jesus and take more time daily studying the Word of God and praising our Lord Jesus? How far is a stone's throw for you? Is it reading your bible every day of the year, praying three times a day, or denying some luxury to bless the poor with food and clothes.
Today we will discuss the 8 of 12 church members that sit just inside the gate of the garden and do not go any farther with Jesus. These 8 of 12 church members are just worldly enough to be saved and just saved enough to be worldly. How does that work? It's like water and oil mixing. I pray in Jesus name that you will be like Peter, James, and John that desired to be closer to Jesus.
Don't be like King Agrippa who almost was persuaded to follow Jesus. Instead be like Paul and be fully persuaded to follow Jesus. Almost only counts in horseshoes. Romans 14:5 says One man esteemeth one day above another, another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
Our first example of a person who was like a disciple just inside the gate loving the world more than Jesus is Eutychus pictured above. Eutychus was a man in the bible sitting by a window of a third floor loft while Paul preached until midnight. While Paul preached, Eutychus fell into a deep sleep and fell down three stories out of a window. Paul went down and raised him from the dead, took him back to the meeting, and went on with the service.
Don't be like Eutychus and dibble and dabble at the edge of this world while you try to stay in the church. Let's all leave this fading world and go a little deeper into the garden with Jesus. Let's all go that stone's throw deeper into the garden with Jesus while we deny this world by living sanctified and holy lives for Jesus. Ephesians 4:27 says Neither give place to the devil. 1 Thessalonians 5:22 says Abstain from all appearance of evil. 2 Corinthians 7:1 says Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Now I'll take time to describe these 8 of 12 church members like Eutychus just inside the gate who hold on to the world while they attend church and serve Jesus. At Christmas time these 8 out of 12 church members will be happy when the pastor gives them a brown bag with a banana, orange, tangerine, a candy bar, and some tracts. And after church is over, the tracts are all over the floor and out in the parking lot, but they got the bananas. These people don't care about the Word of God, but they want to get something from the church. What can the church do for me? Not What can I do for the church?
Since we are talking about 8 of 12 disciples just inside the gate of the garden playing with the world, let's look at another place in the bible where Jesus left 9 disciples (including Judas) at the foot of a hill when Jesus took Peter, James, and John up to the Mount of Transfiguration. Because these 9 disciples were playing with the world, they lacked power to cast out a devil from a little boy.
After Jesus left 9 disciples at the foot of a hill, Jesus was transfigured. Matthew 17:1 says And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and His face did shine as the sun, and His raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with Hm. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him.
For our next picture we see that when Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane, all 12 disciples forsook and fled from Jesus. When the Jews came to the garden to arrest Jesus, the 8 disciples just inside the gate ran away and left Jesus alone. In fact, all the disciples ran away, including Peter, James, John, and Judas.
And one of the disciples who was a young man was so scared that when a Roman soldier got a hold of him, he left his linen cloth and fled through the bushes naked. Mark 14:50 says And they all forsook Him, and fled. And there followed Him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him: And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked.
The bible calls these 8 out of 12 church members that sit just inside the gate perpetual backsliders. Jeremiah 8:5 says Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return. These 8 of 12 church member just inside the gate get right once a year, and they last about a month, and then they're wrong again. They constantly dibble and dabble with the world and then go back to church over and over again. When the going gets rough, these people just quit. They are too close to the world to do any good for Jesus.
For our final example of a church member just inside the gate we see Ananias pictured above who died along with his wife Sapphira because they did not give all their riches to bless the poor. Instead they lied to Peter and the church and used money for their selfish needs. Earlier Barnabas had sold a piece of property and brought all the money and laid it at the apostles feet to distribute to the poor and the widows. After Ananias and Sapphira saw how everyone was complimenting Barnabas, they decided to sell their property and bless the church and the poor widows. They said We're going to sell a piece of property and we're going to bring all the money into the church. We're going to be like Barnabas and bless the church with money.
They sold the property and God blessed them and they got more for it than they planned. So they said nobody will know about our extra money. Let's keep back some of it. And so they put it in their pocket. And then Ananias came to church first. He walked in, laid the money down at Peter's feet. Peter said Is that all of it? Peter knew what was going on because God told him. Ananias lied and said Yes that's all of it. Peter said, Why have you lied to the Holy Ghost? The property was yours and you could do with it whatsoever you wanted to. Why have you lied to the Holy Ghost and kept back part of the money? And Annanias hearing these words fell down dead, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. They wound him up, carried him out, and buried him.
When his wife Sapphira arrived late for the meeting three hours later, Peter said Did you and your husband sell the property for so much? She said Yea, for so much. Peter said Why have you been privy to your husband's lie and lied to the Holy Ghost and kept back part of the money? The feet of those who just buried your husband are at the door and coming down the aisle to get you now, and Sapphira dropped down dead. They took her out and buried her beside her husband.
Note that Ananias and Sapphira were members of the church and saved, but they were lying dogs, thieves, and robbers. Because Ananias and Sapphira ignorantly lied to God right in the church, in front of the altar, in front of the preacher, God just killed them. You can read about Ananias and Sapphira at Acts 5.
When Brother Bob thinks about Ananias and Sapphira, I think about 1 John 3:17: But whoso hath this world's good, (note this says if you have the money to bless the poor) (but if you don't have money to bless the poor just listen to and consider the poor), and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
I pray in Jesus name that this bible study blesses multitudes everywhere with great joy, peace, and strength. Feel free to email Brother Bob anytime at rz9tlm@gmail.com or write to Brother Bob Malkin, 2233 Pinetree Lane, Apt. N., Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068. (614) 746-7071. Till we all meet again soon to lift up our Lord Jesus, everyone have a blessed day in Jesus name.
Our first example of a person who was like a disciple just inside the gate loving the world more than Jesus is Eutychus pictured above. Eutychus was a man in the bible sitting by a window of a third floor loft while Paul preached until midnight. While Paul preached, Eutychus fell into a deep sleep and fell down three stories out of a window. Paul went down and raised him from the dead, took him back to the meeting, and went on with the service.
Here's some blessed thoughts about Eutychus (his name means fortunate). The reason Eutychus fell out of the window was because he was more out in the world than he was in the church. We are all in a window sill spiritually. We're either tilted in more or tilted out more. If Eutychus was tilted in more, he would have only fallen 3 feet into the church and lived. But Eutychus was tilted out more and too far into the world and fell 3 floors down and died. There are two morals we learn from the story about Eutychus: First, if you fall into a deep sleep in the church, you'll be dead in no time. Second, the reason his name was Eutychus: You'd have cussed too if you had to listen to a 4 hour sermon.
The story about Eutychus is at Acts 20:7: And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together. And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead. And Paul went down and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him. When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed. And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.
Don't be like Eutychus and dibble and dabble at the edge of this world while you try to stay in the church. Let's all leave this fading world and go a little deeper into the garden with Jesus. Let's all go that stone's throw deeper into the garden with Jesus while we deny this world by living sanctified and holy lives for Jesus. Ephesians 4:27 says Neither give place to the devil. 1 Thessalonians 5:22 says Abstain from all appearance of evil. 2 Corinthians 7:1 says Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Now I'll take time to describe these 8 of 12 church members like Eutychus just inside the gate who hold on to the world while they attend church and serve Jesus. At Christmas time these 8 out of 12 church members will be happy when the pastor gives them a brown bag with a banana, orange, tangerine, a candy bar, and some tracts. And after church is over, the tracts are all over the floor and out in the parking lot, but they got the bananas. These people don't care about the Word of God, but they want to get something from the church. What can the church do for me? Not What can I do for the church?
Since we are talking about 8 of 12 disciples just inside the gate of the garden playing with the world, let's look at another place in the bible where Jesus left 9 disciples (including Judas) at the foot of a hill when Jesus took Peter, James, and John up to the Mount of Transfiguration. Because these 9 disciples were playing with the world, they lacked power to cast out a devil from a little boy.
After Jesus left 9 disciples at the foot of a hill, Jesus was transfigured. Matthew 17:1 says And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and His face did shine as the sun, and His raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with Hm. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him.
Jesus told Peter not to make three tabernacles and to leave the mountain because there's a little boy down at the foot of the hill who is possessed with a devil. We have to go down there and help him. When Jesus got down to the foot of the hill, pictured above we see the father of the little boy walking up to Jesus and saying If you can, will you help my son? You see before Jesus arrived, the 9 disciples were praying, laying hands on the little boy, and trying to cast out the devil from this little boy, and nothing happened. They couldn't cast out the devil because they played too much with the world. So when Jesus finally got down off the mountain to the little boy, the father doubted whether Jesus could do any good for his son. The father said to Jesus If you can, will you help my son? Nine of your best men couldn't get it done.
The story about the above picture can be found at Mark 9:17 that says And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit: And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and thy could not. Mark 9:21 goes on to say And He (Jesus) asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child. And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters to destroy him: but if thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us.
Don't be like the worldly 9 disciples and allow the world to take away your holiness and sanctification with Jesus where you have no power to cast out devils causing people around you to doubt Jesus saying If Jesus can, he might fix my problem? Instead live holy and be a witness for Jesus where people around you have faith saying Jesus can fix all my problems. People are watching us and we might be the only Jesus that they see. 2 Corinthians 3:2 says Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men. Matthew 5:16 says Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Don't be like the worldly 9 disciples and allow the world to take away your holiness and sanctification with Jesus where you have no power to cast out devils causing people around you to doubt Jesus saying If Jesus can, he might fix my problem? Instead live holy and be a witness for Jesus where people around you have faith saying Jesus can fix all my problems. People are watching us and we might be the only Jesus that they see. 2 Corinthians 3:2 says Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men. Matthew 5:16 says Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Walk holy for Jesus, denying this world, telling everyone that Jesus can and will fix any problem. I pray in Jesus name we will never hear anyone say to us If Jesus can, he can fix my problem. Let's leave from just inside the gate and go deeper into the garden where nothing will be impossible for us. Ephesians 3:20 says Now unto Him (Jesus) that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. Jesus said at Mark 10:27 With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
For our next picture we see that when Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane, all 12 disciples forsook and fled from Jesus. When the Jews came to the garden to arrest Jesus, the 8 disciples just inside the gate ran away and left Jesus alone. In fact, all the disciples ran away, including Peter, James, John, and Judas.
And one of the disciples who was a young man was so scared that when a Roman soldier got a hold of him, he left his linen cloth and fled through the bushes naked. Mark 14:50 says And they all forsook Him, and fled. And there followed Him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him: And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked.
The bible calls these 8 out of 12 church members that sit just inside the gate perpetual backsliders. Jeremiah 8:5 says Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return. These 8 of 12 church member just inside the gate get right once a year, and they last about a month, and then they're wrong again. They constantly dibble and dabble with the world and then go back to church over and over again. When the going gets rough, these people just quit. They are too close to the world to do any good for Jesus.
For our final example of a church member just inside the gate we see Ananias pictured above who died along with his wife Sapphira because they did not give all their riches to bless the poor. Instead they lied to Peter and the church and used money for their selfish needs. Earlier Barnabas had sold a piece of property and brought all the money and laid it at the apostles feet to distribute to the poor and the widows. After Ananias and Sapphira saw how everyone was complimenting Barnabas, they decided to sell their property and bless the church and the poor widows. They said We're going to sell a piece of property and we're going to bring all the money into the church. We're going to be like Barnabas and bless the church with money.
They sold the property and God blessed them and they got more for it than they planned. So they said nobody will know about our extra money. Let's keep back some of it. And so they put it in their pocket. And then Ananias came to church first. He walked in, laid the money down at Peter's feet. Peter said Is that all of it? Peter knew what was going on because God told him. Ananias lied and said Yes that's all of it. Peter said, Why have you lied to the Holy Ghost? The property was yours and you could do with it whatsoever you wanted to. Why have you lied to the Holy Ghost and kept back part of the money? And Annanias hearing these words fell down dead, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. They wound him up, carried him out, and buried him.
When his wife Sapphira arrived late for the meeting three hours later, Peter said Did you and your husband sell the property for so much? She said Yea, for so much. Peter said Why have you been privy to your husband's lie and lied to the Holy Ghost and kept back part of the money? The feet of those who just buried your husband are at the door and coming down the aisle to get you now, and Sapphira dropped down dead. They took her out and buried her beside her husband.
Note that Ananias and Sapphira were members of the church and saved, but they were lying dogs, thieves, and robbers. Because Ananias and Sapphira ignorantly lied to God right in the church, in front of the altar, in front of the preacher, God just killed them. You can read about Ananias and Sapphira at Acts 5.
When Brother Bob thinks about Ananias and Sapphira, I think about 1 John 3:17: But whoso hath this world's good, (note this says if you have the money to bless the poor) (but if you don't have money to bless the poor just listen to and consider the poor), and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
Ananias and Sapphira were wealthy and not willing to share their money with the poor because they kept back part of the price of the land. Don't be like Ananias and Sapphira. Instead let's all have compassion on poor strangers, orphans, and widows and use our money to feed and clothe the poor around us. When we bless the least of the poor around us, we bless Jesus. Jesus said at Matthew 25:40 Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Jesus said at Matthew 10:42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
Witness Jesus everywhere telling people
Get saved, repent, decide to stop sinning,
Confess that Jesus is God, and believe the gospel
That Jesus died on the cross for you, was buried, and rose again
Don't just sit inside the gate being a worldly christian
I pray in Jesus name that this bible study blesses multitudes everywhere with great joy, peace, and strength. Feel free to email Brother Bob anytime at rz9tlm@gmail.com or write to Brother Bob Malkin, 2233 Pinetree Lane, Apt. N., Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068. (614) 746-7071. Till we all meet again soon to lift up our Lord Jesus, everyone have a blessed day in Jesus name.
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