"God Wants You"
MF Blume
April 18, 1999 pm
Matt 22:15-22 Then went the Pharisees,
and took counsel how they might entangle him in [his] talk. And they sent
out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know
that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest
thou for any [man]: for thou regardest not the person of men. Tell us therefore,
What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? But
Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, [ye] hypocrites?
Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. And he saith
unto them, Whose [is] this image and superscription? They say unto him,
Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things
which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. When they had
heard [these words], they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.
Hypocrites are people who profess one thing but live another.
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People who claim to be God's people, but who really do not serve God are
hypocrites.
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Such people asked Jesus for the purpose of entangling Him.
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Rome ruled over Israel, and the Hebrews hated the Romans.
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The Pharisees knew that Jesus was ethical, and knew that Jesus would agree
that the taxes should be paid to Caesar.
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They also knew the people hated Caesar.
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So if Jesus could be publicly shown to agree with paying taxes, the people
would despise Him and no longer hear Him.
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And if Jesus said that people should not pay taxes, Jesus could be charged
with sedition.
But Jesus struck them right where they loved.
He asked for a coin and pointed out that Caesar's image and name (inscription)
were on the coin.
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The image of Caesar and the Name of Caesar on the coin signified that it
was Caesar's property.
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So He said they must give Caesar what is Caesar's.
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Since an image denotes one's property, Jesus said we must also give God
what is God's.
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MAN IS IN GOD'S IMAGE.
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Jesus told the Pharisees to give their lives to God, indicating they had
not done so, and were hypocrites for they professed they did live for God.
"You want to know if I give to Caesar. I want to know if you give
to God!"
Since the image and the name both indicate property, and since man was
created in God's image, we must be people of the NAME if we want to be
His people.
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It is YOU that God wants.
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You belong to Him.
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Not just believers, but all mankind were created in His image.
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We were created to be God's possession.
Matt 7:21-23 Not every one that saith
unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that
doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in
that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name
have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then
will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work
iniquity.
These people who cried Lord, Lord, did many deeds in the NAME of Jesus.
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But all of that will not matter when we reach Heaven's door.
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God does not want to see deeds alone done in His name.
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He wants YOU to be in His name.
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His name on you means you are his property.
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Jesus said he will respond to such people and say, "I never knew YOU."
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He cannot lay claim to them because He did not know them.
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"I knew what you DID."
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"I knew those healings and those miracles."
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"But you missed the point. I want YOU."
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"Depart from me ye workers of iniquity."
They pointed to something outside of themselves.
This Kingdom of God into which these people wish to enter, has a foundation
cornerstone as well as a door.
2Tim 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation
of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are
his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
Notice how this verse and Matthew 7:21 link.
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The cornerstone inscription denotes to what the building is dedicated.
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And this one says "The LORD Knows THEM that are His."
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It denotes that people who belong in this kingdom must be a possession
of the Lord.
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Not just do deeds in His name, but people who are His people.
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"Let all who name the name of Christ depart from iniquity."
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In Matthew, Jesus pointed to the people and told them to DEPART from Him.
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If we do not depart from iniquity, we will depart from Him!
He knows those who are truly His people.
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If you profess His name, then you must indicate that in your life.
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You are not Jesus' Name people if there is iniquity in your life.
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Baptism in His Name washes away sin!
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If you give your life to Him, where you belong, He will clean you up.
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Otherwise you are in iniquity.
It is not so much a need to USE His Name, but to BE PEOPLE of His Name.
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He does not want all your good deeds.
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He wants you.
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Give yourself to Him, and YOU WILL do good deeds naturally.
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Render not your deeds nor your words.
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Render YOURSELVES unto God.
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Like Caesar's coin that has Caesar's image and therefore must be rendered
to God, we must render OURSELVES to God.
Jesus said that those who do the Father's will do enter the Kingdom.
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His will is to be DONE IN YOU.
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That means you are then HIS.
They did his deeds in Matthew 7:21, but Jesus said they could not enter,
for only doing the Father's will allows one to enter.
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In other words, doing good deeds is not the will that Jesus is speaking
about.
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The WILL of God involves YOU, personally.
Jesus said, "The will of my Father."
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He was in the family.
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He had the NAME.
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We need to have the NAME also.
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God is not our Father unless we do God's will.
Hebr 1:4 Being made so much better than
the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than
they.
Satan hates the Image of God and the Name of God.
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He hates God's will in US.
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Satan does not mind if you do good deeds in His Name, because He knows
you will not enter the Kingdom on that alone.
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Satan does not mind the miracle evangelists on Television and packing stadiums.
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He knows that does not get one into the Kingdom of God.
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He knows the Bible.
The Son is the Image of the Father.
Colo 1:15 Who is the image of the
invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
He got his NAME by inheritance.
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Father.
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Inheritance.
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You get the picture that BIRTH in the Kingdom is necessary.
Satan heard God say, "Let us make man in our image."
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He screamed in rage.
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He knew the one who has the image has the inheritance.
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Mankind would be in God's image.
Satan does not want YOU to be in Jesus Name.
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He does not want YOU to do God's will.
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He does not mind you doing deeds in His Name. as much as BEING In His name.
Jesus knows them that are HIS.
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Give yourself to do God's will.
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Be a Son of God.
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Be in His Name.
Things that are rare are called precious, because they are valuable.
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The WORD of God was "precious" in Eli's day.
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1 Sam 3:1.
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We are PRECIOUS.
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We are valuable.
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We are RARE if we are His possession, for not everyone who says Lord, Lord,
gives themselves wholly to God.
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There are many who say they are Christians, but few who are true Christians.
We need our eyes opened to see the riches of HIS INHERITANCE in those who
are of His Name and Image.
Ephe 1:18 The eyes of your understanding
being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and
what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
Open your eyes.
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See why Satan Hates God's image.
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Realize what the value of the inheritance is.
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This will help you do God's will.
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Be in His image.
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Let the Spirit lead you.
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Be Jesus' Name people!
People do not seek God's will because they do not see the benefit of it.
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Get your eyes opened and see the inheritance.
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Don't care about reputation.
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What is the real YOU?