RUNNING
WITHOUT THE FULL MESSAGE OF JESUS' DEATH
January 13, 2008
MF Blume
2 Samuel 18:5-10 And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and
Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with
Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains
charge concerning Absalom. (6) So the people went out into
the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of
Ephraim; (7) Where the people of Israel were slain before
the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day
of twenty thousand men. (8) For the battle was there
scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more
people that day than the sword devoured. (9) And Absalom
met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule
went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of
the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the
mule that was under him went away. (10) And a certain man
saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.
2 Samuel 18:14-15 Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee.
And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart
of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.
(15) And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about
and smote Absalom, and slew him.
2 Samuel 18:19-33 Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now
run, and bear the king tidings, how that the LORD hath avenged him of
his enemies. (20) And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not
bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but
this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king's son is
dead. (21) Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what
thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.
(22) Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But
howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And Joab said,
Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings
ready? (23) But howsoever, said he, let me run. And he said
unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran
Cushi. (24) And David sat between the two gates: and the
watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up
his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone. (25)
And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be
alone, there is tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew
near. (26) And the watchman saw another man running: and
the watchman called unto the porter, and said, Behold another man
running alone. And the king said, He also bringeth tidings.
(27) And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the
foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king
said, He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings. (28)
And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, All is well. And he fell
down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed be
the LORD thy God, which hath delivered up the men that lifted up their
hand against my lord the king. (29) And the king said, Is
the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the
king's servant, and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew
not what it was. (30) And the king said unto him, Turn
aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.
(31) And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord
the king: for the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose
up against thee. (32) And the king said unto Cushi, Is the
young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the
king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young
man is. (33) And the king was much moved, and went up to
the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my
son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O
Absalom, my son, my son!
Many people have been told about the cross of Jesus, and they heard
many sermons about the issue.
- But many of them have never
been told the full truth and all the details of the cross.
- They are condemned people,
when the bible says the truths of the cross are GLAD TIDINGS.
- GOSPEL means GOOD NEWS.
- Jesus came to make our
burdens light and our yokes to be easy.
If you feel condemned all the time, and that your yoke is not easy by
any stretch, then you must realize that you are missing something about
the cross and were not told the full set of details.
Our scriptures today speak of the end of a rebellion started by David's
son, Absalom.
- Absalom ran David out of
Jerusalem, having stolen the hearts of the people away from his father
the king, and took over the kingdom, himself.
Absalom was known to have a huge head of hair, over which he spent much
time in proud care over it.
- During Absalom's fleeing from
David's men, his horse ran under a tree in a wooden area, and his head
was caught between the branches, and he hanged there while the horse
sped away.
- Joab came on the he scene and
found him and then shot three spears at him in his heart while he hung
there still alive.
"Captain Joab caught the hippie
Absalom 'hanging' around and 'drove home the point,' so to speak, that
one should not rebel against the king. You might say that Absalom 'took
it to heart' and stopped his rebellion."
Ahimaaz had been used in the past as a messenger for David during his
time away from Jerusalem while Absalom ruled.
* He would position himself near Absalom, and report
to and tell David news upon occasion.
* He had the reputation of a good man.
* And when Ahimaaz realized the rebellion was over,
he once again wanted to serve the King faithfully and deliver the
message.
* But Ahimaaz did not see the death of Absalom and
knew none of the details of that death.
* And this death was the entire reason for the end
of the rebellion.
Joab, however, was not desirous of Ahimaaz delivering the message.
* The entire reason for the end of the rebellion was
the death of Absalom on the tree.
* Ahimaaz simply knew the rebellion had ended, but
not how and why.
* Joab had to inform him that the king's son is dead.
David previously instructed the soldiers that he distinctly wanted
Absalom treated gently, according to verse 5, calling him THE YOUNG
MAN, rather than SON, because of his rebellion.
* And he called him the young man, also, perhaps due
to the thought he tried to instill within the pursuers that Absalom
ought to be pitied in part because of his youth.
* David's own sins of adultery and murder were only
being reaped by him, through Absalom, so the rebellion was not entirely
Absalom's fault.
* David was told the sword would not depart from his
house due to HIS SIN.
The story goes along that Absalom was found caught hanging in a tree
and was killed by Joab using three spears.
Ahimaaz did not see this.
* Now, people can only report what they actually
know about due to having witnessed it.
* And Ahimaaz knew the rebellion was over, but could
not say what happened to Absalom, although he knew he was dead, because
he did not SEE IT.
* And it could be that Ahimaaz also did not want to
tell anything bad.
* Even David saw him coming and said something good
will be told.
Joab SENT CUSHI.
* Cushi was given direction to talk to David.
* Ahimaaz was refused.
* He nonetheless wanted to volunteer to go anyway.
* Joab reasoned with him and said he sent Cushi, so
why go just to go?
* He would have no message to give.
* But Ahimaaz simply liked telling messages to David.
* He pushed it so much that Joab let him go... NOT
FROM COMMISSION, but PERMISSION.
I want to stress that Ahimaaz was a GOOD MAN.(v. 27)
* But he was not SENT.
The only reason Ahimaaz did run and go was because he wanted to and it
was PERMITTED.
* But permission is not commission.
* When one is commissioned to do something and is
sent, they are called.
* When one is permitted it is only because they want
to so much, not because they are called.
2 Samuel 18:21 Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what
thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.
Cushi SAW THE DEATH.
Cushi knew why the rebellion ended, and not just that it ended.
* So when he came to David, he told what he actually
witnessed.
Ahimaaz simply said he saw a tumult.
* He saw a ruckus and a skirmish but did not see
anything.
* He did not lie.
* He knew Absalom was dead, but he did not see it
happen.
* But he only had half a message.
He ran through a short-cut to get to David.
* He raced Cushi.
* He wanted to give a message.
* But he was not qualified.
People who take shortcuts and only have half a message are not the sort
of people you want preaching to you.
JESUS AND THE CROSS
Hanging on a tree is precisely the thought that Christ's crucifixion
involves.
The bible speaks of Him as thus:
Galatians 3:13 KJV Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the
law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one
that hangeth on a tree:
And the death of Jesus is the entire reason the rebellion of man's sin
against God ending.
* The enemy was defeated by the hanging on the tree.
* Through DEATH Jesus destroyed the devil who had
the power of death.
Romans 10:15-16 KJV And how shall they preach, except they be
sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach
the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
(16) But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith,
Lord, who hath believed our report?
Notice that BEING SENT with a message is connected above with Isaiah's
words, "Who hath believed our report."
People with the CORRECT and FULL message of the HANGING on the cross by
Jesus know far more than that a rebellion ended and a ruckus occurred.
- THEY KNOW THE FULL DETAILS OF
THE DEATH OF JESUS.
The reason Preachers exist who were never sent is that God permits it
to happen, although He never called them to do so.
- They have not been SENT of
God.
- They cannot tell you the full
story.
God wants us to know about false preachers, because you'll likely run
into them occasionally.
Matthew 7:15 KJV Beware of false prophets, which come to you in
sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
You have to know that not everyone who preaches Jesus has the full
story.
- Some of you found that out
already and some of you need to know this before you come across them.
People with HALF A MESSAGE do not inform you of the vital points of it
all.
They leave congregations condemned and unfulfilled and feeling
inadequate.
Look what Isaiah said about the cross.
Isaiah 53:4-6 KJV Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried
our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and
afflicted. (5) But he was wounded for our transgressions,
he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was
upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (6) All we
like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way;
and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
We have Christians today who struggle because they only heard half the
story.
- They feel condemned all the
time because they are not doing enough good things for God.
- They are hammered by their
minds about how they are not satisfying God.
- They only heard part of the
story from a a preacher, and not all of it.
- Had they heard all of it,
they would know what Isaiah was talking about:
Isaiah 53:10-11 KJV Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he
hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for
sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure
of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. (11) He shall see of
the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall
my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
See what satisfies God?
God is not satisfied by seeing you perform a bunch of good works, so
you do not have to feel condemned all the time.
- He was already satisfied WITH
YOU by the suffering of Jesus!
- He already sees you as
RIGHTEOUS, and not someone who needs to become more righteous, because
Jesus' work on the cross MADE YOU RIGHTEOUS automatically when you
believed.
Romans 5:17 KJV For if by one man's offence death reigned by one;
much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of
righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
And simply preaching about the rebellion being over is half a message.
- GOD MADE US RIGHTEOUS BY THE
DEATH OF THE CROSS.
Romans 6:23 KJV For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of
God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Philippians 3:9 KJV And be found in him, not having mine own
righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith
of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
2 Corinthians 5:20-21 KJV (20) Now then we are ambassadors
for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in
Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. (21) For he hath
made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the
righteousness of God in him.
Titus 3:5 KJV Not by works of righteousness which we have done,
but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration,
and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Our own works and righteousness are USELESS:
Isaiah 57:12 KJV I will declare thy righteousness, and thy works;
for they shall not profit thee.
Isaiah 64:6 KJV But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our
righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and
our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
So...
Matthew 6:33 KJV But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his
righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Romans 10:3-4 KJV For they being ignorant of God's righteousness,
and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not
submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. (4) For
Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that
believeth.
David put Ahimaaz aside to wait for the second messenger.
The details of the death are absolutely important and vital for you to
hear.
* Someone might come along and preach to you about
the victory of Jesus, but say nothing about the aspects of the death
because they never really saw it themselves, anyway!
* They know something about a ruckus being caused,
and don't really want to talk about blood and nails and spears in His
side, and blood want water flowing out.
* But unless they preach to you about the details of
the death and how that is the cause for the end of the war, then you
know nothing hardly at all.
* Put them to the side and listen to someone preach
WHO WAS THERE.
We sing a chorus.
I'VE BEEN TO CALVARY
I CAN SAY I'VE SEEN THE LORD
I'VE BEEN TO CALVARY
THROUGH THE WITNESS OF HIS WORD
EACH DAY AT CALVARY
WHAT A THRILL OF LOVE DIVINE
JUST TO KNOW THAT THE SAVIOUR IS MINE.
The details of the death are what we get involved in so as to be saved.
Water baptism is so controversial today because people simply did not
see the DEATH.
* Had they really known about the DEATH, and the
details of it, they would realize that baptism is baptism into Jesus'
death.
Romans 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into
Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
These cross-less and blood-less AND RIGHTEOUS-LESS sermons are preached
by GOOD MEN, as Ahimaaz was!
* And God has permitted them to carry on and preach
what they do.
* But they are NOT SENT OF GOD.
Is there victory?
* Yes!
* But How and Why?
* BY THE DEATH ON THE TREE!
Do we need to be righteous to go to heaven?
- Yes.
- But we are already made
righteous through faith!
Romans 3:21-24 KJV But now the righteousness of God without the
law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
(22) Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus
Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no
difference: (23) For all have sinned, and come short of the
glory of God; (24) Being justified freely by his grace
through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Romans 3:21-24 MSG But in our time something new has been added.
What Moses and the prophets witnessed to all those years has
happened. (22) The God-setting-things-right that we read
about has become Jesus-setting-things-right for us. And not only for
us, but for everyone who believes in him. For there is no difference
between us and them in this. (23) Since we've compiled this
long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we
are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for
us, (24) God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put
us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the
mess we're in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And
he did it by means of Jesus Christ.
"What, Ahimaaz?
* "You only know about victory?
* "You do not know about the fate of Absalom?"
"No. I only know of a tumult.
* "I know a bit more, but you do not want to hear
that, though.
* "I have a reputation of only bringing good news,
not like things about blood, nails, trees of hanging, etc.
* "And what I do know is not from what I saw,
personally.
* "I heard a brief explanation, and I beat Cushi to
tell you first!"
"Step aside, Ahimaaz.
* "I need to know exactly what happened.
* "Not just about victory.
* "I need to know HOW I got victory."
They're good men.
* They mean well.
* But they're not sent.
* They simply have not seen His death on the tree!
And they mess people up with their half messages.
The witness I have is better than Cushi's!
* I DIED WITH JESUS!
* "I WAS THERE?"
* Are you kidding? I participated!
David was moved.
2 Samuel 18:33 And the king was much moved, and went up to the
chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son
Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O
Absalom, my son, my son!
SEEING
SEEING represents UNDERSTANDING.
After you UNDERSTAND something powerful you REJOICE:
After Isaiah 53 says God is satisfied with us after seeing Christ's
suffering, we read:
Isaiah 54:1 KJV Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break
forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with
child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of
the married wife, saith the LORD.
Watch how the Red Sea destruction of Egyptian soldiers caused SINGING,
once people SAW IT:
Exodus 14:26-31 KJV And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out
thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the
Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.
(27) And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea
returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians
fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of
the sea. (28) And the waters returned, and covered the
chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into
the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.
(29) But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst
of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand,
and on their left. (30) Thus the LORD saved Israel that day
out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead
upon the sea shore. (31) And Israel saw that great work
which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD,
and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses.
Exodus 15:1-2 KJV Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this
song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for
he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown
into the sea. (2) The LORD is my strength and song, and he
is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an
habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.
LORD MY SALVATION is literally what the name JESUS means!
When Israel SAW what God did to the soldiers, and how not one of them
remained, THEY SANG AND REJOICED!
Every sin you committed before the cross is totally gone and not one of
them remains!
THAT MEANS YOU ARE RIGHTEOUS NOW!
Your condemnation will flee when you can SEE everything that happened
at the cross.
- You'll SING and rejoice!
- People who were not sent will
tell you Jesus died, but they never SAW the details!
- They cannot tell you things
that remove condemnation.
- They cannot move you.
Isaiah 12:1-3 KJV And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will
praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned
away, and thou comfortedst me. (2) Behold, God is my
salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my
strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. (3)
Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.
We are told half truths and come away feeling the Lord is angry with us
still!
Nehemiah 8:10 KJV Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the
fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing
is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry;
for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
If you lack joy, and cannot sing and rejoice, but feel condemned after
the preaching of Jesus, YOU WERE NOT GIVEN THE TRUE AND FULL MESSAGE.
You were not drawing waters from the wells of salvation, so you have no
joy.
- True preaching of the cross
removes condemnation and causes you to sing and rejoice, and THAT IS
YOUR STRENGTH!
David cried, "O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had
died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!"
David said this because Absalo actually died because of David's sins.
- His death was fulfillment of
prophecy that the sword would not depart from David's house.
Although Absalom, son of David, died in a negative manner for David,
JESUS - Son of David - DIED IN A POSITIVE WAY FOR US!
* ABSALOM was son of David whose name meant FATHER
OF PEACE.
* Jesus, The son of David, was prince of Peace, and
HE DIED FOR US.
Absalom died for David's sins.
* It was David's sins that were being reaped.
* Today people are dying for Adam's sins.
* Because of what Adam did, they are dying.
* Because of what David did, Absalom died.
* God said the sword would not depart from David's
house because of his sin.
* But he died for David's sins in a negative manner.
* Jesus died for our sins, but in a positive manner!