We just returned from a wonderful week of Family Camp. This year we had 60 people come with the Joy Fellowship Group. God blessed us with great weather, it was a little hot a couple of days but in general, it was a great week. We pray every year that God will bring those families and individuals that he wants to be there and that he would keep away those individuals who may stir up strife, drama, ect. The Lord answered our prayers and we had a harmonious time.
Some of those who attended camp have already shared this morning the impacts they experienced in their lives. For me it was the Monday night service on Christ ascension and the Thursday night service on the Fiery Furnace that really impacted my spirit. I also really enjoyed spending a lot of time with Beverly in the afternoons as Edwin and Natalie do such and amazing managing the Joy Youth.
The Message this morning I am titling Retreat, Revival, Resolution, and Repentance. The Lord gave me this message in two parts. The 1st part he gave me last Sunday morning. The closing point God gave me yesterday afternoon as I was out in the rain using the weed eater to trim the jungle that had grown in my yard last week while we were at Camp.
Lets us Pray: ……………..
Please turn with me in your Bibles to John Chapter 18.
John 18:1-2
1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples.
2 And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples.
***I want to start this morning talking about the place. Because place is important in the context of
The Brook Kidron is the name of a seasonal stream and valley, technically only now a wadi, as water runs through it only after heavy rains, although in Biblical times likely was also fed by springs, notably the Gihon spring. The brook’s course runs down along the eastern flank of Jerusalem beginning near the Garden of Gethsemane and flowing down through a valley of Kidron, having the Mount of Olives on the east, and ultimately continuing all the way into the “Dead Sea” (or the “Salt Sea”).
**I heard this week at Camp from one of the speakers, that the during Passover and other times when many animals were sacrificed at the Temple in Jerusalem that the blood drained from the animals at the altar would flow down and make its way into the brook Kidron as it was carried by the water away from the city into the dead sea. **
***This morning I want to talk to you about this area around the Brook Kindron. As I mentioned earlier, The title of this Message today is: Retreat, Revival and Resolution and Repentance
The Bible tells us in the passage of scripture that Jesus and his disciples went over the Brook Cedron where was a garden. Verse #2 says that Jesus often times resorted to this place with his disciples.
**The first point of the Message today: God’s people need a place and time to retreat and resort for physical and spiritual rest.
God in the law of Moses commanded his people that once a year they were to go out of the houses out of their routes and live outside
The Feast of Tabernacles, also known as Sukkot or the Feast of Booths, is a seven-day celebration in the Bible that takes place on the 15th day of the seventh month. It is described in Leviticus 23:33–44. For time we are not going to go into it in detail again this morning as I have in the past but God requires his people to take a vacation.
**John tells us that Jesus came to this garden by the brook Kidron often times to for a retreat and a rest.
This week many of you are came with us together to Family Camp. This is a time to retreat and rest. This should be a time of mental, physical and spiritual rejuvenation for you. I want you to recognize the principle that Jesus explained to his Disciples in Matthew 10:24-33 you as his disciple are not greater that he is and you need rest and rejuvenation.
Matthew 10:24-25
24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.
25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
***Jesus by his example when alone to pray and rest often***
***Also do not forget the law of God to his people from Exodus 20***
Exodus 20:8-11
8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
**Some of you may say, yeah Pastor Jon we are not under the Law but we are under Grace as we do not have to follow all the commandments**
That is true but there is wisdom in God’s law for our lives. When you look at Act 15 you will see that as the Gentiles were getting saved and the Jewish believers / disciples needed to be lead by the Lord on basis requirements for a standard of holiness in living but not the entire ceremonial law given to the Jewish people. ***I want you to know there is freedom for someone in the House today when they grab ahold of this truth. Turn with me to Acts 15 and lets mark it in your bibles. Why because the devil brings condemnation to a new believer in Christ but the truth will make you free.
Acts 15:13-21. Mark it in your bibles. There were Jewish believers who were trying to make all the Gentiles who got saved follow the law of God. There was a big meeting about this and hear the resolution that James summarized.
I am reading from the Amplified Version of the Bible for this scripture:
13 When they had finished speaking, [b]James replied, “Brothers, listen to me. 14 [c]Simeon (Simon Peter) has described how God first concerned Himself about taking from among the Gentiles a people for His name [to honor Him and be identified with Him]. 15 The words of the Prophets agree with this, just as it is written [in Scripture],
16
‘After these things I will return,
And I will rebuild the tent of David which has fallen;
I will rebuild its ruins,
And I will restore it,
17
So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,
And all the Gentiles upon whom My name has been invoked,’
18
Says the Lord,
Who has been making these things known from long ago.
19 Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble and make it difficult for those who are turning to God among the Gentiles [by putting obstacles in their way], 20 but that we write to them that they are to abstain from [d]anything that has been contaminated by [being offered to] idols and from sexual impurity and from [eating the meat of] what has been strangled and from [the consumption of] [e]blood. 21 For from ancient generations [the writing of] Moses has been preached in every city, since [f]he is read aloud in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
**God’s law says, 8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. There are many of us who would be a lot physically and mentally healthier if we would follow the Law of God.
**The first point of the Message today: God’s people need a place and time to retreat and resort for physical and spiritual rest.
Retreat can mean several things. This place at Brook Kidron was also a place of retreat from physical and spiritual attack of the enemy.
King David “Passed Over the Brook Kidron“
The first direct reference to the Brook Kidron is found in 2 Samuel 15:23, where we read how King David fled Jerusalem with some faithful servants and his household during Absalom’s rebellion, “And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.”
**My friends this morning there are some of you who need a garden at brook Kidron to cross over in physical retreat from enemies.
**The first point of the Message today: God’s people need a place and time to retreat and resort for physical and spiritual rest.
**The 2nd point of the Message today: The place of your retreat can be the place of your revival.
I want you to see what happen at the Brook Kidron hundreds of years before Jesus ever came to resort there. It was the place of revial.
The Brook Kidron Is a Place for Destroyed and Burned Idols and Altars
King Asa and the Brook Kidron
In the Book of 1 Kings, we learn how Asa, King of Judah of the line of King David, removed idols and in particular he dethroned his own mother, and destroyed her idol and burned it by the Brook Kidron. We see this in 1 Kings 15:11-13, “And Asa did [that which was] right in the eyes of the LORD, as [did] David his father. And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. And also Maachah his mother, even her he removed from [being] queen, because she had made an idol in a grove; and Asa destroyed her idol, and burnt it by the brook Kidron.” This information is repeated in 2 Chronicles 15:16, “And also [concerning] Maachah the mother of Asa the king, he removed her from [being] queen, because she had made an idol in a grove: and Asa cut down her idol, and stamped [it], and burnt [it] at the brook Kidron.“
***3rd Point of the Message this morning. Revival comes when we take down the idols in our lives and destroy them.
(Revival) King Josiah and the Brook Kidron
In 2 Kings 23:1-3, we read where King Josiah gathered all the people of Judah and Jerusalem to hear the Words of God and to renew their commitment to obeying God, “¶And the king sent, and they gathered unto him all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem. And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the people, both small and great: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of the LORD. And the king stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all [their] heart and all [their] soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant.“
Immediately following, we see that King Josiah orders the destruction of all idolatry related articles to be burned at the Brook Kidron and the ashes scattered over graves in the valley of the Brook Kidron. In 2 Kings 23:4-6, which leads us to be believe that at that time it this area was used as a cemetery.
(Revival) King Hezakiah and the Brook Kidron
King Hezakiah also ordered the Levites to cleanse the temple of idolatrous materials and carry them to the Brook Kidron as we read in 2 Chronicles 29:16, “And the priests went into the inner part of the house of the LORD, to cleanse [it], and brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of the LORD into the court of the house of the LORD. And the Levites took [it], to carry [it] out abroad into the brook Kidron.” and then again in 2 Chronicles 30:13&14, “¶And there assembled at Jerusalem much people to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great congregation. And they arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the altars for incense took they away, and cast [them] into the brook Kidron.“
****The first point of the Message today: God’s people need a place and time to retreat and resort for physical and spiritual rest.
**The 2nd point of the Message today: The place of your retreat can be the place of your revival.
***3rd Point of the Message this morning. Revival comes when we take down the idols in our lives and destroy them.
***My friends do you see the Brook Kindron, the Garden of Gethsemane It is a place of Retreat. It is a place of Revival but it is also a place of Resolution.
Turn with me in your bibles to Jeremiah 31:40
Jeremiah 31:38-40
38 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that the city shall be built to the Lord from the tower of Hananeel unto the gate of the corner.
39 And the measuring line shall yet go forth over against it upon the hill Gareb, and shall compass about to Goath.
40 And the whole valley of the dead bodies, and of the ashes, and all the fields unto the brook of Kidron, unto the corner of the horse gate toward the east, shall be holy unto the Lord; it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more for ever.
(Resolution) The Brook Kindron is a place that will be Holy Forever unto the Lord.
The last Old Testament direct reference to the Brook Kidron is in Jeremiah 31:40, The context seems suggest that once Judgment Day comes and there is the New Jerusalem created, then the place representing by the Brook Kidron and its contents will remain for ever and be considered holy by God.
****The first point of the Message today: God’s people need a place and time to retreat and resort for physical and spiritual rest.
**The 2nd point of the Message today: The place of your retreat can be the place of your revival.
***3rd Point of the Message this morning. Revival comes when we take down the idols in our lives and destroy them.
***The 4th point of the message this morning. The place of your retreat and revival can also be the place of your resolution.
** I want to take you back to the Brook Kidron, and show you again this place of retreat, this place of revival this place of resolution. This place of completion. This place of Holiness. Jesus is in a garden at this place and it has been a place he has resorted, it is place of revival but now it is a place of resolve and completion for him and his ministry.
John 18:1-14
1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples.
2 And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples.
3 Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.
4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?
5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.
6 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.
7 Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.
8 Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:
9 That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.
10 Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.
11 Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?
12 Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him,
13 And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year.
14 Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.
Matthew 26:36-56
36 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.
37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.
38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.
39 And he went a little farther, 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.
40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
43 And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.
44 And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.
45 Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
46 Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.
47 And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.
48 Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.
49 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.
50 And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus and took him.
****The first point of the Message today: God’s people need a place and time to retreat and resort for physical and spiritual rest.
**The 2nd point of the Message today: The place of your retreat can be the place of your revival.
***3rd Point of the Message this morning. Revival comes when we take down the idols in our lives and destroy them.
***The 4th point of the message this morning. The place of your retreat and revival can also be the place of your resolution.
***As we pivot the message toward closing I want to talk about repentance. This is a powerful word used by God’s prophets, disciples and evangelist.
At the Day of Pentecost Peter stands up to preach his first message after being filled with the Holy Spirit. It has only been 51 days since Peter denied Jesus….not once, not twice, but 3 times Peter said, I do not know him!
Acts 2:36-39
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
*** Yesterday the Holy Spirit brought this question to my heart I had never thought about before:
What was the worse sin: Judas identifying Jesus with a kiss to the religious leaders or Peter denying Jesus 3 times?
Jesus himself said to the arresting officers from the religious leaders, I was daily in the Temple teaching, you know who I am, you could have arrested me at anytime in public. So why did they need Judas to betray Jesus. Judas knew were Jesus would retreat. Judas knew were they could arrest Jesus and not risk the public questioning of their actions.
But I still ask this question….What was worse, giving up Jesus location or denying him 3 times when it really mattered?
The truth is that the question is not relevant because it does not effect the outcome for the individual. My friends, Sin is sin in any form, any shape and any fashion. Jesus shed his blood for you and for me to redeem us from all sin and reconcile us to relationship with Father God.
The Blood of Jesus shed on Calvary is powerful enough to forgive Judas betrayal of Jesus and Peter’s denial of Jesus.
So what was the difference:
The difference was that Judas did not understand the 5th and closing point of the message today: Forgiveness and redemption is found in Jesus and not religion.
Matthew 27:1-10
1 When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:
2 And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
***My friends when we look to religion and religious leaders to grant forgiveness for sin we will be left hopeless and in despair. Religious man can never do what risen savior, Jesus Christ can do.
Look at verse 3 and 4 again:
- Judas repented.
- Judas returned the money
- Judas confessed his sin
- But he did all of this to man and religion and their response……….
- Not our problem, you have to deal with that…
My friends when the broken lost and dying world around you and I are crying out looking for forgiveness, looking for hope, looking for a future. Do not be a religious leader but instead take them to Christ. Take them to Jesus. Show them the one who can forgive sin, show them the one who can give them hope and a future.
Acts 4:10-13
10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
Back to Matthew 27:5
**Judas feeling helpless, hopeless, broken, realizing there is no salvation and redemption in the religion goes out and hangs himself…
5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
6 And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.
7 And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in.
8 Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.
9 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value;
10 And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me.
Luke 22:54-62
54 Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off.
55 And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.
56 But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.
57 And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not.
58 And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not.
59 And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean.
60 And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.
61 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
62 And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.
****The first point of the Message today: God’s people need a place and time to retreat and resort for physical and spiritual rest.
**The 2nd point of the Message today: The place of your retreat can be the place of your revival.
***3rd Point of the Message this morning. Revival comes when we take down the idols in our lives and destroy them.
***The 4th point of the message this morning. The place of your retreat and revival can also be the place of your resolution.
****The 5th and closing point of the message today: Forgiveness and redemption is found in Jesus and not religion.