Title: Three cheers from Jesus!
Text: Matthew 9:2
Introduction: It’s been said that attitude will determine your altitude. I mention that this morning because I believe in many places in the body of Christ we have let the attitude of the world creep into the church!
I believe we could agree that we live in the midst of a troubled, depressed, and downcast world and, unfortunately, this same attitude has crept into the church. I’ve got to tell you quite candidly that when I see some saints, I honestly wonder if they can remember the last good day they have ever had, and if they can remember it, their face doesn’t show it!
One of the recurring commands of Christ that I find in God’s Word is the command, “be of good cheer!” Listen, I don’t believe that Jesus Christ was a gloomy, depressed, always-serious person, but I believe He had a smile on His face and “good cheer” in His heart! Further, I believe it is God’s will for His people, yes that includes, having a smile on our face and “good cheer” in our hearts.
Prop. Let’s look together at Jesus’ “three cheers” to you.
I. Matthew 9:2 – “…be of good cheer, thy sins be forgiven thee.”
A. WHAT A GLORIOUS FACT, OUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN! The old song says, “I once was lost in sin but Jesus took me in…” What a grand and glorious day that was! SPEAK
B. I was in bondage to the devil and the flesh and the world but today, I am gloriously free! You know this, but it’s good to be reminded of what we have. Listen, Jesus shed His precious blood on the cross of Calvary so that I could be free; and He died there for your freedom also. The DAY I bowed my knee to Jesus and accepted His free offer of salvation I was forgiven of EVERY SIN!!
C. Someone says, “Pastor, why are you talking about this ‘sin’ business? Why, I’m basically a pretty good person!” Question, ‘pretty good’ compared to whom? SPEAK every person is born into sin; we have no choice in the matter. Here is the Bible fact: when Adam sinned, every member of Adam’s race “fell” that same day. McGuffey Reader – In Adam’s fall, we lost all! Someone objects, “that’s not fair! I wasn’t even there on that day! I didn’t take a bite of that fruit! I wasn’t there!” Listen, Adam stood in the place of all humanity that day. He stood for all future generations. He stood as mankind’s representative. When he fell, WE fell! “But I never committed Adam’s sin!” No, but you inherited Adam’s nature, and so did I! Listen to the Word in Rom. 5:14 - Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. Listen, a sinner isn’t a sinner because he sins. Rather, he or she sins because they are a sinner! It’s a nature issue!
D. If it were possible for you to live your entire life without ever committing a personal sin (by the way, it’s NOT possible), you would still have to be lost and go to hell when you die because you inherited a “sinful nature” from your father, and mine, Adam. Listen; because you received an implanted sin nature, you must receive an imputed righteousness, there is no other way! I don’t mind telling you this morning; there is only one “cure” for sin, the applied blood of Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son! Good works will never be good enough! Charity won’t suffice! Morality will fall short, and good intentions won’t get you to heaven.
E. The old song says, “What will wash away my sin, NOTHING but the blood of Jesus.” BE OF GOOD CHEER, YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN!
II. Matt. 14:27 – “…be of good cheer, it is I, be not afraid.”
A. WHAT A GLORIOUS REALITY; AS LONG AS JESUS CHRIST LIVES WITHIN US, WE HAVE NOTHING, TO BE AFRAID OF!!! The background of this statement is that the disciples were out on a storm tossed sea. SPEAK [Elaborate]
B. It was the “fourth watch of the night”, the darkest and most depressing period of the night. They were in the boat rowing and fighting for their very lives!
C. Don’t let this fact escape you. They had embarked on this journey at Jesus’ command. Here’s the point: As long as Jesus has sent me someplace, I’m not afraid to go, regardless of what opposition may come my way! To go without hearing His command, however, is a sure formula for disaster
D. As things looked the darkest, Jesus came walking to them on the storm tossed sea and said, “be of good cheer, it is I, be not afraid.” Can you imagine the relief that must have come upon the twelve that night? They knew everything would be all right, Jesus was with them! They knew the storm was no match for Jesus and His power! SPEAK
E. What’s the application? Simply this. You may be in the midst of the worst storm of your life this very day. You may be fighting for your life and it seems that there is no way you are going to make it. You need to listen very carefully this morning and you will hear the voice of this same Jesus say to you, “be of good cheer, it is I, be not afraid!”
F. Jesus would say to you, this very morning, “BE NOT AFRAID!”
III. John 16:33 – “…be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
A. WHAT A GLORIOUS REALITY; JESUS HAS OVERCOME THE WORLD AND WE CAN WALK IN THAT FREEDOM AND POWER! We have been victims of the devil long enough, it is time to “rise up” and be the children of the most High God!
B. Many Christians feel it is their duty to constantly “fight the devil”. Here me, there is not one instance in the Word of God where God’s people were instructed or ordered to “fight the devil.” We are supposed to “fight the good fight of faith”, but we are not told to “fight the devil”.
C. We need to realize that the victory was already won for the child of God at Calvary. SPEAK
D. The hymn writer said it, “Jesus paid it ALL! All to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.” Listen to the word in Isa. 1:18 - Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. SIN WAS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM YOU EVER HAD. SPEAK Listen to Heb. 9:26 - 26. For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
E. If the biggest problem we ever had has been dealt with, everything else is “small potatoes”! SPEAK
F. Ill. Gene Autry’s, “Back in the saddle again”. He said in the song that as he rode the dusty trail on his faithful mount, Champion, he was, “toutin’ “ his “old ‘44”. Child of God, you have a spiritual ’44! Listen to the Word, Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
G. BE OF GOOD CHEER!!!
Conclusion: Let me encourage you this morning. We can, “be of good cheer” today. Why? Because: 1) OUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN,
2) OUR SAVIOR IS WITH US
3) OUR SITUATION IS SECURE
Beloved, BE OF GOOD CHEER! Let’s pray.
