I would like for you to follow me into the Book of Luke Chapter 9 verses 18 - 23.
"Jesus said that if any Man will come after me, let him deny himself. And take up the cross daily"
So here we are with Jesus teaching for the disciples of his day and the disciples of this day.
And Jesus is warning us…
He is warning us because he knows that the signs and wonders he has performed have truly amazed the disciples…
They have truly amazed the multitudes…
These events have revolutionized lives for those who have witnessed these things first hand.
They have heard the teaching …
They have seen the Wisdom…
They have witnessed perfection in Human form…
They have seen him heal the sick…
And they have seen the Miracles…
But as it was, Jesus tells us that: There will be other that will come after him.
That there will be those that will claim to offer the same or greater power then he did.
They will claim to offer greater miracles…
He implies that a MAN might try to exalt themselves above Him (the true and living God) to others.
He says, "If any man come after me let them deny themselves and take up the cross."
This is relevant teaching today as we have many religious leaders and doctrines are presenting Jesus differently then what the Bible says he is.
This month we are touching on cults and other erroneous doctrines.
We need to be armed with the truth about the God we serve…
It is important in these turbulent times to do this…
We need to be prepared to discuss the truth…
We need to be prepared so that when these situations present themselves to you or to someone you know, we will know when a false message is looming and we can effectively nagavigate through it.
So today want to touch on and deal with Islam and the truth behind the legacy of Muhammad.
So, as a central theme today, this sermon is entitled:
Can you handle the truth?
Before we go into this we need to get a little background on Muhammad and the origin of Islam.
Now when I speak of Muhammad, realize that we are not talking about the Muhammad of the Nation of Islam.
No, We are talking about what (next to the creator himself) Islam describes as the originator and sculpture of Islamic Theology.
The man known as Mohammad was born in 570 AD.
So he was on the scene about 550 years after Jesus walked the earth.
He lived a pretty typical life through his childhood and young adult life.
According to Norman Giesler, a world-renowned theologian and expert on Islam, as a youth he was known as sincere and honest. He was described by fellow Muslims as Al Amin, a name that literally means "the faithful one."
Like typical young adults he got married; and as he progressing in years he progressed in his devotion and prayer to God.
Around AD 610, at forty (40) years of age and after a two-year retreat of prayer and devotion it is said that he received his prohectic calling from God.
According to Islamic tradition, one night the angel Gabriel took Mohammad from Mecca to Jerusalem.
And it was here he was brought through what the Quran describes as the "Seven Heavens".
It is in the seven heavens were where Mohammad says that visited with all the previous prophets sent by God.
Now, according to Giesler, and Islamic tradition, Abraham was found in the Seventh Heaven, Moses was found in the Sixth Heaven, Other great prophets were found in the 5th, 4th and 3rd Heavens…
And Jesus was found in the 2nd Heaven….
After traveling through these heavens
Finally, Muhammad was brought to the place were he received a specific procedure for the Islamic worship and daily prayer.
It is at this time that he proclaimed himself a prophet of God and Islam was born in the city of Mecca.
So Muhammad is now a Prophet of God…
Moreover, Muhammed defines himself as the "last prophet" after Jesus. And that HE was brought to the world to bring all mankind to Islam.
Moreover, He considered himself the "Seal of the Prophets"that came before him.
Muslims insist that he was beyond "major sin" and a perfect moral example for mankind. And for that reason the Angel Gabriel spoke the words of the Quran to Muhammad…
The prophet Muhammad brought those words to the world to bring all mankind to Islam.
So we have a man who has told a people that HE is a prophet from God and you are to follow his words.
Come with me to Deuteronomy 18:15…
Deut. (18:15) The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;
This scripture is widely used is Islamic teaching as a biblical prophecy of the coming of Muhammad.
Before we get to the problem here…
We need to deal with and clarify a couple of major issues…
You see, if Muhammad calls himself the last prophet we owe it to ourselves to seek out what Islam would define as qualifications for an individual to hold that prestigious title…
What is necessary to be considered a prophet…
Strongs Bible Dictionary defines a Prophet as a beholder in vision, and inspired man.
In Islam, a prophet is known to be one who has:
· Performed Signs and Wonders
· Spoken to God Face to Face
· Spoken to Men of God
· Lives a sinless life
Jesus, therefore qualifies as a prophet…
Beyond that, Jesus (known as Isa) in the Quran is recognized as a great healer, a great teacher, a great prophet of God.
In the Quran Jesus is mentioned as the Son of God, The Messiah, and The Messenger of God. In all, he is highly revered in Islam and throughout the Quran. In Fact Jesus is mentioned almost 100 times in the Quran.
But he is not acknowledged as God.
Come with me to I Timothy 2:5…
Here it says that: " There is one God and one mediator between God and Men. The man Christ Jesus.
Jesus told us that: He is the way the truth and the Life. And that no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
He said I am the way the truth and the life…
I think its time to tell the truth…
You see, one question we should be asking ourselves is whether or not Muhammad truly met all of the criteria that the Quran (his own writings) admonish him to offer his people.
Tell somebody next to you "I need to know the Truth".
You see Muhammad told them that Deuteronomy 18:15 was the Biblical prophecy of his coming. But you see, If you really want the truth. You know that
Moses told us that this prophet would come from his land. Muhammad was born in Arabia, not Israel…
Tell somebody: I want to know the truth…
You see, If you really want to know the truth…
You want to know that by his own prophetic word and laws Mohammad did not live a sinless Life.
You see, Muhammad had problems with Polygamy. - In the Quran’s own words, Muslim men are allowed 4 wives.
However, It is widely known that Muhammad had as many as 15 wives
Somebody say I want to know the truth…
If you want to know the truth, you want to know that:
Muhammed had a problem with what we call moral expediency.
You see Muhammad sanctioned the raiding of commercial meccan caravans by his followers for financial reward.
It is also recorded that he himself led these raids as a mechanism for growing the political and religious power and influence.
You see, unlike Christianity, many rejected Islamic doctrine in its early days. Muhammad felt as he had to expedite the matter so he had to make so things happen…
So for many it became Islam or death.
Tell some one I need to know the truth…
If you want to know the truth, you want to know that:
Mohammed was not only an owner of slaves, and seller of slaves.
If you want to know the truth, you want to know that:
The only miracle, sign or wonder that Muhammad ever claimed was the Quran itself. Evens when followers asked publicly for him to perform miracles like other messengers from God.
He told them he could not…
But if you really want the truth….
If you really want the truth…
Tell someone: I think Jesus is in the House….
· Well the Book of Jeremiah 23:5 told us He would be a descendent of David.
· Malachi told us He would be preceded by "a voice crying in the wilderness"
· Zechariah 9:9 said that He would enter Jerusalem riding on a donkey.
· The 78th Psalm told us He would speak in parables. -- Psalm 78:2.
· That His hands and feet would be pierced. - Psalm 22:16,
· and that He would be betrayed by someone he ate with. -- Psalm 41:9.
Þ Isaiah said that he would He would be a "light to the Gentiles." --
· That he He would heal the blind, the deaf and the lame. -- Isaiah 35:5.
· And that He would work quietly, without fanfare. -- Isaiah 42:1-4.
· They said that His people would reject him. -- Isaiah 49:7.
· That He would not protest. -- Isaiah 53:7, 12.
· They said That his His back would be beaten. -- Isaiah 50:6.
· and That They would spit on him and disfigure him -- Isaiah 50:6
· And they said that He would die among criminals. -- Isaiah 53:9 , 12
Because you need to know ...
In All, over 60 Old Testament prophecies came to pass in during life of a single man (Jesus Christ). (OVERHEAD)
An that Modern day mathematicians have calculated that the chances of even eight prophecies occurring in a single individual life hundreds of years before he was born is 160 trillion to one.
You need to know that the Romans were experts at killing on the cross.
Did you know that Jesus received floggings with whips of braided leather, with metal balls and sharpened bones woven with it. (OVERHEAD)
You need to Know that the nails that were plunged into his wrist and legs were 5 to 7 inches long and razor sharp. The pain was so great during these cruxifications that it gave birth to the term excruciating.
Which means severe, torturous, and unbearable but literally means "out of the cross".
You see these instruments were designed to kill. If the centurions did not kill they were killed so they were very efficient at their jobs.
Now, Muhammad died at the age of 62…
But the JESUS told us that they shall kill him, and on the third day he shall be raised up
He was raised up so he could prepare a place for us.
He was raised up so that God would fulfill his prophecy…
He was raised up so that the people would know that He is God and God all mighty.
And you need to you know that the resurrected Jesus was witnessed in-group of hundreds. (OVERHEAD)
And those experts will tell you that it is physically, mentally and pyschologically impossible to for a group of individuals to experience the same hallucinations and the same environment.
No this wasn’t just a man….
He is the mighty and the Majestic
He is the wise and wonderful….
He is the humble that exalts…
He is the comforter that has compassion
He is the rich who possesses all things…
He is the meek that moves
He is the merciful that shows all mercy…
He is the administrator…
The Separator…
The Helper
The Observer.
The Moderator…
The Accounter..
The Equipter..
The Edifier
The Exalter
Jesus, is our maker of Miracles.
Jesus, is our taker of Sins…
He’s Perfect
He’s Patient
He’s Watchful
And He’s Worthy
Now, I want to show you the proof. This says it all.
Go with me quickly to verse 28 of Luke the 9th chapter. After tell us to deny our selves and follow him about 8 days passed and this is what Jesus did to proof once and for all the He is God and no other.
Look at this, it says:
Luke 9:28: "And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray."
(9:29) "And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering"
(9:30) "And behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:"
(9:31) "Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem".
(9:32)"But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: And when they awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him."
(9:33) "And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, It is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and One for Elais: not knowing what he said"
(9:34) While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud"
(9:35) AND THERE CAME A VOICE OUT OF THE CLOUD, SAYING…
THIS IS MY SON: HEAR HIM.
So now listen…
When Jesus said to the disciples:
"If any man will come after me. Let him deny himself"
He was trying to demonstrate to ALL of his disciples know that he would suffer for us and that we must ALL follow him.
All, meaning those of his day, us today, those we know who do not know him and even those born in or around AD 570.
In the Quran, Muhammad tells the world that "he is just a man". If he is just a man, then the message is clear.
Because Jesus was more then just a man…
I submit to you today that if Muhammad, saw, what Peter, John and James saw.
He would believe what we believe.
And finally, if you came in with any doubts about reality of God in your life.
I pray that you will evaluate the evidence and the truth in your heart and mind.
Realizing that today we will execute a criminal for less evidence.
It is said that the greatest power we have is the power to chose.
I pray that you will chose to give your life to Christ because when your life is over….
You want to be with him.
May God bless you all. Amen.
Rev. Robert W. Parker
Southern Mission Missionary Baptist Church
Tele: (314) 521-3951
e-mail: bparker@courier-journal.com for free audio version
Contact Reverend John Mitchell Jr. Senior Pastor and Teacher at rmitche287@aol.com for a audio or video tape copy of this sermon.
If interested in a copy of the powerpoint presentation for this sermon. Please e-mail at bparker@courier-journal.com or speak with Pastor Mitchell.
