Thru the Bible - Minute with McGee on Oneplace.com

Now we come to this Olivet Discourse, so-called. Let me read it: “And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts,” He said. Now you see when He mentioned that poor widow gave more than all the rich they said, “Why look at the temple, the riches that’s in it; the stones and how valuable it is. Why that woman didn’t give much.” Yes, she did. That’s the whole point. And it’s the little giver that is probably giving more because you’re not measured by the tenth. You’re not measured by the percentage. You’re measured about the sacrifice that you’re making.

“It came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.” You see, the important thing is that while He’s away, friends, He’s given to you an opportunity. And that opportunity is the pound, and you’re to be faithful for whatever He’s made you a steward of. Your pound may be a whole city, and another man’s pound may be just a handful of people, and another man it may be just a home. But they’re to be faithful. And when He comes, why He’s going to reward them according to their faithfulness, you see. That is the important thing—faithfulness.

“He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.” You see, He’s gone back to heaven. He gets the kingdom from the Father, not from you and me. We don’t vote Him in. When He comes next time, we’re told that He’ll dash them in pieces with a rod of iron. Friends, He’s not asking anybody to vote for Him when He comes the next time. They’ll either receive Him or they’ll be destroyed. That’s the way it will be next time. He came the first time as a Savior. Now He said He’s gone away to receive a kingdom. “And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.” And that’s just about what the world is saying to Him today. But that’s not going to keep God from sending Him to the earth.

“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” First of all, let me say that this man Zacchaeus came to the door, and he didn’t say, “Jesus saves and keeps and satisfies.” Now that’s a good testimony if it’s the truth when you give it. He didn’t come to the door and say that “I’m going to do better.” He came to the door and he said, “I’m changed. I’m a new man. I’m going to do differently than I’ve ever done before. I’m turning to the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior.” Jesus had been to his house, and you can always tell the house Jesus has been to; it’ll be different. You can tell the heart Jesus has entered. It’ll be different.

Our Lord, every time He talked to anyone, He always talked about two things: man’s need and, second, God’s ability to meet that need. Well, He didn’t have to tell Zacchaeus he was a sinner; Zacchaeus knew it. And the second thing He told him about, God’s ability. “Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham.” He was shut out from that mercy seat in the temple, but that mercy seat was pointing to the Lord Jesus Christ, and pointing to the blood that He shed for us on the cross, and He’s telling Zacchaeus, “I’m going up to die for you to make a mercy seat for you to come to.” I say to you, friends, this is a very wonderful verse.

God’s no unjust judge. And you can afford to just keep going to Him in prayer and, if you really mean business, you’re going to move the arm of God one way or another. And He may make it clear to you that He’s not going to do the thing exactly as you want it done, but He’s going to hear and answer your prayer. And that’s the reason I think we ought to just lay hold of God in a very definite way today about these things that concern us, that we feel deeply. And as you look about you today, friend, don’t be discouraged. Don’t faint. Please don’t faint. Pray.

Paul uses a very wonderful expression. We need this kind of help today. It’s over in Romans, the 15th chapter, and Verse 30. Listen to Paul; he says, “Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me.” And you know what that word “strive” really means? Well, it’s the word that we get our word “agonize” from. You see, to “agonize in prayer”—that doesn’t mean the length of your prayer; it’s the depth of your prayer. It’s not the words, but the feeling that’s back of it. My, this is the way that Moses prayed; it’s the way Paul prayed, and it’s the way we should pray today.

“If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus”—and that’s your vow. That’s your statement of faith. “And shall believe in thine heart that God has raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” The point of it is, it’s not just what the mouth says; it’s what the heart believes, friends. And he says they must be brought into agreement. “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness.” Now, you don’t believe with your mouth—you say it with your mouth, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. So don’t say it with your mouth until your heart is singing a duet with you.

He took my place down here and He’s given me His place up there. And I say this reverently, but I want to say it. That if you are saved today, friends, you have as much right in heaven as Christ has. Did you know that? You have His right to be there. And if you don’t have His right, you got no business there. I have some bad news for you—you won’t be there. Because you can only stand in Him, accepted in the Beloved. That’s the way God receives us. And if you’re in Him, you just don’t improve on that at all. How wonderful this is.

The only thing God asks you to do is to look—look to Christ. He is taking your place there. You’re a sinner. You deserve to die. He does not deserve to die. And it’s just that simple. Either you’re looking to Christ as your Savior because you’re a sinner or you’re not doing it, friends. And if you’re not doing it, I don’t care how many times you’ve been baptized, I don’t care how many ceremonies you’ve been through, and I don’t care how many churches you’ve joined, and I don’t care who your father and mother happen to be. You’re a lost, hell-doomed sinner until you look to the Lord Jesus Christ. Now it’s just as simple as that.