HOUSE TOP GOSPEL
House Top Gospel is a Podcast dedicated to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
“Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, Preach on the HOUSE TOPS" Matthew 10:27.
HOUSE TOP GOSPEL
Jesus’ divine Identity in Enemy Occupied Territory
Standing in the shadow of eternity, Jesus spoke words that penetrate the depths of our understanding about His divine mission: "The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father living in me who is doing his work." This profound statement reveals something revolutionary about Christ's earthly ministry - He never operated alone.
Throughout the Gospels, we witness Jesus in constant communion with the Father, supported by the Holy Spirit, ministered to by angels, and even joined by prophets like Moses and Elijah at the Transfiguration. This divine partnership wasn't incidental but essential to understanding Jesus' purpose. He was sent - a mission planned in eternity and executed in time, making Him the ultimate "apocalypse" (revelation) of God to humanity.
Despite performing undeniable miracles - healing birth defects, multiplying food, casting out demons, and ultimately conquering death itself - Jesus faced relentless opposition from religious authorities who understood exactly what He was claiming: divine identity. When He affirmed before the high priest that He was indeed "the Christ, the Son of God," using apocalyptic language from Daniel, they condemned Him to death for blasphemy. Yet what these opponents failed to comprehend was that this execution was not a tragedy but part of a divine plan - "Good Friday" - ordained before the foundations of the world.
The resurrected Christ didn't appear as a spirit but in a physical, touchable body that still bore the scars of crucifixion. For almost two months, He ate, taught, and fellowshipped with disciples before delivering the Great Commission - a declaration of war against the kingdom of darkness that represents the beginning of evil's end. This commission is what demonic forces fear most: their own destruction.
As you contemplate your place in this cosmic narrative, remember that just as Jesus wasn't alone, neither are you. With the Holy Spirit as your guide and Christ as your advocate, you're invited to choose sides in this eternal conflict. Will you stand with the Conqueror who offers eternal life as a gift to all who believe? The decision you make today reverberates through eternity.
the words that I say to you. I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father living in me who is doing his work. That's John 14, verse 10. Jesus often expressed his work as being co-existent with his Father. In other words, whatever the Father did, the Son did Likewise. That's in John 5, 19. Jesus had his Father with him the whole time. So, in other words, jesus was not acting alone per se, and this is very interesting. I think it's rather very important, you know, because this kind of broadens our perspective about eternity and where Jesus came from.
Speaker 1:Another good example that Jesus was not alone was on his baptism. John writes this. He says just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven open up and the Spirit descend on him like a dove, and a voice came from heaven saying you are my son, whom I love. With you, I am well pleased. Of course that was his father. That was God. That John heard and John recorded. Another good example is on the day of Jesus' transfiguration above Mount Hermon. God was with him and of course, the Holy Spirit was with him. And not only that, but the prophets Elijah and Moses were on Mount Hermon with Jesus, and, of course, the disciples were there, they witnessed this, they heard the voice of God, right, and so not only was the Father, jesus' Father and the Holy Spirit and the prophets with Jesus, jesus is Father and the Holy Spirit and the prophets with Jesus. But there are other occasions in the Bible where angels actually came to Jesus, where they strengthened him or they ministered to him.
Speaker 1:The point is that Jesus was not acting alone, and it is very important that we get it into our minds that Jesus was sent. He was sent. Maybe we've read that many, many times, but do we really really think about the fact that Jesus was sent? So this whole idea or mission that Jesus carried out, it was planned or initiated or ordained, however you want to say it, in eternity, right, and then it was carried out and fulfilled in time, in our time, in time in our time. So Jesus was not acting alone. However, he, jesus, was God's one and only true revealer, or revelation of God. John writes this all things have been handed over to me by. So this is Jesus talking. Reveal him, reveal who His Father. That's Matthew 11.27. So the word reveal that Jesus uses is rather interesting. This word is translated apocalypsi in Greek and it means apocalypse. You know that's where we get the word apocalypse. You know that's a pretty popular word these days. You know we have creators and authors and movie makers and so forth that have made millions of dollars on that word. So Jesus is the revelation of God, or rather, if you prefer, the apocalypse of God to the world. Okay, so Jesus serves as the divine revelation of his Father to the world.
Speaker 1:Of Jesus with regards to his identity provoked this strong opposition and resentment from those who refused to believe him in spite of what they were seeing with their very own eyes. And, of course, this viewpoint remains very common to this day. Many assert that the Bible is old and that it's outdated and seen it as some kind of that. It's an old, outdated, ancient text that is irrelevant to today's world, and this perspective or point of view or frame of mind whichever however you want to call it, it misrepresents or misinterprets, I should say the content and the teachings of the Bible, and people just disregard the timeless wisdom and the moral guidance that is offered by both the Old, and the world is in such array or disarray as it is this day. I mean, just look at the news right, just look at our government. Nonetheless, the Bible in the book of Isaiah says that God's word is going to go forth. It goes forth from out of his mouth. It shall not return void, but it shall accomplish as he pleases for that which he sent it. And again Jesus says in the New Testament at the base of Mount Hermon this was after they descended from above Mount Hermon, where Moses and Elijah were, and so forth, god and the Holy Spirit, where Jesus was not alone. At the base of that mountain, of that mountain, jesus says upon this rock I shall build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And that's very interesting, but we don't have the time. That's a different subject, the very significance of Mount Hermon, but for another time. We'll talk about that another time.
Speaker 1:My point is that during Jesus' day, his claims concerning his divine identity led to this growing conflict between him and the religious rulers and the adversaries of his time. Those who conspired to kill him clearly understood that Jesus asserted a unique oneness with God Almighty, his Father, which they perceived as blasphemy and a direct challenge to their belief systems and their authority. The Bible says the Jews they picked up stones to stone him. Now remember that Jesus himself was Jewish, and Jesus loved his people. He loved his culture, as did Paul. However, these are the ones that the Bible says picked up stones to stone him, with the intentions of, of course, killing him. And so Jesus told him this. He says I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of them are you going to stone me? And then they answered him and they said it is not for a good work that we are going to stone you, but for blasphemy, because you are a mere man and you make yourself to be God. That's in John, chapter 10, verses 31 to 34.
Speaker 1:Elsewhere, in another portion of the New Testament, jesus' enemies or his accusers were accusing him before a Roman governor, and his name was Pontius Pilate. Now, pontius Pilate, the governor of Rome at that time, from that vicinity that location, said I find no guilt in this man. In other words, find no guilt in this man. In other words, he has broken no laws. And then they, the Jews, they said we have our own law and according to our law, he must die because he has made himself to be the son of God. That's in John, chapter 19, verse 7.
Speaker 1:It's important to recognize that Jesus made claims about his divine identity and provoked and proved it over and over and over and over again through countless miracles, not to mention his physical and body resurrection from the dead right. Jesus walked out of that tomb alive. Miracles surrounded him. He walked on water. The disciples, as it is written. They saw him walking on water more than once. He fed thousands of people out of thin air. He healed individuals with birth defects, people that were born blind or crippled at birth. He cast out these demonic monstrosities like flies, you know, these demonic forces in the unseen realm, as it were. Jesus had power over them and they feared him. They trembled at his name. Through these deeds and many more, jesus demonstrated himself to be divine, the one and only divine son of God in person, in the flesh, in flesh and bone, as we are Human being. However, in spite of his mighty deeds, his enemies, his adversaries, the religious rulers you know, the high priests and scribes and so forth were hell-bent to destroy him. They wanted him dead.
Speaker 1:Okay, so now let's fast forward here. Okay, we're approaching the end of Jesus' ministry while he's still with his disciples. Okay, and Jesus said I came from my father and I have come into this world. And now I am leaving and going to the father. That's John 16, 28. Going to the Father that's John 16, 28.
Speaker 1:Now at his trial, okay, he's arrested, he's apprehended by the Pharisees and the religious rulers. You know, this council of judges called the Sanhedrin judges called the Sanhedrin. Jesus openly asserted his deity right in front of these people and he said it plainly and was condemned to death for it, on the charge that he had spoken blasphemy. In response to one of his accusers, the high priest, he says to Jesus Are you the Christ, the Son of God? And Jesus' response was plainly to them I am, and you shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of the power and coming with the clouds. Now this is very interesting, what Jesus had just said. Here, jesus is using this apocalyptic language that is taken out of the book of Daniel, chapter 7, verses 13 and 14. The book of Daniel, chapter 7, verses 13 and 14,. Daniel is what would be considered an apocalyptic document. Okay, just like Revelation or Ezekiel, these are apocalyptic documents.
Speaker 1:And this, what Jesus said, only infuriated these high priests and religious rulers even more. They were so furious, they were angry. We read that the high priest that said this that asked Jesus, are you the Christ, the Son of God? And in his fury we read that he tore his robes right off of his body, demonstrating, you know, as a display of his fury, and said what further witness do we need? You have heard with your own ears and seen with your eyes the blasphemy. What do you say? And then we read in Mark, chapter 14, verses 16 to 64, that they all condemned Jesus to die. All right. Now, moving forward Now, at the end of Matthew's Gospel, in the 28th chapter, this is post-crucifixion, this is after Jesus' trial and crucifixion and after his resurrection, the resurrected Christ speaking to his disciples, after he had again been fatally tormented to death by the two most powerful administrations of the world, the Roman government and the church of that day, the religious rulers, the high priests, the scribes and the Pharisees, and that infamous council of judges, the Sanhedrin.
Speaker 1:Remember, it is imperative, it is essential for Christians and all believers to recognize and understand that Jesus walked out of that tomb completely restored to health, physically, physically and bodily, and not some spirit, like some of these religious movements they say well, yeah, he rose a spirit. You know that makes my skin crawl. You know what's the point. He rose a spirit, you know? No, no, he rose physically and bodily, rose of spirit. No, no, he rose physically and bodily. And right now Jesus is in that same body that has been exalted high above the heavens. Okay, so coming back to earth? Okay, he remained with his disciples for almost two months. The Bible says Remember, he's already risen.
Speaker 1:He walked out of that tomb. He remained with his disciples for almost two months. You know what were they doing? Well, they were eating, drinking, lounging and teaching and learning and listening to Jesus. We read in the New Testament that they handled him, they touched him, they ate with him. They saw the scars on his body, the nail prints in his hands and on his feet. You know the scars on his brow and on his back. Can you imagine that? And then we read that Thomas placed his hand on Jesus' side and he saw the scar from that Roman centurion that ran that spear through his body. Well, thomas fell at his feet at the resurrected Christ and he worshiped Jesus right there in front of everybody, fully convinced that Jesus is the Son of God, our Savior, and has the power of life and death for all eternity. That's the whole point of being a Christian like Thomas, of being a Christian like Thomas. Life does not stop when your time is over on this earth. It's just simply the beginning of the hereafter, all right.
Speaker 1:So now Jesus is giving what is called the great commission to his disciples, right In Matthew 28. I'm sorry, I took a little detour there, but getting back to Matthew 28, this is what Jesus said. He said all authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. That is a mouthful right there. Period. All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever. I commanded you and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world. Now, this is important.
Speaker 1:The key takeaway from Jesus' great commission statement is the destruction of the kingdom of darkness. All right, the destruction of the kingdom of darkness. All right, the destruction of the kingdom of darkness. This right here, this statement, this commission statement, is the beginning of the end of the evil in this world. The devil and his kingdom. That commission is what the devil fears the most. It is a declaration of his demise.
Speaker 1:Michael Heiser, the late, great Michael Heiser, who happens to be one of my favorite people and theologian. He remarks what do the rulers of principalities and powers of darkness fear the most? Well, it is their own destruction. In other words, what Michael Heiser is saying they fear the success of the Great Commission, and so their game plan is to prolong the battle or the war as long as they possibly can, to kick the Great Commission can down the road as long as they possibly can. Mission can down the road as long as they possibly can, and the longer they can do that, the longer they stay alive, the longer they can blind people to the gospel truth, the longer they can keep pushing this commission great commission of God the Lord down the road.
Speaker 1:Commission great commission of God, the Lord, down the road, the longer they survive. And that's their game plan. That's all they have. All they have is lies and tricks and, of course, divisions through whatever means possible. You know, politics, I just oh, politics has no business in the pulpit. Come on, that's the spirit of the world and it's dying, right. I mean, it's thriving right now. Politics, it has no business in the pulpit, okay? So whatever the devil can use. He's going to do. You know, whatever the enemy can use to hinder the Great Commission, he's going to use it. That's how they define victory and that's why they say we're still here. No-transcript Right.
Speaker 1:The Declaration, the Commission, the Great Commission, excuse me, is Jesus' Declaration of War. And for those who say you know why does God allow so much evil in the world, without really even knowing what they're talking about? Blaming God for all the problems that man creates, that man causes, that man is stuck on, that man goes in circles about, and they blame God for all of the things that make them sad or unhappy, and they don't even know God. But yet they blame God for all of the problems in the world. Well, this Great Commission, this declaration of Jesus, is the reckoning with all the evil, all the evil doers in this world. It's coming and he's calling you. Jesus is calling you to choose your side. He's calling you to choose your side today.
Speaker 1:Faith comes by hearing, and hearing comes by his, by His gospel, the Word. And you know what the wonderful thing is. Just as Jesus was not alone, neither are we. We are not alone. Jesus had the Holy Spirit with Him and his Father with him the whole time he was filled with the Holy Spirit and he was in constant, constant communication with his Father. Well, so do we, maybe not as perfect as Jesus, but God has promised us his Holy Spirit.
Speaker 1:Jesus said that I am with you always, even to the end of the earth or the world. Jesus is our faithful high priest, our advocate, and with all the power and all the authority in heaven and on earth, they belong to him. Jesus lives forever to intercede for you and I and to cheer us on. And if God is for us, who can be against us? We have his Father with us, who loves us. The Bible says in Romans 3, who praises us, praises those who obey. Obey our Heavenly Father as one who loves his children that obey him, and we also have each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. In the Lord From the cross, those sacred words that Jesus said. It is finished. He has fulfilled this mission that was entrusted to him by his Father, god Almighty, the creator of heaven and earth, a realm in heaven that existed before the creation of this world.
Speaker 1:Jesus was sent. He knew precisely his mission. He carried it out with precision. He knew his purpose. He knew who he was, even as a child. He knew why he was here. He knew what he was doing. His death was not beyond his control. It was not a tragedy, it was not an accident. It was Good Friday. It was ordained from eternity. It was fulfilled in time from eternity it was fulfilled in time. It was to rise again.
Speaker 1:Jesus is a conqueror. Before he came into this world, it was to conquer all the mendacity, the chaos, the lies, the death, hell and the grave. Jesus had a plan, I should say they had a plan, and he wasn't alone. It was ordained before the foundations of the world. Ordained before the foundations of the world. You know, some believe that Christ came here to this world to save us, and he did, of course, to save us. Save us from what? From ourselves, to save us from our self-destructive ways. And that may be very true, of course. But there are others. Some of the greatest thinkers and theologians that God has ever raised up believe that Christ didn't come here simply to save us, but rather we were put here for him. Remember he is a conqueror, he is a savior. He took on the form of a servant. He was incognito, as it were. He was in disguise in enemy-occupied territory, as CS Lewis once said, and I believe that to be true we were put here for him.
Speaker 1:Nevertheless, you and I as Paul so eloquently says in Romans 8, are more than conquerors in Christ. If we stand with him now, in this life, you won't be able to stand with him in the next life. I heard somebody once say that, well, when I die, I'll tell him I'm sorry, no, no, no. That doesn't work that way. You have to tell him I'm sorry, no, no, no. That doesn't work that way. You have to tell him you're sorry and stand with him now, today, before you die, because if you wait till after you die, it's too late. Then, because you already made your choice, you won't be able to do it to stand for him after you die.
Speaker 1:If you refuse to get up and stand for him now, if you are not a Christian, I can't express what you're missing out living in you to help you to understand, to take that heart of stone and replace it with a heart of flesh, a heart of spirit. However, if you do believe and you want to be a Christian, the wonderful news is that God loves you. He does. God loves you and that is expressed by the cross of Jesus Christ. He was sent here to die in your place, in my place, for your sins and my sins, sins and my sins. And if his death can save us as it does, how much more his life no-transcript in the flesh, you see so that you also may have eternal life. It is a gift from God. That's why anybody that rejects God's gift it is an unpardonable sin to reject his gift of eternal life. For some, this may be new.
Speaker 1:You may not have ever heard anything like this, and so, before I go, I made a list of things, a list of six things that you can write down and just ponder. You know and pray these things to God. Number one I believe that you are the Son of God. Number two I believe that you did die for my sins. Number three I also believe that you have risen from the dead and you're alive. Number four please, dear Jesus, come into my life. Number five please forgive my sins. And number six please give me your Holy Spirit.
Speaker 1:Now, keep in mind all this is just a short little punch list of an example of a prayer that you can practice. Please keep praying it. Please keep on praying it. It's easy to remember. Don't forget it, pray it and mean it, and I pray that the Holy Spirit comes into your heart, into your life, and I promise you that he will.
Speaker 1:The Holy Spirit, remember he is the third person. He's not an? It, like some people I know. They don't know better and they say they call the Holy Spirit an it. No, he is a person, he is the third person of God. Okay, so he, the Holy Spirit, will affirm that you are a child of God and that everything Jesus says and said is true Romans, chapter 8. But, most importantly, you have eternal life. If the Holy Spirit confirms that you are a child of God, you have eternal life now. It are a child of God. You have eternal life now. It is a gift from God. You will never die when your time is over in this world and everybody has an appointed time. You will never die. Why? Because you're going straight to heaven. Find a Bible, keep reading it, find a church that teaches the Bible and find a church that preaches His marvelous, powerful gospel that saves lives. Thank you.
